CTMH: Guest Book

We are busy getting ready to head to Guatemala on Saturday, but I really wanted to put up a post about artwork before my focus changes to our trip.
We've had some issues with our photos and photo storage and so I've been going through some old photos and sort of streamlining how they are organized.  I know, not something I really need to be doing right now, but sometimes I just need a break from all that's spinning around in my head!
Anyway, I came across these photos of Close To My Heart's 3-ring binder.  I made this to celebrate my dad's 66th birthday.  We had a big party for him.  Why on his 66th?  Well, I'm sheepishly hanging my head right now, we never got around to planning a party for his 65th.  Better late than never, right?

Here is the front.  I used images from a couple of stamp sets, the majority from the June 2010 Stamp-of-the-Month, Wonderful Friend.  The sentiment is from a set called A Little Everything, I think.  The colours of inks and papers are based on the Back Country paper pack.  Most of this is cardstock, but you can see one strip of patterned paper on the front.
Below are photos of the inside, where I stamped more images from the Wonderful Friend stamp set and used a line stamp from Comments.  People wrote messages to my dad on all these pages.

And of course I had to decorate the spine and back as well.  All of that is Olive cardstock stamped with Olive ink.  I also used Outdoor Denim cardstock and buttons with hemp, Cocoa cardstock and Barn Red cardstock.  The stamping on the front is done with Cocoa ink and some Outdoor Denim in second generation.  These four colours are used for the stamping inside as well, all in second generation, except the lines.  I love how it turned out.  My dad did, too.
Most of these items are now retired, but I hope this still inspires you in some way.

Until I post again from the Country of Perpetual Spring,
Happy Creating!

New Email Subscription

Just a quick post today, before I head out to pick up my kids from school.  It came to my attention (Thanks, Jacque!) that my email subscription wasn't sending out my posts.  I'm not sure why that was, so I just set up a new one.  If you'd like to get my posts delivered directly to your inbox, just pop your email address into the box on the right.

We're just 10 days away from heading to Guatemala!  I do plan to post one more time before we leave and while we're in Guatemala.  Hopefully the internet will be a bit more reliable than it was last time we were there.  We're staying at the same hotel, so fingers crossed!

CTMH: February SOTM Blog Hop

I'm very happy about this month's blog hop and this particular stamp-of-the-month set.  I love it!  Welcome to February's Stamp-of-the-Month Blog Hop.  We've got lots of consultants who are ready to inspire you with this fabulous stamp set, entitled Thoughtful Tidings.

If you've come from Dawn's blog, you're on the right track.  If you're starting here, just sit back, relax and enjoy.  Simply click at the links in each post and you'll come around right back here again.

February is also an exciting month because our new Idea Book goes live, and I'm quite sure you're going to see lots of new product.  I've created two items, one with old and retired (trying to use it up!) and one with new.  Here is my first project:

This is the goodie bag I made to give to the women who attended my most recent fundraising crop.  I forgot to take a photo before they were all handed out, so one of my team members took one and emailed it to me.  (Thanks, Tara!).  You might be thinking, this looks familiar.  I was inspired by the artwork in the Idea Book but put my own spin on it.  I cut the box with my Cricut.  In fact all the parts are cut with the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge.  The box is made with Sweet Leaf cardstock.  The Twilight paper is from Emporium, a retired paper pack, and the layered hearts are Vineyard Berry cardstock.  You can't see it very well, but I stamped "thank you", from the stamp set by the same name, on the top heart. The stamped border is from Boutique Borders, also retired.  There is a Filigree Charm added and I used the Chocolate Ribbon and some floss to tie it closed.  Everything has been stamped, and edge distressed with a sponge, in Chocolate ink.  I just love the sentiment and I know I'll be using it a lot.  It's been stamped on Colonial White.  I love hugs.  They just make my day and I have to say, my kids give the best ones!  

And here is my project with all new products!

This is the My Creations Milk Carton.  You get two in a pack.  They come with those neat little clips on the top.  They are not made of chipboard, but a much thicker cardstock paper and can be a bit tricky to fold up, but they're totally worth it.  I've decorated up both, one like this and the other with some real boy paper from Superhero, another new paper pack.  I'll try to post it soon.  I'm going to use them as Valentines gifts for my kids.  I've decorated this one with paper from Stella.  The flower is from the Stella Complements Canvas Shapes and the butterfly is from the Colour-Ready Accents Garden Wooden Shapes.  Yes, wooden!  They already have a dark edge, so no distressing needed.  I added our new Bitty Pearls on the body, along with a couple larger ones on the sentiment.  Again, everything has been sponged, including the canvas flower, this time in Cocoa.  I stamped the sentiment in Cocoa as well, but used White Daisy cardstock and found it just too bright for this paper, so I sponged the surface, too.  I should say that the inspiration for this project came from fancyMelissa.  You can see her version here.  

Now, just click on over to Lori's blog and enjoy the inspiration.  Remember, this stamp set is only available until the end of the month.  If you don't have a consultant, feel free to email me and I can get you hooked up with a set.

Happy Creating!

I'm featured on Studio J!

My "Good Water" layout is being featured on the Studio J blog!  I'm so excited and honoured.  Can't wait to show my daughter.  That's her in the photos.
Check it out here: http://www.studioj.com/blog/post/2012/01/17/Add-Extra-Shine-to-Your-Layouts.aspx
Thanks, Close To My Heart, for making me feel like a million bucks.

New Year, New Action

When the new year arrives, I always get a little, well, hard on myself.  I think about how I spent my time and how I really need to do better at all kinds of things.  It's easy for me to get bogged down in thinking these things.  And I guess that's a big part of the problem.  I just think about what I should be doing and how I should improve, what I need to do to reach my goals.  But's that's often where it ends.  Well, no more!  I'm just going to keep thinking, "Take Action" and I plan to create something to hang on my wall to remind me every day, that just thinking about how to improve will get me nowhere.  I must take action.  Melissa Laverty inspired me with her artwork.  You can check it out here.  I'll post my completed work when I get it finished.

So, one of the things I want to improve at is my blog.  I hope to have more regular postings.  Not sure what that's going to look like, yet, but I'm taking action and writing a post.

Here are a couple of old projects I created for gatherings.  I had some extra kits just sitting around, so I thought I'd make them up.  Now, I made them a while ago and these photos have been waiting patiently on my desktop for me to post about them.  If you notice the blog address on them, you'll see that it's been a long time!  But I'm taking action and finally posting about them!  :)

 Inside of this card:

Both these cards use the Emporium paper pack.  I love these cards and the owl on the second one looks so fun with googly eyes!

Think you might want to make fun cards like these?  Then book a home gathering with me.  I'm scheduling into February and March right now.  We can do one or two cards with you and your friends and family.  You'll even get some free product and a special hand-made gift from me.  If you've hosted for me in the past, you can expect a phone call next week.  I've got a special announcement just for you...  Stay tuned!

Happy Creating!

CTMH: January Stamp-of-the-Month Blog Hop

Happy New Year!  I can hardly believe that 2012 is upon us!  I'm sure you'll hear that a lot over the course of the blog hop.
If you've come from my friend, fancyMelissa's blog, you're on the right track.  Just keep hopping by clicking on links in each post and you'll get back to where you started.
Here is the stamp set, called A Little Reminder:

It's a great set for remember-the-date cards, highlighting a special event or you could play on the passage of time idea or even just recording the date on your scrapbook layouts.  I've been sick with a nasty cold for almost the entire month and figured I'd be better by now.  No such luck.  I haven't had the energy to do the necessary things and some crafting.  So, I will show you a photo of Close To My Heart's artwork and hopefully add some of my own in the very near future.

Just remember that this stamp set is only available until Jan. 31.  And since our Canadian prices are dropping to match the American, you can get it for $17.95 or for $5.00, with an order of $50.00!

Now, hop on over to Traci's blog and see what inspiration she has for you.

Enjoy ringing in the new year and celebrating with family and friends!  May there be many happy creating days ahead, for you and for me, as soon as I get over this cold!

Crop 'Til You Drop

I'm hosting another 12-Hour Fundraising Crop on Saturday, January 21 and I'd love to have you join us!

We'll be cropping away from 9am to 9pm.  Here are all the details:

Why: to raise money for a medical mission trip to Guatemala in Feb. 2012. My husband and I have been doing these trips with Speroway for a number of years.  Your fee will help put medicine into the hands of those who need them so badly. Place: Hope Fellowship Church, 1685 Bloor St. E.Courtice Cost: $50 for 12 hours, $35 for 6 hours plus dinner, $30 for 6 hours no dinner Registration Deadline: Monday, January 9. Register by December 31, with payment and you'll get a tax receipt for this calendar year. Fee includes: 6’ table all to yourself Snacks and coffee, tea, bottled water all day (and dinner if you've chosen that option) Use of stamps, inks, and other tools Swap table Giveaways and goodie bag Layout workshop using Wonderland (open for anyone not attending crop as well): $5 cost for one-page workshop additional $5 for coordinating page kit We'll also have another Dollar Auction, with the entire proceeds going directly to the costs for our trip. And enjoy an on-site scrapbook store! Julie from Sassy Scrappin' will be joining us. Sign up today!