CTMH Shopping Spree for ME!!!!

Have you ever watched Supermarket Sweep?  Oh, I so loved that show and just knew I would rock and roll it if ever given the chance to run through a store grabbing anything I could!!

Can you believe that Close to My Heart gave me an opportunity to run through the CTMH Warehouse to do exactly that!!  Those were 3 of the most chaotic minutes I've ever experienced and you truly don't even realize what you're doing...you're just trying to grab, and grab, and grab!!!

I worked closely with my "advisory team" (my daughter Mandy and wonderful friend Lorri) to design the best possible attire for my shopping spree!!!

 We bought some clothesline hangar wire, but I was concerned it might be a little too flexible, so we added a little "braiding" to give it more stability!

 We found the largest sweatpants Walmart had in stock and wove the wire through to provide me a "hula-hoop" type structure (but flexible so I could stuff it into a suitcase!  (So surprised I wasn't given any issues getting through airport security!!)

 We added suspenders so I could have plenty of "hands-free" shopping...can you envision the old-fashioned clown costumes...but of course mine is wayyyy cuter!

 A little bling and CTMH lettering to add that special "uniform" feel to it!

 And finally some bubble paint to spruce it up (thanks Mandy!!)

Check out the fabulous "video" Close to My Heart put together to commemorate my wonderful experience!!  It was such a whirlwind, but the funnest experience EVER!!!  I totally went in with a strategy to get embellishments, embellishments and embellishments...I could grab handfuls, and they'd be "light" despite hundreds of them!!  But then they gave me a pretty cart, so I felt compelled to go for some paper and such...oh the joy and chaos!  It was a BLAST!!!!


I'll admit, when you're running around like that...you have no clue what you're grabbing!!!  Your hands are reaching into a box and about the time you register what it is you've grabbed, you've already grabbed it so might as well take it!  (So I came home with 9 Snapease 12x12 Album Systems in my collection...so random!!)  But you're not thinking, you're just grabbing!!  I'm sure I ran past multiple Cricut Collections, but didn't see a thing...uggh!!  But hmmmm, over $4,000 in embellishments, papers, Cricut mats, Desk Pads, and more...no complaints!!!

Afterwards, I was taken up to the Executive Conference Room (yes, inside the walls of Close to My Heart...so very exciting!!  And created some layouts and cards designed for me by the Art Department...how lucky can a girl get?

 Do you see all the beautiful Cricut shapes...cut and ready to go...so in love with our products!!!

I was even given a CD of all the pictures taken of my Day O' Fun!!!  And would that finish it off, uh uh...I was able to leave with 2 completed layouts (with pictures), 6 beautiful cards, AND a send-off wouldn't be complete without a fabulous dinner at the Cheesecake Factory...YUMMMY!!!

All of this wonderful experience thanks so much to Close to My Heart...and simply by growing my team and helping them start their businesses successfully!!  WOW!!  Super awesome!!!  Be sure to check out my website, as I'm giving away Cricut Artiste Collections and a Cricut Expression Machine in August...(even though I didn't get any during the shopping spree, LOL!!)

CTMH Avonlea Scrapbook Page & Recipe Box

Avonlea

with Close to My Heart

Our new Avonlea paper pack (X7155B) is absolutely gorgeous and so much fun to create with!!  I love that it can be used for masculine or feminine layouts and turns out beautiful!  I was inspired by the beautiful layout on page 18 in our new Autumn/Winter 2012 Idea Book, then embellished a little from there!

 The Avonlea Complements (X7155C) are a collection 2 - 12x6 sheets of canvas shapes and I love how they add an extra element of texture to the layout!   At the bottom of both pages, I used a bit of our new Almond Glitz Gel (Z1769) to add some bling and a bit more texture to the layout...I love how well it turned out!

I also included our new Antiqued Gold Mini-Medleys (Z1786) and the Brocade Assortment (Z1748) into the mix!

Our NEW Close to My Heart Essentials Kit for new members includes the Avonlea Workshop on the Go, several stamp sets, ink pads, block and our My Creations Recipe Box.  The Recipe Box is the bonus project for the Workshops on the Go, so here's my version:

Be sure to check out my website:  www.noreenschat.com to see the new Essentials Kit...only $49 but you receive $130 in products/Supplies... PLUS when you join in August (while supplies last), you'll also receive this beautiful Damask Tote FREE!!!

BONUS, when you join my team in August, you'll also be entered into my giveaways for a Cricut Artiste Collection...I'm drawing one lucky winner for every 10 new team members!!  I've given away 3 collections so far!!!  Contact me if you have any questions or would like more information and be sure to visit my webiste at www.noreenschat.com

CTMH Flip Flaps & Lucy!

I loved being able to play with the Lucy paper pack to create this layout of my daughter, Mandy, being crowned Miss Cibolo!  The papers are so feminine and having the crowns mixed in with all the flowers was a perfect touch!

This is how my 2-page layout sits in the album...but of course with all the pictures from the scholarship pageant plus the crowning, I knew I was going to need more pages!

This is the left page, closed.

 The left page of the layout, fully opened, with 2 - 12" Flip Flap additions!  

I cut this bling sparkle flourish so that it could lay across the 2 - 12" Flip Flap pieces and when closed look like it's a single page!

I specifically designed this page so the crown would be visible and prominent...so of course a little extra bling ensures it would pop!

 Here's a close-up of the right page...the top portion opens up using a Close to My Heart 12" Flip Flap.

Heres the right side with the top flipped up...the family coming up to congratulate Mandy on her win!  The boys like to refer to her as "Miss Cibolo" around the house...so funny!  "Good Morning Miss Cibolo", "Dinners Ready Miss Cibolo"...they crack me up!!

 

Our Lucy Glitter Rub-ons (X7149C), with a little "bling" added with our Bitty Buds Assortment (Z1690) and our clear sparkles (Z1104)!

And one of my new favorites...our sparkle flourishes (Z1708)...a quick and easy way to add decorative bling to any project!!

www.noreenschat.com

CTMH Cricut Art Philosophy & My Creations Mini Banner

Lucy Cricut Art Philosophy Cards & What-nots

With over 700 different shapes to play with, you really cannot run out of creativity or ideas with our fabulous Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge!  (Did I mention we have over 45 coordinating stamp sets to go with these 700 shapes?)

So after creating my Lucy layouts and mini-banner, I decided to start playing with the cricut for some ideas and came up with a couple that were fun and easy!

I love the shape of this card, it screams unique, playful and feminine all at once!  Being able to create paper 3-D flowers using the same paper with my cards makes it so easy to coordinate and decorate!  I've added a bit of our swirly flourishes with our NEW Sparkle Flourishes (Z1708), combined with the cricut paper flowers and some extra bling...I think this card turned out quite adorable!

I used some of my remaining Lucy Glittery Rub-ons to add some extra detail to my little 3-D Cricut Heart pocket, so easy to tuck a little gift card, some treats and makes a perfect little "thinking of you" gift!

 Not only does the Lucy Workshop on the Go stamp set have some great flowers and butterflies, it also has some wonderful sentiments!  The glittery button from our Bohemian Assortment (Z1687) along with a big bling button from our Bling Assortment (Z1466) and some 3D foam tape to make the card pop!!

This little pin was a fun stretch for my little brain...so I was happily surprised with the end results and being able to use up some of my scrap papers and extra embellishments to finish it off!!

CTMH Mini Banner - Lucy

I love being able to create 3-D items: banners, boxes, mini-albums and more.  But, I have to admit, I don't much care for trying to file and trim in an attempt to make the paper match the chipboard.  So that fully puts me in L~O~V~E with our new My Creations Mini Banner (Z1736) as it coordinates with our Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge making the creation of this little banner super easy!!

Playing with Lucy gives me all kinds of fun embellishments that can be added for a little pizzazz!!  The silver mesh flowers are from our Bitty Buds Assortment (Z1690) with ribbon, buttons and metal embellishments from our Smoothie Mini Medley collection (Z1697)!

The butterflies were of course cut using our Art Philosophy cartridge and stamped with the Lucy Workshop on the Go (G1034) stamp set and the glitter acrylic flowers are also from our Bitty Buds collection!

The paper flowers, both small and large, came from our Paradise Paper Flowers (Z1710), a collection of 68 flowers in 4 styles ranging from 3/4" to 2 1/2" in Lagoon, Creme Brûlée, Smoothie and Sunset colors!  They beautifully go with our Lucy AND Footloose collections, providing tons of versatility and lots of creativity!

CTMH Workshops on the Go: Lucy

WOW, time truly flies by if you so much as blink your eyes!  

We just celebrated my baby girls 18th birthday, unbelievable!

Since she was a tiny little thing, she has always amazed us and continues to make us proud of her every day!  As soon as I opened this Lucy paper pack, I knew Mandy would love it...all the pinks and girlie papers without looking like she's 3 years old (which is where I tried to keep her!)

This layout provided a beautiful way for me to capture some of her "pre-senior" pictures and record some of the amazing accomplishments she has had this year alone.

The Lucy Workshop on the Go is one of our Cricut Art Philosophy (Z1686) coordinating sets, so the butterflies and flowers were a snap to add to this layout, as I only needed to cut them out with my Cricut, then stamp and adhere!  Such a wonderful way to add extra detail to a project!

Of course, being able to add a bit of extra glitz and bling is always fun, so I included the new Lucy Complements Glittery Rub-ons and the Bitty Sparkles, both included in the Lucy Workshop on the Go (G1034)!!

 The glittery crowns are from the Lucy Rub-ons and a few bitty sparkles to give a little extra dimension!