Believe...

I made this 5 x 7 card this morning with the Mojo Monday sketch (#94). I absolutely love the saying on the card and know exactly who I am going to send it to...a friend who is going through a really hard time right now and who I can tell is losing her self-esteem.

Close To My Heart products used: Life Delights Level 2 Scrapbook Kit (X7089B), Life Delights Level 2 MyStickease (X7089C), Chocolate Collection Designer Ribbon Rounds (Z1127), 3D Foam Tape (Z1151)

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Woot!

So excited! My card from last week's sketch (#21) at Card Patterns was chosen as a top 5 card. Very exciting. Here are the top 5 cards, the sketch we used, and my card in a larger format. What a fun little sketch site this is. I hope you'll try it out some time.

QB

Finally! I finally sat down this afternoon and scrapped some of the photos from Tannon's football season last year. Phew! Just in time for everything to start again in August for this season. You can click on the layout to view it larger. He says if I post this on my blog (which I obviously did) to please let everyone know that he has gained about 12 lbs. since then. I wish I could say I have lost 12.

I began this layout with a sketch from Pencil Lines as my inspiration, but decided I needed 2 pages to tell this photo story. I guess you can kind of see that the layout and sketch are somehow related. Maybe distant cousins more than brothers. Oh well, I was inspired anyway. It's really a simple layout, but sometimes the simple ones are best.

I have been on an "It's a Guy Thing" kick the past few days so here is some more of that awesome paper packet.

Close To My Heart products used: It's A Guy Thing Level 2 Scrapbook Kit (X7091B), It's a Guy Thing Level 2 MyStickease (X7091C), Dimensional Elements Simple Alphabet Uppercase (Z1047), White Daisy Textured Cardstock (X5671), Black Cardstock ((1386). That's it! 5 products. Very simple! I hope you like.

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A Deep Fryer?

Yep, no kidding. My son, Tannon asked for a deep fryer for his 18th birthday a few weeks ago. He is the funniest kid. He loves to play basketball and football, he loves Harry Potter and the Twilight series, he loves to cook, he loves to shop with me, loves to play "Halo" with the guys, he has the goofiest sense of humor, and he can have the tenderest heart (you can click on the layout to see it larger). Tannon has been frying everything in sight ever since his birthday.

This layout was made using the Pagemaps sketch from July 3, 2009.

Close To My Heart products used: It's a Guy Thing Level 2 Scrapbook Kit (X7091B), It's a Guy Thing MyStickease (X7091C), Bamboo Textured Cardstock (from the Basic Combo Pack, X5671), Dimensional Elements Numbers (Z1115), Cocoa Stamp Pad (Z2114)

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He*ro

I created this 6" x 6" card for the CPS sketch this week (#123). LOVED this sketch (see sketch below). I really like the balance of the card and it was fast and easy to make it come together. And, how cool are those papers?

I made it to send to my missionary son, Easton. He is not only serving a 2 year mission away from home (Houston, Texas...Spanish speaking), but had some surgery this past week to remove a tumor in his arm...without anethesia. YIKES! I'm pretty sure Texas is in the United States and that they do have anesthesia there. What the heck?!!!! They didn't even give him shots in his arm to deaden the pain. We do not live in the dark ages. Hello! On top of that, a few days later he woke up to a blood soaked bed. All of his stitches had broken open. Who sewed him up? A 3 year old? So, Easton is my new hero!

I've included a photo of Easton and one of the other missionaries that was taken while they were cleaning up on Galveston Island after Hurricane Ike last year. I thought it was a hilarious photo. Don't get me wrong...I certainly didn't think what Ike did was funny...just that as the missionaries were cleaning up they could find some humor in the otherwise sad and devastated area. Easton's the one on the right. Have I mentioned he will be home in 6 1/2 more months? But who's counting, right? ME! I am so proud of him for what he is doing, but I will be so happy to hug this big kid when he gets home.

I used Close To My Heart products: It's a Guy Thing Level 2 Scrapbook Kit (X7091B), It's a Guy Thing MyStickease (X7091C), Square Window Charms (Z820), Autumn Buttons Z1283), Chocolate Waxy Flax (Z1088)

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Your Are Precious To Me

I am a bright and happy mood, which explains the colors I chose for this card. Don't you find that often you choose color according to your mood, the weather outside, what season it is? I certainly do!

This card was made using the Card Patterns sketch this week (#22).

Close To My Heart Colors used: Citrus Leaf, Bubblegum, Watermelon, Black, White Daisy

Close To My Heart products used: Priceless Love Word Puzzle Stamp Set (D1348), Argyle Backgrounds Stamp Set (D1325), Angel Whispers Stamp Set (D1264), Citrus Leaf Cardstock (1228), Citrus Leaf Stamp Pad (Z2112), Bubblegum Stamp Pad (Z2109), Watermelon Stamp Pad (Z2158), White Daisy Textured Cardstock (X5671), Black Cardstock (1386), Black Stamp Pad (Z2105), Colonial White Waxy Flax (Z1081), 3D Foam Tape (Z1151), Black Collection/Designer Ribbon Rounds (Z1034), Black Legacy Writer, size .01 (4275) , Clear Inspirations Buttons (Z1036)

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Happy 4th!

Happy 4th of July! I thought I'd share a bit of artwork I have done that goes with today's theme.

The first is page one of a layout I did of my 3 boys (Easton, Tannon and Dawson) with 4th of July photos from a couple of years ago.

The second is a card I made last year that features embossing (which I love, love, love. I think I am an embossing addict. Can you be that?).

The third is a birthday card I made for my nephew a while ago (it was inspired by a card I saw on a cardmaking website back then but I can't remember which one or who the artist was. Sorry!). But, I thought it fit with today. Inside it said "Birthday" but it could have just as easily said "4th of July".

I hope you enjoy your holiday.

Look Out!

Before reading today's post, I hope you'll go back to yesterday's "Give Me Five" post and read it if you haven't yet. There are lots of GREAT things happening this month that you will want to be sure you know about.

On to today. This layout was made using Sketch #25 at Inspired Blueprints. LOVE this sketch, and I am really happy with the layout. My sister-in-law, Cindy brought these two photos of Dawson that she found while she was organizing to me last weekend. They are from 13 years ago. WOW! The second I saw this little face I teared up. How did my little "Dawsie-Boy" get 15? It is just not possible. I had so much fun scrapping these photos today. I think I spent more time staring at that sweet little face than I did actually creating the layout.

Close To My Heart products used: Free Spirit Level 2 Scrapbook Kit (X7088B), Free Spirit Level 2 MyStickease (X7088C), Pewter Brads (Z199), Pewter Bigger Brads (Z299), Circle Window Charms (Z819)

Enter my website here and then click on "Shop Online" to order any of these products, or to see what else there is to choose from. Also, just as a reminder, you can always click on a photo to see a larger view.

Clocks and Butterfiles

The following two projects are for The Next Level's card sketch this week (sketch 2, challenge 5) and Pencil Lines layout sketch (sketch 141).

Butterfly Card for The Next Level:

As I was trying to decide what colors, papers, theme, etc. to use for this card, I decided to pull out some papers that felt "4th of July-ish". With that holiday coming this weekend, I was feeling a bit festive.
Close To My Heart products used: Blue Ribbon Level 2 Scrapbook Kit (X7096B), Autumn Buttons (Z1283), Winter Buttons (Z1284), Oudoor Denim Stamp Pad (Z2140)

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Clock Layout for Pencil Lines:


I had lots of fun making this layout of Tannon playing in a basketball tournament this past week. He had one of the best games of his life, scoring 34 points against one of the top teams in Utah. AWESOME! That is a moment he will never want to forget.
Close To My Heart products used: Make It Count Stamp Set (D1257), Twilight Cardstock (X5666), Free Spirit Level 2 Scrapbook Kit (X7088B), Black Stamp Pad (Z2105), Desert Sand Stamp Pad (Z2118), Cocoa Stamp Pad (Z2114), Photo Hangers (Z293)

To order any of these products, or many others to choose from, click here to enter my website and then click on "Shop Online".

The clock was a transparency overlay by Heidi Swapp that I purchased a couple of years ago.

Give me FIVE!!! No, wait! I'll give YOU five!

Five is number that has special meaning this month for me...and for you too! Let me tell you FIVE reasons why:

1. My grandmother, Winona Thorderson, turned 90 on June 28 (Sunday). We had a big family party for her and took a five generation photo. Yep, you read that right. FIVE generations! My grandma (Winona, in the chair), my mom (Nedra, far right), me (far left), my daughter, Kori (center of back) and my granddaughter, Daci (on my grandma's lap). How many families have 5 generations still living? We are so fortunate.
2. There is a very special "Favorite Five" campaign this month with Close To My Heart. Anyone who signs up to be a Close To My Consultant between July 1 and July 31 will receive an extra 5 items in their already amazing new consultant kit. Here is the list to choose from. Oh, and guess what...it's free! On top of the items being free, there is no shipping and handling added, nor tax. WOW! If you've ever thought of starting your own Close To My Heart business, NOW is the time. I would love to have you on my team. We are called "The Pacemakers" because we keep "The Heart" (as in Close To My Heart) pumpin'! I provide lots of training and support (in person team meetings, conference calls, emails, one on one calls, artwork swaps, etc) to help you succeed with your business. To sign up, just head to my website (http://leavealegacy.myctmh.com), click on "Your Opportunities" and then on the "click here" link at the bottom of that page. Signing up is EASY!
   Choose your “favorite five” from this list of products
   My Acrylix® Thank You Stamp Set (retail value $22.95)
   Magic Moments Scrapbook Kit (retail value $34.95)
   Basic Textured Cardstock Combo Pack (retail value $14.95)
   Life Delights Memory Showcase (retail value $12.95)
   My Originals® Hello Birdie Card Kit (retail value $12.95)
   Creative Basics™ Silhouette Collection (retail value $8.95)
   HeartFelt™ Whimsy Die-Cuts (retail value $9.95)
   All-Out Adventure Rub-Ons (retail value $9.95)
   Window Charms™ Squares (retail value $9.95)
   
   To take advantage of this GREAT promotion, head to my website (http://leavealegacy.myctmh.com), click on ‘Your Opportunities’ and then “click here’ at the bottom of that page. I’d love to have you on my team! We are called The Pacemakers because we keep “The Heart” (as in Close To My Heart) pumpin’! We have lots of fun and I offer lots of training and support to help you make your business a success!
3. I have included five photos of artwork I have created using the July Stamp of the Month (D1351-You've Got Flair). I was not sure I loved this set until I started using it. I hope the ideas I have shared will help you see how beautiful this set is all stamped up. I had so much fun playing with it and know it will be a set that I use and use.
4. There are FIVE ways you can own this set:

• You can purchase this darling stamp set for $22.95
• If you spend $25 (before shipping and tax) you get it for 25% off ($17.21)
• If you spend $50 (before shipping and tax) you get it for 50% off ($11.48)If you spend $75 (before shipping and tax) you get it for 75% off ($5.74)
• If you spend $100 (before shipping and tax), it is your FREE!

• If you sign up as a Consultant this month (using the Favorite Five special), I will give you this set as a gift absolutely FREE! That means you'll get the Favorite Five with your consultant kit, and then the Stamp of the Month from me. WOO HOO! I love free!

5. Five is a cute number. Don't believe me? Look at it! It has squared edges and rounded edges, it is fun to write, and looks stinkin' cute on a scrapbook page. Am I crazy? Have I lost my mind? Maybe, but I needed one more reason to love five so I had five reasons, not just four, so this is it! :)

So, give me FIVE for the FIVE reasons (five generations, Favorite Five, five photos of Stamp of the Month artwork, FIVE ways to own the Stamp of the month, and just because FIVE is a cute number) to love FIVE this month!