Third Place Finish!!!

Well, I am just as thrilled as can be that I finished third in the Close to My Heart Facebook contest for National Scrapbook Month.  Thank you all so much for the votes and words of encouragement.  It helps that my wonderful director, Mandy Leahy took first place!  Congrats, Mandy!!!

 I also need to say thank you to my peeps who attended my Kick-off Extravaganza.  It was a wonderful turnout, and a great success!  I was able to donate $40 to My friend Jenny to support her in the Relay For Life 2012.  Those of you who were able to score a Dotty for You Paper pack, you are one of the last few who did--they went like hotcakes and are now SOLD OUT! 

How shocking that the month went by so fast!  I am not quite sure how this is the last day of May.  It was also my kids' last day of school, so summer, here we come!  :)

I just want to share with you quickly the adorable letters that I decorated for my Studio.  I bought them at Michael's, and spiffied them up with some of my favorite Close to My Heart B&T Duos Paper Packs and embellishments.

A few close-ups of our fabulous embellishments:
Hemp and Bohemian Assortment button and flower

 Just Blooms Paper Shapes and Pearl Opagues

 Chocolate spotty ribbon round

Kick-Off Extravaganza Gathering is here!!!

Today is the big day!  It is my official Kick-Off Extravaganza to start my business with Close to My Heart.  I am both excited at the prospects and very nervous too!  I have been pouring over the Idea Book for quite some time, so I am ready to do this!  If anyone out there would like to place an order but are unable to make it to my Gathering, HERE is the link to my website.  Remember, Dotty for You is almost gone!  You only have until May 31st to place a $35 order from the Spring/Summer Idea Book in order to get your pack for only $5.  Be sure to get it now--don't wait!  Here is a pic of the pattern side.  The reverse side is an adorable dots pattern in several different coordinating colors.

 The other limited time offer for May is the Friendship Bouquet Stamp of the Month.  You can get it only until May 31st at regular price, OR for only $5 with a $50 purchase!  That is almost a $13 savings!  Here are two cards I made with the beautiful sunflowers and sentiments in the set:

 Also, just a reminder that half of my earnings will be donated to sponsor my friend Jenny Beguin in the 2012 Relay For Life of Oswego and Montgomery, IL.  She is participating in honor of her friend, Jen who lost her battle with cancer recently.  I hope to really make this a big success.  Thanks so much for your support of Mimi, Myself, and I!  We have been having quite the time with our creative side.  ;)

We Interrupt This Craft Blog...

OK, so this isn't a post about a cool craft I made or anything.  This is a post about a mission.  A little, actually no--A BIG voice spoke to me yesterday afternoon and you just don't ignore that BIG voice, because it is always right.  So I took action.

I recently scheduled my Close to My Heart Kick-Off Extravaganza Gathering and sent out the Evites to as many friends as I had emails, lol.  I posted on my FB business page and continued merrily browsing away.  The VERY first post I saw was from a friend that is participating in the 2012 Relay For Life Oswego/Montgomery and was asking for donations. * Enter THE BIG voice * Yep--it told me that I should donate half of my commissions from my kick-off to sponsor her.  What???  I helplessly replied.  But it was useless to question my own thinking at that point because I LOVED THE IDEA!!!  I was absolutely consumed with it by two seconds after it popped into my head.  I made the big announcement on my FB page later that evening, actually yesterday to be exact, lol.  After a bit of hilarious confusion on the part of my wonderful target, who is walking/running in memory of her friend who just recently lost her battle with the horrid beast that is cancer, she realized what was going on.  Oh the JOY of that moment.  It was fabulous.  And I want this donation to be fabulous too.  I want it to be three figures of fabulous.

Here is the link to my Kick-Off Extravaganza Event.  If you feel so inclined, use it to place your order by the date of the actual event, May 26th.  All orders to be counted toward this goal must be placed by that date--I can't get them in later because of the computer system.  You may also contact me by leaving a comment here with your contact information to place an order.  If you go directly to my website without this link, then make sure you choose to join the Kick-Off Extravaganza before checking out, or on the home page first.  Do not hesitate to contact me with any questions.

Just a couple of ordering thoughts.  We have two specials going on.  In May, with a $35 order of Spring/Summer items you can add the Dotty for You paper pack of 24 fun double-sided papers for only $5.   Also, we always have a Stamp-of-the-Month set available one month at a special price of $5 with a $50 purchase.

Cancer sucks any way you slice it.  I am also donating in memory of many I know that have lost their battles with cancer and those who still struggle with it daily.  Hopefully with continued support and research we can give it the knock-out punch soon.