Cross 'em!

GO KNIGHTS! Tannon and his Knights play Jordan High School tonight. Keep your fingers, toes and eyes crossed for us!

Buttons, Buttons and More Buttons

I had lots of fun putting this card together with the CPS sketch this week (#136). I'm beginning to feel very Christmas-y. I even bought my Christmas wrap today!

Close To My Heart products used: Say It In Style Stamp Set (D1283), Evergreen Stamp Set (D1315), New England Ivy Stamp Pad (Z2135), Everlasting Level 2 Paper Pack (X7085B), Across The Board Rubons (Z1231), Designer Ribbon Rounds Holiday Collection (Z1305), Holiday Craft Buttons (Z1285), Heritage Edge Anchors (Z1288), 3D Foam Tape (Z1151), Corner Rounder (Z578).

Click here to order from my website 24/7...especially at Christmas time!

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).

Happy Halloween Twice

I made the two cards you'll see in this post last night when I was going crazy with insomnia, so who knows how great they really look. When I am sleep deprived things just don't look exactly like they do when I am resting well. If the cards are not so hot, I take no responsibility. Sleep deprivation does not leave me in my right mind. If you like the cards, then maybe I should create more often when I am a zombie, which could be a good thing since I am becoming more and more zombie-ish with every passing night.

I used two sketches that are actually current this week. The first is a sketch from Mojo Monday (#107). I also used Jeanette Lynton's Color Me Monday combo from her blog on this card (Twilight, Sunflower, Clover Meadow and Black).

Close To My Heart products used: Beware Stamp Set (D1381), White Daisy Cardstock (1385), Good Times Level 2 Paper Packet (X7092B), Tinkerin' Level 2 Paper Packet (X7113B), Fresh Shapes Dimensional Elements (Z1019), On Target Dimensional Elements (Z1226), Silhouette Level 2 Paper Packet (X7090), Silhouette Creative Basics Collection (X5803), Black Stamp Pad (Z2105), 3D Foam Tape (Z1151).

Non-Close To My Heart products used: sunflower buttons (unknown).

The second card is using sketch #26 from 2Sketches4You. I almost always love their sketches.

Close To My Heart products used: Beware Stamp Set (D1381), White Daisy Cardstock (1385), Hydrangea Cardstock (X5634), Citrus Leaf Cardstock (1228), Orange Cardstock (1281), Silhouette Level 2 Paper Packet (X7090), Silhouette Creative Basics Collection (X5803), Black Stamp Pad (Z2105), 3D Foam Tape (Z1151), Brads (retired), Round Sponge (Z697).

Click here to order from my website 24/7, even when you're sleep deprived.

Non-Close To My Heart products used: Marvy punches (various circles and scalloped circles), DCWV sticky ribbon.

Gingerbread in October

I decided to play with the November Stamp of the Month (D1377-Around the Block) from Close To My Heart this weekend (as a Consultant, I can get it early!). I will share this set with you along with several more artwork examples using it in November when you are able to buy it or earn it free.

I thought the house from the set could be made to look like a gingerbread house so decided to emboss it on Brown Bag Cardstock (X5644) with White Daisy Embossing Powder (Z673). I loved the look! Then I used a Round Sponge (Z697) and my Chocolate Stamp Pad (Z2111) to add some shading to make the 'gingerbread' look a little more cooked in some places than others. Again, loved it! After adding a few brads (Twinkle Brads-Z1220 and Holiday Mini-Medley Accents-Z1121) in holiday colors I got really excited! I knew the perfect paper pack to go with this yummy gingerbread creation was our Jingle Level 2 Paper Pack (X7115B). I made the 6" x 6" card in the middle and the standard card on the left. My daughter, Kori made the standard card on the right (cute, huh?!!). We used a couple of last week's sketches for our inspiration. Unfortunately we didn't get the cards finished and pictures taken in time to post them on the sketch sites, but we had fun using the sketches all the same. Thanks to last week's Mojo Monday sketch, Card Patterns sketch and CPS sketch for inspiration! Thanks also to Martha Stewart for making such a stinkin' cute snowflake punch! I had fun using it on my cards.

Other than the snowflake punches on the cards, all products are Close To My Heart. Click here to order from my website 24/7...even when you're creating gingerbread houses in October!

Speaking of October...I had to share a DARLING Halloween decoration that I bought with some of my birthday money this year. I just put it out today and I LOVE it!

Tears, tears and more tears

This is my 2nd post today. Be sure to scroll down to the first one to see some artwork.

So after I posted my first post, I started going through some old photos and found some that made me cry! As you know, my Easton is on a mission for our church. He will be home in 3 1/2 more months (after being gone for over 20 months now). I am so excited to get him home, although I wouldn't wish away the final few months of his mission for anything. He has had such an amazing experience. But, as you also know, I really miss him.

I found a photo of he and his best friend, Trevor in 6th grade. They have been playing football together since 5th grade and will be playing together in college at Southern Utah University next year.

Then I found one of he and Trevor about the time they graduated from high school, about 6 months before leaving on their missions. Aren't they handsome?

If that didn't bring tears, the one I found next did. Here is one of Easton and I and several of his buddies (including Trevor) and their 'dates.' All of the boys in this photo are all currently on missions. These boys decided before leaving for their missions they wanted to go on a big group date with their moms. They took us out to dinner and then to see the movie/musical "Hairspray". I will never forget this night. It was the sweetest thing for these boys to do.

l-r: Brenen and his mom (Brenen is serving his mission in Paraguay), Easton and I (E is in Houston-Spanish speaking mission), Trevor and his mom (Trevor is serving in Canada) and Tyler and his mom (Tyler is serving in Dallas, TX).

Tears, tears and more tears. But they are happy tears. I love this kid and am so proud of him.

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!)

Victory is SWEET

Last night was a big win for Tannon (#10, QB) and the Lone Peak Knights after our big loss last week to Alta High School. Last night's victory put us in a tie for 2nd place in our region...not bad for the toughest region in the state! 4 of the top 10 teams in the state are in our region! Beating the American Fork High School Cavemen (our cross town rival) 24-6 keeps us in contention for a playoff spot. Woo Hoo! You can read newspaper stories about the game here (Deseret News) and here (Daily Herald) and here (Salt Lake Tribune).

To catch you up, last week we played one of the toughest teams in the state (Alta) and got our little tushies handed to us on a platter. NOT FUN! Last night was a whole different story, thank goodness. We did the handing of the platter.

Keep it rolling, Knights! The next several weeks are going to be a dog fight every week. We face Jordan next week.

Dawson's Freshman team plays American Fork today. Let's keep our fingers crossed that the winning streak continues in the Pedersen household! I thought for good luck I'd throw in a photo I took a couple of weeks ago of Dawson (#10, DT) sacking the QB. I wish I had also caught the little sack dance afterward with my camera too. He jumped up and did a muscle pose and growled. Hilarious!

Have I ever mentioned how much I love watching my boys play football? I'm sure you would have never guessed it.

It's Play Time!

For those of you who are not members of my Play Groups (PG), and for those of you who are, I wanted to share photos of the three two-page layouts we will be making this month (October) in my PG Classes. Feel free to click on any photo in this post to see it larger. This month I am featuring the Twitterpated Paper Pack and matching MyStickease as well as Natural Hemp (Z280), Designer Ribbon Rounds Chocolate Collection (Z1127), and Dimensional Elements in Color-Organic (Z1230). We meet at my home in Highland, UT. It's tons of fun and I'm confident you'll LOVE it!

The class dates and times are:
Tuesday, October 6, 10 am - 1 pm
Tuesday, October 6, 7 - 10 pm
Wednesday, October 7, 10 am - 1 pm
Thursday, October 8, 7 - 10 pm

If you have not yet signed up to attend, it's not too late. I have 2 basic kits ($27.13...includes shipping and tax) still availabe. Email me to sign up (pedermom@aol.com).

You can read details of how my Play Groups work on the left side of my blog under the heading "Play Group Information". It's lots of fun and much needed 'play time' for grown up girls.

I will be sharing November's Play Group pages later this week, too! Just so you can check your calendar now, here are November's dates:
Tuesday, November 10, 10 am - 1 pm
Tuesday, November 10, 7 - 10 pm
Wednesday, November 11, 10 am - 1 pm
Wendesday, November 11, 7 - 10 pm

Oh gosh, I might as well give you a little sneak peek. Here is one of the three two-page layouts for November just to wet your whistle. Stay tuned this week for the others.

Technical Difficulties No More!

Woo Hoo! I now have brand new card reader for my camera card (to replace the old one that died this week) and hence, some fun stuff to share. Yipee-Cay-Ay (is that how you spell that?).

Today, being the first day of October (Happy October, Everyone!), I thought I'd share some artwork featuring Close To My Heart's October Stamp of the Month and tell you how you can get it.

Here is the stamp set (actual size of the carrier sheet you see here is 6" x 6"):

This is a perfect set for those of you who are already thinking about Christmas and all the festivities, those of you who want to get an early jump on holiday cards and gift tags, and those of you who are alive and breathe. I think that covers just about everyone (Warning: I am feeling a bit silly today. Brace yourselves!). Want to see some fun artwork to go with it? I'm going to assume your answer is YES! Feel free to click on any photo to see it larger.6 x 6 card created by my talented downline-Judy Malouff, Gift Tags created by my talented downline-Carma Howard, and the rest by yours truly.

How cute is this all stamped up, anyway? The artwork you see features the October Stamp of the Month (D1376-Holiday Warmth), the Jingle Level 2 Paper Pack (X7115B), the Jingle Creative Basics Collection (X5808) and other products that enhance them in the colors of Tulip, Juniper, Creme Brulee, Blush and White Daisy.

Here is the way the Stamp of the Month works. Each month Close To My Heart offers a stamp set that is valued at $22.95 that is only available during that calendar month. This month, as you know, it's Holiday Warmth (D1376).

*If you spend $25 or more (before shipping & tax) you get this set for 25% off (which is $17.21 and the order number is now D1376A).
*If you spend $50 or more (before shipping and tax) you get this set for 50% off (which is $11.48 and the order number is now D1376B).
*If you spend $75 or more (before shipping and tax) you get this set for 75% off (which is $5.74 and the order number is now D1376C).
*If you spend $100 or more (before shipping and tax) you get this set FREE (which is $0 for those of you who are not sure what free means (lol) and the order number is now D1376D).
*Or, if there is nothing else you are in need of (Heaven forbid!) but still want the darling stamp of the month, you can purchase it for it's full retail price of $22.95 (order #D1376).

Here are a few close ups of the artwork for your enjoyment:

12 x 12 layout of my beautiful granddaughter, Daci...all bundled up

4"x 4" Card:

4 1/4" x 5 1/2" card:
6" x 6" card by Judy Malouff:
Gift Tag #1 by Carma Howard:
Gift Tag #2 by Carma Howard:

How cool is the Stamp of the Month program? "SO STINKIN' COOL," would be the correct answer. Congratulations if you got it right (tee hee). To order Holiday Warmth (or anything else for that matter) and to have fun shoppin' on my website 24/7 (even on the first day of October), click here.