This Is NOT April Fools...

Wowzers! There's a huge sale going on at my Close To My Heart website. This Cherry-O bundle is selling for an amazing $15 (retail value $32.80!!).  You'll see more deals at my website. These items are While Supplies Last.

Also, when your order reaches $100 or more you can select a My Reflections Level 1 kit for free (retail value $9.95).  You'll also get the April Stamp of the Month Blessed for free (retail value $22.95).  Now that's a great deal!!

And don't forget the Hope for Japan stamp set available this month for $5.  All proceeds go to the Red Cross for the Japan earthquake victims.

Hope for Japan

In 1991 I lived in Tokyo, Japan serving a religious mission for my church.  One morning I awoke to tremors from an earthquake centered near Yokohama, many miles south of my six-story apartment building.  You'd think growing up in Southern California, I'd know how to handle a little movement but that six-point-something quake took me by surprise.

The Sendai quake is unlike anything any of us has ever experienced before. If you're like me, you've been awestruck by images of the destruction in that region, wondering how you can help.  Close To My Heart has created a stamp set called Hope for Japan...it's just Five Bucks, and all profits go to the American Red Cross efforts in Japan. This offer is available through April 30th.  Contact me or visit my website to order one, or more.

April Stamp of the Month: Blessed

I was pleasantly surprised by the versatility of this month's stamp set.  You'll see what I mean when you scroll down.  I decided to get out of my comfort zone and make a circle card from the Wishes book.  The papers are from the Sweetheart paper pack (Item X7134B).

You can get this stamp set at a discounted price with purchase:


You spend: $25          $50.00      $75.00       $100.00
Savings:      25% off    50% off     75% off     FREE!
You pay:    $17.21      $11.48      $5.74        FREE!

Contact me or visit my website to order yours.

Thanks to the following Consultants who contributed to this artwork display:
Michelle Battitori, Neely Dean, Judy Faye Garner, Carol Harris, Sharryl Hales, Cathy Rogers, Joy McHargue, Julyne Morvis, Melissa Robinson, Shirley Ross, Rachel Ventura, and Tonya Whitehurst.

Happy Easter - A Sensational Season




Happy Easter everyone.  I'm thankful that Easter is in late April this year, the 24th to be exact. It gives me time to recover from the Valentine's candy.  However, this means it will be 90+ degrees here in Arizona for the annual Egg Hunt. I feel sorry for the guy in the bunny suit.



Created by Jody Peck

I received this adorable card from my friend, Jody Peck.  It's made with the March Stamp of the Month: "Sensational Season", and a variety of Close To My Heart exclusive papers.  I love this.  It's not too late to get the March stamp set.  Contact me before April 5th to get yours.

Contrast Embossing Blog Hop

Welcome to our first Technique Blog Hop! This month there are 11 of us highlighting the “Contrast Embossing” Technique as shown on page 31 in the Spring/Summer 2011 Idea Book. You will find several variations of this technique as you continue through all the blogs to see the fabulous artwork.  Start where ever you like, but if you would like to start from the beginning please visit this link.  While there you will also find a listing of all participants and their blog addresses if you should get lost or want to reference a blog along the way. Let’s get started!

If you are coming from Xellina Wieland's blog, you are on the right track!

I used Friendship Blessings stamp set (Item D1191) to create this card.  Colors used are Cotton Candy, Sweet Leaf, and Cocoa.  I also used Cocoa embossing powder.

 

If you would like to see details on the technique, please continue reading below. If not, please continue on to  Debi Barber's blog where you will find some additional artwork highlighting this technique. Be sure to leave a comment and let me know what you thought of my variation and happy hopping!

The steps to Contrast Embossing are:

1. Stamp background image on project.
2. Stamp additional images in Versamark ink. Sprinkle with contrasting color of embossing powder.
3. Tap off excess powder. Set with craft heater.

 Here you can see a visual demonstration of this technique.

 Thanks for stopping by!  Continue onto Debi Barber's blog to continue the hop!

More Spray Pen Fun

This card was created using My Creations A-door-ables (Item Z1321) and the Lucky Level 2 paper packet (Item X7134) from Close To My Heart.  Each package of A-door-ables come with an assortment of 10 heavy cardstock doors and windows that can be stamped, chalked, painted, papered and more.  You can see how much style they add to cards.  I chose to use our new Spary Pen (Item Z1380) loaded with a few drops of Tulip reinker (Item Z2266) and a small piece of patterned paper from the Sweetheart collection to add a splash of color to the window shape on this card. 

New Stamp of the Month - Sensational Season

Get a head start on your Easter preparations with this adorable stamp set, Sensational Season (D1454).

You can get this stamp set at a discounted price with purchase:
You spend:  $25           $50.00         $75.00        $100.00
Savings:        25% off    50% off        75% off       FREE!
You pay:      $17.21      $11.48         $5.74           FREE!

Contact me or visit my website to order yours.