From Sharon Michaels' Blog: Controlling my CATTS!

Focusing On What I Can Control – My CATTS

12/27/2011 – 4:40 pm

I’ve decided this coming year I will be more in control of my CATTS – yes, my CATTS. Sometimes I get so caught up in what I can’t control that I lose track of what I have the power to control. I’m making a resolution to myself that during the coming year I will stay focused on what I have the power to control and not stress about those things over which I have no, or very little, control.
I invite you to come join me in controlling the CATTS in your life too.
This year I resolve to control my:
1. C -choices and decisions – I’m resolving to make wiser decisions and choices. I will stop, take a deep breath and think before “I leap.” This coming year I will make the time to weigh the pros and cons of major decisions and make choices that will be of benefit to me personally, professionally and financially. I’ll remember this quotation from Charlotte Bronte, “Look twice before you leap.”
2. A -actions and reactions – I resolve that I will think before I act and/or speak – I will neither act nor speak out of haste or anger. I will act and react from a place of emotional empowerment and will not allow my emotions to control my good sense.
3. T -thoughts – I realize that thoughts become “things” and that I attract to me what I think about most. I resolve to think in terms of solutions and results. I resolve to focus my thoughts and mental energy on what I want to achieve, believing that I can and will make my goals a reality.
4. T -time – I resolve to control my time so my time does not control me. I will say “No” more often to those things that will waste time or are not in my best interest. I resolve also to carve out more quality time to rejuvenate myself in mind, body and spirit because I deserve it!
5. S -self-talk – I resolve to talk to myself with respect and dignity. Berating myself verbally or emotionally is injurious to my self-esteem and weakens my self-confidence. I will be kind and considerate to myself at all times.
How about it – are you going to join me during the coming year and together we will focus on those things over which we have the power to control – our CATTS?

Copyright © 2011 Sharon Michaels – All Rights Reserved

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I’m Sharon Michaels.com and my business is dedicated to empowering and coaching women in business.
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By sharonmichaels|Posted in Achieving Goals, Business Skills, Success Skills, The Power of the Mind, To Share|Tagged belief, goals, New Year's Resolutions, personal success, power of the mind, Sharon Michaels, success tips|Comments (2)

12 pages in less than 4 hours...My Stickease are My Friend :)

WOW!  I LOVE LOVE LOVE My Stickease!!!!!!!

I know that many people think layouts take forever long to create and only hold a few pictures; I am here to remind you that it doesn't have to be that way.  I am not a patient crafter!  (Just ask my friend Nicole.) I love using these stickers because you not only have fast embellishments but pictures of suggested layouts on the reverse side of the backing.  (You can also find the pictures of the layouts online at closetomyheart.com and use the how to books that are suggested on the stickease.)  I just followed the layouts exactly and put the photos on that I liked. (I did change the photo sizes because I only had 4 X 6 photos printed.)

I have Darby to thank for really turning me on to the My Stickease.  I had used them for other projects before but never used them to make the layouts.  One month Darby came to club with the previous month's pages done and 8 additional pages!  I was impressed and she said...I just used the stickers.  Well, that was one big ah ha moment for me.  WHY was I not using those stickers!!! Anyway, I did 4 wedding pages (circa 2003), 4 Oliver baby pages (circa 2004) and 4 winter pages (ARIZONA winter pages circa 2010).  Feeling proud and a little misty after looking at my sweet baby boy.  Here are the finished pages:

After I put the pages together I decided to go ahead and add extra embellishments.  I used some paper flowers, the bliss level 2 assortment, pearls and mocha opaques.  Bliss is no longer available but Wonderland and Dreamin' are available for purchase at my shopping site.  www.cia.myctmh.com  (Sweet home, mistletoe, hooligans and sweetheart stickease are available for $1-$3 in the clearance section for retired product; just click the while supplies tab while shopping at my site.) If you haven't tried my Stickease today is the day!  How can you say no to those clearance prices and speedy yet gorgeous and detailed pages.
happy scrappin'
Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to post your layouts using MyStickease here!

A bag of chips and all that?!

My sweet little girl had a birthday last week and received this clever package in the mail (along with a beautiful tutu bag embroidered with her name).

Well, it's just a shiny envelope you say?!  Oh, don't be fooled by my crafty Aunt Judy...this is no ordinary envelope!

It's a bag of chips!!!!  How cool is that?  Who needs all those expensive Tyvek envelopes now?  Just use the food saver (or shipping tape) to seal the end of that bag of chips after you have turned it inside out.  The perfect way to save money and room in the landfill.

By the way, baby girl LOVES the gift!  Thank you Aunt Jude! I was the nerd that took pictures of the bag it came in!
Happy creating.
Amy

Kathy Skipper created this video showing how to make the Rock the Block into a Magic Cube!

This is such a cool idea!  I can not wait to get this one finished. I'm off to get that red tape. :)



you can see this on her blog at www.kathy-itsagirlthing.blogspot.com

Thank you Kathy for creating such an easy to follow video!
Enjoy everyone.

Rock the Block Available NOW!!!

Sneak Peak, Sneak Peak! When you place a minimum order of $25 from the Autumn/Winter 2011 Idea Book between Now and January 31, 2012, you can get two new products for just $15: the My Creations® Collage Cubes (a Spring/Summer 2012 sneak-peek product! This will retail in the new book for $14.95 so this special is a smokin' deal.) and the exclusive My Acrylix® Rock the Block E-size stamp set (available only during this promotion). That’s a retail savings of almost $30!

You’re going to love the way the collage cubes and the Rock the Block stamp set work together for interactive, 3-D fun. Watch this video to get more details from Kristine Widtfeldt, Vice President of Sales and Marketing.





Order on my website: www.CIA.myctmh.com or contact me if your order will total more than $150 for FREE products!
Everyone who takes advantage of this special will receive a new Spring Catalog from me for FREE. :) Love it!
Enjoy your mission and go create!

Happy New Year!

I love New Year's Day...I guess that makes me an optomist. :)

Please do your best to avoid watching the History Channel and all other gloom and doom programing this year it is depressing and will only lead to negative thinking people!!!!

I suggest making the most of what you have and using up your crafting stash this year in order to make room for the new. 

If you have a project in mind and NEED to get a few accessories, here is a head's up on what will be retired and no longer available from the Close To My Heart Fall 2011 Idea Book (as of February 1st):
pg 124
Colonial White Ribbon collection - Z1126 - $7.95
Cranberry grosgrain ribbon - Z1103 - $6.95
Cocoa grosgrain ribbon - Z1100 - $6.95
Colonial White grosgrain ribbon - Z1102 - $6.95
White Daisy grosgrain ribbon - Z270 - $6.95
Wings Level 2 Assortment - Z1398 - $4.95

pg 125
Embroidery Floss - Red/Pink - Z1092 - $3.25
Embroidery Floss - Green - Z1094 - $3.25
Embroidery Floss - Blue/Purple - Z1093 - $3.25
Embroidery Floss - Neutral - Z1096 - $3.25
Waxy Flax - Cranberry - Z1086 - $3.95
Waxy Flax - Sorbet - Z1249 - $3.95
Waxy Flax - Juniper - Z1248 - $3.95
Waxy Flax - Crystal Blue - Z1247 - $3.95

pg 126
Designer Brads - Colonial White - Z1274 - $3.95
Designer Brads - Pewter - Z1146 - $3.95

pg 127
Mini Medley - Antiqued Copper - Z1275 - $4.95
Mini Medley - Colonial White - Z1276 - $4.95
Foundry Metal - Bookplates - Z1147 - $3.50
Soft Set Eyelets - Black and White Daisy - Z1228 - $3.95
Soft Set Eyelets - Chocolate and Colonial White - Z1229 - $3.95

pg 128
Midnight Felt Shapes - Z1462 - $3.95
Harvest Charms - Z1633 - $4.95
Holiday Packets - Z1486 - $4.95
Top Coats Icing Overlays - Z1468 - $4.95
Lucky Level 2 Assortment - Z1356 - $4.95
Lucky Level 2 Journaling Spots - Z1359 - $3.95
Bliss Level 2 Assortment - Z1355 - $5.95
Sweetheart Level 2 Assortment - Z1386 - $4.95
Fanfare Level 2 Assortment - Z1400 - $4.95
Spring Blossom - Z1266 - $7.95
White Daisy Variety Pack - Z1300 - $5.95

pg 129
Cardstock - Black 8-1/2 x 11 - X1412 - $5.50
Cardstock - Colonial White 8-1/2 x 11 - X1411 - $6.75
Cardstock - White Daisy 8-1/2 x 11 - 1320 - $6.75
Color Ready Alphabets - Oxford - X5749 - $3.95
Color Ready Alphabets - Hodge Podge - X1406 - $3.95

pg 130
Dimensional Elements - On Target - Z1226 - $5.95
Dimensional Elements - Flurry - Z1225 - $4.95

pg 131
My Creations - Board Book - Z1310 - $6.95
My Creations - Journal - Z1268 - $7.95
My Creations - Memory Showcase 9x9 - Z1198 - $5.95

pg 132
Rubber Brayer - Z616 - $12.95

pg 133
Soft Set Eyelet Tool - Z1208 - $14.95
Eyelet Tool Replacement Punches - Z1245 - $2.95

Now this list was compiled by a very patient and diligent soul named Kathleen Caldwell Stoppelmoor and is only being shared by me. :)
Thanks to Kathleen for putting this together!!!!

As a consultant you get to preview new products for a month before the Idea Book is released to CTMH customers and online.  If you are interested in joining the fun and becoming a consultant click here to learn more and read the FAQs.  When you are ready to become a part of the CIA: Creative Intelligence Agents just click here and you will receive all the discounts and fun pre-ordering access you desire. :)

I hope you have fun stocking up on the things you need, using up the things you have and decide to join me and order the latest and greatest from CTMH...Happy New Year!