Last Day for February Specials!

Today is February 28, which is the LAST DAY of the month.  Don't be fooled into thinking there are still a few more days left. February is tricky that way! *wink*

This means that today is the last day to take advantage of the February specials at Close To My Heart AND the last day to purchase my exclusive card kit.  As a reminder, here they are:

1.  Album Allure  (while supplies last)  
2.  February Stamp of the Month
3.  Karen's Exclusive Hopscotch 10 Card Kit
--------------------------

1.  Album Allure:  

During the month of February, when you purchase one of Close To My Heart’s alluring coated canvas albums you will be eligible to receive a second album of your choice at half price. That is a savings of over $17! These albums are available in a gorgeous variety of colors and patterns in both post-bound and D-ring styles—perfect to pair with traditional, Studio J^®, or pocket scrapbook layouts. This offer is only available while supplies last, so make certain to get your order in early to ensure you can choose the styles and colors you love. They’re going fast and are built to last; so don’t delay—place your order today!When ordering on my website, go ahead and add your first album in your regular order, then you'll be prompted to add your 1/2 off album before checking out.

Think about it.  By purchasing one album at $34.95, getting the 2nd one at half price ($17.48), you get 2 of the highest quality, most beautiful albums around for $52.43. That's about $26.22 per album. You can't get albums like this at that price anywhere!

Our albums are trendy canvas (treated and sealed) and are available in both post bound and D-ring.

Our D-rings have 1½" bindings for holding 12" x 12" projects. Perfect for using divided Memory Protectors™ such as Picture My Life™ layouts. Memory Protector capacity varies depending on thickness and weight of layouts. Non-expandable.

Our post bounds also have 1½" bindings for holding 12" x 12" projects. Ideal for showcasing classic 12" x 12" scrapbook layouts side by side in Memory Protectors featuring lay-flat seam. Sturdy binding ideal for securing thicker layouts. Memory Protector capacity varies depending on thickness and weight of layouts. Non-expandable.

Here are the albums, their order numbers (with links) and prices:

Lagoon Chevron D-Ring Album: Z2090 ($34.95)  **OUT OF STOCK**

Lagoon Chevron Postbound Album: Z2092 ($34.95)

Ruby Floral D-Ring Album:  Z2091 ($34.95)

Ruby Floral Postbound Album: Z2093 ($34.95)

Black D-Ring Album: Z3034 ($34.95)

Black Postbound Album: Z2094 ($34.95)

2.  February Stamp of the Month: This set is perfect for just about anything because flowers go with everything.  Spring is just around the corner, and along with it all kinds of events that are perfect for floral layouts and cards: Easter, Mother's Day, Birthdays, Thank Yous and so much more.  As always, the Stamp of the Month is only available during it's month and is only $5 ($12.95 savings) with every $50 ordered (before shipping and tax). Spend $100, get 2, and so on. When ordering on my website, you'll be prompted to add your set(s) before you check out.

The cool news is that if you are taking advantage of the Album Allure special, you've already qualified for the Stamp of the Month for $5!!!! 

February Stamp of the Month - A Happy Hello  Actual size of the carrier sheet is 6" x 6"

3.  Karen's Exclusive Hopscotch Card Kit:  Today (February 28)  is the last day to order yours. 

How would you like a kit* to make all 10 of these cards? There are 5 - 5" x 7" cards and 5 standard cards (5 1/2" x 4 1/4"), all with envelopes!  You'll even have left over supplies when you're done. 
*available to US residents only

Here's a close up of one of the cards.  Isn't it just gorgeous?  All of the cards are great for just about any occasion, from birthdays to thank you's, from Mother's Day to thinking of you's.  This kit is so simple to put together you can probably get it finished in less than an hour! How about that? 10 cards in an hour?  Sounds like a kit anyone will love!

Kit Includes (you can see photos of each of these products at the end of this post):
5 - 5" x 7" cards and envelopes
5 - standard cards and envelopes
1/2 package Hopscotch Picture My Life Cards
Hopscotch Assortment
Blue Shimmer Trim needed
1/3 package of Junebug Puffies
Pixie Extra Thick Twine needed
Flaxen Cardstock needed
Pacifica Cardstock needed
Step-by-step instructions with photos

You get all of this for $35...including shipping and handling.  Hurry!  You may purchase these card kits from me through February 28.  They will no longer be available on March 1. Just click here to be directed to the post with a "buy it now" button for this kit.

Spring Watercolor Pencil Cards and Techniques

When was the last time you used watercolor pencils?  If it's been a while (or if you never have) I hope this post inspires you to pull them out and start playing. Along with the art I am sharing in this post, I'm also sharing some great tips for blending with them.

All of the products that I used for these cards are pictured with links at the end of this post. I'll also picture a few of them here within the post.

First let's start with close ups of each card and a detail shot as well:

There are four main products I used to create these cards:

1. Rainy Day Stamp Set (you can use any lined stamp set)
2.  Archival Black Pad (you will want to be sure you choose the Archival Black because once it's dry, it won't bleed when you use your pencils and blending pen)
3.  Watercolor Pencils
4.  Blending Pen

Rainy Day Stamp Set

Archival Ink Black Pad

Watercolor Pencils

Blending Pen

Watercolor Pencil Tips and Techniques:

1. Try using these pencils without water, just as regular pencils. They are very smooth and look great this way. 
2. If you plan to use your pencils with water or a blending pen, be sure to stamp in our Black Archival Pad. The regular black is water based and will smear when you wet the pencil color to blend.
3. When using these pencils with water, don'€™t color in the whole portion of the image you want. Just color the part you want the darkest and pull your color in with a blending pen.  It's important that you start on the uncolored part of the image with your blending pen to get the area a bit wet, then pull the color in.
4. Sometimes mixing colors is pretty. You'll want to color your area with both colors first and then blend them with the pen.
5. These pencils look the smoothest when you don't color with a sharp point. After sharpening, rub the tip of your pencil on a scratch paper to create a slightly angled tip and then color with the flat surface of the angle.
6. When coloring larger areas, try to use the longest strokes you can.  When coloring in small circles or short lines, the color doesn't blend as beautifully.  If you are coloring a circle, for instance, color the side of the circle you want the darkest by pushing hard with the flat side of your angled tip along that side of the circle, going up and down along the edge of the circle and working your way in.  Use less and less pressure as you work your way in and with that combination of long strokes and pressure, you'll be much happier with your look.

 

Rainy Day	Black Archival Pad	Watercolor Pencils	Blending Pen
12" X 12" Canary Cardstock	12" X 12" Pacifica Cardstock	12" X 12" White Daisy Cardstock	5 1/2" X 4 1/4" White Cards & Envelopes, Value Pack
Mini-Medley Accents Ruby Collection

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A Floral Card and Discounted Albums

4" x 4" card by Karen Pedersen.  More photos and supply links later in this post.

February is almost over and I don't want you to miss out on the specials that end with the month.  So, here's your quick reminder that you have just a couple more days to take advantage of the...

Album Allure Special

and

The February Stamp of the Month

Details below...
 

Album Allure:

During the month of February, when you purchase one of Close To My Heart’s alluring coated canvas albums you will be eligible to receive a second album of your choice at half price. That is a savings of over $17! These albums are available in a gorgeous variety of colors and patterns in both post-bound and D-ring styles—perfect to pair with traditional, Studio J^®, or pocket scrapbook layouts. This offer is only available while supplies last, so make certain to get your order in early to ensure you can choose the styles and colors you love. They’re going fast and are built to last; so don’t delay—place your order today! When ordering on my website, go ahead and add your first album in your regular order, then you'll be prompted to add your 1/2 off album before checking out.

Think about it.  By purchasing one album at $34.95, getting the 2nd one at half price ($17.48), you get 2 of the highest quality, most beautiful albums around for $52.43. That's about $26.22 per album. You can't get albums like this at that price anywhere!

Our albums are trendy canvas (treated and sealed) and are available in both post bound and D-ring.

Our D-rings have 1½" bindings for holding 12" x 12" projects. Perfect for using divided Memory Protectors™ such as Picture My Life™ layouts. Memory Protector capacity varies depending on thickness and weight of layouts. Non-expandable.

Our post bounds also have 1½" bindings for holding 12" x 12" projects. Ideal for showcasing classic 12" x 12" scrapbook layouts side by side in Memory Protectors featuring lay-flat seam. Sturdy binding ideal for securing thicker layouts. Memory Protector capacity varies depending on thickness and weight of layouts. Non-expandable.

Here are the albums, their order numbers (with links) and prices:

Lagoon Chevron D-Ring Album: Z2090 ($34.95)

Lagoon Chevron Postbound Album: Z2092 ($34.95)

Ruby Floral D-Ring Album:  Z2091 ($34.95)

Ruby Floral Postbound Album: Z2093 ($34.95)

Black D-Ring Album: Z3034 ($34.95)

Black Postbound Album: Z2094 ($34.95)

February Stamp of the Month:

This set is perfect for just about anything.  Flowers go with everything.  Spring is just around the corner, and along with it all kinds of events that are perfect for floral layouts and cards: Easter, Mother's Day, Birthdays, Thank Yous and so much more.  As always, the Stamp of the Month is only available during it's month and is only $5 ($12.95 savings) with every $50 ordered (before shipping and tax). Spend $100, get 2, and so on. When ordering on my website, you'll be prompted to add your set(s) before you check out.

The cool news is that if you are taking advantage of the Album Allure special, you've already qualified for the Stamp of the Month for $5!!!! 

I created this 4" x 4" card with this awesome set.  You'll find the supplies I used, along with photos and links, at the end of this post for your convenience.

 

February Stamp of the Month - A Happy Hello  Actual size of the carrier sheet is 6" x 6"

A Happy Hello � February 2015 Stamp of the Month	VersaMark� Ink Pad	Ranger� White Super Fine Embossing Powder	Juniper Exclusive Inks® Stamp Pad
Smoothie Stamp Pad	Thistle Exclusive Inks� Pad	5 1/2" X 4 1/4" White Cards & Envelopes, Value Pack	12" X 12" White Daisy Cardstock
12" X 12" Smoothie Cardstock	Paper Fundamentals Whimsy Assortment	Purple Glitter Gems	Craft Heater
3" X 3" My Acrylix® Block	1" X 1" My Acrylix® Block	Non-Stick Micro-Tip Scissors	Surecut� Deluxe Craft Paper Trimmer
3L® E-Z Dots® Adhesive	3-D Foam Tape

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