New Idea Book Premieres

September... signals the end of Summer, for many Back-to-School shopping has been done and the kids have slipped on their backpacks and posed for their First-Day-of-School photos on the doorstep. Or you've dropped them off at the dorm with boxes and pillows and said a teary-eyed goodbye as they take their first steps into adult-hood and college.

Before those memories fade, make notes while the photos are being developed, so that when you create those precious pages for your album, they are filled not only with pictures, but your words, and perhaps the points of view from your children as well.

Close to My Heart has a fabulous Special in September; You've Got Class. It includes 7 special Tru-Fit Folios, folders which fit inside the top-loading memory protectors and can hold drawings, class essays, grade reports, or extra photos.


September is also the time when Close to My Heart's New Idea Book Launches! The 2018 Holiday Expressions catalog is live as of September 1 and you can view it online here. If you'd like a copy of your own, you can add one to your online order, or contact me and order one.

I won't spoil the surprise by going through the entire catalog, but will tell you the new papers are lovely, the new ink colors are bright and fabulous and you will love the new embellishments!
However, here are a few of the treats you can expect:

 

The Color Palette - Amazing... One big family of Color 

Plus, if you look closely, you will see some of the new Thin-Cuts, cuts from the new digital Cricut cartridge, and some of the fun embellishments.

 Color of the Year - Sugarplum - this photo does NOT do the color justice!

Available in our Exclusive Ink, Pigment Ink, Shimmer Brush!, Cardstock and Glitter Paper.

Another September Special - More Magical! 

How about a Kit-of-the-Month program? 

Yep, we've got one. Craft with Heart - featuring Cut Above layout kits.

Keep your creativity flowing with Close To My Heart’s Craft with Heart™ club, where you receive regular deliveries of project kits that will keep you connected with your passion.

Available in subscriptions monthly, every 4 months, or yearly, you choose what works best for you and your crafting muse. 

So much more, but I will save some for my next post. Check out the Stamp of the Month page to see what the $5 special is this month. It's perfect to help you get a jump start on your seasonal cards.

Thank you for stopping by, you bless me with your support.

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...

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.

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!

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

Just Crazy Blessed Team Blog Hop - Uptown & All About the Gold Fundamentals

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 creations.

This blog hop is a great big circle so you can start wherever you want and continue through to see all 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 XXX's Blog, you are on the right track!

This week we are highlighting  the "Uptown" and "All about the Gold" Fundamentals. 

The "All About the Gold" Fundamentals is an amazing set of 6 see-through overlays with gold foil designs. They make a great contrast to the black and white of the Uptown set. When you turn them over, they show silver through the plastic, and that makes a nice complement to either the black or the whisper side of the Uptown papers. 

The "Uptown" Fundamentals are some great basics to have in your stash. Three in black and white on one side, and Whisper and white on the other, and one in gold foil and white stripe. There are also two vellums in the pack; one with a subtle white diagonal, and the other with a gold confetti pattern (when you turn it over, it looks silver). You get two of each pattern for 12 sheets in the pack.

 I created a simple Thank You card with the Uptown paper pack using the My Acrylix "All the Thanks" stamp set. Another great basic to have on hand. Four different, simple Thank Yous, perfect for any occasion, from gifts, to thanking someone for house-sitting.

I made this card as an idea for use as a thank you after a long visit. I used the whisper side of the word background paper, then used the journaling pen to fill in two of the words, to make them stand out. It took a steady hand, and patience. :)

The products used to make this card:

White Cards and Envelopes, value pack (50) - X254 - $14.95

Black cardstock - 24 sheet pack - 1386 - $14.50

Uptown Fundamentals - Z3263 - $14.95

All the Thanks My Acrylix stamps - B1536 - $9.95

Journaling Pen - Z1979 - $3.25

Thank you for joining us on the blog hop!

If you would like to know more about the special this month at Close to My Heart, 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!

There's only a few more days to get the Basically the Best Deal on Close to My Heart's New Fundamentals Paper Packs - 

If you take advantage of the above deal, you qualify for the Stamp of the Month, Purrfect Halloween, for only $5

Cyber-Sale Week!!

Close to My Heart is having a Huge after Thanksgiving Sale. The following items are 25% off beginning November 30 through Noon (MDT) on December 4^th.  Look for the special Cyberweek Shopping menu on my OBA, and stock up. (psssst... there's a Cricut Collection).

Z3111 Base & Bling snowflake charm- faux gold
Z3112 Base & Bling jingle bell charm- faux gold
Z3135 Base & Bling snowflake charm- faux silver
Z3136 Base & Bling jingle bell charm- faux silver
Z3138 Base & Bling red bead charm- faux gold
Z3139 Base & bling red bead charm- faux silver
z3180 Picture my life- Going places scrapbooking program
Z3147 Cut above Dapper Giraffe Card kit
Z2028 Designer creations Short Stack Album
Z2036 Designer creations Slate paper bags
Z2037 Designer creations-Lagoon paper bags
Z2038 Desinger creations- Ruby paper bags
Z2039 Desinger creations- Honey paper bags
Z2049 Designer creations- Cupcake box
Z2050 Designer creations- Takeout box
Z2053 Designer creations- Buttoned bag
Z1838 5x7 Hinged Display Tray
Z1750 Designed Decor Display Tray
Z2006 Designed Decor Red Magnetic Chalkboard
Z2015 Designed Decor Black Shadow Box
Z2016 Designed Decor Colonial White Shadow Box
Z1833 My Creations Kraft Container
Z1871 My Creations Kraft 3 Ring album
Z1953 My Creations Journaling Cards box
Z1956 My Creations Hip Pics album
Z3043 My Creations Black mini book 
Z3044 My Creations Kraft mini book
Z3069 My Creations Mini Mix album
Z3137 My Creations Pint sized container
Z3168 Cricut Artfully Sent Collection
Z1476 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 white daisy envelopes
Z1477 5x7 White Daisy envelopes
Z1478 6x6 White Daisy envelopes
Z1756 3x3 Colonial White envelopes
Z1757 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 Colonial White envelopes
Z1758 5x7 Colonial White envelopes
Z1759 6x6 Colonial White envelopes
Z1851 Scallop Border punch
Z1997 Triangle Border punch

Get Ready, It's Coming!

Before you know it, the new year will be here! The November Stamp of the Month, Cheers - 2016! is all about celebrating the incoming New Year. It's great for scrapbook pages, as well as for making cards for those who don't (or didn't get around to) sending out December Holiday cards. My sister has been sending New Year cards for years now. I keep saying I am going to adopt the idea, but I just love Christmas stamps... anyway... Cheers!

Some images from the Close to My Heart website:

This stamp set just screams for using some glitter paper or shimmer trim, lots of sparkle and sequins.

What a great way to send off some holiday photos to family and friends, or remember the New Year's Day Dreams you plan with your family.

Speaking of PLANNING... Stay tuned... in the next week or two, definitely before the end of the month... Close to My Heart is introducing a Planner! I'm really excited about this. I'm a little late spreading the news (it was on the CTMH Blog on November 2, 2015), but I will surely not be when it's available! It was previewed at the AustralAsia convention to rave reviews, and has been the buzz of the CTMH Facebook groups ever since. There will be a package deal to start with, so definitely mark it in your current planner to be ready to jump on this opportunity!

This month there is a fabulous special going on for scrapbookers! The Simply Fundamental Scrapbooking Bundles are available only the month of November, and will give you a great jump start on your holiday and 2016 scrapbooking. Here's all you get in a bundle ($71.80 USD):

• Album of your choice (D-ring or Post-bound)
• Paper Fundamentals Enchantment (1 pack)
• Fundamental Stickers Enchantment Pack (1 pack)
• Fundamental Assortment Peacock (1 pack)
• White Daisy Cardstock (3 sheets)
• Memory Protectors™ Value Pack (1 pack Side Load or 1 pack Top Load) 

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Today I finally opened my White Pines paper pack and made some Christmas cards. 

I recently got the "Believe in Christmas" My Acrylix Stamp Set, available in the Holiday Expressions catalog. I love all the sayings. After much staring at the paper pack, and Pinterest, I finally came up with this - which was inspired by... nothing I saw, lol. 

I laid all 3 sentiments on one block and stamped them at an angle in Chocolate ink on one edge of Colonial White cardstock, then again down the other side, offsetting them so they were next to a different saying. I used a small pine branch from another set in Fern ink to add a little color to that piece of cardstock, then I layered it onto a piece of Cranberry cardstock. 

I stamped the banner in gold pigment ink on a cut out banner and heat embossed it with antique gold embossing powder (it looks chocolate in this photo). 

I used the "Seasons" stamp set that comes with the Art Philosophy Cricut Collection to stamp the tree. I topped off one tree with a small wooden partridge (or maybe it's a dove?), and the other with a star, just for variation. And I gave one of the trees and the banner some dimension with foam tape. The banner and trees were cut out of Colonial White cardstock using my Cricut Expression and Art Philosophy and Artistry cartridges.

Finally, I doodled around the edge in black (I wish I had used brown), and added some gold sequins for ornaments on the tree.

There are other really pretty papers in this pack, and I plan to create some scrapbook pages soon. The complements that are available are so cute! White Pines set.