New Policy - My Acrylix® Stamp Availability

Close To My Heart is introducing a new policy related to the availability of stamp sets – stamp sets will only be available when they are pictured in a current Idea Book (with a few exceptions noted below).

This policy is taking effect immediately, meaning that stamp sets featured in Seasonal Expressions 1 will be retired at the end of that idea book on April 30, 2016. Stamp sets featured in Annual Inspirations 2015–2016 and any other stamp sets that are currently available but are not pictured in any active idea books will be retired on July 31, 2016, with a few exceptions. The exceptions are the States & Provinces stamp sets, the Australia & New Zealand stamp sets, and a handful of other stamp sets that will be carrying forward to a future idea book.

This policy also applies to stamp sets that are compatible with a Cricut® collection. Formerly they were available indefinitely, but now they will be retiring when they no longer appear in an Idea Book.

To help you with planning future stamp set purchases (and hint, hint, you will want to plan for the March promotion), I will be posting a complete list of stamp sets being retired, and another list that shows the stamp sets that will continue to be available after August 1. I will post the lists as soon as they are make available from the Corporate Office.

If you would to place an order or would like to research any product, the Shop Now button will take you there, but trust me, if you are thinking you want to order stamp sets, please wait until March.

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. Thank you for visiting today.

Product Retirement and Changes

In a recent update CTMH Corporate sent to Independent Consultants, we learned of some coming product changes.

The 5" x 7" White Daisy Envelopes (Z1477) are no longer being supplied by the vendor. I was going to say that 5" x 7" White Daisy envelopes will be retired soon, when the current inventory is exhausted, but that inventory has already flown out the door so this product is no longer available. There are alternatives to purchasing pre-made envelopes; you can make your own.

Cricut® Cartridges with Envelope Cuts
Cricut® Artfully Sent Collection (Z3168)	Cricut® Artiste Collection (Z3170)

You can create your own 5" by 7" envelopes by using the Cricut® Artfully Sent Collection (Z3168). The 5" x 7" envelopes can be found on pages 44 to 49 of the handbook (the PDF opens in a new window). There are other envelopes on the Artfully Sent cartridge that you may resize in Cricut® Craft Room to cut with your Expression or Expression 2 or Cricut® Design Space to cut with your Explore. There are also envelopes in the Cricut® Artiste Collection (Z3170), they can be found throughout the handbook, but you may need to use CCR or CDS to get the correct sizing.

The current selection of My Legacy™ albums will be retiring with the current Annual Inspirations at the end of July and are now available on a while-supplies-last basis. This also means that the black post-bound album option will not be made available again.

The next set of My Legacy™ albums will be released in the next Annual Inspirations idea book (available August 1, 2016). I do not know much about the new albums other than CTMH Corporate has listened carefully to Consultant feedback and will be making some changes to them. Corporate tells us: "Without giving away too much, we want to assure you that we are committed to maintaining the high quality standard you and your customers expect, with sturdy covers, durable binding, and excellent hardware that you can trust to hold your cherished layouts and family photos."

If you want to order from the existing selection of albums, perhaps you would like some to coordinate with albums you have, please do not delay. When the news about the album changes becomes more widely known the albums may quickly go as the 5" x 7" envelopes did.

D-Ring Albums	Post-Bound Albums
Black D-Ring Album (Z3034)	Black Post-Bound Album no longer available
Ruby Floral D-Ring Album (Z2091)	Ruby Floral Post-Bound Album (Z2093)
Lagoon Chevron D-Ring Album (Z2090)	Lagoon Chevron Post-Bound Album (Z2092)
Slate Circles D-Ring Album (Z1981)	Slate Circles Post-Bound Album (Z1983)
Cocoa Damask D-Ring Album (Z1980)	Cocoa Damask Post-Bound Album (Z1982)

I hope this news helps you plan. Thank you for visiting today. Don't forget you will also find me on Facebook at Brenda's Paper Crafts.

Show Off Your Fabulous Photos Frame

This is my second raffle item, a Show Off Your Fabulous Photos Frame, I created for the 2016 Community Showcase. It was inspired by the Designed Décor Frame Kit that was in the Autumn/Winter 2013 Idea Book. As I mentioned yesterday, I will be at this year's Community Showcase on Sunday, March 6 from 1pm to 4pm.

So many people post their favorite photos on social media, but how many print their favorite photos and display them in their homes? This frame is to encourage you to get some prints made and enjoy your favorite memories every time you walk past the frame.

I made the banner so it is reversible. The twine that holds it in place is tied with a bow. This way you can choose the lettering that goes best with your photos and other décor in your home. The banner above was stamped with Marquee Uppercase and the reverse side is Handwritten Print.

Since the photo frames are held in place with mini clothespins they can be moved around the frame. I cut some decorative paper to represent the photos to make it easier to envision your favorite photos in the frame. The paper pieces can be used as a template for when you cut your photos to fit.

If you need more information about the 2016 Community Showcase, I posted them yesterday.

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

• My Acrylix™ Practical Planning Stamp Set (A1163) - retired (Hostess Rewards)
• My Acrylix™ Happiness Lives Here Stamp Set (B1430) - retired (Frame Kit)
• My Acrylix™ Enjoy! Stamp Set (C1496)
• My Acrylix™ Family Love Stamp Set (D1506)
• My Acrylix™ Documenting Moments Stamp Set (D1647)
• My Acrylix™ Marquee Uppercase Stamp Set (E1029)
• My Acrylix™ Handwritten Print Stamp Set (E1030)
• Designed Décor Colonial White Frame (Z1865)
• Lovestruck Mini Clothespins (Z3028)
• Black Memento™ Ink Pad (Z899)
• 12" X 12" Kraft Cardstock (Z1375)
• Cricut® Artbooking Collection (Z3169)
• Square Frame - #M47128 - page 41
• Banner Page - #M4235A - page 53
• Florentine Paper Pack (retired)
• Seaside Paper Pack (retired)
• Supplies not from Close To My Heart: Cricut® Explore, Cricut® Design Space, twine

Since I created this item both the frame and clothespins have been marked down and are available while supplies last. If you would like to create a similar frame, please do not wait too long to place an order.

If you cannot visit me at the Community Showcase, please find me on Facebook at Brenda's Paper Crafts.

Handcrafted Gift Box for Tea Lovers

I created this Handcrafted Gift Box for Tea Lovers for a raffle item at the 2016 Community Showcase. I will be at this year's Community Showcase to share the Close To My Heart products available and some of the items I have created with them.

The papers and cup will be the same, but the teas and snacks may be different. The sleeve on the reusable cup is for decorative purposes. The included gift card (if you decide to give the box to a friend) has "You're like a cup of tea, you warm my heart" stamped inside.

Are you asking yourself what the 2016 Community Showcase is? It is sponsored by the Spencer Chamber of Commerce, SVE Central School and Inspire S-VE, Inc. and is held at the SVE High School (16 Dartts Cross Road, Spencer, NY - if you are traveling on Route 34 between Spencer and Van Etten you can see the school on the South side of the road). Here is a map:



The event takes place on Sunday, March 6 and the doors are open from 1pm to 4pm.

In 2015 there were 73 exhibitors and "all businesses that sell, barter, or give away good and services". I have also read that "the [Spencer] Chamber [of Commerce], Haefele TV and Tioga State Bank are going together for a large cash raffle" and it is my understanding that many of the exhibitors have raffles at their booths (I thought I would have two - stop back tomorrow to learn about my other raffle item). The SVE Jazz Band and other groups will be providing entertainment.

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

• My Acrylix™ Treats of Friendship Stamp Set (C1616)
• Black Memento™ Ink Pad (Z899)
• Canary Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad (Z2643)
• Georgie Paper Packet (X7203B)
• 12" X 12" White Daisy Cardstock (1385)
• 12" X 12" Juniper Cardstock (X5752)
• Cricut® Artbooking Collection (Z3169)
• Small Tag - #M466C7 - page 83
• Cricut® Artiste Collection (Z3170)
• Border (Bow) - #M3B8B0 - page 55; assembly instructions on page 32
• Envelope - #M4671F - page 70
• Supplies not from Close To My Heart: Cricut® Explore, Cricut® Design Space, Coffee Cup Holder Set Template - [SVG] Cutting File from The Cutting Cafe, Aladdin 16-Ounce Reusable To-Go Cup, brad, Scotch Quick-Dry Adhesive, Lyra Rembrandt 72 Polycolor Fine Art Coloured Pencils for Artists

If you are in the Spencer-Van Etten area I do hope you will stop by and say hello. It is always nice to put a face with a name.

If you cannot make the event, please find me on Facebook at Brenda's Paper Crafts.

Score Board is Retiring

Update: February 16, 2016 - the Score Board is no longer available.

We recently received notification that the CTMH Score Board (Z1937) is retiring. Once the current inventory is depleted, the Score Board will no longer be available for purchase.

The product description from my OBA is "Scores papers up to 12" × 12". Rotating arm for diagonal scoring, ⅛" score increments, includes scoring tool."

On Thursday, February 4, the Corporate Office estimated the current "inventory [would] last us through the next three weeks".

I use my Score Board regularly. I often use to it deepen the score line on items I have cut with my Cricut® and on purchased card bases. Even if I do not deepen the score line I use the "scoring tool" which is similar to a bone folder to make good creases on my paper.

If you do not have the Score Board and would like to have your own, please order soon. I would hate for you to be disappointed.

Balloon Animals Easter Card

When I was creating a card for the February 2016 SOTM Blog Hop I stamped and fussy cut some extra bunnies which I thought would make a nice Easter Card.

I watercolored the card background and cut the grass from the Artbooking cartridge. I tucked the bunnies in the grass and used Memory Book Mini Glue Dots™ behind the ears to keep them in place. The sun is a peek at the March 2016 SOTM - Sunshine Birdies.

The butterfly is another peek at Sunshine Birdies.

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

• My Acrylix™ February 2016 SOTM: Balloon Animals Stamp Set (S1602)
• My Acrylix™ March 2016 SOTM: Sunshine Birdies Stamp Set (S1603)
• My Acrylix™ Hopping By Stamp Set (D1633)
• Georgie Paper Packet (X7203B)
• 12" X 12" White Daisy Cardstock (1385)
• 12" X 12" Pear Cardstock (X5764)
• 12" X 12" Topiary Cardstock (X5635)
• Pixie Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad (Z2644)
• Canary Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad (Z2643)
• Pear Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad (Z2197)
• Glacier Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad (Z2641)
• Thistle Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad (Z2640)
• Black Memento™ Ink Pad (Z899)
• Honey Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad (Z2162)
• Sunset Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad (Z2191)
• Watercolor Paints (Z3132)
• Paintbrush Set (Z3188)
• Memory Book Mini Glue Dots™ (Z341)
• Cricut® Artbooking Collection (Z3169)
• Grass Border - #M46110 - page 52
• Supplies not from Close To My Heart: Cricut® Design Space, Cricut® Explore, craft knife, glass mat, 5" x 6½" white card base

I hope this Easter card inspired you. Please follow my blog and like my Facebook page Brenda's Paper Crafts. Thanks for visiting my blog today.

Share The Love Blog Hop

Welcome to the Share the Love blog hop. There are approximately 25 bloggers sharing projects they created with the Share the Love stamp set. We try to make blog hopping easy; ours is a circle, click on the link (typically near the bottom of the post) to visit the next blog and you will be brought back to the blog where you started.

Share the Love is a special and exclusive stamp set that Close To My Heart released to benefit Operation Smile. CTMH will donate $7 of the proceeds from sales of this stamp set (except in two states, Alabama and Massachusetts, due to local regulations) to Operation Smile. Operation Smile is an amazing organization that provides surgeries to repair cleft lips and palates for children all over the world. You may order as many of this stamp as you would like for $17.95 each.

The stamps in Share the Love are:

Recommended CTMH My Acrylix® Blocks for this stamp set are: 1" x 1" (Y1000), 2" x 2" (Y1003) and 3" x 3" (Y1006). This stamp set is only available during February 2016 so do not delay.

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

I really struggled to create this card and I don't know why. I drew several sketches before I settled on this arrangement and after my first cuts I adjusted the size of the front and inside scalloped cuts.

card (front) created for CTMH Share The Love (CC1060) Blog Hop

For some reason I wanted a bit of the inside to be viable from the front. I just kept gravitating back to a card that allowed that. I stamped the front using Glacier ink on Glacier cardstock. Because some of the word bubble stamps are so "open", I did not worry about the bubble overlapping with other stamping because the words were still very readable. After stamping the hello bubble I used water colors, a mix of blue, green and gray, to paint it and then after the paint dried, I re-stamped the word hello to brighten in up a bit. Since our stamps are clear, it was easy to do.

card (inside) created for CTMH Share The Love (CC1060) Blog Hop

It is difficult to see in the photos, but I first stamped the telephone and typewriter with Black Memento™ Ink, then with VersaMark™ Ink and then I heat embossed with Ranger™ Clear Super Fine Embossing Powder. I wanted to give them a bit more of a real look. The other black images were stamped only with Black Memento™.

So the scallops on the square did not get too out of proportion when making the squares the size I needed them, I used the slice and weld features in Cricut® Design Space. I have a screenshot on a previous blog post to show this with an image because I am not sure my words explain this well. I lightly inked the edges of the scallops on the frame with Sorbet ink.

Before you head to ***Haley Dyer's The Inky Scrapper***, the supplies I used to create my project are listed below.

• My Acrylix™ Share the Love Stamp Set (CC1060)
• Zoe Paper Packet (X7197B)
• 12" X 12" White Daisy Cardstock (1385)
  
• 12" X 12" Glacier Cardstock (X5770)
  
• 12" X 12" Sorbet Cardstock (X5751)
  
• Glacier Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad (Z2641)
• Sorbet Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad (Z2164)
• Black Memento™ Ink Pad (Z899)
• VersaMark™ Ink Pad (Z891)
• Ranger™ Clear Super Fine Embossing Powder (Z2088)
• Craft Heater (Z555)
• Cricut® Art Philosophy Collection (Z3171)
• Square - #M3EB2C - page 33
  
• Supplies not from Close To My Heart: Cricut® Explore, Cricut® Design Space
• If you would like a head start to create a similar card, my Design Space file is here

If you are not working with a CTMH Independent Consultant yet, you may purchase all of the CTMH products I used at my Online Business Address.

I love to get feedback on my projects so if you have a moment, please leave a comment. Thank you for visiting today. So you do not have to scroll back up, the next stop on the hop is ***Haley Dyer's The Inky Scrapper***.

Balloon Animals February 2016 SOTM Blog Hop

Welcome to the February 2016 SOTM Blog Hop featuring the stamp set Balloon Animals. This month there are almost 40 bloggers sharing projects they created with Balloon Animals. If blog hopping is new to you, we try to keep it simple, just keep clicking on the link to the next blog (typically near the bottom of the post) to visit the next stop. Blog hops are circular so visiting the next blog will take you back to where you started.

The SOTM for February 2016, Balloon Animals, is a D-size set of 13 stamps that is $5 with a qualifying purchase. Alternatively you may purchase it for $17.95. Recommended CTMH My Acrylix® Blocks for this stamp set are: 1" x 1" (Y1000), 1" x 3½" (Y1002) and 2" x 3½" (Y1009). The stamps in the Balloon Animals set are:

You should have arrived here from ***Crafty Happy by Darlys Recker***. If you get lost along the way, Melinda Everitt keeps a list of participants on her blog at If You Bling It.

I do not remember where, probably on vacation, but I saw translucent balloons with balloon animals inside, similar to a ship in a bottle, and that was the effect I was trying to achieve on this card. I stamped the images on a die cut balloon and then covered it with a thin layer of Liquid Glass.

card (front) created for SOTM Blog Hop with CTMH Balloon Animals (S1602)

I carried the ombré, embossing and rock and roll stamping to the card inside.

card (inside) created for SOTM Blog Hop with CTMH Balloon Animals (S1602)

Before you head to ***jd designs by Jennifer Dykstra***, here are some details about how I created the card and the supplies I used to create my project are listed below.

I tried a different machine for embossing the Regatta Paper with the Confetti Stars Embossing Folder. I used a We R Memory Keepers Evolution Advanced Machine set on the lightest setting for embossing. The sandwich went through the machine so easily that I though there was no way the paper was embossed, but wow, I am happy with the results. Almost zero paper cracking.

After stamping the balloon die cuts with Glacier, Canary and Pear and letting it dry for several hours (I probably did not have to wait so long, but it was the last crafty thing I did before heading to bed), I sprayed the die cuts with Mod Podge Clear Acrylic Sealer and let it dry for a few more hours. I did this because when I had some trouble with paper bubbling after applying Mod Podge, I did some research and read that spraying the paper with the Clear Acrylic Sealer reduced the absorption. I thought that might help with the Liquid Glass and stamped images and I am very happy with the results.

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

• My Acrylix™ February 2016 SOTM: Balloon Animals Stamp Set (S1602)
• 12" X 12" White Daisy Cardstock (1385)
• 12" X 12" Sapphire Cardstock (X5775)
• Regatta Paper Packet (X7206B)
• Confetti Stars Embossing Folder (Z3119)
• Sapphire Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad (Z2648)
• Glacier Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad (Z2641)
• Canary Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad (Z2643)
• Pear Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad (Z2197)
• Liquid Glass (Z679)
• Marvy® Uchida® LePen™ Journaling Pen (Z1979)
• 3L® E-Z Dots® Adhesive (Z3022)
• 3-D Foam Tape (Z1151)
• Thin 3-D Foam Tape (Z2060)
• Cricut® Artiste Collection (Z3170)
• Balloon - #M45A50 - page 70
• Cricut® Artistry Collection - physical cartridge (Z3167) or Artistry Digital Collection - no cartridge (Z3190)
• Together - #M416E3E - page 27
• Supplies not from Close To My Heart: Cricut® Design Space, Cricut® Explore, We R Memory Keepers Evolution Advanced Machine, Mod Podge Clear Acrylic Sealer - Gloss

Here is the link to my Cricut® Design Space file in case you would like a jump start creating a similar file. You will need both Artiste and Artistry linked to your Cricut® account.

If you are not working with a CTMH Independent Consultant yet, 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 ***jd designs by Jennifer Dykstra***.

Thank you for hopping with us today. I hope you are enjoying the creations you are finding.

February 2016 CTMH News

Thank you for stopping by to learn what CTMH specials are available for the month of February 2016. Since 2016 is a leap year you also have an extra day to order any or all of the specials.

The February 2016 Stamp of the Month is Balloon Animals

Balloon Animals (S1602) is an exclusive D-size set of 13 stamps that is only available for purchase during the month of February 2016. The stamp set can be yours for $5 when you place an order of $50 or more in qualifying Close To My Heart products. If you would like more than one of the SOTM, you may order one at $5 for each $50 you spend. Alternatively you may order one or more of this stamp for $17.95. Recommended CTMH My Acrylix® Blocks for this stamp set are: 1" x 1" (Y1000), 1" x 3½" (Y1002) and 2" x 3½" (Y1009).

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

If you would like a list of the products used to create the above items, you will find the information in the Recipes for Seasonal Expressions 1, a PDF file that lists the products used to make the samples in the Seasonal Expressions 1 so you may re-create projects at home. I am participating in a Balloon Animals blog hop this month; you will find my post tomorrow. Please visit my Pinterest Board CTMH 2016 02 Feb SOTM Balloon Animals for additional ideas using this stamp set.

February 2016 is time to Share the Love

Close To My Heart created this special set to benefit Operation Smile. The stamps in Share the Love (CC1060) are:

This stamp set is filled with adorable icons and lovable sentiments and during the month of February Close To My Heart will donate $7 of the proceeds from this stamp set to Operation Smile which is an amazing organization that provides surgeries to repair cleft lips and palates for children all over the world. You may order as many of this stamp at $17.95 as you would like and as noted above $7 will be donated to Operation Smile. Recommended CTMH My Acrylix® Blocks for this stamp set are: 1" x 1" (Y1000), 2" x 2" (Y1003) and 3" x 3" (Y1006). This stamp set is only available during February 2016 so do not delay.

CTMH is having an Operation Smile™ Share the Love Challenge for Consultants. The Consultant who raises the most Operation Smile donations (the largest US dollar amount) during the 2016 calendar year, January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2016 will be able to go on an Operation Smile™ mission of Close To My Heart’s choosing for free!

I am participating in a blog hop featuring the Share the Love stamp set. You will find my post here on February 7.

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. Thank you for visiting today.