Masculine Valentine's Card

I know Christmas and New Year's are barely over but I just can't help myself to make something Valentine's! I kept this card very simple since it's going to my hubby and tried to not to make it too girly with a lot of pink and hearts and bling.

 I did hand-stitch the banners in place though with Embroidery Floss (on sale in the While Supplies Section of my website). I pre-punched the holes with my stitch ruler and piercing tool...a life safer for this girl who can't draw a straight line to save my life!

The card is based on sketch #117 from Freshly Make Sketches...a great sketch to use up scraps! Here's the inspiration sketch:

Home Decor Workshop

I had a blast making this frame and hope you will too (my kids think it's awesome)!

Grab six of your favorite photos and join me on Saturday, January 25 at 1 pm to create this beautiful art piece you'll be proud to display in your home. Or, give this to someone special for Valentine's Day. The choice is yours! If you are in Northern VA please RSVP by January 15th HERE.

Each workshop kit is $40 (price includes tax and shipping) and contains the following items:

• Designed Decor Colonial White Frame

• My Acrylix® Frame Kit Stamp Set (B-size)

• Kraft Paper Die-Cut Shapes

• Mini Wooden Clothespins

• Baker's Twine Hemp

The frame can be positioned either vertically or horizontally to suit your needs. I will also have my full supply of stamp sets so you can choose the colors that best fit your home.

If you aren't in the local VA area but would like to participate you can purchase the kit HERE. Home kits will also need the following items:

• 1-3 Ink pads (your choice of colors)
• 1" x 3 1/2" MyAcrylix Block (Y1002)
• 2" x 2" MyAcrylix Block (Y1003)

Hope to see you on the 25th!

January Creative Club

Next Friday, 1/10/14 I will be hosting Creative Club in Northern VA. We'll be making two cards using the fun Circle Spin Cards and super affordable M-sized stamp sets. I hope you can join me for a fun evening with some great ladies!

If you are not in the Northern VA area but would like to participate I do have kits available for purchase. Each kit comes with:

• Pre-Cut Papers
• (2) 5" x 7" Circle Spin Cards with envelopes
• Pre-stamped images
• 5" of Red Shimmer Trim
• Full-color instructions with pictures

Not sure what the M-sized stamp sets are? These are single stamp images that are perfect to use for cards or scrapbook accents. Each stamp fits perfectly on a 2" x 2" block and at only $2.95/image you can't go wrong! They are perfect for to color or paper piece. These are the current M-sized sets available:

M1000 - M1025 (Monogram)

M1026-Dotted Love

M1027-Baby Carriage

M1029-A True Thank You

M1030-A Little Gift

M1032-Tree Delights

M1033-Heartfelt Birthday Wish

M1028-Santa's Greeting

M1031-Single Snowflake

To purchase any of these stamps please visit my website HERE. 

January Specials

Happy New Year! Happy January! Happy National Papercrafting Month! There are so many reasons to celebrate!    January Stamp of the Month With a minimum qualifying purchase, get your D-size Stamp of the Month set for just $5.00 US / $5.50 CAN! Add the stamp set to your cart on this page at full retail price or, with your qualifying order, add it at checkout for the promotional price. Spend:   $50.00  No purchase required You pay only:   $5.00    $17.95 (full retail)  Set of 13 Recommended My Acrylix® Blocks: 2" × 2" (Y1003), 3" × 3" (Y1006), 2" × 3½" (Y1009), 2" × 6½" (Y1010)  Stamp images outlined in red coordinate with the Cricut® Artiste collection. Click here to order your own Stamp of the Month. Available January 1-31, 2013 only. ___________________________________________________     National Papercrafting Month Promotion Get the Cloud Nine cardmaking kit for just $15  with a $35 order or even for FREE!*  There are two ways to get the adorable Cloud Nine cardmaking kit: Purchase it for just $15 (retail value $46) with a minimum qualifying order of $35 during January in celebration of National Papercrafting Month. Or get it FREE when you enroll as a new Consultant in January and submit total personal sales of $300 or more*. Create 10 cute cards (2 each of 5 designs) using three sneak-peek accessories from the upcoming Idea Book, a new D-size stamp set, and exclusive papers.  Cloud Nine Card Kit Contents: 1 – My Acrylix™ Cloud Nine Stamp Set (D-size) 1 – Cloud Nine B&T Duos™ Paper 1 – Lagoon Cardstock Sheet 1 – Honey Cardstock Sheet 1 – 9" μ 9½" White Daisy Die-Cuts Sheet 1 Roll – Gold Polka-Dot Washi Tape† 1 Roll – Teal Shimmer Trim† 1 Package – Durables Triangle Studs† 10 – Card Bases & Envelopes 1 – Instructional Brochure Featured colors: Lagoon, Sunset, Honey, White Daisy Watch this great video for more information on this fun kit...    Click here to place an order online to get your Cloud Nine Kit. † New product in Spring/Summer 2014 Idea Book. * New Consultant's total qualifying sales must be remitted no later than June 30, 2014, and the free kit will automatically ship with the Consultant's order that achieves the minimum sales, or, if that order is a customer's OBA order, it will ship with the next order going to the Consultant's address. Orders must be Consultant-placed and the listed shipping address must correspond to an address listed on the Consultant's profile in their online Personal Business Assistant. Offer valid January 1–31, 2014. Additional criteria may apply. Tax is based on the price paid for the promotional item. Shipping/ handling based on the full retail price of the card kit ($46). ___________________________________________________     New Consultant Kit is now available!   The new 2014 Spring/Summer Consultant Kit is available now. It is jam packed with brand spankin' new products from the upcoming 2014 Spring/Summer Idea Book! The kit is $99 and contains approximately $309 worth of CTMH goodies. The good news is that you can earn that $99 back with our Straight to the Top Program! If you have $1,200 in orders (including your own orders) within your first 90 days as a Consultant, you will receive your $99 back and the adorable Cloud Nine Kit (see above) for FREE! PLUS, if you meet the Straight to the Top Goal, I will also personally give you a FREE Workshop on the Go Kit of your choice! That is a value of $385!! If you have any questions about becoming a CTMH Consultant, feel free to contact me.

Hello 2014...

Happy New Year to you!!! Yesterday I posted two questions on my Facebook page:

1. Do you make New Year's resolutions?
2. Do you document them?

To answer my own questions: kind of, and yes!

The definition of resolution is "a firm decision to do or not to do something." To me that just seems unattainable. Instead, I try to focus on goals. Are they same thing? More or less, yes, but my simple brain thinks there is a difference. I guess that word "firm" plays tricks in my head. It's too black and white for me. Goals on the other hand seem more like a plan. They have a little wiggle room and don't seem so rigid. I feel like goals imply a plan of attack. It gives me a way to analyze and assess my progress to make changes as needed. Does it make sense? You tell me.

Last family photo of 2013

Either way, I wanted to share my goals for 2014. It's my way of being accountable. These will inevitably become part of my Picture My Life Scrapbook this year so be prepared to see them again. Oh, and feel free to call me out if you notice I've dropped the ball a bit (especially on #3, 4, and 6).

1. Exercise 4 - 5 days a week. If I lose a few extra pounds great. If not, no big deal. I need it for mental clarity and sanity. 
2. Run a race/obstacle once a month. I'm already signed up for the Frozen 5K on the 5th so check that off my list for January!
3. Take pictures of the projects I make and blog about them. I can't even begin to tell you the projects I've made in 2013 that never got photographed or posted. Why, I have no idea. I guess I'm just being lazy.
4. Finish my kids 1st Year Albums. My oldest is 10 so it's about time I get it done! Thankfully the other two albums are much further along!
5. Date night with my hubby once a month. 
6. Participate in more crafty blog challenges...this goes along with #3 (and I need to use up my stash of papers!)

As a family we'll sit down and write some family goals a little later today. It's always fun to see what the kids come up with! 

New Consultant Changes are Coming...

If you are waiting until the new product release Feb 1 to sign up as a consultant I wanted to share the upcoming changes with you now in case you would rather sign up before the changes take effect. This way you have the option and can choose whether you'd like to sign up now or after January 1st. Kit Changes: The first change is that we will no longer be offering two kit options. Currently there is a $49 kit option and a $99 kit option. The new kit will be offered at $99 and will include over $300 worth of products and business supplies. (And let me tell you—it is super cute!) Straight to the Top Changes The second change is with the Straight to the Top Program. This is an exciting change because with the new program, you can earn back the $99 you spent on your kit! With the new program, if you have $1,200 in sales (including your own orders) within the first 90 days, you will receive your $99 back, ultimately making your kit FREE! Also, as a special extra incentive from me, if you reach your STTT goal with the new program I will also send you a Workshop on the Go Kit of your choice absolutely FREE! (The current Straight to the Top program allows you to earn $25 in Select Product Credit when you reach $300 in orders in your first 30 days and an additional $75 in SPC when you reach a total of $1,200 in your first 90 days. So the main difference is that instead of earning product credit that can be used to get certain items, the new program will allow you to earn $99 cash back that can be used for whatever you like.) Current Consultant Kit options: $49 Kit (valued at $155) available through 12/31/13 $99 Kit available through 12/31/13 includes everything in the $49 kit plus these extras...  New Consultant Kit $99 New Consultant Kit (valued at $309) available January 1, 2014 I will updating my "Join My Team" page with the changes when they go into effect 1/1. If/when you are ready to sign up, you can do so here. Feel free to contact me with any questions.

 

 

Artbooking Winter Layouts

Brrr...it's mighty cold outside! If your weather is frightful stay inside with a cup of cocoa and watch this great CTMH video* showcasing 2 winter-themed keys on the Cricut Artbooking Cartridge.



Now is the time to pull out your photos of sledding sensations and tasty crations and match them with heaps of shapes, titles, borders, and overlays on your wintry projects. Use the video as a starting point for your own projects and ideas.

If you'd like to purchase any of the products used in this video please visit my website.

>>Start Shopping

*If you are receiving this video via email the video portion will appear blank. To view the video please click on the post title.