Happy Anniversary | Cricut Artbooking Collection for $78!!!

Brandon and I celebrated 14 years of marriage earlier this month. There have been so many memories, both scrapbooked and not. I am so thankful to have him in my life! To help celebrate 14 wonderful years, I am giving away the new Cricut Artbooking Collection over the next 14 days for just $78!! It's a steal! I want you to be able to scrap your memories quickly and easily and make your crafting faster, simpler and easier. Life gets so busy but these memories are so very special. Don't let them fade. Preserve them and share! Read all about it:

Introducing the NEW Cricut® Artbooking Collection from Close To My Heart!

Take your scrapbooking to never-before-seen levels with the new Cricut® Artbooking collection! With oodles of images in each of 15 layout themes, you can create several coordinating pages for each theme using just two keys and one dial size. Images include accents, borders, titles, overlays, photo mats ~ in standard photo sizes ~ and more! the Cricut® keys are optimized for creating 12″ x 12″ pages in a jiffy. You’ll love creating 10 themed mini books, also optimized for several different sizes using just two keys and one dial size. Celebrate birthdays, new baby, vacations, friends, sports, Halloween, Christmas, and more. When you’re finished cutting, use the coordinating stamp sets and Dimensional Elements shapes to add even more pizzazz! But wait, this is not just for scrapbooking. The backgrounds are perfect for your cards, parties and home decor, too. The options are endless with Cricut and Close To My Heart!

Let's see what you'll get:

• 1 – Cartridge {700 Images: Font, Mini Books, Layouts!}
• 3 – My Acrylix® D-Size Stamp Sets
• 3 – 12″ x 9″ Dimensional Elements in coordinating shapes

Regularly priced at $99 {Retail value of nearly $125} Z1906

Order today and get the package for only $78!

This offer is only good through me directly, not my website. One Cricut Artbooking Collection for $78 plus tax and shipping. Call, Text or Email me today (My info is on the left.---->) Offer is valid from today until 9pm mountain time, September 30, 2013. Have a fabulously crafty day!

Warm wishes,

It's a Cricut Party!

Want to make this cute little banner created by the Close To My Heart Art Department for your next party? This is absolutely adorable and will be an instant smash at your next get-together! You can see this and other cute ideas in the video Clearly The Best: How to Kiss—with Stamps. Making coordinating gifts and accessories is a snap with the Cricut and your Close To My Heart Artiste Cricut Collection, whether you use one piece or many. Combine simple shapes and techniques with your favorite stamp set to make a big splash this year.

Party Banner
Stamp set of your choice
X5668 Honey Cardstock
X5764 Pear Cardstock
1272 Cranberry Cardstock
Z2197 Pear Exclusive Inks^® Pad
Z2163 White Daisy Exclusive Inks^® Pad
Z1751 Baker’s Twine Harvest Assortment
Z1311 1¼" Circle Punch
Cricut^® Shapes:
Artiste
1" Shift+3D Object (cut 56, p. 57)

Art Tip! This banner only uses one type of Cricut^® shape, but the finished product is still stunning. Use stamp kissing to randomly stamp across the pieces using the stamp set of your choice. Score with the help of the Cricut^®-cut score lines on the shape and piece together to create little globes. Tie together with baker’s twine and voila!

Warm wishes,

Christmas Firsts | Overstamping Technique

Phew! I am grateful to be back in the blogosphere after a wonderful Christmas holiday with my family. It's been a crazy whirlwind and as usual I overbooked myself on too many projects and didn't get half of them finished...and enjoyed every minute with my family doing what we loved. I can live with that.

Here's a look at one project I was able to finish this week. It took me all week, because despite the Cricut being super fast and easy, it is kind of loud next to the sleeping baby's room... I get my crafting done after the kids are down for the count at night, so I have to pre-plan my Cricut cutting times so I can do those on the weekend during the day. When I just sit down to mess around and inspiration strikes...well, it sometimes takes a while to try it all out!

Title using the Overstamping technique in Champagne and Cranberry inks. Love this.

Overstamping

All of the ornaments were cut with the Cricut Artiste cartridge. For the large Cranberry ornament, I cut the base in Champagne cardstock at 8" and then the overlay in cranberry, also at 8", matching the layout instructions in Jeanette Lynton's Magic for the Makin' It Happen layout. The ornament for my journalling was cut from Colonial White cardstock, then I embellished with Almond Glitz Gel, letting it dry a few minutes, then added journalling and some old Cranberry grosgrain for trim. I love how the Almond and Bronze glitter appears to change colors based on what is around it. The glitter on the large Cranberry ornament and the Colonial White journal spot are the same, but they appear different on the two colors of cardstock.

Journalling Spot Detail

Green, Red and Almond decorative Glitz Glitter Gel detail.

Just loving this Glitz Glitter Gel! I added dots of Green all over the swirls on the Pear and Partridge B&T. It's Christmas!

The blur of white behind the shoe in the first picture on the Cranberry ornament is a bit unusual, I realize. It was long before I worried much about taking pictures with scrapbook layouts in mind. Meet Raynie. This is the first layout I have done of her since she passed, my sweet baby girl and first "child". I got Raynie, a samoyed, just a week before I got married (Brandon got two in one!) and she was our constant companion for over ten years before she passed.  It's a little sad remembering, but so joyful. I am ready to finally delve into that stack of photos and tell her story. I hope you love her as much as we do. Have a very Happy New Year!

Warm wishes,

Cricut Artiste or Art Philosophy for 78 Bucks! {Black Friday}

Bridal card I made with Cricut Artiste for my niece, Paige.

Man, oh, man, you can't beat that deal! This offer is available only valid through me (facebook, twitter or email/text/phone). On my website (there are some FANTASTIC While Supplies Last deals there, too!) click on JOIN the Black Friday Deals! gathering and click, click, click to shop 24/7 in the comfort of your pajamas!* Starting now through 10pm MST on Cyber Monday, November 26, 2012, I am offering the Close To My Heart Cricut Artiste or Art Philosophy cartridge packs for only $78 plus tax and shipping! Now, if you want to order off the website and get this amazing deal, you must let me know by joining the Black Friday Deals! gathering so I can refund you the difference on your purchase price because the website is not set up to handle this exclusive deal only through me.

Detail of the embossing. You can see how to make this card here.

Let's Get to the Goods
Both of these collections (and I say that because you get MORE than just the amazing cartridge) have a whopping 700 images EACH - averaging 600 MORE than your regular full Cricut cartridge retailing at $50+ and include matching Dimensional Elements and My Acrylix Stamp Sets to perfectly coordinate your next project Faster, Simpler and Easier! Look at what you get:

Cricut® Art Philosophy Collection

Featuring hundreds of basic, versatile shapes and fonts you'll use every day, many of which coordinate with dozens of our My Acrylix® stamps, this collection is a must-have for every crafter!

Cricut® Art Philosophy Collection includes:
1 – Cartridge (700 images: font, shapes, and 3-D items)
3 – My Acrylix® D-size stamp sets
3 – 9" × 12" Dimensional Elements (3 sheets of different shapes)

Cricut® Artiste Collection

With just the touch of one Cricut® Artiste key you can take your creativity over the top with wonderful 3-D projects, party favors, interactive cards, awards, and more! From robots and spooks to weddings and Valentines, your cupcake wrappers, invitations, and party essentials will coordinate and come together for any celebration! Includes a step-by-step assembly booklet for the 3-D projects.

Collection includes:

• 1 – Cartridge (700 images: themed projects, cards, fonts, shapes, and 3-D items)
• 3 – My Acrylix® D-size stamp sets
• 3 – 12" × 9" Dimensional Elements (3 sheets of different shapes)

Ok, here's the rest of the deal
Your Cricut cartridge collection will only sweeten these rewards inspired by Lisa Stenz's 2011 Black Friday. I've put my own spin on it, of course, but special thanks to her for the original idea! Now. Here's the goods!

Place an order of $25 - $49 

Get a free Dye-Based Ink Pad of your choice ($5.25 value.)

Place an order of $51 - $75
Get an A size stamp set of your choice or any accessory valued at $6.95 or less for free. This also entitles you to receive the Stamp of the Month for $5! When you purchase the November Stamp of the Month set, Capture the Date, for just $5, you can ALSO pick any stamp set** at 50% off!

Place an order of $76 - $99
Get a free B size stamp set or Level 2 Paper Pack of your choice (up to $9.95 value.) This also entitles you to receive the Stamp of the Month for $5! When you purchase the November Stamp of the Month set, Capture the Date, for just $5, you can ALSO pick any stamp set** at 50% off!

Place an order of $100 - $149
Get a free Cardstock color pack (Single color, 24 sheets) or a size C stamp set of your choice (up to $14.50 value). You can also get TWO Stamp of the Month sets for only $5 each! One for you, one for your Bestie! When you purchase the November Stamp of the Month set, Capture the Date, for just $5, you can ALSO pick any stamp set** at 50% off! (This is a total value of $49.36!)

Place an order of $150 or more
Get $25 in free products of your choice, PLUS either a free Level 2 Paper Pack or B size stamp set of your choice (valued at $9.95.)  You will also get up to 3 Stamp of the Month sets for only $5 each! You can also get TWO Stamp of the Month sets for only $5 each! One for you, one for your Bestie and a great gift for the neighbor! When you purchase the November Stamp of the Month set, Capture the Date, for just $5, you can ALSO pick any stamp set** at 50% off! (This is a total value of $82.82!)



Call, text, email or facebook, tweet me Right. Now. to get this amazing deal! Happy shopping!


Warm wishes,

*Purchases of Cricut Artiste or Art Philosophy will drop in the cart at full retail price of $99. Difference will be refunded to you by ME. Thanks!

**Shipping/handling may apply. Offer valid November 1–30, 2012. Offer valid for A, B, C, D, and E size stamp sets only; K-size, Workshops on the Go^®, Cricut^® collection, and Stamp of the Month stamp sets are not eligible for this promotion. Maximum of one 50% off stamp set per order.

Easy Party Planning with Cricut {Video}

Hello folks! I just saw this great video on YouTube and wanted to share it with you. With school in session, the kids birthday parties ramp up and Cricut Artiste is a great way to simplify your headache and make an extravagant impression - all at the same time. We have quite a few bridal and baby showers in our family this year and I know where I'm getting some of my decorating done in a snap!



See, just let the Cricut work for you so you have plenty of time to manage the other details of your event with ease. For more party ideas, see here, here and here.

Warm wishes everybody!

Close To My Heart and Cricut

...together... forever! What a perfect match made in heaven! If you don't have a Cricut, this is the number one reason to get one! With Convention in Disneyland ending yesterday, I finally have time to give you more updates on what we can expect from our new totally gorgeous Autumn/Winter 2011 Idea Book! So did you get it? Yep, that's right! We've paired up with Provo Craft to bring you an exclusive Cricut Cartridge available August 1st in the new Idea Book! The Art philosophy cartridge offers over 700 images to cut, resulting in over 32,000 design options and the best part is it matches several of our new My Acrylix stamp sets! No more fussy cutting!! Just cut and stamp for a perfect match every time! Check out this video just released to learn more about what you can no longer live without! Lol!



So, you heard we have a fabulous cartridge and now you know firsthand how great this is going to be. It's the next best thing after Clear stamps! And speaking of stamps, not only do we have several new Autumn and Winter sets debuting in the new Idea Book, but they are CHEAPER! Yep, price reductions across the board on all stamps and it's AMAZING! Here's the deets:

A-size sets are now $7.95
B-size sets $9.95
C-size sets $13.95
D-size sets $17.95
E-size sets $29.95

Along with this, the Stamp of the Month (SOTM) program has been revamped and it's even easier to get your exclusive set every month! Since all SOTM's are D-sized, their retail value is now marked at only $17.95. So you can still buy it outright at the new lower price. You can also earn it for $5 with only a $50 purchase (StudioJ.com orders do not count but memberships do!)

I can't believe the wonderful new products and the changes in store for us starting August 1st! If you would like your very own Idea Book, please contact me today!

Warm wishes,