Fabulous You!

If you have been following me on FaceBook or Pinterest then you have probably realised that my absolutely favourite stamp set at the moment is Fabulous You.  I have been having so much fun creating cards with this beautiful stamp set.  Here is my latest card project using one of the stamps from the set along with the gorgeous Balloon Ride B&T papers.

Even though this card, like all of my cards, is quick and simple, I'm still delighted with the finished product.  Some of the features that I particularly love are the embossed B&T paper which gives the card some texture, the inked edges which give it a vintage feel and the Fancy Squares cut from the Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge which add a touch of elegance to the overall design.

The products I used to create this card include:

• Ballon Ride Paper Packet 
• Fabulous You Stamp Set
• 51/2" x 41/4" Colonial White Card (Value Pack)
• Cashmere Cardstock
• Colonial White Cardstock
• Cricut Art Philosophy Collection (Square 3, cut at 2.75” (Colonial White) and 3" (Cashmere), p. 43)
• Quatrefoil Embossing Folder
• Cocoa Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad (used to stamp the image)
• Desert Sand Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad (used to ink the edges of all card stock and paper)
• Watercolour Pencils 
• Sponge Daubers
• Tombow Adhesive
• 3D Foam Tape
• Bone Folder

I finished off my project by stamping the front of the envelope with the same stamp in Desert Sand.

Please visit my website to find out more information about the gorgeous products used to create this card.

Happy crafting!
Denise xox

You’ve Got a Friend: CTMH May Stamp of the Month

I am so excited to share with you these fun Birthday Cards and Gift Boxes which feature the May Stamp of the Month You’ve Got a Friend available exclusively throughout May for $24, or for just $5 when you spend $75. 

Both of my boys have birthdays coming up in the next couple of months and I thought the sentiments featured on the May Stamp of the Month You’ve Got a Friend would be just perfect for creating special birthday cards and gift boxes for them.  I chose a bold, bright colour scheme featuring Outdoor Denim, Cranberry and Honey to contrast with the White Daisy accents.  As you can see, I reversed the colours on the cards and boxes, so the boys weren’t getting exactly the same card and gift box as each other. 

It’s worth noting that I used the Rock & Roll stamping technique to achieve the color variation on the stamped sentiments.  This was easily achieved by firstly inking the entire image in Cranberry then rocking and rolling the outer edges of the stamp in the Outdoor Denim and stamping!  As you can see this technique results in different degrees of each colour every time- no two stamped images are the same when done this way.  I love the look of the finished stamped image- the variegated colour is really gorgeous.  This is a great way to add subtle depth to your stamping and to create an interesting focal point on your project. 

“You’ve Got a Friend in Me” Birthday Card Ingredients

 S1405A You’ve Got a Friend May Stamp of the Month

Z1790 Cricut Artiste Collection (p. 61, Accent 3- White Daisy accent cut at 3” and the Honey accent cut at 3.25”)

X254 Cards and Envelopes- White Value Pack

1275 Outdoor Denim Cardstock

1272 Cranberry Cardstock

X5668 Honey Cardstock

1385 White Daisy Cardstock

Z2140 Outdoor Denim Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad

Z2116 Cranberry Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad

Z1928 Durables Triangle Studs

Z1925 Chevron Embossing Folder

Z1204 Bone Folder

1514 Tombow Adhesive

Z1151 3-D Foam Tape

  “You’re the Apple of my Eye” Gift Box Ingredients

S1405A You’ve Got a Friend May Stamp of the Month

Z1790 Cricut Artiste Collection (p. 61, Accent 3- White Daisy accent cut at 2.75” and the Honey accent cut at 3”; p. 37, 3D Object cut at 4.25”)

1275 Outdoor Denim Cardstock

1272 Cranberry Cardstock

X5668 Honey Cardstock

1385 White Daisy Cardstock

Z2140 Outdoor Denim Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad

Z2116 Cranberry Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad

Z1928 Durables Triangle Studs

Z1808 Outdoor Denim Chevron Ribbon

Z1846 Ruby Chevron Ribbon

Z1925 Chevron Embossing Folder

Z1204 Bone Folder

1512 Bonding Memories Glue

1772 Glue Dots (for adhering the Chevron Ribbon)

Z1151 3-D Foam Tape

The May Stamp of the Month You’ve Got a Friend is only available until 31 May, so don’t dilly dally or you’ll miss out!

I'd love it if you could leave a comment below or you might like to sign up to receive email updates before you leave my blog.

Please check back regularly for more crafty goodness. 

Crafty wishes,

Denise :)

May Stamp of the Month: You've Got a Friend (S1405A)

Each month you can purchase a new D-size stamp set, available for one month only, for just $5 — that’s over 70% off the retail price! When you place an order of $75 or more in Close To My Heart products, you qualify for this special Stamp of the Month pricing. Click here to see some great projects ideas and instructions for using the You've Got a Friend stamp set.

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Free To Be Me Special!

In celebration of National Scrapbooking Month, during the month of May, you can get the Free to Be Me paper collection (see below) for just $5 with your qualifying purchase of $75. The paper collection features artfully designed cardstocks, vellums, and B&T Duos™ papers—exclusive products that you can’t get anywhere else!

With a retail value of $16, this collection is a fantastic deal! Plus, with your $75 qualifying purchase, you will also qualify for the May Stamp of the Month for an additional $5 (retail value of $24)!

This means May is the perfect months to double up on promotions; getting the paper collection for $5 and the current Stamp of the Month for $5 saves you nearly $30! Make sure to get your own Free to Be Me paper collection in April and May and let your creativity take flight!

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Gorgeous New Workshops on the Go Kits

With Workshops on the Go Scrapbooking and Cardmaking Kits, you create a beautiful project — either a two-page scrapbook layout or a set of cards — using the materials in just one Workshops on the Go kit, which includes papers, coordinating embellishments, an exclusive My Acrylix D-size stamp set, and an instructional guide. (You’ll also need a few basic tools you may already have.)

A new selection of Workshops on the Go kits is released twice each year in conjunction with new Idea Book debuts, and each kit is available at a discounted price! Many of the kits also include an additional layout and bonus project you can create using your remaining supplies. Below you’ll find a sampling of projects you can make with our workshop kits.

Happy National Stamping Month!

Is it just me or does September feel a little bit extra-special this year?  It could be because it is the beginning of spring, which is always a gorgeous time of the year.  It could be because it's Father's Day and we get the opportunity to say thanks to all of the wonderful fathers in our lives.   

Or, it could be because it is National Stamping Month and that mean's it's time to get stamping!  Until I joined Close To My Heart, the last time I stamped was many, many years ago.  The stamps were rubber and mounted on blocks.  The images were a little fuzzy, the inks somewhat limited in colour range and the storage required to store those babies was, let's face it, enormous.  Certainly no where near as portable as we would have liked, that's for sure!

Well I am glad to say that I have recently re-discovered a passion for stamping.  And I have been pleasantly surprised to discover that stamps have come a very long way since my early attempts at stamping.  Close To My Heart My Acrylix clear stamps and blocks have made stamping accessible for everyone- from the beginner to expert.  The see through blocks and stamps mean that you can position each stamp perfectly and precisely each and every time- on page layouts, cards and other paper crafting projects.  Each stamp is cut with precision which means that each stamped image is crisp and clear.  And the storage!  Well fret not! CTMH My Acrylix Stamps store flat on their backing sheets in clear packets.  Did I mention, they were light-weight so you won't need extra protein drinks to lug them to a workshop or retreat.  In fact you can store up to 40 sets of stamps in a CTMH Large Organiser and carry it comfortably in one hand while chatting on your smart phone and juggling small children with the other!

I'm sure you are wondering about the ink colours available for stamping.  Well, do not despair!  Close To My Heart have over 40 exclusive ink colours available to make sure you get the right colours every time for every project.  What is also exciting is that the same colour range is available in Markers, Cardstock and Re-Inkers, making coordinating colours for your projects a breeze!

This month, Close To My Heart is celebrating National Stamping Month in style and you get the rewards!  You have the opportunity to receive an exclusive You Are My Happy stamp set trio in celebration of National Stamping Month! During the month of September, when you make a purchase of $75 or more, you qualify for this whimsical stamp set trio for only $15. You'll love the elegant alphabet, light-hearted sentiments, and fanciful images for a variety of occasions to give a cheerful touch to your projects, with a full retail value of $64.

Watch the Campaign video below to view this exclusive stamp set and shop online or contact me to place your qualifying order to snatch this darling stamp set trio today!  

Isn't it time you discovered, or re-discovered the delights of stamping?  Join in the fun of National Stamping Month and find your happy place this September!

Warmest wishes,

Denise :)

Happy National Stamping Month!

Get the exclusive You Are My Happy stamp set trio in celebration of National Stamping Month!

During the month of September, when you make a purchase of $75 or more, you qualify for this whimsical stamp set trio for only $15. You’ll love using the playful alphabet, light-hearted sentiments, and fun images for a variety of occasions to give a cheerful touch to your projects, with a full retail value of $64.00 AU / $77 NZ.

This exclusive, whimsical stamp set trio includes three adorable, coordinating stamp sets on three D-size carrier sheets. They will arrive at your home in 2 stamp envelopes, one carrier sheet in one envelope and two carrier sheets in one envelope (so with your coordinating stamp set trio, it’s like you’re getting one D-size and one E-size stamp set).

Your trio includes:

• One alphabet (upper and lowercase) 
• One sheet of 9 encouraging, friendship sentiments 
• One sheet of 15 cheerful images great for a variety of life’s occasions

These three sets have been designed stylistically to work together for creating darling cards, layouts, and 3-D projects.

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