Mini-Photo Book for Tannon

I've shared one of these little books with you before. In my opinion, they are the FASTEST, EASIEST way to scrap. I bought the little 4" x 6" photo book in the scrapbook section at Target for $1.99. I took out the covers in theirs and made my own. All products I used (except the little book itself) are Close To My Heart.



I wanted to send Tannon a little 'catch-up' of what has been going on at home the past few months while he has been in Spain. So, I made little dividers in my book: one for each big event I was including photos of. For instance: Easton and Daysha's Wedding, Christmas, Dawson's Basketball Season, The Super Bowl, etc. I decided to dress up each section page slightly by putting a little tab on the edge so that he can easily see where each section begins and ends. The whole book took me less than an hour. I'm tellin' ya...if you want a QUICK and EASY scrap project, this is the way to go.

I thought I'd also inlude a photo of Tannon. One day a week missionaries get something called "P-Day" (which stands for preparation day). On this day they clean their apartments, go grocery shopping, do their laundry, and if there's time they throw in a fun activity or two. The rest of the week is spent teaching the gospel and doing service from morning until night. On Tannon's first P-day in Spain, they went to The Rock of Gibraltar. There were monkeys galore and one of them loved Tannon's necklace. So, there's a hint: if you are ever going to be at The Rock of Gibraltar and want a monkey to climb on your shoulder, wear jewelry! One thing I noticed about this photo is the 'white stuff' on Tannon's hand. A friend of mine commented, "They must have gone and done some painting that morning for a service project." I'm thinking it probably has nothing to do with painting and everything to do with monkeys climbing all over him (if you know what I mean). Pretty gross but if anyone wouldn't mind, it would be my easy-going Tan-Man. Oh, how I miss this kiddo!

I hope you're having a great weekend! I'm off to spend the day scrapping with two of my friends!

Studio J Layouts, February Stamp of the Month Card, and Two Tutorials

I have LOTS to share today:

• 2 more Studio J layouts
• A February Stamp of the Month card
  
• Two video tutorials: one for the cute flowers you see on my card, and one for the spray pen I also used on my card.
  

As I mentioned yesterday, there are still several days (through Feb. 28 at midnight) left to take advantage of the "Perfect 10" Studio J special. All members get the 10th layout free this month for every 9 they buy. Get more details here. Then head to my website and click on Studio J to try it out for free, purchase a membership, and build your layouts. Here are two more of the layouts I created this month. They are both for Tannon's mission scrapbook.

I also thought it would be fun to share this 6" x 6" card that I made yesterday. I was inspired by this tutorial for the flowers on my downline, Nicole's blog. Nicole, you rock. These flowers are such fun! Click here to find out how to get the gorgeous February Stamp of the Month (in February only...thus the name. lol). Don't you just love damask background stamps? I certainly do!

I'm also in love with the new spray pens that Close To My Heart recently came out with. You can see I've sprayed my card lightly with a mixture of cocoa reinker and water. There is a video tutorial below on how to use them. TOO much fun! Please note that the video shows you how to also include pearl paint in the spray pen for a pearlized look. I just used reinker and water in mine on this card.



CTMH Products used on card: February Stamp of the Month-Friendship, White Daisy Cardstock, Hollyhock Cardstock, Blush Cardstock, Pear Cardstock, Hollyhock Stamp Pad, Cocoa Reinker, Spray Pen, Pink Button Assortment, Basic Button Assortment, Colonial White Waxy Flax, Primavera Rubons.

Non-CTMH products used: Fiskars border punch, 3" circle punch, scallop scissors

Click here to shop on my website 24/7...whether for Studio J, traditional scrapbooking and papercrafting products, or BOTH!

Studio J Layouts and Special

Don't forget! There is still just under one week left (ends Feb. 28 at midnight) in the "A Perfect 10" special in which for every 9 Studio J layouts purchased by members, the 10th is FREE! I built and purchased 2o myself (well, to be specific, I purchased 18 and got 2 FREE!) already this month. LOVE that Studio J! On top of that, as always as a Studio J member, you get one shipment of between 4 and 20 layouts (layout = 2 pages) per month with FREE SHIPPING and page protectors. So, when you combine the free shipment, free page protectors and the FREE LAYOUTS, you TOTALLY WIN this month!

Please call or email me if you have any questions (801.360.9896, pedermom@aol.com). I'd love to help any way that I can.

If you are not already a Studio J member, it's certainly not too late to join the FUN! To become a member and/or to take advantage of the "A Perfect 10" special, just head to my website (http://leavealegacy.myctmh.com), click on "Studio J", and get busy! You'll LOVE it!

Here you'll see two of the 20 layouts I just created and purchased. Just for fun, I timed myself creating each 2-page layout and then averaged them out for the 20. I averaged less than 25 minutes per 2-page layout. WOWZA! Feel free to click on either of the photos to see it larger and in more detail.

In case you are wondering... NO! I am not replacing my traditional scrapping with Studio J. I feel they go hand in hand! I am LOVING scrapping Tannon's mission on Studio J and am also finishing up Easton's mission. I love that when I've got LOTS to scrap, I can do a few layouts traditionally and a few with Studio J, and get done much faster, and love them both equally! I also LOVE Studio J for big themed albums (like my boys' missions or family vacations).

Have a GREAT day! I hope Studio J is a part of it!

Farewell, Ryan!

Tannon's best friend, Ryan is leaving tomorrow on his mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to Uganda. Yep, no kidding...U-GAN-DA!

Ryan will spend the next two years teaching the people of Uganda about the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Ryan asked me to take some pictures of him in his missionary clothes for his mom to have. This is what we came up with.

Ryan, we love you, wish you the best, and know you are going to be a GREAT missionary!

Scallop Punch Tutorial - Close To My Heart

Here is ANOTHER great, and short tutorial ("Simply Scallops") from Close To My Heart. I love this new 2" scallop punch and all of the fun things you can do with it. This video is only about 4 minutes long and gives several ideas, including GORGEOUS example projects (banner, layout). It's SO worth your watch! Those great hands and that infectious voice belong to my friend, Kristine W. She and I are exactly the same age and I have already emailed her to let her know that her hands have weathered the years MUCH better than mine. Life is just not fair.



Here is a list of the products featured on this video and links to each specific product on my website:

• 2" Scallop Punch (Z1392)
• My Creations Chipboard Banner (Z1378)
• Salutations Seals Stamp Set (C1461)
• 1 1/4" Circle Punch (Z1311)

This layout has some 2" scallop circles on it. Can you find them? Yep, you're right. I created the illusion of a scalloped border on the bottom of the photo line on the right hand page by punching circles and adhering them UNDER the photos so that only half of each scalloped circle shows. Have you ever thought of using your round or scallop punches this way? If not, there's ANOTHER great 2" scallop punch idea for ya! And, don't you just LOVE this darling Mayberry paper from Close To My Heart? I do!

Click here to enter the shopping area of my website, 24/7...all day, every day (oh yeah, that's what 24/7 means, right? lol).

Sophia Layout, Candy Box, and Two Cards

My friend, Lisa Stenz is so talented it boggles my mind. The projects you see today were all made by Lisa using the soft and sweet new "Sophia" papers from Close To My Heart. All I did was add photos of Daci and journaling to the layout. Lisa, thanks for your never ending inspiration!

Feel free to click on any photo to see it larger and in more detail. Trust me, you'll want to see EVERY little detail on these projects!

Here are a few detail photos from the layout:
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Check out this darling candy box!:
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and how 'bout these 2 cards (first one is 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" and the second one is 3" x 3"):

CTMH products used by Lisa on these projects: Fill in the Blank Stamp Set, Sophia Workshop on the Go Kit, Pink Ribbon Collection, Hollyhock Stamp Pad, Pear Stamp Pad, Cocoa Stamp Pad, Clear Sparkles, Basic Buttons Assortment, 2" Scallop Punch, Irresistibles Die Cut Chipboard Letters.

You can order these and many other beautiful and quality products on my website 24/7....especially while you're wishing for Spring!

Love Ya Card and Sign Up for FREE!

I made this card (feel free to click on the photo to see it larger and in more detail) last night for a friend of mine who is sick. I was inspired by this card on Jeanette Lynton's blog. Jeanette's blog is wonderful and you should check it out. She is the founder and CEO of Close To My Heart and is so talented and a wonderful, genuine person as well. I hope this card brings a little sunshine into my friend, "J's" day. Being sick and in bed is the PITS!

While I've got your attention, I just wanted to remind you about the awesome FREE, FREE and FABULOUS special that Close To My Heart is running this month. You can get your $129 kit cost to become a New Consultant back in COLD, HARD CASH, as well as $100 in FREE products! That's $229 in cash and products with a $129 investment. And, since the kit is worth over $350, it's really even more of a bonus! Sounds like EVERYTHING TO GAIN and NOTHING TO LOSE to me!

If you are interested in joining my team and earning some extra cash, I'd LOVE to help you! Just call or email me with any questions (801.360.9896, pedermom@aol.com) or click here to sign up right now. It's easy, peasy, lemon squeasy and only takes a couple of minutes. As soon as you become a consultant, Close To My Heart will email me and I'll get in touch with you right away to help you get started. I'm committed to helping my team members achieve the success they desire! Earning an extra $400 per month to start with only working 1 night or day per week is VERY DOABLE!

Close To My Heart products used: Love Ya Stamp Set, Comments Stamp Set (retired), Something Splendid Stamp Set (retired), Colonial White Cardstock, Sunset Cardstock, Sunset Stamp Pad, Tulip Cardstock, Tulip Stamp Pad, Cocoa Stamp Pad, Cocoa Reinker, Chocolate Cardstock, Chocolate Stamp Pad, Opaques-Mocha, Liquid Glass (used over flower and words), Sanding Kit,Corner Rounder (without guard to make scallops), Spray Pen (filled to first measure line with cocoa reinker and then with water to the 6th line, then sprayed over entire card), Natural Hemp.

Blog Candy Winner!

Congratulations to our blog candy winner (see this post), Amy Gehring who said, "Love this kit and your layouts! Perfect paper for camping pictures!"

Amy, your name was drawn as the blog candy winner. Please email me (pedermom@aol.com) with your address and I'll have your new goodies sent your way asap.

Thanks to all of you who commented on your ideas for great uses for the new Close To My Heart "Lucky" kit! I got some GREAT ideas!

Daci's Birthday Party and ANOTHER RECIPE!

Daci's 2nd birthday isn't actually for another week, but we just had to celebrate here in Utah with both sets of grandparents before she, Kori and Rick headed back to big, bad Chicago (Yes, I've been teaching Daci to say, "Bad 'Cago...GOOD Hootah!" Her parents are not pleased).

Kori hosted THE MOST DARLING birthday party ever at her in-laws beautiful home. She chose a farm theme. After the photos (feel free to click on any photo to see it larger and in more detail), I'll share a QUICK and EASY recipe for the soup we ate. Trust me, you want this recipe!

Kori decided to do a "farm party". She made the cutest invitations, made and decorated a barn cake with cupcakes that looked like little farm animals, a matching birthday banner, and the party decorations were all in red and white. Stinkin' cute! She even dressed Daci in a little farm girl outfit, complete with the world's shortest pigtails and red ribbons, which I might add, melted my heart. We had Cheesy Broccoli, Cauliflower and Carrot Soup (recipe below), Kori's famous "Salad de Maison", Olive Garden Breadsticks, Pedersen Slush to drink, and cake (Kori even made half of the cupcakes gluten free!) and ice cream for dessert.

Here's the front of the invitation:

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and here's the inside...very creative, Kori!:

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Kori's banner (hard to see in the photo, but it said, "Birthday"...and of course she used ALL Close To My Heart products! Her mother taught her well). You may want to click on this photo so you can see more detail in the banner.:
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Close up of a chick cupcake:

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and a lamb:------------------

and a pig:--------------------

Party Favors:----------------

Dinner: Soup, salad and breadsticks:-----------------

Blowing out the candles. She liked this so much that we sang "Happy Birthday" and blew out candles three times.:------------------

Opening Presents-big girl panties...just what every big girl needs (those pig tails KILL me!):-------------

Taking a bite out of the cake, face first:-------------

More present opening. This is tons of work!:

Cheesy Broccoli, Cauliflower and Carrot Soup
from the kitchen of Karen Pedersen (okay, and Bear Creek)
Serves 6-8

Start with a Bear Creek Cheesy Broccoli Soup Mix (or similar brand)
The mix calls for 8 C. of boiling water. Ignore that. Instead do the following:

1. Steam 1 head broccoli (cleaned and chopped), 1 head cauliflower (cleaned and chopped), and about 4 carrots (peeled and sliced thin).
2. Set veggies aside
3. Put 4 C. water in large pot and bring to a boil.
4. Whisk in Cheesy Broccoli Soup mix.
5. Reduce head to medium/low.
6. Add 4 C. milk and whisk until blended
7. Put in veggies.
8. Simmer (stirring often, it scorches easily) for about 20 minutes.
9. Ready to eat! Tastes like homemade goodness with about half the work. This is a definite stand by for my family. It's always yummy on a busy night when there's not much time to cook.

March Play Group Layouts (Lucky) and BLOG CANDY

Layout #1 - "Live Today":

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Layout #2 - "My Story":
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Layout #3 - "Cherish...":

Here they are...all three of the layouts we will be making with the cooloer than cool "Lucky" kit from Close To My Heart in March. Feel free to click on any image to see it larger and in more detail. These pages are perfect for anything that screams "boy", and ball games, picnics, Autumn, game night photos, and so much more! If you leave a comment on my blog before noon MST on Tuesday, Feb. 15 and in it share an event or theme that you think these papers would be perfect to scrapbook (but not one of the list that I just shared above), your name will go in a drawing for 2 very fun prizes...The Lucky Level 2 Assortment and the Lucky Level 2 Journaling Spots (that's about a $10 value).

I will be drawing the name of our "Lucky" winner on Tuesday and will announce it here on my blog on Wednesday, Feb. 16.

Now back to the information for my March Play Group Classes. You can read the general information about my classes on the left side of my blog. Just scroll down to where it says "Play Group Information" and read away! Classes are held in my home in Highland, UT.

Specifically, this is what you need to know for March...

Class Dates and Times (be sure you have your space reserved and order to me no later than Thurs, Feb. 24)

• Tuesday, March 1, 10 am - 1 pm
• Tuesday, March 1, 7-10 pm
• Wednesday, March 2, 10 am - 1pm
• Wednesday, March 2, 7-10 pm

Remember, in order to attend you only need to purchase the Basic Kit. After that, you are more than welcome to purchase the Better or Best Kits, pick and choose items from one or both of them, add some more items from the Idea Book, or just stop at Basic. Pretty easy! Here is the shopping list:

Basic Kit:

• Lucky Level 2 Paper Pack
• Exclusive Stamp Set
• Wooden Designer Buttons
• Natural Hemp
• Cutting Guide
• 3 Extra Sheets of Cardstock

Subtotal $31.45*
Total with shipping and tax $36.08

Better Kit = Basic Kit plus the following products:

• Lucky MyStickease
• Star Dimensional Elements
• Desert Sand Stamp Pad
• Sunset Stamp Pad
• Outdoor Denim Stamp Pad
• Round Sponge

Subtotal: $56.65**
Total with shipping and tax: $64.99

Best Kit = Basic and Better Kits plus the following products:

• Rustic Alphabet Stamp Set

Subtotal: $91.60***
Total with shipping and tax: $105.08

*at this level you qualify for the Feb. Stamp of the Month (D1453-Friendship) for 25% off ($17.21)
*at this level you qualify for the Feb. Stamp of the Month (D1453-Friendship) for 50% off ($11.48)
*at this level you qualify for the Feb. Stamp of the Month (D1453-Friendship) for 75% off ($5.74)

Call or email me to sign up for a class and to place your kit order no later than Friday, February 24 at 9 am (801.360.9896, pedermom@aol.com) OR, order some of these items yourself on my website 24/7.