Day 3 Specials! Blue!! Also some really good deals on Halloween papers and stamp/thin cut sets! I can't get these at this price!! Don't miss out!! 
To add to the Boxing Sale: When you order online, be sure to click on the party "Boxing Sale" before submitting your order. This will help to get some items for the sale table or giveaways!! I should have done this 2 days ago!!!

I haven't been on here in so long I almost cried when I saw that I haven't posted anything since July of this year!  Time to get back to it!  So, Close to my Heart is having an amazing Boxing Sale this week!  Today is Day 2 of the sale.  This will last for 4 more days!  I got some great items yesterday and today they have my favorite color...PURPLE!!  

Here is my Facebook Post about the sale:  Day 2 of the Boxing Sale at CTMH! I got into trouble yesterday and now today they have shades of purple!! Getting my debit card back out! They also have every individual alphabet stamp on sale for just $4.97!! If you didn't get these before, now is the time!! Don't miss it! Even if you don't want the whole set, get the letters you will use! 

Simply go to http://www.lauriesmith.ctmh.com  Click on Promotions and then click on  
Boxing Sale.  Orders will be sent directly to you!  Happy Shopping!!

Stampaganza is Back!

Stampaganza is back! During July, buy any two My Acrylix® stamp sets at the full retail price and get a third stamp set of equal or lesser value free! Choose from stamp sets in the current Annual Inspirations or Seasonal Expressions 2, plus the popular Solos number and letter stamp sets that we've brought back just for July! Solos stamp sets can also be purchased in two different bundles, one for letters and one for numbers, for even more savings! I will post a photo in the comments! All M-, A-, B-, C-, D-, and E-size My Acrylix® stamp sets that are currently available for purchase and the Solos letters and numbers are eligible for this campaign, with a few exclusions noted below. The lowest priced stamp set(s) will always be calculated as the free item(s). When placing your order, the system will look at the entire order when calculating which stamp set is free. If you have three D-size stamp sets and three A-size stamp sets on your order, then the system will give you two A-size stamp sets free. If you have any questions about this, please let me know.

I ran across the cutest little double-sided tea bag holder! There were several tutorials that I watched so I have no idea who originally came up with this idea, therefore I'm not able to give credit where credit is due.  This is not an idea that I created. 
The paper I used for this tea bag is from the new Beautiful Friendship packet from Close to my Heart, available May 1st!

You can use a 6" x 6" or an 8" x 8" piece of double sided paper for this project. 

Begin by folding the paper in half, corner to corner.

Next, line the folded edge up with the top of the score board.  If you are using a 6" x 6" piece of paper, then score at 2  3/4" and at 5  3/4".  If you are using an 8" x 8" piece of paper, then score at 3  3/4" and 7 1/2".

Turn your paper so the edge now lines up with the left side of the score board (as shown in the picture below).  6 x 6 paper:  score at 1/2".   8 x 8 paper:  score at 3/4".

Lay your paper out with the inside facing up.  

There will be 3 score lines in the middle going left to right and 2 score lines on the sides going up and down.  Using the 2 lines going up and down, fold both sides into the center.

In the center, fold up at the middle score line.  Crease this lightly as this is just a guide for your next folds.

About 1/2" up from the bottom is your next score line, fold your paper back toward you at this line.

Flip your paper over and do the same on the other side.

You will now have your two pockets.  At the top of the bag, hole punch one or two holes and tie a ribbon through.  Add your tea bags and you are done!  

Close to my Heart M-size stamps fit perfectly in the 8" x 8" bags!  Gift cards work in these bags too!!

CTMH FAB FOUR April Monthly Specials

Close to my Heart has "Fab Four" April Monthly Specials. Here's the first one: (I'll post the next Fab Four special tomorrow--Wednesday!!)

FOR NEW CONSULTANTS: New Consultants who join Close to my Heart ($75.00 sign up fee) in April will receive the May, June, July and August Stamp of the Month sets, FREE! That's an additional $71.80 in retail value added to the incredible value of the New Consultant Kit. In addition to free Stamp of the Month sets and the product included in their New Consultant Kit, new Consultants will enjoy these additional perks:

* $50 in CTMH Cash to spend on products of their choice

* A discount on CTMH products

* The chance to earn Straight to the Top rewards and additional free products for hitting business milestones.

FOR FORMER CONSULTANTS: You can also sign up in April at a lower-priced no-kit enrollment option for just $50! You will also receive the 4 stamp of the month sets and the same additional perks!

https://lauriesmith.closetomyheart.com/ctmh/what-we-do/be-a-consultant.aspx

April Showers Bring Great Deals!

"April Showers Bring May Flowers"!
Close to my Heart is raining down on us again and great deals are starting to bloom! 

I know I'm jumping ahead to April, but the following deal has already started and is good through the end of April (as long as supplies last!!)

The Important Thing Bundle

"Create a meaningful mini-album using this limited-time product bundle. Based on a journaling model inspired by Margaret Wise Brown's 'The Important Book', this bundle empowers crafters to create a custom album highlighting the Important Things in their lives! This bundle is only available through April 30 while supplies last, so order yours today!"

The Important Thing Bundle contents:*
1 – Chelsea Gardens bulk
paper sheet
1 – Gimme Some Sugar bulk paper sheet
2 – Bashful cardstock sheets
1 – Peacock cardstock sheet
1 – Juniper cardstock sheet
2 – Linen cardstock sheets
1 – Mink cardstock sheet
2 – White Daisy cardstock sheets
3 – 4" x 6" Flip Flaps™
2 – 3" x 4" Flip Flaps™
1 – 3" x 3" Flip Flaps™
3 – 6" x 8" Everyday Life™ Memory Protectors™
3 – 4" x 6" Everyday Life™ Memory Protectors™
3 – 3" x 4" Everyday Life™ Memory Protectors™
CC3187 $16.95

*Additional stamp sets and embellishments are also used to create this album. The list is below:

#1 Basic Kit (Includes The Important Thing Bundle and the following items: 

The Important Thing Bundle #CC3187$16.95 

Picture My Life Cards--Be-YOU-tiful #Z4149 $5.95

Chelsea Gardens Complements #X723OC $6.95

Everyday Life Album- Bashful #Z9996 $14.95 

The total for this kit would be $44.80. You do not order all of it in one bundle. 

You can order each item separately, so if you already have something on hand, then you wouldn't have to order that!

#2 Full Kit (Includes Basic Kit and the following items): 
My Acrylix Documented--Scrapbooking Stamp Set#D1772 $17.95 
Picture My Life Overlays--White Frames #Z3283$9.95 
Grey Gems #Z3089 $4.95

#3 Additional items you would need to complete the album would be: 
Z1979 Marvy Uchida LePen Journaling Pen 
Z1151 3-D Foam Tape
Z2060 thin 3-D foam tape
adhesive of choice
paper trimmer
pencil
eraser
ruler
E1032 My Acrylix Typography Alphabet Stamp Set
Charcoal Stamp Pad
Juniper Stamp Pad
Smoothie Stamp Pad
Z1836 Non-stick Micro-tip Scissors
My Acrylix Blocks: 1" x 1", 1" x 3 1/2", 2" x 2", 1" x 6 1/2", 2" x 3 1/2"
All of these items may be adjusted to something you already have on hand! You may already have an alphabet stamp set that you would like to use. You might want to use some other shade of grey, green or pink ink pad. These are just suggestions to go along with the directions for the kit.

It is definitely March Madness time! Close to my Heart must be going mad with all of the great deals they have this month! First is the Die-namite sale! Wow! If you don't have these thin cuts, now is the time to get them! The bundles have a huge savings of 30% off!! 

Check out the Die-namite deals here:
https://lauriesmith.closetomyheart.com/ctmh/promotions/campaigns/1803-die-namite.aspx

Next "Step Right Up" for this great deal:  Whether it's the circus, a birthday party, or just a day of fun, you can share and preserve those moments with the Step Right Up special and the exclusive Showtime Stamp Set. The special also includes a discounted bundle with the stamp set and other items to coordinate perfectly with this spectacular theme, including five colors of cardstock, gold foil paper, gold pearls, and red shimmer trim.

Available for a limited time:  February 15, 2018 (12:01 am MDT) – March 31, 2018 (11:59 pm MDT)

And last but not least, the March Stamp of the Month.  With a $50 purchase between now and March 31st, you can get this stamp set for only $5.00!  If you take advantage of this month's great deals, you will easily qualify for this stamp set!  You may also purchase it without a qualifying order for the full retail price of $17.95.

  Below is some sample artwork from Close to my Heart.  I will post some of mine in the next few days.

Don't miss out on these "mad" deals!!  To order, simply click on the box to the right that says "Come Shop with Me" and you are all set.  Orders will be sent directly to you!  If you have any questions, please leave a comment below!  Happy Shopping!

January 2018 Stamp of the Month Bloom & Grow card

Each month I make 8 card fronts, using the next month's stamp of the month set and one of the new papers from the most current book. These are exchanged with 7 other consultants so we have a variety of designs to show our party/crop attendees. My January card is made with the Chelsea Gardens papers and the January 2018 Stamp of the Month set, Bloom & Grow.

Chelsea Gardens Papers

Happy New Year! Today's the day!! The new Seasonal Expressions is available on-line for you to view!! The new paper packets and stamp sets are so irresistible! Simply click on the "Shop with Me" link/picture in the margin to the right and then click on Idea Books.

I started out with the Chelsea Gardens papers. The following photos are from the Workshops Your Way Sending Hugs Cardmaking Kit! After making 6 cards of each style...

I decided to use up all of the leftover paper! I've never used up an entire packet before! I usually just throw what's left in my scraps tote and never get to them again. Not this time! I was able to make a 2 page layout (I added the 2 - 12"X12" Slate cardstock bases because they are not included in this kit). The January card in the center is from a retired set of Picture My Life cards. I followed pattern #1 in the Make It From Your Heart Volume 4, which I store in my bashful Everyday Life Album.

The card kit includes a B size exclusive stamp set (see the cards above from the kit). I used this stamp set and the January Stamp of the Month "Bloom & Grow" to embellish the 2 page layout as well as on the 3 extra cards I was able to make using what "scraps" I had left (I also added the cardstock for the extra cards).

Other supplies used to create everything posted above, included: My Acrylix blocks 1" x 1" 2" x 2" 3" x 3", piercing tool, dual action glue pen, NEW cream ribbon, micro-tip scissors, glue eraser, Spritz cleaner, scrubber and gray twine. All papers, stamps and supplies can be found by clicking on the "Shop with Me" link in the margin to the right.