YIPPPEEEE!!!!!!!

My team, the Rose Blossoms, is amazing!! I received a call from an upline this evening and learned that my team came in SECOND PLACE in sales for a team size of 26-100. I am so proud of this team of mine, and I couldn't be more honored to be called their leader! What an accomplishment for the Rose Blossoms! I am crazy happy for them and very, very excited!

Have a Great New Year's Week!

We are having a very nice holiday season in the Rose household. I hope you are having the same! Shane did not have to work on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, and that was very nice for us. In years past, his jobs have always taken him out of the house on the holidays. We celebrated Christmas Eve by opening our bottle of Olive Oil from Tuscany:

I served it with tomatoes and fresh mozarella:

It brought back good memories of Italy and our lunch in Tuscany....

We had a grand Christmas day at Jerry's mother's house. Jerry's twin brother and his wife came for the day as did his grandmother and uncle.

I have been spoiled this year by new scrapbooking toys. Yippee!! I have a new Slice cartridge - Noteworthy. I love this slick little machine by Making Memories and all the fun capabilities. I also now own the Cricut Design Design Studio. It's fun software that allows you to play with your fonts. I can see all the fonts I don't have, so I am quite certain that I will want more cartridges!!

What I like about all these "extra" toys is how beautifully they enhance the beauty of Close To My Heart products. I have been working on our cruise album, and I love that I can quickly add an extra in our matching paper. I am spoiled by Close To My Heart. Everything matches!! That is so beautiful in a book and when working on a project.

Back to work on my cruise album!! Have a great New Year's Week!!

Some More "That's Amore"

I wanted a nice companion page to go along with Owen and Logan's, so I decided to take this Christmas picture of Keith, Linda (my oldest of 4 sisters), and their dog Bud. What a nice picture of them!! They are Own and Logan's grandparents, so it works out perfectly! I'd like to try and incorporate as many Christmas letters as I can into pages. They are all such nice gifts to receive every year, so I made a round pocket to store it. Here are the items I used on this layout. Unless noted everything is from Close To My Heart.

• That's Amore Level 2 Paper Packet (coming January 1st!)
• Designer Ribbon Rounds Chocolate Collection
• Antiqued Copper Bigger Brads
• Pretty Pins (coming January 1st!)
• Bazzill Paper Flower
• Cricut Cartridge - George and the Basic Shapes

Santa & a Little Boy

I do believe that Aaron had some very serious things to talk to Santa about when he had this picture taken! How CUTE is this picture and this blond little boy?!! This little wonder belongs to my nephew Adam and his wife, Kristina. I just love the serious look on his face, so the picture called for some more serious paper. I walked into Archiver's one day and found all of these items right inside the door. Gosh. I told the girls to quit putting all the cute stuff right in the front where I'd have to fill my basket immediately!! Here's what I used in this layout:

• Bo Bunny Believe Paper
• Little Yellow Bicycle Decorative Edged Photo Mat
• Little Yellow Bicycle Clear Cut Frame
• Close To My Heart Desert Sand Cardstock
• Close To My Heart Desert Sand Organdy Ribbon
• Bazzill Paper Flower
• Close To My Heart Snowflake Button
• Me & My Big Ideas Snowflake Rhinestones
• Elizabeth Brownd Die-Cut Stickers
• JoAnn's Craft's Safety Pin
• Santa and a blond sweetie named Aaron!

I Had the Perfect Paper...

We have received some of the most adorable pictures in our Christmas cards this year! These two cuties, Owen and Logan, belong to my nephew Ryan and his wife, Jessica. I LOVE this picture, and when I saw it, I thought of our new That's Amore paper right away. And that is a miracle in itself, because I thought this paper would really be a challenge to me. From looking at it in the book, it seemd too "girly" and not versatile enough. but it just goes to show that first glances can be deceiving. If you pull colors and patterns out, our paper packs are never theme specific! Look at how great this paper is for boys!! Everything I used on this page was Close To My Heart materials.

• That's Amore Level 2


• That's Amore Journaling Tags


• Anitiqued Copper Bigger Brads


• Chocolate Ribbon


• Dimensional Elements


• Friendship Word Puzzle


• TWO VERY CUTE BOYS! (Oops, that's Ryan & Jessica material! Thanks for contributing!!)

What a Pretty, Pretty Girl!

We were given this BEAUTIFUL Graduation picture of my niece, Lacey. One day I was looking at it, and I started to get some ideas for a page. So I brought it into my office and left it on my desk for about a week. What I came up with was very simple, but I love the way it turned out! These are the supplies I used:

• Fancy Pants Transparency
• Paper Loft Well Worn Paper (3 patterns)
• Bazzill Paper Flowers
• Close To My Heart Buttons
• Close To My Heart Waxy Flax
• Cricut Cartridge - Stamped - for letters

When Lacey graduates this coming year, I'll look forward to making a companion page. What a lovely addition to my book!!

Getting "Open House" Ready!!

I have been spending the greater part of the week getting the house ready for my Open House. It's tomorrow afternoon and Saturday morning. I just the love the opportunity to open up the house and welcome everyone in!!

Jerry is stopping at the bakery for Christmas cookies and fixing for holiday punch. Yum! That will be wonderful on the table!! I bet he'll bring home chocolate for everyone, too!!

This is my chance to wish everyone a fabulous holiday season and to share a little conversation with them. I am very excited to introduce my clubs for next year knowing that so many of my customers find legacy making so important in their lives!

I LOVE New Paper!

I can't wait for new paper to come out with Close To My Heart! Here is a 5x7 card using our new Emporium paper and Priceless Love Word Puzzle. What fun this double-sided paper is!!

What a Lovely Surprise!

The mail person knocked on my door today and brought me a box. Inside was this lovely, unexpected gift! It is a Coldwater Creek handbag/tote from Tina S, a dear friend and leader from Close To My Heart. I would never have expected this beautiful bag, and I will treasure it because I know she picked it out with great heart...and I love it!!

Guess what? I'm off to change purses!! I need to carry my new Coldwater Creek bag!!

Ah...Simple Pleasures...

Truly, one of my simple pleasures in life is a good peppermint mocha with the rich taste of coffee at Christmas time. Well, on a cold day like today (36 below windchill!), it would be awful to have to go out to Starbuck's for one!! I have my Starbuck's Mocha powder, fresh Starbuck's Christmas blend beans, and on Saturday I picked up some Starbuck's peppermints syrup. Yum.

I am getting ready for my last club night of the year, and having my coffee. I will miss these gals until February when we start again!! How wonderful it has been to bring new ideas to them and share everything that Close To My Heart has taught me. These are my favorite days of the month, and I love opening my home to all these wonderful, unique, caring women! I am quite sure I'll be drinking lots of peppermint coffee in January while I plan the year with them!! ;)

My Creations Cube

This is a new My Creations Cube that CTMH carries. I just LOVE it! It comes flat, so it's really easy to decorate and put eyelets before folding it upright. I added a shaker box of "snow" to gow with the beautiful CTMH Aspen paper. I like these alterable items because they become uniquely yours when you make them. No two are alike and they shouldn't be. You can do anything you want with them!! What fun to be busy with artwork!!

New Layout

I woke up yesterday thinking about this photo and creating the layout in my head. That's when you know you are a true scrapbooker!! I love the new colors from CTMH - Tulip, Creme Brulee (I even like saying that!), Juniper, and Sorbet. And those are the four colors I used for this layout. What I love about CTMH is that I can automatically reach for matching embellishments. OH SO NICE. Again, I pulled out that new Key To My Heart stamp set to create paper. The rest was just pure play, and I loved it! Now quite trulthfully I was going to submit this layout to CTMH in the "new color" contest. However, I can't let it go! So it ill go in the 2008 memory book. Now I get to work on a campanion page. Gosh I have a picture of Jerry and I from Thanksgiving. Maybe if I go to bed thinking on it, I'll come up with a layout again, huh?

Thank You Corporate!!

I received this handmade card and Director's gift in the mail on Monday from Close To My Heart! The card is just lovely!! They used a spiral clip for the tree trop, put a clear button on top, and then put a little button on top of that. SO CUTE. I am going to scraplift that wonderful idea!!
Inside the package, I found the most beautiful dangling sterling silver bracelet. It's got several different hearts in it - and I LOVE it! What a joyous gift to receive at Christmas!!

Thank You...

I am blessed with so many lovely and wonderful people in my life.

I have a husband that truly surprises and thrills me over and over again. It's not just that he spoils me (and that he does), but I look forward to every chance I have to spend with him, talk with him, and sit down with him. And golly - we've know each other 19 years! Love just doesn't ever have to end or become stale...

I have the most incredible son. At 19, he is secure and confident - and what a fine example for everyone. Shane is good to people, he is kind, and he loves beyond measure. This kid of mine baked four batches of Christmas cookies the other night, and I truly loved watching his patience. I am so glad he learned there is a kitchen and home to come to at the end of a long day's work...

I have four amazing sisters. Each one of them is unique and different from the next - you would think we would be similar! But no, I can name several different qualities about each one of them that make me love each one of them. My prayer and hope is that every day they know how amazing they are...

I have a wonderful mother. At 73, she is still working and loves it. I always remember her working, but that was okay. I still learned so much from her - how to be strong, have a good work ethic, and to budget my money. And my Mother never missed bringing me to Sunday School. She made sure I was raised in my faith...

I'll continue on tomorrow....

Close To My Heart is the "Key to my Heart"

This is the lovely Key to my Heart paper from CTMH. It is absolutely gorgeous and I had a wonderful time playing with the stamp set and paper last night. it was especially meaningful to me because I knew that I was going to stay with CTMH. There truly have been so many captured memories in the last 3-1/2 years. I love teaching, and I love bringing new ideas to people. That is what I love about CTMH! They are so progressive and always helping us - as leaders - to grow and bring new ideas to everyone we meet.
I am excited because I am facing 2009 with a new plan and a new vision for my business with a wonderful company. I can't wait to see al lthe wonderful things coming up in the future months!!

Christmas Card

I was playing around with som new techniques I had not tried and came up with this Christmas Card. This is an clear card. I found something called Graphix Plastic at Archiver's that I purchased for the clear material. Inside I've used some Cocoa cardstock from CTMH that I put in a Cuttlebug folder. I like that one because it looks very much like the forest. The CTMH Evergreen stampset goes perfectly with this, and those are stamped, cut, and moutned on the outside. The paper clip embellishment and hemp are on the insdie wrapped around the Cocoa CS. "O Christmas Tree" is stamped with white Staz-On - just perfect. Now, something I said I'd never do - and that is sew. But there it is for all of you to see!! A lovely zig zag stitich from my new sewing machine to finish off the card.

Like I said, lots of new techniques for me, but it was fun! NO, these are not going out the mail!! I don't think I could make that many!! We went with photo cards this year.

Plans for Christmas

It's that time to start thinking about Christmas Day and Christmas dinner. There's not too much traditional about the food we cook. I can't say that we ever make the same thing every year. Well, I guess if we're home on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning, I also make quiche with my delicate homemade crust. That would be closest we have to tradition.
After eating the scrumptious lamb in Italy, jerry decided that he wanted Crown Roast of Lamb for Christmas. I don't even know where to buy it here - never mind how to cook it! But it seems like a challenge that I would be up for and one that would be fun to try. I understand that we are going to Jerry's mother's house on Christmas Day, so I'll also have to learn how to carry the crown roast there. This will be interesting, but something fun and new!!
I sure hope Jerry likes it!!

Who Knew the Cookies Were Missed?

The other day, I mentioned to Jerry that I was going to make Christmas Cookies this year. This used to be a yearly tradition for me, but in the last few years, I gave it up because I was so busy. I would send tray after tray to work with him and they'd be gobbled up. Of course, we hoarded as many Gingersnaps and Snickernoodles as we could at home! By the next day, he had already told some of the guys that they were cookies this year!!
Then Shane came home from work last night and saw my Cookie Cookbook on the table. Boy, did he get excited! I think he would have made them right then and there had I had all the ingredients.
I learned through cookies that some things should never be given up. Not for work, not for diets, not for lack of time. This was a tradition that should have stayed. And I'm really happy to say that in 2008, this is a "sweet" tradition that we'll re-instate and keep through the years!

Memory Box

I had a little time yesterday afternoon, so I sat down to create this Memory Box. It was so much fun! I used the Close To My Heart My Creations Memory Keeper Box, and I think that is the nicest one in the industry to cover. It starts out flat, so you can work with it that way until you are ready to pop it up. The lovely papers I used are from the Basic Grey line - Stella Ruby. The Creme Brulee ribbon and various embellisments are also from Close To My Heart. I had a blast cutting out those letters! If you haven't seen a Slice yet, stop at your local scrapbooking store to see a demonstration. It is so small and made by Making Memories. It's quick, easy, and takes up no space. I LOVE my husband even more (if that's possible) for surprising me with one!

It's a Brand New Day!

I've started this new thing called blogging, to give myself a great big creative release! I hope you will indulge me and join in with me as I start this new journey. I've put in my resignation with Close To My Heart, so I'll no longer have that venue to share my creative juices. I fear my husband and son will grow very tired of the next new thing that I've created!! So I think a blog is a great option, and maybe I'll be able to teach a few things as well. I look forward to sharing with you!!