Snowed In

I am not sure if you are aware that the East coast was hit with a whomping big snow storm.  We got about 20" of snow when all was said and done.  This picture is my youngest son going out to check out how deep the snow was.  This was on Saturday morning.  It had started snowing on Friday night around 8pm.  It did not stop snowing until 10pm on Saturday night.

The snow shovel.  I sure wish we had one of those gas powered snow blower things.  But no.  It was me and the shovel.  Of course my husband was on a business trip and not due home until Sunday night. Grrrr! Typical!!, but not his fault.  So Sunday morning I worked off my breakfast by shoveling a path to the car.

This was the path to the front door.  Major snow!  The kids loved it.  I was busy all day drying snow clothes, making hot chocolate and then redressing my munchkins into warmed and dried snow gear and sending them back outside to play. It was so much fun.

So, I will admit that after 3 days of being snowed in...they did not plow our street until Monday night around 8:30pm....I had had it.  Today I was out with all the other stir-crazy snow bound people doing the last minute shopping and grocery shopping.  I am pretty sure I forgot about 10 things off my list.  Dang it!

The up side...looks like we get a white Christmas this year.  That is not a common event in Virginia.

From my family to yours - 
Merry Christmas!!!!

Remember Kindergarten when you worn Dad's old shirt as a smock and you painted with bold color and broad strokes. How about 4th grade when you learned to fold a slightly smooshed paper crane. This was art. If you think about it we have been crafting since pre-school. For those of us who love paper, playing with scissors and glue and getting our fingers all inky, you will be thrilled to know that the month of January is dedicated to papercrafting. If you are a stamper, card-maker or scrapbooker - this month is for YOU!

To celebrate National Papercrafting Month Close To My Heart has designed a special kit just for you - Felicity.  The Felicity Collection features decorative die-cut paper, three gorgeous color schemes, and a D-size stamp set that include flowers, flourishes, argyle, birds, and an entire alphabet!

This collection has a retail value of $34.95 US/ $40.95 CAN. You can buy it outright, or get it free!

There are two ways to qualify for a FREE Felicity Collection:
Purchase a minimum of $60 US / $70 CAN in full-retail priced stamp sets (A, B, C, D, and E-size). (Excludes Stamp of the Month, Art & Soul®, Workshops on the Go™, and customizable (K) stamp sets.)

Place an order of $125/$145 CAN or more in full-retail priced Close To My Heart products.

Limit of one FREE kit per order.

Host a Home Gathering and get the Felicity Kit for FREE with a Home Gathering sales total of $400 US/ $470 CAN or more, and New Consultants who join Close To My Heart between January 1–31 will receive the package FREE in their New Consultant Kit. Shipping/handling and tax may apply.

Big, BIG Sale!!!

Hello everyone out there in Blogger Land, and a special hello to my four trusty followers! 

I have some really BIG news to share.

Close To My Heart is going to have a clearance sale.
The Holiday Heyday Clearance Sale begins Wednesday, December 2, at 9 a.m. (MT) and continues through Thursday, December 17 (11:59 p.m. MT) or while product supplies last!


Get all your holiday shopping done in one spot this year with our online clearance sale! Many items are 50% off, with some discounted as much as 80% off regular retail. The selection is incredible, too!

Beginning December 2, you’ll want to get in on the amazing deals like My Acrylix® stamp sets from $2 and My Reflections® paper packets from $5. But that’s not all—we have “grab bags” for $30, each filled with over $100 in retail products! Plus, great shipping deals on orders over $100.

Sale has quantities restricted to FIVE per item to provide a smooth shopping experience for all customers.

Note that clearance items may not be combined with regular-priced items in a single shopping cart, and clearance purchases are not eligible for any Constant Campaign qualification or Stamp of the Month.

In order to shop this sale you MUST shop directly through my Close To My Heart website at http://www.tambur.myctmh.com/. If you have never shopped directly through my site, don't fear, it is really easy. You simply set up your account, and then you go shopping. There should be a special Heyday Clearance section set up on Wednesday.

What a great opportunity to stock up on all your scrapping/stamping supplies. Good luck, happy shopping and be creative!

Favors

Last Sunday I was a guest at a home shopping open house. There were many home based business represented there. I may not be able to compete with Pampered Chef with goodies to eat, but I certainly thrilled them with chocolate. More importantly the guest loved the presentation of their treat. I made this little matchbook card and had the chocolate tucked inside. A perfect party favor.

Thankful Thanksgiving

Tomorrow is a wonderful day. A day that we set aside each year to give thanks for the many blessings we have been given. There are so many wonderful things about this special day, namely the three F's; family, food and football. That is only partially true. There is much more to it than that. This link has all of my words and thoughts captured in a far more moving way than I could ever convey.



Happy Thanksgiving!

Jingle All the Way

http://www.tambur.myctmh.com/

December's Workshop On The Go - Jingle

I LOVE these scrapbook/card making kits all rolled into one. Just click here to see what the kit looks like for only $29.95 (a $5-$6 savings over purchasing separately) Plus you get all-inclusive instructions for new patterns not in any of our 'how to' books AND an exclusive 'collectors' stamp set not available in our Idea Book/catalog!

Basic Kit
	Product
	Jingle Basic Workshop Kit (includes): Jingle Level 2 Paper Packet My Acrylix® Somethin’ Special Twinkle Brads Jolly Assortment Workshop Guide
	You Pay:	$29.95
Follow the included step-by-step instructions to create the two workshop projects featured in the workshop guide: a two-page layout and six cards (2 each of 3 designs). Layout and card patterns are Jeanette Lynton originals created exclusively for this workshop. To create the fully embellished projects, purchase the following accessories (sold separately): Best Option = Basic Kit + Accessories
Z1209	Designer Ribbon Rounds™ Cranberry Collection	$7.95
Z1226	Dimensional Elements On Target	$5.95

Remember that this Workshop On The Go has more than enough product in it to make two 2 page spreads, and cards.  With leftovers.  I promise! 

Have a good one!

T.

Thankful

Because we homeschool I try and do something that is both fun and focused on each season and holiday.  We have one wall that we use as a type of 'bulletin board'. This year we have a Thankful Tree.  We have a bunch of felt leaves that we write our thankfuls on.  I wanted to capture this years thankfuls on a layout so we can remember the many blessings that we have. 

On this layout I used a piece of textured cardstock in Bamboo.  The stamped leaves are from Flourished Blessings.  I stamped them on  Twightlight cardstock using Indian Corn Blue ink and then clear embossed them.  I wanted them to be a little darker and have some texture and shine.  Love that technique!  (If you want to see this demostrated go to my website and click on CTMH TV - the October episode Beware covers this technique.)

A little blurry shot.  But I also clear embossed over the Thanks.  I wanted that to pop.  I used two strips from some scraps I had from the Grace Level 2 paper packet.

I used a Topcoat overlay and attached it with brads, both in Colonial White, over the tree in the center.  I wanted that to be the main focus of my LO.   And as always I inked the edges of everything using Chocolate ink.

Mark Your Calendars

I am really excited about this crop day.  If you are local, within driving distance of Culpeper, Virginia, I would love to see you there.  I will be one of the vendors and a fellow cropper.  I am really looking forward to it.

Hope to see you there.

Some more Twitterpated...I know!

(Twitterpated paper, Heartfelt Die Cuts, Top Coats, Brads and I lifted this layout from the Autumn/Winter IB, pg. 69)

These pictures were taken on October 31.  I remember it well....

My bestest friend organized a day out at the pumpkin farm.  We had so much fun.  What made the day more special was the fact that this was the second to last day of the season.  One more day and then no more pumpkin pickin', bye-bye corn maze and adios hay rides.  The end of the fall feastivities.  This always marks the end of fun fall days and the beginning of 'Oh-my-goodness-Thanksgiving-is-right-around-the-corner!!!-and-then-we-have-to-get-ready-for-C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S!!!'  Although I am sure I am the only one that feels slightly overwhelmed  on November 1st.

(Black and Daisy White Cardstock, Beware Stamp set, and Demensional Elements On Target)

Here are 3 McMunchkins + 1  bud (but minus my oldest one - to old to Trick-or-Treat -so he told me).  Shane was the scarecrow, Karissa was a Zebra and Evan was Davy Crockett.  I even made him research his character - homeschoolers!

(October Stamp of the Month: Holiday Warmth, Dimensional Elements On Target)

Last Christmas season my bestest friend organized the first annual 'For the Birds' party.  We had the kiddos make edible ornaments (for the birds)  to decorate the trees outdoors just for the birds (maybe a squirrel or two).  It was a blast.  I am really looking forward to the second annual 'For the Birds' soiree.

(oh, yeah - white embossing powder)

Just a detail shot. 

Any questions or comments are most welcome.

Have a good one!

New Episode

Have you seen the  new episode of Art & Soul.  You can view it at my website.  Enjoy!

Thank You

I lift up all of our soldiers both past and present who so willing serve this great country. The sacrifice and service you give to and for us is simply amazing.  Having lived overseas several times in my life I can truly say that we live in a fantastic country.  We have much to be thankful for.

Thanks Dad! So, so proud to be an Army Brat.

Retiring Stamp Sets

The following is a list of stamps sets that are heading into retirement. Each stamp set is linked so you can take a look at it.  Remember Stampaganza - buy 2, get one free - is going on for the month of November.  This would be a great way to get some of these sets before they are no longer available. 

A1083-WHIMSY

A1090-SUMMER' S WAVE
A1094-MAKE MY DAY
A1097-NO GREATER LOVE
A1100-Boo-tiful
B1210-FLUTTER
B1213-LITTLE ANGEL
B1256-ALFRESCO
B1265-WONDERFUL CHARMS
B1270-BELOVED BLOSSOMS
B1271-SUMMER PICNIC
B1274-CELEBRATION BLOCKS
B1276-DINO ROAR
B1279-LIFE IS A PARTY
B1280-BEST OF TIMES
B1281-HALLOW SCREAM
B1282-SENSATIONAL SEALS
B1283 -LITTLE SPOOKS
B1299-SPRING EQUINOX
B1300-LUCKY YOU
B1301-SOFTBALL
B1303-GOLDEN YEARS
B1304-GYMNASTICS
B1310-Volleyball
B1312-Make A Wish
B1317-Shalom
C1190-Believe Lowercase
C1191-CALENDAR
C1205-WHIMSY CAPS
C1206-WH IMSY LOWERCASE
C1247-SIMPLE BLOSSOMS
C1256-LITTLE BOYS
C1259-BECAUSE I LOVE YOU
C1263 -CHARM UPPERCASE
C1265-CHARM LOWERCASE & NUMBERS
C1267-EASTER EXCITEMENT
C1268-VALENTINE EXCHANGE
C1269-FABRIC FINISHES
C1270-PURE LOVE
C1271 -TREASURES OF THE HEART
C1273-AHOY MATEY
C1274-NATURE WALK
C1275-SAFARI
C1276-ADVENTURE
C1279-ROUGHIN' IT
C1280-OUT WEST
C1281-CARD COMMENTARY
C1283-DANCING DREAMS
C1284-WILD THING
C1285-VICTORIAN SNOW FLAKE
C1286-GOODNESS OF LIFE
C1287-CELEBRATE LIFE
C1289-WARM MEMORIES
C1290-MEMORY LABELS
C1294-SWEET TREATS
C1295-WINTER PLAY
C1296-COLOR MY WORLD
C1298-PARTY INVITATION
C1301-THING OF BEAUTY
C1302-BOUTIQUE NUMBERS
C1303-PLACEMENT GUIDE
C1306-Genuine Country
C1309-Decorative Dainties
C1312-United We Stand
C1314-Tool Time
C1319-Laughter
C1320-Just Arrived
C1321-Solos Punctuation
C1325-Wonderful Holiday
C1327-Snowflake Kisses
C1329-Homeward Bound
C1330-Winter Fun
C1331-Santa' s Flight
C1332-Merry Wishes
C1334-The Season Defined
C1335-Ring in the New Year
D1063-SWEET TALK
D1082-MADE BY ME
D1083-Believe Caps
D1085-HAPPY EASTER
D1110-GIVE THANKS
D1131-RITZY RIBBON
D1139-SMALL PLEASURES
D1141-SO SWEET SEASONS
D1151-OFF ROAD
D1154-LOVE IN BLOOM
D1160-FRIENDSHIP FLOWERS
D1164-THE GOOD LIFE
D1167-Halloween Parade
D1168-SCHOOL ZONE
D1169-BIRTHDAY SURPRISE
D1178-CHRISTMAS GREETINGS
D1181-AUTUMN SPLENDOR
D1182-IT'S A PARTY
D1183-ADORABLE
D1184-FLYIN' HIGH
D1186-RUSTIC FLOWERS
D1189-FLORAL DELIGHTS
D1192-NOW AND FOREVER
D1193-VINTAGE VALENTINES
D1199-COME UNTO ME
D1205-NEW HORIZONS
D1209-LOVE FLOURISHES
D1210-MOMENTS
D1213-HUNTING
D1215-GAME NIGHT
D1216-FINISH LINE
D1218-SUMMERTIME
D1220-TYPEWRITER KEYS
D1223-FAIR BLOSSOMS
D1228-CHILLIN'
D1229-FABULOUS FALL
D1230-CELEBRATION FEAST
D1231-LOVELY BUCKLES
D1232-NATURE' S VEIN
D1233-POWER PLAY
D1234 -TAKE FLIGHT
D1235-TICKET FOR ALL SEASONS
D1236-NURSERY BASH
D1238-A BIRTHDAY WISH
D1240-DOODLE ART
D1241-WINTER WONDER
D1246-SWEET LOVE
D1253-FRIENDSHIP' S FLIGHT
D1256-ALL STAR
D1264-ANGEL WHISPERS
D1268-JANUARY WORD PUZZLE
D1269-FEBRUARY WORD PUZZLE
D1270-MARCH WORD PUZZLE
D1271-APRIL WORD PUZZLE
D1272-SLUMBER PARTY
D1273-TEE TIME
D1274-BELIEVE IN ME
D1277-Touchdown
D1278-Best Shot
D1279-Shootin' Hoops
D1282-He Said, She Said
D1287-May Word Puzzle
D1288-June Word Puzzle
D1289-July Word Puzzle
D1290-August Word Puzzle
D1291-Celebrate Canada
D1295-Vintage Canada
D1310-September Word Puzzle
D1311-October Word Puzzle
D1312-November Word Puzzle
D1313-December Word Puzzle
D1314-Friendship Patch
D1318-Uniquely You
D1321-Festivities
D1323-Happy Christmas
D1325-Argyle Backgrounds
D1328-Post Marked
E1001-Essential Alphabet
E1003 -BOUTIQUE ALPHABET
E1004-COBBLESTONE ALPHABET
MBERS
A1090-SUMMER' S WAVE
A1094-MAKE MY DAY
A1097-NO GREATER LOVE
A1100-Boo-tiful
B1210-FLUTTER
B1213-LITTLE ANGEL
B1256-ALFRESCO
B1265-WONDERFUL CHARMS
B1270-BELOVED BLOSSOMS
B1271-SUMMER PICNIC
B1274-CELEBRATION BLOCKS
B1276-DINO ROAR
B1279-LIFE IS A PARTY
B1280-BEST OF TIMES
B1281-HALLOW SCREAM
B1282-SENSATIONAL SEALS
B1283 -LITTLE SPOOKS
B1299-SPRING EQUINOX
B1300-LUCKY YOU
B1301-SOFTBALL
B1303-GOLDEN YEARS
B1304-GYMNASTICS
B1310-Volleyball
B1312-Make A Wish
B1317-Shalom
C1190-Believe Lowercase
C1191-CALENDAR
C1205-WHIMSY CAPS
C1206-WH IMSY LOWERCASE
C1247-SIMPLE BLOSSOMS
C1256-LITTLE BOYS
C1259-BECAUSE I LOVE YOU
C1263 -CHARM UPPERCASE
C1265-CHARM LOWERCASE & NUMBERS
C1267-EASTER EXCITEMENT
C1268-VALENTINE EXCHANGE
C1269-FABRIC FINISHES
C1270-PURE LOVE
C1271 -TREASURES OF THE HEART
C1273-AHOY MATEY
C1274-NATURE WALK
C1275-SAFARI
C1276-ADVENTURE
C1279-ROUGHIN' IT
C1280-OUT WEST
C1281-CARD COMMENTARY
C1283-DANCING DREAMS
C1284-WILD THING
C1285-VICTORIAN SNOW FLAKE
C1286-GOODNESS OF LIFE
C1287-CELEBRATE LIFE
C1289-WARM MEMORIES
C1290-MEMORY LABELS
C1294-SWEET TREATS
C1295-WINTER PLAY
C1296-COLOR MY WORLD
C1298-PARTY INVITATION
C1301-THING OF BEAUTY
C1302-BOUTIQUE NUMBERS
C1303-PLACEMENT GUIDE
C1306-Genuine Country
C1309-Decorative Dainties
C1312-United We Stand
C1314-Tool Time
C1319-Laughter
C1320-Just Arrived
C1321-Solos Punctuation
C1325-Wonderful Holiday
C1327-Snowflake Kisses
C1329-Homeward Bound
C1330-Winter Fun
C1331-Santa' s Flight
C1332-Merry Wishes
C1334-The Season Defined
C1335-Ring in the New Year
D1063-SWEET TALK
D1082-MADE BY ME
D1083-Believe Caps
D1085-HAPPY EASTER
D1110-GIVE THANKS
D1131-RITZY RIBBON
D1139-SMALL PLEASURES
D1141-SO SWEET SEASONS
D1151-OFF ROAD
D1154-LOVE IN BLOOM
D1160-FRIENDSHIP FLOWERS
D1164-THE GOOD LIFE
D1167-Halloween Parade
D1168-SCHOOL ZONE
D1169-BIRTHDAY SURPRISE
D1178-CHRISTMAS GREETINGS
D1181-AUTUMN SPLENDOR
D1182-IT'S A PARTY
D1183-ADORABLE
D1184-FLYIN' HIGH
D1186-RUSTIC FLOWERS
D1189-FLORAL DELIGHTS
D1192-NOW AND FOREVER
D1193-VINTAGE VALENTINES
D1199-COME UNTO ME
D1205-NEW HORIZONS
D1209-LOVE FLOURISHES
D1210-MOMENTS
D1213-HUNTING
D1215-GAME NIGHT
D1216-FINISH LINE
D1218-SUMMERTIME
D1220-TYPEWRITER KEYS
D1223-FAIR BLOSSOMS
D1228-CHILLIN'
D1229-FABULOUS FALL
D1230-CELEBRATION FEAST
D1231-LOVELY BUCKLES
D1232-NATURE' S VEIN
D1233-POWER PLAY
D1234 -TAKE FLIGHT
D1235-TICKET FOR ALL SEASONS
D1236-NURSERY BASH
D1238-A BIRTHDAY WISH
D1240-DOODLE ART
D1241-WINTER WONDER
D1246-SWEET LOVE
D1253-FRIENDSHIP' S FLIGHT
D1256-ALL STAR
D1264-ANGEL WHISPERS
D1268-JANUARY WORD PUZZLE
D1269-FEBRUARY WORD PUZZLE
D1270-MARCH WORD PUZZLE
D1271-APRIL WORD PUZZLE
D1272-SLUMBER PARTY
D1273-TEE TIME
D1274-BELIEVE IN ME
D1277-Touchdown
D1278-Best Shot
D1279-Shootin' Hoops
D1282-He Said, She Said
D1287-May Word Puzzle
D1288-June Word Puzzle
D1289-July Word Puzzle
D1290-August Word Puzzle
D1291-Celebrate Canada
D1295-Vintage Canada
D1310-September Word Puzzle
D1311-October Word Puzzle
D1312-November Word Puzzle
D1313-December Word Puzzle
D1314-Friendship Patch
D1318-Uniquely You
D1321-Festivities
D1323-Happy Christmas
D1325-Argyle Backgrounds
D1328-Post Marked
E1001-Essential Alphabet
E1003 -BOUTIQUE ALPHABET
E1004-COBBLESTONE ALPHABET

Having Fun with Picnik

All in good fun I thought I would share something pretty neat.  Now keep in mind I was going with a Halloween theme, but you can use this software for prettier and sweeter things.

In honor of the Beware stamp set that I have been using so much of lately. I went to Picnik and uploaded my picture. The original pic is below. The standard edits are free. However, I used the premium package which you pay for.  You can pay by month or annually.  An annual subscription is $25.  Using the premium package I was able to tweak my photo into the super scary one above.

This is a nice fall photo I took today.  I was totally amazed at all the leaves on the ground.  Using this photo I uploaded to Picnik and turned the lovely fall leaves in to some spooky night leaves......oh, and a happy pumpkin. If you want to see another example pop over to my family life blog.