http://youtu.be/OdUV0y4RFDI
Sorry...I'm having too much fun playing with my new cartridge and product to get photos and post. More from me directly SOON. But I really wanted you to see the options available to you in this!
28 July 2011
Cricut Art Philosophy!
http://youtu.be/bjZiXr98nZk
So excited that CTMH has made it so easy to complete craft projects, use up my hoard of paper supplies, and really Paper Craft with Purpose! My goal is to create items to sell in an Operation Smile fundraiser. Please let me know if you'd like an invitation to the event!
So excited that CTMH has made it so easy to complete craft projects, use up my hoard of paper supplies, and really Paper Craft with Purpose! My goal is to create items to sell in an Operation Smile fundraiser. Please let me know if you'd like an invitation to the event!
22 July 2011
Back from Close To My Heart Convention at Disneyland!
I have a confession to make: I didn't tell my children where I was going for Convention. Just "California." When Vincent pressed me for the name of the hotel, I told him, "Frontier Tower." We haven't really gotten around to looking at photos from the time I was gone, and I haven't been very forthcoming that the place I went to was really the Happiest Place on Earth. I was gone, and now I'm home. That seems sufficient. So were the Disney straws I brought each of my children. I love the simplicity that can be!
My hubby even liked the Mickey bottle opener (as did the TSA agent in the Santa Ana/Orange County airport security). Whew! The reports I have are that my roommates liked the gift I made for them. With apologies to Holly for making this post something that she has already seen in person, here are some pics of the pages of the little mini album I made for my three roomies (and some uplines) for the Close To My Heart Convention 2011. I had a great time...now I just need to get my pictures printed to finish this album!
The idea came from the Paper Craft Planet blog, which featured a Disney-themed mini album with a spinner on the front. They provided a template for one, but I wanted to make sure the things on the spin were events or experiences that the recipients were sure to have had (and I wasn't planning on going to Planet Hollywood myself). And, well...I also needed to work on using up some of the paper I have in my "collection", since I am giving myself the challenge to Use It Up for real! CTMH is driving home the point: consume it, don't collect it. And I have done just the opposite. It must go! More on how I'm going to do that later!
My hubby even liked the Mickey bottle opener (as did the TSA agent in the Santa Ana/Orange County airport security). Whew! The reports I have are that my roommates liked the gift I made for them. With apologies to Holly for making this post something that she has already seen in person, here are some pics of the pages of the little mini album I made for my three roomies (and some uplines) for the Close To My Heart Convention 2011. I had a great time...now I just need to get my pictures printed to finish this album!
The idea came from the Paper Craft Planet blog, which featured a Disney-themed mini album with a spinner on the front. They provided a template for one, but I wanted to make sure the things on the spin were events or experiences that the recipients were sure to have had (and I wasn't planning on going to Planet Hollywood myself). And, well...I also needed to work on using up some of the paper I have in my "collection", since I am giving myself the challenge to Use It Up for real! CTMH is driving home the point: consume it, don't collect it. And I have done just the opposite. It must go! More on how I'm going to do that later!
04 July 2011
A Bittersweet Day
Today would have been my parents' 47th wedding anniversary. My dad always joked that he gave up his independence on Independence Day. He often remarked how he had married quite a fire-cracker. My mom was full of spunk, spirit, strong will, and certainly lit up any room into which she walked.
I ache today because I am not in Michigan, with my dad to hold his hand and offer him a hug as he moves through this first would-be anniversary since my mom passed away last August. I am grateful that my sister was with him this morning and her two daughters have commenced a visit with their precious Papa. He took the girls to the parade in Fenton. (Mackenzie confirmed for me that he had decided against wearing his "4th of July Groom 1964" shirt that he and my mom had made for themselves years ago. I told him if he wanted to wear it, he should. But he should also be prepared to show her picture, have to explain the story, and have his handkerchief at the ready for all of that.)
My family and I are a nation away (or at least have the majority of this nation between us and Papa). We went to the neighborhood gathering this morning and decorated bicycles, paraded through the streets, and even returned to another neighborhood park this afternoon for bocce ball and a barbeque (because we got my husband a portable grill). It has been a good day.
I've been trying to fill my time with crafts. Trying to use up some of that which I have "stashed" for so long. And trying to find a little market for some of the things I create. Sadly, it seems sympathy cards are in too high a demand. A kind friend, former co-worker, and very creative person actually commissioned some from me. (Talk about an honor, and a challenge to make things really worth her money - guess I'm going to imagine Kim is my customer any time I have a customer!)
Thinking of this "commissioned work" as well as my mixed bag of feelings today (and pretty much each day, to some extent, since my Mommers passed away - on the heels of Oma, YiaYia and Thia Faye), I thought I'd share some photos of these cards. I was attempting to infuse each card with not only sympathy but also a little glimmer of the hope that surfaces even in great loss. The paper I used in this set is from CTMH: Miracle. I followed a cutting guide developed by Becky Leheman but assembled things a little differently from her original concepts.
I ache today because I am not in Michigan, with my dad to hold his hand and offer him a hug as he moves through this first would-be anniversary since my mom passed away last August. I am grateful that my sister was with him this morning and her two daughters have commenced a visit with their precious Papa. He took the girls to the parade in Fenton. (Mackenzie confirmed for me that he had decided against wearing his "4th of July Groom 1964" shirt that he and my mom had made for themselves years ago. I told him if he wanted to wear it, he should. But he should also be prepared to show her picture, have to explain the story, and have his handkerchief at the ready for all of that.)
My family and I are a nation away (or at least have the majority of this nation between us and Papa). We went to the neighborhood gathering this morning and decorated bicycles, paraded through the streets, and even returned to another neighborhood park this afternoon for bocce ball and a barbeque (because we got my husband a portable grill). It has been a good day.
I've been trying to fill my time with crafts. Trying to use up some of that which I have "stashed" for so long. And trying to find a little market for some of the things I create. Sadly, it seems sympathy cards are in too high a demand. A kind friend, former co-worker, and very creative person actually commissioned some from me. (Talk about an honor, and a challenge to make things really worth her money - guess I'm going to imagine Kim is my customer any time I have a customer!)
Thinking of this "commissioned work" as well as my mixed bag of feelings today (and pretty much each day, to some extent, since my Mommers passed away - on the heels of Oma, YiaYia and Thia Faye), I thought I'd share some photos of these cards. I was attempting to infuse each card with not only sympathy but also a little glimmer of the hope that surfaces even in great loss. The paper I used in this set is from CTMH: Miracle. I followed a cutting guide developed by Becky Leheman but assembled things a little differently from her original concepts.
Okay...need to apologize that this (and a few) are sideways...Newish computer and I am still figuring things out.
Inside sentiment reads "sharing your sorrow"
Sentiments ranged from "Deepest Sympathy" to prayers of comfort, included both "I" and "we" statements (Kim often offers colleagues a chance to sign the cards she is sending as well as sending ones just from herself).
I hope that these cards spark some creativity in you for tackling the more difficult cards. If they don't inspire it in you and you'd like to assign the task to me, please contact me to make some for you.
17 June 2011
A play on an old saying
As a former educator (does one ever give that up?), I am still bothered by that old saying "Those who can, do; those who can't do, teach." For Vincent's preschool teachers, I made three cards with this play on the old saying. This card is a 6x6 card from the pattern "Enchanting Enclosure" from the Wishes Card Confidence Program Book by CTMH CEO/Founder Jeanette Lynton. I felt like a cheat because I stayed pretty true to the example in the book. But my colors and sentiment are completely different, so it looks like something new.
The other parents, whose children also signed these cards, seemed to like them. I was flattered by many compliments. We have been really happy with our experience at Natural Start Preschool in Bellevue, WA. I wanted the teachers to know this by the care with which I crafted (well, CASEd) the cards. :)
It took me a while to warm up to the use of the "pattern" books we sell with CTMH. But when I have needed to make scrapbook pages or get some cards made lickety split, I can't go wrong turning to these books! Perhaps it was utilizing Studio J that made it all so clear. I can rotate any of the patterns, change any of the papers, pair things with different sentiments, utilize different color schemes. I hope that you'll come play, explore the books, and make the patterns your own. It's really a lot of fun!
18 May 2011
A little inspiration!
Often I dream of having time to make pretty things and show you tutorials of how I've done them. Here, the Close To My Heart corporate office has made my dream come true with this presentation. Hope you enjoy it!
16 May 2011
Baking Frenzy
The Mothers & Others support group I am part of, through St. Madeline-Sophie Catholic Church, put on a bake sale Mother's Day weekend. I've been remiss in posting because I was in a bit of a baking frenzy to prepare for it (and now am trying to recover from that and a sprained ankle).
My baking was partly to help the group have a successful bake sale. It was also in part a way to keep myself occupied. It was my first Mother's Day without my mother and also without my maternal grandmother, my YiaYia. (It was even the first Mother's Day without Matt's Oma.) It was a hard day, in a year of difficult firsts. Rather than wallowing in my sadness, I tried to be proactive.
For the years since I became a mom, my own Mommers was Stage IV in her ongoing breast cancer battle. In August 2010, the 27.5 years of her survivorship ended. I realized as Mother's Day approached that I hadn't really thought of myself as a mother yet...at least I never thought that the day was for me. I really did try to make certain that each of those Mother's Days was a good one for my Mommers. I hope that the day was exalted for her, YiaYia, Oma and all the mothers in Heaven who looked down upon their children here.
I know that I was bolstered by having spent the beginning of the day with some other mothers who have become my friends, working to support our mission. And then I had a delightful end of the day with my terrific husband and my loving Vs. I am blessed.
My baking was partly to help the group have a successful bake sale. It was also in part a way to keep myself occupied. It was my first Mother's Day without my mother and also without my maternal grandmother, my YiaYia. (It was even the first Mother's Day without Matt's Oma.) It was a hard day, in a year of difficult firsts. Rather than wallowing in my sadness, I tried to be proactive.
For the years since I became a mom, my own Mommers was Stage IV in her ongoing breast cancer battle. In August 2010, the 27.5 years of her survivorship ended. I realized as Mother's Day approached that I hadn't really thought of myself as a mother yet...at least I never thought that the day was for me. I really did try to make certain that each of those Mother's Days was a good one for my Mommers. I hope that the day was exalted for her, YiaYia, Oma and all the mothers in Heaven who looked down upon their children here.
I know that I was bolstered by having spent the beginning of the day with some other mothers who have become my friends, working to support our mission. And then I had a delightful end of the day with my terrific husband and my loving Vs. I am blessed.
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