Memorial Day Weekend

I hope everyone had a terrific holiday weekend. I am thankful to our military for protecting us and helping to ensure our freedom now and forever. They make sacrifices everyday to keep us safe.

I am so proud to have Grandfathers that served in World War II, and a Father-In-Law that served in Vietnam. My husband's Grandpa was at Pearl Harbor at the time of the Japanese air-strike. He is one of the most amazing men you will ever meet. One of my favorite stories that he shared with me was that when he came home from Hawaii, he brought home a little grass skirt for his baby girl. How cute is that?!

Sunday, I hosted my first workshop gathering to make 12 celebration cards. We had a wonderful time, and I want to take a moment to tell my friends thank you for attending. Your support means so much to me; I'm truly humbled. It didn't take long for the amateur cardmakers to catch on and keep right up with the experienced cardmakers. I saw a few tweaks on my designs and was thrilled. It's amazing how you can take one card sketch and change it up a little and it looks completely different. And I know when these ladies send the cards out, they can be proud to say they made them.

Yesterday, I spent the day cutting papers for the upcoming Fanfare scrapbook workshop. Well, I just couldn't help myself, and decided to add 2 extra layouts to the workshop. If time allows, we will be creating 12 pages total. There are still enough scraps leftover for the ladies to take home and make a few cards with, if they so choose.

Last night, my daughter came in to see what I was working on, and her favorite thing to tell me is "Great job, Mama! Beautiful!" She's very supportive and encouraging even at just 3 years of age. Love that silly girl. :)

My son summed up the weekend best, last night, when he said "Daddy! Didn't we have the most awesomemest weekend ever?!"

It looks like a beautiful day outside in sunny, Northern Michigan, and perhaps the official start of Summer! Have a wonderful day!

Casandra

Dinosaur Birthday Invitations

For those of you who do not already know this, my little boy is crazy about dinosaurs. On Friday, after the show "Dino Dan" finished, Jack came over to me and said "I can pronounce all the dinosaur names, like brachiosaurus, tyrannosaurus rex and dromaeosaurus". He is not quite 5 years old. LOL Don't ya just love it?!

To celebrate Jack's love of dinosaurs, my awesome friend Dawn tracked down a retired dinosaur stamp set from Close To My Heart. Last night, I finished up Jack's birthday invitations, and he personally approved them. :)

So without further adieu, here they are:

Aren't they cute? The iside of the cards read:

You're Invited to a Dino-Mite Birthday Party!

Jack-O-Saurus is turning 5.

Makes tracks to (Place)

(Date and Time)

for Dino-Cake, fun and games.

Don't be extinct! R.S.V.P. to the prehistoric parents:

(Phone or E-Mail Address)

Now, here is a list of the products used:

Dino Roar stamp set
Cherish the Moment stamp set
Twitterpated Level 2 Paper
Chocolate and Sorbet Ribbon
Chocolate and Sweet Leaf Ink
Green, Orange and Chocolate Brads

Hope your day is dyno-rific!

Casandra



Fanfare Workshop

As previously promised, I now have the Fanfare scrapbook pages ready for you to preview. Because I completed these pages back in March, the last 2 pages already have pictures on them.

I will have your pages precut and ready for assembly. Buttons will be threaded and we will use glue dots to adhere them to save you time. (Sewing the buttons on my own pages took close to 2 hours.) One more note to pass along, I do not own the alphabet stamp pictured on the first 4 pages, so we will improvise with a different alphabet stamp set. Thank you for understanding. :)
These pages are so fun and can be used for any celebration theme, Summer, holiday, etc. As you can see from Pages 7 and 8, I used them for Jack's preschool Valentine's Day party. Psst. If you ever go to St. Francis Credit Union and can't figure out why they are out of suckers, hehe, this is why. LOL

Can't wait to teach you how to make these pages faster, simpler and easier!

Casandra

Bliss Wedding Cards

This morning, I finished up the wedding cards for the Celebration Card Workshop. Here they are:

My personal favorite is Card #3 "Hand in Hand Together". I used the Bliss Workshop On The Go Kit to create them. For just $29.95 plus shipping and tax, you get a Level 2 Paper Pack, Irresistables Villa Chipboard Die-Cuts, Workshop Guide, and Workshop Stamp to complete your scrapbook pages or cards.

Workshop On The Go kits really are the best value. With the addition of inks, blocks and cleaner, you can complete these projects at home or with me at a workshop.

So, here you have the final 3 cards for the Celebration Card Workshop being hosted tomorrow at 1pm. Can't wait to see you there!

Casandra

Baby Love

I am so excited to share the baby cards that I created this past weekend. My BFF asked me to make four cards for families that were expecting babies soon. I was happy to do this for her; she has always been so supportive and helpful to me and my family. Love you, girl!

It really wasn't a hardship to finally use my favorite new stamp set "Baby Love". LOL

Hehe, she hasn't even seen them yet! You get the first peek. Shh. :)

For 3 of the cards, I used paper scraps from last year's Miracle kit (May, 2010 National Scrapbooking Month Promotion). The 4th card was created using the DCWV and Debbie Mumm paper I had laying around. I did a lot of handsewing while watching the Celebrity Apprentice and Dancing With the Stars Finales.

What do you think? Would love to hear your comments.

Psst. I don't handle rejection well. LOL

Have a great day!

Casandra

Sneak Peek of Celebration Cards

I spent Friday and Saturday creating these cards for the celebration card workshop I will be hosting on Sunday, May 29th, from 1pm to 4pm.

Father's Day Cards

 Graduation Cards

 Birthday Cards

I can't wait to show you how to make these cards! I have 5 sets precut, some of the paper-piecings have been prestamped and trimmed out to save you time, as well. I have 3 confirmed guests so far, but can fit as many as 6. I would just ask that you give me at least a day's notice in case I need to make more.

I am awaiting my Bliss Workshop kit, and will be making those cards in the upcoming days so that we will be ready to go on Sunday! Stay tuned....

You will be doing some stamping, adhering papers to cardbases, attaching embellishments and maybe even some coloring! :) I hope you will join me at my first-ever card workshop. I would love to show you how you can make cards faster, simpler and easier!

Casandra

Psst: Featured paper packs are Emporium, Wings, Sophia, Fanfare, and Mayberry



Caboodle Thinking of You Card

Caboodle was another one of those paper packs that took me a while to warm up to. But the fun patterns and colors won me over. And before I knew it, I just had to have 2 Caboodle paper packs.

Last Summer, I checked out guide lines for submitting a card to PaperCrafts Magazine. I used their Go-To Sketch. This card never made the cut, but I am happy with the results.

I used our Dimensional Elements "Booksmart" for the chipboard sentiment border, and sponged it with sorbet ink. I love my TLC stamp set. Some blue brads and sweet leaf ribbon add just the right touch to this simple but fun card.

I think I'm ready for Summer! Have a beachy keen day!

Casandra

Passages Cards

I was not originally a fan of the Passages kit. It didn't have the happy colors that I like to see in a paper pack. I wasn't going to create the layouts, but after seeing some nice artwork that featured Passages, I was hooked.

This is one of those paper packs that is perfect for masculine-themed projects. Below is a card that would be perfect for just about any occasion.

I used mostly products from the Passages Workshop on the Go Kit, added in some colonial white cardstock, added some fun stitching and french knots and a little bit of DCWV textured cardstock that I have had forever.

The card shown above was created using an example shown in the Summer 2010 Idea Book. Passages has been retired, but I thought I would share them with you anyway. Maybe they will provide you with some inspiration for graduation cards or for that teenager that's just getting their driver's license. What a thrill!

Have a wonderful day!

Casandra

Magnifique Cards

Here are some cards that I made recently using November's A Little Thanks SOTM set and scraps from the Magnifique paper kit. I made all of these cards in 2 hours. Cards are a great way to use up your small leftover paper scraps.

More cards made using Magnifique scraps, Piece of Cake stamp set, Card Chatter-Birthday stamp set, Ice Crystals stamp set, A Sip stamp set, The Present stamp set, and Snow Flurries stamp set.

These cards are a great example of how you can stretch your dollars using Close To My Heart's paper packs, with a little added cardstock. Our how-to-programs make it faster, simplier and easier.

A Little TLC Card

Here is a card that I made using products that I had on hand after looking through a PaperCrafts Magazine last year.

I was so happy to use up more scraps that I had laying around. The yellow ribbon came off a baby shower gift that I had received years ago. I love the reduce, reuse, recycle idea when it comes to cardmaking.

This card showcases Close To My Heart's TLC stamp set and Liquid Glass adhesive. The rain drops have that shiny, raised surface thanks to the Liquid Glass. It's a genius product and a small bottle lasts forever.

Hope your day is filled with sunshine. Blessings.

Casandra

Celebration Card Workshop

Please join me for a cardmaking workshop at my home. We will be creating 12 cards total.

• (3) Graduation Cards
• (3) Father's Day Cards
• (3) Birthday Cards
• (3) Wedding Cards

Cost for this workshop is $18.00. It will include all materials necessary to complete 12 cards, with envelopes, for just $1.50 per card. Payment is due at time of workshop. Please R.S.V.P. by Thursday, May 26th. This will allow me enough time to have materials ready.



Birthday Card Examples showcasing Fanfare:

Wedding Card Examples showcasing Bliss:

I will be using some retired paper packs from my inventory to create the Father's Day and Graduation Cards.

The date of the celebration cards workshop will be Sunday, May 29th, from 1pm to 4pm. We may finish early. Hope to see you there!

If for some reason, you are unable to attend, or would rather purchase the cards pre-made, please contact me, and we can discuss your options. Thank you!

Casandra

Just earned my Bachelor's Degree

I'm so excited, and just had to share this fun news with you...I just earned my Bachelor's Degree with Close To My Heart!

When you sign up to be a consultant with Close To My Heart, they don't just leave you to your own devices, they help you achieve success by educating yourself through on-line business and creative courses. I have spent the last 2 weeks working on this in my spare time and taking tons of notes.

My consultant friend that I signed up through has been so supportive and helpful through it all. If you think this might be an opportunity you would like to hear more about, please don't hesitate to contact me for more information.

Believe me, I didn't just jump into this decision.... In fact, I spent the past 2 years using the products and building new friendships that I will cherish forever. When this month's sign-up offer came up, I knew it was time to quit thinking about it and just do it.

Thanks for stopping by and reading my story.

Casandra

May Stamp of the Month Set

Since many of my customers are new to Close To My Heart, I wanted to share with you a wonderful opportunity to purchase May's stamp of the month set at a discounted price, or even FREE. See picture below for an idea of what "Chairs To You" stamp set features:

Here's how the stamp of the month program works:

If you purchase $25.00 in Close To My Heart product in the month of May, you can get "Chairs to You" at a discount of 25% off. If you purchase $50.00 in Close To My Heart product in the month of May, you can get this set for 50% off. Purchase $75.00 in product, and you get this set for 75% off. A purchase of $100 or more, in one order, during the month of May, you will get this set for FREE!

Full retail price of stamp set is $22.95.

We offer this promotion every month, and this is a great way to stock up your stamp inventory. I believe I have about 20 stamp sets that were purchased just this way. Check back June 1st to see what stamp of the month will be featured then, or check out the idea book on-line, Page 132.

I look forward to teaching you the wonderful possibilities of crafting that we offer at Close To My Heart. Thank you so much!

Casandra

Free Crop Night

Hello, again! I'm thinking of hosting a free crop night at my home on Friday, June 3, 2011. I would love to have you join me. I have room for 5 people comfortably at my kitchen table and bar area, and would provide a few snacks. It would be from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

If you are interested in attending, please r.s.v.p. to 231-537-2900, or e-mail me at casandrab1976@yahoo.com.

A few details regarding this crop are listed below:

• Bring your own beverage
• Bring your own products to crop with
• I will have a few sample layouts precut, available for purchase.
• I will share stamps, inks and cleaner with you, from my own stash.

I thought this would be a fun get-together for the beginner, intermediate or experienced scrapper. Hope to see you there!

Casandra

Mayberry Sympathy Card

I made this card for PaperCrafts Magazine as part of the Go-To-Sketches for the November/December 2011 issue. Unfortunately, it was not accepted. But I think it's some of my best work, so after an initial feeling of disappointment, I will look at the bright side. I can share it on my blog for you to see.

• Mayberry Level 2 Paper
• Sorbet and White Daisy Cardstock
• Fill In The Blank Stamp Set
• Card Chatter-Sympathy Stamp Set
• Cocoa Ribbon
• Cocoa Ink
• Mocha Opaque
• Chocolate Embroidery Floss
• Paper Piercing Kit
• Martha Stewart Doily Lace Border Punch
• Stampin' Up Ticket Punch

I hope you like my card as much as my family does. My daughter saw it and said "Beautiful! Great job, Mommy!" She just turned 3...her opinion is one that matters the most. :) God bless, and hope you have a wonderful weekend!

We'll be headed out soon to go camping....

Class Album Scrapbook Page

My son graduated preschool yesterday, and as a thank you to the teacher and assistant teachers, I made each one a scrapbook page. They will be able to add the 8x10 class picture from Lifetouch.

A list of products used include:

• Emporium Level 2 Paper (Retired)
• Bohemian Alphabet Stamp Set
• Friendship Small Alphabet Stamp Set
• You and Me Stamp Set
• Chocolate Ink
• Reflections How-To-Program

Preschool Graduate

Today, my son graduated preschool. I am so proud of him.

He is the most amazing boy that I have ever known, and I am not just saying that because he is my son. We are so blessed to have this child as part of our family. He smiles all the time, and when he laughs, he laughs all the way to his toes.

At the time that he received his preschool diploma, the teacher said that he will be a paleontologist when he grows up. She couldn't pronounce the long-necked dinosaur in class, the other day, during dinosaur week, so Jack told her what it was. LOL For those of you that don't know what a long-necked dinosaur is called, it is "Brachiosaurus". Jackson can pronounce it perfectly, and proudly told the graduation audience so today. He is 4 years old. :)

We will miss the teachers so much, and hope to see them again when Izzy has her turn in preschool. They are amazing people, and we cannot believe what a difference they have made in our lives. Our family is truly blessed to know them.

I am now the mom of a preschool graduate. I don't know where the time has gone....

Hooligans Birthday Card

Here is the card that I made for my niece, Marie. She turns 17 today. Her favorite color has been purple for as long as I can remember. I wanted to make something extra special for her. I can still remember the day she was born. I had an eye doctor's appointment and was out of school for that morning. I had heard that my cousin was in the hospital having her baby. So before I returned to school, I decided to check in at the hospital in the hopes of seeing my new baby cousin.

Before I continue with this story, I should explain how it is that this young lady is my cousin, as well as my niece. LOL My cousin Karon, Marie's mother, was married to my brother-in-law. So I am both 2nd cousin, as well as Aunt to this beautiful young lady. People always look at me funny when I call her niece-cousin. Inside family joke. She likes to call me "Aunt-cousin".

So anyways, back to the rest of the story. When I went to check on mother and baby, my cousin asked me "Isn't my baby beautiful?" Being the jokester that I am, and 17 myself at the time, I replied "No; she's kind of red and pruny...I'm kidding...she's beautiful!"

Marie, your mama would be so proud of you. You are incredibly gifted and beautiful. I hope you like your birthday card, princess.

Now, for a few details about this card:

• Hooligans Level 2 Paper
• Lagoon, Black and White Daisy Cardstock
• Purple "Tie-Dye" Paper from Jo-Ann Fabric's (Oldie but goodie)
• Card Chatter-Birthday Stamp Set
• Fill-In-The-Blank Stamp Set
• Gypsy Ink
• Fancy Pants PomPom Ribbon
• Neutral Embroidery Floss
• Paper Piercing Kit
• Wishes How-To-Program

Hope your day is special.

Hugs,

Casandra

You Rock!

I love this card! I found inspiration in the Summer 2010 Close To My Heart Idea Book. It originally was a 5x7 card, but I downsized it to a standard 4 1/4 x 5 1/2.

I am uploading this one today because it feels so appropriate to my life. My dd just turned 3 and she is a little mischief maker. I usually smile afterwards at something naughty she has done. I know I will miss these days when she becomes a teenager. :)

Here is a list of products used to make this cute card:

• You Rock Level 2 Paper (Retired)
• White Daisy, Chocolate and Yellow Cardstock
• It's A Zoo Stamp Set
• Creme Brulee Ribbon
• Glue Dots
• Chocolate, Olive and Creme Brulee Inks
• Chocolate Watercolor Pencil

Here are a couple of cards that I made using up some leftover scraps. That is what I love about being a papercrafter. I will confess that it is hard for me to throw scraps away. I used one of our workshop on the go kits last year and decided that I would see just how far I could stretch my dollars. I think I ended up with 16 scrapbook pages (or 8 layouts), and something like 59 cards. Of course, I did add in additional cardstock, but I was able to use every last scrap. For really tiny pieces, I even took some old craft punches and punched out tiny hearts to embellish with for later use. 

Our How-To-Programs make this so much easier to do. Just like our slogan says, we make it "Faster. Simpler. Easier."

Here is a list of products used for the 2 cards pictured above:

• You Rock Level 2 Paper (Retired)
• White Daisy and Goldrush Cardstock
• You Rock WOTG Stamp Set
• TLC Stamp Set
• Pearl Opaques
• White Daisy Sassy Strands
• Clearance Ribbon from Jo-Ann Fabrics
• Outdoor Denim, Olive, Creme Brulee, and Smokey Plum Inks
• Wishes How-To-Program

So I have to share this cute story with you, since it is the inspiration for this blog post.
On the way to school Monday morning, I overheard this conversation: Jack to Izzy "You're going to be totally awesome! With that new bike, you'll be able to ride up hill and that's the best part! In fact, YOU ROCK!" To which Izzy replied "You rock, too! I'm going to ride my bike faster and faster!" LOL

Life is never dull with these 2 kids. Have a happy day!

Daydream and Cupcake Sprinkles Birthday Cards and Invitations

I made this card last year for my daughter's birthday. I found inspiration from an old Close To My Heart idea book. Products used were:

• Daydream Level 2 Paper (Retired)
• Garden Green, Chocolate, and White Daisy Cardstock
• Cupcake Sprinkles Stamp Set
• Piece of Cake Stamp Set
• Blush, Garden Green, Creme Brulee and Chocolate Inks
• Antique Copper Brads
• Scallop Border Punch
• Wishes How-To-Program

It was such a nice birthday...celebrated on Mother's Day (I see a pattern here.) LOL


For that same birthday, I made the following birthday party invitations.

Here are a list of products that were used to create this set:

• DCWV Be Mine Paper
• White, Green & Yellow Cardstock
• Cupcake Sprinkles Stamp Set
• Sassy Strands
• Assorted Ribbon Scraps
• Staples
• Hollyhock, Blush & Chocolate Inks
• Cuttlebug Embossing Folder
• Prisma Glitter and Glue Pen

It is birthday week around the Bennett household. My niece turns 17 on Thursday. I will have to wait until then to showcase her birthday card. :)

I would love to hear your comments. Have a fabulous day!

Casandra

Happy Birthday to my princess!

Today is my baby girl's 3rd birthday. I can't believe how fast time flies by. Yesterday, as we celebrated her birthday party, and sang to her, she shyly looked away and propped her chin on her hands. It was so sweet.

We will be going camping this upcoming weekend, and decided that both kids would get their birthday presents together, in the form of new bicycles. As brother Jack was helping his sister get her helmet on, he was so excited for her that he never even noticed his very own new bicycle. I was able to get a picture of him playing big brother. That is what life is truly all about.

Now, a little bit about the card I made; I found inspiration on Jeanette Lynton's blog a few months ago, and decided to make this cute card for my Izzy.

• Mayberry Level 2 Paper
• Chocolate Cardstock
• Green Buttons Assortment
• Colonial White Mini-Medley Assortment
• Fill In The Blank Stamp Set
• Card Chatter-Birthday Stamp Set
• Colonial White Embroidery Floss
• Chocolate and Olive Inks
• Sanding and Paper Piercing Kits
• Wishes How-To-Program

Hope your Monday is super fabulous! Now, off to get preschooler to class and birthday girl to daycare. Have a blessed day!

Casandra

Sophia Mother's Day Card

Here is a Mother's Day card that I made today using the Sophia Workshop On The Go Kit.
I used the following products:

• Sophia WOTG Kit
• Garden Green Cardstock
• Pearl Opaques
• Pink Embroidery Floss
• Garden Green, Hollyhock and Goldrush Inks
• Paper Piercing Kit
• Corner Rounder
• Originals How-To-Program

I hope my mom will like it. Better get going; I have a Birthday party/Mother's Day party going on this afternoon and need to get busy baking. Hope your Mother's Day is wonderful. Take time to enjoy the things that make you happy.

Hugs,
Casandra

Happy Mother's Day Weekend!

I made this card recently for my MIL. She is really into gardening, these days. I used Close To My Heart's In The Month Of May stamp set, along with the Veranda WOTG stamp set.

Also used, were a few stamps that I had from a year ago made by Stampin' Up. I've never been very fond of rubber stamps, so I bought these sets when they came out with cling stamps. Although, not my favorite type of stamp, I do like these particular verses.

As you can see, I did some hand-stitching, as well. I think this may have been a Verve or Mojo Monday sketch. LOL I've made so many cards in the last few months, it's hard to remember.

Happy Mother's Day weekend to everyone! We will be doubly-blessed here with a birthday party for my baby girl, who was born 2 days before Mother's Day. I was able to bring her home from the hospital on what could only be described as my best Mother's Day ever.

Take time to have someone photograph you with your children, or mother, this weekend. We so often forget to include ourselves in our family pictures. :)

National Scrapbooking Month Promotion

Here is a video featuring our National Scrapbooking Month promotion, Close To My Heart's exclusive You and Me kit. I just received my kit today and can't wait to play with it. My favorite thing about this kit is that it offers something for both boy and girl.

This kit includes:

• My Acrylix You & Me Stamp Set
• 12x12 Colonial White Cardstock (1)
• 12x12 B&T Duos Papers (6)
• 6x9 Irresistables You & Me Chipboard Die-Cut Sheet
• 1 Yard Chocolate Stripe Ribbon
• Opaques Mocha Adhesive Gems

It does not include the following items, but they are suggested to use in conjunction with this kit.

• Z2111 Chocolate Exclusive Inks Pad
• Z2118 Desert Stand Exclusive Inks Pad
• Z2137 Olive Exclusives Inks Pad
• Z2196 Smoothie Exclusives Inks Pad
• Z697 Sponge
• Z1151 Foam Tape

So, if you have about 5 minutes to spare, this is a great video to watch to see what comes in the kit, as well as the finished suggested layouts. If you spend $50 in the month of May, you can get this great kit for just $15. Thanks for stopping by. Have a great day!

Perfect Pinwheels with Miracle WOTG Stamp Set

Oh boy! This was just what I needed to watch in order to make an awesome pinwheel embellishment. These seem to be the latest rage in papercrafting right now and Close To My Heart follows these trends closely. The stamp set featured in this video kind of, well, "dummy-proofed" pinwheels for me. LOL If you have about 3 minutes to spare, this is a great video to watch. Thanks for stopping by. :)

Sophia Easter Layout

This is my most recent finished layout. I used the Magic template book along with the following list of products to create this.

Sophia Level 2 Paper Pack
Heartfelt Treasures Stamp Set
A Hop Stamp Set
Bohemian Alphabet Stamp Set
Notice The Details Stamp Set (2011)
Soul Mates Stamp Set (HAPPY)
Stardust Glitz Glue
Silver Charm (Sweet) Club Connections
Pink Button Assortment
White Embroidery Floss
Pear Mini-Medley's
Pink Sparkles
Green Sparkles
Corner Rounder
Pear, Hollyhock, Blush, Goldrush & Chocolate Inks

I'm new to the blog world.

Good morning and Happy Cinco de Mayo! The sun is shining and it's a beautiful day in Northern Michigan.

I am new to the blogging world, so if anyone has any tips for me on how to achieve the most traffic, etc., I would really appreciate it. I'm currently trying to figure out a way to link this to my Close To My Heart website. I am beginning to believe that the digital world has left me behind. LOL My hubby even has to program my cell phone for me.

I am a new scrapbooking consultant for Close To My Heart. I am so excited about this great opportunity. If you would like to see some of my artwork, or learn more about me, please check out my website: http://www.scrappinbliss.myctmh.com/ . Thanks so much!