A Little Time.... A Lot of Gifts

I took some time today, on Mother's Day, to do exactly what I wanted to. That exact thing for me was, you know- Scrapbook!



I had some gifts that were long over due to finish. I carry a journal in my purse, and when I think of someone that "needs" a card or gift, I put them on the list. Often, my gifts are more than fashionably belated, but I never hear complaints!

I have a friend who bought a new house one year ago (now this IS belated gift). I didn't make it to her housewarming, but have wanted to make her a gift regardless. I think she will still appreciate this, and you will appreciate the bright idea!:

I hunt for scrapbook frames like this at good prices. I recently "scored" and found some for $5.00 (I bought all they had!). I did a 12x12 layout using Veranda (X7119). I used a variety of stamps and techniques including paper piecing (see the houses?). This allows a solid colored stamp to be multicolored. I stamped the house twice, in two colors and then cut pieces from one and put them on the other. Putzy, but cute!

This family name had 4 letters in it, so I did 2.75 x 2.75 squares and mounted them evenly on the page. I embellished from there!

Keep your eyes peeled for nice scrapbook frames, and make a piece of your artwork into a gift for a friend- or for the walls of your own home!

Happy Mother's Day to you, all of my customers and paper crafting friends! I hope you too, are enjoying your day!

Bloggin' A Bright Idea,

Holly

I am celebrating my 4th anniversary as a consultant with Close To My Heart this year. That means, four years ago, I had a really Bright Idea (joining CTMH) and have found an entire untapped portion of my life as a result.

Would you believe it if I told you that I joined CTMH and had never scrapbooked or stamped prior to signing up? That is the truth! Before CTMH, my artistic drive went into drawing cartoon figures. I signed up for CTMH completely because I wanted to learn how to color in my drawings with the skill that stampers do. Well, four years later, and sadly- I've drawn very little, but wonderfully- I have scrapbooking and card making (and papercrafting) in my life.

I LOVE everything that CTMH has brought to my life. I have made many good friends (fellow consultants and customers alike!), have become much more creative, and artistically talented (if I don't say so myself) and have found a true hobby- just for me! Well, I do share this love with my daughters, but that's wonderful too- we share creative time together!

Since becoming a consultant, I think I have also become a better friend. I'm not one to go out much and socialize with friends outside of my work day. So, my connection with my friends is infrequent face to face, but I've done a much better job of telling them they are on my mind by sending them cards and handmade gifts. I always have a card list in a journal I keep in my purse. This helps me to remember, and then follow thru, on sending a good old fashioned note to someone, via U.S. Mail! What a treat!

The latest recepient of a handmade gift from me is a co-worker, Tasha, who is a proud mother for the second time to a daughter, Kenlee. I made announcements for Kenlee's big sister just a year or two back, and I got to make some for her now. I decided to do something different than big sister had- which was more traditional baby pink colors. I thought Kenlee, being the second sister, would like to have announcement that were classy and sophisticated. :) I wonder if she will like them! Here they are:

This card was made using the "Keyhole" layout from Wishes (9033)(template book from CTMH) and Veranda paper collection (X7119B) (with the addition of some Cocoa Cardstock). I used my cuttlebug to emboss the circle, and then cut the flower from one of the stamps in Endless Love (D1260) stamp. I cut out the middle of the flower too (I really enjoyed cutting that out 20 times!) so the embossing would show thru. Add some organdy ribbon for a final touch. I used our Posterboard Alphabet (E1014) for the "K", and then embelished it with Playful Flourishes (D1212) and Bitty Sparkles (LOVE THEM!) (Z1263). The ink color is Barn Red.

It gives me a lot of pride to share a handmade gift like this with my friends. I hope that it brings them as much joy as it brings me!

Look at what joy joining CTMH on a whim brought me in four short years! Pure Bliss! Email me if you have questions about joining yourself, want information on making the card above, or if I can help you in purchasing some CTMH products for your "hobby"!

Bloggin' A Bright Idea,

Holly

I Can't Stop Making Cards!

Our lives are busy, and sometimes, I just can't come up with the time I want to do my favorite thing- scrapbook and make cards. This weekend, I decided my card making materials were coming to the cabin with me!! I knew I could find some time there, away from all of my obligations!

As a result, I have card mania!! I was excited to try out some new products, including new Stamps of the Month. Take a peek:

This stamp set is a customer favorite, "Cupcake Sprinkles" D1336. I like it because I very easily assembled a cute cupcake and message, with minimal embellishments (one red brad) and it is still cute as can be! I stamped the bottom on Indian corn blue card stock (in the same color ink) and then cut it out. That adds a tiny bit of dimension to the card. Also, the original stamp had 'hey there cupcake' all connected. Using masking, I was able to separate the words to work on my card. Ask me, I'll show you how!

Upcoming Stamp of the month alert!!! This super cute stamp is the new July stamp of the month. It is called 'Happy Forever' and is available only in July. This cute little guy was great to color. I used my watercolor pencils and a blending pen for a great appearance. I didn't even use any embellishments on this card, and it is still cute!

Okay, let's make this interesting. See if you can figure out what stamp set I used here. If you email me the name of the stamp set and the product number for it, I will send you a CTMH reward! It is a very versatile set and it made a big impact here!

These papers were left over from an old project where I quilted the paper. You heard right! I sewed together two pieces of paper with batting in between them, and stitched randomly. I used left over pieces to make this interesting (and comfortable!) card!

A weekend at the cabin, scraps and left overs from partially used paper packets, a few new stamps for inspiration and wala- CARD MANIA AT THE CABIN!

You can make amazing paper craft projects too, using CTMH products. Ask me how!!

Now I'm off to mail out some of these cards. Maybe you will be someone that receives one!

Bloggin a bright idea,

Holly

Birthday Traditions

Papercrafting has brought so many gifts to my life in a very short time. I have only been a papercrafter for 4 years. It started papercrafting at the exact same time I signed on to be a consultant with Close To My Heart. Before being a consultant, I was artistic and liked to draw cartoon characters. I signed up to be a consultant so I could learn how to color my drawings better, as I have admired the skill set of stampers. Well, after being introduced to stamping, sadly my cartoon creations have had very little attention, I was hooked!

One of the things papercrafting has done for me, is bring birthday traditions to our family. Each birthday, I make a custom invite for each of my children. They have an invite for friends, and one for the family dinner. It was Iris' birthday this month, and the CTMH Topstich paper packet made creating a girly invite a snap. Here is Iris' invite. She is holding her baby cousin Nora on her lap:




After Iris has her party, she always mails thank you's to each birthday guest, both children and adults. Here is her thank you for her 'girlfriends' in which I used a stampset called Family Ties Children (C1345) and Thanks (D1361). I colored it with watercolor pencils (and outlining method I'd love to teach to you) and a blending pen (so proud of my coloring!!)-



And here's one for the adults using a Just Blooms flower (Z1033), button and hemp. I swear, you can never go wrong with that combination! Check it out:


When the birthday is over, I make the annual birthday scrapbook page, and incorporate the invite right into the layout. I can't show you that, because I'm not done yet (not quite that organized ladies!).

I am so thankful for my hobby, and for the wonderful family I have been blessed with. Both things make me smile and warm my heart. I hope papercrafting bring the same blessings to you, all around.

As usual, for any tips, tutorials or supplies, just send me an email at Hakes926@charter.net .

Bloggin' a Bright Idea,


Holly

Scrapbooking Promotes Healing

I haven't posted for over one month. That makes me sad, because I know I've been out of touch with you, my scrapping friends. Many of you know that my Dad died unexpectedly on December 14th, that means that most things that I am normally on top of have fallen to the wayside in the past month. I'm updating my blog today, which means I'm coping fine. It's a good sign!

Grief is funny. People manage in different ways, and comfort themselves in different manners. For me, the only thing that has brought me comfort in the past weeks is scrapbooking! I have been making cards, completing pages, creating gifts, organizing photos, sorting thru crafting materials, and even breaking out the sewing machine (for pages and also some impromptu sewing projects) all in the name of grief. Seriously, something that makes me so happy (creating) is the perfect balance to a time that has found me so sad. I keep expecting that I will be "all better" but the sadness still hangs on. Fortunately, my trusty crafting is still there, waiting to soothe me, and soothe me it does!

If I posted all of the creative things I've done in the last month or so, I'd need an extra blog! But, I did want to show you a favorite. This is an accordion album I have made over and over, for different gift recipients. I found the directions on You Tube and they are from a fellow CTMH scrapbooker who calls herself "The Stamp Goddess". Type her name in the search engine on You Tube and you will find tons of neat ideas, very entertaining and educational videos, including one with this accordion album. The thing I like is it is made entirely from card stock. That's it!



For this gift, I decided to make an album filled with positive and inspirational quotes. You know, the ones that are good for your soul. I left the opposite side blank. The person receiving it could add a photo, or a journaling block, or leave it alone.

The design of this book allows you to also add tags inside the middle of each page. I didn't do that for this book, but you'll see in the directions how to do that.

I have been reading quotes about grief, trying to sort out and "diagnose" my own. Here's a good one:

As long as I can I will look at this world for both of us. As long as I can I will laugh with the birds, I will sing with the flowers, I will pray to the stars, for both of us. ~Sascha, as posted on motivateus.com

It seemed to be fitting for where I'm putting my grief, into creating, gift giving, and of course, the soul of all scrapbooking, remembering. For as long as I can, I will do all of that, for both of us (and all of us!).

Bloggin' a Bright Idea,

Holly

Creating outside your box!

One of the most enjoyable things for me about CTMH and my scrapbooking/card making/ crafting hobby, is that the more I create, the more creative I become! Honestly, when I get on a roll making things, the creativity keeps coming, and coming and coming!

This is something that I have enjoyed throughout my entire life of crafting, but is something I particularly enjoy now as I craft with children. This weekend, we took an inspirational trip to Bargain Bill's, a fantastic store with a wonderful crafting area and found some inspiration. We made our family holiday card together, assembly line style with both my daughter's assisting me. We used our Cuttlebug machine to emboss, and the girls were very proud to report they did all the embossing themselves. Here is our card:

After working on cards together, we started talking about other projects we have been wanting to try. We had purchased some supplies, and with a little ingenuity and a lot of patience, here is what we ended up with - Word Rocks:
And if that wasn't enough, (see what I mean about the "on a roll" part), we made some magnet gift sets:
We hope that our family, friends, teachers and other receivers of these wonderful crafts love them as much as we loved making them. They were a memory making way to provide handmade gifts of love for the holidays.

If you need any tips on these projects, just send me an email and we'll help you out.

Bloggin' a Bright Idea,
Holly

ME time!

I'll admit it, I don't take much time for myself. Well, I do exercise, so I guess that is "me" time, but really, let's be honest, it's a job. I exercise so I can hopefully control my high blood pressure and high cholesterol (God's special gifts to me) so my heart doesn't explode someday. I enjoy exercise more than I don't, but it really most often doesn't feel like a "treat".

ME time for people, women in particular, is hard to come by. Really, as the relational, caretaking people we are, we often don't have time for an activity that feels like it is just focused on us!


Enter my love for scrapbooking. 4 years ago, I became an independent consultant for a company called Close To My Heart (CTMH). I joined on a whim. I had a friend (cousin) who was a consultant, and I was interested in scrapbooking and stamping, because I really wanted to know the trade secrets of how stampers color in their images so well. I am an artist myself. I love to draw. I draw cute customized cartoon characters. I could draw them cute, but I wasn't so talented at coloring them. I had never scrapbooked or stamped. So, I signed up, got my consultant kit, and guess what, I'm not even sad to say that I haven't drawn a thing in 4 years!!


I am now in the fortunate position of having many ME time opportunities that also are relational in focus, so they are a perfect fit. What do I mean by that? I have NEVER, ever, ever, felt gulity or torn about money or time spent scrapbooking, cardmaking (or drawing) for that matter. Everything I make is either preserving a memory or celebrating a relationship! Plus, the process of creating feeds my artistic side, and gives me the relaxing zen experience I find when I'm creating. You've read my blog, so you know it's also fed by journalistic side. My writing has increased since starting my blog (which I did first for my CTMH business). And, since I've started writing more, my public speaking (which I've done for my job) has also stepped to the next level, and I'm doing some public speaking on larger Statewide and Nationwide venues!! Wow!! Look at what the creative ME time I've invested into CTMH and ME has resulted in!


One other unanticipated blessing of CTMH has been the relationships I have built with women everywhere. I've made friends with fellow consultants who share the same passion I do! I love hanging out with fellow consultants because we are all on a mission- we are so focused on creating that sometimes we don't even spend the sufficient amount of time chatting and connecting personally. That might sound sad, but it's a perfect fit for me- I've always been "mostly business" and the balance I have with the CMTH sista's is 90% CTMH business (which is a wide category) and 10% other stuff. Because scrapbooking is such a personal pass time (we are preseving memories!) your strickly business time together still fosters a personal connection.


Last weekend, I had the incredible opportunity to attend a CTMH regional celebration in downtown Minneapolis. I spent two ME days being inspired, educated, entertained, pampered, developed, loved and nourished. My creative soul was bubbling over when I left Saturday night. I loved every minute of the two day experience (Friday 8a-5 and then open crop 7p-12a! and Saturday 8:30-6) and it FLEW by. Amazing.


At the Regional Celebration there were contests that could be entered. I love contests. I like to challenge myself to achieve and I'll be honest, I shoot to win. I gave my best, but I didn't win. And that is because all of the other entries were better than mine! The amount of talent was AMAZING. I'm still proud of my entry, and thought I'd share it for you. It is a scrapbook page dedicated to the birth of my new niece, Nora Kaye. Check it out:









Not a first place winner, but I think it might be the best page I've ever made. I think that's called a Personal Best (can you sense my competitiveness?). I wanted to be sure to dedicate today's blog entry to what CTMH has meant to me- precious, wonderful, inspiring, valuable ME time. ME, ME, ME, ME, ME. Wow. Thank you CTMH, thank you CTMH sista's , thank you to my family, and thank you God for helping us find each other.


I think YOU should join my CTMH family. It can mean for you what it means to me. If you know me, you know I'm a straight shooter and what I say isn't a sales pitch. Send me an email, and I'll share it all with you. And then you, can come with me (and Kelly!) to the next Regional Celebration (or convention in Washington DC in July) and be inspired too.


Bloggin a Bright Idea,

Holly