H2H Challenge - It's a Lucky To Have You in My Life!

This week at Heart to Heart Challenges we were asked to make and share a project for someone that shows them how lucky you are to have them in your life and as an added challenge we were to use the color green. Our oldest daughter's birthday is tomorrow - March 17th - so I thought I would use her birthday as an opportunity to participate in this challenge. I love the black and pear color combo:

I used CTMH black & pear cardstock, In the Month of March stamp set, our NEW color ready ribbon colored with pear ink, and pear mini medleys. The 'birthday blessings' was cut using one of my cricut cartridges and I used my computer to create the saying.  


On a side note, I truly do not believe in luck I believe in the abundant blessings of my Lord & Savior. I hope everyone has a blessed St. Patrick's Day!!!!!

March Technique Blog Hop

Welcome to our Technique Blog Hop!  This month there are several of us highlighting the B&T Duos Designs as Embellishments as shown on page 21 in the Spring/Summer 2012 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 Michelle B's Blog .  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.  

If you are coming from Tracy's Blog, you are on the right track!

Here is the card I created:

For my embellishment I used the flower (shown above) by cutting it out of this Pemberly B&T paper - see  the flower in the middle of the page!

I cut my card base and both pieces on the card using my CTMH Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge!  This card was so easy to do!!!! I love all the techniques and tips that I learn from our Idea Books - one more reason to love CTMH!

Now keep hopping on over to Melissa R's Blog to see even more amazing creations!

Want a chance to win a great prize?  Join us at Technically Terrific (http://technicallyterrific.blogspot.com) this month where we show you how to use B&T designs to create embellishments which will make your paper crafting projects even easier!  Winning the prize is even easier too.....after you’ve been inspired by our great group of consultant’s projects, create your own paper crafting project using this technique, then post it to your blog, photo bucket or any other online public viewing site.  Come back to the Technically Terrific blog and share the link to your posted project using “Mr. Linky” that you will find at the end of the post. This month’s challenge closes April 10, so don’t delay, our consultants will pick a winner from the submitted projects by April 12 and the winner will be posted on the Technically Terrific blog site April 13. We can’t wait to see what you’ve created!!

Retreat Projects

As I said in a previous post, I hosted a weekend retreat this past weekend and was very pleased with all I created!  I wanted to share a couple of the projects today, then on the 15th and the 25th you will be able to see some more of my creations in some blog hops.

• Here is a layout that I am going to frame and hang in my office. This was created using our NEW Stella paper and the coordinating canvas Stickease. This was my first Mother's Day as a Gigi!!!

• Here are a couple of journals I altered using the retired Wings paper & Magnifique paper:

•  Here is a layout of my amazing grand-daughter using the retired Animal Cookies paper - this was her Christmas pictures - I think the colors are perfect!!!

I love Flip-Flaps!!!!!

• Here is an 8x10 canvas I altered using the Wings paper. The flowers were made using our Art Philosophy cricut cartridge.

• Another layout using retired paper - Whoops-A-Daisy - this is a layout of me with my great-niece - we had a pedicure day for her birthday last year.

I will post more for some blog hops, so don't forget to come back and see what else I did!!!!!

Spring Croppin' & Scrappin' Retreat 2012

Well this weekend I hosted my first scrapbooking retreat and if I do say so myself - it was a great success. We stayed at Montgomery Presbyterian Conference Center in Starke, Florida --- it is a very secluded retreat center on a lake.  We had 17 ladies and we all had a blast!!!!!

Here was what I packed and took with me - there's actually several bags underneath and 2 big Thirty-One large utility totes that you can't even see!!!! Needless to say my car was packed full and I only took one overnight bag for clothes!!!

Here are the attendees:

Had to take two pics, so I could be in one of them!!!

Working hard:

Eating dinner:

I was very pleased with all I created --- 2 journals, an altered canvas, 4 2-page layouts, a single page layout, and some cards. Considering it usually takes me all day to just create 1 double page layout at home, this was HUGE for me!!!!  I will post some of these projects tomorrow but some of them are for some blog hops coming up so keep checking back to see what all I created!

Can't wait til next year -- this will become an annual retreat!!!

Heartfelt Sentiments Creative Challenge

My amazing upline and dear friend, Melissa R, challenged her team to create a card this weekend using a layout from one of our How-to-Books. I chose the Serenade layout from our Imagine book, page 36-37.

Of course in the book, this is a layout design for a 12x12 scrapbook page but the wonderful thing about these books are the versatility of them.  It is very easy to adapt these designs to a 6x6 card or page -- just simply cut all measurements in 1/2.  I loved this challenge and I think I will definitely be creating some more of these.

If you do not have these books, you NEED to get them NOW!!!! CTMH will not be selling them anymore after they are gone and they have a very limited supply.  (Don't worry, I know they will be coming out with something even better in the fall -- they always do when they retire a product!)

Here are the books that are available and a short description of each:

This is my favorite!!!!!

Bring Magic to your scrapbook layouts using clever interactive techniques. You'll add hands-on excitment and dramatically increase your photo and journaling space using pop-ups, pull-outs, slides, cascades, and more! Magic™ also includes 35 gorgeous 12" x 12" layout patterns that can be used on their own or with the interactive techniques. (DVD included.)

You'll love the newly updated Reflections™ program which features 100 12" × 12" scrapbook pages. Each layout pattern comes complete with a shaded blueprint, detailed assembly instructions, companion layout guides, photo options, and creative techniques sure to make your memories come to life.

Create your own 12" × 12" designer layouts with Jeanette Lynton’s second volume of incredible scrapbooking patterns. Packed with 50 all new, two-page patterns, complete cutting diagrams, and assembly instructions, plus inspiring techniques, Imagine™ is every scrapbooker’s best friend. 

This beautiful new hardbound book is similar to the Reflections programs with blueprints, step-by-step instructions, and photo suggestions, but it’s really in a league all of its own. Cherish is a stand-alone publication that will look simply fabulous on a bookshelf or coffee table. It features 50 12" × 12" two-page scrapbook concepts as well as in-depth instructions for unique art techniques, accessory suggestions for every concept, detailed cutting diagrams, step-by-step assembly instructions, a thumbnail index, and all the artwork recipes.

Wishes is full of amazing bulk cardmaking, trendy circle cards, and all new patterns make Jeanette Lynton's latest hardbound, how-to cardmaking book a must-have for your creative library. The three bulk card "workshops" help you make 8, 12, or 16 cards in a jiffy while getting the most out of your papers and your time. The beautiful full-color artwork and creative tips and techniques offer hours of inspiration and fresh ideas.

Create beautiful handmade cards with confidence using the numerous patterns in our exquisite hardbound Originals™ program. With exact dimensions, fold placement guides, blueprints, and step-by-step instructions, every aspiring cardmaker or crafting pro will love Originals. Feast on the gorgeous, full-color artwork sprinkled throughout the pages and then make cards of your own, simply and easily, with Originals!


I have them all!!!!!!

It's Time to Join CTMH!!!!

OH MY WORD!!!!! I cannot believe what the special for March is with Close to My Heart this month. When you sign up to be a consultant this month, you not only get an amazing kit for just $99 but you will also get our Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge FREE!!!!! So here is the kit:

And here is the cricut cartridge:

And here is the list of everything you get for $99!!!!

• Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge
• 3 coordinating My Acrylix D-size stamp
• 3 sheets of matching Dimensional Elements shapes
• Close To My Heart color swatches
• All kinds of brochures
• Spring/Summer 2012 Idea Book
• Spring/Summer 2012 B&T Duos Sampler
• Cello bags
• Petite Perks Sweet Thanks Incentive Stamp Set
• My Acrylix Wonderful You Incentive Stamp Set
• Double Scrubber
• My Acrylix Spritz Cleaner
• Bonding Memories Glue
• Sponge
• Liquid Glass
• Clear Sparkles
• Micro-Tip Scissors
• Dark Chocolate My Legacy Faux Leather Album
• My Creations Collage Cubes
• Workshops on the Go- Stella Kit
• Stella Compliments Canvas Shapes
• Colonial White Die-Cut Cards
• Clear Sparkles
• Olive Exclusive Inks Pad
• Cocoa Exclusive Inks Pad
• Lagoon Exclusive Inks Pad
• My Acrylix Urban Alphabet Stamp Set
• My Arcylix Just for You Stamp Set
• 1 x 3 ½  My Acrylix Block
• 3 x 3 My Acrylix Block
• Business flyers & supplies

 WOW!!!! All for $99 ---- what are you waiting for --- come join me on this amazing ride! Contact me today for full details.

March is Here and Full of POTENTIAL!!!!

It's hard to believe we already in March!  With the beginning of a new month, we always have a new stamp of the month to showcase.  And this month we have Potential, a very elegant stamp set that you can get for only $5.00 with a $50 purchase.  That's a $17.95 value for only $5!!!!  Here is the stamp set:

I made a very simple card using this stamp set, chocolate ink, lagoon ink, a small piece of B&T from our amazing Stella paper pack, a lagoon flower from our Just Blooms Paradise pack and some lagoon brads.

I also have the privilege of sharing some artwork from some of my fabulous fellow CTMH consultants.

Created by Melissa Robinson

Created by Cherri Hardcastle

Created by Judy Faye Garner

Created by Michelle West

Michelle's matching envelope!!!

Lasting Moments Layout Challenge - Let's Celebrate

I am finally (I think) getting back in a routine - maybe! I have been wanting to participate in some challenges but life since the beginning of the year has been a bit hectic.  So I was very excited when I saw this week's challenge at Lasting Moments about celebrations because I just finished my daughter's 21st birthday pages this week. (By the way she turns 22 on Friday!)

The challenge this week is simply to have a celebration of some kind in your layout - so here's my Let's Celebrate Layouts:

Love the fact she wanted to celebrate turning 21 at home with family --- alcohol FREE!!!!

Love our Flip-Flaps!!!!

Supplies Used - all from CTMH:

• Mayberry B&T (retired)
• Smoothie, Pacifica, & Chocolate Cardstock,
• Smoothie Ink
• Chocolate Ribbon
• Flip-Flaps
• Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge (cupcake)
• Celebrate Stamp Set (retired)