Swap? What for?

One tradition at the CTMH national convention is to swap cards with other consultants. I hadn't done this in a couple of years but thought it would be a good thing to do, especially with four team members joining me. So what are the benefits of swapping?

1. You get a chance to meet people.

2. You become inspired by others creativity.

3. You have ideas for the card workshop you have schedule two days after you get home!

Yep, that's right. Two days after I came home, full of ideas and inspiration, I didn't know where to start for my card class. So, I took out my swap cards and started there. I am posting the original card I received, and my version that we created in the card workshop. 

This card I swapped with Debi Thomas.  So I created this card.  The Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge make the layering so easy! 

Lori Allen swapped this card with me.  And again, Art Philosophy made this card simple to recreate in a different paper packet. 

Finally, there’s Pinterest.  I found this card on Pinterest and recreated it for my swap card. 

What inspires your creativity?  Have you ever participated in a swap?

Home Decor workshops; New from CTMH

I am home from convention and reeling from all the new products that sit in a box, waiting for me to play.  I have declared Tuesday and Thursday this week for some play time but until I get some photos up of those projects, take a look at this exciting news! 

Happy Birthday to Me!

Well, that was a couple of weeks ago now.  I had a great week of birthday celebrations.  It started the night before at team time with fellow Close to My Heart consultants…who are also great friends. 
The next day, I flew to Las Vegas with my hubby, in search of summer.  We found it!  It was really nice to just soak up the sun by the pool for two days at Mandalay bay.  This was my view from where I lay, reading my booking and dipping into the pool when it got too hot!

After coming home from Vegas, the next day I met up with my friend Trish and we headed to our cabin for a mommy vacation.  We had a great time crafting together, catching up on our lives, and shopping in Leavenworth.  So much fun, so relaxing. 
The great thing about having so many talented friends in the paper craft arena is that you get the cutest birthday cards ever!  Here are the hand made cards I received!  I wanted to share so you can see the creative work of these friends.

From Trish M.

From Mary T.

From Diana G.

From Jessica B.

From Lalia H.
Thank you everyone for the extra special birthday greetings. 

What do you get when you press “auto fill” on the Cricut?

Lots and lots of little white butterflies!  My friend Liz was experimenting with her Cricut and wondered what the “auto fill” feature on the Cricut Expression did.  Well, it fills the entire page with the image you select on the cartridge.  In this case, it was lots of 3/4” white butterflies.

And what do you do with them?  Make cards of course.  These are the cards she made and shared with me.  I absolutely love them.  The cards are clean and simple, yet colorful and eye catching.  Thanks Liz for sharing them with me!

Florentine Cards

Florentine is a beautiful paper packets with colors that are perfect for any occasion.  Here are cards that I swapped for with my team last month.  The ladies did a wonderful job! 

Created by Mary T.

Created by Jayma M.

Created by Lalia Harris.

The party is in the bag!

Close to My Heart has a brand new consultant kit fer only $49. 

When you join in August, you get this cute tote/backpack with your kit.  And let me tell you, I got one here at convention and it is KEY-OOT.  (That’s Texan for cute.) 

The kit is chocked full of brand spankin’ new products from Close to My Heart.  I have been playing with these products this week at convention and they are so much fun!  (I list all the goods below.)

Want to get your hands on these new products now, sign up here.    Want to receive this KEY-OOT bag, put a BIG STAR on your calendar for August first and sign up then.  If you want to start planning on how you are gonna to share all this great stuff with your friends, contact me even before you sign up and we will get the ball rollin’ even before your kit hits the Federal Express truck.  (OK that is the end of the Texas drawl.)

Here’s a list of the kit contents:

• Workshops on the Go™ Avonlea Scrapbooking Kit (G1045)
• My Creations® Recipe/Photo Box (Z1322) 
• Color-Ready Canvas Alphabet (Z1777)
• Chocolate Exclusive Inks® Pad (Z2111)
• Slate Exclusive Inks® Pad (Z2173)
• My Acrylix® Glamour Lowercase Stamp Set (D1522)
• My Acrylix® Perfect Fit—Frames Stamp Set (D1527)
• 3" × 3" My Acrylix® Block (Y1006)
• 2" x 3½" My Acrylix® Block (Y1009)
• Read Me First Letter
• Current Idea Books (qty. 3)
• Hostess Order Forms (qty. 5)
• Customer Order Forms (qty. 5)
• Close To My Heart Color Swatches (W471)
• Autumn/Winter 2012 B&T Duos® Sampler (W1115)
• Petite Perks™ Nature’s Delight Incentive Stamp Set (W2023)
• Avonlea Complements Canvas Shapes (X7155C)

Sneak Peak

Here’s a peek at a new paper pack that will be featured in the Fall/Winter 2012 idea book.

 

Off to Convention but leaving you a few pieces of inspiration

I am sitting in the airport waiting for my delayed flight and enjoying the beauty of technology…sharing with you!  I am on my way to the Close to My Heart convention in Dallas.  Tomorrow I will get to hear about new programs, new products, and new ideas!  Then on Thursday, the new Fall/Winter idea book.  I will have them to share with you when I get home!  If you want to see hour by hour updates, follow me on Facebook at Evergreen Memories and Art. 

Until then, enjoy these!

Fourth of July Treats

With the speed of the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge and Acrylic stamps, I made these cupcake decorations minutes before we left for our Fourth of July Picnic.  Had I thought and planned ahead, I could have made the decorations a little fancier like those shown on page 79 of the Spring/Summer Idea book.  Are you planning any parties soon?  What kind of cupcake decoration can you make using your paper crafting supplies?