Seasonal Expressions Blog Hop

The first ever Seasonal Expressions from Close to My Heart is HERE! Seasonal Expressions is a "mini" supplement to our amazing Annual Inspirations, but there is nothing mini about it - it is simply chock full of fun new crafting products...new papers, new stamp sets and lots of new embellishments! And what better way to welcome the Seasonal Expressions (and give YOU a taste of what's inside) than with a Blog Hop!

If you've arrived here from Jean's blog, you are on the right track. If this is your first top, following along is simple - just click on the link at the bottom of each blog post to be taken to the next blog in the hop! We have over 35 talented consultants participating - just enough to whet your appetite for the goodness within the pages of the Seasonal Expressions!

This super easy card illustrates the versatility of our Picture My Life cards.  

I found the rainbow piece in the new Hopscotch PML kit. The "thanks" is from the new Variety of Thanks stamp set - a Hostess Exclusive - and is stamped using Ponderosa Pine ink. Those fun butterflies are from the new Junebug Puffies - yes, super fun puffy stickers! The rest of the card features Hopscotch papers (and one strip from the Heartstrings paper packet - I love how our papers mix and match so wonderfully!).

Products from the Seasonal Expressions are available NOW through March. Head on over to my website and pick up your favorites today!

Time to hop along and see what Judy Faye Garner created to share with us all! Happy Hopping!

December SOTM Blog Hop: Cutie Pie

December always has a way of sneaking up on us, doesn't it?!?! Well it's here and that means many things...holiday shopping, Christmas carols, baking, time with family and of course, lots of memories! It also means it's time for another Blog Hop!

If you've arrived here from Vicki's blog, you are on the right track. If this is your first stop, following along is simple. Just click on the link provided at the bottom of each blog post to be directed to the next blog in the hop. By the time you arrive back here you'll be filled with sweet, sweet inspiration! If you get lost along the way, or find links not working, you'll find the complete list of hoppers HERE!

The December Stamp of the Month, Cutie Pie (S1412) is a set of 11 stamps sweet enough you'll want to take a bite.

I was so excited to play with this scrumptious set and get some more time with my ShinHan markers and the brand new Hopscotch paper packet featured in the first edition of Seasonal Expressions (watch for another blog hop featuring all the Seasonal Expressions goodness later this week)! The result was this fun 8" x 3.5" card with a little freehand doodling with my Journaling Pen and a few Clear Sparkles.

I used the following ShinHan markers to color the cupcakes: Tender Pink, Light Orange, Turquoise Blue, Cherry Pink, Mohagany, and of course, the Colorless Blender.

For a little added inspiration, here are a couple adorable items created by our corporate Art department!

Time to hop along and see what treat Michelle cooked up for us!

Remember, the December Stamp of the Month set is only available through December 31st. Order it for $17.95, or place a $50 order and add it to your order for just $5!! Head on over to my website to get yours today! 

Cyber Monday Special!!

For the first time EVER, Close to My Heart is offering a Cyber Monday special - and it's AMAZING!!!

On Monday, December 1st only you can put any (or all) of our four exclusive Cricut Collections under your tree and save 20%!!!

Whether you love scrapbooking, cardmaking or any other kind of paper crafting, our four Cricut Collections are the perfect addition to your craftroom! Each Cricut Collection includes an exclusive Cricut cartridge (with over 700 images), 3 stamp sets that coordinate with the cartridge, and either 3 sets of coordinating Dimensional Elements, or in the case of the the new Artfully Sent collection, a package of cardstock. 

This is definitely a deal you don't want to miss! The sale begins at 12:00am, December 1st (that's 11pm CA time) and ends at 11:59pm. 

Visit my website to order yours!

CELEBRATE with Artfully Sent!

I am totally in LOVE with Close to My Heart's newest Cricut collection. Artfully Sent has so many amazing cards that come together so quickly and easily!

Thanks for joining us for the Artfully Sent Blog Hop! If you've arrived here from Michelle Jones' blog, you are on the right track. If this is your first stop, following along is easy. Simply click on the links provided at the end of each blog post to be taken to the next post in the loop.

I recently played with the CELEBRATE sentiment card design. I started by cutting it at 7" as specified in the handbook. The result was this fun and super simple 5"x7" card. The Snowhaven papers gives it a holiday feel.

After creating the simple 5"x7" card I decided to resize to create a smaller card. 

This one was cut at 4.75" and layered on a 4.25"x5.5" card. I added the sentiment at the bottom to add to the holiday feel of the card. 

As I was cleaning up, I noticed that I had the word celebrate still sitting on my Cricut mat. Hmmm...certainly those could be used!

I also had some of the Snowhaven scraps on my table, but wanted a different look for this one, so I use the Glacier B&T from Snowhaven along with a little Pixie cardstock. 

For more information on the Artfully Sent Collection, check out my previous blog post HERE and be sure to visit all the blogs in the hop!

Time to hop on over to Kelly's blog and see what she has created to share with us!

November SOTM: It's the Little Things

Happy November! Welcome to the November Stamp of the Month blog hop! If you've arrived here from Gina's blog, you are on the right track. If this is your first stop, following along is simple. Just click on the link at the bottom of each blog post and you'll be directed to the next blog in the hop. If you get lost along the way or find links not working, you can find the entire list of hopper's HERE.

This month we celebrate those little things that make life wonderful with a cheery set sure to make anyone smile. It's the Little Things (S1411) is a set of 15 stamps...fun and funky flowers and sweet heartfelt sentiments.

I just LOVE the new Seaside papers and thought it went perfectly with the fun flowers in this stamp set. This quick and easy card uses Hollyhock, Sorbet and Glacier inks. The strip of Bronze Shimmer trim adds just that touch of bling I love so much!

Time to hop along and see what my friend Dana has created to share with us!

Remember, the November SOTM is only available through November 30th. As always, the retail price is $17.95, but you can add it to your $50 order for just $5! Head on over to my website and order yours today!

October Stamp of the Month: Home for the Holidays

Welcome to the October Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! If you've arrived here from the amazing Fancy Melissa's blog, you are on the right track. If this is your first stop, following along is easy! Simply click on the link at the bottom of each blog post to be taken to the next blog in the hop. This month we have over 70 talented consultants sharing their creations, so by the time you arrive back here or to your original starting place, you will be inspired to get those holiday crafting projects started! If you get lost along the way or find links not working properly, you can find the complete list of hoppers HERE.

The October Stamp of the Month, Home for the Holidays (S1410) is an adorable holiday themed set of 7 stamps that coordinate with the exclusive Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge. This fun set has so many possibilities...scrapbook pages, cards, gift tags, and more! It is also the perfect companion to our new Snowhaven paper packet!

I couldn't resist this opportunity to play with the brand new Cricut Artfully Sent cartridge as I created with the Home for the Holidays set. Just as I'd hoped I found the perfect card base in Artfully Sent to go with the adorable bear "postage stamp" image in the stamp set.

The postage stamp image was created with a series of paper piecing. I stamped the image a total of 4 times - one time each in Glacier, Cranberry and Black and then once again in Glacier on the postage stamp shape cut from Art Philosophy. 

Next, I cut the parts I wanted from the first three stamped images.

I used a little 3-D Foam tape to provide a little pop to the black layer and the bear.

I chose to adhere the Cranberry scarf flat, but you could certainly add another pop of 3-D Foam Tape.

After cutting the card base from the Artfully Sent cartridge, I used a touch of Red Shimmer Trim and the diagonal striped "zip strip" found on one of the papers in the Snowhaven kit. I also added a few Sparkles on the black background of the postage stamp image and the 4 snowflakes on the card base.

Here are a couple additional pieces of artwork from our amazing Art Department at Close to My Heart!

 

Time to hop along and see what Lalia Harris has created to get us in the creative holiday spirit!

Remember, the Home for the Holidays stamp set is only available through October. It retails for $17.95 or you can add it to your $50 order for just $5! Visit my website to get yours today!

Pathfinding Card Workshop

Kick off the season of gratitude with this fun card workshop featuring our new Pathfinding kit.

Guests will create 15 thank you cards - 5 each of the three designs shown - and the gorgeous stamp set is yours to keep!

Workshop kit includes everything you need to create all 15 cards (and a little extra for your own creations):
-Card bases and envelopes
-All paper needed (pre-cut and ready to go!)
-Bronze Shimmer Trim
-Gold Sequins
-Exclusive Pathfinding Cardmaking Workshop stamp set

Cost: $30 (pre-paid by October 14th to allow time to order and prep your kit).

RSVP and pre-order your kit to reserve your space TODAY - space is limited!

Ask me about optional add-ons including ink pads, adhesives, and My Acrylix blocks!

Our NEW Arrival...Artfully Sent!

It's HERE! Yes, the long awaited Cricut Artfully Sent Collection is available to order NOW!!!

Each Artfully Sent Collection includes the exclusive Artfully Sent Cricut cartridge, 3 My Acrylix stamp sets, and a package of White Daisy cardstock, so you can get creating right away! The bundle has a retail value of nearly $120, but sells for just $99.

Artfully Sent is a cardmaker's dream, but there is so much for scrapbookers to love too! With 700 images including a super cute font, 25 different card themes, and 5 different card styles - and so much more! Check out all of the incredible images you will have at your fingertips when you have your own Artfully Sent collection!

Head on over to my website and order your Artfully Sent Collection TODAY! Be sure to place your order in the September Mystery Hostess order for a chance to win FREE goodies at the end of the month! And remember, if you want to add to your order for even more creative fun, once your order total (before tax and shipping) is $150 or more, you qualify to "be your own party" and earn Hostess Rewards. If your order is $150 or more, you must contact me (and have me place your order) to get your Hostess Rewards - do not place your order online!

My Artfully Sent Collection is on order and I simply can't wait to get it! Hope you'll have one soon too!

Coming Soon: A Cardmaker's Dream!

Close to My Heart and the folks at Cricut have done it AGAIN! We are vey anxiously awaiting the availability of the brand new Artfully Sent Cricut Collection! CTMH estimates the collection should be available in the next few weeks!

This amazing new collection is a must have for cardmakers and Cricut enthusiasts alike. It features 400 card designs in 25 different themes and 5 different styles including pop-up cards, cards with sentiments already cut into them, and so much more! With Artfully Sent you will be able to create gorgeous handmade greeting cards in minutes. 

Email me if you would like to be notified as soon as the Artfully Sent Collection is available to order!

In the meantime, be sure to check out this short video from CTMH.

Celebrating 30 Years

September is National Stamping Month, and Close To My Heart is ready to celebrate all month long! 

When you spend $30 on any current retail-priced stamps during the month of September, you qualify to receive the exclusive C-sized stamp set #30yearsofhappy for FREE! This special offer is part of our celebration of National Stamping Month and in honor of our ongoing celebration of our founder and CEO Jeanette Lynton’s 30-year anniversary in the scrapbooking and stamping industry. The exclusive stamp set features 30 mini images and sentiments perfectly suited for 30 days of happy stamping! 

Plus, make sure you check out Close To My Heart’s Facebook page and Instagram during September to follow all the ways we’re celebrating #30yearsofhappy for a full 30 days!

Head on over to my website and order your #30yearsofhappy set today!

Join me for a Card Buffet!

Why send store bought greeting cards when you give your own beautiful handmade creations? 

Join me for this fun Card Buffet where you can create to your heart's content for two full hours. Choose your pre-cut, pre-stamped cards from the variety provided at the buffet line. That's right, I do all the prep for you - you just assemble! You will only pay for the cards you create.

Date: Monday, September 29th
Time: 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Cost: $10 (pre-paid by September 25th)
Workshop fee will be used towards the cost of your Card Buffet selections or an order placed the night of the workshop. 

Please bring your scissors and adhesives (tape runner. glue dots, 3-D Foam tape). I will have a VERY limited supply of these on hand, but if you want to be assured I have them for you, please let me know by September 22nd, so I can order them for you.

Space is very limited, so be sure to RSVP and pay for your spot ASAP!

September SOTM: Family is Forever

Happy September! Before we know it, we'll be feeling the chill of Fall in the air. In the meantime, we have another fun Stamp of the Month set and a wonderful Blog Hop!

If you have arrived here from my sweet friend Teresa's page, you are on the right track. If this is your first stop, following along is easy. Simply click the links provided at the end of each blog post to be directed to the next post in the hop. The blog is one big circle, so once you arrive back to your starting point, you are sure to be inspired by our amazing artists. If you get lost along the way, or find links not working, you can find the complete list of hoppers HERE.

The September Stamp of the Month, Family is Forever (D1409) celebrates those we love most!

    

I couldn't help but notice the autumn feel of this set, so the new Pathfinding papers were my immediate choice, and it works perfectly with the family portraits we took a few years back. I added a touch of Hollyhock to coordinate with the pop of pink in our portrait.

The tree was created by stamping the image a total of three times. The first image is stamped on Champagne paper in Olive ink. I stamped it again in Chocolate ink and once more in Hollyhock ink. The Chocolate and Hollyhock parts you see above are cut and pieced over the original Olive image. 

Here are a couple additional pieces of artwork created by our amazing Art Department at Close to My Heart!

Remember, the Family is Forever stamp set is only available through September. Order it today for $17.95 or get it at an amazing discounted price of just $5 when you spend $50. Visit my website to get yours today!

Time to head on over to Pamela's website to see what she has created to share with us! Happy Hopping!

Outside the Pocket...Inside the (Lunch) Box

Are you in love with the new Picture My Life kits yet? It seems every time I pull them out to create with them, I find another way to use them. The other day, when I was going through the Chalk It Up cards to find the ones I wanted to use on those easy-peasy cards I shared, I was touched by so many of the inspirational messages. Once again, the light bulb flashed on above my head and another idea was born!

Every year, on the first day of school (and often on random days throughout the year) I like to put short "love letters" in my kids' lunches. This year the PML finding their way to my school for a little mid-day love from mom. Being double-sided, the cards are perfect for my notes...I can write my message on one side and the other has a fun or inspirational message.

Remember, when you order your favorite PML kits this month, you can add a 10 pack of Memory Protectors to your order for just $3 (a $6.95 savings). What are you waiting for? Order yours TODAY!