Thank You Card, Sweet and Simple

I think CTMH's November Stamp of the Month is a MUST HAVE. If you are like me, the cards you make the most of and send the most of are Thank You's. True Dat? True Dat! "A Little Thanks" is the perfect set for all of your cards of gratitude!

This card took less than 5 minutes to make. Sweet and simple! It used the November Stamp of the Month (D1444-A Little Thanks). Other CTMH products used: Circle Around Stamp Set (D1300), Splendor Level 2 Paper Pack (X7124B), Splendor Brads (Z1317), Grey Wool Stamp Pad (Z2125), Versamark Pad (Z891), White Daisy Embossing Powder (Z673), Big Pinks (Z1033), White Daisy Variety Pack Flowers (Z1300), Corner Rounder (Z578), 3D Foam Tape (Z1151), Craft Heater (Z555).

Did you know that if you place an order of $100 (before shipping and tax) that the November Stamp of the Month is FREE ($22.95 value). On top of that, if you place an order of $100 or more (before shipping and tax), you also get to choose any other A-D size stamp set in the book FREE as well (excluding stamps of the month). That means you could get up to $45.90 in stamp sets FREE with a $100 order during the month of November only! Head to my website and click on shop online to take advantage of this awesome special! To read more details about this special, click here.

Not sure what you want to spend your $100 on? Well, I have a suggestion for you? You know that AWESOME Studio J online scrapbooking program I have been raving about here and here? Well, a one year membership is only $99! You could purchase that and one other item and get those free stamps simple as can be! Just put in order item number SJMEM12 when ordering on my site for the Studio J one-year membership.

August Play Group Layouts (Splendor)

Layout #1 - "Discover"
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Layout #2 - "Daci and the Ducks"
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Layout #3 - "Easton and Daysha"
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I have yet more artwork to share with you today. The coolest part of all is that this artwork can be YOURS (of course with your own pictures and journaling) if you attend my Play Group class in August. If you are not familiar with my Play Group classes, you can read more about how it all works on the left side of my blog under "Play Group Information." They are held at my home in Highland, UT. You can also participate long-distance. Just email me to let me know you want to participate (pedermom@aol.com) and I'll give you the long-distance details.

I need to hear from you no later than Thursday, August 5 if you would like to participate.

We will be using the fun and summer "Splendor" Kit in August to complete our three 2-page 12" x 12" layouts.

Play Group Dates and Times to choose from in July:
Tuesday, August 10, from 10 am - 1 pm
Tuesday, August 10, from 7-10 pm
Wednesday, August 11, from 10 am - 1 pm
Wednesday, August 11, from 7 - 10 pm

We will be making the three 2-page 12" x 12" layouts you see here. Feel free to click on any of the photos of the layouts to see them larger and in more detail.

Shopping List

Basic Kit:
Splendor Level 2 Paper Pack (X7124B) - $12.95
Splendor Level 2 MyStickease (X7124C) - $4.95
Irresistibles Pizzazz Die-Cuts (Z1307) - $4.95
Splendor Designer Brads (Z1317) - $4.95

Total: $31.89* (this is including shipping and tax)

Better Kit = Basic Kit plus the following:
Autumn Harvest Brads (Z1215) - $4.95
Finishing Files (Z1091) - $5.95
Chocolate Stamp Pad (Z2111) - $5.25
Goldrush Stamp Pad (Z2123) - $5.25
Topiary Stamp Pad (Z2155) - $5.25

Total: $62.46** (this is including shipping and tax)

Best Kit = Basic and Better Kits plus the following:
Friendship Alpha Large (E1016) - $34.95

Total: $102.55*** (this is including shipping and tax)

*at this purchase level you qualify for the July Stamp of the Month at 25% off ($17.21)
** at this purchase level you qualify for the July Stamp of the Month at 50% off ($11.48).
***at this purchase level you qualify for the July Stamp of the Month FREE.

Email me (pedermom@aol.com) to sign up for August Play Group Classes. I need to hear from you no later than Thursday, August 5. If you are not interested in coming to Play Group, but saw some products you'd love to own while clicking the links above, you can order from my website 24/7...even in your jammies!

July 4th, Another Hedgehog, and Tannon's Mission (Blog Candy)

Happy 4th of July! I am so grateful to live in this country. I love everything about the good ole' USA and am so proud to be an American. I'm so excited to leave for Washington DC tomorrow for the Close To My Heart national convention. What a great week to be in our nation's capitol.

Tannon finally got his papers submitted for his LDS mission and we should be finding out sometime in the next week or two where he is going. If you'd like to comment here with your guess, I will be sending a FREE scrapbook kit to whoever gets the closest guess. If more than one person gets it exactly right, I'll send each of them a kit. If no one gets it exactly right, I'll send a kit to the person who guesses the mission who is geographically the closest to where he is called. If you are not familiar with the whole LDS mission thing, here is how it works in a nutshell: when a young man turns 19 he is asked to spend 2 years serving the Lord on a mission away from his family (women 21 and older can also serve). Of course, it is their choice if they want to go but they have been asked by the prophet of our church to serve. My hubby served when he was 19, my oldest son, Easton went, Kori's hubby, Rick went when he turned 19 and then swept my daughter off her feet when he returned. I'm so proud of Tannon for continuing the tradition of serving the Lord on a mission! I have decided that not only do these young men go and serve others, but they go and learn what is really important in life and come home an even better version of the guy that left 2 years earlier.

There are over 300 LDS missions around the world. Click here to see them all. That might help you in making your guess where Tannon might go. I'm dying because he will probably get his call while I am out of town, either this week in DC or next week in Chicago. I will have to hear the news on the telephone! But, no worries. I will blog to you and announce the destination from DC or Chicago, wherever it may be.

On to artwork: as you know, I love this little hedgehog. The July Stamp of the Month is a keeper! Click here to find out how to get your own set. Here is one more card I made with him.

Close To My Heart's July Stamp of the Month and Artwork

Did you see the magic word in my post title today? You know, that "artwork" word? Well, I actually have some to share today and it is featuring the oh-so-cuter-than-cute July Stamp of the Month (D1423-Happy Forever). Those of you that know me know that I am not usually a 'cutesy stamper.' I tend to lean more to the shabby chic, or clean lines, or elegant kind of looks in my cards, but this little hedgehog has stolen my heart. I think he will probably steal yours as well!

I colored my little hedgie with watercolor pencils. The grass is torn to look kind of grassy, and the blue houndstooth paper complemented the look just right. Both papers came from the beautiful Splendor paper pack.

CTMH products used: White Daisy Cardstock (1385), Splendor Level 2 Paper Pack (X7124B), Jingle Level 2 Paper Pack (X7115B), Black Stamp Pad (Z2105), Watercolor Pencils (3505), Tombow Blending Pen (3174), Corner Rounder (Z578), White Daisy Mini-Medley Accents (Z1136).

Speaking of artwork, I have several pieces to share over the next few days. You will find a new piece of art on my blog each day between now and Monday, when I leave for Washington, DC for the CTMH National Convention.

Have you noticed how hedgehogs have popped up all over the place the last 6 months or so? Well, of course CTMH did and created a stamp set that can't be beat! The creators at CTMH are always on top of the latest trends and styles. The actual size of the carrier sheet of the stamp set is 6" x 6". "Happy Forever" includes 4 different hedgehogs and 3 sentiments, and 2 small accent stamps.

This set can be yours in several different ways:

• earn it FREE when you spend $100 or more (before shipping and tax)
• earn it for 75% off ($5.74) when you spend $75 or more (before shipping and tax)
• earn it for 50% off ($11.74) when you spend $50 or more (before shipping and tax)
• earn it for 25% off ($17.21) when you spend $25 or more (before shipping and tax)
• purchase it for full retail price ($22.95)

Just hop on over to my website to begin shopping. And, have a WONDERFUL stampin' and scrappin' day!

Close To My Heart's Summer 2010 Idea Book...and BLOG CANDY!

It's here and it's live! The Close To My Heart 2010 Summer Idea Book went live today and it is right here on my blog and ready to view and order from. WAHOO!!

Just click on the photo of the Idea Book on the left side of my blog, or today you can also click right here. Make your wish list and then head to my website here to order. Don't forget that it's also National Scrapbooking Month and the "Miracle" kit special is in full force. It's a great addition to your order...you can even get it at the amazing discount of $5. Click here for more details on the Miracle kit.

You will also want to check out my post from yesterday (click here) for a chance to win some blog candy. Just comment on yesterday's post following the instructions there for a chance to win $25 in product from this new Idea Book. I'll be drawing and announcing the winner on Monday, May 3 so hurry up and get yourself in the running.

I've included a photo of some artwork made with two of the new kits in the Idea Book, Passages and Zippidee. Passages is masculine and elegant at the same time. I love it! My Play Group classes will be using this kit in September. Zippidee is PERFECT for all of your Disney photos, or anything else fun and bright. My Play Group classes will be using this kit in July. I have also shared artwork from two other new kits (Splendor and Cherry-O) here and here. My Play Group classes will be using Cherry-O for our June classes and Splendor for August (you can read more about how my Play Group classes work on the left side of my blog. Just look for the "Play Group Information" heading). Cherry-O is also featured in the artwork on the cover of the new Idea Book. Every Idea Book I think that Close To My Heart can't possibly top itself and every Idea Book they prove me wrong. Enjoy the eye candy as you kick back and take some time to soak up the new product goodness!

Blog Candy from Close To My Heart's Summer 2010 Idea Book

How are you liking Studio J? I hope you have taken a little time to play with Close To My Heart's new digital offering! If not, click here and give it a try. It's totally FREE to play! And, I have a little bit of blog candy to share today! If you play with Studio J and then leave a comment here on this post about your experience (what you loved about it, any questions you have, etc.), you will go in a drawing for an envelope full of $25 worth of product from Close To My Heart's Summer 2010 Idea Book, which will debut TOMORROW, May 1 right here on my blog (look on the left side). I'll be drawing on MONDAY, May 3...so check back then for the big announcement. It could be YOU!

I have some fabulous artwork to share with you today made with a smattering of gorgeous new products from the new Idea Book. In case you missed my earlier announcement, that book debuts tomorrow! You'll be able to view it page by page here on Saturday, May 1. Just look for the photo of the cover on the left side of my blog, like the one at the top of this post and click on that. Then, once you make your wish list, you can hop on over to my website and order some of the brand new goodies there.

These beautiful cards were made by five of my Close To My Heart team members. I have the world's greatest team! Bravo, ladies on a wonderful job!

As you read about each card below, you will notice order numbers of several of the items these wonderful artists have used. They are not links because the Idea Book does not go live until tomorrow, but if you jot down the numbers you can check them out tomorrow when you start looking. I will include the page number they are on in the book next to the order numbers.

This gorgeous card was made by Carolynn Hale using the brand new summery Splendor papers (X7124B, pg 14) and the darling new Over The Rainbow stamp set (D1426, pg 15). The inside of the card says, "over the rainbow..." Remember how I mentioned a day or two ago how 'in' clouds are right now in the papercrafting industry? Not only does the Splendor Paper Pack feature a beautiful cloud printed B&T paper, but the Over The Rainbow stamp set includes two fluffy ones as well.

This bright and cheery card was made by Jennifer Critchlow. Jennifer used some of the B&T paper from the brand new Zippidee Paper Pack (X7125B, pg 18). It's a perfect kit for Disney photos, but also for anything else bright and cheery. She also used the new Hit The Spot stamp Set (C1406, pg 19).
As you look at these cards today, you'll be able to tell that a favorite new paper pack of my team is Splendor (X7124B, pg 14). This one by Maria Van Adrighem features not only the Splendor papers but also the matching new Splendor brads (Z1317, pg 92). The "hello friend" sentiment came from the Hot Diggity stamp set (C1407, pg 15). Love this, Maria!
Moving from cute and fun to elegant, I'm pleased to share this card made by Trisha Morton with you. Trisha used the new Passages Paper Pack (X7126B, pg 22) and the Live Inspired stamp set (C1408, pg 23). Passages is a perfect kit to use to scrap those European vacation pics, among so many other things. I plan to use it to scrap a lot of my boys' photos. Very masculine and elegant. Great job, Trisha!
Kate Ware also chose to use Splendor (X7124B, pg 14) and the Hot Diggity stamp set (C1407, pg 15) for her card. So darn cute! I hope you can see in the photo that Kate also used another great new product that we will be carrying in this new Idea Book, Clear Cards (Z1309, pg 96). They come in a package of 8...4 square cards and 4 scalloped circle cards, and they also include clear evenlopes. If you look closely at the photo, I think you can see that Kate chose to put her happy little frog and two circles on the front of the clear card and her B&T paper and sentiment on the inside. Clever, Kate!

More Splendor from Close To My Heart

Yesterday I shared a photo of a beautiful layout created with the brand new (being released on May 1) Splendor Kit. Did I wet your whistle for some new products a little? I hope so!

I'm so excited for Saturday when you can actually see the new Close To My Heart Summer 2010 Idea Book on my blog and look inside and see the Splendor kit, as well as the new Cherry-O kit (click here and here to see some artwork that I've already shown you with that kit), and 2 other new kits: Passages and Zippidee.

I spent the day designing my Play Group scrapbook classes for July in which we will be using the Zippidee Kit. The Zippidee collection is perfect for Disneyland photos. I have the best job in the world! I can't wait to show you the June (made with Cherry-O) and July Play Group projects soon.

In the meantime, I thought I'd share some more Splendor artwork today. Have you noticed that so much of the papercrafting artwork you are seeing in magazines and on many scrapbooking sites are featuring clouds? Well, Splendor brings you some nice, fluffy, white ones! The colors in this summery kit are Goldrush, Heavenly Blue, Moonstruck and Topiary. It makes me want to pack a picnic and go to the park!

By the way, did you go to my website and play (for free!) with Studio J yesterday? I'd love to hear what you thought! If you haven't yet, go give it a try. You'll want to be sure and create an account so your projects are saved for when you want to purchase them. You're gonna love it, baby!

2 Studios: Studio J and Studio 5 (Puddle Pads)

I have two "Studios" to talk about today.

1. Let's start with Studio J. Today is the day! Studio J (Close To My Heart's answer to digital scrapbooking) went live on my website (http://leavealegacy.myctmh.com) this morning. Be sure you create an account so your layouts will be saved for 9o days. Don't worry...it's free until you decide to place an order. Just click on the "Studio J Online Scrapbooking" tab once you reach my homepage and the rest is easy, peasy, lemon squeasy! If you have any questions, please email me (pedermom@aol.com).

2. Now on to the second 'studio' I want to talk about today...here in Utah, our local NBC station (www.ksl.com) has an awesome mid-day show called "Studio 5." Click here to watch the clip. It's only about 3 minutes long and oh-so-much-fun! Studio 5 is a great show and recently they featured Close To My Heart and the same fun technique you learned on the "Live Your Dreams" webisode of Art and Soul this month, PUDDLE PADS. So, if you have about 15 minutes, you'll have time to watch both. This Art and Soul webisode is just over 12 minutes long.

So, the moral of the story is "Get Studio" today...Studio J and Studio 5.

I didn't really have a photo to share today to go with my 'studios' so I thought I'd share a bit of artwork using new products that go live in the Close To My Heart Summer 2010 Idea Book on May 1. You'll be able to see it right here on the left side of my blog beginning May 1 (Saturday). This artwork is created using the darling new "Splendor" kit (we'll be using this kit and colors in my August Play Group scrapbooking classes!). Feel free to click on the layout to see it larger. Yummy!