Last Chance for these Throwback Thursday Favorites!

Hey everyone!  Just want to pop in and remind you that TODAY is the very last day to order several items in the Close to My Heart Spring and Summer Idea Book.  Here are some of my faves in the most monstrous version of Throwback Thursday if there ever was one!!!

Marquee White Enamel Shapes--GOTTA HAVE THESE!!!

Burlap Ribbon--AMAZING TEXTURE!!!

My friend Dana made this one!  :)

Zipper Lace in Lagoon and Hollyhock!  Yummo!!!

Ruby and Outdoor Denim Chevron Ribbon!

Chocolate Woodgrain Washi Tape!  STOCK UP NOW!!!

The Lollydoodle Workshop on the Go Cardmaking Kit!!!  OH THAT SENTIMENT!!!  And the SEQUINS!!!

Laughing Lola Papers and the Cityscape My Acrylix Stamp!

Wouldn't you know I JUST talked MYSELF into some of these again!!!  ;)

Makeover Monday Valentines with the Close to My Heart Cloud Nine Cardmaking Kit with Video

Are you having a good time with my Makeover Monday posts?  I am having a blast making the cards, so I hope so! 

Today I have some valentines to share with you that I made with several different paper packs along with the Close to My Heart special purchase for National Papercrafting Month--the Cloud Nine Cardmaking Kit.

I just love the variety possible with our cutting guides!  All I had to do was swap out the patterned paper that came with the kit to get several different looks...unfortunately, the papers are disappearing fast from our warehouses with the end of our Autumn and Winter Idea Book so the Chantilly and For Always are no longer available!  :(

Chantilly Paper Packet

For Always Paper Packet

Laughing Lola Paper Packet

The good news is that you can use ANY papers on this layout to create the same look by following the cutting guide included with the kit!  Here is a short video I made to tell you about the three brand new products coming out in the Close to My Heart Spring and Summer Idea Book that you receive with this kit:

You can only get this kit in January while they last, and supplies are halfway gone!  Visit my website to fill your cart with $35 in regular price products to be able to add this kit for only $15!!!  It had a retail value of $46, so it is quite the bargain!  The best part is that you will have plenty of product left to play around with your other papers!   Here is another peek at the My Acrylix set that is included:

Want to earn the kit for FREE?!?!

Check out the details HERE to see how you can do that AND invest in your creative side for FREE!!!

New Year=One Word

Happy Weekend, everyone!

I know that some of you are cozied up for a long winter's nap right now with some pretty frigid temps...ME TOO!  ;)  I am always amazed at how low the temp can go.  I believe it already!  No need to prove it any longer, lol.

Now, back to my blogging business at hand.  Please take a moment to read this...I know there are a lot of words, but I promise it is worth it!

I wanted to start off the year fresh, you know, that whole clean start, yada, yadda.  But I don't make resolutions.  Period.  If you recall the beginning of 2013, I was supposed to be rolling out a measly scrapbook layout a week, but that lasted about oh, 6 weeks if that!  If it happens, so be it.  Real life is just not scripted by you and me.

If you were with me at the start of 2013, you also might remember my word(s) for the year:  Never let anyone dull your SPARKLE!

remember that old watermark?  sigh...

I wanted to do a better job of keeping that ball rolling last year, I really did.  I sparkled, you all sparkled and left me lots of sparkle here which I thank you for!  I just wish I had spread it a bit wider.  Well, this year, I intend to keep on sparkling, so don't you worry!  I just have another little bitty word to throw in with it.  DANCE!

No, I am not taking dance lessons, lol!  In the days leading up to the New Year, I was in the midst of searching for my one word for 2014 when I happened to pull out my new Bible study called Make Over by Jen Hatmaker.  As I finished up the day's reading, my word hit me smack between the eyes!  Jen was talking about attitude and motivation when she said that it all really boiled down to one simple question...who are YOU dancing for?  The implications of that little sentence really hit me hard, and I knew that I had finally found my new word for 2014.  DANCE.

Here is the card I was inspired to make as my one word happened to coincide with the CAS-ual Fridays challenge: In A Word.  (Coincidences always happen when you are on the right path, my friends!)  I used the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches 117.

The background is stamped in Whisper Ink with the retiring (but still available until the end of January) My Acrylix Universal Backgrounds.  I use this set ALL the time! I used the pretty papers in the Laughing Lola Paper Packet, and my trusty Black glitter paper!  See that little touch of teal?  That is the brand new teal shimmer trim that is only available right now in our Cloud Nine Cardmaking Kit.  It will be available February 1st in the new Spring and Summer Idea Book!  :)  The word dance is welded together in the Cricut Craft Room using the font on the new Cricut Artbooking Cartridge.  LOVE!!!

Would you believe I actually, physically stitched the line of black waxy flax on this one?  I cannot believe it either! I used my piercing tool and ruler like this...

I needed a sentiment for the inside since I have no stamps with just the right words.  I used my Close to My Heart Glamour Glitter Alphabet stickers to make my own...

Not your neighbor's beat.  Not that gorgeous supermodel's beat.  Not the beat of your grandmother.  YOUR beat.  Maybe your beat will be similar to mine if we are dancing for the same reason, but it sure won't be the same dance!

Well, my crafty friend, I hope you stop in to see what I am up to frequently this year, and no matter what, I hope you dance!  And if you happen to sparkle while you're dancing, then you just might be dancing for all the right reasons!  :)

My upline is having another month of daily challenges, #projectaday, and this one fit right along with today's--Use Scraps!  My banners are all scraps from previous projects.  Scraps are your friend!  ;)

Another Gift Card Holder from Artiste

Hi again, everyone! 

I am almost caught up on all the GREAT projects I have to show you in my stash.  In case you are out browsing for gift card holder ideas, I have one for you!  The Close to My Heart Artiste Cartridge has two wonderful gift card cuts to choose from.  I used the Laughing Lola Paper Packet to whip up a beautiful example for you to see!

I want the recipient of this gift to feel very special indeed, so it resembles an award ribbon.  :)  It also features one of my favorite ribbons, the Slate Satin Polka Dot Ribbon.  Get your hands on this gorgeous 1.5 inch wide ribbon before it disappears...they just added it to the retiring list!  Gasp!  The items on this list are only available while supplies last--except for the My Acrylix Stamps which are available until January 31st. 

I used black and silver shimmer trim and the slate striped twist ties to make these accents...yep, I inked one side of the twist ties in Gypsy!   I used the My Acrylix sets from the Artiste Collection and the Frame Flair My Acrylix to stamp the different elements of the sentiment in Black, Crystal Blue, and Gypsy.  Each of the shapes is cut out on my Cricut to match the stamps!  This is one of my favorite features of our three Cricut collections!

The inside panels of the card are simply matted CS rectangles.  The Black really sets off the pop of white.  I used a sentiment from the Perfect Fit Thanksgiving My Acrylix on the bottom corner.  I adore the font in this set!

I spent my gift card, so had to use CS to show where it goes, lol!

Not too long ago, I posted up a cute Christmas themed gift card holder. using this same cut.  In case you missed it, check it out HERE!  :)  There are so many ways to dress this one up!

And now, let me share a secret with you!  Get ready for some awesome deals!!!

Sneak Peek of the Close to My Heart Picture My Life Collection

Hi everyone!  I have the most exciting news!  Corporate has released some brand new images of the new Picture My Life scrapbooking system that will debut in the next Idea Book!  I wanted to share the amazing pics with all of you!

For those of you familiar with the Project Life scrapbooking method, this will look pretty familiar.  I had been looking into it myself to see if I could incorporate any of my current CTMH supplies to that system--and now I won't even have to since Close to My Heart is so amazingly awesome at keeping up with the current trends!  :)

Here they are!

What do you think?!  I didn't caption the pics on purpose because I want to see if you notice anything about these papers...does anything look familiar to you?

These are all based on current or past Close to My Heart Paper Packets!!!  How awesome is that?!  These coordinate with Avonlea, Babycakes, Chantilly, Later Sk8ter, Laughing Lola, and Surf's Up!

Want to be one of the first to get your hands on one of these kits?  I know I do!  Well, right now, when you join my team and sell your first $300 of product by March 31, 2014, YOU can choose one of these amazing programs for FREE!  Each set features 122 double-sided cards, a 12 x 12 cover page, plus 10 unique memory protectors to capture your life as it happens.  There are 8 different themes to choose from (yep, they are keeping two of them under wraps,) and each one is based on a popular My Reflections paper packet!  Do you think there is a chance we will see one with Stella's beautiful papers?  A girl can dream!  :)

Are you a die-hard CTMH scrapbooker?  Bonus #2 for signing up to be a consultant is that you just won't have to wait so long to get your hands on this awesome new product plus you receive an instant discount!  The program goes live to the public next February, but as a consultant, you can already purchase your kits at the consultant price in January to play with and get to know your new products!  
Bonus #3 for becoming a consultant on my team, Been There, Blinged That, is that you will receive all the help and guidance you need to get your business up an running from me!  I can help you with the behind the scenes experience to get off on the right foot.  It doesn't matter if you live near or far either.  Technology has made it possible for us to stay connected in ways other than a face to face group meeting, so you can totally learn that way if you so choose--I did!  My upline lives over halfway across the country!  That didn't stop me from learning from her though, and made me take charge of some of my own resources.  My team has their own FB page were we can all learn together and stay on top of the action!  :)

If you would like any more information about this opportunity, please do not hesitate to contact me here or at mimimyselfandi@outlook.com.  I am here to help!