Wickedly Awesome Stamp Deal

There are only a few more days left to take advantage of this awesome spooky Wicked Deal! This month you can not only get this stamp set for only $5 with a $50 order, but you'll receive the alphabet set shown to the right. Free stamps! Yeah!

The stamp set this month is called, Wicked . . . I love the witch, her stripey socks make me want some just like hers! And the kitty? Well, she's going to be good for other things besides Halloween, like birthday cards for my feline loving pals. I have already made a bunch of cards and then realized . . . oh, I need to wait for OCTOBER to be sending out spooky greetings. LOL

The best change to our stamping program (besides the lower price on all the stamps) is the complete guide to the projects that are shown with the Stamp of the Month at the back of the catalog. How does this work? Well, the CTMH Art Department have shared how they made all that beautiful artwork. Not just WHAT they used, but HOW they did it. Oh my, stamp lifting made even easier??? Sign me up!

This cute box is shown on the last page of the catalog, only it's shown open . . . go to the link from the CTMH website under the "Campaigns and Promotions" section and you can see exactly how it's been done. Yeah!


 http://www.closetomyheart.com/en/Campaigns_and_Promotions/Stamp_of_the_Month.aspx

Happy Stamping and Crafting! Let me know if you *NEED* Wicked or anything else. :-)

Stamper Girls Unite!!!!

Part of our team at Convention 2011

In 1997 I went to my first stamping party . . . my husband asked where I was going at 7:00 pm on a Tuesday night (not that he cared really, not with that dazed look a new dad has when he has a 4 month old baby, a rambunctious 3 year old and a 7 year old that was really just wanting attention, so maybe he just wondered how long he could hold onto his sanity).  I said I was going to a stamping party which was kind of like Tuperware and no, I wouldn’t spend too much, but could I take the checkbook, you know, just in case. When I look back at my life from that point forward (and I still say I'm only 29, just an OLD 29), I have to say the best thing I decided to pursue was my journey as a Consultant with Close To My Heart, the best stamping and scrapbooking company in the whole world. Not kidding, it's true! I've been a Consultant for almost 15 years (that's half of my 29 years . . . oh wait, now my math is getting kinda blurry. LOL)

I love being a Consultant and not just because they carry a FULL line of the best scrapbooking paper (yes, I sniff the new bags of paper. Best. Smell. Ever.), best clear stamps (I sniff them too), and matchy matchy everything from the inks to the accessories to the ribbons, oh how I adore ribbon. You can never, ever have too much ribbon. No, the very best thing about Close To My Heart is the friendships I've made and the connections I have made with both my customers and my team members and others in this awesome company from around the world. And let's face it, many of them became team members after becoming my customer or were my friend and I hooked them into this fabulous art world. Truly, when I say hooked, it really is addicting. My husband watched me with a class of stampers one day and he pulled me aside and said that it was a little like a drug deal going down.

Me: "This stamp pad color would go perfectly with that paper pack."
Mary Stamper: (name changed in case the husband reads this) "oh, yes! I love that color, is it Tulip?"
Me: "oh my, you know your CTMH color palette so well. Would you like to look at the other Tulip accessories?"

Michele P.'s beautiful card.

And so it is that Mary Stamper orders EVERYTHING she needs to make an adorable Cherry O greeting card and enough paper to create pages for her scrapbook and maybe even little goodie bags for her daughter’s birthday party. Yes, it is a little like dealing, I suppose. However, unlike dealing bad things, stamps and scrapbook things are GOOD things. Not only is it extremely therapeutic (I have a psychologist on my team who has endorsed stamping and scrapbooking as a form of therapy) but we stampers create a legacy of scrapbooks and cards for generations to come. Plus, it keeps us out of trouble. Right? Get the glitter, girls, we've got work to do!!

Last Few Days . . . .

Card made by Lori Scott.

The last day to order some of the paper kits from the Summer Catalog is Sunday, July 31st! I posted the list below of what is changing. Also, we have the More Bang For Your Buck where you can get a CTMH product for just $1 (there are 5 to pick from . . . info below).

Any orders emailed to me from now until July 31st will go into one order (a hostess party if it's over $150) and I will enter names in a drawing for the hostess prizing. You could earn lots of free gifts if your name is drawn!

Happy Shopping and Good Luck!

Here is the current retiring list for July 31st.  Order what you need before midnight on the 31st.

Call me or email me. Here's the link from my website in case you can't find your Summer Catalog: stampedbyme.myCTMH.com

My Relections Kits, Papers & My Stickease
All Level One Scrapbook Kits
Bliss Level 2 Paper Packet and My Stickease
Miracle Level 2 Paper Packet and My Stickease
Sweetheart Level 2 Paper Packet and My Stickease
Wings Level 2 Paper Packet and My Stickease
Magnifique Level 2 Paper Packet and My Stickease
Olivia Level 2 Paper Packet and My Stickease
Hooligans Level 2 Paper Packet and My Stickease
Mistletoe Level 2 Paper Packet and My Stickease

Acrylic Blocks
1" x 1 ½" block   (Y1001)
1" x 6 ½" block   (Y1005)
2" x 11" block (Y1007)
2 ½" x 2 ½" block  (Y1004)
4 ½" x 6 ½" block (Y1011)
My Acrylix block starter kit (Y1500)

Embellishments & Tools
Designer ribbon - Cranberry  (Z1209)
Designer ribbon - Buttercup (Z1154)
Designer ribbon - Sweet Leaf  (Z1125)
Sophia Level 2 Journaling Spots  (Z1357)
Mini Medley Accents - Pear (Z1339)
Mini Medley Accents - Lagoon (Z1340)
Mini Medley Accents - Outdoor Denim (Z1277)
Top Coats - Framed In (Z1211)
Rub Ons - Across the Board (Z1231)
Rub Ons - Primavera (Z1265)
Kraft Color Ready Borders  (Z1377)
Red Eye Pen (3501)
Embossing Powders - Clear (Z671)
Embossing Powders - Heavenly Blue (Z647)
Embossing Powders - Pansy Purple  (Z664)
Embossing Powders - Silver Pearl (Z678)
Block Buddy Set  Z1289  121 Pivot Point Stapler (Z1009)
Texture Tools - Foam Tools (Z1090)
Fun Flock (Z263)
My Accents Block Organizer (Z185)

Cardstock
24 pks of Cardstock will only be offered in these colors after July 31st: Kraft,   
   Black, White Daisy, Colonial White, Vanilla Cream, Chocolate, Cocoa, Desert   
   Sand, Bamboo, Sweet Leaf, Pacifica, Smoothie, Creme Brulee, Olive, 
   Cranberry, and Outdoor Denim
Textured Cardstock - White Daisy
We are not retiring any colors and you will be able to purchase the other colors in combo packs.

Inks and Markers
After July 31st, you will be able to purchase our stamp pads and markers individually.  We will no longer offer them in sets of color families.  Order before July 31st so that you can receive the Color Family Set discounted price.

Dimensional Elements
Dimensional Elements - Villa (Z1390)
Dimensional Elements - Miracle (Z1354)
Dimensional Elements - Booksmart  (Z1223)
Dimensional Elements - Borders (Z1156)
Dimensional Elements - Framed Fun (Z1140)
Dimensional Elements - Plain Chipboard (Z1164)
Dimensional Elements - Stars (Z1312)
All Dimensional Elements Monograms - A - Z

Other Items
All Envelope flats - Pg 114
3" x 3" Mini Album (Z1166) - Pg 120
My Creations 3 ring binder (Z1141) - Pg 120

A cutie card

Okay, so our family didn't get a family camping trip in yet this summer, but there's still hope so maybe that's why I had such fun creating this cute 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" little gift card with the Happy Camper C1457 stamp set.

Look at that cute racoon and I used the licorice colored opaques for his eyes! I just want to kiss him, which I do not advise, if you should see a real one on your next camping trip.

This set would be so fun to use on some camping scrapbook pictures, which is exactly why I am calling Mr. Elaine at work right now to tell him we have to go camping. I have the stamps, duh!!!

Happy Creating!

Cricuts aren't just little bugs!

I can't believe this . . . as usual, I find this new catalog amazing, but the best new product of all time is our new Cricut cartridge. It's called Art Philosophy and it's not just the cartridge!!! For just $99 you receive the cartridge, 3 D Size stamp sets and 3 dimensional element sheets. Did I mention that the cartridge has 700 images and that the catalog denotes which stamp sets that can be used with the Cricut cartridge? Oh my! I am imagining all the fun this will be.

Not only that . . . the cartridge includes 3D items, like little boxes, bags, and special cut cards. Wahoo!

Stay tuned for more news! I can't wait for the cartridge to arrive so I can start Cricutting away!

Gadgets and Gizmos A-Plenty!

The California Dreamin' Team . . . ready to learn all about the treasure island of New Products and Programs.

Kristine Widdtfelldt is telling us all about all the REALLY cool new things that CTMH has unveiled! Cricut stuff, new prices on our stamps (lower, that is!) and all new designed Workshops on the Go and bling and zing to add to your pages, cards, and projects! I can't wait!!!!


This is the project we made yesterday:

Lori Scott made this layout and I'm adding it here because she even added pictures! It's BEAUTIFUL!

 

 

 

 

More Create and Takes this afternoon AND a crop tonight to make even more projects. I can't wait!!!

Now to find out more about the specials and freebies coming our way and to customers to you. Can't wait to share that too! :-)

Convention News!

Convention Disney style! The excitement is in the air this morning . . . everyone has been pouring through the new catalog, getting lots of ideas from Extravaganza teachers, and dreaming of going home to play with all the new tools, stamps, and papers.

Yesterday we learned that the Cricut company has made a cartridge specially designed to make die cuts that you can stamp directly onto . . . die cuts and chipboard designs. And you'll love the price $99 . . . which includes 3 stamp sets, 3 sets of coordinating dimensional elements, and the cartridge! Oh wow! Amazing. The cartridge has 700 images, including an exclusive font set. I can't wait to get that puppy in my hands! Oh yeah, baby!

Today includes some really great business classes and a make a take class where we will be playing with the paper packs and accessories. It will be great to learn more about how to use our tools and the new designed paper pack, which has been lowered in price ($9.95) AND get this, the stamp prices have gone down as well. Love it when that happens!

Stay tuned for more news! Gotta go! We have an awesome speaker this morning!

Convention 2011 -- Off to Anaheim!!!

Young or old . . . everyone loves a day at Disneyland. I'm starting off my Convention Week with a trip to the Magic Kingdom! I have my Mouseketeer ears all packed . . . with my camera for that special moment when I find Mickey Mouse and I am set for a fun week!

Wednesday the fun really begins with the Leaders of CTMH and some fun Leadership training. I have been absent from the world of Close To My Heart as I recover from some health issues, but never fear, my love of this company has not changed one bit and I'm SO excited to be back at the Stamp Studio table in record time. So get set, all those in my California Dreamin' Team . . . I'm going to plan us some FUN!

And for those that love to purchase the CTMH stamps and papers . . . you are in for a treat too! I will post some of the upcoming things coming our way, but there will be surprises too! Look forward to a date soon where you can come and preview the fun stuff coming our way with the new catalog.

More details to follow! For now, I'm heading out to the 5 south and will singing the Mickey Mouse song, some Jason Mraz and maybe even some Old McDonald songs. You never know what will inspire me on that long stretch of boring highway! More blog updates coming your way, Mouseketeers! Wahoo!

Friends

My stamping buddy, Judy, sent me this card. 

One of the first songs my daughter learned in Brownies was the song about friendship . . . "make new friends, but keep the old, one is silver and the other gold."

As many of you know, this has been a rough couple of months for me, but one of the things that always cheers me up is my friends. I received some very pretty cards, like this one on the left, and really appreciated the calls and emails. I really do have some of the best friends . . . :-)

My first stamp event in months last Saturday provided some good time stamping with my friends and a great way for me to relax and get some creative juices flowing. I stamped with my good friend, Katie, this last Sunday and once again I found myself creating some adorable cards, including this one with my new camping bear stamp called Happy Camper C1457 . . . I also used the new paper kit called Mayberry. I, of course, stamplifted the card idea from the catalog (can you find the card that I stamplifted?)

I also used the Mayberry paper to create the Thank You card below. What I love about my projects that I made is that the stamp sets were not shown with the Mayberry paper . . . when I first saw the Mayberry paper all I could envision was the sets it was shown with (the trees and the little tire swing etc.) but then I decided to try something different and use the stamp set that is shown with the Wings paper. The flowers are called Dreams Come True D1470 and yup, I stamplifted that card too. The only part that's mine is that I changed up the stamps used and the accessories, other than that, I'm just a big copycat. But hey, I made cute cards. The bear one, in particular makes me VERY happy. He just looks so goofy and happy go lucky.

Happy thoughts to all of you! Enjoy my card ideas and I hope your stamping mojo is higher than ever!

Pretty in Pink

Help! I can't stop using the Sophia paper pack . . . this month I used the bicycle set, "Enjoy Life C1439" featured with the Lucky paper (p. 33) and made a girly pink card. One of the favorite things I love about the Close To My Heart products is the flexibility to mix and match the stamp sets and the papers and accessories.

This version doesn't include the glitter we thought to add and the words could be substituted with just about anything from Happy Birthday to Thinking of You. Almost makes me want to get my bicycle out . . . oh wait, I haven't ridden a bicycle in years and I don't think we even own one. Maybe my son will loan me his? :-)

Happy Stamping!

Wings!

Just had to share some of the cards I made with my pretty new butterfly paper . . . the paper is aptly named "Wings."  Everything is made with product from Close To My Heart.

The bird is from the stamp of the month for January, Find Your Style and the paper is Wings.

Another one with the "Find Your Style" Stamp set.  The photo doesn't show it very much but I used some of the Create-A-Shade Pearl Paint to add some pearly shine to his wings.  So pretty . . . :-)














These cards are made from the Wings Workshop Kit.  I just love the kits . . . all you need is your paper cutter, adhesive and the stamp pad colors.  How lovely . . . these cards are going to make someone's day as they arrive in their mailbox.  :-)  Happy Stamping in my Stamp Studio!

Guy Cards

I love making cards for friends and families . . . there is nothing like making a special card and knowing you've made someone's day.  The only bad thing is that sometimes the guy's in my life have to tolerate a bow, a ribbon, or maybe even some sparkle.  My bad.  It's just so hard to keep it clean and simple and not reach for the pink or the sparkley froo froo.  LOL

So last week I sat down and made a bunch of manly man cards.  No bows, no ribbon, and not a sparkle in sight.  Just thought I'd share some of them since I know I'm not alone in my quest to make masculine appropriate greetings!  Enjoy!

Okay, so I added sparkle to the trees.  Whoops.

Guys are stars, right?