Blessed (April SOTM Blog Hop)

Welcome to our Stamp of the Month Blog Hop which features the Blessed stamp set from Close To My Heart.  The set includes some nice line images of flowers, birds, and butterflies along with coordinating solid images to add color. 

If you have come here from Doreen's 'Where Is Your Happy Place?' blog, you are on the right path! With over 50 Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their creations using this month's SOTM and other great CTMH products on their blogs, you should be able to find lots of great creative ideas to use for your own projects.  Blog Hopping is simple to do - just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one!

This standard sized card uses the Blessed stamp set with the Sweetheart paper packet and colors.  .   

Inside of card completes the sentiment.

Now "Hop" on over to Angela's 'Tutton's Treasures' blog to see her work!  Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their blogs to get some great crafting ideas and other fun ideas!  Remember, the Blessed stamp set is only available until the end of April.  You can earn this stamp set for a great discount or even FREE by ordering CTMH products.

If you get lost on the Blog Hop or find links that aren't working, there is a complete list of all participating blogs on Helen's 'Hooked on Stamping' blog.

Texting Mitts!

Found a new knitting project that I am really enjoying.  In the past month, I have completed five pair and am working on a sixth pair of what I am calling 'Texting Mitts' since the tips of your fingers and thumb are exposed so you can still use your "touch screen" device (phone, iPod) while wearing them.

The pattern is Nona's Rosy Fingerless Gloves, and it is a fabulous pattern for someone just beginning to knit with double-point needles.  The instructions are easy to follow, it does not take very much yarn, and it only takes a few hours to finish one of the mitts. For the first two pair that I knit, I following Nona's pattern exactly.  After that, I made some slight modifications to include ribbing at the top and to extend the length of the thumb.  Everyone who sees the mitts just loves them and has to try them on to see how they feel.  

While Samantha and I were visiting New York City for Spring Break, we visited two different yarn shops.  We found this gorgeous merino wool at Purl Soho, and I just love the look and feel of it.  The yarn is hand-dyed by artisans in Uruguay, and is ultra soft.  One pair of the mitts took slightly more than half of the skein, so I bought some neutral yarn to complement it and you can see that I am adding some stripes to the cuff of the next pair so that I can complete another pair of the Texting Mitts out of the skein. 

We also took a bus trip to Hoboken, New Jersey in hopes of visiting Carlo's Bake Shop (of TLC's Cake Boss fame).  Oh my, we were absolutely not prepared for the 2-block long line to get into the bakery.  Estimates were that it would take 3 hours to get in the doors from our starting point.  We waited just a few minutes and then decided against staying.  Afterall, it is just a bakery!  But we did not regret the trip to Hoboken.  It was such a lovely community, and only a 10 minute bus ride from the 42nd Street Bus Terminal in NYC.

Fortunately, I had researched yarn shops in Hoboken and we visited Patricia's Yarns on our walk to Carlo's.  We arrived just as the owner was walking up to the shop to open it for the day, pushing her sleeping baby in a stroller and carrying her small dog in a shoulder bag.  She visited with us for a while and even recommended La Isla, a Cuban place where we had a fabulous bowl of soup for lunch.  The yarn we bought from Patricia is not the correct weight for Texting Mitts, so we are still on the search for a great pattern to use with this fun, bright pink and yellow yarn. 

Share your Story: Studio J

Tresa Black - the "fabulously artsy" Stamp Goddess created a wonderful video using her mother's photos in a digital 'Studio J' layout.  Her  video featuring her children and her mother is very touching, and will warm your heart. 



Close To My Heart is actually having a contest for consultants to create a video sharing their "why" they love Studio J.  YouTube submissions with the most views will receive up to $300 in new product from CTMH.  So, if you would like to support Tresa, simply click on the link and watch the video all the way through.  It only takes 2 1/2 minutes of your time, and you will enjoy its heartwarming message.  

Hope for Japan - $5 stamp set

In order to help raise funds to assist the people of Japan, Close To My Heart has designed a special stamp set - "Hope for Japan".  This exclusive A-size stamp set has a special price of only $5 (retail value $7.95), and CTMH will donate 100% of the profits to the American Red Cross efforts in Japan.  This beautifully designed stamp set with hearts, wings, and butterflies reminds us of how our hearts are hopeful for those who are in need. 

This stamp set is available now, and only through April 30.  Contact me if you would like to help support Japan by purchasing this special set.  Or, you can place an online order at the 'Shop Online' link of MyCTMH website at www.sheila.myctmh.com. 

FREE Block from CTMH!

 Best Stamps on the Block

Get a free My Acrylix block when you buy My Acrylix stamps!

Close To My Heart has the best clear stamps and blocks - and they want to prove it!  Throughout March, when you buy your favorite My Acrylix stamps, CTMH will give you a free My Acrylix block.  Not only will you have the best stamps on the block, you'll have the best block, too!  

Just purchase $25 in stamps and you can choose from two of our most versatile block sizes:  3"x3" ($8.50 value) or 2" x 6 1/2" ($9.95 value).  Yes, purchase just $25 in stamps and you can receive a FREE block valued at almost $10.

Contact me if you would like to place an order, or receive a copy of the new Spring/Summer Idea Book.  You can also order online at MyCTMH website and have the order sent directly to your home.  Hurry - this offer is only available during the month of March.

The "fine print":  Offer valid March 1-31, 2011.  Limit one free My Acrylix block per order per customer.  Qualifying stamp purchases include A, B, C, D, and E size stamp sets, including Stamp of the Month sets purchased at full price or at a discount.  K-size (personalized) stamp sets, Stamp of the Month sets earned for free, and Workshops on the Go kits are excluded.  Close To My Heart reserves the right to substitute a block of a similar size or price.

Challenge Combo - H2H Colors & Mojo Monday Sketch

It has been a while since I've participated in one of the Heart 2 Heart Challenges, but this week's challenge has such a great and unusual color combo that I just had to create a card. 

The flower and flourish stamps used are from the Dreams Come True stamp set, and the sentiment is from Say It In Style.  Two different Cuttlebug folders were used to add some embossed texture, along with an edge punch. As a finishing touch, some Gypsy and Clear Sparkles were added.

Unfortunately, the colors are distorted in the scanned image and the Gypsy ink looks more blue, and the Creme Brulee appears too faint.  In real life, the inks do match the cardstock.  

Once again, I have combined the Mojo Monday sketch with the H2H Challenge.  This week's sketch is MOJO180 and was designed by Julee Tilman.

All stamps, inks, and cardstock used are from Close To My Heart (CTMH).