Can't Stop Dreaming Team Meeting

On the second Thursday of every month my team, Can't Stop Dreaming, has their unit meeting. We have awards, business talk, snacks and learn a new technique that we can share with our customers. Last night we had one in Delton, Michigan and learned how to color in an embossed image with water color pencils. What a blast. I pulled out the camera so you could see what a great time we have! We would love to have you join our team and there's no better time than right before convention! Contact me for more information on what it means to be a Close to my Heart consultant.

Just 2 more days left! Don't miss out on this crop!

My fellow team member and myself are throwing a big crop on Saturday, March 12th at the lovely Beach House in Bridgman, Michigan. It's only $25 and we're providing breakfast and lunch plus lots of surprises. The address is 5301 Lake Street in Bridgman.

This is where you'll be and what you get to look at while scrapbooking!!! There is ton of room for all of you scrapbookers, your Cricuts, your supplies, the food we're and giving you and lots more!!! Contact me to sign up (989) 906-6420 or caldreamin05@comcast.net

Fat Tuesday - Paczki Time

Yesterday my family and I went out for our annual tradition of eating paczkis on Fat Tuesday. We only eat one and don't give in to the temptation of the stores who bring out the paczkis early. We get up early and head out to our favorite bakery, Sandra Kay's, to have the delicious treats before school and work. I was so excited about the pictures that I came home, uploaded them to Studio J and had the layout done within an hour of taking the pictures. The layout will be winging it's way to me to be easily slipped into my album. I love Studio J! If you'd like to whip off your layouts that fast, you can try it out for free HERE!

I give blog candy on my facebook page too!

In fact, I am going to be giving away some free products as soon as I hit 100 people on my facebook business page. My facebook business page is more interactive than my blog, we have a question of the day and art shown there that I don't post here or necessarily in my newsletters. We have a great group of 80 people there already, come join us and get a chance to win some prizes.

MY FACEBOOK PAGE - CLICK HERE!

Happiness is celebrating the little things in life

Well isn't that the truth. As a person who tries to keep a positive attitude, I can really appreciate the sentiment of this card. I'm enjoying the 4 1/2 by 4 1/2 card size too! Here's another one using the Fanfare paper once again (it's such a bright and happy paper set). The stamp set is Paper Lanterns.

You'll need to stamp the big pom poms from this set (I think they are pom poms, maybe fireworks) in cranberry and sunny yellow ink. Stamp three stars in pacifica ink. Cut these all out.

Cut white cardstock 4 1/2 by 4 1/2 and make yourself the card base while you're at it cutting it 9 by 4 1/2 and fold it in half. Cut the blue pattern paper from the kit 4 by 4 and distress the pieces. Glue the blue paper onto the white cardstock square.

Cut out white cardstock 2 1/2 by 2 1/2 and a piece of pacifica cardstock 2 3/4 by 2 3/4, distress them and glue the white on the pacifica cardstock then attach them both to the center of the card. Stamp the strings on the stamp set in pacifica ink so that they start at the top of the card and go down towards the center into the white cardstock.

Stamp the "celebrating" sentiment in pacifica ink on the lower left of the white cardstock square.

Glue the three stars on the paper as shown. Use popdots to attach the pom poms to the end of the strings. Tie knots in two pieces of white ribbon and glue down to "string" images. If you like you can add glitter to the stars. Simple card but it will mean so much to the recipient. If you would like me to teach this card at your next home party, call me and we'll set up a date. (989) 906-6420.

Simply Scallops

Here's some fun tricks and tips for our new scallop punch. You're going to want one once you see this, click on the link to get yours!

Rockin' card

How about a rockin' card today? I love this X-treme stamp set because I have two teenage boys and it really shows a lot of their favorite things (my boys are into the arts, not sports so it's been hard to find stamps that fit them). I used the Wings paper and some neat corduroy brads.

This is a different sized card. Cut your paper as follows:

4 1/2 by 9 colonial white cardstock, fold in half for card base

4 1/2 by 4 1/2 vineyard berry cardstock

4 1/4 by 4 1/4 juniper cardstock

2 by 4 1/2 pattern paper

1 1/2 by 4 1/2 black cardstock

3 by 2 colonial white cardstock

3 1/2 by 2 1/2 vineyard berry cardstock

You'll also need a second piece of vineyard berry cardstock to stamp on.

Distress all with black ink. Using your trimmer and dry embossing tool, make lines in the juniper paper and sand to reveal white core. Attach to vineyard berry card front.

Glue pattern paper about a 1/4 inch from bottom of the card.

Glue black cardstock strip across the center of the pattern paper.

Attach vineyard berry cardstock frame onto right hand side of card about 1/4 inch from right hand side of card, 1/2 inch from the bottom of the card.

On the vineyard berry scrap paper stamp the guy with the guitar using black ink. Carefully cut out the stamped image.

Glue the stamped image onto the white cardstock. Stamp the word Rockin' in black ink and then use your wiry sponge tool to add little black specks all over piece.

Attach that piece to the center of the vineyard berry frame.

Add two corduroy brads in the open space to the left of the stamped image. Attach whole card front to card base and you're done! If you'd like to make this card this weekend you can attend my card class tomorrow, March 6th in Stevensville from 2 to 4:30. Click on the paypal link to sign up right away or give me a call (989) 906-6420.

National Scrapbooking Industry Day

Did you realize it was National Scrapbooking Industry Day? Well it is and to celebrate I'm giving away a 3 x 3 mini-album to three people! To get your chance to win, just post a comment under this post telling me what you LOVE about scrapbooking. Tomorrow I will draw three names (you must leave you name in the post) and those people will win! *Non-consultants only!

Make an easy card!

This is a super easy card, a tiny bit of stamping but mostly just some cutting. The new Sophia paper has a cool pattern in it that already has some words that will work beautifully for your card. Cut your paper as follows:

White daisy cardstock - 4 1/4 by 5 1/2 for card base (fold in half)

Hollyhock cardstock - 4 1/4 by 5 1/2 for card front

White daisy cardstock - 4 by 5 1/4

Goldrush cardstock - 3 1/2 by 4 3/4

Pear cardstock - 3 1/4 by 4 1/2

Patterned paper - 3 by 3 3/4

Blush cardstock - 1/2 by 5 1/4

Distress everything with hollyhock ink

Cut the pattern paper apart but keep the words intact so that they still make sense on your card. Cut it in 1 1/4 inch strips. Glue all papers in order of size finishing up with the pattern paper spreading it a 1/4 inch apart from each other.

Glue blush cardstock strip 1 1/2 inches up from bottom of card.

Stamp any saying (I used Thinking of you from Say it in Style) on the right hand side of the blush cardstock strip in hollyhock ink. Add three brads to the left hand side of strip. Glue entire card front to card base and you're done in no time flat. This is one of the cards I'll be teaching at my class on Sunday, March 6th from 2-4:30 in Stevensville. You can make as many cards of your choice (I have a variety) as you can in 2 hours for just $10. Click on the paypal link below to sign up and I'll send you my address and more info on the class.

Scavenger Hunt

Scavenger Hunt – From 7:30 to 7:45 hunt down this information and report back to ME ONLY at caldreamin05@comcast.net with your completed numbered list of answers.

1. Go to http://studioj.com and find out what percentage you save off retail price by becoming a Studio J member.

2. Go to http://jeanettelynton.com and tell me the date of Jeanette Lynton’s birthday. Be careful to make sure of the ACTUAL date (you may need to read well to figure this out).

3. Go to http://barbraotten.com and watch my rising star video to find out what degree I earned from the Training Academy.

4. Go to http://barbraotten.myctmh.com and check out my calendar. How many days will I be at convention and where is convention (hint – it’s in a summer month).

5. Go to http://closetomyheart.com and find out what year My Acrylix stamps were introduced. (hint – you’ll want to know about the company).

6. Go to http://splitcoaststampers, click on “gallery” then do a search (search box on left hand side) for my username there, fan2daryl. Find out the title of the very first layout in my gallery.

7. Go to http://michellenist.blogspot.com and click on the “About Me” link to get Michelle’s email address. Michelle is my upline and she’s waiting to hear if I am staying a consultant with

Close to my Heart. Send her an email saying I am.

Fanfare Explosion Box

I'm teaching an explosion box class on Wednesday in Battle Creek (contact me if you'd like to attend) and here's a sneak peek at one of the boxes put together. For directions on how you can make it, click HERE.