Baby Girl Card

I made this little 5" x 5" card last week for my friend's brand new, beautiful baby girl, Maya using our Sophia papers. Enjoy!

Close To My Heart products used: Sophia Level 2 Paper Pack, For Every Occasion Stamp Set, Dimensional Elements Perennials (retired), Hollyhock Stamp Pad, Versamark Stamp Pad, White Daisy Embossing Powder, Liquid Glass, Prisma Glitter, Round Sponge.

Order these or any other of dozens of wonderful CTMH products on my website, 24/7...especially when you're celebrating the birth of a beautiful new baby!

Happy Mail from Allison B.

Yesterday I mentioned that I would share some more Happy Mail today. Friday night, after spending the day in Springville getting Dawson registered in school, transferring our utilities, etc. I was exhausted and little bit emotional, I came home to the BESTEST surprise on my doorstep.

THANK YOU, Allison (isn't she the cutest?) for the gorgeous tulips, which felt like Spring amidst all the snow, for the yummy Cadbury eggs (my fave!) and the beautiful hand-made card. Thank you even more for your wonderful friendship. I will miss having you less than a block away. I'll miss our monthly visits. When I was released as the Relief Society President (women's organization) at church last Summer, Allison took my place. She has done a wonderful job, and this is a girl with 5 small children and a hubby that works long hours. I don't know how she does it! If we weren't close enough friends already, sharing this Relief Society experience has bonded us for a lifetime.

Allison used the Sophia Papers from Close To My Heart to make this gorgeous card. You can order those papers and so many more wonderful products on my website.

Side-note: I was so proud of my Dawsie-Boy (No, he does not love it when I call him that. Yes, I still do it anyway.) on Friday. He was so positive about the whole thing. After we got him all registered at Springville High School, we walked around the school to help him figure out where his classes were and so many kids stopped and met him and introduced themselves. The administrators couldn't have been kinder and more helpful. It was a great experience and Dawson has such a positive outlook on moving and changing high schools. Yeah, Dawsie-Boy! Thanks for setting a wonderful example for your old mom!

One More Bird Card

This is my 2nd post for today, so be sure to scroll down for the first post with 2 other cards that matchy-matchy this one (and supply lists), and information on how to win some blog candy. Off to make some dinner....

The Gift That Keeps On Giving, Workshop on the Go Stamp Sets

Be sure to check out yesterday's blog post for some blog candy! You have until 7 pm on Friday, August 1 to qualify.

Today I thought I'd share a couple of cards (first card shown is 6" x 6" and the second is 4 1/4" x 5 1/2") I made this week using the stamp sets from two of Close To My Heart's awesome Workshop on the Go kits. The bird stamp is from the Sophia Workshop on the Go and the damask background and sentiment are from the Wings Workshop on the Go. Some of you may mistakenly think that when you order the Workshop on the Go's, you use them and then you're done. Not so! The stamp set that comes with the Workshops on the Go is a gift that keeps on giving! In fact, I also used the cool spray pen that came in the Wings Workshop on the Go on these cards. Click on either card to see them larger and in more detail.

So, what are you waiting for? Go get one of your Workshop on the Go stamp sets out and create something new!

CTMH Products used on these cards: Wings Workshop on the Go Stamp Set, Spray Pen and Left-Over Paper, Sophia Workshop on the Go Stamp Set, Desert Sand Cardstock, Black Stamp Pad, Desert Sand Re-inker, Basic Buttons Assortment, Licorice Opaques, Heart Dimensional Elements, Big Pinks (currently on sale for 33% off!), Chocolate Waxy Flax, Round Sponge, Kraft Color Ready Borders, 2" Scallop Circle Punch, Water - to mix with re-inker in the spray pen (available from your own tap...lol).

To order these or other wonderful CTMH products, shop on my website...24/7! And, don't forget to order the $5 "Hope for Japan" stamp set while you're ordering (available now through April 30). 100% of profits go to the American Red Cross efforts in Japan. Oh, one last reminder, today is the last day to get the March Stamp of the Month too!

March Stamp of the Month 5" x 7" Card (Sensational Season)

I fell in love with the March Stamp of the Month at Close To My Heart the minute I saw it. It's Beatrix Potter flavor along with the images that are just perfect for my favorite coloring technique (watercolor pencils) just float my boat!

You can see several cards I made with this set and also find out how to get the set FREE by going here.

I colored the images in this card with my watercolor pencils but didn't use any water. I love watercolor pencils just for coloring. Because they are made to blend with water, they are soft and oh-so-easy to blend and shade with. I also love the effect using a blending pen or waterbrush, but I decided just to color with them plain for these cards.

Watercolor Pencil Coloring tip: Don't use a sharp point to color with. Color a little bit on scratch piece of paper until you get a nice flat angle on your pencil. Color with this flat edge and you will be able to blend and color seamlessly! I hope you can see what you mean in this photo. Can you see how I've made a flat edge on my pencil by scribbling on a piece of scratch paper? That flat edge is the edge you want against your paper as you color. When shading, just start in the place you want darkest and press harder and press lighter as you move in. Also, color in the shape of the edge. The edge of the basket is curved, so I started along the edge I wanted darkest and went in a curve up and down the inside edge and continued inward as I lightened my pressure. Clear as mud? I hope clear as a bell!

The middle basket, I think you can see, is popped with 3D Foam Tape. I still stamped the image below it so that it shows underneath. I love that look! The little flowers come in our new pink button collection (72 buttons included!) and the centers are our mocha opaques (108 gems per pack!); two products that I am currently infatuated with.

CTMH products used: March Stamp of the Month (Sensational Season), Sophia Level 2 Paper Pack, Kraft Color Ready Borders, Cocoa Stamp Pad, Round Sponge, Watercolor Pencils, Pink Button Collection, Mocha Opaques, 3D Foam Tape.

You can order these and other wonderful products on my website, 24/7...especially on a lazy Saturday when you have no make-up on and are in sweats and stripey slipper socks (I wonder who might look like that today....hmmmmm).

April Play Group Layouts (Sophia)

Layout #1 - "Pals":-------------------------

Layout #2 - "Sweet" (inspired greatly by the FABULOUS Lisa Stenz):

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Layout #3 - "All Girl"

As you know by much of the artwork I have been posting over the past month or two, I have fallen in love with the "Sophia" kit in Close To My Heart's Spring/Summer 2011 Idea Book. Because of that, I have chosen it as the kit we will be using in my Play Group classes in April. I think you'll love them!

We will be making all three of the two-page 12" x 12" layouts you see here (feel free to click on any photo to see it larger and in more detail). Aren't they darling? I have always been a BIG fan of pink and green together...well ever since my obsessions with 'all things preppy' in junior high. I got over the preppy, but the pink and green found its way into my heart forever.

If you are not sure what Play Group is, just scroll down on the left side of my blog until you see the heading "Play Group Information" and all the details are there about how my classes work.

April Play Group Dates and Times

• Tuesday, April 19, 10 am - 1 pm
• Tuesday, April 19, 7-10 pm
• Wednesday, April 20, 10 am - 1 pm
• Wednesday, April 21, 7-10 pm
  

Remember, in order to attend, you only need to purchase the Basic Kit. Anything above and beyond that is totally optional. This month, in addition to the Basic Kit, I suggest you at least add the first 2 items in the Better Kit. Those 2 little items make a huge difference! If you do that, your subtotal would be $45.85 and your total with shipping and tax would be $52.59.

Basic Kit

• Sophia Level 2 Paper Pack
• Pink Buttons Collection
• Colonial White Waxy Flax
• Workshop Stamp Set
• 1 extra sheet of White Daisy Cardstock
• 1 extra sheet of Hollyhock Cardstock
• Cutting Guide

Subtotal: $30.95*
Total with shipping and tax: $33.50

Better Kit = Basic Kit + the following products

• Irresistibles Eclectic Dimensional Elements Alphabet
• Pink Ribbon Collection
• Hollyhock Stamp Pad
• Pear Stamp Pad
• Goldrush Stamp Pad
• Round Sponge

Subtotal: 62.85**
Total with shipping and tax: $72.10

Best Kit = Basic and Better Kits + the following products

• Friendship Alphabet

Subtotal: $97.80***
Total with shipping and tax: $112.19

*at this purchase level, you qualify for the Stamp of the Month**** ($22.95 value) at 25% off ($17.21)
**at this purchase level, you qualify for the Stamp of the Month**** ($22.95 value) at 50% off ($11.48)
***at this purchase level, you qualify for the Stamp of the Month****($22.95 value) at 75% off ($5.74)

****I have linked you to the March Stamp of the Month above. If you happen to purchase your kit in April, you will get the April Stamp of the Month instead.

Call or email me to sign up for a class and to place your kit order no later than Monday, April 11 at 9 am (801.360.9896, pedermom@aol.com) OR, order some of these items yourself on my website 24/7.

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!

Spring/Summer Double-Sided Banner Workshop

I'm so excited about this workshop! I think you'll LOVE it. It uses one of my favorite products from the brand new Close To My Heart Spring/Summer Idea Book: the "My Creations Banner".

This darling banner (feel free to click on either photo to see them larger and in more detail) can be used for 6 months per year because on one side is says "Spring" and the other it says "Summer" (as you can see in the photos).

This workshop is scheduled for Tuesday, March 15 at my home in Highland, UT. There are 2 time slots to choose from:

• 10 am - 1 pm
• 7-10 pm

You can also participate in this workshop long distance. To do so, just add $5 to the shopping list prices you see below and I will send your workshop to you (as well as stamping your letters).

This workshop is another in my "Double Your Fun" series. What that means is that when you purchase a workshop, you get everything you need to complete 2 full banners. You can make 2 yourself and keep one and give one away as a gift, or you can split the workshop cost with a friend and then each of you will get a banner to take home. Pretty Cool!

Each banner piece is approximate 6" across and 7" long. That means, it stretches over a yard in length when finished and put together. It is PERFECT to hang across the front of a mantle, an entry way, a door way, across the top of a window, etc.

To attend (or participate long-distance) all you are required to purchase is the Basic Kit. One item that is in the Better Kit that I think really makes a difference in the project is the Ribbon. You are more than welcome to add that to the Basic Kit without having to purchase the whole Better Kit if you'd like. If you are participating long-distance, I strongly suggest you purchase the Better Kit.

Basic Kit (includes supplies for 2 banners)
2 - My Creations Banners (Z1378)
1 - Sophia Paper Pack (X7131B)
1 - Liquid Glass (Z679)
3 - Extra Sheets of Sophia Striped Paper
3 - Extra Sheets of Sophia Small Floral Paper
Cutting Guide
Instructions
Total with shipping and tax: $40 (add $5 if you are participating long-distance)

Better Kit = Basic Kit + the following products
2-Sweet Leaf Stitched Ribbon Bolts (Z1383-10 yds each)
1-Hollyhock Stamp Pad (Z2128)
1-Round Sponge (Z697)
1-Finishing Files (Z1091)
Total with shipping and tax: $73 (add $5 if you are participating long-distance)

Best Kit = Basic and Better Kits + the following products
1- Pear Stamp Pad (Z2197)
1-Goldrush Stamp Pad (Z2123)
1-Bohemian Alphabet Stamp Set (E1019)
Total with shipping and tax: $109 (add $5 if you are participating long-distance)

Supplies Needed* to Complete this workshop:
Mini-Glue Dots (Z341)
Tombow Mono-Adhesive (1514)
Tombow Mono-Adhesive Refill (1515)
Micro-Tip Scissors (Z534)
Paper Trimmer (Z338)
1 1/2" circle punch or cutter
1 3/4" circle punch or cutter

*if you are attending this workhop in person, Karen will have the scissors and circle punches here for you to use.

Call or email me today to sign up (801.360.9896, pedermom@aol.com). I need your order to reserve your space no later than Tues, March 8.

OH, Sophia! (Layouts and Cards and Banners, Oh My!)

I have spent the last two days finishing up a VERY special project. My Close To My Heart team means the world to me. Every so often I offer what I call a $2000 Challenge. Each member of my team who reaches $2000 in sales in that specific month gets a "Board in a Bag" from me.

"What is a Board in a Bag?" you ask. Well, I'm happy to explain. As CTMH Consultants, we like to display artwork for our customers to see. We usually do it on display boards, but those little puppies are kinda hard to mail, ya know? So, I create a display using a new paper kit and some stamp sets and accessories in the most recent catalog for each of my team member who hit the big $2000, put them all in a large plastic bag, then into a box and mail them to them. Once they arrive, they can take everything out and mount them on display boards to show their customers.

This time I chose to make their displays with the new "Sophia" kit that debuts Feb. 1. This kit is soooooo girly and gorgeous. You got a sneak peek at it last week when I shared a layout I had made using the Sophia papers of my cuter-than-cute granddaughter, Daci. I duplicated that layout for my ladies, minus the pictures of Daci and the journaling, of course. They get to put their own photos on journaling on theirs. Then I added 3 cards and a banner. I am so excited about how it all turned out.

Here are each of the individual items they will get in their bags (feel free to click on any photo in this post to see it larger and in more detail):

Item #1 - Board title piece that shows a sample of the papers that come in the paper pack:

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Item #2: A Banner (each chipboard piece is 6" across and 7" long. They are another fun new item in our new Idea Book, which debuts Feb. 1). This banner was inspired by the VERY talented Lisa Stenz. Lisa, you never cease to AMAZE me with your artwork.----------------------

Item #3: 5" x 7" card. Can you tell I'm totally into pinwheel flowers right now?------------------

Item #4: 3" x 4 3/4" card. This was inspired by something that the CTMH Art Department made that I saw at the Team Builders Conference.-------------------

Item #5: 4 1/2" Circle Card. I'm lovin' these!---------------------

Item #6: 2 page 12" x 12" layout. This one has photos and journaling. Theirs will be blank for them to fill as they'd like.

If you would like information about joining my Close To My Heart team of consultants, feel free to email or call me (pedermom@aol.com, 801.360.9896), or click here to enter my website for more info.

"All Girl" Layout (Sophia Papers)

I finished this layout last night and couldn't wait to share it with you. I made it with the brand new (available February 1) Close To My Heart Sophia papers. Aren't they just plain gorgeous; so sweet and girly? I can't wait for you to see them when the new Idea Book is released on Feb. 1. Did you know you'll be able to view it right here beginning that day? Be watching for it on the left side of my blog!

You can click on any photo in this post to see it larger and in more detail, just in case ya didn't know.

If you read this post earlier in the week, you saw the exact same layout pattern on Jeanette's layout as you see here on mine. It's from our wonderful Magic scrapbooking how-to book and it's called "Magician's Choice" on pages 116-117 of the book. I LOVES me some Magic!

Up in the right hand corner of the right page is a little 'door' that you can open by untying the bow. There are 2 more photos inside. I love surprises on layouts!

I also had fun adding subtle but girly details to this layout. I used CTMH's new pink button collection (also available 2/1) scattered around the layout. I added some prisma glitter to my chipboard letters (I know it's hard to see in the photos, but it's so darn cute in real life!), sponged the edges of everything with hollyhock ink, and even tied some of my button strings into bows. The pink pom pom ribbon is also new and will be available on Feb. 1 in the Pink Ribbon Collection. A few little flowers and brads scattered here and there, and a little pink on our little Daci's cheeks (carefully sponged on with a sponge dauber and hollyhock ink...it's acid free, you know!) topped it all off. Enjoy!
By the way, I ran a little contest for my team in November and three of my team members earned some exclusive artwork from me. This layout (minus my photos and journaling, of course) is one of the projects they will be getting from me before the end of January. I hope Lynette, Pam and Tiffanie like it! If you want to earn cool things like this from me, as well as a great commission from Close To My Heart, leave a comment and ask me, or email me (pedermom@aol.com) and I'll give you some information about doing what I do!

Click here to shop on my website 24/7...even in your jammies!