Sneak Peek #2 - "Bella" - Scrapbooking in Melbourne, Florida

Here's a card that I made with another new paper packet (available May 1 - tomorrow!) called "Bella". It has a lot of purples and greens in it, although I've covered up a lot of it. I also used CTMH's super cool new Fancy Cuts Borders! You get three full sheets of uber-cool borders for just $3.95! And they layer perfectly over our Dimensional (chipboard) borders if you are so inclined.



I've been working on items for my Open Crop and Open House May 16. May is National Scrapbooking Month! Also, this year marks the 25 year anniversary of Close To My Heart! Check out the "Scrapbook and Share" button in the top right corner of my blog and discover how you can win hundreds of dollars worth of CTMH products!



Our new Summer catalog goes LIVE tomorrow morning! Check out the hottie on the cover - woohoo!!!!! For me, the most exciting new item in this catalog is FELT! Three large sheets of Tulip, Buttercup and Garden Green felt shapes - frames, birdies, dragonflies, buttons, flourishes, arrows, more frames, flowers....all three sheets are different, too! I'll use some soon on a project and post it for you. I will not hoard it - I will use it!! tee hee



Tomorrow is May Day. Did you dance around a May pole when you were little?



Well, when I was in first grade, we had a May Day party at school. Now, those of you who know me may find it hard too believe that I was incredibly shy as a child (I came out of my shell in Junior High). I mean, I was too shy to ask to go to the bathroom. Absurd, huh? Well, it's true. The school had made this tall "May Pole" with super-long strips of pastel crepe paper fastened at the top. Now that I think about it, it was probably the school's flagpole. HA! Anyway, about a dozen of us first-graders were selected to prance around the pole with the streamers. Half went one direction, half the other, resulting in a pole that was 'braided' with crepe paper. It was beautiful!

Of course, I wore my best May Day dress, which was probaby my Easter dress. My mother always dressed my sister and I in matching dresses for Easter. We got new patent-leather shoes, white socks and sometimes hats. Well, for all my memories of the May Pole, my most vivid memory of that day was what happened as my class marched single-file back into the classroom. One particularly spirited young boy (whose name shall remain anonymous - tee hee) took it upon himself to lift the back of my frilly dress, revealing my panties for everyone to see! In hindsight (pun intended - tee hee), I doubt that more than one or two kids saw anything, but I was traumatized for life!

I haven't worn a new Easter dress since....

Deb

My Beautiful Mother - Scrapbooking in Melbourne, Florida

As I mentioned yesterday, here's another Memory Box. I love making these! This one was a Christmas gift for my mom. Yes, that's her on the cover. Isn't she beautiful? What you don't see is her beautiful spirit. I want to be just like her when (if) I grow up!

My mom used to be crafty when I was young. One of our funniest family stories revolves around a little sewing/redecorating project she embarked on many years ago. We had this big old wooden-based chair on our Florida room. Sort of like a modern-day Adirondack chair, but clunkier with an open bottom (seat). Their were thick cushions on the back and in the seat.

Well, one fine warm day my mom decided she would cover those ugly old cushions. I guess it was a three-fold venture - covering those nasty old things, being a little creative along the way, and enjoying the challenge. We do love a challenge! Well, my mom had made cushion covers for these bulky cushions (Lord, they were about 30 inches across - like a modern-day chair-and-a-half, now that I think about it). She was standing in the Florida room, struggling to get that cushion crammed into the cover she had made, when a lightbulb went off in her head (in her words, 'I had a brainstorm!'). 'Well, why in the world am I standing here doing this when I could be sitting down???'. So she backed herself up to the chair, leaned back and sat right down in that big old chair.....straight down to the floor! After all, the seat cushion was in her hand!!!

Now, in our family, whenever anyone falls or trips, we get the giggles, no matter how serious it is. She could have broken her tail bone and we would have been rolling on the floor, my mom included!

Don't ask me how she got up.....folded up in their like a pretzel, with the cushion on top of her. We were all too little to help, if we could have.

I guess you had to be there!

Deb

Sneak Peek- "Back Country" paper pack

I have had photo success! Thanks to a couple of tips from fellow CTMH sistuh Debbie Tuggle, I took a few decent shots tonight.

I hope you enjoy this little card I made with one of the new paper packs (available May 1 - FRIDAY!) called Back Country. I also used a great new stamp set and some dimensional buttons, photo corner and CTMH twill.

Tonight was Girls' Night Out with my BFF's Rindy and Tami! We indulged in some yummy seafood. We are in Florida, after all....if the seafood isn't great here, where else? When we came outside we were hit with the most delicious cool breeze. I hope we have a few more of those before the evenings turn muggy!

Thanks you for the kind comments about my Memory Box and, most of all, about my son and his kitty. I'll be posting another Memory Box tomorrow night.

I love hearing from you!

Deb

p.s. I added a couple of new games (in the right column). Dorky, I know...but what did you expect? :-)

Back Country card recipe (all product CTMH):

Paper: Back Country

Ink: Olive, Black

My Acrylix Stamps: Treetops

Other: Dimensional Elements Borders, Dimension Elements Framed Fun

My favorite photo of my son - Scrapbooking in Melbourne, Florida

Well. I just spent about an hour and 45 minutes trying to get a good photo of a cute card I made with new papers - a sneak peek of sorts. Remind me to try to take my photos in the daylight, not at 10 pm...tee hee!

So instead, here's my very favorite photo of my son and one of our kitties. It's in a circular frame on my desk, which is why it is cut out the way it is. Nothing fancy here, but so cute, dontcha think? Look at that sweet face. I am the luckiest mom in the world!

This sweet boy is now a man, 21 years old, studying Astrophysics. And the cat (like mom), is fatter, lazier, and sprawled out on the couch.

Life is good!

Deb

Thanks for voting! - Scrapbooking in Melbourne, Florida

I want to thank those of you whom have voted thus far in my poll (see right column). It's pretty even, so I may have to offer both classes! The poll remains open till next weekend. I can't tell you how helpful it is to get your input!

I've been working on items for the Open House for the last couple of hours. I'll be hosting a National Scrapbooking Month Crop and Open House on Saturday, May 16. If you're near Melbourne, Florida and want to attend, please leave a comment with your e-mail address and I'll add you to my invitation list! Invitations will go out this weekend.

In the meantime, I'll post something that's already on my computer. This is a cute litte purse made from a white paper lunch bag. I entered and won a prize from CTMH (Close To My Heart) so I thought I would share with you.

Have a wonderful evening!

Deb

p.s. The Dodgers won last night! :-)

My favorite project - Scrapbooking in Melbourne, Florida

One of my favorite Close To My Heart products is the "My Creations Memory Keeper". I have made four of them now, and this one is still my favorite. I used Jeanette Lynton's pattern without any changes. You can view a tutorial on making this box, as well as written instructions and cutting directions, by watching MyCTMH TV's Art and Soul episode "Scrapbooking the Non-Traditional" here.

The Memory Keeper is a sturdy box (approximately 10" x 10") with a magnetic closure. A cool feature is that it closes flat for shipping, so it makes an awesome gift.

I'm currently creating a Wedding Keepsake Box using our elegant "Silhouette" paper pack. When finished, I'll post it here. I'll be offering a workshop for anyone who would like to make one for either their own wedding treasures or as a cherished gift. I'll also offer a kit version for those of you out of the area.

Here is the inside cover, complete with vintage tags. The tutorial leaves the inside blank, so I ceated this part on my own.This paper packet is "Notebook" by Close To My Heart. I also used coordinating Stickease and Big Pinks Just Blooms.

Well, I'm off to watch my beloved Dodgers beat the Astros (I hope so, anyway)! Their games are rarely televised here in Florida, so I drink them in whever I get the chance!

Sweet dreams,

Deb

Tickled Pink Limited Edition Scrapbooking Kit - Scrapbooking in Melbourne, Florida

Wow! Close To My Heart is offering this super-adorable kit for purchase or for FREE in honor of National Scrapbooking Month! The special runs from April 15 through May 31, 2009. This kit includes designer paper (two pages are glittered!), CTMH's exclusive white-core cardstock in coordinating colors, our white mini-medleys collection (includes white crocheted flowers, metal ribbon slides, tags and flowers), a sheet of textured die cuts and a gotta-have oversized sponge dauber! AND a big 'ol stamp set!!!!!!

Choose from these four options to make this kit yours!

• Purchase outright for $34.95 (all prices USD, plus tax, shipping and handling)



• Purchase $60 of CTMH stamps (you know you want to - tee hee) and get it FREE!



• Host a qualifying gathering and get it FREE!



• Sign up here to join my Young Hearts team (any time in the month of May) and get it FREE!

Wowza!!! Shop online here and have Tickled Pink delivered directly to your front door!

Deb

Explaining "Scrapbook Czar" - Scrapbooking in Melbourne, Florida

p.s. You may wonder why my blog is titled "Scrapbook Czar". It's not that I have a lofty, Czar-like opinion of myself (although some may argue that point - ha!). It's a reaction to all of the Czars being appointed over the past few weeks (especially THIS week) by our government. I decided that I would enjoy being a Czar, so why not a Scrapbook Czar? Especially if it comes with a cute little hat.....
See, I told you there would be a lot of groaners!
Now go to sleep!

Deb

Welcome to my blog! - Scrapbooking in Melbourne, Florida

Welcome! I know it's not much yet......but give me a few days! Now, if you don't like Bruce Springsteen (although I find that hard to believe), you might want to mute your computer now.

Although most of the content of this blog will be pertaining to my scrapbooking business, it's highly likely that I will muse and amuse along the way. Be prepared for a lot of groaners!

I am thrilled to be an independent consultant with Close To My Heart, an extremely rockin' scrapbooking company! Our goal is making scrapbooking faster, simpler and easier...and showing you how!

I also have a full-time "day job" and am blessed to live in sunny Florida. Now that my (wonderful, brilliant, handsome, loving) son is in college, I am officially the old lady with cats. How did I ever get to this point? Well, maybe I'll tell you someday. But not today. Today is for introductions and testing our this blog thing.

Please bookmark me (or become a follower - don't ask me how, though - hee hee) and stop by this weekend for some lovely art and scrapbookin' specials.

Now, if I only knew how to do a signature........

Deb