Scrappin' Joy!

"Mundie Moms" turns 3!

2012-02-14T12:16:00.002-05:00

As you guys know by now, I read A LOT. And right now, I'm off work for a couple of weeks recovering from some surgery, so I am reading more than ever. One of my all-time favorite blogs is "Mundie Moms," and they turned three years old today! HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUNDIE MOMS!!! I love reading their book reviews, and they are my "go to" place for fun stuff on Cassandra Clare's books. And so, to help toast their big day ...

Celebrate @MundieMoms 3rd Birthday Day Bash by entering to win a BOX OF ARCS http://mundiemoms.blogspot.com/2012/02/mundie-moms-is-3.html

Go now and check them out! You'll find GREAT recommendations for awesome books. Tell them I sent you. :-) And wish them a happy birthday!

Best Books I Read in 2011

2012-01-02T14:00:00.003-05:00

When I'm not scrapping, I'm reading. And my DARLING hubby got me a Kindle Fire for Christmas!! Oh, there are 1,000,001 reasons why I love that man, and he just added one more to the list! LOOOOVVVVEEE the Kindle. So, to add to my Audible.com obsession, I'm now haunting Amazon's Kindle library too. Between reading and scrapping ... I want to retire and focus on those things full time, and I spend so much money on those hobbies, there is no way I can stop earning a paycheck! LOL Life's little ironies, indeed.

I love stories, and reading was my first mode of travel. I would lay on a tree branch, back home on the farm, hiding up in the leaves from chores and Mama, and get transported to magical, far-away places by one book after another. I still do that ... the hiding from the chores to read part, at least! So I thought I'd share some of my favorites from 2011, not necessarily in order:

1) The Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead: I've been on a "Young Adult" reading glut, and this was the series that kicked it off. I read all six books this year, plus the first one in the new spin-off series. Yep, vampires, but they don't sparkle - they are BADA**. Dimitri Belikov ... OH. MY. STARS. I spent months obsessing about a fictional guy half my age. Just call me cougar. :-)

2) The Mortal Instruments series and its prequel series, The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare: Demon hunters, vampires, werewolves, nephilim, yeah baby! TMI is set in modern day New York, TID is set in Victorian London. Clare is an awesome writer, and these two series are definitely among the best in YA lit today.

3) The Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa: Okay, yes, I read about faeries too. :-) And this concept was so fresh, and the characters so beautifully drawn. I was totally Team Puck by the way. Read and discuss.

4) Nightshade and Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer: And the final book in the trilogy, "Bloodrose" is out TOMORROW!!!!! Guess what I'll be doing then? :-) More wolves, but this was some of the most INTENSE writing of the year. I can't wait to see how this finishes up. Hot alpha-wolf love triangle in this one - WOOF!

5) Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini: This book was so unique to me ... basically a modern-day retelling of Helen of Troy, set on Nantucket. How can you NOT want to read that? Loved the setting, the story was fantastic, and the writing was excellent. Highly recommend this one.

6) Angel Burn by L. A. Weatherly: Angels among us! Not nice ones, either. The real "capture" in this book was the hero ... well, yes, I *do* have a soft-spot for bad boys! Alex was all kinds of awesome, and the sequel to this is out January 24th. You've got time to read the first one before then ... go on, you know you want to.

7) Die for Me by Amy Plum: Zombies in Paris! LOL Who knew they could be this romantic? Seriously - this was a great read, and showed off Paris at its best. Vincent, the hero in this story, is a date that every guy ought to be measured against ... COURTED the girl. WOOED her. WOWED her. Yep, he was the most romantic out of this lot of stories, and every girl deserves that at least once in her life!

8) Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon: And now we are in Ireland. I don't know how to classify this one ... Fae? Druids? Elementals? Anyhow ... loved it, loved the setting, and I got it on Audible, so I got to listen to the lilting Irish brogue for hours of great story-telling.

9) Unearthly by Cynthia Hand: This one might be my favorite read of the year. I listened to it on Audible, and then got it on the Kindle, so I could read the words for myself. Angels again, and another great setting: Jackson Hole, WY. But the best part of this whole thing was Tucker. Tucker rocks. Tucker skies. Tucker rodeos. Tucker fishes. Tucker is the best fictional guy I met all year. So if Clara chooses Christian (in the sequel, "Hallowed", out on January 17) I will never speak to her again.

10) A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies: More good and bad angels, and a cliff-hanger ending. I am officially Team Asher.

11) Half-Blood and Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout: These are the first books in two different series by this author. Half-Blood is set in a "supernatural" academy, a lot like #1 above, and was a great read. Obsidian ... has aliens! :-) Yep, aliens. I didn't see that one coming. Both really good reads, and I'm looking forward to the sequels.

12) Eternal Starling by Angela Corbett: Soul-mates, reincarnation, destiny, hot guys in great cars in love with this ONE girl. The action is mostly in Colorado, and the author makes full use of the great setting. I can't choose between the guys in this one ... best love triangle of the year!

13) Soul Screamers series by Rachel Vincent: Bean sidhes (or as we would say, banshees). My first banshees series, too! The family dynamics in this series are excellent, and I do love the Hudson brothers! Team Tod, all the way.

14) (ADULT) Lover Unleashed by J.R. Ward: So, I didn't *just* read Young Adult stuff in 2011, (but mostly did.) I'm going to read every book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series, at least until I get my Qhuinn/Blaylock story. And daggone, I wish she would hurry up with that one. This was an okay offering in a great series, but I'm just riding along til I get Qhuay!

15) (ADULT) 2nd Grave on the Left by Darynda Jones: I loved the first book in this series ... "First Grave on the Right." About the girl who is the Grim Reaper - great concept, huh? So I was "dying" for the second one to come out ... the author didn't even need to tie up the loose ends, just keep stringing me along ... and I was a disappointed. 2nd Grave was good, and yes, I got strung out a bit more, but it was SHORT. If you are going to wait months between books, well, darn it, give me enough to tide me over til the next one. This one didn't. The 3rd one is out at the end of January, and I'll give it one more shot. I really do want to know what happens next.

So there are a few of the really good reads from 2011 ... and since I'm going through 2-3 books a week, please understand how hard it is to cull my list! :-) If you are reading something awesome (especially in the paranormal romance genre), well, tell me all about it!

Happy 2012!

2012-01-02T13:48:00.003-05:00

Happy New Year! I'm about to kick back into scrapbooking mode. I have *FIVE* scrapbooking trips lined up for 2012!! I'm so excited!! They are:

1) Charlottesville, VA in January, with the local Creative Memories consultants. Hey, I sell for CTMH, and I LOVE CTMH, but my first "adult" foray into scrapbooking was with CM, and I still credit them with reigniting my passion for the craft. And they still make the best adhesives in the business, IMHO. The CM ladies in the Charlottesville area put on a great retreat, and we always have a blast with them.

2) Pensacola, FL in February, for a regional CTMH celebration. I can't wait for this one! JD is going with me to get in a little golfing. We are going to drive down and give the Garmin (named "Baby G" by my hubby) an outing. Should be awesome, and a lot of the "Scattered Hearts" team will be there.

3) Luray, VA in mid-March, for Tonya's "Shamrock Crop." My guurrlllsss!! And the other John H (Janice's, not mine), and probably Tonya's dad, and maybe Jay. Our guys who love and enable our habit! LOL

4) Knoxville, TN in late March for a "Scrapbook Dream Vacation" with the sisters! Ah, back to Tennessee. SDV didn't have this one last year, and I missed it. New location, so I'm dying to check it out. 4 days of no sleep and non-stop fun!

5) Dallas, TX in July 2012 for the CTMH 2012 Convention. Big D!!!!! I've really loved the last two conventions, and so I expect this one to be great as well. And we get grabby hands on the new product for the 2nd half of 2012 ... so much to look forward to!

So, that's the scrapbooking plan so far in 2012. First up is Ryan's 2011 album, which is in various states of completion. And Joel's rock-n-roll Hall of Fame album. And our Hawaii album from 2009. And our Australia album from 2007. Um, I have a lot to do. :-) And it looks like I'll need a plan for the 2nd half of the year. What are your plans? Make it with Scrappin' Joy!!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-20T13:37:00.002-05:00

I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas! From our house to yours ... warmest greetings of the season!

"Bliss"fully Satisfied

2011-05-30T11:19:00.007-04:00

So, I have a confession to make ... when Close to My Heart's new Idea Book came out and I got all of my new paper packs, I didn't like "Bliss." I tried to like it; I used it once or twice to see if that made me like it better; I still didn't like Bliss. Well, for our Sassy Crop next weekend, Tonya (my upline) asked if I would bring some Bliss artwork to share. So, I set myself a goal to make a "Bliss" layout that I LOVED. Not liked. LOVED.

And I think I have succeeded! I actually wound up making two layouts, one dedicated to my mother, and one to my father. When I sat down to work with the papers, I finally pinpointed the problem I was having. Bliss has all neutral colors, and unless I am doing a wedding album, or a heritage album (which are both pretty specialized projects and not part of my regular scrapping repertoire), my layouts are usually focused around a more vibrant color. Then, I realized that all of that "neutral" gives me the perfect opportunity to highlight any color I choose! So, for my mother's layout, I emphasized the chocolate in the Bliss palette. For my father's layout, I added a couple of sheets of "New England Ivy" green cardstock. I was thrilled with the results! What do you think? Do you like it? Let me know!

You & Me Layouts

2011-05-30T11:09:00.007-04:00

I've spent some free time the past couple of days scrapbooking! So, I want to show off the layouts that I made with the "May is National Scrapbooking Month" kit, which is called "You & Me." I was really delighted with the way they turned out!

May is National Scrapbooking Month!

2011-05-20T17:20:00.003-04:00

We are celebrating National Scrapbooking Month in May with a fabulous promotion! During May, when you place a minimum order of $50 US for any Close To My Heart products*, you can grab an exclusive You & Me scrapbooking kit for just $15—that’s more than half off the retail value of the kit! Woo-hoo! You can also purchase the kit outright for $34.95 with or without a minimum purchase. It’s a charming kit you are sure to love. It features two fully embellished layouts, each with their own unique personality, a D-size stamp set, and an instruction guide to step you through the creation process. As part of our promotion, we’re also offering new Consultants who join Close To My Heart in May one FREE You & Me scrapbooking kit plus 50% off their New Consultant Kit! It's an incredible value just for May!

*Products or memberships purchased on a Studio J^® website do not count toward a qualifying purchase.

Offer ONLY valid May 1–31, 2011. Don't miss out!!

Scrap-tastic Day Crop!

2011-05-09T21:40:00.004-04:00

Date: Saturday, June 4, 2011.
Time: 9am-11PM
Location:
Best Western Hotel & Conference Center
Waynesboro, Virginia

Cropper amenities:
Each cropper will receive his/her own 6 foot table for their scrappin' space. Also included:

-a scrapbooking gift valued at $20 upon arrival

-entry into Sassy Grand Prize drawing and hourly prize drawings, full use of Cricut Electronic cutting system (please bring your own Cricut Mat), Sizzix & Cuttlebug die cutting & embossing machines

-A Layout contest...details to be announced at the crop!

-Specialty Workshop (s) will be offered for an additional charge; details to be announced closer to the date of the crop

And did someone say Chocolate?
One cannot scrapbook without chocolate! So of course, there will be chocolate!

With this Sassy Crop...the dinner...it's included!
Dinner will be catered by a local company. More details to follow. Beverages will be available all day and well as a fruit & cheese buffet for your healthy snacking (after all, we have to counteract all of the chocolate right?).

Lunch is on your own. However, the hotel is adjacent to a Cracker Barrel. Sassy Crops will be placing a carry out order for lunch for those who prefer to not leave the crop and would like their lunch delivered to their seats. (This meal is at own expense--if you would like to order with us, please plan accordingly and bring cash for your meal).

Need to shop?
Never fear, we will have our "store" available for your scrapbooking shopping needs. Extra Cricut mats, adhesive, the newest trends in the industry and plenty of scrapbooking supplies will be available at your fingertips!

Want to make it a weekend of it?
We are working with the hotel to establish a block of rooms with a variety of room choices. More details when they become available. Croppers are responsible for making their own hotel accommodations.

Registration cost: $50.

Registration is open until May 20th, or while seats are available. If there are spaces still available at this time, individuals may still register, however there is a $10 late registration fee making the registration $60.

Register here:

http://www.sassycrops.com/Scrap-tastic-Day-Crop-6-4-11.html

Fangirling!

2011-02-20T18:24:00.002-05:00

OK, this is just pure self-indulgence. :-) I went to the Hampton Coliseum on January 29, accompanied by my *ever-patient* husband, to see my favorite country music performers: Christian Kane and his band "Kane." And I had a VIP Meet-n-Greet, so I got to have my picture taken with the man himself. And the whole band autographed my CD cover. And, you know, I pretty much imitated a 14-year old girl. LOL

So, the experience HAD to be scrapbooked. This particular layout is being framed and hung up in my office. 'Cause, I can. :-) www.christiankane.com You, too, can be a fangirl!

Welcome to Mayberry!

2011-01-29T15:36:00.011-05:00

The new CTMH Idea Book goes live on February 1st, and I cannot wait! I want to give you a "sneak peak" of one of the goregeous new papers. So ... welcome to Mayberry!

More of Olivia

2010-10-17T15:53:00.004-04:00

This was the 2nd "Olivia" layout I did this weekend (see post "Loving Olivia" below.) This uses the "Levitate" layout from the !!NEW!! CTMH book, "Magic" by Jeanette Lynton, CTMH founder. I love the colors! I used the "Olivia" My Stickease with this, and accented the circle centers with our new "Mocha Opaques" (Z1333) gems. I'll use these four Olivia layouts (along with a couple more that I am working on right now) for a holiday scrapbook for my parents. I'll have the pages all ready to add the pictures, so I can present the album to them immediately after Thanksgiving and Christmas, while the memories are fresh. And Mama can show it off to her girlfriends at church. LOL

Loving Olivia!

2010-10-17T15:39:00.007-04:00

My friend hosted a wonderful scrapbooking "girls night" at her house on Friday. We had a GREAT time and I worked on layouts using the "Olivia" paper packet from the CTMH Autumn/Winter 2010 Idea Book. This one follows the "Workshop on the Go" guide, and I love the way it turned out! I sanded the edges of the "Smoothie" (pink) paper, and the stamping is done using Smoothie and Cocoa ink. The embellishments are our new Shimmer Designer Brads (Z1349) and I love the sparkle that they add to the page. I was really delighted with the way these pages turned out. You can now order the "Workshop on the Go" kits through the Idea Book, which is an AWESOME change! Formerly, you could only get WOTG through your CTMH consultant, and they were usually done as a workshop. That's still a fun way to do it, but if you are short on time or can't fit a workshop into the schedule, you can still get the exclusive WOTG stamp sets that accompany each kit along with the workshop guide and accessories. YAY! :~)

And on a personal note ...

2010-09-29T07:32:00.003-04:00

I cut my hair! What would possess me to do such a thing? For the shortest cut I've had in many, many years? Well, it's called "Locks of Love" and here's what they do:

"Locks of Love is a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children in the United States and Canada under age 21 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis. We meet a unique need for children by using donated hair to create the highest quality hair prosthetics. Most of the children helped by Locks of Love have lost their hair due to a medical condition called alopecia areata, which has no known cause or cure. The prostheses we provide help to restore their self-esteem and their confidence, enabling them to face the world and their peers."

I donated my hair in honor of Dr. O, our dear friend and the grandfather of my goddaughter. He is a cancer survivor, and in his case, bald is sexy. :~) If you would like to help, and don't have 10 inches of hair to donate, there are other ways to give! Check them out here. And the finished product looks like this!

Quick! Get the "Mistletoe"!

2010-09-26T22:15:00.004-04:00

I confess - with every new release of the "Idea Book," I have a new favorite paper packet. And for the Autumn/Winter 2010 "Idea Book," this paper is the one that wins my heart. It is elegant and old-fashioned, and features some of my most-loved colors in the CTMH palette: Cocoa, Cranberry, Garden Green and New England Ivy. The color combination is perfect for setting off holiday pictures, and has a warm that makes me think of sipping hot chocolate in front of the wood stove. I love the accompanying "My Stickease," which has all sorts of traditional Christmas and winter images. Also be sure to check out the new winter My Acrylix stamp sets - there are a bunch of them! Some of my favorites: "A Sip" (A1109 - only $7.95!), "Captured Moments" (C1423), "I Believe" (C1427) and "St. Nick" (B1356).

Where are the "Hooligans"?

2010-09-26T21:47:00.004-04:00

The Hooligans are right here! And how scary cute they are!! This new Autumn/Winter paper packet is all about Halloween, and features four new colors: Gypsy, Lagoon, Pear and Sunset. Get our soft felt "Hooligans" monsters to embellish your layouts. They are adhesive-backed and made to go with this paper packet. We also have new Halloweeen stamp sets! Check out "Spookey Alley" (D1439) and "Fright Night" (B1359) to add to your scrapbook pages and cards.

"Olivia" feels like Fall!

2010-09-26T21:42:00.002-04:00

Also new in our Autumn/Winter "Idea Book" is Oliva. Featuring three of our newly introduced colors and an old favorite (Barn Red, Pear, Smoothie and Sunset), the rich color palette lends itself to any fall project. You are going to LOVE this color combination! Pear is such a great new green. I've used this packet for several cards, and I'll post them on the blog. You will fall in love with this new packet just like I did!

Introducing ... "Magnifique"!

2010-09-26T21:34:00.002-04:00

From the NEW Close to My Heart Autumn/Winter "Idea Book" comes "Magnifique"! I have to tell you, I've worked with this kit already, and it is SO beautiful! It really evokes the feel and colors of winter. Speaking of colors, it also uses several of our brand new colors, just introduced in this new Idea Book. Featuring Chocolate, Lagoon, Pacifica and Sky, it has look and feel that will suit all sorts of new projects. As you can see from the art work, the paper and our new stamp set "Circle of Love" have peacocks on them. BEAUTIFUL!

And now, the big reveal ...

2010-05-04T21:50:00.007-04:00

Our new catalog debuted on May 1!!! This is the first of several papers that I'll be showing off from the Summer Idea Book. It's called "Cherry-O," and features Chocolate, Crystal Blue, Sweet Leaf and Tulip as its primary colors. I used it to make birthday cards for my goddaughter and our niece, and I am really loving the Tulip highlights in these. The "Mini-Medley Accents Tulip Collection" is a new product in this idea book, and I've already gotten two of them! I used Chocolate "Waxy Flax" to make the strings on the balloons, and used the My Acrylix stamps from last fall's "Everyday Celebration" kit for my images. I thought final result was fun, and I really hope the girls like these cards as much as I do. I'll be showing off the other papers over the next couple of weeks as I begin to play with them. Let me know if you want one of our new Summer 2010 Idea Books!

"Veranda" is gorgeous!

2010-05-04T21:35:00.005-04:00

I've used the "Veranda" paper packet now for about a dozen scrapbook layouts, and several cards, and I have to tell you, I think this paper is GORGEOUS. I love the colors, the design, the way it meshes with our embellishments. This card was on the front of one of our CTMH magazines, and I wanted to recreate it. The big difference? The original used metal embellishments, and because of where I was mailing it, I needed to create my version with no metal. The design challenge proved to be a lot of fun, and I think the final result was still really beautiful. I especially like our new "Spring Blossom" paper flowers (Z1266) ... the Tulip and Creme Brulee colors are the perfect compliment to this paper. You can also see the envelope flat that I showed in the "You Rock" layout below here, except now it is folded for mailing. I like to decorate or stamp the envelope too; it's a great finishing touch!

Making some "Rockin'" cards

2010-05-04T21:14:00.005-04:00

I've been working on making cards lately ... and our "You Rock" paper is awesome for cards for the men in our lives! This card was for my friend Brian, who had a birthday last week. I used the "You Rock" paper packet, with the matching Top Coats, the My Acrylix "You Rock" stamp set (D1346), and our 6"x6" envelope flats (Z1028). The card design was from our "Wishes" how-to book. I was really happy with the way it turned out ... if you want more details on the "card recipe," just shoot me an e-mail. I'll be happy to share, because I think you rock too! :~)

It's a Miracle!!

2010-04-22T19:47:00.009-04:00

National Scrapbooking Month is quickly approaching, and we want you to celebrate with the exclusive “Miracle” kit. Customers can purchase the kit beginning Thursday, April 15, at 9:00 am (MT), and the kit will be available through Monday, May 31, 2010, while supplies last. Mine has arrived, and here's what I got:

Miracle Kit Contents
5 – Colonial White Cardstock
1 – Bamboo Cardstock
1 – Floral B&T Duos® Paper
1 – Stripe B&T Duos® Paper
1 – Crystal Blue B&T Duos® Die-Cut
1 – Sweet Leaf B&T Duos® Die-Cut
1 – 6" × 12" My Stickease® Assortment
1 – 6" × 9" Irresistibles™ Chipboard Die-Cuts
1 – Mini-Medley Accents Colonial White Collection
12" Colonial White Waxy Flax
3 – 4" × 6" Memory Protectors® Flip Flaps™
2 – Sponge Wedges
1 –Brochure

Colors: Sweet Leaf, Olive, Crystal Blue, Bamboo

THIS CHARMING SCRAPBOOKING KIT FEATURING spring-inspired colors and floral patterns is miraculously easy to assemble with no stamping required. The brochure will guide you through easily creating two beautiful 2-page layouts.

There are several ways to snatch this fashionable Miracle kit at a great discount or even FREE*:

• Purchase the kit outright for $19.95* (CC1009).
• Place a minimum order of $40 and purchase the kit for only
$10* (CC1009A).
• Place a minimum order of $60 and purchase the kit for only
$5* (CC1009B).
• Sign up as a new Consultant between May 1–31 and receive
a kit FREE!
• Host a Home Gathering between April 15–May 31 with minimum
sales of $300 and receive a kit FREE!

Amaze yourself and your friends during National Scrapbooking Month in May with gorgeous layouts you create using our Miracle kit!

Spring Idea Book: You Rock!!!

2010-03-20T15:35:00.005-04:00

I confess ... "You Rock" is my FAVORITE new paper packet from the CTMH Spring 2010 Idea Book! I *LOVE* how these colors just pop off of the page. There is obviously a rock-n-roll theme going on here, and we've introduced colored Top Coats in the "Rockin'" theme. In the two-page layout I've included here, you can see one of the top coats (the flying heart with wings under the first picture on the left page.) They are a great highlight on your favorite photos. "You Rock" has a strong color palette of Goldrush, Indian Corn Blue, Olive and Outdoor Denim. The awesome matching stickease and My Acrylix stamps have stars, music paraphernalia and a rock-n-roll vibe! Rock on, scrappers!! :~)

Spring Idea Book: Caboodle

2010-03-20T15:31:00.003-04:00

The spring Caboodle paper is just fun! It shows off our Buttercup, Crystal Blue, Sorbet and Sweet Leaf colors, and the matching stickease and My Acrylix stamps are all about "Boys at Play!" I love these colors together. And don't miss our new "Tiny Tabs," which you can see used on the top left of the layout above.

Spring Idea Book: TopStitch

2010-03-20T15:23:00.003-04:00

The new Topstitch paper packet features Baby Pink, Chocolate, Heavenly Blue and Vineyard Berry colors. All of the designs on the papers have petals and ... well, stitches! :-) The blues and chocolates are gorgeous for "boy pages" and the pinks are perfect for young lades. Pages or cards made using Topstitch will look great accented by our new "Soft Suede Pinwheels," available in Blush and Colonial White with Chocolate stitching.

Spring Idea Book: Veranda

2010-03-20T15:17:00.002-04:00

The Close to My Heart Spring 2010 Idea Book has such beautiful new paper packets! I am posting some sample art from the new pages here. And our first featured item is: Veranda!

The papers use Creme Brulee, Cocoa, Garden Green and Juniper colors from the CTMH exclusive color palette, and they are all about SPRING!! The coordinating stickease and My Acrylix stamp sets feature leaves, vines, flowers and hummingbirds. This set is perfect for showing off your spring flower pictures, or even a spring wedding. Gorgeous!

It's a Stampaganza!!

2009-11-18T13:34:00.001-05:00

WHETHER YOU'RE A LONG-TIME FAN OF STAMPS OR ARE just venturing into this fun hobby, now is the perfect time to grab some My Acrylix® decorative stamp sets!

From November 3-30, 2009, when you purchase any two stamp sets (sizes A, B, C, D, and/or E only) at full retail price you will receive a third stamp set of your choice FREE (of equal or lesser value) - a savings of up to $22.95! (Shipping and handling applies.)

This is one of the very few times a year Close To My Heart offers such a great deal on My Acrylix stamps - now is the time to add fun new stamps to your collection! This is also one of the few times where YOU get to choose which promotional item you'd like - browse the 2009 Idea Books and the Product Review and pick out the stamp set YOU want!

"Grace" full Fall!

2009-10-04T21:00:00.003-04:00

The new "Grace" paper packet is really beautiful. I've been enjoying using it for cards ... the two above are from the Grace Workshop on the Go kit. The papers feature Barn Red, Cocoa, Honey and Twilight colors, and the accompanying My Acrylix stamps and My Stickease show off silhouettes of happy children and inspire thoughts of childhood dreams. I especially love these colors ... Barn Red and Cocoa compliment lots of different pictures and Twilight is one of my favorites blues from CTMH. Check out more artwork on my CTMH web site. I hope you're having a "Grace" - full Fall!

"Sweet Home" at The Camp

2009-09-06T20:33:00.003-04:00

My darling husband and I spent yesterday at the hunting camp. The camp is a wonderful place to scrapbook ... the cabin is cool and quiet and rustic, without the slightest chance of a phone ringing (as there is no landline and no cell reception) and only a slighter larger chance of visitors! :~) So I got some quality crafting time while he mowed the grass and did guy things.

I made the two birthday cards above using the new "Sweet Home" paper packet from the Close to My Heart Autumn/Winter 2009 Idea Book. It features the colors Buttercup, Garnet, Heavenly Blue and Indian Corn Blue. I think the paper is gorgeous and I had a lot of fun playing with the colors, which are ones that I don't use very often. The paper, the matching My Stickease, and the coordinating My Acrylix stamp sets all have (no surprise) a "homey" theme, with silhouettes of houses and comfy furnishings, and expressions like "Bless Our Home." You can view the Sweet Home paper and accessories, and all of our other new products, on-line here:

http://www.closetomyheart.com/Ideabooks/AW09USMyCTMH.aspx

The new Idea Book is live and I'm having a blast with it! :~)

And now, let's get "Twitterpated"

2009-09-03T19:54:00.003-04:00

The next new paper I wanted to show you from the Autumn/Winter catalog is called "Twitterpated." I've also gotten to play with this one a bit. I made a couple of cards with it - great for fall! Its colors are Chocolate, Crystal Blue, Sorbet and Sweetleaf, and the coordinating stamps feature trees, leaves and acorns. The My Stickease addes really cute squirrels, rabbits, deer, owls and mushrooms - absolutely adorable! Add on the "Dimensional Elements In Color - Organic" ... scenes from the paper and stickease repeated on chipboard buttons. You'll love this one for all of your fall layouts

Featuring ... Jingle!

2009-08-31T19:54:00.005-04:00

We had a lot of fun at the Idea Book kick-off party yesterday - thanks to all who came! And a special congrats to W3 for winning the grand prize!! :~)

I'm going to share each of the new paper packets from the Autumn/Winter Idea Book this week ... starting TODAY with "Jingle"!

September is NOT too early to think about Christmas! Close to My Heart will have you humming "Jingle Bells" with this great new paper packet, featuring the colors Creme Brulee, Juniper, Olive and Tulip. The paper can be paired with the beautiful new Christmas stamps, which show a special emphasis on ornaments. And the new "Twinkle Brads Jolly Assortment" will glitter on your cards and layouts in Hollyhock, Olive, Tulip and Twilight.

I've had a chance to play with this paper a little, and I love really do love it. One of the B&T duo sheets is perfect to cut into beautiful border pieces - wait until you see it!

As a reminder, the new catalog goes live TOMORROW, when you can see all of the great goodies on-line for yourself! PLEASE let me know if you have questions about any of our products (new or old!)

New Idea Book Kick-off!

2009-08-22T15:27:00.001-04:00

Close to My Heart's new Autumn/Winter 2009 Idea Book will be released on September 1, 2009! And I've got the goods! Join me on Sunday, August 30, at 3PM for an Idea Book kick-off party, and see the new products for yourself. Refreshments will be provided, and you'll get to review our new products in person!

We have four new paper packets with matching My Stickease, new My Acrylix stamp sets (with featured sets for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas), a new holiday card kit, and brand new accessories. I've ordered advance copies of many of our newest products, and I can't wait to show them to you! Please come out and join me for the fun of seeing all new scrappin' joy goods!

Kick-off Party:

WHEN: August 30, 2009
3PM - 5PM

Contact me for directions and to RSVP @ jennifer.hulvey@saltfiresolutions.com

National Stamping Month Celebrates the Everyday!

2009-08-22T15:24:00.001-04:00

September is National Stamping Month and we're celebrating early and in a big way, with something for everyone!

Between August 18-September 30 when you purchase a minimum of $60 in stamp sets (A, B, C, D, and E-size; some exclusions apply), you'll receive a FREE Everyday Celebration card kit containing materials to handcraft 16 exquisite cards!!

Join the stamping festivities by making a qualifying purchase, or buy the kit outright for just $39.95. Hostesses and new Consultants can also get the card kit free during September. We're also holding a drawing where we'll give away an Everyday Celebration card kit each day in September!

Want your free card kit? Host a gathering for me in September, and not only will you get the card kit, but I'll throw in a new Double Scrubber AND a My Acrylix™ Spritz Cleaner as my thank you to you!! Schedule NOW!

August Stamp of the Month!

2009-08-22T15:15:00.002-04:00

It's Your Day

D1352: (Set of 26) $22.95 US

It's the perfect time to party! Use these versatile words and images to celebrate the best days of your year.

Available August 1-31, 2009 only

You spend:	$25 US	$50 US	$75 US	$100 US
You save:	25% off	50% off	75% off	100% off
You pay only:	$17.21 US	$11.48 US	$5.74 US	Free!!

My Goodie Box is HERE!!

2009-06-14T13:31:00.002-04:00

The first CTMH Goodie Box arrived! Was it worth the $60? You bet it was!! :~) The contents of each box are a "mystery," and I was thrilled with mine! It contained 3 stamp sets (B1208 - Birthday Script, C1224 - Fluttering Frames, D1196 - Floral Elements), Dimensional Elements Basic Shapes, Card Kit - Holiday Photo Greetings, Cranberry 12"x12" Base Pages, Cranberry Accents (Buttons, Brads, Safety Pins, Conchos and Spiral Clips) and the "Magic Moments" kit (26 12"x12" layout pages, 8 sheets of stickease, 13 Memory Protectors, cocoa brads and ribbon.)

So ... this turned out to be a GREAT mystery box, and I can't wait for the next one! Keep checking the "Deal of the Day," posted every morning at 11AM. I'm expecting four more goodie boxes this month, and some of the daily deals have been great too, including items that are no longer available for retail sale. Gotta love a *sale*! :~)

Back Country Workshop on the Go

2009-06-12T11:06:00.002-04:00

I'm doing a Gathering workshop tonight in Roanoke for my friend Whitney. In honor of Father's Day, she chose the Back Country workshop, and I am so excited about it! This is my very favorite paper packet from the new Idea Book, and the "Workshop on the Go" layout from Close to My Heart is so much fun to do. I used my hubby, his brother and their friend Dean's latest fishing trip for my pages, and I think JD is going to love them! I'll add them to his album, which is mostly hunting stuff, but the fishing will fit right in. You can check out the CTMH workshops on my web site here. And don't forget to check out the Deal of the Day! :~)

June's Deal-a-Day

2009-06-02T10:48:00.002-04:00

This year, June could be your favorite month! That’s because during this month, you can take advantage of a different deal each and every day on my MyCTMH website—a fabulous product special available only that day. We’ll have two types of offers: FREE items with any single My Acrylix® stamp set purchase (K-size and Stamp of the Month excluded), and loaded goodie boxes for a savings of at least 50% on retired favorites and a few current items, including stamp sets, paper packets, and a wide variety of embellishments. What’s more, the irresistible shipping discounts will blow your mind!

Beginning at 11:00 am (ET) each day, a new offer runs for a full 23 hours (the deals are updated between 10:00–11:00 am each morning), so shoppers will have plenty of time to take advantage of every deal every day. However, because we expect heavy ordering loads, we strongly encourage you to take advantage of the full 23-hour window rather than rushing to the deal at 11:00 am, which may slow the shopping experience considerably. (And don’t worry about getting there first; we have healthy inventory levels of all items.) By shopping at off-peak times, you are more likely to have a fast, easy transaction than if you shop during peak hours.

Be sure to check my MyCTMH website every day from June 1–30 for that day’s deal, and add to your scrapbooking and cardmaking supplies while saving a bundle!

June SOTM Blog Hop!

2009-06-02T10:33:00.002-04:00

I just found this and had to share ... 43 Close to My Heart consultants are participating this month in a "blog hop." Each consultant is featuring a piece of art made with our June Stamp of the Month (called "Tender Tags") and then directing you to the next consultant's site to see HER work. How fun! Start here, and enjoy the hop! These consultants have made some GORGEOUS pieces!

http://www.livelovelaughscrapbook.blogspot.com/

And Tinkerin' some more!

2009-05-18T21:30:00.006-04:00

This is a GREAT card pattern! I "scrap-lifted" it from another consultant, who had used the design to make a blue and gold graduation card and posted it to our consultants' Yahoo group. (I think the original design came from Tina Sutton, a CTMH Senior Executive Director.) I took the layout and modified it for the Tinkerin' paper pack, and changed the size from 4 1/2" x 5" to 5" x 7". The unique layering effect is fun to make, and creates a great "opening" to get your recipient's attention. I've also used this pattern to make a birthday card, using the "It's A Guy Thing" paper pack. That one turned out great as well - the "guy" colors looked fantastic with this design. Check back later in the week for the layout "recipe." I was working from photos only, but have come up with paper-cutting measurements that seem to fit. My new "Bella" paper pack should arrive tomorrow, and I'll try using that as well!

Just Tinkerin' Around with some cards

2009-05-18T21:21:00.003-04:00

I've been working on some thank you cards this week, using the Tinkerin' paper pack from Close to My Heart. These are all 3"x3" cards, and the designs are from the CTMH "how to" card-making book called Originals. I love these bright spring colors. The green reminds me of new grass. :~)

My "Newest" Guy!

2009-05-15T11:13:00.003-04:00

I love this picture, as I am holding my youngest nephew! I kept the layout really simple, because I wanted all of the attention on him. I used the Aspen Level 2 paper pack, Dimensional Elements Framed Fun, Outdoor Denim ribbon, Write-n-Rub pen and Prisma Glitter, and Twilight Ink.

My Guys

2009-05-15T10:49:00.005-04:00

I made a scrapbook for my mother as a Mother's Day gift, and I thought I'd share a couple of my favorite layouts. This one features "my guys" ... my husband on the left (hi honey - happy anniversary tomorrow!) and my dad on the right.

Tinkerin Workshop on the Go

2009-05-01T19:01:00.003-04:00

Tomorrow I'm conducting a workshop for Nikki, down in Boones Mill, VA. We're going to be doing the "Tinkerin'" Workshop on the Go, from the new summer catalog. I made my sample pages tonight, and I've got a real tender spot in my heart for these pictures. They were all taken by my Great-Aunt Frances, about 35 years ago, give or take. After her death, her son, my cousin Mel, sent the pictures to my mother, and she shared them with my brother and me. They are treasures to me. My brother and I are, thankfully, very close, and have been for most of our lives. I love looking at these ... we were constant companions, and I'm so glad for those years together at home in Markham Hollow.

How about some "Animal Cookies"?

2009-04-30T19:42:00.002-04:00

Ok, I am making a scrapbook (ok, several scrapbooks!) for my 7-month old nephew. And THIS paper will take center stage! It's called "Animal Cookies," and it's the last new paper for me to introduce from the NEW CTMH summer catalog. It features Clover Meadow, Dutch Blue, Sunflower and Tulip colors, and it's all about the kids! Matching accessories include foam die-cut numbers in matching colors, stamps featuring zoo and choo-choo train scenes, and a special "Creative Basics" package, with decorated papers and ribbon. I can't wait to play with this one! My friend Tonya is ahead of me here ... the layout above belongs to CTMH, but Tonya has used the "Animal Cookies" paper to create her own layout with photos of her beautiful children. Check it out in Tonya's blog here: http://inallsassiness.blogspot.com/

Scrappin' Joy!!

Ah, "Bella" indeed!

2009-04-29T10:13:00.002-04:00

"Bella" means "beautiful" in Italian, and it is a very appropriate description for this new summer paper from CTMH! Featuring the colors Creme Brulee, Hollyhock, Olive and Smokey Plum, "Bella" features floral patterns and has a very feminine vibe. The accompanying stamps include buttons, flowers and botanical borders. And as a new accessory - Dimensional Elements Borders! These chipboard pieces can be inked, chalked, stamped or embossed. There is one more new paper to go ... I'll get it posted tomorrow or Friday. Paper isn't all that's new! And you can see it all in our new catty as of May 1 - ask me how! :~)

(Bella artwork courtesy CTMH ... and I can't wait to make my own creations!)

Moon Doggie

2009-04-24T20:22:00.002-04:00

Ok - my hubby and I are going to Hawaii in October. How many packs of this paper do I need? Well, enough to do a whole scrapbook, at least! :~) The next new paper in our NEW SUMMER CATALOG (ah, bliss! new catty!) (oh, and more CTMH artwork, used by permission) is called "Moon Doggie." It features Cranberry, Desert Sand, Garden Green, Indian Corn Blue and a great island theme. The accompanying stamps are beachy, travel-themed and tropical. Aloha, Moon Doggie! I can't wait to meet you in person!!

Back Country

2009-04-22T20:59:00.003-04:00

Ok, so here's the next one (again, artwork belongs to CTMH and not me - yet!) ... another new paper packet for Summer 2009! This one is called "Back Country" and it's in the running to be my FAVORITE! I can't wait to use this in JD's (my hubby's) hunting camp scrapbook! It could not be more perfect! And the My Acrylix stamp sets that go with it are "Let's Go Camping" with a bear and a tent and a camping trailer; "Camping Fever" with camping signs ("Scenic Route", "To the Woods and Back") and "Backwoods" featuring all sorts of trees. The primary colors are Barn Red, Goldrush, Olive and Outdoor Denim. The matching Stickease has animals, trees, sign posts and arrowheads. AND there are matching dimensional elements ... glossy chipboard accents with signs, compasses and arrows. Honestly, of all the new packets - I think I love this one the most!!

We've got a new catty and we are "Tinkerin'"

2009-04-20T12:01:00.004-04:00

Ok, I think it's time to start showing off some of the NEW paper packets from the NEW summer catalogs, ready for release on May 1. I can't wait! Seriously - I think these are some of the best new assortments that CTMH has done since I've been a customer. The drill is essentially this - CTMH releases three new catalogs each year, one every four months. And each catalog contains 5 new assortments built around a new paper packet, and the assortment includes coordinating stickers, embellishments, My Acrylix stamps, etc. And there's other new stuff too! For example ... this catalog has a new "how to" book! More on that later ...

So, I'm going to preview each of the new assortments for you, right here on the Scrappin' Joy blog! That way you can be as excited as I am, and I won't look so silly jumping up and down by myself. LOL The artwork above (nope, not mine, CTMH did this one) is called "Tinkerin'." Now, how CUTE is that? The colors are Clover Meadow, Sunflower, Sunny Yellow and Twilight, and the theme includes gears and robots. Nikki picked this one for her workshop on May 2, and I think we're going to have a BLAST with it!

Check back in a day or two for the next "unveiling"!

National Scrapbooking Month Contest

2009-04-17T14:02:00.002-04:00

To celebrate National Scrapbooking Month, Close To My Heart is sponsoring a contest that anyone can enter! And it is easy to enter—just submit a JPEG photo of an original two-page layout you have created that represents YOU! Be sure to tell us what is happening in the layout, and why this highlights you, your life, or your personality. The Close To My Heart judges will then review all the entries and select five finalists for each category. The finalists will be reposted for you to view. The winners of each category will be determined by comments left or votes from blog viewers. Each winner will receive $150 US retail in fabulous Close To My Heart products!

To read more or enter, check out the link below. AND - a big shout-out to Tonya (my up-line whose artwork has been posted to the contest site.) WHOO-HOO TONYA!! It's a gorgeous layout, as yours always are!

http://www.scrapbookandshare.com/

So - what's actually IN the Tickled Pink kit?

2009-04-16T19:20:00.002-04:00

Several folks have asked ... so here's a picture of my kit (now used!) :~)

New catalogs - WhooHoo!!

2009-04-09T09:56:00.003-04:00

My new CTMH summer catalogs (release date of May 1) have arrived!! I got them last night, and I am SOOOO excited about this new summer line-up of products. There is a new paper packet called "Back Country" (featured here on the Idea Book cover) that was tailor-made for my husband's "hunting camp" scrapbook! LOL I can't wait to share these!

I'm "Tickled Pink" with this new kit!

2009-04-05T11:57:00.003-04:00

Close to My Heart is offering this wonderful kit for National Scrapbooking Month (which is in May, but hey, early is good, right?) called "Tickled Pink." Featured colors are Blush, Crystal Blue, Twilight, Hollyhock, Sweet Leaf and the kit comes with all of these items:

1 - My Acrylix® I Am Stamp Set (D-size)
2 - 12" × 12" Floral B&T Duos™ Paper (1 with glitter)
2 - 12" × 12" Stripe B&T Duos™ Paper (1 with glitter)
1 - 12" × 12" Blush Textured Cardstock
1 - 12" × 12" Crystal Blue Textured Cardstock
5 - 12" × 12" White Daisy Textured Cardstock (1 sheet with die-cut shapes)
1 - Mini-Medley Accents White Daisy Collection
1- Foam Texture Tool
1- Brochure

I got mine early (privs of being a consultant ... talk to me about signing up and you can get fun stuff like this early TOO!) :~) I used it yesterday to make some "thank you" cards for my customers and a couple of friends (so act surprised if you get one with your order! LOL) I LOVE THIS PAPER!! I don't know how well the glitter shows up in the pictures, but it is just gorgeous on the cards. It makes them look so special. The "extra" flowers and the leaves are die-cuts that come with the kit, and I stamped them using Hollyhock, Blush and Sweet Leaf inks.

The kits go on sale April 15, and if you want one, GET IT EARLY, 'cause I think these will sell out. There are ways to get a kit free, too ...

· Place a minimum order of $60 in stamp sets (excluding K-size and Stamp of the Month) between April 15-May 31 to receive a Tickled Pink scrapbooking kit FREE! (Use item number CC1004D; limit one free kit per order.)
· Purchase the Tickled Pink kit at just $34.95-well below retail value! (Use item number CC1004C)
· Sign up as a new Consultant between May 1-May 31 and receive a kit FREE.
· Host a Home Gathering between April 15-May 31 with minimum sales of $400
and receive a kit FREE.

You can order the kit on my web site. Happy Spring!!

Workshop Fun!

2009-04-03T18:25:00.002-04:00

My friend Pat hosted a scrapbook workshop on Monday night, and we made this great layout. I was absolutely thrilled with it! It's from the Close to My Heart paper packet called "Evensong." CTMH has a program called "Workshops on the Go," that provides instructions, based on one paper packet each month, to make at least three 2-page layouts and three cards. It includes a "supplies needed" list, and gives you the option for "good, better and best" versions of the layout. I'm hooked! I want to do this every month! Check out some of the options here:

http://jenniferhulvey.myctmh.com/MyCTMH/WOTG.aspx

AND - we had a blast together. Pat made a spaghetti dinner for me and six of her friends before the workshop, and it was scrumptious. Great food, great fun, great fellowship - now, that's a deal that's hard to beat! :~)

My New Scrapbooking Corner ... er, Quarter

2009-03-17T09:17:00.003-04:00

Those of you who have been to our home will recognize that I'm now on iteration 67? 68? of the scrapbooking corner. I took a week-end not long ago and reconfigured the whole thing ... again. My office/craft room/music room is about 21' x14', and a full quarter of it is now devoted to scrapbooking. I **love** this space ... I can leave projects out (having finally convinced the cats that getting on my scrapbook table will lead them to certain death) and then sit down anytime I have a few minutes and pick right back up where I left off. I added some small bins to store my stamps and assorted tools, labeled them with {cute} tags and ribbon, and at least this week, I think I can find everything easily. :~)

What are the tools I HAVE to have when I scrapbook? You can see them on my table ... my craft mat (24"x18" from gingher.com), my guillotine paper cutter, and my tools tote (containing my adhesives, scissors, markers, craft knife, etc.) I also use a recipe book stand to hold the idea book that I'm using for my current layout. Since I'm left-handed, I try to leave a lot of open space to my left to use for writing or other detail work.

And for YOU - I have a 2nd table on the other side of the room, ready for a friend to join me! Wanna come scrap at my house? I'll even supply the kitty-cat lap warmer! :~)

Encouragers

2009-03-15T11:52:00.002-04:00

My friend Bev made me the *cutest* card and gave it to me at church this morning. I was so delighted by it. She stamped a darling little green frog and gave him sparkles for eyes, distressed the edges of her paper and set her front panel in a gorgeous frame that she had used corner punches to make. It accompanied a thoughtful gift, a warmer for my feet, which Bev knows are always cold.

What an encouragement from a friend! I felt so special (and so proud of Bev for all that she has learned about scrapbooking!) Our Sunday School lesson this morning was on encouragers and discouragers. One of the things I love MOST about the time I spend scrapbooking is the people who share that time with me. Encouragers ... friends ... quick to offer a smile and a word of support, whether it is for the layout I'm working on or a difficult life situation I'm facing.

I prayed several years ago, when JD and I bought our current house, that God would bless me with some girlfriends here, women with whom I could share my time and my heart ... He has answered my prayer in ways I couldn't have dreamed! What an awesome God! I'm so thankful for the "encouragers" He has put in my life ... like Bev! :~)

Joy, Joy, Joy!

2009-03-13T13:04:00.005-04:00

Welcome to my blog! I'm reminded of a song that I learned as a child: "I've got that joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart." I started scrapbooking when I was about 10 years old and in 4-H. Every year, I made a scrapbook of all of my 4-H activities. I bought my albums at the local "five and dime" store, and attached my pictures and clippings with rubber cement. I still have those old albums, and enjoy going through them from time to time. But we've come a LONG WAY since then!

(The artwork above is from CTMH, featuring our March "Stamp of the Month." My mama loves butterflies, so I have to get this one!)

"Acid free" and "archival safe" were words I didn't know 30+ years ago when I made those first scrapbooks. Today, scrapbooking is its own art form, with a whole host of specialized products available. I still love preserving memories of special people, events and places, but I'm not and have never been an artist. So a company like "Close to My Heart" gives me a wonderful gift - a fully coordinated line of scrapbooking products in exclusive colors, and idea books with step-by-step instructions for making gorgeous scrapbook pages!

I never get over the feeling of watching someone I love open a gift that I have handmade just for them. The surprise, the wonder, the joy in their faces ... no words can replace their expressions. I love it! It's a natural high for me, and it brings me great joy to make and give a gift like that. I love celebrating the important relationships in my life! So becoming a scrapbooking consultant was a natural "next step" for me. Now, I get the opportunity to show other folks how to experience the satisfaction and joy of capturing their memories and celebrating their relationships, too.

My latest adventures are in stamping and card-making. I used to think that you either scrapbooked or you stamped, but you didn't do both. Wow, was I wrong! I started out "scrapbooking cards" with materials left over from scrapbook page layouts. And then I got some CTMH acrylic stamps, and realized that they are not only a wonderful effect on the cards I make, but also on my scrapbook pages. Now, it has all "blended" for me into a wonderful toolbox of elements that I can use to dress up cards, scrapbooks, gift boxes, gift tags, and a host of other items. I use the CTMH "Originals" idea book to get some amazing card ideas!

So keep your eyes on this space! :~) I'm going to be sharing ideas, pictures of my projects and an assortment of random thoughts, as I spend my free time "scrappin' joy!" Come along with me, and we'll have a great time together!