Happy Anniversary to ME! Oh, and My Hubs!

Today is my wedding anniversary, so the kids have off school.  LOL!!!  Did you believe that?  They actually are off school, but that's for President's Day, hee, hee!  ;)

Anyhow, it really is our anniversary, and let me tell you, 18 years is a pretty long time to live with someone, especially someone who leaves the toilet seat in the UP position in the middle of the night!  We have had our share of rough weather for sure, but we would not have come to the place we are today without a lot of love AND a lot of prayer.  This card pretty much says it perfectly...

I fell in love with the sentiment from this card from the second I read it, and it really does sum us up pretty well...

My man is not a sailor, but he is the Popeye to my Olive.  *giggles*

He definitely eats his spinach, so I love the manly-man theme all these elements are able to pull off together.  I used several products from Close to My Heart for this cluster, including the Durables Triangle Studs (how fitting, lol), Midtown Cork Shapes, Ariana Paper Packet, and the Outdoor Denim Chevron Ribbon.

I also accented the inside of this card with some other stamps from the Tommy Workshop set.  My anchor in troubled waters...Happy Anniversary, and may we come through a few less storms from here on out!  ;)

I don't want to forget to tell you that I based this card off Pattern 22 from Make it From Your Heart Volume 1.  This soft-bound book if packed full of patterns and ideas for both scrapbooking AND cardmaking with 30 patterns in all.  There are two volumes to choose from, and each one is only $7.95!  :)

You can find any of the items I used above and the offers below on my website!

Happy National Scrapbook Day!

It's May 4th, and National Scrapbook Day!  What are you doing to celebrate?  I wanted to share a layout I made from Close to My Heart's Make it From Your Heart Volume 1 to start the day off right.  This soft cover how-to book contains 16 two-page layouts, 2 single page layouts, and 12 card patterns all for only $7.95.

You can tell from the pics and watermark that I took these quite a while ago!  They somehow never made it to my blog, though, so better late than never!

I used one of the single-page patterns to create this title page for my Spring Break album.  I love the shapes in the layout, and best of all the easy way it allows you to fit two 4 x 6 photos on one page.  This is perfect for those pictures that you cannot crop.  The Florentine papers I used are retired, but these layouts are easily reproduced using ANY of your papers and cardstock.  All the cut sizes are provided for you in the book--you just plug in the papers and embellishments!   It is a handy resource for both beginning and experienced scrapbookers.

I hope to get some scrapping finished today with my new Dream Pop paper, and will be playing along with Big Picture Classes' Creative Crop at noon today.  I hope you get some pages finished too!  Have a fantastic day, and don't forget to add some SPARKLE!  :)

Thinking Warm Thoughts in Layout Form

Hello everyone!  It has been a fast and furious few days in my life.  In case I haven't said it lately, thanks so very much for stopping in to read my blog and see what I have been up to in my craft room.

Today I wanted to share this layout I made by using the first book in the new series by the amazing founder of Close to My Heart, Jeanette Lynton.  Make It From Your Heart, Volume 1 contains the instructions for making 18 layouts and 12 cards with easy-to-follow pictures and cutting guides.  At just $7.95, this publication is a wonderfully affordable way to boost your creativity.

My layout is made with pictures from one of our family trips to Florida.  It is a bit chilly here in the midwest as of late, so I needed to feel some warmth with these beautiful beach pics to keep me holding on until spring break finally arrives.  I used pattern number 12 on page 28.

The gray spotted paper is from a special paper packet Close to My Heart had a while back called Dotty for You.  The shades of blue are Sky, Dutch Blue (retired), and Outdoor Denim.

I used two different My Acrylix sets for this layout, the retired Footloose Workshop on the Go (shell and sand dollar) and the currently available Just Chillin' (bucket.)  A few Opaques added some pretty pearls to my beachy scene.

These wooden shapes are also no longer available, but were just the perfect touch for my layout.  

I did add some extra photos to my layout, so it is a bit different from Jeanette's layout, but that is the beauty of our How-To books!  You get all of the design ideas without handcuffs!  ;)

I wanted to also let you know that two of our previously discontinued How-To books are back with our Spring and Summer Idea Book and more affordable than EVER!  They are now in a softcover edition for only $14.95 each!

 Reflections contains 100 scrapbook layouts.

 Originals gives you 100 card patterns to choose from!

Check them out by clicking on the links above.  Jeanette is brilliant, and they have truly become indispensable tools in my craft room.  :)

LOVE this Layout!

Hello fellow paper junkies!  Well, a couple of treats for you today.  First, I was able to get my hands on the BRAND NEW how-to-publication from Close to My Heart!  This is the series that replaces our former Hardcover books like Reflections and Originals.  It is a catalog-style book called Make It from Your Heart Volume 1 and features 16 two-page layout patterns, two single-page patterns, and 12 different card patterns inspired by Jeanette Lynton's Let Me Show You How philosophy.  I was sooooo excited to see this, and let me tell you, I am very pleased!  The framed page on the front of the cover even inspired me to make one just like it!  I spent the better part of the night working on it.  This is the cover photo:

And this is my version!  :)

I used my Art Philosophy Cartridge and Cricut Expression 2 to cut out an entire sheet of 1" circles on Colonial White and Smoothie Cardstock.  I chose Tulip as the base of the page and centered the sheet of cut Smoothie over it after trimming.  Finally, I added the 1" circles strategically between the two.  I used a temporary adhesive to tack the Smoothie sheet onto the retiring Tulip (sniff) until I had all the circles down tight.  I LOVE the effect!!!  The matting on the right side of the page was also cut on my cricut in Colonial White and Chocolate.

 These beautiful flowers are from the new Just Blooms Floret Paper Flowers.  I also used the Tulip ribbon from the soon retired Designer Ribbon Red Collection.  A brad and an Opaque Gem made perfect additions to the centers. 

 New My Acrylix Stamp Set Alert!!!  I used Frame It Up (available Aug 1st!) to stamp the outside of this Bible verse from the He Is Risen set.  Both are in Cocoa Ink...the Chocolate just wasn't dark enough for me, so I mixed the papers and inks.  Also seen above are the new Sparkles Assortment Brown and Tan!  LOVE!  The green swooshes are from the Stella Compliments which will still be in the new Idea Book--yay!

I decided to journal all the when, where, and who on these flags.  The bottom sentiment is from another new My Acrylix--Love Blooms.  To balance the corner with the flowers, I added this lovely cross which I stamped in Cocoa from the He is Risen My Acrylix set.

Are you brave enough to give this background a try?  ;)

OK, so I said at the beginning that I had two treats for you, so here is the second:  During the month of August, you can join my CTMH team for only....are you ready for it......$49!!!!  YEP!  You can start your own business for only $49!  But wait, there's MORE!  There were some absolutely adorable bags that they gave the consultants at convention this year...and you will receive one when you sign up absolutely free until they run out!!!  Do not wait to jump on this offer.  Here is what you will receive in your Essentials kit for $49:

The FREE Bag!

 

 Approximately $130 retail value!

Only $49!
Includes a Read Me First Letter, Current Idea Books (qty. 3), Hostess Order Forms (qty. 5), Customer Order Forms (qty. 5), Close To My Heart Color Swatches (W471), Autumn/Winter 2012 B&T Duos® Sampler (W1115), Petite Perks™ Nature’s Delight Incentive Stamp Set (W2023), Avonlea Complements Canvas Shapes (X7155C), Workshops on the Go™ Avonlea Scrapbooking Kit (G1045), My Creations® Recipe/Photo Box (Z1322), Color-Ready Canvas Alphabet (Z1777), Chocolate Exclusive Inks® Pad (Z2111), Slate Exclusive Inks® Pad (Z2173), My Acrylix® Glamour Lowercase Stamp Set (D1522), My Acrylix® Perfect Fit—Frames Stamp Set (D1527), 3" × 3" My Acrylix® Block (Y1006), and a 2" μ 3½" My Acrylix® Block (Y1009).

(Some items may not be shown. Contents subject to change.)

Now, If you want even MORE business supplies to start out with, you can get the $99 Master kit with the following added:

Includes everything in the Essentials kit
plus more supplies and 5 Studio J® layouts. Approximately $280 retail value!

Only $99!

Current Idea Books (qty. 7 more), You Are Welcome Here
Recruiting Brochures (W1151) (qty. 25), The Rewards Come Now
Hostess Brochures (W1150) (qty. 25), 5 Studio J® Layouts (redeem within 3 months, not shown), Studio J® Brochures (W111/W111C) (qty. 5), Hostess Order Forms (W122/W122C) (qty. 20 more), Customer Order Forms (W101 / W101C) (qty. 20 more), Petite Perks™ Nature’s Delight Incentive Stamp Set (W2023) (qty. 4 more), Cello Bags (W1152) (qty. 25), My Acrylix® Stamp Scrubber (Z1782), My Acrylix® Spritz Cleaner (1778), Bonding Memories® Glue (1512), Sponge (Z697), Liquid Glass (Z679), Chocolate Exclusive Inks® Marker Set (Z2434), and Micro-Tip Scissors (Z534). (Some items may not be shown. Contents subject to change.)

Who's in on August 1st?!  :)  Contact me or click HERE for more info!