A Little Creativity

WOW! Several weeks have passed since my last blog post. Things seem to always be so hectic no matter how hard I try to keep things simple. Such is life, I suppose. Time definitely is flying by. It’s hard to believe that we are almost at the end of another year.

I’ve created a few cards recently and also a door prize item, and I wanted to share them with you. The first two cards are using our Clear Cards as the base and I also used my Cuttlebug to emboss the base. For the "It's a Girl" card, I used MyReflections Twitterpated, MyAcrylix stamp sets used were: Playful Fluorishes and Sweet Baby. For "Natalie's" card, I used Stardust, which -- unfortunately -- is no longer available. I REALLY love how these two cards turned out. They are so different and definitely a conversation piece.

The next item is the item I created as a door prize during a Multi-Vendor Holiday Open House I participated in this past weekend. I got the idea from one of my fellow Close to my Heart consultants and it was SOOO easy to make! I used a rectangular hinged window tin and then created a “folder” for it using Cranberry Cardstock, which I also embossed using my Cuttlebug. I used our MyAcrylix A Sip for the coffee cup and MyAcrylix Tannenbaum for the sentiment. Other paper used is from our MyReflections Mistletoe collection. I just LOVE this paper for Christmas. Can’t wait to put this year’s pictures on the Mistletoe Workshop on the Go!

Finally, today is one of my AWESOME boss’ birthday and I created this card last night. It is using our MyAcrylix Party Pennants, MyAcrylix Royal Birth and scraps of paper from MyReflections Hooligans and MyReflections Olivia. I also used MyAcrylix The Present for the sentiment that I stamped on the inside of the card and our new Blue/Green Sparkles. I really love the colors of this card. I used the sample from Page 63 of our Autumn/Winter Idea Book. The pattern is On the Edge from Wishes – although, I rotated mine to be landscape.

I'm sure I've left out some of the items I’ve used on these projects. Please don’t hesitate to ask me any questions about any of them. I hope you enjoyed the little bit of creativity I’ve had recently. Next on the agenda is to clean up my scrapbooking room as it looks like a bomb went off in it! HA! Signs of creativity!! LOVE IT!

Don't forget about my 4th Annual Black Friday Special on November 26th from 12:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. If you didn't receive my newsletter with all the information, let me know and I'll e-mail it to you!

Leave me a comment and I will randomly draw a winner to receive blog candy from me. Comments need to be posted by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 23rd. Good luck!

Retreat Recap -- Ready to go Back!

What a WONDERFUL weekend we all had in Alvin on our scrapbooking retreat. KW Cabin Retreat is so warm & cozy…just a great, relaxing atmosphere. I just LOVE going here and spending time with some of my really good friends. We share lots of laughs; lots of ideas and LOTS of good food!

On Friday, my guests arrived to find these Tervis Tumblers I ordered and had personalized with “Scrappin’ Girls Weekend” on the back of it. The “Live Love Laugh” was perfect because it’s what we do. Stuffed inside the tumblers was a variety of chocolate (can’t scrap without that); and a package of our new Opaques Mocha Adhesive Gems.

I held a “Mystery Hostess” drawing. The winner of that was Andrea Maxwell. Since the gathering total reached $450, she was able to “Jump for Joy” as part of Close to my Heart’s October Constant Campaign. What that means is instead of $80 in FREE select product, she’ll receive $100 in select product. She got to jump to the next level. I think she was a tad bit excited! :)

The weekend always seems to go by way too fast, but it is definitely relaxing and rewarding! As always, I look forward to the next retreat. I am now taking deposits for the retreat I am hosting in Tomball at The Quilters Cabin. This will be my first time at this retreat center, but I am looking forward to it as I have hear LOTS of great things about it – like sometimes you can see deer while sitting outside. LOVE IT!!! Contact me for more details if you’re interested. This location has capacity of 12, and I have 5 people already signed up.

Are you ready for a Hooligan of a good time and ready to have pages to put your upcoming (or past) Halloween pictures on? Or would you like to create the cards to send to your little Ghosts & Goblins? Then join me in October for my Hooligans Workshop on the Go. I have a couple of dates available for you to choose from. Remember, even if you can't physically attend the event, you can still order and create on your own with the helpful guide that's included in the kit.

Workshop Kit
Item # Product Cost
_________________________________________________________________________________________
G1012 Hooligans Workshop Kit (includes):
• Hooligans Level 2 Paper Packet ($12.95)
• My Acrylix® Troublemaker ($13.95)
• Mini-Medley Accents Sunset Collection ($4.95)
• Workshop Guide ($1.00)

$29.95

Retail Value: $32.85

You Pay: $29.95

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Required Tools
____________________________________________________________________________________

Item # Product Cost

D1303 My Acrylix® Classmate Alphabet $22.95
Z2105 Black Exclusive Inks® Pad $5.25
Z2190 Gypsy Exclusive Inks® Pad $5.25
Z2197 Pear Exclusive Inks® Pad $5.25
*Z1089 Black Waxy Flax $3.95
^Z134 Prisma Glitter $4.25
Z553 Bonding Memories® Glue Pen $4.50
1764 Craft Tray $7.95
Y1000 1" × 1" My Acrylix® Block $3.95
Y1002 1" × 3 1/2" My Acrylix® Block $5.95
Y1003 2" × 2" My Acrylix® Block $6.50

*If you don't have the Black Waxy Flax, I highly recommend it for this kit. In the guide, they just place the buttons on the layout; but I felt it needed the waxy flax to be a "complete button."

^I also highly recommend the Prisma Glitter. This DEFINITELY adds character to the pages.

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Workshop Date/Registration Information

Choose the day/time that works for you:

Friday, October 22 - 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Saturday, October 23 - 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. or
4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m*

*Stay & crop until midnight! What fun and appropriate time to work on this kit as it'll be a full moon on Saturday!! Tricks & Treats might be in order for this Howlin' Hooligan of a good time!!

Payment/Registration is due to me by Monday, October 11, 2010.

Don't forget...if total combined orders for this month's Hooligans Workshop on the Go reaches the minimum Gathering Total ($150 before s/h & tax), I'll put each person's name in drawing for "Mystery Hostess" and you could earn FREE PRODUCT!!! How Ghostacular & Ghoulsome would THAT be?!?!

Don't delay! Sign up TODAY!

Also, by purchasing the Workshop on the Go, you'll already earn October's Stamp of the Month, Share the Magic at 25% off!

See you soon!

(Sorry for the "misalignment" of my item numbers, product, cost, etc. Not sure why it didn't want to "post" pretty for me.)

Blink, and It'll Be Here Tomorrow!!

Christmas, that is! Can you believe it? We are in the last part of 2010! Where has the year gone?! Halloween is next month; then it's Thanksgiving; and then finally, it's Christmas. (In case you didn't see my FB post, there's only 98 days until Christmas. Just so you know. :) You're welcome!)

Today, I created this card. I've been in the creating mood, but haven't had much time to act on it. I saw this design on Papertrey Inc and fell in love with it. It is a bit of layering (I think I might simplify the next one), but I really like how it turned out.
Items Used:

Stamps:
A1110 A Timber
C1433 In the Month of December
D1415 Evergreen

Inks:
Z2120 Garden Green
Z2116 Cranberry
Z2135 New England Ivy

Embellishments:
Z1155 Clear Craft Buttons

Paper:
1272 Cranberry Cardstock
1385 White Daisy Cardstock
X5811 Mistletoe Creative Basics

Non CTMH Items used are: Cuttlebug swirl embossing folder, Spellbinders Label Die, white felt.
*The New England Waxy Flax is no longer available. :(

Courtney's Creation!

One of my newest young customers definitely has an AWESOME creative inner self. I met Courtney on August 15th and the way her eyes lit up when she was making cards here at my house was wonderful. She and her mom, grandmother and friend were all here making cards, and I do believe they all had a great time. I know I enjoyed teaching them different techniques.

Courtney had a homework assignment this past week...to decorate her notebook. Her dad said it took her a few hours to work on it. In my opinion, she created a masterpiece. Her masterpiece served as a distraction that she so needed. Take a look at what she created and share your comments. I know Courtney would love to read them as much as I would.

I look forward to teaching Courtney and her family more exciting techniques. The creations & possibilities are ENDLESS!!

Billie, Lana & Courtney -- Tons of hugs coming your way!

Sticky Boy! | CTMH My Acrylix Clear Stamps -- Clearly the Beginning!

Sticky Boy is where it all began for Close to my Heart's MyAcrylix stamp sets. Watch the short video below and then post a comment telling me what your favorite thing about the video AND about Close to my Heart MyAcrylix stamps by end of day Monday, September 6 and you'll be entered in drawing for special gift!

Extra! Extra! Read All About It!

...all about Close to my Heart's 2010 Autumn/Winter Idea Book, that is! FINALLY...it will be available to you starting TOMORROW, September 1st! I am SOOO excited! I can't wait for you to see the new papers and embellishments and the NEW colors we're introducing! You can also view the products on my website here starting tomorrow, too.

I will be having a "Catalog Kick-Off" party at my house on Saturday, September 11th. There'll be door prizes, food, fun and "Mystery Hostess" depending on total sales that day!

Contact me for more details!