Thanks to a Challenge!

Oh I should do challenges more often! A CTMH sister, Helen Onulak, does a weekly layout challenge I've done a couple, but she has posted 99 of these challenges! (go here to see Helen's layout!) For whatever reason, this week's caught my eye and I jumped right on it. Now I am so happy to have July 4, 2008 done! Just think if I would have been doing her layouts every week! I'd be caught up. Well, I'm going to go back through her list of challenges and with that try to get the rest of this camping trip from July 2008 done! Thank you Helen!

I was working on the Mini Travel Journal and had Route 66 out, and thought how great these papers would work for the Fourth of July. Then I had some My Stickease from an even older CTMH paper pack--of which I don't even remember the name, but they worked great with the layout also. The title was stamped with the Friendship Alphabet Large stamp set. Love, love, love the "how to book", Cherish. This layout came together so fast and easy!

Mini Travel Journal

I found a couple blogs a week or so ago that I have been totally inspired by, the paper crafters of these two blogs make all sorts of journals. You can see their work here and here.
A few years ago I went in on a group buy of coasters and probably still have half of them waiting to be used! I thought these would make perfect covers for a mini travel journal; something that you could store in a glove box or purse and record daily happenings on a trip.
It has all sorts of pages and tags to write on.
It also has pockets to store small tickets, receipts or business cards that you may collect along the way.

The paper pack I used for this is an old one from Close to My heart called Route 66. I was so excited about this because my good friend is planning a summer vacation along Route 66 and I went to her birthday party last night! It was so much fun giving this to her!
The ideas for these cute little journals are endless: a faith journal, kid's quotes, baby's first year, 1st grade memories (or 2nd or 3rd etc..) Fun, fun, fun!!!
Thanks for stopping by today! I hope you have a craft-tabulous weekend!

Scarves for Special Olympics

I got two scarves knitted for the Special Olympics! I was worried about even getting one done! I only found out about this about a month before they were due and had a hard time finding one of the colors they were asking for. The colors for next year's Special Olympics will be posted in April, I can't wait to find out what they are and started knitting some for 2012!

The Miracle, Flip Flap Workshop

I'm having so much fun with Close to My Heart's Flip Flaps, they are a great way to get lots of photos into what at first appears to be a 2-page layout.

Join me Friday, March 11th to put together this beautiful layout using the Miracle Level 1 Kit and Flip Flaps.

You'll be surprised at how easy and fast it is putting this extended layout together.

We will embellish these pages with the My Stickease Adhesive sheets that come with the Level 1 kit and Dimensional Elements that were made especially for this kit. (click on any picture to see it larger and to see the Dimensional Elements)

The workshop starts at 6:30.
Cost is $25.00 (includes tax and shipping)
You will receive:
Miracle Level 1 Kit
Flip Flaps (8 protectors total-we will use 4 of them)
Dimensional Elements-Miracle
8 additional pieces of cardstock
Snacks and drinks!
And of course-Tons of Fun!

Reserve your spot for March 11th. Space is limited.
Payment due by March 3rd.

Happy Valentine's Day!

So sorry that posts have been few and far between. My son and I always want to use the camera at the same time!

Here are the Valentines I made the men in my life!

This one is my son's. It is done using the Joseph Coat technique. The card design is called the "Joy Fold". Don't ya know that anything with the word JOY in the title--I just have to try! A very talented CTMH sister created some beautiful cards using this design and shared them on the CTMH Bulletin Board. She found the design on Split Coast Stampers, but I just looked at hers and figured it out. The stamp set used in this card is a long retired one, but still one of my favorites for hearts, it is called "You And Me". Cardstock is Black, Watermelon (retired) and Citrus Leaf (retired). The patterned paper is old, old B&T paper I still have. Ink colors are Watermelon, Citrus Leaf and Orange. The ribbon is from the local craft store.


My husbands card was inspired by a card that is in the new Close To My Heart Idea Book, on page 106. I used Tulip and Black cardstock. The pretty polka dot and striped paper is scraps that I had from the Jingle Paper Pack. (retired) The stamp set is the Baroque Alphabet. The hearts are Dimensional elements, I stamped with a little flourish that is included in the Baroque Alphabet stamp set. Hard to see, but on the hearts are some of the tiny Sparkle in red. The letters are filled in with Prisma Glitter. I discovered something new while making this card. On the letter "L" I used Bonding Memories Glue to adhere the Prisma Glitter. The point on that was a little too big, so I switched to the Embossing Pen which was much easier to fill in the letters with. WELL--they dried different colors. The Bonding Memories Glue dried clear and the Embossing Pen dried with a hint of blue color. So there's your FYI for the day!I have a good friend whose birthday is on the 13th. We are taking our boys out for ice cream today (at Spooners--YUM), so I will give her this card.

This design came from "Wishes", Close to My Heart's card making how to book. It is the Designer Tab card. I love how easy it came together with using the book! Tulip, Black and White Daisy cardstock were used. The polka dot paper is again from the Jingle paper pack. The stamp sets are Piece of Cake and Celebrate the Everyday (retired). This was my first attempt at the accordion rosette, I think it adds a nice little touch, there is a pink Twinkle Brad in the center.
(Twinkle Brads are no longer available--I just loved those brads)

I used a bunch of retired stuff on these projects. I'm working really hard at getting through my hoarded stash!

I hope you have a day filled with fun and love!
XO

Ribbon Holder

I've always stared at the fun Quaker Oatmeal containers and wondered how I could reuse it; finally, it came to me--a Ribbon Holder. I have so much ribbon, not only on these spools, but a bunch that had been tucked away in drawers and forgotten about.
Awhile back at a crop a fellow scrapper had a bag, kind of shaped like a rectangle with a zippered lid to it. The "bag" had holes punched all over with ribbon sticking out and inside was all the ribbon, just thrown in there without the spools. I figured this would work as well with the oatmeal's cardboard container. I covered it with some old Close to My Heart patterned paper, punched holes all over, then had fun getting all the ribbon in there! Now maybe I'll use more ribbon with layouts and on cards!

Free, Free, & Fabulous

WoW! This is one awesome deal! If you have ever considered becoming a Close to My Heart consultant, February is the month to come aboard!

When a new Consultant joins Close To My Heart during February and achieves both levels of the Straight To The Top program, they will receive a rebate of $129 on their New Consultant Kit. (this kit is over $350 in product!) PLUS for achieving the Straight to the Top status, you receive $100 in products. It's free products and a free kit—a fabulous deal!
Are you with me here? For $129 out of pocket for the kit ($350 value in products), you can get another $100 in product and your $129 back! That's like $450 in product for FREE!
What are you waiting for? Sign up here to join my team today and become a Close to My Heart consultant.

Chirstmas 2008 is Done!

I finally finished scrapping Christmas of '08! If it is a year that we travel to KC for Christmas, I end up with tons of pictures because there are so many events to record! Therefore, I usually have multiple 2-page spreads for this holiday! That is why scrapping Christmas always gets pushed aside for something else! I posted a Christmas 2008 layout a few weeks ago--that was just up to Christmas Eve! So here is the rest of the story!

4x6 inch Flip Flaps were used on the 27th to help me get even more pictures into the story. Since I tend to load the layouts with pictures, there isn't much in the way of embellishments. There isn't even much journaling, I think the fun and happiness comes across in the pictures, and that is what the story is all about here!

Happy Birthday to My Brother!

Thanks to Debbie Carriere I was able to get a card done for my brother. I just wasn't feeling any card mojo and when I saw her card, well I totally lifted. All products are from Close to My Heart.

Stamp Set: Party Pennants
Cardstock: Denim Blue, Lagoon, and Honey
Paper Packs: Free Spirit (retired) and Magnifique
Gold spirals and star brads are long retired too.
Cuttlebug folder and Nestabilties die were also used.

Thanks again Debbie--and now I have to get this card in the mail--once again, I'm getting my card created past the actual birthday. Sorry Steve!

Spring/Summer CTMH Idea Book

Yes! On this; the coldest day of the year, I get to announce Close to My Heart's Spring/Summer Idea Book! How perfect is that? It is too cold and snowy to go outside, so it is a perfect day to look through this amazing catalog and start your wish list! Here are some pictures of artwork created with the new paper packs:

Sweetheart

Sophia

Miracle

Mayberry

Lucky

Bliss

Wings

Go to my Close to My Heart website to browse through this beautiful new Idea Book. You can even place an order right there too!
Stay tuned for an upcoming workshop using Flip Flaps and the New Miracle Level 1 paper pack!