UPDATE: Anything CTMH does better than SU?

[kahoogstad]

Hi everyone!

Going to my first CTMH party next Saturday. The hostess knows that my loyalties lie with SU!, but I'd come check it out anyways.

Is there anything that I absolutely cannot get from SU! that would be a good investment from CTMH? My aunt (an SU! demo) said their paper is cool b/c it has a white core, so when you sand a dry-embossed image, the colour rubs right off to get the two-toned distressed look.

Any other suggestions? I for sure am not getting into buying acrylic stamps.

TIA!

********

So I went to the party on Saturday - and I have to say I was impressed with the My Acrylix stamps. But since I want to become an SU demo as soon as the new catalogue comes out, I'm not in a position to be investing in things I won't be able to demo. I did however, buy the the StazOn Cleaner, one pack of Autumn Garden 12 X 12 Cardstock (can't wait to start distressing!), and a stack of Pewter Embellishments (I'm especially liking the spiral clips).

Thanks everyone for these great ideas. I can't wait to get my stuff and start playing with it.

If anyone else here is really loyal to SU! and you get the chance to go to a CTMH party, GO! It was really fun, and there are some things about CTMH that ARE better than SU. Have fun

[Seattlejo]

I really like their scrap booking kits. A lot of assortment and they are a lot of fun.
thats really about the best I can suggest, if you dont want to buy stamps from them.

[mamakimberly]

I thought they had some cool embellishments (like spiral clips, etc..) that might be worth looking at!

[stampersdaughter]

I have not been to one, but I did get a book to check what they have.
I really like what SU has to offer in selection.
If I where to buy I think I would invest in the alphabets, easier to see where you are placing the stamps.

[scrapyme]

the stazon cleaner, SU doesn't sell it and it's great

[carmeggie]

I love the accent pieces that they have. They come in a separate little cases all stacked into a tube. I have to say that I also like their new stamps. They are clear. This makes two step stamping really easy. And their is no mounting needed. All stamps come on a clear acrylic sheet and you just pull the one off you need, place it on an acrylic block and stamp away.

I have friends that sell both. I have all of the basics(pads, markers, and paper) from Stampin-up, but do have some ctmh stamps.

Go open minded and have a good time!

[Klarson]

I just got the new catty, and Im getting the soccer set, I like that fact that their sport sets are not combined. I just want soccer, and with CTMH, I can get that.

I also like their templates, cause they come in 8 1/2 x 11 and 12 x 12.

I like their variety of glitter.

Stazon Cleaner

Acrylic - Im new to this, but Im sure I will like it cause you can see exactly where you are placing the stamp.

They have way cuter Easter stamp sets.

[patcreates]

The thing that sold me on CTMH was and still is the paper. I love the white core cardstock (just showed sanding a dry embossed image at a demo the other night...guests loved it!). The patterned paper and the scrapbook kits are the best. I just made a wish list for when tax money comes in and it is all paper!

[StamperedChef]

They sell people colored paper, and templates for cutting out little people and their clothes. My kids love to make them and they are pretty cute on a scrapbook page. They have some other neat templates too.

[Faryprincess]

I love their reflection and originals programs. It give you a lot of help with designing cards and layouts. It will tell you exactly what size to cut things and you can use any of your stamps. I have made better cards since I got them. It kind of reminds me of the sketch challenges on here.

[cpstamper]

Okay, I'm a SU demo so obviously I'm biased toward their products but I'd like to think I have an open mind. I don't know if I'd say "who does something better". CTMH has some cute things, no doubt....I just wanted to comment about the scrapbook kits that previous poster mentioned. I bought a set (a beach set) to do some vacation pages. I was very disappointed in the die cut stickers - I think they are called "stickease". I prefer my stickers to be cut really close to the image but these were not which made them look cheap, in my opinion. Some people may not notice this or may not care but I ended up giving them away and not even using them and I believe they were around $10 bucks but I'm not positive. So if I were to purchase from them again, I would stay away from the scrapbook kits or at least the ones with the "stickease" in them.

Just my two cents.....

Carri

[HeidiScott]

I am a SU demo and the girl accross the street buys from me but belongs to a CTMH group and when she has a party she invites me. I buy their decrotive paper because it is pretty and has specific themes like dancers and such. I was talking to her CTMH demo and she actually belongs to a SU stampers 10. She can not live without our stamp pads USwhite paper. But we both think that there acrylic alphabets are nice to form sayings with in one quick step but there letters aren't quite as cute so if you get an alpha set chose a versitle one.

[do-it-4life]

I LOVE their scrapbooking kits. Great papers and cardstock weight stickers

[kahoogstad]

Thanks for all the opinions ladies! This will REALLY help me. SCS rocks!!!!

[Vintage Redhead]

With the exception of the late arrival of Collage Alphabet and Collage Numbers, CTMH kicked our SU!'s butt this year on alphabets! They have a *much* greater selection and greater variety.

And honestly: It kinda cheezed me that SU! is trying to pass of Contemporary Alphabet as "new" when everyone knows that it is nothing more than a *restyled* Bold Line Alphabet. And that Crazy Alphabet is just a *smaller* Outrageous Alphabet.

Oh well....they don't ask *me* now, do they??!! ~ K

[melcran]

Okay, you got me, what's CTMH?

[lilybeansmom]

Close to my Heart, another stamp company.

[tashast]

Hi,
I belong to a CTMH month club thingy.
I really like their Originals program. They give exact measurements on what to cut pieces of paper for different size cards, 6x6 albums and the bigger albums. I do like their paper with the white core. I also like some of their colors of stamp pads/marker. Little different colors which is nice for a variety. Their brass dry embossing templates are a lot cheaper (cost) than SU and have some cute ones.

Personally, I don't like the new acrylic system but I think it would be great for letters. You could do an entire word on an acrylic block & then see where you put it. I have just had problem with images ending up with no ink in the middle even though there is in on the stamp.

I have never been to a party so you may learn a few new things as well.

Enjoy!
tash

[up4stampin2]

IMO... I agree that SU is better for most things but there are some cool advantages to CTMH. The acrylix alpha stamps are great. They have a ton more styles and designs. I love SU paper but did get some of the combo packs of CTMH just for the reason of the distressed look and white core option. I don't think the papers stamp well. Versamark really doesn't work great on them and the dye ink takes a while to dry. I also don't care for their regular stamp set as well in the acrylix. I find that they don't stamp a very clear image especially the solid stamps. I love the designer papers that they have. They really out do SU choices of that too. But for everything else... Stamps, Inks, Punches, Eyelets, Embellishments, Style... SU all the way!

[texasjodylynn]

I like their word stamps. They have a great selection. I also like their embellishlment stacks, although I wish you could buy the things in there seperately. The white stack is cool. It comes with little flower sequins that you stick a brad in the middle of.

Their patterned paper is also nice.

I never really thought I'd buy any ctmh, but I met someone who sells it and decided I wanted a few things.

[Lala]

I bought the tag template... especially great for tracing books with a little flair! (I also now use the coluzzle tag template, it's no trace-just cut is pretty cool but I still pull out the CTMH often.)

[wendalyn]

I've never even seen a book from them. Anyone know where I can buy one from? If so please just PM me... Thanks

[montistamper]

How funny! I greatly prefer both of these alphabets to the Outline and Outrageous. Both look more grown up to me.

Stephanie

[spedabstbit]

I also have recently come into contact with a CTMH representative, and am interested in seeing what they have to offer. We've talked about getting together for lunch and exchanging ideas and looking over each other's catalogs!

[Kerilou]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wendalyn

I've never even seen a book from them. Anyone know where I can buy one from? If so please just PM me... Thanks

Me too, I am interested....PM me...Kerilou

[heidiho]

I think it's been mentioned before, but I'll add my vote of approval that the word stamps and the alphabets are definitely worth looking at. In my opinion, there is quite a bit more variety with the CTMH greeting and alphabet sets vs. SU. I am actually quite fond of the acrylic system, but I still like my SU wood mounted stamps too. A variety is cool and I'm glad that the companies are so different!

[kahoogstad]

BUMP

(Just want to get any last ideas out there before I go to the party tomorrow :lol: )

[wendalyn]

IMO Stamps are always a great investment and every company normally carries diff ones.

[pigfingers]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kahoogstad

Going to my first CTMH party next Saturday. The hostess knows that my loyalties lie with SU!, but I'd come check it out anyways.

Is there anything that I absolutely cannot get from SU! that would be a good investment from CTMH? My aunt (an SU! demo) said their paper is cool b/c it has a white core, so when you sand a dry-embossed image, the colour rubs right off to get the two-toned distressed look.

Any other suggestions? I for sure am not getting into buying acrylic stamps.

TIA!

I love their patterned paper -- Background & Texture, Gingham, Fleurs Des Jardins -- They also have some scrapbook kits with patterned paper. They have some "color blocked" cardstock -scrapbook Base Pages -- all set to go.

They also have Buttons and accent beads and accessory kits with those spiral clips.

They have gingham in 8 colors.

They have "waxy flax" , kind of like hemp in 20 colors.

They have a weekly calendar book you can stamp.

They have a "Paper Sampler" -- like SU used to carry but doesn't anymore which is too bad --- an assortment of bookmarks, tags, cards, etc.

All of these above are things that SU doesn't have and are things I either have used and love or are things I love/have seen and need to get, LOL.

If I had to pick one of the things it would be the background/texture paper but I am a paper freak so that is why I would pick that.

The things that SU does sell but I prefer CTMH to (I know, the horror) are their My Legacy albums. The sturdiness of them just seem better.

[Seattlejo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kahoogstad

BUMP

(Just want to get any last ideas out there before I go to the party tomorrow :lol: )

Please come tell us how it went afterwards. I would love to know what you thought about it!

[kathynruss]

Hi, Tia or Kahoostad, whatever that is. I go to both parties and have stamping friends that do the same. I did a search for CTMH and found lots of individual websites for consultants, but the home company is at:

http://www.closetomyheart.com/

Check that out.

I read the whole thread and agree with most of them. The accents are realy cool, especially all the metallic ones. If you are in to punching out flowers, CTMH CS is thinner and easier to punch, IMHO. I don't use it for anything else. Let us know what you think!

Kathy in gorgeous Florida

[emivanek]

I am a CTMH rep, I love our My Acrylix! The two-step stamps, that some of our cutest flowers come in, used to drive me crazy lining up! Now that I can see exactly where I'm going with the top layer, it has improved my artwork dramatically!

I love getting the Stampin up idea books for more great ideas and a bunch of their sets are cute, but I was first introduced to stamping through CTMH and I guess everyone kind of always wants to stay loyal to their first love.

[scrappingrandma]

I just came from our community scrappin night and I am a su demo, we also have a cmc there and tonight we had a lady come that sells ctmh.
This is just a ladies night out so anyone and everyone is welcome.

As this is the first time that i have seen this product, I had a lot of question, I let her know that I was a su demo and we got to talking about the different products from the companies.

We both could see good points on each other products. She mention to me that even thought thier paper has a white core she still perfered the su basic cardstock.

Marsha
Every company has a product that someone must just have, If this wasn't so we would not have any ladies night out.
to each their own is the way I look at it

[dinagriff]

I am biased because I sell CTMH. I love the paper and ink colors. That is what hooked me on CTMH. I buy stamps from any company but get my paper and ink exclusively from CTMH. (For those of you having difficulty getting your image to stamp clean, here are a few hints. Use the foam sheet under your paper - that gives the image some cushion. Also, the stamp needs to be seasoned just like SU stamps. Stamp it a few times on scratch paper to get it seasoned. Finally, you don't need as much pressure as you do with wood stamps. If your image is not crisp, you are pressing too hard. Hopefully this will help.)
Something fun you may want to try is the Cut Paper Stack - pg. 193. You get a 1 pound assortment of CTMH paper. That would allow you to play with a variety of paper.
The alphabet sets are great. Even though you can put an entire word on your block at one time, I prefer to stamp one letter at a time (like you would with SU). I can get my letters a tad bit closer to each other that way. Since you see through the block, it lines up perfectly. To stamp this way, you would just need to buy a 1x1 block.
If you like eyelets, check out the selection on pg.197. They come in 48 colors and you buy only the colors you want.
Something fun is the name stamp on pg. 89. For $7.95 you can get your name on a stamp with your choice of fonts. It even comes with an acrylic block that you can use with other stamp sets eventually.
Finally, like someone else mentioned, there is a great tag stencil on pg. 186 for $5.45. I use this a lot - just trace and cut out.
Hopefully this will give you some ideas for items that will complement your SU stamps.
Dina

[stampnkat]

I have to say I really like the Tote boxes that CTMH has. They are made of heavy weight paper. Wonderful to decorate, stamp or add background paper to. I Love my Stampin Up stamps but I do like the clear stamps and acrylics. So nice to see where you are stamping. Makes awesome backgrounds cause you can see where you and where you are going to stamp.

[Suzastampin]

One other thing on seasoning your stamps...you can also rub them with a white artists eraser. And, somebody mentioned, don't press down as hard as with the rubber.

If anybody is on Yahoo Messenger, I have my webcam up showing some products. I'm Suzastampin on YM, so if you'd like to see some of our goodies, take a look

Suz
CTMH Executive Manager

[kahoogstad]

Original post has been updated...