April Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Welcome to April's Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!!

When I first saw April's Stamp of the Month - Flower Pot - I was so excited. It was so cute and had so many ways to put it together to create fun, pretty cards.

Here is just one of the cards I made using this set. I know I'll be using this set tons this spring and summer. Plus, it will be fun to use when I scrapbook my garden's flowers.



From here you will go check out the wonderful things that Helen created with this months stamp.

Thanks for visiting and have a wonderful April.

April Workshop - Cute Caboodle

With all this lovely weather we have been having, I hope that y'all have been getting out and getting some great spring pictures. The boys had their first trip to the park and they loved it. They went on the swings, down a slide and played in the sandbox. And they learned sand doesn't taste good. And last Saturday, they went to their first Easter egg hunt. They aren't so sure what that was all about, especially since mommy won't let them eat the candy. Big meanie. But mommy did get pictures. And what better paper than Caboodle to scrapbook them on.

Here is a picture of one of the layouts you can create with this workshop.



If you are interested in joining in on the fun, whether with a club or at home in your pjs, email me at jenna_chere@yahoo.com or give me a call at 210.264.4025.

Here is the flyer with details on the stamp set and embellishments that are included.



Caboodle Basic Workshop Kit (includes):
Caboodle Level 2 Paper Packet ($12.95)
My Acrylix® This Way ($13.95)
Dimensional Elements Booksmart ($4.95)
Workshop Guide ($1.00) $29.95
You Pay: $29.95 (Retail $32.85)
You will have plenty of supplies left over for additional projects.

Create the Projects just as they are in the guide by adding the following:
Z1271 Tiny Tabs $3.95
Z1125 Designer Ribbon Rounds™ Sweet Leaf Collection $7.95

Extend your fun with this paper pack by adding the following:
X7121C Caboodle My Stickease Assortment $4.95
C1387 Playin' Hard $18.95
C386 Boys at Play $18.95
Z1261 Irresistibles Lots of Dots $4.95

Additional Tools:
E1015 Cocktail Alphabet $34.95
Z2117 Crystal Blue Exclusive Inks® Pad $5.25
Z2164 Sorbet Exclusive Inks® Pad $5.25
Z2153 Sweet Leaf Exclusive Inks® Pad $5.25
Z2169 Vanilla Cream Exclusive Inks® Pad $6.95
Z697 Sponge $1.25
Y1000 1" × 1" My Acrylix® Block $3.95
Y1001 1" × 1 1/2" My Acrylix® Block $4.50
Y1009 2" × 3 1/2" My Acrylix® Block $7.50

In addition, these are just some of the cards you can create with this kit.

Versatility

I am a mother of four: 12 yo d, 8 yo d, and twin 1 yo boys. After all the shoes, diapers, and lipgloss, I don't have a huge crafting budget. I love, love, love when I can make my supplies stretch and my ideas work for both my boys and my girls. And this is one of my favorite things about CTMH collections. Their colors and designs aren't gender specific. Take for example their Topstich collection.


At first glace, it looks pretty girlie. And my girls love it. Great for so many girlie layouts--tea parties, BFFs, and sweet portraits.

But check out the bottom right paper. The blue circles on brown coupled with the Chocolate or Heavenly Blue cardstock works great for the boys' layouts.

So here is the same trio of photos capturing the wonderful relationship between my oldest, Lelia, and my youngest (by a minute), Griffin in the same layout. Both using paper from the Topstich collection.





Pretty cool, huh? So in no time flat, I completed two new pages to add to their books and used up more supplies from one kit. This makes me super happy, because more than I like making my crafting money stretch, I HATE when I have supplies left over that I can't use. GRRR! And big plus, using all my supplies helps convince my hubs that yes, indeed, I do need this new paper kit. hee hee

So if you are looking for more bang for your crafting buck, consider CTMH's versatile collections. I'm off to create some more fun layouts of the kids with the super cool YOU ROCK collection.

Classes at Hometown Crafts

I am so excited! Starting next week, I'll be teaching scrapbook and card classes Monday and Saturday mornings from 9:30 to 12:00 at Hometown Crafts here in Kerrville. Yippee! Here is the class schedule for April.


Intro to Scrapbooking and Card-making March 29th & April 3rd
Ever wondered what it’s all about? Feeling a little overwhelmed? Then this class is for you. We will cover all the basics to create fun layouts that spotlight your photos and chronicle your memories. In addition, you will learn how to create cards that celebrate your relationships. You will learn how to use basic supplies and tools while creating your first layout.
Class fee is $15.00, All supplies are included. No tools are needed. No previous experience necessary.

The Art of Embellishment April 5th & 10th
Take the next step into paper crafting by learning how to use various embellishments: buttons, brads, ribbons, rub-ons, flowers, threads, stickers, inks, and adhesives. To help you remember what you’ve learned, we’ll create an Embellishment tag book for you to keep with examples and instructions.
Class fee is $15.00. All supplies are included. No tools are needed.

Two Twos in Two April 12th & 17th
In two hours you’ll create two 2-page layouts. This month, we’ll celebrate Spring, using paper and embellishments in fresh and bright colors perfect for Easter, park and kid pictures.
Class fee is $20 for instructions, coordinating cardstock, paper and embellishments. Bring your favorite cutter, scissors, and adhesives. Intro & Embellishment classes encouraged but not required.

Mother’s Day and Thank You Cards April 19th & 24th
You can never have too many Thank You cards and who better to say thank you to than Mom? You’ll create 12 cards in designs ranging from sweet to elegant in a variety of colors.
Class fee is $18. Bring your favorite tools and adhesives.
Intro & Embellishment classes encouraged but not required.

To register, email Jenna at jenna_chere@yahoo.com or call 210.264.4025

** Note: If you are interested in one of these classes, but live in the surrounding areas and San Antonio, contact me to schedule a class in your area.

I am really looking forward to all the fun we will have at these classes. I also have all kinds of cool things that we will be doing over the next few months. If there is something specific you are interested in learning, let me know.

I hope everyone has a fantastic week.

CTMH in Creating Keepsakes March/April Issue

This is so cool! Check out the cover layout.



You see that cute, little umbrella with the stitching? It was made using CTMH's Springtime stamp set. The same one I used to make the duckie card from the Spring/Easter card workshop. How great is that? And that's not all. Close To My Heart products show up in other layouts in this issue. More and more papercrafters are finding out just how fantastic our goodies are. Yippee!

For example, Cindy Tobey used patterned paper from our Twitterpated collection on her layout on pg 25. She also used our chipboard buttons from our Dimensional Elements in Color, Organic. I can’t tell for sure, but I think she created the deer using Close to My Heart’s Heartfelt Die-Cuts, Wonder.

On page 91, they highlighted the gorgeous CTMH's Eastertime stamp set. The same one we just used in our Easter/Spring cards workshop. Yay!

And then on pg 109, Jennifer McGuire's colorful card sports a sentiment stamped using the CTMH Classmate Alphabet stamp set. Woohoo! If you ever need inspiration, check out her website. She's AMAZING!!

And there are too many times to list where crafters listed that they used CTMH inks. Way too cool.

So while you're out this weekend running errands, treat yourself. Grab a coffee and Creating Keepsakes and put up your feet. Let the colorful creations kick start your imagination.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick's Day holds a very special place in my heart. I met my husband in person on this day four years ago. We were set up by a service and to be honest, I figured he would be like so many others, just not the one. When he called, he was polite and funny and asked if we could meet for dinner. But I had my best friend and mom staying with me that weekend, and then I was leaving to take fifteen middle schoolers to DC for a week long field trip. We made tentative plans for when I returned. To my pleasant surprise, he text me the morning I was flying out that he hoped I had a safe and fun trip. Then he sent me a text that evening to check that I had indeed made it there safely and to see how I was holding up with the kids. He was just too sweet and funny. This started a week long texting, emailing and phone calling extravaganza. He cracked me up the entire time. And by the time I returned home, I felt like I'd already been on a date with him and was actually looking forward to meeting him in person.



I had seen a picture of him, but when I opened the door, my first thought was that he was more handsome in person. And he brought me flowers. That sweetie. And then I'll be honest, I kissed him. Partly because I knew he'd wait until the end of the date being a gentleman and all and I'm impatient like that, and partly because on the phone He'd done an impersonation of Thumper from Bambi and said "I twitterpated him." What's a girl to do? Anyway, the kiss was lovely and sweet. He then took me to Gruene (pronounced Green), TX since it was St. Patrick's Day, which tickled my funny bone. We ate and talked and walked around the cute, historic, little town and talked some more. We went wine tasting and he bought a bottle of wine and said, "Next year on our anniversary, let's come back here and get another bottle."



And you know what, we did. That next year, we had already married and he took me back to Gruene on St. Pat's Day and we ate at the same restaurant and bought more bottles of wine to toast each other and our life together. He also bought me silver four leaf clover ear rings because I'm his lucky charm. I know cheesy but cute. That's my Handyman and those ear rings make me smile whenever I wear them.



When we married, I got the pleasure of becoming two sweet girls' step-mom. They have been so much fun to love and enjoy life with. And then a year ago, yesterday, we had the great joy of getting to bring home from the hospital our twin baby boys. Four years ago, I had no idea the heart could love this big. Or that I could be this tired.



Boy, has my life change over the last four yours. There have been many struggles, but a lot of laughter, and always plenty of hugs and kisses. And amazing love.

Happy Anniversary, My Handsome Husband. You are indeed My Lucky Charm.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Easy Easter & Spring Card Workshop

When I was a little girl, I liked Easter, but for me Christmas was the best holiday ever. Now that I'm older, I still really love Christmas, but I've become more and more fond of Easter. Partly due to a better understanding of the religious meaning of Easter, but also because it takes place in Spring. There is something so magical about the earth being reborn. Everything that has been brown, softens and brightens. The robins come out to serenade and the baby ducks come out to play in the puddles.







I had such fun creating this Easter & Spring Card Workshop. I used the Eastertime stamp set (D1259) on pg 51 for these three cards. I love how the Amethyst (Z2100), Baby Pink (Z2102), Heavenly Blue (Z2126), Sweet Leaf (Z2131) and Buttercup (Z2110) inks are just the right shades for capturing all the spring colors.






For these two cards, I used the Springtime stamp set (D1415) on pg 50. I LOVE this sweet, little duckie. In the stamp set, he has two buddies that are just as adorable. Another big bonus with this stamp set are the different designs you can make the umbrella and the cute wellies (not shown). Plaid, polka dots, or flowers - these are tough choices, man.





March's Stamp of the Month is titled "A Little Everything" and boy, is that the truth. *See right side of blog for photo of set. I was so excited to use the set for this card. We will also be using this stamp set for next month's card workshop for Mother's and Father's day cards and thank you cards (pictures to come soon). So don't forget to order your March Stamp of the Month set because it won't be available after March 31st and you know you'll want to use it all year long. And of course, with the fantastic Stamp of the Month program, the more your order, the more of a discount you receive, so consider picking up some of our lovely pastel stamp pads, acrylic blocks, cardstock, ribbons and buttons to make all your cards and layouts gorgeous.



For this gorgeous card, I used the Beloved stamp set (B1343) on pg 51. I love how elegant and poignant this card turned out. I also used our Edge Distresser (Z1297). I have used other distressers, the sides of scissors, and even my nail file but haven't been happy. The search is over. Just thought I'd let you know.

Even more fun than making these cards has been making these cards with my card groups. It's not to late to schedule your own card workshop. I still have a few days open that would allow plenty of time to complete these cards and pop them in the mail.

Or pick these stamps up and use them to make some lovely Easter scrapbook layouts. I can't wait to get the kids Easter pictures taken and make Easter layout for their books.

Hope you're enjoying your Spring!
Jenna

MOPS Cards

**First let me apologize for the quality of these photos.

I love my MOPS group. (MOPS stands for Moms of Pre-Schoolers) We meet once a month and it is always tons of fun. I get to visit with other ladies who are in the Mommy trenches (without being interrupted eight zillion times). We eat breakfast (without anyone throwing their food or using my shirt as a napkin). I always leave recharged and ready to wipe more noses and play with more trucks.

Today's speaker was Dawsie Meeks of Moving Forward Ministries and she was fantastic - encouraging and humorous. She reminded us that God is always with us no matter where we are: wondering in a wilderness, traveling through a valley, or climbing a mountain.

One really fun thing we also do is giveaways. I mean, c'mon, who doesn't winning something? The massages and pedis are always the most coveted. But today, it was my pleasure to give away two sets of cards. Here are the ones I created. I'm really pleased with how they turned out.


Using paper from the gorgeous Felicity pack.


Using the elegant Veranda paper.


Using paper from the fun You Rock collection.


Paper from the super cute Topstich collection.

I hope they bless the ladies that won them. And I can't wait until next month's MOPS meeting. I'm sure it will be just as much fun! Yippee!

March's Workshop ~ Elegant Veranda

Relaxing out on the Veranda sound lovely, doesn’t it? Is anyone else ready for Spring? I know I am after having it snow four times here in Texas this winter. We’ll let’s celebrate the changing of the seasons with this gorgeous Veranda Workshop.

Close To My Heart workshop are so easy to put together, because everything you need is included right in your kit to create 4 elegant scrapbook pages or 12 beautiful cards or a combination of the two.



The Veranda Basic kit includes:

- G1007 Retail Value: $31.85 / You Pay: $29.95
- My Acrylix® Follow Your Heart Stamp Set
- My Refl ections® Veranda Level 2 Paper Packet
- Filigree Charms
- Workshop Guide

This options qualifies you for 25% off the March Stamp of the Month.

The Veranda Better kit includes:

Adding any or all of these accessories to the Basic kit:
- Z1275 Mini-Medley Accents Antiqued Copper Collection $4.95
- Z1266 Just Blooms® Spring Blossom Paper Flowers $7.95
- Z1142 Stazon Brown ink Pad - $9.95
- Z2114 Cocoa ink Pad - $5.25
- Z2166 Tulip ink Pad - $5.25
- Z2120 Garden Green ink Pad - $5.25
- Z2167Creme Brulee ink Pad - $5.25
- E1010 Chocolate Alphabet stamp set - $34.95

Depending on the number of accessories you add, you could earn the March Stamp of the Month for FREE!!

Email me today to schedule a fun afternoon or evening of creativity and girl time or to order a Veranda Workshop kit to do at your leisure.

Jenna_chere@yahoo.com or call 210.264-4025.