Projects, Projects, Projects!

With the end of school and 2 showers, I was pretty busy crafting (and surviving).  I've just now found time to upload the pictures and blog about what I've created.  (ok, really I've just now relaxed enough to do it.)  We had a bridal shower and a baby shower the last week of school.  Yep, only a group of crazy happy teachers would schedule like that!  But, it was all worth it.  Both ladies enjoyed the showers and I got to make a bunch of stuff ~ win win!

And... you can't have an end of school year without graduation!  I love graduation - it is such a fun and exciting time - one chapter closes and another one is just beginning. So exciting!

Bridal Shower

A young bride can always use recipes that are tried & true.  Using the Recipe Box from Close To My Heart (of course) I measured and then cut out Colonial White card stock.  I stamped the card stock using a retired stamp set in Cranberry and New England Ivy ink colors.  The letters are cork that I inked in Cranberry.  All guests to the shower were asked to fill out a recipe card (or 2 or 3) and bring with them to the shower to put into the box.  The sweet bride received many recipes and loved the idea.

The bride mentioned she wanted to scrapbook (yay! I say 'yay' because she's never done one before) her wedding all and the events leading up to the big day.  So, with that in mind, I created the Shower Sign-In as a 12x12 scrapbook page.  This way, she already has a page ready to go into her album.  She is a beautiful person, inside & out.  I'm so happy for the couple!  I used the Claire paper pack and the April Stamp of the Month: My Sunshine.

Baby Shower

Another sweet teacher friend is having her first- a baby girl and we wanted to shower her with fun.  The card I made was so fun, I just loved doing it.  I used Close To My Heart papers, but the buggy/carriage is from a Cricut cartridge that we do not sell.  Nor do we sell the tiny pink safety pins.  

This pictures shows I made the carriage pop up using Adhesive Springs.  It actually bounces like a real carriage!

The sign-in sheet was a 12x12 sheet.  Her nursery is in lavender and grey with a touch of teal.  The carousel is from the Artiste Cricut Cartridge from Close To My Heart.  I'd never actually made the carousel, but it was so cute, I will certainly be making it again...soon.  The fireworks in the background really add that extra celebratory feeling that I was going for.  The best part, the square shaped bling I had from Close To My Heart - it was absolutely perfect for the base of the carousel!

Graduation

A family friend's youngest child graduated and I got to make the card.  The young lady is brilliant!  In fact, she actually finished all her coursework in December.  Since then, she had been enrolled in a junior college.  She finally got to walk the stage, with honors and a scholarship, in May.  Like I said, brilliant!  And she's beautiful to boot.  Look out world! The card was made with the exclusive and limited Dream Pop paper from Close To My Heart.  I'm not generally a fan of bright colors, but this pack of paper was super fun.  The 'ribbon' was created using the Artiste Cricut Cartridge.  The stamp is the Congrats Graduate and at the base, I used Black Shimmer Trim.  All in all, it turned out quite cute.  One thing I try to do when I create cards is to make them cute, but versatile.  If I change the papers and colors, this card could easily work for a boy.

Another project I got to make for a young lady (different girl) who graduated this past May was a memory box.  Her mom, a co-worker, spent hours and hours pulling every photo her daughter had taken and put onto facebook and/or instagram in the past 4 years- all of her high school career.  My co-worker then printed off all 800 pictures (yes, 800 pictures).  She asked me to create a memory box to house all the photos.  The whole gift was given to the young lady the night she graduated.  She loved it!  This is her "life in social media" box.  I used the For Always paper pack, For Always Assortment, and lots of bling- Black Sparkle Flourishes and Black Shimmer Trim.

Throwback Thursday

I've been a little busy creating cards using only old/retired paper packs.  It's kind of fun to use items that are not current.  For one, I get to use up my stock.  Also, I get to see what all I have that I forgot I had.  Here are the creations:


This first card was created for a friend's birthday.  She's pretty country but kinda girly.  So, I did as much over-the-top as I could. I used the Clementine paper pack from Close To My Heart, the Cottage Assortment of button flowers, heat embossed the boots, hat, & blue outline, some burlap, and a few different colors/types of bling.

This is the inside of the card - kinda cute, huh?

The next 4 cards were created especially for a few kids  young adults in Basic Training for the Army.  My friend Rochelle Crawford's son is going through boot camp in South Carolina.  She told me there are people there who do not receive mail, ever.  That just broke my heart!  I mean, good grief!  If people willingly to sign up to defend our country, the absolute LEAST someone can do is send them a blasted letter or card!  In my opinion, military personnel, along with first responders, deserve our respect and prayers.  Ok, off of my soapbox.  Well, I got right to work creating some cards for 4 of Rochelle's son's friends.

This first card is using a pretty old paper pack called Fanfare.  The Statue of Liberty image is cut from a Cricut cartridge called Stand and Salute.

The tank was cut from the Stand & Salute cartridge and the Victory paper pack.

Fanfare paper pack and "Home of the Brave" cut from Stand & Salute.

Hero paper pack and Stand & Salute Cricut cartridge.

So, what do you think about my Throwback Thursday creations?  Now that you've checked out the blog, go and create some throwback items for you and your friends! I'd love to see what you come up with!

Mother's Day

Happy (Belated) Mother's Day to all the MOMs!

Here are a couple of cards I created just for this occasion!

A friend asked me to create a couple of cards - one for her mother and one for her mother-in-law.  Since I know neither of these moms, I had to get some input from my friend. "What kind of person is she? How is her home decorated? What is her favorite color(s)?"

The first one is for my friend's mom - she likes color and enjoys being in the limelight.  So, I used the Flirty paper pack with some black flourishes, black glitter paper, and black shimmer trim.

Inside of Flirty Mom's Day card

Flirty Mom's Day card & matching envelope

Card # 2 was for the mother-in-law who is more "vintage/Victorian." So, of course I had to go with pearls, crochet, Smokey Plum card stock and Sonoma paper pack.

Inside of Sonoma Mom's card

Sonoma Mom's card & matching envelope

All the materials are from CLOSE TO MY HEART!  The Flirty and Sonoma papers are both retired, but I still love using them.  If you want to see what is on our WHILE SUPPLIES LAST list, click here!

Book I'm Reading

Books! I love them, don't you?!

Have you ever read a book that changed you?  I can think of a few that have moved me in different ways.  For example, To Kill A Mockingbird is one of the best books I've ever read.  It moved me and helped me to see how entrenched views can be.  Another book series (yes!  the whole series!) was the Harry Potter series.  I love reading books that teach me something and that series did.  J.K. Rowling did such an amazing job researching and integrating so many different legends, myths, and tales.  There were times I'd put the book down just to go look up where a character's name came from.  And it never failed that I would learn something new. You gotta love a book series that not only teaches you but can get kids reading who have never before picked up a book!

Even though those books were, and still are, important to me, nothing has changed me as the book I am reading now.(Besides the Bible!)  Have you heard of  The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson?  Until about 3 months ago, I hadn't heard of this book.  My brother introduced me to it and I have to say, I'm very glad he did.

I downloaded a copy onto my Kindle (the best invention EVER!) and also bought my mom a paperback copy.  I had forgotten I had downloaded the book, so when she wasn't reading her copy, I picked it up and started reading.  Well, about half way through the book, I spilled a very large container of tea/lemonade and the book, along with my constant-companion-of-a-calendar, were drenched.  So much so that I had to throw them away.

(Side note here, every year a local credit union gives teachers in my area a free calendar that is full-size with months only.  I love this calendar.  I mean, I have an unhealthy addiction to this dang thing.  In the 10 years I've been in education, this is the first time I've spilled on a calendar. And yes, I cried. In fact, I found an extra calendar no one was using at school and I went back through the tea/lemonade-dried-out wreck and re-created my calendar.  Sad, I know!)

Well, after my calendar trauma and the farewell I had to say, I remembered I had the book on my Kindle.  So, I picked it up and began reading...again.  But I don't mind starting over.  This book is really helping me in ways I didn't realize I needed.  I've learned a few things that rather surprised me.  I won't go into my personal journey because I believe that is between me & God.  But, I will say that I've learned how to pray and I've learned how to truly give my troubles over to God.  I know now that I had been paying lip service and wasn't being honest - with myself or with God.  He knew it, and in a way, I guess I did too.

The Circle Maker is a book on how to pray.  A book that really looks at what is needed for so many people and the author brings it out in ways that anyone can relate to.  I'm half-way through the digital version of the book and I am still picking up things that I missed the first time around.  One major benefit is now that I give my troubles, burdens, fears, and problems over to God, I'm no longer anxious.  I'm no longer weighted down with anxiety and worry.  My jaws do not hurt from clenching.  My head doesn't hurt from stressing.  My shoulders are lighter than they have ever been.  I've heard of people feeling like this, but I never knew what it was like until now.  And I am lovin' this new freedom from worry, stress, fear, and anxiety!!!

Personally, I'm grateful Mark Batterson wrote this book.  I'm grateful my brother shared it with me. But most importantly, I'm grateful God has been patient enough for me to (re)discover His Word.  I will lift you up in prayer so that you may feel the love and grace of God.

Have a magnificent day my friends!  ~ hugs & prayers!

Administrative Professional's Day

The way to keep an office running smoothly is to treat the Administrative Professionals well.  Here are 4 cards I created for some amazing ladies at my school.


Card #1: Buzz & Bumble paper pack (love it!) with the Buzz & Bumble exclusive stamp from the Workshop On The Go, Buzz & Bumble Assortment, burlap, Cocoa Ink, Striped Grosgrain Ribbon in Chocolate, and Brown & Tan Assortment Sparkles.

Card #2: Lots of different items used on this one!  The stamps are all retired, but I still love using them - same with most of the embellishments. The Sparkles Black Flourish and Black Button Assortments are definitely in the current catalog.  The tag is cut from the Artiste Cricut Cartridge and inked with Barn Red.

Card #3:  Buzz & Bumble paper pack, Buzz & Bumble exclusive stamp from the Workshop On The Go, Buzz & Bumble Assortment, burlap, Cocoa Ink, Striped Grosgrain Ribbon in Chocolate, Quick Cards - Bumble Bee, and Brown & Tan Assortment Sparkles.

Card #4 is an enlarged version of the one I made for the Mother's Day card workshop, which is actually a twist on a card in the current catalog on page 79.  I used the Claire paper pack and the Pirouette stamp with some Silver Shimmer Trim.

Not a long post, but I'm trying to get better at posting pics on here of my creations.  Hopefully, I'll have more to share soon!

Projects and Cards!

Well, I've been a bit busy creating a few things and wanted to share with you!

For Easter, I made a goodie bags for my niece, nephew, brother & sister-in-law.  Of course, I used the Artiste Cricut Cartridge and then a few stamps from Close To My Heart.  I wanted to show the tag for each bag, as well as what each bag looked like without the tag, hence the 2 pics of each one.

Madison's goodie bag using Chantilly paper pack from Close To My Heart

 Gary & Julie's goodie bag using Chantilly paper pack from Close To My Heart.

Christian's goodie bag.  He is a major University of Texas fan, so his items are always done in orange, or in the case of Close To My Heart, Sunset!

Ok, on to the latest card wokshop.  For Mother's Day, I chose to use the Claire paper pack.  Such bright & fun colors!

This first card was made with Claire paper (X7166B),Country Born (D1543) stamp set, Claire Assortment (Z1813), Chocolate ink (Z2111), and Outdoor Denim Chevron Ribbon (Z1808)

Card #2 is using Claire paper (X7166B), Perfect Fit - Mom Stamp Set (C1543), Pirouette Stamp (B1409), Hollyhock ink (Z2128), and a canvas button from our While Supplies Last section.

*This card is my version of the card on page 79 of our Idea Book.

Card #3: Claire paper (X7166B), Baker's Twine: Harvest Assortment (Z1751), Sunset ink (Z2191), and the April Stamp of the Month: My Sunshine (S1304).

*This card is my version of the card on page 105 of our Idea Book.

Card #4: Claire paper (X7166B), Outdoor Denim ink (Z2140), Sunset ink (Z2191), Perfect fit- Mom Stamp set (C1543), and Shimmer Trim in Silver (Z1799)

Card #5: Claire paper (X7166B), Sanding Kit (Z1294), Quick Cards-Butterfly (A1120), Claire Assortment (Z1813), Alcohol Markers in Cotton Candy (Z2417) and Autumn Terra Cotta (Z2427).

*This card is my version of the card on page 72 of our Idea Book.

I have a few more projects that I'm working on and hope to get them posted in the not too distant future.  Have a great day & keep crafting my friends!

Time Is Just Flying By!

Well, I woke up this morning and realized it had been quite some time since I had posted on my blog.  I can't believe how quickly time is going by this year.  So much has happened in such a short amount of time.  But, I guess that is what happens when you get older.

For starters, there is a fantastic promotion going on with Close To My Heart! If you sign up to be a consultant in the month of April, you get 4 additional stamp sets free!  You will get the April, May, June, and July Stamps of the Month at no additional cost!  Here is a picture of the extra stamp sets:

For my April Card Workshop, I'm incorporating the April Stamp of the Month (3rd set from the left in the light green).  It is so cute and goes well with the Claire paper pack.

If you have been thinking about becoming an independent consultant with Close To My Heart, now is a great time since you get free stuff added to your new kit!  Feel free to contact me and I can walk you through all the steps.  Super easy and loads of fun! www.mjwest.ctmh.com

Along with great promotions, I've been ramping up my Close To My Heart business.  This past Saturday I had a booth at my very first craft fair.  Although there were very few people there, I made several contacts and enjoyed the 2 booths on either side of me.  I figure, what the heck, I'll use it as a learning experience.  This upcoming Saturday (4/13) is my monthly card workshop.  We will be doing 2 Mother's Day cards and 4 female birthday cards all using the Claire paper pack.  The Claire paper pack has some fun spring color that really pop, so I'm pretty excited about the cards.

In March, I turned 40.  Can you believe it?!  I sure can't! 40 sounds so old, but it really isn't.  I don't feel like 40 and I know I don't look it.  I'll be honest with you, I'm very glad to be out of my 30's.  They were none too kind to me.  But, that is the past and I'm moving on.  I spent about 3 weeks in March celebrating.  Of course that means I gained back every ounce I had lost and then some.  I'm also way off my exercise and dieting, so I now have to get back in the groove of that.  Luckily our weather is turning nice again and I can walk to work.  It is only a mile and that will allow me about 2 miles per day.  Not too bad.

Ok, well, I have a ton of crafting to do since all my friends are getting married or having a baby or their oldest is graduating from high school.  Good gravy time is just flying by!  Have a great week and I promise to be back to blogging much more often.

Ciao!