Yup, it's been a while . . . a long while.  With 14 and 12 year old boys in the house computer time is getting more and more limited.  If I can't do it on my ipad or iphone it doesn't seem to get done.

But now . . gloriously, all three kids are in school!! So I can finally post.

And this isnt terribly exciting . . I'm actually just trying to Post to my CTMH Bulletin Board, but can't post a pic unless it has a URL and to have a URL it seems I need to save the pic somewhere on the WWW.  OH my, it's all above my head some most days.

Anyway this is the latest project I've been working on:  Scratch and Win tickets for the upcoming BC Crop for Kids:

I saw this idea on Pinterest and immediately saw marketing opportunities for CTMH.

I used the CTMH gathering invitation postcards, and then pritned our info on one side of the back.

I then used staples 2"x4" labels to create individual discount / prize tags:

I then used packing tape to cover the "scratch off" part of the tag.

Then you use a combination of Silver paint and dish soap (4:1) to paint over the taped area:

(Please excuse my messy work area, should have edited that pic before I saved it!)

 

Finally I leet dry for about an hour and then trimmed to size (2x4) and then peeled and stuck to the left side of the post card.

 

Voila!

 

 

 

Individual CTMH scratch and Win tickets!

 

My kids love them so much I am thinking of doing this for household chores too!!

 

You can use this technique on any paper surface, so you could print, stamp, draw etc your own ticket and then use the tape / paint trick to create your hidden scratch off area.

 

A fun, easy and super cheap trick - I had everything at home in my stash of crafty stuff! but you could pick supplies up at the dollar store.

 

Lots of possibilities, try a few and let me know how it works out!

Dear Jeanette, Thank You!

I know it has been quite a while since I posted . . . and I've been doing some scrapbooking, a little card making.  Lots of planning for October 2012's Crop for Kids Class and our Satellite CFK event in May 2012 . . .but I just haven't been taking pictures and blogging it.

Sorry.  I'm sure you'll forgive me.

I've also been a bit of a garden FREAK . . . over the last six weeks I have built and filled with dirt 9 raised cedar garden beds, a green house, and an indoor seedling grow area.  With the help of these handy florescent lights I've got happy little seedlings of pumpkins, squash, zucchini, tomatos, onions, and various herbs.  Now if warmer weather ever arrives outside I'll be able to get the rest going and hope to have a pretty decent veggie & fruit crop this year.  I could blog about my garden on this blog . . . and I might.  I might also blog about my recent 30+ freezer meals in a day cook-off . . . but for now, lets focus on Scrapbooking!

Tomorrow night (. . . hmm what time is it? Maybe it's TONIGHT!) is Hostess Club.  We haven't met since the end of January.  while I've know for a while that I'd be using the "Stella" paper pack, I hadn't finalized a layout yet.  I've recently been scanning Pinterest (my other latest time waster) and found a great little layout that had hexagons (oh how that "Wicked" stamp of the Month from Fall 2011 has me in love with hexagons still).  I hope I am crediting right . .because Pinterest can be a little iffy on getting the original source . . .But from the Studio Calico Website, they highlighted work by their member "Mandie Pierce" (who has her own blog "like a lemon to a lime and a lime to a lemon".  Anyway, that Layout inspired this one using Stella:

The technique I'm teaching is dying the seam binding tape (and thanks for all the suggestions found on the CTMH BB!).  Here is a close-up:

And why am I thanking Jeanette? Because of her great blog . . .again!  This week she gave a great idea for Journaling: writing a letter to the subject of the Photo.  This was all the inspiration I needed.  I had a few pictures of my Parents adorable, somewhat evil, puppy and wanted to do something with them.  This seemed perfect. 

I hope my Hostess Club likes it.  Oh, and when dying the seam binding, however you do it, wear gloves!

Signing off with my still "sunset" hands,

Karen.

I'll try not to be such a stranger.

Love, Actually . . .

I showed you the card from Jeanette Lynton's blog that inspired my new addiction . . .well, I've had to make a few more cards since then.

First, it was a card for a donation to the Make a Wish Foundation in the name of a local young boy who lost his battle with brain cancer just before christmas.  His relaspe was fast (just 12 days after completing front line therapy) and agressive.  The Make a Wish Foundation jumped through hoops to make an early Christmas possible for this young guy, as it was clear he wouldn't make it to his initial wish request, or Christmas.  This brave young boy had two final requests: a puppy for his big brother, so he wouldn't be too lonely and for his friends and family to raise funds in his name to grant another childs wish. 
The Make a Wish Foundation is very near and dear to my heart, my own 12 y/o son is a Cancer survivor and recieved a Wish in 2008.  So we are happy to be able to donate.  This childs favorite colour was red, and the Make a Wish logo is a blue shooting star, so I came up with this card:

But I guess that wasn't enough . . . so today my most recent order arrived and I like to give my customers something small as a thank you.  So I made them each a Valentine's card, I write my message on a Post-it note so that they can re-use the card for a loved one.  This was super quick and easy, thanks to the AP cricut:

Oh, what will I come up with next . . . . hope there's a pot of gold at the end of this rainbow addiction!

Thanks for looking!

It must be Love

Did any of you read Jeanette's blog this week?  The clean and simple rainbow cards blew me away.  I love that simplicity.  I love the crisp and clean lines. 

I've been busy working on ideas for the 2012 BC Crop for Kids class I'll be doing next fall all week, none of it can encorporate these ideas (I tried - my partner in crime and upline Nadene Jung axed it).   I may share my ideas later if BCCFK agrees . . . they kinda like to keep their classes a secret right up until registration time and that does make it so much fun!    Anyway . . . I couldn't get the rainbow cards out of my mind and was thrilled when my Husband asked me if I'd make a card for the wedding gift for one of his employees getting married tomorrow.

My Reply?

Oh Even Yesser! (phrase stollen from the Mommy's over at Rants from Mommyland)

So this is the card that our creative Close to My Heart designers came up with:






















And this is the version I came up with for the wedding gift:

You might notice that I'm still on a bit of a glitter kick . . . sorry.  The inside has the heart cut-out with the Bride and Grooms initials stamped on it and our personal sentiment.

Thanks for looking and please share how Jeanette's blog has inspired you!

I still Believe . . .

Tomorrow night is Hostess Club!  Yay, it feels like forever since my ladies came over for an evening of creating.  Tomorrow I hope not to dissapoint as this months layout will leave a sparkling impression!

It was very hard to NOT use paper from the new idea book for tomorrow's hostess Club.  however, new Idea Book doesn't go live until Feb 1 . . . so I sucked it up ("put on my big girl panties" as I heard at a crop last weekend) and we are doing a Christmas layout.  Lord may I not be the only person who hasn't even started scrapping Christmas . . . 2010 . . . yet.

My first point of inspiration, as often, was the CTMH bulletin board for consultants to share their artwork, idea and thoughts.  I found two layouts I loved: one by Twyla Norris worked well within the parametres that I wanted (single page, santa photo 5x7).  But then I searched a little more and found a layout by Brenda Rose that had a technique I have never done  - mixing embossing powder with glitter and then heat embossing. 

Well combine the genius of Twyla and Brenda (seriously these are two talented ladies, google them!) and I got this:

I love how crisp the white & prisma glitter embossing turned out right on the red.  Then I used the AP Cricut to cut out snowflakes in white and sky blue.  I covered in bonding memories glue and dipped them in prisma glitter.  You probably can't tell from the photo but I also glued glitter to the brads using liquid glass. 

Finally . . because I just couldn't help myself . . I did use one new item from the new idea book.  I used the adhesive springs!  The large snowflake is attached with an adhesive spring so it bounces and sproings about in a glittery way.

Hope my ladies enjoy it, I have so much fun creating for them!

Happy New Year - Newsletter

It's Here, it's here . . HOORAY!!!

I know I say this EVERY time . . . But I love this new idea book.  Really, it’s got something for everyone, boys, girls, cards, scrapbooks, vacations, birthdays, etc. etc.  But did I mention the prices?  CTMH is finally matching the U.S. and Canadian prices!  So everything has gone down in price!  While the new Idea Book doesn’t go live until Feb. 1, the reduced prices went live Jan 1, 2012.  so anything you want this month (and there is a great Campaign for January) you’ll get at the new, lower prices.

So, if you want your copy of the newest Idea book they are just $5, or free with a $25 order.  E-mail me your Idea Book request and I’ll drop it off or pop it in the mail.

Upcoming Events:

Jan 13/14: Crop at Shepherd of the Valley Church Langley

           $25/per person Friday 5pm-11pm, Sat 9am-10pm,

            Or $5 for Friday only , $20 for Saturday only

Jan 20: Hostess Club - 7pm—my house 12x12 Layout

           Drop-ins welcome, please give me 48 hrs notice to prep your kit.  $5 drop – in fee, or free with order over $25

Email or call me to sign-up!

Interested in joining a Hostess Club or Starting your own?  It’s lots of fun, we keep your $ commitment as low as possible, by meeting every second month.  Plus you get to earn the free Product when it’s your month to be Hostess.  We can do Cards, Page layouts, custom paper crafting or a variety—you set up a group of 6-8 people and I’ll customize the Club to fit your wishes.  Meetings can be held at my home or yours.   Email or call me for more information.

I know I haven't posted much since Christmas . . . we had a very relaxed, low key Christmas.  For the first time - ever - Our Master Bedroom did not become the Christmas gift hiding & wrapping centre.  My Scrapbooking room did!  I had to close up my Scrapping Shop around mid-december and start wrapping like a mad woman.  We actually had wrapped gifts under the tree BEFORE midnight Christmas Eve.

I just placed an order for lots of goodies from the new CTMH Spring Idea Book.  (Okay LOTS! $326!!!! - I used up a bunch of Product Credits I've earned as a Consultant so I'll get it all for free!!! Seriously, being a Consultant has it's perks!).  So, once all those goodies arrive, you can bet I'll be busy with some new artwork.  in the meantime I have a few pictures left to post from

Christmas and my Hostess Club in a few weeks using paper from the Fall Idea Book . . . so I'll be around.

Looking forward to what 2012 has to bring us, 2011 was a great CTMH year!

Oh Starry Night!

It's done!  My starry creation is finished, Now I just need to add some fresh greens and ribbon and this mantle creation is done.

Still shot pics don't do it justice . . 300 sparkling mini rice lights.  the whole thing is 56" long, with 3 12" stars and 2 8" stars.

I am no electrician, so hopefully low lights and greenery will hide the imperfections . . but it's pretty close to what I've been imagining the last two weeks as I've slowly worked away at it.

Sorry, with the exception of some liquid glass used as super glue, ther is no CTMH product on this yet.  I may add to it, but for now I'm just happy it'ts standing and the lights all work . . I'm a little afraid to touch it any more than neccessary!

Can't wait to put this on the Mantle tomorrow, as sit with a glass of wine and enjoy . . .