Scrappin' with Friends

Two weekends ago, I enjoyed spending National Scrapbook and Mother's Day weekend with wonderful ladies who either gave birth to me (my Mom was there LOL) or that I met through papercrafting.  My life has been enriched by this craft over the more than 17 years I have been a Close To My Heart Consultant.  We are never short of fun nor creativity but our time together was also very relaxing.  It was the perfect weekend!

Here are some photos to highlight that time with them:

Angie, me, my Mom, and Karen

Aggie and my Mom drive from New Mexico for our time together a couple of times during the year.

Taken on National Scrapbooking Day.  The house was full and buzzin' with creativity!

First downline team members who joined me for the fun.

Me with my fun and "never a dull moment" friend, Michelle.  :)

Croppin' with my Mom!

I am retreating again this weekend and enjoy another fun and relaxing time that is always needed.  I hope you are enjoying the day and weekend wherever you are!

Hugs!

Happy Times Blog Hop

Welcome to my team's Blog Hop where we are featuring the exclusive "Happy Times" paper pack and/or stamp set that is only available through the end of this month in celebration of National Scrapbooking Month.  I have absolutely fallen in love with the paper pack and have already made quite a few creations using it.

If you are coming from Cathy's Blog, you are on the right track.  You can find a complete list of participants at the bottom of this post if you were to get lost along the way.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this paper pack and have done a lot of creating with it already.  However, I have not done much with this gold, floral paper and wanted to do so.  This is what I came up with!  Aren't those gold foil accents just beautiful?  The gold and white striped piece, on the right side, is one of the Zip Strips.  Can I have more of that, please?!  LOL  

Not wanting to take away from the patterned paper, I decided to keep this card really simple and used Pixie, Pomegranate and Fern inks for the floral images that are from the Happy Times stamp set.  A Gold Sequin and Pink Enamel Gem was used for the flower center.

Thank you so much for stopping by.  Head on over to Aggie's Blog to see her creation!

Happy hoppin'!

This is a list of participants:

1. Melissa Robinson *YOU ARE HERE*
2. Aggie Peters
3. Katy Taylor
4. Tonya Whitehurst
5. Cathy Bufano

Albums are 25% Off! (This month only!)

Now through the end of May, you can save 25% on the purchase of Close To My Heart’s amazing My Legacy™ albums! That is a savings of over $8.50 per album! Choose from our gorgeous variety of colors and patterns available in both post-bound and D-ring styles. But this offer is only available while supplies last, so place your order early to make sure you get the styles and colors you love. They’re built to last and going fast!

An album purchase does count towards the $60 amount that will get you the Happy Times paper pack FREE!

Contact me with any questions or visit my website to place your order.  

Have a marvelous day!

Handmade Cards in a Jiffy!

It's true!  You can assemble a cute and handmade card in just a few minutes with the Cut Above Jubilee and Fiesta Card Kits.  They come with materials to make ten 5 1/2" x 4 1/4" card, including pink bases with gold foil stamping OR mint bases with silver foil stamping, envelopes and circle diecuts.  All you need is a stamp - these are great choices for mini stamps - an ink pad, and some coloring tools.

Here is a card I made.  I stamped the Festive Congrats M-size stamp set in black ink and then used various ShinHan Markers to color in the letters.  That was it!  Too fun, right?!  Yes, I totally copied the sample shown in the Seasonal Expressions 2 Idea Book.  Well...it's legal!  :)  Nobody said you had to come up with your own fabulous ideas!

These card kits would make a great go-to for those unplanned occasions or a fabulous gift!  (Do not forget to include a block for them to use with the stamp image and ink.  A 2" block is great for these images.)

I've already gone through a few packs for a few projects.  Shhhh...don't tell anyone :)  I know you will love them too!

Make It From Your Heart,

CTMH Technique Blog Hop - Let's Interact

Welcome to this month's technique blog hop where our theme is, "Let's Interact!"  Participants can incorporate any kind of interactive element into their art project.  I am excited to see what everyone came up with and hope you are too!

If you are coming from Jenifer's Blog, you are on the right track.  You can find a complete list of participants at the bottom of this post if you were to get lost along the way.  So...let's get started!

This "Life is a Fiesta" layout was designed based around the use of new products in the Calypso product line AND the fun new M-size stamp images (pinata and more) that are perfect for this theme!  (My friend Katy helped me with the final touches.)  You might ask...where is my interactive element?

Well, the "play" sentiment serves as a tab, made from one of the Calypo Complements, and I sandwiched it around the 4" x 6" Flip Flap.  Lift it and you will find...

...More photos!  You can include embarrassing photos in this area - that you do not want everyone to see but are too fun to toss in the trash (LOL) - or you can use it for a journaling spot.  I did not include a journaling spot on this layout because there are plenty more photos to scrapbook!  

In quick summary these photos are of a retreat I hosted in Corsicana, TX in February 2015.  We had a blast and I am so thankful to have such fun memories of these ladies!  We did eat out one night and on our way there, we passed by an old jail.  My friend, Debi, and I took this photo like we were escaping.  LOL  Too fun!

So Flip Flaps are not too impressive when seen in the Annual Inspirations Idea Book (page 17) or online because they look like this!  LOL  They are clear so there is not much to show but boy are they tons of fun! I used with a horizontal photo so they do offer that flexibility.

They do have an adhesive strip so to insert it into my layout as you see above... I used a piece of White Daisy cardstock for my matte.  Then I inserted the photos into the Flip Flap, removed the adhesive strip - putting it on the BACKSIDE of the photos - and then adhered it to the white cardstock.  Then I glued the additional photo on the matte, covering the adhesive.  You might wonder how it is interactive once placed in the page protector?  Well...

You can either choose to cut a slit through your page protector, allowing you to pull the Flip Flap on the OUTSIDE of your layout OR you can actually attach the Flip Flap ON TOP of the layout.  It is totally up to you.  With this one, I will cut a slit to make it interactive.

Flip Flaps come in a variety of sizes to include:  2" x 2", 3" x 3", 3" x 4", 4" x 4", 4" x 6", 6" x 6", 4" x 12, 6" x 12", 8" x 12".  Now THAT is a variety, don't you agree?!  You truly cannot appreciate the fun you can have with these - you can even make a waterfall where you attach multiple photos on top of one another, in a staggered manner - until you get them in your hand.  You will find details about them by clicking here.

Thank you for stopping by and please head to Darly's Blog to see what she is interacting with today!  Happy hoppin'!

Here is the list of participants:

1. Melissa Robinson *YOU ARE HERE
2. Darlys Recker
3. Wendy Kessler
4. Cathy Bufano
5. Kirsten Jade
6. Michelle Loncar
7. Helen Gullett
8. Danielle Wagner
9. Catherine Nowak
10. Aggie Peters
11. Jenifer Benner

National Scrapbooking Month—Happy Times (Video)

Happy Saturday!  It's a cooler, windy and rainy day here in Dallas - a GREAT reason to stay inside and papercraft all day!  Don't you agree?!

Did you know it is National Scrapbooking Month and Close To My Heart has released a beautiful and exclusive paper pack and stamp set for this occasion?  You can get this paper pack FREE or buy it and the stamp set.  I will tell you...the photos DO NOT do the paper justice!  You will get a better idea of it from the video.  You can click on this link for more details.

I have created layouts AND cards with these beauties and they are a definite must-have!  Take a few minutes to watch this video and then continue reading this post.

What was your favorite artwork in the video?  Mine was the adorable card with the three circles.  How simple is that?!  Gotta love "cute and simple" - one of my favorite sayings when it comes to my creations!

Here is a still photo of some of those creations you just viewed on the video.

The beautiful little girl on these cover layouts are of my friend's (Karen Pedersen) granddaughter, Livi.  She was recently diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of 4 and is going through treatment now.  Please lift her and her family in your prayers and she walks through this challenging time in her life at such a young age.  You can follow her Mom's blog at LivStrong.  What an awesome blog title, don't you think?!

Be sure to check Wednesday's post for how you can be entered to win some Blog Candy!

Make It From Your Heart!

NEW Products!

It's been an exciting 10 days with Close To My Heart as new products were released on May 1st! This is the front cover of Seasonal Expressions 2, the supplement, and you can get it FREE with any order!  It is filled with FABULOUS stuff!  I think I already own one of everything!  LOL  You can view the entire book, online, by clicking here.

Here are a the three new product lines called, "Magical", "Calypso", and "Florence".  I have selected a fun image to represent each and provided a link to all the yummy items that coordinate.  (Keep reading for an opportunity to win some Blog Candy!)

Magical

Calypso

Florence

You can place an order by visiting my website through this link.

HOW TO BE ENTERED TO WIN SOME BLOG CANDY!
Click on the links and peruse the various product lines.  In a comment tell me which paper packet/product line is your favorite from the ones shown above - you can only SELECT ONE for this purpose, but I do love them all.  If at least 10 different people respond (CTMH Consultants are not eligible - sorry ladies!) I will draw for an "A" or "B" size stamp set of your choice from the new supplement!  (You can identify which stamps are eligible by noting those that start with an A or B in the order number.)  There could be more winners if participation takes place in multiples of 10!  :)

As soon as 10 people comment, I will do the drawing and contact the winner to select their prize.  This will go through the end of the month - so if I get 20 people total...I will draw for two prizes, etc.

Enjoy this blessed day!

Heart 2 Heart Challenge - Baby Love

Thank you for joining us for this week's Heart 2 Heart Challenge, "Baby Love".  The theme, while somewhat obvious, can still be interpreted in various ways but...you guessed it!  I went with the obvious!

I used Georgie Picture My Life Scrapbooking cards for my creation and added a few extra elements like the CUTE bow from Fundamentals Assortment - Glacier and Gold Shimmer Trim.  

I love this simple but cute card and cannot wait to get it in the mail to someone special!

Enjoy your week!

National Scrapbooking Month - Happy Times Blog Hop

Welcome to our Happy Times Blog Hop where we are featuring the "Happy Times" exclusive paper pack and stamp set only available this month in honor of National Scrapbooking Month.  You can earn the paper pack for FREE.  Click here for more details.  Aren't they both fun?!

If you are coming from Wendy's Blog, you are on the right track.  You can find a complete list of participants here.

It was fun using some scraps of paper to create this card.  The floral images and sentiment were stamped in Pomegranate Ink.  A few Gold Sequins were added and the Gold Metallic Marker was used for the stitching on the circle.

Thank you for stopping by and head on over to Catherine's Blog where you can expect a fabulous creation.

Happy hoppin'!

May Stamp of the Month - Celebrate with Cake

Did you know we have fabulous new products that were released today?!  

I am excited to share this month's stamp set, called "Celebrate with Cake", has these fabulous images!  Isn't it darling?!  It can be yours for just $5 with a $50 purchase!  (It is a valued at $17.95).  It is only available this month.  Click here for more details.

Did you know this month is National Scrapbooking Month and that we just released new product in Seasonal Expressions 2?!  If not...it is TRULY an exciting month!  Be watching my blog for new product updates.  They are phenomenal!

I have many new product faves in the Seasonal Expressions 2 and one of them happens to be the Cut Above Fiesta and Jubilee Card Kits.  I used the Fiesta Card Kit base for getting this card started.  A touch of Black and Cotton Candy Cardstock and ink, Slate ink, Watercolor Paints, Aqua Dots and some Bitty Sparkles did the trick!  It was so fun to seeing this card come together and I hope you like it!

Oh!  Did I mention how I colored in the images with such ease?  We have brand NEW Watercolor Pens and this is the Small one that made it so fun and easy to color in the small images.  You HAVE to check them out and will want to add one or all to your next order.  They do come in three sizes.

Happy May!