Eight Random Things on the 8th!

Something new and totally UNoriginal…
Most nites I'm usually pretty well brain dead from the "other day job" and commuting, which puts a big damper on my ArT and cReaTiviTy…it's all I can do to catch up on my friends' blogs I tell ya!

One  blog I try not to lose sight of is a long time CTMH friend Kathy. She does a random 7 thoughts on the 7th. Then there's my other CTMH friend Tresa and she does a Whatever Wednesday thing.

Now, I can't even compete with Tresa's Fabulously Artsy posts (I'm so not worthy) however I CAN put together a few random thoughts like Kathy…so here goes:

1. I will try to remember do to this on the 8th of each month (but no promises. ha!)

2. Cancer Bites. Another family member has been diagnosed and quite frankly, I'd love to just bite Cancer back in the ass.

3. Spiders bite, too. An unidentifiable garden spider has taken a chunk out of the BFG here while tending to his garden. While the feeling is back in his lip and cheek, there is still a numb feeling up on his head.  Will he go to the Dr.? The answer is, "he is a man".

4. I am so overwhelmed with ArT possibilities that I lose focus.

5. I am 2.5 months behind on hair needs. I have resorted to the ol' modeling trick...
brown eyeshadow at the root line. Please don't share this secret as it will put the L'Oreal people into bankruptcy.

6.  I really would do a LOT of good deeds within my community/world if I should ever win the Lottery. Not that I do not now. I do have a list prepared just in case things go Global.

7.  I keep putting off vacuuming the spider webs in the house because Halloween is right around the corner and then all I have to do is blow some baby powder on them and my decorating is done!

8. I really want to thank you for sticking through this post. Really.

More of Wicked!

For someone who's set has not arrived yet (arg!), I've been playing a lot with the images of our Aug SOTM and just love it!
Here's another one using Gypsy, Purple, Black and Col White.

It's OFFICIAL and HERE! The new Autumn/Winter Idea Book!

It's been an amazing few weeks since convention…big news here folks! And I mean BIG, REALLY BIG!

I've been a Cricut user for years, always hesitated to use in the business side of CTMH, but always ran my bug 24/7 for personal and for-hire projects. Just love my Bug!

Anyhoot, the really big news is…ready for this?
Close To My Heart has partnered with Cricut and we now have our own EXCLUSIVE Cricut cartridge called ArT PhiLosoPhy!

With the collection you receive, not only the EXCLUSIVE cartridge with over 700 images; fonts, shapes ad 3-D items (that would be over 35,000 combinations folks), you also receive 3 - D sized My Acrylix Stamp Sets AND 3 -"9x12" Dimensional (chipboard) Elements (3 sheets of different shapes)! The cool thing is, the stamp sets have the exact measurements listed on the acetate sheet to help you get the PERFECT sized cut!
How much do you ask? Was that a guess of $200? nope. $150.?  $125? uh, nope again!
For just $99. retail, you'll be burning up your Cricut 24/7 with all the possibilities too!
Quick teaser video:


Now the REALLY, REALLY cool special coming up will get you free stuff! Here's how:
Place your order on my website HERE on or after Aug 15th 
Order the Art Philosophy Collection Z1686 $99. and receive the Stamp of the Month Wicked for $5. YES! I said $5.00! Now you don't need to spend a fortune to receive it at a great price or free (any $50. order will allow you to order the current Stamp of the Month for $5.! Yeah CTMH! and….and….
you will also receive this DARLING exclusive set for FREE!

How's THAT for a BONUS?! Not good enough?!
Well, if your order is $150. by yourself, you reap the Hostess Rewards, too!
While you're browsing the new Idea Book, take note:
Stamp Set prices have been lowered! Wow!
Our Background/Textured papers are now DUAL sided and a cardstock weight, with a useable Zip Strip on the edge.
New embellishments and ribbon!
View the new Idea Book on-line HERE and start making that wish list!
You may also note that the 12x12 and 8.5 x 11 cardstocks in individual packs are only available on my website now, too.

Any questions? Yea, I thought so…give me a call!

August Blog Hop!

Welcome! If you arrived here from Linda's Blog then you've come to the right place!

This month's features are the colors or use  of the new Mischief Papers!

and our new Stamp of the Month….Wicked!

Well... I didn't have either yet, but was able to borrow and stamp some images from a friend….

So while I did use Black and Sunset, I used a carry-over stamp set from the Spring/Summer Catalog that is now in the new Autumn/Winter catalog…

Stamp set used: C1423 Captured Moments

and also The Present D1436

They both have great textures you can use for any theme.

(disclosure: do not start with your largest object first! 

I am not happy that it's huge by comparison to the images. failure!)

I used a scrap of our Wings Level 2 Assortment Z1398 Black pleated ribbon around a hydrangea rolled rose. 

I cut a mask from a post-it note, then  on a 1.5 x 1.5 square of Col. White stamped the image, then sponged with the reverse mask. When I went to sponge some clouds in, my grey was green! ack! failure!

Ok, so after a few excuses…here it is!

Now for heaven's sake, hop on over to Pam's Blog so she can WOW you!

CONVENTION Highlights...

Careful…you might miss my shot!

Love, Love, Love….

More photos coming from Anaheim!
Darn electronics!

Convention, Cricut and Close To My Heart…a beautiful combination!

In case you haven't heard through the cyber-world how CTMH has turned the Scrapbook industry upside down AGAIN…here's a sneak preview of what's going to be available August 1st!

With over 32,500 combinations of options, this will rock.your.world AND projects!
There are over 700 images on this cartridge and it comes with 3 stamp sets and three 9" x 12" chipboard sheets with shapes that also coordinate. 


More later!

Convention and Traditions!

I'm off to Close To My Heart's Annual Convention in Anaheim, CA …
and no, we will NOT have repeats of 13 years ago when Haley got left in the Happiest Place on Earth by herself! I won't be visiting Mickey or Minnie this visit, but will still enjoy the fun and excitement of it all while staying at the Disneyland's recently re-modeled Hotel.

I'll be missing in action, but will come back with some awesome new sneak peaks of all the latest and greatest we have all come to expect from Close To My Heart.

See ya soon!

More BANG for your Buck!

Our July Constant Campaign, (more) Bang for Your Buck, is sure to send your summer heart soaring with Close to My Heart! Simply put, with a purchase of $50 minimum from the Spring/Summer 2011 Idea Book, you can add a bonus item for just $1 more !
 Choose from five items, each valued at $8.95 US / $9.95 CAN or more: X5811 Creative Basics® Mistletoe collection, X5807 Creative Basics® Animal Cookies collection, X8624 My Originals® Bits & Pieces card kit, X8622 My Originals® It’s Your Day card kit, and X8623 My Originals® Around the Holidays card kit.
 
To qualify for this promotion, items purchased must be from the Spring/Summer Idea Book, purchased between July 1 and 31st…
You can view and purchase by clicking HERE


And check out the other great reduced items available for a limited time only!
Things are HEATING UP all around! 


OH and did I mention that due to popular demand, I'll be revisiting…..

Yes, We are Proud to Be an Apache!

Occasionally, a group of us who attended Encina High School (back when it was a GOOD school) get together. By occasionally, I mean any excuse we can think of ie: birthdays, warm weather, end of school year, or when we're bored with our every day lives…

So last nite we did…ie;  someone had a birthday, the warm weather arrived and our college-aged kids are now out of school and we were bored with our every day lives.

I do love getting together with our group…we have endured a lot since our High School days within our group..marriages, death, new relationships, etc. And we can truly commisserate with each other and give new perspective to why our years at Encina were either the happiest of our lives or the worst.

For some reason last night, confession time appeared after a few bottles of wine, Lemon Drop martinis and dinner.
Most of those there told me they were actually AFRAID of me! I found that sooo funny! Not because I wore studs, boots and carried a weapon or anything like that. Just the unknown about me…even though we had classes together, went to school games, dances, and took part in many assemblies showing our Apache pride, they all knew my name, but didn't "know" me. Hence, fear.

I had to set them straight…I never killed anyone and buried the bodies in our football field. I never dumped a shorter person in the garbage cans. And my one and only attempt to have a Kager party fell through because my grandmother needed a perm and my dad wanted to paint our bedroom ceilings instead of going out of town, NOT because I wanted all that beer for myself and my boyfriend!

It was nice to clear the air after all these years indeed.