What makes me happy for Valentine's Day? Let's see if you can guess

Greeting all....

It is Sue B here to share my card for this month's theme over at Crafty Card Gallery. We had a choice of Wine, chocolates, cookies or something sweet. Well of course I picked my favorite- Chocolate Covered Strawberries. These are one of the items that make me VERY happy. Not sure why I love them but I surely do. So my card today has this yummy representation of this Valentine's Day treat. Here it is:

For this card, I used a card sketch from my Originals Card Confidence Program spiral bound book (page 18), retired CTMH paper and Stamp of the Month stamp set (A Chocolate Affair), Chocolate, Ruby, Pear and Cocoa Exclusive Ink Pads, Liquid Glass, Black Liquid pearl and White pearl paint. I ended up stamping the berries in Chocolate, Ruby and Pear and then fussy cutting around them. I sponged the edges of the paper with the Cocoa. The card measures 6" x 6" so I will have to buy/make some envelopes. I look forward to using this book (there are others as well) and making more layered cards. 

Well it is time for me to scoot and go get more creative. Until next time.....

Just monkeying around.....

Good day all!

Have you ever had a card idea bounce around your head for several days and you just have to make it? Well that is what had been happening while I was looking at the February Stamp of the Month. The branches (stamped in Olive and Pear) made me think of the jungle which made me think of monkeys. Since I do not have a monkey stamp, I went to my Cricut Create a Critter Cartridge. The sentiments were stamped with Ponderosa Pine. Here is the first card I made:

I decided not to stop there. I thought of Donkey Kong (one of my favorite video games from my youth) and I came up with this one:

I think this would be the greatest kid card. Now if you do not know about the Stamps of the Month, they are available only for the current month and can be yours for $5 with an eligible purchase of $50+. I always get them and find I use them frequently. 

Now don't forget that there is the Album special (buy 1, get a second at half off) and that there will be a mystery hostess this month for my Online Gathering. When the gathering reaches $150, a randomly selected Hostess will be picked from those who placed orders. I hope that you will join us and bring a friend. Well, it is time for me to go. Until next time.....

Miscellaneous Musings... things I have learned from Close to My Heart

Good evening all:

I had such an interesting day today. How about you? I hope it was a good one nonetheless. My musings today started with the laundry. While taking out the first load to fold, I noticed that my Silver Geometric Washi tape was sitting at the bottom of the dryer!! So that got me thinking about these things:

- Even though we may get tumbled around in the dryer of life, we can still come through looking pretty good and still able to do what we were meant to do

- In regards to the Stamp of the Month, nothing lasts forever. If we wait too long to grab something good, we will miss out

- In regards to my Organization spell this weekend, when you get things in order you never know what treasures you will find

- Color makes me happy. Whether it is sunshine, the white of the snow or my Exclusive Ink Stamp Pads color brings me joy

- Life is all about the memories we make. And with the Album's and Accessories, my children can relive the highlights of our (and their) lives

Thanks for sharing in my musings today. Now I am off to play with my new Close to My Heart goodies I just unpacked. Don't forget that you have a chance to be our Online Mystery Hostess this month when you place an order. Come join the fun and bring a friend. You can read more about the benefits HERE. Until next time.......

Things are Exploding all Over.....

Greetings all from Snowy NJ!

Yes it is snowing AGAIN. Since we are snowbound (the roads are a mess), I decided that I would try a new (to me) card. I saw it posted on Karen Titus' blog Stamping on the Back Porch. Now usually special fold cards give me hives BUT this time I was able to do it with one little hiccup. Here is the card closed:

And now the inside:

Well, the little hiccup is the sentiment is sideways. I guess worse things could happen. Here are the supplies I used:

* Cardstock is miscellaneous ones that  have unlabeled
* Close to My Heart's February Stamp of the Month A Happy Hello (S1502)
* Close to My Heart's Seaside Greetings Stamp Set (D1609)
* Close to My Heart's Exclusive Inks: Cotton Candy, Crystal Blue, Pear and Outdoor Denim

The Stamp of the Month can be yours for only $5 with a qualifying purchase of $50+ (retail value of $17.95). Remember that this month, when you place an order, you have the chance of being Mystery Hostess this month for our Love-a-palooza. What is a Love-a-palooza? That is where one random participant (who has placed an order of ANY size) will win the hostess rewards for the month. The party has to reach a minimum of $150 but then the sky is the limit. Here is the possible hostess rewards:

WHEN YOUR ORDER TOTAL REACHES:	REWARD YOURSELF WITH SELECTED CLOSE TO MY HEART PRODUCTS*:	AND RECEIVE 50% OFF:
$150 – $249	$25 in free products
$250 – $349	$40 in free products	1 current Idea Book item
$350 – $449	$60 in free products	1 current Idea Book item
$450 – $549	$80 in free products	2 current Idea Book items
$550 – $649	$100 in free products	2 current Idea Book items
$650 – $749	$120 in free products	3 current Idea Book items
$750 – $849	$140 in free products	3 current Idea Book items
$850 – $949	$160 in free products	4 current Idea Book items
$950 – $1,049	$180 in free products	4 current Idea Book items
$1,050 or more	$200 or more** in free products	4 current Idea Book items

Please note: Hostess Rewards are redeemed at full price. An order total must reach $150 in sales, exclusive of shipping, handling, and tax, to qualify for our Hostess Rewards program. In the US, tax is collected on Hostess Rewards free products based on full retail price. Tax is collected on discounted items based on discounted price. Tax rules are subject to change. Promotions such as Stamp of the Month and other specials are not eligible as Hostess Rewards. Free shipping and handling apply only on Hostess Rewards items with the exception of one Studio J® layout (SJ1001).

YOUR SELECTION OF PRODUCTS FOR YOUR HOSTESS REWARDS INCLUDES THESE CHOICES:
*Hostess Rewards select product credits are redeemable for


My Acrylix® Stamps
My Acrylix® blocks
Exclusive Inks® pads
Exclusive Inks® marker sets
Exclusive Inks® re-inkers
My Stickease® assortments
Complements
My Reflections® paper packets
All cardstock packs
Workshops on the Go® kits
Studio J® one layout (retail value $6.50, SJ1001)

**For each $100 in sales over $1,050, add an additional $20 in free products.

So come on over and bring a few friends. You can be the lucky winner and get some free items. If you have any questions, feel free to message me on Facebook (Susan.E.Bermudez) or email me HERE. I hope that you will join me and share the L-O-V-E. Until next time.....

Our Love-a-palooza is almost over.... will you let me share the love with you?

Greetings all! 

Time is running out to get in on the love for this month's Online Gathering. I decided that I  would have Love-a-palooza as the theme of this month's Online Gathering. What is an Online Gathering? Well, it is where you visit my website (suenj.ctmh.com) and check out all the amazing HIGH quality products and (hopefully) join the party by placing an order.

What is a Love-a-palooza? That is where one random participant (who has placed an order of ANY size) will win the hostess rewards for the month. The party has to reach a minimum of $150 but then the sky is the limit. Here is the possible hostess rewards:

WHEN YOUR ORDER TOTAL REACHES:	REWARD YOURSELF WITH SELECTED CLOSE TO MY HEART PRODUCTS*:	AND RECEIVE 50% OFF:
$150 – $249	$25 in free products
$250 – $349	$40 in free products	1 current Idea Book item
$350 – $449	$60 in free products	1 current Idea Book item
$450 – $549	$80 in free products	2 current Idea Book items
$550 – $649	$100 in free products	2 current Idea Book items
$650 – $749	$120 in free products	3 current Idea Book items
$750 – $849	$140 in free products	3 current Idea Book items
$850 – $949	$160 in free products	4 current Idea Book items
$950 – $1,049	$180 in free products	4 current Idea Book items
$1,050 or more	$200 or more** in free products	4 current Idea Book items

Please note: Hostess Rewards are redeemed at full price. An order total must reach $150 in sales, exclusive of shipping, handling, and tax, to qualify for our Hostess Rewards program. In the US, tax is collected on Hostess Rewards free products based on full retail price. Tax is collected on discounted items based on discounted price. Tax rules are subject to change. Promotions such as Stamp of the Month and other specials are not eligible as Hostess Rewards. Free shipping and handling apply only on Hostess Rewards items with the exception of one Studio J® layout (SJ1001).

YOUR SELECTION OF PRODUCTS FOR YOUR HOSTESS REWARDS INCLUDES THESE CHOICES:

*Hostess Rewards select product credits are redeemable for

• My Acrylix® Stamps
• My Acrylix® blocks
• Exclusive Inks® pads
• Exclusive Inks® marker sets
• Exclusive Inks® re-inkers
• My Stickease® assortments
• Complements
• My Reflections® paper packets
• all cardstock packs
• Workshops on the Go® kits
• Studio J® one layout (retail value $6.50, SJ1001)

**For each $100 in sales over $1,050, add an additional $20 in free products.

So come on over and bring a few friends. You can be the lucky winner and get some free items. If you have any questions, feel free to message me on Facebook (Susan.E.Bermudez) or email me HERE. I hope that you will join me and share the L-O-V-E. Until next time.....

Happy Valentine's Day and I am sharing the love

Greetings all! 

It is Valentine's Day and I just love all my bloggie followers and Close to My Heart customers. I decided that I would have a Love-a-palooza as the theme of this month's Online Gathering. What is an Online Gathering? Well, it is where you visit my website (suenj.ctmh.com) and check out all the amazing HIGH quality products and (hopefully) join the party by placing an order.

What is a Love-a-palooza? That is where one random participant (who has placed an order of ANY size) will win the hostess rewards for the month. The party has to reach a minimum of $150 but then the sky is the limit. Here is the possible hostess rewards:

WHEN YOUR ORDER TOTAL REACHES:	REWARD YOURSELF WITH SELECTED CLOSE TO MY HEART PRODUCTS*:	AND RECEIVE 50% OFF:
$150 – $249	$25 in free products
$250 – $349	$40 in free products	1 current Idea Book item
$350 – $449	$60 in free products	1 current Idea Book item
$450 – $549	$80 in free products	2 current Idea Book items
$550 – $649	$100 in free products	2 current Idea Book items
$650 – $749	$120 in free products	3 current Idea Book items
$750 – $849	$140 in free products	3 current Idea Book items
$850 – $949	$160 in free products	4 current Idea Book items
$950 – $1,049	$180 in free products	4 current Idea Book items
$1,050 or more	$200 or more** in free products	4 current Idea Book items

Please note: Hostess Rewards are redeemed at full price. An order total must reach $150 in sales, exclusive of shipping, handling, and tax, to qualify for our Hostess Rewards program. In the US, tax is collected on Hostess Rewards free products based on full retail price. Tax is collected on discounted items based on discounted price. Tax rules are subject to change. Promotions such as Stamp of the Month and other specials are not eligible as Hostess Rewards. Free shipping and handling apply only on Hostess Rewards items with the exception of one Studio J® layout (SJ1001).

YOUR SELECTION OF PRODUCTS FOR YOUR HOSTESS REWARDS INCLUDES THESE CHOICES:

*Hostess Rewards select product credits are redeemable for

• My Acrylix® Stamps
• My Acrylix® blocks
• Exclusive Inks® pads
• Exclusive Inks® marker sets
• Exclusive Inks® re-inkers
• My Stickease® assortments
• Complements
• My Reflections® paper packets
• all cardstock packs
• Workshops on the Go® kits
• Studio J® one layout (retail value $6.50, SJ1001)

**For each $100 in sales over $1,050, add an additional $20 in free products.

So come on over and bring a few friends. You can be the lucky winner and get some free items. If you have any questions, feel free to message me on Facebook (Susan.E.Bermudez) or email me HERE. I hope that you will join me and share the L-O-V-E. Until next time.....

All Out of Love.....

Greetings all:

Thankfully we are not all out of love for Close to My Heart products. Today I wanted to share one thing that is near and dear to my heart: Organization. These products have made my craft space so much more orderly for sure. First I have the My Acrylix Organizer which I use to hold my tools when I go to a crop:

Next up is the Small Organizer, the Daubers Insert and the Acrylic Block Insert. I use one to hold all my daubers (it holds 60) and the other Small Organizer has my Acrylic blocks in it.

Lastly is the Large Organizer (I have more than one of these too). I use these to hold all my My Acrylix Stamps (I won't tell you how many of these I have). You cannot go wrong and these items will make it so much easier to find your items while creating. 

This last items I do not have YET. They are beautiful additions to assist you when you take your items to scrapbook crops. They are the Shoulder Tote and Rolling Tote. 

They are on the TOP of my list. Remember that this month there will be a Mystery Hostess that will ear Hostess Rewards when this month's party reached $150 or more. Well, I have to say goodbye for now but until next time....

A Precious Birthday......

Greetings all.

Today I get to spend some time with my dearest friend, Laurie,  and I wanted to give her birthday card to her early. We have shared a Love for Precious Moments figurines since we were in High School (1983). For her wedding I made her a cross stitched picture of a Precious Moments wedding figure. I am blessed by her friendship so I wanted to present her with this card:

The image is from the Silhouette store and the Flamingo Dots are just darling. The inside says Happy Birthday that I used the Banner Wishes stamp set.

Happy early birthday Laurie Lepore. I am so happy to share the day with you. Love you bunches.

Until next time.....

It's a Love-a-Palooza

Greetings all! 

I decided that I would have a Love-a-palooza as the theme of this month's Online Gathering. What is an Online Gathering? Well, it is where you visit my website (suenj.ctmh.com) and check out all the amazing HIGH quality products and (hopefully) join the party by placing an order.

What is a Love-a-palooza? That is where one random participant (who has placed an order of ANY size) will win the hostess rewards for the month. The party has to reach a minimum of $150 but then the sky is the limit. Here is the possible hostess rewards:

WHEN YOUR ORDER TOTAL REACHES:	REWARD YOURSELF WITH SELECTED CLOSE TO MY HEART PRODUCTS*:	AND RECEIVE 50% OFF:
$150 – $249	$25 in free products
$250 – $349	$40 in free products	1 current Idea Book item
$350 – $449	$60 in free products	1 current Idea Book item
$450 – $549	$80 in free products	2 current Idea Book items
$550 – $649	$100 in free products	2 current Idea Book items
$650 – $749	$120 in free products	3 current Idea Book items
$750 – $849	$140 in free products	3 current Idea Book items
$850 – $949	$160 in free products	4 current Idea Book items
$950 – $1,049	$180 in free products	4 current Idea Book items
$1,050 or more	$200 or more** in free products	4 current Idea Book items

Please note: Hostess Rewards are redeemed at full price. An order total must reach $150 in sales, exclusive of shipping, handling, and tax, to qualify for our Hostess Rewards program. In the US, tax is collected on Hostess Rewards free products based on full retail price. Tax is collected on discounted items based on discounted price. Tax rules are subject to change. Promotions such as Stamp of the Month and other specials are not eligible as Hostess Rewards. Free shipping and handling apply only on Hostess Rewards items with the exception of one Studio J® layout (SJ1001).

YOUR SELECTION OF PRODUCTS FOR YOUR HOSTESS REWARDS INCLUDES THESE CHOICES:

*Hostess Rewards select product credits are redeemable for

• My Acrylix® Stamps
• My Acrylix® blocks
• Exclusive Inks® pads
• Exclusive Inks® marker sets
• Exclusive Inks® re-inkers
• My Stickease® assortments
• Complements
• My Reflections® paper packets
• all cardstock packs
• Workshops on the Go® kits
• Studio J® one layout (retail value $6.50, SJ1001)

**For each $100 in sales over $1,050, add an additional $20 in free products.

So come on over and bring a few friends. You can be the lucky winner and get some free items. If you have any questions, feel free to message me on Facebook (Susan.E.Bermudez) or email me HERE. I hope that you will join me and share the L-O-V-E. Until next time.....

Albums, Albums everywhere.....

Good day all :)

I would be remiss if I did not share with you some great news. Close to My Heart has a great deal on albums this month. I love these albums (I use the D-ring kind) and the patterns are so pretty. The Black My Legacy album is my Work in Progress album.

Are you a Project Life fan? Well, Close to My Heart has something for you. Picture My Life comes with many options and when paired with our albums and Memory Protectors you can preserve your memories in a flash.

During the month of February*, when you purchase one of Close To My Heart’s alluring coated canvas albums you will be eligible to receive a second album of your choice at half price. That is a savings of over $17 USD / $19 CAD! These albums are available in a gorgeous variety of colors and patterns in both post-bound and D-ring styles—perfect to pair with traditional, Studio J®, or pocket scrapbook layouts. This offer is only available while supplies last, so make certain to get your order in early to ensure you can choose the styles and colors you love. They’re going fast and are built to last; so don’t delay—place your order today!

Contact me for more details.

*Offer valid while supplies last February 1, 2015 (9:00 am MST)–February 28, 2015 (11:59 pm MST). Shipping/handling is calculated based on the full retail price of the discounted items ($34.95 USD / $38.50 CAD).

I hope you have a wonderful day. Until next time....

All you need is love.....

and some of your favorite Close to My Heart tools. In honor of this month's Online Gathering theme (Love-a-palooza), I am sharing some of the items I love from Close to My Heart. Today I have a video all about the My Acrylix Spritz and Scrubber. OK so this really two things LOL.




What I love about these is that they fit so nicely in my My Acrylix Organizer when I go to a crop. Do you know what else fits in there? My Acrylix Stamp Sets, Exclusive Inks and so many of my Accessories. 

I hope you enjoy the video and remember that this month will have a Mystery Hostess who will earn Hostess Rewards when the Online Gathering reaches $150 or more. So come and join us. Until next time....

Love, Love, Love.....

Greetings all:

Since this month's Online Gathering theme is Love-a-palooza, I decided that I would share some of the things that I love from Close to My Heart. Today I bring you a video from the newest member of the Cricut Collections: Artfully Sent.

All of the Cricut Collections give you so much for your money. This collection includes:

1 – Cartridge (700 images: Cards and Font)

3 – My Acrylix® D-size stamp sets

1 – 12" × 12" White Daisy Cardstock Pack

Recommended blocks for included stamp sets: 1" × 1" (Y1000), 1" × 3½" (Y1002), 3" × 3" (Y1006), 2" × 3½" (Y1009).

I am never disappointed with the Cricut Collections and I own them all! Enjoy the video and remember that this month will have a Mystery Hostess who will earn Hostess Rewards when the Online Gathering reaches $150 or more. So come and join us. Until next time....