June Club Layout - June 24th - 6:00 PM

We will be making this layout on June 24th at 6:00 PM at the First United Methodist Church in Cleveland, TX. Please come join us for an evening of fun and creativity!!

10 Things on the Tenth

I have been reading a few blogs that participate in the 10 things on the 10th post and I thought I would participate! It has been awhile since I last posted anything, sorry, TAKS testing season was much more intense this year than what I have been use to and life in general has just gotten so busy. Hopefully, I can do better this summer! For my list of 10 things today I thought I would post ten things I LOVE about summer! It is finally here and definitely my favorite season, so here you go ten things I love about summer on June 10th!

1. Getting to spend more time with my family! I love my little family and I cherish every moment we spend together. Summer allows us all to slow down and enjoy each other a little more!

2. Sleeping in! Being a teacher certainly has it benefits and being off in the summer and getting to sleep in are on that list! Even though we teach summer school, it starts a little later and we still get to sleep in until at least 7:00!

3. The Beach! This could also go on the list of why I love where I live! It is only a short hour and half drive to the beach. This summer we rented a beach house for a few days and really enjoyed spending time relaxing and just hanging out together at the beach!

4. Teaching Summer School! Yes I know, most people would not see this as a positive, but I absolutely love working with my students and I couldn't imagine not getting to spend these 6 weeks with them.

5. Afternoon Naps! It's nice to be able to take a nap during the hottest part of the day!

6. Swimming! We have always had some type of above ground pool in the backyard. I love that we can just go outside and swim whenever we want. Maybe someday we will have an in ground pool put in, but for now this works for us.

7. Vacation! Every summer we go on some type of vacation, whether it is a short trip to San Antonio or a week at Disney World, our family loves vacation! Can't wait to plan our trip!

8. Backyard Cookouts! My hubby loves to grill and we all love to eat so summer gives us a great reason to enjoy the backyard together. We are working on adding a patio and deck this summer!

9. More Scrap Time! I am able to get a lot more scrap time in during the summer. It is nice to just be able to sit down at my table and work on my own pages!

10. Food! As I mentioned, we love to eat and summer time supplies the best food! Fresh vegetables and fruit from the garden, a huge slice of watermelon with a little salt on it, a big double dip ice cream cone, popsicles, etc. The list could go on and on. Everything just tastes better in the summer!

Well, if you have made it this far you know a little more about us and our crazy summers! Enjoy your summer and stay safe!

Hope for Japan

Close To My Heart is offering an "A" size stamp set to benefit relief efforts in Japn. The "Hope for Japan" set will be available through April 30 for just $5--and Close To My Heart will be donating 100% of the profits to the American Red Cross to benefit relief efforts in Japan. For more information - http://www.jeanettelynton.com/

If... we all do a little, together we can do a lot. Let's show our support and together, provide real HOPE for Japan!

If you would like a set let me know. I will be placing an order this week! Thanks!

Gardening

Well our family decided to plant a garden this year. I am not really sure how we came to this decision or why??? Considering none of us were blessed with a green thumb, I think praying for the plants to live may be our best strategy! So here are a few pics of our attempt at planting a garden, which I am proud to say we accomplished, now keeping them alive may be a little more challenging! Even if we don't grow anything in our garden we have some great memories of working together to plant a garden!! I love our family time!!



Kendall checking out the seed choices


Ryan and Jefferson helping "Supervise"


Planting, Planting, and More Planting!


Still Planting!


The Finished Product! We are so proud!! :-)

Miracle Layout

We will be making this layout on Friday, March 25th at 6:00 PM at the First United Methodist Church in Cleveland, TX. Please join us for a fun evening!

Mayberry Layout

Our group made this layout in February for club. It was a great night, everyone enjoyed the layout, the food was amazing, and we all had a great time! Hope you enjoy the layout. It was a challenge to take the Mayberry papers and make them "boyish", but I think it turned out great! Let me know what you think!

Lovin' Wings!

I absolutely love the new Wings Paper Pack! I have had a great time creating a few layouts and cards with it this weekend. It was nice having a little extra time to play this weekend since we had a Snow Day on Friday. Of course we didn't get any snow, but it was nice to stay home, be warm, and create with some of our great new products! The new Idea Book is available. Just let me know if you need a copy! Happy Scrappin'!

January Club Layout

We will be making this layout on January 28th at 6:00 PM at First United Methodist Church in Cleveland, TX. Please let me know if you have any questions. We would love to have you join us!

Stamp Set Winner(s)!!!

I must say that I am so pleasently surprised in how many people played along in this contest! Thank you all for your wonderful guesses. They ranged from 116 to 902 with most people guessing around 400-500. I actually didn't even realize how many sets I had as my guess was 386. Well, I was way off! The actual total number of stamp sets is 541!!! We had two winners Karen guessed 540 and Brandi guessed 542! Good job ladies! Please email me your address and I will get your stamp set to you asap! Thanks again everyone for participating. Please check back often! I will be posting another contest later this month to celebrate the fact that I have been a CTMH consultant for 3 years. Be sure to participate as I will be giving away more new products!! :-)

New Scrap Area!!!

These are a few pics of my new and improved scrap area! I don't have a seperate scrap room so I had taken over the dining room area in our house. With limited space and an assortment of storge units it was hard to know what I had and then I could never find the items I needed. So the only thing I wanted for Christmas this year was organizational/storage items for my scrap area. I really thought I would get a few new storage bins and some paper trays, but my wonderful husband gave me an entire scrapbook room makeover! I got paper racks, storage cubes, embellishment centers, ribbon racks, the whole nine yards! Then our great friends gave us a flat screen tv so the room would be complete! What a terrific Christmas! Now everything is organized and has it own labeled place. It is great to sit down and scrap now that I know exactly what I have and where everything is located!

To celebrate my new room, I thought I would give something away. So, all you have to do is look at the picture of the stamp sets and leave a comment on this post of how many CTMH stamp sets you think I have altogether. All of my stamp sets are in the storage bins on the shelf. It's that simple and the person with the closest guess will win the Bohemian Alphabet set pictured. I will post the winner in one week on December 9, 2011. So let me know what you think of the new space and also guess how many stamp sets I have! :-)

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!!!