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Happy Birthday, Friends!

Three people we know shared a birthday on Thursday! Here's hoping you had a fabulous day, Joy, Ms. Margaret, and Eli! If you live in the area, watch out because Eli will be getting his driver's license SOON! Yikes! (It is hard to believe that this fellow, who I met when he was three, is now about to be driving!)

For his card, I used the Rustic Numbers stamp set for birthday "candles" along with a leaf stamp from the Friendship Blessings stamp set. (The Sasparilla paper pack and gold star brads are retired.)

Also, since our youngest turns 10 on Easter, she invited four friends over for a sleepover Friday night. They had a blast, but I still think that I am recovering!

After our Palm Sunday services today, I'll be scrapbooking with my scrapbook group and am really looking forward to some spring creations. Hope you have a wonderful day too!

CTMH Product Spotlight Blog Hop: My Creations Projects

WELCOME to this month's CTMH Product Spotlight Blog Hop! This month's we're have 8 talented CTMH consultants who are featuring our versatile My Creations 3-D Products. I chose to use one of the pieces of the All-Sorts Mini Album to create a wall hanging. (If you've come from Nikka's blog then you're hopping right along. Otherwise, start here, and then click to the next link- Tamytha's blog- to hop along and see all the great ideas. If you get lost along the way, come back HERE.)


I began with one of the pieces of an All-Sorts mini album that I had leftover from another project. I distressed the top and bottom with Colonial White and Chocolate inks to match the Bliss papers I chose to use. I then cut a panel of Grey Flannel card stock to cover the main portion of the chipboard piece and distressed its edges with Chocolate.


Finally, I stamped the chairs from the Chairs to You stamp set (a sneak peek at the May stamp of the month!). Some I stamped on Bliss patterned paper and others I stamped directly onto the card stock base and then embellished with paper-piece cushions. Finally, I used the Old World Alphabet in Chocolate to spell out "Welcome." The Twilight-colored sentiment is from the Chairs to You set. A few brads and some ribbon later, a welcoming wall hanging to grace our entryway.


Here are a few more My Creations projects I've made, if you'd like to check them out before you hop along. Friendship Wall Hanging

Princess Mini Album

Summer Wall Hanging

Boo Banner

Thanks Banner

Joyful Banner (on the back of the Thanks banner!)


Thanks for stopping by! Please leave me a comment to let me know what you think of this project. Now hop on over to Tamytha's blog!


All supplies from Close To My Heart: Old World Alphabet and Chairs to You (May 2011 stamp of the month) stamp sets; Bliss paper pack; All-Sorts Mini Album; Chocolate, Twilight, and Colonial White ink; blending pen; Pewter My Accents Mini-Medley; Shimmer Brads; Twilight cordouroy brad; Colonial White ribbon (retired); Chocolate ribbon (retired)

Perfect Paper Pinwheels

Somehow I missed sharing this video with you when it was first released. Watch it to learn how to make perfect pinwheels! So fun for spring and summer! I will be teaching this technique Sunday at my scrapbook class. Please let me know if you're interested in attending.

Sophia/4-H DPA Layout

First, I have to wish my MIL a very happy birthday today! (We went out to lunch together yesterday to celebrate because I have a church meeting this afternoon/evening.) Now on to the layout using the lovely Sophia paper pack and based on the Mesmerize sketch from the Magic how-to guide. (I taught this layout at a recent class and have three kits left. Let me know if you'd like one!) I'm entering this layout into the Heart2Heart "Showers & Flowers" challenge. The main stamp set is from the Sophia Workshop on the Go, and the ink/paper colors are Hollyhock, Blush, Pear, and Goldrush. We also used the Bohemian Alphabet stamp set for the title.

To learn how to ink up the bird, click HERE. I love using Sparkles or Pearls for the bird's eye.

Because she is old enough now, my daughter is going to do her own journaling before we put this layout in her scrapbook. These photos are from her first time participating in DPA (in 5th grade) where she placed 3rd. We were (and still are) so proud of her!

{Layout 2011 #18}

Hope for Japan and ColourQ Challenge

The challenge colors over at colourQ (#79) reminded me of the CTMH Wings paper pack, and since my new Hope for Japan stamp set arrived, I had to play! (Doesn't the butterfly paper match the dress material well?!?)

{To learn more about this beautiful $5 stamp set and how it can help support American Red Cross relief efforts in Japan, please click HERE.}

To create this simple card, I began by inking up the focal image in Sweet Leaf. Then, I rolled the edges in Vineyard Berry, and then rolled them again in Black before stamping. (I LOVE doing this technique!) I stamped the solid heart in the center in Vineyard Berry, and then stamped "Hope" in Juniper. To finish the focal image, I attached a Licorcie Opaques Pearl and also used a black pen to doodle dots in the corner. (The doodling was actually a way to fix a little overstamp of black ink from the corner of my block, but that will just be our little secret, okay?)

Because the Sweet Leaf card base looked a bit plain, I used my black stubble tool and black ink to distress the background a bit.

Hope you're enjoying your weekend!

All supplies from Close To My Heart: Hope for Japan stamp set (available through 4/30/11 to benefit the American Red Cross); Wings paper pack; Sweet Leaf, Juniper, Vineyard Berry, and Black inks; Black journaling pen; Licorice Opaques self-adhesive pearls; black stubble tool

Play Day Cafe Meets CPS

The Play Date Cafe Challenge #76 is this gorgeous color challenge. I couldn't resist combining it with the Card Positioning System's Sketch Challenge #12 to create this card using the Sophia Workshop on the Go and Party Pennants stamp sets with Pacifica, Sky, and Pear inks. I just love this cheerful bird stamp!

To stamp the bird, first ink up the body in the lightest color of ink (Sky). Do not ink up the legs (yet). Then, roll the top of the bird in the darker ink (Pacifica). For the beak, wipe ink off with your finger and then ink up in Sunny Yellow. Finally, ink up the legs (again in Sunny Yell0w), huff (breathe) on the stamp (to remoisten the inks), and then stamp onto the card base. Finish the bird with a Sparkle (self-adhesive gem) for the eye.

Next, stamp the vines in Pear, then fill in a few flowers with Sky ink. Finally, use buttons and sparkles to embellish the floral scene.

The pennants were stamped in the challenge colors, cut out, and then adhered with 3-D foam dots to the card base for some dimension.

Wishing you a bit of happiness!

All supplies from Close To My Heart: Sophia Workshop on the Go and Party Pennants stamp sets; Pacifica, Sky, Pear, and Sunny Yellow inks; White Daisy card stock; Magnifique and Sophia paper packs; Blue Button Collection; Blue and Green Sparkles; Waxy Flax

Super Scrappy Paper Crafty YARD SALE

This Saturday, drop by my house from 9-12 to score some STEALS on scrapbook paper, stamps, and more! In the process of moving my craft room, I am purging, so you save! Everything is 50%-90% off retail price.

Please feel free to share this with your family and friends. Let me know if you need directions.

Other times available by appointment if you're interested but can't make it Saturday. Hope to see you soon!

Also, if you're local and you've got some things you'd like to sell also, let me know. I'm sure I have room for a bit more, as long as it goes out the door by noon.

April CTMH Specials

We all know that April showers bring May flowers, but at Close To My Heart, April specials bring great savings and smiles! To take advantage of these specials, feel free to vist my MyCTMH website, or contact me at haleyd@myctmh.com or 706-781-4326.

1. April Stamp of the Month: Blessed Blessed is a beautiful set of 12 stamps featuring base-and-shade floral and bird images, plus two beautiful sentiments. "We are so blessed" is one that I will use often, plus the famous quotation from Alfred, Lord Tennyson, "If I had a flower for every time I thought of you, I could walk in my garden forever." You can purchase Blessed for $22.95, or make your own discount ($25 minimum purchase = 25% off; $50 = 50% off; $75 = 75% off; $100 = FREE!)

2. Hope for Japan Stamp Set Our hearts go out to the victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, and like so many of you, we’re eager to help. And helping has never been easier! During April, purchase the exclusive “Hope for Japan” A-size stamp set for the special price of only $5 (retail value $7.95) and Close To My Heart will donate 100% of the profits to the American Red Cross efforts in Japan. This beautifully designed stamp set reminds us of how our hearts are hopeful for those who are in need. Contact me today to get involved in this heart-worthy cause.

3. "Lovin' Level 1" Gift with Purchase MY REFLECTIONS® LEVEL 1 SCRAPBOOKING KITS ARE great for beginners to seasoned pros. The preprinted pages make preserving your fondest memories a breeze. Get a FREE Level 1 kit of your choice when you order $100 or more on my MyCTMH® website April 1–30, 2011 (limit of one free kit per qualifying order). Now’s the time to let everyone know you’re Lovin’ Level 1! You'll also qualify for a FREE April Stamp of the Month stamp set, Blessed!

4. "Sparkle with Studio J" Gift with Purchase

This month, CTMH is offering a Studio J special: members who purchase 10 layouts will receive free bling! (Ask me about becoming a member. You'll love the perks of free shipping and free page protectors every month with your order.) You'll receive $5.90 worth of Sparkles and Pearl Opaques (one package each) with every 10 layouts you purchase, this month only. Get started by clicking the Studio J icon at my MyCTMH website!

Springin' Up Flowers

Here's another great video from CTMH to help inspire you!

Birthday Blessings

Earlier this week, I had lots of help celebrating my birthday. First, my hubby cooked breakfast for us, complete with a candle in my biscuit! I got to open my present, which I thought was jewelry. Boy was I surprised (and pleased) to find an iPod nano! I can't wait to learn to use it!

My dear friend Joy gave me this gorgeous card. She knows how much I love pink! Isn't her flower beautiful? And the circle cutout to view it? Divine! (Joy, I love my sweet presents too! They are so "me!" Thank you so much!)

I also received this lovely card in the mail from my Texas friend, Julia. Don't those cupcakes look good enough to eat? (Unfortunately, we'd need a few more plates to accurate represent this year's number.) I love the glitter and that Chocolate polka dot paper- YUM!

Now to show you what my talented Mom made for me: an aquamarine (my birthstone) and Peruvian opal necklace with matching earrings. I think it is so pretty, and I love the heart toggle clasp.

She also made this amethyst necklace and earring set complete with rice pearls. I've already worn them both this week.

My sister surprised me with flowers at work (and I missed her because I had to sit in on a grant phone interview). My students surprised me with homemade brownies and lots of homemade cards. I am truly blessed! No matter how old I get, I'm going to follow my Dad's motto: another birthday sure beats the alternative!

Also, since we believe in "birthday season," I get to celebrate with my family later this week! (We celebrated with Logan's family last week.) Life is good!

Studio J®: Step-by-Step Basics

Studio J is helping me get so many more memories and photos preserved! I challenge you to give it a try after watching this great how-to video from CTMH (below)! This month, CTMH is offering a Studio J special: members who purchase 10 layouts will receive free bling! (Ask me about becoming a member. You'll love the perks of free shipping and free page protectors every month with your order.)

Just click HERE to access Studio J. It doesn't cost a penny to play or give it a try. See for yourself and let me know what you think. (I'll also be happy to answer any questions you have. I'm still learning fun tricks and techniques.)