Specials and Stamp of the Month for April with Close To My Heart

Don't forget I'm drawing for Blog Candy tonight at 7 pm (MST). You have until then to enter. Click here to find out how.



Boy, do I have A LOT to share today, folks...and that's no foolin'! As always, you can click on any image in this post to see it larger and in more detail.

In this post you'll see the following:

1. Information about the April Stamp of the Month: D1455-"Blessed" and artwork that I've made with it
   
2. Information about the wonderful April "Lovin' Level 1" Special
3. Information about the April "Let Your Studio J Layouts Shine" Special

Here we go..

1. The April Stamp of the Month looks like this (remember, the actual size of the carrier sheet is 6" x 6"):

I have made several cards with this set that are pictured at the beginning of this post and I will be featuring each of them individually throughout the month. I used the color combo of Chocolate, Cotton Candy, Pear and White Daisy on my cards. I'll share product lists for each of them as I feature them in posts throughout the month. Now, let me tell you how you can get this set at a discounted price...or even for FREE!

* 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)

You'll notice in #2 below that special hinges on spending $100 as well. When you spend $100 in April you not only get the Stamp of the Month ($22.95 value) FREE, but you also get a Level 1 Kit ($9.95 value) FREE. That is a total of $32.90 FREE when you spend $100 on my website in April. So what are you waiting for? Start shopping!

2. April's "Lovin' Level 1" Special: During April, when you place an order of $100 on my website, you’ll receive one My Reflections^® Level 1 kit ($9.95 value) of your choice FREE. Choose from several popular Level 1 kits. You’ll also qualify for a free April Stamp of the Month ($22.95 value) set! Now that’s a deal. Start shopping on my website here.

3. April's "Sparkle with Studio J" Special: This April, it’s time to let your Studio J^® layouts shine with this exclusive, members-only campaign! Studio J members get free bling when they buy 10 layouts this month. Bling it up and bling it on with FREE packages (one of each) self-adhesive Sparkles and Opaques Pearl gems! Click here to start with Studio J.

How's that for a fun-filled, jam-packed, truer-than-true, no foolin' post on April Fool's Day?

One More Bird Card

This is my 2nd post for today, so be sure to scroll down for the first post with 2 other cards that matchy-matchy this one (and supply lists), and information on how to win some blog candy. Off to make some dinner....

The Gift That Keeps On Giving, Workshop on the Go Stamp Sets

Be sure to check out yesterday's blog post for some blog candy! You have until 7 pm on Friday, August 1 to qualify.

Today I thought I'd share a couple of cards (first card shown is 6" x 6" and the second is 4 1/4" x 5 1/2") I made this week using the stamp sets from two of Close To My Heart's awesome Workshop on the Go kits. The bird stamp is from the Sophia Workshop on the Go and the damask background and sentiment are from the Wings Workshop on the Go. Some of you may mistakenly think that when you order the Workshop on the Go's, you use them and then you're done. Not so! The stamp set that comes with the Workshops on the Go is a gift that keeps on giving! In fact, I also used the cool spray pen that came in the Wings Workshop on the Go on these cards. Click on either card to see them larger and in more detail.

So, what are you waiting for? Go get one of your Workshop on the Go stamp sets out and create something new!

CTMH Products used on these cards: Wings Workshop on the Go Stamp Set, Spray Pen and Left-Over Paper, Sophia Workshop on the Go Stamp Set, Desert Sand Cardstock, Black Stamp Pad, Desert Sand Re-inker, Basic Buttons Assortment, Licorice Opaques, Heart Dimensional Elements, Big Pinks (currently on sale for 33% off!), Chocolate Waxy Flax, Round Sponge, Kraft Color Ready Borders, 2" Scallop Circle Punch, Water - to mix with re-inker in the spray pen (available from your own tap...lol).

To order these or other wonderful CTMH products, shop on my website...24/7! And, don't forget to order the $5 "Hope for Japan" stamp set while you're ordering (available now through April 30). 100% of profits go to the American Red Cross efforts in Japan. Oh, one last reminder, today is the last day to get the March Stamp of the Month too!

3D Stamped Flower Video with Close To My Heart & BLOG CANDY!

I have a GREAT little video tutorial (less than 4 minutes long!) to share with you today on how to make stamped 3D flowers with a really fun Close To My Heart stamp set called "Spring Up" (B1365). Keep reading until the end of this post to find out about the blog candy I'm offering today.

Just as a little reminder, I do have a music play list on my blog. Because I have been posting video tutorials quite often lately I have considered taking the music off but, after emailing several of my regular readers the consensus seems to be that you like my play list and don't want it removed. I'm glad you enjoy the music I love so much! So here is how to watch this video without having to listen to it and the play list at the same time:

1. Scroll to the very bottom of my blog until you see the play list
2. Click on the pause button. It's in the top left corner area and looks kind of like this: II
3. Scroll back up to the video and push the play button (arrow).
4. Enjoy the video!
5. When you're done, if you want the play list back on, just scroll back down and click the play arrow on that.

BLOG CANDY ANNOUNCEMENT: Comment on this post and tell me something cool you learned or noticed in the video. Deadline: you must comment no later than Friday, April 1 at 7 pm MST. I will draw a name from those comments and the winner will receive this stamp set sent to their home, FREE from me as your prize! I will announce the winner on Friday night at 8 pm my time. Be watching!

Here's a little photo of the stamp set and finished card you see on the video. You can click on the photo to see it larger and in more detail. If you are the winner of the stamp set (see "BLOG CANDY ANNOUNCEMENT" above) you can just come back to this post and copy this darling card! Stamp-lifting rocks, baby!

Close To My Heart products used in this video: Spring Up Stamp Set, Colonial White Cardstock, Blush Stamp Pad, Micro-tip Scissors, Memory Glue Dots.

To order these, or any other wonderful CTMH products, just click here and then 'shop online' and go to town....24/7!

DELICIOUS Lemon Poppy Seed Muffin Recipe

Last week I had a meeting with a few friends for a committee we serve on together. We met at my friend, Gabe's house and she had the MOST delish lemon poppy seed muffins I've ever tasted. I mean really, they were melt-in-your-mouth heaven.

After our meeting I went home and all I could do was think of those yummy muffins. So, I asked Gabe for the recipe. Lucky for me, she emailed it to me that evening and the next day I made them. Are you starting to get the picture? Yummy, I tell you!

Here is Gabe's recipe and a photo of the yummier than yummo muffins. Hint: the fresh lemon zest and juice are the secret! By the way, I know it is poor writing to use the word "yummy" or some form of it 4 or 5 times in one post but I'm telling you, I just couldn't help myself.

Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins (makes 12 standard size muffins):

For the muffins:

2/3 cup sugar
Grated zest 2 lemons
Juice of 1 lemon
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup sour cream
2 large eggs
1 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
2 tablespoons poppy seeds

Directions:

Center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line 12 molds in a regular-size muffin pan with paper muffin cups. Place the muffin pan on a baking sheet.

In a large bowl, rub the sugar and lemon zest together with your fingertips until the sugar is moist and the fragrance of lemon strong.

Whisk in the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In a large glass measuring cup or another bowl, whisk the sour cream, eggs, vanilla, lemon juice and melted butter together until well blended. Pour the liquid ingredients over the dry ingredients and, with a rubber spatula, gently but quickly stir to blend. Don’t worry about being thorough; a few lumps are better than over-mixing the batter. Stir in the poppy seeds.

Divide the batter evenly among the muffin cups.

Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until the tops are golden and a thin knife inserted into the center of the muffins comes out clean. Transfer the pan to a rack and cool for 5 minutes before carefully removing each muffin from its mold. Cool the muffins completely on the rack before icing them.

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For the Icing:

1 cup confectioners' sugar, sifted
2-3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

To make the icing:

Put the confectioners' sugar in a small bowl and add about 1 1/2 tablespoons of the lemon juice. Stir with a spoon to moisten the sugar, then add enough lemon juice, a dribble at a time, to get an icing that is thin enough to drizzle from the tip of the spoon. Then drizzle lines of icing over the tops of the muffins or coat the tops entirely.

Hope for Japan Artwork

My Hope for Japan stamp set was ordered as soon as it was announced yesterday. I can't wait to get it in my hot little hands, start playing, and at the same time doing a little bit to help in Japan!

In the meantime, here's some beautiful artwork made with this set by the Close To My Heart Art Department. These guys pump out gorgeous artwork like it's nothin'!

To find out how you can get this set for $5 and have 100% of the profits go to the American Red Cross relief efforts in Japan, click here.

You can also go to my website, click on "Shop Online" and then on "Hope for Japan".

Have a wonderful day!

Hope for Japan Stamp Set by Close To My Heart

I'm sure you have felt as horrified, saddened, and helpless as I have watching the terrible devastation in Japan. Not only was the original earthquake unthinkable, but the after effects of nuclear disaster, radiation, homelessness, missing people, and so much more continues to hurt my heart as I see images daily on the news.

Close To My Heart's owner and founder, Jeanette Lynton is one of the most generous and caring people I know, and this is evidenced by her latest idea: a stamp set in which 100% of the profits go straight to the American Red Cross to benefit relief efforts in Japan.

Starting today, March 24 through April 30 this set is available to you for $5! Typically this size set sells for $7.95 but Jeanette has made it even more affordable. It's important to me that you know that I will receive no commission at all on this stamp set. Like I said, 100% of the profit goes straight to Japan. I am not promoting this for any form of personal benefit. I'm just so pleased that I can, in my own small way, help the relief efforts in Japan, and so can you by purchasing this set.

To order this set, go to my website: http://leavealegacy.myctmh.com, click on "Shop Online" and you can enter item #A1118, or click on the "Hope for Japan" link. If you have other items to order, you will be also be prompted to enter this set at checkout. There is no limit to how many you can order so go to town! This is a GREAT gift for any scrappin' or stampin' friends you might have, and while giving them this beautiful gift, you are helping Japan! Everyone wins! I am so proud to promote Close To My Heart's act of charity.

In Jeanette's own words: "If we all do a little, together we can do a lot. Let's show our support and together, provide real HOPE for Japan!"

Happy Birthday, Jeff!

My nephew, Jeff's 18th birthday is coming up. He is a senior in high school and has had his senior pictures taken twice. Both times he and his mom (my sister, Andrea) were unhappy with the results. As a last ditch effort, Andrea called me and asked if I would be willing to take a stab at it. Of course I said, "Yes!" I'm certainly no photographer, but I do love taking pictures, and every chance I get to take pictures just helps me learn more. I decided to give the photos we took to Jeff for his birthday. His birthday is not for another week, but I couldn't wait to give them to him. Both Jeffrey and his mom were thrilled with the results, and I was so happy that I could do it for them. Here are a couple of the photos (you can click on any photo in this post to see it larger and in more detail).

I made all the photos into a high resolution CD so they could print whatever they wanted, then packaged the CD in this 6" x 6" card. Happy Birthday, Jeff! I can't believe in just a few short months you'll be headed off to college!

Close To My Heart products used on the card: Cocoa Cardstock, Colonial White Cardstock, Indian Corn Blue Cardstock, Sweet Leaf Cardstock, Cocoa Stamp Pad, Indian Corn Blue Stamp Pad, "J" Monogram Dimensional Elements, Stars Dimensional Elements, Metal Brad Assortment, Clear Buttons, Round Sponge, Wonderful Friend Stamp Set (retired, but a stamp set that I love that has the same sort of feel is the one in the Lucky Workshop on the Go), Simple Stitches Stamp Set (retired, but another set I love with great border stitching stamps is Stitched Together).

Click here to shop for these and other wonderful CTMH products on my website, 24/7.

An Easter Card from Margi

My friend, Margi G. is UBER-talented. She sent me this darling card and I just had to share. She used the March Stamp of the Month which as you already know, I LOVE! There is nothing more fun than opening your mailbox to happy mail, especially happy mail as gorgeous as this!

You can find out how to get this beautiful stamp set (during March only) at a discount, or even FREE by clicking here.

Margi always does such beautiful work because she is a detail girl. I love all of the perfect little details she added to this card: the stamped stitching around the edges, the hand-stitched circle, the three accents with buttons ...and not only did she add buttons, she dressed each one up in it's own unique way, with thread, a pearl opaque in the center, or hemp and a crocheted flower (check this one out for sure. They are on sale for 33% off!) Beautiful, I say. Just beautiful!

Thank you, my friend, Margi G.! I love this sweet card. And, I love you too!

To order any of these beautiful products, or any of Close To My Heart's other quality products, click here.

March Stamp of the Month 3.5" x 8" Card

This is one of my favorite card sizes (3.5" x 8"). It's a little different, but oh-so-much-fun...and it fits in a regular legal sized envelope to send. Woo hoo!

I made this card with the beautiful Beatrix Potter-esque March Stamp of the Month and a few of my other favorite Close To My Heart products. Here is a little image of the carrier sheet (which is 6" x 6" in actuality) for the March Stamp of the Month. Don't you just love it? To find out how to get this gorgeous set at a discount, or even FREE, click here.

CTMH products used: March Stamp of the Month-Sensational Season, Sophia Level 2 Paper Pack, Cocoa Cardstock, Cocoa Stamp Pad, Watercolor Pencils, Pretty Pins (retired), Sweet Leaf Stitched Ribbon, Pink Button Collection, Mocha Opaques, Corner Rounder (remove the guard to make scalloped border...cool trick!), Round Sponge, 3D Foam Tape.

Click here to order the Stamp of the Month, the supplies I used to make this card, and/or other QUALITY stampin' and scrappin' products from Close To My Heart. While you're there, be sure to click on the "While Supplies Last" link in the "Shop Online" section. There are scrapbookin' accessories as low as .29 in there. For real!