Sunday, November 30, 2014

"Deal of the Decade" Launches in Close To My Heart -- Shop with me to win prizes!

WOW, do I have a Close To My Heart deal for you! Rightfully, our Corporate office is calling it the "Deal of the Decade," and here is why:


During the entire month of December 2014, if you have a qualifying purchase of just $50, you can purchase not ONLY the Stamp of the Month for just $5.00 ($17.95 retail value), but also you can buy any and every C- or D-sized stamp set in the 2014-15 Annual Inspirations catalog for just $10 each. Normally, these are $13.95 and $17.95, respectively -- so that is a 28% and a 44% savings, again, respectively.  

We've never seen such an amazing sale, and it's all the buzz.  

But WAIT, there's more!!!  On Monday, December 1 ONLY (that's right -- Cyber Monday), you can purchase ANY of the CTMH/Cricut Collections at 20% off.  Buy one, or buy all four -- what a perfect Christmas present for the crafter in your family.  The Cyber Deal runs from midnight until 11:59 p.m. (Mountain time -- CTMH is headquartered in Utah) on Monday, December 1.  Hurry, hurry!







...and YES, your purchase of just one Cricut cartridge qualifies you to take advantage of the stamp deal's "Deal of the Decade".

Okay, so I wanted to show you which stamp sets are C- and D-level in this year's CTMH Annual Inspiration catalog, so you can print this out and decide which ones should be on your must-have list. 

Below are pictures of the 68 qualifying stamp sets, and following I will place a list. The stamp sets are shown in the order of the list (below), if you read left to right, and top to bottom.  The list has the stamp set number, its name, and the page number on which  you will find the stamp set in the catalog.

I would sincerely appreciate your shopping through my Close To My Heart Online Business Office. 

My address is http://cardmonkey.ctmh.com.  
Once there, join the "Deal of the Decade" party by clicking that box.  Those who JOIN this party and place a $50+ order and purchase even just one stamp set on the "Deal of the Decade" will be entered into a raffle drawing to win a gift basket of all sorts of CTMH goodies that I have assembled. 

And for each $10 stamp set you buy on the "D.o.t.D", you'll get an extra entry...

Unable to purchase this month but still want a chance to win the gift basket?  

Leave a comment below and you'll automatically get one entry.  Simple. Easy peasy.  

And know I truly do appreciate your reading my blog, and hope that when the time is right for you, you'll shop for Close To My Heart products with me. If I can inspire you, or would like to show you how to make a particular project, let me show you how.  

The grand prize drawing will take place on January 1, so watch throughout the month as the grand prize swells!  And who knows, maybe I'll even have more than one prize and winner?!  Stay tuned ... 

So here are the stamp sets you'll want to pick from:











The following stamp sets are eligible for the December Constant Campaign:
C1504 Fall Harvest 55
C1506 Flakey Friends 81
C1509 Magic Potions 42
C1522 Creepy Creatures 43
C1533 Fabulous You 107
C1537 Honeycomb 128
C1556 Paisley Perfect 133
C1557 Polar Bear Holiday 80
C1558 Wild Wonders 94
C1559 Always Grateful 54
C1561 One-Way Borders 119
C1562 Mary and Babe 72
C1567 Santa Claus 71
C1570 Lifting Spirits 117
C1576 Pick a Posey 106
C1578 Camper Crazy 116
C1580 Big Top 92
C1584 Feathers 121
C1588 Great Job 30
C1589 Lifetime of Happiness 52
C1590 Delightful Ditty 34
C1591 Merry, Merry 68
C1592 World Traveler 115
C1594 Treasured Friendship 126
C1595 Hello Summer 129
C1597 Rainy Day 104
C1598 Noel 65
C1599 Pretty Petals  130
C1600 Happy Birds 57
C1601 Nursery Charms 95
C1602 Magical Moment 154
D1469 Polka Dot Alphabet 137
D1507 Urban Alphabet 137
D1522 Glamour Lowercase 135
D1537 Glamour Uppercase 135
D1539 The Happy Couple 108
D1540 In the Background 132
D1541 Fast and Furious 120
D1542 For a Friend 58
D1543 Country-Born 59
D1544 Distressed Backgrounds 45
D1550 Happy Autumn 56
D1552 Magical Days 70
D1553 Yuletide Greetings 66
D1554 Christmas Village 67
D1555 All the Details 33
D1556 School Years 32
D1559 Geometric Backgrounds 44
D1560 Holiday Tags 90
D1578 Flight of the Arrows 35
D1584 Big Hug 96
D1599 Geek is Chic 31
D1600  Here We Go 114
D1602 A Budding Friendship 102
D1603 Shreddin' the Slopes 77
D1604 Season of Thanks 51
D1605 Halloween Greetings 40
D1607 Bodacious Banners 93
D1609 Seaside Greetings 127
D1610 Christmas Post 64
D1611 Frosty Fun 83
D1612 Teacher Appreciation 37
D1613 Best Christmas 78
D1614 Reason for the Season 73
D1616 Have a Happy Day 118
D1617 Make It Merry 69
D1618 Build-a-Cake 88
D1627 Your Own Kind of Wonderful 105

THANK YOU again for your support throughout the year. 

DeFiaNtLy DiFfeReNt & CreAtiVeLy Yours,

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Paper Pinecones For Your Thanksgiving Table

Are you looking for some beautiful Thanksgiving tabletop decor, something with a bit of class and not too much turkey?

These oversized paper pinecones may be just what can add fun and flair to your tabletop or mantel, and they're quick and easy to make. Here's how:


1.  Purchase 3" egg-shaped styrofoam pieces like these that I found at A.C. Moore (2 for $4.99 -- use a coupon to lower that price).

2.  For each pinecone you want to make, take one full sheet of designer 12x12" paper.  I used an autumn mix of "Pathfinding" from Close To My Heart, and some complementing sheets I had from FarmHouse Paper and My Mind's Eye.


3.  Cut each sheet into 1" strips, and each strip into 1" square. You'll wind up with 144 1x1" squares, and you'll need most of them to cover your 3" egg.

4.  Fold down the upper corners of each piece into the center, like so:


5.  Starting at the narrow end of your styrofoam egg, pin the lower corners to the egg, leaving the tips you've folded loose and overlapping. 

I put an unfolded piece of paper over the top of my egg first, so no white would show through.  I pinned that on all four corners over the crown of the egg.  I used short dressmaker's pins from A.C. Moore for this egg, though you could use any flat-topped pin, including those that are available from the Dollar Store.


6.  Continue pinning the pieces all the way around the egg in rows, overlapping the tips like bricks, e.g., with the tip of the lower row centered over the flat part of the piece above it.

For these rows, I cut down on the number of pins I used by overlapping the pieces and snaring two pieces at each corner with just one pin, like so:

You're done when all the egg is covered with pieces. 

I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving, blessed with the love of family and good food, and a warm hearth.

DeFiaNtLy DiFfeReNt & CreAtiVeLy Yours,