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Hook & Loop

June Stamp of the Month Art # 22

Art by Tina Dupin

This big 5 x 7 card makes a splash with not only its size, but its color and texture.  Silver Shimmer Trim, Black Sparkles and to top it off . . . our "For Always Textiles," knotted into a bow.

June Stamp of the Month Art # 21

Art by Shannon Law

Silver Shimmer Trim brings the strip of shine across this card.  Once again, Cricut images are cut to make this a breeze, and adding a Round Durable Stud to the center of the flower is the final touch!

June Stamp of the Month Art # 20

Art by Julie Reynolds

Call me simple minded, but I like the simple design of this card!  I first scribbled over the Daisy cardstock from corner to corner with our Alcohol Markers, then over the top, stamped the black floral image.  Quick and easy!  Mount on a black layer and add to the card.  Clean and quick.

June Stamp of the Month Art # 19

Art by Debi Gardner

"Buzz & Bumble" are the featured papers on this round card.  The cute little "bee" comes from our "Buzz and Bumble Assortment" set.

June Stamp of the Month Art # 18

Art by Darlys Recker

Zip strips - Again an easy addition that adds interest to this card.  The blue scallop and leafy area are a trim from our 12 x 12 BT sheets!

Time to Show Your Patriotic Spirit

Art by Karen Bumpus

This artwork is from our "Home of the Brave" stamp set - one of two special patriotic sets available now through July 31.

As a show of our support, Close To My Heart will donate $3 from each B-size My Acrylix® Courage stamp set and $5 from each D-size My Acrylix® Home of the Brave stamp set to the USO, the leading, most recognized military-support and services organization in the United States.

"Home of the Brave" - Click for details
"Courage" - Click for details

June Stamp of the Month Art # 17

Art by Becky Mackenstadt

Becky uses a wash of our Alcohol Markers here for a rainbow of color to this flower cutout.

Clearance and Retiring Items Available

It’s an exciting time at Close To My Heart . . . we’re on the cusp of transitioning August 1 to our Autumn/Winter 2013 Idea Book.

But before that happens……….. Here are some things you’ll want to know . . .

Email me  to request a full list of our “Retiring Items”.  Here you will find items that are leaving our product line, and are available now (thought not discounted) through July – while supplies last.  

Something to keep in mind:  If any of these paper themes are your favorites, you’ll want to stock up now, as we are bidding them a fond farewell:

Buzz and Bumble

Avonlea

Later Sk8r

Claire

Clementine

Dakota

Scholastic

There are lots of stamp sets, embellishments and supplies that are going away, as well – so be sure to check the list for any you would be sad to miss……..

Please visit my shopping site to see today's current list of “CLEARANCE-PRICED”  items.  These are priced SO low!  Shop stocking stuffers now for the crafters in your life J  These make the PERFECT little gifts, and you cannot beat the price.    From here, you can order the sale items, as well as any current and retiring product. (See list below for some if the items you can view on the shopping site)

Remember - Smart Post makes our shipping very affordable!

   

Clearance - "While Supplies Last"

Black Button Brads

BULK213 $1.10

Tough Tags

Z1692 $1.40

MyCreations Memory Game

Z1614 $5.00

Timeless Charms

Z1689 $1.50

6x6 Pansy Purple Quick Pic Album

Z1408 $2.01

Brads Pink Assortment

Z1362 $1.50

Victory B&T Duo Bulk Pack 24 sheets

BULK246 $3.00

My Originals Sweet Surprises Card Kit

Z1731 $8.00

Color-Ready Arbar Wooden Shapes

Z1765 $2.00

Foundry Number Plates

Z1712 $1.25

Urban Felt Alphabet

Z1695 $1.50

My Legacy Writers Black Pen Set

4275 $9.00

Mini-Medley Accents Black Collection

Z1393 $1.50

Milepost Shapes

Z1464 $1.00

Scroll Album and Accessories

X9999 $12.50

Newsprint Rub-Ons

Z1388 $2.10

Flirty Complements Dimensional Elements

X7160C $1.50

Midnight Felt Shapes

Z1462 $1.50

Canvas Badge Buttons

Z1397 $1.70

June Stamp of the Month Art #16

Art by Wendy Coffman

Wendy:  "I stamped the flowers and fussy cut them with my Microtip Scissors. Popped those cuties up with some foam tape over Cricut cut leaves and topped them off with a little bird.  Don't you just love those fat little birds? I knew my little wooden Trinkets birdie would be so cute colored with Sweet Leaf and Indian Corn Blue alcohol markers!"

June Stamp of the Month Art # 15

Art by Wendy Coffman

Here Wendy cuts 3 sizes of scallop circles.  Layer them one on top of the other, and put a small brad through the center.  Then pinch up the top smallest flower, then the next larger, then the bottom one - and you have these darling 3D flowers, with which to embellish your cards!

How do you easily cut different sizes of scalloped circles?  Do you need multiple sizes of punches?  No . . . all you need is our Cricut Art Philosophy Collection, and you can cut all the sizes you want!

June Stamp of the Month Art # 14

Art by Wanda

Did you take advantage of our Dream Pop paper special in May?  Those are the papers featured here.  The mini clothespin here is so SWEET!  It comes in our Wooden Mini-Medley Accent Collection.

June Stamp of the Month Art # 13

Art by Sheila

Here's a cute little tin, decorated with Claire papers.  What gives it the country texture?  Our Burlap Ribbon. this burlap is so easy to use.  It cuts nicely and you can ravel its ends to "rough up" the look a bit, if you'd like.  Glue Dots are a great adhesive to use with this product.

Create a Field of Flowers!

Here is a beautiful card made by Carol Horton. She uses the June Stamp of the Month set:

"I stamped the (floral) image once at the bottom using cocoa ink, made a mask and covered the stamped image. Then I stamped again, moved the image and mask, and repeated a few times. I colored in the flowers using Alcohol markers, added color ready seam binding, cocoa cardstock mat, and attached it all to a colonial white card base."

June Stamp of the Month Art # 12

Art by Nancy Womersley

Here are our "For Always" papers again, featured with Honey and Topiary cardstocks and inks.  If you like this flower center, you'll love our Black Button Assortment.  The paper flower comes from the Paradise Paper Flowers set, which includes a whopping 68 flowers for just $5.95!

June Stamp of the Month Art # 11

Art by Lalia Harris

This fun "resist" method is beautiful and easy!  Emboss the image, using our VersaMark Pad and Clear Detail Embossing Powder.  Then sponge ink color over the top, and the stamped image will resist the color, leaving the white of the cardstock showing through.

Do You Like Washi Tape?

Oh my gosh ....... if you like Washi Tape, you've got to watch this.  See how you can create the look of patterned tape, in whatever pattern you like!  My little brain had never thought of this until I watched this video. :-)

June Stamp of the Month Art # 10

Art by Kathy Corson

Repeated color!  That's what strikes my eye here.  With the layers of BT paper from our Chantilly Paper Pack . . . to the detailed colored-in flowers of the stamped image, it's nothing but coordinating color!  Add a simple black stamped floral outline, embellish with button and Waxy Flax, and you're good to go.

Images are so quick and easy to cut with our Cricut Art Philosophy Collection and Cricut Artiste Collection.

What's it Like, Growing up a CTMH Kid?

Having just celebrated my 22nd Anniversary with Close To My Heart, I asked my 26-year-old daughter, Marie, to share what it was like for her, growing up as a CTMH Kid. That was the only prompt I gave her.  Here's what she has to say. (I just love her!  )

"I am CTMH kid. Born and raised. When I was little, I remember Mom going to "dem-un-dusins" (demonstrations) I learned my mom's consultant number right along side our phone number. I was forever wiping glitter off my face. The mid 90s+scrapbooking=GLITTER!! To this day I can't stand it:) I'll bet you anything our craft box at home growing up was cooler than yours. I could tell you what puffy glue and photo corners were when I was 6. My school projects were always the coolest in the class.

I live on my own now, but I have my own scrapbooking bag at my apartment, and I like to scrapbook and make cards more now than when I was little. There are two things that stick out the most to me. One if them is the love and encouragement I still receive from my Mom's downline who have watched me grow up. I'm even friends with some of them on Facebook. I always looked forward to the Friday of the month where they would all come to our house for their meeting. I got hugs every time.

Another reason, the most important reason, I am thankful for being a CTMH kid is watching my Mother grow into the woman she is today. I still remember when she taught her first class at convention, and I remember hearing stories about her first demonstrations and how nervous she was, but she did it anyway. She grew her business and herself at the same time. She has always been a good example to follow, but seeing her work hard for what she loved has made it easier to believe in myself and know anything is possible.

THANK YOU CTMH!!!!"

Marie Reynolds

BEAUTIFUL Blend-Ability!

June Stamp of the Month Art # 9

Art by Kathleen Androlewicz

"For Always" papers are perfect for just about anything!  The black and white scheme means you can easily combine them with any solid, whether it be the bright blue Lagoon here, or a pastel like Sky Blue .  I've enjoyed using these papers so much for many different projects, from graduation cards to picture frames.

A Sample of Julie's Studio J

Here's a layout I did a couple of years ago.  As you can see, my style is often very clean and simple.  I think one of the things I love the most about Studio J is the ability to play with my photos . . . cropping, rotating so they face left rather than right . . . it makes me look like a MUCH better photographer than I really am!

June Stamp of the Month Art # 8

Art by Karen Fullam

Wow!  A whole fistful of tulips!  This card features embossing in a big way.  Our Mini Pigment Pads  some in 4 different sets:  Adventure, Enchangment, Whimsy and Basic.  Use these with a little Clear Detail Embossing Powder, and you have color that shines!  It also provides the perfect outline to color in with our markers, and not have a smidgen of bleeding or blurring.

June Stamp of the Month Art # 7

 

Art by Jen Patrick..

Our Chantillly Textiles are used beautifully on this card.  The petals are circles, cut with pinking shears and folded.  The bow is also Chantilly textile.  What a soft and pretty look!

More Tips on Studio J

There really is no end to what you can do ..........

Think you might like to try it?  Visit my online business address (website) to set up your own Studio J account and play:

June Stamp of the Month Art # 6

Art by Helen Onulak

I like this card because it makes my brain stretch outside its normal box ......... It's a newsflash to me to feature the smaller flower bunch stamp in the background, and place the larger floral images up front.  I just wouldn't normally think to use both on the same card - - it would be either, or.  Thanks, Helen, for making my brain just that much smarter!

This card also features one of my new favorite items: Sparkles Flourishes.  These make it SO easy to add a BIG splash of bling.  Get these flourishes in clear large or small, black, and pearl!

June Stamp of the Month Art # 5

 Art by Helen Onulak

This is similar in design to our first artwork for the month.  Simple stamping above, and Claire tags below.  This "Thanks a Bunch" sentiment in this set is just right with the flower bunches featured.

June Stamp of the Month Art # 4

Art by Gina Brandstetter

Simple stamping on the right ............ or fussy cut on your left ........... You choose!  What do you enjoy doing the most?  Our Outdoor Denim Baker's Twine ties on some nice texture here.

Just Take a Couple Minutes ......

I know you've heard me talk about Studio J, our FREE online scrapbooking software.  But if you haven't really thought about trying it yourself, please take a peek at this short video and just see some of the things you can do ........  Honestly?  When it was introduced, I thought "THIS is something I'll never use ........." :-)

I'll be posting more of these to give you an even better idea of how easy it is to get great-looking layouts quickly.  I'll also post some of my own layouts for you to see. :-)

And remember - it truly is free to try.  You don't pay anything at all until you have some layouts designed that you truly love and decide you want to purchase.  Try it . . . save your work . . come back to it later . . . until you're ready to order.

June Stamp of the Month Art # 3

Art by Georgia

This round card is cut on the Cricut - as are the scalloped oval and flower shape.  Notice the subtle shaded coloring on the petals.  How easy to make leaves, simply by pinching in a little length of our Chocolate Striped Grosgrain Ribbon!

June Stamp of the Month Art # 2

Art by Brae Montgomery

A strip of Silver Shimmer Trim  anchors this beautiful bed of flowers.

June Stamp of the Month Art # 1

Art by  Beth Naumann

Claire papers are used here, and tags make a fun lower portion!  Simple outline stamping on top gives a great contrast to the bold colors below.  Our Black Striped Grosgrain Ribbon is knotted around the sentiment strip.

Through The Years . . .

I'm celebrating my 22nd Anniversary being a Close To My Heart Consultant this month.  This video brings back a LOT of memories!  I love what I do.

Enter to Win TWO Stamp Sets!

Make It a Banner Day!