Author Archives: Dana

About Dana

Hi there! My name is Dana Kessler and I have been a consultant with Close To My Heart since 2005. I was first introduced to CTMH at a crop - and when I saw our brand new My Acrylix Stamps, I was hooked! Nine years later, I now lead a fabulous team of over 25 Scraptabulous Designers and I have been blessed to earn six incentive trips with Close To My Heart. Scrapbooking is my passion, and I love sharing our great products with others! I offer monthly workshops, home gatherings, digital scrapbooking classes, weekend crops, and one on one training and design help.

Confetti Wishes Girl Birthday Card Artfully Sent #ctmh #scraptabulousdesigns #cricutexplore

CTMH New Cricut Cartridge – It’s Artfully Sent!

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Welcome to another Artfully Sent Cricut Cartridge Blog Hop!  If you have come here from Vicki’s blog, you are on the right path!  If you happen to get lost along the way, you can find a complete list of hoppers here.

I created this Artfully Sent birthday card for my daughter who is turning 12 next week.  It’s bright, colorful, and cheery – just like her!  🙂  The Confetti Wishes paper was perfect for this project and I added some silver glitter paper, pear paper fundamentals, white stars, thistle stripe ribbon, and silver sequins. Continue reading →

November 2014 SOTM Its the Little Things Just For You Card #ctmh #scraptabulousdesigns #cricut

November Stamp of the Month: It’s the Little Things

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Welcome to the November Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!  If you have come here from Beth’s Blog, you are on the right path!  If you happen to get lost along the way, the complete list of hoppers can be found here.

This month we are featuring the It’s the Little Things Stamp Set.  This stamp set is so fun and whimsical!  The perfect set to play with as the air is getting cold and the trees are losing their leaves.  Ahhhhh…. spring flowers!

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Dream Butterfly Card Shin Han Markers Arfully Sent #ctmh #scraptabulousdesigns #cricutexplore

Color me CRAZY – it’s a ShinHan Marker Blog Hop!

ShinHan+Marker+blog+hop+final+500Welcome to our ShinHan Marker Blog Hop!  If you have arrived here from Suzanne’s Blog, you are on the right path!  In case you get lost along the way, you can find the complete list of hoppers here.

I have to admit it has been a LONG time since I have played with markers.  However, since we now carry 24 colors of the fabulous ShinHan Markers – I have an excellent excuse to color! Continue reading →

Halloween Card Artfully Sent Ghost Spider #scraptabulousdesigns #ctmh #cricutexplore

Simply Inspired CTMH Blog Hop with Artfully Sent!

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Welcome to another fabulous Simply Inspired CTMH Blog Hop!  This month we are featuring our brand new Artfully Sent Cricut Cartridge!  WAHOO!!!  If you have arrived here from Delightful Denise’s Blog, you are on the right path.  In case you get lost along the way, you can find a complete list of hoppers here.

I have a very special aunt that sends my family cards for every holiday – and I mean EVERY holiday!!!  Sometimes, I get so wrapped up in the daily grind that the thought of making and sending cards totally slips my mind….  and then I feel like a naughty niece when I find her faithful cards in the mail.  I mean – creating is my THANG!!  I should be like white on rice with these cards.  So, I decided to create a Halloween Card as my project for this hop.  SHHHH…. Don’t tell Aunt Ann!!!  This card is heading her way shortly!  🙂 Continue reading →

Two Page Holiday Christmas Scrapbook Layout Pages Yuletide #scraptabulousdesigns #ctmh #cricutexplore

Ho, Ho, Ho!!! It’s Christmas with Yuletide Carol!

Oh Holy Night!!!  I have my Christmas pages completed before Halloween!!  LOL  Some serious happy dancing going on right now at my house…  be glad you can’t see me act a fool….  I kind of want to go watch Elf right now and do some SINGING!!!!!

I have to tell you – this kit was extremely intimidating for me at first.  I always seem to struggle with papers that are not uniform in design and rather “vintage-y” looking.  🙂  However, I am extremely pleased with how the pages turned out and I am already planning what kind of photos I will take over the Holidays this year!

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October SOTM Home for the Holidays Christmas Card Snowhaven #artfullysent #cricutexplore #scraptabulousdesigns #ctmh

October 2014 SOTM: Home for the Holidays Artfully Sent Card

Ho, Ho, Ho and Welcome to the October Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!  If you have come here from Sarita’s Blog, you are on the right path!  If you happen to get lost along the way, the complete list of hoppers can be found here.

This month we are featuring the Home for the Holidays Stamp Set that coordinates with the Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge – I LOVE using my stamps with my Cricut!  However, I was soooo excited when I received my brand new Artfully Sent Cricut Cartridge last week, I just had to use it to create my project instead!

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Two Page Fall Autumn Thanksgiving Scrapbook layout Pathfinding Cricut #ctmh #scraptabulousdesigns #cricutexplore

Pathfinding Workshop Layouts: Get your “Fall” on!

Hi everyone!  I have had a crazy couple of weeks here and I have totally felt like my head might spin off.  However, when I take the time to breathe and focus on what I *have done* instead of what I *haven’t done*, I find that things aren’t really that bad.  Sometimes I just have to remind myself to look at the BIG picture and just let the little things go.

So – these Pathfinding layouts were perfect for me to focus on being thankful.  I LOVE this time of year!  The gorgeous colors, the chill in the air, FOOTBALL (well, I really only like highschool football), and looking forward to the holidays.  I am CRAZY happy that I have these layouts done ahead of time.  I am now going to force myself to take photos of my family at Thanksgiving and a trip to the Corn Maze.  However, I specifically designed these pages so that they aren’t exclusively Fall or Thanksgiving – you can leave off some of the themed complements and use them for any photos that match! Continue reading →

It's Your Day Congratulations Card #ctmh #cricut #scraptabulousdesigns

It’s Your Day – Announcing the August Mystery Hostess!

Hi there, everyone!!  This is one of my FAVORITE blog posts to write – because I get to play Santa!!!  I love giving people FREE PRODUCT!

First of all, I would like to start by thanking the following people for placing orders from my website in August (you all will be receiving happy mail from me, too!).

Lisa W. from Ohio, Kelly S. from Pennsylvania, Linda L. from Michigan, Delaine P. from Michigan, Natalie F. from Michigan – THANK YOU ALL!!!!

Our August Mystery Hostess will receive $80 in FREE PRODUCT and 2 items at half off!!!! Continue reading →

Cut Above Thank You Card Kit Gift Kids Craft #ctmh #scraptabulous

Totally a Cut Above – Thank You Card Style!!

Hi there!  I hope you all are having a GREAT weekend!  This week has been a whirlwind with the start of school for me – I am pretty sure I am just as tired as my kids!  LOL

So – I knew I needed to get some crafting done, but I just wasn’t in the creative mood.  Do you ever get that way?  Well – let me tell you….  I have just the thing for the crafting blues!!  Our new Cut Above Card Kits do not require ANY creativity – and the best part….  Everything is already PRE-CUT!!  All you have to do is stamp and stick!!  How cool is that???  I am in love. Continue reading →