Stampaganza-Perfect for Christmas and gifts!

Stampaganza 2009

This only comes around once in a while and It's here in NOV.!  CTMH has NEVER offered such a GREAT deal this close to the holidays. 
 

I am soooo excited.  The last time CTMH offered this promo. it was THE best month I have ever seen in my 5 year history with CTMH.   Here are the details.

Stamp lovers rejoice! We are making it easy to build your stamp collection! Cardmakers and scrapbookers alike will love this opportunity to earn free stamps during our November campaign.

WHETHER YOU’RE A LONG-TIME FAN OF STAMPS or are just venturing into this fun hobby, now is the perfect time to grab some My Acrylix® decorative stamp sets! From November 3–30, 2009, when you purchase any two stamp sets (sizes A,B, C, D, and/or E only) at full retail price you will receive a third stamp set of your choice FREE (of equal or lesser value)—a savings of up to $22.95! Choose from any stamp set offered in any 2009 Idea Book or the current Product Review. Take advantage of this month’s great offer to add to your assortment of these innovative stamps.

Please make sure you have all the right block sizes to match your new stamp set.
 

Dates:
The campaign runs November 3–30, 2009, for customers and Consultants.

Details:
Shipping/handling apply. Stamp sets available for FREE include: A, B, C, and D-size sets only. E-size, customizable (K), Stamp of the Month, and Art & Soul® sets are not available as the free set. Stamp sets that count toward the qualifying purchase include full-priced A, B, C, D, and E-size sets only. Stamps that do not qualify toward a qualifying purchase include Stamp of the Month, Art & Soul, Workshops on the Go™, and customized (K) stamps. 

Keep in mind too that your purchase help you to qualify for the stamp of the month at a discount or even FREE.  This is a great month to stock up or buy some beautiful Christmas gifts....maybe a gift for yourself too. :-) 

If you have any questions, you can contact me via phone or email.

This past weekend was CRAZY...good!

Sorry, I've been away this past weekend, but we were IN a wedding.  3 outa 5 of us. My hubby's sister got married to her beloved and it was beautiful.  We were aboard a yacht surrounded by all their friends and our families.  It was wonderful and For the most part it went good. The wedding was wonderful, tender, and sweet! It took us 4 hours to get ready and I thought we looked pretty good. :-) my oldest daughter was stunning and even got asked to dance by another little boy. As a mom this was scary! My baby just got asked to dance by a BOY!! WOW, that was a little nuts. I was happy when she said “no, she was too tired”. I don’t think my heart could have handled seeing her on the dance floor with a boy.

My lil man was the ring bearer and we had been praying he'd walk the isle, but he didn’t. That’s OK, we did our best. It was just too hard at the time that it was. My lil man and baby are normally in bed at 7pm and the wedding was at 7pm, but didn’t start til 7:20…so he was just too tired. Even tho We did give all the kids a late nap. He had done well all day, too. Around 5pm he would have been perfect!!!, but as the hours past he got more and more tired. We got there at 5pm and he was in such good spirits, then 6pm he was still good, but around 6:30 we went slowly into melt down and by 7:30 he was done! My oldest daughter was beautiful and even tried to help him down the isle, it was adorable! 

Aaahhhh memories!! Thankfully it was good for laughs and no one will forget how he just stood there and said “I Don’t Want To!!”. 

A special shout out to to my friend Heather for helping me with ideas for my make up and hair. She even showed me how to put on fake eyelashes!! 

There's nothing like a wedding to bring out those loving feelings in your own relationship. Sometimes I just am amazed at how much I love this man of mine. He's awesome!

Have a great and loving night!

Stefani

Same supplies, different outcome everytime!

For the past few past Fridays and Mondays Ive been teaching an elective for my daughter and her friends.  It been a ton of fun and it just amazes me how you give 10 people the exact same pieces to work with and they each come up with something different and unique.  I showed them a sample, showed them a couple techniques, and gave them all the same supplies. I didn't think that they'd cut into the supplies that I gave them, but they did. I didn't think they'd NOT use some of the things I gave them. I didn't think they'd request colors that didn't "match", but they did all these things. Each person goes home with something different, unique, and wonderful!  It is fun and I can't wait to see what their paper crafts look like as the year goes on. We'll be meeting for 20 classes to scrapbook and make cards all the while I'll be teaching different techniques and such.   It's gonna be a great year!

Stefani

Sign up as a new consultant and get 10 free Studio J praints for free!

STUDIO J,™ OUR PREMIER ONLINE DESIGN SOFTWARE, USES CLOSE TO
My Heart’s proprietary patterns, papers, and color palettes so you can easily create memorable layouts. We are offering a special treat to everyone who signs up as a new Consultant from October 1–31, 2009. When you successfully complete both levels in our exclusive program designed to kick-start your business, Straight To The Top (STTT), you’ll receive even more than the STTT reward of $150 US/$180 CAN in free select products. You’ll receive 10 FREE Studio J scrapbook layouts!* When you add it all up, you can earn approximately $480 US/$600 CAN in free product! click here for STUDIO J info.

Now is a great time to become a Close To My Heart Consultant. Sign-up today!

Stefani

Your wish is my command.

Do you ever wish that the genie in the bottle would give you 3 wishes? well i do.  I did get a fun wish this week.  I just ordered and recieved the new Wishes design book from CTMH.  I have to tell you this book is AWESOME!  I think I'll crawl into my scrapbooking room and make every design possible.  If you haven't seen it, you gotta.

Here's a brief description of the book:  "Bulk cardmaking, trendy circle cards, and all new patterns make Jeanette Lynton's latest hardbound, how-to cardmaking book a must-have for your creative library. The three bulk card "workshops" help you make 8, 12, or 16 cards in a jiffy while getting the most out of your papers and your time. The beautiful full-color artwork and creative tips and techniques offer hours of inspiration and fresh ideas."   I have to agree.  This is my new best resource!  With this book you get more than 3 wishes, you get tons more.  This is going to my make Christmas card making a breeze this year. 


Stefani 

Kids say the silliest things....

My daughter had a friend over a few days ago and they weren't "into" playing the same things.  At one point my daughter made a not so nice remark about how the other little girls idea was "for babies".  I interjected and asked her what she liked to do?  Then I proceeded to explain that everyone likes to do and play different things.  Each person is unique and special.  As I was trying to explain to her everyone has their "things"/hobbies I asked her what does so and so like to play? She gave me an answer.  I asked her what does so and so like to play, she gave me an answer. We did this several times as I named off various friends of hers.  

Then I said it's true of adults too. I asked her what does Papa like to do? She said Flying.  I then asked What does mama like to do? and to my surprise my sweet 3 year old son (who I didn't even know was listening!) says "Scream!".  I started to laugh as I knew where he was coming from because it did appear that this was one of those days where I was in fact screaming, part if it was in fun, but I had yelled at him while he was upstairs and about to drop a piece of glass down stairs. I was yelling because I was downstairs and he was upstairs.  Then about an hour later he was in the backyard and was about to throw his beloved sister's kitty (her absolute favorite thing on this planet) and again the only thing I had was my voice to try and stop him (There was no way I could run from inside to outside in order to stop him in time).  Then, first thing in the morning we had been making pancakes and I was singing, being crazy and being loud...not screaming, but to a three year old it was loud and fun....So, all I could do was laugh as I thought about the morning we did have, but then my daughter and her friend started laughing and then my son was laughing.  It was a funny remark, one that I won't forget anytime soon!  I just pray that He doesn't really see me that way on a daily basis....Kids say the silliest things.

On a side note, I did ask my 7 year old later, "does mama scream a lot?" She said "no"...oh praise God!  I think I would have died if she said yes. 



Stefani

Prayers for a dear friend, please.

I am asking for you to say prayers for a dear friend and her family.  My friend Kris' husband was involoved in a mountain biking accident.  He has a sever brain injury and is in an induced coma for now.  They are on a VERY rocky road with all of this and are praying for so many things (as you can imagine).  Please pray for wisdom for everyone involoved. For patience as they watch God do something amazing in thier lives and the lives of those around them.  For guidance, love, sleep, grace, mercy, healing, and for all thier needs to be met.  Thank you in advance for your prayers they mean a lot ot me and to this family.  They have 2 young girls at home too, so pray for them as well.

Stefani

This months stamp of the month is too fun!

Each Month CTMH offers a new and different stamp of the month (SOTM) that is only avalible for that month.  You can buy it out right or you can get it at various discounts, but you can also get it FREE.  The rate of discounts or freebie is based on your purchase amount.   If you'd like to learn more you can, just click the link

HERE

Here's some artwork using this months SOTM

Great for Christmas layouts or cards. 

Stefani

Velcro days....

As a mom of 3 little ones we have days that we call Velcro days. Tthose are the days that you feel stuck to your kids. Know what I mean? Let me share with you my Velcro days.  It began On Sat. afternoon when the baby came down with a fever. She was cranky, whiny, and cling-y.  She was up a few times in the night and so I got less sleep.  Sunday she just wanted to be held, but by the end of the day she seemed to be feeling much better.

Then this morning we were taking my oldest to school. My son was complaining that his tummy hurt. I thought that it was just "hunger" pains. I fed him and we took my daughter to school, but he still complained that his tummy hurt.  I asked him if he felt sick, no he said.  I asked if he felt like he needed to go poo? No he said. I then asked if he thought he was gonna throw up? No he said. We got back in the car from drop off and drove home, about half way home he says he wants me to hold him. I said we were almost home and that I would the min. we got there. I put my hand on his leg (that's all i could reach).  About a block from the house he started to smack his lips and swallow many times. I thought oh no, he's gonna blow. I parked the car, grabbed him from the back seat, but he just wanted to be held. As his chest was pressed to mine i could feel the heaving in his and pulled back just in time!  Yep, he blew.  As the morning went on he threw up a total of  3 times and wanted to be held/sit together much of the day.  Thankfully, my sister is staying with us and did a few of my chores for me, made dinner, and went shopping too. So, the last few days have been Velcro days.

Stefani

Out of the mouths of babes.

My sister is staying with us while she waits to hear about a traveling job.  She brought an old computer for the kids to have, but needed to get the info and pictures out of it. She was downloading the info and pic's on to a portable hard drive, but while it was loading she was going down memory isle, looking at all the pics.  We had all gone to Maui 5 years ago. Since having my first child and gaining a ton of weight I've not lost it. My son was looking at the pictures with us and there was one where I have on sunglasses and my hair is curly (not how i wear it now and how he knows me).  In the picture my daughter (then 2 yrs. old), my hubby and I are making a goofy face and my sons says "look at that fat lady making a funny face".   You could have heard the laughter and then the "oh snap!" comment a mile away!  I laughed, but i think my sister laughed the hardest...I'll have to smack her later for that :-)  My daughter "got it" too and was laughing and then says to my 3 year old son "that's mama!" and my son looks at me, looks at the picture but is too caught up in everyone laughter to say anything.  Meanwhile my heart sank.  Is that how he sees me?  How does he know what "fat" is? Where did he learn that from? I guess i better loose weight. Funny thing is I have been, I've lost 11 pounds since the beginning of the year and will loose more. I have to now! Sigh....out of the mouths of babes!

Stefani

Little man's cupcakes were so fun!

We wanted to combine the kids' B-days. Coming up with something that "matched" or that could be co-ed was a little hard. So choosing "like" colors came to me and we went with Black, Red, and White. As you saw yesterday, I made a ladybug cake for the baby. I then made cupcakes with "cars" on them for lil man.  I used Black icing that looked like the color of tires...even when they put it in their mouth.  All the kids landed up with black lips, black tongues, and black fingers. It was so FUN!  We went through a ton of wipes to get it off their little fingers, mouths, and more.  It was a wonderful day Playing pin the race car on the track for the boys and pin the ladybug on the flower for girls.  Then we played red light, green light...you know cars have to stop and go at the lights.  The kids bounced on the bounce house like a bunch of Tiggers, played on the playground like little monkeys. We had a GREAT time.  I wonder what I'll do next year...?

Stefani

One of My Newest Creations.

It's not always easy to be creative with 3 children around, but i manage a little something every now and again :-) So this is one of my latest and I must say it's really cute. For my daughters first Birthday we went with a lady bug theme, because we call her Luvbug. Here's a picture of her cake and snacks. It was a sweet day with lots of fun, friends, and family.  We combined both my younger kids b-days this year as they are born in the same month.  We thought that Luvbug would dive into the cake as she is my little eater.  She'll eat almost anything.  She reminds me of the commercial from years ago. "Mikey likes it".  She surprised us tho and was more curious with it. She picked at it and sort of ate it, but it wasn't like "diving" into it.  Oh, well none of my kids dug into their first B-day cakes...maybe my grand kids will do it one day?  Next year I am sure thing will change. She'll be all over it.  I'll be back tomorrow with more pictures that I took of my sons cupcakes.

Stefani

It's official, I am a blogger!

Can you believe it?  I thought that since I love to be creative and one of my favorite things is scrap booking what better way to journal than to have a blog.  I thought that since getting around to all my photos as quickly as I’d like is impossible (I have 3 small children) that If I had a blog I could record the details of my life and as I scrapbook them I could show that as well. So here I am bloggers. It’s good to be here. I look forward to many years worth of journaling.  If you’d like to learn more about me just click on the about me portion.  I look forward to meeting you and making many new friends.  TTFN (now it really shows I have 3 small kids!)

Stefani