Beach Bound!!

This past week has been pretty chilly here, but this weekend is going up into the 80's!

So the whole family is headed to the beach for the weekend along with the in-laws! Yay!

I can't wait to spend time with my Sister in law and her family as well as my Husbands parents.

I truelly am blessed that we all get along so well. I do know that there is a craft fair that will be going on. But I have to go to Johnson's to get some yummy Caremel popcorn!!!

I hope that you all will have nice weather as well and enjoy your weekend!! I am sure that I will have some pics to post when I get back! I can't wait to do some summer layouts as well!!

Happy Easter!

I know that this post is a little late. For that I am truely sorry. Life has been very busy around here and I will post about that next time. Right now I want to share with you my Easter Events.

We Dyed Eggs with my sister before she went to visit with our other sister. (I know it's a little tounge twister) Unfortunatly I don't have any photo's from that evening. (Silly me left my CF card in the computer) My 2 nieces and my boys were there. Daneene and her beautiful girls and Mimi Jim and sweet little Hana were there as well. I can't forget that my nieces boyfriend Jim was there too. We had a blast. (as usual)

On Saturday (the night before Easter) Joe and Dana came over with my adorable niece Katie to dye eggs. Let me tell you this, it was an adventure. lol Katie is 18 months.

I spilled the green dye all over my hands not to mention our new light hardwood floors. I guess Katie felt left out and she spilled the other cup of green, she was very concerned about cleaning it up. After that she had fun dieing her hands.

I tried to get some semi good pictures of the boys but they just weren't having it. This is what I ended up with.

Easter morning the boys looked for eggs (You are never to old for an egg hunt!!!)

Joe, Dana and Katie came over for Easter dinner and I had an egg hunt for Katie in our back yard. She had a good time but after the first 3 eggs she would point to the next one wanted me to get it for her.

When she was all done and her basket was full, she dumped all the Hard boiled Eggs out and wanted to do some more.

March Bliss!

Here we are at the start of March and the weather is looking promissing. With highs into the upper 40's and low 50's this weekend you can't help but think spring! After that the weather is going back down again. When will it stay warmed up?
As I look into my back yard I can see some of my flowers starting to sprout up out of the ground, promissing that spring is on it's way.
So in honor of the long awaited arrival of spring and St. Patty's Day, I encourage you all to go GREEN. Creat a monocromatic card for someone special or a Layout telling future generations why it's important to recycle, reuse and reclaim. Let's keep mother Earth and her beautiful lands green and healthy!

Winter 2010

When will it end? This has been a record breaking winter for Philly and it's not over yet. The boys have only had 0ne day of school this week and I can't wait for them to go back. lol

Despite the cold and wet winds, Matthew and I have been having fun in the snow. As the blizzard hit we headed for the playground with my camera in hand. Matthew had a good time jumping and running around in the snow.

He really hates having his picture taken but I was surprised that he let me capture him having fun. As we walked through the neighborhood I took some photos along the way.

The snow really is pretty! I just love walking in it as it is falling.

Studio G stamp storage

I have been slowly getting back into the swing of things in my little scrap nook and I noticed that I had no place to keep my Studio G stamps that you can get for $1.oo. So I made a box to keep them in. I thought that I would share this box with you all! Enjoy!

I used poster board but you can use heavy wieght cardstock.

Cut your base to 12" x 7 3/4"

Since I used white, I created my own pattern by first Sponging a little color

then by stamping with a background stamp.

After I was done with that I clear embossed some images

for a reverse embossing technique.

When I was finished with that I sponged with Chocolate ink

to make the embossed images stand out.

Flipping the base to have the wrong side up,

score 2 9/16 of an inch at all sides.

Then cut the corners off as shown

then cut along the score line torwards the middle as shown.

Then fold up at the score lines and tape up the corner flaps to the inside.

The base is complete.

The top is created in the same manner with these measurments:

Cardstock~ 9 3/8" x 5 3/8"

Score at 1 1/4" on all sides.

Sorry that this photo doesn't show the lid finished.

To make the dividers for the inside,

I just cut squares at 2 1/16" and used half circles for the tabs.

Thanks for visiting and I would love to hear about your creations!

Hearts for Haiti

Our hearts go out to the victims of the earthquake in Haiti, and like so many of you, CTMH is eager to help. Announcing February's Constants Campaign, Hearts for Haiti - Where you can get a great deal while doing a great good for those affected by the devastation in Haiti.

From February 1-28th, our 12"x 12" textured cardstock combo packs are buy one, get one FREE- and with every offer purchased, Close To My Heart will donate $2 to Operation Smile's Haiti relief efforts.

Operation Smile is always a fantastic charitable partner- offering free facial reconstruction surgeries to children through the world. They currently marshaled their medical teams and resources to provide emergency relief in Haiti, and the donations given as part of Hearts to Haiti will be used exclusively for Operation Smile's efforts in Haiti. For more information on their on the ground response, you can visit www.operationsmile.org/haiti

That means for $14.95 US you get two packs of textured cardstock (a great deal at about $.30 per sheet) and Operation Smile will receive $2 to benefit this urgent, important cause. Stock up on every color combination now and save tons of money while helping out a great cause.

Happy New Year!!!

With 2009 behind me, I plan on making the most of 2010! I will take nothing for granted and enjoy the little moments that make up everyday life! So often we get wrapped up in the humdrum of everyday life that we don't really see what is before our own eyes. The warmth of a child's smile and the sparkle in their eyes when they ask if we can play a board game with them or ask to build a house of cards. Instead of saying, "I am sorry honey, I have to get the house cleaned" or " I have work to do" I will put aside the chores and work, and play with the kids. They don't stay little forever and the time goes by faster than you realize when you are in the moment.
My wish for you all is to take the time and cherish each moment that you spend with the ones you care about! That is all that we really have, is the here and now. Nothing in life is really guaranteed and if we get caught up in the hum drum we could lose moments that we can never-ever get back, time spent and memories made with those we love and care about!

So I raise a toast to you all and wish nothing but Health and Happiness for the New Year!