Countdown to Valentine's Day: Day One

I'm joining CTMH consultant, Paige Dolecki, in counting down the days to Valentine's Day. I'll post a card, layout or project each day to help get you in the mood for love! Here's one of the cards we'll be making at my Valentine's Day workshops scheduled for Thursday, February 4 and Sunday, February 7. Let me know if you'd like to join us!

This card features the stamp set Love Birds. I used markers and the waterbrush to add a little color and some Liquid Glass on the heart. The Xs and Os are our new Lots of Dots alphabet stickers. They look white when you start out, but when you ink them up the polka-dot design shows through!

Simple but sweet.

Some pages, finally!

I did so little scrapbooking last year that I've challenged myself to do a page a week in 2010.


Here are a couple of layouts I did that were done for a sketch challenge on ScrapShare. Supplies for these are all Close to My Heart.


This first one uses paper and stickers from "Emporium."The stamp set is "Connections."








This next two-page layout is the first I've done from our Baltic cruise this summer. Nothing fancy here -- title cut with Opposites Attract and some Journey Journaling Spots from CTMH.

Sweet Lucy

After almost 16 years together, we said goodbye to our sweet Lucy yesterday.

One little word

"Let me pray not to be sheltered from dangers, but to be fearless in facing them." -- Rabindranath Tagore



A few years ago, Ali Edwards (the scrapbooking/memory keeper guru) started a tradition of choosing one word each January to focus on over the course of the year. One word to keep in mind as she went about her daily life.


This idea really appeals to me and the word that popped into my head today was "fearless". Just the thought of living for a year with that one little word as my guide scares me. Which makes me think it is the right choice.

Here's a video by the Buddhist author, Susan Piver, describes exactly what "fearless" means to me.


I plan to create two scrapbook layouts --one at the beginning of the year to express my intention and the second one at the end to reflect on the process and the influence that living with purposeful fearlessness has on my life.

As you consider making resolutions at the start of the new year, I challenge you to join me in this twist on tradition. Choose one word -- or as Ali says, let it choose you. Live by this word and at the end of 2010, reflect on what kind of impact it had on your life. I'd love to know which words speak to you. Please share your choice in the comments...................or keep it close to your heart.



I wish you all a very happy New Year!

Oh, I have sadly neglected my blog. The last post was for Halloween and now it's almost Thanksgiving.

I'm headed out on a scrapbooking retreat weekend tomorrow. When I return I should have lots of new things to show you. In the meantime, here is a photo of the cards we'll be making at my holiday workshop on December 3.

All of these cards were made with Jingle Creative Basics paper and ribbon by Close to My Heart. the ideas were adapted from other consultants and our how-to book, Wishes. It's hard to see from the photo, but there's glitter and "snow" and pearls -- lots of bling!

In addition to the cards, we'll make a little embellished box that can be used for storage or to turn the cards into a really cute gift set.


All for just $15! And you'll have lots of paper left over so you can make multiples after you learn the techniques. Join us!

Trick or Treat!

I love Halloween! It's right up there with Christmas for me. In some ways it's even better because there's less pressure. Some years I go all out and some years I make minimal effort. This year has been somewhere in between.

I taught several groups of women how to make these little treat bags and made at least 25 myself. After being filled with candy, the bags went out in the mail to Santa Barbara, Chicago and Durham (you know who you are!) and have been handed out all over town.

The directions can be found on the Scor-Pal website. The only change I made was to cut the paper 4.25 x 11 so I could get two out of each sheet of paper. All of my Halloween paper scraps and stickers were called into action. I used a variety of Martha Stewart ribbons and although I didn't take a picture, the bat from Beware, a Close to My Heart stamp set that's on special right now, was featured on most of the bags.

Have fun but beware of ghoulies and ghosties and things that go bump in the night!

BOO!

Thursday Thirteen

"He who does not thank for little will not thank for much." - Estonian proverb

Not the big ones like family, friends and health, but 13 little things I'm grateful for:

1. Lululemon workout pants
2. Advil
3. DVR
4. E-mail
5. A good sermon
6. A good book
7. My Knitpicks interchangeable circular knitting needles
8. Rain (but enough, already!)
9. Prepared meals in the freezer
10. Glue dots
11. Birthday cards
12. Zinnias
13. Friday nights