July Specials!!

One day I will learn to post these items at the beginning of the month instead of in the middle, but that requires a bit more expert juggling of my personal and work life.

Anyway, onwards - July has a beautiful SOTM called Sweet Life that is just begging to be colored and could top any type of card from Birthday to Mother's Day.

Speaking of peaches, I have a peach bellini experiment that still needs to be tried out. You can get this pretty set for only 5$ with a 50$ purchase.

Workshops and Canvases are such a cool idea, and you can jazz up your walls for 50% off!

It's canvas instead of paper and you can put it all together and customize with your personal photos and colors to match your home decor. Bet you can't buy that piece at your local Bed Bath and Beyond.

If you have any questions or would like to order, don't hesitate to contact me!

There are a few more cards coming down the line but until then, Happy Summer!

Congratulatory card...

... there is nothing like seeing my little sister (in law) accomplish her dreams of becoming a doctor. And touching to be able to be there to sit through her convocation ceremony. Didn't understand a word of it however, but that's ok.

It may have taken me six months to get all my stuff together and find her a pretty necklace as well as come up with a card.

Inspiration that triggered it: Case Study Challenge 148 : Iwona Palamountain's interpretation.

And I brought the roses inside along with a saying from Scrapbook Statements - Everyday Life. I learned so much from a Copic tutorial on blending that Iwona Palamountain posted a while back and it has made a world of difference - my colors blend better and I learned to work dark first as opposed to light first. I also realized through that post that sometimes you can use all sorts of combinations of colors - you don't necessarily have to stick to one set of shades.

I was so thrilled with  my blending technique... but I think pigment inks would be a better choice for not bleeding next time. I've picked up a set of these mini pigment pads - basic - and can't wait to play with them.

CTMH:
* Dreams Come True (retired)
* Scrapbook Statements - Everyday  Life
* Happy Valentine's - Jan 2013 SOTM
* La Belle Vie Level 2 Paper Pack
* Adhesive Pink Rhinestones
* Adhesive Opaque Pearls
* White Daisy Ink
* Outdoor Denim Ink
* Smokey Plum Ink

Others:
*... will post the Copic Marker #'s later!!
* Cream cardstock

Congratulations again to my little sis for becoming a doctor - she's gorgeous, smart and has a huge heart. I wish her all the success in her career.

We interrupt our regular scheduled programme for some sad news.

We said goodbye to a special member of our family last weekend.

Spikey has been declining in health for some months now and we have done several rounds of vet visits, tests and medications in hopes we could fix him. However, his little body gave up on us this past weekend and we felt that it was time to let him go. He had such a big heart and an even bigger personality.

Relaxing in bed in his favorite spot - Mommy's lap

We love you Spikey and you have blessed us for six years (he turned 10 this year) ... may you find health and happiness where you are headed next and we'll see you again some day.

I procrastinated...

... but then again the baby is still new and the parents are still settling in, so I have some time.

A coworker who travels regularly with my husband on his work trips just had a baby girl last month. We are waiting on them to get settled before we visit, meet their new daughter and wish them the very best. From pictures he has sent me and stories he's told she's quite the little spitfire. If only all girls started this way and didn't pay attention to media expectations... but that's another discussion for another time.

Inspiration: Mojo Monday's MOJO297 as interpreted by Julie Tilman of Poetic Artistry.

I couldn't help but bring out some old CTMH product that I had purchased and never used - Just Blooms in White Daisy. And as always, I couldn't tell you where my ribbon came from but it's so gorgeous I had to add it to the card.

Inside the little chick is paper pieced - she was originally for the front of the card but I couldn't make it work!

Other: 
* Solid cardstock
* Red ribbon

CTMH:
* La Vie En Rose Level 2 Paper Pack
* New Arrival
* Happy Easter
* Just Blooms White Daisy Variety Pack
* Gypsy Ink
* Outdoor Denim Ink

It has been amazing to see my city rally after the Flood of 2013... hope you are all safe and dry.

Promotional Item Replacement...

... looks like this past weekend everyone had "mini-banner" on their minds.

If you were hoping to get one of these they are now all sold out :( but as this promotion is running the length of June, they are offering the milk cartons instead for the same deal.

You get two milk cartons and clips to decorate however you like - it's time to start getting crafty! What will you be making this week?

Hope you all have a great week!

It's always exhilarating...

... to hear that one of your closest friends is in the family way. We first got wind of them visiting Calgary late last month, and they are slated to be here end of this month. I look forward to seeing them but more importantly I got invited to a baby shower so the truth comes out!

Congratulations to them - they are our brother and sister of the heart. I can't go to this baby shower empty handed, so I had to make a card. As to what the gift is, I figure it out later.

Today's inspiration: Case Study #140, interpreted by Amy Wanford.

I used the rock and roll technique on the baby image with the kitten, stamping first in Amethyst ink and rolling the edges in Moonstruck. 

I brought the background image on the front to edge the left side of the cardstock on the inside and stamped the sentiment in Moonstruck.

Other: 
* Solid cardstock

CTMH:
* New Arrival
* Baby Love
* Hello Tweety
* Amethyst Ink
* Moonstruck Ink
* Honey Ink
* Paradise Baker's Twine
* 2" Scallop Punch
* Opaque Adhesive Pearls
* Itty Bitty Sparkles

It's still raining around here but at least we're getting some moments of sunshine which is better than nothing!

June 2013 SOTM is here...

... with a few exciting things from CTMH! My plants are back, the snow is *finally* gone and the cat is clamoring to be let out.

First up is the Stamp of the Month: A Flowering Bunch.

 This set is just begging to be colored whether or not it's used as part of a scrappy layout, DIY embellishments, or additions to cards. You can grab this set for 5$ with a minimum 50$ purchase.

Secondly, as you know Mother Nature has turned on Oklahoma. Close To My Heart has pledged 100% of all sales from the stamp set "A True Thank You" from the Autumn/Winter 2013 Idea Book to help tornado victims.

For a limited time, you can support the troops and be patriotic with this limited edition stamp set, Courage (Canadian) and Home of the Brave (US).

3$ from each sale of the B-sized Courage set and 5$ from each sale of Home of the Brave set will be donated to the Canadian Hero Fund from June 1 - June 31. The Canadian Hero Fund supports spouses and children of fallen Canadian military troops by providing post-secondary education in Canada.

And finally, the best for last (I wasn't kidding about all the awesome stuff going on this month) - a free mini-banner if you purchase $25 worth of products that includes a stamp set.

Jazz up parties, office spaces, and even areas in the home by making your own banner to suit the space. This includes 10 chipboard pennants in different shapes and jump rings to connect it all together.

I've just got wind of another couple expecting so I'm off to make another baby card... it is June after all, right?