It's National Scrapbooking Month!

It's my favorite time of year! It's spring and it's National Scrapbooking Month!  Close To My Heart has some great new products and paper collections in the new Seasonal Expressions 2 catalog.

In May, we have several great specials. During National Scrapbooking Month, when you have a qualifying order of $60 or more you can get the Happy Times paper packet (CC1063) for free. (You can also purchase it for $14.95). The collection includes beautiful floral designs and gold foil details. It's beautiful. To make the most of this beautiful paper, we have designed a coordinating stamp set, Happy Times (CC1064 for $17.95), that will complete your cards and layout.

 Also in May, all albums are 25% off. Both post bound and D ring albums are part of the special.

And no order would be complete without the festive Stamp of the Month, "Celebrate with Cake" (S1605).  The Stamp of the Month is available for just $5.00 when you have a qualifying order of $50 or you can purchase it for $17.95.

 

Get started on you next album now!  Take advantage of these great offers and get it all!!

-- Album of your choice  $26.21 

-- Page protectors (4110 top load, or type of your choice)  $9.95

-- Spine Expanders (Z4120)  $2.95

-- Happy Times stamp set (CC1064)  $17.95

-------- $57.06

-- Stamp of the Month (S1605) $5.00  (when you spend $50)

-------- $62.02

-- Happy Times paper packet (CC1063)  FREE  (when you spend $60)

"Paper Garden" Stamp of the Month - September 2015

Paper Garden is such a lovely stamp set.  It is perfect for making cards or for embellishing your scrapbook pages.  This stamp set is available during September 2015.  With a minimum qualifying purchase of $50, get the Stamp of the Month for $5.00!

 

My 5 x 7 inch card features "Paper Garden" (S1509) stamp of the month using Olive, Buttercup and Goldrush inks.  The sentiment is stamped in Chocolate using "Words of Comfort".  The stamped image is centered on Goldrush and Buttercup cardstock.  I added a small scrap of ribbon across the bottom.    (Buttercup = 4 x 6 inches, Goldrush = 3.5 x 5.5 inches, White = 3.25 x 5.25 with stamped image)

September is National Stamping Month, and this year Close To My Heart has something to help every kind of papercrafter say a big “hello” to life!

Available only during the month of September, these exclusive C-size My Acrylix^® Hello, Life! stamp sets can be purchased for $13.95 each! Or, for an even better deal, you can purchase all three for only $34.95 — a savings of $6.90!

Make certain to follow Close To My Heart’s blog, Instagram, and Facebook page for artwork inspiration featuring these lively stamp sets all month long. You can post your own artwork to your social media channels using the hashtag #ctmhHelloLife. 

Products Retiring on August 31, 2015

As summer draws to a close, so does the 2014-2015 Close To My Heart Annual Inspirations Idea Book.  On August 31st, all the paper lines and coordinating complements and accessories will be retiring.  Get yours now before they are gone.

• Chalk It Up
• Scaredy Cat
• Pathfinding
• Yuletide Carol (sold out)
• Snowhaven (paper packet sold out, cardmaking WOTG still available*)
• Confetti Wishes
• Brushed (WOTG sold out)
• Wanderful (WOTG sold out)
• Seaside
• Blossom (from Seasonal Inspirations)
• Jackson (from Seasonal Inspirations)

*as of August 16, 2015

To see the full list of retiring products, including paper lines, stamps sets, accessories, craft items and cardstock colors, visit my site under Shop > Retiring Items.

If you spend $50, you are able to get the August 2015 Stamp of the Month - "Framed" for just $5.00!

Also in August, order the new marker roll-up (Z3120) at full retail price and receive the new D-size stamp set My Acrylix^® Balloon Wishes FREE!  Or, order the new accessory roll-up (Z3121) at full retail price and receive two new Base & Bling style sheets, Affirmations and Lovely Blooms, FREE!  These items are featured in the NEW Annual Inspirations 2015–2016 idea book, but are available for early purchase during August only as part of this campaign.

Retiring paper collections:

BLOSSOM

 

 BRUSHED

 CHALK IT UP

 CONFETTI WISHES

 JACKSON

 PATHFINDING

 SCAREDY CAT

 SEASIDE

 WANDERFUL

Use sponge daubers to colorize a stamp

Here's a way to use sponge daubers to colorize your stamped images.  Instead of pressing the stamp into just one color ink, use sponge daubers to apply color to specific sections of your stamp.  The stamped image takes on a whole new look!

Here's January's Stamp of the Month (2014), Cross Stitch Wishes.  I used Chocolate, Olive, Garden Green, and Smoothie inks on this stamp to make it look hand stitched.  No masking required.

Sponge Daubers        Z726    $3.95  (3 pack)
Daubers Foam Insert  Z1897  $14.95  (holds 60 daubers)
Small Organizer        Z4138   $12.95  (Dauber foam insert fits inside)

It will be Christmas before you know it

I can't believe it's almost the middle of October.  Every year I plan to make handmade Christmas gifts and I always promise myself that I'll start in August.  Well, here we are again . . . October . . . and I'm just getting started.

At least I can be inspired by the amazing paper, stamps, and artwork in the new Holiday Gift Guide (products are available beginning Oct 15th)!

The October Stamp of the Month - Scandinavian Wishes - is the perfect way to create beautiful holiday cards.  This stamp can be yours for only $5.00 when you place a qualifying order of $50. (Available Oct 1 - Oct 31, 2013)

Valentine's Day Cards

Happy New Year!  I don't like to make New Year's 'resolutions' because I always feel destined to fail. So, this year I'm just going to set a new 'goal' . . .  Make more handmade cards!  Now, even if I only make one or two I can count myself as successful :-)  I'm starting with some lovely Valentine's Day cards.

 

This card uses the January 2013 Stamp of the Month "Happy Valentine's". The roses were stamped on white paper with black ink, then colored in using a Q-tip as a dauber (Cranberry and Garden Green inks). Then, I cut them out and adhered them to the black card.  The sentiment is stamped using Colonial White ink.

 

This card uses a similar technique, but the top rose is raised with pop dots and the card is accented with Cranberry ribbon.  

 

Finally, I made a small 3" x 3" gift tag.  The background roses are stamped with second generation Cranberry and then "Happy Valentine's Day" is stamped over them in black.

Cute Treat Boxes

I recently got my new Cricut Artiste cartridge and just couldn't wait to start trying out some of the fabulous 3-D items.  Here's what I made. There are many other 3-D boxes available on this great cartridge. What a crafty way to share holiday desserts.

The pie box (and coordinating lid) is on page 70 of the instruction booklet.  The booklet even gives you suggested cutting sizes.  This box was cut at 6 inches using Wonderland paper.

The decorations on the lid include a stamp from the October Stamp of the Month "Very Merry Christmas" which is stamped on a coordinating Cricut Artiste shape found on page 79 in the instruction booklet.  It is layered on a circle which was punched using the 2 inch scallop punch.  The snowflake accent was also cut from Cricut Artiste (page 79).  The background and overlay were cut from the same paper and I just flipped one over to the reverse side for contrast.  (The small brown snowflake is the left-over center from the mitten on page 79.  I used the mitten for something else, but kept the 'scrap' to use here.)  The snowflake is accented with some mini gems.

Featured Products
October Stamp of the Month "Very Merry Christmas"

Spend $50 and get this Stamp of the Month set for just $5

Cricut Artiste Collection

Host a gathering with sales of $250 or more and get this item for half price!












2 inch scallop punch

July 2012 Stamp of the Month "Live Out Loud"

This month's stamp is great for card makers and scrapbookers.  There are so many options available with the phrases on this stamp set.

 

Here are a few projects I made using this stamp set.

The Friend card was created using Colonial White cardstock as the base.  (This card is 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inches.)  I stamped "Friend" using Olive (second generation) ink and offset each one so that the work 'friend' appeared vertically down the center of the card.  I then stamped on a separate scrap of cardstock using Smoothie ink and cut out each letter placing each over the existing letters using glue dots (just to raise it ever so slightly).  I wrapped the bottom of the card with bakers twine and tied a small bow.  The inside is stamped with one of the other phrases from the set, "You make the world a better place".

This title block is the beginning of a page I am making about some home renovations we've done over the past few years.  I haven't put the whole page together yet, but this stamp inspired me to create a page about all the work we've done and the planning that went into it.  The title block is stamped on paper from "Lucy" using Chocolate ink.  The edges are also inked with Chocolate.  The 'screw' brads are something I had lying around for years and I decided that they would be perfect to go with this page.  I love it when I can use up something from my stash!

Lastly, I made a gift tag suitable for a graduation, promotion, or special achievement.  The stamp can be easily inked using two colors.  I used Olive ink for the word 'Soar' and Smoothie for the butterflies. I had a little bit of overlap, but I was able to wipe that off with my finger easily and then ink the second color.  I trimmed the rectangle into a tag shape by cutting off the two left corners.  I inked the edges with Olive ink, punched a hole and attached white bakers twine to use for attaching to the package.  (Works great around a wine bottle.)  For finishing embellishments I added a pink flower button tied with Waxy Flax and three Bitty Sparkles to add a little bling.

I hope you enjoyed these projects and are inspired to make your own creations using the Stamp of the Month.

June 2012 Stamp of the Month "Life is Tweet"

June is one of my favorite times of the year.  We have had a glorious spring here in Delaware and I'm hoping that June will be equally wonderful.  I'm looking forward to the end of school just as much as my kids.  No homework!  That doesn't mean there will be less to do, though.  It's just more fun!  We're all looking forward to vacation at the beach.  It wouldn't be summer without some time spent on the Boardwalk.

This page uses stamps from June's Stamp of the Month "Life is Tweet" and paper from "Dotty for You".

"Life is Tweet" features stamps that coordinate with the Cricut Art Philosophy.  The "life is tweet" flower embellishment on this page was cut from Colonial White cardstock, stamped, and adhered with pop dots.  The title letters were also cut using Cricut Art Philosophy.
 

I used the border stamp to create a frame around the page and stamped the birds in second generation* black in an attempt to make them look like seagulls.  My husband says seagulls are not gray.
I disagree :-)





*Second generation stamping: Fully ink your stamp.  Stamp off onto a scrap paper first. Without re-inking, stamp onto your project.  This creates an image with a lighter shade of the color.



Featured products:
June 2012 Stamp of the Month - "Life is Tweet" - Available June 1 - June 30 2012
"Dotty for You" paper - Available through May 31, 2012 for $5.00 when you spend $35
Cricut Art Philosophy 

I also made some fun cards using "Life is Tweet".

I stamped the balloons in a variety of rainbow colors, cut them out and used them as a simple border on a plain white card with rounded corners.  Inside says "Celebrate". (ink colors: Tulip, Goldrush, Buttercup, Olive, Pacifica, Smoky Plum)

The second card uses a scrap of Mayberry paper and Honey cardstock as the mat.  The bird is stamped in Goldrush on Honey cardstock and is cut out and adhered to the card front over the legs which are stamped separately in black. The bird's eye is accented with black marker.  Inside I have plans to include a small yellow feather and the words "I've made sure he won't be telling anyone else."  (tee hee)

Featured products:
June 2012 Stamp of the Month - "Life is Tweet" - Available June 1 - June 30 2012

Friendship Bouquet - May Stamp of the Month

I love coloring.  It makes me feel like a kid.  So I loved hand coloring these beautiful sunflowers from the May Stamp of the Month, Friendship Bouquet.

I made several projects this time.  I can't decide which one I like best.  First I created a few journaling cards.  I was inspired by all the unique 3" x 4" embellishments I've seen that can be used with Project Life scrapbooks or on any scrapbook page.

For the card in the middle I stamped the large sunflower (Chocolate) and three leaves (Olive), then colored them with pencil and trimmed them out.  I cut a 3" x 4" Colonial White rectangle and stamped the sentiment along the bottom right edge in Olive ink.  Then I just adhered the sunflower and leaves to the top.

For the other two cards I decided not to add any dimension.  I stamped one small sunflower on a scrap paper and cut it out (don't color that one - it will be used as a mask).  I cut a 3" x 4" rectangle and stamped another small sunflower in the corner, hanging it off the edge just a bit. You can choose whether you want the card to be horizontal or vertical.   I placed the first, cut-out sunflower over the sunflower stamped on the card, as a mask to protect it.  Then I stamped two leaves in Olive ink.  I colored in with pencil to finish.  Once you choose if it will be horizontal or vertical, add some light lines in pencil to keep your journaling straight if you like.

My second project using the May Stamp of the Month was an opportunity for me to try something new using the Circut Art Philosophy.  I decided a gift box was just the thing since I've been thinking a lot lately about end-of-the-year teacher gifts.

 

I cut the pillow box using the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge and Colonial White cardstock.  (The one pictured is 8 inches.)  I stamped the outside of the box with the script stamp from Universal Backgrounds in Goldrush Ink.  I used a sponge to gently edge the whole container with Buttercup ink to give is a yellow-ish glow.  I wrapped the box with a 1 inch strip of Honey cardstock and a 1/2 inch strip of Chocolate cardstock. (Cardstock)  I stamped one large and one small sunflower (Chocolate) and three leaves (Olive) then colored and trimmed them.(Exclusive Inks)  I grouped them together as shown and adhered them to the front of the pillow box.  I cut a small card using Cricut Art Philosophy which is edged with Olive ink and stamped with a sentiment on the inside and the outside. The ends of the pillow box close and stay shut without glue or tape.

I was able to fill it with 10 tea bags nicely.  You could put many other goodies inside.

For the card makers out there I created a beautiful thank you card.  These sunflowers are so happy and bright.  They are perfect for giving to someone who has gone the extra mile for you.

This card uses a Colonial White, 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inch base.  I cut the scalloped squares using Cricut Art Philosophy.  Each is 1 1/4 inches (you'll need 10).  I stamped three large sunflowers on Colonial White and colored them with pencils.  Then I carefully cut them into one inch squares (a 1 inch punch would work nicely too I'm sure.)  I chose the pieces I thought looked the best and placed them on the Chocolate squares in random directions. Arrange them on the card as shown leaving a space for your sentiment.  I chose to cut another shape (Colonial White) and it's outline layer (Chocolate) for my "thanks so much" sentiment.  I raised it with foam tabs and added a small hemp bow.

Shop for:
May Stamp of the Month, Friendship Bouquet
Cardstock
Exclusive Inks
Circut Art Philosophy

Thanks for stopping by.  Have a "sunny" day!

April Stamp of the Month Layout

I knew I wanted to use the small half-circle accent in the April Stamp of the Month to make a border for my layout so I set off trying to find an interest sketch that included a scalloped border.

I found just the thing on a layout created by Laura Vegas on the Bella Blvd site. The layout was inspired by a sketch from Becky Fleck.  Here's my take on this layout.

I used papers and flower stamps from the Sophia Workshops on the Go (spring 2011).  The flowers are stamped in Tulip and Goldrush and trimmed by hand. The April Stamp of the Month is featured on the dark pink border strip and the title.  Here are some close ups.

 

You can see the scalloped border here, which was the inspiration for the whole layout.

I also used the lined stamp to put some soft journaling lines on the pink cardstock so my handwriting will stay straight and level.  I like to hand write my journaling, but I can get messy if I'm not careful.  I think I will use this layout to feature a photo of my grandmother.  It's fun for me to do a layout with flowers and pink colors occasionally since most of my layouts are more masculine to suit my two boys.

Supplies:
April 2012 Stamp of the Month, "You Are . . ."
Sophia Workshops on the Go (paper and stamp set)
Ink colors: Tuplip, Goldrush, Olive (second generation)
The white mat is 10 1/2 inches square, pink dots: 6" x 6", stripe: 4" x 6", pink cardstock: 4" x4".
The remaining white space is the perfect size for a 4" x 6" photograph.

April Stamp of the Month

It wasn't hard to come up with Cool!, Fun!, Original!, Amazing! ideas for this month's stamp of the month.
This month's stamp features four words for page titles or for card sentiments.  It also includes designs for  enhancing plain cardstock, a border stamp, and cute accents.  (15 stamp designs)

  

"You Are . . . " - April Stamp of the Month

Available April 1 - April 30, 2012 only

Here's my  Thank You card. 

 A few pop dots for dimension.

Inside

Supplies

Paper: Wonderland
Stamps: You Are . . . (set of 15) - April Stamp of the Month, "Thank You" from Card Word Puzzle stamp set
Inks: Chocolate, Pacifica (second generation), Cranberry
Tools: 2 inch Scallop Circle Punch, 1 1/2 inch circle punch, 1 1/4 inch circle punch
Embellishments: Colonial White bitty brads