Open House

I am really excited to invite you to a Holiday Open House on November 7th from 2-5pm at my friend Lisa's house in Fitchburg. I will have some of the new paper packs on display as well as some other cool products from Close to My Heart. Lisa is a consultant for Usborne Books and will have her books on display. My neighbor Kelly, a consultant for Southern Living at Home, will also be taking part in our Open House.

Come and get a head start on your holiday shopping or pamper yourself with something new. My friend Sharon, a licensed massage therapist, will be giving 10-minute chair massages to help ease the oncoming holiday stress. ; )

The best part of the Open House is you can enter to win the hostess rewards for any of the companies mentioned above as well as some other great prizes.

I know everyone can use some time away from the house, chatting with friends and sipping a nice glass of wine. Check out the flyer and mark your calendars. I hope to see all of you there!

View the flyer to get all the details!

Open House

Treetops

Caitlin had her first day of school on Tuesday. She was so excited. As I took her picture outside of school, she couldn't take her eyes off the door. She wanted in. As we entered the classroom, she asked me if I was going to leave. I told her soon and she asked told me I needed to leave now. I love her independence, but do miss my baby. ; )

This year Caitlin has lunch at school and I pick her up at 12:30. On Tuesday, I pulled down plates for she and Jack when preparing lunch and shed a little tear. Where did the time go?

I wanted to stick a note in her lunchbox on the first day of school, so she knew we were missing her and thinking of her. I used my "Treetops" stamp set, textured paper from the Winter Cozy pack and paper from the Making Memories paper pack. I love how the card came out. Inside I wrote, "We think you are tree-mendous."



The yellow piece is pleated. A technique I learned from this blog post at the Studio Calico site. I also used my sewing machine to hold down the pleating and add some texture to the top of the cardstock.

I can't wait to use the "Treetops" stamp set along with the Twitterpated paper pack that is due to arrive at my house on Tuesday! Better order some pictures because I am itching to do some scrapping.

Workshops...

Between the summer events and my new camera, I have a lot of new pictures I need to scrap. Hopefully, people are settling into a routine now that the fall is upon us. Let's get together and scrap! Come to one of my workshops or a crop and be creative!

Twitterpated Workshop -Scrapbooking or Card Workshop

I am in love with the Twitterpated paper pack. It is perfect for fall pages with its rich earth colors and woodland theme. My favorite part of the scrapbooking kit is the sweet dimensional elements.

The workshop will be October 8th at 7 pm at my house. You have the choice of either the scrapbooking or cardmaking workshop. See the flyers for details and price. CTMH's new workshops are packaged in one kit...you can choose to make the cards or the scrapbooking layout at my workshop. You keep all the leftover product. Instructions will be given so you can make another 2-page layout and several cards. The kits include a full 24-sheet package of paper, all-new, two-page layout pattern AND an all-new card pattern as well as a specially-designed stamp set only available with this kit and ribbon. Friends welcome! If you cannot attend, please ask me for details on how you can do this at home!

RSVP by September 15th.

Twitterpated Scrapbooking Flyer

Twitterpated Cardmaking Flyer

The newest member of the Graziano family...

The Canon EOS Rebel T1i...arrived July 14th, 2009 at 3:00 pm. ; )

I am in love with my new camera. I have been researching SLRs for ages and am happy to be the proud owner of one. Now, I just need to learn how to use it to its fullest potential. I am currently taking Candice Stringham's class at JessicaSprague.com. Yesterday was my first day so I will let you know how it goes. I am wishing, praying, dreaming of getting into one of Karen Russell's photography workshops. I tried to get in the November class, but am #935 on the waitlist. Yeah...that's how popular they are! I have to wait until February to register for her May class. I so hope I get in.

If you are interested in getting a new camera, lens or learning a new technique, Karen Russell's blog is a great resource.

Art

Stumbled upon this video at a teaching site. Thought it was so cool. Enjoy!

Right now...

I am inspired by Ali Edward's blog post on June 21st. I think it is a neat way to stop and journal the NOW. I think I might use it as a jump start for a scrapbook layout.

Downstairs...Jon is awaiting a late night conference call and the children are sleeping soundly in their beds.

I am thinking...about taking an online scrapbooking class. I am inspired by Ali Edward's upcoming Yesterday and Today class through Big Picture Scrapbooking, as well as Cathy Zielske's Me: The Abridged Version.

I am thankful for... two amazing vacations this summer...one in Maine and one in Florida. The weather was perfect and we enjoyed lots of quality family time.

In the kitchen...the dinner dishes are drying and the leftover steak tips, couscous and grilled vegetables are cooling so they may be put in the fridge.

I am wearing...shorts, a pink polo and no shoes.

I am creating...a baby album for a friend whose shower is this weekend. Better get cracking!

I am going...to watch Leverage when Jon is finished with his call. Love the DVR.

I am reading...(I will be reading) "Julie & Julia" as I just finished "Fortune's Rocks" by Anita Shreve.

I am hoping...to learn how to use my new camera on manual instead of the automatic settings. I need to take a class. Considering Karen Russell's online class called The Photographer's Workshop.

I am hearing...Taylor Swift's Fearless CD (when did I get a teenager) through Caitlin's monitor and the Music Together CD through Jack's monitor, but no little voices. ; )

I am proud...of my children and their new milestones. Jack is now swimming with a vest but no adult support. The boy can kick and could very well pass Caitlin in swim lessons. Caitlin is starting to read, which completely amazes me as does her ability to sing every Taylor Swift song word for word.

Around the house...are reminents of Jack's crib waiting for me to find the right storage spot for them as he is now in a big boy bed. (sigh!) I will never tire of hearing him say "my big boy bed".

A few plans for the rest of the week...trip to the playground, Davis Farmland, a baby shower and a pizza party with friends.

Get your own "list" started. I would love to hear what is happening at your house right now.

I'd like to leave you with a few other things that have inspired me:

• Check out Ali's Tuesday Tutorials posts. I especially enjoyed Cathy Zielske's tutorial on July 14th. I like her style and loved how she walked through creating a photo collage on PhotoShop.
• Nichol Magouirk recently posted a video tutorial on a layout she created using Close to My Heart's Moon Doggie paper and our Memory Protector Flip Flaps. I love her layout.
• Wishing I saw this post before I purchased Jack's big-boy-bed. How cool is that bed? Loving these organizational charts. How I love lists!

Specials and Events

There is so much going on at Close to My Heart that I don't know where to begin. Read on for all the excitement...

1. The Fall/Winter 2009 Idea Book goes live on September 1st. I have gotten a peak at it and am in love with many of the new products. Aside from the beautiful new papers and stamps, I think some of the new tools and accessories are awesome!

I love the clean, finished look of our post-bound albums, but we all know what a pain it is to unscrew the posts. Close to My Heart has developed a system called Snapease to make it easier to add new pages to your albums. All of the new My Legacy and Leather albums will come with the Snapease system. You can also buy the system to convert your current albums. So cool!

Wishes Card Confidence Program is one of the new "How-To" books by Jeanette Lynton. One really cool feature of the book is is comes with a template CD to make cutting even easier and more precise. It includes all new patterns and features 3 unique card workshops with instructions and cutting diagrams to make cards in bulk.

When I first started scrapbooking, I used a lot of eyelets in my pages. I love the look of them - they are practical as well as appealing. I just hated the noise the hammer created especially because I found my self scrapbooking during naptime and bedtime. Close to My Heart's new Soft Set eyelet tool and eyelets offer a new and improved (quieter and easier) way of adding eyelets to artwork. Check out the new tools in our Fall/Winter 2009 Idea Book.

2. Hurry to take advantage of the specials going on beginning this month.

Thanks-a-bration! From August 3–17, if you place a minimum order of $100, you will be rewarded with a number of extra perks! You’ll receive the August Stamp of the Month for FREE as well as a current, hand-selected My Reflections® Level 2 paper packet (a total retail value of $39.90)! Plus, CTMH will cover tax and shipping/handling on BOTH of these free products, saving you even more! Spread the word quickly, because this Thanks-a-bration campaign only lasts for 15 days!

National Stamping Month! September is National Stamping Month and CTMH is celebrating early and in a big way, with something for everyone! Between August 18–September 30 when you purchase a minimum of $60 in stamp sets (A, B, C, D, and E-size; some exclusions apply), you’ll receive a FREE Everyday Celebration card kit containing materials to handcraft 16 exquisite cards. Join the stamping festivities by making a qualifying purchase, or buy the kit outright for just $39.95. Hostesses and new Consultants can also get the card kit free during September. We’re also holding a drawing where we’ll give away an Everyday Celebration card kit each day in September. Check it out at my website beginning August 18th!

3. New Workshops. There are several new workshops using papers and accessorites from the Fall/Winter 2009 Idea Book. I love the new flyers showing what is included in the workshop price. Check out all the new workshops for scrapbookers and cardmakers.


Twitterpated Scrapbooking Flyer

Twitterpated Cardmaking Flyer

Grace Scrapbooking Flyer

Grace Cardmaking Flyer

Jingle Scrapbooking Flyer

Jingle Cardmaking Flyer

Sweethome Scrapbooking Flyer

Sweethome Cardmaking Flyer

4. In order to have the Fall/Winter 2009 catalogs available for September 1st, I need to place my order. I am trying to better guage how many to order. I would like to schedule my Home Gatherings for September now so I know how many catalogs to order. Please email me if you would like to host a Home Gathering or Workshop at your home. My schedule is flexible, but email fast to get your first choice.

Some Layouts

I carved out some time for myself this week to work on some of my layouts. Here are two of the pages I completed. I am very happy with the way they both came out. Unfortunately, the lack of sun and, therefore natural light, makes it hard to get a good photo. Hope these give you a good idea.

I saw this layout in CK - March 2009 and scraplifted it using CTMH's Emporium paper.

This is my favorite of the two layouts. I love the white dots the best. They were so easy to do. I used a piece of Knitting (?) material found at any craft store. The sheets are about $0.70 and I just cut out a small section of it. I dipped my pencil tip in acrylic paint and made a dot in every hole across the row. Love the effect it created.

Journaling reads, "It was tough for Mommy and Daddy to make the decision to put you in a cast or “sleeve” as you called it. You are an active little girl and with summer beginning, we didn’t want to slow you down. Once the cast was on, you never complained and went about your days as if nothing had changed.

One morning, a few weeks after your cast was removed, I was getting ready. You came to me and asked for masking tape, which I happily gave you. Later, I found you watching TV on my bed. You had wrapped your baby’s arm and leg in tape and were lovingly comforting her. You looked up at me sweetly and told me she had gotten hurt and needed a sleeve. ~ Picture taken July 9, 2007"

Baby Gifts

I have been preparing baby gifts for two dear friends of ours. As a mother of two, I have collected quite a libary of children's songs in iTunes. As part of the gifts I give, I often include a mix CD filled with our favorite songs (songs the children love and I can stand listening to over and over and over again). I recently found the most beautiful CD cases on etsy from a seller called QTCreations. I purchased two from her and filled them with mix CDs for our friends.


Here is one of the cases I purchased. Isn't is adorable?





The inside with CDs and playlists. Here are two of the playlists I created:








If you are looking for a baby gift, consider a CD case or one of these cute prints also found on etsy.


This one is from khamm75

Love this print from Penny People

Another sweet one from L.J ink

Enjoy these baby inspirations!

Ba's Tribute Album, part II

For some reason, blogger won't let me include text with the embedded object in the next post. Here is what I wanted to write in the post below.

This is another one of my "labor of loves" that has kept me from my scrapbooking pages. My grandfather, Ba, has always been a big part of my life. It has been hard to watch him deal with so many changes in his life...the loss of my grandmother, moving to assisted living and the loss of some of his memories.

We gave him a digital picture frame this fall and he loved it! I decided to make an album for him as a tribute. I did it through Shutterfly because the old pictures were too precious to me to tape to a page in a book. The album selections at Shutterfly are impressive as well. (I have often thought this one would be a neat gift for a young child because they love to look at pictures of themselves. It would be cool for a high school graduate going off to college as well.)

Scanning over 250 pictures into the computer and collecting family stories and histories has been time consuming, but well worth it. I can't wait to give him this album.

Ba Tribute Album

Click here to view this photo book larger

Fancy Nancy Birthday

(click on picture for a larger view)

Caitlin turned 4 on May 1st! She is growing so fast. As we started talking about her party, she was adamant it be an "Annie" party. I wasn't sure how I was going to pull off an Annie party. Having received a Fancy Nancy doll and many dress up items for her birthday, I was able to steer her in the direction of a Fancy Nancy party. Oh la la!

It was a perfect day! The girls turned plain, purple felt purses into fancy bags using feathers, jewels and sparkly butterflies. (Template from Martha Stewart) They played dress-up and the girls sung "Happy Birthday" to Caitlin from her stage.

After some playtime, we went in for lunch. Above the table hung paper lanterns covered in butterflies. At each place setting was a tiara. Paper butterflies surrounded the straws on each cup. The menu consisted of "tea" sandwiches cut in the shape of butterflies and flowers. There was cream cheese and berry preserves, turkey and cheese and ham and cheese. The fruit salad was fancy as well. Watermelon was cut out in the shape of flowers surrounded by strawberries, blueberries and melon balls. The cupcake cake was in the shape of a crown and read "Bon Anniversaire Caitlin". Fancy Nancy loves to speak in French.

The girls pulled strings on the Fancy Nancy pinata before heading home. Inside the pinata was candy and fancy bracelets. The girls took home a party bag. Inside was a pen with a plume, butterfly hair clips, CD with Fancy Nancy stories, tiara, candy, necklace and bracelet. It was an extraordinary day (that's fancy for great)!

Now that the party is over and I have cleared a few other items from my "To-Do" list, I hope to dedicate some time to scrapbooking. I have a lot of ideas circling my head.

Saving and Organizing Photos

Sorry I have been such a bag blogger lately. I have been working on a Fancy Nancy birthday party for my daughter. I will post pictures later. I think it would be fun to be a children's birthday party planner in another life...I just need a la carte budgets. ; )

I was asked a really two great questions the other day. What process do I use for downloading and saving my photos from my camera? And, what did I use to create the playlist on the layout I showed in this post.

Here are my answers:

1. My camera came with a program to download and organize photos. I LOVE how it automatically saves the files into folders by the date the pictures were taken. I create a new Windows folder for each month, inside a new folder for each year. I save the folders created by the camera's system into those month folders. Jessica Sprague, an expert in the technology side of scrapbooking, has another great organization system. She explains it well here.

I upload my pictures to scrapbookpictures.com and picassaweb.google.com. Both services allow me to keep them organized by folder. I order pictures from scrapbook pictures because they offer a HUGE variety of sizes and special services. Picassa is great because I can give a link directly to my site for my friends and family to visit It is great for the grandparents to view photos of the kids. It give me piece of mind to know I have my pictures backed up and protected.

For editing my pictures, I use Photoshop Elements. It is an AMAZING program, but can be complicated for a first time user. Jessica Sprague offers free video tutorials on her sites here and here. The latter also offers paid online classes in using Photoshop as well as photography. View a free online video because she does a great job with them.

2. I created the playlist on my layout using iTunes. I download music from iTunes and rip (copy) songs from my CDs as well. I have an extensive collection of music as a result. iTunes lets you easily set up a playlist. Once you have your playlist set up, you simply go to print and you get the image you saw on my layout - an array of album cover pictures and a list of the songs.

Hope this information helps you in organizing your scrapbook pictures.

June's Deal-a-Day Constant Campaign

Grab Incredible Deal-a-Day Specials in June
In June you can take advantage of a different deal each day on my website —a product special available only that day and only while supplies last. Specials include Great Goodies boxes priced 50% or more below retail and popular products for free with a My Acrylix® stamp set purchase (size A, B, C, D, or E; excludes K-size and Stamp of the Month). PLUS irresistible shipping discounts. Check my website every day from June 1–30 for that day's deal and add to your scrapbooking and cardmaking supplies while saving a bundle. Remember, each special is good only for that day, only while supplies last, and only on MyCTMH websites.

Surf the Web

Today's post is a list of links of creative ideas from around the web. Check them out and let me know which one you liked the best.

• As the weekend slowly comes into view, think about taking on Ali's Weekend Challenge: Document your Weekend. She presented the challenge last week and has already posted her layout. It might help you visualize your own as you take on the challenge this weekend. The added bonus is a FREE brushes download for you digital/hybrid scrapbookers.
• Check out this layout from the Designer Garden at Two Peas in a Bucket. It is using the special "Tickled Pink" pack from Close to My Heart. It is only available through the end of the month, so contact me ASAP if you are interested in ordering it. In the meantime, check out the video for some cool stamping tips.
• LOVE this idea from Becky Higgins's blog. It is great for those of you with little ones. Check out how her kindergartener has preserved his memories in an album.
• LOVE this layout by Nichol Magouirk. I have to get some of the dotted cardstock. The effect is so cool.
• Finally, I think this layout by Kelly Purkey is amazing. I love the simplicity of it. She definitely has a wardrobe girls would die for. Interesting idea to scrapbook it. Guess it would be interesting to look back and see what outfits my Mom was wearing in her twenties.

Enjoy the sunshine! Let's hope it is here to stay for a while.

A Look at Pleating

There have been several posts on the Studio Calico blog on pleating. I love the texture the pleated elements add to the pages and cards featured in the blog entries. Check them out here, here and here to be inspired.




While we are on the topic of Studio Calico, check out my sister-in-law's member gallery on their site. She is a member of the SC kit club and often posts her layouts. She was asked to participate in a sketch challenge on their blog as well. Her layout was titled "with the girls". You will see it in her gallery.

Pom-Poms

I recently stumbled upon the blog "dannisdoodles". I love the gifts and cards she created for Teacher's Appreciation week. The colors are perfect and I love all the different embellishments she used especially the pom-poms. I picked up some pop-pops in different colors at Jo-Ann's this morning. I can't wait to use them on a layout. I will post when I figure out what layout I want to use them on.

In the meantime, check out dannisdoodles and be inspired yourself.

Free Font Friday

Scrap 'n Fonts recently retired all of their CK fonts. Each Friday, CK will be offering one of the fonts for free. It looks like it will only be available for a week and then the next font will be offered. Check it out! Great way to boost your font collection for free.

Creating Keepsakes Free Font Friday

Card Making

For those of you who love to create homemade cards, check out the Got Sketch Anniversary sketch challenge. Week 2 and week 4 feature card sketches with interpretations by some amazing artists. I love the one Jennifer Maguire did for week 4.

I also love this layout by Keisha Campbell for the week 1 scrapbooking sketch challenge. I just recently purchased this template. I think I might use it when I scraplift Keisha's layout. : )

Hope you are enjoying this beautiful weather. We spent a lot of time outdoors this weekend and I still manged to squeeze in a layout while the kids napped. Love how fresh air tuckers them out.

Scrapbook and Share

While I had a strong start, I have definitely lapsed on new posts. I'll get some photos up here soon of layouts I have been working on. I need to wait to daylight to get good pictures. : )

I wanted to let you know about a contest going on at Close to My Heart as a way to celebrate National Scrapbooking Day. Click on the banner below to find out the details on how you can win $150 in scrapbooking supplies.

If you post a layout, leave me a comment with the link to your work. I would love to see everyone's creations.

I completed my list of "25 Random Things" last night while my husband watched the Final Four. As he read my list, I started wondering what would be on his list. While there are not many pictures of me in my albums or journaling about myself, the album is a reflection of me...my style, my thoughts and feelings. I want to make sure his thoughts are documented at this stage in life. He has promised to work on his own list so I can add it to a layout. I will be holding him to this one.

For now, here is my list. I will be working on incorporating it in a layout and will post pictures soon.

1. I currently have 46 items checked out from 3 different libraries. I couldn’t tell you the first digit of my credit card number, but I know my 14-digit library card by heart.
2. I have to have a centerpiece on my dining room table at all times. Right now, it is crystal candlesticks and nests with colorful eggs.
3. I hate when anyone does my laundry, even though it is a chore I would be happy to do without.
4. I detest seafood, which is ironic since I grew up in Maine. I want to like fish but I can’t get past the gag reflex.
5. I feel guilty about being the one who gets to stay home with our children. I think it is such an incredible privilege. I am grateful to my husband for giving me this amazing opportunity.
6. That being said, I do miss teaching. There isn’t a day goes by that I don’t think of a lesson idea. One thing I miss most about teaching is the opportunity to learn. I loved attending workshops and rushing back to the classroom to implement something I had learned.
7. I find myself reading art, scrapbooking and photography blogs searching for creative inspiration.
8. I am wishing for and dreaming of a new SLR camera. I spend most of my time behind the lens photographing my children. I would love to learn to become a better photographer.
9. My sweet tooth is out of control. To me, dinner is just a means to dessert. Currently, I am obsessed with Cadbury Cream Eggs.
10. I can’t say “no”, which is why I often find myself being pulled in too many directions.
11. I would love to be a better reader because I love to read. However, I a hard time finding books that suit my reading interest and I can really get in to.
12. Thanks to the Today Show, I now worry about having a dryer fire. I won’t run the dryer while I am sleeping or out of the house, which really slows down the process.
13. I hate it when I forget to get the mail. I love going to the mailbox. The possibility of a new magazine filled with decorative or crafty inspiration or an unexpected letter makes me happy.
14. I would much rather go out to breakfast than lunch or dinner. I can not skip breakfast (or any meal for that matter) and have cereal each morning. I love “syrup” breakfast on the weekend.
15. I use to say my music interest was eclectic with the exception of country. Since meeting Jon, I love country music. It is much like my scrapbooking style – focuses on the beautiful, simple, everyday gifts of life you don’t want to forget. For the Moms reading this, listen to Darius Rucker’s “It Won’t Be Like this for Long.”
16. My Mom drew a detailed, colored picture and wrote a note on my lunch bag everyday from 1st to 4th grade. Sometimes she did themed weeks (such as different types of clouds), word-of-the-day, or focused on an exciting event in our family. I still have every one of those lunch bags.
17. I cannot function in an unorganized setting…I am hyper-organized and, therefore, love making lists.
18. In high school I was voted “Most Gullible” and “Most Dependable”.
19. I dream of building a “green” house. I want to work with an architect to plan every single detail to match the needs of my family, hire contractors and oversee the work. I just don’t know that I could handle the constant headache that comes with the project.
20. I am a blast-the-music and sing-out-loud driver. These days I lose the music battle and find myself singing along to Justin Roberts, Disney Princesses and other children’s favorites.
21. I love condiments especially ketchup. French fries, hot dogs and hamburgers are just a vehicle for ketchup.
22. I have a weakness for children’s literature. I can say no to toys and candy at the store, but when it comes to books I go weak. I spend a long time carefully picking high-quality books out of the library for my children.
23. That being said, it shouldn’t surprise you that I aspire to be just like “Miss Rumphius”…I want to live by the ocean, travel to faraway places (when my little ones are grown) and leave the world a more beautiful place.
24. I am truly, madly, deeply in love with my husband. He is passionate, dedicated, intelligent and funny. He is the type of guy who would choose to spend his birthday at Disney on Ice because he is most happy when his family is happy.
25. I have been blessed with two beautiful, healthy, loving and personality-rich children.

Get working on your list. It is so much fun and it will be amazing to look back on in 10 years.

Sneak Peek

Consultants can view the new Summer 2009 catalog online. I took a few screen shots so you can have a sneak peek at the fabulous new products available. The new paper kits include a camping theme, beach theme, fun child theme, blue/green theme and flower theme. I have include a picture of projects made with "Moon Doggie" the new beach themed paper kit. I LOVE it!

Contact me to host a gathering this summer! The Hostess Rewards Plus options are great. One of them allows you to pick $50 worth of products for only $25. It is an opportunity for you to earn FREE product while introducing friends to these great products.

Moon Doggie Paper Kit

Field Trip E-sized Font

I have some fun picture to upload...sneak peeks from our new Summer 2009 catalog. I love the new papers and am excited about some of there different embellishments like felt pieces and journaling tags. Keep checking back for photos.

This morning we are off to Disney on Ice. Can't wait! Jack is going to loose his mind as he has a little thing for Mickey Mouse. More later.

Ali posted her version of the iTunes layout. You can read all the details about it on her blog or by clicking here.

Here is her version...she plays with a lot of different sized layouts and includes them all in her album regardless of size.

iListen

Here is my iTunes layout. It was so easy and fun to do.

Put a Little You in it

I am inspired by Ali Edward's post "Music for Baby". While creating a playlist for her daughter, she started wondering what music her parents listented to when she was a child. She hit print on her playlist and decided she would add it to a scrapbook page.


It got me thinking how little we put ourselves into our scrapbooks. I would love to be able to look back at pages in my baby book and see what music my mother was in to or what "everyday" things she treasured at that time.

Not a big music listener? There are so many ways to put yourself into your pages. A couple months back, I was inspired by Ali's 100 things column. I immediately set to work coming up with 100 things that make me happy. I kept a notepad nearby at all times and slowly added to it. When my list was complete, I typed up my 100 things, printed it, and cut out each idea to arrange on my page. I just need to add pictures and then I will upload my layout for everyone to see.

On my desk in a pile of stuff is a piece of notepaper I scribbled on in February. I was having a productive afternoon at the computer and Caitlin was quietly coloring beside me. I put the title "Right now, I'm..." and bulleted a bunch of things I was working on. In my pictures file, I have a photo dated on the same day waiting to be added to my layout with this list.

• enjoying the quite time that is a result of Jack's long nap.
• getting caught up on email.
• wondering what ask to take on next.
• checking my blogs.
• watching Caitlin draw at her make-shift desk.
• reminded of all the creative projects I've put aside in order to finish my "work".

I am going to leave you with one more idea on how to include who you are in your scrapbook pages. Recently, everyone on Facebook has been typing a list of 25 random things about themselves. I have had so much fun reading the lists my friends have created. I am currently working on my own and thinking it would make great journaling on a layout. Here are three items from my list of 25:

• I currently have 46 items checked out at the library. Although I couldn't tell you the first number in my credit card, I can tell you my 14-digit library card number.
• I can't have an empty dining room table. There has to be a "centerpiece" on it at all times. Currently, I have my crystal candleholders and sweet bird's nests filled with colorful eggs.
• I get stressed out when other people do my laundry.

I challenge you to work on a layout for your scrapbook that features yourself. Post a comment and let others know what you decided to do.

Happy Creating!

Tickled Pink

Aside from posting ideas and sites to inspire you, I also plan to use my blog as a way to update you on Close to My Heart specials and events. Don't miss my challenge at the bottom of this post.

Host a party this spring to earn new supplies FREE from our fabulous Spring 2009 catalog.

Tickled Pink

You're gonna love our Tickled Pink scrapbooking kit designed exclusively for National Scrapbooking Month in May. Put a little more "you" in your scrapbooks and you'll be Tickled Pink this spring! Our newest scrapbooking kit puts you front and center-with everything you need to create two beautiful two-page layouts all about the things that you love and that make you shine. And speaking of shine, you'll also be tickled by the kiss of glitter on these fabulous papers.

To get your very own Tickled Pink scrapbooking kit:

• Place a minimum order of $60 in stamp sets between April 15th-May 31 to receive a Tickled Pink scrapbooking kit FREE!


• Purchase a Tickled Pink kit at just $34.95 - well below retail.


• Sign up as a new consultant between May 1-May 31st and receive a kit FREE.


• Host a Home Gathering between April 15-May 31 with minimum sales of $400 and receive a kit FREE.

Celebrate spring, bling, and everything you love - you'll be so happy, you'll be Tickled Pink!

World's Best Day ~ April's Stamp of the Month

A playful fishing motif makes this set perfect for any man who loves tossing out a line. Available April 1 - 30, 2009 only.

Good Deals

I just recently learned about a new site called Crop Chocolate. This site offers a different deal each day. As the website explains, "At CropChocolate™, we sell all-things scrapbook. But here's the catch, we only sell one item at a time – at a delicious price. Every day a new item will be posted – so act fast – a limited quantity will be sold at deeply discounted prices. No time to let it temper." Between 6 pm and 12 am, they offer a Dark Chocolate deal. The other night it was the Making Memories Embellishment center for $44 as opposed to the $90 retail price. Shipping and handling is very reasonable ($4). Looking for some new goodies to inspire your pages. Check out this site. http://www.cropchocolate.com/.

My sister-in-law also told me about another deal site called Peachy Cheap. http://www.peachycheap.com/index.php It is set up similar to Crop Chocolate.

Happy Shopping!

Wasn't going to do it

I never saw myself as a blogger, but here I am.

I LOVE being a stay-at-home mother, however, I miss the learning and creative opportunities that came with my job. I loved being inspired at a workshop or conference and running back to the classroom to put the new-found knowledge into practice. I feel this way these days with scrapbooking. I love stumbling upon a layout at one of my favorite blogs or learning a new technique in a magazine.

I find myself constantly sharing these found inspirations with my crafty friends. I thought a blog would be a great medium for sharing this information. I will also use the blog to share specials and events happening with my Close To My Heart business. (www.erinscraps.myctmh.com)

Enjoy!