Eloise the Ballerina

OK so Eloise is finally gaining confidence!  She not only begged to go to ballet class and loves every week but she was brave enough to dance at half time at a local middle school last week.she is the 2nd on the left.  Bippity Bopppity Boo!
How can you watch this and not smile?
Merry Christmas all you sugar plum fairies out there!

Pinterest...Oh, what can I say?!

OK so during last week's blog spying I read several posts that mentioned www.pinterest.com and I had to check it out.  Set a timer people!  You must have a reminder to find your way out of this wonderful site!  The pictures and ideas are so much fun to see and FUNNY! 

Anywho...I found this idea there (it looked much cooler on their picture but I THINK I like what I came up with.)

This is a fun project!  I hot glued crayons in rainbow-ish order onto the side of a display board then propped an artboard directly under the crayons.  Next I heated the crayons with the heat tool. 
The crayons melt down the canvas and create a cool water-like effect.  (When I try again I will peel the crayons first...the pinterest person said to do that but I was lazy.) :)
I put the Fleur de Lis (sp?) on before AND after the crayon.  Meaning I placed them on the canvas before I melted the crayon then layered another black set on the top of the crayon, finally I added the white smaller cardstock pieces on top.  I would suggest that you ink the edges of the dark cardstock in White Daisy or Vanilla Cream Ink and the white in your favorite color for more definition.  I worked on this in the middle of the night and was really cutting corners! 

Here are the pix of the process:

To do this project you will need:
Canvas or Art Board
Crayons of your choice
Hot glue and Hot Glue gun
box or display board
Images from Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge
Inks to match your project
Liquid Glass (Or other permanent liquid glue)
Heat Tool
Frame

Hope you find this inspiring.  Have fun with crayons!

Christmas Cards 2011

I used retired paper, I think it is called Heritage but I don't know if it was in the right package or not...before my time as a CTMH consultant!


I used the October Stamp of the Month and the Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge...email me if you need sizes for the Cricut. :)

The patterns are from the Wishes how to book: Any Occassion Card Workshop (on page 68).  I LOVE the how to books...I don't have to have a designer's eye to create balanced cards and layouts! 

Hope you enjoy these...I am well on my way to use my stash!  I am enjoying the Cricut Cartridge (Art Philosophy) and using the paper stash makes it fun to get creative with "old" stuff. :)  Now I am just chomping at the bit to get the next CTMH catalog!!!

(Sneak peek at a new product coming later this week.)

Blog Spying

I have been home today with sick munchkins...let's hope that this will mean no illness on Christmas this year! Wash your hands everyone, wash your hands! How many times do we need to say this to our little ones. Yikes.

Anyway, back to my spying adventure. Because we had a lazy, pajama day, I have been blog spying. I found some unbelievable artwork out there and so much inspiring work. I love to see how different the look of everyone's art is using the same products.

You can see some the work I have spy-ed by clicking over to the blogs on my blog list to the left.

Now that the kids are feeling better I have to get back to my referee work. :)
Happy hopping, blog hopping that is.
Amy

Why is everyone so nuts about paper?!

Take a few minutes to learn how I got hooked and why you might like to give this hobby or business a try.

Listen to internet radio with Sharon Michaels on Blog Talk Radio

Santa!

Here are the cutest faces we have ever seen with Santa! Typically the kids look terrified...last year Santa had to sit on the floor next to Eloise and Oliver to get a photo. This year big smiles and a nice long conversation about the Christmas Gift Wishlist. Sooooo cute and we got a digital copy so I can make pages with Studio J. Thanks Santa!
Ho HO HOOOO!

This is a repost of a blog that I love to read. Sharon has some terrific ideas for business owners. This idea just fits so well with memory record keeping and memory books that I can't resist posting it here.
Enjoy!

Creating Holiday Traditions
11/12/2011 – 4:48 am

Are you ready to create your own special and memorable holiday tradition – one that will create memories not only for you but, for generations to come?
I know personally that the older I become, the more I’m interested in preserving “traditions.” I want to create some special traditions others will remember and may be even want to carry on by adding their own special touches. Honestly, who doesn’t want to leave a positive memory or legacy for future generations?

Here are a few ideas I have and please let me know what you think:

1. Begin a yearly holiday journal. In your journal you can write about the weather on that particular holiday, how you chose to celebrate it, how you’ve celebrated the same holiday in the past, the people who celebrated with you and the meaning of the holiday to you and your family. Be sure to include pictures and other memorabilia that will assist future generations in “reliving” this holiday through your eyes. Something to consider would be to begin a video or audio holiday journal also.

2. Write a holiday family history memoir. Begin a collection of family stories from holidays gone by. These could be stories you heard relatives sharing in years past and stories you remember from your childhood. A holiday memoir can prove to be a wonderful way to preserve your family history. Be sure to include photos, a video or other memorabilia if you have some.

3. Begin a holiday “time capsule.” Collect items from each holiday during an entire year and place them each in your time capsule. The items can be a favorite greeting card or photo, a special ornament or souvenir, a timely story out of the newspaper or off the Internet, a popular book or anything else you believe represents the celebrations for that year. This could become a great activity to share with children. Show them how to pass down the tradition and they too can begin leaving a legacy for future generations.

I heard of other traditions such as: The family gathering to cook and bake together the weekend before a major holiday, or making a personalized quilt for a new baby, or having a family reunion on a specific holiday each year.

Creating a new holiday tradition for friends and family is only limited by your own imagination – have fun and leave a legacy!

Leave us a comment or suggestion and we’ll start a new tradition along with you.



Copyright © 2011 Sharon Michaels – All Rights Reserved
Want to reprint this post “as is” on your blog or in your newsletter?

You may do so as long as this entire resource box is also included:

I’m Sharon Michaels.com and my business is dedicated to empowering and coaching women in business.

I invite you to subscribe to my free weekly Ezine, http://unlimitedsuccessforwomen.com because in just minutes a week I can show you how to successfully grow yourself and your business, make more money and have more time to enjoy your life!

By sharonmichaels | Posted in To Share | Tagged Holiday Traditions, Sharon Michaels | Comments (0)

Creative Ideas for the Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge and the Workshop on the Go

I am waiting for my Dreamin' Workshop on the Go Kit to arrive. The waiting is the hardest part...as the song goes. :)

Remember these ideas can also be used with any of the how to books and the stamp sets you already own! Email me a photo of your adapted layout and leave a comment. I will send a set of Chipboard Snowflakes to one lucky creative agent!

Happy Creating.
Amy

An American Girl

Eloise, GG and I all had fun in Chicago this September. It was our first (certainly not last) visit to the American Girl Store. After browsing the shelves, windows and both levels Eloise decided upon Julie, the 1970's doll. She now lives in a cool canopy bed complete with foot-shaped rug in Eloise's room. She also has a change of clothes. Thank you to GG and Grandpa for the cool digs and gorgeous doll. We all had a blast and I highly recommend a visit if you can swing it!

Here are the fun pix from the hotel to the lunch...

New Meetup In Delafield, WI

Okey Dokey Artichokey! We are meeting in Delafield to make cards and drink coffee beverages Thursday, Nov. 3rd. Hope you can check out the new meetup group and sign up. The one person who RSVP'd already is receiving a nice gift at the event because she is the FIRST member to RSVP. How fun is that?! Of course there are more prizes in store and I hope to be able to post some pix from the event.

Now, my newest brainstorm of Creativity: What do you do with the free .jpgs you download from Studio J? Of course I have my photos stored on a backup hard drive (had the hard drive for a year and "backed up" the photo files last week, yikes) and of course I have the printed version in an album, however, isn't there MORE that can be done with these awesome pages?!

Yes, I recently ordered some 6 X 6 prints of the pages from www.winkflash.com and now anxiously await their arrival. The plan is to put these prints into a 6 X 6 album for family and friends for Christmas. The prints are only $.89ea. so for less than $20 I can make a 10 page album (using the new mini albums from CTMH). Still waiting for the album but am excited to get the pix posted once they arrive.

In the meantime enjoy this how to video from CTMH: ">Thanksgiving Card

Moving and Other Chaos

We made it to Wisconsin at the end of August...just in time to get back to school. I think I forgot to pack my brain!

My heart goes out to all of you who move your families frequently. There is no way that this impossibly big job gets easier with each move.

I finally have my memory keeping and craft supplies unpacked and reorganized. Woo hoo! As soon as I can I will post some new projects, in the meantime enjoy this video on how to make these cute projects with buttons and bling:

Welcome New Agents!

Here is our new spot for sharing ideas and WINNING prizes!

The new Idea Book will be officially released tomorrow, here in southern Arizona we will celebrate the launch of the new Close to my Heart product line on Tuesday, August 9th email me or leave a comment requesting directions. Time and Location will be revealed to those with the codeword: "Cricut"

Yes, that's right! Shhhhh...it's top secret until tomorrow.

I'll post some pictures of the prizes when I feel it is safe to do so. Share this information with only those you trust.

Welcome to all the new Creative Intelligence Agents out there and keep coming back for more intel.

Agent Amy