My Scrappy Life

Moving my blog. . .

2009-12-18T09:44:00.002-06:00

I am in the process of moving my Blog to www.meredithburgess.blogspot.com

I will not delete this blog for awhile, so you can still find the link.

I couldn't keep up with two and meredithburgess is so much easier to tell people!

Why didn't I think of that when I started my first blog??

I have been thinking about doing this for a long time. . . .

I guess now is the time to get it done!

All new posts will be found at the new blog. . . Click here to go there now

Star Album Instructions.

2009-12-16T10:17:00.002-06:00

We made these adorable Star Albums at our December Club Class. . .

by the way, which was a lot of fun!!!

Here are the instructions. . .

You need 7 4 x6 1/2 pieces of colored cardstock

You need 7 4 x 5 1/2 pieces of colored cardstock.

These pieces will be your inside and outside, so you can use the same color and save yourself some cardstock!
The best way to do this is to cut 7 4 x 12 pieces of colored cardstock. . . now cut them once at the 5 1/2 mark. . .

You will now have 7 pieces of 4 x 6 1/2 and 7 pieces of 4 x 5 1/2

Now cut 4 4x 12 pieces of white cardstock. . .or whatever color you are using. . . cut these pieces in half to make 8 4 x6 pieces. . .you only need 7.

Fold EVERY piece of cardstock in half and make three piles for each size.

next, decorate your smallest colored cardstock piece. . . 5 1/2x4 however you would like.

Adhering your pieces together might be tricky without pictures to help explain. . .

I will try, but look for pictures to come soon!!!

Pick up one white (or middle) piece of cardstock. . . . 4x6. . . .hold it like it is a book open with the fold in the middle going up and down. . . just like you are looking at an open book. . . now flip it over and put two strips of adhesive along the outer sides only. Not the top or bottom. . . . just along the outsides of the piece.

Pick up your largest piece of colored cardstock like it is an open book also. . . .line up one side of the white piece with the side of the larger piece. Make sure the edges are flush. . . then adhere the other side the same way. The middle will not be glued down and there will be a gap. . . That is what you want!!!!

Now adhere the smaller piece of colored cardstock that you have decorated, the exact same way to the top of the white piece!

Do all of the pieces this way.

Once you have them all done, you will now adhere the backs of the largest piece of colored cardstock to the other pieces. Put a fair amount of ahesive all along the back. . .avoiding the fold line. . .glue all of the pieces together until you have your book made. Leave one end open so it will fold up like a book!!!!

Like I said. . . pictures to come soon. . . .

Workshop Rewards Top 5. . . .

2009-12-09T18:52:00.002-06:00

Here are the top 5 points leaders for this month's Jingle Workshop, which will be held this Saturday!!!!

in no particular order. . .

Melanie L
Melissa S
Marsha P
Martha F
Kali E
Gloria C
Susie D

Ok, so that was the top 7. . .I promise I can count!!!!

But, there was a tie. . . and these points can change!!!!

I will add attended the workshop and brought a friend to these totals. . . plus additional orders can still be added.

There will be two winners for this workshop as well. . . .

And I will be giving away a free Around the Block Stamp set for one lucky attendee!!!!

Have questions about how Workshop Rewards work?? Click on the link to the right OR Contact me!!!!

And on another note. . . .I just love this weather. . . I know, crazy. I really don't love the cold. . . .

BUT. . . these cold, snowy days are the only time of year that we can spend the days inside as a family.

My husband will leave to check things out for a little bit, but we never have him home this much. . .

it is so nice. . . .no where to go. . . .playing games. . . .and spending quality time together!!! That is why I love these cold, snowy days!!!

Sweet Home WOTG Kit

2009-12-03T09:43:00.006-06:00

The featured Scrapbook Layout. . . .I will be using a different alphabet font on my layout

The featured cards you can make with this kit. . . .there are step-by-step instructions to make 2 of each card.

This is the additional Layout that is shown in the instruction brochure. . .

This is an additional card you can make from the kit. . . .

PLUS there are tons of supplies leftover for you to make your own creations!!!!!

Order your kit by Dec. 5 to be considered for Workshop Rewards. . . .

OR

order your kit anytime before DEC. 31, 2009 . . . .

all of the Fall/Winter WOTG Kits will no longer be available after that date!

Clearance Sale Starts at 10am. . . .

2009-12-02T08:49:00.002-06:00

Click on this link to see pictures of all the great things in this Sale!!!!!!!

I really can't believe the deals!!!!

A lot of GREAT items for Extremely Low Prices!!!!

A great time to stock up!!!

Let me know if you have any questions!!!

mereburgess@gmail.com

December Newsletter

2009-12-01T14:31:00.000-06:00

Click here to see my December Newsletter

Huge Blow-Out Sale starts Tomorrow 12/2!

2009-12-01T09:00:00.003-06:00

Click here to see the flyer for this sale

Click here to see the list of items in this sale!

Click here to go to my website to SHOP the sale starting 12/2!!!!!

Stamp sets starting at $2. . . .

Items 50-80% off their original price!!!

Savings on Shipping as well!!!!!

Lots of great favorites on this list. . . .check it out and grab some great deals for Christmas Gifts or just for yourself!!!!!!

What a perfect day!!!

2009-11-29T15:47:00.005-06:00

in the picture. . . my sister, Melissa. . . . .me. . . . and my sister's sister-in-law and my good friend, Angie.

Sun shining. . . 60 degrees plus. . . good friends and family. . . and a Missouri Tigers Win over arch rival Kansas!!!!!!

It was a nail biter. . .coming down to the last 4 seconds and a field goal to win the game!!!!

This border show-down is held at Chief's Arrowhead Stadium in KC. . . this is the 3rd year for it.

In 2007. . . .MU won, but it was one of the coldest nights of the year. . .but one of the best games I have ever been to. . . MU was ranked #1 in the nation after that game. . .If Kansas had won, they would have been #1.

In 2008. . . .KU won. . . it was cold and it rained/sleeted/snowed the entire game. . .luckily we were under the overhang from the section above, so we stayed relatively dry. Still a pretty good time.

And 2009. . . .MU won. . . we were due an absolutely perfect day after the previous two years. . . .

already looking forward to 2010!!!!!

I love that my sister, cousins, and many friends all go to this game together!!!! Even a few of our Jayhawk family members and friends also attend. . . .that is what makes it fun!!!!! I love the tradition of this. . . .hopefully they will keep having the Border Showdown. . . and hopefully we will be able to go every year!!!!!!

Goodie bag and Thank You card. . .

2009-11-19T09:58:00.003-06:00

Here is one of the make and takes from the Crop and Shop this past weekend. . .

All supplies were CTMH. . .Twitterpated Paper, Brown button, Chocolate Ink, Thank You Stamp set, Many Thanks stamp set, Colonial White Ribbon, Sorbet Reinker, paint brush, sponge.

This is the goodie bag all of the croppers received. . .it was filled with some special little goodies for them to enjoy!

CTMH Supplies: Juniper Cardstock, homemade pearl mist, Thanks Stamp set, Juniper ink, Sizzix Snowflake die, Scallop Spellbinders die.

Crop & Shop 2009

2009-11-16T12:01:00.002-06:00

Sam playing Deal or No Deal. . . .loved the enthusiasm of the contestants!!

We had a lot of fun this past weekend at our 3rd Annual Crop and Shop for a CURE! So far we have raised around $600 for our local Relay for Life Chapter. Not as much as last year, which was over $900. But, every little bit helps!!

Thank you to everyone who came out and supported us!! We really appreciate it!!

And to the clean up crew. . . we would still be there if it wasn't for you all!! It is so nice to have such good friends!

We are already thinking about next year. . . things we can do different. . . things we can do better!! If you have any suggestions, please pass them my way!!!!!

And we will be forming a Crop & Shop Committee. . .if you are interested in helping out. . .please let me know!!

Felt

2009-11-06T07:44:00.005-06:00

I love CTMH's new Heart Felt die-cut . . here is the Whimsy Collection. . . . Look at ALL of the shapes you get!!! The colors are Butttercup, Garden Green, an Tulip!!! The other colection, Wonder, has Chocolate, Olive, and Twilight!!!

It is hard to tell how many shapes you actually get from the small picture in the Idea Book. . . .so I thought I would punch them out.

Pretty quickly I had a helper. . . helping me punch out all of the shapes!! Look. . . he is concentrating so hard, he even has his tongue stuck out!

He was determined to get them all done. . .one small shape at a time!

There are SO many fun things you can do with felt!! I am working on a couple of cards right now. Come check out my artwork I will have ready at the Crop & Shop next weekend in Richmond! OR check here afterwards to see pictures!!!

Baby Album

2009-11-03T12:15:00.003-06:00

All Supplies CTMH unless otherwise noted. . . I used Animal Cookies Paper Pack, Animal Cookies Stickease, white daisy ric rac, buttons, white daisy embellishment assortment, assorted buttons, natural hemp, and a 9x9 Memory Show case accordion album.

I started this little accordion album for my cousin Sara's little boy Connor. He was born in June and I am just now getting it finished! It really was easy to do. . . just finding the time to do it seemed to be the problem. These accordion albums make great gifts!!

Jingle

2009-11-02T07:50:00.004-06:00

this months WOTG kit.

Order by date: Friday, Nov 6 (to be considered for Workshop rewards.

OR order your kit anytime.

Workshop Date: Sat. Dec. 12 9am-10pm . . . come anytime to put your kit together

Basic Kit: 29.95
includes: Jingle Paper Pack
Jingle Glitter Brads
Exclusive Stamp Set (available in this Kit ONLY!)
and a Full-color Instruction brochure with 4 Scrapbook Layouts and 6 Card ideas. . . plus plenty of leftovers for your own projects!

Add-ons
Cranberry Ribbon 7.95
On Target Dimensional Elements 5.95
*projects are shown using these items

The kits are a great value. . .with lots of fun supplies! Order your kit and complete it on your own or join us for the workshop!
Live out of town?
No Problem!
The Kit can be shipped directly to you!

Contact me for details!

School Halloween Party. . .

2009-11-02T07:44:00.003-06:00

Brady had his first school party this week!!

Here a a couple of pictures.

He loves school and I am so glad!

Eli (my nephew) the boxer, Laney the tiger, and Brady the frontiersman or Davey Crockett or Daniel Boone or a Raccoon as my nephew said and Brady did not like!

A Whole Hand Full. . . .

2009-10-31T16:03:00.010-05:00

Brady's Birthday party was this past Sunday. . .I am still recovering. Even though we decided to keep it somewhat simple this year, since harvest is not over. . .nothing is ever really simple. It was a rainy, cold afternoon for a birthday party. So no hayride or bonfire. But the bright side is most of the farmer Dads got to attend. . .and almost every Dad in my family is a farmer. . .funny how that works! Brady's birthday being a few days before Halloween and seeing how we raise pumpkins. . .we pretty much always have a Fall/Halloween theme to the party. . . but he always has something else in mind too. This year it was a Cat tractor party. Last year it was Smokey and the Bandit. . . though he liked the truck driver more than the Bandit. I guess big trucks are cooler than Trans Ams. . . anyway. . . . Brady thought it was really a milestone that he is a whole hand full now. . .ya know . .. five fingers old. . . I said, yeah. . . you really are a handful now!!!

Here are some pictures from the party. . .

treats my Mom made and about forgot to give to the kids. . .

The Cat Tractor Cake. . . not a beauty, but a step up from last year. Still have to work on the icing not running. I see why people purchase cakes! Nothing is easy and it makes a really big mess!

The Pinata my mother-in-law made. It seems like a crime to let the kids bash it in! She has made a bat, ghost, pumpkin, and now a witch! All were works of art!

All the kids painting pumpkins. . .we do this every year. I wonder when they will get tired of it?

Miss Ella painting her pumpkin

Brady blowing out candles

Brady counting the five candles on his cake

the castle my Sister built for Ella's first Birthday Princess Party! It worked great as a Haunted Castle too!

the whole gang of cousins. . .a couple were missing. . .when they are all together it really is a gang!

Christmas IS coming early. . . .

2009-10-23T23:34:00.003-05:00

Yes, that is right. . . . .it is time once again for Close to My Heart's famous. . .

Stampaganza Campaign!

We haven't seen this campaign for quite sometime. . . .

and we never know when or if we might see it again.

But, all November long. . . .you can buy two stamp sets and receive one stamp set for FREE!!!

It is my most favorite campaign.

This is the BEST time to get those stamp sets you have had your eye on!!!

Retreat Classes.

2009-10-21T07:58:00.005-05:00

Some of you have been asking about the classes that will be offered at our Retreat in January.

Well, that information is now posted at http://www.creativeheartsretreat.blogspot.com
Classes are completely optional.

There will be a separate meeting room where all classes will be held.

Most classes will require pre-registration and payment.

We hope to receive some information from you right now. . .what classes are you interested in? We might ditch some of the classes if there isn't any interest in them!

Haven't signed up for the retreat yet?? Maybe the class list will tempt you!!!! Registration is still open through Dec. 1!!

OK. . . .

now go to the blog. . . . . .

check out the classes. . . . . . . .

and let us know what classes interest YOU!!!!!!

Don't see a class on the list that you would like to take? Email me and we will get it on there!!!!

Grace.

2009-10-14T16:16:00.004-05:00

The featured Kit this month is Grace!!!

The beautiful artwork above is done with the Grace papers, Childhood Portrait Stamp set, Dimensional Elements, and lots of fun stuff!!!

The largest Pumpkin in Missouri. . .

2009-10-07T14:11:00.003-05:00

was grown by my Mother-in-law Nancy!!!! It weighed in at 1012 pounds. . . but only received 2nd place at the Pumpkin weigh off in Republic MO last weekend! A guy from the Chicago area brought in a pumpkin that weighed 1060 pounds, so he received 1st place!!! Though Nancy can still lay claim to the largest pumpkin in Missouri. . . AND she still has the record for the largest pumpkin ever grown in Missouri. . . 1244 pounds. . . which she set last year!! Hey, you can't have a recored EVERY year!!! She was very excited to have her pumpkin reach the 1000 pound mark. . . that is a definite feat!!!

I am working on our club project for this Sunday's class!! I was hoping to have it done, so I could post it by now. . . but no such luck!!! Giant and normal sized pumpkins have gotten in the way!!!!

2009-09-29T09:05:00.010-05:00

My Sister's Birthday was Saturday and this is the card I made for her!!! Even had it done a day early!!! I sold pumpkins and she attended a great auction with my Mom. . . funny, they were buying me things on her birthday!!! Though, she got plenty of things too!!! I had fun selling pumpkins. . . but it always pains me to hear about a great auction I am missing!! I don't get to go to very many, but I do love to go!

These are the BIG pumpkins. . . but not the Giants. These weigh around 400 pounds a piece and some friends of ours sell them for my Mother-in-law. Moose and his wife, Gwen, pick these up by themselves!!!! And they are HEAVY!! They use a special rug type thing, that makes it easier, but still not easy!!! Moose was very proud of this load. . .the first of the season! The Giant Pumpkin this year will be weighed next weekend! We hope it at least weighs 1,000 pounds. . . not as heavy as last years, but hey. . . you can't have a Missouri State Record Every year!!!! I just hope she wins again!!!!

Pictures from Alisha Harrison's The Settlement Circle of Friends Sale last Saturday. We sell pumpkins there and other come and sell their Primitives and Antiques! We were crazy busy. . . everyone loves my Mother-in-laws weird pumpkins, gourds, corn braids, and the dried and stained items! She really does a good job!!! Next weekend, we will be at the Lexington Apple, Art, and Antiques Festival with our stuff!!!

I looked at this Postmaster's Box several times. . .the lady came down in price. . . so I bought it. And I love it!!! In this picture it is actually upside down. . . and my little boy think it is his. . .notice the toys he has already lodged inside a couple of compartments. I will add a picture later of it set up. . or somewhat set up. . .and Brady still has some of his stuff lodged in the cubbies. . .but no toys allowed!

a little picnic cooler that I thought about all day . . I decided if it was still there, then it was mine!

And a friend of mine asked me to take her daughter's Senior Pictures. We had our first shoot this past Thursday and this is my favorite of the bunch. . . I don't think it was the Mom's favorite, but there a bunch of great shots to choose from!! Emily is a very pretty girl and did a fantastic job posing!!! I was a bit nervous for my first. . . .kind of. . .semi-serioius shoot and I think it went great!!! We are going to meet again to take some photos out at her house. . . I hope it goes just as well!!!!

Childhood Portrait and Grace

2009-09-23T08:29:00.001-05:00

My second post for the day!!! I am finally getting some artwork posted!!!!

I made this card using the new Childhood Portrait stamp set. . . one of my favorites!!!! And the new Grace Paper Pack. . . the papers are absolutely beautiful!!!!!!

I also used: Chocolate Ink, Garnet ink, Rustic Edge Anchors, and a sponge for distressing!!!

Twitterpated Workshop

2009-09-23T08:16:00.003-05:00

These are the extra two layouts from our Twitterpated Workshop the other night!!! I had such a good time and I hope everryone else did too!!! It is GREAT to get back in the swing of things!!! I missed all of my scrapbooking buddies!!!!

Each kit now has one focus layout and one other layout. . . for a total of four pages. It also gives you 6 different card designs.

I also will have additional artwork made with the kit . . . to help give you more ideas on what you can do with your left over product. . . because there is always lots leftover!!!

My only suggestion might be. . . .to have extra cardstock on hand. . . for bases for your scrapbook pages and cards. . . usually the neutrals are used first. A lot of times the base of the page isn't even seen. . . so any color would work!! I always bring part of my cardstock stash along. . . in case you need more cardstock!!!!

Our next Workshop on the Go (WOTG) Kit will be GRACE. Orders are due by Oct. 2 AND the workshop will be Friday, OCT. 16 at the Richmond United Christian Presbyterian Church. . . .we won't be in Camden in October!!!! Don't forget!!!

I forget my camera. . .

2009-09-16T10:11:00.002-05:00

My Grandma Fern and I canned salsa yesterday. We had a wonderful time chatting and working. . . the hours seemed to fly by!! We do get to see a lot of each other, now that she lives in Richmond. . . but it was so nice spending the day. . .just the two of us. . . me trying to soak up all of the knowledge she has and these precious moments. I am very lucky to have a young Grandma and hopefully I will have her for many years to come!!! Her mother, my Great-Grandma, lived to be 93 and I knew her pretty well!!!

I knew this day was going to be a treasure. . . something I have looked forward to ever since she mentioned that she wanted to move to the Richmond area. One of my best friends called yesterday and asked what I was doing. . . I told her, "canning with my Grandma." She had to tell me that she lost her beloved Grandma the same day. She told me to treasure these moments. . . .and believe me, I do.

But. . . I forgot my camera. I wanted to document our day with a few snapshots. . .especially to document all of our hard work that we will be enjoying this winter. But, I left it at home. My car was completely loaded yesterday. . . Brady could barely get in and out. . . it was full of tomatoes, canning paraphernalia, stuff for our AIM meeting, and a couple scrapbooking orders. I guess I just couldn't remember one little camera with all of that stuff. . .

hopefully we will do this again soon!!! We didn't even make a dent in all of the tomatoes I brought to her. She was going to work on making juice today.

She is in absolute heaven with all of the produce we have around here.

She has really missed having a garden and all of the wonderful things that come from it.

I am so glad to be able to learn some things from her. . . .and she doesn't even realize what she is doing most of the time. . .

She will mention, well Mom did this or Mom did that (speaking of my Great-Grandma Ruby White)

hopefully I am sinking it all in!!!

Remembering. . .

2009-09-13T12:55:00.005-05:00

I have had a very busy weekend and I haven't had the time to reflect properly on September 11. I just visited a friend's blog and she had a beautiful post about September 11 and I felt I needed to post as well. . .

As I was driving through town on Main Street last night. . . I wished I had my camera handy. Flags had been hung on Main Street and as I could see clear down the street in front of me. . .it really was a beautiful sight. It made me stop and think about that fateful day eight years ago. . .

I was standing in front of my classroom of sixth graders. . . I was still getting to know all of those young faces. . .when a friend of mine popped into the room. I stopped what I was doing and she was trying to tell me something, but I just wasn't getting it. I didn't understand and it wasn't sinking in. So, she turned around and turned the TV on. It was on Good morning America and at that time, no one was for sure what had happened. They were still speculating what type of plane it was and maybe it was an accident. That is what we were all thinking (hoping). . . maybe it was just an accident and not another attack on the World Trade Center.

I don't recall how many minutes we watched the Television before the second plane hit. But we had it on and the instant we saw it, we all knew we could no longer think it was an accident.

At some point the Principal told us it was OK to have our tvs on. . . .and so we watched the events unfold that morning.

I was standing in the hall during the passing period, talking with some teachers, when a student ran out of the classroom and said they just hit the Pentagon.

I remember feeling very scared, wondering how many places were to be attacked that day.

Eventually, we were instructed to turn our tvs off and try and resume a normal day.

Everyone knew there was nothing normal about that day.

After school, as I drove home. . . people were lined up at gas stations. . . even clear out on the highway. I didn't care how much gas I had in my car. . .as long as I had enough to make it home, then that is where I was going. I was scared, tired, and I wanted to watch the news.

I think we were all glued to the TVs for a long time. . hoping they would find survivors. . . wanting to know more details about it.

I have a hard time watching the reenactments of that day. . . it just is too real. . . though I usually do watch them.

And my cousin Bruce was in New York City that day. I believe he was supposed to have been in the World Trade Center, but thankfully, he wasn't. He was also in Florida when hurricane Andrew hit and had to hide behind a mattress in a hotel. Remind me not to travel with my cousin!

I also had a friend who was late to work that day.

Back to my classroom. . . I wrote the date on the board in the corner every day along with that days agenda. . . it only took me a couple of minutes to recognize what the date was and wonder what significance that had. And to know that my agenda had suddenly changed.

I really can't believe eight years have passed since that day. . . those children sitting in my classroom are now 19-20 years old. . .YIKES!!! IT is a day I will certainly never forget. The history teacher in me knows recollections of that day are of extreme importance. As a History Student, the most fascinating thing to me was always the everyday recollections of normal people. Most often the thoughts of the famous or those closely involved with an event are recorded. I like to hear what people living their every day lives thought about these types of events.

As a part of a project for a class I interviewed my Grandmother and video taped the interview. I was nervous, because I knew this was going to be shown to my class. I was also nervous to ask her some of the questions. They dealt with her living during WWII and her thoughts on it and the holocaust. . . and it also dealt with her two sons serving in Vietnam. One of which was injured while he was there. . .

Two of the most poignant things I remember from the video were
1. They really didn't believe the holocaust was as bad as it really was. She thought that it was propaganda and way exaggerated.

and 2. When she described the day a deputy pulled into her drive and got out of the car holding a letter for her. The letter was to inform her that her son had been injured in Vietnam. She said she gripped the doorway and didn't want to read the letter.

My Professor informed me of what a treasure I had with this interview. Documenting my Grandmother's words, our family history, and history for future generations. We lost my Grandmother in November of 2000, only a couple of years after the interview. It certainly is a treasure to us.

I have rambled enough. . . . I hope you document things like this. . . .future generations will want to know what every day people were thinking and doing that were living during this time period.

I feel a scrapbook page coming on. . . .

I have a confession. . .

2009-09-11T20:41:00.003-05:00

I absolutely LOVE College Football.

Mostly I just watch my Missouri Tigers. . . .but I find myself paying attention to other games and teams more and more.

I DVR College Game Day on ESPN every Saturday morning, so I won't miss it.

You can almost always find me wearing Black and/or Gold on Game Days.

I haven't missed a MU vs KU match up at Arrowhead Stadium in KC yet and I don't plan to.

My husband does not share my obsession and really can't understand it. He doesn't understand Scrapbooking either.

There. . . I said it. . . I look forward to every Saturday in the Fall. . . hoping my TIgers will win and the Jayhawks will lose. Kind of sad isn't it? But I had to come clean!!!!

GO TIGERS!!!!

We've been on vacation. . .

2009-09-11T08:35:00.002-05:00

And I am STILL trying to catch up!!!! We went to Branson and had a great time!! The little guy was a little under the weather, so we were pretty low-key. . . which was very nice!! Silver Dollar CIty was CRAZY busy, but fun!!!! I LOVE the landing area and we spent all day Tuesday there and by the pool!!! LOVED IT!!

Tomorrow is Girl's Just Wanna Crop Day at Jeffrey Kyle's Restaurant in Richmond!!! It starts at 9am and goes until 5pm, though I think she will let you stay later if you want!!! You can pay at the door, but you might want to shoot me an email if you decide to come, so Traci can be prepared!!!! Hope to see you there!

Hopefully, I will have some new images to share with you soon!!!! I just thought I would check in, so you would know that I am still here!!!!!!

Have a good weekend. . .

Twitterpated Workshop

2009-09-03T08:14:00.009-05:00

There are some exciting changes to the Workshop on the Go Program I have been offering!!! Now, each Basic Kit is ALWAYS $29.95! Of course there is a Better Option too, which will include some fun embellishments for your pages. . . usually only adding $10-$15 to your Kit cost!!!

Each Kit will now include an Exclusive Stamp Set (only available with a Kit purchase), a Full Embellishment, a Workshop Guide, AND will be discounted!!!! How awesome is that?

To learn more, click on the links under Documents and Flyers to your Right. I have explained all of the changes, our Rewards Program, and you can see the fabulous contents of the kits, by clicking on these links!!!

ALSO. . .Each Kit now contains directions for Scrapbooking AND Cardmaking! You can now choose to do either or both!!! So, your kit will make 4 Scrapbook Layouts and has designs for 6 cards. . . plus there is still Lots of leftover goodies to make more fabulous artwork!!! It really is an awesome value!!

I need your Order by FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4 to attend this months Workshop. . . which will be held on Friday, Sept. 18. OR you can order your Kit anytime and complete it on your own!!!!!

Here is the Cardmaking version of the workshop. . .

Here is the Scrapbook version of this month's workshop!

Here is the New Fall/Winter Idea Book!!! It is absolutely fantastic . .filled with ideas and artwork, plus amazing product!!! If you would like your very own copy, just let me know! You can also view it online on my website. Just click on the catalog icon in the bottom right corner and you will be able to flip through the pages, just like you were holding it in your hands! You can even zoom in to see things close up!!!!

Can I just say. . . I LOVE my Clubs??!!!!

2009-08-31T08:18:00.018-05:00

I seriously do LOVE my Clubs!!! My Sunday Scrappers Club met yesterday and 6 of the 8 girls were there!! We ALWAYS have a great time!!! They are a bunch of fun girls and I really look forward to our Club meetings!!!! We made a two-page layout. . . sometimes I also do a Card or special technique too, but we didn't have time at this meeting!!! With a new catalog and lots of dates to go over. . . plus a lot of catching up to do. . .we ran out of time fast!!!!

I try to alternate the projects. . . one month we will do scrapbook pages and the next month we will do cards or some other fun project!!! a

Here is a list of items we used to make the pages. . . all are CTMH. . .
Animal Cookies Creative Basics
Honey Cardstock
Tulip Cardstock
White Daisy Cardstock
Headline Alphabet
Spot On Backgrounds stamp set
Comments Stamp set
Sans Alphabet
Flip Flaps
Tulip Ink
Dutch Blue Ink
Honey Ink

Techniques used:
Stamp Kissing (on the title)
And Flip Flaps

This is the second page of the layout. . . so sorry for the poor picture and the glare!!! I had to leave it in its page protector because of the Flip Flaps. . . they are in the bottom right corner. . . and are adhered to the outside of the page protector, so as you are flipping through the album, you are able to flip through the extra pictures as well!!!!

Flip Flaps opened up

This is the first page. . .

Stamp Kissing up close. . . I used the Headline Alphabet and Spot On Backgrounds for this technique!!! I LOVE the background stamp sets, because you can do SO much with them!!!!

Kathy putting her page together!

Sharon

Tracy and Lisa hard at work!

Gloria's niece. . .isn't she a cutie?

Gloria. . .

Karley. . . just dying to have her picture taken!!!

Gloria and her niece.

Each gal received a New Catalog and a fun little goodie from me!! Tucked inside the catalog was an order form and a Calendar page. . .we spent half an hour just going over ALL of the dates for events this Fall!!! We had a heck of a time keeping it all straight, but I think we got the job done!!!

Here is the set up for the ladies! These tables will fit 6-8 and I have two more tables that will sit 4. We try to keep this Club around 10 people.

Here is a board with all of the measurements needed to cut the paper for the project. I used to type it all up for them, but it is just easier to refer to the board!!! Just like teaching school. .. I even get to write on the board!!!!!

My Calendar is filling up FAST!!!

2009-08-25T11:26:00.004-05:00

Holy Smokes!!!

I just updated my Calendar. . . scroll down and look on the left side. . . under Upcoming Events. . .

I can't believe how many events I have booked between now and January!!!! I am going to be one busy girl this fall!!!! That is a very good thing!! I am looking forward to each and every event!!!! I haven't been able to do too much this summer. . . and I am very excited to get back into the swing of things!!!!!!!

I added new Workshop Dates, area Crops, and. . . .

The 3rd Annual CROP AND SHOP FOR A CURE!!!!!!!! This has been set for November 6 and 7, so mark your Calendars NOW!!! We have some new fun things in store for this year's crop!!! We have moved the event to the Richmond United Christian Presbyterian Church on 13 hwy. We just thought we would be more accessible there!!!! We will be sending out information soon!!! We will only have space for a few vendors this year and we are going to limit it to Richmond area businesses!!! That is what this event is all about. . . (Richmond Holiday Open Houses). . . supporting Richmond Businesses!!!!

I will be updating the calendar on my website soon. . . well, as soon as I can find a faster internet connection!! My connection is pretty good, but it is SLOW when it comes to loading things on my website!!! I ALWAYS post the information here on my blog, because it is much easier to post here!!!!!

Please let me know if you have any questions about these events or would like to register for one!!!

The Scraps. . .

2009-08-21T08:25:00.008-05:00

This is what I organize my Cardstock Scraps in. I love this cart!! Each of the containers are a bit bigger than 12x12, so my big scraps fit in here too!! I have them organized by the rainbow. . .or Roy G Biv. My top drawer is for white and off-white. My second drawer holds other basic colors like blacks, browns, and tans. Then I have a Red/yellow/orange drawer, a green drawer. a blue drawer, and a pink/purple drawer.

Here is a drawer pulled out. . .

I love this system, because my scraps don't get all bent up. It is relatively easy to find the color I am looking for. And I am saving cardstock! If I need a small piece of a certain color . . .then I just search through the appropriate bin instead of cutting up a large piece!!!!

And lastly, here is Brady on his very first day of Pre-school. It was raining cats and dogs outside, but it luckily slowed down a bit and allowed us to make it to school on time! I will have more pictures posted on my other blog www.meredithburgess.blogspot.com

Organizing Ribbon. . .

2009-08-19T08:57:00.008-05:00

Another rainy day and another day of sharing pictures from the Scrap Shack!

I love jars and baskets. . .as you will see as I share more pictures! The above picture is of my Canisters full of CTMH ribbon. . . I keep the different color families in each of the different canisters. This is not convenient if you are an "on the go" scrapper, but is sure does look cute! I do most of my crafting at home, so I like to be able to see my stuff and I like for it to look cute! The other canister is full of Glitter . . something I love! This is new to my room . . . .I needed a spot for my glitter and of course they look beautiful displayed!

This next picture is of locker baskets I picked up at a flea market on top of my metal cabinets. I absolutely LOVE the locker baskets!!! The first one is of all my Bulk Close to My Heart Ribbon. . . like to have it all in one spot, so I know exactly what I have. I have to keep my CTMH stuff and my other Scrapping supplies pretty much separate. . .it just works easier for me that way. And the other two locker baskets have some Halloween things I picked up at a Garage Sale. . .and the last one has Chipboard letters.

And this last picture is of some Other ribbon I have that I have wrapped around embroidery Floss bobbins. I picked these up at WM after my cousin Sara shared this tip with me. It is perfect for those of you who scrapbook away from home, because it is very easy to take with you!! AND it allows you to see what ribbons you have at a glance!

I read somewhere that it is easier to store things if you get rid of the packaging they come in. . . I know that the packaging is sometimes as cute as the product itself. . .but I have found for most of my embellishments this is true! Now to find a way to store all of my chipboard letters. . . this is something I have been thinking about for awhile, but I just don't know how to incorporate yet!

I have one more place I store ribbon, but I didn't have a picture of it for some reason. . . I will share it at a later date!

Organization has begun. . .

2009-08-18T10:06:00.003-05:00

As I warned several days ago. . . I was itching to do some cleaning/organizing around my Scrap Shack Studio and my house. Well yesterday was THE DAY! It rained all most the entire day. . .I awoke around 5:30 to the thunder. . . I ran to unplug my computer (I am always scared that my much beloved computer is going to be struck by lightening!). . .anyway. . .no one else was up and I was wide awake, so I made me some coffee and dove right in! It helped that I left the computer unplugged for most of the day AND that my internet didn't work until late in the evening! This saved me from distractions!!

Brady did have his very first day of Pre-school. . .so I had to break to take him and pick him up. He absolutely loved it and I am so excited for him!!!!

Anyway, back to the organizing. . . .so the first picture I am going to share is of some of my Close to My Heart embellishments. I do have the My Accents Organizer too. . . but it is full and most of these embellishments won't fit. They are too big or I have too many of them to fit in a container. I had this little organizer already, so I decided to use what i own. I love having everything here in one place that I can just grab and look through. The only down side to this and upside to the Accents organizer. . . is that they sometimes mix together. The bottom of each section isn't completely sealed off, so some of the little doodads do escape!!!! But, it was fun. . . I like organizing my stuff as much as I like using it and shopping for it. I tell my hubby that this is a three parts hobby. . . Actually doing it, buying it, and organizing it!!!!!

But seriously. . . .I do like to organize my stuff every once in awhile. It helps me remember exactly what I have. . . It helps me use what I have. . . I am also able to purge some of the older items that I know I won't use. . .

I will be posting different organizing pictures over the next few weeks. . .with pictures of my space and the scrap shack included. If you have trouble locating the posts or just want to see them all in one spot. . .just scroll down to my labels and click on Organization or Scrap Shack Studio (or something similar)

Looking fore Camera Lens Recommendations. . .

2009-08-14T09:10:00.002-05:00

I have a Canon Rebel and I am looking for a new lens. Simple enough?? No, I think not!!!! There are so many choices. . . .and of course I want to choose the most perfect lens. . .great for any situation. Plus, I don't want to break the bank!!!! I have read enough about lenses to know that the perfect lenses does not exist!!!! There is a little give and take with each one.

I love taking pictures, but I am still just an novice. . . .trying to learn some more so my pictures can improve.

SO. . . I pose this question.. . . those of you Canon DSLR users. . . what lenses do you recommend??? I currently have the lens that came with my camera (which I never use) and the 75-300mm zoom lens (which I use all of the time and is not the most convenient.)

Please. . . .let me know what you think!!!!!!!

New Episode on CTMH TV!

2009-08-12T10:43:00.003-05:00

Check out Close to My Heart's latest episode of Art and Soul: Card Cache!!!

This episode is full of card ideas. . .ways to use up left over stickers. . . and Jeanette's Gratitude Album she is working on! I love these episodes. . .they always give GREAT ideas and even offer a little bit of a discount on the product shown in the episode!!!

A brand-new Art & Soul Episode is posted the 2nd Tuesday of the month. To watch the new episode or older episodes. . . just visit my website: http://meredithburgess.myctmh.com and click on the CTMH TV link!!!!

My Accents Organizer. . .

2009-08-11T09:29:00.002-05:00

http://www.craftcritique.com/2008/06/close-to-my-heart-embellishment-storage.html

I just ran across this site above. . .they review Scrapbooking related products. The above link will take you to a review of our Accents Organizer! I have organizing on the brain. . . since summer is starting to wind down just a bit. . . and my house and Scrap Space are in complete disarray. . . I am looking forward to reorganizing my stuff. . . making room for the new CTMH goodies I have ordered. . . AND making my space more user friendly!!! If I really find more time (since the little guy is starting pre-school next week!!!) I will try and post some of my organizational choices. . . sometimes it just helps to see how others do it!!

September's Workshop on the Go. . .

2009-08-06T09:21:00.003-05:00

Here is a sneak peek at September's Workshop Kit. . . .with the same kit there will now be two options. . . Cardmaking and/or Scrapbooking! YEAH!!!! Scrapbookers and Cardmakers unite!!! And the really fun thing is. . . you have enough paper to do both, if you choose!!!

Look to the right side of the page for a Documents and Flyer Section. . . .I have posted a link to a document explaining all of the changes AND the flyers for the card and scrapbook workshops!

click here to see the flyer.

oh my. . .oh my. . .oh my!

2009-08-02T08:06:00.002-05:00

Close to my Heart did not disappoint with exciting news from Convention!!!! Wowee. . . there are some very exciting things in store for us! I am not sure how they do it. . . it wears me out just thinking of what they have to do to present us with exciting changes all of the time!!!!

I won't have the new idea books until next week. . . and those new books aren't live until September 1, but here is a little sneak peek at some of the fun new things we can look forward to!!!!

**Changes to the Kit of the Month Program!!! A discount AND an Exclusive item ONLY available in the Kit!!! (plus I don't have to pack them anymore. . . so there shouldn't be ANY mess ups!!!!!!!!! :)

***Studio J. . . .won't go live until Spring 2010. . . but it will be a very exciting enhancement for us!!! Can't wait to share it with you!

Of course there are beautiful new kits. . . lots of fun new product. . . . the release of the New Idea Book is always so fun. . . just like Christmas!!!!!

I know many of you still have a long wish list from the current idea book. . . it was a fabulous Idea Book as well!!! Don't forget about the current promotion. . .Thanks-a-Bration. . . it only lasts until Aug. 17 and it includes a FREE Paper pack!!!! Scroll down or click on promotions to learn more!!! Or visit my website.

Close to My Heart Convention

2009-07-31T08:18:00.003-05:00

SO. . . .I am on pins and needles today. . . anxiously awaiting the release of the New Fall/Winter Close to My Heart Idea Book. I won't have my copy until next week, BUT CTMH is holding their convention as we speak and the new items will be released in a few hours via updates from convention!!!!! The convention is being held in Long Beach, CA. . . SO there is a time difference! Convention won't start until 9am in Cali. . . .that translates to 11am here. SIGH. . . . . .at least I have my phone receiving emails again. . . .so while I am working I will be checking my phone. . . to see what new things are released. And when I come home this afternoon. . . .I will be running to my computer to check out the pictures of ALL the new items. Sad, huh? But oh so exciting!!!!! This time of the year is always so fun. . . . anxiously awaiting all of those BIG announcements!!!! Too bad I can't be there. . .in person. . . witnessing a fantastic Convention. SIGH again. . . .but this is a busy time of year for us on our farm and it is hard for me to get away. Maybe next year. . . . . If you are experienced with Twitter you can find updates on all of the new items there. . . just do a #ctmhldr09 search and you should be able to find it!!!!

Off to work. . . .already checking to make sure my phone is still working. . . .:)

Girl's Just Wanna Scrap. . .

2009-07-29T12:37:00.002-05:00

Is this Saturday from 9am-5pm at Jeffrey Kyle's Restaurant!!! The Cost is $25 and includes breakfast, lunch, snacks, drinks, prizes, and ample table space!!!! This is a monthly event anyone is invited to attend!!! To register, please contact me asap!!

mereburgess@gmail.com

Hope to see you there!

Thanks-a-bration. . .

2009-07-29T12:31:00.003-05:00

Starting August 3 and running through August 17. . . anyone who places a $100 order will receive a FREE Paper pack!!!!! Plus. . .you will also receive a FREE August Stamp of the Month. . . and it is way cute! Click here to go to my website and check it out. AND Close to My Heart will pick up the Shipping and Tax on these two items!!!!!! How nice is that???

Here is a list of the Paper Packs you may choose from for FREE!!!! I can't decide which one I want!! To see these paper packs. . . you can visit the Shopping Tab on my website.

My Reflections® Vintage Travel Level 2 Paper Packet
My Reflections® Rough ‘n Tumble Level 2 Paper Packet
My Reflections® Route 66 Level 2 Paper Packet
My Reflections® Expedition Level 2 Paper Packet
My Reflections® Floral Tapestry Level 2 Paper Packet
My Reflections® Everlasting Level 2 Paper Packet
My Reflections® Caprice Level 2 Paper Packet
My Reflections® Enchanted Level 2 Paper Packet
My Reflections® Free Spirit Level 2 Paper Packet
My Reflections® Life Delights Level 2 Paper Packet
My Reflections® Whoops-a-Daisy Level 2 Paper Packet
My Reflections® Perfect Day Level 2 Paper Packet

More Baby Album Pages. . .

2009-07-29T09:51:00.014-05:00

Here are pictures of another baby album I made! This one was ordered by a friend to give to a friend of theirs. I used a Close to My Heart Paper Pack, Caprice. Not a Baby themed paper pack, but I think it worked very well! I also used some brown ribbon, and a couple of different stamp sets. I used my Sizzix to cut out the numbers. To see my original post, just scroll down or click on the Baby Album link on the right side of the page! Enjoy! And please do not hesitate to ask any questions!

Here is the opening page of the album. There is a place for a 4x6 photo. . . you could also put all of the baby's birth information on this page too!!

this page is for pictures at the Hospital! It fits 3 4x6 photos and has a pull-out tab for journaling!

These two pages hold 2 4x6 photos and have a pull-out tab for journaling. I created several pages like this. . .one for each month of the baby's first year. . .and one for the first week.

a pocket page with spots for two 4x4 photos on the front of the pocket. . . and the inside with tags for more photos, journaling, or other items!!! I imagined this page to be used for and and feet pictures, but it could be used for anything! The facing page is for 2 4x6 photos!

a close up of the cute little saying. . .

This fits a 4x6 (or 5x7) and has a large pocket with tags. Great for journaling, memorabilia, or extra photos!! The 2nd page fits two 4x6 photos.

fits 2 4x6 horizontal pictures on each page and there is a journaling pull-out on each page

Twelve Month/Party Page

Growth Chart page. . .

This is one of the journaling tags pulled out.

This is one of the tags pulled out. . .

It’s a Thanks-a-bration!

2009-07-24T10:41:00.002-05:00

Close to My Heart just announced their next campaign. . . . FREE Paper Packs!!!!

Here is how it works . . . .spend $100 in CTMH products between Aug 3-17 and receive a FREE August Stamp of the month and a FREE Paper Pack!! PLUS. . . .CTMH will pay the shipping on these items for you!!!! What a deal!!

This promotion ONLY lasts 2 weeks, so don't miss out on your opportunity to earn some FREE items!!!

I will post more information on this great promotion as it becomes available!!!

A Baby Album. . .

2009-07-20T13:05:00.012-05:00

Something I sort of fell into was making baby albums for people. I made a couple for friends and then a few have been ordered by other people. The album I am posting today I made for my dear friend Darcie and her precious baby boy Nolan!!

I used the same basic pattern for each album, though I used different paper and embellishments for each one. . . and I varied the pattern just a bit for each one. In this particular album, I used the Baby Bee line from Crate Paper and stamps, inks, the album, cardstock, and ribbons from Close to My Heart.

One of my favorite albums was done with the Close to My Heart Paper pack Caprice! Not a baby themed paper pack, but it was so cute!!! I will try and post pictures of some of the different albums I have done! Here are a few pages from Ms. Darcie's Album and some of the dimensions. . . . everything is Close to My Heart unless otherwise noted. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask!

I used a 9x9 Garden Green Album and I decorated the opening inside page with Nolan's name and specifics. I also left room for a picture of him. I like the 9x9 size, because it is easy to work with. Two 4x6 pictures easily fit on the page. . . and I find it very easy coming up with layouts for these size of pages.

The first thing I did (after drawing out a plan) was cut several pieces of 12x12 White Daisy Cardstock down to 9x9. I used these as the bases for my pages. The left over pieces I used for the Journaling pieces and tags!!! It worked out perfect!

The first two pictures are out of order. . .when you post, you have to upload your pictures in reverse order. . .or at least that is how I have to do it, because I haven't figured out how NOT to do that!!! Anyway, so this is actually the 2nd page of the At the Hospital Layout. . .

href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dok1LaeIqUM/SmS6zkSHKcI/AAAAAAAAAek/35sRtmGhods/s1600-h/at+the+hospital+2.JPG">

Here is the first page of the At the hospital page. . . this is made for 2 vertical 4x6 photos. The patterned paper pocket on the left side of the page is 3x8. I used a circle punch to make the semi-circle in the pocket. The inside journaling tab is 2 1/2 x 7 1/2. I used a CTMH journaling stamp to make lines to journal on! Then I used a button as the pull guide! I have these pages made for each month of the baby's first year and then a couple of extras for special pages, such as holidays or special events.

This page is meant for vertical photos. . .either 2 4x6 or 3 photos trimmed down a bit. I have a couple of these pages throughout the book. These are meant to hold additional photos from a particular month.

This page is for 2 4x6 photos. . . also a page to hold additional photos from a month.

here is a pocket page with a 5x7 photo spot! The pocket can hold anything from journaling, to extra pictures, cards, or memorabilia.

and here is a card I made for Darcie, Ryan, and Nolan. . . I used the same line of paper and a Close to my Heart Stamp set called, Random Thoughts and Desert Sand ink

Busy, Busy Summertime. . .

2009-07-19T21:58:00.002-05:00

I just wanted to check in and say hello! Summer is a very busy time for us here on our farm and I haven't had much time to create or post! Hopefully, I won't be too neglectful of my blog, but just in case you don't hear from me for awhile. . . .I am probably hot, in the field, picking cantaloupe or watermelon or whatever we have to pick. . . and really wishing I was doing something else!

A couple of notes. . . I haven't set any dates for my Clubs or Kit of the Month Workshop in August. I just don't know when I will be able to do it. I may wait until September for my Kit of the Month Workshop and do an extended catch up day or something! As for my Clubs, I am sure I will work that in, but will have to decide a date a bit later!!!

Hope you all are enjoying your summer! The weather has been fantastic here the past few days. . . even setting record lows at night! How refreshing!!! Just not typical for a Missouri July!!!!

A Birthday Card

2009-07-08T10:22:00.005-05:00

This is the card I made for my friend's little girl, Macki, birthday party!

all supplies are CTMH unless otherwise noted. Tulip Cardstock, Black Ink, white daisy cardstock, chocolate ink, red sparkle, foam die-cute number, Birthday Invitation Stamp Set, Wishes Card Confidence Book, and patterned paper from Sassafrass lass.

Brady had a great time swimming in the Lexington Pool with Macki and friends!!!!

We just returned from a weekend trip to Omaha. . .see my other blog http://www.meredithburgess.blogspot.com for pictures of our trip!!

July New Consultant Promotion. . . .

2009-07-03T09:18:00.003-05:00

Five for FREE Flyer. . . Click Here

To find out more about the July Promotion. . .use the link above!!!! If you have ANY questions about signing up, please do not hesitate to ask!!! Close to My Heart truly has something for everyone and it is SO easy to be a consultant!

My Top Ten Reasons for being a Close to My Heart Consultant. . .

2009-07-01T07:47:00.004-05:00

OK.. . I am going to share something with you all. . . why I LOVE being a Close to My Heart Consultant!! I really never thought I would be involved in any type of direct sells company. I just didn't think it was for me. . . I am a little shy and I just couldn't imagine myself doing it.

Well, I was invited to a Close to my Heart party by my cousin. I was like, "what the heck is Close to My Heart?" I had never heard of it and I didn't have very high expectations. The minute I opened up that huge catalog I was in love!!!!!! I was still fairly new to scrapbooking and I just couldn't believe all the neat stuff!!! Plus Stamps!! Something else I really liked but hadn't used too much!

So, long story short, I signed up that night. I had just resigned from my teaching position to stay home with my new baby. I was excited to receive a discount on all of the great product I knew I was going to buy!!!

I spent the next year and a half meeting my minimums and earning my discount and I was perfectly happy with the situation!! Then people kept asking me," what is Close to My Heart?? And I wish you would do a party, so I could come!" So, thanks to my sister, I had my first Close to My Heart Gathering!!! It was so much fun! I was very nervous, but it went well.

Anyway, fast forward to today and I am having a wonderful time teaching classes, holding Crops and Clubs, and having Gatherings!! I started as just a hobbyist. . .never intending to grow my business. . .and I am still amazed at how much it has grown over the past few years and how much fun it is!!!!!

SO, in light of the July Promotion. . . Five for FREE. . . when you sign up to be a Close to My Heart Consultant during the month of July you will be able to choose Five FREE Products from a Select Product list absolutely for FREE....I am going to share with you why I LOVE to be a CTMH Consultant!!!!
SO. . .with no further ado. . . here are my TOP 10 REASONS for LOVING CLOSE TO MY HEART. . . . (drum roll)

10. Trend-setting, quality, Awesome Products!!

9. Our Wonderful How-to books and Workshop Programs!

8. How CTMH Supports Each and Every Consultant in so many ways. . . they care and Listen to all Consultants. . . from the hobbyist to the business builder!

7. The Awesome Training Academy--I have earned my Master's Degree and am working on my PhD!

6. The wonderful Consultant Kit. . such a great value for ALL new Consultants!

5. Great discounts on wonderful Product. . . and a generous compensation program for Consultants!

4. Our founder and CEO, Jeanette Lynton. Such a fantastic lady! She works so hard and really cares about her company and the Consultants!

3 All of the beautiful artwork and fantastic ideas Close to My Heart provides!!!

2. All of the wonderful, supportive Fellow Consultants!

1. All of the great friends I have met through CTMH!!!!

The list could go on and on!! Though I originally signed up to receive a discount on the fabulous CTMH product. . .what I have discovered is an awesome company that I LOVE being a part of!! I know many of you think that being a consultant just isn't for you. . . I thought the same thing!! The great thing is you don't have to be a business building consultant!!!!! CTMH loves the hobbyist Consultant just as much as the business builder!! There is room for everyone in CTMH!!!

Well, that is my story and I am sticking to it!!! If you have any questions about being a CTMH Consultant, feel free to contact me at any time!! I would love to chat with you about it!!!!

Animal Cookies July Kit of the Month. . .

2009-06-26T15:44:00.006-05:00

Here is one of the 2 page layouts you will be able to complete with your Animal Cookies Kit of the month!! I will be posting the other 2 layouts later!!!

Here is some additional artwork, done by Close to My Heart!!

Moon Doggie June KOM. . .extra info

2009-06-26T08:33:00.003-05:00

If you ordered the June Kit of the Month, but were unable to attend the Workshop. . . please contact me for information about the Paper Cutting Guide for the extra 2 layouts. If you own Cherish, then you have all that you need to complete the layouts!!!

OR bring the kit with you to a future event and I will help you put the kit together!!!!

Contact me: meredithburgess@myctmh.com

Bella and Animal Cookies Scrapbooking Kits of the Month. . .

2009-06-25T21:44:00.003-05:00

July is an extra special month, because there are two kits of the month being offered this month!!! Animal Cookies AND Bella. You may choose either OR both kits!!!! If you plan on attending the Workshop to put them together, which will be held Friday, July 10. . . I need your order by Wednesday, JULY 1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Animail Cookies Kit of the Month:

Basic Kit includes: Paper Pack, Stickease, White Daisy Ric-rac, Foam Die-cut numbers, Full-color Instruction Brochure.
Cost: $23.95 (plus s/h & tax)

These are the items that will be available for you to use at the Workshop. . . .OR. . .

Add them on to your Kit, so you have your very own!!!

C1359 Sweet Baby Stamp set
E1003 Boutique Alphabet
Clover Meadow Ink pad
Dutch Blue Ink pad
Sunflower Ink pad
Tulip Ink pad
Piercing tool kit
Cherish
Wishes

Additional Add-ons:
Summer Craft Buttons
Embroidery Floss Neutral Assortment

Bella Kit of the Month

Basic Kit includes: Paper Pack, Stickease, Designer Ribbon Rounds-Hollyhock Collection, Foundry Tabs, Full-Color Instruction Brochure. Cost: $23.95 (plus s/h & tax)

Items available for you to use at the Workshop. . . .OR

add them on to your kit to have your own!

C1361 Buttoned Together Stamp set
E1007 Homestead Alphabet
Hollyhock Ink pad
Smokey Plum Ink Pad
1/4 inch long reach punch
Cherish
Wishes

Additional Optional Add-ons:
Mini-medley Accents Autumn Garden Collection
Hollyhock Designer Ribbon Rounds

***Please Note**** if at anytime there is something listed in the kit that you do not like, please feel free to substitute something else in it's place for equal value!!!!

Please contact me to register: meredithburgess@myctmh.com

Or purchase either of the kits during the month of July or while supplies last!!!!

My First Blog Award!

2009-06-24T08:18:00.003-05:00

How nice is this?? It has taken me forever to get it up on my blog. . .my apologies for that! But I am so thankful for the thoughtfulness!!! Thank You so much, Liz!! Go check out Liz's wonderful blog too!!!

And now. . .to award this wonderful award to some other wonderful Blogs I love. . .

Jen W.

Stephanie N.

the rules for this one are:
1. Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted this blog award and his/her blog link.

2. Pass the award to other blogs that you've newly discovered. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this "Lovely Blog Award".

:

Registration is now OPEN!!!!!

2009-06-21T14:24:00.004-05:00

I am so excited to announce that Registration is officially open for our January 21-24, 2010 Retreat!!!!!! We expect this retreat to sell out fast, so do not delay if you are interested!! I know January sounds like ages from now (especially with this heat and humidity!). . . but NOW is the time to plan your creative escape!!!!!!!

To view all of the latest information on our retreat, which we have named Creative Heart's Retreat, go to our blog: http://www.creativeheartsretreat.blogspot.com There you will find a link to the registration form and flyer, plus pictures of the retreat center. We will be posting updates on classes, menus, things not to forget, and other fun items. You may want to choose to be a "follower" of our blog. That way you are sure to receive the latest updates from us!!!!!!

If you have ANY questions AT ALL. . . please do not hesitate to ask!!!!!!!!!!

Now. . .go check out the Creative Heart's blog and hopefully we will see you in January!!!

A New Scrapbooking Opportunity. . .

2009-06-17T17:48:00.004-05:00

I am excited to announce that there is now another Scrapbooking opportunity for us!!!! Traci Bray, owner of Jeffrey Kyle's Family Buffet and Restaurant, contacted me recently about an event she is starting the restaurant. Once a month on a Saturday, she is going to be hosting a Scrapbooking Event!!!!! How fun is that? Jeffrey Kyle's is a very nice place and it has a very nice banquet room!!! OF course, we will be fed well too!!!!!! You can see the dates she has planned, if you look on the right side of my blog under events. She will be charging $25 for the day and that includes two meals, drinks, and prizes!!!!!

She will have flyers at Jeffrey Kyle's with the information OR you may email me and I will send her your information, if you are interested in attending!!

I will include more information in another post and in my newsletter!!! The first date is July 11!! Hope to see you there!!!!

Monday's Deal

2009-06-15T14:16:00.002-05:00

Ric rac Collection Designer Ribbon Round!!! A great value! Just go to my website: http://meredithburgess.myctmh.com to receive your very own ribbon round for FREE!!

This offer is only available on my website!!

Spirit of Women Event. . .

2009-06-12T10:54:00.002-05:00

Just click on the image to enlarge it. . .

The registration ends today for this event!!!! Not only will you hear some fabulous speakers, but you will also leave with a Scrapbook Page!!! All for FREE!!!!

A GOODIE BOX DAY!!

2009-06-10T17:26:00.002-05:00

Today's Deal of the Day on my CTMH WEBSITEis a GOODIE BOX!! Each box has $80 worth of great product for only $40. . .PLUS discounted shipping!!!!!!!! The goodie boxes before were full of great stuff!!! Stamp sets, ribbons, embellishments, etc. . . .and if you get something you already have or won't use. . .we could do a swap at our July workshop!!

Don't miss this great goodie box!!!!!

Scrappers with a Mission. . .

2009-06-08T10:59:00.002-05:00

To Crop out Cancer!!!

Our annual Relay for Life Event was held in our Community this past Friday evening and it was a HUGE success!! Even with the declining economy our Relay was able to raise over $37,000!! I am very proud of that amount from our little community!!!

The picture is of our Relay Team, Scrappers with a Mission! This was my first time to participate on a Relay Team and we had a ball!!! We have many ideas for next year. . .I hope everyone wants to participate again!!! Some of the girls on our team missed out on the picture. We had enough sign up for us to officially have 2 teams!!!

I have served on the Relay Committee the past two years. The first year I just helped out with Luminaria. . . this year I was the online chair. I didn't have a lot of success with the online stuff, but I hope to next year!!! (if they ask me back!!) I did help fill out the Luminaria Sacks at the Relay, so I didn't officially get to Relay until about 10pm!!!

The Luminaria Ceremony was absolutely beautiful and very moving. . . if you have never seen one before, you really must! It is something to see. . .all of those Luminaria sacks with Survivors and Memorials to those with Cancer. . .all other lights are out besides the lights from the sacks. Everyone is silent, except for the people speaking. It is really touching and moving.

Anyway, I just wanted to share a little about our Relay!!!

World's Greatest Scrapbooker. . .

2009-06-05T07:35:00.004-05:00

I received this darling little thing from one of my Club Members, Gloria, the other day. Isn't it the cutest thing?? It was really so very nice of her to think of me!!! She found it at a booth at the Mushroom Fest. So. . so. . .so. . .cute!!! And a big thank you for such a nice little gift!!!!!!

Deal-a-Day. . . WOW. . .I missed checking this one out yesterday. . . but got on first thing this morning to see what the deal was. It was a GOODIE BOX!! I was waiting for one of these and now it is SOLD OUT!!! Oh well. . .I guess that saved me from myself. It was $60 with $120 worth of Surprise product packed inside!!!! The surprise doesn't worry me, because I know I pretty much like everything CTMH has to offer!! Each goodie box had a little different stuff inside. . . it contained current items, as well as soon to be retired items. They will be offering goodie boxes 5 more times this month, so check back often so you don't miss out on yours!!!!!

Today's deal will be posted at 10am!!

Also, the new CTMH TV episode I thought was supposed to be posted on Tuesday. . .won't be posted until NEXT Tuesday. . . I am not sure how I got so mixed up!!!!!!

Another Day another Deal!!!!

2009-06-03T11:22:00.002-05:00

COLOR READY ALPHABETS OXFORD

Qualify for this fabulous FREE item by adding one My Acrylix® stamp set size A, B, C, D, or E to your order (Customized Stamps and Stamp of the Month excluded). Incredible discounted shipping/handling of $3 US / $4 CAN applies to your Deal-a-Day purchase. (Limit one free item per order. Shipping/handling discount applies to orders of one stamp set and one free item only. The $3 US rate also applies to all non-continental US locations (i.e. AK, HI, PR, APO/FPO, and Guam).)

What I LOVE about the Color-ready alphabets, is that I can customize them to match any project I am working on!!!!!!!! Just take a marker OR a sponge and Ink Pad . . . color the sticker up. . . even while it is still on the sticker sheet!!!! You can even use Liquid Glass and Glitter to jazz it up a bit!!!!

Shop Now on my secure website!!!!

ALSO. . .don't forget a brand new episode of CTMH TV was posted yesterday! Expressions of Love for Mom. . .is the webisode and it is full of fun ideas you don't want to miss!!!

Today's Deal. . .

2009-06-02T18:03:00.009-05:00

FREE Sassy Strands!!!!!!

Qualify for this fabulous FREE item by adding one My Acrylix® stamp set size A, B, C, D, or E to your order (Customized Stamps and Stamp of the Month excluded). Incredible discounted shipping/handling of $3 US / $4 CAN applies to your Deal-a-Day purchase. (Limit one free item per order. Shipping/handling discount applies to orders of one stamp set and one free item only. The $3 US rate also applies to all non-continental US locations (i.e. AK, HI, PR, APO/FPO, and Guam).)

Something very cute I have seen with Sassy strands. . . wrapping chipboard letters with them. It looks SO cute! Too bad I don't have a picture!!

Visit MY WEBSITE to purchase your Deal of the Day or other fantastic Close to My Heart products!!!!

Check back tomorrow at 10am (CT) to see what Wednesday's deal will be!!!!

Deal-A-Day. . .

2009-06-01T10:37:00.006-05:00

Here it is. . .the JUNE PROMOTION!!!! I have been anxiously awaiting this promotion. . . wondering what kind of deals CTMH would be offering!!!!

Here is how it works. . .

Everyday on MY WEBSITE ONLY. . . there will be a brand new deal posted by 10am! This deal will be available for 23 hours. . .until the next deal is posted!!!

These deals will consist of FREE Items and Goodie Boxes. .. who doesn't love both of these things!!!

Fabulous Shipping Deals will also be included, so you don't break the bank shopping all these great deals every day!!!

Today's Deal is already posted. . . .just go to my website http://meredithburgess.myctmh.com (notice there is no www in the address) Just click on the icon that says today's deal. . .it will take you right to it!!

I, for one, am very excited to check my website every morning to see what the new deal is!!!!!!!

Just a bit of a warning. . . you might want to shop a little later in the day to avoid a bogged down website!!! Every time CTMH offers a website special. . .it seems like traffic is heavier in the morning, so it might take longer to shop!!!!

Happy Shopping!!

Moon Doggie June Kit of the Month. . .

2009-05-31T08:45:00.007-05:00

Order your Kit by Friday, June 5 to attend the FREE WORKSHOP on Friday, June 19!!!

Basic Kit includes: Moon Doggie Paper Pack, Moon Doggie Stickease, Journey Journaling Spots, Colonial White RIbbon, a full-color instruction brochure Cost: $22.95 (plus tax & S/H)

These items will be available for you to use at the Workshop
OR add them on to have your own!
C1356 Extreme Happiness Stamp Set
E1009 Building Blocks Alphabet
Z2116 Cranberry Ink pad
Z2118 Desert Sand Ink pad
Z1298 Texture Tools
9029 Cherish
9033 Wishes

Additional Add-ons:
Z1126 Colonial White Designer Ribbon
z140 Dimensional Elements Framed Fun

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KIT OF THE MONTH REWARDS PROGRAM

Don't forget I am offering FREE stuff at Every Kit of the Month Workshop!! To participate all you need to do is

purchase the Kit of the Month (1 point),
Attend the Kit of the Month Workshop (1 pt),
Bring a new friend who purchases the kit of the Month (1 pt),
OR make an additional Purchase (1pt for every $25)

I keep track of everyone's points. . . each month at least one person will be rewarded with FREE STUFF!! I will bring a basket full of goodies. . .Paper Packs, stamp sets, embellishments, accents, inks, markers. . . etc!!!! Winners will get between $20 and $25 to spend in the basket!!!!

Once you redeem your points, you start all over earning points!

You must attend the Workshop to be the Rewards Winner. If you are in the lead and can not attend the workshop that month, then the next person in line who does attend will earn the points that month. You will keep your points and be the rewards winner in a following month.

Hostess Club Members who purchase their Kit of the Month as part of their monthly Club requirement can not be counted towards this rewards program. Though, Club Members will earn points for attending the workshop, bringing a friend, and making additional purchases. If Club Members meet their minimum requirement AND purchase the Kit of the Month, then they will earn rewards towards the Kit of the Month rewards program!!! Another GREAT way to earn rewards!!!!

May's Rewards Winner was Susie Danner!! Congrats Susie!!!!

My Uncle Jeff. . .

2009-05-30T08:12:00.003-05:00

I spent part of this week in the Camdenton area. . . around the Lake of the Ozarks. They had a special dedication ceremony for my Uncle Jeff. He worked for Frito Lay most of his adult life. . .except for a stint as a Grocery Store Manager. Anyway, Jeff was killed in a car accident last October. He was only 36 years old and it was very tragic.

Jeff was instrumental in bringing a brand new Frito Lay distribution center to the Camdenton area. They call it the Taj Mahal of Distribution Centers. Jeff basically designed it himself, pushed for years to get it built, and when the builder got sick, he stepped in and took over. Jeff was a VERY hard worker . . I often worried about him and the long hours he put in and long drives across the state with his Frito Lay job.

So, Frito Lay decided to honor Jeff by naming the Distribution Center after him. They also developed an annual award for Frito Lay employees in Jeff's name. The recipient's name goes on a plaque and $500 goes to the Jeff's children's scholarship fund. The list goes on and on. . . .they had a beautiful ceremony. . .they said and did so many nice things. . .and they seem to be taking care of the family quite well.

I am amazed at such a huge company, such as Frito Lay. . . .that they would take such an interest in an employee. . . Jeff had worked for them for years. . . had served in several different District Manager Roles and had lots of employees under him. But I believe this says not only a lot about Frito Lay. . . .But also a lot about my Uncle Jeff and how well they thought of him. Jeff was only 3 years older than me. . . growing up he was more of a big brother or just one of the cousins rather than an Uncle. He is and will always be greatly missed.

This is one of the portraits painted of him. . . I think it makes him look a lot older than he was!! My Aunt and Grandmother were both given one. One hangs in the distribution center in Linn Creek. . .and two more hang in Regional and Corporate offices.

This is the sign for the building with his name. . .

Album Organization. . .

2009-05-24T15:12:00.007-05:00

FINALLY. . . I believe I have figured out a system for storing my finished scrapbook pages!!!! I have been a student of Stacy Julian's Library of Memories Class for the past few weeks. I have followed along pretty good, but it is hard to keep up when there is so much going on!! The class ends next week and I will no longer have access to the lessons! I really wish they would give us a couple of extra weeks to get caught up! But, I guess it would probably NEVER be enough time!!!

Anyway, through her class (as I have discussed in previous blogs). . .she has taught us how to set up a system for organizing, storing, sorting, and scrapbooking all of our photos. . . and also housing all of the layouts!

So, today I moved some of my older layouts around and labeled all of the albums I have. . . the label holders are CTMH and are wonderful!!!!!!!

This is how I have my Albums Labeled. . . Places, Family, Seasons, Fall, Halloween, Christmas, Holidays, Brady's Birthday, Celebrations, Brady, and Easter. . . whew. . .that seems like A LOT of albums!! And the thing is. . .I am ready to place a BIG order for more albums, so I can have my Library completely set up!!! Do I need more albums right now? Probably not yet. . .but I know I will need some more in the future and I am not a very patient person!!! 97% of my albums are Close to My Heart. . .and for the ones that are not CTMH, I plan on switching them over. I have been lured into the good sells Hobby Lobby has had on Albums in the past. . .the problem is I can definitely tell the difference in quality!!!!! Now, maybe it is just the brand I picked out and not all are like this. . .and maybe it is just because I have them side-by-side to my CTMH albums. . . BUT I can tell a difference!!! Most of my albums are linen. . .which I really like!! I love the variety of colors. BUT if you want to splurge a little, the CTMH Leather albums are wonderful!! I have the English Leather and the Black. . .both are so beautiful and rich looking!!! They would look great sitting on a coffee table. . .full of your favorite or most recent layouts (an album I plan on adding very soon!)

Here is a breakdown of the kind of layouts I have in each Album (this is different than Stacy Julian, but I did base my organization off of the ideas that she taught!) Click on the picture above to see it larger!

My Places Album: RIght now it has pictures of us at the Park, at a Water Park, and an Amusement Park. It also has layouts from Family Vacations we have taken recently. I plan on having a special Vacation Album one of these days. I will also put layouts about our home or my Parent's home (etc...) in here.

My Family Album: This is an Album I know will be divided up soon. Right now it has layouts about Myself and Brady, Dad and Brady, Cousins, Family. . .any layout I have done that shows a family relationship. I pulled one of my Grandfather at Easter stealing candy before the Easer Egg Hunt had even began. Believe me, I had plenty of Easter Layouts. . .I decided I wanted this one to go under a Grandpa Tracy section in my Family Album. I also have the birth of my nephew in here and special relationships Brady has with his cousins. . . just to mention a few.

My Seasons Album. . . RIght now it has layouts that are specific to a certain season. . . winter, spring, and summer. . . I am sure one of these days that each season will probably have its very own album. . .like I have done for Fall. We tend to have A LOT of Fall pictures with the pumpkins and everything going on. . .so I went ahead and gave it its very own album!

Holidays. . . here I will keep layouts of special holidays we celebrate. . . I have Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Valentine's Day in here so far. Easter, Halloween, and Christmas each have their own album. We have a huge Easter celebration and hunt each year at my Aunt's house, of course there are endless celebrations and traditions with Christmas, and I love the idea of having a special Halloween Album (something Stacy Julian has) and since Halloween is such a big deal to us with Brady's birthday and all of the pumpkins we grow!!!

Celebrations. . .my side of the family loves to celebrate. . .anything and everything!! My husband thinks we have a party for everything. . isn't he funny?? But we do like to get together!!!! This album will house layouts documenting those get togethers. . .from birthday parties, to family dinners, to weddings, and other special occasions. . . both with family and friends!

This fall I will be adding a School of Life Album since Brady will be starting Pre-school. . . each year I plan on doing 3-4 pages on that school year's activities and adding it to the album. Hopefully this will be a nice and easy way to showcase his educational experience!!!

I also plan on adding a Things we Do album. . . for sport's pictures, Mizzou games, life on the farm, around the house, and other things we enjoy to do!!!

Obviously, a lot of these layouts could overlap in which album they could be placed in. Sort of like the Easter picture of my Grandpa Tracy. I could have left it in the Easter album and that would have been just fine. It was taken at Easter and he is eating Easter Candy in it. BUT. . . I wrote about how he has such a big sweet tooth, as did his Mother, his son (my Dad), and myself. And it described a bit of his personality. . . .SO that is why I decided to move it to the Family Album.

This has been a bit of a journey for me. . . one that I am still on. I believe I have the frame work in place for a system I am going to LOVE!!! I just can't wait to fill my albums up with pages. . . I kept thinking OH. . .I can put a page about this here and a page about that there!!! Before. . .I would some times stick my pages on TOP of my albums, because I just didn't know where to put them!!!! And I must confess. . .at one time I had over 50 layouts in a pile in my cabinet, because I just didn't know where to put them!!!!!

Year by year scrapbooks aren't for me. . . I know some people love them. . . and I like them on a mini-scale. . .but not for the majority of my books. In the event I have another child, I think this system would work well for incorporating them into it. I don't plan on duplicating every event for scrapbooks for both of my children. . .I know people who like to do this, but this just seems like a big chore to me!! I don't want scrapbooking to seem like work! I want it to be FUN!!!! They will have an album all about them (or two or three!) and a school album! The rest of the layouts go in the designated albums.

I know some of you have been interested in how I organize my albums. . . I am sure I will tweak this a bit from time to time as I see how it could work better! I am sure my Library will expand and I will add new Albums to the mix. I really like the Theme Albums. . .I like that the colors usually coordinate (but not always!), that I can see change over time, relationships are present, and that I am not searching through piles of scrapbooks looking for a particular layout or picture. If I want to see a Christmas picture. . .I just open the Christmas Album. . .if I don't remember what year we went on a particular trip. . .it doesn't matter. . .I just open my Vacation album!!!!

Please let me know if you have any questions about this. . . I am happy to share!!!

New Blog. . .

2009-05-22T10:04:00.004-05:00

So when I first signed up for a blog, I thought it was going to take too much time to actually keep updated. . . I have a close to my heart website. . .and lots of other things going on. How would I ever keep it updated?? And add to that internet that can move quite slow at times (like today!) BUT. . . this blog. . .originaly intended to keep family and friends updated. . .has turned more into a business type blog. SO. . .I decided to start another blog. . . www.meredithburgess.blogspot.com (wish I would have named this blog that name!) I plan to post more personal pictures there and some other random farm things. . . not that I won't post them here too. . .but probably just not as often!!!! You can find the link on the right side of this blog.

We also have a Farm Blog. . .but that is really for our landlords who live out of town and out of state. SO, my husband doesn't want a lot of fluff on that blog!!

SO. . .I like keeping up with my blogs. . .I LOVE taking pictures and sharing them!!!!

Just thought I would let you know that I plan on sharing a bit more!!!!!!

handwriting. . .

2009-05-21T10:12:00.007-05:00

So I was looking through a Recipe/Memorial book that my family completed after the death of my much beloved Grandmother Tracy in 2000. We were all devastated by the loss of her and we were terrified that her memories would forever be lost to us. In 2000 my sister, some cousins, and myself had just recently discovered this thing we call scrapbooking. . .so we hadn't done much more than purchase some things here and there.

ANYWAY. . . we compiled this book of some of my Grandma's favorite and most famous recipes. . . plus a few pictures of family food and get togethers! I wish we had done a little better job, but I LOVE that we did do it!

I have a HUGE strawberry patch and I was searching for a strawberry preserves recipe. . .so I pulled out this book, because this was one of my Grandma's most famous recipe (she had a bunch)! Now, I have looked through this book a million times, but today it particularly struck a chord with me. Right there in front of me, in my Grandmother's own handwriting was her famous Strawberry Preserves Recipe. I can't imagine much more precious than this. . . such a true treasure. . .seeing her words in her own handwriting.

Now my point is. . . I know not all of us love our handwriting OR we just don't know exactly what to say in our journaling. BUT, let me tell you how important your handwriting is! These recipes just wouldn't be the same if they were typed on a computer. . .as much as I love my computer and gadgets. . . you just can't beat how personal handwriting is!

Seeing her handwriting makes me feel a little closer to her. . .like I still have a part of her with me. Kind of sappy i know. . .but these recipes made me feel a bit sappy.

I am not saying that ALL of your journaling needs to be handwritten. . .I know how nice computer generated journaling can look. . . BUT make sure you have bits of your handwriting somewhere in your Memory books. . . .Even if you just write a name or a date here or there. . . what a treasure for your family. . . they might too feel like they still have a piece of you with them . . .

Here is part of the first picking from my Strawberry Patch. . . I have since picked MANY more than this!!!

Here is the recipe for Irene Tracy's Strawberry Preserves. . . .

1 1/2 quarts fresh strawberries
2 1/2 Cups sugar
1/3 Cup lemon juice

Combine all ingredients. Heat slowly to boiling point- then cook rapidly 8-10 minutes-stirring frequently-mixture will be thin-will thicken as they set at room temperature at least 24 hours. Then several days in the fridge-stir once in awhile all during the thickening process-put in containers and freeze.

Probably why this recipe brings back such fond memories is that it was usually accompanied by her famous hot rolls. . . OR on bread day she would fry the left over dough in butter and we would slather it with the preserves. . . . such a good memory. . .I can almost taste it now!!!!!

Wilderness Retreat Center. . .

2009-05-19T07:47:00.015-05:00

Marsha, Jen, and I ventured to Lawson today. . . to visit the Wilderness Retreat Center www.wildernessretreatcenter.com I have been there twice before on retreats with Tam Harper. I knew the place was fabulous. . . BUT I visited with different eyes this time!!!! This place is FABULOUS for a Scrapbooking Retreat!!!!!!!!! We have two lodges booked. . . Spirit and Trinity!! Both have identical layouts in the upstairs, but the basements are a bit different.

Both basements have doors opening to the outside and NO STAIRS!!! You just back your car up to the door and unload your stuff!!!! That means a lot to a scrapbooker!!!!!!

Each room sleeps 5 people. . .one full size bed, three double beds, and one top bunk. We are going to try and not put anyone on the top bunk, unless you really want 5 in your room and you request the top bunk!! This might change if we have a full house!!!!

We are still hammering out a few of the last details. . . .then we can officially release all the information and let the registration begin!!! I can't believe the response we have already had!!! Our list is already VERY FULL!!! The spots are limited. . . .and it is going to be on a first come, first served basis!!!!

SO get your roomies together now. . .each room sleeps 5 (with one on a top bunk)!!! Each bedroom has its own bathroom/shower/ and a double sink in the room!!! The rooms are nice sized. . . the beds are OK. I purchased a very inexpensive foam mattress at Walmart last year. Probably around $7. . . it was one of those egg carton things. It made my bed OH SO comfortable!!!! I am very picky about mattresses. . . so this is saying a lot for me!!!!! I slept like a baby!!!!!

Here are some pictures of our visit!!!

The Spirit Lodge. . .view of upstairs deck from the parking lot. This leads to the kitchen, living area, and to the bedrooms.

Kitchen area. . .

Living area. . .

Double sink area in bedroom

A bedroom in Spirit. . .it looks smaller in the picture than it really is!!

Spirit basement

Spirit basement

a sign to help you find Spirit basement! Too bad the Iris won't be there in January!

The door to Spirit basement. . . just back your car up and unload!

Here is a view of Trinity Lodge from Spirit!

Trinity basement. . . similar set up to Spirit. . .a little smaller because of a conference room (behind the left wall). There is a fridge in the basement to house drinks or snacks!!

Get Dirty. . .

2009-05-17T08:23:00.003-05:00

The shirt reads "Get Dirty". . .Brady really took this statement to heart! He is wearing a mix of chocolate ice cream and dirt!! And. . . .this shirt was spotless when we started the day. I said, "Oh Brady, your brand new shirt is all dirty. How are we ever going to get it clean?" Brady said, "But Mom, it says Get Dirty on it.. . it isn't supposed to be clean." Good enough for me!!

We had a great time at the Workshop Friday Night. . .a few brave souls ventured out in the horrific storm! Many other smarter scrapbookers, stayed put at home!! We did have an awesome view of the "bottoms" from the Church parking lot. It appeared as if we were looking at a lake instead of farmland, most of the evening. Lucky for us, most of the water has gone down as quickly as it rose!!!

Anyway, thank you to those who did make it out. . . BUT. . .I always say, if the weather is bad and it makes you nervous, then stay at home!!!!! I never want anyone to venture out because they feel like they have too!!!! I certainly do not like to drive in bad weather and I never expect anyone too!!! I didn't have far to go to get to the Church (you can see my house from the parking lot!) though I did have to drive around some high water to get home!!!! So please always remember that it will always be ok if you cancel attending my workshop or anything I am hosting if the weather is bad and you want to stay at home!! I will always understand!!!! There will always be another scrapping opportunity!!!!!

Our next workshop is set for Friday, June 19 at the Camden Church from 4pm-10pm. The featured Kit will be Moon Doggie! The order by date is Friday, June 5!!! Hope to see you there AND I hope the weather cooperates this time!!!!

Workshop Tomorrow. . . and a special announcement!

2009-05-14T15:11:00.003-05:00

Don't forget about the Workshop tomorrow!!! Everyone is invited to attend!! Bring your own supplies to work on OR complete one of the Kits of the Month!! This month Tinkerin and Tickled Pink are the featured kits. Though the order by date had passed, I do have ONE Tickled Pink available if you would like to attend tomorrow! Otherwise, Tickled Pink is still orderable until the end of May or While supplies last. Tinkerin is still available to order as well!

ALSO. . . I am so happy to announce that we have a Retreat in the works!!!! Mark your calendars for January 21-24, 2010!! We are hammering out the details. . . but we hope to have everything set very soon!!! We already have a long waiting list of those who would like to attend. IF you would like for me to add your name to that list, please let me know! These people will be the first to receive updates on the Retreat and will be the first to sign up!!! Space will be limited and it will be a fabulous time!!!!!!

Flower Pot Card Tutorial. . .

2009-05-12T08:10:00.010-05:00

Here is how to create that adorable Flower Pot Card! I did not create the pattern (I can't remember who did!) but here is how I created my version. I used all CTMH supplies. Of course, you may substitute with items you have on hand!!!
Enjoy!

You will need a 3 1/2 x 9 inch piece of Chocolate Cardstock. Score the Cardstock as shown below...at the 2 inch mark and the 5 1/2 inch mark. (Your paper should be turned in the landscape or Horizontal position.

Here is a side view of the card folded. Fold the front panel towards you and the back larger side away from you.

To scallop the front of the card, remove the guide from your corner rounder. Flip it upside down and punch all the way across.

Here is what the front flap looks like after you have scalloped it.

To make the card look like a pot. . . flip the flap up and put the top score line on the cutting line of your paper trimmer. Now place the bottom corner on the 1/2" mark on the right side of the cutting line. Then cut! If you have a different type of trimmer, just adjust and make this work for you!

Just flip the card over and cut the 2nd side to match the first.

Use Intrinsic Backgrounds Stamp Set and Chocolate Ink to stamp the bottom of the Flower Pot. LIne the stamp up with the bottom of the card. The flap will cover the top part. Then use the Flower Stamp from Aspiration. Stamp the outline of the flower in Chocolate and the inside in Blush and Sorbet. I used the 2nd Generation Stamping Technique, so the flowers would be a bit softer. (later I added some glitter and glue to the center of the flowers to bling them up!) Cut flowers out with micro-tip scissors.

Here it is with the Card pulled out. Pull Out Card: Cut Chocolate cardstock 2-1/2″ x 4-1/2″. Cut Colonial White cardstock 2-1/4″ x 4-1/4″. Stamp sentiment or design of choice on inside.
Use dimensional glue dots to attach flowers to the top of pull out card. Alternate colors and over lap.

And here is the card put together!

Pedal Tractor Champion!

2009-05-04T17:04:00.007-05:00

So the Big Mushroom Festival was this weekend and we had a great time, as usual! Food, Parade and Parade party. . .and our 2nd try at the Pedal Tractor Pull. . . .some of you may not know what this is. . . It is simply a little riding tractor. . .you know, the kind kids ride and you have to pedal. . .no battery operated here!!! And they hook up some kind of thing in the back. The kids take turns seeing how far they can pull their load. Last year, Brady barely moved his tractor at all. This year he was the winner of the 3 and 4 year old division!!!!!! Next, year they will add weight to the load, so it won't be quite so easy for him!! He had a great time and was pretty proud of himself. . .

Notice his BIG smile. . . .

and here he is receiving his Grand Prize. . . another John Deere Toy. . . Just what he needs another toy!

I also attended a baby shower on Sunday, for my friend Kristin! Of course, I had to make her a little something to go with the rest of the gift we got her!

Here is one of the sides

the other side looks just about the same, except the numbers are 6, 9, and 12 (this if for months!)

I used the Close to My Heart 6x6 Accordion Album. . . Colonial White Designer Ribbon. . . some Martha Stewart Paper that I hope matches the baby's room well. . . Notebook Design Cartridge and the Slice Machine.

Welcome to the Blog Hop. . .

2009-04-30T00:00:00.008-05:00

So glad you joined in on the fun!!! If you are just starting out. . .here is how the Blog Hop works. . .

Several Close to My Heart Consultants joined together to put on a Blog Hop! They have been working hard creating beautiful artwork showcasing some of the brand new products you will find in the Summer Idea Book!!! Once you browse through the artwork I have posted, then Click on the link at the bottom of this post. This will take you on to the next blog and to see more artwork!!! Keep clicking the links and browsing around! If you ever get lost. . .I am posting the participating blogs at the very bottom of the page! Just come back here and find a new blog to hop on to!!!! Now for the fun stuff. . .

Here are some of the things I have been working on. . .

Here is a view of the 3x3 1/2 card up close. I used the Robot Power Stamp Set, Field Trip Alphabet, Tinkerin Scrapbooking Kit, Clear Buttons, Tulip Ink, Clover Meadow ink, Sunny Yellow ink, and Twilight ink for this card. Sorry the picture is a bit blurry!

Here is the gift box I made. I used one sheet of 8 1/2 x 11 paper. I found the directions for this off of Split Coast Stampers, but I would be happy to share with you!! Products used were the Tinkerin Kit, Happy Birthday Stamp Set, Red Craft Button, White Daisy Grosgrain RIbbon, Black ink.

I decided to go ahead and share this with you even though it is a work in progress. I have wanted to do a mini-album about all of the cute things my little guy says. He is 4 and loves to invent his own way of saying things. I believe he gets this trait from my Mother, because she is always calling things by the wrong name. ANYWAY. . .I was so excited when I saw the new 3 ring mini-albums from CTMH!! I knew it would be perfect! So far, I have documented Canmote=remote. . .condrections=directions, goad rader=road grader, increbidle=incredible, and hopicopter=helicopter. I plan on sharing this album in its entirety just as soon as I get it finished!!!

Here is another gift box. . . this one is using Crystal Blue Cardstock, the Tickled Pink Stamp set, Say it in Style Stamp set, Black ink, Blush ink, and Crystal Blue ink. This is one of the projects my Sunday Scrappers Club completed at their last meeting!

Another card. . . I used paper from the Unforgettable Kit (new in the Spring Idea Book) but I just had to share! This one was actually made by one of my Club members. She accidentally picked mine up and took it home. . . but they look very similar! I really don't know how she could tell!!! Anyway, I found this pattern on Split Coast Stampers as well. I used Unforgettable Kit, Aspiration Stamp Set, Sorbet ink, Blush ink, and Chocolate ink. The flowers pull out to reveal a place to write your message!

And another Club Card. . . I used the Stamp set from the Tickled Pink kit, white daisy cardstock, crystal blue cardstock, crystal blue ink, Blush ink, and white daisy ribbon. The measurements are 5 x12. Score at the 4 inch and 8 inch mark. Cut the outside panels in half. Adhere paper to front. Fold and adhere sides in. Make a card for center!!! Done! Very easy to do and this can be used so many different ways!!! Let me know if you need further instructions!!!

This is another Card my Club completed at their last meeting. I used the Money holder template from the Originals book, Sonata Paper Pack, Liquid Glass, Prisma Glitter, Chocolate ink, For every occasion stamp set.

I hope you have enjoyed your hop on my blog!!

Keep on hoppin. . . . here is the link to Vicky Sullivan's blog, the next stop on the hop:
http://www.sullyscrapandstamp.blogspot.com
If the link doesn't wok just copy and past the link into your web browser and away you go!! Have fun!!!

Here are the other participants on the Hop. . .be sure and check them all out!!! The ladies are fabulous and you don't want to miss a thing!

Erin Herring http://www.tazzygirl2000.blogspot.com/
Penny Doucette http://scrappinpenny.blogspot.com
Kathleen Rensel http://scrapbookaddictkath.blogspot.com
Jessica Moore www.jessicaspaperpetals.blogspot.com
Colleen Porter www.inkemup.blogspot.com
Sherry Thompson www.picturespatternsandpaper.blogspot.com
Jen Patrick www.roxybonds-scrappin.blogspot.com
Corey Acton http://scrappytimeswithcorey.blogspot.com
Amy Edwards www.paisleysplayhouse.blogspot.com
Amy Schultz www.amylizschultz.blogspot.com
Tresa Black www.fabulouslyartsy.blogspot.com
Leslie Kolic www.leannesscraps.blogspot.com
Rebecca Garrison www.stampingwithbekah.blogspot.com
Jaime Benavides www.scrapcrazydiva.blogspot.com
Miranda Kurz http://www.scrampinwithmiranda.com/
Terrie Dodd http://my-life-in-real-time.blogspot.com/
Traci Tanimura www.creativetraci.blogspot.com
Debora Mcelhany www.mcdoodlesscrappinplace.blogspot.com
Katie Paterson http://katiepaterson.blogspot.com
Michelle Robinson http://amaizenbluelady.typepad.com
Lori Scott http://scrapinglori.blogspot.com
Amberlyn Gentry http://amberlyng.blogspot.com
Susan Williston www.thecraftstudio.blogspot.com
Wendy Kessler www.myscrapbookingblog.com
Meredith Burgess www.meredithsscrappylife.blogspot.com
Vicky Sullivan www.sullyscrapandstamp.blogspot.com
Caren Goldstein www.scrappycaren.blogspot.com
Jena Devries www.livelovelaughscrapbook.blogspot.com
Kami Welter www.scrappin4memories.blogspot.com
Traci Godbee http://createwithtraci.blogspot.com
Julie Banzon www.scrapbookiejulie.blogspot.com
Laurel Seabrook www.want2scrap.blogspot.com
Alisan Smith http://scrappinalistamps.blogspot.com
Haley Dyer www.inkyscrapper.blogspot.com
Dawn Heuft www.stamptildawn.blogspot.com
Ali Creel www.scrapali.blogspot.com
Helen Onulak www.hookedonstamping.com
Jean McNulty http://stampinmaui.blogspot.com
Aaron Brown http://aaronsbooth32.blogspot.com/
Shannon www.rockinstamps.blogspot.com
Julie Lane http://raggedydoodles.blogspot.com

Happy Hopping!

Tinkerin Artwork . .

2009-04-28T09:13:00.006-05:00

This is some of the beautiful artwork done with the featured kit for May: TInkerin! I just LOVE this kit!! It is so summery and fun! There are two robots that come on the sticker sheet, but other than that it is a very universal kit!!

I had a GREAT time yesterday, playing with this Kit! I finished up all 6 of the layouts for May's workshop (minus a little stamping, because I ordered the wrong stamp set. . . not the first time and I am sure not the last!) I also made a little treat bag, that I hope to post soon. . . . and I am working on a little mini-album. . . similar to the one in the picture, called Bradyisms. . . kids say the funniest things and as Brady is outgrowing some of his funny mispronunciations, I hope to remember some, so we can revisit them in the future! I hope to get time to finish it up today. We are working in the greenhouse today, so it probably won't be until this evening!!!!

I have added several new things to the right side of my blog. . . if you click on most of the pictures, it will take you to my website!

Also, soon. . I will be participating in a BLOG HOP. . . several Close to My Heart Consultants have decided to do this. . .each of us is creating some fun new artwork with some of the brand new Summer Products. . .we will link another Consultant's blog under our artwork. . .so you should be able to hop around from blog to blog and see some fabulous new stuff!! More information to come soon!!!

Have a good day!

Next Workshop/Crop. . .

2009-04-24T08:51:00.003-05:00

the dates have been set for our next Workshop/Crop!!! Friday, May 15 at the Camden Methodist Church from 4pm-10pm. You can either bring your own projects to work on OR past kits of the month that you haven't finished!!!! I typically have the stamps and inks you would need to complete them. . .

OR

order one or both of the May Kits! The Kits available are Tickled Pink and Tinkerin.

Tickled Pink retails for $34.95 and includes a D sized stamp set (that typically retails for $22.95 itself!) plus fabulous papers, textured Cardstock, embellishments, die-cuts and a full-color brochure to put the pages together!! All you really need is inks (which I will provide at the workshop or you can bring your own)! If you spend $60 in stamp sets you can receive this exclusive kit for FREE!!

Tinkerin is $24.95 for the basic kit. . .it includes the Paper Pack, Stickease, Red Craft Buttons, Badge Buttons, and a full-color brochure! Check back for an additional list of supplies you can purchase to go with this kit.

To purchase these kits and attend the workshop, I need your order by MAY 2!!!!!!!!!!!!! OR you may purchase these kits during the month of May or while supplies last!!!!!!

Contact me with questions or to place your order!!! meredithburgess@myctmh.com

ALSO. . .don't forget about the Saturday, May 9 all day crop at the United Christian Presbyterian Church in Richmond! It starts at 9am and goes until 10pm. The cost is $10 and that includes lunch and a donation to the Church. Please bring a snack to share. Please RSVP as soon as possible to reserve your spot!!!!

NEW. . .Kit of the Month Rewards Program

2009-04-18T09:52:00.002-05:00

I am starting a new Kit of the Month Customer Loyalty Rewards Program! I want to say thank you to all who have attended my workshops with some free stuff!!! I love my workshops and I love that you support them!!

How this will work is each month you will earn points. Whoever is in the points lead for the month will receive some FREE goodies that month!!! How you earn points:

Purchase the Kit of the Month=1 point

Attend the Kit of the Month Workshop= 1 point

Bring a New Friend (who purchases the KOM)=1 point

Place an additional order above the basic Kit= 1 point for every $25

How you redeem your points:

I will bring a basket full of goodies for you to choose from each month. There will be stamp sets, paper packs, stickers, ribbon, and other fun embellishments and items!!! You will receive $20-$25 to spend on the goodies!! The Rewards have to be used the night of the workshop. Once you use your points, you lose them. You start over in earning points. If you are the points leader and unable to attend, the next person in line will earn the KOM rewards. The original points leader will keep their points and will earn the rewards in a following month.

ALSO. . .if you have attended past KOM Workshops. . .bring your pages back to show off. . .complete with journaling and pictures!! You will receive an extra special goodie for each KOM you have completed!!!

To my Club Members: if you purchase your KOM as part of your minimum Club Order, then I can not count that purchase towards this reward system. However, if you attend the workshop or do any of the other things, you will receive points. If you did not purchase the KOM as part of your Club requirement, you will be eligible to earn all points as part of the KOM Rewards!!

I am still trying to figure out the best and most fair way to do this, so I am completely open to suggestions!!!!! A little tweaking may still have to be done, but I hope this is a Rewards System you love!!! No commitments. . .just earn points and receive rewards!!

Susan was our rewards earner this month!! Congrats!! She picked some fun stuff from the Rewards Basket!!!!!! I have several who are very close in their rewards points for next month!!! Our next KOM Workshop will be May 15 from 4pm-9pm at the Camden United Methodist Church. The order by date is May 2. There are 2 kits available to purchase. . .Tickled Pink and Tinkerin. I will share some fun art work in another post!!!!!!!!!!

2009-04-15T10:28:00.002-05:00

May is National Scrapbooking Month, but the celebrating is starting early!!! From April 15-May 31, 2009 (or while supplies last) you can get your very own Tinkled Pink Collection!!!

Tickled Pink Scrapbooking Kit includes:
Featured Colors: Blush, Crystal Blue, Twilight, Hollyhock, Sweet Leaf
1 – My Acrylix® I Am Stamp Set (D-size)
2 – 12" × 12" Floral B&T Duos™ Paper (1 with glitter)
2 – 12" × 12" Stripe B&T Duos™ Paper (1 with glitter)
1 – 12" × 12" Blush Textured Cardstock
1 – 12" × 12" Crystal Blue Textured Cardstock
5 – 12" × 12" White Daisy Textured Cardstock (1 sheet with die-cut shapes)
1 – Mini-Medley Accents White Daisy Collection
1– Foam Texture Tool
1– Brochure

To receive your very own Kit. . .

• Sign up as a new Consultant between May 1-May 31 and receive a kit FREE.
• Host a Home Gathering between April 15-May 31 with minimum sales of $400
and receive a kit FREE.
• Place a minimum order of $60 in stamp sets (excluding K-size and Stamp of the Month) between April 15-May 31 to
receive a Tickled Pink scrapbooking kit FREE! (Use item number CC1004D; limit one free kit per order.)
• Purchase the Tickled Pink kit at just $34.95—well below retail value! (Use item number CC1004C)
* Tax and shipping/handling may apply. Available for a limited time while supplies last.

I will be offering a special FREE workshop for anyone who does purchase the Tinkled Pink Collection!! Watch for details and dates for you to choose from!!!!

Thinking about Organization. . .

2009-04-08T09:12:00.004-05:00

OK. . .I am LOVING my Library of Memories Class!!! Right now I am like, well duh!!! Of course that makes sense!!! Most of you could probably figure this out on your own. . . but I needed the class to hold my hand and walk me through the process of organizing my pictures and albums. . .and to see how I can make more meaningful pages.

I was looking at my Album Library shelf the other day. . . and it occurred to me that I had only been scrapping since 2000 and probably not seriously since 2004 (when Brady was born). There are a whole lotta albums on that shelf for such a short amount of time!!! They aren't full. . . .but they are adding up already!!!!!!!

SO. . . I thought to myself. . . How do I make more meaningful pages? How do I streamline the process and not just make pages to make pages?

NOW. . .I LOVE to scrapbook. . .time is an issue. . .but I love to do it. So I will always have those fluff pages. . .as I call them. Simply, pages created because I wanted to make a page. . .maybe I wanted to use some really cute paper ( and that is BIG for me. . .cute paper is hard to cut!) maybe I wanted to try a new technique. . . or maybe I just loved the pictures I was scrapping. WHATEVER the reason this is all OK!!! But. . . is Brady really going to want 900 pages of him in cute outfits. . .no story. . .no memory other than the outfit???

SO. . .it is my quest to begin to make more meaningful pages. . .pages that tell a story. . .show a connection. . . or whatever else I choose!!

Library of Memories Class has you use category drawers for your pictures. . . .so I have a drawer just for Easter. . . or cousin pictures. . .or Brady and Dad pictures. . . you can't believe how cool this is. This is going to make it SO easy to do a Father's Day mini-album for Collie. Just go to my file and pull several pictures of him and Brady together. . . I have also learned that there are A LOT more pictures of Brady and Collie than me!!!! Something I probably need to work on, but I am not too excited about! Now this means you have to separate the pictures from their actual event. . .something I didn't understand and had a hard time with at first. You mean pull pictures away from when they happened? How will I know the details?? SO. . . .I started with pictures I had already scrapped or that were in cold storage. . . pictures I never planned on getting to. . .or at least not for the next 10 years or so. I had LOTS of doubles and even triples. . . .I might put one behind my Around the House Category. . .or life on the farm. . . or Brady. . . . or Family pics. And I only used good pictures! I was very selective with what goes into a category! Only the best of the best! (note: I still have my pictures arranged by season and year in a CM Powersorter box. For example: Summer 09, Winter 07, Spring 06, Fall 05 and so on. This is where the bulk of my unscrapped pictures are stored until I decide what to do with them!)

For example Christmas. . .I don't know about you but I take a gazillion Christmas pictures. . . from cookie decorating, trimming the tree, Christmas Eve, Christmas Morning, and the list goes on and on. AND I always have a huge hang up about Scrapping these photos. . .there are just so many of them!!! Now. . .I just kind of fell into this process. . . I pick a few of my favorites from each event and I scrap a page or two for each event . Some people could probably even condense more, but I think this is pretty good for me right now. NOW the rest of the photos. . . .we always take shots of each of the families at Christmas, , , Sometimes I scrapbook these with my Christmas photos. . .but I always take more than one of each family. . . I will now put these behind a Tracy family category. . .and in the future I hope to make a page or 2 about how the family has changed/grown over the past however many years. Just like we take a grandkids picture here and there. . . these pictures really don't illustrate Christmas, but they can show growth or change over time!!

I wasn't sure exactly what this class would entail. . . BUT it is opening up a whole new world for me. . . a way to make some meaningful scrapbook pages. . . .I LOVE pages that show relationships and change!!

I also LOVE that I am not organizing my albums in date order. . .for me, this is just boring. I know for others this works. . .it is not my intention to put anyone's process down. I ALWAYS say whatever works for you is what you should be doing. . . BUT I am saying it wasn't working for me!!! I started to realize a while ago that I wasn't searching for photos by date anymore. I couldn't quite remember what year this event or that event happened and I was searching through different years trying to find it. And I KNOW this will just get worse for me over time. And being a history teacher, I firmly believe in a timeline and dates. . . So my layouts each will be dated. . . I just won't have ALL of my layouts from 2009 in the same album. (or 2 albums!)

I started a Christmas Album a while ago. . .I love to flip through and see a pages from each Christmas all together. I probably will even streamline this more and only put 2 pages from each Christmas in this album and put the other pages in a Things we do album. I am not sure about this yet. . . something I am still figuring out. I also have a Halloween Album. . . and I plan to start an Easter Album, and a Tracy Lake Bash Album. . .these are events that happen year after year and I always have a lot of pictures from each of them.

I KNOW I can't do this class justice here on my blog. I do HIGHLY recommend taking this class. . .no matter how many times people tried to explain to me this process. . . I JUST didn't get it. Even though I knew it was probably just what I was looking for!!!! I am only half way through the class, so there still is a lot more to learn! I just can't believe the light bulbs that went off for me!! Stacy Julian's books are The Big Picture and Photo Freedom. Photo Freedom describes her system in-depth. . .I tried to do that instead of the class, but I really needed the hand holding. . . someone to walk me through the process.

I know this is a long post. . . and I really have A LOT more than I can say on the topic. I FEEL so much more connected to my pictures and to WHY I am scrapbooking. Sometimes that gets lost. . .I know it has for me. . .and I have seen fellow scrapbookers get burned out. . . to me this doesn't have to be an all or nothing craft. SO, you don't have all the time in the wold to get all of the scrapbooking done that you would like to?? Why not just do a page here or there? OR if you just do ONE album ever. . .well that is at least something!!! Who says if you can't scrap EVERY little detail than you shouldn't scrap at all???

Stick some pictures in Photo Storage pages. . .Leave one slot blank and put some journaling on a 4x6 piece of paper!!! Call it good!!! Now you can SEE your pictures and you have recorded the MEMORY!!! Memories are so much more important to me than Pictures. . . . I think I have said that before, though. My pictures are all well preserved digitally on my hard drive, on my external hard drive, on DVDs, and on the web. The memories are stored in my brain and if I don't record them, then they will be forgotten!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OK. . .time to get off of my soapbox and record some memories. .. .or do housework. . .whichever comes first!!!!!!

Dream Card/ Crop for a Cure/Catalog

2009-04-04T09:50:00.003-05:00

Here is a card I created using the Unforgettable Paper Pack, Sorbet Designer Ribbon, Aspiration Stamp Set, Cocoa ink. Finished size is 4 1/4 x 5 1/2.

The Crop for a Cure in Lexington was a lot of fun last night!! Thanks to all who attended or stopped by to shop!! Your support is GREATLY appreciated!! I am so glad Marie decided to reschedule after the original date was snowed out!! I hope she was able to raise lots of money to support Relay!!

I have updated some dates on the Calendar on my website and loaded some art to the art page on my website! Stop by and check them out!! We have a new system for updating our website and it takes FOREVER for me to upload to it!! And it usually clicks me off at least three times before it is finished.....we don't have dial-up, but my internet just must not be that fast. . . I dream of the day when I have super high-speed internet! What a time saver that will be!!!!

AND I am worse than a Child a Christmas. . I received my BRAND-NEW. . .completely wonderful.....SUMMER IDEA BOOKS in the mail. . . FINALLY!!!!! And they are wonderful, as usual!!! I do have a limited supply and once they are gone, they are gone. . .so if you would like a copy. . please let me know!!!

Love Birds

2009-03-25T10:00:00.003-05:00

To create this card I used Love Story Rub ons, Emporium Paper Pack, Sweet Leaf Designer Ribbon, Waterbrush, and Blush, Sweet Leaf, and Crystal Blue Inks. Of course I was inspired by a talented fellow CTMH Consultant to create this card!! I always need a bit of inspiration to create!!! Hope you enjoy!

a pocket card

2009-03-23T17:31:00.003-05:00

I used the Originals book from Close to My Heart to create this card! It has tons of card ideas and recipes AND a CD with templates ready for you to print!!! I used Hollyhock and Juniper Cardstock, White Daisy mini-medley accents, white daisy ric rac, White daisy grosgrain, a large just blooms flower, and a pink craft button. . .All Close to My Heart!! I used Sandpaper to distress the cardstock, so the white core would show through!

This card works perfectly as a money holder. . .for a birthday or a graduation gift!!!!

Hope you enjoy!!

Add these dates to your calendar. . .

2009-03-23T16:43:00.002-05:00

My internet is NOT cooperating. . . and I am trying to add dates to my calendar!! I thought I would post some of the upcoming events here, so I wouldn't forget them. . .especially before my internet lets me add them to the calendar!!! It is taking me FOREVER!!!! Not fun!! Anyway. . here they are! I hope you can make it to one or some of the events!

Friday April 3: Crop for a Cure Lafayette County

Friday April 3: Order the April Kit of the Month: That's Amore by TODAY to be able to attend the Workshop

Friday April 3: Frequent Scrapper Club Orders Due!

Saturday, April 4 Golf Course Crop

Sunday, April 26 Sunday Scrappers Club Class

May 1 Brand Spankin New Summer Idea Book and Catalog!!!! WHOO HOO!!! Christmas in May!!!

Saturday, May 9 Mother's Day Weekend Crop--tentative

Whew. . . what a list!! Hopefully all the details of each of these events will be on my calendar shortly!! If you have any questions about any of them. . .please do not hesitate to ask!!!!!!!

I had a great time scrapping this weekend. . .Friday night in Camden and Saturday in Richmond. . . I actually got quite a few things done on Saturday. . .something that is not typical for me at a Crop!!!! Certainly nice!!!

And I just have to give a shout out to my Missouri Tigers. . .I am one of the HUGEST Mizzou fans and I can't say that I had a great time watching them on Sunday. . .even though it was a very good game for both teams. . . I just have a hard time watching when the games are that close!!! BUT we won and that did make it fun!!! Watch out Memphis. . .here is your loss #4!!! I hope anyway!!!!!

**** I almost forgot!!! We are starting a Scrappers Relay Team for the Local Relay for Life Chapter. . .it is going to be a great time!!! Let me know if you are interested in joining us!!!! It should be a great time and it helps a great cause!!

So Sad. . .

2009-03-19T11:33:00.003-05:00

It seems I have been reliving this same scenario far too often in the past few months. . another friend. . .a fellow teacher. . .lost her battle with Cancer this week. She was only 28 and had two young children. . .4 and 2. She also had a very rare type of cancer with a very low survival rate. Knowing this. . .I still hoped and prayed she would some how pull through and beat this terrible disease.

This is why I am so involved with my Local Relay for Life chapter. . .this disease makes no sense. . .it doesn't discriminate on who it attacks. . . and I have to feel like I am doing something. . .even a little something. . .to fight against it. Some people don't get why I donate my time to the Relay. . .well it is friends like April, Stephanie, Jennifer, my Grandmother, Aunts, and many other friends and family members who have died way too young and way too tragically. My thoughts and prayers are with April and her young family. . .please keep them in your thoughts and prayers too.

soccer. . .soccer. . .soccer. . .

2009-03-17T16:29:00.002-05:00

This is a picture of Brady trying to get into the action in his first Soccer game!!! Brady is in the red shirt and black pants. . .he spent most of the time watching the other kids, so I was glad to get a picture of him actually running! I don't think he quite knew what to expect and he was being way too polite!!! I think he thought they would take turns kicking the ball. . .like they do in practice!!!1 We are getting ready to head to another game today!! It sure is a beautiful day. . .perfect for a soccer game!!! My internet is a bit slow today, so I will only post one of the first soccer game. . .I am sure there will be many more to come in the next few weeks!!!!

Don't forget. . . .Friday is a workshop/crop night at the Camden Methodist Church. . .and Saturday is a Worshop/Crop at the United Christian Presbyterian Church in Richmond!!!! Hope to see you at one or the other!!!

What a fantastic retreat. . .

2009-03-10T09:45:00.002-05:00

Tam sure knows how to put on a great retreat!!!! The Wilderness Development Camp in Lawson is PERFECT for a Scrapbooking retreat!!!!!! Each Scrapbooker received their very own 6ft table. . .and we had the entire basement of our lodge to Scrapbook in!!!! Upstairs there were 3 to a bedroom and each room had its very own bathroom. There was a huge kitchen family room area where Tam cooked us fabulous meals!!!! It is the best. . .we scrap, scrap, scrap away and then someone tells us it is time to eat. We saunter upstairs and sit down to a wonderful meal. Then she also cleans up after us!!! Who can beat that??????

Brady and Eli had their very first soccer games on Saturday morning, so of course we couldn't miss that. . .I am not on my computer, but I will post pictures later!!!! But, that did interrupt some of our scrapbooking time, so I didn't get as many things done as I would have liked. BUt it was such a nice day on Saturday. . . .it was nice to get out and enjoy it a bit. We also took a walk around the camp. We had the perfect guide. . .Jen Butler. . .her parent's run the camp and she grew up there. It is a beautiful camp and it was such a nice day!

I look forward to this retreat every year. . OK, so this is only the 2nd year for this particular retreat, but I do attend Tam's retreats every year!!!! Anyway, the scrapping space is SO Nice. . .the lighting is FANTASTIC. . .the food is WONDERFUL and even better that someone else prepares it for us and cleans up after us!!!! The Lodge is very nice. . .though the beds are only a twin and are a bit hard. . .I recommend buying one of those cheap foam mattress pads. . .it really helped out a TON and I slept like a baby on Saturday night!!!!

I am always sad for the retreat to end. . .I had such a great time Scrapping with my friends. . .new and old.. . .we laughed and shared ideas. . . now back to the real world. . .fixing my own meals and cleaning up after myself and the rest of my family! It sure is nice to escape for a short while and let someone else do all the work!!! Thank you so much Tam! I am already counting the days until the next one!!!!!!

And the Winner is. . . . .

2009-03-02T12:03:00.003-06:00

Layout number 3!!!!! Congrats Susie!! Everyone did such a nice job!!! Thank you so much for participating. . .and thank you so much for sending me your votes!!!!!!!!!

VOTE now!!!!!

2009-02-24T08:50:00.006-06:00

Here they are!!! My first EVER Challenge participants!!!!! Thank you girls SO MUCH for completing the challenge and entering the in the contest!!!! They did a fantastic job!!

TO VOTE: Please choose just one and email me which layout you choose. . . .either #1, #2, or #3!!!! Voting will stay open for one week and I will announce the winner on Monday, March 2!!!!!!

#1

supplies used: All CTMH. . .Stamp Sets: Free Spirit, Girly Girl, Random Thoughts, Tool Time, Playful Lowercase. Ribbon: Organdy Summer Carnival. Ink: Outdoor Denim, Tulip, Clover Meadow, Watermelon, Moonstruck, Grey Wool. Brads. Cardstock: WHite, Brown, Blue.

#2

All CTMH:Promise of Spring Collection

#3

All CTMH: Ink: Vineyard Berry, Brown Bag, Chipboard Numbers and Letters, Stamps: Childhood Boy, Ribbon Autumn Harvest, Sarsaparilla, Edge Anchors.

Quick Card. . .

2009-02-18T17:50:00.003-06:00

I made this for my Grandmother's birthday, which was yesterday! I used the new CTMH That's Amore Paper pack and stickease, plus the card commentary stamp set, Cocoa Ink, and Colonial White grosgrain ribbon. I LOVE the two-sided paper. . . there is a pattern on BOTH sides now!!! SO. . . I just flipped every other square over to show the other pattern. The only problem is sometimes I have a hard time choosing which pattern to use, because they are both so pretty!! My Grandmother seemed to really like it!!! I made it in under 20 minutes . . .that is from picking supplies to signing my name. It would have taken me that long to drive to Richmond and back. . .not to mention the time picking it out!!! Hope you enjoy!

a love card. . .

2009-02-17T14:51:00.004-06:00

So. . .I made this a while ago, but I am just getting around to posting! Though I intended this for Valentines. . . it could also be used for a wedding or anniversary!!!

Items all CTMH: Notebook Paper Pack, Archival Black Ink, Love Word Puzzle, Hollyhock ink, Black designer Ribbon, twill ribbon.

3rd Post today. . .ORGANIZING Photos

2009-02-16T10:33:00.004-06:00

SO. . . I am very excited to have started a brand new online class. . . Library of Memories at Big Picture Scrapbooking. It is taught by Stacy Julian and it teaches you how to organize your photos and your albums. . . .and how to never again worry about not being caught up! She shares a lot of this information in her book. . . Photo Freedom. . . But I still wasn't getting it, so I signed up for her class. . . it is a bit pricey and she only teaches it once a year. . .I have been wanting to take the class for the past few years and I am so excited to finally commit the time and money to this class!!!!

So. . . I thought I could share what some of the things we are working on through this class. . .obviously I can't share everything. . . but I will share some of the things I am doing to help myself be better organized. . .AND I know several of you have mentioned organizing your pictures. . . .I know this seems like a HUGE undergoing. . . .but I organized about 3 years worth of photos in under an hour. . . I did it by season and year. . . so I made a winter, spring, summer, and fall pile for each year. I didn't worry about them being in exact correct order. . .just in order by season. For some really dumb reason, I had taken my pictures out of order a while ago. . .don't ask me why, because I really don't remember my reasoning!!! But now they are back in order, somewhat anyway.

The picture shows how I made my columns and that I had a lot of "good" help with the process!!!!!! The class recommends using cheap photo storage albums to store your prints in. . .prior to scrapbooking them. I think this is great, but I don't believe I have room for more albums on my shelf. . .though this is a great way to make your current prints accessible and so you can look through them easily or share them with others!!! I already own one Power Sorter box from Creative Memories. . . so I decided to use something I already own. . .I have also purchased another one. . .hopefully this will keep me organized. . .I just have them by season and year. Nothing more complicated than that. . . it isn't as easy to browse through them this way. . .but at least I know where their home is!! And something I can drop in easily when I have pictures printed!!!!

2nd Post for the Day!

2009-02-16T09:28:00.004-06:00

We so enjoyed our visit to the Monterey, California area! Even though our vacation was cut short by my Grandfather's death, we were still able to enjoy a couple days of our vacation! If you have never been to the Monterey/Carmel area. . .it is definitely a STUNNING place to visit! I have never seen anything like it before! We flew into San Jose. . .then drove up to San Francisco. . .and back down the coast. There isn't much between San Francisco and Santa Cruz, but beautiful views of the coast and farmland. . .OH and some happy cows!!!! It was stunning! Then we did the 17 mile drive between Carmel and Monterey and along the famous Pebble Beach Golf Course. . . they were gearing up for their big golf tournament, so we kept hoping for a glimpse of a famous golfer or even our own local celebrity golfer!!!!! We also took a drive down to Big Sur and the vistas along Highway 1 there are truly amazing. . . .tall mountains meet Pacific coast with evergreens and crashing waves . . .it was sort of like Colorado meets the Ocean. . . .

We stayed in a beautiful Hotel right on the water and Canary Row in Monterey. . .The Monterey Plaza Hotel and Spa. . .absolutely beautiful. . .we had sea otters swimming and playing right outside our window each morning. We hoped for a glimpse of a whale, but we did not get to see one! We also did some shopping and visited the Monterey Aquarium. . . .which is something that shouldn't be missed if you are in the area! It is an awesome experience and much larger than I anticipated!

We were able to take a drive through the Salinas and San Joaquin Valley's before we jumped on a flight home. . . this is what most interested Collie (besides the farm show that we missed) and it truly was amazing!!!! So very flat. . . with fields and fields of grapes, artichokes, nuts, citrus, strawberries. . . and other items. . . we traveled on to the Sequoia National Forest. . .right at the foot of the mountains there were fields of citrus trees. . .and we were able to travel part way into the mountains, before we were told the roads were closed ahead and we wouldn't be able to see any of the famous trees! What a bummer . . .hopefully we will be able to return in a different season to see these trees!!!!!!

So. . . that was our vacation.. . . a truly beautiful place and I highly recommend visiting Monterey if you ever get the chance! The food was good, the people were friendly, and there was so much to do!

Those Grandpa's are so special. . . .

2009-02-16T08:50:00.007-06:00

It is with a very heavy heart that I write about my Grandpa Tracy's, or Papaul as we called him. . . passing this past week. It has been a very tough time and it is hard for me to believe that both of my beloved Tracy Grandparents are no longer with us. I miss them so much!!!! My Grandfather was 91, but he was no normal 91 year old. . . the nurses in the hospital always thought they had the wrong room, because he looks so young! He has always been handsome, young looking, and so very strong. . . So it is very strange to think he is gone.

BUT. . .I will thank my cousin Bruce and Sara, and my sister Melissa. . .and myself a little bit. . .for knowing the importance of the stories my Grandfather had to share. We were so shocked with my Grandmother's passing 8 years ago that we missed out on some of her stories. . . BUT my cousin Bruce did a very in-depth interview with my Grandfather a few years ago. . .I do not believe it is something I can watch yet, but I am so thankful to have it!! My Grandfather was a man of few words. . .so I am sure it wasn't easy getting him to answer all those questions! But thank you SO MUCH Bruce for doing it! We are also going to compile a book of stories about my Grandfather. This will be such a treasure and a way so the stories are never forgotten!!!!! I love taking pictures. . .BUT the stories are what are most important to me. And it is amazing how many great stories you forget. . . .

February Challenge

2009-02-04T15:41:00.004-06:00

I decided to try something new this month! I think it is so much fun to share our art. . . .AND I always can use a little incentive to get some pages done. . . SO I am issuing a challenge to everyone this month!!! Here is how it works. . .

create a 2 page 12x12 Layout using the following Title/Theme: the 10 things I love about you
This can be about anyone. . .
Use whatever paper and embellishments you like (90% CTMH will receive bonus points!)
I will be using Cherish: Give me 10 and you are more than welcome to use the same layout or come up with your own!
take a picture of your layout and email it to me OR bring your layout to me
ALL layouts must be received by Sunday, Feb. 22
Layouts will be posted on my blog for voting by the public
Voters will email me at mereburgess@gmail to vote on the layout of their choice
Winners will receive a $10 gift certificate from me!
Other Random participants will be selected to receive an Exclusive thank you from me!

any questions?? Feel free to contact me anytime!! This should be fun and I hope you are up for the challenge!! All skills levels are encouraged to participate!!!!!!!

Here is the layout I will be featuring in My Sunday Scrappers Club this month. . . .it is from Cherish: GIve me 10. I used Notebook Paper Pack, Soul Mates Stamp Set, Love Always Stamp Set, Archival Black Ink, Desert Sand Ink, Nature's Ambiance and Love Story Rub ons. . .and some other odds and ends!!

Just hanging out in my GIANT pumpkin. . .

2009-01-31T10:53:00.005-06:00

These pictures are from last fall. . .the days before Halloween. . .when my Mother-in-law was carving her giant pumpkin!!!! It turned out beautiful as usual. . . .but the pictures of Collie and Brady inside the pumpkin cracked us up!!! It truly was a GIANT!!! The largest EVER grown in Missouri!! Hopefully it will be another great pumpkin growing year!!!!

WEBSITE SALE. . . .

2009-01-26T16:56:00.002-06:00

It was just announced that RETIRED items are now for sale on our websites for about 40% off!!!!!!!!!! There are not many stamp sets included in this sale. . . .look for those in March. . .but there are Paper packs, stickease, embellishments, albums, and other fun things!! These items will go fast. . . .the sites have been bogged down all day long. . . . So don't wait to check them out!!

Happy Shopping!!!

my site: http://meredithburgess.myctmh.com

SUITE Retreat 2009. . .

2009-01-26T16:51:00.003-06:00

What an INCREDIBLY FUN weekend!!!! If you have never been to a Scrapbooking Retreat before. . . .I highly suggest you try one if you ever get the chance!!!!!!!!! We had SO MUCH Fun this past weekend at the Embassy Suites Scrapbooking Retreat. I have heard from several people that they hate to pay that much to Scrapbook when you can scrapbook at home for free. WELL. . .this is more than just a scrapbooking weekend. . . .I was able to get about 20 pages done. . .great for me!!! BUT. . .I also had a GREAT time laughing and connecting with friends old and new!!!!!! We scrapbooked, shared ideas, met new people, and just hung out all day and night without any major interruptions!!!! It was just wonderful and words can't do it justice!!!!!!!!!

There is a retreat coming up in March (that I will be attending also) and this Suite Retreat is set for Jan. 2010. . . so mark your calendars and try and attend one of these fun events!!!!!!!!!

Ever have trouble packing for a CROP?

2009-01-22T08:06:00.003-06:00

So I am preparing for a weekend long. . .Girl's getaway. . . Scrapbooking. I am so excited. . . .but I have spent days trying to pack for this event!!!!! How can it take so long to pack for a weekend. . .and I haven't even packed ONE article of clothing??? This retreat is different from some. . .we will be scrapbooking at the Embassy Suites in the front part of our room and sleeping in the back. SO. . . the amount of stuff I can bring is limited. PLUS. .. I do not want to haul tons of stuff into the hotel!!! One trip would be grand. . . . so my question to you is. . .how do you streamline your packing for such events?????

I organize and reorganize my stuff all of the time . . . .I like to organize. . .what can I say?? AND I think I am finding that when you buy a Scrapbooking Kit and embellishments to go with it. . .it is probably SMART to keep all like items together. At least until you use that kit for its intended purpose. I have been digging through sticker baskets, embellishment drawers, and ribbon jars looking for all said items that match the paper I will be taking with me. . .

I do HIGHLY believe in making Project Packs . . .I have said this before. . . .my ONLY problem with a project pack is that sometimes I pack way too many and then i don't know where my pictures are. SO. . .it probably is smart to not pack to many project packs ahead. . . I know by the time I get to some of the ones I have packed. . .I am ready to pair the pictures with new or different paper I have purchased. . . .GONE are the days of wasting my valuable crop time matching paper and pictures. . . .that is a task that can be done quickly at home.. . . .maybe you don't have time to sit down and scrap. . . .but choosing one set of pictures and picking out paper (especially if it is a Kit) and putting them together only takes minutes!!!!! THen you can spend your Scrapbook time actually Scrapbooking!!!!!!!!!!!!

SO. . .wish me luck trying to fit all of my supplies into ONE Rolling bag. . . .and trying to get it all into the Hotel in ONE trip .. . .I am thinking it just ISN"T going to happen!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am SO looking forward to this FUN girl's weekend. . .it isn't all about the Scrapbooking. . . . .but hanging out with some of my friends at a fun hotel. . .complete with Happy Hour. . . .no laundry, dinners to fix, child to scold, or husband to demand anything. . .. AAAAHHHHHHH if you EVER have the chance to go to a retreat. . . I highly suggest you look into it. . . . don't think about spending the money to Scrapbook. . .we all know you could do so for FREE at home. . . .BUT as a Fun Girl's Weekend away. . .and if you get a few scrapbook pages done in the process. . .well, even better!!!

And if you have any Organization tips or time savers. . .PLEASE send them my way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't like spending hours packing and then still not show up with everything I need!!!!!!!!!

Have a good weekend!!! I will report on the Suite Retreat when I return!!!!!!

Happy Scrapping!

Simple Scrapbooks no more???

2009-01-19T09:55:00.002-06:00

Say it isn't so??? I just read Stacy Julian's blog (look on the right under blogs I read) and I read the most horrible news. . .one of my very favorite Scrapbooking magazines is no more. SIGH. . . I really didn't see this coming. . . .I guess if I had to choose, I do like Creating Keepsakes better. . . . but I love having TWO magazines I LOVE!!!!!! Oh well. . .I will enjoy it until May. . . and I will probably hold onto the back issues that I should have purged a little longer!!!

Scrap On!

Kit of the Month. . . .

2009-01-16T17:24:00.010-06:00

I absolutely LOVE the new Kit of the Month Program!!!! I am really bad about purchasing Paper packs and then not using them. They just sit on the shelf waiting for me to have the right inspiration!!! Well. . .with the new Kit of the Month Program that

Each month one of the New Paper Packs will be featured in a Special Project Pack. . . each project pack will contain the Paper Pack, Stickease, Instruction Brochure, and Ribbon or other embellishment. With the purchase of the Kit of the Month. . . .you are invited to attend a Special FREE Workshop to put your kit together!!! The Workshop is completely optional. . . . but during the workshop you will receive my help in completing the kit. . . AND you will be able to use my supplies. . .such as stamps, inks, blocks. . .and other items.

Each Kit comes with a full-color Instruction Brochure that has step-by-step instructions for putting your kit together!!!! It is so easy and the Layouts are so beautiful!!!! The brochure also gives you 4 other layouts you can complete along with 3 card ideas. . . the cutting diagrams for these can be found in the Imagine, Cherish, Reflections, and Originals books. You can leave with 6 Scrapbook Pages and 3 cards. . . plus left over supplies!!!!

to see these kits. . . go to my website. .. www.meredithburgess.myctmh.com Below, you will see some of the Other Layouts for the February Kit of the Month (Emporium) and one of the March Kits (Unforgettable).

Both are so beautiful and so easy to do!!!!!!!!!

Contact me today with questions!

Big Picture Scrapbooking. . .

2009-01-16T10:47:00.002-06:00

I finally did it!! I signed up for a class at Big Picture Scrapbooking!!!! I have waited three years to take this class. . .Library of Memories. . .it is taught by Stacy Julian, of Simple Scrapbooks. In this class, she teaches you a new way to organize your photos, scrapbooks, and a new way to think about Scrapbooking!!! How to organize is something I really need help with!!!! The class is a bit pricey. . . thus why I waited so long to take it!!!!! But, I have heard so many positive reviews of this course!! And I am sooo excited to take it!!

Don't have time for a class right now? Check out her most recent book. . .Photo Freedom. . . in it she gives an overview of what the class is about. . . a good place to start!!!

Happy Scrapping!!

Happy 4th Birthday, Eli!

2009-01-12T16:44:00.005-06:00

Here are some pics from the Mizzou Birthday Party!!! All the kids said, man that was a good time, when they left the party!!! It is so nice to get together and for the kids to have a good time!!! Brady, obviously didn't want to pose for his picture. . .someone mentioned how cute he looked laying on the floor like that. . . I guess that just embarrassed him. . silly kid!!!

The first picture is of the presents we brought Eli. . .a Kamatsu Excavator (a model to size) and a weedeater. . . .he told Collie he wanted an Excavator like his. . .so good ol Uncle Collie got him one. And at Brady's birthday in October, Eli turned those giant eyes on me and said, " I want a weedeater just like that." So of course, Aunt Meredith HAD to get him one!!! I let Brady stamp the paper with Tiger paws . . .staying with the Tiger theme. . .and I made a cute little tiger card. .. . fun fun!!!! Can't believe the boys are already four. . . .