Christmas Tag Class, Thursday, December 1st, 6 p.m.

I love that our new Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge cuts tag shapes that coordinate with our Dimensional Elements chipboard tags.  At this workshop, we'll turn these chipboard tags into works of art by adding our beautiful paper, stamped images and embellishments.  Cost for the class is $10, and you'll receive a full sheet of Dimensional Elements tags as part of the class fee.  Sign up today!

Projects for my upcoming Great Gifty Ideas Workshop, Tuesday, November 22nd, 6 p.m. (if we overflow, I may open up another night, Monday, Nov. 21st)

Mandy Leahy posted this project on the Close to My Heart artwork board, and I LOVE it!  Thanks to the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge, you can put this together in minutes.

This is another "stamp-lifted"I found posted by Andrea Marie Sherman (her blog is GIRLplusPAPER.blogspot.com).  You can hang it on a tree like an ornament and it's the perfect size for a gift card.

I used to make notepad covers and Post-It note covers all of the time, and I thought it was time we made another one.  The cover is made out of chipboard (I used three pieces so that it could bend) covered with B&T paper from the Roxie kit.  Now that we have the Art Philosophy cartridge, we can add 3D elements like the roses.

This box is made using the Wonderland paper and the CTMH Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge.  It's just the perfect size to put a couple packs of cocoa and some candy canes.  If you want pattern on both sides of your paper, but you need it to be a little thicker/sturdier, you can glue two sheets of B&T paper together with spray adhesive, then cut it as one piece on the Cricut.

I saw this project posted last year on the artwork board by Debi Davis, and I thought it was just a fun way to dress up a candy bar!  You can use any patterned paper for the hat and scarf (think scrap bin), so it's an economical project.

Projects and Layouts from the Scrapbook Spa Getaway

We got to make some dimensional projects as well, thanks to our fabulous Cricut cartridge.  This one holds a five-pack of monogrammed cards and envelopes.

This is the french fry box that you'll find on our Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge.  To get these two contrasting patterns, we used papers from the Elemental paper packet and the Typeset paper pack and glued them together with spray adhesive before they were cut.  The rose and other elements were also cut on the Cricut.

What's neat about this layout is that it's made using cardstock--no patterned papers.  The suede look on the brown background is created by rubbing a Cocoa ink pad in a circular motion directly onto the Cocoa cardstock.

This was my favorite layout that I made this weekend.  It's like it was MADE just for Erin's birthday photos!

This layout is SUPER fast.  It uses the Typeset paper packet and the coordinating canvas Complements. 

This is the layout that one of the Close to My Heart artists created just for me!  I absolutely love it, and the details on it are incredible!  It uses the Dreamin' paper packet as well as the Hooray Bouquet stamp set.

Okay, for some reason, the computer keeps flipping this photo on its side.  So, let's all lean our heads sideways!  What's cool about this layout is all of the circles that are layered onto the layout--kind of like clouds, or fish scales, if you want a creepier comparison.

Autumn in the Ozarks is BEAUTIFUL!!!

 This has been one of the most beautiful fall seasons that I can recall.  Just when I think the color can't get any better, it does!  The first two pictures were taken right off my front porch. . .what a blessing to be able to gaze out at something so pretty.  The large maple tree in the photo used to be the most amazing tree.  Then, it was nearly destroyed in the ice storm of 2007.  Thankfully, our neighbors chose not to chop it down, and, over the past few years,  it has begun to make a recovery--still with a few scars, but definitely beautiful.  When I look at this tree, it reminds me that, even when life deals us some blows, God can take our messed up lives and make something beautiful out of them.   Some people might want to give up and chop us down, but God is willing to nurse us back to health.  I'm so thankful for a compassionate God who heals and restores!

Scrapbook Spa Getaway

 I had such a wonderful time at the Close to My Heart Scrapbook Spa Getaway!!  What a treat!  This special prize was given to eight lucky Consultants from across the country, and I was so fortunate to be one of them.  We spent the weekend in Heber City, Utah, surrounded by the beautiful mountains.  Kristine and Monica from Close to My Heart were our hosts for the weekend, and they spoiled us rotten.  We scrapbooked, ate wonderful food, scrapbooked, got massages, ate wonderful food, scrapbooked, got pedicures, ate wonderful food, laughed and shared and scrapbooked some more. 

As a special gift to us, Kristine had the artists from Close to My Heart create an original layout for each one of us.  These layouts were absolutely beautiful!

Lots of giggling and silliness--Michelle and I found the stuffed rooster downstairs and thought we'd bring it up for fun!

This is the house we stayed in.  It was so beautiful and comfortable, and the view around it was inspiring.  Wish I could take some of my downline and customers to this place for a scrapbook retreat!

Our eight lucky winners!

Our scrapbooking room was set up in a loft in the house--a perfect place to spend the day making beautiful creations.

We had some light snowfall while we were there--just enough to dust the mountains with white.

Showing off one of my layouts.

Showing off our pedicures.

Deer grazing in the front yard.

Our crew enjoying one of MANY fantastic meals.

Christina, Kristine and Christine

Louise, Christina, Lynn, Michelle and Tina