Need a Little Art and Soul?

Art and Soul............CTMH TV.....................

Anyone know what I'm talking about? If the answer is "No," you are in for a big treat.

Each month Close To My Heart releases a new episode of CTMH TV. Every episode is full of tips, techniques and projects that are sure to inspire you. After you watch the episode, download the instructions and create your own project! Need the supplies featured? Check out the end of the episodes for specials on some of the supplies featured!!

This month's topic is a little "sneaky".... you might think you're watching an episode filled with "manly ideas"... but there's a special little stop at the Close To My Heart Cupcakery at the end. It's definate a must see!!

While I love all of the episodes, I have to say that my favorite one was Card Crazy....because I truly went "Card Crazy" after I watched it. It inspired me to beef up my card stash. Stay tuned!! Tomorrow I'll show you what I did with those cards.

Your Turn - Leave me a comment and tell me which episode is your favorite and why. On Sunday I'll pick a comment and send them a full-set of the "manly cards" I'm doing at my June workshop!!

Ready to watch some CTMH tv? - Click Here

My Creations 3-Ring Binder Workshop

Our project at this month's workshop was a fun album featuring the My Creations 3-Ring Binder. I made two different kits; Animal Cookies and Moon Doggie. Kits included the binder, pre-cut paper, an assortment of accessories and a color handout with pictures of my sample.

Here are the covers of a couple of the finished albums. They went together so quickly that a couple of people couldn't resist making one of each.

Kits to go - I ended up selling all of my kits, but I would be happy to make more. Please email me if you would like your own kit for $15 plus shipping. (or you can pick it up if you're local)

May SOTM Blog Hop!

Welcome to our Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!

We will be featuring May's SOTM, which is Be Yourself, a set of 14 stamps. If you have come here from Misty's Blog, you are on the right path! If this is your first stop, you may want to go back to Jena's Blog and start from the beginning!

This month we have 18 Close To My Heart Consultants participating. You can see them all by hopping from one blog to the next. This is simple to do - just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one! Here we go!

Products Used: May Stamp of the Month - D1349 Be Yourself
D1361 Thank You
Tickled Pink
Ink Colors - Twilight and Blush

As an added bonus I asked a couple of friends if I could post the cards they gave me.

The first one was created by Gail Vought.

Patyy Smith gave me this gorgeous card for my birthday.
Sadly my photography skills made it come out blurry.

Celebrate National Scrapbooking Month by combining our Stamp of the Month program with the Tickled Pink Promo! Here's how...

Purchase $60 in stamps (1 "D" set and 2 "C" sets is $60.85) and you'll earn Tickled Pink for free...and it also qualifies you to purchase the May stamp of the month - Be Yourself for 1/2 off! Contact your CTMH Consultant (or click here)

Now "Hop" on over to Jen's Blog to see her work! Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their Blogs to get some great crafting ideas and other fun ideas! Remember, the May SOTM is only available until May 31st and Tickled Pink is "while supplies last"!

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Get lost on the hop? Here's a list of all of the participants so you can find your way back.

List of ParticipantsJena Devries - http://www.livelovelaughscrapbook.blogspot.com/Sherry Thompson - http://www.picturespatternsandpaper.blogspot.com/Cibele Glazer - http://www.flowerfoot.blogspot.com/Helen Onulak - http://www.hookedonstamping.com/Jaime Benavides - http://www.scrapcrazydiva.blogspot.com/Misty Jackson - http://www.misstscraps.blogspot.com/Dawn Heuft - http://www.stamptildawn.blogspot.com/Jen Rubio - http://www.jenrubio.blogspot.com/Shannon Laux - http://www.rockinstamps.blogspot.com/Ronnie Crowley - http://www.ronniecreates.blogspot.com/Deb Young - http://www.scrapbookczar.blogspot.com/Terrie Dodd - http://www.my-life-in-real-time.blogspot.com/Lucia Grabb - http://www.luciasscrappinandstampin.blogspot.com/Anne Beck - http://www.anniemuses.blogspot.com/Reba Poquette - http://www.thedirtyscramper.blogspot.com/Leisa Hubley - http://bigredscraps.blogspot.com/Caren Goldsein - http://www.scrappycaren.blogspot.com/Jennifer Patrick - http://www.roxybonds-scrappin.blogspot.com/

50 days!?!

Ok, it's starting to feel real. 50 more days until we fly out to Jackson Hole, Wyoming for our bike tour!! That means it's time to stop playing around and get serious about my training!!

I haven't written much about cycling lately because I've just been maintaining my normal routine. I ride 3-4 nights per week; 9-17 miles. Right now I think I'm still recuperating from my cold because I rode 8 miles monday, 10 miles on Tuesday, 6 miles on Wednesday and today I am resting because I am sore and tired. It's really hard for me to take a rest day. I always think I should just power through, but I'm deciding to listen to my body and get to bed early tonight. I might get a little excercise by hooping while I'm watching tv. We shall see...

So here are my plans for the next 50 days...
More water.
More fruits/veggies
Less junk!
Ride 3-4 nights per week and at least one long ride on the weekend.

May 16th we're doing the 26 mile loop from downtown, around to Coronado.
May 23rd - Planning a ride with the girls from work. Possibly down to the beach and back.

I need to find time for some longer rides. The problem is that I don't really want to do a "long" ride by myself. I'm thinking about just doubling some of the rides that I can do that are near the house. That way I get some extra miles in, but I'm still relatively close to ride support! And of course there's the group of girls at work.... they're putting in more miles now so maybe a couple of them will be ready for an adventure!

Scrapbook Expo

I used the Tickled Pink Scrapbook Kit for our recruiting board.

Tickled Pink and Embossing Plates...on my new Hello Kitty Big Shot!

Whew... I feel like I've been in a whirlwind.... I was knocked down by a cold for a couple of days, then worked the San Diego Scrapbook Expo... and then it was time to catch up at work after being off for a few days...

Scrapbook Expo - fun, fun, fun!! Many of my customers stopped by to say "Hi" and I met a ton of wonderful scrapbookers!!

Close To My Heart Blog Hop

Welcome to our Close to my Heart Summer 2009 Idea Book Blog Hop!

Over 40 Close to my Heart Consultants are celebrating the release of the Summer 2009 Idea Book by sharing their amazing creations using new products via their blogs. If you have come here from Haley's blog, you are on the right path!

If this is your first stop, you may want to go back to Erin's blog http://www.tazzygirl2000.blogspot.com/ and start from the beginning!


I've been sick so I did a couple of quick and easy cards. I used the My Originals book to pick a card pattern. This one is vertical sash.





After I made the first card, I took the leftover pieces on my table to make another card. This is a 4x4 card.

Items Used:
C1360 It's a Zoo (New set, available May 1st)
C1257 Happy Birthday
Z464 Summer Carnival Sassy Strands
X7113B Tinkerin Level 2 Paper Pack (available May 1st)
Inks: Holiday Red, Clover Meadow, Sunflower

I hope you enjoyed your stop here. I love comments!! and I hope you'll come back soon.

Next stop is Ali's blog at http://www.scrapali.blogspot.com/

An Awesome Birthday Present!

So my birthday is still 6 days away, but Josh got me a present that had to be opened tonight. He took me to the live showing of This American Life. In order to fully appreciate the significance of this gift and how happy it made me, you need to know that.

I love This American Life!!

Not only do I love it, but I think that everyone else should love it too. One year I thought I had come up with THE best idea for Christmas gifts! I bought my inlaws, my mom and my brother and sister inlaw This American Life cds. I carefully chose which ones I thought would most suit their personalities and I even made sure I gave my Mom and my brother different versions so that they could trade back and forth. I'm not complaining, but I do think it's important to mention that none of them have called me to tell me which episode was their favorite. I'm sure it's because they are too busy downloading episodes to their ipods so they can catch up on all of the past episodes and have a full and meaningful discussion with me about their favorites.

I thought I might have a new convert a few weeks ago. Josh started listening to podcasts! Not only did he start listening to a podcast, but he was turning it on in the car, telling me I had to listen and he was sharing it with others. As I listened to How Stuff Works with him I couldn't help but recommend another wonderful podcast. He NEEDED to listen to This American Life.

I don't think he has actually subscribed to their podcast, yet. But all of that is how we got to today. Somehow he found out about the special showing tonight and he forked over $42 to buy us tickets AND he went with me. I had to laugh when Ira Glass asked the people in the theater audiences to clap if they had no idea who he was but got dragged there by a friend. There were definately a few claps and hopefully some new fans.

I have to say that one of the reasons I was so excited to go to the show was because finally I would be surrounded by people who "get" it. I can't tell you how many times I've tried to explain it to people. It's almost as hard as trying to explain blogging. "You mean you write about your life so that random strangers can read it.?" It's hard being the only nerd in your group of friends.

Well tonight I wasn't alone. Tonight I was in a theater packed with fans and it was so much fun. I was fascinated with watching Ira Glass. Here is the face that goes with that wonderful voice. I love how he speaks and how he phrases things and I couldn't take my eyes off of him. It was fun to see his little smirks when he tried to keep from laughing. And I was very impressed with how effortless he made it look when he cued up the music and added the pre-taped portions of the show.

I don't know that I would want to watch the episode every week. I think part of the charm is the ability to make up your own pictures in your head, but it was fun to see the people who comprised the different acts. To see the emotion on their faces as they told their stories. It was everything that I love about the show.

And so... if you are already a fan, you have one more opportunity to see the show at the theater. They are replaying it on May 7th. Not a fan yet? Humor me, go download an episode or two and see what you think. I now know that I am not the ONLY nerd that loves it. Maybe you have an inner nerd in you that you need to connect with.