Early Bird Special and Retiring Items are Going Soon

Just a quick reminder about a few things...

1. Early Bird Special
2.  Retiring Items

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1. Early Bird Special:  Join the Close To My Heart family of Consultants in July to get your choice of a FREE Fundamentals paper packet bundled together with its coordinating Complements. These brand new products won’t be released to the public until August 1, so joining today is your chance to get them first!

When you sign up, you also get $50 in Select Product Credit to spend on more new products, including the newest stamps, paper packs, and cardstock colors. Sign up here.

2. Retiring Items:

We have MANY items that are retiring on July 31 (11:50 MDT, or when supplies run out, whichever happens first).  I wanted to remind you to stop by my website (the going soon section) and get what you want before those items are gone for good.  While you're shopping, you might want to check out the clearance section as well!   There are some amazing deals there.

Why I Scrapbook

This past weekend, we had a family reunion with my Dad's family.  There was lots of food, visiting, fun and games, but most importantly we talked about family history. I learned some things about my dad I never knew before (he's not always the best about talking about himself).

I always knew my daddy was a stud, but  I learned a little more about him. I knew he was a heavyweight golden gloves boxer, but as these photos, newspapers and tournanent programs were pulled out, I learned a little more.

This photo was the final four in the 1961 National Golden Gloves Championship (heavyweight). Dad lost in the semi final match to the guy on the top right of that photo, who went on to win it all. Incidentally, that guy lost in the title match in 1960 (the year before) to none other than Cassius Clay (later known as Muhammed Ali). 

This photo was Dad's bio in the program (3 sport college athlete and Navy vet). 

This  photo is my dad knocking a guy out with a roundhouse right to advance in the tournament.

This is a photo of him and some fighters from other divisions (yes, my daddy is TALL!) from the newspaper. 

It was so much fun to see these photos, to read multiple newspaper articles about my dad, and to learn some details I never knew before. THIS is why I scrapbook! I'm looking forward to immortalizing my dad and his boxing career for generations to come on some scrapbook pages soon. Stay tuned!

Hello Super Awesome Card

Hello, Super Awesome! I'm back! {Sorry for the long break! We've had company coming out our ears for our family reunion this past weekend, and I gave that my full attention....P.S. It was "super awesome!"}

This card uses both the July Stamp of the Month and the super awesome Beyond Awesome stamp sets. I love 'em both!  I've included a full products used list (items that are still available) at the end of this post, complete with links and photos for your convenience.  Although the Enchantment Fundamentals papers that I have used on this card are already sold out, there are other color collections of these same papers (Whimsy, Adventure and Basics) that are still available, but only through July 31, or while supplies last (whichever comes first).  I highly recommend them! I use the Fundamentals papers over and over again, by themselves, and mixed with other cardstocks and even patterned papers from other kits. They are so versatile (a color and white print on one side, and a tone-on-tone- embossed print of the same color on the back), and oh-so-cute! The patterns are big enough for a pop, but small enough to take a back seat to something more bold. 

Back to the July Stamp of the Month. I love this fun "From the Notebook" set.  It's great for cards, scrapbook pages, and even to stamp in your planner.  Yes indeedy!  Even better is that for every $50 you order (before shipping and tax), you can get one of these little gems for only $5. Order $100, get 2...and so on.  Neato Cheeto!  When ordering on my website, you'll be prompted to add your set(s) before you check out.

From the Notebook�July Stamp of the Month	Beyond Awesome	5 1/2" X 4 1/4" Colonial White Cards & Envelopes, Value Pack	Colonial White Cardstock
Fern Exclusive Inks� Stamp Pad	Sapphire Exclusive Inks� Stamp Pad	Sunset Exclusive Inks� Stamp Pad	Black Memento� Ink Pad
Fern Thick Twine	Corner Rounder	2" X 3 1/2" My Acrylix® Block	Surecut� Deluxe Craft Paper Trimmer
Non-Stick Micro-Tip Scissors	3-D Foam Tape	3L® E-Z Dots® Adhesive

InLinkz.com

You Are Ridiculously Awesome Card

Hello! You are ridiculously awesome!  What a perfect card to send to someone you love just because, don't you think?

I created this 6" x 6" card using the July Stamp of the Month and some of the Fundamentals papers and stickers that are retiring on July 31 (or when supplies run out, whichever comes first). You can see them here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.  I LOVE the fundamentals line and grabbed up as many of these beautiful papers and stickers as I could before they disappear. Also, there are lots of other items that are retiring this month. You can see them all here.

The darling and functional July Stamp of the Month (From the Notebook) is only available this month and is only $5 ($12.95 savings) with every $50 you order (before shipping and tax).  Order $100, get 2...and so on.  When ordering on my website, you'll be prompted to add your discounted Stamp of the Month set(s) before checking out.

July Stamp of the Month - From the Notebook

All of the products I used to create this card (that are not sold out) are listed at the bottom of this post, complete with photos and links for your convenience.

Have a ridiculously awesome day!

From the Notebook�July Stamp of the Month	Beyond Awesome	Colonial White Cardstock	Fundamental Stickers Enchantment Pack
Fern Exclusive Inks� Stamp Pad	Sapphire Exclusive Inks� Stamp Pad	Sunset Exclusive Inks� Stamp Pad	Fern Thick Twine
Corner Rounder	2" X 3 1/2" My Acrylix® Block	Surecut� Deluxe Craft Paper Trimmer	Non-Stick Micro-Tip Scissors
3-D Foam Tape	3L® E-Z Dots® Adhesive

InLinkz.com

Designed Decor Frames Retiring

One of the products that is retiring the end of July (or when supplies run out...whichever comes first) that I am going to miss the very most is our Designed Decor Frame. It is perfect for displaying home decor layouts like this one, or even to display your most recent one page layout. I do this quite often and just switch it out as I create something new that I love.  Because I love these frames so much (I think I have 5 of them!), I figured you would too, and wanted to make sure you knew about them before they are gone.

Cool features of this frame:

• back swings open for easy loading
• magnetic closure
• sawtooth hangers on back
• interior dimensions: 12" × 12". tray depth: ½". total depth when frame is closed: 1¼"  

 

Another thing that I love about it is that it paints up beautifully. I painted one green last year to display this fun Halloween layout in, and it was also great for a Thanksgiving layout, and a Christmas one.  It even transitioned into St. Patrick's Day, Spring and Summer.  I just spray painted it green (with 2 coats) and then finished off with a quick dusting of spray glitter (hard to see in the photo, but everything's better with a little sparkle!).

We have already sold out of the cream colored frames, but there are still some of the black ones left. I suggest you hurry and get yours today before it's too late. I use these little babies ALL the time for so many things.

One more little bit of info:  if you buy 2 of them, that puts you over the $50 mark for being able to get this month's Stamp of the Month (From the Notebook) for only $5 ($17.95 value).  You'll be prompted to add your set as you check out on my website (easy, peasy!).