OH "DEER" ..... STILL UNPACKING!

When I said "deer" above, I didn't misspell it! I'm still unpacking after my move and am finally getting my CTMH supplies out of their boxes. As I was sitting at my "new office" window the other day, typing away, I looked out my window and look what I saw! What a neat surprise! 

What a pretty girl! She was soon visited by another and they stayed and chatted for awhile, and then wandered off down the lane.  I love my new office and the wonderful window!

We also went for a drive the other day, to take a break from all of the unpacking and trying to find things syndrome.  There is a beautiful lake about 20 miles from us, up in the mountains, and it was nice respite from all of the work and hustle bustle. 

Paulina Lake - it's a crater left from volcanic eruptions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 I got to sit on the dock and take some time to relax and contemplate..........

On the way back, after a nice lunch at the lodge, we stopped at the falls and I had so much fun taking pictures!

Knarled old tree - how long has it been dead and still stands?

Wild flowers still blooming in September at 6,000 feet. They were WAY HIGH above the creek that flowed in the canyon below.

I wonder how old this tree is?  Huge pines and a few fir and hemlock, but mostly mossy covered pines.

The walk to the falls.... I could have stayed here all day!

What a nice afternoon!  Now as soon as I get the rest of my unpacking done, I'll get back to posting some projects.  I have seen some really creative posts from fellow consultants so want to direct you to some of those as soon as I finish getting settled into our new (to us) place with the great window views!

Wanted to share with you some of the wonderful nature in my area of Oregon.  Until next time.....  happy scrapping!
 

PUMPKINS AND SCARECROWS - STAMP OF THE MONTH!

I promised I'd show you the September Stamp of the Month. Here is is! And so cute....it's called FALL FAVORITES and it's yours for $5.00 with a $50 order in September! Don't you just love the scarecrow, the pumpkin patch, acorns and tag? I sure do. Wish I had a Cricut machine so I could cut those tags out. One of these days I'll definitely get one! I'm going to get this My Acrylix Stamp Set for sure and use some of the new exclusive markers to color in the pictures.  As you know, I just LOVE to color!

These are so cute!  and look at the little sayings: "pumpkin patch", "hayrides", "corn maze" and "pumpkin pie". 

Here as some ideas for using the Fall Favorites My Acrylix stamps along with a supply list. This can be seen on pg. 140 of the Idea Book on my website.

The Moonlight paper packet is used for these above designs.  Using the Slate and Goldrush papers in that packet really adds a nice mellow touch to these projects. And if you look close, you can see how the scarecrow has been colored with the Honey, Olive and Autumn markers.

Another great product that I just love, is the My Acrylix Monogram stamp set.  How fun would these be to use as little gifts, favors, stocking stuffers, and special thank-yous?  At $2.95 per monogram, it sure doesn't break the bank!  I would like one for each of my family member's names so I could use it for place card settings during the holidays.  I also love that I can use a 1-1/4" or 1-1/2" Circle Punch to cut out some cardstock, and then stamp a monogram on it with whatever color ink I want, and use it as a cute little embellishment on a gift, card, package or tag.  Love these!

Great ideas for using the Monograms and using the Cricut Artiste and Art Philosophy cartridges carried by Close to My Heart.

Well, that's all the great ideas for today..... HAPPY STAMPING!

I JUST MOVED TO OREGON!

Hi all!

My husband and I just made a move to beautiful La Pine, Oregon and everything has been pretty hectic! So.... I haven't posted on my blog for over a week! Sorry about that. I love this blog, but was without a computer for a few days and SO BUSY packing (and now unpacking). After living at our Washougal house for 9 years, I had forgotten how chaotic and time consuming and EXHAUSTING it is to move with all the sorting and packing, and having to try to pare down and giving away precious things! I am such a sentimental keeper-of-everything and it is hard to part with "things" I am attached to. I did manage to pare down some. Of course, I did also manage to bring all of my Close to My Heart supplies with me on this first trip, plus all of my beloved sewing supplies and fabrics. 

We still have to go back to Washougal to pick up another load of "stuff". As soon as I get settled in this new home, I'll get back to my crafting and sewing. Here is a picture of what I saw the other day as I looked out my new office/craft room window! How awesome is that? I loved Washougal and the wetter climate west of the Cascade Mountains, but the rain can get pretty tiring. I think I will really love this drier climate as I love the high dessert and everything about it.. the smells, the sage, the pine trees, the distant snow-capped mountains, and the unbelievable huge skies and nighttime stars and moon. I'm sure I will be getting out my camera to do some outdoor photo shoots! 

Isn't she lovely?  She was joined shortly after I took this picture by another sweet lady and they eventually moved on.  This must be a normal resting spot for her and she seemed so calm and relaxed.

Here's the view outside my kitchen window.. the little cabin that the family who built this house lived in.  I love all those pine trees!!

In a day or two, I'll post the September stamp of the month, which is called Fall Favorites.  You'll love it!..... just in time for pumpkins, scarecrows, hayrides and Fall!

Until then, happy scrapping!

TORN PAPER FLOWERS - AWESOME!

I have found the most AWESOME blog with tons of tutorials for making embellishments (and everything else you can think of!) for cards and scrapbook pages and all of our fun paper projects. It's called Little Birdie Secrets. I was looking for an easy way to make some flowers that don't take the use of a Cricut die cutting machine, as I don't have one (yet!). I just loved the Little Birdie Secrets torn paper flowers and I had SO MUCH FUN wadding up the paper as tiny as I could get it, and then laying it out flat, and sanding the surface and the edges. It was somehow kind of freeing to be able to wad up all those little circles! The instructions are on the how to make torn paper flowers tutorial at Little Birdie Secrets.

Here's the Little Birdie Secrets torn flower. I love the little ribbon flourish in the middle and the button.

Compliments of Little Birdie Secrets' blog. I think their card stock was not the solid core card stock like I used from CTMH.  She distressed the edges with darker ink which looks really neat!

 Here's a card I made with my own torn flower!

Here's my flower.  I don't think I wadded it up enough PLUS instead of tearing my circles, I cut the largest one with a punch, and then cut the two center circles free-hand, and then I sanded the surfaces and the edges.  I love this look too but next time I will WAD IT UP even more!  I used a little silver brad in the middle, but I think buttons would look neat too.

I used the CTMH Pemberly papers for this card. I love the blues and golds. I also used some of my old lace.

Happy tearing and wadding!

 

LITTLE REMINDER ON VIDEO VIEWING.

Hi all!
I posted a neat little video a couple of days ago on base and shade stamping.  Since I'm new to blogging, I didn't realize that when you've subscribed to my blog and get an email with a video in it, you must click on the post title in order to watch the video!  Live and learn right???  Your email will have the actual post, but the video won't show up unless you actually click on the post title which will take you to my blog.. and THEN you can watch the video.  Next time I post a video, I'll put a little reminder.

Just in case you didn't see it, here is the video again... on base and shade stamping.  Oh, and I didn't mention, but all of the My Acrylix stamp sets in the Spring/Summer 2012 catalog are still available so go to my website to view that Idea Book (under Products) and take a look at those stamps too!  The Heartfelt Treasures on page 68 would work great as would Rosy Regards on page 67. 

I may not be posting as much during the next 2-3 weeks as we are moving 250 miles away, to beautiful La Pine, Oregon and I have lots of packing to do!  Of course, all of my CTMH stuff will get packed last so I can "play" right up to the last minute!  ........... and they'll be the first things unpacked when we get to our new place!

REMINDER! NATIONAL STAMPING MONTH SPECIAL STARTS NOW!

I know I already posted this special, but I just wanted to remind you again! To celebrate National Stamping Month in September, CTMH is offering a new double stamp set (not in the current Idea Book)!! You can get this exclusive My Acrylix It's Your Day DOUBLE stamp set for just $5 when you place a minimum order of $35 in full retail products from August 15 through September 30, 2012. There are two D-size sets in one envelope with trendy images that capture your day-to-day activities. See the larger photo below of the stamp set. I didn't post this before.  Now you can see the images much more clearly.  I'm also posting the flyer again so you can see some samples of scrapbook pages. 

It looks like Buttercup, Sky and Whisper Cardstock was used for the scrapbook pages, with a hint of Sweet Leaf on the right page.  What yummy colors!

Here's a close-up of these awesome stamps! The stripes, zig zags, and polka dots can be stamped on little strips of paper with pointed ends to look like little arrows and banners, or stamped on long strips (see the scrapbook pages).

 This DOUBLE stamp set has a retail value of $35.90.  

"Life is Good" and this could be your "Best Day Ever" if you can get your hands on this "Awesome" stamp set! "Every Day is An Adventure", especially "This Day" and I sure "Love This" picture of the "Bicycle" so "Enjoy the Ride"!!!  P.S.  "Don't Quote Me on That"!!!  

And don't forget!  If you place a $35 order in August, I'll also send you a Fall/Winter 2012 Idea Book for FREE!! ($5 value).
 

CUTE LITTLE STAMPING VIDEO.

Wow, where has the time gone! It's been a week since I posted my hummingbird pictures and still haven't gotten my card done yet! We are finally having nice weather here so have been outside alot getting caught up on yard work, and here it is, the middle of August already! yikes.... most people will be raking leaves soon and I'm still planting flowers!  I DID start on my hummingbird photo card but it's not done yet, so thought I'd post this cute little video from Close to My Heart that shows some stamping called "base and shade" stamping.  It's really neat!

You can find the stamp set the gal is working with here on my website. Even though she mentions that it's from the Fall/Winter 2011 Idea Book, this So Grateful stamp set is also in the current Idea Book.  There are also some other stamps sets in the current Idea Book (and I'm sure there are some in the Spring/Summer Idea Book that are still available) that would be great for base and shade stamping, such as Love Blooms which are pretty flowers and petals, and Rugged Dude which is a cool denim pocket with some other "rugged" words!  I can see using this method of stamping for all sorts of stamp sets!

Here is the video:

Have fun!  and I'll be back soon with my hummingbird photo card!