March Workshop with Close to my Heart!

I've been a CTMH consultant for a few months now and really love their products. They are good quality and also EVERYTHING is already color coordinated for you. I want to jumpstart my business by teaching workshops each month. My March workshop is this little (5x5 inch) picture cube. How cute is this??? This was made with all Close to my Heart products. I used the new Emporium papers to cover the My Creations Cube and added some ribbon, flowers and stickers. If you would like to make one, I would love to show you how.

You can either schedule a workshop with some friends at your home OR you may purchase the kit and instructions. Class size should be limited to no more than 6.

Like FREEBIES???

• Earn a CTMH My Acrylix stamp set when you host a workshop in your home. I'll also include a 2009 CTMH Spring Idea book for free! This 100+ page book is packed with ideas, gorgeous layouts and cards.
• Place an order in March and I'll give you a Spring Idea book.

I've got my own CTMH website now so you can check out the on-line tutorials and shop at your convenience:

https://shan.myctmh.com/Home.aspx

Check the website out and let me know what you think. I'd love to hear what you think about the products too!!!

My Word!

Lately I've had a lot of time to think about my goals and what I want to accomplish. What I came up with is "simple". I know that if I shed some of the excess "treasures" that I've been holding on to, it will make it easier for me to move forward to the next goal.
My initial inspiration first came from watching "Clean House". I crave to have less! I'm going to go through everything and have the biggest yard sale ever this year.
Knowing that it's not enough to just remove the clutter, I picked up When Organizing Isn't Enough by Julie Morgenstern. This book is more than just organizing. I think it's going to give insight on how to establish what I want out of life.
OK, OK...I got way off the subject of the layouts. Paulette aka Scrapbook Princess posted a challenge to pick a word that best describes your goal for 2009. I made two layouts of my word, which is "simple" - one for the store and one for me. I used the same idea for both layouts. I love the little vintage recipe cards that I used to journal on. Those came from one of my Noel Mignon kits. The patterned paper and alphas are Scrap Within Reach (still lovin those colors!).
Anyone else have a "word" to share???

Give-a-way alert!

You've got to stop by Glitter and Bliss! Leslie is having a drawing for one of her crystal pendants. The only requirement is to leave a comment on her blog of what you want your pendant to say. If you haven't seen them, go check them out. They are scrumpteous!

Forward Progress (for you, Greta)

Like all of you and Greta, I've been staring at that Thanksgiving pumpkin for too long!
I've gotten the most gorgeous kits from Noel, but haven't used them yet.
There have been several things that I've wanted to start, but for lack of mojo I couldn't begin.

Well I'm back. I got some ideas and inspiration from the Message Board at Noel's and found this cool paper from The Cottage Collection by Scrap Within Reach at Paulette's store and it just started coming together. It's such a relief when you come back from the land of the lost!

My new project is Forward Progress. It's far more about jounaling than scrapping photos which is just what I need right now. I've started a slide show on the sidebar and will add to it as the new prompts come. You should join me on this journey. It's one of those projects to make you think and evaluate where you've been and where you are going. Writing things down always give me insight and direction.

(Thank you, Greta.)

Punkin

Is this not the cutest paper punkin you've ever seen??? I learned how to make this from Greta at the Noel Mignon Harvest Crop. Check out the tutorial here. I'd love to see your creation. Please post on my blog so I can have many, many punkins!!! Happy Tuesday!

Noel Mignon's Harvest Crop

I had so much fun with the challenges at Noel Mignon's Harvest Crop this week. This was their first crop and can I just say that they have it going on sisters! This was a week long crop with a daily challenge, games and other fun stuff. Prizes??? Oh, my, yes.... gorgeous prize packs were given away. I've made a little slide show on the right of the layouts I submitted. (I'm embarrased to say that I stayed up until 4:00 a.m. playing with these... I'm surprised they are decent.) Noel is already thinking about another crop in December! I can't wait!!! Check out her forum and shop. She carries all my favs and ships really fast!

Newsflash - I won the Saturday Challenge! WooHoo! Too bad it wasn't actually for my hard work. Just a random drawing (which I never seem to win). I'm happy though and looking forward to the mail next week!!!

I love mini albums. They're so easy to create and you can usually have a finished, completed album in a day. I am inspired by this Christmas album project by Ali Edwards. You basically put the whole thing together before December 1st and then you can add your daily journaling and photos for each day leading up to December 25th. Even though I don't have babies that write to Santa anymore, I would love to start doing these. Christmas is so special and filled with so many fun activities, but when it's over it seems to be a big down time for me. I would like to have something like this album to look back at in January.

I'm still working on my bazaar items for Saturday, but I'm also trying to participate in an on-line crop at Noel Mignon's forum. They have some great prizes and challenges, but I haven't found a minute to apply myself. I would love to win something from Noel, because her prizes ROCK. Join them if you have time - the crop is all week and all challenges have to be in by Saturday.

Happy Thursday to all!

Bazaar or Cake Show (per Abby)

I'm so thankful to be able to participate in the Christmas Bazaar at Community Presbyterian Church in Moody. Having never done anything like this, I just keep buying and creating. Here's a little bit of what I've been working on (man, I wish I could do this for a living). I LOVE DOING THIS STUFF!!!!

If you're still not sure if you want to attend by looking at my "bazaar" items, you must come to see some of my other friend's booths. Abby will be next to me with cupcakes for sale and a raffle for a half sheet cake of your choice! You must also visit the Scrap Etc. girls, Virginia, Brittney, Gretchen & Katie - their stuff will be AMAZING. You will want to spend some $$$ at their booth. And then there's Michelle. I spent a few $$$ at her booth last year. I'm not sure what she will bring this year, but the girl crochets, sews and paints...enough said.

You know you want to come - the "bazaar" thing is that it's FREE! (don't you love the word, bazaar???) Hope to see you Saturday, November 15 from 10 until 2!

***thanks for the Bazaar blinkie, V!

Scripts Give-a-way!

Check out this great kit club from my LSS, Scrap Etc. Their kits look awesome and are chunked with the latest fashion in scrap supplies! They are having a drawing for a November Scripts Kit and the Supplement. Visit their blog and leave a comment that I sent you and we'll both be entered in the drawing. Fun?

http://www.scrapetcscripts.blogspot.com/

Welcome!

You may be wondering why I have two blogs now? I felt the need to create another space just for my scrappy/creative personality. No whiney-buttin' will be posted here. This blog is to encourage expression and relaxation through creativity. OK - I know scrapping isn't for everyone. Most of my girlfriends do not share my excitement over cardstock, patterned paper, rubons and stamps. {I plan to bring them in to the cult very slowly.} Recently, I signed on with Close to My Heart because I LOVE their stamps! I'll be posting some lovely stamped items later for your critique. Off to create! au revoir!