How about some "Animal Cookies"?

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!

"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

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

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'"

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

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?

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

New catalogs - WhooHoo!!

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!

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!

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! :~)