Low Cal Tea Light Cakes

I wondered out on my Pinterest one night while have a bout with insomnia and found the cutest stankin' thing!

Combining a multi-colored tea light and CTMH papers and the new Artiste Cricut cartridge, I've been enjoying some low (ha!) NO cal treats and making a Baker's box to match!
It's simple really…grab up those battery tea lights. Cut a piece of B/T paper .50 x 4.75
wrap around the tea light. Punch matching B/T using our scalloped circle punch.
Fold in half, then in half again. Snip off the pointed end, lay across the top of the tea light with the flame going through the hole. Now decorate!
(keep in mind the switch has to be accessible on the bottom, so if you want a base to your cake, punch or cut a hole in the bottom)
The Baker's box is on page 69 using the Birthday Girl key. There are 3 pieces. I cut them at 2.5 inches. Don't forget all the great colors of Baker's Twine we now offer, too!
You can order your own Artiste Cricut Collection on my website

 The yellow flame made me think of Halloween…and you can't just have regular flowers on a Halloween treat, right?!

Want something nice but not too cute for the guy who lights up your life?

September 2012: National Stamping Month

Check out the great ideas with the National Stamping Month exclusive offer..
We are celebrating by offering you this Double Darling Double Stamp set (value of $35.90) for only $5 with a $35 purchase (pre-shipping and tax. sorry Clearance items don't apply)

 And of course here is the August Stamp of the Month…don't forget:
if your order is at $50. (pre-shipping and tax) you'll be offered the chance to purchase for just $5.

Check it all out on my website 

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.

BIG ANNOUNCEMENTS! .

CTMH has done it again at our National Convention!
It's LIVE and in COLOR!
You can now view our fabulous Idea Book live HERE

The Idea Book has a new Idea Book inside…it's a two-fer!
Inspiration at an affordable price.

And of course the Cricut world has been turned upside down again by the release of our 2nd exclusive cartridge "Artiste"…and you will definitely feel like an artiste with all the creations you'll make with it!

You are Welcome Here!

The New Consultant Kit has what you need to start your business right, including a huge supply of Close To My Heart products, all for only $49. 

You may add more to your kit by purchasing the expanded kit, which includes everything in the $49 plus more tools, products, Studio J® layouts and the like for only $99. 

Whether you love creativity, community, business, or all three, you are welcome here!

Join us and discover all the rewards of being a Close To My Heart Independent Consultant.purchase the essentials kit for$49 and start your business.

Essentials
Master
Essentials
Everything to meet your crafting and career
needs. Approximately $130 retail value!

How much would you pay for a adorbs tote like this? Oh, about $75…and what? you could get it along with some crafty stuff for only $49? It's a win-win! Hobbyist are truly welcome here if you buy supplies anyways, why not enjoy the discount and be a part of the CTMH family!

Hello and Happy Summer! BTT

what? summer? uhm….where did May and June go? Well, for the most part they moved to Colorado with my daughter. Yep, my widdle birdie really left the nest and I missed her so badly after 2 weeks I had to drive out there just to see for myself where she was.
More (including photos) of that later!

Who's the Fairest Pear of all?

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.

Catch Up!

I've been a very, very bad Blogger!
Here's just a recap of the goin's on in case you aren't a FB follower, grab a beverage and sit back and relax!
In January, darling daughter turned 25. TWENTY FIVE?
I laid down on her unused bed, sucked my thumb and slept for a week.

My fabulous Team the Keys to the Heart had a Birthday Card Workshop and we had a great group of ladies!

We had our Stampin' Memories Scrapbook Getaway in February. I hadn't been in so long I had to GPS the Bradley House! Good times!

 By gosh I even got a layout done using our new SuperHero paper pack from CTMH
Since our local firefighters and EMTs ARE my heroes I used the pictures from our fund raiser dinner for them...

Then of course the Battle of the Old vs Young at my Alumni Basketball Challenge!
It was hairy (and sweaty) but our Old Guys prevailed…and another $40k raised!

 We are NOT the Bulldogs…we ARE the Apaches! And lookin' good!

Our new tradition instead of a Holiday Party (aka CHRISTMAS luncheon) at work, is we now have Summer Parties. It must be a PC thing. This year the theme was related to the Olympics and each team designed a Flag. I was volun-told and opted to NOT use photoshop or CGI of any kind. It didn't win the contest. 

Harumph! Can you guess which is mine?

The biggest news of course is my daughter moved to Col…Colo…ColoradO! Yes, I am, well needless to say NOT enjoying the empty nest!

She sold off all non-essentials and all of her furniture, vacuum packed all of her clothes,  added 2 pieces of furniture, broom and toilet paper shoved it all in her Accent. We had a don't-take-any-help-or-rides heart to heart over breakfast, created accounts on the app Latitude so I could keep an eye on her travels, and off she went!
Then I laid down in the middle of her junk stuff she couldn't take, sucked my other 4 fingers and slept for another week.

Watch soon for the next adventure after I woke up with 5 wrinkly, waterlogged fingers!

Dotty For You!

Love, Love, LOVE DOTS and Dotty for You!

There are three ways to get this exclusive Dotty for You paper packet, valued at $19.95:

• Place an order of $35 or more in products from the Spring/Summer 2012 Idea Book between April 17 and May 31, and add the Dotty for You paper packet for just $5*. Start shopping.
• Host a Gathering with a sales total of $400 or more (excluding tax, shipping/handling, and Operation Smile^® donations) between April 17 and May 31 and receive a Dotty for You paper packet FREE.
• Join Close To My Heart as a new Consultant between April 1 and May 31 and receive a Dotty for You paper packet FREE.Let’s get started.

Celebrate National Scrapbooking Month in May with the oh-so-cute Dotty for You paper packet.

*Taxes and shipping/handling may apply. Offer good during above-specified dates, while supplies last.

HopPy EaStEr 2012 My PEEPS!

I Had an Interest in Pinns...

And now I am hooked.
This new site (or new to me!) is a vortex…of your time.
It's not a bitch-about-this-person type site.
It's not a rag-about-your-ex or soon-to-be-ex.
It's not for complaining about your job or love-life or lack thereof.

It IS a site where you find something cool and "pin-it" to share with a gazillion others.
You can "follow" those gazillion others without reading about the above.
It's called Pinterest.
Be forewarned. It's worse than Facebook on your time. I have to set an egg-timer (numerous times) to curtail my Pinning.
Here's a few things I've found to put on my boards.

Directions can be found here
and

Directions can be found here
or…if you have some beautiful scrapbook papers and an empty wall…

SO what are you waiting for?!
Sign up for free, follow-me and let's get PINN-ed!