Four FREE Stamp Sets and My Fun Week

I'm back from my business trip and happy to be back home with Dan-the-Man and Dawson.  As much fun as I had, there is still no place like home!   I wanted to make sure that you knew how you can get 4 FREE STAMP SETS  in April. Together they are valued at $71.80!  I'll tell you about that in a second, but first I'll share a bit of what I've been doing this week.  It's been a great week.

While down in St. George on business this past Monday-Thursday, I stayed with Easton and Daysha. In the evenings when I got home, we had fun building their crib and getting a few things bought for their first little one (and our 4th grandchild) who is due in July. We are so excited and the nursery is so cute! They are doing all white furniture and decorating in hot pink and orange accents and bedding.  DARLING!  Oh, and I'm pretty sure with the pink you guessed it's a girl. 

Easton and Daysha also introduced me to something VERY naughty!  These Cadbury Ice Cream Bars were TO. DIE. FOR.  I like ice cream bars like this but like them best when the chocolate is more of a hard shell and really crunchy. These are the crunchiest I've found. YUM!  I hope they don't carry them in any of the stores in Springville or it could get ugly!

I also got to spend some time with Tannon.  This kid never fails to make me laugh.  He tore a ligament in his ankle last week at football practice and he's out for a while. I know he's sad and discouraged, but he has the best attitude about things like that.  He just doesn't let it get him down.  He and Michelle got their engagement pictures taken a few days (can't BELIEVE the wedding is in less than 2 months!) before I got there and I think they turned out so pretty!  Here's one for your viewing pleasure:

Now on to the 4 FREE STAMP SETS THING.... if you sign up to be a Close To My Heart Consultant in April for only $49 (and the kit has over $155 in products), you also get the May, June, July and August Stamp of the Month sets ($17.95 value each for a total value of $71.80). That's a total of $226.80 in products for only $49. Plus, when you are a consultant you get an awesome discount on our products, as well as a great business opportunity!  I'd LOVE to have you join my team this month!  To join, go here.  Feel free to call or email me with any questions you may have (801.360.9896, pedermom@aol.com).

Happy Mail and Happy Birthday, Dawson!

Last week I went to the mail box and lo and behold, what did I find there?  A BEAUTIFUL card from my dear friend and downline, Brenda Rose.   This card has so many yummy details that I sat and stared at it for a while before I even opened it up to read the note (which, by the way, was just as beautiful as the card).  Thank you, Brenda! I  love it!

Here's a little detail shot:

Yesterday  was my "baby," Dawson Danner Pedersen's birthday.  He's 19 years old.  I can't believe it! Where did the time go?  To celebrate, Dawson, Dan-the-Man and I went shopping on Friday for more things he needs for his mission to Australia, went to the new movie 42 (I highly recommend it!) and to dinner at Olive Garden.  Yesterday, on his actual birthday, we had his grandparents over for dinner. Dawson chose chicken enchiladas, green salad, fresh fruit, deviled eggs (I know that doesn't really go with the dinner, but he wanted them anyway.  Birthday boy ruled.), chips and salsa and Spanish rice. Yum!  Instead of a birthday cake he wanted Scotcheroos.  Again, his wish was my command.  It was a great dinner. The only thing that would have made the meal better was having all of our other kids and their families in town to share it too. You can find my recipes for the following things at these links:  Chicken Enchiladas, Deviled Eggs, Scotcheroos.

I had to take a little walk down Dawson Memory Lane today. Please indulge me...

Have a great week! I'm headed out of town on business so you probably won't hear from me for a few days.

Have a Party With Your Cricut!

How cute is this little owl bag created by the Close To My Heart Art Department? Want to make one?  Never fear, CTMH is here to tell you how!

Whether you use one Cricut^®-cut piece or several, you can create cute party favors and decorations using your Close To My Heart/Cricut Artiste cartridge. Combine your Cricut^® pieces with unique stamping techniques and you have projects that will knock your guests’ socks off! Want some recipes and tips for how to make this adorable artwork? Below are instructions for creating the darling owl from the “Clearly the Best: How to Kiss—With Stamps” episode. Combine the Cricut^®-cut pieces for this project with the  technique taught in the video, and you have a stellar 3-D item!

Recipes and Tips

Owl Miss You Bag
1385 White Daisy Cardstock
1292 Crystal Blue Cardstock
X5668 Honey Cardstock
X5930 Slate Cardstock
Z2162 Honey Exclusive Inks^® Pad
Z2117 Crystal Blue Exclusive Inks^® Pad
Z1349 Shimmer Designer Brads
Z1752 Sparkles Clear Assortment
Z1311 1¼" Circle Punch
Twist Ties
Thread

Cricut^® Shapes:
Artiste
4½" 3D Object (p. 77)
4½" Shift+3D Object (cut 2, p. 77)
1" Shift+Accent 2 (p. 51)

Art Tip! This project uses many Cricut^® shapes and all the pieces coordinate so nicely for an adorable finished product. Use the Artiste assembly booklet to put the bag together and then add the embellishments. The feathers are created with punched circles that are stamped using the kissing technique; however, if you don’t have the circle punch, you can easily make these using the Cricut as well. The eyes were created using Shimmer designer brads, but you can use any large brad or button to create the same look. Finish with the “owl miss you sentiment” for a special touch.

July 4 Layout with the April Stamp of the Month

I LOVE this layout; how fresh and clean it feels, and the bright colors and the white space that make the photos pop. I love this month's Stamp of the Month, "My Sunshine." I especially love that sunshine stamp. It's just so darn happy!  Happy is also what I feel when I look at these fun photos of my daughter and her little family from last July 4. 

You can click on any photo in this layout to see it larger and in more detail.

Here are a few detail shots of the layout:

I used the Tommy Paper Packet and the matching Canvas My Stickease.  How darling are those pennants?

Aren't those Tiny Type Epoxy Letters cute? Love 'em!

I stamped the sun base in Honey Ink and then embossed the sun center in white on Honey Cardstock from the Tommy Paper Pack. I then used 3D Tape to mount it in the center of the sun base. Cute, right?

More Tiny Type Epoxy Letters. 

This Stamp of the Month set is only available in April and is only $5 with a $50 order.  You'll be prompted to add it if you are shopping on my website, or I will add it for you if you call or email me (801.360.9896, pedermom@aol.com) with your order and indicate that you'd like it.

April Stamp of the Month: My Sunshine (carrier sheet actual size is 6" x 6")

I'm especially happy with this layout today because it is raining here. I love the rain, but then again I love the sunshine.  I guess I got the best of both worlds today...rain outside and sunshine inside my studio!

Buzz & Bumble Layouts WITH Photos

Remember a while back when I shared the Buzz & Bumble layouts we are making in my April Play Group classes? Remember how they didn't have any photos on them? Remember how I promised I would put photos on them and then share?  I remembered!  Here they are, finished as promised!

Layout #1 is at the top of this post.  I used it to highlight some photos of our little granddaughter, Daci's recent 4th birthday party.  I wasn't sure how I would feel about the bright colors of the photos on the more subdued tones of these pages, but I really like it. I think they pop (good thing I proofed this post. That originally said, "poop." Oh dear!)!  Here's the journaling for that layout:

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This little puppy is Layout #2. I had fun adding photos of Tannon's proposal to the beautiful (looks like Princess Kate), Michelle.

 and the journaling....

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This gem is Layout #3. I used this to celebrate some of the friendships that I am so blessed to have through my Close To My Heart business.

 and the journaling....

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It feels good to keep promises, AND to get more of my favorite photos scrapbooked!   I hope you enjoyed these pages with the photos added. If you missed the original post, you can view it here. Also, you can shop for Buzz and Bumble products on my website, 24/7.

Bird Card to Celebrate Spring

Happy Spring!  We had a few April showers this morning, but this afternoon the sun is shining and the birds are a-tweeting.  Heaven!

I hesitated to post this card on my blog because the bird stamp set and the stamp set the sentiment came from are both retired. I quite hesitating and decided to post it anyway because the background set is still available, AND because maybe it will inspire you in some way.  Plus, Fabulous You has some similar birds in it and you could do something much like this with that set, AND you can pick just about any sentiment.

I have just been feeling joyous inside as the sun is shining and it is actually beginning to feel like Spring (knock on wood). I just NEEDED to make something that looked as Springy as I feel.

Here are a few 'to knows' about this card:
1. The floral background is stamped in Champagne Ink using the In The Background stamp set (my new fave).
2. Everything else (the bird, next, eggs and sentiment) is stamped in Cocoa Ink.
3.  The bird, nest and eggs are watercolored using the Saddle, Ruby and Sky stamp pads with my trusty old Waterbrush. Love that tool! I makes me feel like the smartest artist! (I'm a poet.)
4.    The scallops are Colonial White Cardstock lightly sponged using a Round Sponge and the Sky pad. I then lightly sponged the edges with my Saddle pad.  I also sponged the edges of the floral background piece, the round pieces and the sentiment piece with Saddle ink as well.
5. The circles, scallop circle and scalloped borders can all be cut easily with the fabulous Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge.
6. The card base and some of the layers on the front were made from our Kraft Cardstock.
7. I used my favorite Tombow Adhesive on most things but used some 3D Foam Tape to pop up the circle (see detail photo above).
8. Paper sizes:  Kraft Cardstock Pieces: 7" x 7" (folded in half for card base), 2 3/4" circle, 1 1/4" x 6 3/4".  Colonial White Cardstock Pieces:  3 1/4" x 6 3/4", 1" x 6 3/4", 2 1/2" circle, 3" scalloped circle, (2) 6 3/4" scalloped borders. I also stamped the bird and eggs on Colonial White Cardstock and cut them out and paper pieced them onto the circle. I stamped the next directly onto the Colonial White Cardstock circle.

You can shop for these, and so many other wonderful products on my website, 24/7.  Have fun creating!

April Specials and $226 in products for $49!

April is here and it is full of wonderful specials with Close To My Heart...NO FOOLIN'!

Here's what you'll find in today's post:
1.  Sign Up and Celebrate!
2.  April Stamp of the Month:"My Sunshine"
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1. Sign Up and Celebrate:  April is the month to sign up as a new consultant with Close To My Heart.  When you do, you get The April, May, June and July Stamp of the Month sets FREE with your kit. Each stamp set is valued at $17.95, which means that the 4 together are worth $71.80.

You qualify for this special whether you choose the Essentials Kit ($49, valued at $155) of the Master Kit ($99, valued at $335).  You don't have to be a math whiz to see the HUGE savings in that!  In fact, if you were to sign up with the Essentials Kit, you would spend $49 to sign up and receive over $226 in products with this special. If you were to sign up with the Master Kit, your $99 would get you over $406.  To sign up, just go here and it's easy, peasy, lemon squeasy. Once you sign up, I will be notified and will contact you to help you get your business started.

For your convenience, here are the photos and lists of contents in both the Essentials and Master Kits.

Essentials Kit: $49 ($155 in retail value):  Includes a Read Me First Letter, Current Idea Books (qty. 3), Hostess Order Forms (qty. 5), Customer Order Forms (qty. 5), Close To My Heart Color Swatches, Spring/Summer 2013 B&T Sampler, Petite Perks Critter Expressions Incentive Stamp Set, Chantilly Complements Dimensional Elements, Workshops on the Go Chantilly Scrapbooking Kit, Reflections Scrapbook Program, Originals Card Confidence  Program, Buttercup Exclusive Inks Pad, Cotton Candy Exclusive Inks Pad, Spinner, My Acrylix Wheel of Life Stamp Set, My Acrylix For a Friend Stamp Set, 4" x 5" My Acrylix Block.

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Master Kit: $99 ($335 in retail value): Includes Read Me First Letter, Current Idea Books (qty. 10), 5 Studio J Layouts (redeem within 3 months), Hostess Order Forms (qty. 25), Customer Order Forms (qty. 25), Spring/Summer 2013 Gathering Postcards, Close To My Heart Color Swatches, Spring/Summer 2013 B&T Duos Sampler , Petite Perks Critter Expressions Incentive Stamp Set (qty. 5), My Creations 6" x 6" Canvas Display, Spinner, Chantilly Complements Dimensional Elements, Workshops on the Go Chantilly Scrapbooking Kit, My Creations Star, Color Ready Seam Binding Ribbon, Reflections Scrapbook Program, Originals Card Confidence Program, Cello Bags, My Acrylix Stamp Scrubber, My Acrylix Spritz Cleaner Bonding Memories Glue, Sponge, Liquid Glass, Non-stick Micro-tip Scissors, Buttercup Exclusive Inks Pad, Cotton Candy Exclusive Inks Pad, My Acrylix Glamour Uppercase Stamp Set, My Acrylix Wheel of Life Stamp Set, My Acrylix For a Friend Stamp Set, 4" x 5" My Acrylix Block, 3" x 3" My Acrylix Block.

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2.  April Stamp of the Month: This fun and sunny stamp set is perfect for both cards, layouts, and even some fun Summer home decor projects!  From sunshine to a bird and even a hot air balloon, these fun, footloose and fancy free images are sure to tickle your fancy! They have been tickling mine for over a week as I have played with this set. I'll be sharing some of my artwork with you throughout the month.  The only hard thing was putting this set away and moving on to something else!  I made the card you see at the top of the post with the April Stamp of the Month. I used my very favorite image in the set, the sunshine.  The cute sentiment, "Sun is shining. Weather is sweet. Make you wanna move your dancing feet. -Bob Marley" was perfect for the inside of my card. This set (retail value of $17.95) can be yours during April only for $5 with every $50 order.  Hop on over to my website and you'll be prompted to add this set before you check out.

Close up of April Stamp of the Month card. Notice the embossed center of the sun and the sponging around the edge detail.

April Stamp of the Month: "My Sunshine".  Carrier sheet actual size is 6" x 6".  I suggest purchasing the 4" x 5" My Acrylix Block for this set.

Instructions to make this card:
Supplies Needed: April Stamp of the Month, White Daisy Value Pack Cards and Envelopes, White Daisy Cardstock, Tommy Paper Pack, Honey Stamp Pad, Versamark Stamp Pad, White Daisy Embossing Powder, Heat Gun, Outdoor Denim Chevron Ribbon, Colonial White Waxy Flax, Red Button Assortment, Round Sponge, 3D Foam Tape, Glue Dots, General Adhesive of your choice (I love Tombow).
1.  Stamp the sun rays in Honey Ink on a 3 1/4" x 3 1/4" piece of White Daisy Cardstock. Sponge the edges of this square with Honey Ink.
2.  Cut a 2 1/2" circle from Honey Cardstock.  Stamp the sun words in the center of this circle with the Versamark Pad.  Sprinkle White Daisy Embossing Powder over the top and pour excess back in jar.  Heat with the Heat Gun until the powder and ink melt together to form an embossed image.  Set aside to let dry/cool for about 1 minute.
3.  Sponge the edge of the circle with Honey Ink.
4.  Mount the circle in the center of the sun rays image using 3D Foam Tape.
5. Mount this square on a 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" piece of Outdoor Denim Cardstock.
6. Cut a 4" x 5 1/4" piece of the diagonal stripe B&T paper.  Mount this centered on the card front.
7. Mount your focal image as you see in the photo near the top of the card using 3D Foam Tape.
8. Form a bow with the Outdoor Denim Chevron Ribbon.  Adhere it below your focal image with a glue dot. 
9. Thread a piece of Colonial White Waxy Flax through the red button of your choice and tie in a knot. Using a Glue Dot, secure your button to the center of your bow.
10. Stamp the "Sun is shining..." image in Honey Ink on the inside of your card.

Enjoy your April!