Wishes Card Book is here a month early!!

I am so excited! To preface...I have had a very long day! Today was a preschool day, and it was raining...so needless to say it is a task to get all three kids in, and out, and in, and out of Preschool! Add rain, and it makes it all the more trying. We came home, and the kids took late naps, so I had to wake them up to have an early dinner as Nicholas was to have soccer practice this evening. I had the kids, the stroller, snacks, waters, soccer gear on, and kids in the car when I got the phone call that practice was cancelled. Such a bummer...and one very disappointed preschooler. So, we regrouped, had a popcorn and a movie night--Early! Now, I have all the kids tucked in and down for the night (I hope) and sat down to catch up on some e-mail when I found a message from CTMH's home office that the much anticipated new Wishes Card Confidence Program Book has arrived early and will be available to order tomorrow morning!! Lots of smiles here! I love all of Jeanette's books so I am sure this too will be the perfect addition to my collection!!

Here's what the new Idea Book (that goes live tomorrow) has to say: "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, 16 in a jiffy while getting the most out of your papers and your time. The beautiful full-color artwork and creative stamping tips and techniques offer hours of inspiration and new ideas. " $29.95

You too can order your very own copy beginning tomorrow at MyCTMH website! A perfect Mother's Day gift for yourself!! I know I will be longing for the man in brown to arrive next week!!!

It's all fun and games until someone loses an eyelet!

I love this phrase...I have seen it in many signature lines, and it always makes me smile! And it is so true! I can attest to hours that have disappeared while searching for "lost" eyelets! It has been awhile since I have used these embellishments in a layout--it is always so much fun to go back to the basics! And that is just what I did in this layout! The inspiration for the layout came from Close To My Heart's great How-To-Book Cherish titled Treasure Tags. I couldn't wait to use the new Animal Cookies paper so that is just what I did! These new papers definitely bring out the child in you! (Click on the layout for detailed pictures and to read the journaling.)

The colors featured in these fun papers are: Clover Meadow, Tulip, Sunflower, Dutch Blue. Other supplies used: It's a Zoo Stamp Set, Red & Pink Assortment of Embroidery Floss, Sunflower Eyelets, CTMH Hippo Font.

Some other Random ways to incorporate eyelets--

use as bullet points in journaling; use to create a design (star, flower, etc); use to attach vellum to a layout; use to adorn folded corners; use as the center of flowers;

"We're Going on a Bear Hunt...I'm not scared..."

Okay, yes, I know you have to stretch way back to our childhood to remember that one! I can honestly say that I haven't thought of that song in a really long time! But today, as Nicholas was packing his back pack to go search for a bear, it came to mind! And we have been singing it ever since!

To rewind and explain...Monday I decided to take the kids to visit my Grandma and since we were not in a hurry, I decided to take a new route...an adventure! Well, what the adventure it turned out to be! Indeed!! The route is a two lane highway that twists around the mountain. We were coming down the mountain, when we rounded a curve, and there sat a BEAR!! Not a baby cub, but a full size black bear! What a surprise!! We had no choice except to stay there on the road for several minutes while the bear just sat there, and then finally crossed the road. Me, being the scrapbooker, of course had my camera in the van...but in the back of the van! And I was not about to get out of the van to get it!! It didn't even cross my mind to use the camera feature on my phone!

So, the Reggio student in me, sees this as a huge opportunity to explore this interest with my boys! Gabe already has a passion for bears so this excites me! And of course, I am sure I will document it in their scrapbooks! Guess I will have a use for CTMH's new Back Country collection after all!

I'm Blogging!

So, I finally decided I needed to jump into this decade and begin blogging! I am not computer savvy at all--that is my brother's department--so you'll have to bare with me as I begin this new journey of blogging! I love to journal, and to create, and I thought this would be a great way to express myself in both of those avenues! So, Welcome to my first blog!

A little about myself, I love to scrapbook, make handmade cards, and to create with paper! With this passion, I have found much happiness! I love to document the special, and the ordinary moments, in our lives! Especially those surrounding my children...to see their amazement and wonder in just the little things...the things that sometimes almost go un-looked by myself as I hurry from here to there. I was reminded of these ordinary moments--or miracles--just a few weeks ago, when two little bunnies came into our lives, and hearts. The children fell in love! I created this layout to document their experiences and Nicholas insists that I read it, and re-read it, to him almost daily!

Created with Close To My Heart's "Let's Get Together" Collection featuring the colors Cranberry, Garden Green, and Buttercup. I also used the NEW (available May 1st) Heartfelt Whimsy Die-Cuts and our embroidery floss...I love them! They are a must have in my book!

To see this layout up close and personal or to read "our story" click the on the layout.