Q&A: Repurpose, Me?

QUESTION: Do you ever find yourself using a CTMH product for something completely unrelated to paper crafting? For example, I like to use the bitty sparkles when I give myself a pedicure. If so, what do you use and how do you use it? --submitted by ladyxwolfxkaori, January 23, 8:37 pm

ANSWER: They say that necessity is the mother of invention, and when your life is filled with great craft supplies, there is bound to be a bit of interesting invention, right? I love the idea of using Sparkles as pedicure embellishments - I'm told they also work great as "earrings" for those without pierced ears. Personally, I store all of my pedicure supplies in our distressing kit. It's the perfect size!

While I've never done this myself, a co-worker says her daughter mixes colors of nail polish to create her own creations and stores them in our craft jars. I know of more than one pair of microtip scissors that have provided a quick haircut, and the My Acrylix  organizers are faves for organizing lots of things, from a CD collection, to random piles of Legos, to even acting as a last-minute lunch box! Anybody else have some fun ideas? Post in the comments below; I'd love to read them!

And thanks, "Kaori," for your fun question - please send an e-mail to me at me@jeanettelynton.com with your choice of stamp set or paper  packet and I'll send your gift in the mail right away (and you can start figuring out fun alternative uses for it!)

Q&A: What's In A Name?

QUESTION: How do you name the paper? Some of them I get, but some of them I just don't understand. --submitted by JoElla, January 23, 7:28 am

ANSWER: Thanks for your honesty, JoElla! And please e-mail me with your choice of stamp set or paper packet (even one with a funny name) and I'll send it your way with my thanks.

The naming process for our paper packs is really a fun one. We have lots of people submit name suggestions for the papers. Some are serious, some are silly, but they're all welcome. Our marketing team narrows the list down to about the top five or so per packet, and then we pick them as an executive team. Sometimes, these meetings get so funny - and punny - we laugh and laugh and it's hard to stay focused. I wish I could share a specific example of this one, but I'm sworn to secrecy and no one on the executive team is allowed to tell the story. Let's just say whenever it comes up, we all get the giggles.

Sometimes, I really like being very literal and direct with a kit's name. Like the new "Superhero" and "Cruisin'" kits, for example. It was easy for me to choose these names because they are what they are, and I liked the straightforwardness the names.

Conversely, the "Florentine" kit is more metaphorical. When that kit was in development, I kept saying that the warm colors and classic design elements reminded me of the Tuscan region in Italy. Although a lot of the name suggestions for it were about family and heritage, I kept gravitating to that Mediterranean feel that the paper evoked in me. I picked Florentine because it suggests "from Florence," one of my favorite places in Italy. (Yes, one of our writers also pointed out that "florentine" also can mean "with spinach" in Italian cooking, but that just made me love the name all the more!)

Sometimes, we turn to the kit's My Stickease for inspiration, which is where "Perfect Day," "It's a Guy Thing," and "Dreamin'" got their names, for example.

And of course, we love naming paper packets after special people. The "Sophia" kit was named after my sweet granddaughter on the cover of last year's Spring/Summer book, while the "Bella" kit was named after my granddaughter Belle. More recently, the sassy "Roxy" kit was named after that kit's talented artist, our own designer Roxanne!

Q&A: Manicure Mania!

QUESTION: I always notice what pretty nails the girls from corporate have when doing YouTube videos or even in technique pictures either on your blog or in the idea books - my question is: do they always look like that? --submitted by Karen, January 21, 3:24 pm

ANSWER: Karen, I had to include this question simply because it made me laugh! It inspired chuckles from just about everybody in our training, marketing, and art studio teams, too. Let me tell you that it's not an uncommon sight, at the end of the workday, to find folks lined up at the sinks in the washroom, scrubbing and scrubbing the day's creative work away. There's rarely a manicure in the bunch, until it's time for the cameras to come out!

In fact, here's a funny story: Years ago, we purchased our first document camera. It allows an on-stage presenter to create a project in front of a ballroom full of Consultants who are watching on huge screens. Jill Broadbent in our events department (who many of you know) was among the first to use the document camera at a Regional Celebrations event, and she was nervous how her hands would look when they were 10 feet tall on the screens.

In preparation, she got a full set of acrylic nails - for the first time. I wish you could have seen her on stage for that creative session! She couldn't pick up a darned thing. It was like she was a seal up there, scooting paper pieces around with her fingertips, and edging at them with her thumbs. I know she was frustrated, but all of us at the back of the room just giggled. Needless to say, that was the end of her acrylic nails!

Q&A: Kids and Creativity

QUESTION: I was wondering if your daughters have gotten into the stamping and scrapbooking venue, too? Do you spend time together stamping and scrapbooking? --submitted by Danelle, January 20, 7:51 am

ANSWER: Creativity is part of my life and it always has been. And from the time I was a teenager, I chose to express that creativity with photos, paper, stamping, cards, and of course, my beloved scrapbooks. As a mother (and I'm sure all of you who are can relate!), there are certain traits I've tried to nurture in my children. Tops on my list are independence, perseverance, spirituality, kindness, gratitude -- and of course, creativity!

Another thing I've learned is that even people who share the same traits can find different expressions for them. It was always important for me not to force my kids to do "my thing," but to find their own creative passion. Interestingly, my daughter Rachel does quite a bit of stamping and scrapbooking. In fact, she currently works as an artist at Close To My Heart and loves it. It's been a great fit for her, and I'm so happy about that! However, she also likes cooking up other kinds of creativity - literally! She hopes to attend culinary school soon, and I think that's absolutely fabulous.

My son Jared is incredibly creative (as those of you who read my post linking to his singing video already know). Last year, he played Corny Collins in "Hairspray" in a professional theater organization, and he does stand-up comedy and a variety of corporate and comedic videos. I never would have guessed that my encouragement of "creativity" would flourish in him in this way, but every time I see him on stage, I'm so proud of him and his many talents.

Ashley's creative side has drawn her toward the beauty and fashion industry. She can style just about any person or any home to make it stunningly gorgeous. She has impeccable taste and can pull together a look for an outfit from head to toe, and I've come to rely on her before I step out on stage or in front of the cameras - except for Convention 2011, when she was home readying for baby #4. Motherhood may be a different type of creativity, but ask any woman with four children under 10, and I assure you, it requires creativity in abundance!

My youngest daughter Aubrey may be my quietest child, but her creativity runs deep and passionate. She has a great flair for music and plays guitar and violin beautifully. She's also a fabulous photographer with an artist's eye and a real love of classic film cameras; no digital for this girl!

So, Danelle, I guess the short answer to your question is probably no, my children and I don't spend a lot of time together stamping and scrapbooking. But I love it, and they love what I've created over the years. Even more importantly, I love them, and I LOVE that they've all found their own creative passions and that each path has been uniquely their own. As a mom, I couldn't want anything more!

Q&A: Choosing Smiles

QUESTION: Prior to the Make A Miracle Challenge, Operation Smile was on my mind and ideas going through my head about how to raise some money for this wonderful charity. With so many deserving and noble charities that CTMH could have sponsored, what were the factors that lead you to selecting Operation Smile over all the others? --Submitted by Tamytha, January 19, 9:31

ANSWER: You're right, Tamytha, there are scores of wonderful,deserving charitable organizations and it really was tough to choose just one. (Just like it may be tough for you to choose just one stamp set or paper packet as your gift for submitting your question! Send me an e-mail to me@jeanettelynton.com and I'll send you your gift.)

And yet, when we did our research into cause marketing, we really learned that choosing just one is essential to success -- those organizations that "charity hop" from one meaningful organization to another, in the hopes that they will be able to serve many, statistically have a lot more trouble gaining traction than those who commit to one charity and stick with it. Take Yoplait yogurt -- without even missing a beat, most people can tell you that Yoplait supports breast cancer research, right down to donating money for their famous foil lids. We wanted to be able to have that same strong, instant, long-term connection with our charitable partner.

As we looked at a variety of charities, it was important to us that it have unimpeachable integrity. We wanted to state with confidence where our donations were going and know that they were directly helping people in need, not necessarily funding lots of administrative or advertising costs. Outside of a small office staff, Operation Smile's workforce are volunteers, including the highly trained surgeons, anesthetists, and nurses who give their considerable skill to the work. Operation Smile strives to follow Better Business Bureau guidelines (not all non-profits do), which means they are exceptionally diligent in following donation practices and auditing checks and balances to protect donors and provide great reporting.

We liked a charity with a global reach, because we wanted to do good wherever need existed, not solely in our own backyard. We sought a charity that had been functioning for a long time, and that was well established. We also wanted to partner with a charity that was impacting real people, in real time, right now. Operation Smile fit the bill on every single count! We love that they are fulfilling missions around the world, teaching in-country surgeons new practices to improve healthcare in developing nations, have been operating for 30 years, and that a child can walk into a hospital with a facial deformity and literally just a few hours later, walk out with a new smile and hope for a new life.

Ultimately, when I met Dr. Bill and Kathy Magee, Operation Smile's founders, that cinched the deal. Their tireless energy and fierce commitment to the work changed something inside of me. At a time in their life when many of their peers would be relaxing with grandkids or vacationing in exotic locales, these two are sweetly caring for other people's children and "vacationing" in exotic locales -- like clinics in Ghana or remote Chinese villages. We may not all be surgeons or world travelers, but when we support Operation Smile, we CAN participate in a truly great work!

Q&A: Cricut In a Crunch!

QUESTION: I feel that our Cricut cartridge is right at the top for leading in innovation. How many years in development did this cartridge take? I love it so much that it stays in my new Cricut at all times. --Submitted by Casandra, January 20, 7:18 am

ANSWER: I'm with you, Casandra! I am head over heels with the Art Philosophy Cricut Collection. It's so versatile, it really could live in your machine all the time and may be the only cartridge you ever need… for now, at least! :)

I think I've shared before that typically Close To My Heart is designing products at least one year in advance of their release. For very large-scale projects, it can even be much longer than that (for example, Studio J was nearly three years in development, and a how-to book often takes about 18 months). Putting together a cartridge with 700 shapes, along with the coordinated stamp sets, Dimensional Elements, and the projects to test and showcase the art is honestly a project that should take about 14-16 months of internal development. But did we have that long? Not by a long shot!

The opportunity had been percolating for a long time, and we'd been exploring the possibilities with Provo Craft but didn't have anything final. Ultimately and wonderfully, it came together quickly in about January 2011. That's right, just 6 months before Convention! We literally pulled all of our internal resources together and people worked incredibly hard to meet a Convention-release deadline. I don't think I have ever seen a team work so hand-in-glove or so focused as we were in working on that project, because we all knew how important and elevating it could be. We aren't eager to make such sprinting our modus operandi for any other products, but sometimes you have to be willing to perform extraordinary deeds to reap extraordinary rewards. We're glad you think the effort was worth it!

Q&A: Brainstorming Best Bets

QUESTION: I would love to be with you all when you are brainstorming about new product: new paper lines and their fun names, matching stamp sets, embellishments. So my question is: what is the criteria to make all of those decisions? I know it's a lot of teamwork, but you are the ultimate decision maker. --submitted by Bren Yule

ANSWER: Dear, dear Bren! I love your friendship and appreciate your question, especially since you have seen many, many products in your two decades at Close To My Heart. I'm looking forward to getting your e-mail about what paper packet or stamp set you'd like me to send your way!

The answer for me on what to choose and what to exclude really ties back to the question about memorable mistakes that I answered last week: no matter how "fun" a product may be, if it doesn't fit our strategy, it doesn't have a home in the idea book. Keeping focused on strategy prevents us from getting sidetracked.

But honestly, a key criteria for me in determining new product is the answer to the question: "Would I use this?" Because really, I'm not just the founder and CEO of Close To My Heart, I'm also its first customer (and STILL a loyal customer!). If I'm really excited about a new product idea or a lovely stamp design, then I believe our Consultants and customers will be, too!

Q&A: Fit the Focus, Share the Strategy!

Question: I'm wondering if you'd be willing to share any of your mistakes made in the process of building the business, trying to introduce something new, etc. What "don'ts" did you learn from? --submitted by Angela Fehr.

Angela, please e-mail me your choice of paper packet or stamp set that I can send you as thanks for submitting your question! Send it to me@jeanettelynton.com and I'll drop it in the mail right away!

Answer: I think some of the most valuable lessons we can ever learn come from our mistakes, and I've certainly been "blessed" with my fair share. (Note to self: always be careful when you pray for wisdom, because the Lord will send you trials!)

A defining lesson for me came more than a decade ago when the company was still called DOTS, for Dozens of Terrific Stamps, and our core product was stamp sets. I knew I wanted to expand and diversify into related scrapbooking product lines, and to me the strategy was clear. I saw the lines as very complementary, sister product lines, if you will. At the time, I introduced scrapbooking by bringing out a second and separate catalog called "Close To My Heart." It was chock full of papers and other unique-to-scrapbooking products. (Many of you will remember this time!)

What happened? Consultants were confused -- they couldn't figure out which catalog to sell out of. Initially, some even asked: "Who are we? What is our purpose?" The sales mix shifted dramatically between the two catalogs, and it created quite a bit of financial and product turmoil at first. Shortly thereafter, I fused the two catalogs and product lines into one: showing Consultants and customers alike how stamping and scrapbooking should be married, and ultimately that the brands needed to be married. We adopted the name "Close To My Heart" and helped educate people about our unified strategy.

What did I learn from this error? Two key things:

First off, you can only serve one master. I have long considered my company to be a creativity company that focuses on hand-made treasures that help us celebrate our relationships and preserve memories. Sound like a mission statement? To be true to that focus, it means I also need to select products and programs that support that ideal. As I've watched other companies introduce separate vinyl products or separate jewelry lines in separate catalogs, I can envision their Consultants wondering "Why a second catalog? Who are we? What do I sell?" I have learned that if a product truly fits our creativity strategy, then it will have a home in our idea book. If it doesn't fit there, it doesn't fit in our company at all.

Secondly, I learned that when you have a "serve one master" strategy, it still requires great communication to be embraced and understood. I knew that the fusion of scrapbooking and stamping was strategic and focused. But we didn't execute it in a focused way, and we didn't communicate the strategy behind it. That left people wondering. Today, we work very hard to explain the "why" behind our product decisions so that the strategy is clear -- we know it helps current Consultants share the message with their customers, and that it draws more new Consultants who resonate with our focus.

Now, this doesn't mean that we won't bring out new and different product lines and embrace new expansion opportunities -- quite the opposite (insert plug for Convention here: come so you can not only see all the new products but hear all the strategy behind them!). It just means that I have learned that things must fit the focus, and we must share the strategy to be successful.

G'day, Mate?

QUESTION: One of my customers lives in Australia and is just dying to join Close To My Heart. At least a couple times a year she asks if I have heard anything on CTMH going international. What do you think? --Submitted by Keeley Kirwan

And a similar submission from "Landi": Hello, Jeanette from the land down under. I am the Australian customer that is constantly asking when CTMH is coming to Australia that Keeley Kirwan talks about. When I found out that I could ask you directly through this blog, I thought all my prayers had been answered so here is my question to you, Jeanette: isn't it about time you expanded your CTMH wings and come to Australia?

ANSWER: Well, to both of you, I admire your persistence, enthusiasm, and sheer love of Close To My Heart (three excellent qualities in a person, if I do say so myself!). Please e-mail me at me@jeanettelynton.com with your choice of a stamp set or paper packet that I can send you as thanks for your questions. Now, to see if I can properly answer!

Anyone who knows me or who has heard me address the topic of going international knows that it's something that gets my heart beating. I so believe in the unique mission and purpose of Close To My Heart and have long believed that others all around the world would benefit from what we have to offer. As with everything, it's all about the right time, the right approach, the right products, the right investment.

Although I can't promise you if and when Close To My Heart will be opening new markets, I can tell you that we are investigating the business model closely, including Australia operations. In fact, we'll be attending the Australia Scrapbook and Papercraft Convention in Brisbane this June -- Landi, if you're in the neighborhood (or if any readers are!) we'd love to have you stop by the booth and make a Create 'n' Take project or attend a presentation or workshop. It will be the first time CTMH products have ever been shown in Australia and we are excited to gauge the response!

My Go-To Embellishment

QUESTION: What is your go-to embellishment that you find you use most often? --Submitted by "Brittany," January 21, 9:55 pm

ANSWER: Thanks for the question, Brittany. Before I answer, let me remind you to e-mail me at me@jeanettelynton.com with your choice of paper pack or stamp set as your free gift!

Now, my "go-to embellishment." There are two: first, if I'm working on a quick layout, I'll always reach for My Stickease. With little prep or planning, My Stickease can finish a page and turn it from fine into fabulous. For busy scrapbookers with lots of photos, nothing beats Level 2 layouts with themed My Stickease.

My second go-to embellishment is ribbon. It's just a "happy accessory," sweetening and brightening everything it touches. It adds a lovely feminine touch, isn't hard to use, and adds enough dimension to make even fast projects feel elaborate. Plus, it works on any project--layouts, cards, 3D items, and gifts. Can't go wrong!

Questions and answers for the new year

Back in September, you sent in an awesome landslide of wonderful questions for me to answer. I know I barely scratched the surface and that I promised to answer even more of them. As my treat to start your new year off right, if your question has been answered below, I'd love to send you your choice of stamp set as thanks. To Margie, Judy, Christina, and "scrapbklady44," just e-mail your choice of stamp set and mailing information to Me@jeanettelynton.com, and I'll get your prize zipping along right away.

And if you have another question on your mind, feel free to leave a comment! In the next couple of weeks, I'll be selecting 10 questions to answer, and each submitter will receive their choice of a new Level 2 paper pack or stamp set! So ask away!

QUESTION: What was the first stamping or scrapbooking product you ever used and what is your favorite product of all time? Submitted by Margie W.

ANSWER: When I started scrapbooking as a teenager (yes, back in the '70s!), true scrapbooking products didn't even exist! But I believe in invention, adaption, and innovation, so I used what I had. Standouts for me included my rainbow palette of dime-store markers and foil stars (remember the kind that used to come in clear packages that you'd lick to stick?) Many of my first albums are "blinged" out with those simple stars, along with lots of fabric notions, like scraps of lace.

QUESTION: I get attached to some of my favorite papers and can't get myself to "use them up." Do you save any special papers for that "someday"? Submitted by Judy VanNostrand

ANSWER: Judy, if I tell you about my attachment to our papers, do you promise to keep it our little secret? Of COURSE I get attached to our paper kits and I have an extensive stash I absolutely love. Because I get to be a part of the design and creation process, when a paper pack finally comes off the press, it's like a dream coming into reality. I know each flower or each flourish, and recall how we thickened a stripe, or tweaked a color, so, yes, the result is that I'm often very personally invested in our paper packs. Our inventory team knows to set aside a small amount of every paper pack produced, which I keep in my personal stash.

I use the paper as I work on projects, but truly, I admit that sometimes I just love HAVING it and looking at it, so full of possibilities! Some of my all-time favorites include Elegant Bouquet and Vintage Travel. I have literally used these classic paper kits (both from 2004!) on many different projects, but I still have a few packs I intend to keep. As I've always said: A thing of beauty is a joy forever!

QUESTION: What would be your top three fears of being a female CEO of a successful company? Submitted by scrapbklady44.

ANSWER: This is a tougher question than you might guess, largely because fear has never been my companion. But I have had some very real concerns as I've built my business. If I had to identify some of the major concerns I've sought to conquer in my career, I would say that, above all, I want to ensure that the demands of my family NEVER come second to the business. I know that the business will always want me, but my family needs me. I always wanted to be mindful never to fall into the temptation of working too much, obsessing over details, or being so focused on prosperity that my most abundant life--my family--was marginalized.

I also have had to battle the image that a female CEO might not be as knowledgeable or capable as a male CEO. In my early years, this was an occasional specter as I wondered whether I had the accounting skills or the manufacturing savvy or the shipping know-how of an ivy-league MBA. Sometimes I wondered if I, as a homemaker and mom could really drive a multi-million-dollar enterprise. But at some point in my journey--probably after working with many smart, well-educated business people--I realized I not only had the skills, I had the passion and vision for my company that came from my heart, my gut, and years of sweat. No resume or diploma can substitute for that! I wish more women had that innate confidence that came hard fought for me.

QUESTION: Are you going to bring out some more kits for Studio J from previous Idea Books or have the option to cross My Stickease between paper packets? Submitted by Christina Strom

ANSWER: Christina, your request to "cross" papers and My Stickease between kits is one of the leading requests for Studio J. Although the request seems simple enough, there is some very complex programming behind it. Know that we are working on ways to make Studio J even more fun and diverse. In fact, although I can't be more specific right now (our product design team would scold me), we are working on some incredibly exciting enhancements planned for Studio J to be shared at this year's Convention. I know that some attendees at last year's Convention wondered why there wasn't more of a focus on Studio J. To them, I say: Studio J is a terrific product, among the strongest digital scrapbooking products on the market. What you hear at this year's Convention will make the wait well worth it!

And don't worry, if you love our classic papercrafting lines, we won't disappoint you at Convention, either. We have put an unprecedented investment into the development of all-new products, exciting line extensions, and even revamping some favorites to offer more of what you've been asking for--I can't wait for you to see them all!

Connections

Question: I am curious if there was/is a particular stamp set or paper pack that you were inspired to design because of a very special event in your life? -submitted by Rochelle Crawford, August 30, 12:36 pm

Answer: There is so very much of my personal life, preferences, hopes, dreams, and experience woven into the fabric of Close To My Heart products — I can't even begin to adequately catalog them all! Just as a few examples: the Vintage Travel and Elegant Bouquet papers from 2004-2005 really stand out to me. They were both designed at a time when I was trying to bring a more designed, textured look to our papers, a more mature approach than some of the graphic papers that we had been designing. I was so thrilled when our in-house design team captured the essence of my vision, that I found myself gravitating to those paper packets again and again — they are still among my favorites, because they represent the success of that transition. (And they're simply beautiful, timeless designs, too!)

When I was pregnant with my daughter Aubrey, I designed a stamp set featuring classic seed packet covers. I had terrible morning sickness at the time, and anytime I see something evocative of that style, I remember that sweet time of expectation…and yes, I feel like throwing up! I also think back to the era of super sets, which were so exciting because they had as many as 30+ images in a single set — do you remember the "Little Fill-ups with Jar"? It had all kinds of neat treats to pile into an outline of a jar: I loved the possibilities and sweetness of this set. Then there is Fruit of the Vine, the From the Heart sentiment set, and so many others. I also think of all those great colors from past palettes: do you remember Kentucky Green? Peach Whip? Seafoam? Raspberry? Hydrangea? (What were we thinking, naming a color "Hydrangea"?)

Even as I write this post, I'm tempted to rush over and pull out all my old idea books from the past 20 years and just get lost in browsing them. These books aren't just catalogs, they are my journals. Each one is brimming with memories and stories behind the stamp sets, exciting events incorporated into the papers. I can tell you what was happening in my life and in my business as each color was named, each kit designed, each stamp set drawn. It's so fun to make those connections — to stamping, to life, to you. I feel so blessed to be a part of it all, and hope you know that a little piece of my heart is in each Close To My "Heart" product you receive!

Something in the Background

Question: A lot of time I like to either have one of my favorite movies playing or my favorite music genre playing while I'm creating. Do you like to have something playing in the background while you create? --submitted by Vicki Wizniuk, August 26, 5:34 pm

Answer: I definitely have a sound track for life! Whether I'm driving, at the office, or at home, I do like to have music or television on. I'm a sponge for information and activity, and those who know me recognize that I'm a huge news junkie. At home, I almost always have a news channel on so I can listen to debate, commentary, and breaking information. I love being in touch with what's happening in the country and the world. Information leads to inspiration, in my book.

When I'm really concentrating on a task or a project, I need something that's a little less bold and a little more background, and that's where some of my favorite tunes come in. I have pretty eclectic tastes, and can listen to anything from the Black-Eyed Peas to Handel's Messiah, but when I'm creating, I gravitate to my favorite '70s music: Earth, Wind & Fire; the Doobie Brothers; Bread; even Janis Joplin.

Acrylix Inspiration!

Question: What was the motivation/inspiration for developing the acrylic stamps? --submitted by meredemaison, August 26, 5:46 pm

Answer: It wasn't so much inspiration as it was determination! For many years, we worked with polymer stamps, but in a different format and only for creating labels for our wood stamps. I understood the durability and flexibility of the material and how lightweight and compact it was for storage. So I had stamps made in the clear material. The more I played with clear stamps, the more "clearly" I saw the future of the industry. I knew that bulky, opaque, wood-mounted stamps just didn't make sense, given the beauty and crispness of the images from clear stamps as well as their ease of storage and organization.

My mind was made up. Back then, several of my closest advisors told me I was crazy to convert the company's bread-and-butter product so dramatically. They encouraged me to come out with a dual product line — some in wood/rubber and some in clear polymer, just to "test" the response and make sure Consulants didn't bolt. I couldn't be swayed. I told them, "How can Consultants believe me when I say that My Acrylix is great if I'm offering them some other product 'just in case' at the same time?" No, I knew we had to go bold, believe in the decision, and share that belief. There have been many scary decisions I've made over the past 27 years in business, but this wasn't one of them: I knew we'd revolutionize stamping, and we did!

The Joys of Being Nana

Question: What is the best thing about being a grandma? --submitted by Kristin, August 27, 8:31 am

Answer: In our house, I'm "nana." Like Goldie Hawn, who chooses to call herself a "Glam-ma," the term "grandma" isn't one I gravitate to. But I DO gravitate to those darling kids and I love being nana. My favorite part of the role is simply watching the kids be kids. They are absolutely hysterical, from their funny expressions to the wacky things they say to their adorable first steps to their beyond-wise insights.

Spending time with the grandkids (who range in age from 10 years down to 2 months), is like watching the best movie ever. I'm entranced. I can't look away. I'm on the edge of my seat for the next plot twist, the next punchline. I hope the credits never roll, because these performers never disappoint. The kids love me unconditionally and they tell it like it is. It's so refreshing and they keep me young, and better yet, they keep me laughing.

Finding Light after Loss

Question: I have a personal question that I think many women would benefit from the answer. How did you pick yourself up from a terrible time in your life and start on your journey to create CTMH, instead of wallowing in the sadness? I know so many women who get stuck and can't find their way out, even with faith. I would love to know how you made your way through the fog. --submitted by Crafty Texan, August 29, 9:22 am

Answer: Wow. This question has so many layers, and I wish I could address them all because I know so many women struggle with heartbreak, loneliness, and hardship and are looking for light but may feel lost. For simplicity and space purposes, I'll share just some of my brief thoughts.

First, as context: for those of you who do not know my story, there was a time in my twenties when I found myself single and with two children. The fledgling company I had started had been taken from me and I literally had little more than a shoebox of materials and just a few dollars in my wallet. I had never dreamed I would be in such a position. It was a scary time…but it was also a time of great blessings, bonding with my children, and being given strength I only imagined possible.

How did I move past the initial fears, uncertainty, and shock of that time instead of getting "stuck"? Well, if you know me, then you know I am not a natural "wallower." But I DO believe in giving yourself appropriate time to process a loss — as human beings, we must have time to grieve or cry or shake our fists, or the pain just gets buried and follows us around like a cloud, waiting for a downpour when we're least prepared for it.

During this hardship, I gave myself a defined length of time to feel sad. To cry. And then, I told myself, I would be done with it. I had children to provide for. Food to put on the table. And I needed to prove to myself and the world that I could not be discarded, that I had value.

This same approach has benefitted me again and again, personally and professionally. If I have a challenge at work, I give myself an hour to be frustrated — then I'm done and ready to move forward. If someone has deeply hurt my feelings, I'll allow myself a day to let it sting — then I'm refreshed and won't harbor it. I really believe that acknowledging pain, giving it an inch but not a mile, is the only way to stay emotionally healthy and well. I regularly paraphrase Scarlett O'Hara to say that "tomorrow will be another day" — and it will be a day where I choose to put setbacks or hurt or fear behind me, because there is much to do.

That's always been my approach, and it saved me during the life-changing events of my twenties. Even so, I will tell you that I couldn't have done it by myself. I was single, but never alone. My reliance on my Heavenly Father and willingness to give Him my sorrow gave me comfort then, and gives me comfort today.

Treasured Techniques

Question: What is your favorite technique to use in scrapbooking? --submitted by Rene Roush, August 26, 4:56 pm

Answer: It may not be a surprise, but my favorite scrapbooking technique is stamping. I've always loved blending the two! I love having coordinating inks that can tie virtually any B&T or cardstock together with a stamped image, or adding ink edge distsressing (sponging, swiping, stippling, paintbrushing) to paper pieces so that everything feels more cohesive.

Not surprisingly, I'm currently LOVING how the Art Philosophy Cricut-cut shapes elevate virtually any scrapbook layout. I love swapping out a journaling box for a journaling bracket. Or adding a scalloped border in place of a straight strip, or matting a photo on a fun shape. It's a way to use the patterns I know and love, but give them a fun new twist!

Lyrics to Live By

Question: Sometimes I use lyrics for the journaling on my scrapbook pages because music is such a big part of our family. If you could pick one song's lyrics for a page about your family, what would it be? --submitted by Carolyn, August 26, 8:16 pm

Answer: Carolyn, I absolutely loved pondering the answer to this question! Of all the questions I received, this one really got me thinking, laughing and listening to my iTunes. I even discussed it with my executive team and we laughed as we compared favorite songs and some silly alternatives. There are many, many songs that could easily fit as great journaling to capture my feelings about family and David, but right now, I'd have to say "Better Together" by Jack Johnson. Here are the lyrics if you'd like to use them for your own layout:

"Better Together"

There is no combination of words I could put on the back of a postcard
No song that I could sing, but I can try for your heart
Our dreams, and they are made out of real things
Like a, shoebox of photographs
With sepia-toned loving
Love is the answer,
At least for most of the questions in my heart
Like why are we here? And where do we go?
And how come it's so hard?
It's not always easy and
Sometimes life can be deceiving
I'll tell you one thing, it's always better when we're together

Mmm, it's always better when we're together
Yeah, we'll look at the stars when we're together
Well, it's always better when we're together
Yeah, it's always better when we're together

And all of these moments
Just might find their way into my dreams tonight
But I know that they'll be gone
When the morning light sings
And brings new things
For tomorrow night you see
That they'll be gone too
Too many things I have to do
But if all of these dreams might find their way
Into my day to day scene
I'd be under the impression
I was somewhere in between
With only two
Just me and you
Not so many things we got to do
Or places we got to be
We'll sit beneath the mango tree now

Yeah, it's always better when we're together
Mmm, we're somewhere in between together
Well, it's always better when we're together
Yeah, it's always better when we're together

Mmm, mmm, mmm

I believe in memories
They look so, so pretty when I sleep
Hey now, and when I wake up,
You look so pretty sleeping next to me
But there is not enough time,
And there is no, no song I could sing
And there is no combination of words I could say
But I will still tell you one thing
We're better together.

Chirp, Chirp!

Question: My question is not what you love about the Art Philosophy collection, but did you really not own a Cricut machine before? And does corporate now own hundreds to cut out all those awesome projects for our create 'n' takes? --submitted by Stampin n da Hood, August 28, 1:54 pm

Answer: I have owned a number of die-cutting machines, punches, dies, and more over the years, it's true! Although we didn't have any Cricuts in the office prior to our development of the Art Philosophy Cricut collection, I have had a few items at home. I've always believed that it's important for me to know what's happening in the industry, because although I love Close To My Heart products, I recognize that there is a lot of innovation and inspiration out there. No ostrich ever gets ahead by sticking its head in the sand!

It was through careful evaluation and use of lots of different products that I ultimately, unequivocally knew the Cricut was the right way for us to go. And yes, we now have a flock of Cricuts chirping away in our art studio, creating all kinds of great artwork!

Getting a Black Belt in Love

Question: I know that most of us have a great story about how we met our husbands. How did you meet your husband, David? -submitted by Rosalynd Kelly, August 27, 7:59 am

Answer: Ah, how I love this story! It includes more time, detail, and emotion than I can (or should!) share here, but this is the short version. Years ago, I was a single mom of two young children. I had always been a girly girl and I felt I needed to "toughen up" a bit to ensure I could protect myself and my family if needed. I had befriended a woman who was a black belt and an instructor in karate — this fascinated me immediately and I became one of her students! She invited me to attend a retreat to learn more and I thought, "Why not?"

I went to a dojo in nearby Provo, Utah. As I entered the studio, I saw a stream of instructors pouring out of a small office. Person after person after person walked out of this tiny office, and just when you thought the office was empty, another person strode out the door. It was a pretty impressive sight, as every single one of them wore a red beret and combat boots. I watched the procession wide-eyed, thinking "What in the world am I doing here? I don't belong in this world at all!" But I was rooted to my spot.

The last man came walking out of the office, red beret, boots and all. It was David. As he saw me standing there, he did a double take. I didn't have to — I couldn't take my eyes off of him. Neither of us spoke to each other at that encounter, but it was our first "connection" and it was pretty magical. The rest, as they say, is history!