Thursday, April 30, 2015

Just Sayin' May 2015 SOTM Blog Hop

Welcome to the Just Sayin' May 2015 SOTM Blog Hop. There are about 50 bloggers participating in this hop. If you are new to hopping blog hops are just a big circle so just keep clicking on the link (typically near the bottom of the post) to visit the next blogger.


The SOTM for May 2015, Just Sayin', is a D-size set of 14 stamps that is only $5 with a qualifying purchase. Here are the stamps in the set:


You should have arrived here from ***Carol Taggio's Crafty Carol***. If you get lost along the way, a complete list of participants is always listed at Melinda Everitt's If You Bling It.

When I first saw this stamp set I immediately thought layout or mini album and I have ideas for both, but I did not have enough time (and I could not put my hands on the photos I know I have printed) so I decided to create this card:


Before you visit ***My Flights of Fancy by Michelle Johns***, additional information about how my project was created is below.

All supplies are from Close To My Heart except where noted:
If you are not already working with a CTMH Independent Consultant, you may purchase all of the supplies I used at my Online Business Address.

I love to read comments so if you have a moment, please let me know what think of my card. So you do not have to scroll up, the next stop on the hop is ***My Flights of Fancy by Michelle Johns***. Thanks again for visiting today.

CTMH May 2015 Stamp of the Month: Just Sayin’

The Close To My Heart May 2015 Stamp of the Month is Just Sayin’.


Just Sayin’ (S1505) is an exclusive D-size stamp set of 14 stamps that you can only purchase during the month of May 2015. The stamp set can be yours for $5 when you place an order of $50 or more in qualifying Close To My Heart Products. Alternatively you can purchase it for $17.95. Recommended CTMH My Acrylix® Blocks are: 1" x 3½" (Y1002), 2" x 2" (Y1003) and 3" x 3" (Y1006).

Items created with the stamp set by CTMH Corporate artists are this layout and card:



If you would like a list of the products used to create the above items, you will find the information in the Recipes (clicking the link will open a PDF in a new tab), a booklet that works hand-in-hand with the Idea Book to provide details to re-create any projects at home. Also check my Pinterest Board CTMH 2015 05 May SOTM Just Sayin’ for additional ideas using this stamp set.

Please stop back tomorrow for the Just Sayin' Stamp of the Month Blog Hop.

May 2015 also brings us National Scrapbooking Month.


From May 1 to May 31 (or while supplies last), for only $8.95, no qualifying purchase necessary, you are able to purchase the Taste of Summer paper pack. The paper packet includes 12 sheets of B&T Duos™ Papers — two each of six designs — exclusively designed for National Scrapbooking Month. Please note that no cardstock is included in the paper packet.

In addition to, or alternatively, you may purchase the Taste of Summer stamp set for $17.95.


You will be prompted to add either item to your cart near checkout or you may search my OBA for items CC1038 (paper) and/or CC1039 (stamp set).

The CTMH Corporate artists created some layouts and cards to give us inspiration:





Please stop back on May 6 for the National Scrapbooking Month Blog Hop. I also have a Taste of Summer Pinterest Board.

If you are ready to place an order or would like to research any product, the Shop Now button will take you there.


If you have any product or promotion questions, do not hesitate to email me. You will also find me on Facebook at Brenda's Paper Crafts.

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

My Creations™ Mini Mix Album and Mini Folio

If you were wondering about the two new mini album options from Close To My Heart, introduced in Seasonal Expressions 2, this video gives us a look inside each album.



The CTMH Corporate description of the video is "The My Creations™ mini mix album and mini folio video has a few ideas just for you."

Items featured in the video are:
Either of these albums would make a great gift. I am thinking for each member of a group, like sports teams, Scouts, etc. I think I will use mine for family reunion auction items.

Click the Shop with me link if you are ready place an order. If you would like to learn how you can earn free and 50% off products, email me with your contact information so we may discuss your hosting an in-home or on-line gathering.


You will also find me on Facebook at Brenda's Paper Crafts.

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

My Deal of the Day Grab Bag

I ordered my first Deal of the Day Grab Bag and it arrived today.


I thought if you were on the fence about ordering a grab bag for yourself you would like to see what I received. It was a $35 price tier bag which will be an average value of $70.


The contents include (as they appear clockwise starting in the upper left corner):

item description status SRV
Z3059 A la Carte Picture My Life™ Balloon Ride Scrapbooking Program current $14.95
Z3061 A la Carte Picture My Life™ Chalk It Up Scrapbooking Program current $14.95
Z2065 Cut Above™ Holiday Card Kit current $12.95
BULK320 Acrylic Flowers - they look like the 12mm flowers that were in the Base & Bling Teal Jewels that were introduced in the A/W 2013 IB retired uncertain
Z1701 Baker's Twine Neutral Assortment retired $4.95
BULK318 Embossed Metal Badge Buttons - I could not find in an old IB retired uncertain
Z1913 Season's Tweetings Gift Bags retired $8.95
BULK319 Metal Flowers - they look like the flowers that were in the Base & Bling Floral Accents that were introduced in the A/W 2013 IB retired uncertain
Z2029 Designer Creations Mini Frames current $4.95

The total without the bulk items is $61.70. I feel that I received product worth an average of $70. What is surprising to me is even though I am an Independent Consultant, I only received three duplicates of products I already had. One duplicate I was hoping for, one is something I will use and one I can use for my family reunion's auction. You may have read on previous posts that our family has an auction every year to earn funds for the following year's expenses.

Or maybe I will have a drawing next month - stay tuned for details.

If you like the idea of a surprise, you may want to order a Deal of the Day. I cannot promise what you receive will be similar to what I received, but I think you would be pleased. Full details about the Deal of the Day are posted on my March 31 post.

A quick note about the timing of the end to the Deal of the Day: I received an email last week that read "The final deal of the campaign will be posted at 3:00 pm (MDT) on Thursday, April 30, and will remain available until 2:59 pm (MDT) on Friday, May 1." If the Deal of the Day does not sell out before 12:01 am MDT/2:01 am EDT on May 1, you could place an order and add both the May promotion, Taste of Summer, and the April Deal of the Day to your basket as long as you check out that day before 2:59 pm MDT/4:59 pm EDT. Unfortunately we have no way of predicting the price tier of that last Deal. This is the first time I have seen the ability to purchase promotions from two different months in the same order.

If you would like to make a purchase, the Shop Now button will take you to my OBA.


If you have any product or promotion questions, do not hesitate to email me. You will also find me on Facebook at Brenda's Paper Crafts.

Thursday, April 23, 2015

Promotions Ending April 30

On April 30 some specials are ending.


The April 2015 SOTM, Typed Note, will no longer be available on May 1. Additional details about the SOTM are posted here. If you are looking for "Pinspiration", please see my Pinterest Board CTMH 2015 04 Apr SOTM Typed Note where you will find pins from the SOTM Blog Hop and other cards I created during April pinned.

Also ending on April 30 is the Deal of the Day.


You may recall from my March 31 post that during the month of April a different special is posted daily at 3pm MDT (5pm EDT). Full details are on the post, but the Deal of the Day is while supplies last and if it sells out, you need to wait until the next Deal is posted.

update 4/24/2015 - I received an email last night that includes information about the timing of the last Deal of the Day. It read "The final deal of the campaign will be posted at 3:00 pm (MDT) on Thursday, April 30, and will remain available until 2:59 pm (MDT) on Friday, May 1." With this timing, if the Deal does not sell out before 12:01 am (MDT) on May 1, you could place an order and add both the May promotion, Taste of Summer, and the April Deal of the Day to your basket. It does not happen very often that you may purchase promotions from two different months in the same order.

I would like to remind you when you place an order at my Online Business Address you will be promoted to add a free Idea Book to your order (if you have not already done so). I am "old school" and I much prefer to look at catalogs "in hand" rather than on-line. I use the Idea Book to keep track of my wish list and what I have ordered.

If you would like to make a purchase, the Shop Now button will take you to my OBA.


If you have any product or promotion questions, do not hesitate to email me. You will also find me on Facebook at Brenda's Paper Crafts.

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Jackson Happy Birthday

Today's card was created using Jackson paper and Tagged With Love a Hostess Rewards Stamp Set.


All supplies used to create this card are from Close To My Heart:
If you are not already working with a CTMH Independent Consultant, you may purchase all of the supplies I used at my Online Business Address. When  you are ready to place an order or if you would like to research any product, the Shop Now button will take you there.


If you have a few moments, please leave a comment letting me know what you think about my card. If you have any product or promotion questions, do not hesitate to email me. You will also find me on Facebook at Brenda's Paper Crafts. Thanks for visiting today.

Monday, April 20, 2015

Blossom Greetings

The card I am sharing with you today was created using Blossom paper and Paper Bird a Hostess Rewards Stamp Set.


All supplies used to create this card are from Close To My Heart:
If you would to place an order or if you would like to research any product, the Shop Now button will take you there.


If you have a few moments, please leave a comment letting me know what you think about my card. If you have any product or promotion questions, do not hesitate to email me. You will also find me on Facebook at Brenda's Paper Crafts. Thanks for visiting today.

Saturday, April 18, 2015

Jackson Tagged with a Quick Hello

I created today's card using Jackson paper, the April 2015 Stamp of the Month Typed Note and the Hostess Rewards Stamp Set Tagged With Love.


This card is inspired by Pattern 27 in Make It From Your Heart™ Volume 1 (9035).

All supplies used to create this card are from Close To My Heart:
If you are not already working with a CTMH Independent Consultant, you may purchase all of the supplies I used at my Online Business Address. When  you are ready to place an order or if you would like to research any product, the Shop Now button will take you there.


If you have a few moments, please leave a comment letting me know what you think about my card. If you have any product or promotion questions, do not hesitate to email me. You will also find me on Facebook at Brenda's Paper Crafts. Thanks for visiting today.

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Blossom Hello

The card I am sharing with you today was created using Blossom paper and Tagged With Love a Hostess Rewards Stamp Set.


All supplies used to create this card are from Close To My Heart:
When  you are ready to place an order or if you would like to research any product, the Shop Now button will take you there.


If you have a few moments, please leave a comment letting me know what you think about my card. If you have any product or promotion questions, do not hesitate to email me. You will also find me on Facebook at Brenda's Paper Crafts. Thanks for visiting today.

Monday, April 13, 2015

Jackson Message For You

Today I am sharing a card I created using Jackson paper and the April 2015 Stamp of the Month Typed Note.


This card is inspired by Pattern 27 in Make It From Your Heart™ Volume 1 (9035).

All supplies used to create this card are from Close To My Heart:
If you are not already working with a CTMH Independent Consultant, you may purchase all of the supplies I used at my Online Business Address. When  you are ready to place an order or if you would like to research any product, the Shop Now button will take you there.


If you have a few moments, please leave a comment letting me know what you think about my card. If you have any product or promotion questions, do not hesitate to email me. You will also find me on Facebook at Brenda's Paper Crafts. Thanks for visiting today.

Friday, April 10, 2015

37 Weeks Until Christmas 2015

This card is the result of wanting to use some scraps from my 48 Weeks Until Christmas 2015 card. I had this card completed last night, but due to a crazy day today I am just getting a chance to post it - less than an hour until Saturday. At least it is still Friday. {big grin}


The Peace On Earth phrase is from Holiday Cards 36 (#M4C587 in Cricut® Design Space) and is the "leftovers" I used from my previous card. Then I searched for a Banner (#M434AC in CDS) that would fit the words. I found one I liked on the CTMH/Cricut® Artiste cartridge (Z1790). I added an Earth (#M44B0E) from Solar System. I layered all of the cuts on the Pattern Edge Card (#M36BC3) from the Creative Holiday Cards cartridge.

Holiday Cards 36 is a single image that you can also purchase. You can also use it with Cricut® Craft Room. The other images are part of the Cricut® Image Library Subscription and I think you are able to purchase them as single images if you do not have the cartridges.

You cannot tell from the photo, but some of the cardstock has texture while other colors are smooth. All are from my stash, but several of the sheets were from Bazzill Basics Paper / 3 Birds Studio The Olivia Collection (HSN). I hope you were able to purchase some of that paper while it was available.

I hope you like my card. I am a Close To My Heart Independent Consultant and the CTMH/Cricut® Artiste cartridge (Z1790) is available on my Online Business Address. Any other links I share are for convenience only; I am not an affiliate of any other retail outlet. If the craft projects I share inspire you and you would like to use Close To My Heart products to create them I would appreciate it if you ordered from my OBA.


You will also find me on Facebook at Brenda's Paper Crafts.

Monday, April 6, 2015

Seasonal Expressions 2 Blog Hop

Welcome to the Seasonal Expressions 2 Blog Hop. There are about 40 bloggers ready to share their creations using new products from the SE 2 Idea Book. This hop is circular and you will eventually arrive back on the blog where you started.


You should have arrived here from ***Show and Tell, with Michelle by Michelle Loncar***. If you get lost along the way, a complete list of participants is listed at Melinda Everitt's If You Bling It.

I created this side-fold card for our blog hop (if you want to see larger images, just click on the photos).


As soon as I saw this Hostess Rewards stamp set in Seasonal Expressions 2 I envisioned it stamped with multiple colors, fussy cut and layered with foam tape. Here is a close up of the layers.


I love the bright colors in Blossom. This card reminds me of a tropical vacation.

I had a little more time to be creative, so I also made this top-fold card using Jackson.


Before you visit ***jd designs by Jennifer Dykstra***, additional information about how my project was created is below.

All supplies I used are from Close To My Heart. Items used on the Blossom card:
A quick note about stamping with the Exotic Flower stamp set. I usually stamp on top of my paper trimmer, but I found that surface would not work with this larger stamp. I think it is because there is a drawer in my trimmer and the trimmer "bed" flexed too much. I found I had to try a couple of different surfaces before I was happy with the stamped image. I am telling you this so you will not give up on this stamp. Season the stamp well and use the foam insert with the stamp (instructions are in the stamp envelope) and use scrap paper until you are satisfied with the results. The results will be worth it.

Supplies used on Jackson card:
Items used on both cards:
If you are not already working with a CTMH Independent Consultant, you may purchase all of the supplies I used at my Online Business Address.

So you do not have to scroll up, the next stop on the hop is ***jd designs by Jennifer Dykstra***, but before you do, please leave a comment letting me know what you think about my cards. Thanks for visiting today.

Sunday, April 5, 2015

Easter 2015

Happy Easter! I needed a few gifts for men, for some reason I do not see them carrying a round lip balm in their pocket, so I created these chick and bunny boxes from My Scrap Chick.


To create some interest and dimension on my boxes I embossed, inked and used foam squares to attach some pieces.

Then I needed a few more lip balm standing cards; see Wednesday's post for more information. Since time was getting tight, I used the same patterned papers, but selected different colors of cardstock.


Yesterday I delivered Easter goodies to those I will not see today and they were a hit (if I so say so myself).

Close To My Heart supplies I used to create the boxes:
Supplies not from Close To My Heart: Cricut® Design Space, Cricut® Explore, Scotch Quick Dry Adhesive, foam dots, cardstock from my stash, white marker, black gel pen

I am a Close To My Heart Independent Consultant and the linked products above may be ordered from my Online Business Address. The list of other products and links to them are for your convenience only; I am not an affiliate of any other retail outlet. If the craft projects I share inspire you and you would like to use Close To My Heart products to create them I would appreciate it if you choose to order from me.

Friday, April 3, 2015

38 Weeks Until Christmas 2015

Yes, I missed the last two weeks of Christmas cardmaking. I plan to make them up, but I am so happy that I found a chance to get creative and hopefully back on track for at least one Christmas card each week.


I create some interest and dimension on my card I crinkled and inked the Yuletide Carol paper. The scallop edge looked a little plain so I inked the edge with Cocoa ink using a sponge dauber. I used glue dots to hold the sequins in place, but later I was thinking this might make a nice shaker card.

Supplies I used to create the card:
I hope you like my card. I am a Close To My Heart Independent Consultant and the linked products above (except the Cricut cartridge) can be ordered from my Online Business Address. Any other linked products are for convenience only; I am not an affiliate of any other retail outlet. If the craft projects I share inspire you and you would like to use Close To My Heart products to create them I would appreciate it if you choose to order from me.


If you have any CTMH product or promotion questions or would like more information about how my card was created, do not hesitate to email me. You will also find me on Facebook at Brenda's Paper Crafts.

Thursday, April 2, 2015

Easter 2015 Card for Francis

I created this card for our cousin Francis, the daughter of my grandmother's cousin.


The focal image is Lily Flowers, Design Space code #M39C16, from the Spring Cottage cartridge. I ungrouped the image, moved the top layer of the flowers to the side, then selected the remaining layers and flattened them to print then cut the group. Once the image was printed I selected a coordinating cardstock for the top layer of petals and added them to the card with Thin 3-D Foam Tape from CTMH (Z2060). I then added some Stickles Distress Glitter Glue - Spiced Marmalade for the flower centers.

I think Easter Blessings, Design Space code #M3CF00, from the Easter Blessings digital set adds a special sentiment on the front is this card.

The images on the card front were layered on top of a B&T from CTMH. The paper is Stella (retired).

The image Happy Easter (not pictured), Design Space code #M43C45, from Holiday Cakes digital set was cut from a green cardstock and placed inside the card.

I love the Flatten feature in Cricut® Design Space. It allows me to quickly create a beautiful card when I do not have the time to search through my cardstock stash for coordinating papers. I do not know about you, but even with my huge stash I sometimes still have trouble finding the perfect shade (or coordinating shades of cardstock) for projects and CDS is saving me much time.

Thanks for visiting today. If you have a moment, please leave a comment. I love to know what people think about my crafts.

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Easter 2015 Lip Balm Standing Cards

When I saw the Owl Lip Balm Holder card on my friend Julie's blog I knew I had to head over to SnapDragon Snippets to see the other files they offer. I found this chick and bunny which I thought would be perfect for this Easter.


Since I needed a variety of shades of one color, I used a cardstock from several sources (I include the store name in case you want to see if they still carry it): Close To My Heart Jubliee (retired), Bazzill Basics Paper / 3 Birds Studio The Olivia Collection (HSN), Bazzill Basics Paper (Tuesday Morning), Bazzill Basics Paper in association with Create and Craft Dainty Dots (Create and Craft), Create and Craft Topsy Turvy Cardstock (Create and Craft) and DCWV Spring Stack (I am guessing Jo-Ann Fabrics).

Here are links to the SVG files at SnapDragon Snippets: Chick Lip Balm Standing Card and Bunny Tummy Lip Balm Standing Card.

I added some Stickles to the eyes to make them stand out a bit more.