January Stamp of the Month: Happy Valentine's Day

Happy New Year's! No sooner do we watch that ball drop in Times Square and we are thinking about Valentine's Day! Our January Stamp of the Month, Happy Valentine's might just be exactly what you need to get some of those creative juices flowing - in plenty of time for making cards and gifts for all those you hold near and dear!

Welcome to the January Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! This month, we are featuring over 45 talented Close to My Heart Consultants. If you arrived from Susan Brooks' blog, you are on the right track. If this is your first stop, simply follow the links at the bottom of each post until you arrive right back here.

The January Stamp of the Month set, Happy Valentine's is a beautiful set of seven stamps. Gorgeous line-image roses ready to be shaded and colored with our new alcohol inks markers, and a few heart-felt sentiments!

This standard-sized card pairs the Happy Valentine's set with the La Belle Vie My Reflections paper packet. I love how crisp and clear the roses look simply stamped in black. I added a little Shimmer Trim and Black Tulle for the finishing touches!

Remember, the Happy Valentine's set is only available through January. You can order it for $17.95 or add it to a $50 order for just $5. And don't forget about our adorable Whoo's Your Valentine? special going on through January as well...with a $35 order, you can add the Whoo's Your Valentine? kit for just $10 (add another $5 to your order and BAM, you've earned the discounted Stamp of the Month)!

Time to hop along to Nikka Geers' blog to see what she created to share with us. And of course, after you've checked out the hop, head on over to my website (or your own consultant's site) and order your Happy Valentine's set AND your Whoo's Your Valentine? kit!

Whoo's Your Valentine?

Yes, I know...we don't even have those Christmas gifts put away yet and here I am talking about Valentine's Day already? Yes, yes, all for good reason though...

January is National Papercrafting month and Close to My Heart has the most adorable kit available for a very limited time! And...when you order the kit, you can join me for a FREE workshop to put it all together!

Combine your love of papercrafting with the contents of this kit to create personalized valentines—perfect for classrooms and other group settings. This darling kit, which retails for $40, can be yours for only $10 when you spend $35 or more in Close To My Heart products from the Autumn/Winter 2012 Idea Book*.

Your kit will contain:
12 die-cut boxes
3 cardstock sheets
1 sheet of silver glitter paper
12 treat tubes (oh, I do believe that is a sneak peek at a NEW product from the Spring/Summer 2013 Idea Book)
An exclusive D-size stamp set created specifically for the kit (a $17.95 value alone!).

Decorate the die-cut boxes with the stamp images, cardstock, and glitter paper. Then attach the
clear tube and fill with treats for valentines in a cinch!

Visit my website to place your qualifying order and add your Whoo's Your Valentine? kit. Then make plans to join me for a FREE workshop to put it all together...

Whoo's Your Valentine? Workshop
Date: Sunday, January 20th
Time: 2pm - 4pm
Location: My Studio in Newbury Park

To make the deal even better, join the Mystery Hostess online gathering when you place your order and be entered to win FREE Hostess rewards when the Mystery Hostess orders combined total $150 or more!

Shop online today and join me in January for some creative fun!

December Stamp of the Month Blog Hop: Year-Round Cheer

Welcome to the December Stamp of the Month blog hop! This month we have 60 talented Close to My Heart consultants ready to share their creativity with all of you! If you've arrived from Wanda's blog, you are on the right track. If this is your first stop, simply follow the links at the bottom of each blog post until you get back here and you are sure to be filled with inspiration to last all year long!

Inspiration to last all year long? Really, with one little stamp set? ABSOLUTELY! The December Stamp of the Month, Year-Round Cheer is an adorable set of 12 stamps - that's one for each month of the year! So many possibilities with this set...

I love the traditional look and feel the Pear & Partridge My Reflections kit, but after a second look I realized just how "not-Christmasy" this paper can really be! Only one paper has an image that clearly says "Christmas"...all the others can be used for just about any thing you might need! Check out these Valentine's Day cards I created with the Pear & Partridge papers and the Year-Round Cheer set!

Remember, the December Stamp of the Month is only available through December 31st. Order yours today for $17.95 or place a $50 order and add the Year-Round Cheer for just $5! Visit my website to place your order!

Time to hop along and see what Maria has to share with us!

Just in...HUGE sale, FREE Gifts, and REWARDS!!

Beginning tomorrow, you'll want to make sure you check out the "While Supplies Last" page of my CTMH website. Close to My Heart just announced they will be adding a ton of new items to the "While Supplies Last" section...you'll find gorgeous papers and beautiful coordinating accessories all at amazingly low prices!

To sweeten the deal even more, from December 1 - 31, all orders placed online at www.beth.CTMH.com that reach or exceed $50 (before tax and shipping) will also include a FREE Bonding Memories Glue Pen ($4.50 value). I LOVE the Bonding Memories glue Pen to adhere those smaller, fine detailed Cricut diecuts!

And to make the deal EVEN sweeter...if you place your order under my December Mystery Hostess order, you will be entered into a drawing to earn Hostess Rewards (i.e., FREE or 1/2 off products!!!). To qualify for the drawing you must "JOIN" the December Mystery Hostess online gathering by following the link at the bottom right corner of the homepage or when prompted to do so from the shopping cart page. The total of all orders placed in the Mystery Hostess online gathering must exceed $150 for the drawing to take place - so tell your friends!

I'm sure items on the While Supplies Last page will go quickly, so shop early for the BEST deals!


***RETIRED LIST****
CTMH has made their list and checked it twice and the following items will be retired at the end of 2012. They are still available through December 31st unless current inventory runs out - which always happens with a handful of items - so while you're checking out the "While Supplies Last" items be sure to check the Retired List...don't miss out on those goodies you've been eyeing!

Item #	Item Description
Z1349	Shimmer Designer Brads
Z1360	Rhinestone Designer Brads
Z1361	Brads Red Assortment
Z1362	Brads Pink Assortment
Z1363	Brads Blue Assortment
Z1364	Brads Green Assortment
Z1365	Brads Basic Assortment
Z1387	Wooden Designer Buttons
Z1391	Buttons Clear Assortment
Z1395	Irresistibles™ Eclectic Chipboard Die-Cuts (the alphabet)
Z1465	Irresistibles™ Make-It-Count Numbers
Z1681	Dimensional Elements  Numbers
Z1761	Dimensional Elements Ornaments
Z1762	Dimensional Elements Snowflakes
Z1765	Color-Ready Arbor Wooden Shapes
X7147C	Stella Complements Canvas Shapes
X7148C	My Stickease® Pemberley Assortment
X7150C	My Stickease® Victory Assortment
X7153C	My Stickease® Florentine Assortment
X7158C	La Belle Vie My Stickease® Assortment
X7160C	Flirty Complements Dimensional Elements
X7161C	Moonlight Complements Dimensional Elements
X7162C	Pear & Partridge Complements Glittery Rub-Ons
Z1464	Milepost Shapes
Z1466	Bling Assortment
Z1695	Urban Felt Alphabet
Z1696	Keepsake Felt Alphabet
Z1709	Just Blooms® Petals Paper Flowers
Z1460	Foundry® Ribbon Slides
Z1711	Foundry® Binder Clips
Z1712	Foundry® Number Plates
Z1461	Décor Journaling Spots
Z1687	Bohemian Assortment
Z1689	Timeless Charms
Z1692	Tough Tags
Z1694	Bouquet Assortment
Z1741	Haunted Assortment
Z1749	Autumn Lane Assortment
Z1763	Boutique Assortment
Z1772	Dimensional Elements In Color—Holiday
Z1393	Mini-Medley Accents Black Collection
Z1316	Designer Ribbon Cocoa Collection
Z1385	Designer Ribbon Blue Collection
Z1615	Designer Ribbon Red Collection
Z1616	Designer Ribbon Green Collection
Z1388	Newsprint Rub-Ons
Z1700	Dark Chocolate Tapestry Velvet Rub-Ons
Z1733	Black Tapestry Velvet Rub-Ons
Z1743	Festive Velvet Rub-Ons
Z1742	Parlor Velvet Rub-Ons
Z1407	6" x 6" Olive Quick Pic™ Album
Z1408	6" x 6" Pansy Purple Quick Pic™ Album
BULK254	Bulk Glitter Button
BULK152	Cranberry Brads
BULK213	Black Button Brads
BULK263	Avonlea Workshop Guide
BULK264	Clementine Workshop Guide
BULK265	Dakota Workshop Guide
BULK266	La Belle Vie Workshop Guide
BULK267	Scholastic Workshop Guide
BULK268	Flirty Workshop Guide
BULK269	Moonlight Workshop Guide
BULK270	Pear & Partridge Workshop Guide
BULK258	La Belle Vie B&T Duos® Combo Pack
BULK260	Flirty B&T Duos® Combo Pack
BULK261	Moonlight B&T Duos® Combo Pack
BULK262	Pear & Partridge B&T Duos® Combo Pack
BULK231	Bling Buttons (12 mm)
BULK234	Milepost Shapes Corrugated Stars (1 1/2")
BULK272	Bling Gems
BULK274	Pearl Badge Buttons
Z1054	My Creations® Display Album
Z1378	My Creations® Banner
Z1614	My Creations® Memory Game
Z188	Craft Jars
Z1352	4 1/2" Colonial White Circle Cards
Z1353	4 1/2" White Daisy Circle Cards
Z1731	My Originals® Sweet Surprises Card Kit
X7147B	My Reflections® Stella Paper Packet
X7148B	My Reflections® Pemberley Paper Packet
X7150B	My Reflections® Victory Paper Packet
X7153B	My Reflections® Florentine Paper Packet
X7158B	La Belle Vie Paper Packet
X7160B	Flirty Paper Packet
X7161B	Moonlight Paper Packet
X7162B	Pear & Partridge Paper Packet
Z1252	Cutting Knife
G1041	Workshops on the Go® Avonlea Cardmaking Kit
G1043	Workshops on the Go® Pear & Partridge Cardmaking Kit
G1040	Workshops on the Go® Spellbound Cricut® Kit
G1042	Workshops on the Go® Scroll Album Kit
G1044	Workshops on the Go® Advent Calendar Kit
G1045	Workshops on the Go® Avonlea Scrapbooking Kit
G1046	Workshops on the Go® Clementine Scrapbooking Kit
G1047	Workshops on the Go® Dakota Scrapbooking Kit
G1048	Workshops on the Go® La Belle Vie Scrapbooking Kit
G1049	Workshops on the Go® Scholastic Scrapbooking Kit
G1050	Workshops on the Go® Flirty Scrapbooking Kit
G1051	Workshops on the Go® Moonlight Scrapbooking Kit
G1052	Workshops on the Go® Pear & Partridge Scrapbooking Kit
Item #	Item Description
A1104	A Tweet
A1111	A Tulip
A1116	A Melody
A1122	Bravo
A1128	Quick Cards—Shell
A1129	A Rainbow
B1365	Spring Up
B1369	Rosy Regards
B1374	Bee Happy
B1397	He Is Risen
B1402	My Peeps
C1439	Enjoy Life
C1440	Take a Picture
C1442	Tailor-Made
C1450	Eclectic Edges
C1452	Delight
C1455	Aspire
C1456	Heartfelt Treasures
C1457	Happy Camper
C1458	Paper Lantern
C1473	Remarkable Wreath
C1474	10 Things
C1485	Super Powers
C1498	Country Life
C1499	Perfect Day
D1195	The Works Alphabet
D1222	Tiny Typewriter Alphabet
D1296	Chocolate Alphabet Small
D1301	Hodge Podge Alphabet
D1303	Classmate Alphabet
D1462	Splendid Day
D1464	Card Chatter—Love
D1467	Trees & Things
D1472	Simple Memories
D1478	Bingo Alphabet
D1505	Roar!
D1508	Diverse Backgrounds
D1509	Magic Adventures
D1511	Kick Back
E1013	Field Trip Alphabet

Cricut Artiste Diaper Card

Okay...I have a confession to make...I am just now discovering all of the amazing creative treasures our Cricut Artiste cartridge holds!!

My daughter's 3rd grade teacher is expecting a sweet baby girl right around Christmas time, so after a few weeks of planning, we had a surprise baby shower for her today! The parents pitched in an we bought her a Target gift card. I needed to make a card for her and wanted it to be a little special...Artiste to the rescue!

This adorable diaper card is cut from the Cricut Artiste cartridge and was really, super easy to make using the Baby themed key!

I cut two of the diaper bases, one in Blush cardstock and one in my patterned paper, at the largest setting I could (I believe it was 5 1/2"). I adhered them together and added a little Hollyhock ink to the edges.

Without changing the size setting, I cut the scalloped oval insert in Blush and a second one in Holly hock, just 1/2" smaller. This insert was the perfect fit for the gift card.

The "It's a Girl" was also cut using the same themed key as the card itself.

Recognize that cute paper? It's one of my favorite "oldies, but goodies"...Sophia! We used Sophia as our color inspiration for the shower. When I get pictures I will share the adorable pennant banner this kids helped me make (thankfully, we have a mom in our class who takes amazing pictures and captures all those details, as I realized I never took a picture of the banner before I took it in today)!

Many thanks to Mary Thompson and Rachel Loesch at www.cricutwithheart.blogspot.com for the inspiration. You can see their adorable diaper card HERE!

Black Friday Deals start NOW!

I hope all of you are enjoying the beginning of the holiday season and have plans to be surrounded by those you love most as we give thanks for the many blessings in our lives, both big and small!

After the festivities have ended, many of you will be hitting the stores to grab those Black Friday deals.  If you’re like me however, you prefer to stay home and avoid the crowds! Whether you like the rush of the crowd or the ease of shopping in your PJs I have some Black Friday deals you won’t want to miss – just my way of giving thanks to all of you!

Between NOW and Monday, November 26^th at 6:00pm (CA time) you will earn some wonderful FREE gifts when you shop from my Close to My Heart online store! Shop for holiday gifts for your favorite crafty friends…or even fill your very own stocking with those papercrafting supplies you’ve been eyeing! After all, wouldn't you LOVE to find that Cricut Art Philosophy or Artiste Collection under your tree on Christmas morning?

**FREE gifts with purchase when you shop online and add your order to my Black Friday/Cyber Monday online gathering!

-Place and order of $25 - $49.99 (before tax and shipping) and receive a FREE Exclusive Inks Dye Ink Pad ($5.25 value) OR an Alcohol Marker Set($5.95 value)

-Place an order of $50 - $74.99 (before tax and shipping) and receive a FREE “A" sized stamp set ($6.95 value) OR any TWO Monogram stamps($5.80 value). A $50 order also qualifies your order for the Stamp of the Month, Capture the Date for just $5 AND your choice of stamp set (A – E and M sized only) for 50% off!

-Place an order of $75 - $99.99 (before tax and shipping) and receive a FREE “B” sized stamp set ($9.95 value) OR a My Reflections Paper Packet($9.95 value). This order would also qualify for the Stamp of the Month, Capture the Date for just $5 AND your choice of a stamp set (A – E and M sized only) for 50% off!

-Place and order of $100 - $149.99 (before tax and shipping) and receive a FREE “C” sized stamp set ($13.95 value) OR a My Reflections Paper Packet AND My Stickease or Complements (up to $15.90 value). This order also qualifies for the Stamp of the Month, Capture the Date for just $5 AND your choice of stamp set (A-E and M sized only) for 50% off!

-Place an order of $150 or more…WAIT!!! Don’t order online! See my next offer for orders over $150!

**More FREE gifts for orders over $150
If your order totals over $150 (before tax and shipping) don’t order online –EMAIL me your order and you will earn a minimum of $25 in FREEproduct, your choice of stamp set (A-E and M sized only) at 50% off and aFREE Stamp of the Month set!

ALL orders placed between NOW and 6:00pm Monday night will go into a drawing for a FREE Workshops on the Go Scrapbooking or Card Making Kit!

To place your order (remember, orders over $150 should be emailed to me for maximum benefits!), visit my Close to My Heart website and JOIN the Black Friday Online Gathering shown in the bottom right hand corner, and then shop away!

All free gifts will be shipped separately. After I receive confirmation of your order, I will contact you for your gift selections.
 

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

Capture the Date, Capture the Savings!

Who doesn't love a great deal? How does 50% off sound? That's right, this month only, when you spend $50 and add the Stamp of the Month set, Capture the Date, to your order, you qualify to choose another stamp set from the Fall/Winter Idea Book at 50% off!

As an added benefit, by ordering the Stamp of the Month set, you will be helping those in need after Hurricane Sandy. For every Capture the Date stamp set sold, Close to My Heart will donate $1 to the American Red Cross' Hurricane Relief efforts.

See all the details HERE!

Hopefully, you've checked out the November Stamp of the Month blog hop. If not, be sure to check it out HERE!

Here are a few other fun ideas using the Capture the Date set...

Created by: Sue Laufer

Avonlea papers

Created by: Julie Reynolds

Avonlea papers

Created by: Amy Raimy

Scholastic papers

Created by: Elizabeth Hawley

Scholastic papers

Created by: Amy McGrew

Scholastic papers

Created by: Kathy Wafer

Scholastic papers

Head on over to my website and take advantage of this GREAT deal today! A $5 stamp set, a 50% off stamp set, and helping those in need...doesn't get much better than that! Oh, but wait...add your online order to my November Mystery Hostess and be entered into a drawing to earn hostess rewards (total of all online orders combines must exceed $150 in order for Hostess Rewards to be earned and given away)!

Shop today!

November SOTM Blog Hop: Capture the Date

Welcome to the November Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! We have a fun and super versatile stamp set to share with you this month, so I'm glad you've joined us. If you've arrived here from Krista's Crafty Corner, you are on the right track. If this is your first stop, simply follow the links provided at the end of each blog post until you arrive back here by which time I'm sure you will be totally inspired to get crafting!

The November Stamp of the Month, Capture the Date is a set of 72 stamps...including 4 different styles of numbers, two different sets of the month words and a fun journaling block! This is certainly a must-have set to help you "Capture the Date" on all those scrapbook pages and calendars, but it has so many uses for you cardmakers too! 

This month, I created two cards using Capture the Date and the gorgeous Avonlea papers. This first card was inspired by one I came across on Pinterest. The Celebrate sentiment is from the exclusive stamp set sold along with the Cricut Art Philosophy Collection. The Cocoa Ribbon and Bitty Opaques Pearls add just a touch of embellishment.

Of course, lately everything has to have a little dimension, so I stamped an extra set of 40, cut them out and used 3-D Foam Tape to adhere them. This card is definitely quick and easy!

I also decided to create another card with Capture the Date...and New Year's card! This card design is one of my favorites from the new Make It From Your Heart publication! If you don't have it, head over to my website (or your consultant's site) and order it NOW! It is only $7.95 and simply chock full of ideas!

It's time to hop along to Allisa Chilton's blog and see what amazing creation she has come up with - she always inspires me!!

Remember, the Capture the Date set is only available through November for $17.95 or just $5 when you place a $50 order. Head on over to my website and order yours today! As an added bonus...when you Capture the Date, you can capture the SAVINGS too! This month, when you spend $50 and add the Stamp of the Month to your order for just $5, you can choose any stamp set (A-e and M size) at an incredible savings of 50% off - that's like TWO specials in one!

Very Merry Inspiration!

Hopefully, you followed along with our Stamp of the Month blog hop earlier this month! If you missed it, you can check it out HERE!

Here are a few more fun Very Merry Christmas cards made by some of my crafty CTMH Consultant friends!

I love the Cricut cut mitten on this one!

Created by: Karen Barber

The fun pleated ribbon reminds me of Christmas candy!

Created by: Sue Laufer

 The patchwork design on this one is so classic!

Created by: Charlotte Becker

Have you seen the cards you can cut with the new Cricut Artiste cartridge? This one one of them - LOVE it!

Created by: Janice Hodgkin

Love the unique bottom-fold design on this card - I think it would make a fun gift card holder, don't you?

Another Cricut Artiste card. This one is so pretty...the Glitz Gel adds so much to the little insert on this card. What a fun, unique design!

Created by: Kelly Hammonds

Don't forget, the Very Merry Christmas set is only available through October - $17.95 or just $5 with a $50 order. Head to my website to order yours today!

Dakota Card Night

Come make these 3 fun cards using the new Dakota papers and card shapes cut right from our exclusive Cricut cartridges!

Date: Thursday, October 25th
Time: 6:30 - 9:00pm
Location: My Studio in Newbury Park

Cost: $10 pre-paid (you'll earn $5 off a $25 order or $10 off a $45 order placed the night of the workshop making your workshop FREE)

RSVP today! Space is limited!

Visit the Workshops/Event page for a payment link!

A Perfect Match!

When I first looked at the new papers in the Autumn/Winter Idea Book from Close to My Heart, I knew I would end up with some "perfect match" scrapbook pages - you know, those times when you find the exact perfect papers to match your pictures?!?!

My daughter's dance recital was the weekend before Convention (and the consultant release of the Idea Book). Imagine my excitement when I see the new Flirty papers...do they not look like they were MADE for these pictures of her ballet class?

Dinosaurs are Fun was the name of the original song to which they danced an adorable routine complete with   a 12" green dinosaur! Our Dimensional Elements Monograms were perfect for the title - and oh, so easy!  

I am loving the banner/pennant trend and couldn't help but use it here!

Check back soon...I have two more layouts to share from her dance recital...one using the Superhero papers from the Spring/Summer Idea Book and one using our gorgeous new Avonlea papers.

Spellbound!

Although it still feels like the dog days of summer around here, Halloween is just around the corner...all those little ghosts and goblins will all be looking for a few treats in just a few weeks!

Close to My Heart has a fun Halloween treat for you! Have you checked out the brand new Spellbound Workshops on the Go kit? With your Cricut Artiste cartridge and the Spellbound kit, your Halloween get-together will have that extra festive touch!

Exclusive papers with a classic Halloween feel, an exclusive stamp set and a detailed instruction guide make this kit a must have! You'll have plenty of supplies to make treat bags, bottle wrappers, cupcake holders and pics and the adorable BOO banner shown above!

Want to see a little more? Check out this short video from CTMH to see all the creative potential in the Spellbound kit, and then order your Spellbound Workshops on the Go kit HERE!

Dakota Scrapbook Workshop

While it may look pure western, this fun paper has a great masculine feel and would be perfect for pictures of your rough and tumble boys, that special guy in your life, or even those gorgeous family photos!!  We'll create TWO fun 2-page layouts using our brand new Dakota papers (including the one pictured above).

Date: Monday, October 15th
Time: 6:30 - 9:00pm
Location: My Studio in Newbury Park

Select your kit from the two options below:

BEST: $29.95 plus tax and s/h (valued at $33.90 - a savings of $1.95)

G1039 Dakota WOTG Kit                                                                                      

o  My Acrylix Dakota Workshop Stamp Set

o  Dakota Level 2 Paper Pack

o  Durables Round Studs

o  Black Hemp

o  2 extra sheets Whisper cardstock

o  Workshop Guide

BASIC: $18.65 plus tax and s/h

• X7157B Dakota Level 2 Paper Packet
• Z282 Black Hemp
• Z1708 Durables Round Studs 
• Workshop Brochure & Whisper CS           

With either kit, you will have plenty of supplies create the two 2-page layouts and an additional bonus project!

Order your kit and RSVP today to reserve your seat - space is limited!