Points of View

Well the last assignment for my class was to look back at your life and journal about things you miss or don't do. Or to look at the differences in life. I found it hard to find the picture I wanted to use. My journaling about the differences in Christmas would have worked for this week as well but I wanted to push myself to do something else. So out came my recipe box. The box contains all those pictures that didn't make it into the scrapbook. I was flicking through the pictures, having a few laughs along the way when I found a not so great picture of Eleanor at dance. I had already looked through the pictures I had of my childhood and this prompted my page. I have so few pictures from when I was growing up - a few school pictures and that's about it. The picture that hadn't made it into her album could make it into mine to record that I did dance although there isn't a picture of me dancing.


I think sometimes we are afraid to put cream and white together but you know it actually works on this layout. You make have to click on the picture to see it but the title of the page is on the picture "Inspire to affect, to guide, or influence".

The goal of the page is to tell the children how important I feel recording their lives is for them. So that they will have something to look back on, to help them remember everything they have done as they have grown-up. The journaling reads "This may not be the best picture of you at dance but I just wish I had one picture of when I danced. I remember taking dance at the local community center and a dance about a bird but I’ve never seen a picture and don’t think they exist. I sometimes wonder why - I know my parents had a camera. It’s too late to ask now as there’s nobody left to answer the question. It’s not just dance, which I know I didn’t do for long, but also hockey. I played for five years but all I have is a school team picture. When I think back I don’t have any memories of my parents at the games. It’s very different in our household and I feel guilty when I have to miss something. What I do know is that you will appreciate looking back at these pictures, even the not so good pictures. I hope they will inspire you to take lots of pictures as you grow older of events we can’t be at. For us being part of your life and there on the side cheering you on is one of the most important things we as parents can do. Would I have been a different person if my parents had been there? I’m not sure…… but I would appreciate having the pictures to look at."

I hope I have inspire you as I was by this class to look at your pictures in another way and see beyond the obvious.

Happy Scraping...........

My Little Secret

Still working on my big picture scrapbooking class here. This week we had to scrapbook a picture of ourselves looking at other peoples view of us. I have had the picture I had chosen for 12 years now and haven't done anything with it. I've known I wanted to scrapbook it but not how. Well this class gave me the answer. To scrapbook it looking at what other people saw and how they didn't know everything. When this picture was taken I was a young executive manager working for a telecommunications company as the commercial manager for China. They would have liked me to move and work in the China office but I couldn't do that but at one point I spent 6 weeks there. The plan was I would continue to work my way up the promotions until I became director. I was working on my MBA and it was all mapped out. But they didn't know everything about me and what I wanted. I didn't know how much this secret would change me as I had every intention of going back to work.

A great tip from the class was not to adhere the layer papers right to the edge so you could slide things under it if you wanted later - which I did. But also once applied I was able to get the paper edge damp and then roll them to add more to the distressed look. I also sanded the edges of the picture.

Lots of sewing as I finally got round to getting my sewing machine set-up in my room. Now I have more space as I've moved out all the CTMH paperwork that took up so much space my plan is it will stay out all the time. I had fun sewing on this page and I think it added a little. The very back paper was very bright for the page so I toned it down using ink.



When the page was finally finished. I took a picture and then I realised I had a mistake - a typo. We've all been there. Come times for a creative addition. I think it works well - adds an highlight to the work My - as it was my secret. I'd prefer it without but I wanted to share that we all sometimes do this. All a did was print that work again cut it out. Glue and go round with the brown pen. Now it would have worked better if the 'l' of little wasn't so close but its better than it was!

I must be missing the dance studio

So last night I dreamed that they created a special part for me in this years nutcracker performance in a new circus scene. It was all so real. I really must be missing our near daily visits to the dance studio. Its a good job we start dancing again on Monday morning.
Many of the "big girls" (well that's their name at our house although how a ballet dancer can ever be described as big I don't know) have been away from home this summer at summer intensive across the world (yes a couple went to Paris!). So they got some mail while away I have made a number of cards. I have had so much fun recently though with my ballerina legs stamp which I got from Eclectric Paperie.
Here are 2 of my favorites - recognise the tutu skirt?? If not go back a couple of posts and you may notice this on one of my layouts. It was lying around on my desk and I suddenly realised that it would make a great skirt for the tutu. (Sorry there is a smudge on the sticker on the card - photographs show things eyes miss).






I have the vision of a scrapbook page with a whole line of these legs across the bottom, now just to find the correct picture to go with it.

Have a great day - and watch out you never know I may make by dancing debut this November as a "photographer" in the nutcracker......

Memories of Christmas Past

This weeks assignment for my Big Picture Scrapbooking class was to make a mini album about a holiday but to journal from a different view point than you would normally. I have to admit I'm not really into mini albums because I like all my layouts in one place. The only reason I can see for them is gifts so I passed on the mini album idea and just did a layout.

The holiday I chose was Christmas 2008. We didn't have very many good pictures from this Christmas. I'm not sure what happened but when I looked at what we had I saw all these pictures of the crazy present opening that goes in our house and it made me think of the Christmases I used to have we were growing up. They were the complete opposite. You had to wait patiently for the time to come to open gifts. When my Granny came we even had to wait until after the Queens Christmas message which was about 3pm in the afternoon. Very English I know watching the Queen give her yearly message. It even got me to thinking about how my grandma would make us open the presents very carefully to preserve the paper - she would carefully go through it all and fold it ready for next year. I'm sure we had pieces which had been used for 5 years at least. I guess it was from living through the war that she was very concerned about conserving things.

For the layout I found some cute Christmas paper in Michaels which I wanted to work with. It had the tradition reds and greens but also some blue tonnes which I was able to match with juniper and crystal blue from the CTMH palette. The red glittery letters matched some of the red glittery writing in the paper so I had to have that as well, good job I had my coupon for those. I don't know how they justify charging me $6 for some sticker letters. At least at 50% there were a little less. I made the white glittery letters. They are CTMH chipboard letters. I covered them in liquid glass (CTMH liquid glue) and sprinkled with prisma glitter. The white letters on the paper were also glittery so these match well even though you may not be able to see the glitter in the paper. If you do this just remember to be patient and letters the glue dry for several hours. You can also color the letters before you do the glue and glitter to make colored glitter chipboard letters. Much cheaper than how much they charge in Michaels and such. Plus you only do the letters your using so the other letters can be saved for another project and made to match that layout. Ways to color chipboard letters include :-
- direct ink to paper technique
- paint
- re-inkers
- stamp them (I love to do this after I have done a base color to give some texture)
- stickles
plus I also have some creme rub on stuff which I've had for ages. It doesn't have a name or anything on it. All I know is I paid $4 for it. But it works really well.

Birthday Layouts - from an alternative angle

Currently signed up for another big picture scrapbooking class. I have to say I love taking these classes as they make me scrapbook and push me to try new ideas. The one I'm taking at the moment is called Point of View and its about looking at those events we have every year to scrapbook but journaling about them from a different angle than you would normally. This weeks was birthdays. Usually we write about the birthday party and the guests and we do it every year without fail well in this class its about looking beyond the obvious. Week 1 was an assignment for a birthday party picture - well with 2 kids I have 2 birthdays to do each year and the last 2 birthdays hadn't been done so I had the material to do it. (The other benefit of the class is now I've done those pages - yeh me....).
Firstly Philips 10th birthday - when I look at the pictures I saw these boys who were just a few years off becoming objects of desire to girls. So I decided to focus on this.



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All supplies used are CTMH other than the ribbon. The title is letter stickers but they have been mounted on foam tape to give dimension. The ribbon was pleated and brads used to hold the pleats to give texture to the layout as well. I cut the bracket shapes by finding a shape online printing it at the size I needed and using as a template.

For Eleanor's birthday I focused on the fact she's growing up and become more aware of the cost of everything. Her hobbies are way more expensive than Philp. This last year she wanted to dance in a competition which with out the extra lessons needed was going to cost several $100s. In total for the less than 3 minutes she was on stage it cost in excess of $400 - could even be $500 but I don't want to think about that. So she exchanged her birthday party to cover part of that. In the end she had a dance rehearsal on her actual birthday so we couldn't even have a birthday dinner at home so we brought pizza and cake to the studio for everyone after rehearsal!





All the supplies are from Jo Annes - the paper is from a variety of companies. My favorite part of this layout is the flowers and trim at the bottom. I was looking for a way to add texture and dimension to the layout and couldn't find anything in the scrapbooking supply area so headed over to the trims in the sewing section. I found the flowers which were a perfect match in color. They are made of a vinyl type material. Then I came across the netting edging stuff and they worked together and so ballet that I had to have them. (Don't tell Anthony but combined they cost me $6 for enough to do the layout) When I was working on the layout I realized I could put brads through the holes in the flowers to add something else and this is what we got. I love it. Eleanor was worried when I bought these things for her page but now she's seem it together she agrees that I did know what I was doing.

Well I'm off now to read assignment 2 for next week looks like its holiday pictures - I can see Christmas in July may be. I will have to see what I can find that I need to scrapbook.
Have a great day and stay cool if your in Texas.

Hey There Cupcake

Well after a very stressful week and a major change in life I decided it was time to get creative again. For those who just read my blog this last week I resigned as a CTMH consultant for a number of reasons which I don't need to go into here but this means my blog will change slightly. I will be able to use more none CTMH products more freely but don't worry I will still be using plenty of them as they are my no.1 stamping company. I hope to work on posting more tutorials and things on my blog. With product reviews and you never know I may even get into making my own video tutorials, if my daughter will loan me her video camera!

So that all being said my project today was cupcakes. Cupcakes are huge in scrapbooking and I love the set from CTMH called cupcake sprinkles (D1336). I have though been having issues with the icing on the cupcakes not looking yummy enough for me. That was until I was wandering around blogging world and came across someone using dimensional paint (sorry I can't remember where I tried hard to find the blog again but failed. I was sure I had booked marked it). So I went to Michaels and after a 10 minute search I found my paint hiding in the paint section near the spray paints. Just so you know what it looks likes here's a picture - I always find it easier when I know what something looks like.



I took the frosting stamp and using a light ink color I stamped the image on white card stock. Then I took the tube of paint and squeezed out a pea size blob of the paint and using a paint brush moved the paint around to cover the image and to look like icing looks of cupcakes, you know what I mean. To add sprinkles just drop some small seed beads of the color of your choice into the paint and gently press into the paint. I then left it to dry. The amount of time it takes will depend on how thick you make the paint but a couple of hours should see it dry to touch. I found that the card stock was the last thing to dry completely. When the whole piece was dry I careful cut out the image.



To complete my cupcake I stamped the cupcake case and cut this out. I mounted the frosting flat on the card but used foam tape behind the cupcake case to give the dimension I needed to make the finished cake look more realistic.



The final card is below. It's in the mail now to one of my daughters dancer friend who is away at a summer intensive. I hope she likes it. I had fun and I see more cupcakes in my future! At least these ones don't result in the extra pounds.

Interactive Pages in Your Scrapbook

With the 4th of July coming up I know you will have a lots of pictures from the one day and I know from my vacation we took about 4000 pictures over 3 weeks so I have plenty of pictures to scrapbook. The latest product from CTMH to help us is the Flip Flaps Memory Protectors - which are $3.95 for 15 flaps or enough to add another 30 pictures to our pages! They attach direct to your page protector and you can make little flap albums with you then add.
One of my favorites among the CTMH Consultant Tresa Black has made a great UTube to show you how to do it. She is so talented at these videos. So check out how she uses the flip flap memory protectors. In addition she shows you how to add a 9 by 9 page protector to your 12 by 12 album page to give you another 2 9 by 9 pages of spaces to add pictures. There is no need any longer to have multiple pages of one event and you don't have to leave any of those precious pictures out. You can buy both of these products direct with me or via my website at www.ronnie.myctmh.com. Watch out for some pages from me where I've used these products coming soon. Just got to finish getting everything put away after the vacation.

Check it out here :-

You've Got Flair Slide Show

Sorry no post for a while but I have been on our annual road trip for the last 3 weeks. Finally back and getting back to doing things. Tomorrow is the 1st July so thought I would share the lastest offering from the group of consultant I swap art with each month.

Thanks to the following Consultants who contributed artwork to this slideshow: Carrie Burdette, Christina Cox, Christy Monteith, Heather Martin, Heather Snow, Judy Faye Garner, Marianne Hancock, Melissa Robinson, Neely Dean, Nickie Gill, Ronnie Crowley, Sharryl Hales, Sheila Wilkerson, Stacy Park, Tammy Paulson, Teri Baxter, and Tonya Whitehurst.

You've got flair can be ordered from tomorrow. Its a great stamp set.

Dimensional Elements and Sand Surfing

This last week my upline in the CTMH world challenged us to do a layout using dimensional elements. Now I love these things as you can do so many things with them and they are cheap! So it wasn't a hard challenge for me to do. The word SAND is done using the dimensional elements Simple Alphabet Z1047. I took them and lightly sponged with bamboo ink. Then using dotty stamp from Argyle backgrounds stamp set (D1325) I over stamped with desert sand ink. The surfing was done in a similar way but I used the color ready alphabet Oxford X5749. Whats great about both these products is the letters I didn't use are still white and can be alternate for another layout to match the colors of that one. So I don't have a pile of letters which are not needed. One note for techniques I use. With the color ready alphabets I first take the letters I need off the carry sheet and place them on a piece of wax paper. This is where I alter them prior to adhering them where I want them. Just watch you don't touch the wax paper as the ink won't stay on there and you'll end up with messy fingers but it makes them easier to alter.

The other unique thing on this layout is the pocket I created for the brochure from the National Park. I like to preserve these with my layouts so we can refer back to them in the future. I use the CTMH Photo Storage Pages for this (4113). I cut one of the pockets out from the six pockets and adhere to the layout. They are perfect fit for the majority of brochures. Remember with these pocket pages if you want extra spaces for pictures you can use these in some unique ways to create spots for those pictures. You can even cut one of the pages in half and have space for an extra 6 pictures in the center of your layout between the two sides. This is great for those occasions when you have lots of pictures which you must include!

While I remember have you checked out the deal of the day on my website. You don't want to miss out on a great deal! Click here to check in now.

Scrapbook and Share Contest

CTMH celebration of National Scrapbooking Month in May was an astounding success! More than 300 gorgeous two-page layouts were submitted to the contest in five fun categories—most unique technique,  most humorous, most inspiring, best use of color, and best use of photography.

The finalists’ layouts will be re-posted on June 8 (today), and you’ll be able to vote for your favorites until 12:00 midnight (MT) on June 14. The winning entries will be announced on the website, and each winner will receive $150 US retail in fabulous Close To My Heart products. (Now if by any chance my layout is included I'd love for you to vote for me! Its a white layout with black and white photography and red and black flowers).

Visit www.scrapbookandshare.com beginning today, June 8, to vote for your favorite finalist in each category. 

Todays June Special - First Goodie Box

What a deal from CTMH for todays June Special - For just $60 you get approx $120 of products! Plus discounted shipping and handling of $8. Now the only problem is whats in the box. I'm tempted to get it as I hate not knowing. Its a sweet deal and there aren't any CTMH products I don't like to so I should be good. These deals are killing me I won't have any money by the end of the month if I'm not careful. Off to place my order.......

If you want to catch this deal today click here and place your order while supplies last. Remember the deal only lasts today and it will be something else tomorrow!

CPS Sketch Card

Another challenge card from the card positioning blog sketch CPS 118. I did two cards this time. The first one I was less than happy with, so I made another one. Not sure why I don't like it. I think it was the stamping on the juniper cardstock. But decided to share it anyways so you could see both versions and decide yourself. In the end the second one I prefer as its less busy. Colors are :-
Cocoa
Juniper
Sorbet
Tulip







Supplies all CTMH unless noted
D1361 Thank You
D1330 Connections
D1300 Circle Around
X7100B
Z1033 Just Blooms
Z1120 Winter Cozy Collection (Juniper Brad)
Z1100 Cocoa Grosgrain

Both the cards will be used by my daughter for teacher thank you notes for great year. Only 2 days left before school it out for the summer.

June Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!

I joined the June CTMH stamp of the month blog hop so you could once again see lots of other samples of things to do with these stamps. If you haven't seen the stamp of the month hop over to my CTMH website and check it out online. You'll really like what you see and remember during June there will be a daily special online at my CTMH website so you can just add the stamp of the month to your order (everyone who orders this way in June will get tickets in a prize draw for product credit in July). Check details on the side bar of my blog.

So to the blog hop ..............

The June's SOTM is Tender Tags, a set of 15 stamps. If you have come here from Helen's Onulak's Blog, you are on the right path! If this is your first stop, you may want to go back to Jena's Blog and start from the beginning!You'll arrive back here eventually.

This month we have 44 Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their creations using this month's SOTM and other great CTMH products on their blogs. This is simple to do - just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one!

I chose not to use the tag part of the SOM and use the flourish and words. Just to show how the set can be used for other things as well as tags.
The flowers were punched and then stamped in Indian Corn Blue. They are mounted with foam tape to give some dimension. Plus I added the sentiment on the Cranberry Red insert in the center of the card. Colors are Indian Corn Blue, Garden Green, Cranberry Red and Desert Sand. The patterned paper is from the Moon Doggie Level 2 paper packet.

Now "Hop" on over to Karen Strous''s Blog to see her work! Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their Blogs to get some great crafting ideas and other fun ideas! Remember, the June SOTM is only available until June 30th! Contact your CTMH Consultant (or click here) to see how you can get this stamp set at a discount or even free!

All the Blogs involved......

www.livelovelaughscrapbook.blogspot.com

http://adeline-brill.blogspot.com

http://www.scrapbookczar.blogspot.com

www.createwithchris.blogspot.com

http://www.roxybonds-scrappin.blogspot.com

http://www.houseostamps.wordpress.com

www.damoses.blogspot.com

www.inkyscrapper.blogspot.com

http://www.jenrubio.blogspot.com

http://www.scrappin4memories.blogspot.com

http://www.scrappycaren.blogspot.com

http://scrapsfromthebeach.blogspot.com/

http://www.thedirtyscramper.blogspot.com

www.nonapearl.blogspot.com

http://www.misstscraps.blogspot.com

www.ralphandjulia.blogspot.com

http://www.anniemuses.blogspot.com

http://www.papermadnessinc.blogspot.com

http://www.iamahappystamper.blogspot.com

www.picturespatternsandpaper.blogspot.com

www.thecroppersconnection.blogspot.com

http://www.luciasscrappinandstampin.blogspot.com

www.ballisticdesign.blogspot.com

www.rockinstamps.blogspot.com

http://www.fancymelissa.blogspot.com

www.my-life-in-real-time.blogspot.com

http://www.creativevalleycreations.blogspot.com

www.hookedonstamping.com

http://www.ronniecreates.blogspot.com

http://karensctmh.blogspot.com

www.scrapcrazydiva.blogspot.com

www.stampinallday.blogspot.com

www.clearlyfromtheheart.blogspot.com

http://thebrae-er.blogspot.com

www.shannonmvt.blogspot.com

www.myscrapbookingblog.com

http://www.paigespaperparadise.blogspot.com

http://www.cherishyourmemories.blogspot.com

http://stampinshari.blogspot.com

http://www.creativeimpressions-pinchme.blogspot.com

www.stamptildawn.blogspot.com

www.flowerfoot.blogspot.com

Special Online Offers for June from CTMH

Special Online Offers for June
Love a great deal - how about 30!

In June you'll find a different deal each day on my CTMH website - a product special available only that day and only while supplies last (new deals will be posted 9am (MT) - FYI website may run slow due to traffic at 9am). Watch for popular products offered FREE with a stamp set purchase and all-the-rage goodie boxes filled will enviable items priced well below retail. Irresistible shipping discounts are included!
In addition I will be offering a prize draw for anyone who orders via my website during June. For every $10s ordered you will earn one ticket. On July 1st I will draw for the winners.
1st Prize - $30 product credit to choose what you want.
2nd Prize - $15 product credit
3rd Price - $5 product credit
Remember, each special is good only for that day, only while supplies last and only via my website. Visit often and save!

Visit my website at ronnie.myctmh.com

CPS - Card Sketch Challenge

I'm really trying as I said to do more challenges so here's another one. I love how people can create such different cards from the same sketch and that's what I love the CTMH card design books so much. I have been following the CPS blog for a few weeks now but this is the first time I've actually had the time to create the card. Didn't turn out exactly as I wanted but I think its works. Its a 6inch square card which provides lot of extra space to play with but then you have the problem of the envelopes. I need to hit Michaels with my coupon today to get some but not sure I will have time we've invited half the street for a grill at lunch! Well I'm off to prepare for the grill. Enjoy the Holiday.


Supplies (all CTMH unless noted):-
C1340 Aspiration
X7090B SILHOUETTE LEVEL 2 PAPER PACKET
X7090C SILHOUETTE My Stickease.
Z1033 Just Blooms Big Pinks
Z1147 Foundry Bookplates
Z1285 Holiday Craft Buttons (colonial white buttons)
Misc. Red and off white flower(not CTMH).

To see some other samples using the same sketch click here.

Color Inspiration #53

This week I was determined to get my card done for the color inspiration in time to post it. When I checked in to get the colors I was less certain about it. The colors this week are so not me. You know how colors just don't work well for you. Yellow is that color for me. I hardly ever use yellow and its only use is generally in very small amounts for centers of flowers etc. But I'm determined to do some more challenges so I took a sample of all the cardstock colors and laid them out in front of me. For a while they didn't speak to me and I thought I'd have to miss this week. But in the end primary colors spoke little boy and a little boy card was born.
The colors are Sunny Yellow, Holiday Red, Dutch Blue, Black and White Daisy - all CTMH. The stamps used are C1256 Little Boys (retired) and D1300 Circle Around - both CTMH. I stamped and edged both the Holiday Red and Dutch Blue pieces with images and then sanded the edges gently. Originally I didn't have the black photo hangers but the card was missing something so I added this and the piece of blue ribbon - who says ribbon isn't for boys!

So here it is - not sure when I'll use as I don't have much use for cards for little boys at the moment but you never know.

My First Circle Card

Circle cards are all the rage as far as I can see from my travels around the stamping blogs and magazines. Then "Wishes" arrived and its full of circle cards so I knew I had to make one. I also wanted to take part in the color challenge from the Kwerner Design blog that I did last week. The color challenge this week was :-














These are SU colors so I found the CTMH equivalents and went with creme brulee, crystal blue, vanilla cream, colonial white and bamboo. Unfortunately life took over and didn't get my card loaded last night before the deadline but still I can share for my blog readers, even though I can't win, I think its worth sharing. I hope you like it. The card is very similar to the one in the Wishes book - different stamps and colors but was so easy to put together that I think I'll be making more circle cards.

The stamp sets I used were sans alphabet (C1304), Argyle background (D1325) and Star Struck (D1237)

The day was so beautiful here in Texas that I decided to take my picture outside just for a change.

Wishes is Here!

The brown arrived this week with my copy of Wishes the latest card design book from CTMH. It wasn't expected to be available until June 1st but the printer got them out early so they were released for sale. Its of full of some really great new designs from card in a whole variety of sizes and types. 109 designs in total! It even comes with a CD full of patterns for you to print. In addition this time there are several card sets to make. It gives you all the cutting diagrams to cut the paper to create a set of coordinating cards. These “card workshops” are specifically designed to help you make bulk cards faster, simpler, easier - how cool is that!

It also emphasizes unique ROUND card patterns and a template CD to make these circles spectacular. Imagine the fun of receiving a cool, round card! Even better, imagine the fun of creating one!

If you want to order a book you can do this online at my CTMH website - the cost is $29.95 and it can only be purchased via a CTMH consultant.

Well a new book in hand meant I had to design a card using the book. As usual for me I never follow the pattern totally. I'm so the same when I'm cooking. I take an idea and change it around for me. The pattern I chose was for a small card (3 1/2 " by 2 1/2") but I wanted a standard card size. The sample in the book even uses the same colors and everything. I just enlarged the design added my own touch and I had my card done. All done and complete within 15 minutes from start to finish. That is the beauty of the card design books by Jeannette Lynton. They do really make your card designs faster, simpler and easier! I hope my brother-in-law appreciates the card as it will be going in the mail to England tomorrow so it arrives in time for his special day!



Products (all supplies CTMH)
D1283 Say It In Style
D1237 Star Struck
C1234 Simple Stitches
D1352 It's Your Day
X7097B Game On Level 2 Paper Packet
Black, Cocoa and Chocolate Ink
Silver Brads

Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Decided to try something different and joined a blog hop. Never done a blog hop - well its a fun way of sharing different ideas based on a theme. The theme for this blog hop is the CTMH May SOTM - you will get to visit 18 different blogs and see 18 different creations using this set. What a great way of see how versatile this set is. I know many of you already have it on your list for May but for those doubters around check out the cool ideas these consultants have come up with for it.

The way the blog hop works is that you move from blog to blog clicking on the links on each blog. So If you have come here from Shannon Laux's Blog, you are on the right path! But if this is your first stop, you may want to go back to Jena's Blog and start from the beginning - so you don't miss out on some of the great artwork being shared!

My input for the hop is a cool any occasion card. It could be for a girl friend who needs to be reminded the life is great or just to say Hi!

I used pansy purple for the background and used a flower template underneath the cardstock. Then I sanded the cardstock which brought out the flower shape which was highlighted again using the piercing tool. To make the center of the flower I punched a scalloped oval out of creme brulee cardstock which I then scored in both directions to make a grid which I highlighted using creme brulee ink. The images are from the Be Yourself Stamp Set (May Stamp of the Month). I just love how the lady is dancing - she looks so happy and when your happy everything is beautiful. The white core of the CTMH cardstock is what makes this card in my mind. A little bit of sanding can allow you to create such a different look than the basic cardstock.

Now "Hop" on over to Deb Young's Blog to see her work! Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their Blogs to get some great crafting ideas and other fun ideas! Remember, the May SOTM is only available until May 31st! If you want to order this stamp set - you can do it on my website at www.ronnie.myctmh.com - remember depending on how much you order you can earn this set for FREE - combine it with an order for $60s of stamps you'll also get the tickled pink set for more details click here - tickled pink

Also before you go remember to check out earlier posts on my blog which features other cards using the May Stamp of the Month - you won't regret it! Remember also to sign-up for updates to this blog at the top right of the blog. Its easy to do and you ensure you won't miss out on any of my blog enteries
Color Inspiration Card Sample
Slide show of Samples

Color Inspiration Challenge

Decided to try my hand at a color challenge this week. I used the CTMH colors Chocolate, Hollyhock, Goldrush and White Daisy. I had seen a card by Jean Johnson which I really liked but want to add to a little bit more color so this seemed the perfect time to do it.

The stamps sets I used are from the May Stamp of the Month from CTMH - Be Yourself and the stamps which come with the Tinkled Pink special which CTMH is offering for National Scrapbook Month. Finally the birthday comes from the August Stamp of the Month It's Your Day - but this could be replaced by any birthday you have.

Card Keeper with matching Cards - May Workshop

So I finally found time this week to pull together a workshop for May. I really thought I wasn't going to be able to do one as the clock has been ticking and didn't have anything designed. Luckily two ideas from other consultants came across my emails and I was able to adapt these and create a workshop.

A while back I did a workshop using the snapshot pages made by Close To My Heart (CTMH) to create cards. Since then CTMH has released new snapshots and they were begging to be used for a similar workshop. Thanks to Chris Green who provided the basic design idea I came up with 5 cards using the Perfect Day Snapshots (X8532) and the Botanical Fancy Cuts (X1405).

I had just completed this when Tresa Black shared on her blog a really cute card keeper. In a moment of inspiration, these are rare since I turned 40 so I have to mention it, I realised I could take the design she used to create a matching card keeper for my cards and I had my workshop.

The workshop will be held on Thursday May 28th at 10am at my house. One last fling before the kids finish for the summer. The cost will be $15 (tax and shipping included). For this you will get everything you need to create the card keeper plus five cards (with matching envelopes). You will have extra fancy cuts left over to make more cards at home. I'm sorry I can't do an evening class at the moment due to the cancellation of school events due to swine flu the back end of this month is crazy. I will offer the opportunity to purchase a workshop kit which will include everything you need plus detailed instructions. If you can't pick-up your kit there will be an additional mailing charge.

RSVPs required by May 14th to ensure we get the products in time. You will need to bring 12inch trimmer, scissors and adhesive of choice.

This card keeper would make an excellent end of year teacher gift - so if you want to order extra supplies to make more at home let me know. You can make one set out of 1/2 packet of snapshots.

Graduation Card

Its that time of year when we need graduation cards. As we usually give some money or gift card as well as a card I decided to make this a card which combined the card and the ability to hold money or gift card.

I used Good Times Level 2 paper packet, Chocolate Alphabet Large (E1010), Condfidential (D1347), Reach for the Stars (B1321), Chocolate Ink. (All Close To My Heart products).





Want to learn how to make this card. I have 4 classes this month when I will be teaching it. Check out my schedule on my ctmh blog at www.ronnie.myctmh.com - if there's a class you can make email me to check that I have a spot available at ronniecrowley@prodigy.net. Otherwise how about hosting a class at home where I can teach you and your guests how to make this card.

Samples from new sets from CTMH

Thought I'd share another set of swaps I was involved in with samples from a variety of new sets included in the new catalogs. The slide shows a whole variety of styles and items. You've already seen my sample but still I thought it was worth sharing.

I hoping the weather this afternoon arrives and keeps us home as I have more samples I need to make. I was working on a workshop based around snapshots last night and want to be able to share this soon. I wish I had more time and energy to create but the end of the school year is always a challenge for me even with out the swine flu!

Carol Harris
Nicole Simmons
Tammy Paulson
Emma Ault
Carrie Burdette
Starr Bartlett
Lisa Moore
Ginger Manning
Ronnie Crowley
Christina Cox
Jody Skinner
Heather Snow
Melissa Robinson
Teri Baxter

Heather Dennis

Stephanie Sickler

May Stamp of the Month Samples - Be Yourself

The May Stamp of the Month Be Yourself is one of my favorite for a long time. The ladies are so cute and I have so many ideas of how I can use them. As far as I'm concerned these are a must have purchase and you do that tomorrow May 1st - plus order from the new catalog.

The slide show below is a sample of some ideas made using the May Stamp of the Month from a variety of CTMH consultants across the USA - aren't they cute. I wonder if you can guess which is mine. The first to comment correctly on which is mine gets a prize!

Persons contributing to this artwork: Carla Testa, Carrie Burdette, Christina Cox, Christy Monteith, Heather Snow, Marianne Hancock, Melissa Robinson, Nickie Gill, Ronnie Crowley, Sharryl Hales, Sheila Wilkerson, Shirley Ross, Stacy Park, Tammy Paulson, Teri Baxter, Tina Patten, and Tonya Whitehurst.

Treetops and Buttons

So I'm stuck on my trees at the moment and decided to make another attempt at my tree card for the swap I'm in.

I think the buttons add so much dimension to the card its worth the effort. I thought about adding waxy flax through the holes but didn't have green so shelved that idea.

The design is based on one the designs from the originals card design book from CTMH.



CTMH has currently only the one card design book but in the new catalog we have our second one coming out Jeanette Lynton wrote on her blog - "It’s called “Wishes,” and it contains 109 brand-new patterns, which includes three complete “card workshops.” These “card workshops” are specifically designed to help you make bulk cards faster, simpler, easier. It also emphasizes unique ROUND card patterns and a template CD to make these circles spectacular. Imagine the fun of receiving a cool, round card! Even better, imagine the fun of creating one!"


These books really make your card designing easier. I get mine out all the time just to start off a design. Doesn't mean what I finish with looks anything like the design but it helps me get going. Other times I do a card exactly following the pattern. Never tried one of our patterns well now is the moment to try. Jeannette Lynton also shared one of the new patterns and you can check it out here - pattern. I'd love to see what you create!

Have a great day creating.

Treetops for my tree hugging friends - New for Summer 2009

My new stamps arrived this week from CTMH and I had a moment to play. Not my best card but Ok. I need to come-up with something more creative for this card for a swap but this was done in a few minutes I had to play. When I saw this set I fell in love. This is only one of the trees in the set and I'll be playing with the others thats for sure.

CTMH Scrapbooking Competition Annouced!

Just heard last night that CTMH has started a competition for National Scrapbooking Month. I'd love for one of my customers to be a finalist. How about this enter a page and be a finalist and get a $50 gift certificate to add to your stash! All the details are on a special blog see details below. So get sharing those layouts. There are several categories you can win under so don't forget to read the rules! For more details click on the link below or the link on the right will take you to the blog just for this!


National Scrapbooking Month is all about you! We want you to share your story with us, so put together your best two-page layout featuring…you! Send a JPEG photo of your layout and a description of how it is highlighting you, your life, your passions, your hobbies—whatever is the best way to tell your story. Send your photo and description to scrapbookandshare@closetomyheart.com and you will be automatically entered into the contest to win $150 US retail in Close To My Heart product!

See the Scrapbook and Share Contest categories and details.

Tickled Pink Special

Available from April 15th till end of May - while supplies last

Put a little more "you" in your scrapbooks and you'll be Tickled Pink this spring! Our newest scrapbooking kit puts you front and center - with everything you need to create two beautiful two-page layouts all about the things you love and make you shine. And speaking of shine, you'll also be tickled by the kiss of glitter on these fabulous papers!

To get your very own Tickled Pink Scrapbooking kit:

• Place a minimum order of $60 in stamp sets (excluding K-size and Stamp of the Month) between April 15-May 31 to receive a Tickled Pink scrapbooking kit FREE! (Limit one free kit per order.)
• Purchase the Tickled Pink kit at just $34.95 - well below retail value!
• Sign up as a new Consultant between May 1-May 31 and receive a kit FREE.
• Host a Home Gathering between April 15-May 31 with minimum sales of $400 and receive a kit FREE.

Celebrate spring, bling, and everything you love - you'll be so happy, you'll be Tickled Pink!

Tax and shipping/handling apply. Available for a limited time while supplies last.

This year, the promotional scrapbooking kit for our May Constant Campaign, "Tickled Pink", includes:

1 - My Acrylix "I Am" Stamp Set (D-size)

2 - 12" x 12" Floral B&T Duos Paper (1 with glitter)

2 - 12" x 12" Stripe B&T Duos Paper (1 with glitter)

1 - 12" x 12" Blush Textured Cardstock

1 - 12" x 12" Crystal Blue Textured Cardstock

4 - 12" x 12" White Daisy Textured Cardstock

1 - 12" x 12" White Daisy Textured Die-Cut Shapes

1 - Mini-Medley Accents White Daisy Collection

1 - Foam Texture Tool

1 - Instructional Brochure

If you are interested in obtaining this scrapbooking kit, for FREE or at full retail price, please contact me.