H2H Challenge - Fancy Folds

This week for the Heart 2 Heart Challenge you are to make an item with a ‘fancy fold’. You may interpret this challenge anyway you like! I choose to make this cute little 4x4 Triangle Fold card that had a surprising way of opening!

Once again, I chose to create with our gorgeous new Magnifique Level 2 papers in a winter theme. I have really enjoyed this paper pack and the lovely shades of blues and brown. Since this one of many projects I have created with this paper, my desk and the surrounding areas are covered with all sorts of Magnifique scraps and lots and lots of glitter! Fun times!!

You can find the instructions for this great little card over at splitcoaststampers.com.

So now it’s your turn! Create a card, project or layout with a 'fancy fold' and then hop on over to the H2H Challenge blog and share your creation! You can also check out the other design team member’s incredible artwork for inspiration! The links to each of their sites can be found on the sidebar of my blog.

All supplies used are Close to my Heart:
STAMPS: D1384 Snow Flurries
PAPER: Magnifique Level 2 Paper Pack
INKS: Lagoon and Pacifica
DOODLES: Colonial White Ribbon Rounds, Shimmer Designer Brads, Dimensional Elements - Flurry, Liquid Applique and Prisma Glitter

H2H Challenge - My Favorite Technique - Stitching!

Here I am! Back once again to share my latest creation for the Heart 2 Heart Challenge blog. For this week's challenge your artwork needs to feature some sort of stitching - can be real or faux. Love this!! If you know me, I LOVE-LOVE-LOVE to stitch on all my artwork. I even taught the hand stitching class at the 2008 Close to my Heart Extravaganza Class.

It was really hard for me to decide which of my pieces of artwork I wanted to share - but decided to shamelessly share artwork that included my cute little family in it! Although it is created with one of our older paper packs Simple Pleasures (also one of my most faves!) you are also getting another sneak peek at artwork created with our new Mix & Mingle album.

Here you can see I cut the medalion design out of one of the B&T papers and emphasised the design by hand stitching around it.

For this one page layout, I wanted the photo of my family to be the main focal point. However, I wanted to make sure I included photos of my kiddos. So you can see here I have mounted the large focal-point photo with foam mounting tape in order to create a pocket. In this pocket I have tucked a very 'mini' mini-album created with a few of the acrylic pages from our new Mix & Mingle album.

So now it’s your turn! Create a card, project or layout with real or faux stitching and then hop on over to the H2H Challenge blog and share your creation! You can also check out the other design team member’s incredible artwork for inspiration! The links to each of their sites can be found on the sidebar of my blog.

You Are Invited....

To join me at my

9th Annual New Idea Book

Open House!
Saturday, September 4, 2010 from

10:00am – 1:00pm

The new 2010 Autumn/Winter Idea Book is here! We have some fantastic new products for scrapbooking that are going to knock your socks off! I will be introducing a new scrapbooking guide that will bring a little ‘magic’ to your scrapbooking pages! As always, gorgeous new Level 1 and Level 2 Scrapbooking papers and My Stickease, new faux leather albums with a smaller price, fun new accessories, new mini-albums and so much more! Of course you’ll also find dozens of new My Acrylix stamp sets!

A large SALE table will be set up with all kinds of NEW and gently used scrapbooking items for those who like a deal – or who want some ‘instant gratification’ on the new products offered in the 2010 Autumn/Winter Idea Book. All sales will qualify towards raffle tickets and gifts with purchase!

So join me at my 9th Annual Open House to learn about all these great new products, get your own copy of the new Idea Book and maybe win a prize or two! With Close to my Heart stamping, scrapbooking and paper crafts are faster, simpler and easier than ever before!

FOOD * FUN * PRIZES

· FREE new 2010 Idea Book to each attendee
· Door Prize drawings will be done randomly all day long
· Demonstrations on NEW products
· Preview and sign up for upcoming workshops
· FREE gifts for every $35 in purchases (NO LIMIT!!)
· Bring a friend I have never met and BOTH of you will get FREE gifts!
· TONS of raffle prizes and give-aways! Earn raffle tickets by:
· Just attending!
· Calling or emailing me with an RSVP
· Register and Pre-pay for any of my upcoming workshops
· Book your own home gathering or workshop
· For every $10 of your order/purchase

So come on by and take a peek – for a few minutes or for the whole day! I guarantee you’ll have a blast and leave with a new FREE catalog! I look forward to seeing you there!

If interested please contact me today!!

H2H Challenges - School Days!

Well, it is time once again for the weekly installment of my design for the H2H Challenge blog. This week - in honor of school starting (YEA!! - oh, was that out loud??) the challenge is to come up with something school related. So here I have a great little notebook, made with the very versatile You Rock paper pack, ready for all those crucial school notes!


So now it’s your turn! Create a card, project or even a layout using a school theme and then hop on over to the H2H Challenge blog and share your creation! You can also check out the other design team member’s incredible artwork for inspiration! The links to each of their sites can be found on the sidebar of my blog

Wordless Wednesday....

H2H Challenge and another sneak peek!!

Hello! Hello!

I am back, once again, with the next installment of the H2H Blog Challenge! For this round, our inspiration was a sketch:

Here you will see you are going to get another sneak peek at some of Close to my Heart's fabulous new Autumn/Winter papers and accessories! Wanna know what they are? Check out my supply list at the end of this blog post and add them to your wish list for my Septmeber 4th Open House!!

Some of the current product I used on this card were our Dimensional Elements-Snowflakes. If you know me, then you will know I LOVE to create seasonal artwork with snowflakes! Since I live in the desert - and NEVER get to have a white Christmas - I live vicariously through my art and love using snowflakes!

Here I have used these cute little DE snowflakes with some Liquid Applique and Prisma glitter. Liquid Applique is almost like a little tube of glue - I just squirted it onto the snowflake DE in a very squiggly pattern and sprinkled some Prisma glitter on before heat setting to make it all puff up and look 'snowy'.

All supplies used are Close to my Heart:
STAMPS: D1449 Father Christmas
PAPER: Magnifique Level 2 Paper Pack
INKS: Lagoon and Pacifica
DOODLES: Colonial White Ribbon Rounds, Shimmer Designer Brads, Embroidery Floss - Neutral, Dimensional Elements - Snoflakes and Ornaments, Liquid Applique and Prisma Glitter

So now it’s your turn! Create a card or even a layout using the pictured sketch above and then hop on over to the H2H Challenge blog and share your creation! You can also check out the other design team member’s incredible artwork for inspiration! The links to each of their sites can be found on the sidebar of my blog!

Album Contest Photos

Hurrah!! My contest album was finally sent back to me. So...just as promised, here are the photos of the layouts in my 3rd place winning album. I am a bit disapointed the album was sure put through the ringer and most of the pages are a bit dog-eared and well handled. But I am still thrilled to have it back and get some of the layouts framed and hung on my wall! (I love to display and enjoy, rather than leave in the album on the shelf.)

First, let me share some of the general rules of the contest. You were to create an album with a minimum of 6 two-page layouts. Your album should somehow encompass/incorporate the theme of the 2010 convention “Picture This”. You were also to focus on the quality of the photography and emotion of the journaling. Also, there were specific requirements for each of the six layouts:

• Layout 1: Have a minimum of 10 photos
• Layout 2: No more than 3 photos
• Layout 3: Black/White or Sepia toned photos
• Layout 4: One photo only on one page (no specifics on other side)
• Layout 5: Only photos of ‘things’ not people
• Layout 6: Be a Studio J layout

My interpretation of the theme was to create this album entitled “I couldn’t picture my life without….” Then, the six layouts were titled according these things in my life I couldn’t imagine living without: Family, Love, My Girls, My Son, Creativity and Friendship.

So here ya go! Stick with me...as there are lots of photos...but hopefully you'll think it's worth the look!

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Journaling Reads:

Wow...where do the years go? It seems just like yesterday I met my hubby - a strapping young gent of only 18. He said some funny jokes, made me laugh and swept me off my feet! Here it is 22 years later and we are still like two teenages in love! (Ask my kids...they'll tell you how much they groan when we snuggle!)

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Journaling Reads:

(Behing the Flip Flap with magnetic closure)

Becoming a mother was something I looked forward to ever since I was a little girl. Becoming a mother of - not one - but two teenage girls? YIKES! You hear the horror stories about the tumultuous relationships mothers and daughters can have. But I can't believe how blessed I have been to have such fantastic girls as my daughters! Both of them have far exceeded my hopes and dreams for who they have become and who I see them blossoming into! I cherrish the friendships I have developed with each of them and I am actually looking forward to the rest of your teenage years...

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Journaling Reads:

Okay...why? I just don't get this whole new silly thing you have going on. You are constantly trying to say and do the weirdest things to get attention. I am assured by all this is just a phase...a four year old thing. But geesh! WHAT are you thinking my little man? You like to make goofy faces at the camera, tell jokes that make no sense, copy things we say and then hysterically at yourself and just babble incoherently to no one in particular. Having a boy is a whole new world to me! I can just see your future as the class clown. You are lucky we love you so much...you little goofball!!

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Title Quotation:

"To be creative means to be in love with life. You can be creative only if you love life enough you want to enhance it's beauty, you want to bring a little more music to it, a little more poetry to it, a little more dance to it." - Osho

Journaling Reads:

Okay...I confess...I am a creative junkie!! I have tried just about every creative hobby there is out there. But nothing has fed my soul more than scrapbooking. Maybe it is because I am so sentimental. (Secretly - I think it is because it is the hobby with the most toys!!)

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Journaling Reads:

When I became a Close to my Heart consultant I was just looking to get a discount on the products I loved. I never expected to find all the wonderful life-long friends and the long-lost ones! In my 9 years with CTMH, I have made a lot of 'creations' but the bonds I have created with these women are the ones I will forever be most proud of!

HUGE APPRICECIATION SALE!!

$2, $4, $6 for 8! It's YOU That We Appreciate!

For 8 days only (or while supplies last, whichever comes first) Close to my Heart is offering some RIDICULOUSLY-AMAZING

“Website Only Order” deals on select:

My Stickease Assortments ($2),

Level 1 Scrapbook Kits ($4)

Level 2 Scrapbook Kits ($6).

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS SALE from
Wednesday, August 4 - Wednesday, August 11

(or while supplies last)
on my website at stampinallday.myctmh.com and click 'Shop Online' and there will be a link for the sale..

All items are over 50% off.

H2H Challenge + A Sneak Peek!!

Welcome to my first H2H Challenge! This week, the challenge is - if you choose to accept it - is to create artwork which includes a tag. That's it...just get creative with Close to my Heart Products and create something with a tag!

Here I have created my challenge piece with some of Close to my Heart’s new products which will be available in the new Autumn/Winter Idea book available September 1st. Although I live in Arizona and we are still in the triple digits (YUCK!)…my mind is already wondering on to the colder months, since all the beautiful new products in the Autumn/Winter idea book are geared towards those nice chilly months!




This little goodie is the perfect gift to give to your favorite someone to ‘sweeten’ up the chilly months for them! It all started with a cute little tin I scored from a dollar bin at Target. Add on some of our gorgeous new Magnifique My Reflections Level 2 papers, tuck in some hot cocoa and marshmallows and wrap it all up with the perfect little tag created with the new A Sip My Acrylix Stamp Set!

All supplies used are Close to my Heart:
STAMPS: A Sip
PAPER: Magnifique Level 2 Paper Pack
INKS: Chocolate, Lagoon and Pacifica
DOODLES: Designer Ribbon Rounds Cocoa and Chocolate Collections, Mistletoe Accssory Assortment Paper Flower and Brads, Liquid Applique

So now it’s your turn! Create something which includes a tag and hop on over to the H2H Challenge blog and share your creation! You can also check out the other design team member’s incredible artwork for inspiration! The links to each of their sites can be found on the sidebar of my blog!