Grace - November Play Group Pages

Hello! I have had so much fun the past couple of days teaching Play Group classes for October. I still have a few more to go this week and they have been so much fun. Have I mentioned lately how much I LOVE my customers? Well, I DO!

Here are the pages we will be making in November. You can email me (pedermom@aol.com) for kit costs and to sign up, or if you have any questions. This is a kit you could easily make long distance, so if you are interested in participating that way, let me know as well.

In November we will be using the Grace kit. I love this paper. It is so rich and elegant and just feels like a warm fire on a cool Autumn evening. Woudn't you agree? Plus, I LOVE the sentiments in the MyStickease and in the text patterned paper. There is lots there about family, gratitude, blessings, etc.

Close To My Heart products featured in this Play Group class: Grace Level 2 Paper Packet (X7117B), Grace Level 2 MyStickease (X7117C), Cocoa Stamp Pad (Z2114), Basic Craft Buttons (Z1206), Rustic Edge Anchors (Z1287), Crystal Blue Waxy Flax (Z1247). Click here to order from my website 24/7, whether you are a Play Groupie or not!

November Play Group class dates and times:
Tuesday, November 10, 10 am - 1 pm
Tuesday, November 10, 7 - 10 pm
Wednesday, November 11, 10 am - 1 pm
Wednesday, November 11, 7 - 10 pm

Come join us at my home in Highland, UT for lots of fun at Play Group in November (or participate long distance!). You must reserve your spot and order your kit no later than November 5. Email me to do this (pedermom@aol.com).

2 Cards and a Football 'Outfit'

My sweet bloggin' friend, Melissa sent me this elegant card last week to say thanks for something so little that I did. I love scrappers and card makers, don't you? I might be a little bit biased, but they are some of the most thoughtful people around. Melissa definitely fits that category. Visit her blog here. Melissa used Close To My Heart's gorgeous Grace Level 2 Kit (X7117B) and matching MyStickease (X7117C), as well as one of my most loved stamp sets "Thank You" (D1361). She must feel the same way about that set that I do! It is a set of 19 different thank you sentiments. I use it so much! In fact, I have 8 thank you cards sitting on my desk to deliver tomorrow. See how much I need that set? Click here to order from my website 24/7...especially if you send thank you cards.

Melissa's beautiful Thank You card

This is a photo of a card I actually made 2 of last week. A friend in the neighborhood had twin girls and this went on each of their gifts. I just realized that there is a sparkly flower on the card that must have gotten stuck there by mistake when I picked up the card to photograph. Silly! I hope it wasn't there when I gave it to the babies! Anyway, imagine the card without the little blingy flower. It's not supposed to be there. Embarrassing!

Welcome to this crazy world, Sophie and Cambrie!

To follow up on my Saturday morning post, I am sad to report that Dawson's team lost. But, as my friend (who is not a football fan, knows nothing about football, doesn't care to know anything about football, and who only comes to the games because her daughter is a cheerleader) once said, "At least he looks cute in his football outfit." Hilarious! I am pretty sure I have never heard a football uniform called a 'football outfit' before, but now I have. I am not sure that would make Dawson feel any better after the loss though.

Dawson: The agony of defeat (he needs a serious haircut!)

C(reate) & P(rosper) R(etreat)

I'm home! What a week it was last week. It was beyond crazy but it was all so much fun and so worth it. That said, there is no place like home!

One of the many things I did last week was co-host a retreat (CPR) for my Close To My Heart team with my buddy, Lynette (see Thursday's post called "I'll Be Back"). CPR stood for "Create and Prosper Retreat" and boy did we create! Hopefully after all of the classes, sharing and discussions we had we will all be able to use that information to help us prosper even more in our businesses. The first two photos on this post are our group picture (minus Carey C who had to leave early. You are in the photo in my heart, Carey!) and one of Lynette and I (of course Lynette had her Mt. Dew in hand. Otherwise, how could she have stayed up until 2:30 am scrappin' on Friday night?). You can kind of get a glimpse of our DARLING CPR shirt in the photo of Lynette and I. We got black scrubs for everyone with a cute heart and stethoscope and our Create and Prosper Retreat theme. So darn cute!

Here is a photo of Lynette teaching a photography class. As you can see in the photo, we did not run short on treats and munchies at the retreat in any way, shape or form! Lynette and I split up the teaching responsibilities. We each taught 2 creative classes and 2-3 business classes.
I wanted to share some photos of artwork with you from the retreat. I thought you'd enjoy being there vicariously.

First I thought I'd share a few cards that were brought for a swap at the retreat. They are all awesome! You can click on any photo to see it larger.

Carma H's card (front and inside view):

Maria V's card:

Susann E's card

Heather J's card
Carey C's card

All of their creations were made using Close To My Heart products.

Next I'd like to share two beautiful layouts that were made by my partner in crime, Lynette. She taught these layouts as a class at the retreat and everyone loved them. They both feature the new "Grace" kit in the Autumn/Winter Idea Book (pgs. 16-19)as well as the matching MyStickease and the On Target Dimensional Elements (Z1226, pg94) which happen to be one of my favorite new accessory items. Woo Hoo, Lynette! Beeeee-autiful work, my dear! Both layouts were made using patterns from Close To My Heart's awesome how-to scrapbooking books, Cherish and Imagine (both on page 6).
Lynette also generously provided a packet for each attendee to make this darling 'heart beat' layout to fill with pictures of our retreat. It went perfectly with the CPR theme.

I also taught 2 creative classes. One was the Christmas Card Workshop that I will also be doing with my customers on October 20. You can see photos of that by clicking here. The other is a workshop for our All Sorts Mini-Album (Z1224, pg. 96) and using my fave; the "Jingle" kit (X7115A, X7115B, and X7115C, pages 8-11). I am offering this workshop to my customers on November 17 at either 10 am or 7 pm.

Page one (front cover):

Pages two and three:

Pages four and five:

Pages six and seven:

Pages eight and nine:

Pages ten and eleven:

Page twelve (back cover):

There is so much more I could share, but I think I'll stop here. I hope you had fun hearing and seeing about our CPR! It was wonderful but I am happy to be home.

Today is the Day!

Today is the day...the day the new Close To My Heart Autumn/Winter Idea Book goes live. As you can see just by looking here at the photo of it's cover, it is full of beautiful papers, stamps and accessories. In fact, why don't I share a little bit of artwork using new kits, stamps and accessories in this new book to wet your whistle? The artwork was done by the Close To My Heart Art Department. Yummy! Feel free to click on any image in this email to see it larger. I know you'll want to see every artistic detail!

Before I share the photos, I just wanted to remind you that the link to the virtual catalog will be on the left side of my blog the second it is available. It should be some time today. You will be able to view it page by page just like you would if you had it right in your stampin' and scrappin' hands.

If you would like your very own copy, to hold in those stampin' and scrappin' hands, just email me (pedermom@aol.com) and let me know that you want a book as well as your name, mailing address, email address (so I can let you know about monthly specials, classes, etc.) and phone number. I'll get one in the mail to you right away, my treat.

The first four photos I am sharing are of artwork highlighting the four new kits in the Autumn/Winter Idea Book; Grace, Sweet Home, Twitterpated and Jingle...all as mouth wateringly delicious as their names!

Here is the elegant Grace kit (Level 1 Kit-X7117A, Level 2 Kit-X7117B, MyStickease-X7117C) which features warm and inviting colors that are perfect for Autumn. Check out the chipboard circle on the layout. This is one of my favorite new products called Dimensional Elements On Target (Z1226). It is full of chipboard circles of every size and decor!

This kit is called Sweet Home (Level 1 kit-X7116A, Level 2 kit-X7116B, MyStickease-X7116C). I love the mix of Garnet, Indian Corn Blue, Heavenly Blue and Buttercup. Don't you? You'll notice a cool new product on the photo on the layout. These slick little guys are called "Top Coats" (Z1211) and come in a package of 12. They are photo size (4x6) transparencies, each with their own unique design. 6 of the package use a white daisy colored design and the other six use colonial white. Top Coats are a must-have for any scrapper!
This one is Twitterpated (Level 1 kit-X7118A, Level 2 kit-X7118B, MyStickease-X7118C). The patterned paper (B&T paper) in this kit is so versatile and the color mix is fun and lively. Can you see all those cute patterned chipboard buttons that are on the projects below? I LOVE these and have been using them like crazy already. They are called Dimensional Elements In Color-Organic (Z1230) and include 27 chipboard buttons covered with darling patterns and designs that work perfectly with the Twitterpated kit, as well as so many other things. The buttons range in size from 1/2" to 1 1/2".

And last, but certainly not least, the bright candy colors of the Jingle kit (Level 1 kit-X7115A, Level 2 kit-X7115B, MyStickease-X7115C). This one will highlight your holidays with fun and energy. Don't you love the colors? Mmmmm!. A new accessory item that works perfectly with this kit are our new twinkle brads. They come with a mix of 3 sizes and 4 colors, 24 brads in all (Z1220) and are sparkly! Love that bling. The colors and bling of these darling brads are a great addition to this kit.

One last photo. This one is of 4 cards I created using the September Stamp of the Month, Treasures (D1375-$22.95), which is only available from September 1-30, 2009. It is a GREAT set with 13 images in all, filled with sentiments, dandelions, stems and hearts. You can get this stamp set at 25% off ($17.21) by placing a $25 order (before shipping and tax), at 50% off ($11.48) by placing a $50 order (before shipping and tax), 75% off ($5.74) by placing a $75 order (before shipping and tax), or FREE with a $100 order (before shipping and tax).
You can order any of the items you see here, as well as anything else in the brand new Autumn/Winter Idea Book beginning today on my website (http://leavealegacy.myctmh.com). Don't forget the "Delight in the Everyday" special celebrating September as National Stamping Month. You can see details about that on the left side of my blog, as well as on my website. I have only scratched the surface on our new kits, stamps and products. Keep checking back here on my blog over the next few weeks and you'll see lots of artwork using new products in our Autumn/Winter line.

Today is the day, alright! Don't miss out!