Take Time to Smile

This is one of many projects I will showcase on my blog. I love this folio as it is a great way to show multiple pictures. It is a flexible folio as you can add or remove pages. This make a great gift for mom, grandma or any family member.

Front Cover
Inside, page 1 and 2

Inside, page 3 and 4

Finished Size 5.5" x 6"

Products Used:

Perfect Day Level 2 Paper Packet

September Word Puzzle Stamp Set
Friendship Word Puzzle Stamp Set
Tulip and Sorbet Ink
Just Blooms White Daisy Paper Flowers
Colonial White Grosgrain Bulk Ribbon
Antique Copper Brad
Antique Copper Photo Clip
MicroTip Scissors
Corner Rounder
Tombow Mono Adhesive

Thanks!!! Karen

Taking a couple weeks off...

With the end of school upon us and all things that happen with life.... I will be taking the next two weeks off with my blog.

I will have a post on June 24th and July 3rd....so be on the lookout for the latest happenings.

Take care and enjoy the wonderful weather...if you are so lucky to have it.

Be back soon... Karen

Here is what I created...

If you go back to my blog on May 14th...I selected a variety of papers, stamps, colors and embellishments to create three thank you cards. Here is what I created:

All are layouts from the Original Card Book...

I had a lot of fun designing these cards and they were a lot of fun to make.

Thanks a Bunch

4.25" X 5.5" card

Tinkerin Level 2 paper packet

Thank You stamp set

Cranberry grosgrain ribbon

Clover Meadow ink

Holiday Red button

Moon Doggie Thank You

4.25" x 5.5" card

Moon Doggie Level 2 paper packet

Extreme Happiness stamp set

Thank You stamp set

Cranberry Ink

Garden Green Ink

Bella Thank You

4.25" x 5.5" card

Bella Level 2 paper packet

Fringed Phrases stamp set

Hollyhock ink

Garden Green ink

Ribbon

June Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!!!

Welcome to our Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! We will be featuring June's SOTM, which is Tender Tags, a set of 15 stamps.

If you have come here from Ronnie'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 42 Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their creations using this month's SOTM and other great CTMH products on their blogs.

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!

Here is a cute little fold out card for you to enjoy today.

Both flaps fold out, but I have only shown one...

Card by: Karen

Size 4.25" x 5.5"

Unforgettable Level 2 Paper Packet

Juniper Ink

Chocolate Ink

Chocolate Brad

Tender Tags Stamp Set
Micro Tip Scissors

Now "Hop" on over to Jaime'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 June SOTM is only available until June 30th! Contact your CTMH Consultant to see how you can get this stamp set at a discount or even free!

Here is a complete list of all the consultants and their blogs for this blog hop. Enjoy and have fun hopping!!!

Jena Devries http://www.livelovelaughscrapbook.blogspot.com/

Adeline E. Brill http://adeline-brill.blogspot.com/

Deb Young http://www.scrapbookczar.blogspot.com/

Chris Green http://www.createwithchris.blogspot.com/

Jennifer Patrick http://www.roxybonds-scrappin.blogspot.com/

Chris Shouse http://www.houseostamps.wordpress.com/

Alanna Moses http://www.damoses.blogspot.com/

Haley Dyer http://www.inkyscrapper.blogspot.com/

Jen Rubio http://www.jenrubio.blogspot.com/

Kami Welter http://www.scrappin4memories.blogspot.com/

Caren Goldsein http://www.scrappycaren.blogspot.com/

Laurie R Newton http://scrapsfromthebeach.blogspot.com/

Reba Poquette http://www.thedirtyscramper.blogspot.com/

Nona Davenport http://www.nonapearl.blogspot.com/

Misty Jackson http://www.misstscraps.blogspot.com/

Julia Menssen http://www.ralphandjulia.blogspot.com/

Anne Beck http://www.anniemuses.blogspot.com/

Jamia Bankhead http://www.papermadnessinc.blogspot.com/

Dawn Ross http://www.iamahappystamper.blogspot.com/

Sherry Thompson http://www.picturespatternsandpaper.blogspot.com/

Laura Dame http://www.thecroppersconnection.blogspot.com/

Lucia Grabb http://www.luciasscrappinandstampin.blogspot.com/

Nancy Ball http://www.ballisticdesign.blogspot.com/

Shannon Laux http://www.rockinstamps.blogspot.com/

Melissa Laverty http://www.fancymelissa.blogspot.com/

Terrie Dodd http://www.my-life-in-real-time.blogspot.com/

Mindy Eggen http://www.creativevalleycreations.blogspot.com/

Helen Onulak http://www.hookedonstamping.com/

Ronnie Crowley http://www.ronniecreates.blogspot.com/

Karen Strous http://karensctmh.blogspot.com/

Jaime Benavides http://www.scrapcrazydiva.blogspot.com/

Kelly Triggs http://www.stampinallday.blogspot.com/

Lori Miller http://www.clearlyfromtheheart.blogspot.com/

Brae Montgomery http://thebrae-er.blogspot.com/

Shannon Pelletier http://www.shannonmvt.blogspot.com/

Wendy Kessler http://www.myscrapbookingblog.com/

Paige Dolecki http://www.paigespaperparadise.blogspot.com/

Pamela OConnor http://www.cherishyourmemories.blogspot.com/

Shari Odut http://stampinshari.blogspot.com/

Tammy Lea Pinchard http://www.creativeimpressions-pinchme.blogspot.com/

Dawn Heuft http://www.stamptildawn.blogspot.com/

Cibele Glazer http://www.flowerfoot.blogspot.com/

Sarita Schraeder http://www.blessedscrapper.blogspot.com/

Thinking of You

Here is a great card to share with that special friend and let them know you are thinking of them. It is very simple to make and fun to share!

Original Design: by Karen

Supplies used to create this 4.25" by 5.5" card

Life Delights Level 2 Paper Packet
Chocolate ink
Rustic Flowers stamp set
Spring Harmony Sassy Strands (used baby pink)

White Daisy Eyelets

Eyelet Kit

Running out of ideas...

Do those wheels sometimes come to a stop when you are creating? Do you sometimes just run into a brick wall and your brain can no longer come up with a "new" idea for your page or card?


Well the Close to My Heart has some wonderful books to help you with those road blocks. From card making to scrapbook creating, these books are designed with you in mind.

These books are very popular with my customers, so I thought I would share them with you too.


Reflections Scrapbook Program: Offers you 100 patterns fro 12" x 12" scrapbook pages - complete with blueprints, cutting guides, assembly instructions, tips and techniques, artwork ideas and more!


Imagine: Offers you 50 two-page 12" x 12" scrapbook patterns, cutting guides and assembly instructions. Take your scrapbooking up a notch with Imagine.


Cherish: Choose from 50 two page 12" x 12" scrapbook patterns that can be rotated for unique possibilities. It's simple with the included cutting diagrams, assembly instructions and artwork tips.


Originals Card Confidence Program: Create beautiful handmade cards with confidence using the 99 patterns in our exquisite hardbound program. With exact dimensions, fold placement guides, blueprints and step-by-step instructions, every aspiring cardmaker or crafting pro will love this book.

And last but not least... the brand new Wishes Card Confidence Program.


Wishes Card Confidence Program: Bulk cardmaking trendy circle cards and all new patterns make this latest hardbound how-to cardmaking book a must - have for you creative library. The three bulk card "workshops" help you make 8, 12 or 16 cards in a jiffy while getting the most our of your papers and your time.

Check out the new papers....

The New Idea Book that came out May 1st has some new wonderful papers to choose from. There is a wide selection to choose from... They are all so wonderful it is just too hard to choose just one of them as my favorite.

Be sure to check out the links attached to find more images for each design.

Tinkerin

A cute little set designed for both boys and girls.

Colors: Clover Meadow, Sunflower, Sunny Yellow and Twilight colors.

Moon Doggie

Get the taste of Hawaii with this paper packet. Between the

surf boards, leaves and florals, it will take you back to those

wonderful memories and smells of the tropics.

Colors: Cranberry, Desert Sand, Garden Green and Indian Corn Blue.

Bella

What sweet prints for the little girls in your life. You will

love the designs created in the packet to create those wonderful

memories for your daughter...or you!

Colors: Creme Brulee, Hollyhock, Olive, Smokey Plum.

Back Country

Great papers to create all those outdoor themes. The color

combinations are very pleasing to work with in creating

those special memories.

Colors: Barn Red, Goldrush, Olive, Outdoor Denim.

Animal Cookies
Every little (or big) child will love this print. It is very whimsical.

The animal page is oh so cute! Another great color combination

to work with...in your creations!

Colors: Clover Meadow, Dutch Blue, Sunflower, Tulip.

So you can see the variety of tastes and themes are at your hands with these new paper sets. Choose one, choose all. You will be able to create wonderful memories to cherish!

A Thing of Beauty is a Joy Forever

This is one of my favorite cards... It is not an original design by me, but unfortunately I do not know who created it. The design showed up somewhere and I modified it, but this has been a very popular card in my collection.

You can't see this, but I added depth to the card by placing the flowers on foam adhesive dots.

Supplies used to create this 4.25" by 5.5" card:

Silhouette B&T paper

Hollyhock ink

Joy Forever stamp set

Micro Tip scissors

What will I create?

Given the B&T Papers, MyAcrylix stamps, ink colors and various embellishments in my picture....what can I come up with for my Thank you note card workshop?

Between the Creative Basics Animal Cookies collection, Moon Doggie, Tinkerin', and Bella...my choices are endless. I am going to use three of these and I am not sure which three will be used. There are so many choices that my possibilities are endless.

Choosing from the MyAcrylix stamp sets

Extreme Happiness,

Fringed Phrases to

Thank You,

I will have a fun time figuring out which

sentiments and pictures will be the selected choice.

I will be having a card workshop on Wednesday May 27th from 12:30-2:30 p.m. and Sunday May 31st from 1p-3p where we will be constructing 9 Thank You notes from 3 different designs. The cost for the class is $15.00. I will also make kits available for sale for $15.00 each plus postage. If you are interested, please contact me via email.

Come back on June 4th to see what I ended up creating.

Scrapbook, Share, Win

Close To My Heart is doing something special for National Scrapbook Month. Since National Scrapbooking Month is all about you, we want you to share your story with CTMH. So, put together your best two-page layout featuring....you!. Send a JPEG photo of your layout and a description of how it is highlighting you, your life, your passions, your hobbies - whatever is the best way to tell your story.

Send your photo and description to scrapbookandshare@closetomyheart.com and you will be automatically entered into the contest to win $150 US retail in Close To My Heart products!

That is all there is to it. Click on the above link to read all the details of the contest, as well as see submissions from others! Have fun, and good luck.

May Stamp of the Month...

The May Stamp of the Month is a set of stamps titled "Be Yourself". The stamps set consists of 14 stamps. Beauty and individuality come in all shapes and sizes - take your pick from these strong, confident words and striking silhouettes.

With a qualifying minimum purchase, you can get your stamp of the month at a great discount or for FREE.

For example, this set of 14 stamps sells for $22.95...

With a minimum $25.00 purchase these stamps are discounted 25% and you pay only $17.21.

With a minimum $50.00 purchase these stamps are discounted 50% and you pay only $11.48.

With a minimum $75.00 purchase, these stamps are discounted 75% and you pay only $5.74.

With a minimum $100.00 purchase, these stamps are FREE!

Click on this link to check it out.... http://www.closetomyheart.com/sotm.aspx.

Tickled Pink - May Close To My Heart Special

You are going to love our Tickled Pink scrapbooking kit designed exclusively for National Scrapbooking Month in May!!! Our newest scrapbooking kits puts you front and center-with everything you need to create two beautiful two-page layouts all about the things that you love and make you shine. You will also be tickled by the kiss of glitter on these fabulous papers!

The kit includes:
1 D-size My Acrylix stamp set
2 -12"x12" floral B&T papers (1 with glitter)
2 - 12"x12" stripe B&T papers (1 with glitter)
1 - 12"x12" blush textured cardstock
1 - 12"x12" crystal blue textured cardstock
5 - 12"x12" white daisy textured cardstock (1 sheet with die-cut shapes)
1 mini-medley accents white daisy collection
1 foam texture tool
and a brochure to give you wonderful ideas.

To get your kit, place a minimum order of $60.00 in stamp sets and receive the Tickled Pink scrapbooking kit for FREE. Or, purchase the Tickled Pink kit for just $34.95 - well below the retail price.

This kit is available between April 15-May 31, 2009. Please see the wonderful flyer for pictures and more details. This is a special you will not want to miss out...it is so cute!

New Summer 2009 Idea Book is out...

The new Idea Book for Summer is now out.!

It is packed with all sorts of new and wonderful items. From paper packets, My Stickease assortments, new My Acrylix stamps to a variety of new embellishments for your projects.

You can either check out the book online or you can order a book from me for $5.00 which includes shipping to your home address. If you are interested in having me send you a book, please go to my website http://kstrous.myctmh.com/ and you will see my e-mail address where you can send me an e-mail.

To check out the book online go to: http://www.closetomyheart.com/Ideabooks/Summer09USMyCTMH.aspx

Enjoy!

Welcome to my Blog!

Welcome to my blog. I hope you will come back and visit my blog on a regular basis. I hope to update it at least 2-3 times a week.


I will be showcasing all sorts of projects that I am working on, updating you on the various specials that Close To My Heart offers, as well as displaying the stamp of the month. I will also let you know when the new Close To My Heart Idea book comes out too.


Be on the lookout too... I might decide to advertise a private special or showcase a surprise here and there. The sky is the limit as to what I might do here.


I am hoping this will be a fun spot for all. If you have any suggestions of what you would like to see, please be sure and e-mail and I will see what I can come up with. Thanks for checking my blog out... Karen