Blog Hop!

Welcome to our Close To My Heart Summer 2009 Idea Book Blog Hop! If you have come here from Caren's Blog, you are on the right path! If this is your first stop, you may want to go back to Erin's Blog and start from the beginning! Also, don't forget to enter to win some Blog Candy!

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Over 40 Close To My Heart Consultants are celebrating the upcoming release of the Summer 2009 Idea Book by sharing their amazing creations using new products via their blogs. This is simple to do - just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one! Here we go!

This was a fun project to make - it's an accordian album that I made using the My Creations 9x9 Memory Showcase. I used my absolute favorite papers in the new Summer Idea Book - Animal Cookies - as soon as I saw it I knew I could put it to good use! I just love the fun bright primary colors. All of the coordinating stamp sets for this paper are at the top of my Wish List - they are all perfect for my young family. I made this fun album for a friend who recently had a baby shower - I can't wait to see it when it's filled with pictures of her new little bundle, due any day now!

Here is a quick slideshow of each page. I used the layout designs and measurements from the Life Delights Memory Showcase - made this project so quick and easy!

Paper: Animal Cookies Level 2 and Creative Basics

My Acrylix Stamp Sets: Noteworthy, Free Spirit, Because of You, Little Boys, Checklist, Crayon House (retired), Baby Impressions (retired), For Baby (retired)

Ink Colors: Dutch Blue, Tulip, Clover Meadow

Embellishments: White Daisy RicRac, White Daisy Hinges, White Daisy Bigger Brads, White Daisy Photo Hangers, Green Staples, Cranberry and Star Spangled Blue Waxy Flax, White Daisy My Accents (retired)

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Now "Hop" on over to Kami's Blog to see her work! Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their Blogs to get some great crafting ideas and see the great new Paper Packs, My Acrylix Stamp Sets, and other fun new products! Remember, the Summer 2009 Idea Book goes LIVE on May 1st! Click here to view the new Idea Book online (starting May 1st) or stop by my Open House on May 1st to get your own copy! Contact me for more details.

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I have some more projects with new Summer products - click the following links to view more:

Moon Doggie Paper Pack

Be Yourself (May SOTM)

Foam Numbers

If the links are not working or if you are lost on the "blog hop" - see a complete list of participating blogs below!

Erin Herring http://www.tazzygirl2000.blogspot.com/

Penny Doucette http://scrappinpenny.blogspot.com/

Kathleen Rensel http://scrapbookaddictkath.blogspot.com/

Jessica Moore http://www.jessicaspaperpetals.blogspot.com/

Colleen Porter http://www.inkemup.blogspot.com/

Sherry Thompson http://www.picturespatternsandpaper.blogspot.com/

Jen Patrick http://www.roxybonds-scrappin.blogspot.com/

Corey Acton http://scrappytimeswithcorey.blogspot.com/

Amy Edwards http://www.paisleysplayhouse.blogspot.com/

Amy Schultz http://www.amylizschultz.blogspot.com/

Tresa Black http://www.fabulouslyartsy.blogspot.com/

Leslie Kolic http://www.leannesscraps.blogspot.com/

Rebecca Garrison http://www.stampingwithbekah.blogspot.com/

Miranda Kurz http://www.scrampinwithmiranda.com/

Terrie Dodd http://my-life-in-real-time.blogspot.com/

Traci Tanimura http://www.creativetraci.blogspot.com/

Debora Mcelhany http://www.mcdoodlesscrappinplace.blogspot.com/

Katie Paterson http://katiepaterson.blogspot.com/

Michelle Robinson http://amaizenbluelady.typepad.com/

Lori Scott http://scrapinglori.blogspot.com/

Amberlyn Gentry http://amberlyng.blogspot.com/

Wendy Kessler http://www.myscrapbookingblog.com/

Meredith Burgess http://www.meredithsscrappylife.blogspot.com/

Vicky Sullivan http://www.sullyscrapandstamp.blogspot.com/

Caren Goldstein http://www.scrappycaren.blogspot.com/

Jena Devries http://www.livelovelaughscrapbook.blogspot.com/

Kami Welter http://www.scrappin4memories.blogspot.com/

Traci Godbee http://createwithtraci.blogspot.com/

Julie Banzon http://www.scrapbookiejulie.blogspot.com/

Laurel Seabrook http://www.want2scrap.blogspot.com/

Alisan Smith http://scrappinalistamps.blogspot.com/

Haley Dyer http://www.inkyscrapper.blogspot.com/

Dawn Heuft http://www.stamptildawn.blogspot.com/

Ali Creel http://www.scrapali.blogspot.com/

Helen Onulak http://www.hookedonstamping.com/

Jean McNulty http://stampinmaui.blogspot.com/

Aaron Brown http://aaronsbooth32.blogspot.com/

Shannon http://www.rockinstamps.blogspot.com/

Julie Lane http://raggedydoodles.blogspot.com/

Carrie Zrodlowski http://carriesinspiration.blogspot.com/

Blogoversary & Blog Candy!

TODAY marks my 4 year anniversary as a Consultant with Close To My Heart AND my 1 year Blogoversary! I have had so much fun as a Consultant and I've learned so much as I've preserved our family memories - I just added to that fun when I started blogging. For those of you that are in my area, you can come celebrate with me on Friday, May 1st for an Open House - there are lots of reasons to celebrate - my Anniversary, Blogoversary, the New Summer Idea Book from CTMH, plus, May is National Scrapbooking Month - what a fun time of year!

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So I'm about due for a Blog Candy give-away! I have free stamp set (Summertime) to give away - but, the more entries I receive, the more goodies I will add to the stash! There are a couple of ways you can get entered for a chance to win - the more you do, the more entries you get - I will draw a winner on Sunday, May 10th. Here is how you can enter:

• Join me tomorrow for a fun Blog Hop - we (myself and over 40 other CTMH Consultants) will be featuring some of the new products from the NEW Summer Idea Book. Take a look at all the fabulous new creations and tell me what your favorite new product is! Post your comment/entry on the Blog Hop post.


• Post a link on your blog telling others about my Blog Candy and the Blog Hop.


• Leave a comment on this post and tell me what your favorite craft is, why you enjoy it, how you got started, and how long you've been doing it. If you're a CTMH Consultant, tell me how long you've been with CTMH and how you got started.

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Here's my story: My favorite craft is scrapbooking. I have always enjoyed various crafts - my mom is very crafty and we were always trying new things, like bead making and other clay fun, knitting or crochetting (sp?), paper making, oragami, etc. Surprisingly, it wasn't her that got me into scrapbooking, though, it was actually my Aunt Debi.

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So I started scrapbooking in High School and tried to keep with it even after I got married and started having kids. Our first few years we were renting and moving a lot, so I only did maybe one page a year. Well, in 2004 we finally bought our first house and I finally had my own craft room (which was also our guest room) and a huge basement. So I started hosting Mommy Craft Days where Moms would get together to craft or visit and the kids would play.

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After I had been doing that for a few months, my friend Randi told me there was something I would be perfect for - her friend in Casper was a CTMH Consultant and was trying to get someone here to do it. I had never heard about CTMH so she sent me a little bit of information that I looked over but didn't put a lot of thought into...until April 2005 when she contacted me again and let me know that there was a really great special going on and I could sign up for 1/2 the price. I thought about it a lot, and finally, at the end of the month, decided to sign up just for the consultant discount. Well a few days later I received my Consultant kit, which was the first time I had ever seen any of the CTMH products in person, and I was hooked! The products were such a great quality and more affordable than I thought they would be, and I instantly fell in love. I didn't think I would get into the stamps as much since I already had quite a collection of wooden stamps, but the Acrylix Stamps were irresistable!

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I had my Jump Start party and introduced CTMH to this area and the rest is history! When I started, I was the only Consultant in this area, and I now am an Executive Manager of the Scrap Happens Team with 12 wonderful ladies as my downline. CTMH continues to amaze me with all the fabulous new products with each new Idea Book - its been fun! Besides scrapbooking, I have also started getting more into the cardmaking side of stamping. Close To My Heart definitely makes it faster, simpler, easier!

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Now let's hear your story!

MMB Give-Away

Thanks to my friend Heidi, I found this awesome give-away...

Check out this blog:

Mormon Mommy Blogs

They are have a great give-away this month with some really cute stuff - and more than 1 prize!

Quick Trip

We made a super quick trip to Utah this weekend. My cousin got married on Friday - we missed the ceremony but we wanted to go to see some family that made the trip to Utah, especially my Grandma and Grandpa Sager who are currently serving in the Nashville Tennessee Temple. It's been a year since we've seen Grandma and a year and a half since we've seen Grandpa, so it was great to get to see them again - plus they got to meet their first great grandson, Trysten!
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David had to do some work on Friday morning and then he had to change a belt in the Yukon, so we didn't leave until about noon on Friday. The kids slept most of the way with only one potty break and one gas break, so we made it there in 5 hours - another record since we've had kids ;-) We first stopped at my Grandma and Grandpa Sager's house in SLC where they got to play with cousins that night while we all chatted and played catch up. My little cousin Lauren and Brailee had fun together - I think they look a lot alike, but it was hard to get a picture of them together, they would not sit still! That night we headed to my mom and LaRon's house to spend the night.
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On Saturday morning we had our traditional family breakfast - Scottish Eggs and Good Morning Waffles - yummy! We took some family pictures, threw the bunny heads in the ceiling fan (oh, the things they learn at Grandma's house), and then we were on the road again just after noon. David had a branch conference on Sunday morning and then meetings that afternoon, so we had to be back home Saturday night. It was such a quick trip, but worth it! Luckily the kids were all so good while we traveled - Trysten is really great on the road, thankfully. If I feed him right before we leave, he will last the whole ride. He usually just needs a couple diaper changes, but he will either sleep or jabber to his sisters in the car. Brailee also does well with the whole potty thing while we're traveling, which is a miracle since there are so few places to stop when you're traveling in the middle of nowhere!
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Even though it was a quick trip, I still managed to take about 100 pictures - here are some of my favorites.

3 Months Old!

Trysten is 3 months old! He is getting so big and strong and is still such a happy baby - he's a keeper! Kaylee and Bree always tell me they're so glad we had him and that he's a part of our family - they always single him out in their prayers. Some of the things he enjoys - being outside, watching his mobile, smiling and giggling at his sisters, going for walks, circles, and being snuggled up in Mommy's Moby Wrap. He is such a social bug and loves when people talk to him - he is so full of smiles. He is also such an angel at nights - he has always been such a good sleeper, ever since his first week home. He goes to bed around 8 or 9 and will usually get up once to eat, around 3:30, and then he's back to sleep. Sometimes he will even sleep until 5 or 6, which is what time I'm usually waking up anyway. He hardly ever fusses or cries, and is still just as content as ever. He only eats every 4 or 5 hours and for only about 15 minutes, but he sure is growing! Here are some pictures I took of him on Sunday.

Update on Trysten: Thanks to those who have expressed interest and concern for Trysten. As you may have previously read, we've been keeping an eye on him because he's had blood in his diaper. It first happened on Sunday, April 12th, then not again until Friday, April 17th, but then it happened again on Wednesday, April 22nd, and it was twice that day. I've been keeping the doctor updated each time it happens, and at first he told us to just keep an eye on him and if he ran a fever or started to look sick or had a tight tummy to take him to the E.R. Trysten has still just been his happy normal self, so there was not a lot of concern. But after it happened again on Wednesday, the doctor wanted to see him, so I took Trysten in after the girls got out of school that day. There is nothing obviously wrong with him so the doctor ordered some blood work to rule out a few things. Luckily David got home from work shortly after we went in to see the doctor, so I asked him to come pick up the girls. He came right in time, just as the lab techs were coming in to draw blood. Trysten was tired and hungry so he was NOT happy when we had to hold him down - I was glad the girls weren't there at that time, even if they stepped out of the room while it happened, they still would have heard him screaming. They are always so concerned about him and take such good care of him, they would not have liked to hear that! Once they were done drawing his blood, I was able to feed him in peace and quiet before we left, which put him back to his happy smiling self! So I got a call on Thursday morning about his results - everything was fine for his age - no anemia, and no protein allergies, and whatever else they tested for. They say it's possible that he has a mild viral infection, so we are to continue keeping an eye on him and report more bloody diapers or a change in his appearance or how he acts. Since I'm strictly breastfeeding it was also suggested that I start a food journal so we can determine if something I'm eating is upsetting him. So I guess now we'll just have to wait and see - please continue to keep him in your thoughts and prayers!

June Word Puzzle

Here are the creations for this month's Word Puzzle Workshop - we are using the June Word Puzzle and *NEW* Moon Doggie papers. For complete workshop details, click here.

I actually had these done last week but was not pleased with my first 12x12 page so I was having a hard time settling on it. Here is my first one...

...and then earlier this week I had the thought to use the Tie stamp from the June Word Puzzle to create sun rays. I stamped them on Sunflower paper and then tore around them. I like this one much better - what do you think? I used a sketch from PageMaps January 2009 - the original sketch has a flower, but I didn't want to make the page too girly so I didn't add it, but it helped inspire my sun!

12x12 Option

6x6 Option

Card Option - I used 3 *NEW* patterns on these cards - they came from the *NEW* Wishes book coming up in the new Summer Idea Book from CTMH!
Using the stamp set from the Tickled Pink Special:
Using the April Stamp of the Month:
Using the June Word Puzzle:

Dragons & Stone Soup!

Brianna had another soccer game on Monday night and while it was a beautiful warm day that day, it was SO windy at the soccer fields. The kids have so much fun playing and Brianna just never stops running and always has a smile on her face. Here are some pictures from the game.

Go Dragons!

Here's happy Trysten all cozied up in his stroller - luckily the canopy adjusts and works as a good wind block. He is always such a happy boy at the games and he usually falls asleep. He loves being outside.

Here is Brailee being a goof with her jacket.

Kaylee's team had a bye last night, which worked out perfectly as she had her 1st grade music program at school - they did Stone Soup.

After the program, we visited the school book fair and they had this fun display set up and the girls were more than willing to dress up and pose for me!

Here is Trysten enjoying the show with Gpa DeVries - he was tired and so he didn't care for the loud noise at the end when everyone was clapping and cheering, but as soon as I wrapped him up in my Moby Wrap, he fell right to sleep. We walked that night since it was such a warm and beautiful day - on the way to the school he was looking around and enjoying all the sights and sounds.

Kaylee has a soccer game tomorrow night and I hope she gets to play! There is another storm on its way in, so I hope games don't get cancelled again. They have only played one game so far and Brianna's team has played 3, so Kaylee is anxious to play some more.

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Kaylee and Brianna have their dance recital coming up at the end of May - they are so excited for that. They each have both of their costumes - and yes, I'm already planning what paper to use to scrapbook the recital ;-P If anyone is interested in coming, just let me know as we need to get tickets, or just contact the college for tickets. I know my dad and his wife are coming, as well as my mom and her husband, so I'll be getting tickets for them. It should be fun!

2 Month Calendar Page

I took some time to create last week when my SIL Sandy came over to play - we both had new goodies from the new Summer Idea Book so we had a little show & tell ;-P I finally did Trysten's 2 month calendar page - I was glad I hadn't got around to it before, because then I got to use the fun new Foam Numbers! I tried out the foam embossing technique that is featured in the new Idea Book and after a couple tries, I got it and think it will be lots of fun to do again! The first time I didn't heat it long enough so the image didn't emboss very well. So then I tried again, heating it a little longer, but then the image curled up too much, and it was hard to stamp. So, I used a little bit of Tombow to attach the number to my table (luckily my table is heat resistant) - that way it stayed flat and was easy to heat enough and then stamp to emboss. Here is my page - I used the Stardust papers (I'm keeping with that same paper through his entire calendar) but I added a bit of Outdoor Denim to match his outfit. I also used some of the Stardust Stickease and embossed the Precious Alphabet using Desert Sand embossing powder.

Thanks for looking!

What a month!

We have had a busy month so far, but it's been fun! I need to get these moments recorded so I don't forget them among all the chaos so be prepared for a long post!

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First of all, I forgot to add some more details from our Star Valley trip. On Friday night when I was sick, Gpa T and Shelly took the girls outside to play in the hot tub. Brailee was quite the character from what they told me. Apparently, she would walk around the seats of the hot tub and when she knew there was a dip coming up, she would say, "New trick!" and then she would go under and splash to the top happily - what a llittle fishy!

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Also, as you may have seen in the pictures, Brianna had fun playing with the stuffed animals upstairs - she would line them up on the rail and once in a while one would plummet to the ground below. Brailee enjoyed playing Diego with all of the animals in trouble ;-)

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Brailee was also fascinated by all of the animal heads on the walls at Gpa T and Shelly's house. There were deer, elk, and a few African animals. She kept calling the deer 'reindeer' and then one day she finally said to me, "Mom, I think the reindeer are dead." and I told her yes, they were, and then she said, "Can I say hi to them?" so then she cheerfully said hello and never seemed too worried about it. Brailee was sleeping when we saw the elk in Alpine, but as we drove through Jackson she saw some elk statues on a rock, and said, "Look Mom, I see reindeer!" So I told her they were elk and she said, "Oh, elk reindeer!"

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On the way home, since the girls didn't sleep as long as they did on the ride there, we played some games in the car. We found shapes in the clouds, played I Spy, and told knock knock jokes. The girls' favorite knock knock joke goes like this:

Knock, Knock

Who's there?

Interupting Cow

Interupt...

...MOO!

and another one they always tell goes like this:

Knock, Knock

Who's there?

Isabelle

Isabelle who?

Isabelle broken? I had to knock

Brailee had fun copying all of our knock knock jokes, but then she came up with her own by combining the two above. She said:

Knock, Knock

Who's there?

'Rupting Cow

Interupting Cow who?

'Rupting cow the doorbell's broken!

Then she would just throw back her head and laugh - silly girl. When we got back to town, as soon as Brailee realized that we were going home, she was SO upset. She wanted to go back to see Gpa T and Shelly. The girls all had fun and can't wait to visit again.

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During the week of Spring Break, David switched to a new work schedule, which I didn't think I'd like. When he first started working out there almost 5 years ago, he worked 8 days and then had 6 off. We liked all of his days off, but he only had every other weekend off, so he missed a lot of church, especially if we traveled anywhere on his days off. Then, right after Brailee was born, he switched to working Monday through Thursday, and we really liked having a three day weekend all the time. Well, now he has to start working Fridays again, but that means that he gets to come home sooner every day. It has been so nice having him home at a decent hour - he gets to spend more time with the kids. Before this new schedule, he'd usually get home no sooner than 6:30 so he'd barely have time for dinner and a shower, then it was time to get the girls ready for bed. Some nights he wouldn't get home until after the girls were in bed, so it could be a few days before he would actually see them since he leaves at 5:30 in the morning, before they even wake up. Plus, on the nights he had meetings, he'd have to rush to shower, eat, and then head out the door, so it made for hectic nights. So far I'm really liking this new schedule, especially since soccer has started. Here is a picture of David and Trysten snoozing outside - enjoying the new work schedule! I hope David doesn't get too upset with me posting this picture ;-P

On Monday Kaylee and Brianna got to go to the new school! They started at the old school and had a closing ceremony and then walked to the new school. I loaded T and Brailee up in the bike trailer/stroller and carried Trysten in my Moby wrap and we walked with them. It was exciting for the kids. So now Kaylee and Brianna walk to school in the mornings and on the days they don't have dance class, they get to walk home - it's so nice now that I don't have to wake up Brailee or Trysten to take the girls to school! Here are some pics of the girls in the new school - each kid got a new T-shirt from the school Parent Group for the new school, how cool is that!

Here they are walking to school - it was starting to rain that morning, but they still wanted to walk - luckily they had umbrellas!

Monday night was Brianna's first soccer game. She is on the same team as her cousin Damon, and her Aunt Jamie is the team coach. Tuesday night was Kaylee's first soccer game and she is on the same team as her cousin Isaac, so it's been fun! Here we are Wednesday night at the games - it was so cold for the first week of games, but it should be warmer this week.

On Wednesday night, we went to bed with this going on outside...

...woke up at 5 then next morning to this...

...and by the time the girls headed to school it looked like this - the snow was so wet and heavy...

Kaylee's soccer game was canceled because of the snow so we actually had a free night! The girls and I put this fun dinosaur together. The snow is all melted now and it's so warm outside - we just relaxed outside yesterday after church it was such a beautiful day. It's near 80 degrees today!

Dino - ROAR!

Here are the kids yesterday after church...

Trysten is starting to suck on his fist or pointer finger now. He is such a cutie and still full of smiles and giggles. We were really keeping an eye on him this last weekend. He had a junky eye towards the end of the week so on Friday I called the dr. for some eye drops. They were at lunch when I called so I left a message and right before they called me back, he had some blood in his diaper, so I mentioned it to the nurse and they had me bring the diaper into their office and told me if it happened again or if he started to look sick or run a fever to take him to the E.R. Luckily it hasn't happened again and he hasn't really acted sick, he's just been fussier than usual at naptime during the day. I went to a baby shower on Saturday and took him with me, but he just couldn't sleep or get comfortable in all the noise so he wasn't too happy and I had to leave early. Last night and then again this morning he was fussy again so I just wrapped him up in my Moby Wrap and he went right to sleep - I made two loaves of banana bread and some muffins with him snuggled right up with me.

Here is Brailee at soccer - I just love that face ;-) It was so cold for the first week of games and Kaylee's Thursday game was canceled due to the snow, so I haven't taken any good pics of the girls playing yet. I've been trying to keep Trysten warm so I've spent a lot of time sitting in the car with him. I hope to get some good pictures of Kaylee and Brianna this week.

Card Mania!

Here are some cards that I made for the birthdays and other events in January, February, and March...I just never got around to posting them until now ;-P
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Birthday card for my BIL - using It's A Guy Thing paper, and Beautiful Things and Happy Birthday stamp sets

I used this sketch from Mojo Monday

Birthday card for another BIL - using Sarsaparilla paper, and Lovely Buckles and Happy Birthday stamp sets

Birthday card for my friend, Colette (she likes Orange) - using Abundance paper, and Treasure Life and Happy Birthday stamp sets

Birthday card for my SIL (this was part of my March Word Puzzle Workshop) - using Emporium Creative Basics paper and Moments in Time stamp set

A non-traditional Wedding card for my dad who remarried in January - using Emporium paper and Noteworthy and For Every Occassion stamp sets

Birthday card I made for my Grandpa in December - using Simple Pleasure paper and Annotations stamp set

I made this one for my SIL, Sandy, using Emporium paper, and Confidential and Happy Birthday stamp sets - but I wasn't completely thrilled with it...

...so I made this one for her instead ;-P It's a lot simpler but I like it the best. I used Emporium again (can you tell it's one of my favorites) with the Happy Birthday stamp set (another favorite and most used sets)

I used this sketch from Caardvarks
Thank you card for my mom using Citrus Leaf Textured Cardstock and Adorable Backgrounds stamp set with the Solo T

Here are some cards that the girls helped me make for their friends - they stamped and colored the Family Ties stamp images - the notebook is for Kaylee's friend who got baptized.

Whew! Well that's it for now. I will have some more cards to post a little later. Thanks for looking!