Stressed Yet?

Are you stressed yet? 11 days till Christmas. If your like our family and have to celebrate on days other than Christmas, you could be quite confused. I need some gifts done by Dec. 20, all the kids by Dec. 24 (that's our Christmas morning this year), some not till Dec. 27 and still have to find time to celebrate Devin's birthday(we're going ice skating this year!).
Even with it being so hectic at times, I still want to take the time to do something just for me! We deserve it, right? Well, if you didn't answer yes, you should have....

StAmP-a-PaLoOzA

December 18 at 6:30pm (note new time)

$5 - must RSVP

Project - Altered date book and a card.

Send me an email if you haven't already RSVP'd. Bring a treat to share if you like - diet after the holidays are over! Hope to see you there! - Stay warm!

Card box with cards

I recently came across this great little box that holds 4 cards (with envelopes). Vicki Wizniuk has the coolest stuff on her blog - check it out! I used the upcoming sales promotion from CTMH called "Felicity Collection" and misc. ribbons, brads and buttons. Hope you like it!

Accordian Purse

I have friends that love to shop for purses...

not me, I think I have a problem making them out of paper!

I just love to see how they turn out.

When I saw this on Vicki Wizniuk's blog,

I had to try it. The flower was sooo easy

to make, and fun too.

More Workshop Pictures!

Christmas Card Workshop

Thank you all for a great time this weekend. I had the joy of sharing 2 days with very creative and wonderful women. I hope they all had as much fun as I did watching them create. From the newest stampers to the seasoned veterans - I was amazed at the desire to learn and run with it. It never ceases to amaze me how fabulous the ideas my group comes up with! I am blessed!

StAmP-a-pAlOoZa Workshop

If you missed last Thursdays stamp night...well, you missed it! We had fun, food and a new face! (Thanks Kim for joining us!) And as you can tell...I forgot my camera. We made the paper bow posted below - a lesson in frustration for some. All I can say is practice, practice, practice...and pray! lol I also demonstrated how to turn a "tree" into a poinsettia flower for a pretty gift bag decoration. And of course we did a card - with a twist. We mixed a gift card holder and a purse -

Isn't it so cool!

Well, I was perusing the stamping ideas out there yesterday and came across this cute card idea...it is one of Dawn Griffith's cool tutorials (she cracks me up!). I did mine with a pic of the kids. I can not WAIT to try another one! Enjoy!

p.s. I added a lil' card in the first "valley" to write a note on. This card fits in a standard 51/2 x 41/4 envelope! I used CTMH Cocoa cardstock, ribbon and brads. Bambo brad, Classic White cardstock and Perfect Day paper. (Kids designed by God!)

Fall has fallen...:(

Although the sun is shining in Conneaut Lake, the leaves have all fallen down. I was looking through my camera and realized I had captured some of our fall on "film". I love our yard and view in fall...maybe I'll just blow these up and tape them to my windows - lol!

StAmP-A-pAlOoZa Workshop

We were small, but creative on Thursday nights stamp workshop... We created a folded gift card holder, a Fall criss-cross card and a Thanksgiving table decorating idea (place card and napkin ribbon).
Next one is November 19 - Mark your calendars!

Creativity by Judy H. and Cookie S.! Thanks ladies!

Did you notice???

I have my Close To My Heart website up and running! You have to check it out...the best part is - You can shop online! Your order is shipped right to you, all you need to do to start is click on the picture over there......>>>>>>>>>!
A contest I will be running to introduce my website will be coming soon - so check your mail!

Baby Shower Invites

Well, I finally finished the shower invites for my friend Alicia's baby shower - I love the stamp set and best part - it matched her crib bedding! I delivered them last night and they seemed to really like them - I just can't wait to hold the baby when he comes!

FYI: I used Animal Cookies Paper (CTMH)

& Lifes A Jungle Stamp set (CTMH)

Upcoming Workshops!

Christmas Card Workshop

2 Classes Available
November 21, 2009: 6pm
November 22, 2009: 2pm

We will be making 25 hand-stamped cards, envelopes included.
All cardstock and stamping supplies included. Class fee $25

*Pre-registration is required. Must register by 11/10 to ensure your spot. Classes are on a first come/first serve basis.
Maximum 8 people per class. If classes fill, I may add another Saturday class time.

Christmas Gift Workshop

2 Classes Available
December 3: 6pm
December 5: 2pm

Class includes two gifts that you will be making using stamping. You will also create 12 gift tags. Class fee is $20

*Pre-registration is required. Must register by 11/24. Class times on a first come/first serve basis. Maximum 6 people per class.

** If you cannot attend and would like to do the workshop at home, please email me and I can give you a price for the workshop "to go". (Keep in mind you would need your own stamps and ink pads - which I can offer you at a 15% discount).

*** Wanna save $10?? Host a gathering by 12/31/09 and I will give you $10 off the workshop of your choice!!!

Email me: beth.ivanic@yahoo.com

Busy, Busy, Busy!

Things have been a little busy around here, sorry! I am attempting to keep my calendar (located on right - just click it) current, but things are moving around. My stamp workshop this month will be moving to Thursday, Oct. 29. We will be doing a fall card, place setting idea for your Thanksgiving dinner and a Christmas gift card. The fee will be $5. Please, pass the info onto your friends...if you bring one - you get a gift from me! Check back for pics of our projects and for info on 2 BIG workshops coming up in November and December! You won't want to miss them! Any questions - email me....thanks!

1st StAmP-a-PaLoOzA!!

Well, if you couldn't make it last Thursday night - be sure to come next month! We had a lot of fun. After I realized I forgot my ink pads, aghh, we got to work stamping, folding, cutting and creating. The ladies are all excited to come back again - and I'm thrilled that they learned some new techniques!

StAmP-A-pAlOoZa

Join me for the first monthly...StAmP-a-PaLoOzA!!!
This months workshop will be a mix of getting ready for
those trick-o-treaters and creating 2 SUPER cute cards!

* When: September 24, 7pm
* Where: Watson Run Chuch (Brown Road/S. Watson Run Rd.(email/call for directions)
* What to bring: Adhesive, scissors and YOU! (if you have the items)
* How much: $5 ...or free with a $25 order! (Christmas is coming)

Email me with any questions...I know I missed something - I'm just soo excited to get started finally!!! If Halloween is not your thing...no worries, fall stamps will be available too!!

Dev with Salient

Ignite Festival

What a blast!! If you missed it, you missed it! The rain on Friday night did not stop any kids from having fun. They rocked out with the bands and danced on their feet all night long. God blessed us with perfect weather on Saturday! I finally got to see Stephanie Smith...

Isn't she adorable!! And mega talented! What a testimony to young girls (and old ones too!). I got my tshirt signed by most of the bands.

You can't imagine the amount of people there. What our church thought would be 1000 people, maybe, turned into an estimated 4,000!!!! How big is our God?!?!? Sunday morning was wonderful this morning. Bread of Stone led worship and boy can those boys worship! You can't help but feel touched by God. If you missed the fun - don't fret - we hope to come back next year and God willing - reach more youth than ever!!!

1st week of school!

Well, we made it through the first week of school - Me, driving the bus and the kids, going to school. After we come back from break I will get my more permenant route. I'm both nervous and excited. I do dread learning another route though - I just learned the last one! lol. The kids are down in Pgh for the weekend, so Rich and I plan on going to the pulls in Canfield tomorrow after getting in a day of work for the Ignite Festival next weekend.
I got my card kit that you can earn free in the month of September and plan on working on it tonight. It is really, really cool!
Have a great weekend all!!

Another Purse

Okay, so I don't know what my obsession is with these purse templates, but when I saw this I had to try it out. I think I got it from here but could be wrong because she has so many and I LOOKED at soooo many! This is not made using CTMH paper. (I didn't want to experiment with a new project with any of my good paper!) The inside can be used to hold 10-12 3x3 cards. What a cool gift idea for Mom, Grandma, Teacher...etc. (Christmas is coming) Leave a comment and let me know what you think.

Todays News

Well, I successfully finished another day of school bus drivers training. I take my driving test on Friday morning and am a little anxious. I've surprised myself with how much I'm looking forward to starting next week.
Today's not over yet...I am off to the Crawford County Fair to work in the Marcie's Homemade Ice Cream stand. It should be fun! The weather doesn't look that good for the whole week, but today should be nice. I have to be there tomorrow and Friday night too, so we'll hope for good weather!
I'm totally psyched to do a CTMH Gathering for one of my best friends, Peggy, in Pittsburgh this Sunday. I hope all my Pgh buddies will come and have some fun with us. I like to visit the burgh every once in a while, but after driving down 279 & Rt. 51 once - I'm ready to come home to the country!!!
I'm off to the fair!!

Just playing....

My bestest friend Karie came over this past weekend and I got to spend time

just hangin and makin a cool project. I came across this basket a couple of

times when looking at "basket" ideas. The structure was not ours, but we had

blast making them. I'm only sorry I didn't take a picture of Karies.

Playing with my new stamp set....

I got this new stamp set - new to me, not CTMH - and couldn't wait to play with it. It is soo pretty. I found this stand up card idea online and thought it was cool, so I tried it out. Stamp camp idea...hmmm. Tell me what you think!

Girlie Purse

This purse opens on both sides, to give the option of holding cards...I just wanted to experiment with making it first. It was fun, but I think I'll do another type of handle next time. I love the stamp set with the Animal Cookie paper though. I makes me feel "groovy"!

Fun Card!

I found the template for this tri-shutter card and had to try it out! I'm thinking it would be fun to do for one of the stamp camps. It was much easier than I thought and making it was a lot of fun. Oh..Rich gave me the idea for the surf board!

Open House Artwork

Some stuff from the Open House displays. The little book is made with "Back Country" papers. I love to experiment with chipboard! This is the perfect size mini album to carry in your purse.

The layout is using the Magic Moments Scrapbook Kit. What an awesome kit! You get so much for the money - enough layout pages and stickease to do an album for the year. The best part is you can make it simple or add other embellishments to

take it up a notch. That is the beauty of scraping with CTMH. It truly is for those who want to get it done without fuss - to those who want to "do it up"! Email me today and ask about the flexibility of Level 1 - 3 and all the amazing things you never thought you could do with them!

My fave new stamp set!

The new Idea Book is here!! There are many
cool and creative ideas in this book! I love
this new set because I can see myself using
it for a lot of designs: cards - friendship, birthday,
new baby...and more. And not just cards,
but awesome page layouts too - especially those heritage albums! The new catalog will be open for orders
by 9/1, so book your gathering NOW!

Awesome Open House

I just had my Open House this past weekend, and the support of all of my friends was quite overwhelming. This is the cute card everyone got to make -n- take.