Animal Cookies

In June in my Play Group classes we will be making 6 darling pages with the new Close To My Heart Animal Cookies papers. You can see them if you scroll down the left side of my blog. You'll need to scroll past the Tickled Pink layouts and cards then you'll find those stinkin' cute Animal Cookies pages.

The photo I have included today is some other artwork made with Animal Cookies. Cute, cute, cute and cute! You can click on the photo to see it much larger. Do it! The details are so sweet.

Dates and times for June Play Group Classes are listed below. Please email me (pedermom@aol.com) if you would like to come or even buy a kit and participate long distance. I have also included the shopping list for these pages below the dates and times. If you choose to participate in a class (remember, we make six 12 x 12 pages) you are just required to purchase the BASIC package ($26.93 including shipping and tax). Anything you add after that is totally up to you.

June Dates and Times:
Tuesday, June 2, 10 am - 1 pm
Tuesday, June 2, 7 - 10 pm
Wednesday, June 3, 10 am - 1 pm
Thursday, June 4, 7 - 10 pm

Shopping List (must purchase by May 26 for June classes):
You can view all of these items by clicking on the Close To My Heart Idea Book Icon on the left of my blog. Again please remember that you are only required to purchase the Basic Package. After that you can choose to purchase the Better or Best packages, or even just mix and match anything from them or from the Idea Book.

Basic Package
X7112B-Animal Cookies Level 2 Paper Packet $12.95 (pg. 25)
X7112C-Animal Cookies Level 2 My Stickease® $4.95 (pg. 25)
Z1162-Foam Die-Cuts Numbers $3.95 (pg 25)
48" White Daisy Ricrac Ribbon $0.66
Animal Cookies Workshop Guide $1.00

Subtotal $23.51
(total with shipping and tax is $26.93)

Better = Basic Package + this product
Z1282 Summer Craft Buttons $7.50 (pg. 93)
X1406 Hodge Podge Color Ready Alphabet $3.95 (pg. 96)
Z2113 Clover Meadow Exclusive Inks™ Pad $5.25 (pg. 11)
Z2119 Dutch Blue Exclusive Inks™ Pad $5.25 (pg. 11)
Z2166 Tulip Exclusive Inks™ Pad $5.25 (pg. 10)
Z2150 Sunflower Exclusive Inks™ Pad $5.25 (pg. 11)

Subtotal $55.96
(total with shipping and tax is $64.19. At this level you qualify for the Stamp of the Month [D1349 Be Yourself] at half off [$11.48]. Total with the stamp of the month and shipping and tax is $75.80)

Best = Better Package + this product
C1359 My Acrylix® Sweet Baby $18.95 (pg. 26)
E1003 My Acrylix® Boutique Alphabet $34.95 (pg. 84)

Subtotal $109.86
(at this level you qualify for the Stamp of the month [D1349 Be Yourself] absolutely FREE as well as the Tickled Pink Kit ABSOLUTELY FREE! Your total with shipping and tax is $129.39)

Have a wonderful day!

Idol

American Idol is TONIGHT! This has been such a busy week so that means Tuesday came around much more quickly, which makes me happy, happy, happy! I really like all 4 of the contestants left, but here is the order I like them (my favorite first):

1. Adam
2. Kris
   
3. Danny
   
4. Allison

What do you think? I'd love to hear your opinions!

Tonight I am teaching a scrapbooking class but luckily my students know that if they come to class on Tuesdays there is no option but to be watching Idol while we scrap. I love being in charge. LOL

Color Me Monday

Close To My Heart's owner and founder, Jeanette Lynton has a fantastic blog and it just got even more fantasticker (I know that's not a word but I think it sounds cool so I'm inventing a new word. I also know that I don't need a "more" in front of a word ending in "er" but again, I'm inventing new grammar laws here. It just sounds good.). Starting this week, every Monday Jeanette will be posting "Color Me Monday" which will include a great Close To My Heart color combination and artwork to go with it. I felt so inspired yesterday when I saw it that I had to sit down and create a card before I went to bed. I have included a photo here of that card. Be sure to check out Jeanette's blog (www.jeanettelynton.com) for lots of fun and inspiration, and now with Color Me Mondays.

This week's combo is heavenly blue, garden green, desert sand, sorbet, and white daisy. When I saw the combo I immediately felt calm and peaceful. So soft and relaxing!

I'm very pleased with the way my card turned out. Having a handsome son (Easton) to put a picture of on the front didn't hurt either. I love this photo. It reminds me of a Hollister ad!

Wishes

You’ll be thrilled to know that Jeanette Lynton’s latest how-to book, Wishes Card Confidence Program™ (9033, $29.95), has arrived at our warehouse—a month ahead of schedule!—and is currently available for purchase. This beautiful new book, which will teach you how to make multiple cards in a flash using Jeanette’s “workshop” approach (cutting guides and instructions for multiple cards at a time), create trendy circle cards, and much, much more, will be a perfect addition to your creative library. Order right away!

Anyone who places an order on my website (www.leavealegacy.myctmh.com) between May 1 and May 31 will receive a set of three hand stamped cards made using new patterns from the Wishes book in the mail from me.

Precious

Have you EVER seen anything more precious? If your answer is yes, don't tell me. If your answer is no, feel free to tell me. As you know, Daci was blessed yesterday. Today Kori came over and we did a little 'Daci in Blessing Dress' photo shoot. LOVED it! She is so precious.

Yummy!

I thought I'd share two of my favorite recipes today...they were the two I made for Daci's open house yesterday. I hope you enjoy them!

Chicken Curry Salad - Karen Pedersen
Serves 6 unless you are serving Pedersens, then maybe 4
(I usually double or triple this recipe)

2/3 c. mayo
2 tbs. lemon juice
1 tea. salt
1 tea. curry powder
2 ½ c. cooked chicken breast, diced or shredded
1 c. diced celery
¼ c. slivered blanched almonds
1 c. seedless grapes (I do the red seedless for color)
1 c. pineapple tidbits
¼ c. green onions, thinly sliced

Optional: croissants, canteloupe, avacado, salad greens (see below*)

Blend mayo, salt, lemon juice and curry powder. Pour over all other ingredients combined. Chill.

*GREAT served on a croissant with salad greens, with a slice of canteloupe and a slice of avacado on the side.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
Recipe from Karen Pedersen's Aunt Carol Thorderson (amazing cook!)

Makes one 12 x 17 cookie sheet (be sure to use the one with at least 1" sides)

4 eggs
3 C brown sugar
1 1/3 C. oil (I use canola)
2 tea. vanilla
3 C. flour
2 tea. salt
1 Tbs. baking powder
1 pkg. milk chocolate chips
1 C. nuts (optional)

MIx eggs, brown sugar, oil and vanilla together and beat well (you will want to use a large bowl). Then add remaining ingredients and blend well. Pour onto a lightly greased 12 x 17 cookie sheet with at least 1" sides. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes. When mostly cool, drizzle with frosting (recipe to follow).

Cookie Bar Frosting

1 - 1 1/2 C. powdered sugar
3 Tbs. butter, softened
pinch of salt
1/2 tea. vanilla
3 Tbs. cocoa
milk

Beat ingredients together and add enough milk to be able to drizzle the frosting over the cookie bars.

A Day of Milestones

Today was Dan and my 24th anniversary. Wow! We must be old. It was also our granddaughter, Daci's blessing day. It was a beautiful day! We all drove to Kori and Rick's church to be there for the blessing (which was beautiful. She was blessed by her daddy, Rick) then headed to Rick's parents house where both their family and ours hosted a joint Open House for both families. The food was beautiful and tasty, the company was great, and the day was momentous. I have included some photos to show you!

2 Of My Favorite Things

I can already tell that today is going to be GREAT! It is starting out with two of my favorite things; watching one of my boys (Dawson) play ball and a rainstorm. Now if I could just add a BLT, a good movie with husband while cuddled up in my favorite blankie, and some Mrs. Cavanaugh's milk chocolate caramels it would be just about perfect. I hope your day is wonderful too!

Be Yourself

With today being May 1 and the first day to be able to order the May Stamp of the Month, I thought I'd share some fun and funky artwork using this set. Both cards were made by one of my talented downline, Judy Malouff. Thanks for sharing with me, Judy! Enjoy!

As always you can use our AMAZING Stamp of the Month program to get it at a great discount or even FREE! Read how below.

May Stamp of the Month - D1349 Be Yourself

• You can purchase it for the retail price of $22.95
  
• spend $25 (before shipping and tax) and earn the May Stamp of the Month for 25% off ($17.21)
• spend $50 (before shipping and tax) and earn the May Stamp of the Month for 50% off ($11.48)
• spend $75 (before shipping and tax) and earn the May Stamp of the Month for 75% off ($5.74)
• spend $100 (before shipping and tax) and earn the May Stamp of the Month for FREE (that is exactly $0.00. tee hee!)

Click here to order.

Today is the Day

It's finally here! May 1! WOO HOO! Close To My Heart's Summer 2009 Idea Book went live today. You can click on the catalog on the left side of my website to view it. TO DIE FOR! I've included a couple of photos of some artwork that I have already done with the "Animal Cookies' kit (see pages 24-27) in the new Idea Book. This layout features photos of my 17 year old son, Tannon when he was 1-3 years old and was inspired by some that I saw in the new catalog which is full of soooooo many great ideas, tips and techniques.

Before we move on, I want to implore you to keep reading all the way to the end of this entry. There is a special challenge and opportunity to get a free hand stamped card from me!

Here are a few of the new products you'll find in the new Idea Book:

• "Wishes" - Card making how-to book. Beautiful! (9033, $29.95). pg. 12
• 5 New Scrapbook Kits: Back Country, Moon Doggie, Animal Cookies, Tinkerin', Bella. pgs. 16-35. Each kit has Level 1, Level 2, Stickies, and a matching accessory!
  
• 30 new stamp set designs (each * denotes a list of stamps on a page together):

  *C1356 Extreme Happiness, C1358 Surf's up, D1357 Post Card-Travel Series. pg. 22. *D1358 Childhood, C1359 Sweet Baby, C1360 It's a Zoo, pg 26. *E1013 Field Trip Alphabet, C1354 Robot Power, C1353 Gear Up (pg 30). *D354 Endless Friendship, C1357 Botanical Borders, C1361 Buttoned Together (pg 34). *Treetops, D1365 True Happiness (pg. 57). * C1363 Beary Best, C1362 You're a Hoot (pg. 59). *B1329 Shore is Fun, D1316 Bon Voyage, C1365 Makin' Waves, B1331 Ocean Treasure (pg 63). *D1364 Recipe Box, D1367 Bon Appetit (pg 64). *C1367 Lights Camera Action (pg 65). *D1360 Play Day, D1362 Happy Healing (pg 66). *B1330 Surprise (pg 72). *D1359 Comments (pg 74). *C1366 Fringed Phrases (pg 78). *C1364 TLC, D1356/D1355 Gracious Greetings - Spanish/French (pg 79). *D1363 Picture Perfect, D1361 Thank You (pg 81).

• X8534 Simply Snapshots - Moon Doggie (pg. 50)
• X8622 My Originals Card Kit - "It's Your Day" (pg. 52)
• Z1155 Clear Buttons - 100 qty. (pg. 92)
• Z1153 All Out Adventure Rubons (pg. 93)
• Z1156 Dimensional Elements Borders (pg. 96)
• X1408 Fancy Cuts Borders (pg. 97)
• Z1164 White Daisy Chipboard (pg. 97)
• Z1145 HeartFelt Whimsy Die Cuts (pg. 97)
• Z1141 My Creations Binder (pg. 98)
• Z1151 3-D Foam Tape (pg. 99)
• Z1163 New and Improved Double Scrubber (pg. 100)
• Z41114 Memory Protector Flip Flaps (pg. 104)
• Stamp of the Month Sets (pages 108-109)
  

If you head to my April 28 post you can see all the great specials and promotions that start or are happening on May 1 (TODAY!) with Close To My Heart and can 'do the math' and see just how much you can earn FREE this month! To order any of these products, click here.

By the way, Saturday, May 2 is National Scrapbooking Day. I will be making a layout that day of ME to enter into the Close To My Heart Scrapbook and Share contest (click on the icon on the left side of my blog, the pink flower, to get details and see the entries that have already been turned in). I challenge you to join me. In fact, anyone who does and emails me a photo of their layout as well as emailing it to the Scrapbook and Share website will receive a hand stamped card in the mail from me!