Wonderland Baby Card

My dear friend (and downline) Cheyanne is having another baby boy!!! She asked me if I would make her invitations, so I did! The Wonderland papers just happened to work perfectly with her theme and baby decor, so that's what I used!

I kept it pretty simple since I needed to do 35. I found the image online - isn't it adorable?

I used a pattern from our Originals Card Book called Framed Message. Originally it was a 5x7 card, and I modified it to fit a standard size card. And of course, I used our new Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge to create the shapes for the sentiment and for the stars.

I added a little Prisma Glitter to the stars and popped them up with 3-D foam tape. I also used our January 2012 stamp of the month, Little Reminder, for the sentiment - put it on your wish list for January!

I love our new B&T papers with cardstock weight, I can now use it for my card base and scrapbook bases! I just printed out the "sprinkle" details and adhered it inside the card!

Congratulations on the soon coming birth of your baby boy Cheyanne! I can't wait to meet him!

Shop Small and Save BIG!

This is the second annual Shop Small Event, designed to support local small businesses. Smack dab between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, consumers are encouraged to help support their local economy by investing in small businesses in their area, that includes home-based businesses! I have decided to participate this year, and to extend it through the end of this month to give you plenty of time to take advantage of my special offers!

Shop Small - Save Big Deals:
The following deals apply to items on my rock-bottom discount table, current product cash & carry table, online discounted items, and catalog orders!

1. FREE SHIPPING on all orders big and small!
2. Spend $25 - receive FREE SHIPPING PLUS a handmade Christmas card of your choice! (complete and ready to mail - see below*)
3. Spend $50 - receive FREE SHIPPING, a card of your choice PLUS one of the stamps sets below for only $5!**
4. Spend $100 - receive FREE SHIPPING PLUS TWO cards of your choice PLUS TWO stamp sets for $5 each (choose from stamps below or on my clearance table)
5. Spend $150 - receive FREE SHIPPING, FIVE cards of your choice, PLUS THREE stamp sets for $5 each, (choose from stamps below or on my clearance table) PLUS $25 in FREE PRODUCT!

These are discounts that I am offering personally, so you must email your order directly to me to take advantage of these specials. I will calculate the tax and reply with your grand total within 24 hours.
Order items for yourself, for gifts, or gather orders from others to get the greatest deal!

My Discount Table includes gently used stamp sets for only $5, NEW retired or unavailable stamp sets for only $10, a box filled with $1 items, a box filled with $3 items, textured cardstock for only $0.25 per sheet, photo card kits $5 for 12 cards/envelopes, and more! Contact me for more specifics or if you want to stop by and shop! You can also look at all current and discounted products available on my website here. Make out your list and email it to me!

*Here are the Christmas Cards you can choose from:

**Here are the stamps you can choose from for $5 (click images for more details):

Thank you in advance for Shopping Small - and specifically for shopping with ME! My business depends on loyal customers like you and I'm grateful to have the opportunity to serve you!

Holiday Cheer Traditional Card

Did the pastel Christmas card make you cringe and long for the warmth of traditional colors? Relax, I've got one for you here!

This card features our Holiday Cheer and A Holiday stamp sets. Both of these stamp sets have coordinating AP Cricut images which makes creating beautiful artwork SO easy! Simply have the cricut cut your shape, stamp with the coordinating stamp, and you're done! No cutting or trimming!

The term Happy Holiday doesn't offend me, because we are celebrating many holidays during this season ~ including Christmas and the New Year. The nice thing about this card is you can put Merry Christmas on the inside and envelope or Happy New Year - or whatever holiday you are celebrating!

Would you like to have a set of these pre-cut, pre-stamped and ready to assemble? These cards are only $1 per card - request as many as you want and I'll deliver them to you if you are local or drop them in the mail if you are far away (postage extra).

Stay tuned to see how you can get one of these already assembled and ready to mail....

Blue & Silver Holiday Magic - sort of

Here is a blue & silver version of the Holiday Magic cards.....only.....I didn't use the Holiday Magic stamp set. It's all CRICUT!!!!

I used a sentiment from the Say It In Style stamp set, and the Stocking, Snowflake, and Christmas Tree images from the AP Cricut cartridge, along with our Wonderland paper!

Would you like a set of these pre-cut and pre-stamped/embossed ready to put together? Contact me asap to get your kit! If you are local, I'll deliver them to you. If you are far away, I'll maill them. (Postage extra.)

1 set of 2 for $5

3 sets (6 cards) for $15

5 sets (10 cards) for $20

Stay tuned to see how you can receive one of the cards fully assembled and ready to mail....

Pastel Holiday Magic Cards

I'm kind of a tradition gal when it comes to Christmas - but if it sparkles and shines, sometimes that's all that's necessary to say CELEBRATE! I saw these cards on Araon's blog and had to try my hand at them. They are very untraditional in color, but they definitely sparkle and shine and shout CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS!

These cards feature the October Stamp of the Month called Holiday Magic - and this set definitely creates some magic! I used our AP cricut cartridge for the fun shapes, and my Cuttlebug for some embossed personality, Prisma Glitter, Bling Buttons, and Sparkles!

Would you like a pre-cut, pre-stamped kit to put together yourself? Trust me, it's not too late. You can sit down and put these together lickety-split! The sooner you contact me, the sooner I can get them to you. If you are local I will deliver them to you, if you are far away, I'll get them to the PO right away (postage is extra).

One set of 2 cards = $5

Three sets (6 cards) = $15

Five sets (10 cards) = $20

This stamp set is no longer available, but I have plenty on hand if you missed out! You can purchase it for only $10 (a $17.95 retail value) or get it for only $5 with an order of $50 or more!

Stay tuned to see how you can get your hands on one of these cards already assembled and ready to mail...

Citrus-Grilled Turkey Breast

I thought I'd share a super easy turkey idea with you. Since we didn't have a crowd to feed yesterday, I decided to go simple. Instead of a large turkey, I chose a turkey breast instead. I actually got one at Sam's Club - about 6 pounds, boneless, skinless, fully cooked. But I had to doctor it up just a bit! I found a recipe in Southern Living's November 2011 magazine that I modified for this bird!

The recipe in the magazine calls for a skin on, bone in breast that you actually cook on the grill. As I said above, I got the fully cooked version from Sam's (Butterball Deep Fried) and cooked it in the oven. Here is my modified version:

1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsely

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 Tbsp. lemon zest

3 Tbsp. olive oil

1 tsp. freshely ground pepper

Place turkey in small baking pan. Stir together above ingredients and rub over turkey breast. Cover loosely with foil and bake at 340 degrees for about an hour. It was super flavorful and juicy tender! It even produced enough broth to add to my jar turkey gravy to give it some extra flavor!

Somthing different - Super easy - So good!

Looking forward to leftovers today! Hope you have some good leftovers to munch on today too! If not, stop by! Now serving lunch!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I wish you all the very happiest Thanksgiving. I pray you are surrounded by family and friends - or even strangers if necessary - to offer thanks to God for His many blessings and openly express our gratitude to each other. The really important things in life all boil down to relationships. They matter more than money, success, failure, past hurts ~ anything! So I hope you fully appreciate the delicious food and the people beside you tomorrow. I know I will. Our group will be small this year, but I'm thrilled to have each person at our table:

My husband ~ he sure puts up with alot from me!

My mom ~ the sweetest, most generous person I know!

My son ~ he has fought through many hardships the past few years, I'm so glad to have him with us this year!

Patti ~ a sweet friend who was going to be alone this year - can't have that!

Our church youth group made Apple Butter and Apple Sauce for a fundraiser this past Sunday, so I bought some to use as favors at the table! Then of course I used my acorn cards with a personal note of gratitude to each person.

Looking forward to getting up early and starting to fill the house with savory aromas!

Happy Thanksgiving to you!



Gift Card Stocking

This has turned out to be such a quick and easy project - and beautifully highlights the virtues of our Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge! I've been using this at my gatherings this past month and next since it is such a practical project for everyone! And trust me, ANYONE can make this - no previous creative ability required! Close To My Heart and our AP Cricut cartridge do all the creative work - we simply glue the pieces together!

The stocking image is cut at 7" along with the stocking layer pieces and a cardstock or pattern piece for the back. This is the perfect size to tuck a gift card inside, as you can see above! The heel and toe can be quickly edge distressed with an edge distresser or scissors OR you can score them with stripes or squares and sand to reveal the white core of our cardstock to add a little visual interest and texture. (Next time I think I'll run my heel and toe through my Cuttlebug with my Swiss Dots embossing folder!)

The leaves and the holly are also cut from the AP cartridge - holly leaves at 2" and the holly layer (berries) also cut at 2". I scored the leaves with vein lines that expose our white core when lightly sanded and added some of our quick and easy Red Glitz Glitter Gel to the berries for a finishing touch! Also, the cuff is adorable with some Liquid Applique applied and heat set to resemble white fluffy fur!

Here is another version - using the EXACT same pieces, only turned over to feature the other pattern on the back side. Our B&T Duos paper always offer two options - one on each side!

Since this version is a little more "bright & cheery", I added some Prisma Glitter to the Liquid Applique before I heat set it to give it some extra sparkle!

Would you and your friends like to make one of these for free? Host a fun gathering before Christmas and you could also qualify for FREE Hostess rewards - including getting your very own AP Cricut Collection for HALF PRICE (only $49.50 - normally $99)!

Want to just make a bunch on your own? All you need is your very own AP cartridge, papers of your choice, a little ribbon plus a brad, glitz glitter, liquid applique, and prisma glitter (if desired). You can use your sewing machine to sew the the two stocking pieces together OR a thin bead of Liquid Glass around the outside edges to create the pocket in the stocking.

Don't have time to host a party just yet and don't have your very own AP Cartridge just yet? Stay tuned for details about an opportunity that's PERFECT for you!

Liebster Blog Award!

I received the Liebster Blog award from TWO people!! Thank you Kelly and Tonya! I'm always flattered - and a little surprised - to be recognized! You have both encouraged me to be better at posting more consistently!

For those of you unfamiliar with the Liebster Blog Award, the goal of the award is to spotlight those bloggers with less than 200 followers and hopefully help everyone involved to increase their following.

 The rules are fairly simple...

•Thank the giver and link back to the blogger who gave it to you.

•Select five bloggers (with less than 200 followers) and leave a comment on their blog letting them know they were selected.

•Copy and paste the award on your blog

•Have fun!

Here are my five (under 200 followers)...in no particular order! I draw incredible inspiration of different kinds from EACH of these fabulous ladies! So show some support, and if you are not a current follower of their blog, start today!

1. Aaron Brown from aaronsbooth32.blogspot.com

2. Audrey Key from stampingaudrey.blogspot.com

3. Amy Ulen from studioscrapping.blogspot.com

4. Jean M. from stampinmaui.blogspot.com

5. Sheila Bennett from sheila-bennett.blogspot.com

Acorn Card

I saw this adorable project on Jean M's blog and had to try my hand at it right away! She actually got the idea from Aaron Brown. Aaron used a Gypsy to weld two acorns together to create a top fold acorn card. You can watch her video to see how easy it really is! But since I don't have a gypsy or design software, I decided to make mine more like a post card - with a colonial white back, Dreamin' B&T front, and a chocolate layer (cap)!

I added a piece of our dark chocolate striped ribbon with a Designer Brad from our Antiqued Copper collection. So easy and so cute!!! I gave these out as thank you notes to my club on Friday.

I'm working on smaller acorns with the Sonoma papers, cocoa designer ribbon, and gold shimmer brads for place settings at Thanksgiving! I think I'll add a tag with a name on it or something....this is just my prototype - definately need colorful napkins and warm woods and leaves on the table!

Are you incorporating a blessing game or place settings or something creative at YOUR Thanksgiving table this year? I'd love to hear about it!

They did it AGAIN!

My Kit Club in Danville, WV is such a blessing to me in SO many ways! And they often BLESS me -actually overwhelm me! - with gifts of appreciation. Last week when I arrived to teach a Christmas Workshop, this beautiful Fall arrangement was waiting for me - to thank me for hosting the Chief Logan Crop.

Look at the delicious details of this arrangement:

This group has been such a huge blessing to me from DAY 1! They started out as very generous customers, but quickly became life-long friends! I can't wait to see them again this Friday!

Believe Christmas Workshop

This month's workshop features our festive Believe papers, a couple of My Creations pieces and the star of the show: The Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge!!!

Are you getting tired of hearing about this cartridge? I hope not! Almost everything I do now uses this cartridge in some way. In this workshop, we use it in a BIG way!

I actually didn't do any inking or stamping - just Cricut cutting and putting together! You certainly could ink distress if you'd like. Some tone-on-tone inking would be a nice touch. But just to keep it simple, I didn't do any at all. Here is what this workshop consists of:

A Joy Banner - featuring 3 of our My Creations Banner pieces for a strong, sturdy result. The individual banner pieces are 7" long and about 6" wide and can easily hang on your tree, on a door, nestled in some greenery from the mantle, over a bed, or in the kitchen window over the sink, ANYWHERE! The banner pieces along with the scalloped circle, circle, letters and snowflakes were all quickly and easily cut from the cricut. I added a little Prisma glitter to the snowflakes for some quick dazzle! The pleated medallions are so easy to make and add a great deal of dimension!

A Santa Heart Pocket - This little beauty was designed by Lisa Stenz! Isn't it cute? I used one of our ribbon slides as the buckle and our black button brads for the buttons. These are perfect for holding candies or even gift cards. Wouldn't these be great to hang on the door knob of co-workers at the office? Or surprise your kids by hanging them on their bedroom doors. Or even from the tree!

Stocking gift card holder - This little stocking is SO easy to make! Instead of pulling out the sewing machine to create a pocket with the two pieces, we simply glue the edges together with Liquid Glass! A little Liquid Applique on the cuff, and Red Glitz Glitter on the berries add the finishing touches! These will dangle nicely from your packages, the tree, the mantle, the banister - anywhere you want to add a little festive cheer! You can even personalize them by adding a name, or dress up the heel and toe with sparkles for stitching!

Box & Bow - This project features our My Creations cube for the box, and cardstock for the ribbon and bow! After learning how to do this, you will never go back to store bought bows again! The box is a 5" x 5" cube.

In this workshop, you will pick up so many new little techniques and ideas to help you get your holiday gifts and decorations started! Join me on Saturday, November 19th at 3pm in Cross Lanes or order a kit with pre-cut pieces and easy instructions to make at home for only $20. (Shipping is extra.)

Contact me by 11/12 to reserve your spot!