Long, Long Ago...

In a land far, far away, I was a D.O.T. S. Demonstrator.

During the Christmas Season I would stamp this image at my stamp parties and show how to "emboss" and to "watercolor". It was always a big seller!

Then I moved on to a clearer vision for stamping (My Acrylix!) and somehow during the transition I lost this beautiful stamp that I loved so much! I probably gave it to Goodwill!

And now, I'm so happy to have found it again! CraigsList is truly an amazing format for reuniting the past to the present.

I will be using this stamp for a Christmas gift project and I can't wait to get started.

Twenty years have come and gone since I stumbled into my creative journey.

Once a D.O.T.S. Demonstrator - now a Close To My Heart Consultant.

Everything in life has changed.

My kids are adults (quite delightful ones I might add!)

I don't do stamp parties ( I do "workshops" at my home!) and I never use a stamp that I can't see where I'm stamping the image!

However, I still love this design.

And so I've gone backwards *creatively* into a time and place I loved.

Happy Holidays. Merry Christmas. Happy Hanukkah. Happy Kwanza.

And have a Happy New Year.

And the FriVoliTy begins....

You know what I'm talking about. The time of year, (every year)

when you know it's time to re-group, re-organize and in general

get it together!

Me too. Before the Holidays take over every part of life!

In the meantime, here's a quick share of a super cute (if I do say so myself) project.

It's a wonderful little *Thanksgiving* gift idea for your family

or for you to create and share with someone you love.

I can't take credit for the idea. Check out Christine's blog http://www.creatingwithchristine.com/. 

I scrap-lifted the idea-sorta.

She is an amazing artist and Close To My Heart consultant.

You'll be inspired to make all kinds of messes. And then...

you won't get much done on that list. The one that says re-group,

re-organize and get it together.

Happy Thanksgiving to all. I'll be counting my blessings

and making plans to get it together soon!

Busy August !! Oh my it's September!

Try as I might this "blog" thing is much harder to do than I like to admit.
Kinda like exercise- I love to go. I talk about how fun it is.
However, I don't seem to put my good intentions into practice. Sheesh.

Nonetheless...(I love that word!) Here are some samples of the new paper pack called "Typeset" which I was assigned in a recent swap! I will be sharing all the amazing artwork I received from this very talented group of Close To My Heart sisters!

I was thrilled that I was asked to participate in this swap!
It made me work like the dickens but the results are stunning!
Can't wait to post all the great ideas from these talented gals.
Each one created artwork specifically for each paper pack of the new Idea Book!!


So let's recap the month of August.

One daughter-Tara- has moved to Japan to teach English. She's brave and strong and a delight in every way. I miss her terribly.

One daughter-Jenna- has moved home from Florida because....well I think she was missing her family. And she's not sure what path to follow. Yet. She will. She's a smart and beautiful girl. Tons of potential fun out there.

And my Seth has moved into Phoenix and his own little loft apartment.
Jeff went back to work and I added a few more hours at my part time job.
And then August was GONE!!

Anyhoo-I hope you enjoy these photos of my typeset "swap"!

I love using the 6 x6 My Creations Memory Showcase books to create a great little easel board. Great gift for every occasion. I'll be adding a photo of my kids laughing!


I used CTMH white daisy variety pack flowers (after soaking them in my cold beverage) with the new wooden buttons and black floss. Remember no naked buttons!


This little card I used the adorable Typeset Complements CANVAS (so cool) shapes. Stickers really. And black hemp. And the new black brads that look like tiny little buttons.

This card I used my cuddlebug to emboss a fun addition to the Desert Sand cardstock. The circles are from the Art Philosophy cricut cartridge -of course- that match the stamp set!


Last, a quick card with just cardstock and the top strip from the B&T paper.
Waste not want not. I love the new style of our paper.
Your projects will never have a little "ctmh" on the paper again!
Not that I minded!!


And there you go. Those are the cards I created with Typeset.
I thought they turned out well and show how versatile Typeset is.
I'll post the "layout" and a magnet in the next few days!
Promise. No more lost months!

Creating With my Cricut!

So here's my first attempt at my new fun learning curve!
Close To My Heart has partnered with Provo Craft and the Cricut Expressions
cutting system and created a cartridge that coordinates with our stamped images........

Gee Whiz !! and Wowzer!

A whole lotta fun!! With this one little do-dad gadget (the cricut cartridge),
you can create over 700 designs in 36 sizes to create thousands of designs.
It really boggles my mind.

It's a whole new level of creativity for me and my business.
So far it's kinda cool. I have a lot to learn about paper placement and
when to replace the mat and blades...but I think I'm digging it!

And now I'll finish up the Alphabet...never to repeat it again!

U- Understanding. I hope I am and I hope to be better.

V- For Value. I value my family. My faith. My health. My country. You get the idea.

W- Wonder. I wonder about things. I see Wonder all around.
I believe in Wonderful.

X- Really?? there is no word for me here! I even checked in the dictionary-
nothing applies.

Y- You. Thank you for reading my silly blog!

Z- Love those "Z"s.

See you next time!

Happy Fourth of July!

I love that the Boy Scouts of America post an American Flag at my house for every holiday. My donation every year to those boys is so worth it!
I am the proud mother of an Eagle Scout!
Let me tell you that is a big deal. Scouting is such an American tradition.
I'm grateful to have those memories with my son.

Here's a quick card we made at my "Crazy for Cards" workshop last month.
I think it turned out just fine.
Everyone enjoyed learning how to make a "pinwheel" embellishment.
Cute and Easy.

And adorable Noah keeping cool. A true Arizona boy!

Have a lovely 4th of July and remember those who have fought
and those who are still fighting to keep this nation free to celebrate!
God Bless America!

I won! How fun!

My little 6x6 Memory Showcase entry won the art contest at LeaderShare in Las Vegas! How fun is that?? This little "home decor" project is one of my favorite designs to create. It's a sweet little gift that showcases a special photo and features a place for your hidden message. I start with a 6x6 Memory Creations accordion style album. I cut the inside pages out and then I have 2 blank chipboard pieces to decorate!


I used the "Miracle" paper pack (X7133b) from the NEW Spring-Summer Idea Book. The stamp set is *Delight* C1452 and I used the cool new Kraft Color-Ready Borders Z1377. The challenge for me was to use only CTMH everything. Which I do most of the time....but I do love the Martha Stewart border punches. They seem to add just the right touch. But, I have to admit I love the new kraft colored borders!!
The are self adhesive and come in every design you could ever want!
I'm sure I'll be using them lots more in my future designs.


I added some pearl opaques and glitter glitz.
I got the little acrylic easel at Bed Bath and Beyond.
My inspiration came from page 45 of the Idea Book. My striped piece is pleated for added texture which does not show up in the photo.
But it's a nice element IRL.
(in real life....for those who have no idea what IRL means!)

And there you go. I haven't won an "art" contest since 1993 or so!! My winning card was featured ages ago during the DOTS years!! What a big kick for me. Thanks to those who voted for me!! I really appreciate it!

Weekend Stampin

I love getting together with my Heart 2 Heart *stampin* buds! Every 6 weeks -or so- we get together and make "stuff" A rag tag Close To My Heart bunch. They let me crash into their group and I'm the lucky one for sure!!

I'll be posting our goodies after I put my own little tweak on them. We made some delightful springtime samples with the Sophia paper pack. So, so pretty.

We share great ideas, laughter and friendship. I'm happy that I have gotten to know these Arizona ladies. From L to R is Chantelle, Pam, Kelly, Kelly, Sharon and Valerie. (Like a good blogger I'm taking the photo)!

The best part of my business isn't business...It's the other amazing, creative and interesting women that are part of my life. Lucky Lucky Me!!

March Stamp of the Month. Sensational Season D1454

This month's *Stamp of the Month* is a sweet bunny set that everybunny will love. It's a great set to use with watercolor pencils and/or chalks. Remember those?? I used the new Creative Basics "Wings" collection paper (x5812) and a clear card. (Which I love! Z1309) I stamped my images in Brown StazOn ink (Z1142) and I used watercolor pencils in greens and blues. I think they turned out pretty cute.

I learned how to create the cool *pleated ribbon* "flower" at Creative University. We made them in Nona's layout class. I'll be adding these fun flowers to future creations for sure.

That's all for now. I'm off to IHOP! Today is FREE pancake day!! That's my idea of a sweet deal.

Last day for *FriendShip*

I have loved creating with this unique stamp set during February! On this card I stamped the large image tone on tone (desert sand) and then I used the new "spray pen" for added interest.
I used plain old water and tulip re-inker. It looks very cool indeed.

Rolled roses and some ribbon and *Tah-Da* it's a darling handmade creation.

You can still get this stamp set TODAY!! Order #d1453 on my website

Tomorrow will start a brand new *Stamp of the Month* to enjoy! Check back for more Stamp of the Month FUN!!

(Remember...There are BIG ships and small ships, but the BEST ship is FriendShip)

The real McCoy-finally!!

Here's my photo of the "Altered Clipboard" class that I taught as my project for Creative University this year. I painted a plain old clipboard with CTMH pearl paint (just the edges) and then created a layout to showcase one of Jenna's Sr. Class photos. (Can't believe she graduated in 2008!! Where does the time go??)

We learned how to make rolled roses, we ruffled some paper on the side of the photo mat and we stamped then embossed in clear detail powder to make the black flourish images pop with some shine to showcase the shiny beads on the ribbon. *wow!! that was one looong sentence!*

It turned out great and everyone added their own touch. Some gals liked the black side of the paper and went with that look. You can see Nona's interpretation of the project on http://nonapearl.blogspot.com/.

And there you go!

It's been a week since I returned from the cold and snowy north. As always *Creative University* was super fun. I actually completed most of the class projects and I did well with NOT over eating!! I'm finally getting this cropping stuff right. I know what works and what I need to do to make it worth the $$ and the trip. I had a fabulous time with some fabulous gals and I made some fabulous projects.

Stay tuned...I'll be posting all of my lovely creations!

You are a SweetHeart

Here are the sweet Valentine cards my friends created at our monthly get together. Lots of glitter, hearts and sweet sentiments. I love how they turned out.

Yes, that's a Martha punch. Just right for this time of year. (I can't help myself. A true addiction)!

I stamp-lifted this cute card from my awesome upline Sheri R. She gave it to me when I was at Team Builders last month. It has a matching *corner* bookmark-that I love as well!

I used the new 2" scallop punch to create this flower. I've seen the same flower using anywhere from 4 to 8 petals. The choice is yours. It's cute no matter how many fluffy petals you create.

Super simple and super easy. Ruffle some paper and it adds just the right touch. You could even "spritz" it for more color. Or keep it super simple and super sweet.

This card is for your friend that you just adore. Valentines Day is about the joy of love. Everybody loves somebody.

Happy a Happy Hearts Day.
I hope you spend it with someone you love.

Been BUSY!

I'll bet you're wondering where I go when I'm not posting regularly on my blog! Well, I'm here to tell you I am a busy, busy girl! I have been cutting and glue'n and glittering and my house can pass for chaos! It's a tulip paper and inks giant mess. Border punch leftovers and ribbon everywhere. I don't know when I can get to the clean up. But I will. Who needs to sleep?!

Nonetheless, I will be sharing some sweet Valentine Day cards with you, but first I want to give you a small tease of what I have coming up.

I am off to Idaho next week to spend some time at Creative University! I love getting to be cold for a few days and to spend time learning new cool creative stuff. WooHOO for Create *U*.
So if you're one of the "lucky" Creative University gals attending this year then these photos are for YOU! A quick peek at the project I'll be teaching.

If you're getting ready to pack be sure to bring your heat tool, some red tacky tape, a safety pin, and a small foam brush. Not to fret if you are missing these items. I'll have plenty to share.

If you like to "finish" your projects then be sure to bring a 4x6 photo portrait style (tall, not long). I used a darling photo of my daughter Jenna that we snapped for her *casual* Sr. class photos. It's super cute if I do say so my own self!

And there you go. I'm off to bake! It's on my to-do list today. Busy, busy, busy.

Be sure to check in for those sweet Valentines that my card club had a blast making.
See you soon!

Heart to Heart Arizona style!

Every so often I'm lucky enough to have a day off! Not just from work but from the other duties that call my name as well. That's the day I get to spend with the "Heart to Heart" group of gals. We're a bunch of local Close To My Heart consultants who like to get together and make cards, share ideas and have fun.

I'm thrilled that this group of women let me crash the party! The photo isn't the best (see my bananas? tissues?and mail? counter clutter-everywhere!) but I wanted to post our creations from this weekend. The best part? Other than the food and the friends is that I have *stample cards* to copy or to get inspiration for my clubs and workshops! Cool huh?


And here is Kelly English-Triggs beautiful 9 x9 art board creation. She was inspired by a project that I taught last year at Creative University! I'm thrilled she copied my little ole' project which I copied from my very talented down line Eileen W.

Imitation IS the sincerest form of flattery. A fantastic idea is hard to keep secret! I love going up to Camp Luther Haven and getting my groove on with some very creative types!. I'll be there again this year and I'm teaching a new project! Can't wait to show it off. I'll be posting the photos once I get back home.

If you live in the Phoenix area and want to get together and create, shoot me an email and I'll fill you in on the who, what, when and where of our next Heart to Heart gathering.

You'll love it!

Stamp Of The Month BLOG HOPPING!!

Here is my version of *Find Your Style* D1452 the January
Stamp of the Month.
I made a sweet little 6x6 decor item. Then I copied the sample card (sorta) from the Inspirations brochure.

I'm obviously a gal who likes balance. The card sample in the brochure is off center and set to the side. But I wanted a quick, easy card to create for workshops. It could easily go up a notch in embellishments and stamping. That's true for everything!

I dyed my sheer ribbon Juniper to match the paper pack. I use a sponge and a new juicy ink pad. I hold the ribbon on top of the ink pad with the sponge so I don't get my fingers all inky. I pull the ribbon on top of the pad as I push down on the sponge. Viola. I have ribbon to match all of my creations. And of course I add glitter - lots of glitter!

To finish off the project I added the sentiment behind the mounted photo. It's a great place to add your personal message as well.
Glitter around the edges ties it all together.
And there you go.

Be sure to order "Wings", The January 2011 "Workshop On The Go" G1016.
Get the Stamp Of the Month FREE when you order 4 additional items in the brochure.
Contact me today for a brochure or get all the details on my website. Denise.MyCTMH.com

Hope you enjoy BLOG HOPPING with ME and Fabulously Artsy Happy Paper Crafting Month.