This is a quick simple solution of mine for a Moving Announcement. Inspired by the heavy packing boxes, I used Kraft cardstock and then the acrylic stamp set from Close To My Heart called Neighborhood (C1384). I hopped onto Photoshop and created the postcard, stamped the fence image in Bamboo ink (CTMH) and popped up the black house image using foam squares. I think it turned out pretty cute.
{Apologies for the bad photo, taken in the evening!}
Welcome to the CTMH Spring Idea Book Blog Hop!
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!
This was a quickie but a cutie! I love SO much of the new product in the Idea Book that it was tough to pick out which papers to use on this card, but the Veranda paper pack is just so lovely and soft, I could not resist. The stamp set used is also a must have for any stamper! Great for added detail and background fun!
Papers: CTMH Veranda Paper Pack
Stamps: D1410 One of a Kind
This was your last stop on the Blog Hop but be sure to visit all the Consultants at their Blogs to get some great crafting ideas and see the great new Paper Packs, My Acrylix Stamp Sets, and amazing new embellishments! If you did not start from the very beginning of the hope, go here to Erin’s Blog.
You can purchase any of these items by contacting me directly, or from my CTMH website!
**Link not working? Missed a Blog? Here is a list of all the participants in the New Product Blog Hop!
Erin Herring www.tazzygirl2000.blogspot.com
Lisa Stenz http://www.lisascreativecorner.blogspot.com
Brae Montogmery http://thebrae-er.blogspot.com
Carla Ironside http://carlacreates.blogspot.com
Helen Onulak www.hookedonstamping.com
Adeline Brill http://adeline-brill.blogspot.com
Jody Gustafson www.cre8nmemories.blogspot.com
Haley Dyer www.inkyscrapper.blogspot.com
Antoinette Herrin www.godblessyourART.blogspot.com
Sherrie Thornton http://impressionableart.blogspot.com
Jessica Moore http://jessicaspaperpetals.blogspot.com
Wendy Kessler www.myscrapbookingblog.com
Dawn Ross http://iamahappystamper.blogspot.com
Dawn Heuft www.stamptildawn.blogspot.com
Kimberly Smith http://verykimberry.blogspot.com
Amy Edwards www.paisleysplayhouse.blogspot.com
Amy Schultz http://amylizschultz.com
Let me tell you a little story about me. I have struggled with my weight for a good amount of my life. I was a thin cutie up until about 4th grade. Then in 8th grade while I was being home-schooled, I decided to take the extra time to work on losing that weight. I did Herbalife and lost a good 15 to 20 lbs (I think it is probably a good thing I don’t remember the exact number… that would be a bit obsessive). In 9th grade I went back to school and lost even more weight through P.E. and I loved it; loved the physical activity and the way it made me feel. For the next four years, I did great and loved it — I never felt as ‘skinny’ as I wanted to be but most would say that at that time, I was a stick for my height.
Through college I worked as a Preschool TA and Camp Counselor, so I was constantly active — super great for my physique and health, but as soon as I got married it all went downhill from there. I started a birth control that threw my entire body into a haze! I had extreme heat flashes, the bottoms of my feet were rock hard and I put on a whopping 30 lbs in a matter of 4 months. Now that is just not normal. I went to the Doctor and had that changed… from that moment on I felt back to normal. But that didn’t mean that I went and magically lost the 30 lbs that the previous birth control had graced me with (note the sarcasm here); the Doctor specifically noted that this would not reverse any of the effects, simply stop them. Wow, what horrible news. Ever since then I have tried and tried again to eat better, workout on a consistent basis and I still have never really been able to attack it.
After I got off of birth control for good, I started going to Weight Watchers with my parents and we all had great results. After the first 3 months, I had lost 18 lbs! I was SO happy and felt SO amazingly good. I maintained that weight loss for a good 9 months (yay for me!) but in the mean time, I had acquired a shoulder injury and it was not so easy to keep up with my regular cardio workouts (walking was even tough somedays). That is when it went downhill (again). Four months later, I had gained back about 4 lbs. Two months after that it was about 15 lbs (scary fast, huh?!). And just 1 month after that I was back at my old starting weight. Devastating to say the least. So here I am, just wondering how I can get back on track — but not wanting to do the whole, lose weight, gain weight thing again, and I found this book!
It is called Master Your Metabolism by Jillian Michaels (of The Biggest Loser). I didn’t want one of her workout books because I know she is beyond crazy! I grabbed this one because it holds every tid bit that she has learned over her years of research and weight loss. Did you know that she was not always perfect? It is true. She struggled with her weight her whole life (just like me!) and that is what intrigued me. I guess, I just want to know that I am not alone here. I have only read the Introduction and Chapters 1-2 but I am already extremely motivated, freaked out and just completely amazed with the knowledge I have acquired.
I would have never guessed that my stressful mindset and lifestyle could make me gain weight — or lack of sleep/relaxation, processed foods, pollution, toxins in the air……. yes, the list goes on. All of these things are in every one of our lives. If you want to be literally ‘scared’ into living healthy, get this book — NOW! This isn’t just for those who want to lose weight (though that is a huge portion of the book) but its for those who want to live healthy lifestyles, running away from the crazy toxins that were placed into our lives only within the last 30 years or so. Intrigued yet? I hope so. Let me know what you think of this book if you do end up reading it; would love the input!
Thanks for letting me share my story and bearing with me. It feels good to get it all out — now to bed to start anew!
{P.S. No, I have not turned Vegetarian or Organic over night — I have much too little self control for that– I am simply excited!}
Today we had a shower for my dear friend, Suzy, who is due to bring a precious little one into this world on February 6th. It is truly amazing how fast life can just run ahead of you without you even realizing it. My friends are all married and now starting to have babies! Suzy and her Hub don’t want to find out the gender of the baby, so the card below called for a bit of both femininity and masculinity.
And of course, how fitting it was that Raspberry Suite Color Challenge #21 was to use Soft Yellow, Light Aqua, Chocolate and Cream. It was the perfect combo to go with the adorable yellow stuffed giraffe that I got the precious babe. I threw in the Kraft cardstock because I can’t seem to resist it these days. Come back next month to see what the cute little blessing looks like! I am sure to have plenty of projects to make for him or her once they are born.
P.S. My sister-in-law is due this week!!!! Praying that the baby won’t wait too long and the delivery goes perfectly…
The lovely Mommy-to-be herself…
Other Challenges Completed:
This card was made for a co-worker’s birthday. She had asked me to make her some of my Chocolate Pumpkin Muffins for her special day — and I just could not pass up the chance to make her some cute muffin toppers. It was a quickie, but still fun and special! For the recipe, go here! Challenges used: Pollycraft Challenge for a Winter Birthday Card; Flutterby Wednesday to use a fairy or butterfly; Charisma Cardz to make a card for Celebrations; Our Creative Corner to make it Clean and Simple.
… I can tell that 2010 is going to be an interesting year. But before we get into that, can I just give myself a pat on the back for keeping my new year’s resolution for 2009?! I am not fond of new year’s resolutions because I never go through with them, longer than the first month of the year. Bummer. But for 2009 I decided to create and keep a blog for the entire year (and consistently). It was fun and I may not ever go back through and read some of the things that I wrote, but it was a blast sharing my life and creations with those interested :) Thanks for being a visitor!
Now for 2010 — it started off with some surprising news — I was laid off on New Year’s Eve. It is ok, we will be ok and I look forward to see where God takes me next. First though, I am getting our life in order and doing a bit of Spring Cleaning and some creating. It is really what I WANT to do with my time. Who knows what will happen next! If this is your first time at the blog, I would love for you to become a follower (over on the right hand column of the blog) and visit often. I will be starting my Scrap or Dare challenges up again soon too — I do my best to share at least once a week and most of the time it will be on my latest creations — fun, I promise!
I am a Close To My Heart consultant in Southern California and I
absolutely love to create and teach this absolutely fun hobby and passion of mine, called Papercrafting!
