Top Secret Mission: Revealed

[Insert Mission Impossible theme music here.]

You cannot even begin to imagine my surprise when I received a phone call several weeks ago from a Close To My Heart Executive Director. Her first question after introducing herself was if I could I be sworn to secrecy. Okay!!!

Close To My Heart has just held its Leadership weekend in sunny California, and though I had decided not to attend this year, would I create and donate something for a silent auction to benefit Operation Smile? It had to be something a bit over-the-top since other Close To My Heart consultants would be bidding on items in the silent auction, and all proceeds would go to Operation Smile. She didn't have to ask me twice!!!


If you are not yet familiar with Operation Smile, I encourage you to go check out their website. They are committed to "changing lives one smile at a time," and they do this by repairing cleft lips and cleft palettes of children around the world. Can you believe that only $240 can completely change a child's life and repair his or her beautiful smile? Close To My Heart has partnered with Operation Smile, and I am happy to take donations to help this worthy organization. You can see why it was easy to say YES and stay quiet about this "top secret" project!

Since I was challenged to create something for other consultants, I settled on something I want for myself (and still haven't made!): a desk set. Here is the complete set. I used too many materials to list here, but I stuck with the Emporium paper pack. (Feel free to ask about any particular item. I'll be happy to share more info.)

I'm not sure how well Blogger will let me line up my text w/my photos, but I'll try.

binder clip to hold a photo


binder clip to hold your "to do" list










pencil cup (altered Crystal Light container) ~ I love making these things!!!

Love that button stamp set!!!

The actual pencils
(Thank you, Karen Pederson, for the "lollipop roses" tutorial! That's how I made the flower on the center pencil.)

Round coaster wall hanging ~ my favorite item in this collection (and the last minute final piece because I didn't think that I had enough "stuff" in the set! It's probably my favorite because I haven't made anything like it before, and I love how it turned out. You can't see in the photo, but there's a window charm on the clock face. It really looks like a clock, and if you know me, you know I have a thing for clocks and watches!)

5"x7" Seasons art
(I won first place in the consultant art contest in Dec. '08 w/this concept, and I figured that's why I even got the phone call in the first place to participate. I was smart this time and have made myself one too!)

Acrylic notepad holder (2" post-it notes; altered 3"x5" frame on its side instead of standing up)

Here's how the post-it holder looks sitting on your desk.

Mini notebook to record fave websites & blogs
(I stamped the inside top right corners w/the letters of the alphabet to make it easier to record the info and find it again. Hey! I should have put my info in there! LOL)

Another fave project: altered composition notebook
(I have a notebook similar to this- though not quite as "fancy"- that I keep my CTMH notes in. It's great to have a spot for my info that I can easily find!)

Now for the biggest news of all: My upline emailed me yesterday to say that with an hour left in the auction, the bid was was higher than I would have ever dreamed!!!!!!!!!! I can't wait to find out the total and the generous consultant who will be making such a difference in a child's life. I am still tearing up as I think about it! I feel so honored to have been asked to participate and to help make a difference, one smile at a time.

P.S. I just found out that the auction raised about $5000 for Operation Smile! Woohoo!!! :)