“An Artistic Adventure”

I am almost packed, the gifts for my room mates are finished, and I am ready for “An Artistic Adventure” to begin! Close To My Heart will be celebrating 30 years this week, as a few thousand consultants gather at The Disneyland Hotel for Convention.

My daughter and resident nail expert figured out my new custom Jamberry nails, so my fingertips resemble Minnie Mouse’s wardrobe.

My Minnie Mouse nails from Jamberry Nails.

Tomorrow’s tee-shirt is my teal “Scrapbook Ninja” one (thanks to Two Chicks Designs), and each day will have its own shirt, including Saturday’s favorite, “Forget the glass slipper, this princess wears running shoes”. Perfect for a 5K run (walk) through Disneyland, don’t you think?

Each day will bring new surprises, new product, new techniques. And throughout the fun we will still remember why we do what we do: Memories are important. Pictures are important. Families are important.

I will be checking in throughout the week, although I won’t be posting new product pictures yet. The new Idea Book goes on-line August 1, so no peeking. But I will be sharing glimpses of the fun, including the evening I have planned with my son and daughter-in-love Thursday night.

I hope you enjoy the week. I know I will!

30th Anniversary Gifts

To see these inspiring collections in detail, visit my Online Business Address here. At the lower left of the page you will find “June Gathering”; click on the “join” button and have fun shopping!

More card making fun

Once I got “in the groove” making cards for the Stampers With Attitude Blog Hop, I spent most of Monday playing around with cards and more cards. I made a set to give as a door prize (along with a $20 CTMH gift certificate) at Helping One Woman last night, and several more sets to sell. I absolutely love the Skylark paper pack…the papers are so versatile that, depending on what stamps you use, they can fit almost any occasion. Here are a couple more of my favorites:

[inside: “Friend, you lift me up.”]

This was made using the Skylark BT Duos paper, with a dragonfly MyAcrylix Petite Perks stamp in Chocolate ink.

Believe. [inside — “Don’t quit your daydream.”]

This is another piece cut from that same Skylark BT Duos paper. The butterfly was from the same MyAcrylix Petite Perks stamp in Lagoon ink. The inside greeting is from the Unicorn Dreams Hostess MyAcrylix stamp…”Don’t Quit Your Daydream”.

Unicorn with Stars. [inside: “It’s not a unicorn. It’s a horse with a sword on its head to guard my hopes & dreams.”

For this one I used the reverse of the Skylark BT Duos paper, and the small unicorn image from the Unicorn Dreams Hostess MyAcrylix stamp set. The inside greeting is from that same set…”It’s not a unicorn. It’s a horse with a sword on its head to guard my hopes & dreams.”

To order card making or stamping supplies, visit my Online Business Address.

June “Stampers with an Attitude” Focus on Summer Blog Hop

I’m working on something new for Photo Fun With Fun…my very first blog hop. If you are new to the concept, it goes like this: You visit (hop) from one blog to the next in order until you find yourself back where you started. This particular hop has 12 participants, (I’m #3). You should have come to me from Melinda Everitt’s blog. (If you are starting here with me, you can reach Denise Elliott and Melinda at the end of the circle. So when you finish here, please go visit Sheila Bennett

I made two “Summer”-themed cards for my contribution to the blog hop. Those of you who have scrapped with me know that I am a “recovering” naked scrapper, so my style is very simple. The basis for both cards was the Jubilee Scrapbook Workshop-On-The-Go. Both bases are 4.5″ x 5.5″ Colonial White cards, with the fold at the top. All products used are from Close To My Heart. To purchase any needed supplies, visit my Online Business Address.

Supply List:
1 12×12 sheet Cocoa card stock
1 12×12 sheet BT Duos
“Living the Good Life” MyAcrilyx stamp
“Orange slice” MyAcrilyx Stamp
The decorative strip from the BT Duo paper
[all from Jubilee WOTG]
“Wishing you happiness and sunshine” stamp from the Give A Lift MyAcrilyx stamp set
Topiary, Goldrush, and Chocolate Exclusive Inks
Angel Policy MyAcrilyx stamp set
Clear Sparkles assortment
Non-stick Micro Tip Scissors
Your favorite adhesives, My Acrylix Spritz Cleaner and Stamp Scrubber, My Acrylix Blocks to size.

Card #1: Summertime Fun

Summer Time Fun card front

Front:
Cut a 4×5.25″ piece of cocoa card stock, adhere to center on front of card.
Cut a large “doily” medallion from the goldrush side of the BT duo paper. Place on upper left corner of cocoa card stock, as shown.
Cut “Summer Time Fun” headline from BT Duo decorative strip, trim ends, adhere to bottom right of card.
Place one 5mm Clear Sparkle in center of medallion, and one 4mm Clear Sparkle on each end of “Summer Time Fun”.

Summer Time Fun card inside

Inside:
With Topiary ink, stamp “Living the Good Life” just slightly higher than center (or wherever pleases you).

Summer Time Fun card back

Back:
Stamp it in Topiary Exclusive Ink with your favorite “Angel Policy” stamp and sign it with pride.

Card #2: Happiness and Sunshine

Happiness and Sunshine card front

Front:
Cut a 4×4″ square from cocoa card stock, adhere to front of card base.
Cut out the central medallion from the reverse side of the BT Duos paper, adhere to center of cocoa card stock.
Accent with a 5mm Clear Sparkle in middle of medallion.

Happiness and Sunshine card inside

Inside:
1/2″ from top fold, stamp an orange slice from the Jubilee WOTG stamp set in Goldrush Exclusive Ink.
Just below that, stamp “Wishing you happiness and sunshine” from the Give a Lift My Acrylix Stamp Set in Chocolate Exclusive Ink.

Happiness and Sunshine card back

Back:
Stamp it in Chocolate Exclusive Ink with your favorite “Angel Policy” stamp and sign it with pride.

June “Stampers with an Attitude” Focus on Summer Blog Hop Blog Roll:

Denise Elliott ~ http://www.inspiredbyd.blogspot.com
Melinda Everitt ~ http://www.ifyoublingit.blogspot.com/
Fawn Carriker ~ http://photofunwithFawn.wordpress.com
Sheila Bennett ~ http://sheila-bennett.blogspot.com
Hilary Reynolds ~ http://stampcraftyreader.blogspot.com/
Barbi Kelley ~ http://barbispapercreations.blogspot.com/
Jen Patrick~ http://roxybonds-scrappin.blogspot.com/
Jaime Llewellyn ~ http://jaimellewellyn.blogspot.com
Di Crawford ~ http://scrapwithdi.blogspot.com/
Catherine Nowak ~ http://catscrapbooking.com/
Melissa Robinson ~ http://mlisrobinson.blogspot.com

June Stamp of the Month

Wouldn’t this be wonderful for your Fourth of July layouts?

It’s a new month, and we can celebrate with a new Stamp of the Month special — $5.00 with a $50.00 purchase. This MyAcrylix Stamp Set is only available during the month of June, and retails for $17.95 if you are purchasing it on its own.

To shop, head on over to my Online Business Address and order through my June Gathering.

Found: That little girl

This is the piece from Mom’s journal that so undid me last week. I think she asks — and answers — a question we each have asked about ourselves at least once as we grew.

June 29, ’99 2 PM
Today I feel profound. I’m not sure what I feel profound about, but something.

The sun is out, but not for long, and I’ve been turning the water on & off for Don to spray the fruit trees. It’s a bit windy.

My feet are bare and I’m standing in a small patch of soft dirt that feels so warm and good. I’m watching a “snake” lizard sunning himself on a large piece of firewood and thinking.

I’m thinking about that little girl I was so long ago with the loose black hair flying in the wind and running barefoot in the hot dirt.

She had a quick laugh & a too loud voice. But outside in the Summertime running barefoot, it seems to me now she felt wild & free & very happy.

Is she still here someplace deep inside? Of course she is. Why would I ever let her go?

Mom, Aunt Betty, and their dolls.