Last Day To Order Retiring Items

Today is the last day to order 2014-2015 Annual Inspirations and Seasonal Expressions 2 retiring items.

You will find the Retiring Items in their own section at my Online Business Address. Unfortunately some items have already sold out, but there are still many wonderful products available.

While you are looking at the Retiring Items, but sure to check out the While Supplies Last. There are some retired items that are available for purchase for their final time.

Today is also the last day to purchase the August 2015 Stamp Of The Month: Framed.

The SOTM can be purchase for $17.95 or for only $5 when you purchase $50 or more in qualifying Close To My Heart products. Framed is compatible with the new Artistry cartridge. You will find cards I created using the SOTM on my Blog Hop post and this Thinking Of You card.

A special promotion from me: if you purchase this SOTM from my OBA, I will send you as many die cuts as will fit on a 6" x 12" inch of Colonial White AND White Daisy cardstock that match the red-outlined stamps above.

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

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

Spray Pen Storage and Organization

I recently participated in a study at a local University and little did I know I would get a craft storage idea from it.

We were given this box full of vials (the purple topped items).

As I was looking at the spaces I began to wonder if my spray bottles would fit in them. The spaces are perfect to the Close To My Heart Spray Pen (Z1380), the Ranger mister and an unlabeled mister to stand upright. Unfortunately the box is a little too short for the Spray Pens from CTMH (and I have several of them since I am a CTMH Independent Consultant), but I think the height issue could be solved with with dowels, some foam (to hold the dowels secure in the box and a larger piece for inside the box top for the dowels to poke into) and some cardstock to extend the edges of the top.

This is the box top. If you find a box like this, yours will not come with the Gold Polka-Dot Washi Tape (Z1920) - I used the tape to cover up the code I was given for the study. I believe the grid and a permanent marker would be perfect for keeping track of the 49 different mists you could store in this box since many tapes do not adhere to the bottles very well.

Unfortunately I cannot tell you with certainty where you can purchase this box. I searched an online store that is known for their membership and quick shipping. By using the key words "sarstedt box" then narrowing down my search to "Industrial & Scientific" I found similar boxes at at vendor that sells on that site, but not this exact box. Contacting them might reveal that they also carry this box (or an even better box). In addition, it looks like you must purchase these boxes in units of 10. If you have a few crafting friends nearby, this might be a great group purchase as it looks like with shipping the cost could be less than $7 per box including shipping.

I hope this helps you with storage ideas for your Spray Pens. Who knows when something will enter your environment that will give you a new storage idea. Happy creating.

Zoe Artiste Gift Box

I am still inspired by the gift box on page 7 of Annual Inspirations 2014-15 so I decided to create one using the My Reflections™ Zoe Paper Packet. You might recall that I created one using Snowhaven (retired and no longer available) during the Jump On It July promotion and posted it on July 24.

Since Zoe is so versatile, I created this box for a birthday. Since the Zoe zip strip has months and dates on it, you could circle the recipients birthday on the box top or bottom to personalize it even more.

I added Liquid Glass to the balloons so they would stand out a bit more.

Products used to create this version of the gift box:

• My Acrylix™ You Mean the World to Me Stamp Set (B1467) - retiring August 31, 2015
• My Acrylix™ Happy Everything Stamp Set  (D1653) - retiring August 31, 2015
• Sorbet Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad (Z2164)
• My Reflections™ Zoe Paper Packet (X7197B) including the zip strip
• 12" X 12" White Daisy Cardstock (1385)
• 12" X 12" Glacier Cardstock (X5770)
• Liquid Glass (Z679)
• Cricut® Artiste Collection (Z1790 until August 31, 2015 when it is packaged with Dimensional Elements; becomes Z3170 on September 1, 2015 when it is packaged with the Basics Cardstock Combo Pack)
• box - #M44529 - pg 40 - ungroup, set box body height to 5", set box lid height to 5.65" then duplicate, play with the box lid size to see how tight you want it to fit on your box; if you are using the Expression or Expression 2 the recipe calls for 3D Object cut at 5" and Shift + 3D Object cut at 5"
• box - #M3B192 - pg 43 - ungroup and delete the envelope, set tag height to 2", duplicate and set the height of the second tag to 2½"; if you are using the Expression or Expression 2 the recipe calls for Shift + 3D Object cut at 2" and 2½"; if I made this again I would cut the second tag at 2¼"
• Cricut® Design Space file - this file will only work if you have the Artiste cartridge linked to your account; the two box lids and tag are attached so they would cut on one sheet of cardstock, otherwise Design Space wanted to use two sheets of cardstock
• Supplies not from Close To My Heart: Cricut® Design Space, Cricut® Explore, glass mat, metal-edged ruler, craft knife, Scotch Quick-Dry Adhesive

I hope you like my birthday version of this gift box. I love to read comments so if you have a moment please let me know what you think.

Happy Birthday Dad

It is that time of year again. It is time for my father's birthday. There is a new Hostess Rewards stamp set in the 2015-16 Annual Inspirations that was perfect for his birthday. Unfortunately I can only show you a peek at the stamp set; I will post a full photo early in September.

I was inspired by the On The Ball™ pattern on page 47 of Wishes™ (I have the hardcover version).

Instead of creating a 7" x 5" card, I used a 5½" x 4¼" Colonial White Card from the Value Pack as my card base. Also, instead of using the template from Wishes™, I put a 5½" x 4¼" rectangle on my virtual mat added two circles and then used the slice feature to create the partial circles I cut from the cocoa side of the Jackson paper. I added the Black Arrow Washi Tape to the zip strip so it has a uniform look on the card front. I used my scissors to distress the edge of the circle.

I "free cut" the arrows/points to back the sentiment and I used the "leftover" arrow from the card front to underscore the sentiment.

All supplies are from Close To My Heart except where noted:

• Wishes™ - soft cover (9041)
• 5½" X 4¼" Colonial White Cards & Envelopes, Value Pack (X1410)
• My Acrylix™ Birthday Funnies Hostess Rewards stamp set (B1491) - new on 9/1/2015
• My Reflections™ Jackson Paper Packet (X7195B) including the zip strip - retiring 8/31/2015
• 12" X 12" Glacier Cardstock (X5770)
• 12" X 12" Colonial White Cardstock (1388)
• Cocoa Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad (Z2114)
• Black Arrow Washi Tape (Z2003) - retiring 8/31/2015
• Micro-tip Scissors (Z534)
• 3-D Foam Tape (Z1151)
• 3L® E-Z Dots® Adhesive (Z3022)
• Cricut® Artistry Collection (Z3167) - new on 8/1/2015
• Arrow Border - #M418B9B
• Arrow Border - #M418D30
• alphabet
• I used a square and a circle from insert shapes and the slice feature to cut the partial circle shapes from Jackson; I also used a square from insert shapes to attach the letters and arrows for the focal piece
• you will find my Design Space file here if you would like to create a similar card
• Supplies not from Close To My Heart: Cricut® Design Space, Cricut® Explore, Pilot Precise V7 Rolling Ball Fine Point (this fits into the pen carriage without an adapter)

If you would like to learn how you can earn free products like the Birthday Funnies stamp set and 50% off products, email me with your contact information so we may discuss your hosting an in-home or on-line gathering. Alternatively, 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.

45th Anniversary Card

Today's card was created for a couple who are celebrating their 45th Anniversary today. They have been neighbors my entire life and I have known them as long as I can remember. My mom rode the school bus with the husband and his siblings. She graduated with one of his brothers; the other brother was the son-in-law of my sitter before I started school. Small towns. :-)

The card front is created with a card base and papers from Create and Craft. The embossing folder is from Tattered Lace (also purchased at Create and Craft). The die cut is from the Cricut® cartridge Stretch your Imagination.

I could not find a stamp with a style that I though worked well with the card front so I searched Cricut® Design Space for some inspiration. I thought this sentiment from Anna's Garden Cards and Embellishments was perfect.

When the cards were opened I was thrilled to hear "I will have to keep this card." I think that is what we all strive for when we create for others.

Items used to create this card:

• Create and Craft Pack of 50 Cream Scalloped Card and Envelopes 5 7/8in x 8 1/4in (100042)
• Create and Craft Pack of 50 A4 Mirror Board Pastels (100050)
• Create and Craft - Cardstock A4 Pearlescent - Bright - Pastel - 50 per pack (100052) 
• Tattered Lace Interchangeable Lacy Swirls Embossing Folder (137692) - Create and Craft
• CTMH 12" X 12" Colonial White Cardstock (1388)
• CTMH Florentine - retired; current My Reflections™ papers can be found here
• Cricut® Explore
• Cricut® Design Space
• Flower - #M4507A - Stretch your Imagination
• Anniversary Sentiment - #M28D43D - Anna's Garden Cards and Embellishments
• Pilot Precise V7 Rolling Ball Fine Point (this fits into the pen carriage without an adapter)
• sanding block
• CTMH 3L® E-Z Dots® Adhesive (Z3022)
• Scotch Quick-Dry Adhesive

I am a Close To My Heart Independent Consultant and CTMH linked products above may be ordered from my Online Business Address. The list of other products and links to them (if any) are for your convenience only; they are products I have been happy using. 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 placed an order on my OBA.

Thanks for visiting today.

The Close To My Heart Mission

I shared this video on my Facebook Page shortly after it was released at Convention in July 2015. Recognizing that everyone does not use Facebook and to celebrate only two more weeks until the remaining products in the latest Idea Books, 2015-16 Annual Inspirations and 2015 Holiday Expressions, are available to purchase, I thought I would share it today. Grab a tissue, even though there is no dialogue, this is a touching video.



The CTMH Corp. description of the video Close To My Heart: Life is worth... is "At Close To My Heart, we believe in capturing and preserving memories and helping you celebrate the relationships that matter most."

I want to take this opportunity to thank you for reading my blog. Have a great day!

Spotlight on My Crush™

I am not sure why I did not share this video earlier, especially during the month of June for the Summer Crush promotion or when I participated in the Summer Crush Blog Hop. I fear I missed the video when it was released.

I am sharing this video with you today, because there are many My Crush™ items on the retiring list. The items are while supplies last and will no longer be available after August 31.



The CTMH Corp. description of the video My Crush™ on Crafting is "Close To My Heart’s My Crush™ books make great homes for your memorabilia! They come with a variety of beautifully designed papers and provide just the right backdrop for your keepsakes. See them for yourself!"

Unfortunately the In the Pink My Crush™ book and some of the embellishments featured in the video are no longer available, but there are several other options to choose from. Just search my OBA for Crush and you will find several items.

I believe the My Crush™ products are a great way to introduce the next generation to memory keeping. People only need adhesive and a pen to add the photos, invitations, ticket stubs and other memorabilia to the book.

Please remember that the My Crush™ embellishments can be used on other projects besides in the My Crush™ books. I have used them on cards and traditional 12" x 12" layouts. If you need additional inspiration, search Pinterest for the hashtag #CTMHMyCrush. If you search my blog for Crush, you you find where I used My Crush™ embellishments on layouts I created at the Fall Album Retreat in 2013.

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.

Framed Thinking of You

I enjoy using the August 2015 Stamp Of The Month Framed. This is such a versatile set. Here is another card I created with this stamp set.

My card is inspired by the First Impression™ pattern on page 11 of the Originals Card Confidence Program™.

I wanted to emphasize the greeting a bit more so I looked for an oval that would fit inside the stamped image. I found an Artistry image that would work after manipulating it a bit (see details below), then cut, stamped and added it to my card with Thin 3-D Foam tape.

All supplies are from Close To My Heart except where noted:

• Originals Card Confidence Program™ - soft cover (9036)
• My Acrylix™ August 2015 SOTM: Framed Stamp Set (S1508)
• 5½" X 4¼" White Cards & Envelopes, Value Pack (X254)
• My Reflections™ Zoe Paper Packet (X7197B) - new on August 1, 2015
• 12" X 12" White Daisy Cardstock (1385)
• Glacier Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad (Z2641)
• Sorbet Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad (Z2164)
• Coral Shimmer Trim (Z3088) - new on August 1, 2015
• Coral Reef Sequins (Z3042) - retiring on August 31, 2015
• 3L® E-Z Dots® Adhesive (Z3022)
• Thin 3-D Foam Tape (Z2060)
• Cricut® Artistry Collection (Z3167) - new on August 1, 2015
• Away We Go - #M416FEE - ungroup and delete the decorative layer; set height to 1¾"
• Scrap Happy Oval - #M41451D - ungroup; proportions unlocked and resized to 1.68" wide x 1.08" high
• Supplies not from Close To My Heart: Cricut® Design Space, Cricut® Explore

Correction: When you place an order on my OBA on or after September 1, and have not already taken advantage of an offer for a free copy of 2015 Holiday Expressions, you will be prompted to add a copy to your cart. If you already have a 2015 Holiday Expressions, please take advantage of the offer and share the copy with a friend or family member.

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.

Studio J® Kits and Express Collections Retiring September 1

Close To My Heart released this list of retiring Studio J® Kits and Express Collections. They encouraged us to share the list with our customers so you can finish up any projects you had in mind using these retiring kits.The following kits will be retired on September 1:

• Blue Ribbon
• Boom-Di-Ada
• Caboodle
• Cherry-O
• Daydream
• Elegant Bouquet
• Emporium
• Everlasting
• Floral Tapestry
• Grace
• Hooligans
• Ivy Lane
• Life Delights
• Mischief
• Moonlight
• More To Adore
• Notebook
• Paper Garden
• Scholastic
• Sweet Home
• Sweet Pea
• That's Amore
• Topstitch
• Typeset
• Unforgettable
• Veranda
• Wishes and Fishes Girl

Also, because CTMH will be introducing new, limited edition Express Collections each month (I am sorry, but I do not have additional information at this time), the following Express Collections will also be retired September 1:

• Getaway
• Little Man
• Little Miss
• School Days
• Sports
• Travels
• Year in Review

If you had planned on using any of these kits or collections for a particular project, now is the time to get those projects done!

I have several posts about Studio J® that give tips for creating layouts or printing photos. To find them click on the Studio J® tag at the bottom of this post.

This Studio J® button will take you to the Studio J® page on 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.

Artistry Blog Hop

Welcome to the Artistry Blog Hop. There are approximately 30 bloggers participating in this hop. If you have not blog hopped before, just click on the link (typically near the bottom of the post) to visit the next blogger. Keep clicking and you will go full circle back to the blog where you started.

For this hop we are featuring the Cricut® Artistry Collection (Z3167) which is exclusive to Close To My Heart. Why do I call it a collection? Because it is more than just a cartridge. In addition to the cartridge, you receive three D-sized stamp sets. Every stamp coordinates with a cut on the cartridge. You also receive an Enchantment Cardstock Combo Pack which includes the seven new colors introduced in the 2015-16 Annual Inspirations.

You should have arrived here from ***Catherine Nowak's blog***. Melinda Everitt keeps a complete list of participants on her blog at If You Bling It if you get lost along the way.

When I commute on the bus I flip through the Artistry handbook and jot down image combinations I think might look good together. It is too bad I cannot bank that time for crafting later. I still consider myself lucky as my commute is only 45 minutes when I know there are others that have a commute much longer. This is one of the cards I came up with.

I created a mask from an Artistry cut and spritz using the Juniper Re-inker and rubbing alcohol.

I did not have the sentiment that I had in my mind's eye so in Cricut Design Space I added text from the Artistry cartridge and changed it to write.

This card is inspired by one I think was a sneak peek that I saw on Instagram during CTMH Convention. Unfortunately I am unable to find it again.

Before you visit ***Haley Dyer***, the supplies I used to create my project are listed below.

All supplies are from Close To My Heart except where noted:

• 5½" X 4¼" Colonial White Cards & Envelopes, Value Pack (X1410)
• Jackson Paper Packet (X7195B)
• 12" X 12" Colonial White Cardstock (1388)
• 12" X 12" White Daisy Cardstock (1385)
• 12" X 12" Juniper Cardstock (X5752)
• 12" X 12" Glacier Cardstock (X5770)
• 12" X 12" Cocoa Cardstock (X5642)
• 12" X 12" Cashmere Cardstock (X5932)
• Juniper Exclusive Inks™ Re-inker (Z2265)
• Spray Pen (Z1380)
• 5½" X 4¼" White Cards & Envelopes, Value Pack (X254)
• My Acrylix™ Just To Say stamp set (D1629) from the Cricut® Artfully Sent Collection (Z3017)
• Black Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad (Z2105)
• Cricut® Artistry Collection (Z3167)
• Dream Big - #M4171A5
• Dreamcatcher - #M41207B
• Feathers - #M418A35 - I cut this on scrap cardstock to create a mask; I used Aleene's Tack-It Over & Over to make it re-positional
• Flowers - #M4189E1
• Supplies not from Close To My Heart: Cricut® Design Space, Cricut® Explore, Pilot Precise V7 Rolling Ball Fine Point (this fits into the pen carriage without an adapter), rubbing alcohol (mixed with re-inker to create spritz), Faber-Castell - Gelatos®, paint brush

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.

If you have a moment, please leave a comment. I love to read what people think of the projects I share. So you do not have to scroll back up, the next stop on the hop is ***Haley Dyer***. Thank you for visiting today. I hope you are enjoying the hop.

Cricut® Artistry Collection Now Available

As I mentioned yesterday, the latest cartridge exclusively available from your Close To My Heart Independent Consultant is the Cricut® Artistry Collection (Z3167).

There are six function keys (more on the function keys below) and as with the other cartridges exclusive to CTMH, this cartridge contains 700 images.

The stamp sets that are included with this collection are:

• Life Is Sweet (D1680) - Design Space File
• Perfect Picture (D1681) - Design Space File
• Love Right Now (D1682) - Design Space File

All of the D-Size stamps coordinate with a cut from the cartridge. A package of 12" x 12" Enchantment Cardstock Combo Pack (with updated colors) is included with the Artistry collection.

I have had the Cricut® Artistry Collection for a few days and have observed some things that you might find helpful when using the cartridge.

There is a cartridge overlay for the Expression, but on the Expression 2, the on-screen function keys are not labeled with the function key name rather they are labeled F1 through F6. I created this chart that you may want to print off and attach to your E2:

F1	Icon-1		F2	Icon-2
F3	Shape		F4	Layer
F5	Banner		F6	Background

There are six function keys:

base key	on the Expression and Expression 2 you do not need to press any of the function keys to cut these images; this is where you will find the letters and numbers and on some keys, e.g., comma, semi-colon, etc., shapes in Cricut® Design Space you will find the letters and numbers under Add Text; after adding the text, go to the Edit tab, scroll down or search for Close To My Heart Artistry; the shapes that are on some keys are found under Insert Images; see a note about punctuation below
Icon-1	on the Expression and Expression 2 you press the Icon-1 function key for the image on the left and Shift+Icon-1 function key for the image on the right; when cutting images that are printed in the same color, e.g., the coffee cup on page 5 in the photo below – images that cut in proportion to each other ­­­– you want to make sure Real Dial Size is unlit/off; when cutting an image that coordinates with a stamp set be sure Real Dial Size is lit/on and set the height to the size listed on the stamp carrier sheet in Cricut® Design Space the images are printed in the same color are grouped when you add them to your mat - so they size proportionally (as on page 5 in the photo below) and printed in different colors if they are unlinked (as on page 6 below); when cutting an image that coordinates with a stamp set you may need to ungroup and delete the piece that you will not be using
Icon-2	this is similar to Icon-1, except use the Icon-2 function key
Shape	use the Shape function key on the Expression and Expression 2; when using grouped images you would want to make sure Real Dial Size is unlit/off; when cutting an image that coordinates with a stamp set be sure Real Dial Size is lit/on in Cricut® Design Space all of the Shape images are printed in the same color and are grouped when you add them to your mat; when cutting an image that coordinates with a stamp set you may want to ungroup and delete the piece that you will not be using
Layer	this is similar to Shape, except use the Layer function key
Banner	this is similar to Shape, except use the Banner function key
Background	use the Background function key on the Expression and Expression 2; since these images are not proportional to another cut on the cartridge you would want to use Real Dial Size (button lit) when cutting the Background images are not printed in the same color therefore are not proportional to another cut on the cartridge and they are ungrouped when added to Cricut® Design Space mat

The color-coding of the printed images was also true for the Cricut® Artfully Sent Collection, but I did not mention it before. I think it is important to point this out for Artistry because whether or not an image is grouped (cuts proportional to another image) or ungrouped varies within the same function key. I did not see this mix when using the Artfully Sent images.

UPDATE: punctuation works as expected on the Expression and Expression 2; in Design Space you add using the Add Text option. I found a few things I did not expect when adding punctuation. They have been reported to Cricut® and hopefully will change to something we are more used to.

UPDATE on August 4, 2015: I tested the Design Space app on the iPad and found a few more things.

period	the handbook indicates it is added with shift + 5; this is how you add it on the Expression and Expressions 2 in Design Space you add a period by pressing the period on your keyboard as you would do when typing on the Design Space app you add a period by pressing the period on your keyboard as you would do when typing
comma	when adding this on the Expression "quote" for the description appears briefly on screen; on the Expression 2 and in Design Space it appears lower on screen as a comma, not higher like a quote the handbook indicates it is added with shift + 6; this is how you add it on the Expression, Expression 2 you also use shift + 6 to add a comma in Design Space; I do not know why the comma is not like the period on the Design Space app I have not found a way to add a comma; not on the "regular" keyboard, the ".?123" keyboard or the "#+=" keyboard
question mark	the handbook indicates it is added with shift + 8; this is how you add it on the Expression, Expression 2 you also use shift + 8 to add a question mark in Design Space; I do not know why the question mark is not like the period on the Design Space app I have not found a way to add a question mark; not on the "regular" keyboard, the ".?123" keyboard or the "#+=" keyboard
percent sign (not available)	It would be fantastic if they move the comma to the comma key on the keyboard so they could provide us with a percent sign, though I think this would only be available in Cricut Craft Room and Design Space.
parenthesis	when adding this on the Expression "bracket" for the description appears briefly on screen; on the Expression and Expression 2 the left and right side are added with one key, it does not appear letters/numbers/punctuation can be added between the parenthesis for using the negative cut the handbook indicates it is added with shift + 9; this is how you add it on the Expression and Expression 2 in Design Space the left side is added by shift + 9 while the right side is added by shift + 0 (as you would do when typing) on the Design Space app you add the left and right parenthesis on the ".?123" keyboard
curly brackets	when adding this on the Expression "brace" for the description appears briefly on screen; on the Expression and Expression 2 the left and right side are added with one key, it does not appear letters/numbers/punctuation can be added between the brackets for using the negative cut the handbook indicates it is added with shift + 0; this is how you add it on the Expression and Expression 2 in Design Space the left side is added with the [ key and the right side with the ] key (no shift as you would typically type them); you can put letters/numbers/punctuation between the brackets for using the negative cut on the Design Space app you add the left and right curly brackets by using the [ and ] keys on the "#+=" keyboard
square brackets (not available)	There are no [ ] on this cartridge. It would be fantastic if they would re-program adding { } so it works with the shift key and provide us with square brackets, though I think this would only be available in Cricut Craft Room and Design Space.
zero	adding a zero works on the Expression and Expression 2 in Design Space adding a zero currently does not work; for now please substitute a capital O on Design Space app adding a zero currently does not work; for now please substitute a capital O

I will update this post, if/when I see any changes to how punctuation and the zero work.

If you have a question about cuts that coordinate with stamps and when to use Real Dial Size, my post Artfully Sent Coordinating Stamp Die Cuts Using the Cricut® Expression may be helpful.

Please come back on August 7 for the Artistry blog hop.

Please support my Close To My Heart business if you find information I post here helpful. The Shop Now button will take you to my Online Business Address where you can make a purchase. Your purchases (and comments) provide me the encouragement to continue to create samples, cheat sheets and tutorials.

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.

Framed August 2015 SOTM Blog Hop

Welcome to the August 2015 SOTM Blog Hop featuring the stamp set Framed. This month there are almost 50 bloggers sharing projects they created with Framed. If blog hopping is new to you, just keep clicking on the link to the next blog (typically near the bottom of the post) to visit the next stop.

The SOTM for August 2015, Framed, is a D-size set of 12 stamps that is $5 with a qualifying purchase. Framed is compatible with the new Cricut® Artistry Collection (Z3167) exclusive to Close To My Heart.

Recommended CTMH My Acrylix® Blocks for this stamp set are: 1" x 3½" (Y1002) and 2" x 3½" (Y1009). The stamps in the Framed set are:

You should have arrived here from ***Melinda Everitt's If You Bling It***. If you get lost along the way, Melinda keeps a complete list of participants on her blog at If You Bling It.

I created this Pathfinding card first. I used the bottom frame and Thanks sentiment. I used the rock and roll technique to ink the "Thanks" stamp on my this card.

My next card was created with the colors of Confetti Wishes in mind. I was inspired by the Lucky Layers™ pattern in the Wishes™ book. Because I wanted vertical stripes I used a craft knife, glass mat and metal-edged ruler and cut along one of the stripes to get a straight edge and then cut the rectangle.

I created my last card with Snowhaven in mind, but since the paper pack is no longer available I looked at Zoe (new August 1) with the same Glacier color and worked from there.

I hope you like the cards I created from the Framed stamp set. If you have a moment, please leave a comment.

Before you visit ***Catherine Nowak's CatScrapbooking***, the supplies I used to create my project are listed below.

All supplies are from Close To My Heart except where noted:

• My Acrylix™ August 2015 SOTM: Framed Stamp Set (S1508)
• 5½" X 4¼" Colonial White Cards & Envelopes, Value Pack (X1410)
• Pathfinding Paper Packet (X7186B) - retiring August 31 or while supplies last
• 12" X 12" White Daisy Cardstock (1385)
• Bronze Shimmer Trim (Z1849)
• Teal Shimmer Trim (Z1918)
• Autumn Terracotta Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad (Z2101) - retiring August 31 or while supplies last
• Goldrush Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad (Z2123)
• Glacier Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad (Z2641)
• Wishes™ (9041) - inspired by the Lucky Layers™ pattern
• 5½" X 4¼" White Cards & Envelopes, Value Pack (X254)
• Confetti Wishes Paper Packet (X7189B)
• 12" X 12" Thistle Cardstock (X5769)
• 12" X 12" Canary Cardstock (X5772)
• Lagoon Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad (Z2195)
• Pacifica Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad (Z2192)
• Dot Embossing Folder (Z1924)
• My Reflections™ Zoe Paper Packet (X7197B)
• 12" X 12" Cranberry Cardstock (1272)
• Cranberry Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad (Z2116)
• Black Shimmer Trim (Z1809)
• 3L® E-Z Dots® Adhesive (Z3022)
• 3-D Foam Tape (Z1151)
• Cricut® Artistry Collection (Z3167) - new today
• Love - #M4165CB - ungroup and delete the decorative layer; set height to 1¼"
• Away We Go - #M416FEE - ungroup and delete the decorative layer; set height to 1¾"
• Fab Hexagon - #M4166B8 - ungroup and delete the decorative layer; set height to 2"
• if you would like to use my Cricut® Design Space file for the stamp set, you will find it here; I also added a "shadow" so I could layer the stamped die cut
• Snowflake Background - #M418A6C - set height to 2½"
• Fab Hexagon - #M4166B8 - ungroup and delete the decorative layer; duplicate the image; set one image to white with a height of 2"; set the other image to Cranberry; unlock the proportions of the Cranberry image and increase the size so it looks nice under the white image; add a 0.2" x 4.25" rectangle; with the Cranberry Fab Hexagon and rectangle selected, align them center horizontally and center vertically then weld them together
• if you would like to use my Cricut® Design Space file for the Zoe Merry Christmas card, you will find it here
• Supplies not from Close To My Heart: Cricut® Design Space, Cricut® Explore, craft knife, glass mat and metal-edged ruler

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 hear what people think of my crafts, so if you have a moment I would be delighted if you leave a comment. So you do not have to scroll back up, the next stop on the hop is ***Catherine Nowak's CatScrapbooking***. I hope you are enjoying the hop and thanks for visiting today.

CTMH News for August 2015

August 2015 brings us a few surprises. There are a few items in the NEW 2015-2016 Annual Inspirations, valid from September 1, 2015 through August 31, 2016, that you may purchase starting August 1 (some with bonuses; see below). This will be a longish blog post; I hope that you will stick with me until the end for all of the exciting news.

The August 2015 Stamp of the Month is Framed

Framed (S1508) is an exclusive D-size set of 12 stamps that you can only purchase during the month of August 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) and 2" x 3½" (Y1009).

Framed is compatible with the NEW Cricut® Artistry Collection (Z3167) available exclusively from Close To My Heart Independent Consultants (more on the cartridge below). Here is the Design Space File I created so I could quickly find the shapes that match the stamp set.

Items created with the stamp set by CTMH Corporate artists are this gift bag/box and card:

Usually I would say if you would like a list of the products used to create the above items, you will find the information in the Recipes on my OBA however since this stamp set is not shown in the CTMH Idea Books, I do not have a place to point you to. If I find the information I will update this post. Also check my Pinterest Board CTMH 2015 08 Aug SOTM Framed for additional ideas using this stamp set.

Please stop back tomorrow for the Framed Stamp of the Month Blog Hop. My blog post will be here.

Get Organized!

During August you can purchase the latest organization products from Close To My Heart and get some perks thrown in. This month you can order the new Accessory Roll-Up (Z3121) and/or the new Marker Roll-Up (Z3120) and receive free products.

The Accessory Roll-Up (Z3121) has the description "Contains 16 clear plastic pockets with zippers to hold Base & Bling products, embellishments, or accessories. Rolls up and secures with snap closure. Includes hanging loop for easy vertical storage." The Accessory Roll-Up is $18.95 and when you purchase it at full retail price during the month of August you will also receive the two new Base & Bling style sheets, Affirmations and Lovely Blooms, for free.

The Marker Roll-Up (Z3120) has the description "Designed to hold up to 25 ShinHan™ Touch Twin™ markers with interior elastic loops. Rolls up and secures with snap closure. Includes hanging loop for easy vertical storage." The Marker Roll-Up is $17.95 and when you purchase it at full retail price during the month of August you will also receive the new D-size stamp set My Acrylix® Balloon Wishes for free.

Place your order for one—or both—deals and get an exciting sneak peek at just a few of the many new products found within Annual Inspirations’ pages!

NEW Cricut® Artistry Collection

Also in August you my purchase the latest Cricut® Artistry Collection (Z3167).

As with the other cartridges exclusive to CTMH, this cartridge contains 700 images and comes with three D-sized stamp sets. Every stamp has a coordinating Artistry cut. A package of 12" x 12" Enchantment Cardstock Combo Pack (with updated colors) is also included with the Artistry collection.

So this post does not go on too long, please stop back tomorrow for more information about the Artistry Collection.

I will be participating in an Artistry Blog Hop on August 7. You will find my post here.

My Reflections™ Scrapbook Collection Zoe

Since the release date of the 2015-2016 Annual Inspirations was rescheduled to September 1, Close To My Heart is making the new Zoe collection available early

The following Zoe and coordinating products are available for order today:

• My Reflections™ Zoe Paper Packet (X7197B) - includes (6) 12" x 12" B&T Duos™ (2 each of 3 double-sided designs), 2 sheets Glacier, 2 sheets White Daisy, 1 sheet Slate and 1 sheet Sorbet
• Zoe Complements (X7197C)
• Zoe Assortment (Z3082)
• Coral Shimmer Trim (Z3088)
• Enamel & Glitter Duos Green Triangles (Z3123)
• Workshops on the Go® Zoe Scrapbooking Kit (G1096) - includes the paper pack, 1 D-sized stamp set, 3 sheets White Daisy, Zoe Assortment, Coral Shimmer Trim and Instructional Brochure

If you use Studio J®, there are two Zoe options:

• Zoe Studio J® Kit
• Zoe Studio J® Limited Edition Express Collection (Live until September 30, 2015)

The Zoe color palette includes: Canary, Glacier, Slate, Sorbet, Sweet Leaf, Whisper and White Daisy.

Correction: When you place an order on my OBA on or after September 1, and have not already taken advantage of an offer for a free copy of 2015 Holiday Expressions, you will be prompted to add a copy to your cart. If you already have a 2015 Holiday Expressions, please take advantage of the offer and share the copy with a friend or family member.

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.