Summertime!

Hi everyone!  Yep, it's finally me again!  ;)

Let's start off with a super cute and easy layout...

This is the layout Close to My Heart posted last month with their sale on a rainbow of Cardstock!  I re-created it with one of my besties while we were at a crop on Saturday.  The colored paper strips are just 1" x 4.5" if you want to give it a go!  :)

So just to backtrack a bit, I reeeeeealy meant to light up my creative fire with that #the100dayproject...I did.  I made it to around day 22/23 before I realized that I'm much better at being ME when I don't feel 'forced' to create in my scrapbooks daily.  I wear so many more hats than "paper crafter" that it just didn't work out, nor was it very realistic.  I hope you got to at least follow along with me for a little while over on Instagram.  For now I am back to my usual summer antics, so look out for some action from Wrigley Field soon! ;)

I have TONS of new information to share with you in the coming days from Close to My Heart. They just wrapped up convention in Las Vegas, and you are not going to believe the awesomeness coming!  One major announcement is that our new Idea Book will begin in September, so the two current catalogs (Annual Inspirations and Seasonal Expressions 2) will both be live while supplies last until August 31st. 

July means a new Stamp of the Month called Highlight Reel that is a MUST for pocket scrappers.  Remember, you can always get the Stamp of the Month for just $5 with a $50 purchase!  Just add $50 worth of products to your shopping cart and you will be prompted to add it for the discounted price.

Did I mention that it's time for Stampaganza????  It is!!!  All month long buy two stamp sets and get one FREE!!!!  Remember that your lowest price stamp sets will be free no matter how many of each size you add to your cart and plan your orders accordingly!  :)

Check out the stamps they brought back for this sale over on my website HERE!!!  See you soon!

Monkeying Around with the CTMH Rustic Home Fundamentals

OK, it isn't Fundamental Friday, but I'm back to share another layout with the Close to My Heart Rustic Home Fundamentals Papers--some of my favorite scrapbooking papers!

All the little embellishments are from the soon to retire Baby Boy Complements pack--definitely not JUST for boys!  :)  I also used papers from the retired old style Fundamentals and Some Kinda Wonderful Paper Pack.  It's some kinda wonderful indeed how all of our old and new products combine so well!!!  ;)

LOVE these silver foil and glittery accents!  Here you can see the embossed wood grain on the fundamentals kraft paper...

I also used the Marker Alphabet My Acrylix stamp set to create the title for my page.  This month ONLY, you can stock up on your CTMH stamps on my website by getting one free for every two purchased!!!  BEST deal of the year!!!

B2G1 FREEEEEEE!!!!

 

Speaking of Alphabets, don't forget to grab this month's Storybook Alphabet for just $5 with your $50 purchase!

Last Day for Stampaganza!!!

How in the world is it possible for March to have just one more day?!?!?  The worst part is that means Stampaganza is almost over too! 

Today (March 31st) is the last day to receive a FREE stamp set for EVERY 2 you order on my website!  Any size stamp is eligible, with just a few exclusions like hostess rewards and the stamp of the month. Just add the stamps to your cart and your free sets will automatically be discounted.  Remember, the lowest price stamps will be free first, so plan accordingly!  (See all the details here...)

I am so excited for my customers to be able to purchase these stamps at such a super price!  Here are some of my faves available now!

Rain or Shine

Ink Blot

Treats of Friendship

So Many Smiles

Illinois

Handwritten Print

Don't forget it is also the last day to grab this adorable Stamp of the Month, too!

The Stamps Come MARCHing IN!

Today is March 1st...and it is supposed to snow 3-4 inches here by the time we go to bed.  Now, I realize that is FAR from blizzard conditions, but come on, now, it's MARCH!!!  Sigh.  OK, that's fine...

Because it IS MARCH!!!! That means a super-cute new Stamp of the Month, and a BRAND NEW sale over on my Close to My Heart website my inky-fingered friends and I like to call...STAMPAGANZA!!!!!

YES!!!  For EVERY 2 Regular retail priced My Acrylix clear stamp sets you purchase in March, you get to choose a 3rd set FREE!!!  PLEASE plan carefully though--your free stamp, no matter how many multiples of 3 you order, will be the lowest or equal in value to the rest in your order.  Feel free to contact me with any questions on that, or advice on ordering.

EDITED TO ADD:
Here are a few more details for the Stampaganza sale!

1. There are a FEW stamps not included in this special: the Stamp of the Month (which you can still get for just $5 with a $50 purchase!), stamps included with the Cricut Collections, stamps included in the Workshop on the Go Kits, and the Animal Greetings Operation Smile Stamp set.  Hostess Rewards are always only redeemable on regular priced items. ALL the rest of the stamps on my website are FAIR GAME for the Stampaganza!!!

2. For every two My Acrylix stamps you buy, you get the third one of equal or lesser value FREE--there are no limits to the number of stamps you can earn FREE!  Buy 2 get 1....buy 4 get 2....buy 10 get 5!!!

3. When you place them all in your online cart, only the lowest price stamps will be FREE.  If you buy 3 stamps for $17.95 each, then a $17.95 set is FREE!  If you buy a $17.95 set, a $13.95 set, and a $6.95 set, then the $6.95 stamp set will be FREE.  If you buy 3 $17.95 sets, 2 $13.95 sets, and a $9.95 set, then the $9.95 set and a $13.95 set will be FREE!  Get it?  You can always place multiple orders to make the most of this sale--don't hesitate to contact me for assistance.  :)

This is a fantastic time to stock up on some of the CTMH collectible stamps such as the sport themed sets:

PLUS swimming, cheer-leading, and gymnastics!

Just $2.95 each!!!  3/5.90!  Get all 26 (plus another M stamp) for just over $50!

How about the 50 states?  Collect all your faves NOW at this fabulous buy 2 get 1 free price!  :)

Did I mention ONE MORE little detail?  Starting soon, all stamps will only be available while pictured in a CTMH Idea Book.  EVEN the stamps that coordinate with the Cricut cartridges will be following this policy!  This new availability schedule "will go into effect immediately, meaning that stamp sets featured in Seasonal Expressions 1 will be retired at the end of that idea book on April 30, 2016. Stamp sets featured in Annual Inspirations 2015–2016 and any other stamp sets that are currently available but are not pictured in any active idea books will be retired on July 31, 2016, with a few exceptions. The exceptions are the States & Provinces stamp sets, the Australia & New Zealand stamp sets, and a handful of other stamp sets that will be carrying forward to a future idea book."

I will keep you updated on which stamps will be moving forward for your planning purposes closer to July.  What does this mean NOW?  It means if there are any stamps floating around on my website or in the catty that are on your MUST HAVE list, don't wait to grab them--this sale will only happen once during their availability!  

OH!  Just in case you wanted to see that new March Stamp of the Month, here ya go!

Close to My Heart Color Dare Challenge #5

I am back from vacation, YEEEEHAW!  And just in the nick of time for another Color Dare!  This week, we are supposed to pick six shades of the colors of the rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple.

 The colors I chose to work with are Tulip, Sunset, Honey, Topiary, Pacifica, and Pansy Purple.  These are the most "true" to the rainbow that I wanted to use.  I also used white and black as my neutrals.

 I cut out a french fry box at 9 inches from the Art Philosophy Cartridge on black cardstock.  I also cut out the flower shape x 3 to use with the June Stamp of the Month, Life is Tweet.  I had really wanted to use my Eclectic Edges Stamp Set, so decided to make a rainbow of layers on the outside of the box, keeping the inside nice and dark for the flower to really POP!

 A bit of the black polka-dot ribbon round finished off the edge nicely.  I could really think of nothing better to complete the rainbow effect than some Fruity Tootsie Roll midets!  One of my faves!  Love how this turned out, and really enjoying the challenges each week too.

Today was really productive thank goodness and I made tons of thank you cards for birthday gifts.  Can't wait to share them with you!  In the meantime...remember...Stampaganza is over when June is gone, so get your buy 2 get one free stamps while you can!

Oh wow!!!  I just realized I have 60 followers now!  Thanks you guys, and always feel free to leave some love!

June Stampaganza!!!

June first is here, and with it comes STAMPAGANZA!  This month, for every two My Acrylix Stamp Sets you buy, you get a third FOR FREE!  Yep, you read that correctly!  You do NOT need an eye exam--unless you need bifocals, like I do and are putting it off, lol!  ;)

Speaking of My Acrylix, one of my favorite of these stamp sets right now is called Just for You.  I used it to design a set of cards that I like to call the Stella Trio:

This is my favorite of the three cards:

These cards use the current Stella papers, Colonial White Cardstock base, Sunset, Olive, Lagoon, Tulip, and Cocoa Inks, Cricut Art Philosophy Collection, Sunset Mini-Medley buttons, Colonial White Waxy Flax, and Cocoa Opaque Gems to create three 4 x 4 all occasion cards.  Isn't it amazing the variety you have with just a few products?  These are also the cards we will make at my very first Card Workshop!  More details to come!