Secret Sister Mini Album

My team exchanged names for a Secret Sister Swap. We had to create three-four gifts for our SS and not spend over $15, fun! fun!. Everyone received a questionnaire about their SS several weeks in advance and it had really basic questions answered...what is your favorite CTMH color?stamp set? snack food? and so on. My secret sister loves sorbet , Smiles stamp set, diet coke and Swedish fish and her first name starts with a T...oh and she also loves Billy Joel, but I couldn't figure out how to work that one in. I made her four little gifts including one of the necklaces I posted several days ago, an apron that I monogrammed her initials on and this mini album that I was so darn pleased with. Mini albums are one of her favorites so I looked up various types of mini albums and made this tri fold album from some card stock covered with one of my favorite paper packs, Perfect day. Oh she adores glitter for an embellishment so I had to go a little crazy there. The title for our conference is "Picture This" thus the name of the album.

I love all the little flap pages that adorn the inside

Back Cover ( The logo for the convetion was a heart with wings and a crown...I was able to create this with my cricut...

You're Suppose to Make Cards? What?

One week before convention I'm working my fanny off to get all my little gifts done and I get an email from my good friend Tina. She asks if I would like to come to her house to work on my cards for convention....long pause from me. " What cards?" I ask.... Tina replies " Well everyone makes cards to hand out at convention , much like a business card". So I proceeded to ask her how many do you make? and she lets me know she has made in years pass 200. Dear Lord, 200....I about passed out right there. You see I was so darn proud of myself for being ahead of schedule and having so much done on all my other projects. Then to find out I need to make 200 cards and quick. Granted I didn't have to do it, but heck I wanted to participate in every aspect of convention, so don't leave me out, I had at it With the pressure on ...I made 200 cards. I went with a little 3 x3 for several reasons but the main one being I didn't have time to order anything from corporate and have it in time to use before I left and I had a ton of Splendor paper from bulk packs. I realize these are not the most detailed cards I've ever made but honestly with all the faux stitching and the various stamping...it was a ton of detail for 200. So if you ever plan on coming to Close To My Heart's convention...WORD TO THE WISE...make plenty of cards way in advance.

One of the things I found out about last year when I attended Close To My Heart's Leadership Conference is you make and take little treats for your roommates. It's so much fun to see what you can come up with and what everyone elses minds are creating.

This year I made these necklaces/Christmas ornaments/ scrapbook charms for all my roomies. What you say you don't understand? Well they actually are necklaces, but I figured if it's not their style they can hang it on the Christmas tree, don't put up a tree, then make it a charm on a scrapbook layout. How is that for versatile, LOL. I stamped the center flowers with the SMILES stamp set in sorbet ink. Added some sweet leaf ribbon and some background paper and sandwiched between two pieces of glass. Then I soldered the edges along with a jump ring to seal it all up.

For the presentation I cut some adorable little purses from my "Forever Young" Cricut cartridge and layer CTMH's Cherry-O paper on the outside. Honestly I think the little purses are as cute as the necklace.

I sure hope my roomies like the little trinkets...I was trying to be a bit different. Keep checking back as I have lots of post scheduled with Convention artwork.

Welcome To Close To My Heart's Convention

I'm so thrilled to be in D.C. this evening at Close To My Heart's big consultant convention. How exciting. I know I'm going to learn so much and can't wait to share it with you all when I get back to NC. Tonight is team meetings. It's a great way to cheer on the start of the convention and get everyone in the spirit.

I created this make and take project for our team meeting time. Everyone will learn how to fold these adorable little trees and make a great front for one of our My Creations Journals. They'll have a unique and adorable journal for notes and trust me , we'll all need them for all the vast amounts of information that will be coming our way.

Keep checking in as there are a ton of posts coming up that show more convention artwork and fun!.

Where in the world is Lori?

Do you remember that character Where in the World is Waldo? That's what I feel like right now...I'm on my way to D.C. with a bunch of crazy fun girls (that I adore) for a week long celebration of Close To My Heart. I've never been to convention and this week I'm going to get a BIG dose of it.

There will be tons of creative projects, business classes, team meetings, great food and most importantly cherished time with friends. I'm so darn excited. My dear husband is home with our youngest son, working away so say a little prayer for him and as always God love my mom for all she does for both my boys. Man it does take a village to raise children and I'm blessed to have such a supportive family that allows me t0 continue my CTMH career path with retreats like this one.

Keep watching this week as I have lots of post coming up with artwork created for convention, it's sure to inspire and just wonder...Where in the world is Lori right now?

Hoppy Birthday Challenge

Yes, I know I'm suppose to be getting ready to leave for D.C. tonight, but I had to make one card this morning before I left. As if I won't be getting enough crafting in at the CTMH convention, LOL. House Mouse and Friends Challenge with week was Happy Birthday and I needed to make a card for a friend anyhow, so why not knock a couple of things off my list in one card.

I used Cherry-O paper from Close To My Heart, organza ribbon, a couple of pretty pins from CTMH, of course my little birthday bunny stamp from House Mouse, and some of my brand new spellbinders I just got in the mail. The spellbinders are label nine and they are awesome as their so big. I embossed the background pink with my cuddlebug and layered and layered and layered with my favorite, foam tape from CTMH. I love the overall girly look for this card without being to fru-fru.

Here are the challenges this card qualifies for:

House Mouse Stamp Challenge

Beary Scraps Challenge : Emboss

Incy Wincy Designs : Punches

The Crafty Pad : Animal

One Stitch At a Time : Ribbon, Bows are Lace

Crafty Creations : Cake and Ice Cream

Quirky Crafts: Ribbon

Crafty Cardmakers: Inky Fingers

Charisma Cardz- Metal (stick pin)

Bunny Zoe's Crafts : Nice and Girly

It's a Girl

A good friend of mine is going to be a grandmother for the first time and I'm so thrilled for her. I going to D.C. with her for the week so I thought I would make her this little card to help celebrate that precious baby girl that will be here shortly. I used the Happy Forever Stamp of the Month from CTMH and my much loved copics. I distressed the edges a little just to give that extra pop. The paper is from the Daydream CTMH collection.

The Hedgehog qualifies for the Spoon Full of Sugar Challenge : Animals and the distressing qualifies him for the Crafty Catz challenge.

Be sure to check in a lot this week, as I have a ton of posts scheduled with artwork and projects for convention.

Happy Fourth of July Boopie!

So I know you're asking who the heck is Boopie? Well that is my sweet mother's nickname, in fact she named herself that when she was a little girl. Actually both my parents have nicknames that we call them, but my Daddy is another story. Boopie is the most wonderful woman you can imagine, very kind and loving and for sure my greatest role model. I'm so blessed that God gave me her for a mother.

Well, today is her birthday. When she was a little girl she thought all the fireworks and festivities were in celebration of her...of course they were. This year she insisted that no one get her any gifts and in fact she's having the party at her house, not letting anyone else bring a single dish or do anything to help. She just keeps saying " It a Fourth of July party, not my birthday". There is no way in heck I would grace her doors without having thought of her somehow, so I made this album to give her. It holds the greatest loves of her life, my Daddy being the ultimate, my sister and I and her grandsons. I hope she'll cherish it for a long time, I know I certainly cherish her.