We are Tickled Pink!

I thought I would share my Tickled Pink layouts with you. The colors in the kit are Crystal Blue, Blush, Sweet Leaf, White Daisy, and there are a lot of flowers. I need you to know that this wonderful glittered paper with all these flowers can be used for more than just "girly" things!

I am still scrapping pictures from a trip Jerry and I took 2 years ago to northern MN. We had the best time, and I have some of the most beautiful pictures. I knew that's what I want to do with this Tickled Pink kit.

There is a pattern to follow when you receive this kit - and you can follow it exactly to make two beautiful 2-page layouts. I wanted to use different picture sizes, so I altered my pages a bit. (Does that really surprise you?)

In my journaling block next to Jerry's handsome face, I chose to handwrite rather than stamp. I think this is an important piece to the page.


You are able to order your Tickled Pink package through May 31st. Please don't wait until the end of the month! We've got a counter on the website, and I see that we are at 75% available now.

Memories in Boxes

One of my favorite things to do is to alter things. So it was no surprise to me that I fell in love with the Close To My Heart Memory Keeper Boxes when they were introduced last year. They allow you so much room to be creative and to do absolutely anything you'd like with them. So easy to work with, though, because they come flat. Most of the altering can be done while they are flat, and you just pop them open to finish off the two sides.

Each of these boxes were dones with less than 3 sheets of paper and scraps. The box itself is just $6.95. So, depending on how much you embellish (and even if you go overboard!), you've got a really affordable gift.

Go back to the first one. That one was done for a co-worker of Jerry's. His wife had a baby girl recently, and I thought that would be nice to set on the dresser and store little things in until she get them in the baby book. it's done with Floral Tapestry paper, and I've used matching My Stickease, Big Pinks, some of uor discontinued organdy ribbon, Blush Waxy Flax, Colonial White Clips, Blush Buttons, and some pink gems. It says "baby love."

I took out some Vintage Travel paper for the next box. This is such good travel paper - no matter where you are going! I thought this was a good box for those momentos that you grab along the way that you don't quite no what to do with. I even like my maps in this size box. (By the way, these boxes sit on the shelf upright side by side very nicely!)

Along with the Vintage Travel paper, I used black letters from our Dazzling Diecuts. It was a special we had last November, and I loved those big letters! I grabbed the matching Vintage Travel Stickease, some clear buttons, and black hemp. That finished off this box nicely!

I have a journal by my computer so that when a prayer request comes in, I can write it down immediately. However, I thought it might be nice for people or churches just to have a prayer box. So often we write things down on a slip of paper. It would be nice to put those slips in a place.

This box was made with Let's Get Together paper. The letters are the matching Stickease. I wanted to keep it simple, so I cut some flowers from a sheet of Let's Get Together paper and pop dotted them next to the word "box." You'll also see one in the center of the white Big Pink. It's just enough for a Prayer Box.

I used Notebook paper for this box, and the matching Stickease. What you might not see, is that I also put Window Charms over the round and square Stickease. Once Window Charms were on them, I used my Crop-o-Dile, punched a hole, and put a Bigger Brad through them. I couldn't help but pull out a couple stems of Gerbera Daisies and take them apart for this box. They just worked. I like this box.

If you haven't tried a Memory Keeper's box, you really should. They are fun, easy, and oh, you'll find your creativity in them. I use Bonding Memories glue to adhere the paper. It's just so easy to work with, and I've come to love that product. Anything heavier that needs a firmer hold gets Liquid Glass.

Often to design some other things!

National Scrapbooking Month & Special Website

http://www.scrapbookandshare.com/

I am so excited to bring you this very special link to a very special website! Close To My Heart wants to know your story through your layouts. At Scrapbook and Share, you can submit a JPEG image of an original 2-page layout. There are 5 categories to enter, so there are 5 chances to win $150 in Close To My Heart product. Check it out!

Here are the categories:

• Most unique technique: This category focuses on the layouts you submit. We are looking for the most unique, different, original techniques used on your pages. Show us what you can create! Be sure to tell us why the layout highlights you, too!
  
• Most humorous: We love funny! We would love to see the content of your artwork, with journaling, pictures, or anything else that tickles our funny bone. In the email you send us, be sure to tell us more about why it is funny to you, or why it makes you laugh.
  
• Most inspiring: Just as much as we love to laugh, we love to be inspired! Give us that inspiration with the content of your artwork, pictures, journaling, inspirational sentiments, you name it. Then let us know why this inspires you and why it should inspire us!
  
• Best use of color: Color is such an uplifting category! We want to see unique color combinations, color that pops, and/or even color that means something to you. Share in your email the reason the color on your artwork is important to you.
  
• Best use of photography: A picture is worth a thousand words and we love to see them. Show us your best shot on your layout and then tell us what it means to you.

You can enter as many times as you wish! Have those entries in by May 31st. Be sure to read all the information on the link I provided at the top!

I am 'TICKLED PINK" to bring you you the National Scrapbooking Day special! First of all, I am going to give you an awesome link to see a better all-around photo of this amazing kit:

http://www.closetomyheart.com/pdf/May09CCFlyer.pdf

What is included in the kit?

1 – My Acrylix® I Am Stamp Set (D-size)
2 – 12” × 12” Floral B&T Duos™ Paper (1 with glitter)
2 – 12” × 12” Stripe B&T Duos™ Paper (1 with glitter)
1 – 12” × 12” Blush Textured Cardstock
1 – 12” × 12” Crystal Blue Textured Cardstock
5 – 12” × 12” White Daisy Textured Cardstock (1 sheet with die-cut shapes)
1 –Mini-Medley Accents White Daisy Collection
1– Foam Texture Tool
1– Brochure (instructions for 2 two-page layouts from brand-new patterns)

Featured Colors: Blush, Crystal Blue, Twilight, Hollyhock, Sweet Leaf

I have to tell you that i had so much with this. It was fun to use stamps that match the textured die-cuts. And oh, did I LOVE that glittered paper!! So beautiful!! This is one kit you will want for your spring and summer pictures.

So how can you get it?

From now through May 31st...

1. Purchase the kit outright for a price of $34.95 (the retail value is $39.95).
2. Earn the Tickled Pink kit for FREE with a purchase that includes a minimum of $60 in stamp sets (excluding K-size/customized and Stamp of the Month)
3. Hold a Book Gathering during the month of May with $400 in sales and earn Tickled Pink FREE along with $60 in Hostess Rewards and 1 Half-Price Item. WOW!

If you have any questions, be sure to contact me. I'd love to help you in any way that I can!

Happy Birthday, Shane!

20 short years ago today, God blessed me with this beautiful son of mine. Shane entered my world exactly on his due date, and he was as healthy as could be. We've watched Shane grow into a fine man. I am so proud of all that he has grasped and learned in life. Little does he know there is so much more to come!! He is kind-hearted helping me to often to see the benefit of the doubt in a situation. He sees the wonderful good in people long before they see it themselves, and I think that his friends are some of the luckiest people in the world. Shane's drive and determination made him a Manager at 19 years old. What a good thing to watch grow within him.

I know that someday soon he'll pull up roots and move away from home. But for now, I enjoy every minute that this young man is still under our roof.

Happy birthday, Shane! Your mom loves you more than you know!

New CTMH Product - Fun, Fun, Fun!

This first set of papers is called Bella. Gosh, such beautiful patterns and stamps! I love the button stamp set that matches this paper packet. You will be able to stamp your buttons in any colors and then put a clear button over it. You'll see that I did just that in the card below. You can click on any of these pictures and they will bring you to a larger image!

Beginning on May 1st, CTMH will also be carrying felt die-cuts. You'll see that in this 3x3 card. You may also not a metal tab. That's one of the new Foundry tabs!

Bella paper packet is Smokey Plum, Vanilla Cream, Garden Green, Creme Brulee, and Hollyhock.

Next paper packet is Animal Cookies. Wow - did this color turn out funny in this shot! Bear with me until you get to the cards! Again you'll see some felt die cuts in Tulip. The numbers you see on this page are Foam Numbers. Aren't those cute? I'll bet you have lots of possibilities for those! Cute, cute, cute stamp sets for this paper.

Here we are at a good color. What a good baby money card this paper makes!

The colors in Animal Cookies are Dutch Blue, Clover Meadow, Sunflower, and Tulip.

In this 5 x7 "Message in a Pocket" pattern from Originals, I have the kite attached to a cloud. It can be pulled out so that a message can be written on it!

Now we're moving on another packet of paper from the book being released in May. It's called Tinkerin'. Gears and robots!

This is one of my favorite card patterns from Originals - Aubrey's Invitation. The large gear is pulled out of the pocket and is an inviation to a party! Sucha colorful card!

This paper packet covers the months, too. It's got the most beautiful lemonade paper. So I pulled that sheet out and used the 5x7 Sweetly Offset pattern to make an unexpected card from this paper pack. The scalloped border is one our new Dimensional Elements, and the phrase "not a care in the world" comes from the June Word Puzzle.

The colors in the Tinkerin' paper packet are Clover Meadow, Sunny Yellow, Sunflower, Holiday Red, and Twilight.

There are still two more packets that you haven't seen - Back Country (think fishing/camping and Moon Doggie (think beach). I'll bring you those samples soon!

I hope you've enjoyed a sneak peek into the new Idea Book coming out May 1st!!

All Things Grandpa

Grandpa Rose and Shane were best buds. They did everything together, and Grandpa did anything and everything for Shane. Jerry's dad died due to cancer 3-1/2 years ago, but I don't think that there are too many days that go by without this household thinking about him and mentioning something funny that he did.

The other day Jerry picked up a 3# chunk of bologna and sweet pickles. Well, anyway that knew Dad, knew that he loved ground meat. I told my mother-in-law that Jerry picked up the fixings for it, and she recalled how Grandpa would have to call Shane to come over when he was making it. Shane was the "crank turner" on the meat grinder. Sometimes Grandpa would have Shane grinding 5# or more whle standing on a chair! My MIL mentioned that to Grandpa, Shane could do no wrong - no matter what.

She's right. And I'm so glad that Shane had that in his life.

I've watched Shane serve when he was a waiter, I've listened to him on the phone as a manager, I've watched him at his job. I am so glad that he had Grandpa's influence early on to teach him that it's okay to talk to people - even when you don't know them. Jerry and I have many reasons to thank Grandpa when it comes to Shane's confidence.

And now as I watch Jerry grow more and more like his Dad every day, I see him him give Shane the same leeway that Grandpa did. You know, Shane is going to be 20 years old in a week. He has a great job, and has comes into his own.

The men in his life have tremendously influenced him, and I'm so grateful for that. What a blessing!

Brave New Close To My Heart Path for Me

In light of all that is happening and has been happening with my health, I made the difficult decision to step down as a Close To My Heart Director. All of my team will go to my Executive Director, Jillene, and they will be in very, very good hands.

I knew that I had to make a choice. I couldn't be both a consultant and support my team anymore. I just am not able to be the leader I once was to these fine women and that saddens me. I know I can't spend the hours on computer that I once did for them, and I just won't be as accessible anymore.

I am so proud of all these women, though! Gosh, last November the Rose Blossom team achieved this:

26-100 Downline
1. Inks Outside the Box, Michelle Nist $23,504.34
2. The Rose Blossoms, Brenda Rose $22,715.46
3. Stampede, Linda Lynch $21,014.60

That was hugely impressive, and I was so proud of them!

So many of the gals on my team starting building their own active teams and did so with great success. Such a wonderful thing to see them all in action!

This was one of the hardest decisions I ever had to make. Even if they didn't notice, I took great care in each team member of every downline making sure they were reaching their goals. I enjoyed every minute offering my help, encouragement, and watching them grow and flourish. I can turn back to consultant status saying that I had a team I truly loved.

So now, I'll go back to being a consultant (as I always was anyway!) and care for my customers. I had to discontinue club - and that also saddens me. But I am hoping that I can still get a workshop in every now and again for my wonderful customers. I don't think I could go very long without teaching!

This is a brave new world for me. I woke up this morning to see blank reports. For 3 years I've been a leader...

Well, this is a good time to get even more creative and focus on my health. If your a blog follower, you are most likely going to see a lot of creative work coming up!

What a LOVELY Gift!

I went to this mailbox today and found this lovely quilted runner from my sister, Linda. Aren't the colors just beautiful? She had so generously made them for scrapbooking weekend a few weekends ago, and I was not able to be there. So in the mail, here I received one today anyway! Wasn't that nice of her?! Scrapbooking weekends with family are about so much more than scrapbooking. You get to talk, share what's going on in life, share old and new pictures (and maybe get them scrapped!), eat lots of unhealthy food - and what I've found is this. You walk away closer than you ever were before. I have a feeling that the scrapbooking and stamping weekends of today are similar to the quilting bees of the past.

This is a beautiful treasure on my dining room table. I have a feeling that my sisters and nieces that were able to attend that weekend store fabulous memories in their table runners!

I thought I'd share a few of the other gifts I received in the past 10 days. I am so grateful for family and friends ~

Rock On, Adam!

Such an exciting year on American Idol! I don't know how many fans there are out there, but Jerry & I are just loving this season. We wait every week to see what Adam Lambert is going to sing and how he is going to add his own twist to it.

So much is said and speculated about this contestant. You know what we see? A really, really amazing performer that stands comfortably in his very own shoes - and is comfortable enough to do his own thing in HIS way. Pretty cool. Rock on, Adam. We sure can't wait to see what the future holds and to buy an Adam Lambert CD.

LOVE This Garden Sign!

Jerry started working in the yard this past week, and I just love how everything looks. It won't be long until our beautiful backyard is in bloom, the trees have leaves, and our own "state park" will be grassy and green. This yard sold on us on the house when we moved here 8 years ago. The trees and woods are amazing to me. I love hanging the yard decorations, and I'm sharing a picture of one of my oldest. I always put it on the trellis on our upper deck right outside our patio door. Soon the honeysuckle will overtake that trellis and by midsummer there will hummingbirds all over that beautiful vine. But I keep that sign - no matter how rusty and old it gets - as a little reminder about life. To me, it's pretty sound advice. "life is messy. wear your apron."

Home Again

Home again. And my head itches like crazy. Later in the week, I will post some pictures of what my head looked like with 25 electrodes glued to it for 6 days. Not pretty, but interesting for sure!

I am glad to be here on my couch. My Chanelly-Belly beagle is at my feet, and my Sassy cat is at my shoulder. Jerry says life feels right again.

I learned quite a few things during this hospital stay. First of all - and most gratefully - through a huge garden of flowers, Easter baskets, and cards, I learned how loved I was! How wonderful to look upon the overflowing window ledge and see the blessings bestowed upon me by my friends and family. During some of my harder times, that window ledge really helped me.

I have tried over 15 combinations of seizure meds over the years. I have very little left to nothing left to try anymore that doesn't affect me negatively. I tried a new one again during this hospital stay, but oh, what a disaster. At a VERY small dose I was okay, but it once it was increased, I had such adverse reactions that I had to be monitored on an EKG. So needless to say that wasn't the drug.

When I had my discharge meeting with the doctor before I left, she told me something surprising. I guess it was something I had never heard before. I have abnormal brain waves that will never be able to be treated. My VNS implant is helping to minimize the amount of seizures I used to have - and that is good news! But in the end, there are some that are never going to be able to be medically treated.

This gives me pause. I always have carried around that huge word - HOPE. And so now I have to find it within myself to carry a bigger word - ACCEPTANCE.

Until there is a new option, this has and will continue to change my life. Driving isn't going to be an option until I'm seizure-free for 6 months. I can't tell you what the loss of this freedom means.

I have to think about what avenue my Close To My Heart business will take. Oh, how I love my customers! Clubs aren't going to be an option for me for quite some time as I work this out, but I may be able to sneak in an occasional card class or workshop. Those of you that know me, know how I love to teach.

For now, at least for the next little while, I've got to work on that acceptance thing I was talking about. Even though this hospital stay is over, I've still got a series of doctor's appointments that will take up much of my time - and I'm afraid a little of my energy.

I heard a pastor tell a story once about his appointments and meetings. He would cancel them should he not feel 100%. He would simply tell the person he was meeting with that he needed to reschedule because it was important to him to be at his best for them. That lesson has always stuck with me. It's so important to me that if I teach and spend time with my customers, I give them my best. Each person I have been blessed to meet deserves that.

In the next week or two, I'm going to determine a date for the Open House I would like to have. Each of my customers needs to have an Idea Book! There's such fun product in there - and I will love seeing everyone!

When I have a little more time this week, I'll do some more updating.

My Own Reality Show

I've been getting ready the last few days for an event coming up in my life. On Tuesday I'm going to be a guest in the Epilepsy Unit, and my stay will be 5-7 days. I've already told my husband that the Easter Bunny is going to need to find me there!

I will have electrodes attached to my head during the entire stay in order to a continuous EEG. It's quite a process! I went in search of scarf yesterday, and Jerry and I managed to find a bright pink one with some rhinstones here and there. You see, I have been through this before, and my head is not a pretty sight with all those wires and glue. It's pretty important that I have something over my head. This time I'll be sure to bring my soft pillow, too, because sleeping isn't very easy either with wires attached on the head! ;)

If you haven't figured it out by now, I have epilepsy. Since February 3, 1977. As far as illnesses/conditions goes, this has been okay - really! I was blessed to have been put on a good medication and be seizure free for 21 years. I went through 6 years of some bumps and difficult times. What I need to say about those years - 1998 to 2004 - is that even though they were hard and yucky and filled with seizures, they made me stronger. They made me happier for what I have in the moment, and they made me realize that there is no time to take one moment for granted.

In 2004, I was implanted with a medical device called a Vagus Nerve Stimulater - VNS. It was a last ditch effort before brain surgery. I had had all the testing done for brain surgery - and WOW - what testing that was! One test put half my brain to sleep at a time and testing each side of my brain while I was awake. Weird huh? During another doctors had to insert long needles into my cheekbones to map something in my brain (Yes, I was awake. Yes, it hurt.) Anyway, there were so many, many tests!! But my doctor (who I always say was sent by God) asked if I wanted to try the VNS before brain surgery.

Let's see...brain surgery or metal in chest...I decided on the VNS, of course!

And it has worked so well for me! After the doc got it adjusted (and you can hardly hear it in my voice),I stopped having seizures. But last year they started again, and now it's time to do something again. And this time they are accompanied by nagging memory loss, difficulty remembering words, and bad headaches.

I thought when I went into the doctor last week that she would adjust my VNS or bump up my medicine. She surprised and saddened me when she told me that I had to go into the hospital. But I've had this long enough to know that there is no quick fix. So I get to be attached to wires so that I am electrically monitored and then I'll also be video monitored. Thus my own reality show - LOL!!

I'm taking a leave of absence from CTMH for a few months in order to get everything straightened out. I do plan on enlistening some help, however, and having some kind of small Open House in May. I want everyone to get their new Idea Book! It's such a good one!! You'll get a postcard and e-mail from me when I've set a date.

I hope this helps you understand a little a little! You know I just don't tell people that I have epilepsy because 1) it's been a part of who I am for so long that it's second nature to me!, 2) it's not a weakness or hindrance, and 3) it just plain doesn't come up!

There is a great new star-studded website - http://www.talkaboutit.org that gives a lot of information. I hope I've helped you understand my situation a little!

I an Very Spoiled Today,,,and Very Grateful!

Today, I am 47 years old. Really, age is what you make it, and there is absolutely no way I feel 47! I can hardly believe sometimes that I've passed 40!!

My boys - my husband and son - have spoiled me like crazy this year. Jerry keeps telling me he's got a lot of fishing and golfing to do this summer. He wants me to have access to all the "crafty pages" I like wherever we are, in case I don't want to go out with him. So he bought me a laptop. What a guy!
Shane was looking at me from another angle. He thinks I have more than enough scrapbooking things (ya think? - LOL!), and although he has always loved to byu me jewelry, he says I have plenty of that, too. So he went shopping at Macy's online and picked out this beautiful designer purse and matching wallet by Giani Bernini. I LOVE it! Shane has extraordinary designer taste, and I will love purse for years to come!!

Of course, my boys had to spoil me with their favorite treat, too! Jerry picked up an ice cream cake from Dairy Queen. Do you see how the vanilla is frozen around the chocolate center? After almost 20 years, I am thinking that Jerry knows that I will pick at the vanilla and leave only the chocolate center! That will be his favorite part. We are such a good pair when it comes to this kind of treat! Shane loves it all!

So what a great birthday! Even though I spent the day doing taxes, and I've got some unpleasant things coming up in the near future, today is turning out to be JUST PERFECT.

Pisa, Italy

I am having such a blast getting our Mediterranean cruise book done! I can't tell you how often I am asked whether I am finished. Even though it's been 6 months since we were blessed with that cruise (I can't believe it's been that long!) from Close To My Heart, I am taking my time with all these pictures and memories. This really was the trip of a lifetime for us, an each picture, each page id really special. I didn't particiapate in any page swaps because I wanted to do all the pages myself for such a special book!

The two pages you are looking at are from Pisa. The artistry in the buildings was phenomenal. We were standing by the Leaning Tower when I took these picture. Now, a true crafter will appreciate that I have a business card from a paper crafting shop on my page! I should have bought MUCH paper from that shop. But for now, I have a little, I have their website if I am desperate, and I have a picture of their shop!