We Asked, They Answered: the Close to My Heart Thin Cuts Alphabet!

Based on my professionally limited research, THIS has got to be one of the most requested products EVER.  I am SO excited to introduce you to the Close to My Heart Thin Cuts Block Alphabet as we said good-bye to a family heirloom...

It was great how the stripes in the Fundamentals Basics Paper lined up!

Aren't they fantastic for titles!?  This was actually a super way to put "big orange" in BIG letters for some BIG impact.  We had that couch for YEARS...and it was in the family FOREVER, so this was a BIG occasion.  Are you feeling me?

I used the new In the Background stamp set to ink up some polka dots in just the right size to fit the letters...

I also used the current August Stamp of the Month for the thought bubble on this layout...

It's only around for two more days!  After that, the Seasonal Expressions retires and a NEW Holiday Expressions Mini Catty begins!

Don't forget to catch the 50% off Warehouse sale items too!

No Worries...It's a Box Card!

Oh man...time is ticking and August is almost over!  I have a few more projects to show you with some retiring products, and just three days left, so let's get cracking!

I LOVE this box card that I made using the retired Seaside paper and the soon retiring No Worries Scrapbooking and Cardmaking Stamps and Die sets...

I absolutely adore the Box Card Die set from Lawn Fawn...I may have mentioned that before, lol.
The box folds flat into a standard size A2 envelope!  Really!

The images from these stamps look great in the bright colors I used:  Glacier, Lagoon, Willow, Tangerine, and the new Toffee.  I colored over the palm tree trunks with the Mahogany ShinHan Marker.

These fun beach-themed stamps retire with the Seasonal Expressions at the end of August, so grab them before they disappear!  Today is the LAST Warehouse Sale product change, so be sure to check out these products at 50% savings!!!

You guessed it, the School Year Stamp of the Month is going soon too!!!

School Days Stamp of the Month Layout

It's the last week of August so schools everywhere are either back in session...or soon to be.  If you're a scrappin' mom, this month's Close to My Heart Stamp of the Month should be on YOUR back to school supply list!

The Fundamentals papers and embellishments are absolutely some of the most versatile supplies I collect use!  I framed each picture out in the new Fundamentals Basics.

The yellow heart pattern and peachy watercolor paper I trimmed it out with are found in the Adventure Fundamental Paper Packet.  A dash of Bashful Glitter Paper and CS adds the perfect touch.  A few bits and pieces of some retired Fundamentals Complements round out the school themed elements nicely.

Just a sprinkling of new bronze sequins coming soon!

I stamped the pencil image from School Year in Tuxedo Black Memento Ink and colored it in with my ShinHan Marker in Golden Yellow.  Then I stamped it again in Blossom and fussy-cut to add just the eraser part of the image to complete my pencil.  The woodgrain frames are stamped in NEW Nutmeg Ink.  Finally, I used my favorite Framework Alphabet to stamp my kiddos' names in Pewter Ink to make little flag clusters.

That cutie-pie yellow polka dot ribbon is from the Adventure Ribbon Pack.

This great School Year set is only around for the month of August, so pick yourself up your own crafty school supplies after you drop off the kids!  Remember, you can always grab our Stamp of the Month for just $5 with a $50 purchase on my website!   :)

Only in August!

Still on!

End of Summer Blog Hop

Wait, WHAT!?!?!  Didn't summer just start about a week ago?

I promise I won't start whining (even though I WANT to) because you probably came over from Stephanie's Blog looking for something crafty, lol, NOT to join in on a pity party.  Soooo, before my tantrum starts, here you go!

Last week was the start of another school year for me (so long, summer, sniff), and I saw a FANTASTIC piece of art shared on a friend's Facebook wall that featured a teacher's prayer that I had never heard.  By the end of the looooong first week, I NEEDED to create it for daily inspiration.  Here's my take on it and the link to the original piece of art.

original artwork doodle by Stephanie Ackerman

You might recognize the retired Close to My Heart Chalk It Up paper I used in this artwork...it's really perfect for "teacher stuff."  I used the Marker Alphabet set to stamp the title in Ruby, Tangerine, Lemon, Willow, Lagoon, Pacifica, Pansy, and Blossom.  I also used Jennifer's Hand for the word "prayer" and the Handwritten Print Alpha for the "a."

Now, my original vision of this project involved me stamping most of the prayer, but I quickly came to my senses and designed the rest of the prayer on Design Space for the Cricut Explore.  I used a few different cartridge fonts including Artistry, A Child's Year, and two Creative Memories fonts. 

I changed all of the fonts to "write" and duplicated the words I wanted to cut so I could also cut them by setting them to cut lines again.  I was quite ecstatic to find that the cricut pen was alright with me using my ShinHan markers to fill in some of the words--it didn't bleed at all.

The images and dies from the School Kids set were PERFECT for this project!

Well, of COURSE I used some red glitter paper!  ;)

I added a few other tidbits from various Fundamentals line products like the Adventure Ribbons  and two retired complements packs.

I hope you found some inspiration here, but for now you are off to Kelly's Blog to see what she's been up to this summer!

Here's the entire lineup for our little blog hop in case you get lost as you drown in your summer's end tears...

Katy

Stephanie

Amie (that's me!)

Kelly

Wendy

Jayma

Becca

One week left! 

Get 'em while you can!

Easy Button Scrapbooking: Little Dreamer Layout

I always love what I call "easy button" scrapbooking.  Give me layouts that don't require a lot of fuss any day of the week.  It makes the chances THAT much greater that my pics are getting into an album.  Especially since I go back to full time work at school this week!  My crafty time during the school year is precious, let me tell you, and I know yours is too.

Here is a super layout that serves just that purpose!  I tweaked a little design that corporate provided to consultants and made it "pattern paper friendly" to creating several of the same layout.  This way I was able to offer the layout at my Workshop Buffet!  :)

This one features the Little Dreamer pattern paper, Gold Shimmer Trim, Gold Glitter Gems, and the Little Dreamer Scrapbooking Stamp and Thin Cuts.

CS colors are Lagoon and Glacier while the inks are Tangerine, Lemon, Lagoon, and Glacier.

Lagoon CS is 3.5 x 11.5
Glacier CS is 4 x 12
Patterned Paper is 1.5 x 12
White photo mats are 3.5 in square
 

Gosh I adore that font!

The great thing about using a small strip of the pattered paper here is that you are free to choose coordinating solid CS and inks in the colors that YOU need.  Whether you need a feminine page or a masculine feel, you can pick the colors to suit your purpose!  These Little Dreamer products are only around while supplies last, so grab them if you want them!  ;)

Camping Life Layout with CTMH Jack

I am constantly finding beautiful layouts in my Close to My Heart Idea Books to recreate...and guess what?  That's exactly why we call them Idea Books!  SO many wonderful ideas inside!

The latest is on pg. 42 of the Seasonal Expressions that retires this month.  It uses the awesome Camping Life My Acrylix stamp set and Jack Workshops Your Way Scrapbooking Kit.  I have TONS of pics that coordinate with the theme, so I got right to work!

The tree patterned paper is great for outdoor activity pics!  I just love that this kit comes with all the embellishments you need to create MANY pages with your own twist along with the three pre-designed layouts!  I did add the Red Enamel Gems to my layout.

How cute is that Thick Twine attached with the Mini Stapler?

These crafty toys are only around while supplies last this month, so grab them if you need them!  ;)

Have you ever re-created a layout you found in one of the Close to My Heart Idea Books?  :)

How adorable is this new Stamp of the Month for August???

There are some amazing deals released every Tuesday this month!

Close to My Heart Mystery Hostess Month!

Happy August!!!

What's so happy about August?  I know, I know its almost time for school to start again, so the kiddos are not too thrilled, but my crafty friends can get excited because this month, I'm giving away Hostess Rewards!  Be sure to join your orders to my Mystery Hostess link to qualify for the drawing.  It's super easy to do, just click on the "Join" icon as you see below.  You can earn one entry for every $25 in products you buy, and earn at least $25 in FREE products!

Oh, and did I mention the SALE?!?!?

That's right!  It's time to clear out the warehouse for the new products coming this month and next!  Every Tuesday, Close to My Heart will post bundles of amazing products priced to go!  There is even a reduced shipping cost on these items this time as postage will be based on the sale prices instead of regular prices!  Check it out HERE!

August also happens to be the launch of the NEW Annual Inspirations Idea Book, too!

There are so many amazing new papers and stamps and ribbons, OH MY!!!  ;) 

You might be wondering if there is a new Cricut Collection....and there is!!!  This one is called YOU Are Here, and it is an amazing travel themed cartridge, plus SO MUCH MORE!!!

Finally, there is an adorable NEW Stamp of the Month for August as well...School Year!

This is a great month to get some scrapbooking in the books, so head on over to my website HERE to discover some amazing products to use!