The Gift of Sight-Shades of CTMH

Sunday before last, I read this article in the Sacramento Bee about Connie's Crew.

The first words that smacked me in the face were Breast Cancer…then when I recovered from that, the next words to create a dew on my forehead was High School friends and then the sight that made my heart go pitter-patter was the youngest boy wearing glasses.

Now all of the above are things close to my heart. Most of you know I am a 12 year Survivor of Breast Cancer…some know that my support system and Venti (biggest) fans were my High School buds…and then of course, I am in the Vision world professionally.

We hear about Breast Cancer every.single.day. 1 in 8 women will be affected by invasive  Breast Cancer in her lifetime. I am not immune to the data or facts. I am emotionally touched by every person (not just women) who are affected. I can't do something for every single one…I go for the gusto and support those whose mission is to the find the cure.
Had a ever met her? Nope. Ever shared space in a Starbucks with her? Nope.
But sometimes….somethings….and one someone catches my heart and grabs it worse than a childbearing contraction. This article about this woman did just that.

I have an awesome employer that does awesome things Community based.
Yes, sometimes I don't have pleasant thoughts about the job per se, but you can't beat an employer that gives so much, whether disaster victims, local sports sponsorships, and scholarships, Wellness Clinics for Vets, Team Sponsorships for the SGKomen Race for the Cure, Walk for Diabetes, March of Dimes and more. Let's not forget Cake Day every month, and believe it or not Bonuses!

One thing new this year was H.E.L.P (Healthy Eye Laision Program) for the employees. We are each given one Gift Certificate to share with anyone…friend, family or stranger for an eye exam and glasses. Well…you guessed it. This was THE thing I could do for Connie and her family. Four of my Team Members when asked, didn't hesitate to volunteer theirs so that we could have a total of five.

This past Saturday night was the Benefit Concert and Silent Auction Fundraiser and I was honored and humbled to deliver these to Connie.

So I voluntold my Cricut machine to make some cute decor for each Gift Certificate

And I delivered them…in a Tu-Tu…as the Vision Fairy

Later I will share the reactions of those around me as I left a touch of glitter on everyone.

Artwork..surprised aintcha?

I made this little goodie for my new Sup's step-mother for Mother's Day…she's a very elderly, traditional Asian woman who likes things simple but appreciates hand-made goodness.

The papers used are retired from Close To My Heart, but you can still purchase the box  and the stamp set on my website along with other fabulous treasures.
A fun technique for the dress form and antique sewing machine: I embossed with black powder after inking with VersaMark onto overlays then cut out carefully and adhered with our Liquid Glass.

Here's another project for another Team's Sup that I make quite a few things for;

Using the My Creations Mini Banner (love this for quick gifts so I try to keep a couple of sets on hand)

Again the papers are retired, but you can utilize any of our beautiful papers.

Our exclusive AP Cricut Cartridge cuts the paper perfectly to fit over the banner pieces and the package gives you some mini-mini Chipboard banners to get you started!

Another gift for a co-worker who retired after 21 YEARS as a phone agent. Can you imagine? We added some photos of her over the last few years.
(people didn't take pictures and keep them before I came on board…can you believe that either?)
Using our newest QuickPic Album, it was perfect for the few pages we needed. I did add one FlipFlap in the new 6 x 6 size for some nice notes people emailed in.

I love using Liquid Glass to highlight our cut out letters using the AP Cartridge and threw in some Bling because she was such a Blingy type gal...


I have created a lot of art lately honest! I just forget to share here more than Facebook!
More coming…promise.

Chirp, Ditto, Chirp!

Just in case you've never visited our founder of Close To My Heart Jeanette Lynton's Blog (the link is to the right down the page), she recently put out a Q&A for anyone to submit their inquiring mind-type questions…well I did…and she answered!

See, after attending years and years of events put on by CTMH, I wanted to know that with the Cricut phenomenon, if our Corp office staffers still hand cut hundreds of thousands of pieces of papers and cardstock for our hands-one projects!
(personally I love using my Bug to cut me a whole sheet of 2 x 2 squares!)

She never really addressed that part of the question, but she did give us all some insight on how much of a CTMH purist she is or if she ever delved into the "other" side of craft tools!

Check out her response by clicking here

Gone "bug"gee…with the new Cricut Cartridge (again!) OPEN HOUSE

and just in case you like to "see" things more clearly before you buy…here are ALL the images from the new Art Philosphy exclusive Cricut Cartridge from Close to My Heart.

 and don't forget that you can come see this and all the other new fabulous products from the Autumn/Winter Idea Book at our Open House
Sunday August 21st from 2:00 until 5:30pm.
Demonstrations and Make n Takes on-going through the day!
Email me for more info and to RSVP
It's FREE! but please do RSVP so we can have ample supplies ready.

Oh Yes I Can!

"Hey TERri," mom yelled into the phone. "Can you look on the computer and see if you can find..."
Sure! Why, we can find anything "on the computer"! Of course since she doesn't get the whole "computer thing, what she means is the internet.
(see previous post)
It was there (on the internet) I found a You-Tube video with detailed instructions on how to fix the heater blower on my car  after 6...yaaaaaaas SIX long years without heat or a/c.
So when my neighbor saw my legs peeking out of my car, he (carefully wording his question as not to offend me) said, "you're not trying to fix your car...are you?"
I (muffled a few curse words first with my head under the dashboard) "oh YES I can!"

Anyhoot!
When said mother asked if I  would make some goodie bags for her Red-Hat  club's Birthday Bash this month I said, of course, "Yes I can!" (well my Cricut can anyways...)

So here's a preview of what I've been up to.
(in case you visit here often and find me lacking in posting which I am sure most don't!)

Have I mentioned how much I love my Cricut machine?

Get 'er done!

Just this past weekend, I was off to Stampin Memories Scapbook Getaway...
while it's suppose to be a productive weekend, I'm usually slow in the production process because of the pre-paring process.
However...!
I was able to finish a layout series of my CTMH Album Retreat taken in 06
(remember, the mantra; it's ok not to be caught up in your scrapbooks!)

Color combinations;
Sweet Leaf, Twilight, Cocoa
All B/T papers are retired.
Stamp set used is C1322 Gratitude
Cricut come some of the first few flowers.
(if you weren't present in Folsom, and can guess how I made the white flowers, post here!)

The Zermatt Resort was beautiful, as are the surrounding properties..

Lower left corner is actually a flip-out to hide some additional photos.





There's an awesome design on our shirts....below the photo on the right, you'll see some hand-made embellishements to match.
Here's the close-up.

Since the entertainment was a Let's Make a Deal type game for fabulous CTMH products, a lot of my fellow consultants went all out to represent (what else?) CTMH products!
(hell with copyright issues I guess)
My roommates and I were just "bloomin idiots"...
(whattarya laughin about?)

Another good reason to wait to scrapbook an event...it took 2 years for CTMH to come out with a flower in a stamp set that matched!

It's off to Stampin Memories Scrapbook Getaways!

If it's fall it MUST be time for a Scrapbook Getaway!

These are the "goodie bags"

National Card Making Weekend!

Project DONE!

Ok, so I didn't make cards (maybe tonite, who knows?) HOWEVER I did have a major project to get done, and am glad to report that it is...DONE!

You may remember last year I made these white paper bag albums for my friend Tracey's daughter and her soccer team buddies...then I made those cute baseball trading card type albums for her son's teammates...

Well, back to soccer time!
I wanted something with a "round theme" like a soccer ball (get it?) and what else would be perfect than CTMH's Circle Albums?!

So here is the "in the box album" before and the finished one back in the box waiting for the girls pictures (come on, Tracey, get that camera/computer issue figured out, k?)

The papers used were blush, black and daisy white, ink used was mostly black Stazon.
Alpha set on the cover is the new Friendship (small).
I had to use some contraband like soccer ball brads, ribbon and soccer related papers.

The round border is the cover with the chipboard element page punched out. The girls' picture will be peeking through, and of course they are all personalized.



On the blank white pages will be the individual photos of each girl...11 of them!
The backsides are the decorated pages.
This one has the decorator flower element painted black. It comes with the other chipboard pieces included with the circle album.

A peek of all 11...





Once I get a picture of Camryn (and with her mom's ok) I'll post hers all finished.

More Disney Fun!

Ya think there might be a theme here lately with the Disney themed items, eh?
I really did make this over a year ago...however, it's worthy to be here as well.
The "album" is 6 x 6.
Cover

Inside front cover (left)



Middle area holding 5.5 individual pages. The tabs were made with the Cricut of course as well as the other letterings.
Liquid glass on the lettering and ears.


Here's a better view of the tabs


Right inside back cover holds another mini album.
Tabs are from Quikutz

Here's the individual mini pages.

Lastest Project...Top Ten Favs

This was the gift that went with the "Welcome to the Bifocal Club" card...
I know they don't match...but neither do these
This base item is available at Oriental Trading.
Using Close To My Hearts Let's Get Together Card Kit.
To protect the paper covers from icky fingers, I cut a page protector, punched holes to match up with the rings, then slit them for easy removal.




Then because of the clever-ness-of-me, I took an acetate sheet and did the same so the "cook" could put it over the recipe she's using at the time.
Now...for the typed recipe cards,(which were for my SIL's using Gramma's recipes) I simply (ha-ha-ha) created created a word doc and with some practice (and tons of paper) got it so that I could use Dotto to attach the recipe card to a piece of printer paper, put it in the printer and hit print!
Cool beans!
I used blank cards and mounted on larger pieces of cardstock.

I am My Mother's Daughter

I decided not to do alot of embellishments on this one...it's all about the journalling, babeeee!

A little bit Shabby, a little bit Electic...

Love the new Silhouette papers from CTMH
I also love T!m Holtz' new Grungeboard, too!
And we can't forget how much I love my new Cricut Expressions!

Put em together....and this is what you get!