V is for Vacation

Summer is in full swing at our house. I can't believe it is July already. I was working on my CTMH July Stamp of the Month layout and thought that this cute little hedgehog was so similiar in posture to a picture I have of my daughter when she was 2 1/2 chasing a duck at Silver Dollar City way back in 1979. The albums that I am doing for both of my children are based on the alphabet and this will be for Christi's 'V' page. (Don't believe for a minute that I have A to U done!) The sad part is that the albums were started before I had even heard about Close To My Heart, so they won't hold a true 12x12 page. But I took that into account when putting these pages together and after July is over, I will trim the edges off and place it with her other album pages. I really have to do another letter for Jared next.

Studio J

Today, April 27th, Studio J is ready to go live to customers. I have had the most fun playing with this online scrapbooking program. You can decide on your papers and layout sketch before or after uploading your photos. You can then just drag your photos into preplaced spots - the program has the uncanny ability to pick just the right focus but you can easily resize or shift them around. Ribbon with or without bows or ribbon slides, brads, other metal embellishments like hinges, photo clips, and photo hangers, and buttons as well as all sorts of stickers including the alphabet, quotes, and tags are all there for your use at the click of a mouse. You CAN'T run out of any of the embellishments. There are several fonts in your choice of sizes to write your comments in the pre-planned journaling blocks. Your pages will be saved for you until you have them just right and are ready to order (you will be sent several e-mail reminders if they are in danger of being deleted.) A couple of clicks of the mouse and your scrapbooking pages can be printed and mailed to you. Even if you are a die-hard paper scrapper, you owe it to yourself to check out this wonderful exclusive on-line digital program - it doesn't cost anything to try it out.

You can access Studio J through my website http://janiceschmidt.myctmh.com/

National Scrapbooking Month Campaign

The current Constant Campaign for National Scrapbooking Month is the Miracle kit. This very versatile kit features two diecut pieces, 2 full sheets of double sided patterned paper, and 5 sheets of cardstock, a Stickease sheet, an embellishment kit with buttons, ribbon, and metal tags and brads, a sheet of chipboard diecuts, AND 4 Flip Flap photo holders. It includes instructions for 2 double layouts but my wonderful fellow consultants have come up with alternate projects and cards. I used my kit to make a beautiful 6x6 accordian album designed by Vicki W. and still had enough scraps to make 9 cards AND a little album using the Flip Flaps. This kit is priced at $19.95, but can be purchased for $10 with a $40 order, or for $5 with a $60 order. It is a value at the full price and a steal at the reduced prices. Remember you can order 24/7 using my CTMH website http://janiceschmidt.myctmh.com/

36 years ago

Happy Anniversary, Bill!

I think its about time for a new post!

I can't believe it has been so long. I have been so busy being creative. I decided I had better get some cross-stitching done, so moved my favorite Dazor magnifying lamp back to the living room and took one project (out of MANY - hundreds, probably) to work on. I haven't finished it and have hit a significant snag but am hoping to be able to plow my way through. I have also been trying my hand at long arm quilting. Since the LA quilter is at my sister's, I haven't made much progress at getting my dozen or so quilting projects done but now that the weather isn't keeping me off the streets maybe I can get over there more.

Here is a manually quilted feather wreath that I did while in Houston learning how to work on the Innova 26 Long Arm Quilter that my sister bought. Definitely a beginner, but not too terrible.

However, it is a good thing that this is a computerized machine that stitches out perfect quilting designs so I don't have to rely on my freehand attempts.

And there is my Close To My Heart papercrafting. It gets done, often late at night and at the last minute, but it gets done. When I look at all the scrapbook layouts, cards and other projects I have been able to create in the year I have been with CTMH, I am rather impressed with myself. Let me show you some of my latest creations:

This is the calendar topper for April. I teach these little 3.5 inch square monthly projects to the gals at the Our Lady of Lourdes school fundraising crop. They look forward to seeing what I come up with for each month (so do I! LOL) The umbrella and the adorable little ducks are from the Springtime stamp set (D1415). It is such a cute set and also includes several rainboot stamps. Adding some Liquid Glass over the raindrops really makes them pop.

This second project is either a card or one fourth of a scrapbook page, depending on how it is finished. Should I not mention that the little boy in the photo is my now 30 year old son? The little ducks from the Springtime stamp set are used again here. This saying (and "Happy Spring") is included in the set.

And last, but not least, for this post, is a paper-crafted votive candle holder. The ladies and girls just loved making the paper flowers. They were so surprised that they weren't purchased premade. I am always so happy when I can show them something so simple but so spectacular. Nobody was displeased with how their's turned out. This project used last summer's limited edition stamp set Framed Moments (D1394) plus a leaf from C1397, Smiles, plus a dot (available in many different flower sets, in this case D1369, Delightful Things.)

As always, it is my intention to post more frequently, but you know, sometimes life just gets in the way of my best intentions.

Susan Boyle 'I Dreamed a Dream'

I played the U-tube of Susan Boyle singing on Britian's talent show so many times my family hated it. Can anyone who watched it forget Simon's widened eyes and quirk of the eyebrows? I was so moved by her story. Here is a middle-aged, frumpy, frizzy-haired woman who is rocketed to fame by her incredible, undiscovered talent. Just maybe, some one person will look past the surface appeal and discover what hidden talents another person possesses. But, anyway, I received Susan's CD for Christmas and have just tonight opened it and popped it into my computer. Wow! While I think her original rendition of 'I Dreamed a Dream' may have been better (but maybe that was because of the surprise factor of the video), there are some great songs on this CD and not a single hint of frumpiness in the singing!! I love the message behind 'Who I was Born to Be'. I have to think that I, too, am just who I was born to be. A daughter, a wife, a pretty good nurse, the best mother I knew how to be, a 'great' grandmother (according to my grandchildren), a person who shows her creative abilities in the crafts (counted cross stitch, quilting, papercrafting and others) I do. This CD is going to be one of my favorites and I can unequivocally recommend it to you!

Spring Idea Book goes live TODAY!

There are so many new wonderful stamps sets in this year's first catalog that there should be no excuse not to qualify for the Felicity Constant Campaign for FREE. I love fuschias and they are featured in the So Sweet set along with hummingbirds to paper piece. If you have young boys, the Playin' Hard and Boys at Play sets are perfect additions to your scrapbook pages. The So Lucky stamps cleverly combine both Valentine's and St. Patricks Days. One of a Kind and Smiles both feature LOTS of different whimsical flowers and stems. I want them both. Enjoy Every Moment is different from other stamp sets. It features 3 large floral groups that are perfect for those people who want outline stamps to color. Butterflies abound in Embrace Life and Love Birds have several small birds and 3 different bird cages for them. I love the sentiment 'somebirdy loves...you' that comes in this set. Springtime is a series of umbrellas, rubber boots and cute little ducks. I can't help but think 'April showers....' There are big candles and a happy birthday sentiment in Candlelight. Scrapping for babies? Love You Forever is a must with mom and baby owls, birds, sheep and quails along with the signature phrase from the "I'll Love You Forever" baby book. I could go on and on about the new stamp sets in this book. I haven't mentioned the new monthly stamp series and the Stamps of the Month. And then there are the new products, like the mini Sparkles, new paper flowers and My Creations Journal. The best thing for you would be to just click on the Idea Book picture in the upper right corner of my blog, go to my website and explore the online catalog on your own. If you want a catalog of your very own just let me know and I will do my best to get one into your hands as soon as possible.