Loving the Close to My Heart April Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Welcome to the April Stamp of the Month Blog Hop. You may have found yourself here from Traci Godbee's Blog. We have 50 Close to My Heart Consultants participating in this month’s Stamp of the Month Blog Hop.

The April Stamp of the Month is entitled You Are (Set of 15). Look at what you can make with these cute stamps.


So you ask, what did I make with this stamp set?  Well when I looked at this stamp set I saw an answer to my prayers.  I have teenaged grandsons and it is hard to make cards for them.  They don’t really like flowers, butterflies, and cute little animals.  So this stamp set is super awesome.  So please take a look at my masculine teenager cards.

I took the same elements and made two totally different cards.  And they are made entirely of cardstock!  I stamped the words in Black on Brown Bag Cardstock.  In the card on the left I inked the edges while on the one on the right I sanded the strips of Brown Back Cardstock.  Changes the look a whole lot doesn’t it? 
Here is a closer look at my cards.

I layered my card with Black Cardstock to frame it. Then I stamped the larger background stamp to add some interest onto some Chocolate Cardstock.  The Brown Bag Strips were inked with black ink and then popped up with 3D Foam tape.  I used some of our super cute, but masculine, Durables Studs on the left side of the strips kind of like bullet points.  Then I inked up some of our Cork Alphabet letters by coloring them with our Black marker.  Finally I finished it off with two corrugate cardboard stars from the Milepost Shapes pack.  I squirted on a little Bronze Glitter Glitz Gel because even boys need a little bling,

My second card actually came out of a demonstration I did with a customer of mine today.  She wanted to know how to get these cool ridges on a piece of cardstock.  I showed her how by using my Dry Embossing stylus and my paper cutter and running the stylus across the paper in the cutting groove of the paper cutter that you would get a ridge.  Then I turned it over so the ridges were on the top and sanded it until the white core of our paper showed through.  Kind of reminded me of a wall of sorts.  My boys have always been kind of sloppy so I wanted to kind of slap my Brown Bag strips on the wall will nilly and then add the ampersand from the Milepost Shapes as well as that cool label shape.  And how do you like what I did with that label shape?  Know where those letters came from?  Someone told me I couldn’t get it to work so of course I had to try.  Those letters are actually our Newsprint Rub ons.  They held onto the ridges pretty well and I love what they added to my card.  I finished it off with more Bronze Glitter Glitz Gel on the Ampersand and a Pewter Photo Hanger with some manly twine attached.
Well, thank you for visiting my blog. Now you can head over to the next stop, Melissa Laverty's Blog, and see what she has created for you!

This stamp set can be purchased or you can even get it for only $5 Between April 1 – April 30, 2012. If you do not have a Close to My Heart Consultant, you can purchase this stamp set on my website.

I Heart You

Yes I know that I am late posting my special valentine card.  After all, Valentine’s Day was more than a month ago.  So, let me give you some background behind this special card.  My husband loves any kind of card I make.  He even loved the first card that I ever made and it was awful!  But this year I wanted to make a card that was more manly.  Valentine Cards can be so mushy and feminine.  So here is what I came up with.

I have loved all of the multi-colored cards that I have seen.  This is kind of along the line of my simple cards that I am trying to get comfortable making.  The scary part of stamping one layer cards is that your stamping has to be right on.  No mistakes in the inking, placement or the actual stamping technique.  Scary!

I used the heart from the retired “Hope” set that Close to My Heart made to help support the disaster relief from Japan’s Tsunami.  I chose it because I love the shape of the heart.  Nice and plump and squishy.  Just love it.

I even stamped the inside of this special card.

Also from a retired set.  I think it is called Priceless Love.  It was actually in my box to be sold as a used stamp set, but I am glad that I still had it because it described my relationship with my husband.  Our live has not been perfect.  I would not describe him as a soul mate and I am not sure that I would even want that kind of relationship.  But I made a commitment to him and he to me and we have worked hard on our relationship and he truly has colored my world.  My life would not be the same without him in it.  So the inside of the card has meaning for me and I love that I found a stamp set from Close to My Heart that said that.

Footloose Seahorse Simple Card

If you have been a follower of my blog for any length of time, you will know that I am totally uncomfortable and incapable of making a simple card.  I love the look, but have not developed an “eye” for the clean look.  And believe me that it does take an eye.

So I did what I always do when I want to learn something new.  I took an online class!  So, ta da……. here’s my simple card.

Using the stamp set from the Close to My Heart Footloose Workshop on the Go and the cool technique shown in the Footloose Workshop on the Go Guide, I inked the stamp in Crème Brulee Ink and then sponged on Sorbet, Lagoon and New England Ivy Inks with a sponge dauber.  Then I stamped my cute seahorse onto CTMH textured card stock (retired).  The sentiment (from the Zoology Stamp Set) was stamped in Cocoa Ink.  I finished up the card with a Mocha Opaque for my cute seahorse’s eye and Voila! my card is finished!

Here is a close up of my seahorse.

Mojo Monday Baby Shower Invite

I have to admit.  I am a hoarder.  I hoard scrapbooking supplies.  My husband calls it collecting.  I have been collecting Copic Markers for about 5 years now.  I bought them and put them in a plastic zip lock bag.  And there they sat.  I never even opened up the cap.  Felt intimidated.  Didn’t want to deal with the learning curve.
But, they kept calling me.  So I have had some down time and decided to take the plunge.  Here is my first card using my Copic Markers.

I loved this week’s Mojo Monday card pattern and wanted to make a baby shower invitation. 

I used Close to My Heart’s Paper Pack, Pemberley, and a retired Close to My Heart Stamp Set called Ms. On the Go.  The flower was cut out with my Close to My Heart Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge.  I love my Art Philosophy cartridge!

A New Way to Look at the March Promotion

Ok.  I know that I already posted this promotion.  But I was talking to one of my new downline who did take advantage of this promotion and she showed me a new way to look at this promotion.

First of all, the New Consultant Kit costs $99.  That is it.  Just $99.  This kit is a good deal any month.  You get $288 worth of product for $99.  And you have NO obligation.  There are no penalties and no one is going to come to your door and repossess your kit if you never buy another thing.

But what makes this promotion a no-brainer is that during the month of March you also receive either $100 free product of your choosing or the Close to My Heart Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge for free ($124 value).  So basically, in a weird sort of way of looking at it, you are getting your New Consultant Kit for free.

So, if you like to do any kind of papercrafting or stamping, now is the time to stock up.  Pay $100 and get at least $388 brand new up-to-date merchandise!  And receive a 22% discount after that for future purchases*.

Here is what comes in your kit as well as any add ons you can get at a deeply discounted price.

CONTENTS OF THE NEW CONSULTANT KIT INCLUDE:

My Acrylix^®Sweet Thanks Petite Perks™ Stamp Set (W2022, qty. 5), My Acrylix^® Wonderful You Incentive Stamp Set (W332), Double Scrubber (Z1163), My Acrylix^® Spritz Cleaner (1778), Bonding Memories^® Glue (1512), Sponge (Z697), Liquid Glass (Z679), Micro-Tip Scissors (Z534), Outdoor Denim My Legacy^® Faux Leather Album (Z1346), My Creations^® Memory Game (Z1614), Workshops on the Go™ Stella Kit (G1032), Stella Complements Canvas Shapes (X7147C), Colonial White Die-Cut Cards (Z1738), Clear Sparkles (Z1104), Olive Exclusive Inks^® Pad (Z2137), Cocoa Exclusive Inks^® Pad (Z2114), Lagoon Exclusive Inks^® Pad (Z2195), My Acrylix^® Urban Alphabet Stamp Set (D1507), My Acrylix^® Just for You Stamp Set (B1398), 1" × 3 1/2" My Acrylix^® Block (Y1002), and a 3" × 3" My Acrylix^® Block (Y1006). Read Me First Letter, Spring/Summer 2012 Idea Books (qty. 10),  Autumn/Winter 2011 Idea Books (qty. 5, while supplies last),  “You Are Welcome Here” Recruiting Brochures (W1151, qty. 25), “The Rewards Come Now” Hostess Brochures (W1150, qty. 25),   Studio J^® Brochures (W111, qty. 5), Hostess Order Forms (W122, qty. 25), Customer Order Forms W101, qty. 25), Studio J^® Customer Order Forms (W1102, qty. 25), Studio J^® Membership Cards (W1103, qty. 5), Studio J^® 5-Pack Cards (W1104, qty. 5), Close To My Heart Color Swatches (W470), Spring/Summer 2012 B&T Duos® Sampler (W1113, 48 – 6" Square Samples), Cello Bags (W1152, qty. 25),

NEW CONSULTANT KIT ADD-ON COLLECTIONS

Want more than just the New Consultant Kit? Select any or all of the remaining collections at the discounted price, plus tax and shipping.

FLORENTINE ADD-ON COLLECTION INCLUDES:

Workshops on the Go™ Florentine Kit (G1038), Pewter Badge Buttons (Z1704), Timeless Charms (Z1689), My Acrylix^® Family Love Stamp Set (D1506), My Acrylix^® Enjoy! Stamp Set (C1496), Goldrush Exclusive Inks^® Pad (Z2123), Bamboo Exclusive Inks^® Pad (Z2103), 2" × 2" My Acrylix^® Block (Y1003), and a 2" × 6 1/2" My Acrylix^® Block (Y1010).

Some items may not be shown. Contents are subject to change without notice.

PEMBERLEY ADD-ON COLLECTION INCLUDES:

Workshops on the Go™ Pemberley Kit* (G1033), Color-Ready Garden Wooden Shapes (Z1718), Light Neutral Cardstock Shade Pack (X5913), Mini-Medley Accents Pacifica Collection (Z1698), My Acrylix^® Love Clusters Stamp Set (C1484), My Acrylix^® Card Word Puzzle Stamp Set (C1494), Indian Corn Blue Exclusive Inks^®Pad (Z2130), Desert Sand Exclusive Inks^® Pad (Z2118), and a 2" × 3 1/2 My Acrylix^® Block (Y1009).

STUDIO J^® ADD-ON COLLECTION INCLUDES:

3-month Studio J^® Membership and 5 Studio J^® Layouts (must redeem within first 3 months).

So, are you even just a little bit interested? If you have any questions or would just like to talk it over, feel free to contact me.  I would love to talk with you about Close to My Heart. Click here if you are ready to sign up now. 

Embrace the Philosophy of Fun with Close to My Heart!

This month we have one of the best promotions I have seen.  Embrace the Philosophy of Fun with a FREE Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge!

March is a great time to share Close To My Heart's philosophy of fun! New Consultants who sign up in March will receive a fabulous Cricut® Art Philosophy collection FREE!


Do you already have a Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge?  Then choose $100 in product credit instead.  The Cricut Art Philosophy collection, which retails for $99, is actually valued at over $124, adding incredible value to the New Consultant Kit. It's time for everyone to embrace the philosophy of fun - Consultant and Cricut® fun!


Check out this video showing the details of this great promotion.



What an incredible addition to an already fantastic New Consultant Kit!

With this promotion you will receive approximately $400 in Close to My Heart products for only $99.  Not to mention the awesome add-ons that you can add onto your New Consultant Kit.

And:

And:



I would love to have you join my team.  I encourage you to join if you want to sell or if you just want the discount.  It is an awesome deal!  Click here if you are ready to sign up now.  If you have any questions or would just like to talk it over, feel free to contact me.  I would love to talk with you about Close to My Heart.