Sympathy Card created with Thoughtful Expressions

A former co-worker of my mother's recently passed. She was part of the unofficial retirees group that got together for coffee or lunch. I created this card for my mother to give to her husband.

card created with Thoughtful Expressions Stamp Set and Dies

To create this card I used the Thoughtful Expressions Stamp Set (162815) and Thoughtful Expressions Dies (162821). I stamped the floral spray and hummingbird with Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad on Pool Party cardstock then die cut. I die cut a rectangle for the sentiment from Pool Party cardstock with a die from my stash (the die is square, but I used a technique I shared a few months ago to partially cut then realign the die and complete the cutting). I stamped with a sentiment I've had in my stash for awhile. One of the Thoughtful Expressions decorative dies was used to cut Black cardstock and I splattered it with Gold Shimmer Brush. The Zinnia 3D Embossing Folder created a nice background on the Lost Lagoon cardstock. To assemble the card I used a combination of liquid glue, flat adhesive and foam tape to assemble the card.

By the way, the first card I shared this month, now has a sentiment and a home. A birthday snuck up on us. I die cut a cardstock "banner" with a die from my stash then added a sentiment from one of the Craft with Heart™ Cardmaking Subscription Kits previously available from Close to My Heart.

card created with Thoughtful Expressions Stamp Set and Dies

I rarely create cards without a sentiment, but this time I am very happy I did. It saved me a late night. I think I will try to make more cards that just need a sentiment and addressing for the next time special occasions arrive quicker than expected.

I hope you have a wonderful week ahead. It looks like the weather is going to be nice though maybe a little to warmer than I would prefer.

Save The Date - Free Shipping - Tuesday, May 21

On May 21, 2024, Stampin' Up! is offering FREE SHIPPING on orders of $75 or more! This deal is for one day only, so you’ll have to act quickly.

Here are the details:

All order types qualify for this promotion. Free shipping is for 24 hours only. Orders must be opened and closed on May 21, 2024.

Ordering Deadlines

• Phone: 21 May 2024 at 6:59 p.m. (MT)
• Online: 21 May 2024 at 11:59 p.m. (MT)

Free shipping automatically applies to your cart after the qualifying amount has been met, which is $75 USD (before tax).

Coupon codes and product credits are non-commissionable and will lower your order’s retail amount. Orders must meet the qualifying amount to be eligible for free shipping.

The additional cost for expedited shipping is not covered by this promotion.

Prepaid 3-, 6-, or 12-month Paper Pumpkin subscriptions can contribute to the qualifying amount for free shipping (Month-to-month subscriptions do not qualify). Subscriptions billed and shipped this month will be charged for the normal amount ($24.50 USD shipping included) + tax.

As a reminder, former Close To My Heart VIPs will receive a free Stampin' Up! Annual Catalog with their first purchase (use the same email address with Stampin' Up! that you used with Close To My Heart). You do not need to add a catalog to your cart prior to checking out, a catalog will be added based on matching your email address to a list of CTMH VIPs.

You can browse the Stampin' Up! website here or download a PDF of the catalog here.

TGIF. Have a great weekend!

Mother's Day Card created with Flowing Zinnias

I recently received the Flowering Zinnias Suite Collection (163485) from Stampin' Up! and I love it. When I needed to be able to quickly create a Mother's Day card, I selected the Simply Zinnia Dies (163479) and Zinnia 3D Embossing Folder (163337). You may have seen this card on my Facebook Page, Brenda's Paper Crafts, this past Sunday. 

card created with Flowering Zinnias

In addition to the Simply Zinnia Dies and Zinnia 3D Embossing Folder, I used Ballerina, Flamingo, Raspberry, Honey Butter, Pumpkin, Limeade, Jade and Pine cardstock from Close To My Heart. The sentiment is from one of the Craft with Heart™ Cardmaking Subscription Kits that Close to My Heart previously offered.

If you have any questions about the Flowering Zinnias Suite Collection, do not hesitate to contact me by using the Contact Form to the right.

I hope you have a great Thursday!

CTMH Closeout Sale

Hello crafty friends.

If you are subscribed to receive emails from Close To My Heart, you probably received a message Thursday evening about the CTMH Closeout Sale that begins later today, Friday, May 3, 2024 at 5:00pm EDT.

CTMH Closeout Sale

The CTMH closeout sale to clear out all remaining inventory will start later today at 5:00pm EDT. Take advantage of incredible discounts on everything from papers and stamps to embellishments, Thin Cuts, organization products, and more!

Be ready to shop early to get the best deals! All items will be available while supplies last, and all sales are final.

Go directly to the Close To My Heart website to shop. The same username and password you used to shop with me works on the Corporate website.

If you are a former VIP Customer, remember that you will still be able to redeem any VIP Credit that you had saved up (VIP Credit must be used by 1:59am EDT on June 1 (that's 11:59pm MDT on May 31) or it is lost). Shop during the closeout sale to make your credit go even farther during this incredible clearance sale!

Please be patient with regard to shipping. The folks in the shipping department have been working very hard to keep up with the larger than usual order volume.

If you have previous orders that you would like to check the status of, go to the CTMH website, getting there is similar to finding your Digital Library (this is a good time to remind you to download any digital files that are in your library - remember some of the monthly specials and Black Friday/Cyber Monday items included digital files), and sign in. Click on your name in the upper right and choose Account. Then select Order History on the left. Click on an order (you may need to disable pop-up blockers) to open a new window that provides order details. You will be provided a list of what was ordered, and, if the order shipped, a tracking number will be listed under the Shipped To block.

When you are checking those orders, if you purchased any cardmaking or scrapbooking workshop kits, there will be a link under the product item number/name to the workshop instructions. Alternatively, all guides released since January 2020 can be found on the website under More > Workshop Guides. Please be sure to download the workshop guides and digital files by June 15, 2024.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Starting a New Chapter

Beginning May 1, 2024 I am now an Independent Stampin' Up! demonstrator. I am still trying to learn all of the terminology and policies, so I am a bit nervous, but also excited.

When we learned that former Close To My Heart Makers would have the opportunity to become demonstrators with Stampin' Up! someone suggested that we purchase a few products so we could become familiar with them. I was lucky enough to choose stamp sets that are making an encore! appearance in the Stampin' Up! Annual Catalog May 2024–April 2025.

card created with Thoughtful Expressions Stamp Set and Dies

To create this card I used the Thoughtful Expressions Stamp Set (162815) and Thoughtful Expressions Dies (162821). I cut the floral spray and hummingbird from White Daisy and the leaf dies from Evergreen (from my CTMH stash). I colored with Colorista by Spectrum Noir™ pencils. I used the Thoughtful Expressions Dies to cut labels from Bubble Bath and Soft Sea Foam from the Subtles 12" × 12" Cardstock Assortment (161714). I used second generation stamping with Pear Stamp Pad (from my CTMH stash) to create a background paper. I used a combination of liquid glue, flat adhesive and foam tape to assemble the card. I have not decided the occasion for sending the card, so I have not selected a sentiment yet.

As I hinted at earlier, a new catalog with new products are available from Stampin' Up! on May 1. If you were a VIP Customer with Close To My Heart, you will receive a free Stampin' Up! Annual Catalog May 2024–April 2025 when you place an order.

In addition, there is a May 2024 Product Release of Exclusive CTMH™ Products.

Cover May 2024 Product Release Exclusive CTMH™ Products

The collection for May 2024 is Enjoy the Ride and the featured colors are Rosy, Pumpkin, Honey Butter, Limeade, Jade, Harbour, Bluebird and French Vanilla. There is a paper packet, enamel dots, paper with sticker sheet, coordinating two-tone cardstock, cardmaking and scrapbooking stamp sets with Thin Cuts, and scrapbooking and cardmaking workshops. In addition there is a Baseline Alphabet Thin Cuts and cardstock and stamp pads in the featured colors. All items are very limited and are likely to sell out quickly, so be sure to shop early. This brochure/flyer (in PDF format) provides all of the product details. 

The products are only available to CTMH Makers and Customers who had an email address "on file" with CTMH. The products will be available at 12:01am MDT on May 1; you will find the items on the Stampin’ Up! website. Go to menu > Shop Products > CTMH™ Product. Please also go to Find a Demonstrator (in the upper left) and search for my name.

I hope you will join me on this new creative journey. Until next time.