On the back of the Seasonal Expressions book, there is an adorable stamp set called "You're the Bomb". When you purchase this stamp set for $13.95 anytime before March 31, 2015, Close to my Heart will donate $3.00 of the proceeds to Operation Smile. Operation Smile was founded in 1982 and has performed over 220,000 surgical procedures to correct facial deformities on children. Help in reaching the goal of sending enough money to Operation Smile to cover corrective surgery for at least one child this year. If everyone bought just one stamp set, we would be well on our way. You can also donate by rounding up your total to an even dollar amount. Every penny counts! I challenge you to help a child this year through Operation Smile! To order, simply go to the Shop with Me icon and enter item #C1617.

Albums for All

If you are trying to find the best album for your needs, be sure to check out what Close to my Heart has available.  New D-ring albums are great!  I love these albums.  If I find photos later on that I need to add in, I can without having to pull them all out from the back!  I can also use these in place of our old "Work in Progress" albums which I loved using so I didn't have to scrapbook in order.  Once I had filled a Work in Progress album, I could sort the pages into smaller albums.  To order, simply click on the "Come Shop with Me" icon to the right and start enjoying these wonderful D-Ring albums!

Picture My Life™ scrapbooking programs

Here's another great video featuring one of my favorite programs/products from Close to my Heart, Picture my Life!  With digital photography, we take thousands of photos and they either sit on our SD cards or we print them and then we have piles of photos that we can't keep up with.  Picture my Life helps us get our pictures preserved safely in a faster and simpler manner.  I love the pages that I have completed using this program.  I still do full 12" x 12" traditional pages that you will find throughout my albums, but I've been able to get twice as many pages done using my Picture my Life page protectors!

Clearly The Best: Subway Speak (S02E09)

I ran across this video tonight when I was looking for something else and I love the technique done on here.  We no longer carry the pearl paint, but I'm sure you can find something similar in a craft store or on-line.  We do have all of the other items that are used in this video.  I have everything except for the canvas so guess what I'm adding to my wish list!  I tend to stick with the same thing all the time...paper, markers, ink pads, embellishments and stamps.  I need to be more adventurous this year and branch out to some of our other products and start to think outside the box!  Once I order the canvas and complete a project I will post it on here.  Don't expect anything until at least February or March though!  If you try this technique, be sure to let me know and I will post it on here if you want to share!

The following stamp designs, last featured in the Spring/Summer 2014 idea book, are being retired. They will no longer be available to order after January 31, 2015. Order now so you don't miss out on one that has been on your wish list!! You can simply click on the "Come Shop with Me" icon to the right to order now! A1124 A Tree A1139 Congrats Graduate A1141 Be Still A1154 Friendly Thoughts A1156 Flower Confetti B1418 Love Doily B1423 Hoppy Easter B1439 Dreamer B1440 Fancy Fair B1441 Buggy Love B1444 Greatest Love B1445 Happy Hive B1450 Owls C1571 You're the Best C1573 Do Your Best C1574 Believe in Yourself C1577 Mother's Day C1579 Coming Up Roses C1583 Robot Family D1547 Paper Doll D1579 Windy Day M1035 Newlyweds M1036 Perfect Polka-Dot Day M1037 Balloons M1038 Shooting Star M1039 Good Job Stencil M1040 Parasol M1041 Hi M1042 Colored Egg

I enjoyed making all of the cards in the Snowhaven Card Kit from Close to my Heart, but before I worked on that kit, I used the new Heartstrings Cardmaking Kit that is in the Seasonal Expressions book. Instead of making all of the cards in the kit, I chose one and made these for my new card club that I'm in this year. I hope all the ladies like them! In the picture below, I chose to make the card on the left side. I have discovered a new favorite embellishment from making these cards: the extra thick twine! I never thought I would use it, but I forced myself to follow the directions exactly as they are in the guide and it required the use of this twine. Love it! I will be stocking up on this before it is no longer available!! This kit is only available for a limited time, so order before time runs out! (March 2015)

Not sure if it's cold where you are at, but it sure is cold here! Regular air temperature is -5 degrees right now and will continue to drop throughout the night again! It was somewhere around -20 degrees today with the wind chill, from what I heard! School was cancelled for today so I got to stay home. Wondering what tomorrow will bring. I was going to work in my scrapbook room today, but stayed up way too late last night with my son who wanted to play video games since it wasn't a school night! Then I got on an organizing site and then at 1:00 this morning I was cleaning out a dresser. Needless to say, I was less than productive today. I did some much needed housework instead and am actually cooking dinner, not a normal thing for me! So with the thoughts of the cold, I pulled up a picture of a card I made last weekend using the Snowhaven paper pack from Close to my Heart and the Polar Bear Holiday stamp set, also from Close to my Heart. All ink, markers and embellishments are also from Close to my Heart. Winter Cheer!

I am in love with Close to my Heart's Picture my Life program! If you are not familiar with it, it is very similar to Project Life, but with Close to my Heart exclusive designs! One of the newest sets is the Heartstrings PML (Picture My Life). Absolutely adorable! I think these would make very cute Valentine's cards or pages, anniversary cards or pages and so many more ideas are running through my mind right now! I have this on my wish list for the month of January so I can also get the Noted paper pack special! Be sure to check that out too! Hope everyone is staying warm tonight and for the next couple of days during this wonderful arctic blast! Perfect time to stay inside and scrapbook!

In celebration of National Papercrafting Month, Close To My Heart invites you to reflect on the things that make you who you are and on what you want to accomplish in the coming months. Then, with the help of the Year >> Noted paper kit, record your experiences and goals! During the month of January, with a qualifying purchase of $50, you are eligible to purchase the exclusive Year >> Noted paper kit (which has a retail value of over $24 USD / $27 CAD) for only $5—that’s over 80% off retail! Or, for an additional $5, you can order the Year >> Noted paper kit with an accompanying My Creations™ kraft mini book. The paper kit for both options includes a C-size stamp set, stickers, cardstocks, and B&T Duos™ papers, all specially designed to coordinate with the My Creations™ kraft mini book so you can have a yearlong scrapbooking experience. This means you will receive over $34 USD / $37 CAD worth of product for only $10 if you purchase the kit with the accompanying mini book! But the fun doesn’t end there—included on the sticker sheet, you will find a large golden seal. Once the year is done and all the pages are filled, seal up your book and create a mini time capsule that you can open years from now. Remember, this deal is only available for January, so make sure to get your own Year >> Noted paper kit today for the perfect start to a crafty year! Dates: Offer valid January 1, 2015–January 31, 2015. To order, click on the "Come Shop with Me" icon to the right of this post!

Yesterday I worked on and completed 8 card fronts for my Close to my Heart Stamp of the Month card swap. Since I already had the supplies out, I worked on and completed 10 cards for my new card club that I joined. I felt very productive! Today I am finishing 15 cards from the Snowhaven Workshops on the Go Cardmaking Kit. I have bought the Scrapbooking Kits before and have enjoyed those, but usually don't buy the card making kits. I don't know why, but they have never been on my list of items that I really wanted to purchase. Well this is no longer the case! I bought the Snowhaven Kit to show customers all the great items you get in the kit and also bought the new Heartstrings Cardmaking Kit, which I already used last month and loved it! If you haven't purchased a card kit before, this should be on your list for 2015! Try something new! Pictured below is the guide, pieces I have cut and stamped and some of the supplies that are included or are needed to complete the cards, along with a picture of one of my completed cards. I plan to buy all the card kits that are in the Annual Inspirations and the Seasonal Expressions this year and, I plan to actually use the kits!! So much fun in one package!

Totes To Go

Ladies, here are the 2 totes I have been drooling over and cannot wait to get!  I'm thinking crops and even a travel bag for my trip in June!  While these are currently unavailable at the time due to a big strike at the dock, I'm checking daily for availability!  I love the design and the durability of this tote!  Perfect size, but with all of my storage containers, I just might have to get myself 2 or 3 or...???!!!  This will be the best purchase of the new year!