Convention 2012: Craftin' 9-5 and the crazy people who run it!

Join the Close to my Heart Club!

Card for Sale for Operation Smile

This is a fun card. You can own it and feel good about the purchase because all the proceeds go to Operation Smile. See the posts below this one if you don't know about this wonderful charity.

To get this card, simply go to the Donate link at the right, put $5.00 in the Operation Smile box then go through checkout. Email me at caldreamin05@comcast.net to give me your address and I'll send the card right out!

Card for Sale for Operation Smile

Here's another version of that pretty accordian card using Florentine paper. I have this card decorated with sparkles, pearls and Durable studs. So, it's like a box of chocolates, you don't know which embellishments you're going to get when you donate! To help this worthy cause just click on the link at the upper right of this blog and put your $5.00 donation in the Operation Smile box and go through checkout. No other purchase necessary! I'll send the card right out to you!

Close to my Heart How To Books Retiring

Did you know that the six wonderful scrapbooking and cardmaking how to books will be retiring at the end of this new catalog? Did you know that Close to my Heart has stopped making them and they might run out BEFORE the end of this catalog? It might be time to complete your collection. Click on this link and I will send you a gift when you purchase one of our retiring how to books.

Shout Out to the Relay for Life Croppers in Paw Paw

I had a great day yesterday ladies, thanks for making it fun!! Made the coolest card that I will be putting up for Operation Smile. Stay tuned.

Beach card for sale for Operation Smile

I love this card. You can own it and feel good about the purchase because all the proceeds go to Operation Smile. See the posts below this one if you don't know about this wonderful charity. To get this card, simply go to the Donate link at the right, put $5.00 in the Operation Smile box then go through checkout. Email me at caldreamin05@comcast.net to give me your address and I'll send the card right out!

Card for Sale for Operation Smile

Here's another card for sale for Operation Smile. I saw the basic idea in the Close to my Heart Idea book and turned it into a stand up card. It fits a 4 x 4 envelope. You can own it and feel good about the purchase because all the proceeds go to Operation Smile. See the posts below this one if you don't know about this wonderful charity.

To get this card, simply go to the Donate link at the right, put $5.00 in the Operation Smile box then go through checkout. Email me at caldreamin05@comcast.net to give me your address and I'll send the card right out!

Year in Review - Operation Smile

Yes, I'm going to keep bugging you to get your help. Donate to the upper right of this blog through my Close to my Heart website.

Jeff Probst and Patient Johan

How can you help? Donate to the upper right of this blog through my Close to my Heart website.

Would you like to earn a cruise?

I can show you how! Join my team today!

Make A Miracle Challenge

Help me to help these children, donate to Operation Smile at upper right of this blog. We're making progress! Give up one cup of coffee and donate a $1.00! I'll be keeping this post at the top for awhile, please check out next post for the most recent Studio J layout!

Spring Is in the Air: Project Inspiration Spring/Summer 2012 Idea Book

Nifty Neighbor Gifts Project Inspiration Spring/Summer 2012 Idea Book

Shipshewana Crop - January 2012

Our three day crop last weekend was awesome! Thank you so much to everyone who attended and my team who help throw this big event. We're doing it again August 17-19, 2012 and are already taking deposits. We can only hold 60 people so don't delay, it's first come, first served.

We had an ongoing card workshop and make and take during the weekend that the participants could do at their leisure.

We had a lot of items for sale so that people didn't have to leave the crop at all!

We had 54 participants this winter and, believe it or not, they were asking if we could do a five day crop!

New friends were made all over the place!

For those of you who are digital scrapbookers, there was an outlet on every table and free wi-fi!

The crafters could stay all night long if they wanted! Four meals were provided with the cost of the crop plus we chipped in to order pizza on Friday night.

The walls of the crop area were lined with tables with merchandise, food, beverages and lots more!

We even had handmade Cricut covers for those who are obsessed with that machine (like me)!

Space was not a problem. Every participant had a table of their own with lots of room in between so noone had to trip over scrapping supplies.

It didn't matter if you were a scrapbooker or cardmaker, crafting of all sorts was going on.

There were lots of bargains to be had on our marked down garage sale table.

The weather cooperated on the first day we arrived so everyone made it safely. It snowed non-stop on Sunday but roads seemed to be good going home.

Laughter and non-stop conversation is the best part of getting together at a crop.

We even had a giveaway table where each cropper could lay out the items they no longer wanted.

We had a prize table and participants earned tickets all weekend to win such prizes as the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge!

Everyone was allowed to leave their supplies out all weekend long!

There was no lack of room for bringing all of their supplies.

Operation Smile was our charity of choice and we had a 50/50 raffle and sold these beautiful layouts to raise money. We raised over $344 for Operation Smile. How can you help? See the message at the upper right of this blog and help us get to $1000 in donations.

The stamp fairy visited several times over the weekend leaving little gifts, chipboard, inks, candy and glitter brads.

Every few hours the consultants running the crop gave away packs of paper, stamp sets and other items. Everyone wins!

We had a wonderful view out the windows at the Farmstead Inn.

The people of the Farmstead Inn fulfilled every request we had all weekend. The rooms were wonderful and they even had a pool, jacuzzi and exercise room!

We had a raffle game during the weekend where people could buy chances to win a $50 shopping spree!

Every guest received a goodie bag and the new spring/summer Close to my Heart catalog.

Every time a person finished a card or page, they could come steal one of two balloons away from another participant and place it at their desk!

Our 50/50 winner, Beth Rhode, donated all of her prize winnings to Operation Smile.

On Saturday night we had a pajama party. Our winner, Linda, had Happy Scrapper on the back of her pajamas!

The pajama girls had to parade around to music so everyone could see their outfits!

The winner won a brand new stamp set!

Our winning line-up!

Do You Have A Dream Job?

An ambitious woman entered a successful store with a reputation for beautiful, fine quality merchandise. She walked up to the owner and said, "Sir, I am very impressed with your store and I would like to work here. I promise I will work hard and I would love to build a career here. In return, all I ask is the following:

1. First, I would like 22% commission on everything I sell.
2. I expect to receive a 22% discount on the merchandise I wish to purchase.
3. I would also like to earn free merchandise every month based on my sales.
4. Plus, if I bring in and train any new sales people, I think I deserve a percentage of their sales.
5. I would like the opportunity to rapidly advance within the company.
6. When I do well, I expect LOTS of praise and recognition, plus free products, special awards, and fabulous trips.
7. I would like my friends and family to work here.
8. By the way, I need to set my own schedule and work only when it suits me and my family.

So... when can I start?

After the store owner recovered from shock, he ROARED with laughter, "Lady, you can't be serious! You're dreamin'! You'll never find an opportunity like that ANYWHERE! And if you do...come back and get me cuz' I want to work with you!"

Well, I know just the job for you and it has all the above benefits. Come join my Close to my Heart team today!!

Studio J Layout a Day - Layout 34

This is my last Studio J layout in this series, I hope you've enjoyed checking out and learning all the things you can do with Studio J. I really encourage you to try it, remember it's free to play with it all you want, it only costs when you decide to have a layout printed and sent to you. Remember that it's much most cost effective to buy a 3 month or yearly membership so you can get the pages half price along with free page protectors and free shipping once a month. Give it a shot!

Studio J Layout a Day - Layout 33

With Studio J you can change the papers to 60 different colors PLUS adjust the intensity so that the pattern and/or color is just barely showing or turned up really high! Just another advantage...

Studio J Layout a Day - Layout 32

Now just look at this layout, the graphic nature of it just screams "this is not traditional scrapbooking" which is why I love it! Studio J makes this so simple to do, give it a try!

Studio J Layout a Day - Layout 31

The lacy decoration on this layout is actually a sticker that I have enlarged and cropped, easily, in Studio J. It's just yet another cool embellishment that you could play with should you decide to try Studio J. Remember, it's free to play, just click here and start.