October Stamp of the Month

It's October already, and this month we have an AMAZING stamp of the month! It is called Holiday Magic and has Christmas trees, Stockings and even Santa's sleigh!

I used our Believe papers along with the October stamp of the month. This kit is not only great for Christmas cards and layouts, but it also works great for winter theme layouts and cards.

My favorite however has to be the card with Santa and his sleigh. How cute is he! The sleigh is from our stamp of the month and Santa is from our Workshop kit on page 55 of the catalog. I just LOVE him!

I also used some of our Twinkle brads. They are now discontinued, but if you have some in your stash, get them out and use them! I love to use what I have! In fact I went crazy and used all of what I had! That is good and bad. Good that I am no longer storing them, but bad that they are all gone. But, I am ok with it. We have other cool bling in our new catalog.

So check your stash, find out what you have that will go perfect with this stamp set. Get them out and get ready to order this set starting tomorrow!

Remember you can either purchase the stamp of the month for $17.95 or if you order $50, you can purchase it for just $5! But remember, it is only available in the month of October!

Cherish Your Memories!

Today is a hard day. It would have been our son Grant's 28th birthday. He died in a car accident 12 years ago and we miss him terribly! But I do have pictures and will always have those memories!

Here is a perfect memory that just makes me smile! It was Cody's 10th birthday (1996) and Grant was helping him make his treats for school. They were making dirt cakes. And of course, Grant had to be the comedian and wear the flowers. I just love this picture. It shows how funny Grant was with just normal every day items. Who said boys don't have flower layouts! LOL I am glad I have these memories and the pictures to help me remember them all. Make sure you preserve your memories!

Spooky Banner

I love this banner! I stamp lifted it right out of our catalog. It is on page 49...but the picture doesn't do it justice! I saw it in person at convention and knew I had to recreate it.

I used our dimensional elements My Creations Banner. They are chip board pennant that I covered with our background & texture paper from our Mischief kit. You can trace around the pennant, but I used our Cricut Cartridge to cut it. You get 8 pennants for just $5.95. You can create these banners for any occasion. Your kids rooms, holidays, baby showers...anything.

Here are just 2 of the pennants up close...they we so fun to make!

If you trace & cut them yourself, you can get 3 pennants per piece of 12 x 12 pattern paper, but I chose to use the Cricut cartridge (why not!) and you can get 2 per 12 x 12 paper. That's ok...I was ok with getting one less per paper and not have to cut it by hand. This cartridge is spoiling me! LOL

If you want to cut these pennants you will need to change the settings to 1/10th and then put the setting at 6.80. This will cut them our perfectly. All you have to do is punch a hole and you are done.

Crop Layout

Every other month I host a crop. Part of the crop fee they get a 2 page layout that I create and cut all the piece for and they assemble the pieces and they are DONE with 2 pages.

Last Saturday I had a crop and this is the layout they made. I cut that big leave out with our new Cricut Cartridge. I also cut the word FALL and the smaller leaves... and I also stamped on them. That is the great thing about our Cricut Cartridge...it has coordinating stamp images that you can stamp right on the cut out and add more pizzazz to them.

If you would like to join me for my next crop, make sure you watch for that update and join us! You will be surprised on how much you will get done!

You & Me

Did you get one of our You & Me kits back in May & June? It was our special and I just loved it. I forgot to post this layout earlier, then it occurred to me that some of you might not have gotten yours created yet.

So dust it off and pull it out and use it! I think I might have an extra one or two, so if you would like one, email me and I will get one to you.

I used this for my birthday pictures! Our old (not in age) neighbors came back into town and Nancy & I went to the movies, then met the "boys" at Cheeseburger in Paradise for some drinks before we went to dinner. Here are the pictures of those funny drinks. It's amazing how our paper even goes with the colors of my DRINK! lol

I put a banner across the first page and put our Mocha Opaques Adhesive Gems and put one between each pennant. This paper just makes me happy! I am glad I got a couple extras for me too!

Here is my challenge for you. Get out this kit and make all the pages by the end of the month! Let's get creating!

Make Your Own Pattern Paper

Have you ever needed just the right pattern paper, but you couldn't find it or the colors just weren't right?

With stamps, you can make your OWN pattern paper. This is what I did here in this layout.

As part of my team, each quarter we get together and spend the day doing whatever we want to do. It can be creating for ourselves, for the next workshop or even for our next group. It is a lot of fun and I try to have a theme.

This time I found these very cute plates & napkins, but I didn't have any pattern to match...but have not fear, I created it myself using stamps!

I took several of our stamp sets out and started to create this layout. I also stamped 2nd generation (this is when you ink your stamp, then stamp on scrap paper and without inking it again you stamp on the paper. This gives you a light version of that same image) so I can put the title here. See how the leaves look lighter? Then I stamped "CREW" over it.

So remember if you are creating something specific, then you will want to pull out your stamps and really personalize your layout!

And, if you would like to be part of my team and earn extra money or get a discount, just contact me! For just $99 you can start your own Close to my Heart business. We really do have a lot of fun!

Elemental Kit

September my groups are using our New Elemental kit. I have to say the new way Close to my Heart has designed our kits is awesome! You can have the same kit and have TOTALLY different layouts and cards.

Here are some cards that I made using the leftover paper from our Elemental kit. And believe it or not, I also made a 4th of July layout, preschool layout and a very adorable flower layout much like these cards. Stop by on Tuesday to see the layouts that I created!

I used our Wishes How to Book and the card name is Simply Said. I also used Hooray Bouquet stamp set (D1491) and I cut the flower images out with our NEW Cricut cartridge - Art Philosophy. Ahhh...what did I do before we got this Cricut cartridge? It is so nice to not have to cut all these flowers out individually! You can order your cartridge now! And if you order it in September (or you purchase $75 in products in September you can get the stamp of the month for just $5 ($17.95 value) and also get our Pair-a-Phrase stamp set FREE! That is 2 D size stamp sets FREE! ($35.90). Don't delay! Get your free products now!

Cute Halloween Treat!

I know it is a little early for Halloween, but it is NEVER too early to start creating cute treats for all those little ghosts & goblins.


It is a quick and easy treat holder. I put Hershey kisses in it, but you can also put Nuggets in them. Here's how to make it. Take a piece of 4 1/2 x 4 1/4 cardstock. I used our Pear cardstock. On the 4 1/2 side, score it at 1 1/4, 2 1/2 & 3 3/4. I stamped the outside using the diamond from our All Hallows Eve stamp set (C1462). I stamped it in Topiary. It wasn't as dark as the Pear. I then stamped the scrolly stamp on top of the diamond using Grey Wool. Sponged the edges and folds with black. The scallop is from our NEW Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge. It's the scallop from page 62 of the Cricut book and I cut it at 1 inch. I used the one with the holes in it, but ended up putting the holes behind the cardstock.

I also used Captured Moments stamp set (C1423) for the ghost image. It was quick and easy and I have to say DARN CUTE! I put some adhesive on the bottom to hold the Hershey kisses in place.

It's never too early to start making your Halloween treats!! Give this one a try!

Elemental Kit - Layouts

Here are the layouts my groups will be making this month using the Elemental Kit. I have 3 different layouts. One for 4th of July, one for Preschool and the last one that looks like I have used TOTALLY different kit, but I didn't! I just used the back of our background & textured paper that is now a thicker cardstock. YEAH!

The possibilities are endless with our new kits. If you would like to make these layouts, give me a call or email and sign up to be a guest at one of my groups! This month...3 two page layouts!

September Stamp of the Month

Get ready for another great stamp of the month and here it is. Our September Stamp of the month. This is a fun set. You get a tag and journal spot (both of which are images on our NEW CRICUT CARTRIDGE), so you cut them out on the Cricut and then stamp right on the cut out.

I think this stamp set is good for gift giving (making tags), for journaling on your layouts and even for Save the Date cards just to name a few.

If you would like to see all the images, you can go to my website and check out the catalog. They are on page 140. This set is available for just $17.95 or purchase $50 in products and get this for just $5! But remember this September stamp of the month is only available in September.