La Belle Vie - February Club Layouts Collage Close-up

La Belle Vie - February Club Layouts

January Club Layouts Collage Close-up

Embossed Resist Stamping!

Random Stamping Video

Learn how to create a random pattern for a background design on your paper. 

Just stamp the image of your choice randomly on the page for results that are unique and stunning!

Monogram Stamps

You can add a personal touch to your artwork with our new monogram stamps—only $2.95 each! Click here to see and shop the monogram stamps.

Extra January Kit - "Snow Much Fun"

I am crazy about the cute snowmen in our FLAKEY FRIENDS stamp set, so I just had to create a layout with them.  Again, I combined two paper packets to find just the right combination of colors & prints.  The snowflakes were cut from both the Art Philosophy & Artiste Cricut Cartridges.
I am offering this extra layout kit for $12. -- while supplies last.  Please contact me to order your kit.

January Club Layouts

Here are the two layouts we'll be creating during our January club parties:

Supplies:  I used a combination of the Dakota and Avonlea paper kits, some extra cardstock colors, the Slate Mini-Medley Accents, Slate Satin Polka Dot Ribbon and the Silver Shimmer Trim.

December Stamp of the Month

Year-Round Cheer Stamp Set

For every $50. you spend this month, you can purchase a set for $5.

This set would make a great holiday gift!

The Right Tools Make All the Difference!

Discover how easy crafting can be when you use the perfect tool for your project. Whether you are creating 3-D flowers, applying rub-ons, or writing on chalkboard sheets, there is a tool for you!

More Home Decor!

There are so many creative ways to use hand-crafted 3-D items. You can use our great products to create home décor that will bring a fun and unique accent in your home. It’s easy to use Close To My Heart products you already know and love—with a different twist!

This festive thankful countdown uses the My Creations® cubby to celebrate Thanksgiving. Fill the Cricut®-cut boxes with reminders of things you are thankful for, and share the grateful fun with your family. You can use it to countdown to your favorite holiday, like Thanksgiving, or use different embellishments and countdown to a loved one’s birthday to show them how much you love them.

While the Dakota paper packet, Casual Expressions stamp set, and Dakota Complements Foil Images have a country feel, you can use all of these same materials to make a welcoming star for your front door.

Everyday household items can also be combined with Close To My Heart products to create dazzling home décor. Use the Flirty paper packet and your Cricut® machine, along with everyday household items such as a flower pot and Styrofoam ball, to create a papercrafted tree. Or add a few Dimensional Elements to the autumn colors of the Flirty papers to create a desk calendar using two My Creations blocks. You can even use cute Cricut®-cut flowers and leaves to make a festive banner!

For displaying precious memories, the display tray is a perfect fit! Display photos, stamped sentiments, Dimensional Elements, and other embellishments for a prized layout that you can proudly hang anywhere in your home. The display tray is easy to personalize, too; cover up several windows with cardstock for larger photos!

Creating unique home décor is so much fun to do!  Happy crafting!

Pigment vs. Dye Stamp Pads - How to Choose

When is it best to use pigment ink and when is it best to use dye ink? Find out the answer along with even more helpful tips to make your stamped images perfect for the occasion!

Creating Cricut Cards & Envelopes

Discover how to create cards, envelopes, and more with the Cricut®Artiste cartridge. Move beyond flat cut-outs for more creative freedom!

Extra December Club Kit - More Christmas Layouts!

Need more Christmas layouts?  I'm offering an extra December club kit with two additional Christmas layouts.  Please pre-order this kit by November 21 to have it pre-cut for our December club parties. Kit includes Pear & Partridge paper kit and Dimensional Elements in Color-Holiday.

December Club Layouts - Christmas Joy!

We'll be creating two Christmas Joy layouts at our December club parties.  Supplies:  Pear & Partridge paper kit, Pear & Partridge Glittery Rub-ons and Pewter Mini-Medley Accents Collection.  Club members will be pre-ordering this month.  Guests - please contact me as soon as possible to order yours!

November Special - 50% OFF

In November, you’ll get something extra when you buy the Stamp of the Month—50% off another stamp set! When you qualify for and buy the November Stamp of the Month set, Capture the Date, you’ll receive another stamp set* of your choice for 50% off—it’s like two promotions in one! The versatile Capture the Date stamp set is great for any layout, card, invitation, or calendar, and now you can choose another stamp set at half-off for more wonderful papercrafting. Get Capture the Date and then capture the savings today!

* Offer valid for A-E and M size stamp sets only; K-size, Workshops on the Go®, Cricut® collection, and Stamp of the Month stamp sets are not eligible for this promotion. Maximum of one 50% off stamp set per order.

To show our support of Red Cross relief efforts for those areas of the US severely affected by Hurricane Sandy, Close To My Heart will donate $1 for every Stamp of the Month set sold as a part of this promotion during November.

November Stamp of the Month

The November Stamp of the Month, "CAPTURE THE DATE" is available during November only for only $17.95.  Purchase $50 of CTMH products and get this stamp set for only $5.!!

Football Mini-Album

I thoroughly enjoyed taking action photos of Spencer and his teammates playing football during the last few weeks.  They all learned so much, did really well and were a lot of fun to watch this season.  I wanted to create a mini album as a "thank you" to the coach.  I tried something new this time and thought I would share the idea.  I took a package of 6x6 Kraft Die-Cut Cards & Envelopes (Z1474), opened the flaps of the cards and adhered several cards together using tombow.  Once they are glued together, you can fold the album "accordion style."  I wanted to include a photo of each team member, so I added as many pages as I needed.  I placed a team group photo on the front cover.  I stamped a big THANK YOU on the inside cover and left it blank for team signatures.  I stamped each team member's name under their photo.  If you create a small album with these cards, it will fit in the kraft envelope included.  However, my album got a little too big to fit in the envelope.  I used a plastic 6x6 stamp organizer (Z335) for an envelope -- it was a perfect fit!  

Halloween Treats!

After a fabulous fall Team Tahoe Retreat with good friends -- I'm feeling inspired and grateful, my cup is refilled and creative juices are flowing to create holiday projects!  I look so forward to our retreats.  It gives us a chance to catch up with each others' lives, create fun projects together and enjoy some great home cooking!

As we start to prepare for Halloween next week, I wanted to make some Halloween treats for the boys and their classmates.  Julie had made some fun treats for our October Folsom club party and I knew the boys would love 'em too. They are fast and easy!  I sent boxes of them with both boys to share with their class and teachers today.  Thanks for the idea Julie!

Recipe:  Pretzels, Hershey's Hugs, Candy Corn

Place Hershey's Hugs on top of the pretzels on a cookie sheet.  

Bake at 200 degrees for 2-3 minutes.  

The hugs will melt just enough to quickly place a candy corn firmly on top.  Let cool.

I placed two in small, clear treat bags stapled closed with a stamped jack-o-lantern.

Supplies:  Perfect Fit-Halloween stamp set, CTMH Orange, Olive and Pansy Purple cardstock.

Happy Halloween!!

Moonlight Display Tray!

Have you created one of our Display Trays yet?  

Here is one that Mary created and gave to me at our Consultants Tahoe Team Retreat.    She used the Moonlight Halloween kit papers.  Mary had a great tip: she attached each rectangle base with just one glue dot in the middle of the rectangle, so you can change out the decorations each season.  

Yes, I think this would make a great workshop!  I'll be busy coming up with a couple of themes for a  future workshop.  Want to make your own now?  To view and purchase a Display Tray, click here.

I love this Mary - thank you so much!