Huge Inventory Blow-out Sale

Anyone local to me, stop on over at the Turtle Lake Legion Hall on Saturday, April 30th from 8am-Noon.  Preschool Playhouse is having a Spring Fling and there will be vendors there from Advocare, Mary Kay, Miche Bags, Scentsy, Lia Sophia, Tastefully Simple, Uppercase Living, Tupperware, and me from Close To My Heart.  There will be goodies and prizes, but best of all, I will be having an Inventory Blow-out Sale.  I will have 1/2 price paper packs and stamp sets along with grab bags of patterned paper and lots of handmade cards!

I need you to help me reduce this inventory so I don't have so much to have to move!  Won't you join me?  I hope to see you there!

Happy Scrappin'

Happy Birthday, Sam!

Today is my oldest niece's 14th birthday!  Sam, I hope your day is as special as you are!!

The photos are from her Confirmation day a couple of weeks ago.  She is quite the young lady...I personally think she needs to stop growing up, but where would the fun be in that??

Love you Sam, have a great birthday!

Happy Scrappin'

Easter Bird Nests

Here's a fast and simple recipe for you to try out.  I made some of these Bird Nest treats to bring along up north.  They are pretty fun to make and to eat.  *and don't you just love my antique open lace dishes?  They look really great in my new hutch, too!

Easter Bird Nests

1 cup butterscotch chips
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
2 1/2 cups chow mien noodles
2 cups Chex cereal, lightly crushed
malted eggs

Combine butterscotch chips, syrup, peanut butter, and sugar.  Microwave in 30 second intervals until smooth.  Stir in noodles and cereal till coated (I used rice noodles as they were a little smaller and tasted good).  Quickly shape small balls into nests and add chocolate eggs.  Makes about 1 dozen nests.  I also doubled the recipe and make about 2 dozen nests.

See, simple and easy!  Just the way I like it...

Happy Scrappin'

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter everyone!

I had a wonderful time "Up North" with my sister and her family.  We went up to celebrate Easter a couple of days early with our Mom and Norm.  What a great time we had. 

The girls got to color eggs up there and then they even got to have an Easter Egg Hunt down by the lake.  It was a bit chilly, but fun.  Later on Friday we had our Easter dinner.  We were all stuffed, but it was really yummy!  We ended up back at the cabin and vegging out!  Love that relaxing time!  Good thing we got the egg hunt in when we did because it rained all afternoon/evening on Friday and we woke up Saturday morning to the ground covered in snow again!  Is Spring ever going to arrive??

My Mom has turned into quite the crafty lady (well, she always has been, but now is using her stamps to be creative).  Just look at the cute treat bags and cards she made for the girls.

Last night, we went to the movie "Hop."  It was a very predictable movie, but sort of fun.  I came home to find out I had no hot water...oh the joys of being a home-owner on my own now.  I could not figure it out and was guessing that it had something to do with tapping into the gas line when I got my new appliances on Thursday.  Well, I figured it out and got it lit this morning and now I have hot water again!  Yippee!  Accomplishment!

The house is coming together.  I got my new appliances, have been putting things away and organizing, putting some things on the walls, and next week will have the carpenters here doing a few little projects.  Lots of work, but it's coming together nicely!  Pictures will be coming.

Enjoy your day and Happy Scrappin'

Passing the torch

Today I have to get to pass the torch on to a very talented gal.  Won't you join me in welcoming her?  She is another scrapbooking friend of mine that amazes me with her work.  She is also stepping outside her box in doing this, but I have not a doubt in the world that she will to fabulous.  Her name is Katie Kahl.  You can find her at Katie's Scrappy Place.

Yesterday I got a ton of stuff put away and organized in the new house and today is looking to be another busy day.  My hutch is getting delivered along with new appliances.  Then I'm heading North with my sister and her family for Easter with Mom and her husband. 

Every day is another adventure.  I have had new carpet installed, a new windshield put in my Tahoe, and plumbers and carpenters in and out the door.  It's no wonder I haven't had a lot of time for blogging.  That will all change once I am settled in, I promise.  I already have a project in the works and plan to have them in the mail maybe next week.

Happy Scrappin'

Amber Ink Tour of Duty is almost over

I can hardly believe that my month long Guest Design Team Tour of Duty is almost up at Amber Ink!  It has been so much fun and really has made me step outside my box and try some new things.  That's always a good thing, right?

Here is a recap of the projects I created this month using the uber cool Amber Ink products.  I have had such fun.  Stay tuned tomorrow as I pass the torch on to another amazing artist.  I can't spill the beans yet, but tomorrow I will let you know who she is...some of you may even know her ;)

Happy Scrappin'

Sophia Layout in the new digs!

Yesterday was awesome!  I was so happy to have my club girls all here at the new house.  I am not totally moved in yet, but it was close enough that we were able to get together there to create.  So, here is a sneak peak at the new Cellar Dweller's Dream!

And here is the layout that the girls created today using the Sophia paper pack.

Once I get everything settled, I promise to show you more pics of the new place.  A big thank you to Barb and the girls for stopping in to visit yesterday!  Yeah, my club girls and work girlfriend, my first visitors (well, besides my sister and her family).  I'll have to have a party :)

Happy Scrappin,

Amber Ink's Project #4 - Sisterhood Challenge

Today's artwork is my 4th Amber Ink project.  It is also a Sisterhood Challenge (using an Easter theme).  I loved these little bunnies from Amber Ink...and then the coordinating paper...what more could I ask for.  I also thought my Close To My Heart papers and embellies matched perfectly!  What do you think?

Now, I also need to shout out to my wonderful niece, Mackinzie.  It is her 12th birthday today!  I hope you have a birthday as great as you are, Kinzie!

This photo is from last Sunday.  It was my niece Sami's Confirmation day.  She is the one on the far right and the birthday girl is on the far left.  Dad, Mom and Kiana are also in the picture.  Aren't they a great looking family...poor Kevin is the only boy, but he handles it quite well :)  Congratulations, Sam, so proud of you!  God Bless!

So sorry for the lack of posting lately, but really, I do have a good excuse...no really, I do!  I promise!  I am in the process of moving.  I am typing this from the new house, as we 'speak'.  Right now, everything is pretty confusing as some stuff is here and some stuff is there.  Hopefully this won't last too long, as I hate this 'in between' stage.  Once I'm settled in, you are all invited over to help me break the place in :)

Happy Scrappin'

Amber Ink Friends layout

Today's layout is brought to you using Amber Ink's Plaid Earthy Tartan digi paper and their Flag Banner/border digi stamp.  I know it is not "Spring-like" at all, but I came across this picture of me with my friend and downline Kris and then I saw this paper of Amber Ink's and the rest, as they say, is history!

I absolutely love this layout - but, these colors are some of my all-time favorites!  Notice how well the Close To My Heart papers, paper flowers, and brads match with the Amber Ink stuff?  I love that you can mix and match it all together!

I have a wonderful weekend ahead of me...I get to go to a beautiful scrapbook retreat house with some girlfriends for a fabulously fun scrappin' time!  I will have to share a few photos when I return!

Happy Scrappin'

Recycling at it's finest!

Looky what I created yesterday!  Yep, I was going to throw this tin away (yeah, it came with cookies in it) but then I wondered what I could do with it.

Add a little paper, ribbon and some flowers and viola!  An adorable candy container!

I love creating something out of nothing!

I have an idea...show me what you've created out of something "recycled" and I'll post your projects on my blog.  Who knows, I might just even throw in some blog candy for the participants!  Did you hear me??  I said I was going to give away goodies, so get creating and email me your photos!

Happy Scrappin'

2 great specials for April...well, 3 really!

April brings us some great specials from Close To My Heart.  The first of which is Lovin' Level 1.

My Reflections Level 1 Scrapbooking Kits are great for beginners to seasoned pros.  The preprinted pages make preserving your fondest memories a breeze.  Get a FREE Level 1 kit of your choice when you order $100 or more on my website April 1-30, 2011.  Now's the time to let everyone know you're Lovin' Level 1!

Next up is Sparkle with Studio J.

Add delightful details to your beautiful Studio J layouts.  Self-adhesive clear Sparkles and Opaques Pearl adhesive gems make it easy to get your shine on, and now you can get these adorable accessories FREE!

Throughout April, Studio J members get one free package each of clear Sparkles and Opaques Pearl gems, a retail value of $5.90, for every 10 custom-printed layouts purchased in a single order.  Don't forget, you will also receive your jpegs of your layouts and one free shipment per month.  It's another way we make scrapbooking faster, simpler, easier - and more sparkly!  Go to my website today and start creating!

The last special for April is Hope for Japan.

Our hearts go out to the victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, and like so many of you, we're eager to help.  And helping has never been easier!  Contact me today to get involved in this heart-worthy cause.

Happy Scrappin'

Blessed

April's Stamp of the Month, Blessed, is a great one.  It is only available during the month of April, so if you want it, you better let me know right away so I can get one ordered for you.

Here is some beautiful artwork that Sheri created using this set.

Great job, as always, Sheri!

Happy Scrappin'

Amber Ink Project #3

Well, today is April 1st and it is supposed to be Spring...and I wake up to snow on the ground again!  Arrgghh!  I am so ready for Spring to be here!  That is probably the reason for the card I came up with for today's 3rd Amber Ink project. 

I really, really am ready for Spring and a fresh start!

Happy Scrappin'