September 17, 2019Celebrate, Create, Learn

National Stamping Month: Using Small Stamps in BIG Places

Close To My HeartA Dash of Joy, christmas, Giving Thanks, ideas, National Stamping Month, nsm, September, Share the Seasons, stamping, thanksgiving 110 Comments

As part of our National Stamping Month celebration, we have two exclusive stamp sets that are only available through the end of the month, the My Acrylix^® A Dash of Joy and My Acrylix^® Giving Thanks. Both have over 30 individual stamps each. They are super cute, on trend, and just right for the upcoming fall and Christmas seasons. You may have noticed that most of the individual stamps within each set are also really small.

To get us all thinking outside of a one-inch square that most of these loveable little icons and sentiments were designed to fit into, we have a few simple ideas that showcase just how versatile a small stamp can be by also effectively being used in much bigger spaces.

First, let’s talk about backgrounds. This one seems to be a pretty common idea that we tend to easily forget. Take a look at how we used our small stamps to create the following three pieces of artwork:

On this Christmas page, we created subtle tone-on-tone patterns on the photo mats and all three colors of the background cardstock. (In this example, we paired the Mink stamp pad with French Vanilla cardstock, the Peach stamp pad with Peach cardstock, the Pewter stamp pad with Pewter cardstock, and the Green Apple stamp pad with Green Apple cardstock.)

On this So Thankful page we wanted to create a partial background. You can do this with sentiments, like we did here, or with clusters of small icons down the center, off-center, down one side of the page, or even just in a corner.

This card is an example of how to use small sentiments to create a full background. Turn the sentiment at an angle and stamp it over and over again until your background is completely covered. The trick is to start by stamping partially off your base to achieve the cutoff look.

Another way to use small icons in large spaces is in borders.

Combining three of the leaf stamps from the Giving Thanks set with two green stamp pads we were able to create this beautiful fall scene for the memories on this page.

This last idea, one of our favorites that really gets you thinking outside the norm, is to create your own shapes out of smaller ones.

The gorgeous wreath on this page was created using several of the small stamps from the A Dash of Joy set and nothing else.

We kept it simple by making a circle to illustrate the idea, but the truth is you can create many other shapes and designs using small stamps—a tree, a snowman, a pumpkin, a star, a house—whatever you dare try.

With the right combination of stamps and inks, the possibilities are endless.

We really do love these little sentiments and icons and want everyone to have a chance to create with them, too. In the next 24 hours, we will be giving away 5 Share the Seasons Stamp Set Bundles, which include one My Acrylix^® A Dash of Joy stamp set and one My Acrylix^® Giving Thanks stamp set. If you want to be entered in the drawing, make sure you are subscribed to this blog and leave us a comment below sharing with us how you use small stamps in big ways. Winners will be chosen by 1 p.m. tomorrow (Sept. 18, MST) and will be notified via email, so keep your eyes on your inboxes friends!

Can’t wait to hear from you!

***THIS DRAWING IS NOW CLOSED. THANK YOU TO ALL WHO PARTICIPATED! ❤ ***

Recipes:

12″ x 12″ Dash of Cheer Page
CC9191 My Acrylix® A Dash of Joy Stamp Set, X6047 Black Cardstock, X6038 Candy Apple Cardstock, X6030 Evergreen Cardstock, X6046 French Vanilla Cardstock, X6031 Green Apple Cardstock, X6044 Peach Cardstock, X5954 Pewter Cardstock, 1385 White Daisy Cardstock, Z3271 Archival Black Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z3513 Green Apple Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z2825 Mink Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z6502 Peach Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z2832 Pewter Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z891 VersaMark™ Ink Pad, Z3563 Diamond Stickles™ Glitter Gel, Z3554 Pink Taffeta Stickles™ Glitter Gel, Z3562 Silver Stickles™ Glitter Gel, Z4220 Anti-static Pouch, Z2068 White Super Fine Embossing Powder, Z4252 Heat Tool, Z2060 Thin 3-D Foam Tape, Z3516 Black Journaling Pen (.01)

12″ x 12″ So Thankful Page
CC9192 My Acrylix® Giving Thanks Stamp Set, X6047 Black Cardstock, X5953 Charcoal Cardstock, X6046 French Vanilla Cardstock, X6033 Paprika Cardstock, X9007 Min-in Paper Packet, Z3271 Archival Black Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z2843 Canary Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z2850 Fern Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z2825 Mink Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z6515 Paprika Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z2832 Pewter Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z8000 Black Exclusive Inks™ Pigment Pad, Z4304 Silver Loose Sequins, Z2088 Clear Embossing Powder, Z4220 Anti-static Pouch, Z4252 Heat Tool, Z1151 3-D Foam Tape, Z3516 Black Journaling Pen (.01)

4¼” x 5½” Grateful for You Card (Horizontal)
CC9192 My Acrylix® Giving Thanks Stamp Set, X6047 Black Cardstock, X6046 French Vanilla Cardstock, X5950 Toffee Cardstock, Z2850 Fern Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z4189 Intense Black Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z4221 Mink Twine, Z4242 Watercolor Pencils, Z3224 Small Round Waterbrush, Z2089 Glue Dots® Micro Dots

6″ x 8″ Grateful Page
CC9192 My Acrylix® Giving Thanks Stamp Set, X5949 Almond Cardstock, X6046 French Vanilla Cardstock, Z3271 Archival Black Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z2850 Fern Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z2835 New England Ivy Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z4304 Silver Loose Sequins, Z3569 Sangria Ribbon, Z341 Glue Dots® Mini Dots, Z2060 Thin 3-D Foam Tape, Z3516 Black Journaling Pen (.01)

12″ x 12″ Merry Christmas Page
CC9191 My Acrylix® A Dash of Joy Stamp Set, X6047 Black Cardstock, X6038 Candy Apple Cardstock, X5978 Glacier Cardstock, 1385 White Daisy Cardstock, Z3271 Archival Black Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z6509 Candy Apple Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z6512 Evergreen Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z2850 Fern Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z2841 Glacier Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z2835 New England Ivy Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z2853 Sweet Leaf Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z891 VersaMark™ Ink Pad, Z4304 Silver Loose Sequins, Z3568 Black Velvet Ribbon, Z3557 Cool Mint Stickles™ Glitter Gel, Z4220 Anti-static Pouch, Z2068 White Super Fine Embossing Powder, Z4252 Heat Tool, Z3132 Watercolor Paints, Z3226 Medium Flat Waterbrush, Z2060 Thin 3-D Foam Tape, 1772 Glue Dots® Ultra-thin Dots, Z3516 Black Journaling Pen (.1)

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September 10, 2019Celebrate, Create

National Stamping Month: Stamping Basics

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It is officially National Stamping Month! Is anyone else as pumped about this time of year as we are? A little bit of history, for our friends who haven’t been with us for very long, Close To My Heart was originally called D.O.T.S. (Dozens of Terrific Stamps). Our first love was, and continues to be, stamps! We’ve come a long way since 1984 and wood mounted rubber stamp sets, and yet there are still some things that will never change.

Today we are going back to the basics of stamping, showing a few different ways we can use stamps in our projects. If you are new to stamping, this is a great place to start and learn just how versatile these creative tools can be. If you are a “pro,” then follow along anyway and remind yourself why you, too, love stamping and the versatility behind each design.

First, let’s talk about stamping on photos.

This is such an easy way to create personalized cards or add some additional touches to your scrapbook pages.

Stamping directly on a photo might seem a little scary at first, but we promise, it will be okay! For this project, we used the Archival Black Exclusive Inks™ stamp pad to stamp our sentiment. We opted for this ink choice because we used a matte photo. If you’re stamping on a glossy photo, consider using Black StazOn™ ink. StazOn™ ink is specifically formulated for use on non-porous surfaces, allowing you to confidently stamp on any photo.

Next, let’s revisit an oldie, but a goodie, technique—generational stamping. Generational stamping is a fairly simple stamping technique. Think of it as the “double-dip” action (or in this case, the “triple-dip”) of the stamping world. With generational stamping, you don’t re-ink your stamp before stamping the image or sentiment again. This leaves you with a slightly faded image that is otherwise identical to the first one.

For this example, we used the Candy Apple Exclusive Inks™ stamp pad to create a fun generational stamping effect. First, you thoroughly saturate your stamp with ink, and then press down firmly to transfer the image onto your paper. Then, without re-inking the stamp, press it to the paper again to create a second-generation stamped image or, like in this case, sentiment. In this example, we went a step farther and created a third-generation sentiment, which was accomplished the same way.

You can clearly see the second and third generational stamps. This effect, combined with the fun patterns in the Every Little Thing paper packet, makes for a beautiful card with a unique flair.

Another fun way to use your stamps is to fussy cut! Fussy cutting simply means that you cut out your stamped image by hand rather than using a metal die or a paper cutting machine. This lets you cut right down to the edges of the image for a crisp, clean cut. When you don’t have just the right sticker or are looking for a quick way to add dimension, fussy cut your stamped image or sentiment and attach it with some foam tape!

In our next example, we’ve got several different ideas that neatly come together in one beautiful 6″ x 8″ layout.

First, take a close look at the peach portion of the layout, in the lower right-hand corner of the left page. That’s not pattern paper—the pattern you see is achieved by continuous, random stamping. Stamps give you the ability to create your own unique patterns, adding a personal element to all of your projects.

Next, let’s talk about how to stamp white on black. For this, we’ll be breaking out our heat tool and embossing powder!

As you can see, this particular element has a dimensional appearance. Well, that’s thanks to the use of embossing powder!

The images in this example are stamped with VersaMark™ ink and heat embossed with white embossing powder. Stamp with VersaMark™ ink, add embossing powder, melt and seal together with a heat tool.

Did you know that you can also heat emboss with our pigment inks of our exclusive colors? All you need is the pigment ink in the color of your choice and clear embossing powder. Heat and seal like you would with the VersaMark™ ink, and that’s it!

If you want to heat emboss on vellum, there are a few small tricks to consider.

For this technique, allow your heat tool to heat up before you use it. Once it’s hot, blow on the ink intermittently from behind the paper (which means you would need to do this step before attaching a piece like this to your project). If you blow directly onto the ink and vellum without pulling the heater away, the ink will move and the paper will warp. Another approach, if from behind is too difficult, is to move the heat tool in slow circles over the stamped area.

The last three examples of artwork we have showcase how to add color to your stamped images.

In a recent blog post, we discussed different types of black ink and which ones work best with certain types of projects. For this card, we used the Intense Black Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad to stamp the pumpkins so that we could add color with our new TriBlend™ markers.

Once you’ve got your image stamped, take your TriBlend™ Marker and color around the outer edges of the stamped image using one of the darker shades. Then, color in the center with one of the lighter shades.

Using TriBlend™ Markers to color in your stamped images allows you to color with confidence, since the shades are already matched for you, and as you can see, they deliver beautiful results!

For this card, you’ll want to grab your watercolor pencils. To avoid getting harsh lines in your project, move your pencil in gentle, circular strokes, or use a lighter hand as you color; think of it as light shading as opposed to coloring in your stamp.

Once you’ve got your stamped image colored in, you can leave it as is for a slightly more rustic, rough feel, like in our example, or blend with a waterbrush.

Our last example is a bit deceptive, and it looks a bit more complicated than it actually is.

To create the beautiful, multicolored effect happening in the leaves of this page, we used a technique is called rock & roll.

First, you thoroughly ink your stamp in the base color of your choice. Then, gently rock and roll the edges of your stamp in your secondary color. It’s that easy. Your stamp is ready to leave a gorgeous impression!

No matter how you use them, you can’t go wrong with great stamps! Happy stamping!

Recipes

5″ x 7″ Merry Christmas Photo Card
CC9191 My Acrylix^® A Dash of Joy Stamp Set, X6047 Black Cardstock, Z3271 Archival Black Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad

3″ x 3″ Merry Merry Merry Card
CC9191 My Acrylix^® A Dash of Joy Stamp Set, X7248B Every Little Thing Paper Packet, X6030 Evergreen Cardstock, X6046 French Vanilla Cardstock, X6044 Peach Cardstock, Z6509 Candy Apple Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z3312 Gold Glitter Gems, Z4242 Watercolor Pencils, Z3224 Small Round Waterbrush

6″ x 8″ Christmas Wishes Layout
CC9195 Share the Seasons Stamps + Thin Cuts, X9007 Mix-in Paper Packet, X6047 Black Cardstock, X6038 Candy Apple Cardstock, X6030 Evergreen Cardstock, X6042 Mint Cardstock, X6044 Peach Cardstock, X6045 Sage Cardstock, 1385 White Daisy Cardstock, Z6509 Candy Apple Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z6512 Evergreen Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z6502 Peach Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z891 VersaMark™ Ink Pad, Z3312 Gold Glitter Gems, Z4054 Gold Embellishing Thread, Z341 Glue Dots^® Mini Dots, Z2068 White Super Fine Embossing Powder, Z4220 Anti-static Pouch, Z4252 Heat Tool, Die-cutting Machine

3″ x 3″ Thankful Grateful Blessed Card
CC9192 My Acrylix^® Giving Thanks Stamp Set, X5962 Goldrush Cardstock, X6046 French Vanilla Cardstock, X6033 Paprika Cardstock, Z3367 Vellum Paper, Z2823 Goldrush Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z2851 Saffron Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z891 VersaMark™ Ink Pad, Z4054 Gold Embellishing Thread, Z2066 Princess Gold Embossing Powder, Z4220 Anti-static Pouch, Z4252 Heat Tool, Z4181 Stitched Circles Thin Cuts, Z341 Glue Dots^® Mini Dots, Die-cutting Machine

4¼” x 5½” Happy Fall Card (Vertical)
Z3532 Autumn Blessings Stamp + Thin Cuts, X7249B Hawthorn Paper Packet, X6047 Black Cardstock, X6030 Evergreen Cardstock, X6046 French Vanilla Cardstock, X6045 Sage Cardstock, Z3271 Archival Black Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z4189 Intense Black Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z4235 Gold Loose Sequins, Z4054 Gold Embellishing Thread, Z1809 Black Shimmer Trim, Z3568 Black Velvet Ribbon, Z2480 Orange TriBlend™ Marker, Z2478 Earth Brown TriBlend™ Marker, Z341 Glue Dots^® Mini Dots, Die-cutting Machine

4¼” x 5½” Thinking of You Card (Horizontal)
Z3544 Sunflower Sympathy Stamp + Thin Cuts, X7249B Hawthorn Paper Packet, X6046 French Vanilla Cardstock, X6005 Goldrush Cardstock, X6033 Paprika Cardstock, Z2829 Espresso Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z6512 Evergreen Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z2823 Goldrush Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z2851 Saffron Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z891 VersaMark™ Ink Pad, Z3312 Gold Glitter Gems, Z4054 Gold Embellishing Thread, Z4242 Watercolor Pencils, Z341 Glue Dots^® Mini Dots, Z2066 Princess Gold Embossing Powder, Z4220 Anti-static Pouch, Z4252 Heat Tool, Die-cutting Machine, Sewing Machine

6″ x 8″ Grateful for You Page
Z3527 Hawthorn—Scrapbooking Stamp + Thin Cuts, CC9192 My Acrylix^® Giving Thanks Stamp Set, X7249B Hawthorn Paper Packet, X6046 French Vanilla Cardstock, X6033 Paprika Cardstock, X6044 Peach Cardstock, Z2843 Canary Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z6509 Candy Apple Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z2829 Espresso Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z2823 Goldrush Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z6515 Paprika Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z2851 Saffron Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z4189 Intense Black Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z4235 Gold Loose Sequins, Z4054 Gold Embellishing Thread, Z3552 Wooden Arrows, Z341 Glue Dots^® Mini Dots, Die-cutting Machine

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September 4, 2019Celebrate, Create

Two New Catalogs, Hundreds of New Products!

Close To My Heartalbums, cardstock, catalog, catalogue, color of the year, colour of the year, Complete Creativity, Core Products, cricut, custom cardstock, digital art, digital file, Every Little Thing, Everyday Life, glitter gel, glitter glue, handwriting, heat transfer, idea book, journalin, Journalling, Julep, markers, Melissa Esplin, new product, October, penmanship, pens, scrapbooking workshop, September, shammy, stamp shammy, Stickles, svg, TriBlend, vinyl 4 Comments

With the launch of two new Close To My Heart catalogs this week, does anyone else feel like a kid on Christmas morning? Since September 1, hundreds of new Close To My Heart products, including stamp sets, patterned papers, embellishments, and much, much more, have been readily available at our fingertips!

In case you missed the exciting announcement after our North American Convention, we have moved to a new catalog release schedule. Close To My Heart will no longer only publish three catalogs a year, but SEVEN—an annual Core Products catalog and six, bi-monthly, supplemental catalogs. The goal is to get fresh designs and up-to-the-minute products into your hands when you need them and want them most!

Let’s take a closer look at some of the new goodies in our Core and September–October catalogs. (It may be time to make some room in your craft room—your stash may be getting a bit bigger! 🙂 )

Paper Packet + Sticker Sheets

Each of our supplement catalogs will feature two paper suites. Within each suite you will have the choice between two paper packet options, one including a new 12″ x 12″ sticker sheet, and one without. The new sticker sheet will come with titles, accents, and more, that coordinate perfectly with the designs of its accompanying paper packet. Both paper packets will come with six sheets of three double-sided designs of patterned paper, rather than the 12 we’ve done in the recent past, so you only purchase what you need and avoid having too much left over!

Custom Cardstock Packs

When you visit our cardstock menu on our website, you will find two very exciting additions. As a continuation of the theme of getting you just what you need, we now offer custom cardstock packs! Choose between a 12-sheet or 24-sheet pack and then decide which of our current exclusive colors you want in it. We’ll package up your selection and send your customized pack along with the rest of your order. It’s that simple!

Scrapbooking Workshop Kits

Our scrapbooking workshops got a makeover! Each workshop continues to come with easy-to-follow instructions to make six complete pages however only some are paired into layouts. Both, the Every Little Thing and Hawthorn scrapbooking workshops make two individual pages and two two-page layouts.

Even more exciting, we’ve trimmed a lot of the paper cutting right out of the workshops! Each new kit includes large, exclusive die-cut sheets and accessories that coordinate effortlessly with a handful of additional products for fast and seriously gorgeous pages. In the page above, the only thing you’ll cut when you make your own are the two photo mats. ❤ ❤ ❤ !

Everyday Life™ Albums

Our Everyday Life™ album line just got bigger…and smaller! Providing the greatest versatility in size (and color options), these are now available in 6″ x 6″, 6″ x 8″, 8½” x 11″, and 12″ x 12″. Perfect for preserving vacations, weddings, highlights from the football season, or backyard adventures, the Everyday Life™ line is designed to accommodate any occasion or memory!

Heat Transfer Vinyl & Digital Art

You already take pride in filling your scrapbooks with beautiful artwork on the inside, so why not add some flair to their outsides? With our new line of heat transfer vinyl and digital SVG files designed specifically with album covers in mind, you can easily do just that!

After downloading the digital images, cut them out of the heat transfer vinyl using your favorite cutting machine, and then apply them to your album. For a complete list of available heat transfer vinyl colors and digital art designs, click here.

Penmanship with Melissa Esplin

Renowned calligraphy and lettering expert Melissa Esplin joined forces with Close To My Heart to create an easy, step-by-step penmanship program. Penmanship with Melissa Esplin introduces stroke sequences, letter forms, and techniques to improve and develop your personal, individual style. Equipped with exercise worksheets and practice pages, as you see can see above, this program provides the necessary tools to share your stories through your own creative handwriting!

Journaling Pens

Get ready to pour your hearts out with our gorgeous new Close To My Heart journaling pens!

These journaling pens are available in Black and Pewter inks and in .05, .03, and .01 tips. Easily take your handwriting up a notch by simply using the right tool!

TriBlend™ Markers

Color and blend like and expert with our new markers! Inside every TriBlend™ marker is a perfect gradation of colors, from light to dark, delivered through three separate fine bullet nibs. The alcohol-based ink blends seamlessly for mixing or layering colors.

Stickles™ Glitter Gel

Another newcomer to the Close To My Heart line-up are the Stickle™ glitter gels! Available in the ten colors you see here, use these fun gels to add dimension and a bit of sparkle to your projects.

Stamp Shammy

This spongy soft, reusable sheet is just what you need for lint-free stamp cleaning. Just add water and watch the ink come right off your My Acrylix® stamps as you wipe them with a Stamp Shammy. Yes, the photo above is staged to look pretty, but we really did just wipe that stamp clean with the wet Stamp Shammy to the right of it. And, because you can’t really have too much of a good thing, these come in a two-pack. J

New Colors

We’ve added several new colors to our exclusive color palate this week! Our favorite, and Color of the Year, is this beautiful trendy green hue, Julep! Keep a sharp eye out for it throughout the coming year, and you’ll find hints of Julep in a wide variety of our new products. (To see what other fun new colors we have in store, talk to your Consultant or take a look at our exclusive color palette in our Core Products catalog.)

Cricut® Complete Creativity Collection

Our newest Cricut® collection, Complete Creativity, provides you with all the pieces you need to create complete cards and scrapbook pages for a variety of themes and occasions.

This remarkable new collection is available for purchase on Cricut.com, through a special link you can get from your Close To My Heart Consultant. Ask your Consultant for more details about our extensive collection of Cricut® designs!

Rather than unwrapping all of the new goodies here for you this Christmas-like morning, take some time to carefully peruse both of our new catalogs on your own. The few items that we covered today are only just a sampling of the hundreds of new products available now!

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September 18, 2018Create, Memory Keeping

FREE More Magical Scrapbook Pattern!

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Once in a while, right in the middle of an ordinary day, we give you a fairy tale that looks like a free scrapbook pattern!

This timeless pattern made its original debut years ago with our You Rock collection. Without the need of any pixie dust, the instructions have been revamped so they can be used with any papers and for any occasion!

We created a truly enchanting spread by pairing this pattern with the More Magical paper packet, coordinating cardstock, and stamp set. Our current More Magical workshop kit makes 4 coordinating two-page layouts to preserve all of your magical adventures. Download the pattern and cutting diagrams below and use them to make a fifth coordinating layout to add to your album!

Download Pattern

As usual, we encourage you to make this, and any, pattern your own by being flexible with its parts. Take a close look at our completed layout for some examples. Instead of using a small photo at the top of 2D, we filled the space with a stamp. Then, we added another 4 x 4 photo to the layout by splitting it down the middle and attaching half of it on each page to complete the row of photos across the top.

Free Scrapbook Pattern #CTMH #CloseToMyHeart #CTMHMoreMagical #MoreMagical #freepattern #freescrapbookpattern #scrapbooking #free #download #scrapbooklayout #magical #adventure #dreamscometrue

And don’t forget about those pocket cards that are part of the paper packet! Use them whole, cut up, or even torn to incorporate additional patterns, sentiments, and accents. Adding a pocket card with a lighter design to a page made up of darker patterns is also an easy way to create space for stamping.

No matter where your happiest place on earth is, take advantage of the bright patterns and motifs available in the More Magical collection and use them to preserve all of your fairy tale adventures. Remember, this collection is only available through the end of the month while supplies last, so make sure to grab yours while you still can!

For even more timeless scrapbook patterns, check out our Make It from Your Heart™ pattern books! If you love the free scrapbook patterns we share on the blog, you’re sure to be blown away by the patterns and inspirational artwork in all of our how-to books.

Recipe

12″ x 12″ Dreams Come True Layout
CC8183 My Acrylix^® Dreams Stamp Set, CC8181 More Magical Paper Packet, CC8182 More Magical Coordinating Cardstock, Z6505 Carolina Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z6509 Candy Apple Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z3314 Black & White Dots, Z4194 White & Gold Skinny Ribbon, Z2060 Thin 3-D Foam Tape

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September 4, 2018Celebrate, Create

Stamping with Memories in the Making

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Want to know what we love about September?? It’s National Stamping Month! To get in the mood to celebrate all things stamping, we have two new exclusive stamp sets as part of our National Stamping month special, Memories in the Making.

Memories in the Making—Days:

Memories in the Making—Months:

The Memories in the Making special, and National Stamping Month for that matter, is all about highlighting the ways you can use stamping in your papercrafting and memory keeping. This year is no exception! 🙂

As you can see, these stamp sets can be a fun addition to a variety of projects. Memories in the Making—Months comes with all twelve months of the year in a lovely, scripted font, making it easy to add a large title to any layout. Memories in the Making—Days gives you a variety of smaller images to stamp numbers, lists, words, and other icons on your projects. Can you spot all of the ways we’ve used this stamp set on this birthday scrapbook page, anniversary card, and frame?

If you aren’t already sold on how you can use these exclusive stamp sets, we’re sure you can guess the other way we are using them this month—in a handmade calendar!!

As part of National Stamping month, we’ve created a Cut Above^® layout kit that coordinates with these Memories in the Making stamp sets! The Memories in the Making Cut Above^® layout kit comes with pre-printed base pages, pre-cut paper, die-cuts, stickers, and instructions to create 13 single-page layouts. Combine this kit with a My Creations™ calendar, your Memories in the Making—Days and Memories in the Making—Months stamp sets, and a few other basic supplies to turn these single pages into a beautiful personalized calendar for the upcoming year.

With the Memories in the Making—Days stamp set, you can note important dates, make short to-do lists, and add other fun icons and shapes to your pages. For this December page, we used the Charcoal Exclusive Inks™ stamp pad to stamp the numbers and added other images with the Glacier Exclusive Inks™ stamp pad for a little extra color.

Once the year is over, trim the pages off the calendar and slip them into Memory Protectors™ to preserve. The great thing about this Cut Above^® kit, is that you can choose to just skip the calendar all together and make the individual pages straight for your scrapbook album! (To see all 13 completed pages, click here.)

These exclusive stamp sets, the layout kit, and several discounted bundle options, are only available during September, while supplies last. Make sure you get yours soon and join us as we celebrate National Stamping Month all month long with Memories in the Making!

Recipes:

12″ x 12″ August Birthday Page
CC9183 My Acrylix^® Memories in the Making—Months Stamp Set, CC9182 Memories in the Making—Days Stamp Set, X9000 Seasons Mix-in Paper Packet, X7236B Hello Pumpkin Paper Packet, X5989 Sugarplum Cardstock, X6027 White Daisy Cardstock, Z2825 Mink Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z2832 Pewter Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z2851 Saffron Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z8006 Sugarplum Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z3271 Archival Black Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z4213 Silver Embellishing Thread, Z4191 Silver Glitter Gems, Z4304 Silver Sequins—Loose

4¼” x 5½” Anniversary Card (Vertical)
CC9183 My Acrylix^® Memories in the Making—Months Stamp Set, CC9182 Memories in the Making—Days Stamp Set, X9000 Seasons Mix-in Paper Packet, X6027 White Daisy Cardstock, Z2832 Pewter Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z8006 Sugarplum Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z3271 Archival Black Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z4191 Silver Glitter Gems

Don’t Forget Frame
CC9182 Memories in the Making—Days Stamp Set, X9000 Seasons Mix-in Paper Packet, X5989 Sugarplum Cardstock, X6027 White Daisy Cardstock, Z2832 Pewter Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z8006 Sugarplum Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z4191 Silver Glitter Gems

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September 5, 2017Create, Learn

Step-by-Step Instructions: From the Heart Card Kit

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September is National Stamping Month, and we’ve designed an incredible card kit with elegant, layered stamping to celebrate!

It’s called the From the Heart card kit, and if you love stamping, you’ll love all the ways you can play with the interchangeable stamp designs to achieve a variety of looks for your cards.

If the thought of creating cards like these feels a bit daunting, don’t worry! The kit comes with helpful instructions to walk you through the assembly—just take a look!

Here are the pieces you get in your kit. You get enough to create 12 cards, plus the beautiful From the Heart stamp set and 12 envelopes. Once you punch out these pieces, follow the instructions below to create your cards.

Step 1

All the folds come pre-scored, so all you have to do is fold along the score lines. Starting with your card base (A), turn the gold foil side down and sharply fold the two outside flaps inward. Add adhesive to the top of these flaps.

Step 2

Fold your card base in half along the score line, attaching the front of the card base to the top of the flaps. This will form a pocket.

Step 3

Starting with the detached end of the large flap, make sharp folds along the score lines, accordion style, as shown.

Step 4

Add adhesive to the bottom of first fold (the white side).

Step 5

Insert the pull insert (B) into the pocket in your card base (A), keeping B centered. Attach that first fold from step 5 to the edge of the pull insert, keeping the edges flush. Now when you pull on the insert piece in and out, the large flap should pop up and down!

Step 6

Slide your card closed and then add adhesive to top of first fold (over gold foil).

Step 7

Attach supporting piece (D) to the top of first fold. This supporting piece is a little bit larger than the area where you added the adhesive, so keep the top edge flush with the crease and center it on the flap. When it’s in place, the edges of the supporting piece should overlap the gold foil around the edges of your card.

Step 8

Stamp your choice of sentiment and flowers onto your card front (C). When stamping the layers of your flowers, add extra depth by using different colors for each layer.

Step 9

Stamp leaves and twigs in between flowers. Again, add depth by stamping all of the layers in different colors. This stamp set allows you to get incredible detail in your stamp images for a beautiful finished card.

Step 10

Set aside your card front and go back to the base for a moment. Slide your card open, and then stamp your choice of inside sentiment onto the card base. The From the Heart stamp set includes four large sentiments designed especially to fit this space.

Step 11

Once your stamping is dry, slide the card closed and add adhesive to second fold of large flap. This is the section right next to the supporting strip (D) that you attached, and it is where you will attach your card front.

Step 12

Attach your card front (C) to the second fold, lining up the edges with the supporting strip (D).

Make your own beautiful, interactive cards using this card kit, available only during September! If you have any questions about how to assemble these cards or about the card kit itself, tell us in the comments below!

Happy crafting! 🙂

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September 4, 2015Memory Keeping

Hello, National Stamping Month!

Close To My Heartconstant campaigns, Hello Life, national scrapbooking month, scrapbooking stamp, September 5 Comments

As some of you may know, September is a very sentiment-al month here at Close To My Heart, and each year it really leaves an imprint on us. Why? Because September is National Stamping Month! And for a company that adores their stamps like we do, it’s basically a really big deal.

One of the things we love most about stamping is the many artistic effects you can achieve with these versatile and beautiful tools. That’s why, to celebrate National Stamping Month, we’ll be showcasing a number of stamping techniques right here on the blog throughout the month.

But of course, that’s only one part of our celebration this month! We’ve also created not one, not two, but THREE new stamp sets that will only be available this month. These special stamp sets are called My Acrylix^® Hello, Life!, and each set is tailored to a particular type of crafting: scrapbooking, pocket scrapbooking, and cardmaking. Though the stamp sets are tailored to different projects, they all coordinate wonderfully with one another, working together as one giant stamp set rather than three separate ones. And perhaps the best part of all—if you purchase all three together, you get a discount!

Today, let’s spotlight just one of these awesome sets, the Hello, Life! scrapbooking stamp set. Here she is!

Scrapbooking is all about telling stories, celebrating relationships, cherishing the today, and preserving beautiful photographs for tomorrow. That’s why we designed this stamp set to include sentiments ideal for highlighting those very things. Here is a lively layout that shows how this stamp set contributes to the story of this family’s trip to the petting zoo:

We love the way these stamps work with our scrapbook pages, but, as is the case with many of our stamp sets, this set could be used for almost any project! The possibilities are endless!

We love the variety in our Close To My Heart family, and we think that these three National Stamping Month Hello, Life! stamp sets reflect us perfectly: We all love different types of crafting, but regardless of our preferences, we’re all united by a passion for creating beautiful artwork and preserving memories.

As the rest of September unfolds, be sure to give your My Acrylix^® stamps plenty of lovin’. Use your favorite sets—or maybe a new set you haven’t tried yet—to experiment with the techniques we’ll be highlighting through the month, and watch for more artwork featuring our other National Stamping Month stamp sets, too. It’s time to celebrate the impression these beautiful stamps have made on your life.

Recipe

12″ x 12″ Happy Family Layout
Make It from Your Heart™ Vol. 1: Pattern 13
CC1040 My Acrylix® Hello, Life—Scrapbooking, X7201B La Vie En Rose Paper Packet, X5775 Sapphire Cardstock, X5929 Whisper Cardstock, Z2191 Sunset Exclusive Inks™ Pad, Z2648 Sapphire Exclusive Inks™ Pad, Z2291 Sunset Exclusive Inks™ Re-inker, Z3079 Urban Assortment, Z3122 Enamel & Glitter Duos Blue Dots, Z3163 Fundamentals Stickers Adventure Pack, Z3164 Fundamentals Stickers Enchantment Pack, Z3115 Instalife™ Roller Stamp Day-to-Day, Z3114 Instalife™ Roller Stamp This Happened, Z3132 Watercolor Paints, Z1979 Marvy® Uchida® LePen™ Journaling Pen, Z3188 Paintbrush Set, Z3167 Cricut® Artistry Collection

Cricut® Shapes:
Artistry
1″ Icon-2 <p> (p. 20)
1 ¼” Icon-2 <x> (p. 32)

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Paper Packet + Sticker Sheets

Custom Cardstock Packs

Scrapbooking Workshop Kits

Everyday Life™ Albums

Heat Transfer Vinyl & Digital Art

Penmanship with Melissa Esplin

Journaling Pens

TriBlend™ Markers

Stickles™ Glitter Gel

Stamp Shammy

New Colors

Cricut® Complete Creativity Collection

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