Boxing Week Sale You Won't Want To Miss

Be sure to take a look and see what is on the Boxing Week Sale Today!  Everyday is something different so don't miss it!
I got mine did you get yours?  Great deal and even better discounts!
See them all HERE!

How To Make Your Own Stencils

I said I would make a video showing you how to make your own stencils using Close To My Heart Stencil Sheet.  So here it is.

If you have any questions just leave me a comment and I will get back to you.

You can see how I use the stencils and our new texture paste here

Craft With Heart - Unboxing

Today I have an Unboxing video to show you with our new Scrapbooking Subscription called Craft with Heart.  Your going to love this!  Take a look and see.

You can see all about it here!https://michelepryor.closetomyheart.com/ctmh/products/craft-with-heart.aspx

CTMH Seasonal Expressions Catalog Walk through 2018

In this video I do a complete walk through of our Seasonal Expression Sept 2018 - Dec 2018 catalog.
Grab you favorite cuppa and join along.

Thanks for stopping by

Close To My Heart Texture Paste and stencils

I made some stencils using Cricut Close To My Heart Artbooking and our Stencil Sheets and my Cricut Maker!  Have I told you today that I love my Cricut Maker and this is just one of the reasons why.

I am having so much fun with this product.  This is becoming one of my favorite products.

Texture Paste Bundle Here

Texture Paste Opaque Matte Here

Texture Paste Trio Here

Stencil Sheets Here

Palette Knives Here

Pioneer Woman Placemat Bag with Foil Iron-on

I created another Pioneer Woman Placemat bag video.  These are so easy and fun to make.  This one I made for my Daughters friend.  I am using Cricut Iron-on Foil in Rose Gold and my Cricut Easy Press to apply the Foil.

You can see the finished product here

Here is my Video

I you have any questions just leave me a comment and I will get back to you.

CTMH You've Got Class Workshop Kit

This is my You've Go Class Workshop Kit Completed.

I love the way it turned out.  It was easy to follow along with the directions.  You should give it a try!

Here is my video.  The one thing that I did not talk about was that you can also decorate the insides as well!  This is only available until Sept 30,2018.

Here is eveything you get.  Except the paper because I used it to make the workshop kit.  LOL!  I know you knew that already.

You can see it all here.

Don't wait to long.  It is only available until Sept 30, 2018!

Close To My Heart Season of Joy Cricut Cuts

I am loving the new Z3296 Cricut Season of Joy Digital Collection from Close To My Heart.  It is located on pages 116 - 117 in our new Seasonal Inspirations Sept. 2018 - Dec 2018 Idea Book.  These are just 2 of the cuts that I used but they will be so fun for the Holiday.  I put them on canvases that I had on hand.  I left them plain so you could see what they look like when you just cut them out and use them as is.

Here is the first one.  I used Close To My Heart:
New England Ivy, Candy Apple, and Fern Cardstock  I applied it to an 8x10 canvas that I had and I love it just plain.  I can see a lot of creative ways to use these cuts and I will be showing you some of the very soon!

Here is the second one that I did.  I used Close To My Heart
Candy Apple, and New England Ivy Cardstock to make this one as well.  I made this one larger and put it on a 12x12 canvas that I also had on hand.

Both were cut out on my Cricut Maker I use the 80lbs Cardstock setting for both of these.

Here are some of the over 45 images you will get there are also seveal 3-D projects too!  You can get yours here.

Thanks for stopping by and I will have another post ready for Tuesday!

Balsam of Peru (BOP) and Paraphenylenediamine (PPD) Allergies

Most of you who know me, know my struggle with my weight. What you may not know is that last Oct I lost all my hearing in my right ear and that lead me to my EN&T doctor and my allergy specialist. After months of testing by both and an MRI I still can't hear and they can find no reason for my hearing loss. (Go figure) LOL!

After asking my allergy specialist about possible food allergies she said I had no symptons of a "food allergy". So she decided to do a more extensive Chemical Patch test. Where I had to get 3 patches applied and wear them for 3 days. I went in on a Wednesday to get the patches put on. I went back on Friday and they removed them. I had to go back on a Monday for her to read them. I could not get that area wet that whole time.

When I went back for the reading they measured all my test and then I waited for the doctor to give me my results. When she came in she said! Well I have good news and bad news! Ok, I said. The good news was that I was only allergic to 2 chemicals. I am so sorry to have to tell you that The bad news is that those 2 chemicals are in just about everything.

There were 3 people in the office with her when she gave my my results. They handed my a paper with the First chemical Balsam of Peru (BOP) and everything I could not have because of the that. The list is quite extensive.

Then came the news about the second chemical Paraphenylenediamine (PPD) and basically that is in everything else. Her assistants handed me about 45 pages of what has this chemical in it.

I looked at everyone in the room all of which had somber faces and I said Woo Hoo! I am finally going to lose weight! They all started cracking up! Me too, but I was serious.

That Diagnosis came on April 30th 2018 and since that day I have now lost 25 lbs.

It has been quite an adventure to say the least but I am making this work for me. I am not focusing on what I can't have, but what I can. Which really isn't much and that's okay.

You know what they say when life gives you lemons you make lemonade, or as I used to say with a little Tequila too! Oh wait, I can't have lemons or Tequila anymore, Now I say, when life give you lemons I make lemonade for someone else. Me I will have another glass of water, please. LOL!

All that just to tell you that I have lost 25 lbs. Talk about making a short story long.

Actually last night at Weight Watchers I got my 25 lb award and my actual loss so far is 26.8. I had joined WW about 6 month before my diagnosis and had only lost 10 lbs then so my total loss is now 36.8

I am finding that this is not a common allergy and that Restaurants have never heard of such a thing.

BOP
No Citrus at all
No Spices of any kind. I found I can have Pepper without alot of problems.
No Herbs
No sweetner
No flavorings
No bake goods
No Tomatoes or anything with tomato base
No wine, beer
No Gin, vermouth, vodka
No flavored Tea or Coffee
this is just the basics

If you know of anyone with this allergy please give them my info and have them get in contact with me. I would like to share recipes and find out what others are doing with this allergy. I have done a lot of searches on this but there is not a lot out there.

August 2018 Kard Swap Cards

Here are our August Kard Swap Cards.  We all had a great time.  This month I was the Hostess and my Demo was on making a Junk journal.  They even all got them completed before they left.

So grab a cuppa and enjoy.

I can always tell when I have done a video in awhile.  LOL!

New Sign 2

Well I guess this a sign making month!  In my previous post I showed you a sign that I had made for my crafting studio.  This one is for me to take on the road to crat fairs.
I added all my information into Cricut Design Space in separate text boxes.  I added a square to the background then uploaded all the png logos. I used the simple create and took out everything I didn't  want.  I saved them as print then cut.  I flattened the whole thing and then printed it and the loaded it into my Cricut Maker and cut it out.  I backed it with Juniper cardstock and glued it all to an 8x10 canvas.

Thanks for stopping by.

My New Sign

Today I made myself a new sign for my craftroom.  CTMH corp had posted a picture of one and I just had to make it.  It was so easy to create. I have a 10 pack of 8x10's that I got at Walmart a long time ago.  I use some white Acrylic craft paint in a plastic cup then added a couple of drops of Lagoon Re-inker from CTMH.  Mixed it up but not completely and spread it on my canvas with a pallet knife.  I just kept spreading it until I was happy with it. 
You can see below I just used a tiny little bit of paint.

 This is the Acrylic Paint that I used and the Lagoon Re-inker.

Here is my canvas all painted.  I cut out my words using my Cricut Maker and Design Space.  The Vinyl that I used is a silver permanent vinyl that I got from Amazon.

I applied the vinyl and this is the end result.  I just love it and the saying too.

 Here it is hanging on my wall! 

Thanks for stopping by.

Get Them Before They Are Gone

These are the Colors that will be Retired on Aug 31.  So if you want any of them you need to get them now!

This means Cardstock, Re-inkers, and Ink pads.
Good news is the new colors are wonderful and you will love them.  So don't hesitate get them now!

You can get yours here!

At the "It's All About The Scrapbook Crop"

Having a great time at the It's All About the Scrapbook Crop in Dixon, Ca.  It started on Fri at 10 am and ends Sunday at 6 pm.  Adrienne and I came this time but we usually have 4 of us.  We met up with Beth there and we have another lady Teresa that we meet that was seated at our table too. 
This is my second time at this Crop and I love it.  Great place to work in.  Plus you can shop and run a tab for the weekend.  It starts each day at 10 am and ends at midnight.  You get a 6' table to yourself and they can hold up to 48 people with ease and you are not crowded at all.  They have WiFi and electricity if you want it or need it.    Lunch each day was included and you are on your own for dinner.

Look what was waiting at our table as a seating card.  How cute is this!

It had my name on it and everything we needed to know about the weekend.  The ladies from the store hand lettered the whole thing!  I love it.

Here is the whole thing.  How cute is this!

They have a huge room for us and we have enough room to spread out and work.  Although I still find myself working in a 6 in square.  LOL!

I can't get the whole thing in one photo so I had to break it up.  But you get the idea.

Everyone was working on something and it was fun to just walk around and see what others are doing and get to know everyone.
I took a Hello Kitty Sewing machine, my Cricut Maker.  I cut and sewed  all weekend.  We all had a great time.

Just A Tag For My Junk Journal

Here is a tag that I made using the bottom of my box of beads that I got at Hobby Lobby.  I used a free printable from Calico Collage and cut the ruler out.  I applied it to the left side and then applied the paper on the right which was also a free printable.  The paper on the right did not go all the way to the bottom.  I did sponge all the edges of the paper as well as the edges of the tag itself with CTMH Chocolate ink.   It sat on my desk all day and part of the next one, because I could not figure out what to do next.  

My Birthday was coming up in a couple of days and a friend gave me a gift and told me to open it later on.  After I got home I  opened the gift and found a cute mug for my morning Tea.  The mug was wrapped in a beautiful tissue paper that you can see in the photo.  I almost screamed when I saw it, Love when that happens.  I knew instantly that I would use it on my tag.  I tore off a piece and put in in the open spot at the bottom of the tag.  It was bigger than I needed so I tore off more.  I sponged the edges with the CTMH Chocolate ink then I glued the bottom edge and left the top open for a little tuck spot.  

I too the other piece of the tissue paper that I had left and put some glue on the center Rt side, then tore it off on the edge.  I thought it ended up looking like half of a dress form and I liked how it looked.

It still needed something so I added a piece to the top left.  I really like how it was coming together.   

Then I pulled out some lace and a roll of burlap ribbon and used it on the top of the tag in the hole.  It was a bit to long so I cut of a little hunk.  I liked how the little hunk that was left so I placed it down the edge of the ruler and put a dab of glue and stuck it down.
It still needed a bit of something.  I had 5 little roses sitting out that were each different colors and found that the Peach one looked the best.  I then cut out the tickets from the same free printable and tucked them in the little pocket at the bottom

Cant wait for you to see it when I do my final Walk Through!

2018 Close To My Heart Convention Las Vegas

June 29th and 30th was my Close To My Heart Convention and this year it was held at the Red Rock Casino in Las Vegas.  For me it was an hour and 10 minute flight so that was not to bad.  I had TSA pre check so that makes it easy too. 
The minute I arrived I could feel the energy.  I was supposed to room with a good friend and another Consultant I had never met Debbie.  My upline Elaine was supposed to go to but she passed away unexpectedly.  At the last minute my friend Lori could not go so Debbie and I had beds to ourselves.  I love Close To My Heart and all the friends I have made in my 9 years with the ccompany.
Debbie and I hit it off right away! 
I created a Junk Journal the I documented everything in.  I love to journal and it makes it easy to remember everything that happens and things I want to do.   You can read more about my Junk Journal here

This was the view from our room which was on the 18th floor.  It almost looks like every guest has their own pool.  The picture does not show them all either.

We were able to go and register and get our bag.  They always have a great bag for us to take all our goodies home in.

The accommodations were great as well.  Everything was neat and clean.  The rooms were huge.  I think the bathroom was even bigger.

Sneak Peak and one of our goodies that we got.

Our theme was Create

 This is just one of our meet ups with our upline.  This was Naomi Smiths  I am in her second downline. 

These were some of the goodies that I got from Joyce.  Tina gave us all a metal straws with little brush cleaners Tina also gave us a package of decorative post-its.  Debbie gave us all a tin of candy. 

CTMH provided lots of photo ops for us and we all took advantage on them.  This was just some of our group.

The first morning was crazy because they had 2 Starbucks in the Casino and both of them had crazy long lines.  I got the drink and Tina got us a table so we had good seats.

 The opening was The Greatest Show and boy was it. 

The show was great all the way into the end.  What a fun time we all had.

Here is a sneak peek of our new catalog that will be out Aug 1, 2018.  You won't want to miss this.  We will be going back to 3 catalog per year.  I think I will like that better.

 Like I said before there were lots of photo ops.  This is for the Wedding of Sticky Boy and Sticky Girl.  The Wedding was held at our Banquet dinner.

Angie found a Sticky Girl stamp.  Woo Hoo!

 This was dinner at our Banquet

This was the Wedding Cake for dessert.

I was honored to be seated at my uplines table Naomi Smith.  It was fun meeting more of my side line

Joyce, Tina and I were all seated with Naomi

Our table had lots of award winners for top sales and recruits.  It was a fun evening.  So glad I was able to attend.

We played the left right game. Kathy won!

This is the Red Rock Casino.  Our room was just about at the end of the Casino.  I got my steps in everyday I was there before dinner.  The elevator was at the other end.  It seem like a great place to bring the family.  They had movie theaters, bowling allies, arcades and that is just what I noticed.  It was hot while were there but we really never had to go outside.  My flight left early so I was in the lobby at 4am to catch the 5:00 but back to the Airport.  I was the 3rd person in line for the bus.  LOL! 

If you would like to Join my Team, The Stampeding Hearts you can start here!