mini album challenge

If you've followed by blog for a while, you have probably noticed I like mini albums....
so to try and keep them all corralled (and to gather more into my flock) I started the

Country Mini Challenge Blog

I will still post bits & pieces of my mini's on this blog, but will post most of my mini info on my other blog.  You can access it easily by clicking on the tab (country mini album challenge) at the top of the page.

And now a look at how I interpreted my sketch

One final
 reminder, July is going, going, going, gone month...so stock up on your summer time favorite while you still can Click on my shopping link at the side to order now

countdown to new idea book---3 days

It's coming....the NEW FALL AND WINTER I DEA BOOK.....three more days.....the new book goes live August 1st, 2012...so order now from the Spring and Summer Idea Book....while you still can

click here to order

Just a little reminder, July is going, going, going, gone month...so stock up on your summer time favorite while you still can Click on my shopping link at the side to order now

say good bye to Cruisin, Footloose & Superhere

Yipes!!! Only a couple of days & these items are gone forever......

Stock up NOW!!

Superhero ---X7152B

Footloose X7151B

Cruisin'  X7154B



Just a little reminder, July is going, going, going, gone month...

so stock up on your summer time favorite while you still can

click here to order

Country Sketch #1

So, I'm trying something new, something you can do to.
Challenges seem to be all the rave so, I challenge you to play along with me.
Every two weeks I will post a new country sketch (so called because I live in the country)
The rules are simple.

1. Please add a DIRECT link to your blog  post when adding your card to the linky below.
2. Please include our sketch and a link back to this post (not just blog on your post.
3. Feel free to combine this sketch with up to 3 other challenges
4. Stop back & vote on your favorite--voting opens one week after the challenge begins
5. Enter as often as you wish. 
6. Smile and have fun!!
   
   

The winner will be posted on my blog after the voting closes.






Just a little reminder, July is going, going, going, gone month...so stock up on your summer time favorite while you still can Click on my shopping link at the side to order now

Wasn't that a Party

Just couldn't resist.....after our town's Centennial Celebration

with "TROOPER" playing on Saturday nite

I'm sure this was the song running through people's heads on Sunday

Okay enough of that here's a sneak peak at some NEW products.

Yup, that another exclusive CTMH Cricut Cartridge....!!!!

And "Flirty" one of the new paper packs (which I just recieved and am going to play with tommorrow)


Just a little reminder, July is going, going, going, gone month...so stock up on your summer time favorite while you still can Click on my shopping link at the side to order now

Just Bare with me...

only a couple more days and our town's Centennial Celebration will be over

and I will have the time and energy to be creative again...

One of the perks of being a consultant,

is that I am able to pre-order samples of the NEW products,

so I can create some awe-inspiring artwork for you to be tempted by.

So keep checking back...and in a few more days and I will be unveiling some NEW ART

but for now

Here's a look at something old.

  

These are all pages from a mini I made using the Cruisin' paper
(the Cruisin' paper is not in the NEW IDEA BOOK)

(Click here to order now)

Just a little reminder, July is going, going, going, gone month...so stock up on your summer time favorite while you still can Click on my shopping link at the side to order now

12 more days

I just love this advent Calendar
it's perfect for any decor,

and guess what
It's in the NEW IDEA BOOK

Contact me to get your own copy.

The NEW IDEA BOOK
goes live August 1st, 2012


Just a little reminder, July is going, going, going, gone month...so stock up on your summer time favorite while you still can Click on my shopping link at the side to order now

Stamp Storage

This is one of my favorite craft organizational items.

The Exclusive Inks* Organizer (Z4131--$69.95 complete)

But wait you only have a few stamps

and you don't really want to dish out over sixty bucks just to store your stamp pads,

well, "Close to my Heart" understands

and that is why they offer two options for acquiring this item

Option #1--(Z4131--$69.95 complete)
Option #2--piece by piece
                -- stamp pad storage tower (Z4132--$11.95)
                    each tower hold 15 stamp pads--four tower required
               --marker tower (Z4133--$14.95) holds 76 markers
               --handle & swivel base (Z4134--$15.95)
                   the last piece of the puzzle.

Click here to order today

Just a little reminder, July is going, going, going, gone month...so stock up on your summer time favorite while you still can Click on my shopping link at the side to order now

Freshly Made Sketch #43

When I saw this sketch,




I knew exactly what stamp set & paper I wanted to use .....Cruisin'
I used the Cruisin' WOTG (G1039--$29.95) 
The WOTG  includes an exclusive "C" sided stamp (which was perfect for this card) plus 1 cruisin' paper pack, assorted embellishments)

Take a look....

Just a little reminder, July is going, going, going, gone month...so stock up on your summer time favorite while you still can Click on my shopping link at the side to order now

New 2012 Idea Book--countdown

20 days till the

NEW FALL & WINTER IDEA BOOK GOES LIVE!!!

I am so excited....

And yet, the arrival of new products

also means we are losing some of our old products

...so stock up on your summer time favorite while you still can

this little ablum was made with the Footloose Paper Pack (X7151B)

(I know this pack is NOT in the new book)

Click here to order now

and remember if you order $75 or more you will recieve

The "Perfect Pair" available from Wednesday, July 11th through Sunday, July 15th is the Fanfare Paper Pack* and Fanfare Level 2 Assortment. ...other assortments available thru to the end of the month.

HOT, HOT, HOT

Honestly, I sometimes wonder why I live in Alberta.  Okay, I know this is where my family lives, and this is where I work, and where my daughter goes to school...But the weather is crazy.
June was rain, rain, rain and then BAM!! ---July, scorching hot, and no rain.
And I am not a heat-seaking person,
It is too hot to even think about scrapin'.
So, I will just blog a bit, surf the net (pretend I'm sitting by the ocean) and hope it rains.

And in between June & July (well actually, on the 1st)  HUGE Storm



Just a little reminder, July is going, going, going, gone month...so stock up on your summer time favorite while you still can Click on my shopping link at the side to order now

Why I can't go to Convention this Year

If you read my bio--you know I live in rural Alberta....I was born & raised a farm girl, moved to the city,and moved back to the farm and now
I've moved back to my home town of THREE HILLS, and this year our town is 100 Years young,

here's the little article I wrote for our local paper (which should explain why I am missing Dallas)

 100 Year of Yesterdayby Chairperson Terry Diack (here's another hint)

Well, it’s official. It is now--July. And the Centennial Celebration is just a couple of weeks away. Planning and organizing this celebration has been a bit like riding a roller coaster with a steaming hot cappuccino in your left hand. One of the things that I have learnt on this ride, is that our town is like a huge family, and not all of us like the same things. Some of us are a bit radical and unconventional and like to stir up the waters. While others prefer to stand on the bank and just enjoy the view. Our committee is aware that our town is made up of people with different backgrounds and different interests and thus we have tried our best to put together a weekend full of entertainment that will appeal to everyone.

So here we go.
Starting Friday, July 20th. Stop in at the registration booth, located on the main floor of the arena and pick up your souvenir booklet, schedule of events and map of the town. Armed with this (and a few other goodies we’ve tossed into the package) you are ready to plan your weekend. You might start off Friday nite, with FREE Teen Swim or if you’re not a teen you might want to take in Bruce Innes and the Original Caste singers. Then around 9pm you might decide to head over to the ball diamonds where local talent will perform for about an hour and then you might decide to stay for the FIREWORKS!! (Who doesn’t like fireworks)

Saturday morning you can enjoy the Street-side pancake breakfast (in front of IGA) while listening to local talent perform on the Stampede Stage. But don’t linger too long you will want to get a good spot for the Parade. Did I mention that the route has been extended from 1 ½ km to 2 ½ km. (don’t worry I will update you on the extended route.) After the parade head off to one of the various activities that will be happening around town. Do you like old tractors--head across the tracks to the watch the “antique tractor pull” or if you always wanted to be a fireman--head to the Battle of the Axes. Maybe you just want to reconnect with some old friends, then head to the Meet and Greet on the second floor of the Arena. Need a space where your little ones can burn off some steam--head to the Free Kids’ Carnival at the curling rink (sponsored by the Three Hills Chamber of Commerce.) If you’re not into any of those activities, but you like model trains--stop in at the Old Firehall and see what the town looked like in 1912. These are just a few of the options you have.

Saturday evening brings more entertainment. Ben Crane is a family orientated event and starts at 7pm. At 9, when the sun goes down, you can choose between two adult only venues--The Emeralds, or Trooper. Tickets for both of these events are still available at the Town Office. (Did I mention that the cost of bringing these two groups to town is covered by the ticket sales)

Sunday morning begins with a huge inter-denominational Centennial Church Service at 10:30 a.m. (Honestly, I don’t think my eyes will be open then) However, I am sure many of you will choose to attend this service. After Church there are a number of events still happening. You can visit the Arts and Crafts Display upstairs at the Arena or maybe take a tour of the town in an Model “A” car. More information can be found at http://threehillscentennialcelebration2012.blogspot.ca/. or listen to Q91 Radio, Friday mornings at 8:10 for our “centennial minute”

Okay, I know I have harped about registration, and I know, it is a bit of work on your part. I mean, those of us on the committee are a little technically challenged so you can’t actually register online. You have to print the form off and then fill it out (the old-fashioned way with a pen or pencil) and then--just like in the old days you have to either buy a stamp and mail it in, or walk over to the Three Hills General Store or the Town office and drop if off. Yah, it is a bit of work on your part, but if it’s any consolation we will be tracking all this info--manually.

So please, make work for us and register.

I would also like to remind that you must register to buy tickets for the Saturday Nite Roast Beef Buffet Supper and that you must purchase your supper tickets by July 10th. Your meal tickets will be included in your registration package and will be available for pick-up at the registration booth on July 20th & 21st.

Okay, one last reminder--history books--contact J Kanderka @ 403 443-7388 or D Enzie @ 403 443 5625 to order yours.

My random thought for this week is a quote from Dr. Suess....“I’m glad we had the times together just to laugh and sing a song, seems like we just got started and then before you know it, the times we had together were gone.”
― Dr. Seuss
*****************************************************************************

Just a little reminder, July is going, going, going, gone month...so stock up on your summer time favorite while you still can Click on my shopping link at the side to order now

A little Tweet Card & HAS Swap

This was my card for the June HAS Swap

And I found it extremely challanging

because
these were the guidelines.

-Must have minimum 8 layers stacked
-Do not use patterned paper
-Do not use any neutral cardstock (except for base)
-Do not use non paper embellishments such as ribbon; brads; twine or hemp
-Do not use stamp sets with “Border” or “Background” in their name
-Use at least 6 different stamped images
-Create paper embellishment that can count for at least and is 2 layers
-Card must be at least 4 ¼ x 5 ½ 

I also added a bit of extra stress to myself by making sure I used the June stamp of the month
now here is how I meet each of the guidelines

-Must have minimum 8 layers stacked --this was the one thing that really stressed me out.



  I decided to make a criss-cross card
  with a little bird sitting on a flower

-Do not use patterned paper --okay, I used multiple stamped images to create my own B & T paper
-Do not use any neutral cardstock (except for base) --used buttercup, creme brulee & sweet leaf
-Do not use non paper embellishments such as ribbon; brads; twine or hemp --as you can see--I used  only paper
-Do not use stamp sets with “Border” or “Background” in their name--used the Stamp of the Month
-Use at least 6 different stamped images --I used a ton of stamped images --the bird, the flowers on the paper ribbon, the circles in background, the sentiment
-Create paper embellishment that can count for at least and is 2 layers--see the flower, bird & paper ribbon
-Card must be at least 4 ¼ x 5 ½ --card is 4 1/4 x 5 1/2

This was a lot of fun---challenging, but fun

here is list of the ladies in the

Humble Artist Swap (HAS)

why don't you visit them and see what they have created.

Nancy Ball

Karen Day

Joy McHargue

Tamra Pope

Nancy Brown

Jen Rubio

Lorrinda Holman