Getting my ducks in a row...

Briefly, my husband has some health issues, we are waiting for word from the doctor (and waiting, and waiting). It occupies a lot of our thoughts and I forget to do stuff, like update my blog. This morning, I decided that until my brain could manage to think creatively on it's own, I was going to take a short blog break. I will still update the Stamp of the Month link, and the Monthly focus - but they may not be at the start of the month.

Thank you so much in advance for your patience and understanding. I appreciate your support much more than mere words can ever express.

August will bring a new Idea Book, if you would like one, please contact me, or go to my online business address and browse it, or order one.

May... National Scrapbooking Month, Dads, Vacations, Here Comes Summer!

We all pretty much see May as the herald of Summer. For many of us the weather has already turned warm, though here in the northeast, it feels more like spring. I'm a little behind in presenting the offerings from Close to My Heart, and I apologize. Family stuff.

But speaking of family, and upcoming vacations, get ready to show off those photos in the most flattering light! CTMH has got a set up for you! Just for National Scrapbooking Month; Postcard Perfect! And it IS perfectly summery. The Postcard Perfect Bundle includes a paper pack, stamp set, complements, coordinating paper, vellum, and 12" x 12" memory protectors. 

Just look at those tropical patterns, the colors, the flowers. I am so looking forward to working with this set!

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For those special scrapbook pages and cards to honor your dad, granddad, or father to be, there is the "Dad is Rad" workshop. The workshop kit contains a special stamp set, cardstock, embellishments and instructions to create three scrapbook pages and four cards.

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And as always, don't forget our Stamp of the Month! May's SotM is called Classic Summer Bash  and features all the refreshment that a jar of citrus punch or lemonade can offer. Ink up your next BBQ invites with this tasty set. Click the link above for all the details.

If you are interested in any of these sets, please click a link to order, or click here to visit my website to contact me for more information about becoming a consultant or hosting a gathering (not to order, I cannot accept direct orders). Thank you for visiting, you are a blessing to me.

April snow squalls... bring... Fab Sales?

What a crazy winter we've had here in the northeast! It's the first week in April and we just had snow (with a little more expected next week!) I think the seasons are shifting on us.

Meanwhile, March roared in like a lion and passed so fast that I completely missed it. Maybe that's why it's still snowing.

Back to April, I hope everyone had a Happy Easter, filled with Family, Friends, bunnies, eggs, and most of all. memory making. I hope you took lots of photos, and I hope you will get them printed sooner than later! If you do not create your own scrapbooks, get them created via one of the online options (Persnickety Prints, Shutterfly, etc). As I read recently, no one is going to pass down a CD of photos. So get those albums made!

For those of you who enjoy creating your own scrapbooks, Close to My Heart is having a Friday sale every week in April. Called Fab Faves; select items will be offered at 25% off each week for 24 hours.

So mark this link, Fab Faves! and check back each week! 

Another Fab deal in April - if you have been considering joining the Close to My Heart team as a consultant... this is a Fab time to do it! The Fab Four  - in addition to the great consultant kit and the $50 in CTMH Cash that you get to purchase the supplies that work best for your business - if you sign up during April you will receive the next four Stamp of the Month sets FREE (a $71.80 retail value). Check out this link for more information.

Aren't the Stamp of the Month sets cute!! Gotta grab 'em all, and what an easy way? Join my team!

Crafty Holidays and a Year to Remember!

Here's wishing you all a Very Happy Christmas and a Merry 2018!

A quick note - there's still time to grab the Close to My Heart special calendar bundle "Through the Year" with step by step layout instructions for a simply gorgeous photo calendar that you can create and then have 12 pages for an album at the end of the year. The bundle comes with everything you need; paper, complements, a stamp set. Just add ink and adhesive...

Let the Monsters Come!

Halloween is almost here! Do you have your scrapbook pages ready for those precious shots of your family’s costumes? The front porch all decked out with jack-o-lanterns and scarecrows?

Close to My Heart’s Cats N Bats paper pack is the perfect blend of spooky fun and colorful pop. Just look at the ideas below. Scrapbook layouts, party invitations, cards, décor… I’m sure you can think of more.

CatsN Bats Paper Pack - $9.95 – X7224B 

Cats N Bats ScrapbookingWorkshop Your Way kit – G1136 - $27.95 - includes patterened paper pack, coordinating cardstock, Cats n Bats complements, Cats n Bats Dots, and Black Shimmer Trim.

Falling for Fall

OK... yeah, I know, the title souns a bit cliche... but Fall is one of my favorite seasons. I love the colors changing in the trees, the crispness in the air, changing over the wardrobe. I love the seasons of change in general. It feels like an opportunity to make changes. Clean out rooms, closets, drawers.

This year will be a little different, there won't be as many leaves in our backyard to watch change and fall... we had most of our "woods" cleared out behind our house this summer. It was always very mushy back there, and a few larger trees were uncomfortably close to the house. We felt this would give an opportunity for the ground to dry out and us to let a few of the smaller trees fill out, plus clear off the big ones that were hanging over the deck. Downside, not as much color this fall.

I'll have to make my own color with my lovely inks. On the upside, I won't have to rake all that up and burn, mulch, or bag it.

September also brings Back to School, kids starting new schools, plans for upcoming holidays and the new Close to My Heart Holiday Expressions mini catalog.

Inside you will find all beautiful papers and stamps and embellishments to help make your holiday crafting easy and amazing!

Here's a peek at some of the fun papers!

Falling for you

Cats and Bats

Beary Christm

Silver and Gold

It's also National Stamping Month and there's a very special Stamp and Card making kit you can buy just this month. The kit creates twelve foil framed, interactive cards, that are stamped with multi layered stamps. You can also buy the stamp set and the card bases separately, but if you buy the kit, you will save 20%, and you can buy more card bases to make more cards when you finish your first kit. Don't be fooled, there are a LOT of stamps in this set!

You can order this lovely kit, or any of the papers above, along with complementary stamps and embellishments, on my Personal Business Site. You can also use this site to contact me and leave me a message with any questions or comments you have.

Happy 4th!

I hope you all are having a fabulous 4th of July (long) weekend!! If it's anything like around here, there are already fireworks (legal or not) going off all around your neighborhood. Stay safe!

My life in June was crazy, and I missed out on 2 specials at Close to My Heart. The Album special and the Cardstock special. I think that was the universe's way of telling me to use what I have before filling my shelves with more... pffft on the universe, what does it know about crafters? lol I did manage to get emails out to all my regulars, so that was something at least...

Now it's July... and there are things you Close to My Heart fans need to know, or be reminded of if you don't already know. July is the last month for the Annual Inspirations 2016-17 Idea book, and there is a Stampaganza going on.

So here's the skinny... a whole lot of the Idea Book is retiring at the end of the month (you can find out what's retiring by visiting this section of my OBA), after July, bye bye.

BUT.. on the flip side of that is... if there are any stamp sets that you wanted, this is the month to get them! For the entire month, buy any two stamp sets (M-, A-, B-, C-, D-, or E-size) at full retail price and get a third stamp set of equal or lesser value FREE! Add stamp sets to your cart and qualifying sets will automatically be free!

In addition - an exclusive stamp set of 22 stamps just for Stampaganza - the January Word Puzzle set, is available for $17.95. While it's hot and humid outside, you can be stamping with thoughts of cool January.

Don't miss this opportunity to nab those stamp sets you've had your eye on. Just like the fireworks on the 4th, July will be fleeting and so will this Stampaganza! 

Contact your CTMH Consultant if you have any questions. (or click here if you need a consultant)

FLASH SALE June 1-2

It's FLASH SALE Time! 

That's Right, get your mouse ready, because at 5:00 pm Eastern (4pm Central, 3pm Mountain, 2pm Pacific), selected products will be featured at 30% off their normal prices!

There will be products and bundles from the current Annual Inspirations catalog as well as from the Seasonal Expressions  2 mini catalog.

Sale prices will only apply to items ordered online at Close to My Heart, and are only good from the times listed above on June 1 - same times on June 2. I have no advance knowledge of the items that will be featured.

Happy Shopping!

Live Beautifully, Live positively...

A very quick update tonight - I'm about a week behind. There's a new mini catalog with so much to share, and I've been trying to create samples. Meanwhile, May is National Scrapbooking Month - and to celebrate, Close to My Heart has put together an absolutely lovely paper pack this year. Check this:

Look at this lovely paper pack! It's the limited edition pack for May ONLY to celebrate National Scrapbooking month. And not just a paper pack, but a precious stamp set as well, with gorgeous full bloom roses!

And... a Cut-Above kit, with everything pre-cut and ready for your photos, including page protectors! It will make 5 two page layouts, and comes with 6 page protectors.

Or... how about an album bundle? An album, page protectors, journaling pen, Cut-Above kit, and adhesive! Just add photos and your album is practically done!

So many Memories.... So Little Time....

We never seem to have enough time to capture our memories. Well, this month, Close to My Heart is making that a little bit easier for you. How about “15-Minute Memories”? Grab your photos, one of our Cut-Above® layout kits and create a beautiful 2 page scrapbook layout in no time (or less time than usual), plus 2 pocket pages.

And, for all of April 2017, they are half price!

Each layout kit includes two printed 12” x 12” printed base pages, die cut paper pieces (even photos mats), title and embellishment stickers, 12 pocket cards, 2 12” x 12” memory protectors, 2 pocket style memory protectors, and assembly instructions. That’s everything you will need other than your photos, journaling pen, and adhesive.

Watch this video to see how fast they go together! 

One more reminder: April is the last month for the Seasonal Expressions 1 items!

That includes all the items from the following collections:

Dreamin' Big Paper Pack

Some Kinda Wonderful Paper Pack

Hello Lovely Paper Pack

Sugar Rush Paper Pack

Some Items are already sold out (Dreamin’ Big Thin cuts bundle, Sugar Rush Scrapbooking Kit L ), so be sure to check soon if there is anything you want! It’s all “while supplies last” until April 30th.

You can order any of these things by clicking the links, or clicking here to go to my OBA and browsing the entire line of Close to My Heart products.

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Have you ever thought about becoming a consultant? Whether you want to make it a business, or simply get a discount on your own purchases for your hobby, becoming a Close to My Heart consultant is extremely flexible, you can do a little or a lot. April is a fantastic month to join my team, You'll get all the fun of ordering from the Seasonal Expressions 1 catalog, plus the first look at Seasonal Expressions 2 (it will come in your consultant kit). A box filled with product and business starters, plus $50 in product credit for you to choose which products you feel will best help you grow your business. 

It's a Flash Sale - starting at 5pm EDT

Close to My Heart is having a One Day Flash Sale! 

This sale will feature a 30% discount on selected products and product bundles from Annual Inspirations and Seasonal Expressions 1.

It Starts at 3pm MDT (2:00 pm PDT; 4:00 pm CDT; 5:00 pm EDT) and ending at that same time on Saturday, April 8.

You can visit my OBA to see the items on sale. Place your order before the deadline to get the special pricing or bundles. 

Dreamin' of Spring

Here in the Northeast, it feels like winter has been arriving a little bit later the last few years. As in, really kicking around mid-January. This winter has been no exception, we got some major snow-fall at the end of January and in the beginning of February.

I love the snow, especially sitting and watching it quietly snow and snow, on days when I can stay home from work, snug and warm. However, getting so many storms, so close together, tends to wear out its welcome very fast, and start many of us thinking about the spring thaw all too soon. (Which we won't see until late March)

With that in mind, I started playing with one of the paper packs from the latest Close to My Heart Seasonal Expressions mini-catalog. It's called "Dreamin' Big" and it's really cute. I'm not done with the whole layout yet, so I'm only going to give you a little peek. The rest will come later this week.

New Year! New (mini) Catalog!

Yes 2017 is finally here - and it's been a long while since I was glad to put a year behind me! I know many, many of us feel the same way! For lots of reasons.

Keeping to the subject of my blog - paper crafting - in 2017, I have plans. I have ideas. Ideas and Plans, yes. No resolutions. But lots of ideas, and plans. mhm.

Anyway - Close to My Heart has a new Seasonal Expressions catalog, it's full of new paper collections, some new stamp sets, and also full of ideas. (The difference, is their ideas have been acted on - mine are still in my head). It just breathes Spring!

Also, January is National Papercrafting Month - and Close to My Heart has a fantastic kit to celebrate this - You can purchase it for $18.95 or get it for FREE when you purchase $60 in other Close to My Heart products. (and you've also qualified for the gorgeous Stamp of the Month for only $5!)

It's really easy to put it together, I've added some photos below of when I assembled the wreath. There's NO cutting needed, and NO stamping if you don't want to (I added a little shading around the edges to add some depth to the leaves and change the color of two of the roses).

Here's the package as you get it, you can see a couple of the pages of leaves, ready to punch out.

 

This is a montage of the assembly process, Clockwise from upper-left: all the pages, plus a glimpse of the instructions; one of the roses, right after I had sponged all of the edges; a layered succulent, ready for curving the leaves; punched out leaves, ready for sponging the edges.

and finally, my finished wreath. This was a fun project, and there are enough gold letters to do just about any name, or saying. The flowers and leaves do not 'have' to be put right as the picture says, and I know mine aren't in the exact same place. I didn't sponge enough on my first rose either, but had already curled it up before I realized it. Oh well. 

To finish this project, you will need the following items: 

Liquid Glass (Z679 - $6.95) or other thick, quick drying adhesive. I prefer the Liquid Glass to anything else though - it dries right away, and it's got some other great uses.

Quilling Tool (Z1795 - $7.95) - you can use an embossing stylus (I did), or a bamboo skewer, but it's very difficult to hold the end of the flower on to get it started. I really wish I'd had the quilling tool this time around. (I will for the next batch of roses I make)

Inks and Sponge Daubers (Z726 $4.95) if you wish to edge the paper pieces as I did.

I used the color Fern and Sweet Leaf Exclusive Inks ($7.95 ea) for the different green pieces. I used those greens on the blue-ish leaves also, but I think Glacier or Juniper would be good if you wanted to be very precise. I used Canary on my roses (tip: if you are going to sponge your roses, you can do it before you punch them out, and sponge both sides of the paper, since both sides will show.)

This is such an easy kit, it would be a wonderful way to introduce paper-crafting to someone. Or a lovely project to take with you.

If you would like to order this kit, or any of the products mentioned, please visit my Online Business Address (OBA). I'd love to be your Close to My Heart Consultant. I'm happy to answer any of your questions about Close to My Heart or paper-crafting, Just leave a comment below and I will get back to you.

Don't you love surprises?

Well, we all love good surprises. And Close to My Heart has got a Great Surprise in store for us all!

Mystery boxes!

On Black Friday, for one day, and ONE day only, you'll have the opportunity to to get amazing crafting supplies at an amazing price.

Featuring themed mystery boxes filled with retired Close to My Heart products, all at a major discount!

These mystery boxes will have five different price points, ranging from $35 USD to $150 USD - some of those mystery boxes will be 50% off the retail value!

This starts at 12:am Mountain Standard Time Nov 25, 2016 for 24 hours ONLY, while supplies last. That means that once the boxes at any one price point sell out, they are gone. Gone, gone gone. 

So click here (after midnight MST) and grab a box for your stash fast!

Pumpkin Spice Everything...

'Tis the season for Pumpkin Spice... in and on everything. After so many years, it's sort of annoying.
but I digress. I just wanted to use it as a title. lol

Pardon my late posting, I was in Florida at the beginning of the month, visiting family on the east coast. They are all safe, as are their neighbors. I was delayed getting home to my northern climes by a couple days, but it gave me the chance to help put the house shutters up before Matthew came to visit. Being an area watching all the hurricane prep was an interesting experience, and I continue to keep all of you who live in the hurricane belt in my thoughts.

Meanwhile, the month moved on and I neglected getting things updated here. eep. October has brought a new Stamp of the Month, Yuletide Joy (see the SoTM page and pic to the side), and a thrilling option for hostesses interested in signing on as a consultant.

For October - you can apply your Hostess Rewards to your consultant kit! See all the details here!  And I would love to have you on my team.

A sampling from the consultant kit.

Of course, being a hostess has always been a fabulous way to earn free products from Close to my Heart. Look at all the rewards you can get.... FREE! Being a hostess is easy, you can even have a gathering online, rather than in-home. Leave me a comment below

Big news! ALL - yes ALL the ink colors are now available in the New ink pad design! If you have been holding off buying ink-pads waiting for that great new magnetic inkpad... wait no more! At least pick up the Black. You will love it, I promise!

AND... I almost forgot this... The Happy Happy Christmas Album Bundle (say that five times fast, I dare you!). As if an album, protectors, cardstock, complements, Picture My Life cards, and My Crush pages... plus instructions on how to create five 2-page layouts for the album weren't enough. On top of that, there are instructions on how to create extra projects using the leftover materials. There are two album kits, one for post bound, and one for D-ring. links below, as well as the list of items for the extra projects.

Happy, Happy Christmas Album Bundle (Post Bound) - CC1180 - $69.95

Happy, Happy Christmas Album Bundle (D-Ring) - CC1179 - $69.95

Purchase one or more of the products below, and then follow the instructions to use your leftover supplies from the layouts to create even more Christmas crafts! 

• Designed Décor Red Magnetic Chalkboard (Z2006) • Display Tray (Z1750)• 5" × 7" Hinged Display Tray (Z1838)• Everyday Life™ Sea Glass Album Bundle (CC1181)

That's it for now, still trying to dig out of luggage (I hate unpacking as much as I hate packing), I always overpack! I'll create something to post this weekend....

Just Crazy Blessed Team Blog Hop - Cricut Flower Market & Thin Cuts Dies

Welcome to the Just Crazy Blessed Team Blog Hop!!! Thanks for joining us today! All of August and September, we are showing products from the new Close to My Heart Annual Inspirations catalog. I hope you enjoy this little peek at our new goodies.

This blog hop is a circle so you can start wherever you want and continue through to see the wonderful artwork incorporating the week's theme, by clicking the next or previous buttons at the end of this post. If you are coming from My Flights of Fancy, you are on the right track!

This week, we are highlighting the new Flower Market Cricut cartridge and the Thin Cuts dies.

The Flower Market Cricut cartridge has 700 images, shapes, layers, borders, banners, a font and more! The Collection comes with 3 stamp sets, the cartridge, and the Adventure cardstock combo pack to get you on your way cutting beautiful flowers and more. The Flower Market Collection joins our Artbooking and Artistry Collections.

The new additions to the Thin Cuts dies include words, hearts, and stars, along with some seasonal ones like monsters, snowmen, and snowflakes that are only available for a limited time in the Seasonal Expressions.

I made a cute card using the Hearts die set to share with you today. I chose this set for its versatility. There are 3 multi-sized, non-symetrical dies in the set, and it cuts out the solid heart in the middle, as well as a thin open heart ring. You can also nest the smallest heart inside the largest heart when you are cutting and get a heart with a hole in it. With a multi-cut, the same can be done using the medium heart or the medium-small hearts. (the dies don’t nest well on one pass through the die cut machine).

I used some Uptown Fundamentals and All About the Gold Fundamentals for this card (highlighted in this post). I love the polka dots, and really wanted to do something with the overlays. I lifted the clear gold polka dotted overlay away from the card using pieces of the Thin 3D Foam tape, hiding it behind the gold dots. Clever, huh? I placed the small heart die pieces behind the overlay, and two thin medium heart outlines on the top. This picture just does not do it justice to how great the layering looks. If I can get a better picture, I will replace it. 

On the inside of the card, I am going to use the medium heart, and a sentiment from the "Finding the Words" Stamp set. I just haven't decided whether to use this card as an Anniversary card, or an I love you card.

Thank you so much for stopping by today! If you would like to know more about the products I used in my creations above, please continue to scroll down. If you would like to continue on, please use the buttons below to continue on the Just Crazy Blessed Blog Hop. I hope you enjoy what Janna has to share next!

All in links above Heart Thin Cuts - Z3260 - $14.95 Uptown Fundamentals - Z3263 - $14.95 All About the Gold Fundamentals - Z3246 - $10.95 Thin 3D Foam Tape - Z2060 - $5.95 White Daisy Card Base Value Pack - X254 - $14.95 'Finding the Words' MyAcrylix Stamp set - D1646 - $17.95 Also Shown, but not used: Exclusive Close to My Heart Cricut Flower Market Cartridge Collection - Z3285 - $99.00