May is National Scrapbooking Month.....................

That's right, there are lots of other special days in May too.
May 6th is National Scrapbooking Day.
May 14th is Mother's Day,
and of course May 29th is Memorial Day.

We have a beautiful new paper pack to help you Celebrate all of these special days, all month long.

You can choose from 2 complete kits, one with a black album and one with a gray album  

Live Beautifully Post-bound Album Bundle CC1212 $68.95

Includes the following:

1 – Cut Above™ Live Beautifully layout kit (materials to make five 2-page layouts and six 12" x 12" Memory Protectors™)

1 – Black My Legacy™ post-bound album

1 – Marvy® Uchida® LePen™ journaling pen

1 – Tombow® permanent adhesive

Live Beautifully D-ring Album Bundle (Grey Album) CC1225 $68.95

Includes the following:

1 – Cut Above™ Live Beautifully layout kit (materials to make five 2-page layouts and six 12" x 12" Memory Protectors™)

1 – Grey My Legacy™ D-ring album

1 – Marvy® Uchida® LePen™ journaling pen

1 – Tombow® permanent adhesive

Live Beautifully Paper Packet CC1212B $14.95

16 – 12" × 12” sheets (2 each of 6 double-sided designs and 2 each of 2 single-sided gold foil designs)

Featured colors: Black, Dark Green, Dark Pink, Grey, Pink, Sea Glass, White Daisy, Yellow

Cut Above™ Layout Kit— Live Beautifully CC1212A $44.95

Materials to make five coordinating 2-page layouts, including die-cuts, stickers, photo placeholders, and instructions. Includes six 12" x 12" Memory Protectors™.

You can also go to https://www.facebook.com/CloseToMyHeart/

and enter your artwork in the Close To My Heart Corporate Live Beautifully Cut Above® contest. All you need to do to enter is take a picture of one or more of their completed Cut Above layouts and share it on our corporate Facebook page between May 1 and May 31. At the end of the month, we’ll hold a drawing from all those who entered; winners will receive one of the new Cut Above layout kits from Seasonal Expressions 2.

Live Beautifully Stamp Set CC1212C $17.95

Set of 8

Recommended My Acrylix® blocks:
1" × 3½" (Y1002), 2" × 2" (Y1003), 3" × 3" (Y1006), 2" × 6½" (Y1010)

And last but not least 

Live, Laugh, Love—May Stamp of the Month S1705 $17.95 

Or with a $50.00 order you can purchase this awesome stamp set for just $5.00!!!

Get this D-size Stamp of the Month set for a deal with a minimum qualifying purchase! Add the stamp set to your cart on this page at full retail price or, with your qualifying order, add it at checkout for the promotional price.

Set of 9
Recommended My Acrylix® blocks:
1" × 1" (Y1000), 2" × 2" (Y1003), 1" × 6½" (Y1005), 2" × 3½ (Y1009), 2" × 6½" (Y1010)

You can order these here on my website 

http://janicewilson.closetomyheart.com/retail/search.aspx?searchvalue=Live+B

or email me with your order, jwilson@bctonline.com

I will be posting my artwork here soon too.  I am working on a mini album for Mother's Day, can't wait to show you.

Happy Scrappin',

Janice

Seasonal Expression II is here..................................

Take a look at this new Idea Book.  It's online too.  Seasonal Expression II

So many great new products, you'll want to have one of your own.  To get one for FREE you can place a $25.00 order on my website or email me your order and I will send you your very own Seasonal Expression II Idea Book FREE!

Here are the paper packs, just click the links to see all the coordinating products. 

Little Dreamer Workshop Your Way kit  G1126  $26.95

Kit contents:
1 – Little Dreamer paper packet (X7219B)
1 – Little Dreamer Complements (X7219C)
4 – cardstock sheets (1 Thistle, 3 White Daisy)
1 – Little Dreamer glitter gems (Z3321)
1 – white & gold ribbon (Z3189)

Use the materials in this kit and the online instructions found below to create three coordinating scrapbook layouts.

 Download Guide

Workshops Your Way® No Worries Scrapbooking Kit G1127 $26.95

Kit contents:
1 – No Worries paper packet (X7220B)
1 – No Worries Complements (X7220C)
4 – cardstock sheets (4 White Daisy)
1 – No Worries sequins (Z3322)
1 – white burlap ribbon (Z3323)

Use the materials in this kit and the online instructions found below to create three coordinating scrapbook layouts.

 Download Guide

Workshops Your Way® Prickly Pear Scrapbooking Kit G1128 $26.95

Kit contents:
1 – Prickly Pear paper packet (X7221B)
1 – Prickly Pear Complements (X7221C)
4 – cardstock sheets (1 Poppy, 3 White Daisy)
1 – Prickly Pear sequins (Z3324)
1 – blue burlap ribbon (Z3325)

Use the materials in this kit and the online instructions found below to create three coordinating scrapbook layouts.

 Download Guide

Workshops Your Way® Jack Scrapbooking Kit G1129 $26.95

Kit contents:

1 – Jack paper packet (X7222B)
1 – Jack Complements (X7222C)
4 – cardstock sheets (1 Juniper, 2 Whisper, 1 White Daisy)
1 – black & white dots (Z3314)
1 – Whisper thick twine (Z3095)

Use the materials in this kit and the online instructions found below to create three coordinating scrapbook layouts.

 Download Guide

Happy Scrappin',

Janice

Last Chance.......................

Seasonal Expression I is ending in 2 days.
Yes, it's that time again when we must say good bye to some of our Seasonal Expression I products so we can start looking at the new Seasonal Expression II products.
http://janicewilson.closetomyheart.com/default.aspx

Here's a list of items that will still be available after May 1st.

Z3316 Shimmer Brush—Gold
Z3317 Thin Cuts—Basic Hearts
Z3318 Thin Cuts—Basic Circles
Z3312 Gold Glitter Gems
Z3313 Blush Shimmer Ribbon

As of May 1st. you will no longer be able to purchase most of the items in the Seasonal Expression so if there's something you've had your eye on, now is the time to get it.  Don't delay any longer.

http://janicewilson.closetomyheart.com/default.aspx

Let me know if you have any questions. 503-708-6889 jwilson@bctonline.com

Happy Scrappin',

Janice Wilson

Delight in Everything card | DT by Tarina Lafollette

Hello Everybody!

Have you ever heard of Christmas in July?

Yes, I know it's April, Lol And it's definitely not July weather where I live, but the style of Christmas is pretty much the direction this card took. 

This card started out with stamping the Rosemary sprig from the Good Thymes stampset (found in the CTMH Annual Inspiration catalog) in Archival Black ink. I chose the Archival Black ink because once it's dry, adding water won't smudge or smear it. I then cut them out and watercolored them. After they were dry, I adhered just part of each sprig to a neutral-colored circle of paper. I didn't plan on them lifting up off the paper like an actual wreath, but they did!

For the center of the wreath, I decided to use the 'Delight in everything' sentiment, also found in the Good Thymes set. I stamped it in the center of a white daisy circle scrap I had laying around...lo and behold, it was the perfect size lol. I water colored Desert Sand ink around the edge which made the piece more of a Colonial white color. After everything was dry, I filled in the word 'Delight' with the Gold Shimmer Pen. It added such beautiful sparkle!

I adhered the sentiment piece with foam adhesive and added some Gold Sequins and Bitty Sparkles to fill in some of the empty space. Next up, a bow made from Blush Shimmer Ribbon. It took me a couple tries, but I finally got the bow tied to my liking lol. I find that using adhesive dots for bows makes my scrappy life soooo much easier! I set the wreath aside while I worked on the card base.

For the 6x6" Kraft card base I used several of the stamps from the Good Thymes stampset, stamped them randomly around the card using VersaMark ink and embossed them using white embossing powder. I also embossed a few sprigs on the coordinating envelope. After both were heated, I added a label to the center of the card front from the Flower Market cartridge(cut from Kraft). Then, it was time to adhere the wreath!

I thought I was all done, and even took photos of them both....but there was this nagging feeling they were missing something! I grabbed a black pen and added foe stitching aroun the sentiment circle edge and also around the edge of the envelope. Just that simple addition made them feel complete.

Here's the Card Recipe:

Good Thymes stampset

Archival Black ink

Watercolors

heat tool

Kraft cardstock

VersaMark ink

white embossing powder

white daisy

Desert Sand ink

Gold Shimmer Pen

foam adhesive

Gold Sequins

Bitty Sparkles

Blush Shimmer Ribbon

adhesive dots

Flower Market cartridge

black pen

Besides garden markers, and seasoning tags/labels, the Good Thymes stampset gives you tons of foliage to make several different types of wreaths that would be perfect for all seasons!

If you wanna see my creative process for this card, head on over to my YouTube, (hellotarina)

Here's the link to my video:

https://youtu.be/bszU5gAoPTY

I hope you enjoyed my Christmas card in April! lol

And I hope you all have a delightful weekend!

~Tarina

@hellotarina

BOGO's...................

Yep, you heard me right.  It's a BOGO deal.

Tupperware is having a BOGO on a couple of very useful items. I am placing an order tonight so let me know if you want me to add something to the order for you.

Check out all the specials here http://www.tupperware.com/index.php/shop/top-sellers.html

The new catalog is available starting April 29th.

Happy Scrappin',

Janice

Another update on the Blog Candy Giveaway..............

As of tonight, we are at 99,336 views just 664 more to go.  

Thank you for sharing this post with all your friends so we can reach my goal even faster.   

I have added a couple new stamp sets to the list.  One is the April Stamp of the Month S1704 Flock Together Retail value is $17.95

The second one will remain a mystery as it is from the new Seasonal Expression II Idea Book.  

This stamp set is also valued at $17.95  Bringing the total for the Blog Candy Giveaway to $93.00+

Remember you get all of this too.

2 - A Cut Above Kits

4 -A size stamp sets

1 - Fundamentals paper pack, some lace and a roll of ribbon. 

Plus the new Seasonal Expression II Idea Book.  

I am in the process of working on a Mini Album with the paper pack shown 

on the new Seasonal Expression II Idea Book. 

Let me know if you want to see it.  

Just leave me a one word comment "JACK" in the comments below.  

Happy Scrappin',

Janice

Blog Candy update..................................

Are you ready for this?  

We are at 99,154 views.  

So close.  

Help us get 845 more views and hit the 100,000 viewers goal. 

I'll extend the giveaway to April 30th, so more people can enter.
As of tonight I only have 2 entries in the drawing.

All you have to do to be entered into the drawing is leave me a comment on my blog.

Don't forget, this is what is in the box so far and I have a couple item ordered that I am waiting on to arrive. I can't tell you what it is, cause it's a surprise from the new Seasonal Expressions II Idea Book that launches May 1st.  And YES, you will be getting the new Seasonal Expression II Idea Book too.

Cut Above® Layout Kit—Forever & Always Z3319 $14.99 On Sale now for $7.48

Cut Above® Layout Kit—Little One Z3320 $14.95  On Sale now for $7.48

Here's the new Seasonal Expression II Idea Book.  It's available May 1st.  

Let me know if you want one.

Together Forever Layout | DT

Hello Everybody!

The inspiration for today's layout came from a wreath I saw in the Flower Market Cricut cartridge. From there, I decided that since this is my last layout using the Hello Lovely collection, I'd go all out and show off the beautiful flowers in the Hello Lovely Compliments!

When I first started cutting into the paper pack, I had decided to cut the center out of one of the floral patterned papers and set aside the border for later use. I'm so glad I did, because I don't think this layout would be complete without the floral border.

To fill the center of the background, I pulled a sheet of Whisper cardstock from my stash. I distressed the edge (of course lol) and adhered it down. The next step is one I've never tried before, but was the whole reason I chose the Stampin' Up score board over several others. Using the diagonal insert, I scored diamond shapes into the background in various places to create some texture. Kinda hard to see in the pics, but I'm pretty sure you'll be seeing this technique more and more as I continue to get my crafty mojo flowing. 

Next step is acrylic paint, yes, I said acrylic paint lol. I added a bit of baby powder to white acrylic paint to thicken up the paint a little. It worked great and, once applied, it helped bring out the scoring that I had done beforehand. I, then, added some metallic gold and then some eradescent glitter paint, drying in between coats. My background did warp, but only a little bit. :)

Once all of the paint was dry, it was time to add a doily from my stash, the photo, and the sentiment. The 'Together Forever' sticker worked perfect at the bottom of the photo, and I also used words from a branding strip to fill in the space on the right hand side. After those were adhered, it was all about placing the flowers. 

I pretty much filled in the flowers at random, building up around the outside edges of the photo. Once I got the flowers down, I added some of the gold, puffy, heart and arrow stickers that were also included in the Hello Lovely compliments.

Once everything was placed where I wanted it, I added some Gold Glitter Gems and some of my forever favorites lol, Bitty Sparkles next to the hearts to create three dainty clusters. The last touch was to use my Gold Shimmer Pen and splatter some gold sparkle lightly around the page.

Here's the layout recipe:

Hello Lovely Paper pack

Hello Lovely Compliments

Edge Distresser

3 acrylic paints-

-white

-metallic gold

-glitter

Flower Market cartridge

doily

foam adhesive

Stampin' Up score board

baby powder

Gold Glitter Gems

Bitty Sparkles

Gold Shimmer Brush

If you'd like to watch how this layout came together,

you're welcome to watch my process on my YouTube channel (hellotarina).

I hope this leaves you inspired and

I hope you all have a lovely weekend!

~Tarina

@hellotarina

Blog Candy update.

We are now at 98,996 views on this blog.  I was hoping to hit 100,000 by the 15th, we are just 1,004 views short.  We can do this.  Send all your friends over to look at some of the great artwork. 

Did you see the pic of items I have pulled so far.  

I have added the Cut Above® Layout Kit—Forever & Always $14.95 Value

and the Cut Above® Layout Kit—Little One $14.95 Value.  

Bringing the total value of Blog Candy up over $84.00

Check out this video on how the Cut Above kits go together.  They are so easy. 

Don't forget, I'll be adding more stuff before the end of the week so check back soon. 

Happy Scrappin',

Janice

 

Bargello meets Sugar Rush | DT *Updated

Hello Everybody,

Today I'm sharing my latest card with you guys.

Have you ever heard of bargello? I hadn't until a couple of weeks ago lol

Once I saw it, I fell in love and had to try it for myself!

The Sugar Rush collection from Close to My Heart was perfec for this technique!
If you wanna try it, here's the video I adapted mine from: Recycled Paper Bargello Card | Kissing Class #09 by Kate Palmer. I will update this post to include my own tutorial as well. In it, I will be using my adaptations. I really love how this turned out and I may just have to do a bargello card with each of my paper packs! lol

*Update: After several hours, I finally managed to work my way around centimeters!lol Here's the link to my YouTube video tutorial:

https://youtu.be/Ubw0WjGhUhI

                     

I also used the Basic Hearts Thin Cuts for my heart cluster and the Hello & Thanks Thin Cuts(currently unavailable) for my sentiment. To make 'hello' stand out, I cut it three times and glued them on top of each other. this makes the die cut thicker and more prominent.

After adding my cluster and sentiment, I finished off the card with a few Bitty Sparkles & Grey Enamel Gems (pack includes white also). 

Oooo! I could work it into a layout as well! lol

So much inspiration, so little time!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

~Tarina

@hellotarina

Update on my 10th Anniversary Blog Candy Giveaway!!!

I just checked the stats and we are at 98,807 views and we still have 9 days.  

We can do this.

Are you ready to see some of the candy I have pulled aside?

 

Here is what I have compiled so far.

4 - A sized stamp sets $6.95 each
1- Blush shimmer ribbon $4.95 each
1- yard lace trim $1.95
1- Adventure Fundamentals paper pack $19.95

Don't forget to share this blog candy giveaway with all your crafty friends and remind them to leave a comment.

Happy Scrappin',

Janice

It’s that time again!

I'm holding another one-day flash sale on my website starting Friday, April 7 at 3:00 pm MDT (2:00 pm PDT; 4:00 pm CDT; 5:00 pm EDT) and ending at that same time on Saturday, April 8.

 This sale will feature a 30% discount on selected products and product bundles from Annual Inspirations and Seasonal Expressions 1.  Make sure you join the FLASH SALE gathering on my website as I will be gathering names for a Mystery Hostess. One lucky person will receive $25.00 in FREE select product. 

http://janicewilson.closetomyheart.com/default.aspx

I'll draw the lucky winner on Saturday evening.

Sale prices will only be available on orders placed through my website during this sale. All discounted items ordered as part of this sale count towards Stamp of the Month and Hostess Rewards qualifying order totals. As usual with discounted items, shipping and handling will be based on the full retail value of sale items.

All the items included in the sale are only available while supplies last, so be sure to get the orders in before the sale ends!

http://janicewilson.closetomyheart.com/default.aspx

Happy Scrappin',

Janice

April 6th marks my 10th Anniversary with Close To My Heart!!!

It's my 10th Anniversary 

with Close To My Heart and I want to celebrate!!!  

If we can get 100,000 views on my blog by April 15th I will give away some BLOG CANDY!!!

We are at 98,642 right now.  That is only 90.5 visits a day.  We can do this.

We have a new Seasonal Expressions II Idea book coming in May and I will be giving 1 new Seasonal Expression and some new products from the book along with lots of other items. 

I'll be posting pics of all the items I gather, except for the New Seasonal Expression and the new items from it, keeping those a surprise.

I will be collecting names of all who comment and draw from only those names.  You get your name in the drawing for each comment. 

Who's going to Celebrate with me?

Leave a comment and share with your friends.

Happy Scrappin',

Janice

Hello Card featuring Dreamin' Big | DT

Hello Everybody!

With the early spring flowers peeking their heads out of the ground and summer just around the corner, the Dreamin' Big collection from Close to My Heart has inspired me again.

Today's card was pretty quick and easy to make. It starts with a White Daisy card base, as well as the black & gray striped and flower print paper from the Dreamin' Big paper pack.

I trimmed a small piece of the black & gray paper and adhered it about 3/4s of the way down, on the card base.

Next up was the floral paper. 

I measured the smallest heart from the Basic Hearts-Thin Cuts dies, and trimmed the floral paper just bigger than the size of the heart. I then placed my heart die where I wanted the cuts to be(hopefully evenly spaced lol), marked them with my pencil, and ran them through my Big Shot. I set aside the die cut hearts because I wanted to use the negative space(the part the hearts were cut out of). I cut a few more hearts out of the white striped vellum from the Uptown Fundamentals pack from CTMH and stitched them down in between the cut out hearts. Any thread works for this, but for this, I used 3 strands of the Whisper Thick Twine.

Once I was done tying off the twine, I adhered the piece down with 3D Foam Tape.

For the sentiment, I used the 'hello' die from the hello & thanks Thin Cuts from CTMH and black cardstock. I was tempted to cut several hello's and glue them together which would create a thicker type die cut, but ended up emphesizing the word 'hello' with a Spellbinder's label die cut from White Daisy CS. I popped this up on 3D Foam Tape and added some Bitty Sparkles and Grey Enamel Gems to finish off the card.

Here's the card recipe:

White Daisy cardstock

Dreamin' Big paper pack

Basic Hearts-Thin Cuts dies

Uptown Fundamentals pack

Whisper Thick Twine

3D Foam Tape

hello & thanks Thin Cuts

Bitty Sparkles

Grey Enamel Gems

I hope spring inspires you to get creative,

and I hope you have a great weekend!

~Tarina

15-Minute Memories

This month our innovative new Cut Above™ layout kits are available at 50% off the retail price! That’s an incredible deal on layout kits that make memory keeping incredibly easy. Choose between two designs—Little One and Forever & Always—and then follow the simple assembly instructions to create your beautiful two-page layout in minutes. Add even more memories using the coordinating pocket cards and pocket Memory Protectors included in the kit. You’re going to love how quickly you can preserve your memories with Cut Above.

If you have any questions, please call me, 503-708-6889 I have the "Little One" layout and would love to show you in person.  

Happy Scrappin',

Janice

Thinking About You Card | DT

Hello Everybody!

I hope you're having a lovely day!

For todays project I used the Dreamin' Big collection from Close to My Heart. I don't know about you, but I love this color pallette!

Did you know you could die cut your watercolor paper? That's actually where I started this card. I cut out the layers for poppies using the watercolor paper and Flower Market Cricut cartridge from CTMH (I just love this cartridge!). I knew I wanted to watercolor them, so I got out all my stuff and got started. Not only does Close to My Heart have everything you need for watercoloring, they also have a color pallette recipe for their colors!

My colors ended up a little off because I'm a newbie at watercolors, but I still like how it turned out. I'm sure, with more practice, I'll have those colors and some good techniques down. Once I was happy with the poppies, I set them aside.

The card base is White Daisy cardstock from CTMH. Next, comes the gray woodgrain, patterned paper to cover the front. Leaving a 1/4" border, I distressed edges of the floral piece. Because the floral piece was quite busy, I added a smaller piece of White Daisy CS on top of that, it really helps frame the poppies. Once the basic design was done, I added the flowers and popped some of them up with 3D Foam Tape.
I used Archival Black ink, and the 'Thinking of You' stamp from the CTMH, Happy to Be Friends stampset, found in the current Annual Inspirations catalog.
I tried a few different cardstock colors behind the sentiment and finally decided on Slate and Canary, also from CTMH. Last was the Gray Enamel Gems and Bitty Sparkles!

Here's the product recipe for this card:
Dreamin' Big collection
Watercolor paper
Flower Market Cricut cartridge
White Daisy cardstock
3D Foam Tape
Archival Black ink
Happy to Be Friends stampset
Slate cardstock
Canary cardstock
Gray Enamel Gems
Bitty Sparkles

I hope you enjoyed this card and I'll be back next week with another project!
Have a great weekend!
~Tarina
@hellotarina