Wishes Card, Textured Cardstock and Haiti

Our hearts go out to the victims of the earthquake in Haiti, and like so many of you, we're eager to help. We're excited to announce Close To My Heart's February special, Hearts for Haiti-where you can get a great deal while doing great good for those affected by the devastation in Haiti.

From February 1-28, 2010, our 12" x 12" textured cardstock combo packs are buy one, get one FREE-and with every offer purchased, Close To My Heart will donate $2 to Operation Smile's Haiti relief efforts.

Operation Smile is always a fantastic charitable partner-offering free facial reconstruction surgeries to needy children throughout the world. They've currently marshaled their surgeons, medical teams and resources to provide emergency relief in Haiti, and the donations given as part of Hearts for Haiti will be used exclusively for Operation Smile's efforts in Haiti. Already, they have provided life-saving surgeries for many injured victims, setting up two operating rooms in a school house, and living outside in tents. For more information on their on-the-ground response, you can visit www.operationsmile.org/haiti.

That means that for $14.95, you get two packs of textured cardstock (a great deal at about $.30 per sheet!) and Operation Smile will receive $2 to benefit this urgent, important cause. There is no limit to the number of FREE packs you can receive and the donation given! Take this opportunity to stock up on every color combination: Basic, Spring Harmony, Summer Celebration, Autumn Harvest, and Winter Cozy packs are available. Your FREE pack can be the same as or different than the one ordered.

Click here to see the paper packs and shop online!

I love the possibilities with our textured cardstock! You can dry emboss, sandpaper distress, or edge distress to expose the white core. PLUS each piece offers two options - on one side is the full color, on the other side is a lighter version of the same color.

Here is a card pattern from our Wishes book (Up in the Corner) using our black textured cardstock. The other side is a dark grey. I've used both sides on the front of this card. I used our white daisy textured cardstock on the inside!

Valentine Flower Pops!

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my club members. I try to create little seasonal gifts for them - just to share the love! This month I made these cute little flower pops - fashioned after Jeanette Lynton's blog post last year!

These would make very cute and easy gifts for girls at the office, friends, neighbors, or for kids & teachers at school! Make the inside a card with a love note or gift certificate, etc.

I found these on sale at Walgreens!

All supplies CTMH:
Cardstock: Hollyhock, Baby Pink, White Daisy
Ink: Hollyhock, Baby Pink, Sweet Leaf
Other: Autumn Buttons (hollyhock), Spring Buttons (baby pink), Winter Buttons (sweet leaf), Hollyhock, Sweet Leaf, Baby Pink ribbon rounds, White Daisy Mini-Medley (crocheted flowers - dyed with baby pink and hollyhock reinkers), Colonial White and Blush Waxy Flax
Stamps: Intrinsic Backgrounds, Togetherness, Confidential, All My Love, Made With Love (stamped on the back)

Another Cupcake....

This is a cupcake I finally made using a kit from fellow CTMH consultant Christine David. Then, the same week, I received this CUTE card from one of my downline, Kim Hurst! It's so cool - it holds a gift card inside!! They make a perfect pair, don't you think? I wonder who will get this special gift? :o)

Hey There Cupcake!

This month I'm celebrating big with another birthday workshop!! In this one we will create a cupcake that holds a gift card along with a coordinating card!

Check out this scrumptious delight!

I learned how to make these fun cupcakes from a fellow CTMH consultant, Tresa Black. Trust me, she IS fabulously artsy! Check out her video tutorial here.

I put liquid applique on the frosting, a little sprinkle of the red glitter used on the cherry and a dusting of prisma glitter, all topped off with a Tulip Twinkle Brad!

Want to make one too? Join me on Friday, February 26th at 6pm.

Contact me for more information....

Piece of Cake Cards

February's Stamp of the Month is my ALL TIME FAVORITE!!! And SO MUCH FUN to work with!! Here are the cards we will be making at one of my workshops this month...

This is the first card I made. I used a Cuttlebug embossing folder called Swiss Dots to emboss the Hollyhock cardstock, then lightly sanded it to expose the white core! I paper-pieced and raised the cake and platter on 3-D foam tape. I also added Liquid Glass to the candles and flames. There is a little Prisma Glitter on the red part of the flame....

This is the next card I made. I love how simply changing the paper color creates a whole new purpose! I really think this could be a wedding card with Congratulations instead of Happy Birthday! This time I added some of our new Bitty Sparkles to the cake!

This next card is a pattern from our Wishes book called Center Circles. I heat embossed the sentiment and dry embossed the dots. The cake is raised on 3-D foam tape and I again added a little Liquid Glass to the flower centers and candle. I added Liquid Glass/Prisma Glitter to the flame.

This is another Wishes card called Corner Shop. I added Liquid Glass and Prisma Glitter to the swirls on the cupcakes only. Once that dried, I added Liquid Glass to all of the cupcake frosting! The cupcakes are raised on 3-D foam tape.

This little guy makes a cute little gift card. It's also a Wishes pattern called Mini Window. I added Liquid Applique to the frosting and Liquid Glass/Prisma Glitter to the cherries! And of course, raised them up on 3-D foam tape! Everything is better in 3-D! LOL!

This workshop is scheduled for Monday, February 22nd at 6pm. Contact me if you are interested in joining me to make these cute cards!

The BEST Spaghetti Sauce

I must say, I really like my homemade spaghetti sauce. But after having some of Kim's special sauce, I'm tossing my recipe and going for hers! LOL!

We had our quarterly team meeting at my house last Saturday and we always share lunch together too. This time we had an Italian Feast! Spaghetti, garlic bread, salad, and topped it off with homemade Tiramissu! Woo Hoo!

Anyway, here is Kim's recipe. Not only is it delicious, you cook it in a crock pot! How easy is that!

4 pound of hamburger (DO NOT brown first)

3/4 cup sugar

1 tablespoon salt

1 lg chopped onion or dry chopped onion

4 pkg of THICK AND ZESTY SPAGHETTI MIX (found at WalMart or Krogers with the gravy packets)

4 cans tomato paste

2 cans tomato sauce (~15/16 oz cans)

1 can water (from the tomato sauce can)

Place hamburger in large crock pot. Place all ingredients on top of hamburger and mix WELL. You can mix after each couple of ingredients you add. Cook on low for about 8-9 hours. Sauce should be smooth and there should not be any large pieces of hamburger.

That's it! Bon Appetit!

Topstitch Workshop

This month I have workshop that is just in time for Valentine's day. The papers, accessories and stamp set are PERFECT for heartfelt sentiments!

Here are the layouts you can create with this kit:



Here are the cards you can create (2 of each card for a total of 12 cards!!):

The basic kit is discounted at only $29.95 and includes:

Topstitch Level 2 Paper Pack

Love is in the Air (exclusive stamp set)

Mini-Medley Accents Colonial White Collection

Full color, step-by-step Workshop Guide

There are a couple of optional accessories that I recommend to get the most out of your projects:

Dimensional Elements Hearts - $3.25

Clear Sparkles - $2.95

Embroidery Floss Neutral Assortment - $3.25

You can join with me on Friday, January 29th at 6pm to create these projects OR order the kit to make this at home!