Sticky Inky Fingers

Hey Momma!

2012-02-14T00:00:00.000-05:00

Source: weheartit.com via Jenna on Pinterest

'Cause I love ya!

Hugs and Kisses
TraceyJ

Monday Funday #4

2012-02-13T11:19:00.000-05:00

In honour of Valentine's Day, and all the ladies thinking they're lost without a significant other...

Source: rachmarie1018.tumblr.com via Tracey on Pinterest

Time to take charge and get those flowers you've been wanting, girls. I'm just gonna get one of those heart shaped donuts from Dunkin on the way home and call it done. Sweets for my sweet (me)!

Have a great Valentine's Day everyone...

Hugs and Kisses,
TraceyJ

My A Muse Studio Top 5 Stamps

2012-02-09T13:13:00.000-05:00

After drooling over the new catalog for the past week and a half, I think I've finally narrowed my list down enough to share. So here it is, in no particular order...

1. Chevrons

Love the clean graphic look of this set. I can see some really lovely CAS cards coming from this.

2. Papillon

Because I just love butterflies.

3. Love Machines

How cute is this set? Too adorable for words. Brings to mind my childhood love R2D2 and the equally hunky C3PO.

4. Family Icons

Another cutie pie set. I can see some sweet shower invites and we're expecting notices with this one. Plus it's versatile enough for fun birthday cards and great scrapbook pages

5. Say It With Style

Because I can always use a good sentiment set... and so can everyone else.

I can hardly wait to ink these babies up, but I won't be getting them anytime soon. I'm in die collecting mode right now. I need to be ready when the new true 8.5x11 Grand Calibur is available from A Muse in a few weeks. In the meantime, take a look at the stamp sets that almost made the cut:

Venetian Background

Sunny Side of Life

British Invasion

Yeah, yeah. I got a thing for BBC America, home of Doctor Who. There's Kitchen Nightmares, and also The F Word with Chef Gordon Ramsay, Primeval (my fave), The Graham Norton Show (twisted & funny), Luther starring super sexy Idris Elba, and the original Being Human. You should check out Law and Order: UK sometime. It's really good, and I find it so interesting to see how differently the detectives operate compared to the US version. Hmmm. Maybe I should try to get a little more sunlight...

Until later.

Hugs & Kisses
TraceyJ

A Muse Studio New Product Blog Hop

2012-02-02T00:09:00.001-05:00

Today I am delighted to be joining some of my fellow consultants in a blog hop featuring products from the wonderful new Amuse Studio Catalog.

If you have been following us on the hop you should have come here from Sarah Callahan.

If not, you can go right back to the beginning with Karen Crisp's blog and move along until you get back to me.

I made a quick little card for a friend's birthday in a few days using the new Hey Cupcake stamp set and two new colours: Pistachio and Grape.

I stamped a background using Polka Dot Patterns and added a Sugar panel on which I stamped the cupcake in Grape, coloured with Grape ink and the Tombow blender pen. The icing is stamped in Grape on Pistachio cardstock, trimmed and inked with Versamark, then embossed with clear embossing powder. A sentiment strip was adhered below using Pistachio cardstock stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black.

Next up on the hop is Ruza; just in case you get lost or a link gets broken, here is the complete list:

Karen Crisp http://www.papernstamps.blogspot.com/
Pamela Fredrickson http://attemptedcreativity.blogspot.com/
Angi Kelley http://www.angelakelley.blogspot.com/
Lianna Vigil http://llamatales.blogspot.com/
Carissa Fulkerson http://carissascottage.blogspot.com/
Kristine Vincente http://checkerberrylane.wordpress.com/
Jennifer Corson http://www.scripptyscraps.blogspot.com/
Samantha Kania http://kania-amusestudio.blogspot.com/
Rita Holmes http://ritaholmes.blogspot.com/
Sarah Callahan http://wastamper.blogspot.com/

Tracey Jean H (me) http://traceyjean.blogspot.com/
Ruza Rebel http://www.ruzascraftcorner.blogspot.com/

Products Used:

InLinkz.com

Hugs and Kisses,

TraceyJ

Monday Funday #3

2012-01-30T09:25:00.000-05:00

You know who you are...

Source: suite148.tumblr.com via Kelly on Pinterest

Hugs and Kisses,
TraceyJ

CAS Cardmaking Class Day 1

2012-01-24T12:57:00.000-05:00

I've been taking an online cardmaking class presented by Kristina Werner, Jen McGuire, and Julie Ebersole which has taken me out of my lethargy and encouraged me to start creating again. I think I'll be using what I've learned the last two weeks to make a dent in my stash and finally send some cards to OWH for our heroes to send home. (Only the good ones will make it in the box of course) but I'll be sharing some of what I've made here on ye olde blog which has been sorely neglected the last couple of months while the mojo has been non-existent. My projects will probably not exactly follow the order of the class but I'm hoping to put each and every lesson to use.
First up is a little something based on a sketch shared in class. Since I'm trying to be methodical about using up my stash, I've started with one of the oldest paper packs I own - Tickled Pink by CTMH - which was released and retired a few years ago. My first attempt at a card was horrific. So I just decided to place each element as portrayed in the sketch. A little better, but still not all the way there. I know that once I do a few more cards my work will improve. Until then, here is the second attempt.

I love all the clean white space I see everyone creating with, but I can't seem to do it myself, so I inked up HA Small Stitched Flowers background stamp with some PTI Smokey Shadow I bought a few years back, took off some of the ink with a paper towel and stamped a plain white notecard. The blue scalloped cardstock was part of a scrapbook kit I bought when I was learning. It came in 8 colours and about 10 different shapes, so you'll be seeing them a lot in the next few weeks. The sentiment is from PTI Fillable Frames #1, stamped in Versamark, and heat embossed using black Zing. Butterflies are the smallest of the A Muse Studio Butterfly Trio dies.

The card qualifies for two challenges: Flutterby Wednesdays-Open, and Lollipop Crafts Wing It. Not too shabby if I do say so myself... and I am.

It was good to pull out my heat gun and get ink on my cheek again. Gotta do it more often...

Hugs and Kisses.
TraceyJ

InLinkz.com

Funday Monday #2

2012-01-23T10:26:00.002-05:00

Source: Uploaded by user via Tracey on Pinterest

Yeah I know. Those resolutions are for other people. But I'm really trying to be more active than I have been in the past. I've lost quite a few pounds doing nothing special and it's now time to move on to the next step. Time to dust off those walking shoes.

Hold on, let me finish these brownies first...

Hugs and kisses,
TraceyJ

Funday Monday #1

2012-01-16T19:05:00.001-05:00

To those of you who know me well...

Source: facebook.com via Tracey on Pinterest

Except in my case it would be "hang up and send me an email"...

Hugs & Kisses
TraceyJ

Great Story Found While Surfing the Net

2012-01-13T10:05:00.003-05:00

...found this story recently and thought I'd share...

The Pickle Jar

The pickle jar as far back as I can remember sat on the floor beside the dresser in my parents' bedroom. When he got ready for bed, Dad would empty his pockets and toss his coins into the jar. As they were dropped into the jar, they landed with a merry jingle when the jar was almost empty. Then the tones gradually muted to a dull thud as the jar was filled. I used to squat on the floor in front of the jar and admire the copper and silver circles that glinted like a pirate's treasure when the sun poured through the bedroom window. When the jar was filled, Dad would sit at the kitchen table and roll the coins before taking them to the bank. Taking the coins to the bank was always a big production. Stacked neatly in a small cardboard box, the coins were placed between Dad and me on the seat of his old truck.

Each and every time, as we drove to the bank, Dad would look at me hopefully. "Those coins are going to keep you out of the textile mill, son. You're going to do better than me. This old mill town's not going to hold you back." Also, each and every time, as he slid the box of rolled coins across the counter at the bank toward the cashier, he would grin proudly. "These are for my son's college fund. He'll never work at the mill all his life like me." We would always celebrate each deposit by stopping for an ice cream cone. I always got chocolate. Dad always got vanilla. When the clerk at the ice cream parlor handed Dad his change, he would show me the few coins nestled in his palm. "When we get home, we'll start filling the jar again." He always let me drop the first coins into the empty jar. As they rattled around with a brief, happy jingle, we grinned at each other. "You'll get to college on pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters," he said. "But you'll get there. I'll see to that."

The years passed, and I finished college and took a job in another town. Once, while visiting my parents, I used the phone in their bedroom, and noticed that the pickle jar was gone. It had served its purpose and had been removed. A lump rose in my throat as I stared at the spot beside the dresser where the jar had always stood. My dad was a man of few words, and never lectured me on the values of determination, perseverance, and faith. The pickle jar had taught me all these virtues far more eloquently than the most flowery of words could have done.

When I married, I told my wife Susan about the significant part the lowly pickle jar had played in my life as a boy. In my mind, it defined, more than anything else, how much my dad had loved me. No matter how rough things got at home, Dad continued to doggedly drop his coins into the jar. Even the summer when Dad got laid off from the mill, and Mama had to serve dried beans several times a week, not a single dime was taken from the jar. To the contrary, as Dad looked across the table at me, pouring catsup over my beans to make them more palatable, he became more determined than ever to make a way out for me. "When you finish college, Son," he told me, his eyes glistening, You'll never have to eat beans again . . . unless you want to."

The first Christmas after our daughter Jessica was born, we spent the holiday with my parents. After dinner, Mom and Dad sat next to each other on the sofa, taking turns cuddling their first grandchild. Jessica began to whimper softly, and Susan took her from Dad's arms. "She probably needs to be changed, " she said, carrying the baby into my parents' bedroom to diaper her. When Susan came back into the living room, there was a strange mist in her eyes. She handed Jessica back to Dad before taking my hand and leading me into the room. "Look," she said softly, her eyes directing me to a spot on the floor beside the dresser. To my amazement, there, as if it had never been removed, stood the old pickle jar, the bottom already covered with coins. I walked over to the pickle jar, dug down into my pocket, and pulled out a fistful of coins. With a gamut of emotions choking me, I dropped the coins into the jar. I looked up and saw that Dad, carrying Jessica, had slipped quietly into the room. Our eyes locked, and I knew he was feeling the same emotions I felt. Neither one of us could speak.

Author: Unknown

Sometimes we are so busy adding up our troubles that we forget to count our blessings. Sorrow looks back. Worry looks around. Faith looks UP!

Photo Source: lovelylittlesnippets.blogspot.com via Ashley on Pinterest

Hugs and Kisses
TraceyJean

Have a wonderful 2012

2012-01-06T08:52:00.002-05:00

Just popping in to wish everyone a happy and healthy year.

Hugs & Kisses...
TraceyJean

HIDDEN GEMS of JAMAICA

2011-08-15T15:28:00.001-04:00

...by Peter Greenberg

My darling mama sent me this video, so I'm sharing here. It certainly is making me miss my island home. Anyone want to spring for a ticket???
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Preorder the Art Philosophy Cricut® Collection

2011-07-21T10:56:00.001-04:00

Close to My Heart helps you take your creativity to the next level with the new Art Philosophy Collection being released August 1st. The collection combines die cutting with stamping by combining an exclusive Cricut cartridge with three pre-cut chipboard sheets and three coordinating stamp sets for only $99. It doesn't stop there. Even more coordinating stamp sets can be found throughout the new idea book going live this August!
Preorder your Art Philosophy Cricut Collection today by sending an email to getinky (a) myctmh (dot) com.

Catch you later,
Tracey J

My Pink Stamper NSD Challenge #2

2011-05-09T22:46:00.000-04:00

I managed to complete challenge #2! I'm quite proud of myself and very ready to take a break. Here is my take on the Kraft cardstock challenge.

Kraft cardstock from PTI was used as the base. Patterned paper was from CTMH Sweet Home (now retired); stamps from CTMH A Sip; Nesties Labels 3 and a EK punch finished it off.

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

My Pink Stamper NSD Challenge #1

2011-05-09T19:02:00.000-04:00

So I'm finally getting to play along with a challenge from NSD. I've been battling the 'flu for days, but I'm finally starting to feel a little human again. And here it is: Anything Cupcake.

This little cupcake card was made with the Sweet Treats cartridge and some Bazzill Kraft cardstock for a base. I added a little detail with a white Souffle pen and some embossing powder mixed with Prisma Glitter. Some PTI Library Ledger paper was used to make the "wrapper" and Basic Grey Euphoria paper was used for the frosting and heart.

Enjoy!

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

A Little Something I Made

2011-04-25T09:56:00.053-04:00

...for a swap I was in recently. I wanted to wait until the exchange had taken place before posting here. Of course, I totally forgot to post and now my camera is on loan elsewhere. Luckily I took a few shots with my phone.
I used the Sophia paper pack from the latest CTMH Idea Book to create two 4x4 cards. For the first, I wanted to try something a little different and ended up with a gatefold card. Not particularly unusual, but not something generally found in a card this size. I used the back of the very colourful floral paper to get a more muted look.
Then I paired the patterned paper with the new CTMH kraft cardstock because I just love pink and brown together. A few pearls and a little sentiment on the inside finished the look. This card uses no foam dots anywhere *gasp* making it very easy to send through the mail.

Since these papers are mostly very pink and girly, I also wanted to do something with no pink at all. Here's what I ended up with:

I created this card from the Pear polka dot patterned paper in this pack. Pear is one of my favourites of the new colours CTMH released last summer so, of course, I had to use it. I think it looks stunning next to the black. I thought about colouring in the Chocolate flower button with a black sharpie, but in the end I left it as is, and you can't really tell anyway. I think next time I'll try Pear with some gray and see how that looks...

All Products Used Available from Close to My Heart
Smile Recipe:

Paper - Sophia; Cardstock - Kraft, Chocolate; Stamps - Sophia WOTG, C1440 Take a Picture, C1396 Love Birds; Ink - Chocolate, Blush; Opaques - Pearl.

Amazing Recipe:

Paper - Sophia; Cardstock - White Daisy, Black, Pear; Stamps - Sophia WOTG, C1437 Happy Moments; Ink - Pear; Buttons - Basic; Corner Rounder (for scallops)

Until next time.
Hugs and kisses...
TraceyJean
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

New Challenge Blog

2011-03-29T21:12:00.000-04:00

There’s a new challenge blog in town with articles, swaps, interviews, videos, challenges, great prizes and MORE! Check out Lily Pad Cards!
I can't wait to see what they have in store...

Hugs and Kisses,
TraceyJean

Today is the Big Day!

2011-02-01T10:52:00.000-05:00

The newest Idea Book from Close to My Heart is now available to everyone! You can see it on my site anytime or request a copy of your very own. Happy shopping!

Hugs and kisses...

TraceyJ

Merry Christmas to All

2010-12-25T11:06:00.001-05:00

Today I'm sharing my very first project using my new Cricut Create and the Storybook cartridge. I resisted getting one for a long time but I really like this little guy. Hope you like it.

And here's hoping 2011 will be amazing for you & your loved ones.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

CTMH Product Spotlight Blog Hop - December

2010-12-15T03:29:00.004-05:00

Season's Greetings to one and all!
This month's hop is focusing on CTMH Pearls and Sparkles, two of my personal favourites. As always, this is a round robin, so start anywhere you like and keep going till you get to the end. You may have just come from Jill's blog, and after you've seen my offering, you'll head to Kristie's.

Today I'm sharing a Christmas card using one of my favourite stamp sets - Ms. Holiday Cheer. As a little girl, I loved colouring and this set's got a whole lot of colouring fun to appeal to my inner child. I chose the tree trimming image because it was the one I noticed when this set was first released. So here she is:

Tree Trimming Missy was coloured in using a combination of CTMH markers and stamp pad with blending pen. Her gown needed some shimmer and I chose to heat emboss it using a mixture of clear embossing powder and Prisma glitter. I also added a touch of shimmer to her shoes and earrings and the star on top of the tree. I wanted to use the Pearls as ornaments on the tree, but they needed a little alteration. So I took out my trusty red Sharpie and gave them a new look. CTMH Pearls are available in white, mocha, and licorice but you can change the look of them with any alcohol based marker you own. So dig up those Sharpies and get to colouring! And while you're at it, enter your holiday creation in the last Heart 2 Heart challenge of the year. I know I am...

Now head on over to Kristie's blog for some more sparkly fun.

Enjoy a fun filled holiday with family and friends.
Hugs and kisses,
TraceyJ

Supplies used:
Cardstock - Colonial White; PP - Mistletoe Creative Basics; Ink - Archival Black, Brown Bag, Desert Sand, Parchment, and Taffy; Markers - Bamboo, Blending Pen, Cocoa, Garden Green, Honey, Sweet Leaf, and Tulip; Stamp Set - D1374 Ms. Holiday Cheer; Opaques Pearl Gems; Liquid Applique; Bonding Memories Glue Pen; Prisma Glitter; Clear Detail Embossing Powder; Foam Tape; Sharpie

Roberts Crafts in Utah...

2010-12-03T15:50:00.000-05:00

has an amazing giveaway today with all kinds of DCWV goodies - over $450 worth!!! So head on over to their blog and check it out now. Remember to share with me if you win. After all, I shared the opportunity with you. LOL!!!

When I first started scrapping in 2007, Die Cuts with a View was my very best friend. I loved those economical stacks of paper and cardstock with the matching embellishments. And I especially loved that the colours were all coordinated, so it was pretty easy to make layouts with papers from different stacks if I chose. And I love them now. Maybe I should make a trip to Utah, the scrappy capital of the world, so I can check out Roberts in person...

Laters,
TraceyJ

Scrap'n Tote Giveaway

2010-11-19T15:43:00.000-05:00

Anyone with a Cricut knows it takes time, patience, and a lot of trial and error to come up with a workable solution for storing those cartridges. So I'm sharing a bit of good news: Jamie Lane is giving away a great organisational tool - the Scrap'n Tote - on her blog, Bits of Paper. Head on over there and check it out for a chance to win.

Product Spotlight Blog Hop - October 2010

2010-10-15T03:52:00.000-04:00

It's time once again to highlight some gorgeous CTMH products. If you've come here from Kristie's blog, then you're on the right track. This hop is a round robin so you can start anywhere and end up right where you began. From here, you'll be headed to Haley's blog.
Gift giving season is almost upon us and this month CTMH consultants have chosen to show you a few adorable gift ideas that you might be find useful. Today I'm showing a little something I plan to hide on my coworkers' desks this year. I enjoy sharing a few of the things I love and my favourite thing for the season is HOT CHOCOLATE!!! Love it!
I found a huge box in Sams that had a lovely variety of hot chocolates - from the usual milk chocolate to the more exotic raspberry chocolate to my absolute fave dark chocolate. Of course I had to take it home with me. We don't have a big gift exchange at the office since we do a Secret Santa. But I thought it would be fun to stash a few of my hot chocolates in a couple of desk just to see the faces when they were discovered. And you can't just hide it without decorating it a touch. How else would they know it was a little gift for them?
I'm a big lover of stamping so I thought I'd challenge myself to create a package that used absolutely no stamping anywhere. I ended up creating a "matchbook" using the lovely papers of Topstitch as well as the Topstitch My Stickease. Topstitich features a great colour combo of Baby Pink, Heavenly Blue, Vineyard Berry, and of course Chocolate. Appropriate? I think so. Check it out:

Now head on over to Haley's blog and see what she's done for you...

Supplies used: PP - Topstitch; Cardstock - Colonial White; Inks - Blush, Chocolate; Accessories - Topstitch My Stickease, Soft Suede Pinwheels, Clear Sparkles.

Just Dance by Lady Gaga - Cebu Pacific Flight Attendant Viral Video

2010-10-05T09:57:00.000-04:00

CTMH Product Spotlight Blog Hop - September 2010

2010-09-15T01:41:00.001-04:00

Hey there,

Thanks for joining us CTMH Consultants once again as we highlight one of the many amazing products offered by Close to My Heart. If you've come from Jill's blog, you're on the right track. When you leave, you'll continue on to Haley's blog.

This month we're shining a spotlight on Dimensional Elements. I love these chipboard pieces because unlike the naked brown chipboard that most of us are used to, these babies are ready to soak up ink and paint, get covered with glue and paper, or stay naked and brilliantly white. I love using them with one of my favourite techniques - embossed resist - to mimic the newer and fun Irresistibles, so that's what I'm doing for you today.

I decided to use my favourite Dimensional Elements, Booksmart. This a collection great frames surrounding basic shapes like ovals and squares which means there are tons of possibilities when you're feeling a little creative.

My card is for a special someone who has always supported me, even in my moments of insanity. We've been friends since we were very young and even though we now live thousands of miles apart I know our friendship will last forever. Now if only I could learn to keep in touch more :-) Love you, S!

Hop on over to Haley's blog for some more Dimensional Elements artwork...

Laters,
TraceyJ

Supplies used are all by CTMH:
Cardstock - Colonial White; Paper Pack - X7128B Olivia; Stamp Sets - D1349 Be Yourself, C1406 Hit the Spot, C1422 Unity; Inks - Barn Red, Smoothie, Z891 Versamark; Z1223 Dimensional Elements Booksmart; Z821 Clear Detail Embossing Powder; Z555 Heat Gun; Z726 Sponge Daubers; Z697 Round Sponge

CTMH New Product Blog Hop

2010-08-27T20:45:00.001-04:00

Welcome to the Close to my Heart New Product Blog Hop! Over 40 Fabulous Close to my Heart Consultants are celebrating the upcoming release of the Autumn/Winter 2010 Idea Book by giving you a Sneak Peak of some of the great products available in the new Idea Book starting September 1st!

If you have come here from Cheryl's blog, you are on the right path!

You can find a complete list of Blog Hop participants HERE.

I'm a huge fan of embellishments of all types, but shiny sparkly bring me joy. So my project today features soon to be released Mini Medley Accents in a brand new colour - Pear, along with the new coloured Sparkles. The card base is made of Grey Wool (one of the Basic Antique colours) and I've mixed papers from two new paper packets - Magnifique and Olivia. Don't you just love the way everything from Close to My Heart works perfectly together? The stamped sentiment is from a brand new set - Tag the Occasion.

Now "Hop" on over to Rochelle's Blog: http://delightfulstamper.blogspot.com/ to see her work! Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their Blogs to get some great crafting ideas and see the great new Paper Packs, My Acrylix Stamp Sets, and my personal favourite - Embellishments!
Remember, all the goodies shown today will be available when the Autumn/Winter 2010 Idea Book goes LIVE on September 1st!

Recipe:

Cardstock - Grey Wool; PP - Magnique, Olivia; Stamp Set - B1362 Tag the Occasion; Ink - Black; Mini Medley Accents in Pear; Sparkles in Blue & Green; Liquid Glass

See you on the first!
TraceyJean

Triple Play

2010-08-16T11:59:00.002-04:00

In honour of National Stamping Month, Close to My Heart is offering a brand new (absolutely gorgeous) mini album kit called Triple Play (available now on my website). When you purchase this kit, you will receive enough materials to create 3 mini albums. Triple Play comes to you papers, inks, a stamp set, die cuts, and all the instructions needed to complete your albums.

Each album has its own colour scheme, which makes Triple Play perfect for gift giving since you can choose very different pictures for your albums.

Triple Play can be yours for the low price of $29.95. You may also receive it for the discounted price of $15 or $5 with the purchase of a few My Acrylix® stamp sets.

Available for a limited time only, from August 15 to September 30, 2010.

Kit contents include:

My Acrylix® Love This Stamp Set
Exclusive Inks® Mini Stamp Pads in Desert Sand, Hollyhock, Indian Corn Blue, and Sunset
4" x 12" Panels (3 each of 3 color schemes)
6" x 12" Die-Cut Sheets
72" Length Colonial White Grosgrain Ribbon
Hook and Loop Fasteners
Assembly Instructions

The kit colours are Bamboo, Blush, Desert Sand, Garden Green, Hollyhock, Indian Corn Blue, Outdoor Denim, and Sunset.

There are 5 ways you can purchase this outstanding kit available August 15th - September 30th:

National Stamping Month is always fun, and this year you’ll get three times the excitement with Triple Play. So head on over to getinky.myctmh.com and start shopping today!

Laters,
TraceyJean

So I Took a Quiz...

2010-08-09T17:31:00.000-04:00

...and came up with this:

You Are a Lemon Cupcake

You are spirited and spunky. You embrace life and have a sunny outlook.
You're drawn to all sorts of people. You can find something to like about almost anyone.

You are like a cupcake because you're cute and happy. You can turn anyone's day around.
You love to laugh and have a wickedly funny sense of humor. You enjoy teasing and joking around.

Seems to me the joke's on them. True, I do love a lemony flavour, am drawn to all sorts of people, and I can find something to like about anyone (if I'm in the mood). But cute and happy? Sounds more like a puppy than me. Then again I do like to joke and tease. Problem is, no one gets that it's a joke or just teasing, so then I have to explain myself, which is no fun. Thank God I've got my wicked sense of humour to see me through... LOL!

Laters,
TraceyJean

Super CTMH Sale Begins Today!

2010-08-04T10:31:00.001-04:00

Today is the first day of a blowout sale on my site which will last for the next 8 days, ending August 11. Purchase select My Stickease® cardstock sticker assortments for only $2, My Reflections® Level 1 kits for only $4, and My Reflections® Level 2 paper packets for only $6 on my website. That's right. You can get a paper pack for as little as $4!
And you know the best thing about a CTMH paper pack is the coordinating cardstock is already included! No need to run around a store matching patterned paper and solids - the hard work is already done for you. All sale items are available while supplies last for up to 8 days. With the large variety of Level 1, Level 2, and My Stickease® products to choose from, everyone can get something they love.
The deals are amazing and at this price they're not likely to last very long. So run, don't walk, to getinky.myctmh.com today and get a little something from your wishlist.

Here's what's on sale:

Click here to see pictures of the items for sale.
Laters,
TraceyJ

CTMH Product Spotlight Blog Hop - July

2010-07-15T00:15:00.028-04:00

It's time once again to shine a spotlight on the awesomeness that is Close to My Heart. This month 10 CTMH consultants are showcasing the fun and adorable stamp set Cupcake Sprinkles (D1336). This is a round robin so you can join in anywhere and just work your way back around. Thanks for stopping by my blog after visiting your favourite goofy scrapper, Kristie.

I wanted to highlight the versatility of this set and challenged myself to create a one layer card using only the Cupcake Sprinkles set. Once I sat down at my desk I took one look at my supplies and panicked. No fussy cutting? No foam dots? No ribbon? What was I thinking? I grabbed a sheet of Colonial White cardstock and some ink and here is the result.

Not one, but two cards! I amazed myself!

For the first, I masked off a square and stamped some cupcakes inside using Bamboo, Chocolate, Crystal Blue, and Desert Sand inks. The icing is a mix of Bamboo, Chocolate, and Desert Sand with the help of a few Sponge Daubers. Sprinkles were added with Crystal Blue ink; sentiment in Chocolate; and stitching lines in Desert Sand. I really like the result but think next time I need to slow down, measure thrice and stamp once.

Next up is a little fun with the embossed resist technique. I really wanted that "Celebrate" sentiment to take center stage, so I stamped it in Versamark, heat embossed with the Clear Detail Embossing Powder, and sponged the bottom half with Baby Pink, Blush, and Hollyhock inks. I'm so happy with the faded, marbled look I achieved. It was a lot of fun stepping outside of my comfort zone and I'll definitely be trying another one layer card again very soon.

Supplies used (all CTMH unless otherwised noted):

Hey There Cupcake

Stamp Set - D1336 Cupcake Sprinkles; Cardstock - Colonial White; Inks - Bamboo, Chocolate, Crystal Blue, Desert Sand; Other - Tombow Markers

Celebrate

Stamp Set - D1336 Cupcake Sprinkles; Cardstock - Colonial White; Inks - Baby Pink, Blush, Hollyhock, Versamark; Clear Detail Embossing Powder; Craft Heater

All supplies are available anytime from your CTMH consultant.

Now head on over to Helen's blog and see the amazing artwork she has to offer...

Jackpot June Final Day

2010-06-30T15:05:00.000-04:00

Today is the final day of Jackpot June and it's a Goodie Box!

The box is priced at $125 but has a retail value of approximately $300! Make sure you head over to my site and buy yours today. The clock runs out at midnight...

Laters,
TraceyJean
http://getinky.myctmh.com

Give a Little, Get a Lot

2010-06-29T12:00:00.004-04:00

I finally participated in my first card swap. Yes, it's exactly what it sounds like - make a bunch of cards for the others in the group and then exchange. So you make one card and end up with a ton of different ones for all types of occasions. Here's what I made:

I used the new Cherry-O level II paper pack and the Tasty Treats stamp set, along with some cocoa ribbon and clear sparkles. The card layout came from the amazing Wishes book by Jeannette Lynton. I love all her books because the hard work is already done for you with cutting guides for each included card or layout. There's tons of sketches, and who doesn't love a good sketch? You'll find these and other great CTMH items on my website: getinky.myctmh.com. Happy shopping!

Recipe:

Paper - Cherry-O Level II; Stamps - Tasty Treats D1427; Ink - CTMH Tulip, StazOn Timber Brown; Cardstock - Colonial White, Chocolate; Cocoa Grosgrain Ribbon; Clear Sparkles; Wishes

All supplies are available on my site: getinky.myctmh.com

The Jackpot June special continues. Today's items are: Blue Ribbon My Stickease, Boom di Ada My Stickease, Majestic Blue, Sweet Harmony, and Rough n Tumble My Stickease. One of these items will win you the jackpot, but if you'd rather not leave it to chance, get them all and be assured that you will also be taking home the adorable Flutter stamp set. Remember, this jackpot is available on my site today only. Tomorrow is the last day of Jackpot June. So come back to learn about the newest prize...

Happy Blogaversary to You

2010-06-23T12:42:00.001-04:00

How would you like a freebie filled with awesome Hero Arts goodness? Hop on over to The Daily Mark and help Miss Kathy celebrate her one year blogaversary. You could be entered to win this gorgeous RAK.

Take some time to look at her amazing creations and good luck!

June 2010 Product Spotlight Blog Hop

2010-06-15T04:07:00.000-04:00

I'm really excited to be participating in the CTMH Product Spotlight Blog Hop for the first time. Each month a group of CTMH consultants get together and showcase a specific CTMH product. For June we're focusing on Just Blooms paper flowers and I'm going to show you my personal favourite - Z1266 Just Blooms Spring Blossom.
First, let's do some housekeeping. You should have come here from Haley's blog and next you'll head to Jennifer's blog.

Now on to my masterpiece. I love the Spring Blossom Blooms because in addition to three different flower styles, there is also an embossed butterfly. Looove that!

I started with a Bamboo card base stamped with Boutique Borders, sponged with Bamboo ink, and rounded the edges with the corner rounder punch. I used the new 1 1/4" circle punch and Veranda papers, folded the circle and stuffed it with a few blooms that I inked with Bamboo and Sorbet. Next I rubbed a little Cocoa ink on the butterfly and added a touch of foam tape to the center. I stamped a background on some Colonial White cardstock using second generation stamping and sponged it with some Bamboo ink. I added some leaves and stems from "One of a Kind" in Garden Green and Cocoa ink. Then I had what I chose to call a "happy accident". I wanted to add a bit of shimmer to the butterfly, so I mixed some Pearl Paint with water and Tulip reinker, and gave the butterfly a quick spritz. Of course I wasn't paying attention so I ended up with my homemade shimmery spray all over my card and flowers. I wasn't about to start over, so I decided to work with it. I'm thinking it came out ok.

Here is the card at an angle so you can see a touch of shimmer.

Now head on over to Jennifer's blog and get some more inspiration.

Recipe (all items by CTMH unless noted)
Stamp Sets - D1332 Boutique Borders, D1410 One of a Kind, C1381 Card Chatter Thank You; Cardstock - Bamboo, Colonial White; PP - Veranda; Ink - Garden Green, Cocoa; Tulip Reinker; Pearl Paint; Just Blooms Spring Blossom; Foam Tape; Foam Tool; Corner Rounder Punch; 1 1/4" Circle Punch

Jackpot June - Day 7

2010-06-07T11:38:00.002-04:00

Today is a jackpot day! Up for grabs are Dimensional Elements Simple Numbers, Dimensional Elements Perennials, Dimensional Elements Framed Fun, Dimensional Elements Booksmart, and Dimensional Elements Fresh Shapes. Purchase any of these today (at 19% off the original price) and you could win the Make A Wish stamp set pictured here. Of course, instead of leaving it to chance, you can just buy all five Dimensional Elements and be guaranteed to go home with this great stamp set. You will love using Dimensional Elements in your projects. They're white chipboard that is ready to be inked, chalked, coloured, or covered in paper to perfectly match whatever you are working on. Head on over to my website - https://getinky.myctmh.com/Retail/Products.aspx?CatalogID=1601 - and get some today.

SWAGGER WAGON

2010-06-02T13:06:00.000-04:00

Art and Soul - Overstamping

2010-06-01T11:00:00.001-04:00

Ready to learn a new papercrafting technique? Take a look at the newest video on CTMH TV and try your hand at overstamping. You'll get tips and tricks to help you create a layout similar to this one. Titled "Legend", this layout uses the how-to book Reflections and the new Zippidee paper pack. Close to My Heart's Idea Books are a great starting point for creating beautiful layouts and cards because all the measuring is already done for you. Just grab your papers and a how-to book, follow the cutting the dimensions, and embellish away. You'll be amazed at how quickly it all comes together, and at how much more productive you can be with the limited time you have available.

These and other great products are available to you on my website 24/7, no waiting...

Laters,
TraceyJ

Looking for a Sweet Treat?

2010-05-19T16:28:00.000-04:00

Check out Miss Debbie's birthday blog candy at Passion for Crafts, and enter for a chance to win.

There's even more available than you see in this photo - Copics, Nesties, Punches, Paper... The list goes on.

Hop on over to say hi... and good luck!

Laters,
TraceyJ

Janey Cutler - Britain's Got Talent 2010 - Auditions Week 4

2010-05-11T09:53:00.000-04:00

This is proof that a woman is full of surprises at any age. You go girl!

Been So Long...

2010-05-04T18:19:00.001-04:00

...and I've been missing you, blogland.

It's been a rough couple of weeks. I had a class (Politics) that I was just not grasping. No amount of reading was helping me, and for a while, I gave up. It's so stressful when everyone keeps surging ahead and you're stuck trying to understand the first few concepts. Then as time passes, you get more and more lost, until you just want to throw in the towel. But I'm happy to report that I persevered and made it all the way through to the end. I may not have done as well as I would have liked, but I'm so proud of myself for sticking to it. Did I pass? Only time will tell.

In the meantime, I'd like to share what else I've been up to - I signed up to be a Close to My Heart Consultant! I've been thinking about it for a while, agonising over the decision, but I could not pass up the last promotion - 4 stamps free in addition to the already (seriously) discounted consultant kit. I couldn't turn it down. I hope I can count on your support bloggers.

Without further ado, allow me to introduce you to the new Summer Idea Book which you can receive from me for FREE if you place an order of $25 or more. That's an almost $4 savings off the cover price. It's got tons of great projects - ideas - featuring all the new summer products as well as other current products. Check it out.

Here's some artwork featuring more new products and my favourite paper pack Splendor:

That's it for now. I'll be back soon.

Laters,
TraceyJ

CTMH is on Facebook!

2010-04-23T16:16:00.002-04:00

"Check it out! You’ve helped us reach 10,000 fans on Facebook!
Let’s do something to celebrate: Tell your friends and family to become fans of Close To My Heart, and when we reach 15,000, the first ONE THOUSAND people to place product orders on any Consultant’s MyCTMH shopping site will receive this adorable apron abso...lutely free! It’s a custom designed apron, valued at $14.95.
Tell everyone you know—your free apron awaits! "

Close to my Heart's Facebook Page

My Close to my Heart website is http://getinky.myctmh.com . If you time it just right (making sure that CTMH's facebook page hits 15,000 first,) getting yourself a free apron should be easy!

My thoughts are with you (7 of 52)

2010-03-18T01:38:00.003-04:00

clipped from cardpositioningsystems.blogspot.com

Today I pulled together a quick card for a friend who didn't have time to go shopping. Look at me turning into the local (free) Hallmark.

I was drawing a complete blank, so I decided to do a quickie web search for some inspiration and came across this sketch from Card Positioning Systems. Sketches are such time savers, particularly when you feel like all your creative juices have dried up and you can't come up with one more thing.

So here is my masterpiece. I hope she likes it.

Supplies used: Paper - Basic Grey Sugared; Stamps - Clearly Wordsworth Comfort Collection, CTMH Felicity; Ink - CTMH Autumn Terracotta, Cocoa, Goldrush, Desert Sand; Ribbon - American Crafts, Offray; Adhesive - CTMH Liquid Glass, Scotch Foam Tape, Tombow Mono Liquid; WRMK Corner Chomper

Catch you later,
TJ

Papertrey Ink Blog Hop!

2010-02-25T22:56:00.002-05:00

This month PTI customers get the chance to pay homage to their favourite Design Team members, as a thank you for all the inspiration they provide every day. My introduction to Papertrey Ink came in the form of a blog I accidentally visited whose author blew me away with her creations. Each day I returned I found something clean, beautiful, creative, and yes, inspirational. Reading Dawn McVey's blog every week gave me the courage to try my hand at cardmaking. So I present to you my Dawn inpired creation. It includes the 5 things that say "Dawn" to me - Kraft cardstock, Raspberry Fizz, ribbon, scallops, and polka dots.

I wanted to try my hand at those circle cards that seem to be popular right now; so I pulled out my Coluzzle and got to work. Since I'm new to the Papertrey family, I don't yet have the supplies I *need* but I did the best I could to represent Dawn with what I had on hand. First up is some kraft and raspberry fizz cardstock from the "Try Me" pack. Next is a little vellum window and some embossing with my darling little Sizzix Texture Boutique. In place of the much loved Polka Dot Basics II (gotta have this set), I used a Cuttlebug folder to get some dots on my vellum. I cut a window in the card base so that I could show off the embossing a little better, adhered a half circle with a scalloped border across the top, added some ribbon and a sentiment, and I was done. Enjoy!

Supplies used:
Cardstock - PTI Kraft, Raspberry Fizz, Vintage Cream; Vellum - Office Depot; Stamps - Inkadinkado Chelsea Sentiments; Ink - CTMH Barn Red, Colorbox Chalk Chestnut Roan and Creamy Brown; Embossing Folder - Cuttlebug Spots and Dots; Ribbon - Joann Fabrics; Punch - Fiskars Scalloped Sentiment, Coluzzle

I'd like to say a big Thank You to all the designers at Papertrey Ink for being a continuing source of inspiration for me and everyone else in "internet land".
You Guys Rock!

Laters,
TraceyJ

For My Friend JN (6 of 52)

2010-02-24T22:53:00.003-05:00

Today, I'm sharing a little treat created for the birthday girl - my dear friend Jeannette. I don't get to see her every day, the way I used to, so I wanted to do something extra special.

I've been seeing the emboss resist technique everywhere lately and I wanted to give it a try, but I just couldn't find a stamp that worked well enough for me... until I happened across an old CTMH stamp of the month - You've Got Flair. It had a lovely medallion image that I felt would achieve the look I was going for, and it did. I embossed, and got to work with about 4 different inks. First, I went from light to dark to create a sort of gradient effect. Then I went back around the edges with the darkest colour until I had just the look I envisioned. I adhered it to a lovely piece of Basic Grey patterned paper, placed it on the card, and finished up with a sentiment from the January 2010 Stamp of the Month, a few puffy little heart stickers, and the best bow I've created yet. (A big thank you to the YouTube ribbon tying lessons from Kristina Werner and Dawn McVey)

And here are my ingredients:
Cardstock - PTI Kraft, Georgia Pacific White; Paper - BG Eva; Stamps - CTMH You've Got Flair, True Friends; Ink - Versamark, CTMH Barn Red, Blush, Chocolate, Hollyhock, Vineyard Berry; Stickers - K&Co Puffy Hearts; Embossing Powder - Ranger Super Fine Detail Clear; Ribbon - PTI Fresh Snow; WRMK Corner Chomper

Somethin Special (5 of 52)

2010-02-22T16:44:00.005-05:00

Here's a little V Day card I created for my girl Nika - can't leave her out. The poor dear is trapped in a house full of boys, so you know I had to make her something girlie.

Flourishes abound on this sweet, swirly little number. I started with my Effervescence border punch from Fiskars so I could get lots of curves and circles. Then followed up with a beautiful K&Co heart flourish and finished off with a delicate bow.

Laters,
TraceyJ

Materials used: Cardstock - PTI, Bazzill; Paper - MM Cosmopolitan; Stamps - CTMH Somethin' Special, K&Co Seasonal; Ink - CTMH Blush and Hollyhock; Punch - Fiskars Effervescence; Ribbon - Offray; Adhesive - Tombow Mono Aqua; Scissors - Cutterbee

Hugs & Kisses (4 of 52)

2010-02-21T10:57:00.004-05:00

Hugs & Kisses, originally uploaded by munzoo.

This is a little something I put together for my girl Nikki for V Day. It came together as I was watching a youtube video where the presenter was doing demo in which she punched both sides of the paper with a border punch. Now, it's not that this had never occurred to me before, but just watching her punch away made me think of pretty scallops and ribbon. So I grabbed a post it and sketched it down quickly before I forgot my idea and then I went in search of the perfect punch.
As I was cutting out the sentiment, I thought of all those cool Nestabilities tags I've been seeing all over the net. But I have none, so I improvised with the Corner Chomper. I'm thinking it turned out ok. Inked up everything with Brown Bag by CTMH and called it done. I'm really liking this look. I'll definitely be trying it in the future with some other border punches I own.

On a side note, I was watching Run Fat Boy Run this morning, and I have to say, I highly recommend it. I won't lie and tell you it's the best movie I've ever seen, but it was so fun, and the ending had me in tears. I thoroughly enjoyed it and so will you.

On to the ingredients of this card:
Cardstock - PTI and Bazzill; Paper - BG Eva; Stamps - Inkadinkado Hearts & Love; Ink - CTMH Brown Bag, Blush, Garnet, Black; Punch - MS Doily Lace; Ribbon - Dots & Dashes; Adhesive - Glue Dots, Tombow Mono Aqua, Scotch Foam Tape.

Until next time,
TraceyJ

{Heart} U (3 of 52)

2010-02-20T01:52:00.006-05:00

Silly girl, after you make them you have to post them. How else do we keep track?

Yes, there will be much catching up today. I was blurfing, looking for some inspiration when I decided to check out the ol' blog. Immediately I realised I had not posted any of my weekly cards since January. Uh oh! What this means for you is that there will be a whole bunch of insane posts in the next day from yours truly. (It's the only way I'll get caught up)

N-E-Wayz, here is the first of many - a little something I put together for my girl Ali. Anyone who knows her is aware that she is a big holiday girl, with Valentine's Day topping the list.

This little gem has got some faux stitching, heat embossing, and a touch of the gold leafing with a paint marker. I really enjoyed making it and I especially like the end result.
(In case you're wondering, yes, she loved it)

Here's what I used:
Cardstock - PTI and Bazzill; Paper - MM Cosmopolitan; Stamps - CTMH Chocolate Alpha, K&Co Seasonal Stamps; Ink - Colorbox Frost White, CTMH Garnet; Ribbon - AC; Pens - Elmers Gold Leaf, Uniball Signo Broad; Punch - Fiskars My Funny Valentine and Upper Crest; Zing embossing powder; WRMK Corner Chomper

Laters,
TJ

Love (Card 2 of 52)

2010-01-16T23:50:00.000-05:00

All week I've been feeling a little under the weather - tired, achy, sniffly... Well today I woke up with a runny nose and a sore throat. I figured that meant I wouldn't actually manage to make a card this week. Since this is only the second week, I felt that it was way too early to start skipping, so I pushed myself to get it done and I'm glad I did. This week's card is for my mom who always pushes through to get things done, especially when she's feeling less than 100%. Love you Momma!

My inspiration for this card came from a sketch I found on the Sweet Stop blog. So here it is - Sketch #SSS39. Enjoy!

I covered the card base with paper, punched out a border, added some chipboard, and finished it off with a bow.

See you next week!

Supplies used: Paper - Basic Grey Eva Collection; Chipboard - 3Birds; Punch - Fiskars Scalloped Sentiments; Adhesive - Tombo Mono Aqua Liquid Glue, ATG 714.

Hey There Sunshine

2010-01-09T21:58:00.005-05:00

Here it is, week 1 of my 52 week cardmaking journey.

When I realised it was 9:30pm on Saturday night and I still hadn't posted, I knew simple and quick was the order of the day. Unfortunately, with my stash, that's easier said than done. Oh the stress of finding the right paper combo, the perfect stamp, and the right embellishment. At 10:30 I realised I'd never be done without some serious help, so I turned to cyberspace and found this sketch from the Card Patterns blog.

And I finally managed to grasp that concept embraced by cardmakers everywhere: Keep It Simple Stupid! So I did. And here it is - my take on Sketch 46 from Card Patterns:

This is just a simple white card base coloured with ink, an old tag, and a chipboard sticker. I didn't think I'd like it, but I think it came together very well. Yeah me!
Here's hoping the sunshine really does come back out. My toes are ice cubes in my socks and I live in sunny Florida! Hey there Mr. Sun, send us a little of your warmth please.
See you next week...

Supplies used: Inks - CTMH Buttercup, Creme Brulee, & Chocolate; Sticker - DCWV Latte Collection; Tag - Colorbok; Ribbon - Offray; Card Base - Value Pack from Michaels; Rhinestones from a swap; Tombow Mono Aqua Glue; Ranger Glossy Accents

New Year, New You

2010-01-01T07:14:00.006-05:00

It's that time of year when we reflect on the past and look hopefully towards the future. Those who know me are aware that I don't believe in the whole "New Year's Resolution" thing, so I won't even bother to list some here.

I will say that I am still determined to use up my stash. To that end, I've been exploring the wide world of Amazon looking for some idea books to help me out, and I found this one: A Card A Day by the lovely people at Paper Crafts Magazine. Now I can't see me making a card a day for a whole year, but I figure I can manage 52 cards in 52 weeks, so I think I'll give that a try. I may end up doing more, but I figure this is a doable goal. And it will have the added benefit of giving me room to get some of the gorgeous new stuff I know is coming. (What can I say, it's an addiction.)

I haven't started yet, but I decided to post a little something I did for a girlfriend of mine who finds herself a year older this week. The card is based on a Mojo Monday sketch I found a few weeks ago.

Supplies used: Basic Cardstock; CTMH Stamps Set - Surprise; CTMH Markers - Honey, Crystal Blue; Tombow Dual Brush Marker Blender Pen; Inks - ColorBox Frost White & Memento Tuxedo Black; EK Success Border Punch - Diamond Lace; Perfect Pearls; Cuttlebug Embossing Folders - Moroccan Screen & Herringbone; American Crafts Zing Embossing Powder in White; Spellbinders Nestabilities - Labels 3; Sizzix BigKick; Ribbon from Michaels; Tombow Mono Liquid Glue

Ready to Sell Your Digi Designs?

2009-09-18T10:04:00.002-04:00

All You Can Scrap would like to add your designs to the store. Create digikits and quickpages for sale in your very own storefront at All You Can Scrap and make money doing what you love.

You will need to post and comment in the forum and gallery on a regular basis.
Actively get the word out about the site, and your store, by posting on your blog and other forums and blogs that will let you - digifree, digishoptalk, and others. You will also be required place AYCS ads on your blog.
There is a designers gift area where you may post samples and freebies.
You have total control over the content in your shop.
You must be willing to participate in collabs and blogtrains, and attend/host the chats whenever possible.
Designers must participate in storewide sales, however you may offer a sale on your kits whenever you choose.

** Also see restrictions here **
For more information, email happyscrapping@allyoucanscrap.com or designsbymel@allyoucanscrap.com. (And don't forget to tell them TraceyJ sent you. ;-)

I look forward to seeing your work!

Ever Wanted to be a DigiKit Designer?

2009-07-16T22:51:00.003-04:00

Well here's your chance. AllYouCanScrap.com is looking for the best digi designers around. It could be you. Check out their designer call below.

Happy Blogaversary Bo Bunny!

2009-07-09T15:07:00.001-04:00

This week marks Bo Bunny's one year anniversary in the blogosphere. Take a moment to check them out. You might win a cool prize.

Blog Candy at True's Gift's From the Heart

2009-06-16T23:21:00.000-04:00

This is a fantastic giveaway, so go check it out. And bonus, she does some really great work, so take the time to gaze at some eye candy as well.

What are you waiting for? Run, don't walk!

True's Gift's From the Heart: My 3 new DT Spots Celebration Blog Candy!

Daily Download - AYCS

2009-06-08T11:57:00.002-04:00

Here is this month's Daily Download from All You Can Scrap. Collect a different element every day and share the layouts you create in the gallery.

Happy creating!

I'm Walking for Cystic Fibrosis

2009-05-15T10:15:00.002-04:00

Yeah, so I know I'm using their blurb, but frankly, they say it a lot better than I can. So read on and get informed...

GREAT STRIDES is the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's largest and most successful national fund-raising event. This year, I'm walking in the GREAT STRIDES Walk in Weston, FL. Please help me meet my fund-raising goal by sponsoring me. Your generous gift will be used efficiently and effectively, as nearly 90 cents of every dollar of revenue raised is available for investment in vital CF programs to support research, care and education.

Making a donation is easy and secure! Just click the "Click to Donate" link on this page to go to make a donation that will be credited to my team. Any amount you can donate is greatly appreciated!

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a devastating genetic disease that affects tens of thousands of children and young adults in the United States. Research and care supported by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is making a huge difference in extending the quality of life for those with CF. However, we continue to lose precious lives to CF every day. That's why your help is needed now more than ever to ensure that a cure is found sooner - rather than later. To learn more about CF and the CF Foundation, visit www.cff.org.

Together, we can make a difference in the lives of those with CF! Thank you for supporting the mission of the CF Foundation and GREAT STRIDES!

Click Here to donate.

Spring Blog Train

2009-05-01T16:32:00.000-04:00

This is my first ever blog train and I'm so excited. The designers at All You Can Scrap have created some beautiful kits, and I am honored to present a few quickpages for your pleasure. Make sure to come back for more. Enjoy!

From Blogger Pictures

This is the last stop on the train. All blogs are listed below so you can get back to any that you may have missed. Have fun!
Designs By Mel
Helron Designs
All You Can Scrap Blog
Candys Treasures
Foxylady Creations
DAMC
May-fair Creatives
TraceyJean

Time for a Speed Scrap!

2009-04-16T08:50:00.000-04:00

Time for all you digi lovers to get your scrap on. Join us this weekend for some play time and complete a layout or two. There are two days to join in the fun - Saturday and Sunday. So make some time for one, or both, and let the good times roll!

Blogoversary at Stardust, Gems & Ribbons

2009-04-06T14:14:00.000-04:00

Wanna satisfy that sweet tooth?
Head over to Carole's blog and enter for a chance to win some serious blog candy. (See photo on right) Embellies, ribbon, a paper pad, and even a few stamps! You have until April 14, so what are you waiting for? Get going!

A Word for Me

2009-04-02T12:46:00.001-04:00

I was over at scrapbook.com today checking out the posts and I came across this challenge to blog more. Now you all know I'm trying to do this a little more than I have in the past, so I thought I'd give it a shot. The first challenge was to complete this questionnaire which generates a word that describes you. Filled it out and got this response:

Your Word is "Fearless"

You see life as your one chance to experience everything, and you just go for it!

You believe the biggest risk is being afraid and missing out on something amazing.

Sometimes your fearlessness means you're daring. You enjoy risky activities.

And sometimes your fearlessness means you're courageous. You're brave enough to do the right thing, even when it's scary.

Interesting to say the least. Me? Fearless? Not in a million years. Now I know what you're thinking. The girl with the biggest mouth this side of the planet isn't fearless? True, I like to encourage people to step outside themselves and try a little something different. Me? Not so much. And now you know my dirty little secret; I'm an instigator! Surprised? Probably not.
I'm thinking I need to channel my younger self who always used to say, "I'll try anything once, so long as it doesn't cause harm to myself or others". Where did that girl go? Time to find her & bring her home.

How much do you love freebies?

2009-03-31T09:50:00.000-04:00

Do you really love them?

Then head over to the GCD Studios blog today, March 31, 2009 for some fun games and even more fun prizes. See you there!

Seriously, GCD Studios has some of the most beautiful papers around. It really is affordable luxury at its best.

Happy Green Day!

2009-03-17T10:48:00.000-04:00

So I don't really know much about St. Patrick's Day. But my boss is Irish, so I figured I'd head over to wikipedia and learn a little something. It turns out this holiday is an annual feast day which celebrates Saint Patrick, one of the patron saints of Ireland. The holiday is celebrated annually in Ireland and around the world by those of Irish descent. So I've put on a little something green today in honour of those fighting Irish everywhere. Go out and have some fun today!

Are you in the mood for Spring?
More importantly, in the mood for free embellishments?
Head on over to Lisa's blog for a chance to win this great kit.

Lisa's on the Design Team of one of my favourite sites - 52 Sketches, 52 Weeks - which has some of the most amazing, fun page layout sketches on the web. So take a little time to leave her some love.

And remember to think of me when you raise that glass of green beer today.

March Daily Downloads

2009-03-16T14:38:00.000-04:00

Digikit - In Love by Helron Designs

Treat yourself to a little something. Check out the daily downloads for March at All You Can Scrap. New papers or embellishments each and every day.
Enjoy!

March Madness at All You Can Scrap!

2009-03-06T09:34:00.000-05:00

During the month of March, everything is on sale at All You Can Scrap. That's right. The whole store is on sale. Now is the time to find some great deals and increase your digi stash. And here's a bonus: use your kit in a Forum Challenge, and get a gift voucher to use in the store. That's 2 kits for the price of one. Talk about building your stash. It's time to go shopping!

The designer spotlight this month focuses on Designs by Mel. She's got some fantastic kits that will help you preserve your memories in style. All the goodies she has created are 50% off this month. Head over to her store and get inspired to scrap!

My first month as a Creative Team member

2009-01-30T16:14:00.000-05:00

I've been on the Creative Team at All You Can Scrap for almost a whole month, so I thought I'd share a few of the layouts I've done so far.

The first was done for the Music Quotes Challenge using the Roses and Hearts kit by Helron Designs. You can find it in the shop.
This a photo of my beautiful niece holding her new baby brother. He's only about a week or two old here, so he was still at the point of being new and exciting for her. She's pretty happy about it. Music quote: You have stolen my heart by Dashboard Confessional from the song Stolen.

The next was done for the Numbers Challenge. Again I used the Roses and Hearts kit from Helron Designs at All You Can Scrap. The challenge was 1 bow, 2 photos, 3 papers, 4 buttons or brads.
Photos are from a 2007 New Year's Eve Parade in Jacksonville. The Jamaica girls joined the Florida queens on a parade float. We met tons of great people from all over the state. It was extremely cold, but also a lot of fun, particularly when the younger girls got to meet Ronald McDonald. They were so excited.

For the January '09 Color Challenge, I used the colour pallette to create this layout. I'm a purple girl and my cousin likes pink, so I thought a photo of us together would be perfect with the colours chosen this month.I used a template created by Gloria Val Verde that I got from the Manic Monday freebies on Moo Two Designs. For the papers, I used an overlay by Cindi Rios Lobo.

So for the Baby Faces Challenge, I had to scrap a surprised little one. I chose this photo of my girlfriend's son on his first visit to the office. After weeks of hanging with mom, dad, and big brother, he was surrounded by all these ladies excited to meet him for the first time. It must have been pretty overwhelming, but he took it all in stride. For this layout I used the Dino kit by Helron Designs, perfect for a little boy. The digikit is available in the shop.

This last layout is for the monthly Theme Challenge, which was flowers and pearls. Isn't my niece just adorable? I thought this photo would be perfect for the theme, and boy was I right. She is just the prettiest flower in the garden.

So that's it for now. You'll be hearing more from me in the months to come. Hope you can join me on this crazy ride into the world of digital scrapbooking.

So I Watched History Unfold...

2009-01-23T11:37:00.000-05:00

...and I can say I was there when.

I was there when everyone was talking about the race, the campaigns, and their candidates. When we were debating who should win and why. When support for the policies of one or the other changed almost daily.

I was there when the ballots were being cast. When the polls were open for early voting and there was nowhere to park at the library. When my friends and family sat around discussing the merits of absentee voting versus standing in line for hours.

I was there when the polls closed, and the counting began in earnest. When my classmates and I were on pins and needles waiting for our test to be over, so we could check our computers and phones to find out who was in the lead. When we all realised that the cafeteria was open late and hosting an election party, so we could all keep abreast of the latest development. When my mom got that call from me screaming "Barack Obama just won the election". When she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes (different time zone) and finally understood what I was saying.

I was there when the most moving concession speech ever spoken was delivered by the always classy John McCain. When an amazing orator gave his acceptance by looking to the future and not condemning the actions of current and past administrations. When two strong, courageous men brought tears to my eyes with the words they spoke.

I was there when the forty-fourth President of the United States of America took his oath and was sworn in to the highest office in the land. When a group of workers crowded around a tiny computer screen to view and hear him speak during his inauguration. When 2 million strong braved the bracing winter winds to witness history in the making.

Photo credit: Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo, U.S. Air Force
Scrapkit credit: Scrap n' Art Freebie Friday digikit created by Louise Williams of Digital Fingers
Quote from inaugural speech delivered by President Obama on January 20, 2009

Review

2009-01-20T09:08:00.000-05:00

The past few days have been very busy for me.

I've been selected to be part of the Creative Team at allyoucanscrap.com, which is quite an honour. As I've only been scrapping for a short time, I hope I can do justice to their wonderful products. Here is my first layout which was done for the monthly challenge. It features my beautiful niece, Ayanna. I thought her very fitting for the theme - Flowers and Pearls.

Over the weekend, a few girls and I headed to the World's Universal Beauty pageant in San Marcos, Texas, where we represented our beautiful island nation of Jamaica. We had a blast in all areas of the competition, particularly during the Western themed party where we led the dancing all night long (or at least till 9:30 since the little ones needed their beauty sleep). The girls did well and I was proud of them all. Photos will follow over the next few days.

Go Jamaica!

Happy New Year to All!

2009-01-03T04:14:00.000-05:00

Wishing you all a wonderful 2009.

It is my prayer that everyone has a good and prosperous year. May you and your families have continued good health. Good luck to you all.

My Scrapbook Experiment

2008-12-19T17:05:00.000-05:00

The pageant experience introduced me to the world of scrapbooking. After learning I was required to keep a scrapbook documenting my reign, I bought a couple of magazines and took the plunge. The reading materials I purchased lead me to the realisation that this was an amazing creative outlet which was limited only by my imagination. Soon my home was decorated with punches, ribbons, stickers, and paper of every imaginable colour. Yes that's right, I went completely overboard. But it was all necessary if I was going to create the most beautiful pages known to man. Right? Before long I had fallen behind; the perfect embellishment to finish off the page was an absolute necessity. I was never done. All too soon, my year was at an end and I had only 6 pages of "fun times" to show my prospective successor. What was I to do? Help!!! I tried to get some friends together, get an assembly line going, and churn out some lovely pages. No luck. So I decided to proudly display what I had, and wouldn't you know I was the only queen to have taken such time and care with her "art". Everyone wanted to me to work on their scrapbooks. Aaaarrgh!

Luckily, I've found I really enjoy planning and designing my perfect scrapbook, so I'm taking my time and getting it done right.

Of course it wasn't long before I found the world of digital scrapbooking. Reusable supplies, planning and designing on the computer (my fave), and the means to share my life with family members far and near. I got Corel Paint Shop Pro X1 with my new camera and I am really loving learning how to use it for creating scrapbook pages. It's a big learning curve for me, since I keep assuming that all the terms mean the same as the words would in English. I'm learning a whole new language here. It's kinda fun.

So in the coming months, I'll be posting my little experiments. Thankfully, there's tons of help from this fantastic community known as the worldwide web, and I'll be taking advantage of them at every turn. I would like to say thank you in advance to that wonderful online community for giving me the tools I need to take my creativity to the next level. Thank you so much.

Here's one of my first attempts. It is based on the Pink Gavey tutorial found on Kay's tutorial blog. Kay, whoever you are, thanks for helping me with these baby steps. My gratitude also goes out to the writer of the Created by Jill blog for the beautiful digital paper and embellishment kit.

Here goes nothing...

Christmas Cleanup

2008-12-15T20:22:00.000-05:00

Smart me, I took a couple days off work for some rest and relaxation, and instead thought it would be a great time to give the place a good cleaning in time for the holidays. Of course those who know me realise that means the house is an even bigger mess than when I first started. So now, instead of straightening things up a little, I've got to clean up this new mess I've created. It gets worse before it gets better and all that jazz. It would appear that my lovely home can be likened to the current economic situation - gonna get a whole lot worse before it gets better. I'm just trying to prepare as best as I can for what comes next, doing what I can to control my personal finances and support my family in any way I can. If we just hang in there and look out for each other, we can make things better in small but important ways. Hey, if nothing else, at least I've got clean floors. Come on over and eat off them sometime.

Does Sugar Cause Wrinkles? - AOL Body

2007-12-13T12:21:00.000-05:00

Does Sugar Cause Wrinkles? - AOL Body

That AVON makes some good stuff. Heading the list of skin aging fighters at the lowest price is the one and only ANEW PhotoRadiance SPF15, a real powerhouse. That's why I love their stuff.

www.youravon.com/tjeanhastings

Brant's Blog of Awesomeness: A Sports Fan Offers His Sporty Opinion About Sports

2007-10-19T09:20:00.000-04:00

Brant's Blog of Awesomeness: A Sports Fan Offers His Sporty Opinion About Sports: "http://www.typepad.com/t/trackback/2315424/22457528"

Way FM is my favourite radio station. I could listen all day long. Brant is the morning show host and I just love his quirky style. Check him out.

CHANTELLE ERNANDEZ

2007-10-04T10:51:00.000-04:00

CHANTELLE ERNANDEZ

Starting to like this girl's sound. Check her out!

Have Fun!

2007-08-20T09:34:00.001-04:00

beat me if you can

5 Workouts to Reshape Your Body - Diet & Fitness - MSN Health & Fitness

2007-03-26T14:33:00.000-04:00

5 Workouts to Reshape Your Body - Diet & Fitness - MSN Health & Fitness

Time to start taking better care of myself. There are too many days where I wake up feeling tired and worn. I'm thinking this could be a good start - 5 exercises to get the blood moving. It's time to get rid of this sluggish feeling. Go me!

Party Central

2005-08-23T09:09:00.000-04:00

There's so much going on this year. First there was Patrina's wedding in May - great music, good eats. Now we've got Erica's tenth (10th) anniversary in North Carolina this weekend - more great music, more good eats. I am so looking forward to seeing the family again. I hope you guys are all making the effort to take the trip out there. We'll have ourselves a mini reunion. Hope to see you there.
If you can't make it, start saving up for Kerri Anne's wedding in December. It's gonna be a fiesta of epic proportions! I am soooo looking forward to "gettin' down with my bad self".
A good time will be had by all at next summer's family reunion. Keep your calendars open people!

New Year

2005-01-05T11:49:00.000-05:00

January 2005
It's the beginning of a new year, a time traditionally reserved for reflection and goal setting. It is my hope I will be able to realise any objectives I choose to focus on for the next twelve months. I've been in contact with family members close by and hope to continue our association in the future. As a group we are spread out all over the globe, however, we must find ways to reach out and become a closer, stronger unit. While we strive towards this goal, let us give some thought to the oft discussed and never arranged family reunion. Let's find new ways to come together.
Let FAMILY UNITY be our motto in 2005!
Have a wonderful, blessed year.