It's Easter TIme!

I created this cute easter bouquet and thought I would show you how also!  I got the idea from page 64 of our current Close to my Heart Spring/Summer 2013 catalog.  I really like theirs, and I wanted to recreate a smaller one.  So I grabbed a piece of Creme Brulee cardstock, and cut the popcorn box from our Cricut Cartridge (it's the M key, 3d item)

  So here is what it looks like cut out.

 Then I took a piece of 2 x 12 Topiary & Pear cardstock. I cut them pretty close together, but leaving about 1/2 inch on the bottom.   You can do this with just one color, but I wanted my grass to be multicolored

 I then glued them together.

 Assemble your box and then attach your grass.  Now here is a trick.  Make sure you attach as you go around the box and bend grass with the box.  If you attach is all while it is flat, it will buckle...so make sure you attach as you fold your box

 Then using our quilling tool, roll the grass forward.  It takes a while, so maybe watch the news or something while you are doing this!  LOL

 Here is a picture of the grass starting to take shape

 Now cut a circle out of patterned paper.  I used this piece from our Claire paper pack.  This circle is cut using our Cricut cartridge at 8 inches.  Then cut the circle in 4ths.  This is only one of the pieces.  I then took our spray pen and spritzed it with water.  This makes it more pliable.  Put a little batting in the middle and roll it in the shape of a carrot.  Using GOOD adhesive, glue the edge.  I also wrapped a bamboo skewer with the carrot.  I wrapped the stick with floral tape.  

Gather the top part & wrap some bakers twine around it.  You can make your carrots fat or skinny.  This is one of my skinny carrots.

 Then take a 3 1/2 x 4 piece of Topiary cardstock and cut slices in it also.  Make these a little thicker then your grass.  This is for the top of the carrot.

Roll it and then curl it down with the quilling tool just like you did the grass.  

Then stick it in the top of your carrot with some adhesive.  

I put some floral foam in the box and inserted the sticks into it.  You can also stamp some eggs and chicks attach them to sticks and insert them too.  Then I just wrapped some ribbon around the box and DONE!  I really liked how it turned out!

 Now it's ready for my Easter Table!

Personalize Your Gifts with Stamps!

We just got back from the beautiful Southern Caribbean on the Close to my Heart Cruise!  Ahhhh...it was amazing!  I am definitely a beach girl!  And when you go on trips whether it be our annual convention, Regionals or cruises, it is customary to create something for your friends.  

 So here is what I created.  I got the girls a Tervis cup.  I LOVE these cups!  They are insulated and will not drip on your creations.  I use them ALL the time, so I thought the girls would like one for themselves.  And I filled them with peppermint patties (heart shaped of course).

 I make these toppers for the bags I put the cups in.  I just used a 5 x 6 piece of cardstock and decorated it.  The "a little something for you" is from our new stamp set called For a Friend (on page 99 of our new Spring/Summer catalog).  It is great for gifts whether it be like this, gifts at the holidays or even cards.  LOVE IT!  The fish and flowers are stamps from a stamp set they made especially for the cruise earners.  YEA!  The fish is so darn fun.  He is two stamps so you can stamp his stripes in different colors.  Maybe this will be in the next catalog for everyone else to purchase...we will see...

And then here is the completed gifts.  The one up front is for our COO, he likes this trail mix I bring him.  I didn't think he would want one of the cups...so he gets his trail mix.  I just put them all in a cello bag, put some pink shreds in them, stapled the tops on and ready to go.

Remember this the next time you have a special gift for someone!  They are very fun to make!

Need Cards?

You know the nice thing about scrapbooking is you have LOTS of leftover paper that is GREAT to create your own cards.  And have you seen the price of cards lately?  EEK!  I created both of these card with left over supplies.  And when they are "left over" I think of that as FREE!  LOL

I used our NEW Buzz & Bumble paper pack.  It is so cute!  And if you add another color, you have a totally different look!  Below I added Sweet Leaf cardstock as the base.  I have more additions with this paper pack coming soon so keep watching for them!

I am using this paper pack in April for my Monthly Groups...watch for those layouts coming soon too!

Free Close to my Heart Paper!

Check out our NEW Paper Contest!  Register to win a free paper pack!  Watch this video to see how you can win!

USE IT!

I know you are all using what you have right?  Well...here is some inspiration!  If you purchased our Whoo's Your Valentine special last month, then you are almost ready to go!  

I took some leftover paper (Moonlight paper pack) and created these cards!  They are all using our Make it From Your Heart patterns.

 But heres's really why I did it.  My friend Julie Nilsson created these (below) using the same stamp set, but she used her left overs from Sonoma!  LOVE THEM!  She is very talented and I was THRILLED she shared with me!  I was bummed that I used all my Sonoma already...but I have lots of other paper to use!  What about you?

So now that you are inspired...get out one of those paper packs out and get creating!

February Monthly Group Pages

Here are the pages my groups will be making in February!  I really like this kit.  It is our Dakota kit and was meant to be a western kit, but I used it for outdoors and a limo ride.  I just love that our kits will do that!  

The above layout was using our Make it From Your Heart book.  It was layout #3

and this layout is from our Imagine book - Bits & Pieces.  

I also have images from our Cricut Artiste cartridge on here.  

If you would like to come as a guest and create these layouts, just email me and I will be happy to sign you up.  Check out the upcoming events tab to see when we meet!

I Am Ready!

Are you ready for all those pictures you will take in 2013?  I am!  I have my album filled with page protectors, label on the side of the album (see post from December 21st) and I even have my 1st page DONE!  So technically I am caught up for 2013!  LOL

Here is my first page.  Each year on January 1st, my husband & I go out and take our picture.  The first picture of the new year!  This year we went to a local park (it was VERY COLD) and set out timer on our camera and off we went!  Here is the outcome of the event.

I used our Later Sk8er paper from our NEW catalog!!  It is "boyish" but I made it take on the feel of snowflakes.  And if you look closely, you will see the scarfs I made for my husband & I that match the layout!  LOL  

It's not too late to get your first picture of the new year and make your first page of your 2013 album!