Artfully Sent

The fourth cartridge in the Close To My Heart Cricut collection is now available! This cartridge is all about creating fantastic, three-dimensional and interactive cards In all, it has the ability to help you create 400 different projects, including 250 cards, 150 other small projects (picture sleeves, tags, Picture My Life cards), envelopes, and even an alphabet!  Also included in the cost of the bundle are three D-sized stamp sets and a pack of White Daisy cardstock. Let the card-making begin! Contact me for details on ordering your very own!

New Year, New Ideas!

It's been a while since I've updated things here; lots of changes since the last post! Just over a year ago we made the big move from Central California to Eastern Washington! Hard to believe it's March already, but I'm ready to get back into the swing of things! Join me for my monthly Project Club - featuring the Ivy Lane paper packet from Close to My Heart. Your $20 monthly club fee will provide enough product to make three featured cards, two featured layouts, plus have enough product left over to create layouts and/or cards of your own! Check out the featured projects for March 2014:

Items in the kit will come pre-stamped, embossed, and background mats cut using one of the Cricut cartridges will be cut for you. Each kit will include the elements to make the projects exactly as shown in the pictures, and will include the following:

X7178B Ivy Lane Paper Pack

Z1807    Pink Glitter Gems

Five inches of Bronze Shimmer Trim to complete your card

Here's a list of what else was used in case you'd like to enhance your kit:

B1418 Love Doily Stamp            $9.95

C1540 Hello Blooms Stamp      $13.95

D1491 Hooray Bouquet Stamp  $17.95

C1575 True to Life Stamp          $13.95

Z1849 Broze Shimmer Trim        $4.95

Z1375 Kraft Cardstock                $9.50

Contact me to order your kit and sign up for the six month Project Club! Remember - $20 per month gets one COMPLETE paper pack as seen in the Idea Book, one complete package of that month's featured embellishment (view March's featured embellishment), plus any extra cardstock needed to complete the project. Images will come pre-stamped, and pre-cut. The first person to sign up will also win an additional free item! Don't have your Idea Book yet? Contact me to get your copy!

Busy Busy!

When did it get to be October already?! Lots of crafty projects have been under way since then. First there was Hannah's Halloween costume... she found some green fabric with black sparkly velvet spiders that she couldn't live without, so she's going to be a spider fairy. Here's what we've got:

I also made a green and black tutu, but apparently I didn't take pictures of that yet. Then we had an order for a yellow and black baby quilt for a former co-worker's new baby. I'm so happy with the way the quilt turned out - I just love the colors together! The blocks are a mix of cotton, flannel, linen, and corduroy, and the back is yellow minky.

And yesterday Hannah and I made this wreath:

I was inspired by a wreath in the Williams Sonoma catalog that was $90 - definitely not something we could afford right now! So we made a trip to Michael's, where all of their fall floral decor was 50% off and whipped up this baby! Again, pretty happy with the way it turned out! Finally, I started a quilt for Hannah for her birthday which is coming up at the end of the month. As usual, I had WAY more help than was really necessary while I was laying out the blocks! Monkay has to get her two cents in wherever she can...

This is similar to a quilt I have listed in my Etsy shop, but I chose a few different fabrics for this one, as well as special butterfly fabric for the back. I haven't gotten any sewing done on this one yet; it's sitting in pieces on my dining room table. I have several items to add to my shop, so hopefully I can get to that before the weekend's over.

K.I.S.S.

We've all heard it before; we all know what it means: Keep It Simple Stupid. Well I must admit that I'm the "stupid" in this case, the simpleton if you will. Every night at dinner Monkay and I play a glorious game that causes me fits of laughter. On occasion we have to give Monkay a gentle reminder to play the game, as she can be somewhat of a simpleton as well. Here's how it goes:

We all sit down to dinner: Gregg, Hannah, and I. We have a small table in a breakfast nook area, so Gregg takes the seat nearest the windows and faces the kitchen. I take the seat on the short end of the table facing the living room and backyard patio. Hannah either sits in her high chair between Gregg and I, or in a booster seat across from Daddy. She tends to prefer the high chair so she can see the TV (gasp... yes, we leave the TV on during dinner some nights). Anyway, we sit down to eat, Monkay comes rubbing around my legs, I pet her. Then she moves on to rubbing around Gregg's legs, he makes a comment about her fur being "coarse" and then says, "Go-way Monkay!" She skedaddles out of the kitchen through the living room and into the Master bedroom. Then she goes and peers out the door which leads to the back patio, which just happens to be directly across from where I sit. So I giggle hysterically and yell "HI MONKAY!!"  while waving madly as she peers out the back door. It takes her a few moments to realize that I'm hooting and waving at her - completely blank look on her face at this point. The you see it register that she's the subject of my outburst, and she wanders back out of the bedroom, through the living room and dining room, and back into the kitchen where the whole process begins again. Simple? Yes, absolutely! Entertaining? COMPLETELY!!

September Projects

Well I'm a few days behind, but I've finally gotten September's Monthly Monkay newsletter out! If you didn't receive a copy and would like one, email me and I'll be sure to send you one! I'd like to take this opportunity to showcase September's projects:

If you're interested in purchasing kits for any of the above cards or layouts, they run between $25 and $45 each, depending on which accessories and stamps you want to add. Kits include the Mischief paper pack and your choice of embellishments. You can make the treat box and 4 - 6 cards cards OR 3 layouts OR 8-10 cards (no treat box) out of a single "kit"! The kit for the banner is $25 and includes everything you need except the glitter and the August Stamp of the Month, "Wicked". Don't forget that this stamp is only available until the end of August, so order yours today! And don't forget, if you place an order of $50 AND purchase the Stamp of the Month for $5, you'll also get a free alphabet stamp set!

August Stamp of the Month

August's Stamp of the Month is called "Wicked" and it is so much fun! The Stamp of the Month now comes with a project idea sheet in each stamp envelope, and easy access to the directions on the Close To My Heart website! You can choose from several card options or this great treat box when looking for project ideas! Don't wait though - this stamp is only available through the end of August! It's only $17.99 or $5 with a $50 purchase! It's easy to shop online or email me with inquiries!

And we are LIVE!!!

Well folks, today is August 1st and you know what that means.... today is the first day to order from the FABULOUS new Close To My Heart Fall/Winter Idea Book! There are SO many exciting products in store.... whether it be the new exclusive Cricut cartridge, great new paper packs, the awesome August stamp of the month, you're sure to find at least a few things you can't live without! If you haven't already received your new Idea Book, let me know and I'll get one to you - you simply can't miss out on this great new stuff! Since this Idea Book is SO great, I've decided to co-host an Idea Book Extravaganza with my Stamp 'n Scrap Club meeting on Saturday, August 27th. Just send me an email to get the time and location. And remember - we'll be making 3 great layouts and a bonus card at the meeting, plus you'll get to see a few items made with some of the new products in this Idea Book! Here are the layouts we'll be making: 

And here's the card:

Not local? NO PROBLEM! Again, just send me an email by August 19th, and I'll make sure to put together and kit and send it to you, complete with product and instructions! If you are local and just can't make it to the party, I can also put together a kit for you! I will have my September Stamp 'n Scrap Club projects to show at the Extravaganza on the 27th, so you don't want to miss out! Space is limited, so let me know today!!