During the month of June, when you purchase any My Crush^® book and its accompanying assortment pictured in Annual Inspirations 2014–2015 catalog, you will receive the coordinating stamp set FREE! That is a savings of at least $9.95! Choose from five lovely My Crush book offerings that will provide a swoon-worthy background for your favorite memories. From family reunions to camping adventures to holiday countdowns—and much more—you will be crushing on all these books and the possibilities they provide. Every My Crush book features a hard cover with wire binding and cardstock-weight pages that are printed with eye-catching designs to form the perfect bases for your memory keeping. Additionally, each My Crush book also features unique details—from glossy print, to vellum pages, to gold foil, to ink-resistant patterns—that make displaying your personality easier than ever. Plus, once you add the artistry of the coordinating assortments featuring sticker sheets, envelopes, alphabets, cards, and journaling spots, along with your free stamp set, you will be well on your way to your own gorgeous mini book creation! This offer is only available while supplies last and once they’re gone, these books are gone for good, so put your orders in early to get your summer romance rolling today!

Big Blog Sale!

Just Because card kit $8

 I've been an Independent Consultant for Close to My Heart for 6 years now!  I've accumulated quite a surplus of stamping & scrapbooking supplies! I moved my craft room, which forced me to go through everything! I have many "never been used" items as well as plenty of "gently loved" items that I'd like to sell.  If you see something you are interested in, let me know by sending me an email! Follow the link then scroll to the bottom of the page & click to send me a message. Please include your zip code so I can calculate actual shipping charges. I will be using PayPal for payment & will ship only within the U.S.

Sizzix Flower Embosslit $3

Cuttlebug Embossing & Die Set $4

Cuttlebug Embossing Folder $4

Cuttlebug Embossing border folders set $4

Cuttlebug Embossing Folder $4

Plantin SchoolBook Cricut Cartridge $18

Vanilla Cream ink pad $4

My Acrylix Organizer stamp case. Holds 15 stamp sets. 1 used $8 and 1 new in shrink wrap $10

Used stamps: A1093 Genuine Fun $3 A1102 A Posy $3 B1205 Little Builder B1205 $

4 B1277 Hello Friend $4

Used: B1340 Best Friends $4 C1264 Lovely Daisy $4 D1098 Get-A-Way $5 D1115 Princess $6

Used: D1217 Free Spirit $6  D1359 Comments $6 D1372 Grown w/Love $6  D1373 Childhood Portrait $6

Gently used Double Stamp Sets. Top: CC1020 It's Your Day $8, Bottom:  CC1014

Gently loved: D1427 Tasty Treats $6

Very hard to find set. Only 1 stamp gently used. Build-a-Robot C1038 $18

New stamps: A1093 Genuine Fun $4, A1117 A Typeface $4, B1182 Let it Snow $5, B1315 Code It $5

New stamps: C1221 Choo Choo Train $6, C1366 Fringed Phrases $6, C1422 Unity $6, C1438 Tea Time $6

New stamps: C1560 Wintry Wishes $8, C1568 The Party is On $8, D1261 Simple Beauty $8, D1406 True Friends $8

New: D1422 Wonderful Friend $8, D1454 Sensational Season $8. Bottom 2 are from the Art Philosphy Cricut Cartridge bundle D1497 & D1498. I'm selling as a set for $14.

New D1558 Washi Wonder $10

New: S1209 Fall Favorites $6, S1302 Home Sweet Home $6, S1308 A Chocolate Affair $6, S1305 Pinwheel $6

I will be adding accessories, paper packets, page kits, and other items over the next few days!

It's August already and I can't believe how fast this summer is flying by!!  I'm really excited for today because there are so many great things happening in the world of Close to My Heart!

First of all, the gorgeous new catalog is live as of this morning!  There are so many great new products in it that I keep finding new things every time I look through it!  Please let me know if you want to get your one in your hands.

In second place is the great campaign that is pictured above called Picture Perfection!  Close to My Heart has some great new Picture My Life collections and if you order some this month you get a great deal on the page protectors that the cards fit into.  I really love the new Chalk It Up line - that's because I have a thing for chalkboards ;)  I am really fascinated by this new way of scrapbooking and I hope it will help me to get caught up on the years of pictures that need to get into albums.  I think I will always do traditional layouts, but sometimes they seem overwhelming. This way of placing pictures and cards into pockets seems so do-able in my crazy busy life!

I am thirdly excited about the upcoming year with Close to My Heart. Since our catalog is now published once a year, there will be special campaigns and seasonal product brochures throughout the year.  It will be interesting to see what is to come!

July Stamp of the Month!

For some ideas on how to use the July Stamp of the Month, watch the video above!  After you fall in love with it, grab your catalog and make a list of the items you can't live without!  Check out the list of retiring items - they are only available until July 31st  or while supplies last!

Also, several beloved colors will be retiring at the end of the month as well: Buttercup (one of my favorites), Twilight, Sky, Creme Brulee, and Blush.  Ink pads, re-inkers, and cardstock will only be available while supplies last and history has taught me that they will be gone very soon!!

An order of $50 or more gets you the Stamp of the Month for only $5!! An alphabet stamp set for only $5!!

Another note:  several items will see a price increase with the new Idea Book & Catalog, which goes into effect on August 1st.  This includes ink pads, the plastic organizer bins w/handles, and several other items.  I will post a list or a link to a list as soon as possible!

What's New with Perky Paper?

Back in February I signed a tiny little lease for a potting table inside GinGilli's Vintage Home in Geyserville, CA.  I've always been wondering if I could make a little business selling my handmade cards and this seemed like a great opportunity to try it!  The past few months that's what I've been working on - neglecting my blog and occasionally my household responsibilities! ;)  My creative mind quickly bypassed the card idea and went to all sorts of things: painting little items with chalk paint, finding & reselling small collectibles, sewing items to sell, etc.  My cards seem to be a consistently selling item, so I really need to focus back on that.  "Do one thing and do it well" comes to mind.

My other very consistent seller are my photo booth props.  Mustaches, glasses, top hats, and ties made of paper and mounted on sticks.  Simple but so fun! Saturday I was at the shop and a lady was there showing the shop keeper her phone. "There's Perky Paper right now!" the shop keeper said.  The lady then told me how she had purchased a top hat & tie from my space and used them in a photo shoot.  She said it was really fun and the pictures turned out great!  I was so glad to know that my little props were used to capture someone's fun personality!

National Stamping Month Special

Get an exclusive You Are My Happy stamp set trio in celebration of National Stamping Month! During the month of September, when you make a purchase of $50 or more, you qualify for this whimsical stamp set trio for only $10. You'll love the whimsical alphabet, light-hearted sentiments, and fanciful images for a variety of occasions to give a cheerful touch to your projects!

Watch this video to see the stamp set and visit my website to place your qualifying order to snatch this darling stamp set trio today!

Just Buzzing By...

Yes, I have totally neglected my blog for a while!! Sorry for the huge void in posts!  I started selling my cards & paper crafts at Gin Gilli's Vintage Home Collective in Geyserville.  It has been keeping me super busy! I will post some pics of my little space soon, but for now I thought I'd highlight one of my favorite paper lines from the new catalog! The Buzz & Bumble paper goes really well with all the bumble bee themed cards & projects I've been working on!  Hexagon's & bees are super hot right now in the papercrafting world! So check out the Workshop on the Go layout above.  I love the stamp set that is in the Workshop so much that I might have to get the whole thing just for the lovely little bee stamp! 

The hexagon stamp set featured in the layout above is also really cool!  It would be great for cards as well! Hope this quick post keeps your creativity buzzing..... :)