I hope everyone has had a Happy Holiday Season! I am currently reorganizing my craft room, which has lead to an absence of new projects the past few weeks. What I thought was going to be a weekend project....has turned into much more. I wanted to make sure you did not miss out on the crafty sales that are starting at midnight! Close To My Heart is having a Boxing Week Sale, with discounts up to 40% off. The sale starts on December 26 and runs through December 29. New offers will be posted at midnight each day and stay up until 11:59 pm MT on that same day, while supplies last.You can view all of the specials in my online store, starting at midnight!

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The December Stamp of the Month, A Little Bit of Pun, is a super cute set! The set is ideal for making little pick me up notes.  I think this set would be super cute for little surprise notes! Here is a look at all of the cute sentiments included in the set-

You can purchase this set for only $5 with a qualifying order in December. You can view all of the great Close To My Heart products here!

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Close To My Heart is having a one-day flash sale to celebrate Cyber Monday! The sale will give you  a chance to get a 30% discount on individual Workspace Wonder™ items and a 40% discount on select bundles of Workspace Wonder items!  This sale starts November 27, 2017 at 12:01 AM (MST) and will end 11:59 PM on that same day.

 To see which items will be discounted during this sale, visit the Promotions Page on my website at any time during the sale times. The Cyber Monday items will be listed on that page. All the items included in the sale are only available while supplies last, and there is no grace period for placing orders—so be sure to get the orders in before the sale ends!

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I am loving the Merry Everything card kit!  The kit includes materials for ten cards. I rarely make duplicates of the same card, so you will see a variety of cards from my kit contents. This is another card that I have added layers and a little bling. I added the gold foil layers and gold sequins to set this card apart from the basic  kit.  In case you missed my earlier posts, here is a look at the kit contents-

The Merry Everything card kit is not just for Christmas cards....they work great for Thank You cards as well!  The card  kit comes with blank gold embossed die cuts...so you can add any sentiment that you wish.  I am always in need of thank you cards and love the bold sentiment against the pine bough wreath. This is another blinged up version of the card kit, as I did cut up the base and add a layer of gold foil.  The gold foil is hard to photograph, but looks great in person!  In case you missed it, I did a intro post to the Merry Everything kit HERE.  I have entered my card in the Holiday Pines Challenge at The Paper Players-

All supplies by Close To My Heart, except where noted:
Z4048 Merry Everything Card Kit
B1536 All the Thanks
1385 White Daisy Cardstock
Z3365 Gold Foil Paper
Z891 Versamark Ink Pad
Z2066 Gold Embossing Powder

I have also entered my card in the following challenges:
Just Us Girls-Thankful
 Pink & Main-Gratitude/Thanks

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I am still on my learning curve with the Jane Davenport Mermaid Markers.  I love the bright vivid colors, so I am determined to master them!  I struggle with watercoloring......mostly because I am an in the lines type. This card was actually take 2.  I had colored in my poppies on take 1....and then attempted to add in the color wash on the background. Did not go as planned....and I could not handle the bleed of the poppy colors into my background.  On the second attempt....I colorwashed my background first.  I let the background dry and then went back in and colored the flowers.  The first panel did not go to waste though....I cut out the flowers and popped them up onto the second panel for added dimension.  I love the effect.  Here is a close up of the dimension-


The added dimension adds so much to the card.  Had it not been for my coloring issues on the first panel, I am not certain I would have taken the time to color the poppies twice.

All supplies by Close To My Heart, except where noted:
Pleasant Poppies Stamp Set-Stampin Up
February 2015 Sentiment Kit-Unity
Z3146 Watercolor Paper
X5975 Cranberry Cardstock
Black Cardstock-Recollections
Black Pigment Ink
Z2088 Clear Embossing Powder
Jane Davenport Mermaid Markers
Banner Die-Unknown

I have entered my card in the following challenges:
Cards 4 Galz-Favorite Flower (I love the vibrant colors of a field of poppies)
Penny Black and More Challenges-Flower Power
Pile It On-Large Sentiment
The Flower Challenge-CAS
Tuesday Throwdown-Watercolor

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Need Christmas cards in a hurry?  The Merry Everything Card Kit is just the ticket! Thinking card kits might not be your thing???  You can always add to the kit to give it your own personal touch. I love the versatility of the Close To My Heart card kits.  I admit, I do often cut them up and add on some layers.  I always complete a few cards just as the kit intended, to have cards for you to compare to.  The choice is yours....quick and simple or add a few extra steps to make them uniquely yours.  My first card is step up from the basic card kit.  I cut the card apart and layered with a gold foil background.  I heat embossed the Merry Christmas image in gold.  I then added some gold glitter gems to my wreath background for a little bling.  We all have different crafting styles, and if you are in the non-bling fan club, here is a look at the original card.


This card was created as the kit was intended.  I did heat emboss my image in gold.  You could always stamp in a coordinating ink color to save the time of embossing.  The kit contains ten card bases, envelopes and die cuts.  The stamp sentiments are sold separately.  Here is a look at the kit contents-


All supplies by Close To My Heart, except where noted:
Z4048 Merry Everything Card Kit
M1184 Merry Christmas
1385 White Daisy Cardstock
Z3365 Gold Foil Paper
Z891 Versamark Ink Pad
Z2066 Gold Embossing Powder
Gold Glitter Gems-Gina Marie Designs

I have entered my card in the following challenges:
Christmas at Sweet Stampin-Anything Goes
Christmas Card Challenges-Anything Christmas
Crafty Friends Challenge-Christmas
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge-Anything Christmas
Crimbo Crackers-Quick & Easy
WOW Embossing Powder-Christmas

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Fun new items have been added to the Clearance Section!  My favorite item is the Some Kinda Wonderful Stamp Set and Thin Cut Bundle for only $6.00!!!!  Only available while supplies last!  You can view all of the clearance items HERE!  These would be perfect gifts for your crafty friends for the upcoming holidays!

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Fundamental Bundles are 40% off in November!  This is a perfect time to stock up on the basics! If you prefer to purchase individual items, you can still get a great deal at 30% off!  What are Fundamentals, you ask?  Fundamentals include paper packs, ribbon and complements in the gorgeous color families offered by Close To My Heart. You can view all of the Fundamental items HERE!

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The November Stamp of the Month, Through the Year,  is perfect for your scrapbook pages and calendar crafts.  I plan on using many of the smaller images for backgrounds on my cards as well!  Love the script font!  Here is a look at all of the great images-

You can purchase this set for only $5 with a qualifying order in November. You can view all of the great Close To My Heart products here!  AND, here is a sneak peek of the December Special-Through the Year Calendar Kit-



The December calendar special incorporates the November Stamp of the Month in the project.  You can only get the stamp set for $5 in the month of November.....get your stamp set now, so you will be ready for the December Calendar Special!

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I stepped outside of my box for this card.  The stamps are from the September Sentiment Kit by Unity.  In the rebuilding of my craft room....I am in serious need of sentiment stamps.  All too apparent by many recent cards incorporating printed sentiments.  I would so rather apply ink to paper with a stamp than manipulate an image to match my card. If you happen to be new to Unity Stamps, they are made of red rubber with a cling mount. I am a huge clear stamp fan....so inking up red rubber was a stretch for me.  I must say I am spoiled by being able to see exactly where I am going to stamp my image. I love the crisp images, but so need the x-ray vision!  I stamped my images in black pigment ink and clear embossed on a watercolor panel.  I then colored my image and background with Jane Davenport Mermaid Markers.....which was another step out of my box.  Still undecided if I like them or not.....practice, practice, practice comes to mind. :)

All supplies by Close To My Heart, except where noted:
Abundant Blessings Sentiment Set-Unity Stamps
Black Cardstock by Recollections
Black Pigment Ink-Retired
Z2088 Clear Embossing Powder
Jane Davenport Mermaid Markers

I have entered my card in the following challenges:
CAS on Friday-Flowers
Colour Crazy Craft Challenge-Anything Goes
Through the Craft Room Door-Anything Goes

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A quick and simple Halloween card with a little whimsy thrown in.  I inked up my bats with black pigment ink and embossed in clear.  I then layered on Wilted Violet Distress Oxide ink.  I allowed to dry for a few minutes then spritzed with water and a homemade glitz spray.  I decided to add a little whimsy by adding googlie eyes.  The card is going to someone younger and I think they make the card more fun! I was originally going to make the card in orange.....but the color challenge at Color Throwdown caught my eye....so purple it was!

All supplies by Close To My Heart, except where noted:
D1736 Cats & Bats Scrapbooking
1385 White Daisy Cardstock
Black Cardstock by Recollections
Wilted Violet Distress Oxide Ink
Black Pigment Ink-Retired
Z891 Versamark Ink
Z2088 Clear Embossing Powder
Z2068 White Embossing Powder
Googlie Eyes-Unknown

I have also entered my card in the following challenges:
Allsorts-Halloween
Aud Sentiments Challenge-Halloween & a Sentiment
Crafting by Design-Halloween
Glitter N Sparkle-Purple & Black
Send a Smile 4 Kids-Celebration Cards 4 Kids

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Halloween is only a couple of weeks away!  I am finishing up the last of my Halloween Cards to get them in the mail. While this card looks flat in the pic, I did pop up some layers and my spider with foam tape to give it some added dimension....yet still make it through the mail system safely. My card is based on the sketch challenge this week at Freshly Made Sketches-


And because I kept it clean and simple, I have also entered it into the theme challenge at The Paper Players-


All supplies by Close To My Heart, except where noted:
D1736 Cats & Bats Scrapbooking
C1632 Say It All-Retired
X7224B Cats & Bats Paper Packet
1385 White Daisy Cardstock
X5962 Goldrush Cardstock
Z3236 Black Glitter Cardstock
Black Cardstock by Recollections
Z899 Tuxedo Black Memento Ink
Banner Dies-MFT

I have also entered my card in the following challenges:
CAS on Friday-Fall/Halloween
Pile It On-Spiders & Cobwebs

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Have you seen the super cute October Stamp of the Month, Christmas Tunes? The large images included with this set will make your Christmas cards quick and easy. 


This set is only available in the month of October.  You can add the set to a qualifying order for only $5 or purchase separately for $17.95. You can view all the details here.

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I love the large font of the BOOO! image found in the Cats & Bats Scrapbooking line.  The image will be super cute on scrapbook pages, but totally stands alone on a card as well. My sentiment was colored with plain jane brush markers and mounted with foam tape for added dimension.  I heat embossed my bat image to make him pop.


 I am sneaking in under the wire to get my card entered in the World Cardmaking Day Sketch Challenge at Jillibean Soup-


All supplies by Close To My Heart, except where noted:
D1736 Cats & Bats Scrapbooking
X7224B Cats & Bats Paper Packet
1385 White Daisy Cardstock
Black Cardstock by Recollections
Z4028 Cats & Bats Dots
Z899 Tuxedo Black Memento Ink
Black Pigment Ink-Retired
Z2088 Clear Embossing Powder
Brush Markers-Leisure Arts

I have also entered my card in the following challenges:
Cards 4 Guyz-Boo
Pink & Main-Fall/Halloween

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I love fall leaves and pumpkins when it comes to Fall cardmaking...pumpkin bread helps as well!  I fell in love with the Sweet Pumpkins set by Sunny Studios.  I had to have them the moment I saw them...but they have just recently found their way to ink!  While I love layering stamp sets...it is sometimes a struggle starting with a new one as you see how different colors work together.  Sometimes less is more.  I attempted the pumpkins with three layers of different colors and just was not getting the desired results.  In the end I did my pumpkins with only two ink colors, overstamping one of the layers with the same color ink.  The coloring is subtle and I love the final results.


I would love to tell you my color combo...if I only knew.  My base color and second layer were both stamped with Tangerine by Close To My Heart.  The other layer is a questionable orange by Hero Arts.  Does anyone know why they do not list names on their inks?  It is a darker orange cube, that I am sure I received in a kit or lot of goodies at some point in the past....sadly it remains nameless!  My pumpkin stems are a double layer of  Fern ink.  The leaves are a layer of Fern and New England Ivy for the details.


In finished out the inside with another little pumpkin for a pop of color along with my strip of coordinating paper.  I keep every scrap of paper just for this purpose!

Design Tip: My Happy Thanksgiving sentiment was created on a Word Processing program.  If you don't have the perfect stamp, Word will work in a pinch!

All supplies by Close To My Heart, except where noted:
Pretty Pumpkins-Sunny Studios
Autumn Greetings-Sunny Studios
X7223B Falling For You Paper Packet
1385 White Daisy Cardstock
X5960 Fern Cardstock
Burlap Cardstock-DCWV
Z2809 Tangering Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad
Z2850 Fern Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad
Z2835 New England Ive Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad
??? Orange Dye Ink-Hero Arts
Stitched Rectangle Dies-Gina Marie
Ripened Pumpkin Nuvo Crystal Drops-Tonic Studios

I have entered my card in the following challenges:
Addicted to Stamps-Holiday
Cuttlebug Mania-Hello Sweet Pumpkin
Fairy Tale Challenge-Pumpkin
Jillibean Soup-Stamping Challenge
Paper Sweeties-Photo Inspiration

Thanks so much for stopping by!