Love your Layout

Use Studio J® to create a beautiful layout in just minutes by watching this Love Your Layout video. You'll use toggle accents and My Stickease® images to help you preserve those special moments. Watch the video and then log in to Studio J to try it yourself!

National Stamping Month

Learn how to celebrate the everyday moments with Close To My Heart's My Acrylix® It's Your Day double stamp set for National Stamping Month. You can create cute projects with nearly 50 adorable stamps!

It's Your Day

Handbag, Purse, or Pocketbook?

So, what do you call them? I remember my grandmother (who would be way over 100 now) calling hers a pocketbook. I don't know when I starting calling them purses. I can't remember if I ever called it a handbag. Maybe a bag, as in, grab my bag, will you to somebody. I do remember calling it a pocketbook way back in Gram's days.

Anyway, I wanted to post a picture of a bag I made yesterday. I'm loving all the great "Paris" fabrics that are available. I created this bag to sell in the shop in Saratoga. I'm thinking I may open an Etsy shop at some time this fall.

There's a pocket where the piece of striped fabric is and the inside is lined with the same fabric.

Stamp a Stack Club

For our July Stamp a Stack club, we used the Close To My Heart stamp set called D1510 4 My Friend.  We also used a retired paper pack called Mayberry and one that is still available Pemberley.

Would you like to join the Stamp a Stack club?  For only $27, you'll receive a new stamp set, all the papers and embellishments to create them, plus clear instructions to make 10 cards every month.

Magic Club

This is the second set of pages we made for our July Magic Club.

This set of pages was created using the Close To My Heart paper packet called Victory.

Love your Layout

This Love Your Layout installment is celebrating the sunshine. Watch the video to find out how to make another fabulous layout in Studio J®, using the Pemberley kit. Learn how to add wow to your photos and discover other techniques that will make your layouts shine!

I'm Looking for Guest Artists

I was just thinking how fun it would be to have a monthly guest artist.  I love seeing what others create.  So, here's how it's going to work.

1. If you would like a chance to be a guest artist, please send me a link to artwork on your blog, or, if you have no blog, email me pictures of some of your art. Put Guest Artist in your subject line.
2. On the first of every month, I will choose the guest artist for that month.
3. Upon choosing the artists, I will send you one of Close To My Heart's Workshop on the Go kits. You will need to create the featured layout in the kit (you may jazz it up or put your own spin on it).  Then, with all the products left over in the kit, you'll make as many items as you can. You may choose to do another two page layout and some cards, or a one page layout & cards, only cards, or choose something of your own to alter.You will have until the 15th of the month to get all of this done :)
4. When you finish creating, you will send me photos of everything you've created so that I can post them on my blog.  If you have a blog, you'll also post them there.  
5. You'll get high praise and recognition on my blog.

Does this sound like something you'd like to do?  If so, send me your blog link or photos of your artwork.  The first guest artist will be announced on 9/1.

I can't wait to see what everybody creates!!

Freebie Friday

And do I have FREEBIES for you!  Actually, three different freebies!

• The Great Cricut© Giveway----Simply become a subscriber of this blog and when we have 50 subscribers I'll draw a name for the Art Philosophy Cricut© cartridge
• The Great Cricut©Giveaway2--Simply become a subscriber of this blog and when we have 100 subscribers I'll draw a name to win the NEW ARTISTE Cricut© cartridge.
• AND...for the best Freebie!  Your chance to win $50 in free Close To My Heart products!!  How, you ask?  Easy!  Simply fill out the Giveaway form and you will be entered.  Only one entry per person please, with the exception of the ways you can earn extra entries.

 A quick shout out to welcome all of the new team members on the Inky Fingers Gang!!  13 ladies will all be sporting the cutest Damask bag for joining Close To My Heart this month. 

 Welcome Connie Hankins, Evelyn Robinson, Natalie Leseberge, Terest Levite, Terri Bills, Ashley O'Neal, Connie Birkimer, Erin Rettig, Joynce Bressler, Tina Burke, Criss Rotko, Karen Custard and Traci Clark!

How can you get this cute bag?  Easy!!

Simply join my Close To My Heart team in August, and it's yours! (while supplies last)

You may choose to sign up for only $49, and get this great Essentials kit (value $130).

Or, for only $99, you can choose the Master Kit. The Master kit includes the Essentials kit, plus all this! A $280 value!

View Flyer for more information

Are you ready to sign up?  Visit my website to get started.

Magic Club

For our July club, we used the CTMH My Reflections Kit called Victory

Also used to create these pages Z1692 Tough Tags and Z1711 Foundry Binder Clips.

Celebrate National Stamping Month

How cute are these stamps?

They can be yours for only $5 with a $35 order!  They're available from today, August 15, through September 30.  To order your set, visit my website.  If you'd like a chance to win $50 in free Close To My Heart products, be sure to click the "Join Mystery Hostess Gathering" at the top of your check out page.


How adorable is this bag?? ($50 value)

How can you get it?  Easy!!

Simply join my Close To My Heart team in August, and it's yours! (while supplies last)

You may choose to sign up for only $49, and get this great Essentials kit (value $130).

Or, for only $99, you can choose the Master Kit. The Master kit includes the Essentials kit, plus all this! A $280 value!

View Flyer for more information

Are you ready to sign up?  Visit my website to get started.

Red Hot Sale!!

12x12 albums for only $2!!  My Stickease for $1, paper packs for $3.50 and so much more!  Quantities are limited and will sell out quickly.

Visit my website to check out all the bargains.  Be entered in the Mystery Hostess $50 giveaway by clicking the Join button at the top of your check out page to enter the Mystery Hostess party for your chance to win.

If you have any questions or trouble, be sure to shoot me an email.

Freebie Friday

It's Freebie Friday again!  Did this last week fly by for anybody besides myself?  It seems like it was just the weekend and here it is Friday again!!  Summer is going by so quickly!  I'm such a hot weather girl, that I hate to see the summer end.  Have you noticed how short the days are becoming?  It's dark when we get up in the morning and the sun is going down earlier and earlier every day. :(

The winner of this past week's Freebie Friday prize is Tamalee!  Be sure to email me with your choice of free My Reflections Kit and your address.

This week's giveaway is a great set of embellishments from the new catalog.   Z1748 The Brocade Assortment.  They remind me of my grandmother.

How can you possibly win these?  Simple!  Just leave a comment as to what season you prefer and why.  I'll draw the winner next Friday.  It can't get any easier to win these!  LOL!

Also, don't forget about my other freebies. 

• The Great Cricut© Giveway----Simply become a subscriber of this blog and when we have 50 subscribers I'll draw a name for the Art Philosophy Cricut© cartridge
• The Great Cricut©Giveaway2--Simply become a subscriber of this blog and when we have 100 subscribers I'll draw a name to win the NEW ARTISTE Cricut© cartridge.
•  AND...for the best Freebie!  Your chance to win $50 in free Close To My Heart products!!  How, you ask?  Easy!  Simply fill out the form on my giveaway page and you will be entered.  Only one entry per person please, with the exception of the ways you can earn extra entries.

Magic Club

This is the second set of layouts we created in our June Magic Club.

We used the CTMH Florentine My Reflections Kit.


How adorable is this bag?? ($50 value)

How can you get it?  Easy!!

Simply join my Close To My Heart team in August, and it's yours! (while supplies last)

You may choose to sign up for only $49, and get this great Essentials kit (value $130).

Or, for only $99, you can choose the Master Kit. The Master kit includes the Essentials kit, plus all this! A $280 value!

View Flyer for more information

Are you ready to sign up?  Visit my website to get started.

  Cricut Artiste Collection

You just have to see this cartridge!!

This cartridge includes 700 images, themed projects, cards, fonts, shapes, cupcake papers, pinwheels and so much more! Plus, you'll also get three (3) D-sets of stamps and three (3) 12" x 9" Dimensional Elements. All for $99!

 This collection contains:

3 adorable stamp sets that coordinate with the cartridge
3 pages of dimensional element chipboard pieces that coordinate with cartridge- including word bubbles, pennants and a mini album.


Cricut Artiste Cartridge contains:

700 unique shapes which include:
18 cupcake liners
50 + cards with matching envelopes
50 + 3-D boxes
14 welded sentiments
7 pre-scored rosettes
4 spiral rolled flowers
100's of images including ferris wheels, owls, skeletons, bows, silhouettes, robots, dress forms, banners, medals, tags, brackets, frames, playing cards, pinwheels, road signs, ornaments, pumpkins, birds, butterflies, aliens, hearts, hot-air balloons and much more!!

Check out all of these cuts!

 You can order your cartridge here.

The new Fall/Winter Idea Book is live!  View the new Idea Book

Stamp a Stack Club

For our June club, we used two of the CTMH Quick Card stamp sets. These stamps are great and only $6.95 each! A1120 Quick Card-Butterfly and A1128 Quick Card-Shell

To create the variegated images on some of the cards, I put a wet paper towel on a plate and dropped three different re-inkers in a triangle on the paper towel.  I waited for them to all blend together and then used that for my ink pad.  It was fun to see how each one was going to turn out.

The papers used to create the cards are Sonoma (which is no longer available) and Florentine.

It's Freebie Friday!

And do I have FREEBIES for you!  Actually, four different freebies!

• The Great Cricut© Giveway----Simply become a subscriber of this blog and when we have 50 subscribers I'll draw a name for the Art Philosophy Cricut© cartridge
• The Great Cricut©Giveaway2--Simply become a subscriber of this blog and when we have 100 subscribers I'll draw a name to win the NEW ARTISTE Cricut© cartridge.
• This week's Freebie Friday Giveaway is your choice of any of the new My Reflections Kits.  How can you win?  Simple!! Just drop by my website, check out the new kits and leave me a comment below as to which one is your favorite.  See...I told you it was easy!  :)  I'll draw the winner next Friday.
• AND...for the best Freebie!  Your chance to win $50 in free Close To My Heart products!!  How, you ask?  Easy!  Simply fill out the form below and you will be entered.  Only one entry per person please, with the exception of the ways you can earn extra entries.

Add the Giveaway button in the right column to your blog, Facebook and/or Twitter page and put your URL in the above box for your extra entry.

Are you ready to get 3 extra entries for Joining my Team?  If so, click to join now!
Need more information?  Click here for more info!
Want to chat with me first?  Send me an email!

 How adorable is this bag?? ($50 value)

How can you get it?  Easy!!

Simply join my Close To My Heart team in August, and it's yours! (while supplies last)

You may choose to sign up for only $49, and get this great Essentials kit (value $130).

Or, for only $99, you can choose the Master Kit. The Master kit includes the Essentials kit, plus all this! A $280 value!

View Flyer for more information

Are you ready to sign up?  Visit my website to get started.

Magic Club

For our June Magic Club, we use the CTMH My Reflections kit called Florentine.   Here's one of the layouts.

When creating this layout, I did some fussy cutting to get the large element in the bottom corner of the left page and also to have the hearts going across the pages.

Create a Card

Sorry!  I've been amongst the missing :)  I've been up to my ears in tulle and American Girl clothes.  Year round I sew and have items for sale in a neighboring city.  July and August are busy with many coming to see the NYC Ballet, Philadelphia Philharmonic, and the thoroughbred horses.  I'm sewing like a mad woman :)  Of course, if I had worked this hard all year round, I wouldn't have to work this hard for July and August.  LOL!  I tend to get lured away from work by stamping and scrapbooking.  LOL!

Here's this week's Create a Card. 

To create the three colored colored shell, I put three puddles of re-inker on a wet paper towel and let it spread.  Then I used it as my ink pad.

4 ¼” x 5 ½” top fold card base

4 ¼” x 5 ½” Goldrush card stock

2 ¾” x 3” Goldrush card stock

4” x 5 ¼” Florentine Stripe B&T

2 ½” x 2 ¾” Twilight side of Florentine Stripe

3” x 3” Olive card stock

2 ¾” x 2 ¾” Colonial White card stock

Stamp shell with re-inker mixture of Desert Sand, Twilight, and Olive. 

Attach stamped image to Olive card stock.

Attach Twilight B&T to Goldrush card stock

Attach Florentine Stripe to Goldrush card stock

Tie chocolate ribbon across card front leaving a section to the right unstuck

Attach matted Twilight B&T ½” from left of card front and 3/8” from top.  Attach matted image ½” from bottom and 1 ¼” from left side.

Tie knot around chocolate ribbon. Attach copper square to upper right corner

 How adorable is this bag?? ($50 value)

How can you get it?  Easy!!

Simply join my Close To My Heart team in August, and it's yours! (while supplies last)

You may choose to sign up for only $49, and get this great Essentials kit (value $130).

Or, for only $99, you can choose the Master Kit. The Master kit includes the Essentials kit, plus all this! A $280 value!

View Flyer for more information

Are you ready to sign up?  Visit my website to get started.

  Cricut Artiste Collection

You just have to see this cartridge!!

This cartridge includes 700 images, themed projects, cards, fonts, shapes, cupcake papers, pinwheels and so much more! Plus, you'll also get three (3) D-sets of stamps and three (3) 12" x 9" Dimensional Elements. All for $99!

 This collection contains:

3 adorable stamp sets that coordinate with the cartridge
3 pages of dimensional element chipboard pieces that coordinate with cartridge- including word bubbles, pennants and a mini album.


Cricut Artiste Cartridge contains:

700 unique shapes which include:
18 cupcake liners
50 + cards with matching envelopes
50 + 3-D boxes
14 welded sentiments
7 pre-scored rosettes
4 spiral rolled flowers
100's of images including ferris wheels, owls, skeletons, bows, silhouettes, robots, dress forms, banners, medals, tags, brackets, frames, playing cards, pinwheels, road signs, ornaments, pumpkins, birds, butterflies, aliens, hearts, hot-air balloons and much more!!

Check out all of these cuts!

 You can order your cartridge here.

The new Fall/Winter Idea Book is live!  View the new Idea Book