Time for a New Perfect Pair!

It's time for a new Perfect Pair during this month's special!  When you place your online order of $75 or more today through July 15th, you will receive aFanfare paper packet and the matching brads!  This assortment is perfect for scrapping those 4th of July or summer pictures that you've been taking!

Here's a little of my artwork from Fanfare to inspire you!

Dallas...Here I Come!

At 8:30 am this morning, I'm leaving on a jet plane to head to Dallas for the Close To My Heart Convention!  After all the counting down, it is finally time!!  I've prepared some swap cards, made my roommate gift, and packed my supplies.  I've done enough shopping now that I think I finally have the right clothes and jewelry

  for the next five days so that I can stay comfy and just enjoy the whole event!  Now if you aren't hooked up to me on Facebook, please find me HERE.  I am going to be updating as I can - I know there is going to be so much exciting news and fun pictures to share!!  It's a busy agenda, and I am going to come back filled with so much business and creative knowledge.  And just think - I'm going to get to share all those ideas with you!! 

I've got posts scheduled for the whole time that I am gone, so you'll still be able to visit and find some inspiration for your crafty time!

He Brings Me Joy

This is the last Studio J layout assignment that I have to share with you.  Of the five that I did for Convention, this is the one that I am most anxious to see!

This husband of mine does bring me great joy every single day.  So when I saw this layout, I knew I had to fill it with these photos.  I love they way we were taught to create pleated ribbon in this lesson.  I will use that idea again and again.  Here is what the journaling says:

"Today and every day I feel blessed because God has given me such a wonderful husband.  He provides for our family.  He is an amazing father.  He makes me laugh.  He makes me think.  He is a friend who loves me with no conditions.  He buys me coffee and diet mountain dew.  He lets me watch "Friends" every night before I go to bed because he knows how important it is for me to have a really good laugh before I go to sleep.  And when times are tough, he knows that chocolate and a strong hug can sure anything."

Just a little Florentine for you today - simply because I love Florentine!

This paper really is my "happy place" in crafting.  This scripture from Everlasting Life really goes nicely with the paper.  Everything is sponged with Creme Brulee ink, and I've embellished the card with Mocha Gems and a little Colonial White crocheted ribbon.

Have a blessed Sunday!

A Little Bit of Sunshine

I woke up this morning with the need to create.  I didn't have to make anything for any particular assignment or to give to anyone (although I could be doing that!).  I just wanted to pull out my sponge and roll some flowers.  I think this is the wonderful thing about being a paper crafter.  It just kind of pulls you in and lets you know when it's time to create.

While I was making this card, I was thinking about all the people that are just a little bit of sunshine in my life.  If I made one of these for each one of these people, I would be in my craft room for hours and hours.  And I'd need a lot of Pemberley paper.  I am so grateful for the people that make me smile and make my life so much richer!  The other supplies used for this card are Dark Chocolate Striped Grosgrain,  Foundry Pin Clips, Bitty Sparkles, and Garden Wooden Shapes.

Dreamin'

It's time for a new Perfect Pair during this month's special!  When you place your online order of $75 or more today through July 10th, you will receive a Dreamin' paper packet and the matching Harvest Charms!

  

Because this paper has been discontinued, I thought I would share some of my past artwork with this set to refresh your memory.

I could show you a lot more Dreamin', but I'll stop there.  You know why?  I need to go place my order for more of this paper!!

Enjoy This Happy Day

We had a Studio J assignment for Convention, and the idea shown was with Lucy papers.  I have loads of boys photos, but I am hard pressed to find girl photos to use with different shades of pink.  So I switched it up!  That is one of the wonderful things about Studio J.  You can take one pattern (did I mention there are 65 patterns?) and choose from 90 different paper packets!  I used the kit colors for this layout, but let's just say I did want that cranberry red to be pink.  I could change it in Studio J!

Did you know that you can open a Studio J account without paying anything?  You simply go to my website and create and account.  There is nothing to download with Studio J as it is an online software program.  You might find that over the busy summer months, it's a fun way to catch up!

Happy Birthday, America - And a Layout to Share

How thankful I am that this country was founded by faith and by prayer.  Because of that we are able to live independent and free!  So many lives are touched by the men and women that are faithfully serving to maintain those freedoms.  May they all be blessed for their love of our country!

In less than a week, I leave for the Close To My Heart National Convention in Dallas!  I am so excited to come back with new artistic and business ideas!  But before I leave, I am finishing up all of my summer workshops and clubs.  You have already seen my July club layouts, so now I am going to show you August.  For this club we'll be using Footloose. Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you have an awesome 4th of July celebration!!

July Specials!

JULY SPECIALS

Place an online order of $75 or more in July (my website is http://brendarose.ctmh.com) and we’ll Close To My Heart will send you a popular paper packet and coordinating accessory—a Perfect Pair—for free! Different Perfect Pairs are available on different dates throughout the month so you’ll want to place more than one qualifying order to snatch several Perfect Pairs.

Specific pairs are available on specific dates; see below to find out when your favorite Perfect Pairs will be available. Be sure to place your order early in the availability period, as the promotion is while supplies last.

ORDER DATES	PERFECT PAIR	RETAIL VALUE
July 1–5	Mischief Paper Packet (X7144B) and Midnight Felt Shapes (Z1462)	$15.90
July 6–10	Dreamin’ Paper Packet (X7142B) and Harvest Charms (Z1633)	$14.90
July 11–15	Fanfare Paper Packet (X7138B) and Fanfare Level 2 Assortment (Z1400)	$17.90
July 16–20	Lucky Paper Packet (X7137B) and Lucky My Stickease® Assortment (X7137C)	$17.90
July 21–25	Mayberry Paper Packet (X7136B) and Mayberry My Stickease® Assortment (X7136C)	$17.90
July 26–29	Sophia Paper Packet (X7131B) and Sophia My Stickease® Assortment (X7131C)	$17.90
July 30–31	Believe Paper Packet (X7145B) and Holiday Pockets (Z1486) OR Wonderland Paper Packet (X7146B) and Wonderland My Stickease® Assortment (X7146C)	$14.90

From now through Thursday, you'll receive Mischief with your order.  I thought I'd I'd share some of my artwork with Mischief and Midnight Felt Shapes.  These were my club layouts last October.

Now, on to the Stamp of the Month - Live Out Loud!

Available July 1–31, 2012 only.

With a minimum qualifying purchase, get your D-size Stamp of the Month set for just $5.00! Add the stamp set to your cart on this page at full retail price or, with your qualifying order, add it at checkout for the promotional price.

Spend:	$50.00	No purchase req.
You pay only:	$5.00 (72% Off!)	$17.95 (full retail)

Set of 8
Recommended My Acrylix® Blocks:
1" × 3½" (Y1002), 3" × 3" (Y1006), 2" × 6½" (Y1010)

And Speaking of Home Sweet Home...

Shane has spent the last week and a half picking berries in our neighborhood.  We are surrounded by loads of boulevard woods that have berry patches.  On his daily walk, he picked wild raspberries and blackberries and determined to make a pie from scratch with them.  So he carefully laid them on a baking sheet in the freezer as he collected them, and yesterday it was finally time to make the pie.

Oh. My. Goodness.  I seriously don't know where this kid gets his cooking and baking skills. (Maybe all the restaurants he's served at...)  I am a pretty good cook, but Shane has a passion for it and loves to make good food.  I have NEVER made crust that looks like this, and I have NEVER made a pie that tastes this good.  Jerry was in heaven as he is a huge pie lover.  As long as the ScrapFIT challenge is "home sweet home,"  I thought I would share what Shane contributes to this home of ours!

Home Sweet Home

Home Sweet Home! We spend many hours at home so we want to surround ourselves with things we love.  This ScrapFIT Workout is challenging you to create a paper craft to be displayed in your home! This can be a banner, a unique way to display a photo, anything you can create with paper to be displayed in your Home Sweet Home.

If you've been following me for awhile, you have seen this tray frame before.  This is my very favorite piece of home decor that I've created.  I love Shane's smile, and I love the colors.  I look a this frame every single day in my living room, and I smile.  I hope you'll join us in creating something for your home that will make you smile every day!  If you need ideas, I want to invite to follow my Pinterest Board - Paper Craft Decor - where you'll find all kinds of different things I've created!

Our sponsor for this challenge is Paper Issues, and they are generously sharing a $15 certificate!