October Opportunity with CTMH

October is the perfect time to play Hostess because when your party reaches a minimum of $450 in sales you will be able to “jump” to the next level of Hostess Rewards – which means more free products and more items at 50% off! Contact me to get your party on the books - don't live in Zumbrota? Talk to me about how you can now do your entire party over the internet as an E-Z invite party!! Let's talk and then party. . . soon!
Dates: 10.1.10 – 10.31.10

Wow! Too long between posts!

I haven't posted for a while - so long in fact that I forgot what my blog address was! Now, that is bad - luckily it didn't take long for me to come up with the correct address format!

What I wanted to share with you today was information about how you can now select parts and pieces you need/want when you decide to join my Villlage Hearts CTMH team.

NEW: Create your own Consultant Kit with CTMH!
On August 9, Close To My Heart launched our brand new “Customizable” Consultant Kit! *Woohoo!* For only $129, you’ll receive all the Business Essentials you need to get your business headed in the right direction. PLUS, you have the choice of 3 of the 6 “choose me” options to meet your unique business needs…which means having the freedom to customize your kit to fit whatever position you want to play on my Close To My Heart Team!

Here are just a few of the options to consider…
Be a Business Builder – Work with customers to hold in-home gatherings, fun classes, monthly clubs, weekend crops, and even introduce them to Studio J, all while earning additional income to contribute to your family! Recommended options: 1, 2 & 3 or 4 ($320 value)
Be a Club Creator – Do you have a group of friends that love Close to My Heart as much as you do? Get 4 or more of your friends together once a month to create Close To My Heart’s fabulous Workshop on the Go kits! Recommended options: 1, 3 & 4 ($290 value)
Be a Hobbyist – You and a couple of your friends really like the Close To My Heart product line. You submit $300 or more in orders per quarter and would love to receive a discount on all your purchases.Recommended options: 3, 4, & 5 or 6 ($210 value)

As you can see, depending on what kind of a team member you see yourself becoming, there are different ways to customize the new Close To My Heart’s consultant kit.…but wait, here’s the really awesome part! If you want to own them all, you can purchase them all! Each additional “choose me” option is only $40 a piece plus tax and shipping! Way cool and super affordable!

To see your options, please click on the title above beginning with NEW. You will be taken to our on line application for joining the CTMH team. Scroll down to view all of the options available.

I have tried (unsuccessfully) to add a photo to this post to jazz it up a bit and get you excited about the new papers coming soon, but decided I'd better just post this and get on to other tasks.

Christmas Preparation starts in August!

Hello Everyone! Here is one way we can be less stressed as the Holidays get closer - let's get our cards made earlier this year. I will be offering a Christmas Card making class every month from August through November!

Monthly Christmas Card Class

August - November 2010

Third week of the Month (Thursdays 7-9 or Saturdays 2-4)

Register by Tuesday, August 10

Contact me at basket55992@yahoo.com for more details or to register and place your order for your selected paper pack. Paper packs can be seen on my website at http://jeanie.myctmh.com

or ask me to review the paper options with you.

$20.00 will cover your basic paper supplies for the first two months. It is advised for you to bring a basic class kit each time (scissors, papercutter, if you have one and adhesive of your choice). For that $20.00 you will get a Level 2 paper pack, a coordinating My Stickease Assortment and an additional assortment of embellishments to "try before you buy". But that's not all! We will meet once a month (August and September) for a 2 hour hands on work session. Each session I will show you a new technique which you will be able to make on a sample page to keep as a reminder of how to do it. I will show 2 holiday cards using that technique and you will be able to make cards for the remaining time (and if you so choose you can continue the card producing outside of the class!)

But don't use more than half of your paperpack because we will use the remaining half of the pack during our September meeting. At the September meeting we will do some planning for the remaining two months of card making. You will be able to tell me what you would like to learn during our final two sessions. I anticipate that you will be ready to try a different paper pack for our October and November sessions (maybe our new holiday assortment called Mistletoe which will be orderable starting on September 1) and have made some decisions about other embellishments you may like to purchase.

The number of cards you make will be up to you, so start putting your list together and plan on having your cards made and ready to address before Thanksgiving! Now, when can we get together to do this planning and crafting? The deadline for registering for this class is Tuesday, August 10 (Yikes, that's soon!!!)This is so I can order in the inital class supplies. Classes will be held the third week of the month. You will have the option of Thursday evening from 7 to 9 or Saturday afternoon from 2 to 4. (If you need to switch which session you attend because of a scheduling conflict, we can make that work!) looking forward to offering this class to each of you! CLASSES WILL BE HELD AT THE VILLAGE HOUSE BASKETS AND CRAFTS (330 E. 4th St. / Zumbrota MN)

Oh! The places you will go!

Here are just a few more pictures from my recent trip to Washington DC. These photos were at the convention which was really in Maryland at the Gaylor National. In the photo above you see me on the left with Tina Sutton, who is my DUL (like my grandma) from Navarre FL (her convention goal is to achieve enough award to have her name tag add on banners touch the floor!). On the right is Jillene Moen, my energetic upline (like my mother) from Eden Prairie MN. This photo was taken the last night at the Closing Ceremonies banquet. These gals are great leaders to have for mentors!

The theme of the 2010 CTMH Convention was "Picture This". See the convention decoration on the window facing the esculator and all of my CTMH sisters (and Phil) headed for lunch the first day.

The above photo is just one of the many display boards we saw during convention. Ideas were everywhere! We received a balance of business classes, creative classes and information about new products that will be available to all of you starting September 1.

Have you all taken advantage of my web site to see what Studio J can provide for you in your own home? Check it out before Sept. 1! Let me know what you think and get a goodie from me! Go to http://jeanie.myctmh.com.

Next posting will be for a new series of classes to help you complete your Christmas cards - check back Thusday for details and photos!

I'm back from Washington D.C. & CTMH Convention

$99 Consultant kit pricing ending soon!There are always some changes that are presented at convention, and this year was no different. One of the changes is to the consultant kit. As of August 1st the base consultant kit cost will go up to $129 from the current amount of $99 (You receive more than $300 in retail value). I believe change is good and see lots of positive aspects of the new consultant program, but I have to admit for the next several weeks it's a great deal to sign up to become a Close To My Heart Consultant. Remember that you can decide how much and how hard you wish to work your business when you join CTMH.

Today marks the beginning of my fourth year with CTMH. I enjoy training and encouraging my team to succeed with their vision of how CTMH fits into their life. Have you been considering joining CTMH but just didn't know when was the right time? ...THE TIME IS NOW and I would love to welcome you on my team - The Village Hearts. See my website http://jeanie.myctmh.com/ for more information, or contact me. It only takes minutes to get you activated and ready to roll! Anyone who signs up before this $99 special expires will also receive an added gift from me.

My plans include spending some time this weekend going through and organizing both my D.C. "tourist" pictures and convention photos, so will post more information about the trip here also. With some of the CTMH family the only time we get to see each other is at these events, so it is always fun to run into each other and get caught up. Unfortunately, the time doesn't slow down for us to allow more time together! The last night of convention was a late night for me and my roommates. I know we were still talking at 2:20 am! I'm not sure I can call this convention a relaxing or restful time, but it sure was exciting!

Next Village House Basket Class
Hit & Miss by Debbie Hurd
Taught by Jeanie Wilcox

August 14, 2010 9 am til approx. 4 or 5 pm
$35.00 (Registration confirmed when money received)
Bring a bag lunch and beverage of choice – I will provide a morning treat, chips, carrots and dessert.
Bring routine weaving tools

This is one of the baskets I wove on the Basket Weaving Cruise this past February. When weavers saw it, their question was. . . ”Are you going to teach it?” So I contacted Debbie for permission and I’m going to teach it. The basket requires a 5" round wooden grooved base. Techniques include a 4-rod variation (you’re going to like this!), chase Japanese weave, a false rim and finishes with a folded/lashed rim. It was fun to do with something new (or different) thrown in occasionally along the way right up to the rim!

Village House Baskets and Crafts
330 E. 4th Street / Zumbrota MN 55992
basket55992@yahoo.com
(507)732-7642

Washington DC is HOT!!!

Here I am - proof that I made it to Washington DC. This is me at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the Mall on the last day of the festival, when temperature was close to 100 degrees.

Some of my group got to take two private scheduled tours while we were in DC. Here is a picture of the Capitol when I went back to the gift shop to get my camera! Yes, I left my camera in the gift shop, at the end of the day. So, Security and I went back to the gift shop and I did get it, yeah! The other tour was of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. We got to see work being done on the new $100 which will be introduced next February.

Here is a picture of the Smithsonian Castle - it is located in the center of the mall length. There is an exhibit of Madeline Albright's pins called "Read My Pins" currently on exhibit. I had lunch here our last day before moving to the National Harbor and on to the CTMH convention. End of being tourist and on to being Independent Consultant! The convention is also HOT! HOT! HOT! - but we have a nice temperature controlled environment. The heat comes from all the new products and changes coming up (and a grouping of 1000+ women with its share of menopausal and premenopausal women!)

I am getting ready to start day two of the convention and we get to scrap and create this afternoon using some of the new products!

Covered Bridge Festival Fireworks

The fireworks last night gave me a chance to try my camera in the fireworks mode. I just needed to go stand in my neighbor's driveway to get these shots... The instructions recommended using a tripod. I can see the motion in these following photos, so looks like I will need to see if I can take better ones on the 4th of July in Washington DC. I will be there to attend the Close To My Heart Convention for 2010. Some of us will be tourist earlier in the week and hope to include the fireworks on the Mall for the 4th - to make it a capitol 4th!

I did try photos of fireworks in Disneyland when I attended CTMH Leadership in Long Beach, but didn't have the camera in the Fireworks mode. Little by little, I'm learning more about my camera - I've had it for 4 years now!

Glad I got to see the fireworks and do a trial run last night! Now I need to go add the tripod to my growing list of things to pack. July 3rd will be here before I am ready!

A Banner Basket Day!

Terry and Jo with completed Hit and Miss baskets Yesterday was a gray, rainy day outside but inside my shop we were having a "sunshine" day! Thirteen baskeket weavers had come to have Vickie and me help them weave this basket pattern written by Debbie Hurd. I had taken this as a class from Debbie on the basket weaving cruise in February ( let me know if you are interested in getting info about the next cruise - Feb. 2012). Along with completing the basket, it was a day of friendship, great conversations and good food! The next basket class to be held at Village House will take place during August. Let me know if you are interested in getting details when they are available.

Hit the jackpot and win free products with Jackpot June! This Close to my Heart (CTMH) Campaign, starting June 1, provides you with a different type of MyCTMH® deal each day. Some days you can grab loaded Goodie Boxes at 50 percent or more off retail value, and other days are Jackpot Days.

Jackpot days give you a list of 5 products, one of which will trigger the Jackpot—a surprise product you’ll receive free! Take a chance and hope that you buy the right item that gets you the free product, or play it safe and buy one of each, guaranteeing that you will hit the Jackpot!

Either way, you will save money on favorite scrapbooking and stamping supplies by grabbing a different bargain each day in June. Deals include discounted shipping/handling, too! These special offers are available only online so be ready everyday to check out my webstite and get your deal! New deals are posted each day at 9:00 am (MDT). Go to http://jeanie.myctmh.com

Have fun with June and let me know what specials you have been able to snag for yourself!

April Review

I selected this photo of a driftwood basket for something to remember about April. Technically I made this basket in March, but didn't download it to my computer until April. Zumbrota participates in an"Art Splash" in September and this is the basket photo I submitted to represent some of the baskets Vickie and I will have for sale. Baskets represent a focus for the month also. It is the birthday month for the MBWG (Minnesota Basket Weavers Guild for the uninitiated!) I did attend the April meeting and took a class from Susan Coyle. It is a double wall basket and I didn't quite get it done in class - and of course no time since then to finish!

April was a sad month since my cousin Gary, my basket weaving friend Diane and my CTMH fellow consultant all died in April. That's enough for a while! At work we had a retirement. Gregg retired after 32 years with MML. He had a retirement party at work and then the party moved to a motel party room for the rest of the evening. I think we sent him off in style. I began working on a 2 page LO of his parties in Studio J yesterday - not sure when I will get back to finishing it, but will post when it's done (and I figure out how to post it! LOL).

May is shaping up to be a busy month. Today I will be going down to Rochester for a nice little 5 mile walk for MS. This is the first time I am doing this walk and I did a really poor job of fundraising - but I can turn in donations until May 28, so if you would like to go the following to visit my personal page and make a secure, online donation http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR?px=4909661&pg=personal&fr_id=12043
I'll provide more details about the rest of the month in my next posting. Gotta get ready to go walking!

Studio J went LIVE today!

I first saw Studio J as it was being developed last summer in California at CTMH leadership. It's going to change the way people do digital scrapbooking...it's so much more than that. I know all of you want to know when you can actually start playing with this amazing program. Well wait no longer. It went live TODAY!!!! YAY!!

All you'll need to do is go to my website http://jeanie.myctmh.com/ and you'll see a link that will connect you to the STUDIO J program. While you are on my website you will want to create an account there. This gives you the designation of being one of my customers and will hold your unpurchased projects for 90 days from when you started building them.

You'll be able to choose from some of our most loved paper packs and even some STUDIO J exclusives, pick from tons of our designer layouts, add our exclusive mini medleys accents, distress your pages, even add our stickease stickers and more ...you are so going to be addicted to this program once you start playing with it. Now here's the kicker....IT'S ALL FREE! You can upload your pictures and create your layouts free of charge. Our software is not something we charge for like other companies.When you're ready to make an album you can purchase your layouts for an introductory price of only $12.95 for a double layout. . . Better Yetorder five-nine layouts and get five free memory protectors. . .Best of Allorder 10 layouts and get 10 page protectors FREE and FREE SHIPPING. Now who couldn’t complete 10 layouts in three months time? That would be the frequency you would need to purchase layouts in order to not loose them in the computer records. Better yet once you purchase them, you can go back to order additional copies if you need them for relatives and friends. Making any type of Studio J purchase keeps your active projects in your account for another 90 days, and purchased projects remain in your account for one year following purchase. I know that you'll be amazed at quality of our printed layouts, the ease of our program and the creative aspects only Close To My Heart could provide. I've never know Jeanette Lynton to create anything that isn't the best on the market and STUDIO J is for sure the BEST!

Are you getting excited to know more? Go to my website http://jeanie.myctmh.com/, create your account then follow the Studio J logo on the left column. If you want to have some time to see how Studio J works, make sure to stop by this coming Saturday, May 1. I am also interested in setting up individual 1 on 1 times with you to get you rolling, so get in touch and we can do that soon. You say you don’t live close to Zumbrota, but still don’t want to try this by yourself? Arrange a phone call where we can cover your questions and concerns. I’m even willing to be on the line while you get started with your first layout.

Anyone who orders 10 double page layouts through my website during the month of May will be thanked by me with a chance to win a free 12 x 12 linen album (retail value $27.95 + S/H and tax)! Dig in! Get those layouts going and let me know if you have any questions.

Earth Day 2010

Were you kind to the earth today? It has been 40 years since the first Earth Day. Have we made progress? Every little kind thing we do does make living here better for ourselves and others. I can't say I did anything major today, but I did collect paper items from around the house for recycling. On a regular basis I collect soda pop tabs from collection spots around work (and home) and turn them in to the Rochester Ronald McDonald House for them to recycle and collect the money.

I did take a few moments to walk around the house to assess where the weeds were and what flowers were blooming, but didn't take any photos to share. My hedge is in tough shape, so hope to spend some time on Sunday triming that back into a better shape.

MAY 1 -SEE NEW CTMH IDEA BOOK, CROP WITH ME, PLACE ORDERS FOR NEW SUPPLIES AND WIN PRIZES!
We are coming close to the end of the month of April and with that the current CTMH Idea Book will be replaced with a new Idea Book - always exciting to see the new book! May 1 falls on a Saturday this year and I will be hosting a crop day where the first 6 people to sign up can come here to spend the day working on their own projects from 10 am until 4 pm (or whatever portion of time you care to spend working on your projects).

At 2pm I will host an unveiling of the new IDEA BOOK - come in and get yours free that day. If you can't get here that day, email me and ask to have one sent to you. At 3pm we will have a quick make and take project with some of the new papers. Hope to see you on May 1!

The whole month of May is designated as National Scrapbooking Month. Watch for specials happening all month! Order your supplies during May and include the Miracle Kit with your order. I will be hosting a free work session using the Miracle paper kit on June 3 (Thursday evening) from 7-9pm or June 5 (Saturday) from 2-4. Make sure you get one or more kits while they are available to order - only during May!

Have you been considering holding a home gathering - May is the time! Check your schedule and contact me to book your gathering while I still have a few choice dates left. Let's party! If you don't want to host it at your place, let me know and we can arrange to have you host your gathering at my place - all you need to do is bring a light treat to share with your guests.

Administrative Assistant Recognition

This week has a couple of celebrations going on - National Lab Week for those of us working in Medical Laboratories and Adminstative Assistance Recognition Week. I volunteered to make a card for our Administrative Assistant. The stamps used are not CTMH images, but everything else is using CTMH products. I am finding that Twitterpated and Caboodle papers mix well together. Sorbet and Sweet Leaf are my major color accents. The bottom card has a little scrap of Miracle paper underneath the sorbet ribbon. I know I agreed to make one card, but with three, the others can choose which they like best. The tulips were colored in by using our watercolor pencils - so much fun! If I get up early enough tomorrow morning, the adminstrative assistant will get colored in too.

More Miracles

I need to thank a fellow CTMH consultant, Beckie Lehman, for the inspiration for these four cards using the Miracle kit now availabe for ordering through me. She took her paper pack and made the most out of it! She did add a few extra sheets of cardstock in order to get 14 - YES, 14 cards out of the kit! These are the four I made this morning. While these are all standard A2 card size (5 1/2" x 4 1/4") some of the others will be smaller or larger. Yesterday I cut the papers for all 14 cards, so the parts and pieces are there for me to continue. I just need to find the time! Today the weather is so nice, I need to stop these indoor activites and head out to do some yard work.

Another place for you to look to see more about the Miracle kit is to click the logo for CTMH on the right side of my blog. It will take you to my web page where you will see the kit advertised. Follow the info and click on the arrow at the bottom of that photo to find out more! You can order directly from my website to get your kit, or contact me if you have any questions. This kit has been great fun to work with so far (I think I may need to get another!) Got to sign off. . . I think I hear some weeds calling my name.

National Scrapbooking Month is May!

Beginning April 15 order your own Miracle paper kit to celebrate National Scrapbooking Month. From April 15 - May 31 purchase the kit outright for $19.95 (CC1009). The kit is a spring-themed grouping of everything you will need to complete a couple great 2 page layouts and some cards. The kit includes an instruction spreadsheet to guide you as you complete the projects. Some talented CTMH consultants have used this kit to create their own projects. I hope to try this also.

Want the kit for less? You can get other CTMH products at the same time! Place an order for a minimum of $40.00 (excluding Studio J orders) and purchase kit for only $10.00 (CC1009A). Place an order for a minimum of $60.00 (excluding Studio J orders) and purchase kit for only $5.00 (CC1009B). If you host a Home Gathering with minimum sales of $300 you receive kit for FREE (CC1009C).

Be the first to send me an e-mail stating that you would like to book a Home Gathering and hold it before May 15 so you can get the Miracle paper pack FREE and you will get an additional gift from me to thank you for your booking!

Goodbye, Diane

Today is the day my basket guild group says goodbye to one of our members. The last couple months she has been dealing with inoperable cancer. Thursday morning as I was getting ready for work and thinking about Diane I remembered what someone in my breast cancer support group did when Liz died. They had made pink ribbon pins for each member of the group to wear at the funeral. Trying to translate this idea to Diane I came up with making heart pins (her business name was From the Heart). I used one of the many hearts included in CTMH's stamp set So Luck (C1390 $13.95) which was new in our spring idea book. I stamped onto a piece of packaging chipboard that came from CTMH with my summer Idea Books! It was white on one side so worked well. The color ink I used was Cranberry which is a nice dark red unless you put liquid glass on it - then it turns an orangish red. I put clear embossing powder mixed with prisma glitter - still turned orangish red. A new lesson learned. The surface of the pins had a rough feel from the glitter, so I added a layer of liquid glass.

I had to take this photo of a single pin without a flash because of the glitter, so its not the best. Before embossing I stamped her name on each pin using a retired CTMH set - Doodle alphabet with cocoa ink. The letters look like they are floating in the embossing powder or liquid glass layer instead of stamped on the surface. I made 26 of these pins. About 18 guild members responded they would be attending the funeral and would be honored to wear the pin. There may be a few who didn't respond or read my e-mail, so thought I'd better have a few more. Diane will be remembered for her good deeds long after today. Also, most of us are not wearing black to funeral - bright colors are the order of the day!

March 2010 - NO SNOW ALL MONTH IN MN!!!!

March was a busy month, especially the last week. It was hard to pick just one photo to represent the month for me. There was one unusual event which I have highlighted in the title of this blog - no snow. There is no picture to document this. I have decided to highlight Kaylan's Bridal Shower as a highlight of the month. The cake was made by Jill at work - she used the CTMH stamped images from the invitations I highlighted in last blog to decorate cake. Kaylan has really been a part of the family for quite a while now, since she and Matt have been going together (through their ups and downs) for some time, but the wedding will take place in May.

At work Gregg is getting ready to retire. He is now in his 32nd year at Mayo. His "official" retirement party takes place next Friday, April 16th, but his 8 closest co-workers and sposes held a "roasting" at Terri & Craig's house early in March. Here is a photo of Gregg and his wife Mary. Gregg is wearing one of his gag gifts - an apron declaring him the master fish chef for him to wear at his next fishing trip. Today he was beginning to clear out some of the things accumulated during his time at Mayo - what a process.

March also saw me attending the funeral of my cousin Gary. He had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer around 2 years ago, so it was quite a trip for him which ended with his coffin being taken to the cemetary in a horse drawn wagon. I like this picture of the horses because I happened to catch my gold PT Cruiser in the background - not on purpose! Gary was a cowboy in every sense of the word, so he went out with a cowboy's funeral. Roy Rogers had written a Cowboy's Prayer which was included in the printed program and the last song at the funeral was a recording of George Strait singing The Cowboy Rides Away. It was good to see some extended family, but was a quick trip to Jackson and back in one day.

The day after Gary's funeral I got together with a group of friends and co-workers to celebrate Ruth's birthday. Her birthday is earlier in the month, but it took until almost the end to find a time that would work for all of us to get together. We are kind of a birthday club, since we try to at least plan things to do about 4 or 5 times a year. Mary B. (back left in photo) has a birthday in January, Ruth's is in March (sitting - looks like the rest of us are trying to keep her from leaving!). My birthday is towards the end of June so we usually try to have a pool party at Ruth's to enjoy the warm MN summer. I'm in the middle of the photo. Mary V. (back right) has a September birthday and then we try to plan a holiday get together that happens sometime between November and January. This year our holiday celebration and Mary B.'s birthday happened at the same time.

Here is documentation of my last Holiday celebration for 2009. These are college friends (most truly are - we have just adopted Sharon as a college friend, even though Becky didn't introduce us until about 2 years ago). In this photo Becky and Sharon are in front with Kris and Jane behind. I took the photo, so I'm behind the camera. Kris gave us an evening out at The Melting Pot in Minneapolis as our Christmas gift. Thank you Kris! Back in December we began looking for a good date and came up with March 27.

The Melting Pot is a fondue place where you have heating surfaces in the table and you take care of cooking your meal. Our appetizer was a cheese fondue. Here Sharon is adding the veggies to a pot of some kind of red wine broth mixture. Note the little bottle of tabsco sauce front bottom left. Sharon's meat was cagjun seasoned. After she had fondued a few pieces we were all tasting it on ours from cooking in the same pots. LOL - it was fine.

Almost all of these pictures that I have highlighted as March memories occurred in the last few days of March - whew. 25th - Gary's funeral 26th- Ruth's lunch 27th- The Melting Pot 28th - Kaylan's Shower. It has taken me a few days to recover.

Bridal shower coming up!

Whew. . . the invitations are in the mail! These cute postcard invites were fast and easy to do using CTMH computer fonts. I have both CDs loaded on my computer. I used Daydream for the who, what, where and when info. Don't know what I am talking about? Turn to page 99 in current CTMH Idea Book to see all the great fonts you can add to your computer. I used two current stamp sets to add a little spring pizzaz to these invites (Express postage D1262 for the wording You're Invited on the postage side of the card and Thoughtful Seasons D1299 for the umbrella and heart). The umbrella stamp comes as one stamp, but I cut (YES, CUT) my stamp into two pieces to make it easier to do two different colors of ink.
These inivations are for my godson's bride-to-be Kaylan's bridal shower I am hosting along with his cousin Amanda. When I got married he was 16 months old and his dad was part of the bridal party. Our service was recorded by the minister as a gift to us and you can hear Matt crying that he wants his dad! Where has that time gone! Let's see, back to the invites . . . I used honey, topiary green, tulip, and star spangled blue for the colors.
I had moved my laptop back into my home office and have found that I post less frequently than when I had it based in my bedroom, so it is moving back in the bedroom! The printer is still in the office, but I can manage to take it there when I need to print. A wireless printer sounds like fun, but I am holding out for a printer that I can use to print 12 x 12 cardstock. I don't even dare to begin looking for that yet!
I went to a chili tasting fundraise for a 3 day cancer walk team tonight and I am paying for it now! That's why I am up at 4:20am. My next project is to go to Studio J and to begin building layouts from my recent Caribbean Cruise. Anyone who wants to know more about Studio J, just send me an e-mail and not only will you get whatever info you need, but you will also get a little "giftie" from me. I am having fun with Studio J since I can scrap in bed with only my laptop - no scissors, glue and paper to fall asleep with! LOL! No, seriously, I think even the most committed conventional scrapper should give our new product, Studio J, a try. Just ask me how! Come to my next Scrap Day on April 10 and see the layouts I am going to make with Studio J - no reservation necessary, no cost to see and play, but you may want to just let me know you are coming. Bring a friend who is new to CTMH and I will have something here for both of you to take home with you! Hmm. . . what could that be? Come and find out on Sat. April 10 from 10 am to 4pm. See you then!

How can it be March?

Hi Everyone, Sorry I haven't been posting very regularly so far this year. Last year I saw some scrappers/photographers who were taking a look at their lives by taking a photograph a day. I knew that was too ambitious for me. I thought I might be able to do "52 Sundays" since Sundays are my day where I have flexibility to do many different things. Well, that didn't work (at least didn't get completed). I decided to try something different for 2010. I decided to review photos taken during the month and posting a picture depicting something to remember about the month. Here it is March and no photos about that posted, so here goes . . .

January 2010 -Snow, cold and car troubles! February 2010 - 7 day Caribbean Cruise!

For some reason I prefer to share some info about February instead of January! I went cruising for the first time! It was a basket making cruise which meant when we had sea days we had basket classes. What could be better? Sound like something you'd like to do, then contact me for more information about the cruise taking place in 2012. Pack your bags for a 02-11-2012 departure. Vickie and I both went on this trip. We came home with unfinished projects, which is pretty typical for me on any weaving venture. I did complete one out of my four projects, had a little bit of a tan from time on the beach pictured above and many great memories. Tomorrow I will post more about my plans for CTMH during the month of March. If you have ever thought about a career with CTMH now looks like the time! Check back tomorrow for more!

Caboodle WOTG set for Sat. Feb. 27

Order your kit of Caboodle in time to attend my FREE 2 hour work session on Saturday, February 27 from 10 a.m. til noon. There are two ordering options; Basic for $29.95 includes the Level 2 paper pack, an exclusive stamp set titled This Way and the workshop guide. Get the Best option by adding Z1271 Tiny Tabs for $3.95 and the Sweet Leaf Ribbon Rounds for $7.95.

You will have the option to work on either cards or scrap booking layouts during the two hour work session.

Donation for Haiti

Order any 12” x 12” textured cardstock combo pack at full retail price and receive a second textured cardstock combo pack of your choice FREE. and with every offer purchased, Close To My Heart will donate $2 US to Operation Smile’s Haiti relief efforts.
Eligible packs include:
• X5747 Basic
• X5681 Spring Harmony
• X5745 Summer Celebration
• X5669 Autumn Harvest
• X5670 Winter Cozy
(See pages 100–101 of the current Idea Book to view the available colors and details about the textured cardstock combo packs.)
For only $14.95, you get two packs of 12” x 12” textured cardstock (a great deal at about $.30 a sheet!) and Operation Smile* will receive $2 US to benefit the urgent, important cause in Haiti.
There is no limit! You can buy as many as you want, and get the second free! Customers can have multiple qualifying textured combo packs on one order and receive multiple free textured combo packs. Note: You may choose a FREE textured combo pack that is the same or different as the full retail combo pack.
Dates: February 1-28, 2010
How do I order?: Online of course… Press the Close To My Heart button of the right side of your screen.

*Operation Smile is always a fantastic charitable partner—offering free facial reconstruction surgeries to needy children throughout the world. They’ve currently marshaled their medical teams and resources to provide emergency relief in Haiti, and the donations given as part of Hearts for Haiti will be used exclusively for Operation Smile’s efforts in Haiti. For more information on their on-the-ground response, you can visit www.operationsmile.org/haiti.

Felicity kit now available

Have you been buying for everyone else? Well now it's time for a gift for you from Close To My Heart. So get ready for the awesome Felicity Scrapbook Kit, that is offered for National Papercrafting Month......
This collection features beautiful decorative die-cut papers , patterned paper and cardstock and a D-size stamp set that includes a WHOLE alphabet, flowers, flourishes, bird and more! This is a must have for your stamp collection and one that will be used all the time! There are five ways to get the Felicity collection right now: Purchase it at full retail price for $34.95.• Place an order of $60 or more in full-retail priced stamp sets & receive 1collection FREE!• Place an order of $125 or more in full-retail priced CTMH products and receive one collection FREE! Hostesses get the collection FREE with Home Gathering sales total of $400 or more, or new Consultants who join Close To My Heart between January 1–31 will receive the collection FREE in their New Consultant Kit. You would receive over $300 in product, plus the Felicity kit for just $99. WOW! Felicity is pretty enough when you view it online, but I promise it delivers so much more in person, so let me help you have it arrive at your doorstep. You can place your order on my Shop Online page at jeanie.myctmh.com or if you would like to host a gathering local or long distance please contact me basket55992@yahoo.com, or if you are interested in starting a wonderful journey of becoming a consultant and getting the kit FREE please contact me with questions...and don't forget I always give an extra bonus for new team members...so you could really rack up during the month of January.
This is a limited time offer and is available while supplies last , so don't delay...let's talk and be sure to get yours today.

Oh. . . there is one more way to get Felicity FREE . . . WIN IT! Go to htpp://nationalpapercraftingmonth.blogspot.com daily and leave a comment. You may be selected to receive the kit free.