Earn a FREE Monogram Stamp Today

Because I'm such a huge fan of these cute monogram stamps, I'm giving the next 10 people who place an order on my website a FREE monogram of your choice.  Simply use the Secret Santa Sale link to place your order, and then email me your stamp choice.  If the Secret Santa party earns hostess rewards, you will be entered into a drawing to earn more FREE product just for placing an order!  I look forward to being one of Santa's elves and giving away 10 FREE stamps!  Good luck!

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Secret Santa Sale & Operation Smile

Close To My Heart is donning the Santa hat and offering you some significant savings on all your paper crafting needs this holiday season.  Starting at midnight on December 1^st, when you place an order on my website, you will have access to some GENEROUS sales in the “While Supplies Last” section.  These items are DEEPLY discounted and will go fast, so place your order right away.  I’m closing the party on December 12^th in the hope that you will receive your items before Christmas.  Imagine the fun stocking stuffers you will be able to get for all your crafty friends!  But Santa doesn’t stop there…if you purchase $50 or more, you will receive a FREE Bonding Memories Glue pen as a thank you gift.  And, as this is the season of giving, I hope you will give back a little by making a donation to Operation Smile when you place your order! It only takes $240 to give a needy child the gift of a smile.  Together, we can brighten the lives of children this holiday season! No purchase necessary to donate!

In addition to receiving the FREE Bonding Memories Glue pen which is a $4.50 value, you will also be eligible to purchase the Stamp of the Month for only $5!  This stamp set is perfect for card making, scrapbooking all year long, and creating calendars.  I'll post more information about my upcoming Event Calendar Workshop in the next couple of days, so stay tuned!

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Count Your Blessings

I have so much for which to be thankful and I really do count my blessings every day.  This month is another opportunity for us to show gratitude.  One of the things that I'm thankful for is Jeanette Lynton and Close To My Heart.  This is a company that truly believes in giving back to the community.  Jeanette announced today that CTMH is donating $1 of every special sold this month to the Red Cross relief efforts for Hurricane Sandy.

To participate in the November Capture the Date, Capture the Savings promotion, you simply need to place a $50 order to purchase the stamp of the month for $5.  You will then be able to purchase another stamp set (A, B, C, D, E or M-size) for 50% off!  From November 1 through 30, CTMH will donate $1 from every SOTM sale to the American Red Cross for hurricane relief.

I hope you will use this great stamp set to count your blessings this month and throughout the year.  Please feel free to share this special with all your crafty friends.

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LOAD #31

I did it!  I created 31 layouts this month, and most of them were double-page spreads thanks to Studio J and the Express Collections!  I'm so proud of myself and excited to get my printed layouts.  Many of them are destined for additional bling!  Can't wait to put on the finishing touches and then to store these fantastic memories in my albums.

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LOAD #30

Layout 30 is done!  One more day and I will have completed a layout a day for the entire month...woo hoo!

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LOAD #29

The photos on this layout are a little dark, so I may go back and lighten them up prior to printing, but I'm far too tired to do it right now.  We lost power in the middle of the night and woke to phone and smoke detector batteries chirping.  It was very annoying. Super glad that it was pajama day at school today...LOL!

This layout about my Aunt Mary's 70th birthday part is another Studio J Express Collection!  I added more eyelets, because I'm going to either add Glitz Gel or Sparkles to the center of them once I get the print.  Love adding the bling to my Studio J prints!

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LOAD #28

Ah, Rome...lunch was the best of times and worst of times here!

"Our quest for lunch on day one began with me asking a vendor for the best pizza in Rome. She gave us directions to Francesco's. We had seen it advertised as the best pizzeria in our guide book so were excited about eating there. Yet, excitement turned to annoyance when we couldn't find it, so I just settled for a place that sounded similar and seemed to have a good deal. I should have known that the waiter was trying too hard to get us to eat there. I also should have walked away after I saw the revolting, oil-soaked bruschetta. Neal was so disgusted by the entire meal that he didn't finish eating and left the table. He did snap a photo of Angie's so-called pizza...with olives hidden under a slice of lunch meat... ugh! Seriously, how is this place still in business? When Neal returned, he wanted to show us something...he had found the other restaurant!"

Thank goodness we had another day in Rome, because we went back and had lunch at Francesco's the next day.  It was delicious.  I still need to write a negative review for the other place, because poor, unsuspecting tourists need to be warned to stay far away from that dive! I won't even begin to tell you what the bathroom was like...it isn't the kind of story I can tell on a G-rated site like mine.  LOL!

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