Cozy Up Scrapbook Layouts

Even though the July-August catalog has retired, you can still find the Cozy Up and Cape Cod collections on my website while supplies last.  I used the Cozy Up collection, including the Cozy Up scrapbooking stamp set and Thin Cuts, to create three layouts about a trip we took to the Biltmore Estate.

I started with a sketch from the Gnomes for Autumn scrapbooking workshop but using Cozy Up instead.  On this close up of the left page, ignore the glare on the photos thanks to the flip flaps (my favorite way to add more pictures to my layouts).

Now here are the first two flip flaps opened up to reveal more photos and my journaling.  (Ignore the white strips that will be removed to adhere them to my page protector when I put the layout in my 2018 album.)

I used three 4x6 flip flaps (with two different orientations) to add five more photos and journaling to this page.

The right page isn't interactive.

My second layout is about the same trip but with a focus on cousins playing a fun game together.

The third layout is the final one from this trip when the exhibit was beautifully lit at night.

Be sure to grab the Cozy Up collection, flip flaps, new products, and more right HERE!

Happy Birthday, America!

God bless America, land that I love! May you and yours have a happy and safe 4th of July weekend! Don't forget that freedom isn't free and remember our troops this holiday weekend.

The girls are attending a birthday sleepover while Hubby & I party at my sister's BBQ. (Remember when all the parties used to be here?) Though I don't feel up to partying with my awful head cold, I figure I can sit around, visit, and watch the action. Both girls serve at church Sunday, then look for us at the lake. Enjoy your weekend!


This little festive rosette was so fun to make and came together in a snap. Jeanette Lynton's Color Me Monday "Fireworks" palette and the Cherry-O paper pack were my inspiration, as was a 4th of July rosette banner that I saw somewhere on the web. I think this qualifies me for the H2H challenge this week too (patriotic stripes). I started with a 4.75"x12" piece of B&T that reminds me of cotton ticking and distressed the two long edges with Desert Sand ink. I cut a piece of the Tulip & Crystal Blue B&T at about 3.5"x12", also distressed with Desert Sand, and glued it down the center of the first piece. Fan-fold this piece, tie together in the middle with hemp, and then open up and glue the ends together to make the rosette base.

On the Cherry paper I stamped "4th of July" from the retired July Word Puzzle stamp set after inking it up in Tulip & Outdoor Denim (rock 'n roll technique, modified). I used the "out of the box" technique for cutting out the circle: I didn't cut all the way around so that I could hand-trim around the little cherries. Can you see the shine of the Liquid Glass on those two? I cut the scalloped circle a bit larger (maybe too large) with my Pazzles on a piece of scrap Outdoor Denim (from the You Rock paper pack).

After letting the rosette dry, I attached the center medallion. It needed a little something, so I added the Outdoor Denim twill bow at the top and then hung it on our front door. Happy 4th of July, y'all!

P.S. As a follow up, I was so excited to be named a "Friday Five" at the H2H challenge blog! Thank you!!!

Make It From Your Heart

If you love Close To My Heart products, then you will love the new Make It from Your Heart Art Gallery. Go check it out! You won't be disappointed, and you'll want to bust out your stamps and papers. What will you create?

Top 10 at 10!

No, I'm not bringing you a Top 10 radio program, but since today is my 10th anniversary with Close To My Heart (I'm just a wee bit excited here!), I thought I'd share my Top 10 favorites about being a CTMH consultant (in no particular order because they're all the best):

1. I get a great discount on THE BEST stamping and scrapbooking products!

2. My business supports my addiction, NO I mean therapy, NO, um, hobby. [How do you strikethrough on Blogger, BTW?!?]

3. The friendships I’ve made are treasured gifts.

4. Spending time with family and friends while creating is ’da bomb!

5. Helping others preserve their photos or create a card for a loved one is so fulfilling.

6. Seeing someone’s face light up or hearing their heartfelt thanks because you made them something is priceless.

7. The Close To My Heart mission is truly a way of life and how the company operates. "We show you how to celebrate relationships through the art of scrapbooking and stamping. Faster. Simpler. Easier."

8. With all the training CTMH provides, being a consultant is easier than ever. [See "Faster. Simpler. Easier."] I have even earned my CTMH Ph.D, all through online training at my convenience! (Wanna see my gorgeous pin?)

9. I work when I want to. Sometimes I even work in my jammies (when I'm prepping projects, not when I'm teaching others!). [Hmm, a pajama scrapbook party would be fun! ]

10. Play time is work time and work time is play time!

Tell me what you love about Close To My Heart. If you don't already what the fuss is about, let me show you!

New Catalog Artwork

{Scroll down if you're looking for the January stamp of the month blog hop!}

Enjoy a slide show of some great projects made with new 2010 Close To My Heart products: stamp sets, paper packs, embellishments, oh my!

Thank you to the following consultants who contributed to this artwork: Anne Beck, Debi Barber, Teri Baxter, Michelle Bourlet, Diane Buzzell, Neely Dean, Haley Dyer, Francene Ferrante, Judy Faye Garner, Kelly George, Marianne Hancock, Cherri Hardcastle, Carol Harris, Carolyn Lincoln, Carol Loftus, Tambur McDonald, Stacy Park, Melissa Robinson, Pam Thorn, Xellina Wieland, and Sheila Wilkerson.

Love Canvas

You may recall that I won an incredible canvas from the fabulously talented Tresa Black (blog candy from her blog). Thank you, thank you, thank you, Tresa! It arrived in a timely manner, and I have finally decided on a picture to go on it.

Tresa said that the canvas could be turned either as shown at right or how I ended up using it (at left). I just had to take off the ribbon with the metal slide and reattach it the other way. Oh so clever, right? Then I just added my picture and voila.


This beautiful canvas is now hanging in my dining room. It goes so well with the rose and cranberry accents already in there!

Here are close ups of all the gorgeous elements Tresa put on this canvas.

If you'd like to learn how to make this amazing paper rose- from none other than the Stamp Goddess herself- click HERE.

Here's my contribution. ;) (A photo of a photo isn't all that great, but you get the idea!) The girls were three years and five months old.

Thank you again, Tresa, for this beautiful work of art!

September Stamp of the Month BLOG HOP Participants

Here is the complete list of Close To My Heart consultants participating in the September stamp of the month blog hop. Feel free to hop on and off as time allows!

Jena DeVries
http://www.livelovelaughscrapbook.blogspot.com/
Nona Davenport
http://www.nonapearl.blogspot.com/
Katy Donaldson
http://www.scrappinkaty.blogspot.com/
Cibele Glazer
http://www.flowerfoot.blogspot.com/
Laura Dame
http://www.thecroppersconnection.blogspot.com/
Lori Leng
http://www.pinkcloudscrappers.blogspot.com/
Jamia Bankhead
http://www.papermadnessinc.blogspot.com/
Melissa Laverty
http://www.fancymelissa.blogspot.com/
Pamela OConnor
http://www.cherishyourmemories.blogspot.com/
Sheila Bennett
http://sheila-bennett.blogspot.com/
Adeline E. Brill
http://adeline-brill.blogspot.com/
Wendy Kessler
http://www.myscrapbookingblog.com/
Beth Naumann
http://www.bethscreativeblock.blogspot.com/
Barbra Otten
http://barbraotten.blogspot.com/
Terrie Dodd
http://www.my-life-in-real-time.blogspot.com/
Judy Burger
http://makingtimeformemories.blogspot.com/
Jessica Booth
http://jessicabooth.blogspot.com/
Leisa Hubley
http://www.bigredscraps.blogspot.com/
Helen Onulak
http://www.hookedonstamping.com/
Debra Van Patten
http://memoriesoftheheartbydeb.blogspot.com/
Juli Clark
http://www.thestampteacher.blogspot.com/
Sarita Schraeder
http://www.blessedscrapper.blogspot.com/
Michelle Robinson
http://www.amaizenbluelady.typepad.com/
Maricar Harris
http://www.maricarharris.blogspot.com/
Antoinette Herrin
http://www.godblessyourart.blogspot.com/
Kathleen Androlewicz
http://bowlofstamps.blogspot.com/
Cindy Leek
http://www.paperspadsandpictures.blogspot.com/
Dawn Heuft
http://www.stamptildawn.blogspot.com/
Barbara Harris
http://www.paper-creations117.blogspot.com/
Alanna Moses
http://www.damoses.blogspot.com/
Laurie Levnik
http://www.creationsbylaurie.blogspot.com/
Tanya David
http://www.scramperscorner.blogspot.com/
Karen Norman
http://www.gettinscrappywithit.blogspot.com/
Jan Moxey
http://scrapandstamp4ever.blogspot.com/
Tammy Lea Pinchard
http://mycreativeclubhouse.blogspot.com/
Paige Dolecki
http://www.paigespaperparadise.blogspot.com/
Kelly Triggs
http://www.stampinallday.blogspot.com/
Sherry Thompson
http://www.picturespatternsandpaper.blogspot.com/
Deb Young
http://www.scrapbookczar.blogspot.com/
Nancy Ball
http://www.ballisticdesign.blogspot.com/
Chris Shouse
http://www.houseostamps.wordpress.com/
Dawn Ross
http://www.iamahappystamper.blogspot.com/
Brae Montgomery
http://thebrae-er.blogspot.com/
Laurie R Newton
http://scrapsfromthebeach.blogspot.com/
Haley Dyer
http://www.inkyscrapper.blogspot.com/
Carol Taggio
http://craftycarol55.blogspot.com/
Amy McVey
http://www.clearlystamping.blogspot.com/
Carla Ironside
http://www.carlacreates.blogspot.com/
Jen Rubio
http://www.jenrubio.blogspot.com/
Kristie Horness-Herdener
http://www.goofyscrapper.blogspot.com/
Jill Lucas
http://scrapwench.blogspot.com/
Wanda Riley
http://www.creatingwithwanda.blogspot.com/
Miranda Kurz
http://www.scrampinwithmiranda.com/
Jody Gustafson
http://www.cre8nmemories.blogspot.com/
Susan Brooks
http://www.stampingintheopen.blogspot.com/
Kami Welter
http://www.scrappin4memories.blogspot.com/
Jennifer Patrick
http://www.roxybonds-scrappin.blogspot.com/
Julia Menssen
http://www.ralphandjulia.blogspot.com/
Shannon Pelletier
http://www.mycolorfulworldinvt.blogspot.com/
Linda Shewchuk
http://www.awesomememories.blogspot.com/
Brenda Harmless
http://keepsakeswithheart.blogspot.com/
Donni Alvarenga
http://www.donniscreativetherapy.blogspot.com/
Traci Godbee
http://createwithtraci.blogspot.com/
Pam Klassen
http://eimmap.blogspot.com/
Lori Miller
http://www.clearlyfromtheheart.blogspot.com/
Kimberly Smith
http://verykimberry.blogspot.com/
Caren Goldsein
http://www.scrappycaren.blogspot.com/

Misty Jackson
http://www.misstscraps.blogspot.com/

CTMH "Sneak Peek" Blog Hop

Welcome to the Close To My Heart New Product "Sneak Peek" Blog Hop! Twenty-nine (or is it 30?) hip (and hoppin') CTMH consultants have joined together to celebrate the release of the Autumn/Winter 2009 Idea Book by giving you a sneak peek of some of the fabulous new products. The new Idea Book will be available September 1, so enjoy your weekend getting some great new ideas. (If you don't already have a CTMH consultant, ask me how you can get your very own copy of the new idea book, free!)

If you've come from Sheila's blog then you're hopping right along. If you're starting here, just keep on hopping by clicking the link at the end of my post! (You can see my previous post for a complete list of participants in case you get lost.)

For my card, I used the new Jingle papers. Though this paper pack was designed for the holiday season, it is way too much fun and versatile for just winter! (I have some birthday pictures that are going to get scrapped with this paper!) My card inspiration came from the Wishes sketch "Curtain Call." I used the Jingle polka dot paper to create this fun ruffle or pleat (to be featured in an upcoming Tuesday Tutorial) along with Tulip, Black, and White Daisy cardstock. The sentiments were stamped with the Thank You stamp set, which also includes a merci and gracias stamp (among many other thank you sentiments). The crotched flower and Tulip brad were the finishing touch. (All supplies are from Close To My Heart.)

Thanks for looking! Now hop on over to my friend Lisa's blog to see what amazing creation she's made this time. Enjoy these sneak peeks! Remember, the products featured in these projects will be available 9/1. Also, you're going to want to stop back by on 9/1 to see the September stamp of the month (and take part in another blog hop).

Top Secret Mission: Revealed

[Insert Mission Impossible theme music here.]

You cannot even begin to imagine my surprise when I received a phone call several weeks ago from a Close To My Heart Executive Director. Her first question after introducing herself was if I could I be sworn to secrecy. Okay!!!

Close To My Heart has just held its Leadership weekend in sunny California, and though I had decided not to attend this year, would I create and donate something for a silent auction to benefit Operation Smile? It had to be something a bit over-the-top since other Close To My Heart consultants would be bidding on items in the silent auction, and all proceeds would go to Operation Smile. She didn't have to ask me twice!!!


If you are not yet familiar with Operation Smile, I encourage you to go check out their website. They are committed to "changing lives one smile at a time," and they do this by repairing cleft lips and cleft palettes of children around the world. Can you believe that only $240 can completely change a child's life and repair his or her beautiful smile? Close To My Heart has partnered with Operation Smile, and I am happy to take donations to help this worthy organization. You can see why it was easy to say YES and stay quiet about this "top secret" project!

Since I was challenged to create something for other consultants, I settled on something I want for myself (and still haven't made!): a desk set. Here is the complete set. I used too many materials to list here, but I stuck with the Emporium paper pack. (Feel free to ask about any particular item. I'll be happy to share more info.)

I'm not sure how well Blogger will let me line up my text w/my photos, but I'll try.

binder clip to hold a photo


binder clip to hold your "to do" list










pencil cup (altered Crystal Light container) ~ I love making these things!!!

Love that button stamp set!!!

The actual pencils
(Thank you, Karen Pederson, for the "lollipop roses" tutorial! That's how I made the flower on the center pencil.)

Round coaster wall hanging ~ my favorite item in this collection (and the last minute final piece because I didn't think that I had enough "stuff" in the set! It's probably my favorite because I haven't made anything like it before, and I love how it turned out. You can't see in the photo, but there's a window charm on the clock face. It really looks like a clock, and if you know me, you know I have a thing for clocks and watches!)

5"x7" Seasons art
(I won first place in the consultant art contest in Dec. '08 w/this concept, and I figured that's why I even got the phone call in the first place to participate. I was smart this time and have made myself one too!)

Acrylic notepad holder (2" post-it notes; altered 3"x5" frame on its side instead of standing up)

Here's how the post-it holder looks sitting on your desk.

Mini notebook to record fave websites & blogs
(I stamped the inside top right corners w/the letters of the alphabet to make it easier to record the info and find it again. Hey! I should have put my info in there! LOL)

Another fave project: altered composition notebook
(I have a notebook similar to this- though not quite as "fancy"- that I keep my CTMH notes in. It's great to have a spot for my info that I can easily find!)

Now for the biggest news of all: My upline emailed me yesterday to say that with an hour left in the auction, the bid was was higher than I would have ever dreamed!!!!!!!!!! I can't wait to find out the total and the generous consultant who will be making such a difference in a child's life. I am still tearing up as I think about it! I feel so honored to have been asked to participate and to help make a difference, one smile at a time.

P.S. I just found out that the auction raised about $5000 for Operation Smile! Woohoo!!! :)

"Vacation" in Atlanta

My mom, my sister and her two boys, my girls, and I all spent a few nights at my brother's house in Atlanta while he and my BIL are in the Keys fishing. (For some reason Logan did not want to go with us. He used work as his excuse, but I don't think that was the real reason!)

On Sunday, Mom and I took the girls to the High to see the Monet exhibit. Having seen most of Monet's work in France (I mean hanging in the Musee d'Orsay, the Musee Marmottan, at l'Orangerie, and at Giverny), I was looking forward to seeing what was on loan from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Though the exhibit was small, I was not disappointed. Sorry the photo quality is not great, but it was the best that I could do considering I wasn't even supposed to be using my camera! How was I supposed to know that cell phone photography permitted meant ONLY cell phones? I knew better than to use my flash.)

If you're thinking about visiting the Monet exhibit, hurry because it leaves next month. We also toured the final Louvre Atlanta exhibit. I was disappointed in it; it was not nearly as good as the first year.

On Monday, we took all the kids to Fernbank (notice that the boys did NOT go to the High!). They had a blast at the various hands-on exhibits, especially the bubble table.

We did quite a bit of shopping for back-to-school clothes and found some great bargains at T.J. Maxx and Filene's Basement.

Thanks, Bike Dude, for letting us crash at your pad!

July Stamp of the Month Swap Art

Did you enjoy yesterday's stamp of the month blog hop? I sure did!

I am so amazed by all the talented artists in the papercrafting world!!!

Speaking of talented artists, here are my monthly swappers' submissions. We all used the Moon Doggie paper pack (colors are Cranberry, Indian Corn Blue, Garden Green, and Desert Sand). Aren't these ladies wonderful?!? The first card, by Debra Van Patten, is a 5"x7" based on the "Medallion" sketch from Wishes. She used the "puddle pad" technique on the focal image. Drop reinkers onto felt to create your own rainbow pad. Cool!

The second card is a 6"x6", also from Wishes, called "Keep it Level," created by Katy Donaldson. Don't you love her attention to detail inside and out?

Kelly Hammonds created this 12"x12" layout (based on the Cherish "Pleasing Paradigm" sketch). I love how she used the stamped images as photo corners. So clever! She also used the color ready alphabets for her lettering, and she was able to color them with Honey ink to match her layout.

Laura Bohall made these two great cards.

Misty Blankenship combined multipe images on this gorgeous tropical card. Isn't it amazing how her colors are so different from the other combos, yet they all come from the same collection? I love the versatility and variety Close To My Heart offers.

Melinda Everitt created this beautiful bookmark. Wouldn't this make a great gift for a special bookworm?

As always, thanks for stopping by!