Don't forget, you only have 2 more days to join my team at half price. That is just $64.50!!!

Join my team and become a Close to My Heart consultant – Half price special!  For just $64.50 (plus s&h and tax), you receive over $370 in products, including the You & Me Kit shown above.
There are lots of reasons to join CTMH! You may want to get a discount on your own personal purchases, sell to just family or friends, or have the opportunity to earn a full-time income while you work around your own family and work schedule.
Besides being paid for doing what you love, Consultants are your own boss—setting your own hours, work around your priorities, and share revolutionary new products unparalleled in the industry. You’ll also receive discounts on the products you love and have the amazing opportunity to touch hearts and change lives through the joy of scrapbooking and stamping!
As part of this limited time offer, you’ll receive your choice of 3 “Choose Me” collections plus the business essentials! Click here to view the selections and find out more.
Contact me to sign up, or go right to the  Consultant Application.


Happy Scrapin',
Janice

Memorial Day is over and we are officially starting Summer.

I hope everyone had a wonderful and safe weekend.  We stayed home, or should I say we didn't go out of town.  Steve took me yard sale shopping with him on Saturday and Monday.  I really enjoyed our time together.  I found some fabric for aprons and some crochet thread for my new fingerless gloves and some yarn for my hats.  I also found some ribbon and some bias tape for my craft projects.  Here are my pictures of my models wearing some of my fingerless gloves and hats.  I am making these items for the Bazaars this fall.

Miss Hailey is such a ham!  She is the happiest person I know.  Always brings a smile to our faces.

Steve found some old Crochet books from the 1920's, 30's, 40's, 50;s and 60's and this little hat is from one of the earlier books.  it just sits on the crown and gets held on with bobby pins.  Yes I said bobby pins.  I made this one to match one of Hailey's dresses that she always wears.

I made this one all red for Miss Mary, to match her favorite red dress.  Hailey is the model here though.

Crochet hand warmers.

There's that smile again.

Miss Mary loves her hat.

Miss Mary wearing her hand warmers.

Miss Mary is so Beautiful, sweet and innocent.  I just love her Brown eyes and freckles.

It doesn't matter what I make for the girls, they always love it.

I have a new counter because when I logged in tonight the old one wasn't working.  I hope I set the number to the right one.  I was guessing since I haven't been in all weekend. 

Please leave me some love, or comments.  I would love to here from you.   

Happy Scrapin',

Janice

Correction for my previous post - A comment on my cards and weight loss.

My Husband and I went to The Dalles last Saturday for my card class and then went to My Brother's to spend the night.  While we were there we were talking about our Dr. putting my Husband on the same diet that I have been on since November.  I had found what I thought was the same version of the diet online and I even posted a link to the diet.  Well I found that the one that I last posted is more restrictive than the one My Dr. gave me.  So I went searching again and found the one that My Dr. gave me.  Here is the new link. Comprehensive Elimination Diet The other one might give you more benefits if you suffer from allergies and you want to pinpoint it a little sooner.  Or if you want to loose more weight  a little faster, I know that tomatoes and potatoes can actually cause weight gain if eaten a lot.  I only noticed the difference when I was looking at the recipes in other one, it had a blueberry Muffin recipe which I didn't think mine had.  So in looking through the diet I saw that we weren't supposed to have Potatoes and Tomatoes on this version and those are things I know that we  were allowed to have so when I got home Sunday evening I took a look at both versions and compared them.

My Husband made it very clear that I had told him he could have potatoes and he was not dropping them from his diet now.  I know how hard it can be when you go on a really restricted diet and then find out that you have to restrict it even more.  It is not fun, but sometimes it is necessary.  Fortunately for my Husband he can have his potatoes.

I hope this helps some of you.

Happy Scrapin',

Janice

Face Lift?

It was time to change up the blog a little, I'm just not sure I like it.  Only time will tell.  Maybe I will sleep on it over night.

Happy Scrapin',

Janice

A comment on my cards and my weight loss.

Thanks Darlene,  I will post a link to your card here on my blog also.

Thanks for the encouragement on my weight-loss.  I just weighted again this morning and I have lost another 2 pounds, that makes 32 lbs so far, Woo Hoo!!! I love this diet.  I eat like a pig and I still loose weight.

My Husband went to see the Dr. last week and he came home and said the Dr. wants him to be on this diet also.  So I went right to work making sure that he has plenty to snack on.

Here is a link to the Elimination Diet that we are on. Elimination Diet

I thought it would be hard to give up Coffee and Chocolate but it really wasn't when the payoff was being pain free from my Fibromyalgia. I am also taking 4800mg of Guaifenisin that I am sure is helping me too.  I am also following the Guaifenisin Protocol here is a link Guaifenisin Protocol Some people say it doesn't work for them but I swear by it.  I had been on pain meds pretty much since my first car accident in 1991.  I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in 1992.  I bought a new house in 1994 and my allergies flared up and I ended up taking Guaifenisin for about 8 years I also had allergy shots for 5 years.  I went off the Guaifenisin in December 1999 and by October 2002 I could hardly dress myself.  I didn't know about the Guaifenisin protocol until my friend asked me if I had tried it in 2005.  I went searching the net, and found it.  After reading about it and thinking back I realized that it must have been helping me the whole time I was on it, I just didn't know it.  I tried to talk to my Dr. that I had at the time, but he didn't know that Guaifenisin came in pill form.  So I started the guaranteeing protocol and it worked well for a while, then I fell in Aug 2008 and tore all the muscles and ligaments in my back.  I couldn't walk, the Dr. told me there was nothing wrong with me and he didn't even take any Xray's or MRI's so then he decided to send me to Physical therapy which hurt me even more.  I finally insisted in seeing a specialist and since I have had back surgery in 1997 I insisted in seeing Dr. Brett.  I trust Dr Brett and know he would tell me the truth.  He is the one who told me I had torn all my muscles and ligaments and I needed to see a pain specialist.  So I had 2 spinal injections and they helped but I still hurt.  My Dr. at the time wouldn't even acknowledge that I was still having pain. So I went back to see Dr. Brett and he suggested that I get a new Dr. and he gave me his Dr.'s name.  So my new Dr. put me on 4800mg of Guaifenisin and had me start the Elimination Diet.  That was November 4, 2010.

I thought it would be good to repost the diet and guaifenisin info again incase someone new checks out my blog and this can help them too.

Happy Scrapin',

Janice

Card Class in The Dalles.

I have been working hard on trying to make simple cards that the ladies in Flag Stone can make with out too much trouble.  Well I have made several cards but I don't thinks they will be able to do most of them so I have put most of them together.  Here are the cards that I have come up with this time.  I told the ladies we would make bird cards or bird houses, I wanted to make a little milk carton bird house but I couldn't figure out how to do it simple enough.

This is a tall card, it opens from the bottom.  I trimmed the top edges to look like a roof and applied the grey paper.  I used my Creative Memories Circle cutter to cut the hole in the center of the card front.  I used SU's Bird punch and punched one grey flannel and one chocolate bird I hand cut the chocolate bird in half so that I could layer the chocolate over the Grey flannel and I cut a  Sweet leaf wing.  I put a piece of  CTMH Bliss level 2 paper inside the card front and place the bird in the window before adhering the paper down.  I punched the leafy branch in Chocolate, Sweet Leaf and Grey Flannel. I punched flowers in t sizes from Cotton Candy and a Sunny Yellow small Star for the center of the flowers.  I curled the flowers on a piece of foam with a stylus to give them some dimension.  I left the inside blank so that they could put what ever they wanted.  I cased tinakdude's Birdhouse Here is the link. http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ga...=0&si=bird

 I used Bliss Level 2, Colonial White and Gypsy, SU's 2 3/8" Scallop punch and Marvy's 2" scallop punch.  I used Thank You D1361 for the Thank you.  I got this idea from ijgram's card Heartfelt Sympathy. Here is the link.  http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ga...=0&si=bird

This card is made with Sunset, Olive, Chocolate card stock. I punched the Bird with SU's bird punch and stamped it with the swirl from Sophia, I embossed the Olive with the Paisley embossing folder and I used the Heart Border punch for the Sunset behind the Olive.  I ran a 1/4" blue ribbon across the olive under the birds. The blue paper is from Lucky level 2 paper pack.  I got my idea for this card from Cindy H.'s CC278 CAS Love Birds or Bluebirds of Happiness Here is the link.  http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ga...=0&si=bird

 

I love Tim Holtz dies, but I just can't afford them.  So I went looking for a free SVG cut file.  I found it here http://www.theglitterbellboutique.com/2011/04/free-svg-file-of-tim-holtz-birdcage.html.   I punched the flowers out of Cotton Candy and punched the Fern out of Olive I die cut the leaves from myscrapchick's Cherry Blossoms SVG cut files.  The branch inside the cage is also from the Cherry Blossom SVG files too.  I found the little bird on the internet and cut it in Grey and blue and layered them.  I glued it all together before I layered it on to the card front which I put a piece of May Berry Level 2 paper on to Colonial White card base.   

I used Honey card stock and stamped the flourish from SU's Bliss set and again on the White Daisy  card stock center piece.  I punched the bird our of chocolate and stamped the flourish in Honey on the wiOlive leaving just a 1/16th edge and then layered it onto Chocolate then tied the ribbon and adhered it to the card base. I cased Bunny 44's Workshop project #1 here is the link. http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ga...=0&si=bird

I cut my White Daisy card stock 4" x 51/4" and embossed it.  I then took sponge daubers and inked them in Sweet Leaf and Indian corn blue then sponged the grass with Sweet Leaf and the bird with the Indian Corn Blue.  Adhered it to the Indian Corn Blue card base.  I caesd this one from Arkie's Bird in the grass here is the link.  http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ga...=0&si=bird

I wanted to make a flower pot card but I wanted to make it easy for the ladies.  So I took my favorite stamp set Aspirations and made a cut file so that I didn't have to hand cut all the flowers and neither do the ladies that come to my classes. I stamped everyone of the flowers so that the ladies didn't have to try to line them up.  I colored the center parts with markers and added 1/4" hole punches to the very centers.  I thought about adding breads but the ladies have a hard time working with small items.  I then decided to use the SU Fancy label punch and wanted to layer it onto another one, but I don't have a larger punch that will fit behind it so I made my own cut file for it too.  That way I can make them any size I want.  I got this idea from Darbaby's Mother's Day Flower pot card Here is the link. http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ga...i=flower%20pot 

Here it is open, you can write on the card inside.

 

  I love how these cards turned out, but I wish I could make easier ones for them to make.  If you have any ideas I would love some suggestions.  

I hope you enjoy these cards and I plan on making more soon.

Happy Scrapin',

Janice

May is National Scrapbooking Month

Close to My Heart has two special offers to celebrate, available all month long.

Offer #1: You and Me Scrapbooking Kit - When you place an order of more than $50 in Close to My Heart products, you can get the exclusive You & Me scrapbook Kit for just $15 – that’s more than half off the retail value!
You’ll create two fully embellished two-page layouts using the included papers, stamp set, accessories and step-by-step instructions. You can also purchase the kit at full retail for $34.95 with no additional purchase necessary.


Offer #2: Join my team and become a Close to My Heart consultant – Half price special!  For just $64.50 (plus s&h and tax), you receive over $370 in products, including the You & Me Kit shown above.
There are lots of reasons to join CTMH! You may want to get a discount on your own personal purchases, sell to just family or friends, or have the opportunity to earn a full-time income while you work around your own family and work schedule.
Besides being paid for doing what you love, Consultants are your own boss—setting your own hours, work around your priorities, and share revolutionary new products unparalleled in the industry. You’ll also receive discounts on the products you love and have the amazing opportunity to touch hearts and change lives through the joy of scrapbooking and stamping!
As part of this limited time offer, you’ll receive your choice of 3 “Choose Me” collections plus the business essentials! Click here to view the selections and find out more.
Contact me to sign up, or go right to the  Consultant Application.


Happy Scrapin',
Janice

Operation Smile Donation.

I just received a donation from Giraffe Studios LLC.  Thank you so much Nicholas.  This is my first donation through my blog and I am so excited.  

I am also excited to tell you about this great site I found for free SVG cut files that you can cut on your Cricut if you have Sure Cuts A Lot or Make The Cut programs.  I am sure there are more programs out there but these are the ones that I am familiar with.

http://freesvgfiles.com/category/free-svgs/

Nicholas Gomez is a designer of some of the SVG cut files and I have to say he does a fantastic job.  If you are looking for specific designs check them out.  Here is a link to Nicholas' website, where you will find his SVG cut flies.  http://nicholasgomez.com/  If you sign up for his free files, please let him know that you found his link on my blog.

Happy Scrapin',

Janice

Blog Candy anyone?

Okay, today I noticed that my blog hits are at 14094.  I have decided that once I have 15000 hits on my blog the first person who is signed up to follow me that leaves me a comment will get some blog candy.  I don't know what kind of candy that I will be giving yet, but I will come up with something good.  If you would like to leave me some comments with suggestions that would be great too.  So tell all your friends and family to check out my blog and lets get the hits rolling.  I will post a picture of the items I come up with for my blog candy soon.

If you have trouble leaving me a comment just send me an email and I will post it for you.

Happy Scrapin',

Janice

Side Step Card.

I made this card for my Mother and Mother-In-Law for Mother's Day.

I used Stampin' Up's Bliss set and their label punches, CTMH's  A Tweet and Treasures stamp sets. Shapeabilities Foliage leaves and 3 different sizes of flower punches.

I found the pattern on Splitcoaststampers, here is the link to the tutorial
http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/news/comments.php?id=1264_0_1_0_C

Today is my 6 Month anniversary of being on my elimination diet.  I have lost 30 pounds so far but most of all I am still pain free.  What a reason to celebrate.  I am so excited.  I just had to share with all of you.

Happy Scrapin',

Janice