Tuesday, August 1, 2017

CTMH Stamp of the Month Blog Hop for August '17

Welcome to the Close To My Heart Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! Consultants across the globe will be featuring August's Stamp of the Month, which is called "School Year" (S1708), a set of 9 My Acrylix stamps.  

If you have come here from Gina's blog, you are on the right path! The blog hop is a circle, so you can start here and work your way all around.  If you get lost along the way, you’ll find the complete list of participating consultants on Melinda’s Blog.

This month, we have nearly two dozen (!!) Close To My Heart Consultant/Bloggers sharing their creations that feature this month's Stamp of the Month and other great CTMH products. To follow along, just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one.

Okay, here we go!

As a cardmaker, I found this month's Stamp of the Month a bit more challenging to incorporate into a card -- but I could think of a zillion ways I will eventually use it in my grandkids' scrapbooks. 

BUT ... there are certainly components I'll use in some cards henceforth. See that cute frame (upper left of the picture at right)?
That will definitely be useful, as will the cute hearts, and the quote bubble. 

This is the card I came up with; I'm planning on giving it to my granddaughter Charlotte when she starts Grade 1 later this month (!!!).


A little creativity and ingenuity went a long way to styling this card. I incorporated the pencil from the "School Year" stamp set as a fence.  The frames became, well, frames.  I used pieces of the school data stamp (upper right in the stamp set picture) to make the backdrop for the frame on the left, by cutting the stamp apart and using the lines as horizontal accents, and then I used the "Back to School" script text stamped repeatedly on the slant. 

Did you know:  You can cut apart any of the Close To My Heart stamps, using a sharp pair of scissors like our fine Micro-Tip Scissors?  Just be careful to cut along the recessed areas (not raised) and DO save the pieces you cut off, in case you want to use them for another project.

I used the Charlotte lookalike girl from the CTMH's "School Kids" stamp set, along with the school house picture and the apple on the frame at left. For the frame on the right side of the card, I heat-embossed the words "Have Fun!" on CTMH Black cardstock, using white detail powder to resemble chalk on a board. I cut the cute flowers using CTMH's Exclusive Cricut "Flower Market" cartridge.

The card itself employed a "Side Step" pattern to give extra dimension to the design.  I cut the card itself from CTMH Kraft paper that I lined in sections with matted pieces of CTMH cardstock for added stability. The card's finished dimensions are A2 (4.25"wide by 5.5"high). 

This card used the following CTMH products:

Cardstocks: Kraft, Daisy White, Ruby, Lemon, Black, Willow
Exclusive Inks: Black, Ruby
Stamp sets: School Year (S1708) and School Kids (D1706)
ShinHan TouchTwin markers: Carmine, Golden Yellow, Mahogany, Pastel Peach, Leaf Green
Cricut Cartridge: "Flower Market"
Supplies: Versamark Stamp Pad, White Embossing Powder, foam mounting tape, Tombow adhesive
Tools: Fiskar Paper Trimmer, Craft Heater, Micro-Tip Scissors
Non-CTMH: White accents pen, twine, brad

Remember, the August Stamp of the Month is only available through August 31, 2017.  Its normal price is $17.95, but during August, you can qualify to purchase it for only $5.00 when you place an order of $50 or more. Please contact your CTMH Independent Consultant, or if you don't have a Consultant and want to shop with me, you can do so by going to www.cardmonkey.ctmh.com.  


Now "Hop" on over to Krista's Blog to see her work.  Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their Blogs to get some great ways to use "School Year" in your cards, scrapbooks or other crafting projects.  

Thanks for visiting!





Tuesday, July 25, 2017

Stampaganza Sale continues through July 31 ... AND some stamps are RETIRING then, too! Shop Now

The Close To My Heart calendar and catalogs for 2016-17 are coming to a close which means great things ahead -- not only new products (stamps, colors, inks, papers, oh my!) but also great sales on retiring products.  

Today I am featuring all of the stamp sets that are retiring as of July 31, 2017.  And between NOW and July 31, you can take advantage of a super sale STAMPAGANZA to BUY 2, GET ONE of same/lesser value FREE!!!  

Here are the 31 stamp sets (plus all of the state stamps) that are retiring:




Here is one of my favorite projects I've made, using Safari Ballet (A1180).  The valise is a die cut by Sizzix.  Inside, there is a fold out/accordion album for baby statistics and photos. The necklace detaches for Momma to wear to celebrate her new little one. 
Another favorite using the Safari Ballet stamp set (A1180) is this cute mini-album I made with a window featuring the cute giraffe and hippo from this stamp set.  I left the pages in this album blank (and there are plenty of them!) for Mom and Dad to use as a journal or album for their new addition. 


I have also made cards using this stamp set and many of the other retiring stamp sets. There are just a few here that I don't (yet!) have so I too will be taking advantage of the sale to complete my collection.


Shop now through July 31 to get this great value on retiring sets ... and also get them before they are going, going, GONE!  

Visit www.cardmonkey.ctmh.com to buy now!  

Sale is on ANY stamp set (not JUST retiring products!) in ANY current CTMH catalog -- that's the Seasonal Expression 2, or the Annual Inspirations 2016-2017.  It does NOT include any "specials" like our "Live Beautifully" stamp set that is not in any catalog.  (We Consultants have a sneak peek of the stamps coming soon in the new Annual Inspirations -- and those are not on sale, darn it!)  

             Edited to add, for your shopping pleasure:

Here are all of the retiring stamp sets (other than the states), with active shopping links (click on the stamp sets' caption). 



A1180 - Safari Ballet 

A1185 - Friendly Wishes

A1193 - Wreath

A1195 - Lovely Leaves

A1198 - Hi Friend (Also available in Spanish and French)

B1480 - Diploma Day

B1531 - Racecar Birthday

B1533 - Circus Birthday

B1535 - Hooked on You

B1541 - Love Your Face

B1543 - Get Better 

B1547 - Wedding Wishes

C1605 - Happy To Be Friends (Also available in Spanish and French)

C1608 - Brushstrokes

C1612 - Shower Flowers 

C1619 - So Many Smiles

C1631 - Birthday Princess

C1660 - Happy For You (Also available in Spanish and French)

C1662 - Wise Guy Birthday (Also available in Spanish and French) 

C1664 - Swirly Seashells 

C1666 - Homegrown

C1668 - Baby Bundle 

D1646 - Finding the Words (Also Available in Spanish and French) 

D1660 - Ink Blot

D1667 - Balloon Wishes

D1668 - Charming Cascades

D1700 - Way to Go

D1701 - Plan On It

D1702 - Capture This (Also Available in Spanish and French)

D1707 - Let's Go

D1711 - True Love

Monday, July 10, 2017

Stampaganza Blog Hop!

Tina Sutton,
Scattered Hearts leader
It's my pleasure to be participating in this Stampaganza Blog Hop by the Scattered Hearts Team, hosted by Tina Sutton -- our fearless leader and one of the top Close To My Heart (CTMH) superstars. 

You should have arrived here from Heather's blog. If you have jumped here and just discovered our blog hop, feel free to check the participants' list at the starting point at Tina's blog at missgingerdots.com to find the complete list of blog hop participants.

On with the show!



Tina asked hop participants to show current CTMH products and stamp sets, and to offer a reminder that in July, Stampaganza is back!  

What's a Stampaganza?  This is where you can buy two of the current CTMH stamp sets and get a third of equal or lesser value FREE!!  That's right -- this includes any stamp set shown in the 2016-2017 Annual Inspirations or the Seasonal Expressions 2 catalogs. 

And here is another reminder: those catalogs and all of the paper in them (along with most of the current stamp sets) will retire on July 31, so get them now!

For my project, I made my favorite style of card (yes, again!) -- a pop-up box card -- but this time, I used the current "No Worries" line of CTMH papers with its beachy feel, along with the complementing "No Worries - Cardmaking" stamp set (C1679).  I made it with a retirement in mind, but for no one in particular ... and within a few minutes of showing it off on Facebook, my daughter Emily asked if she could claim it for a retiring nurse who is heading for the beach. 

To make it, I used my Pop Up template that you can find on my tutorials site, link here.  The finished card folds flat to 5.5" x 5.5". I cut the base of the card CTMH's using Sapphire cardstock.  I used a center strut to hold the embellishments, which were stamped using Sapphire Exclusive Inks by CTMH.  My favorite detail on the card is the braided twine tied around the box, holding two anchors. I cut the anchors from silver metallic paper, using my Cricut.  

(Shhhh... Want to hear a sneak about the upcoming new CTMH Annual Inspirations catalog?  CTMH will now be carrying gold and silver metallic papers, beginning August 1! And guess what?!  There will be a new Cricut cartridge available in both physical and digital models.  I can't wait!! Ooooh, and -- if you're in the market for a new Cricut Explore Air machine -- you'll want to know more about the new Hostess Rewards incentives that CTMH will be offering starting on August 1.  Ask me!) 

I make all sorts of Pop-Up Box Cards, and frankly, they are my biggest custom seller. 


Last week, I made this wedding Pop-Up Box Card on special order. 

The card uses current Ruby cardstock, and retired CTMH paper called "For Always." On the back of the card, I used a current stamp set called "Wedding Wishes" (B1547, $9.95) and send this reminder: you can get this stamp set and all other current stamp sets at B2GO pricing, through July 31. 

Also during "Stampaganza," you can also get a fantastic set of 12 month-specific D-sized stamps called "Word Puzzle" for the unbelievable bargain price of just $143.60. 

But wait!  Want to save THAT amount too?  

You can get the "Word Puzzle Bundle" for FREE (!!!) by either hosting a qualifying party OR enrolling to be a new CTMH Consultant this month, and achieving $300 in sales by August 31.  I'm telling you ... either will be easy-peasy when you see the new CTMH Annual Inspirations catalog. Contact your favorite CTMH Consultant for more information on how to join, or how to host a party either in person or virtually!

I'm sure you'll want to see more inspiration, so hop on over to the next blog stop with Jean McNulty.  And don't forget, shop now during Stampaganza, July 1-31 with your favorite CTMH Consultant. (Most of us will have a "Shop Now" button on the sidebar of our blogs ... look for them!)  

Lost or need more info?  Check out the full list of hop participants at our host site, with Scattered Hearts' team leader, Tina Sutton. Click HERE

Friday, April 14, 2017

Long Time, No See!



Hello, Friends and Followers!

Gosh, I didn't realize how long it's been since I last posted on my blog. Let me catch you up a bit:

In January 2017, hubby John and I, along with daughter Emily and her husband Josh, boarded the Adventure of the Seas for a week-long Caribbean cruise that turned into a bit of a nightmare.

John apparently contracted Influenza A (despite a flu shot) and then had a post-flu inflammation of his quadriceps muscles (thighs) that caused him to be suddenly unable to walk. He spent 3 weeks in the hospital, followed by 3 weeks in rehab/nursing home; he came home February 27 and has been working to get his strength back. What a journey it has been, for both of us!

Necessarily, my crafting mojo has had to take a very back seat. I was able to get in just ONE cardmaking class in February, just before my beloved "Scatter Joy Center for the Arts" closed permanently at the end of February. I will always be grateful to Kathy Davis and Bill Lessa, for believing in me and giving me the venue to teach cardmaking to community residents.


Meanwhile, I made the difficult decision to step away from my Close To My Heart business and "Paper Jungle" team so that I could re-group under a new upline. Everyone's needs are different, and I found over the past four years that I needed to be part of a larger team (upline and above) that inspired me and recognized me and my team for our achievements.  CTMH requires that when a Consultant step down as I did, she must wait out 3 months before rejoining. UGH, it's the hardest part -- but the distractions of John's health made the timing bearable. 

I'll be rejoining CTMH on May 1, and will be happy to announce some new classes and challenges then. In the meantime, if you've ever considered joining, please come along with me on this VERY fun journey, and grow with us! Drop a line to me at cardmonkey@comcast.net for more info.  OH, and there's a terrific join-up special happening in May, whether you're a returning former Consultant, or if you're brand new.  Let me show you...

May 2017 is "National Papercrafting Month."  In celebration, CTMH has developed a brand new and VERY special paper pack called "Live Beautifully."  This layout kit (shown below) is FREE to everyone who joins or rejoins CTMH in May 2017. This is a $44.95 USD value!!  FREE!  





In addition to getting this beautiful layout kit, New Consultants receive a medium organizer chock-full of key supplies for crafting, catalogs to get your parties started, PLUS $50 of "Select Product Credit" to buy CTMH goodies of your choosing. All this for only $75 joiner fee. Seriously!  It's like being paid to join!  I can't wait to get back, as I love, love, love the papers being introduced on May 1 in the "Seasonal Expressions 2" catalog, and then there will be MORE goodies coming with the new annual catalog this summer.  (Yes, I am an addict. A craft hoarder. I need a 12"x12" step program!)

OH, and I'm just waiting for a new location to firm up before I announce a MONTHLY cardmaking class that will be local to me.  Stay tuned!