Convention 2011 Bound!

I am California-bound attending this year's CTMH Convention in Anaheim, CA - specifically to be held at the Disneyland Hotel!

Tomorrow our Convention kicks off with Leadership Day - an opportunity for Managers and above to gain useful tips and information into training and leading our teams!  That evening we will attend team events and get ready to find out all the new products and policies CTMH has to unveil to us!

The first official day of Convention is one of the favorites as the new Idea Book is released and there are thousands of screaming women demonstrating their excitement for the new products. 

I'm looking forward to spending the rest of this week with my roomies/friends and family (my Mom is my downline and I'm rooming with she and my Dad during my stay).  I will provide updates as possible and look forward to sharing and celebrating this new CTMH year with you!

Gift card holder

I cannot believe I leave for Close To My Heart's 2011 Convention tomorrow morning!  I can't wait!  Every year it's a fabulous experience and I don't doubt that the same will be the case this year!

I have been working on some goodies for team members and roomies and will start releasing their photos during the week - after they are given to their recipients.  I don't want to spoil their surprise!  

When I went to the Great American Scrapbooking Convention in June, with some team members/friends, I purchased a pattern for this cute, sliding card holder.  I just couldn't pass it up and love how it works!  It's a gift for someone at Convention but I'm not revealing for who just yet!  

I used our Irresistable Dimensional Elements for the cover to coordinate with the Sophia paper pack.  I sponged the flower elements in Hollyhock, Blush and Pear.  I couldn't resist adding bling (Bitty Clear Sparkles) to the center of the flower.

There is a little slider opening on the small strip of paper that you see the gift card attached to.  It is held in place, to the back of the card, with a bigger brad - what allows it to slide in and out.  A ribbon provides a great "pull" for the surprise.

Give me some time and I will share detail on how you can create one of these holders from scratch.

20-Year Class Reunion (and stamped goodies)

So my blog is minus some CTMH artwork right now because I have been and am still preparing team and roomie gifts for Convention and those have to stay under wraps until next week!  :)  If I must say so myself...I am making some stinkin' cute things that I hope are a big hit with those who receive them!  I will share them starting next Thursday so watch for them then.

In the meantime, I wanted to share a some more photos from my class reunion which was held this past weekend.  This was a portion of the banquet room which was set up for our dinner/dance.

I made these simple treat boxes, filled with silver Hershey's Kisses (our school colors were navy blue, columbia blue, silver and white).  Years ago, when CTMH carried rubber stamps, I was inspired to get a wood-mounted stamp set made without our mascot (thanks to my Mom).  I used it as a simple focal point on the treat boxes and they really added to the place settings.

 The cake was scrumptious!  I don't know if and when I have ever had a cake that tasted that good - from the cake itself to the delicious frosting.  People bragged about it all night long - especially my hubby.

This is our foreign exchange student, Mette, who traveled all the way from Sweden to celebrate with us!

Me with two of my great friends, Marissa & Jodie.  I have lots of fond memories that include both of them.

Here's my hubby and I posing for a quick picture.  He was a huge help with the event and I and everyone who attended appreciated him. 

And here are the key components to the reunion's success - my dad, mom and sister!  

Relishing in the memories of celebrating two decades since our graduation and looking forward to the next time we all gather together.  I am blessed!

20-Year Class Reunion

I hosted my 20-year class reunion this past weekend in my hometown in New Mexico.  We had a great turnout with 67 classmates and their spouses, totaling approximately 120 people!  It was a great time had by all.

One of the things that generated some good laughs upon everyone's arrival was them seeing their Senior yearbook photo on their nametags.  All the girls had BIG, PERMED hair and the boys were mostly sporting a bow tie.  It was hilarious!

Me with my sister, Stephanie, who handled registration.

Hubby was in charge of t-shirt distribution.  The shirts came out NICE!

This is one of my best friends from elementary school, Jodie.  Gotta love her sense of humor and fun laugh!  She can always make me smile!  She is CRAZY!

Me with the "boys".  They are such a hoot and haven't changed a bit!

Tim had just registered.  He was a hoot, too!

We had a FABULOUS time (with more photos to be shared in the upcoming days)!  One of our foreign exchange students joined us from Denmark and others from New York, Nevada, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado.

The July Stamp of the Month Blog Hop is HERE!

Welcome to our Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! We are featuring the July Stamp of the Month (SOTM), "American Celebration", a set of 12 images.

If you have come here from Georgia's Blog you are on the right path! The blog hop is a great big circle, so you can start here and work your way all around. If you get lost along the way, you’ll find the complete list of participating consultants here.

This month we have approximately 53 Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their creations using this month's SOTM and other great CTMH products on their blogs. This is simple to do - just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one! Here we go!

This stamp set is absolutely adorable and I love how patriotic it is!  It is definitely fitting for this time of the year as we approach Independence Day but several of the images are cute to use for other occasions throughout the year.  I am sure their versatility will be shown throughout the hop but for my artwork, I chose to stay with the red, white, and blue...

For those who have been around me lately, they know I have been struggling with the technique of Paper Pleating.  In fact, it's caused quite a bit of laughter.  I have used up enough paper trying to figure it out and had finally given up - at least for the time being.  Thanks to the Splitcoaststampers website, I was able to locate some directions for this technique and incorporated it into this card.  And I must say...after following these directions, I determined that this technique is super easy and super cute!  I will be incorporating it into other pieces of artwork in the near future.  

I also incorporated a little bit of paper-piecing and used our 3-D Foam Tape to add dimension to some images.  The White Hemp and blue button were just finishing pieces to this standard-size card.

Now "Hop" on over to Michelle's Blog to see her work! Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their Blogs to get some great crafting ideas and other fun ideas! Remember, the SOTM is only available until the end of July, 2011! Click here to see how you can get this stamp set at a discount or even free! I have additional samples viewable on my website! Click here to view them!

Supply list: American Celebration stamp set, Fanfare paper packet, Pacifica ink,  Sky ink, Cranberry ink, White brads, Stylus, White Hemp, Blue Button, 3-D Foam Tape.

HAPPY HOPPIN'!

A fabulous time in New Mexico

My hubby and I ended up driving to my hometown to celebrate Father's Day, our anniversary, and my Dad's birthday with my family.  We had a fabulous time with family and friends.  It was awesome!

We surprised my dad.  He had no idea we were going.  We started off the Father's Day celebration having breakfast with my parents, joining my grandparents for lunch, and then topping off the day with some delicious fajitas!

During the day we took some time to pick and clean up the apricots that had fallen from the tree.  It was a windy day and so they kept falling off the tree and hitting us!  Us "girls" took a moment for a pose.

Me, my Sister, my Niece and my Mom

While getting comfortable and preparing dinner, my Niece decided she needed a picture of us so this is what she took.  She's too funny!

I was thrilled to spend Father's Day with my Dad.

Beyond Base & Shade Stamping Blog Hop

Welcome to our Technique Blog Hop! This month there are 11 of us highlighting the “Beyond Base and Shade Stamping” Technique as shown on page 11 in the Spring/Summer 2011 Idea Book! This blog hop is a great big circle so you can start wherever you want and continue through to see all the fabulous artwork incorporating this technique. If you would like to start from the beginning, please visit this link.  While there you will also find a listing of all participants and their blog addresses if you should get lost or want to reference a blog along the way. Let’s get started!

If you are coming from Kelly's Blog, you are on the right track! This technique is highlighted with the Bliss paper packet in the Idea Book but you will find variations for its’ use through this hop. 

I used the Sophia paper packet (my absolute favorite), Friendship Blessings and Card Chatter-Sympathy to create this card, incorporating this month's technique.  

I stamped the outline image in Black ink and the shade image in Blush.  Using a Sponge Dauber and Hollyhock Ink to texturize the edges of the flowers.  I used a BIG white brad, white button and pink button for the centers of the flowers.  The flowers were stamped in second generation Pear and then inked in Pear on the edges.

 

Please continue onto Rebecca's Blog where you will find some additional artwork highlighting this technique!  Be sure to leave a comment and let me know what you thought of my variation and happy hopping!

Thanks for stopping by!

Mix 'n Mingle = Magnets

I was inspired, by Debi Barber, to make magnets from our Mix 'n Mingle Album and did so for my group this month.  They were a big hit and I will be purchasing and decorating more!

The Mix 'n Mingle album has both cardboard and acrylix "pages" in it. The top 3 magnets have both layers on them - acrylix overlay on the cardboard. The bottom two have no acrylix overlay. We embellished them with the Mayberry paper packet and coordinating embellishments.

Notice the frame in the bottom right-hand corner.  Do you notice the Sky stripes that normally don't exist in this striped B&T?  I simply cut strips of Sky cardstock to cover the Olive stripes, allowing for a variation on the colors.  Isn't that cool?!  (You can even do this in Studio J, our online scrapbooking program.)  It offers more versatility to our already fabulous B&T.

My club member, Terri K., made this hanging frame - switching up the color combo by using the back of the "quilted" B&T pattern, incorporating Honey.  She made her paper flower look like a sunflower by using a Sponge Dauber, inked in Cocoa, and stamping it in the middle.  The "hanger" for the frame was made by sticking a magnet on the back of a button.  How CUTE!

Beverly Crawford and Kirk Franklin

Wednesday we were able to spend time with my brother and sister-in-law, Todd and Beverly Crawford.  Beverly is a gospel recording artist and was in town for vacation bible school at Dr. Evans church in Oak Cliff. 

We enjoyed an afternoon of good food and fellowship at Pappadeaux and in the surrounding area and then joined them at the service that evening.  Beverly did an awesome job singing her hit song, "It's Time for a Miracle".

Kirk Franklin was also at the service and Beverly is blessed by being on his newest CD. (Click here for some additional information.)  He took a moment to take a picture with me.

Being silly, I asked Beverly to sign my CD and take a photo with me.  LOL  My husband and in-laws thought it was hilarious. 

LOVED our day together!

Great American Scrapbook Convention!

While I'm a diehard Close To My Heart scrapper and stamper, I still had fun fellowshipping with friends and other scrappers at the GASC in Arlington yesterday!  I made some purchases that will make some CUTE Convention gift items!

I met up with friends I hadn't seen in a long time and shared the day with several of my team members, Xellina, Amanda and Kimberly.  We had a great time looking at the different ideas while being surrounded by the excitement of the craft.  It was a wonderful day.