Let's JUMP FOR JOY !!!!

As many of you know Fall is my favorite season so let's Jump into it....but get you some extra rewards in the process.  Now is the time to hold a live Close To My Heart or online catalog show...during the month of October every gathering that is held and reaches $450 in sales jumps to the next level.  That means $20 extra rewards money for select product and could mean even more half price items...it's so easy to do so why not reward yourself?  Online idea book shows are so easy...just send me an email, I'll shoot you out an invitation you can forward to all your friends near or far to join in the fun. When they place their online order, you'll get credit towards your gathering...it's easy, simple and fun and everything is shipped direct to each person door...so you don't have to hassle with cleaning your house, get orders out to people or even getting dressed on your party night, LOL. 

It's the perfect season to hold a gathering as so many are starting to make projects for the holidays  ...so why not benefit from something you are already going to be purchasing.  I also have some wonderful online tools to help you spread the word , educate and get everyone excited about your show and Close To My Heart.  

Contact me today to set the date for your gathering as the calendar is starting to fill up. lorileng@bellsouth.net

Here is an outline of the Hostess Reward Program



When Gathering sales reach The Hostess Rewards jump to Hostess Rewards + Options jump to

$1,050 or more $220 or more** in free select product 4 items in the idea book 50% off

$950-$1,049 $200 in free select product 4 items in the idea book 50% off

$850-$949 $180 " " 4 items " "

$750-$849 $160 " " 4 items " "

$650-$749 $140 " " 3 items " "

$550- $649 $120 " " 3 items " "

$450- $549 $100 " " 2 items " "



** For each $100 in sales past $1050, add an additional $20 in free select product

* Additional tax and shipping/handling may apply on Hostess Rewards.

Read more...

Land of Oz



Cole with the Scarecrow on the Yellow Brick Road

We had such a great time this weekend at the annual "Land of Oz Festival" in Beech Mountain, NC.  Years ago there was an amusement park on top of the mountain called "Land of Oz" and if you were a Wizard of Oz fan, it was a must.  The park closed in the early 70's and many thought that was the end of that.  But little did many know majority of park still stands.  In fact a neighborhood has now been built around it and the residence walk the yellow brick road for daily strolls or exercise;...how cool is that.  Every year they hold one weekend where they open back up the park and you can go explore the "Land of Oz" with characters, props and lots of food and fun.  During the year you can rent out Dorothy's house and explore the park by yourself if you'd like.  We did that last year and it was a ton of fun, but there is nothing like seeing all the characters milling around to bring that magic.  Here are some of the pictures from this weekend...Hope you enjoy.

After face painting he blended right in








Daddy and Cole with the Gang



View from the top of Beech Mountain



Cole and his Uncle Larry



He acted like he was scared of the witch .ya think?

Winkie Guards

Part of the views along the yellow brick road

Share the Magic CTMH Hop

 Welcome to the Close to My Heart Stamp of the Month Blog Hop.  This is the adorable set that is available only through the month of October....SHARE THE MAGIC.  It's perfect for using those copics to really make this stamp set pop.  If you've just joined us from Krisitie's Blog welcome and you're on the right path.  Now onto some artwork......

This month I created an ornament that was really simple to make but is so eye catching.  It would be great on top of a Christmas package for that special someone.  I colored the stamped image with copics and then just made a large rosette with two strips (12 x 2 3/4 ) of accordion folded paper from the new Mistletoe collection from CTMH.  I added a bow and layered everything with my magic 3-d foam tape (you didn't think I would do a project without that little gem, did ya?) .  Poof !   It was done. Honestly this project was so easy, but I just loved the finished piece.  

I know after seeing all the adorable things you can create with this set...you have to have one.  Well good news, you can scoop yours up today on my website for a discounted price or even FREE!!!!! If you don't have a Close To My Heart consultant I would love to share their wonderful products with you.  Click Here to go shopping or feel free to email me lorileng@bellsouth.net to get your stamp set sent straight to your door. 

Now it's time to hop on over to Cindy's Blog and see what cutie things she has created just for you.  Have fun and be sure to keep checking in as there is so much more artwork to come and please be sure to leave some love via comments. 

Side view, so you can see the depth

Christmas Pretend Layout

This is a layout I created using the Mistletoe Collection from Close To My Heart.  I stamped plain background cardstock with a sentiment to create my base page and then started layering it on.  I love the new craze of paper flowers and these rosettes are so easy to create.  The middle of my flowers were stamped and then punched out to layer on top of the rosettes.  Finally a bit of glitter glue and some of our new mocha pearls were added to the rosettes for a completed look.  All of them are 3-d foam taped down...I'm telling you I consume 3-d foam tape like water.   The star of the layout is my youngest little monkey, Cole.  Of course he's pretending and clowning around...which is does all the time.  In fact the teacher told us the other day he doesn't like group time in preschool, he would rather play.  When we asked him about it he said  he could hear the stories and play.  Oh my to keep a four year old still. 

Can you believe it?

Last week I was down at Hobby Lobby and they were already putting their Christmas decorations out, can you believe it?  Granted the older I get the more times seems to fly by, but retailers do love to get those goodies out early, don't they?  In honor of all that tinsel and sparkle here is a quick layout I did using the Mistletoe Level One collection from CTMH.  Literally it's just pictures, paper and some of Close To My Heart's stickease stickers...that are wonderful.  I did cut a slice along the paper design and made a quickie pocket to hold some journaling.  Just glue a scrap piece of paper on the back just around the edge of the scrap to hold everything in your pocket.  Hope all are having a great weekend and I'm off to a stamp show...I'm sure I won't spend any money......LOL.  

Hugs....Lori  

Happy Birthday Friends of House Mouse

 

House Mouse and Friends are getting ready to celebrate their 2nd Anniversary and in honor of the big day they are having a blog hop/ sketch challenge.  This is my completed project using their sketch.  I colored the stamped image with my copics and then made the flower rosettes with some organza ribbon.  I also pleated the green paper along the middle edge for more layering.  I love all the pleats, ruffles and dimensions that seem to be all the range right now in papercrafting.  I also did some of my famous faux stitching...it's so much easier than dragging out the sewing machine, LOL.  Oh and I colored some clear sparkles with my copics to have the whole color coordinated project.  Hope you enjoy and hope you will hop over to House Mouse and Friends to wish them a Happy Birthday. 

Other Challenges this card qualifies for:

Paper Take Weekly: Magical Animals

Tuesday Throwdown: Paper Pleating

Tuesday Morning Sketches: Handmade Flowers

Wild Orchid Challenges: Ribbons and Bows

One Stitch at a Time: Birthday Card

Scrappy Frogs Challenge: Handmade Flowers

Challenge Winner!!!!!

Thank you so much for all the club members that supported our ending challenge.....create something reflecting the Fall season.  It always great seeing everyones creations and I know a lot of time and love went into each creations. 

Congratulations to club member Jennifer for her adorable  Fall slide card.  Jennifer contact me via email to collect your prize.  Be sure to get in on Club Challenges through my monthly clubs...we really do have fun!

Blessings - Thankful Challenge

 My Mind's Eye is having a challenge right now to do a sketch layout using the theme Blessings/Thankful.  I really have so much to be thankful for, God, Family, Health, the Country I live in...and more.  I could go on and on but one of my biggest blessings has been my parents.  The love they have for each other is amazing and they shared it with my sister and I growing up.  It was a blessing that truly molded me into the person I am today.  I owe them so much for their example.  My Mom and Dad have had a love affair for over 45 years.  My Father adores my Mom and does anything and everything he can to make her life special and my Mother still gets butterflies right before my Dad comes home for work and makes sure she looks pretty.  They look forward to spending time together, hold hands and steals kisses all the time. Isn't that the way a love affair is suppose to be.  So I'm so thankful for the example of what True Love is. 

Some of the techniques I used for this layout included sewing, stamping, distressed edges with ink and sandpaper, cricut/layering, of course use my 3-D foam tape (should buy stock in that stuff, LOL)

Be sure to leave me your feedback...let me know what you're thankful for.

Thriller Wall Hanging

I do love this month's stamp from Close To My Heart "THRILLER".  It's so stinkin cute...or at least I think so.  This is a wall hanging I did using a circle chipboard base.  I died some ribbon with reinkers to create the color of ribbon perfect to match the project.  I also heat embossed the letters and the skull stamp to add that finished look.  I sponge daubed some of our "On Target (the circle)" dimensional elements with the lagoon ink and used the Hooligans paper collections Oh and took some of our new ribbon from the Lagoon collection and pulled the white string that runs down the middle to give that bunched effect.  I've made several of these wall hanging so I'm sure gonna have a lot of decorations for the Halloween season hanging around.  I probably need to start focusing on Thanksgiving or Christmas, LOL.

Challenges:
Stamp Something : Spots and Stripes (paper)

Creepy Cracked Glass Technique

I love to do all types of techniques and this card sure was fun.  I love the cracked glass effect...don't know how to do it, it's easy.  You just do a layer of embossing powder over whatever image you are wanting to use, then when it's still hot sprinkle more embossing powder over the top of it and continue to do this for 4-5 layers....you can also use Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel and you don't have to do so many layers.  Once you have your embossing down, put your image in the freezer for a few minutes...then we you take it out bend it to create crack.  Add some distressing inks to the cracks to show the effect and buff off any excess ink.  ...LOVE IT!  I also got a chance to use my brand new Owl Spellbinders Die my enabling sister had me get this afternoon...she was right, I do adore it.  Hope you enjoy this creepy Halloween card and here are all the challenges this card meets.

Just Us Girls: Cracked Glass
Clearly iStamp : Owl
Get Sketchy : Sketch
Paper Sundaes : Three Embellishments (bitty sparkles, ribbon, punched spider)
Kenny K's Krafty Girlz : Embossing
Charisma Cardz Challenge : Try something new (Cracked Glass Technique)
Fairy Fun Fridays : Embossing