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Is Close To My Heart "Green"?
Since its founding over 25 years ago, Close To My Heart has long been a pioneer and industry leader in environmental stewardship. Close To My Heart is recognized as an environmentally responsible corporate citizen in the paper crafting industry. |
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Green Initatives from Close To My Heart
--All Close To My Heart printed papers are SFI (sustainable forestry initiative) certified. We work with vendors who maintain the strictest standards in quality and environmentally responsible printing.
--We recycle approximately 80% of all waste generated at the corporate office.
--All of our lighting and ventilation systems are on timers so they minimize resource consumption during non-business hours. The office/warehouse facilities are OSHA compliant and offer a safe and clean work environment to all employees.
--Our shipping boxes are made of partial post-consumer recycled material.
--We use an innovative material reclamation process that helps us recapture the vast majority of the polymer used to produce our stamps. It's fast, clean, efficient, and also helps keep our stamp costs competitive. All our stamp manufacturing processes are extremely clean, and are cleaned with environmentally-friendly soaps and water-soluble chemicals.
--We do use some soy-based dyes in our paper printing. Because of some limitations with soy, we can't use it exclusively, but it is an important component of our ink processes. | |
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Is your Craft Room "Green"?
Here are some strategies from experts in the scrapbook industry... |
Greetings!
Today everyone is going "green"; environmental awareness is a trend you can't ignore, even in your own craft room. Of course, paper crafters are natural "recyclers" and may have even invented recycling without knowing it! We manipulate paper to get the most out of every sheet of cardstock and patterned paper. We crop our photos using Photoshop and order prints just the right size. We save all of our vacation brochures and tour maps, movie ticket stubs, report cards, tags and buttons from our clothing purchases, and countless other bobles, beads, and ribbons. A paper crafter is always thinking, "Hum, how can I use this on a scrapbook layout or in a paper project?"
By becoming a little more aware of your creative process, you can have a "green" craft room in less time and much easier than you may think. Of course, if you are already buying environmentally safe cleaning supplies, using canvas bags when you shop rather than paper or plastic, and using energy saving light bulbs, you are already contributing more to the "green" revolution than you think. If you are separating your aluminum cans from your plastic and taking all of your paper products to a recycling center, you are definitely thinking "green"!
Amy Muse
Close To My Heart Independent Consultant |
| Take a look around your craft space. Do you already have a container to store all your scraps? Do you just toss your Diet Coke can in the regular trash, or does it make its way to a recycle bin? Do you re-use containers and boxes that your scrap supplies come in? These are a few simple ways to be a bit more environmentally responsible.
My favorite use for scraps is making cards. If I am not feeling inspired, I just grab either my Originals or Wishes How-To card book from Close To My Heart and use the patterns, step-by-step instructions, and artwork to make fabulous all-occassion and thank-you cards in no time! If I have a party coming up, I make invitations!
Reuse plastic tube packaging from ribbons or accents to make fun treat holders. Decorate the tubes with scraps, then embellish and stamp them as desired to give as gifts or party favors to guests, party hostesses, friends and family members.
Instead of writing on handmade cards, jot a sentiment on a cute sticky note and place it in the handmade card. This way the recipient can reuse the card!
Use bubble wrap as a stamp for your scrapbook projects. Cut a smaller piece of bubble wrap and make sure the bubbles are facing out. Then tap the the wrap on the desired ink pad, or more than one ink pad to get the desired effect. Use similar colored paper and ink to get a subtle effect. When using more than one color, use the ink lightest to darkest, so you won't transfer dark ink onto your light ink pads!
Using your light colored cardstock scraps to make journaling strips, or small tags is also a very "green" idea. It is easy to just journal right on them for your scrapbook projects, or use word stamps with chalk or ink to decorate the tiny tags.darkest, so you won't transfer dark ink onto your light ink pads!
Using your cardstock scraps to make journaling strips, or small tags is also a very "green" idea. It is easy to just journal right on them for your scrapbook projects, or use word stamps with chalk or ink to decorate the tiny tags.
I am always looking for new ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle. It brings a big smile to my face when I can bring these principles into my scrapping in new and innovative ways. I'd love to hear some of your ideas, too. Email me at amymuse@myctmh.com. |
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| Get a FREE Workshop on the Go! |
From February 1 to February 28, 2010, I am giving you your choice of the four Workshops on the Go when you purchase the Consultant Kit for $99, (over $300 value!)! If you are interested in learning more, go to http://amymuse.myctmh.com and click on the "Your Opportunity" tab on the left-hand side. Whether you are a scrapbook enthusiast that would enjoy a generous discount along with a fabulous deal on the Spring 2010 Consultant Kit, (ONLY $99), or someone who may be interested in a part-time or full-time job doing something you love and would love to share, you owe it to yourself to learn a little bit more.
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| Offer Expires: February 28, 2010 | |
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