Classic Summer Bash Blog Hop

Welcome to the Classic Summer Bash Stamp of the Month Blog Hop where we will be featuring the May Classic Summer Bash stamp set.  This stamp set has so many possibilities with it’s mason jar, fruit, and festive summer images. If you have come here from Kirsten Jade’s blog, you are on the right path! When you are finished reading my post, you can click on the link at the end to move to the next blog. This blog hop is designed to allow you to start here and work your way around. It’s simple, fun, and full of ideas using the Classic Summer Bash stamp set. If you get lost along the way, you’ll find the complete list of participating consultants on Melinda’s Blog.

This Classic Summer Bash stamp set reminds me of  lazy, summer days outside, so I chose make a card you can use to invite others to join you on the porch, avoid life, and sip some lemonade.  Along with the stamped images from the Classic Summer Bash stamp set, I chose to use items from the Postcard Perfect collection to create that lazy, summery feel.

The Postcard Perfect collection was designed to celebrate National Scrapbooking month, but can surely be used for more than scrapbooks. I have enjoyed the Polka-Dotted Vellum so much that I have used it on multiple projects already, and I love how the Mint cardstock tones down bright shades of the images.  Not only does Postcard Perfect have  a wonderful collection of papers and cardstock, but there is a delightful page full of images, like this Hibiscus, that you can use to enhance your projects.

You can continue through the blog hop and see more ideas from over twenty-four other Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their creations using this month’s Classic Summer Bash stamp set and other great Close to My Heart products on their blogs. I will be creating more projects throughout the month using both the Classic Summer Bash stamp set and the Postcard Perfect products, so make sure to visit often.

Now “Hop” on over to Catherine Nowak’s blog to see her work! Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their Blogs to get some great crafting tips and other fun ideas! Remember, the Classic Summer Bash stamp set is only available until May 31st! Contact your CTMH Consultant, or visit the Promotions tab my website to see how you can get this stamp set for only $5.00. I can’t wait to see what you create!

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Don’t Miss Out on Fabulous

Fabulous Specials…that is.  April is coming to an end which means that you only have a few more days to take advantage of the phenomenal specials from Close to My Heart.  Don’t miss out on your chance for Free Stamp Sets, Crafty Savings, a fabulous Stamp of the Month, and a final chance to stag some products from the Seasonal Expressions One catalog.

SPEND EACH DAY DOING A JOB THAT YOU LOVE

If you have been considering becoming a Close to My Heart Consultant, April is the time to sign-up.  For only $75 you receive receive the May, June, July and August Stamp of the Month sets, an amazing $250 consultant kit and $50 in CTMH Cash, PLUS access to purchasing from the NEW Seasonal Expressions Two before anyone else.  THIS IS AN AMAZING DEAL!! 

 

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WEEKEND SAVINGS ARE COMING TO AN END

I hope you have been taking advantage of our Fab Favs Weekend Sales where you can save 25% on Cricut® Collections, Albums, paper crafting supplies, and more.  The final sale will last 24-hours, from Friday at 12:00 pm (MDT) to Saturday at 11:59 am (MDT).

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COLOR YOUR LIFE STAMP OF THE MONTH

If you have been following my blog, you have seen a few projects that I and some other talented consultants have created using our exclusive Color Your Life stamp of the month.  This stamp set is only available for a few more days and can be your’s for only $5.00!

 

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SEASONAL EXPRESSIONS ONE PRODUCTS RETIRING 

If you are like me, you have fallen in love with the Chelsea Gardens, Make Waves, Stargazer, and Gimme Some Sugar products.  All of these products as well as the Thin Cuts metal dies and stamp sets featured in the Seasonal Expressions One catalog will be retiring on April 30th. (Don’t forget that orders over $150.00 receive free hostess rewards from me.) While you are at it, make sure to download those FREE WORKSHOP GUIDES. These are perfect to keep on hand for creating the layouts shown and additional layouts from your own papers.

 

You only have a few more days to take advantage of these amazing offers. Visit my website or email me at misscarriectmh@gmail.com if you have any questions or wish place your order.  I can’t wait to see what you create!

Mother’s Day Bouquet Card

April Showers bring May flowers … and planning days for May celebrations.  On days full of snow and rain, I am able to spend time in my craft room planning for the upcoming holidays without feeling guilty that I should be working on my never-ending yard.  This week, I attempted to create a Mother’s Day card using the colors for this week’s Color My Heart Dare – Lagoon, Mink, Peacock and Silver – which, to me, seemed like very non-traditional Mother’s Day colors. I choose to make a layered Flower Bouquet using various stamped images and, I must say, it turned out better than I had hoped.  You can find the list of supplies I used on this card at the very bottom of this post.

Paper Needed: 4¼” x 5½” White Card Base, 4″ x 4″ Dotted Velum (Postcard Perfect),
2½” x 4″ Mink Cardstock, White Daisy Cardstock scraps

Here are some of the techniques I used to create this card:

• I used the second-generation stamping technique on the large flowers so that the Lagoon and Mink Inks appeared lighter. After stamping, I used a Watercolor Pencil to add shading to the flowers, then brushed it with a Clear Shimmer Brush.
• The images were all cut out by hand and layered onto the card using Thin Foam Dots and 3D Foam Tape.  By using two different types of adhesive, I was able to get a multi-layered look on the card.
• I used White Embossing Powder on the sentiment and Silver Embossing Powder for some of the leaves.

Don’t forget that the Color Your Life and the Chelsea Gardens Scrapbooking stamp sets are only available through April 30th.  I hope you take the time to try to create a few Mother’s Day cards this year and, while you are at it, join in on the weekly Color My Heart Dare challenges.  I can’t wait to see what you create!

Color Your Life Stamp Set	12 x 12 White Daisy Cardstock	12 x 12 Peacock Cardstock	12 x 12 Mink Cardstock	Chelsea Gardens – Scrapbooking Stamp Set
Craft Heater	Ranger™ Silver Super Fine Embossing Powder	All Purpose Mat	Ranger™ White Super Fine Embossing Powder	VersaMark Ink Pad
White Cards & Envelopes	Peacock Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad	Mink Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad	Lagoon Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad	My Acrylix® Block Starter Kit
Tombow® Permanent Adhesive	Thin 3D Foam Dots	Clear Shimmer Brush	3D Foam Tape	SureCut™ Deluxe Craft Paper Trimmer

Do You Have a Love of Paper Crafting?

Have you ever considered how much you enjoy paper crafting? I know that, for me, paper crafting is a way to relax and allows me to create, try something new, and spend time with friends.  As a Close to My Heart Consultant, I am blessed to be able to spend my days creating, meeting new people, earning extra income for my family, and receiving a discount on our incredible products (I even get some for FREE).

What would you do if you could spend more time doing what you love? 

Honestly, April is the best time to join our HeARTfully Blessed Creations team.  I am so excited by all the incentives that Close to My Heart is offering New Consultants!

During the month of April,  you can get over $320 worth of products for only $75!

Join our Close To My Heart team in April and you will receive this amazing $200 kit,
$50 in CTMH cash to purchase additional supplies, and you will also receive the
exclusive May, June, July, and August Stamp of the Month sets, FREE! Plus, as a special thank you for joining our team, I offer special incentives to the incredibly supportive HeARTfully Blessed Creations Team Members.  

If you are a former Close To My Heart Consultant, we’re offering you a no-kit sign-up option during April that will let you sign back up for just $50! If you choose this option, you won’t get a New Consultant Kit, but you will still get the next four Stamp of the Month sets PLUS the standard $50 in CTMH Cash!

Four years ago, I made the decision to turn my love of paper crafting into a home business and I have never regretted it.  I have the opportunity to be a part of a wonderful group of supportive people, earn extra income from home, work my own hours, learn new paper crafting techniques, and have opportunities for exciting incentives, like trips, free crafting products, and more.

Are you ready to spend more time doing what you love? I would love to talk to you more about my adventure. Send me an email at misscarriectmh@gmail.com or clink this link to learn more about joining the HeARTfully Blessed Creations Team. I can’t wait to see you thrive in your new adventure!

 

Celebrate You Card

For this week’s Tuesday Tutorial, I assembled a bright, spring Tulip that you could create using our Cricut Flower Market Collection.  In the photo with the Tulip, was this fun, easy-to-make card that I produced using our exclusive Color Your Life stamp of the month.  You can easily replicate this card for any occasion, with the Re-Inkers of your choice, using the cutting guide and directions below as a guide.  I have also listed the supplies used at the very bottom of this post. 

Paper Needed: 4¼” x 5½” White Card Base, 4″ x 5¼” Gold Foil Paper, 3¾” x 5″ White Daisy Cardstock, Gold Foil Paper (“You”)

Assembly Instructions:
1. Fill your Spray Pen ¾-full with Isopropyl Alcohol or Water and add 5-7 drops of Re-Inker. (I chose to fill one using Sorbet and one using Tangerine.)
2. Place your White Daisy cardstock onto the All Purpose Mat (or a well prepared area – it will get messy) and carefully spray the cardstock using the mix in the Spray Pens.  The closer your are, the denser the coverage.
3. Allow the inks to dry completely.
4. Using VersaMark Ink, stamp the “Celebrate and be” sentiment, sprinkle with Gold Embossing Powder, and heat using a craft gun.
5. Adhere the White Daisy cardstock onto the center of the 4″ x 5¼” Gold Foil paper, then onto the center of the card base.
6. Using a Cuttlebug, or embossing machine of choice, cut out “You” from Gold Foil Paper using the “Thankful for You” Thin Cuts.  Adhere to the card.
7. Add Gold Glitter Gems and a sentiment inside the card if you like.

When playing with your Spray Pens, it’s always good to have some scraps of White cardstock nearby.  After spraying the petals on my Tulip, I had some left-over mix in my Spray Pens, so instead of wasting it,  I used it to create the background for this card.  You never know what you might possibly end up with. 

Remember, the Color Your Life stamp set is only available through April 30th. You can order it on my website for $17.95 or for only $5.00 with a qualifying purchase.  I have created a few projects this month using this stamp set, and, I must say, it is one that I am beginning to warm up to. I can’t wait to see what you create with the April stamp of the month!

Color Your Life Stamp Set	12 x 12 White Daisy Cardstock	12 x 12 Gold Foil Paper	Tangerine Exclusive Inks Reiinker	Sorbet Exclusive Inks Re-inker
Craft Heater	Spray Pen	Ranger™ Princess Gold Embossing Powder	White Cards & Envelopes	VersaMark Ink Pad
All Purpose Mat	Tombow® Permanent Adhesive	SureCut™ Deluxe Craft Paper Trimmer	My Acrylix® Block Starter Kit	Gold Glitter Gems
		Cuttlebug

* The links provided to the Cricut® website are through the ShareASale affiliate program and are posted as an endorsement. ShareASale compensates me a small portion of sales made through these advertisement links.

Spring Clean-Out

It’s the time of year to clear off the cobwebs, shake out the rugs, and clean-out some long forgotten items in our homes.  Spring just brings in a fresh renewal to life. As I have been preparing for the New Seasonal Expressions, I have realized that I need to start making room for the new products, new layouts, and new workshop guides.  My online store is becoming especially cluttered but, before I begin taking things down, I have decided to offer you a 20% discount on ALL the remaining items in my online store.

This discount includes the purchase of both my guides and my kits.  Quantities are limited and many of these items will no longer be available for sale after April 30th, so please make sure to order before I do my spring cleaning.

Here are a few tips for shopping my online store:

• Make sure to choose whether you wish to purchase the Guide or the Kit.
• Choose the ELECTRONIC SHIPPING method in your cart when purchasing a guide.
• If you live locally, you can chose the “Pick-Up” option to save on shipping costs.
• I do not ship kits outside of the U.S., but you can still purchase the Workshop Guides at a discount.
• The check-out does require a 5 digit zip-code for purchases, which can be tricky for those outside the U.S., so please email me at misscarriectmh@gmail.com and I will tell you how to “get around” this part of the check-out process.
• At Check-Out, type the PromoCode SPRINGCLEANUP to save 20% on your purchase!

You can save even more on your Guide Purchases when you join my HeARTfully Blessed Creations Team.  As a special thank-you, I give all of my incredible team members 25% off their Guide Purchases which means that, during the month of April, you will save 45% on your Guide purchases.  April is a great time to join our team! Not only do you receive a kit worth over $250 in Close to My Heart products and $50 in CTMH Cash, you also receive the next FOUR exclusive stamp of the month stamp sets for free PLUS you have access to all of my workshop guides at remarkable discount. 

Well friends, it’s time to get back to my “Spring Cleaning”.  I am so excited to make room for the new products and also sad to see all of the current ones retire.  As you shop for guides, remember that many of those papers and embellishments will also be gone from my website after April 30th.  Make sure to grab them before they retire for good.  I can’t wait to see what you create!

 

 

 

Celebrate Friends Layout

I know that I am usually on top of things and posting artwork weekly.  I am one who tries to make sure that you have plenty of inspiration each month using our exclusive stamp sets, but life …well…life.  One of the joys of owning my own business is the ability to schedule around “life”.  That may mean that there will be some weeks with very little inspirational artwork and there will be others where you will just become plain sick of me. 😉

This week, I was able to take a little break to play with our Color Your Life stamp of the month and create this “Celebrate Friends” layout.  I am usually one who meticulously  plans out each layout, but, due to my lack of playtime, this page was thrown together into quite the collection of shapes, colors, and textures AND I LIKE IT.  I must say that it was quite freeing to take the Gimme Some Sugar leftovers from random projects and come up with something like this.

Paper Needed: 12″ x 12″ White Daisy Cardstock, 6″ x 6″ Juniper B&T, 3½” x 10″ Juniper Gingham B&T, 1″ x 11″ Pink Floral B&T, (7) 1½” Circles, 2½” Circle, Grey Journal PML (cut out),  Hibiscus Flowers (Flower Market), Bashful Butterfly

Here are a few detailed photos of the layout:

 

This layout went together rather quickly and, now, I must leave my sanctuary to return to life’s demands.  I am blessed that as a Close to My Heart Consultant I am free to have a home business that suits me and allows me to keep my family a priority.

If you have been considering becoming a consultant, April is the perfect month to sign-up.  Not only will you receive an amazing $200 kit and $50 in product credit, but during April you will also receive the next FOUR exclusive stamp of the month stamp sets FREE.  That is over $350 in products for only $75 (USA).  I would love for you to join our HeARTfully Blessed Creations team where you can run your business in a way that suits you best and allows you to keep your family a priority. 

Don’t forget that the Color Your Life stamp set is only available through April 30th.  Visit the promotions tab on my website to order your exclusive stamp set along with some of the retiring Gimme Some Sugar products.

I can’t wait to see what you create!

 

Color Your Life Blog Hop

Welcome to the Color Your Life Stamp of the Month Blog Hop where we will be featuring the April Color Your Life stamp set.  This stamp set is perfect for celebrating life and it’s abundant blessings. If you have come here from Jean McNulty’s blog, you are on the right path! When you are finished reading my post, you can click on the link at the end to move to the next blog. This blog hop is designed to allow you to start here and work your way around. It’s simple, fun, and full of ideas using the Color Your Life stamp set. If you get lost along the way, you’ll find the complete list of participating consultants on Melinda’s Blog.

Many of you noticed that you received a wonderfully designed empty blog post yesterday.  It was with the best intentions that I had planned on posting this cute little card for this blog hop, yet, family life took some unexpected turns, I over-filled my plate,  and you all were able to see the results.  So, today, with Melinda’s permission, I am posting a project using our adorable Color Your Life stamp set .

The card was created using Gimme Some Sugar papers, Complements, and Cork Shapes. I am LOVING this collection! ❤ ❤  It reminds me of vintage farm decor and puts me in my happy place.  I will continue to post more ideas throughout the month using these papers as well as the Color Your Life stamp set, so make sure to visit often.

You can continue through the blog hop and see more ideas from over twenty other Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their creations using this month’s Color Your Life stamp set and other great Close to My Heart products on their blogs.

Now “Hop” on over to Alayne Fleming’s blog to see her work! Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their Blogs to get some great crafting tips and other fun ideas! Remember, the Color Your Life stamp set is only available until April 30th! Contact your CTMH Consultant, or visit the Promotions tab my website to see how you can get this stamp set for only $5.00. I can’t wait to see what you create!

Stargazer Workshop

Birthdays – everyone has them and some even enjoy celebrating them.  I truly feel that our Stargazer papers are the perfect patterns for recording birthday memories, so I decided to find a way to showcase these momentous occasions.  My April Club Kits will put you in a jovial spirit as you create a Birthday Blast Layout and four Birthday cards with our Stargazer papers and embellishments.

The Birthday Blast layout has some amazing details that you will learn how to create at my April Stargazer Workshop. From the multi-layered title to the space themed icons, this layout screams “blast-off”.   You can choose to use this layout to record your birthday memories, or leave off the “Birthday” title and use the layout showcase your fun family photos the space museum.

You will also have the opportunity to create some festive birthday cards to give to your friends and family using PML cards.  Did you know that each of our paper packs contains two sheets of Picture My Life (PML) pages that often go unused?  Did you know that these pages can be cut up to create some adorable cards?  At this workshop, I will be showing you a few ways that you can use those “forgotten” papers to create four bright and cheerful Birthday cards.

I know that you will enjoy this workshop.  You can learn more about my event on my Stargazer Workshop page, or order the Workshop Guides through my online store.  Remember, the Stargazer products are only available until April 30th, while supplies last. Make sure to visit my website and order your’s before they are gone for good. I can’t wait to see what you create!

Birthday Time Treat Box

Throughout the month of March, I have been showing you various projects using our Birthday Time stamp of the month.  This stamp set h is full of images that you can use for birthdays, school photos, family celebrations, invitations, parties, and so much more.  In my opinion, this stamp set is an incredible deal and defiantly one that you should add to your collection. If you have missed any of my previous projects using this stamp set, you can use the “Search” feature on the right and find more inspiring uses for our stamp of the month.  You can avoid missing any future projects by “Following” my blog, Facebook page, or Instagram posts. 

To continue with the birthday theme this month, I chose to create a delightful little treat box that could be used for any of your upcoming birthday celebrations. These would also be fun to fill with goodies for a movie night, game day, or as a classroom treat. I have included the list of supplies used at the very bottom of this post for you.

I was able to find this sweet Popcorn Box SVG and upload it directly into Cricut® Design Space. I resized the box image to 11.5″ wide, changed some of the “Cut” lines to “Score” lines in my Layers Panel, then cut out the image from White Daisy cardstock.  I decorated the outside of the box with our Stargazer paper, a Ruby cardstock Rosette, Stargazer Complements, and the Birthday Time stamp set.

The Birthday Time stamp set is available for purchase on my website through March 31st.  You can purchase it for $17.95 or for only $5.00 with a qualifying $50.00 purchase.  I will be posting more projects using this stamp set throughout the month, so make sure to visit often.  I can’t wait to see what you create!

Birthday Time Stamp Set	Stargazer Paper Packet	12 x 12 White Daisy Cardstock	12 x 12 Ruby Cardstock	12 x 12 Sapphire Cardstock
Black Memento Ink	ShinHan™ Golden Yellow Marker	Cricut Air 2	ShinHan™ Marine Blue Marker	Stargazer Complements
Tombow Permanent Adhesive	3D Foam Dots	My Acrylix Blocks Starter Set	3D Foam Dots	Bonding Memories Glue Pen
		SureCut Deluxe Paper Trimmer