LUCY!!!

For April the Workshop on the Go of the month is Lucy. Shades of Blush, Pear, and Creme Brulee dance in perfect harmony to usher in spring. Easter Egg Hunts, Spring Family Picture, Pretty Princesses, and so much more will coordinate perfectly with Lucy.

Now that Spring has sprung here in Central Texas join me to get a jump on layouts for all of those great spring pics soon to come.

On Saturday April 14, 2012 at 3pm Come make 2 double page layouts featuring Close To My Heart's brand new Lucy Paper Pack. During the Workshop we will use Close To My Heart's exclusive Art Philosophy Cartridge to make stamping and cutting a breeze, double stamp images perfectly with My Acrylixs clear stamps, rub-on butterflies and flowers like butter with Lucy's compliments, and give that little touch of bling with itty bitty sparkles.

If you are interested in attending you can either purchase you kit here, or contact me at ChandelWoody(at)gmail(dot)com for more options, deals or details!

Enjoy!

Say goodbye to those ugly sticker present tags!!!

Every year I spend countless hours wrapping Christmas gifts. Most years I am still wrapping into the wee hours of Christmas morning. Wrapping gifts is an obsession of mine, the thought of putting a Christmas gift in a bag scares me! It may seem silly that I spend so much time on something that is just going to get ripped off, but in our house it wouldn't be Christmas if our gifts weren't wrapped to the nines under the tree.

(Obsessed? Just a bit. These were empty boxes I wrapped just to take pictures with!)

Christmas morning is more enjoyable when we literally unwrap each of our gifts. Only one person at a time unwraps, this way my husband and I enjoy each of our children's faces when they slowly or quickly (Tasmanian Devil style) reveal their gifts. Instead of a crazy free for all of bags and tissue paper flying finished in 10 seconds, we leisurely sip coffee or hot chocolate as one child opens a gift while the others look at their gifts until breakfast time. In years past I would purchase special licensed character paper for each child, that way they knew exactly what gifts were theirs. Not this year. This year I decided to spend my money on better things, and bought the cheapest paper I could find.

A HUGE roll of brown craft paper.

Everyone's gifts will be wrapped up in this stuff. No worries, I will stamp some of the paper, and all gifts will be decked out in ribbons and bows. The presents will still be just a beautiful as years past.

When I purchased the ribbons and bows I took a peek at tags. Are you kidding me, have you seen the options out there?!? The most affordable ones are stickers on a roll. Been there, done that, once our oldest son unwrapped his little sisters princess underwear because those stickers always come off the present, and "Santa" just slapped the sticker on the closest present. Thus the years of over priced individual wrapping paper. The other options are beautiful pre-made embellished tags, usually individual (not on roll), have good adhesive, and are .... absolutely not what I am going to spend my money on since I just gave up the pretty paper! There is no way I am going to pay a dollar a piece for them, especially when the gift they are attached to may not even cost a dollar!

So what is a paper-crafter like me to do??? Oh that's right, *Ü* I have an entire roomed filled with goodies to make some of my own. With a little inspiration from Close To My Heart, the Cricut Art Philosophy Collection, Inks, Papers, Ribbon, and a bit of bling I will have plenty made just in time for Christmas. More personalized and beautiful than the store bought tags, at a fraction of the cost. Since I am using up my supplies do you think "Santa" will bring me some more? *Ü*

So if you are tired of cheap ugly sticker tags, and over priced pretty tags, just like I am, here is a bit of inspiration for you. Happy Crafting!

Supplies used are all Close To My Heart
Stamp Sets: December 25th
Cardstocks: Twilight & Heavenly Blue available in the Bright Blue Shade Pack, Pear available it the Summer Cardstock Collection*, and Kraft
Inks:Crystal Blue, Desert Sand, Heavenly Blue, Pear and Twilight
Embellishments: Bitty Sparkles, Colonial Waxy Flax, and Sweet Leaf Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon
Tools: Cricut Art Philosophy Collection

*Sweet Leaf Cardstock and Ink are great alternatives to Pear!

Wishing everyone a wonderful Holiday Season!

Thanksgiving is only 17 Days away...

Every year my Aunt throws an amazing party for Thanksgiving. All family members are invited to attend along with their families, and it is a blast! Everywhere you look there is something going on. The ladies are gathered in the kitchen putting the finishing touches on yummy southern dishes, the men are gathered around the pit smoking turkeys and hams, the teens (and an adventurous Dad or two) are in the yard playing tag football,and the kids are running from the sand pit to the horse pen and back. There is always plenty of catching up, visiting, and laughing going on, not to mention a few rounds of dominoes. All in attendance leave late in the evening with bellies full, loaded up with "to-go" plates for later and a smile from ear to ear across their face. I looked forward to every Thanksgiving on "the ranch" nearly as much as Christmas morning. I love to bake so every year I ask if there is something I can bring and every year I get the same response "Just your family and an appetite." So every year I bring a small gift to say thank you. This year I was lost at what to give, then Close To My Heart came to the rescue.

This Thanksgiving Card using My Acrlix So Grateful Stamp Set is the perfect inspiration. So with just a couple of weeks till the big day I am off to make a few of these and maybe some orange slice pumpkins. Happy Crafting!


Supplies used are all Close To My Heart
Stamp Sets: So Grateful
Cardstock: Mischief Level 2 Paper Packet*, Sonoma Level 2 Paper Packet**, Colonial White and Grey Wool (Both available in the Neutral Cardstock Combo Pack)
Inks: Olive, Sunflower, Sunset and Grey Wool (to sponge card base)
Embellishments: Mini-Medley Accents Olive Collection

Optional Supplies:
*Sunset Cardstock with cross hatched pattern using Sunset Marker instead of Mischief Level 2 Paper Packet
**Olive Cardstock Sponged with Olive Ink instead of Sonoma Level 2 Paper Packet

November Special - Holiday Wishes Stamp Set

November is here and Christmas is around the corner. Just in time for the holidays Close To My Heart has released a limited edition holiday stamp set, Holiday Wishes, perfect for creating beautiful cards, layouts, and home decor items.

The Holiday Wishes stamp set is full of classic Victorian-esque holiday images, and great sentiments. An added bonus is many of the images (outlined in red) coordinate with the exclusive Cricut Art Philosophy Collection. Just cut, stamp, and layer for an easy and quick project. Any artwork you create using this stamp set is sure wow the recipient, and warm their heart.

What makes this stamp set even more special is the price. If you order $25 or more in My Acrlix stamp sets* you can purchase this exclusive D-sized stamp set, valued at $17.95, for just $5!!! The uses and ideas are endless, and the images are timeless. So get a gift for that special scrapper on your list, or one to brighten your day! Either way it's a win win this holiday season! Happy crafting!

* Stamp of the Month, K-sized customized name stamps, Cricut Art Philosophy collection, and Workshops on the Go kits do not count toward qualifying purchase. Offer valid through November 30, 2011. Tax and shipping apply.

Supplies used are all Close To My Heart
Cardstock: New England Ivy, Cranberry, Colonial White and Kraft
Inks: New England Ivy, Olive, Cranberry, Chocolate, and Desert Sand
Embellishments: Red and Bronze Glitz Glitter Gel, Red Sparkles, Chocolate Embroidery floss, and Colonial White Organza Ribbon (Dyed using Cranberry Re-Inker)

The New Autumn/Winter Ideas Books and Products...

... Are Now Live!!! Woo Hoo!!! I must say that Close To My Heart has out done it's self! This Idea Book is full of amazing new tools, papers, embellishments, and stamp sets. The art work is gorgeous, and the inspiration is going to keep me busy for a very very long time. Whether you are new to Close To My Heart's products or a long time customer there is variety, glitz, pizzazz, and goodies for everyone. I am like a kid in the candy store as I browse each and every page, over and over and over again. I just can't get enough! Right now my favorites are:

1. Roxie - Pink, Roses, Zebra, Neutrals, and Bling ... What more can a girl ask for?

2. Dreamin' - The Name says it all. I am already looking forward to the cooler days of fall, and days spent "dreamin" in the backyard.

3. Sonoma - I may not be a "purple" girl but the smokey plum and olive are calling my name. Throw in some spectacular dangling gems, Victorian inspired lace, and some pewter accents and I am there!

AND OF COURSE, LAST BUT DEFINITELY NOT LEAST......

4. The Cricut Art Philosophy Collection - How could I not love this??? 700 Images, 6 3-D flowers, 6 boxes, tags, alphabets, cards......... My head is already spinning and I haven't even mentioned the 3 included stamp sets or the Dimensional elements. Cards this year are going to rock, and scrapbooking layouts will have the brackets I love with out the blisters!

Let me just say I am so proud to be apart of such an amazing company, that offers products that continually exceed my expectations and hopes. I love that Close To My Heart has made my paper crafting "Faster, Simpler, and (much much much) Easier"!!!

Until Next Time,

Mayberry.... and Mayberry you don't...

So in the spirit of me putting my self out there, and taking a risk. I am going to post one of my least favorite projects. Personally Mayberry is not my style but "mayberry" it is yours. I love the pictures, the memories, but not the layout. Still I feel something is missing and off about it so I rarely share it. I have not even placed it in an album yet. Well I am now, I am going to learn to love it (and me) flaws and all. I am going to share it with you.

Here is the completed Layout.

Page One... Our sweet little girl...

Page Two... The little devil himself trying to look sweet.. Can you see that red hair? Oh it is true what they say about red heads....

How about that cute scalloped border in smoothie? How did I do you asked... Simple use the corner rounder with the guard removed and simple punch down the edge of you paper and voila you have a scalloped border.

This is a close up of the cute flowers cut out by hand and popped up on some foam tape to add some dimension.

All supplies used are Close To My Heart unless otherwise noted. Click the link to shop for the items directly.

-Supplies-
Paper and Stamps : Mayberry Workshop On the Go and Bohemian Alphabet
Inks: Chocolate, Smoothie, and Goldrush
Markers : Chocolate
Tools & Adhesive : Corner Rounder and 3-D Foam Tape

So Mayberry you liked it and Mayberry you don't. Either way I hope you enjoyed this layout as much as we we enjoyed creating the memories!
Until Next Time....

Fear.....

Maybe you are smiling and loving where you are in you life. Maybe you are hiding, scared to really reach out and make your dreams come true. Maybe you feel a little bit of both. Guess what, I am a little bit of both. I love my life, I love my family, and I can not imagine where else I would be. Yet on the other hand I am scared. I know who I am, and for the most part of who I want to be. Now is the time for me to act, for me to really jump into life with BOTH feet.

Could life scream at me any louder?? Not so random, random emails, songs on the radio, silly little horoscopes I usually ignore, out of the blue phone calls, even a Facebook Video Post that I never actually watch, all of it yelling at the top of the mountain "Chandel!!! Now is the time to start believing."

What is keeping me from believing? Fear. Specifically the fear of failure. If not checked, the fear of failure can overwhelm us to the point of inactivity, and it has. Rather than putting forth the necessary effort to succeed, I have avoided facing this fear by doing nothing, which is much more comfortable.

But that comfortable road of inactivity is very crowded with everyone else who is also being comfortable, making it impossible for me to move forward. In order to progress, I need to try something new, put myself out there, risk a little, and do something.

So now that I know where my heart and head stand I am going to try something new, I am going to put myself out there, risk a little and I am going to do something.....

I am going to be me. I am going to chase my hopes and dreams with out letting the fear overwhelm me. I am going to show this world who I am and what I have to offer. Are you ready for me? Are you ready to share in this crazy ride we call life with me? I hope so, because I AM READY to share it with YOU. I am going to believe that right here right now this is where I am supposed to be, and that this is where I am supposed to be headed.

P.S. If you are feeling the same way please take the quick second to listen to this
But please don't just listen hear the message, feel the message, believe the message. Listen to it a thousand times if you have to, but in the end believe.

(*HUGS* and many thanks to a wonderful woman who sent this my way.)