More Thanks

I love the versatility of the November Stamp of the Month, A Little Thanks. Even if you don’t have thank you cards to create, it is still a great set!! I made this notepad holder using one of the stamps from this set—so cute!

This notebook is the perfect size to keep in your purse. I know I am constantly looking for a piece of paper to write on when I am out and about!

Just a Little Note notepad holder supplies

• Magnifique Level 2 paper pack
• November Stamp of the Month A Little Thanks
• Sparkles: Blue & Green Assortment
• Exclusive Inks: Lagoon & Chocolate
• 3-D Foam Tape
  
• notepad from Papertrey Ink

So Many Thanks!!

The month of November is the time we often stop to be thankful for the blessings in our lives. Perhaps you will take a moment to make a list and scrapbook about it, or maybe you will send a card to tell someone how much you appreciate them. However you choose to be thankful, CTMH has a way to make it a little easier and a lot more fun! This month’s Stamp of the Month is called A Little Thanks and it packs a whole lotta punch!

Purchase this set outright for just $22.95, get it at a discount or even FREE with a qualifying purchase. Just ask me how!!!!

Thanks for Everything card supplies:

• Magnifique Level 2 paper pack
• A Little Thanks stamp set
• Sparkles: Blue & Green Assortment
• Exclusive Inks: Lagoon, Pacifica, Bamboo
• 3-D Foam Tape

Boo to You!!!

Almost Halloween

Last weekend at the crop I hosted, I worked on some fun little Halloween treats to give to a few of my friends at work. I think they turned out pretty cute!!

I have had these cute buckets for a year or two. I am pretty sure I picked them up at the Target Dollar Spot.

  

I broke out some of my new PaperTrey Ink goodies (yes, I use products other than CTMH once in a while!) to make the tags—Tiny Treats: Valentines stamp set, and Mat Stack 1 die. PTI’s dies are to die for—LOL!! But seriously, they are the best dies I have ever used. Now I want them all!!!!!

Each bucket held a couple of Halloween pencils (Michaels), a Halloween band-aid (Michaels), a test tube (PTI) filled with skull & bones candy (Target), a cello bag (clearbags.com) filled with orange, green & purple M&Ms (Michaels), a sheet of monster stickers (Learning Palace), and……………..

a coffin (Michaels) filled with these cuties…………………….

Nutter Butter ghosts and…………….

 

Oreo mummies!!!! Aren’t these just adorable!!!! I have seen both of these cookie ideas several places on the internet and decided I had to try them out this year. I think they were a hit!

Have a safe & happy Halloween!!

October Rewind

On the eve of my second year of blogging, I thought it would be fun to revisit some of my favorite projects posted in Octobers past. I have seen this done on other blogs and I thought it was a fun idea! So without further ado:

October 2009—Happy Haunting card

 

October 2008—Boo! box with a *surprise* inside

A Cute Halloween Banner

One of my favorite websites is Two Peas in a Bucket. It is a great scrapbooking message board and gallery. I always find tons of inspiration there. I was looking through Halloween projects the other day and found this AWESOME banner (and since I don't have any new Halloween projects of my own to post, I thought I would share this one)....

 
It was made by this gal: Lori. Check out her blog--it is great! She has tons of fun project ideas and some great photography tips!!

On another note…..I have changed the date of the All-Day Crop and Grace Album Workshop to Saturday, October 23rd. Please register soon, as spaces are limited!!

More Christmas Goodness

Here is another little gem I made for my Quality Swap Group. I learned how to make this cute gift card holder from my CTMH sister, Amanda Moore, at our team retreat in August.

I used the October Stamp of the Month again, and the Mistletoe Creative Basics paper. Bitty Sparkles and Mocha Opaques add the finishing touches.

The small flap inside is a pocket to hold a gift card.

 

For the first one of these I made I used the new Magnifique paper pack, and it is GORGEOUS!!! I will share it later on—I don’t have it embellished yet, but plan to use it for a birthday gift. This little project is so versatile & great for any occasion!

October Stamp of the Month

Are you ready to start thinking about Christmas yet? I find it hard to focus on it until after Halloween most years. However, Christmas and papercrafting are ALWAYS a good combination. And the new CTMH Christmas line, Mistletoe, is too gorgeous to ignore!

I had fun with this paper set for my quality swap group. When I completed this card, I wasn’t sure I was happy with it. It seemed too plain. However, I have learned over the years to walk away from a project I am not happy with for a few hours and come back to it later, and I often find I actually like it as is. Once again, this proved true. When I came back and looked at this card the following day, it had a vintage (50s?) look to it to me. This snowman from the October SOTM is just too cute!!

 

You can also see used on this card the new Licorice Opaques (pearls) Z1335, the decorative brad is form the Mistletoe Level 2 embellishment pack Z1330 (which is GORGEOUS!), and the colored Sparkles Z1326. The sentiment is from the set Father Christmas D1449.

Grace Album Workshop

 
WHEN: Saturday, October 16th from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.—held during the All-Day Crop (or make it anytime on your own with the included cutting directions & color photos)

BRING: paper trimmer & adhesives

COST: $25 (includes 9"x9" accordion album and all papers & embellishments)

***RSVP & payment due by Tuesday 10/12***

This project uses:

• 9” x 9” My Creations Memory Showcase
• Grace Level 2 paper packet (1/2 of pack)
• Grace My Stickease Assortment
• Opaques Pearl Adhesive Gems

Even More Hooligans

Here are a few more projects made by my good friend, Dawn Ross. I just love how her projects show the versatility of this paper pack is. I can’t wait to make some birthday cards with it!!

Love this card!! And I especially love how Dawn used one of the new Shimmer Designer Brads for the moon! How clever!!!

I just love the colors in this new paper pack—including Lagoon (blue), Pear (green) and Sunset (orange). They are so bright and cheery!!

And look at the great new Mini-Medleys available in those same new colors! Buttons and ribbons and brads, oh my!!!

Isn’t that little monster from the Party Animal stamp set just adorable??

Thanks, Dawn, for sharing your BEAUTIFUL projects with us!!!

Another Look at Hooligans

Look at these cute little guys!! I just love them! They are part of the exclusive stamp set that comes with the Hooligans Workshop on the Go. The best thing about these little critters is that the body parts are all separate stamps so you can mix and match to make all sorts of them!

 

My good friend and fellow CTMH sister, Dawn Ross, made this cute card and the one below. Check out all her amazing work on her blog, I am a Happy Stamper.

Do you see that cute felt fellow? He is from the new Hooligans Level 2 Assortment. I love how he coordinates so perfectly with the stamped critters. This is such a FUN set to work with!!

 

Oooh, and if you look carefully you will see that Dawn used some of the new Opaques (colored adhesive pearls). I am sooooo excited that CTMH is finally carrying these. They add the perfect touch to so many projects!!

Be sure to check back in the next day or two. I am going to share a couple more projects that Dawn made with Hooligans!!

Back Into the School Routine

As much as I love the freedom summer brings me, I do have to admit that it is sort of nice to be back into the old routine. Don’t get me wrong—I would take retirement in a second if someone offered me enough money—but the routine of school is nice!

On another note, I am getting a little bit excited about Halloween already!! Perhaps it is because of the cute stamps and papers that CTMH just released. It could also be because of the fun things I got to make for my Quality Swap group.

I used the new Hooligans paper pack and the September Stamp of the Month for these two projects. Look carefully and you will see goodies from the new color Mini-Medleys—Pear (green) and Sunset (orange). You can also see two other YUMMY new colors used—Lagoon (blue) and Gypsy (purple).

6” x 6” card

Take a look at this cool skull from the September SOTM. The new colored Sparkles make a great addition! (This may date me, but it reminds me of “One-Eyed Willie” from the 80s movie, Goonies!)

This fun little treat holder is made with one of our 4” x 6” Flip Flap protectors. It is glued directly to the front of the Pear cardstock and the Gypsy paper is just slipped right inside the Flip-Flap. I attached the half-oval to the adhesive flap to make the “lid” and secured it with a piece of velcro. This would be cute with a gift card or movie tickets in it, too!

Oh, and I found this PERFECT skulls & bones candy at Target. They come in a really cute “beaker” that will be part of my Halloween decor this year. I may even have to go back and get another one!

I just love this paper, and even though I wasn’t sure about the SOTM when I first saw it, I do love it now that I’ve played with it and plan to make a few more things to use to decorate for Halloween. I’ll share more when I get them done!

I know I keep promising to post a schedule of upcoming workshops and events. Right now our schedule is C-R-A-Z-Y, but I do hope to sit down and look a the calendar sometime this week and get things planned out. So keep checking back!!

Plus, I will be posting other projects made by my swap group over the coming weeks! The girls made some amazing things you won’t want to miss!!

Convention Excitement!!!

I am so excited about all the news that came from convention-goers this last weekend!! There are lots of great things in store with Close to My Heart this next season and I can hardly wait to share them with you all.

Here are a few key changes: 1. We are bringing out 8 new colors in the Summer palettes, and retiring eight.  2. Hostess Plus rewards now start at $250 instead of $350. 3. Four beautiful new paper packs. 4. Colored sparkles and adhesive pearls!!!!

There are lots more exciting things in store that I will share in the next month or so. The Autumn/Winter Idea Book goes live on September 1st!!!

Now for something special from convention…….I was honored to be asked by corporate office to create something for the silent auction that is held at every convention. The proceeds from the auction benefit our charity—Operation Smile. It took me several weeks to decide what to make, but finally came up with this:

This office set uses the adorable Splendor paper pack and accessories. I don’t know how much it ended up going for, but I do know that at one point it was up to $70!!