Crazy for NEW PRODUCTS!!!

It's an exciting time! My new Spring/Summer 2012 Close to my Heart Idea Books arrived and let me tell you...I AM IN LOVE! I cannot wait to share with you all of the amazing new papers, stamps, embellishments, and other fun surprises in the new book.

I can't share the book with you until it goes live on February 1st, but if you'd like to get your own copies and order out of them a whole month earlier than anyone else, think about signing up as a Close to my Heart Consultant. Gaining access to CTMH products early is just one of the MANY benefits of becoming a Consultant.

Start the year off with a fun new venture and start your own business! Or simply sign up to save money on some amazing products for yourself and your friends. Click here to read more about joining this amazing company as a Personal Use Consultant, Hobbyist, or a Business Builder!

Christmas Cheer

My goal is to share all the fun stuff I've been creating this season. And with that said...Tim Holz is blowing my socks off on his blog. I don't know how he does it, but MAN he's got mad skills! Here's Tag 5 from his 12 Days of Christmas on his blog.

So, I had to get very creative on this one because I didn't have his stamp that he used. I used half of a CTMH clear card to create the tag and I used snow flakes instead the script.I must say, there is no way I could recreate this tag without my Art Philosophy cartridge...no way.

Here's my take...

Deck the halls!!!

Supplies: Adirondack Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge; Alcohol Ink, Cranberry, Red Pepper; CTMH Clear card, CS; Black Archival ink; Grey Opaques, ribbon

Busy Elf

I've been a busy elf! This Holiday season is just as busy as all the others. For some reason I thought if I started earlier I wouldn't be so busy...not so. But that is half the fun. All the hustle and bustle.

I've been working on my Christmas cards and my Christmas presents that I'll be giving this year and got completely distracted and I forgot about "The 12 Days of Christmas" on Tim Holt's blog! I always try to spend some time and re-create a few of my favorite tags.

Here is Tim's tag from Day 1...

Tim's tags challenge me every year to create outside my comfort zone and learn some tips and techniques that my brain doesn't come up with. The biggest challenge for me is to create a tag using CTMH supplies (because I have so many). I can mostly do it. A little tweaking and I can usually do it.

Here is my interpretation...

This tag is from Day 1 and I must say it was very labor intensive, but well worth it. It took me a few tries to make the pine cones. I also had to wait overnight for the Glitter gel to dry.

Visit Tim's blog and be inspired...

Supplies: Art Philosophy Cartridge; Glitz glitter gel, Red and Silver, Studs Glitter Glue, Vernis; CTMH CS, Tim Holtz Snowflake Folder; Create-A-Shade Pearl Paint, White embossing Powder; Prisma Glitter; My Acrylix stamp set Father Christmas (D1449); Sanding Block, CTMH ink, Desert Sand; Chocolate Waxy Flax; Sparkle brads; Heirloom Assortment Dangle jewel

Tuesday Trigger Challenge

Just joining in on some fun by creating a card for the Tuesday Trigger Challenge from the Moxie Fab World blog. It's been a while since I've created anything for a challenge. I need to get back to doing the challenges...this card was quite satisfying to create. Hope you enjoy it!

Where oh where is it?

It's funny how one magnificent event can change a persons life. My friend, is teasing me because before convention I had no use for the Cricut. Did not use it and never thought I would. Why, you ask? Because I couldn't use it to cut out my stamped images! If you know me you know I love my stamps - but as much as I love them I can only cut the stamped images out by using my trusty micro tip scissors. Now don't get me wrong, I love fussy cutting. There's something that challenges me and excites me about precisely cutting out my stamped images. BUT I've come into the Cricut generation due to Art Philosophy. 

Close To My Heart offers beautiful stamps that can be used in junction with the Cricut cutting system...how divine! Now here's the crazy part - I bought an Art Philosophy Bundle and I don't own a Cricut. SO I've been using my dear friend Angela's machine. I've had so much fun. 

Well, I told my husband I could wait for my birthday...October, or maybe even Christmas. Who was I fooling!! Only myself.!! I can't wait! I need a Cricut now! 

So I did it...I bought a Cricut Expression and I've been so excited about the great deal I got. but the hard part is I'm having to WAIT for it to be delivered. OH THE WAIT!! Where is it? Is it close? Oh the agony!

In the mean time here's a card I've made!

 I used the Roxie Level II paper pack and made flower using the Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge.

I'll be sharing more projects over the next few days!

Art Philosophy

The long awaited Exclusive Cricut Cartridge for CTMH! 

This collection includes a cartridge with 700 images, 3 My Acrylix D-size Stamp Sets and 3 9x12 Dimensional Elements. All for the low price of $99.00! The collection has a retail value of almost $125.00!

Go here and see what Cricut is saying about it. Click on the Art Philosophy Cartridge box and flip through the pages of some of the images you'll get on the Cartridge.

Contact me to order your own Art Philosophy cartridge...I have mine already. I'll be posting projects using it very soon!

Getting my feet back on the ground....

It's been nearly two weeks since I got back from the most Magical CTMH Convention. I had an incredible time...wait that doesn't even do it justice! Awe-inspiring! Astounding! Yeah...all those words together describes the 2011 CTMH Convention! Oh, you think I'm being dramatic? Then watch this...

You're smiling, aren't you?! I KNOW! And these were just highlights! I'll be back showing you some personal highlights from my great adventure!

Studio J: June

Here's another Studio J Video

Studio J Videos

Check out the Studio J videos!!

I'm getting more and more comfortable with Studio J...try it! You may really love it. But you'll never know unless you try it!! Go to my website and play around on Studio J for FREE!

Celebrating National Scrapbooking Month - You and Me Video

Enjoy the video!

Remember, you can get this kit FREE by joining my CTMH team this month! The Consultant's kit is 50% off for the monh of May. That means you'll receive the kit for $65.00 and the You and Me kit is FREE! Don't pass this up! It's the deal of a lifetime! Go to my website now at http://www.saday.myctmh.com/ and sign up today!

You and Me

May is National Scrapbooking Month. What does that mean for you? What it means for me is the "You and Me" kit available in May. These layouts are supreme.

Now, I normally fill my time making cards and teaching card classes, but this kit just sent shivers up my spine. I love it so much, I'm printing out photos this week to complete them.

  Now, I must say that I had to get used to the new printed cardstock paper. I wanted more! The kit is nicely packaged to be used up. AND USE IT UP I DID!

I made both layouts and 3 cards with the minimal scraps leftover.I did have plenty of Opaques left, but I can never have too many of those. (No hitchhikers this time! See previous post)

I used all the Dimensional Elements and all the scraps that were big enough that made sense to use. The flowers were also made from scrap paper. 

Now, I can definitely see the benefits from having a paper pack like this. If I use up all my paper, I will have no excuses like...I'm not getting anymore paper until I use up what I have...or I don't have girls so this paper won't work for me...no, no, no more excuses. The pack is gone AND I WANT MORE! Hmm... what will I do?

Leadershare in Navarre Florida...aahhh

This past weekend was so wonderful! Spending time and learning with my creative sisters was the best! LeaderShare was a time for regional consultants to learn, share and be motivated. It was also a great get away from the hustle and bustle of my daily routine. It almost felt like make believe...but it was oh so real.

The atmosphere was festive...

The treats were not lacking...

And the friends were plenty...

There was one thing I did not expect to get during LeaderShare...and that was TICKS! Yes, you heard me, ticks! How did I get ticks at the beach you ask? Well, I asked the same thing! I about came out my skin!!! How did I get them?! Did I get them on the beach? Did I get them at the conference center? I couldn't imagine where I got them! Can you tell where I got them?

Those are some funny looking ticks...they're so round. And sized so perfectly...wait a minute...THOSE AREN'T TICKS! What is it? GET IT OFF! GET IT OFF!

Can you say Mocha Opaques!

Oh what a relief! I think I would have gone out of the restaurant running if they had been ticks. We laughed so hard! All I know is that I was happy that I didn't have ticks!!! Now I know you want to know how in the world I got 2 Mocha Opaques under my arm. Well, I pondered over that one and finally figured it out.

While at the beach, I put my flip flops underneath my arm while walking on that beautiful sand so that we could take our team pictures.

I had decorated my flip flops with Mocha Opaques and they must have gotten free from my flip flops and attached themselves to me!! Do you see the missing Opaques?

Needless to say, I will cherish EVERY moment that I had at LeaderShare!

And one of the most special moments was touring Tina Sutton's craft room and lovely home. Tina opened up her home to us and her heart and I will be forever grateful for all her inspiration.

The Storm is over!

What a long week! Georgia had one of the worst winter storms in 10 years. OH THE ICE! We were stuck in the house for 3 days and they closed the schools for the whole week! They had just returned to school from the Holiday break and then out for  week. Needless to say, the children were elated! Thank goodness I had just gone to the grocery store.

What did I do while cooped up in the house...I cooked, cleaned and of course worked on some cards. Here is one of the cards I made.

 

One of my Christmas gifts to myself was the new Cuttlebug. Can you say LOVE IT? Well, I can and I do love it! The folder is one that came with it. The Butterfly is from the January Stamp of the month set. I used CTMH Garden Green, Black and Vineyard Berry cardstock and Vineyard Berry and Black ink. I will be using this stamp set over and over. It is marvelous!