"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,

Rumple Ribbon on a Masculine Card -- Really!!

Hi Rumple Ribbon friends!  It's Ellen CardMonkey back with another card that features one of my very favorite accents: Lovebug Creations' Rumple Ribbon -- this one in "Eyes of Blue".

Do you have as much difficulty as I do coming up with masculine cards?  I usually cop out and buy those cards -- the guys never seem to appreciate the time put into custom cards anyway.  Or is it just my guys??  Well I have a friend who rides a Hog (Harley-Davidson), and I thought maybe he would like this ...

The outside of the card is fairly simple; that elegant blue edge is the Rumple Ribbon. I love how it blends with the Close To My Heart "Later Sk8r" paper.  Inside, the motorcycle on the move actually pops up from the card when it's opened.  

I used Close to My Heart stamp sets: "Born to Ride" and "Card Chatter - Birthday", along with CTMH stamp pads in the ink colors: Lagoon and Outdoor Denim Blue. If you're interested in purchasing any CTMH products, please be in touch with your favorite consultant (and I hope that's me!). You can check out the latest Idea Book by going to http://cardmonkey.ctmh.com.
 
 

DeFiaNtLy DiFfeReNt & CreAtiVeLy Yours,

Celebrating a Life Well Lived

Recently, the mother of my next door neighbor passed away. While her passing was not unexpected and she needed constant care at a frail 92 years old, loss always hurts. But much as we mourn the death, I think it's equally important to celebrate a life well-lived.

That is why I chose to use my favorite bright and beautiful paper ("Chantilly" by Close To My Heart) as the base for this tri-fold shutter card. 

The finished size (flat) is 4 x 7". I will make a custom envelope for this card, using a 

We R Memory Keepers Envelope Punch.

Isn't this center sentiment nice for any occasion?  It is also from Close To My Heart and it is called "Scrapbook Sentiments - Poets". I like that the type font is the same as the "Sorry for your loss" sentiments stamp ("4 My Friend", sold separately also by CTMH).  

I embellished the card using CTMH gems, and fussy-cut birds and flowers from the Chantilly cardstock.  

The beautiful ribbon that perfectly matches the Pear CTMH green cardstock is called "Green Goddess" and is Rumple Ribbon by Lovebug Creations. It is part of the "Heaven and Earth" Collection; click HERE to order your own!