GG's Peach Cobbler Layout

Do you have favorite family recipes that you use?  Maybe recipes from your grandmother or great grandmother, or even a favorite aunt? I certainly do!  Some of my favorite recipes come not only from my own mother, but from my grandmother and my aunts Connie, Carol and Sheila.  I love that by making their recipes I am continuing a legacy. Don't you?  Every time I make one of their recipes, I think of them as I savor the deliciousness of it.

I'll bet you are relating at this point. I think this is a really common thing in many families.   Let's take it a step further.  Do you ever scrapbook those recipes?  I decided to start!  Why not have a scrapbook of my favorite legacy recipes with a photo of them and the person they came from?  This month's Stamp of the Month was a perfect stamp to start my album with.  My grandmother makes the YUMMIEST peach cobbler. It's the only recipe I will use for peach cobbler. I used this month's Stamp of the Month (Sweet Life) and went to town. You can see it in the circular accent by the photos as well as a background image in the large white pice behind the recipe. I also used two of the sentiments in the set. Can you see them on the page?  I'll share a few detail shots below.

The photo  you see is of my 94 year old grandma.  Her name is Winona Thorderson, she is my mother's mother, and I love her so very much. I'm very lucky she is still alive and I still get to enjoy her!  To me she is grandma, to my children she is GG (stands for Great Grandma) and to my grandchildren she is 3G (you get it, right?). 

The July Stamp of the Month is only available during July.  Get it while you can!  Just head to my website.  You can purchase it for the full retail price of $17.95, or if you spend $50 (before shipping and tax), you can add it for $5.  In fact, for every $50 you spend, you can get one for $5.  Get one for you and one for someone you love!  Some of the other items I used on this page are:  Champagne Cardstock, Goldrush Cardstock, Chocolate Cardstock, White Daisy Cardstock, Avonlea Paper (retired), Saddle Reinker (mixed with water in my trusty Spray Pen), Saddle Stamp Pad (to distress edges using round sponge), Watercolor Pencils (that's how I colored the peaches), Whisper Stamp Pad (I used this to stamp the peaches lightly on the white piece behind the recipe), Archival Black Pad, Chocolate Striped Ribbon, Baker's Twine - Harvest, Dimensional Elements (these circular chipboard pieces have been retired for years and I can't even remember exactly what they were called. This is a lesson to pull out your old stuff and use it!).

July Stamp of the Month - "Sweet Life". The carrier sheet actual size is 6" x 6".

I am leaving tomorrow morning for a 4 day camp with the young women at my church (23 girls, ages 12-18!) but I am scheduling a post or two for when I'm gone.  As you are sleeping in your comfy beds and using your clean showers, think of poor 'ol me out in a tent in the mountains.  No, camping is not my favorite thing, but I do it because I love the girls that I am in charge of at church. I do it because I know that our annual Girls' Camp is an opportunity for these girls to bond, for their testimonies to grow as they hike, canoe, eat and sleep together.  I do it because I always have a great time once I'm there.  I do not do it because I love to camp, that's for darn sure.  I feel a scrapbook page comin' on....

Autumn/Halloween (September Stamp of the Month: Fall Favorites) Layout

Happy Monday! I'm back again with another September Stamp of the Month project. This time it's a layout. I created this layout of me from last year's Halloween. I loved this costume and had so much fun highlighting it with neutral Autumn colors so that the colors of the Captain Hook costume took center stage.

I really love the September Stamp of the Month (Fall Favorites) because there are so many yummy Fall images and sentiments to choose from.  I enjoyed using the "pick o ' the patch" sentiment to create some patterned paper that I used here and there throughout the layout, and I just love me some pumpkins all colored and shaded with watercolor pencils. I have included the complete supplies used list for this layout at the end of this email.

September Stamp of the Month: Fall Favorites

Here are a few more detail photos of this layout:

To get this stamp set for only $5 ($17,95 value), all you have to do is spend $50 (before shipping and tax) during September.  Cool beans! If you are ordering on my website, you will be asked if you want to add this set before you check out. On top of that, it's also National Stamping Month. To celebrate Close To My Heart has created a dynamite DOUBLE stamp set ($35.90 value) that is yours for only $5 when you spend $35 (before shipping and tax).  This set is a must have in my book.  How cool is it that if you spend $50 you qualify for both sets at only $5 each?  Pretty stinkin' cool!  When you order on my website, you will also be asked if you want to order this set before you check out.

National Stamping Month Double Stamp Set: It's Your Day

CTMH products used on layout:  September Stamp of the Month, Colonial White Cardstock, Barn Red Cardstock, Chocolate Cardstock, Honey Cardstock, Chocolate Stamp Pad, Black Archival Stamp Pad, Watercolor Pencils, Chocolate Ribbon (currently on clearance for only $4 a stack!), Honey Mini-Medley (retired), Decor Journaling Spots, Burlap Ribbon, Hemp, 2" Scallop Punch, Round Sponge.

Have a wonderful week!  I plan to!

Get Them While You Still Can: Close To My Heart Products Retiring Jan. 31

All of these great Close To My Heart products will be retiring on January 31. Be sure to grab your favorites on my website while you still can.

I've tried to make seeing these items and shopping for them as convenient for you as I could.  You can click on each item to view and/or add it to your shopping cart.  While shopping, don't forget to check out the "While Supplies Last" section for great deals on already retired items.  Many of them are as much as 81% off their regular price. WOWZA!

If this weren't enough good news and excitement, I have one more little tidbit for you:  Close To My Heart has now added "Smart Post Shipping" for orders on my website for only $4.95. If your order and weight qualify, you will see that option available as you ready to check out.

Before I share the anticipated retiring list, I wanted to remind you not to forget as you are shopping that there are a couple of specials you may want to add to your order.

1.  The "Rock The Block" special: only $15 ($45 value) with a $25 order. Read more about that here.  You'll be prompted to add this to your order before you check out if you have spent $25.

2.  The January Stamp of the Month (Little Reminder): The beautiful layout you see above was made using that set by my talented friend and downline, Cindy Schmidt.  Thanks, Cindy! I love it!  This awesome stamp set ($17.95 value) is yours this month for only $5 with a $50 order.  Cool Beans! Read more about that here.   You'll be prompted to add it to your order at the end.

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January 31, 2012 Retiring List

Paper Collections
Typeset Workshop on the Go (WOTG) Kit - G1024 - $29.95
Roxie WOTG Kit - G1025 - $29.95
Elemental WOTG Kit - G1026 - $29.95
Dreamin' L2 Paper - X7142B - $9.95
Dreamin' My Stickease - X7142C - $4.95
Dreamin' WOTG Kit - G1027 - $29.95
Sonoma WOTG Kit - G1028 - $29.95
Mischief L2 Paper - X7144B - $9.95
Mischief Compliments Rubons - X7144C - $4.95
Mischief WOTG Kit - G1029 - $29.95
Believe L2 Paper - X7145B - $9.95
Believe MyStickease - X7145C - $4.95
Believe WOTG Kit - G1030 - $29.95
Wonderland L2 Paper - X7146B - $9.95
Wonderland MyStickease - GX7146C - $4.95
Wonderland WOTG Kit - G0131 - $29.95
Sophia L2 Paper - X7131B - $12.95
Sophia MyStickease - X7131C - $4.95
Lucky L2 Paper - X7137B - $12.95
Lucky MyStickease - X7137C - $4.95
Fanfare L2 Paper - X7138B - $12.95
Fanfare MyStickease - X7138C - $4.95

Stamp Sets
A Hop - A1112 - $6.95
A Little Buzz - B1353 - $9.95
A Little Everything - D1408 - $17.95
A Love - A1103 - $6.95
A Paisley - A1105 - $6.95
A Posey - A1102 - $6.95
Adoption - A1098 - $6.95
Adorning Corners - D1322 - $17.95
Always in my Heart - A1101 - $6.95
Ambiance - C1349 - $13.95
Around the Block - D1377 - $17.95
Baby Love - B1368 - $9.95
Backgrounds and Borders - D1463 - $17.95
Beary Best - C1363 - $13.95
Beary Busy - C1409 - $13.95
Beautiful Butterflies - B1373 - $9.95
Beautiful Things - D1298 - $17.95
Believe in Your Dreams - B1322 - $9.95
Beloved - B1343 - $9.95
Birthday Blast - C1436 - $13.95
Birthday Boy - C1411 - $13.95
Bless this Nest - C1445 - $13.95
Blooming Layers - C1449 - $13.95
Bon Appetit - D1367 - $17.95
Boom! - B1354 - $9.95
Bunny Love - B1324 - $9.95
Campin' Fever - D1353 - $17.95
Carefree - C1447 - $13.95
Catching Waves - D1466 - $17.95
Charmed - C1385 - $13.95
Cherished Flourishes - D1413 - $17.95
Ciao - D1461 - $17.95
Circle Around - D1300 - $17.95
Circle of Love - D1438 - $17.95
Circle Together - B1372 - $9.95
Connections - D1330 - $17.95
Cruisin' - D1471 - $17.95
Cupcake Sprinkles - D1336 - $17.95
Daydream - D1297 - $17.95
Down By The Sea - C1451 - $13.95
Dream Big - D1399 - $17.95
Dreams Come True - D1470 - $17.95
Enjoy Every Moment - C1395 - $13.95
Extreme Happiness - C1356 - $13.95
Family - C1305 - $13.95
Family Ties - Adult - C1346 - $13.95
Family Ties - Children - C1345 - $13.95
Family Ties - Pet - B1350 - $9.95
Fill in the Blank - D1465 - $17.95
Flower Pot - D1409 - $17.95
For Every Occasion - D1187 - $17.95
Friendship Blessings - D1191 - $17.95
From My Heart - C1443 - $13.95
Fun Times - B1309 - $9.95
Happy Holidays - D1431 - $17.95
Happy Moments - C1437 - $13.95
Hero - D1474 - $17.95
His and Hers - C1460 - $13.95
Horizon - C1454 - $13.95
Hot Diggity - C1407 - $13.95
Howdy - D1435 - $17.95
In the Month of February - C1403 - $13.95
In the Month of March - C1404 - $13.95
In the Month of April - C1405 - $13.95
In the Month of May - C1415 - $13.95
In the Month of June - C14016 - $13.95
In the Month of July - C1417 - $13.95
It's a Zoo - C1360 - $13.95
Just For Boys - C1338 - $13.95
Just For Girls - C1337 - $13.95
Just The Ticket - B1323 - $9.95
Kanji Phrases - C1339 - $13.95
Let's Go Camping - C1355 - $13.95
Little Princess - C1414 - $13.95
Love Always - D1337 - $17.95
Love Birds - C1396 - $13.95
Love Ya - D1460 - $17.95
Magic Tabs - C1448 - $13.95
Makin' Waves - C1365 - $13.95
Ms. Chillin' - D1404 - $17.95
Ms. Scrapbook  -B1352 - $9.95
Notice the Details - D1378 - $17.95
On the Edge - C1399 - $13.95
On This Day - D1468 - $17.95
One of a Kind - D1410 - $17.95
Over The Rainbow - D1426 - $17.95
Paisley Praise - D1414 - $17.95
Piece of Cake - D1407 - $17.95
Play Day - D1360 - $17.95
Post Card - Travel Series - D1357 - $17.95
Precious Love - C1444 - $13.95
Priceless Love Word Puzzle - D1348 - $17.95
Recipe Box - D1364 - $17.95
Retro Tech - C1446 - $13.95
Royal Birth - D1441 - $17.95
Salutation Seals - C1461 - $13.95
Shining Star - D1320 - $17.95
Smiles - C1397  - $13.95
So Lucky - C1390 - $13.95
Soul Mates - D1354 - $17.95
Springtime - D1415 - $17.95
Star Power - D1403 - $17.95
Summer Breeze - C1453 - $13.95
Summer Days - B1375 - $9.95
Sweet Baby  - C1359 - $13.95
Take Luck - B1364 - $9.95
Tasty Treats - D1427 - $17.95
Tea Time - C1438 - $13.95
Thank You - D361 - $17.95
Thrill Ride - D1425 - $17.95
TLC - C1364 - $13.95
Togetherness - D1402 - $17.95
Treetops - C1368 - $13.95
Trellis - D1451 - $17.95
True Happiness - D1365 - $17.95
Two-Step Backgrounds - D1473 - $17.95
Unity - C1422 - $113.95
X-Treme - D1432 - $17.95
You Did It - C1351 - $13.95
You Rock - D1346 - $17.95
You're Great - D1434 - $17.95
You're Sweet - B1351 - $9.95

Ribbon
Colonial White Ribbon Collection - Z1126 - $7.95
Cranberry Grosgrain Ribbon - Z1103 - $6.95
Cocoa Grosgrain Ribbon - Z1100 - $6.95
Colonial White Grosgrain Ribbon - Z1102 - $6.95
White Daisy Grosgrain Ribbon - Z270 - $6.95
Wings Level 2 Assortment - Z1398 - $4.95

Floss
Embroidery Floss - Red/Pink - Z1092 - $3.25
Embroidery Floss - Green - Z1094 - $3.25
Embroidery Floss - Blue/Purple - Z1093 - $3.25


Waxy Flax
Cranberry - Z1086 - $3.95
Sorbet - Z1249 - $3.95
Juniper - Z1248 - $3.95
Crystal Blue - Z1247 - $3.95

Brads
Designer Brads - Colonial White - Z1274 - $3.95
Decorative Brads - Pewter - Z1146 - $3.95

Mini-Medley and Eyelets
Mini-Medley - Antiqued Copper - Z1275 - $4.95
Mini-Medley - Colonial White - Z1276 - $4.95
Foundry Metal - Bookplates - Z1147 - $3.50
Soft Set Eyelet Tool  - Z1208 - $14.95
Soft Set Eyelets - Black and White Daisy - Z1228 - $3.95
Soft Set Eyelets - Chocolate and Colonial White - Z1229 - $3.95

Coordinating Collection Embellishments
Midnight Felt Shapes - Z1462 - $3.95
Harvest Charms - Z1633 - $4.95
Holiday Pockets - Z1486 - $4.95
Top Coats Icing Overlays - Z1468 - $4.95
Lucky Level 2 Assortment - Z1356 - $4.95
Lucky Level 2 Journaling Spots - Z1359 - $3.95
Bliss Level 2 Assortment - Z1355 - $5.95
Sweetheart Level 2 Assortment - Z1386- $4.95
Fanfare Level 2 Assortment - Z1400 - $4.95
Just Blooms Spring Blossom - Z1266 - $7.95
Just Blooms White Daisy Variety Pack - Z1300 - $5.95

Color Ready Alphabets
Color Ready Alphabets - Oxford - X5749 - $3.95
Color Ready Alphabets - Hodge Podge - X1406 - $3.95


My Creations Items
My Creations - Board Book -  Z1310 - $6.95
My Creations - Journal - Z1268 - $7.95
My Creations - Memory Showcase 9x9 - Z1198 - $5.95

Misc.
Rubber Brayer - Z616 - $12.95
Eyelet Tool Replacement Punches - Z1245 - $2.95

Have fun shopping on my website!

Christmas Layout (1976), A Very Special Memory

I will never forget Christmas 1976. I have remembered it over and over again throughout my life and can't believe I have never scrapped about it until now.

I was working on some projects this week using the upcoming Close To My Heart October Stamp of the Month (I shared a project with that yesterday too). It's a beautiful Christmas stamp set. I usually don't share Stamp of the Month projects until the month you can actually purchase the stamp set, but since I used some sketches for 2 of the projects (see yesterday's post), I am sharing them this week. You may see these projects, along with several others I made, in October too. When October begins, I'll be revealing this set along with ordering information. Stay tuned! In the meantime, there is a wonderful September Stamp of the Month and September National Stamping Month Special that you can read about and see here.

For this one-page layout, I used this week's sketch from Creative Scrappers (sketch #173). I am a big fan of their sketches and always feel inspired to have a jumping off point. I also added a hidden journaling pocket behind the photo. In case you are wondering what it says (it will explain the photo of the yellow bike!), here it is:

"I think I will always remember Christmas 1976 (6th grade). We were living in Littleton, CO and my dad (LeRoy Overstreet) had recently resigned from his job. Things were not going as he was promised when he was hired over a year before and he felt some very unethical things were happening there. As a result, he quit on the spot with no other job in sight. I know my mom supported him in this decision, but it was still a very tough year for our family. Although my parents did all they could, making ends meet was almost impossible during this time. My dad did find odd jobs here and there, my mom began doing full-time babysitting, we lived on our food storage as much as possible, and my mom baked bread (I loved bread days!). Christmas was coming and I really wanted a brand-new 10-speed bicycle. Of course now, as an adult, I see what a selfish wish that was. At the time I was just a 10-year old who was hoping for the impossible. I remember my parents telling me a week before Christmas that I was not to go into my dad's workroom in the basement. What do you think I did? I promptly waited until everyone was in bed asleep, and snuck into the workroom. Inside I found an old, beat up, white 10-speed bike. I tried to feel excited, and even started thinking about how I was going to pretend to be so grateful on Christmas morning. I may have been young, but I was old enough to understand that we didn't have much money and my parents were trying so hard to grant my wish anyway. Christmas morning finally came. I, along with my sisters, went upstairs to see what Santa had brought. To my great astonishment and surprise, there was a brand new, bright yellow 10-speed sitting by the tree for me. I was so genuinely shocked and excited. I couldn't figure out how that ugly old bike in the workroom had turned into this one. Years later I asked my mom about it. She told me that my dad had wanted so much to give me what I had asked for and didn't want our financial situation to ruin the magic of Christmas for us girls. He heard about a police auction a few days before Christmas and went. He was able to bid on the yellow bike and pay about the same price for it that he had the old white one. Still, years later (I'm now 45), I tear up as I think about this. I will be forever grateful for parents who found a way to grand the almost impossible wish of their 10-year old daughter. (written 9/16/2011)"

One of the things I love best about scrapping is re-living the event or memory I am scrapping about as I scrap, and then again and again as I browse my books. I'm so glad that my children, and their children, and generations to come will be able to read about and see some of my life-altering moments. I didn't have photos from that Christmas (many of my parents' photos were ruined in a flood when they lived in Hawaii), but I do have the memory. So, I just googled "photos of yellow 10-speed bikes" and found this. Cool beans! You don't always have to have a photo of your own to preserve a memory. With a little creativity and ingenuity you can create a beautiful layout with photos of things that pertain with a few seconds on google!

Oh, and don't forget, you can find great CTMH products to preserve your memories 24/7 on my website.

Happy Birthday, Easton!

The layout you see pictured here today is the layout I did after the last birthday we were able to spend with Easton (until today, that is!). He turned 19 in December of 2007. He left less than a month later for his 2-year LDS mission. As many of you know, we as parents don't get to see them during those 2 years, and only get to talk on the phone on Mother's Day and Christmas. Thank heaven for those weekly emails! Now that Tannon is on his mission, I am experiencing that all over again.

Easton returned home in January of this year and what a year it has been between then and now! He got home in January, began dating his wife in February (although they knew each other growing up, they never dated), got a job and worked until he left for Cedar City for college and his football scholarship in June, proposed to Daysha in August, finished a semester of school and his first college football season, and was married on December 17. WHEW! What a whirlwind.

Easton, I am so very proud of you for so many things: for the man you are, for serving a mission, for choosing such a wonderful wife, for working so hard in school (3.92 this semester!) and football (go, T-birds!), and for the honorable priesthood holder and member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints that you are. I love you! Happy 22nd Birthday! Enjoy this montage of some of my favorite photos of Easton growing up. I still can't believe my little boy is a married man!

New Cherry-O Line from Close To My Heart

Have you noticed that cherries are all the rage in scrapbooking products, papers, linens, and even clothing lately? Lest you think that Close To My Heart missed the boat, let me assure you that they certainly did not! You just have to wait until May 1 and you will have your fill of delicious cherry themed papers, stamps and accessories. May 1 is when the Summer Idea Book goes live and you will be able to view it right here on my blog. Be sure to check back then and look for the cover on the left side of my blog. By clicking on it you'll be able to view it page by scrumptious page.

In the meantime, just to wet your whistle, I thought I'd share a photo of some of the Cherry-O products (Feel free to click on the photo to see it larger. I know you want to see every yummy detail!) and a darling layout of my friend, Monica's beautiful little daughter, Melia. The Cherry-O line uses the CTMH color mix of Tulip, Blush, Chocolate, Sweet Leaf, Crystal Blue and Colonial White. Tasty!

I really am trying to enjoy every minute of my life and "live in the moment" (isn't that the catch phrase of the last year or two?), but I can't help getting excited about this new Idea Book and the upcoming National Scrapbooking Month "Miracle" kit. Click here to see a little sneaky peeky of that. You'll see ANOTHER one of Monica's beautiful daughters in that post, Ariana. She sure makes beautiful children, doesn't she?

In the meantime, there are so many wonderful products available RIGHT NOW through CTMH. Live in the moment, right? Click here to enter my website and order some (24/7!). You can view the current Idea Book (Spring 2010) by clicking here.

Studio J...I Got to Play Today!

I got to play with Studio J today! Hey, that rhymed. I'm a poet and I didn't even know it! Don't worry. I'll quit the rhyming now and stick with something I am kind of good at...scrapbooking!

I told you several months ago about a brand new program that Close To My Heart is coming out with called Studio J. It is Close To My Heart's version of digital scrapbooking...but since it is so much better than any other digital program out there, we are calling it Studio Scrapbooking. It will be available during the first quarter of 2010 for customers. Hold on to your britches! You will love it. Being the lucky girl I am, and because I am a Close To My Heart Consultant who attended Leadership Conference 2009, I get to 'play' early. In the past day I have already made two beautiful two page layouts. I am in awe of how easy to use this program is and how gorgeous the layouts are. WOWZA!

I have included a screen shot (feel free to click on it to see it larger) of one of the layouts I worked on today. It is a layout of my son, Easton who is on a mission. Sidenote: Easton gets home 2 months from last Thursday. WOO HOO!

Anyway, I just had to share. I know you are going to love this program as much as I do when you get a chance to play as well.

While you are waiting for it to go live, you can register as a member of the Studio J website for FREE, and that will make you eligible to have a chance to win a brand, new Cocoa Linen Album. To do that, go to www.studioj.com and register in the upper right hand corner. There is also a link here to watch a special video that shows a little more about this awesome new tool.

So, what do you say? Don't you wish you could play today? It will be worth the wait. When you get to play, you'll think it's A-O-Kay! Sorry! I just couldn't resist.

Caramel Apple Artwork

Remember my Caramel Apples post a few weeks ago? Well, I finally got around to scrappin' the photos from that. What a fun day we had. Here is the artwork to go with the experience. Feel free to click on any of the photos to see them larger.

Close To My Heart products used: December Stamp of the Month from Close To My Heart (D1378-Notice the Details, available December 1-31, 2009. You'll see more artwork with that in December here on my blog), Extreme Caps Stamp Set (D1250), Classmate Alphabet Stamp Set (D1303), Chocolate Stamp Pad (Z2114), Twitterpated Level 2 Paper Pack (X7118B), Twitterpated Level One Scrapbook Kit (X7118A), Dimensional Elements in Color Organic (Z1230), Chocolate Waxy Flax (Z1088), 3D Foam Tape (Z1151), Corner Rounder (Z578).

Click here to order from my website, especially when you are ready to turn your memories into artwork! And don't forget, there are only 16 days left of Stampaganza.