New Year - New Goals!

Happy New Year Everyone! I know for my family and for many of my friends 2010 has had some challenging moments, but with it coming to a close I hope to put those behind us and focus on the good memories of the year! Great family vacations, wonderful time with family and friends making memories for a lifetime, kids growing up and taking on new responsibilites, and too many others to list! When I look back I can say without a doubt that 2010 was a year of growth and change for our family. I wonder what 2011 will bring. By this time next year, Nick and Ryan will be seniors in High School and Kendall will be in Pre-K, Jefferson will be driving and James and I will probably have a few more gray hairs! I only have one resolution for 2011 which is "Spend more time and energy focused on my family." I also have several goals for the new year. Not sure there is much difference in a resolution and a goal but for some reason I seem them differently. Most of my goals are more just simple changes in daily living choices or short-term objectives that hopefully won't take a year to complete! So a few of my goals for the new year are (1)handle the everyday stress in life better, (2)keep the house clean, (3)be more organized, (4)simplify our life by reducing clutter, (5)add money to the savings account each month, (6)find a church home for our family were we all feel accepted, (7)go some place I have never been, (8) be a better blogger and post at least twice a month, and (9)put pictures on at least half of the layouts that I currently have complete. Hopefully, on Dec. 31, 2011, I can post some positive results from my resolution/goals for the year! I pray that you all will have a blessed 2011! Happy New Year Everyone!

December Club Layout

December Club Layout


This is the latest club layout that we have done. I've been busy cleaning and reorganizing my scrap room (pics to come soon) and haven't had a chance to post it. Let me know what you think of the layout. Also, I will be announcing another blog give away in the next few days, so come back and check it out!

Hooligans Club Layout

We will be meeting for our scrap night and hostess club on Friday, October 15th at 6:00 PM at the First United Methodist Church in Cleveland. We will be creating a layout featuring the cute new Hooligans Paper Pack. This layout will work picks of your kids, grandkids, Halloween or just fun times as you can stamp and put on the title of your choice! Our new technique this month will be using the blending pen to color in stamped images. Our featured colors will be Black, Gypsy, Pear, Sunset, and Black. Please contact me for further information if you would like to attend. Thanks!

New Product Blog Hop!

Welcome to our Close to my Heart New Product Blog Hop! Over 50 Fabulous Close to my Heart Consultants are celebrating the upcoming release of the Autumn/Winter 2010 Idea Book by giving you a Sneak Peak of some of the great products available in the new Idea Book starting September 1st!

If you have come here from Beth's blog, you are on the right path! You can also find a complete list of Blog Hop participants at
http://tazzygirl2000.blogspot.com/2010/08/autumnwinter-2010-new-product-blog-hop.html

This is simple do to- just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one! Here we go!

I made this card using the two fabulous new stamp sets, The Present and Tannenbaum! I love the sentiment on the card!

Card Recipe:
Wishes Template: Roundabout
Paper: Mistletoe
My Acrylix Stamp Sets: The Present & Tannenbaum
Ink Colors: Cranberry, New England Ivy, Garden green, and Cocoa
Embellishments: Cocoa Ribbon

Now "Hop" on over to Shelia's Blog to see her work! Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their Blogs to get some great crafting ideas and see the great new Paper Packs and My Acrylix Stamp Sets!

Remember, the Autumn/Winter 2010 Idea Book goes LIVE on September 1st!

July Club Layout

Wow! I can't believe how busy this summer has been! I think I need for school to start so I can slow down and get some rest! The kids have certainly been keeping us hopping this summer. I can't believe it has been so long since I posted on here. I will try to do better! :-) Here is a pic of the layout we will be making for club on July 23rd at the FUMC in Cleveland. Please email, text, or call if you have any questions! Thanks!

May Club Layout

Join us for scrap night on May 27th at 4:00 PM at the First Methodist Church in Cleveland. We will be creating this layout featuring our new Zippidee Paper Pack. Our techniques this month will include inking and covering chipboard stars and sanding. Our featured colors will be Cranberry, Indian Corn Blue, Black, Desert Sand, and Honey. If you have any of the ink pads or a sanding kit, please be sure and bring it with you! We will be using the Just the Ticket, Ticket to Ride, and Headline Alphabet stamp sets. We will have wonderful door prizes and snacks. Please come join us for an evening of fun and scrapping. Bring a friend and receive a prize! Let me know if you have questions. See you there!!

Close To My Heart New Product Blog Hop

Welcome to our Close to my Heart New Product Blog Hop! Over 40 Fabulous
Close to my Heart Consultants are celebrating the upcoming release of the
Summer 2010 Idea Book by giving you a Sneak Peak of some of the great
products available in the new Idea Book starting May 1st!

If you have come here from Nancy's blog, you are on the right path!
You can also find a complete list of Blog Hop participants at
http://www.tazzygirl2000.blogspot.com

This is simple do to- just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog
to move to the next one! Here we go!

I made this card using the fabulous new Zippidee Paper Pack! I love the fun colors in the paper and just couldn't wait to make a birthday card using this great new pack! Another one of my favorite new products is the Dimensional Elements Stars! These chipboard stars are the perfect embellishment when covered with these terrific papers and are such a great value!!



Card Recipe:
Wishes Template: Just Because Card 3
Paper: Zippidee Level
My Acrylix Stamp Set: Ticket to Ride
Ink Colors: Cranberry, Black, Honey, Indian Corn Blue
Embellishments: DE Stars, Fancy Fuzz, Black Brads

Now "Hop" on over to Traci's Blog
to see her work! Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their Blogs to get some great crafting ideas and see the great new Paper Packs and My Acrylix Stamp
Sets!

Remember, the Summer 2010 Idea Book goes LIVE on May 1st!

Page Element Winners!!!

The winners of the page element drawing are:

lovin'mybaseballbabies who posted "I'm lovin the Hoot set ;) Can't wait until next Friday, I'm in need of a scrap night!!"

teresa who posted "I have to agree with everyone else.. the owls are the cutest!!!!"

The Lewis Family who posted "I hope to win, these are AMAZING! And April 13 is my bday, so maybe that will give me luck to be near the drawing time??? huh huh?"

Please email me your address to jlhicks5@sbcglobal.net and I will get your favorite set made up and on it's way to you! Thanks everyone and check back this next week for another blog candy give away!!!

April Club Layout

We will be meeting for our scrap night and hostess club on Friday, April 23rd at 6:00 PM at the First United Methodist Church in Cleveland. We will be creating this layout featuring our new Veranda Paper Pack. Our new techniques this month will include dry embossing(scoring) with inking, folded corners, and scrunched ribbon. Our featured colors will be Crème Brulee, Juniper, and Cocoa. If you have any of the ink pads (especially, cocoa) or a dry embossing tool and paper cutter, please be sure and bring it with you! We will be using the Picture Perfect, Cherished Flourishes, and Journaling Jots stamp sets. The cost of each 2 page layout is $5 to cover the cost of the supplies. Please come join us for an evening of fun and scrapping. Bring a friend and receive a prize! Please RSVP EARLY so that I can have everything ready for you! Thanks!!

Drum Roll Please!!!

And the winner is....

Post number 13!!
STYLE by Heather wrote:
LOVE this layout! The adorable little boots, ducks and umbrella are one of my favorite new stamp sets! How do you mix the glimmer mist?
on March 30, 2010 at 7:28 AM

Please email me at jlhicks5@sbcglobal.net with your mailing address and I will get your package of Irrisitibles Lots of Dots out in the mail to you! Thanks everyone for all your great comments!!

Please look at the Page Element Post and be sure to leave a comment about your favorite set and three lucky winners will receive a set of their favorite Page Elements!!! Thanks everyone!!!

Page Elements Part 2

I participated in a page element swap hosted by Kimberly Smith. I was in eight rounds (yes, it was crazy, trying to get them all done! lol) which included all the new paper packs from the last two catalogs. These pictures are of the page elements that I created. Leave a comment letting me know which one is your favorite and on April 15th, I will randomly select three people's comments and send those three people a set of their favorite page elements!!! (Here are the other three page element pics, you can comment on either post to be entered in the drawing.)

Page Elements

I participated in a page element swap hosted by Kimberly Smith. I was in eight rounds (yes, it was crazy, trying to get them all done! lol) which included all the new paper packs from the last two catalogs. These pictures are of the page elements that I created. Leave a comment letting me know which one is your favorite and on April 15th, I will randomly select three people's comments and send those three people a set of their favorite page elements!!!

Toddler Mood Swap

I helped angel a couple of spots in a toddler mood swap hosted by Kimberly Smith. I did "excited" for both the boy and girl round. These are the layouts I came up with. I like the results, but I found it very challenging to do a 6x6 layout. I am use to having more space to work with! Let me know what you think!

March Club Layout

This month our club will be creating this two-page layout featuring the fabulous Caboodle paper pack! We will making our own Glimmer Mist using Pearl Paint, Alcohol, and Re-Inker to add color to our paper flowers. We will also be using liquid glass to make raindrops on our title. Please leave a comment about this months layou below and you will be entered in a drawing to win a package of Irristibles Lots of Dots Color-Ready Alphabet featured on page 96 of the current catalog! I will draw a name at random on April 1st so stop back by and see if your the winner!!

Club Layout

Our club layout for the month of February. This layout was so much fun to create and my club did a great job with it!!

Scrapbook Retreats!

I am attending two different scrapbook retreats in the next few weeks. I am soooo excited to get to go away for the weekend and spend time with friends scrappin'! I hope to be able to post lots of new layouts very soon, but until then I am going to post a couple of more layouts that I have done recently. Thanks for looking!

Favorites

I was looking through some albums last night and thought I would post a few of my favorite layouts. Let me know what you think!

Remember When...

I have found myself reminiscing a lot lately...not sure if it is because my kids are growing up or just feeling nostalgic. I just keep thinking about when the boys were little so I thought I'd post some layouts from when they were small (and sweet!). Thanks for looking!

Display Board Layout

This the layout I created for the display board swap we do for each new catalog. Let me know what you think!

Past January Club Layouts

Thought I would post the past January club layouts from the past two years. Hard to believe that I have been a consultant with Close To My Heart for two years now. It has been so much fun and I have met so many great friends! The Silhouette layout was our first club layout when I first started. It is still one of my favorites! The Emporium layout was from last year.

Finally Blogging!!

I am so excited to finally be entering the world of blogging! I have been trying to find time to get things set up. It is definitely going to take me some time to get everything set up the way I have it pictured in my head. I am glad to have a place were I can post my artwork and pictures of upcoming club and workshop layouts. Please check back frequently and I will try to keep everything updated and post at least a couple of times per month.