Kaitlyn's Crop 2013 Flyer

This is IT.....I have always heard WONDERFUL things about this crop, and this year I AM A VENDOR! Would love to see you there, go sign up NOW.....it WILL fill up FAST!

Getting Started on my CTMH Contest Album 2013

Well....it's that time of the year again.  According to my CTMH convention countdown clock over there on my right side bar CONVENTION IS IN JUST 43 DAYS!!!

Each year CTMH has an ALBUM CONTEST for those attending convention.  Last year (at my first convention) 

I decided to make an album to enter.  I made the decision at pretty much the last minute and spent the two weeks 

before I left for Dallas scrapping till the wee hours of the morning.  

It was SOOO worth it, I made it into the finalist and had my album displayed "in the room"......

but even better, in the finished product, I have an album that I lovingly began referring to as "my labor of love".   I truly believe will be THE ONE that my children fight over someday!

This is the link to my 2012 Album "The Stars Shine Bright"

Well.....Here we go again!  43 DAYS!  and I haven't gotten past the planning stages yet.  I actually have ideas for TWO different albums floating around in my brain and can't decide on which one.   I want to focus more closely on the RULES while I'm working on this year's "labor of love"

THIS is where you come in my dear bloggy friends!  Take a look at my album from 2012 and let me know what YOU think I need to improve upon and keep in mind during the creation of my 2013 entry.  The RULES (I copy & pasted the rules below) were very similar to this year, the only difference being that last year the theme was "Stars".

With all that being said....if I am MIA a bit during the next 43 DAYS....

well that's because I will be staying off the computer and 

“VIVA!” Album Contest

With the theme “VIVA!”, we are looking for albums that embrace the theme of “LIVE” in unique ways. How you translate that theme onto your pages is completely up to you!The album contest is a fantastic way to document memories and challenge your creativity all while being recognized, and possibly rewarded, for your efforts.

There are no specific components for each layout; however, we will be judging the albums on their creative interpretation of the theme through titling, journaling, photography, and unique use of product.

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RULES

• Create 5 two-page 12" × 12" layouts.
• Use Close To My Heart products. No products from other scrapbooking, stamping, or craft companies will be permitted. Exceptions will include found objects (fabrics, zippers, office supplies, etc.) Please note that if it is something Close To My Heart carries (buttons, ribbons, etc.) you will be required to use our product over others on the market.
• You do not need to send your album to Close to My Heart, unless you prefer that we bring your album to Convention. Albums can be submitted onsite and must be turned in to the Information Booth no later than 7:00pm on Wednesday, June 26, 2013. You must submit the actual layouts (no electronic submissions). If you choose to send your layouts to the corporate office, submissions must be postmarked by Monday, June 3, 2013. Mail your entry to:
  Close To My Heart
  Album Contest
  1199 West 700 South
  Pleasant Grove, UT 84062
• Layout patterns can be your own creation; however, it is not required. All patterns from Cherish™, Imagine™, Reflections® and Magic™ are welcome.
• In order to enter the contest, you must be registered for Convention 2013, and you must be present to win.

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AREAS OF FOCUS

• Photography: quality photos (lighting, contrast, focus, etc.)
• Journaling: all layouts must include some form of journaling
• Creative techniques: unique uses of Close To My Heart products
• Color: unique color combinations and color coordination between photos, papers, and embellishments

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PRIZES

The top 5 albums will be on display for Consultants to judge at Convention. Close To My Heart will award 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners. A Consultants’ Choice prize will also be awarded. (Consultants’ Choice winner may also be one of the prize winners.) Winners will be announced at Convention. You must be present to win. Products awarded will be determined and selected by Close To My Heart

1ST PLACE

Close To My Heart products valued at
$1,250 US

2ND PLACE

Close To My Heart products valued at
$750 US

3RD PLACE

Close To My Heart products valued at
$300 US

CONSULTANTS’ CHOICE

$500 US cash

Of course the ultimate goal is to win one of those prizes but my personal goal is to meet the challenge of
1. Finishing an album I will cherish
2. I'd REALLY like to make it "into the room" again!

Participating in the "Anything Goes Linky Party" at Sew Crafty Angel
Linking to Fluster's Creative Muster #20
Oh What a HAPPY Day Link Party! @ Not Done Growing
Pimp-Out/Showcase Hop!!! @ Deezy Does It!

Sending Love on Mother's Day

 I sit here curled up with my cup of coffee in the early hours of this Sunday morning.  This is nothing different, I'm an early riser and my family are NOT!  I genuinely enjoy this quite time with just me and Kiki the dog 

(no, Kiki you can NOT drink from my coffee cup!)

First up this morning I pull up bloglovin' and catch up on what all my favorite bloggers have been posting.  

OH!  that's right it's Mother's Day, "Need to call Mom, but it's still WAY too early".

You see, 16 years ago I was blessed to bring a baby girl home from the hospital ON MOTHER'S DAY SUNDAY.  

On that Sunday afternoon I brought home this bundle (dressed in yellow gymboree) and

 "I loved her, and cuddled her, and hugged her, and I called her George"

just kidding, I called her MADISON

and since that day "Mother's Day" has kinda taken a back seat to celebrating MADISON....

even when her birthday doesn't land ON that Sunday we usually end up celebrating on the weekend rather than on the weekday...and THAT is just perfect with me.

Then I go to link up with my favorite Sunday morning linky party at Cuddlebug Cuties....

hmmm nothing up yet.  So, I swing by Sew Crafty Angel's and decide to link up with her everything

 goes party from earlier in the week.  THAT is where I discovered

 Pimp-Out/Showcase Hop!!! Brought to you by Deezy Does It!  

After linking up there I went off to explore some of the other blogs and stumbled upon http://menopausalmother.blogspot.com/  I must say it was the title that made me visit,

 but her May 10th blog entry "Stop All The Clocks" left me in tears and longing to reach out to 

my mama, my sister, my dearest friends.....

well just EVERYONE that has touched my life & my heart and to

LET THEM KNOW just how very much the mean to me! 

Still too early for phone calls so I came here to write up this post because all of you, my growing audience of blog followers.  

I want YOU to know how much you mean to me.  

This blog began as  I was searching for "my next door in life" when my world fell out from under me 

(ok, it was a chair....but it DID turn my world upside down and start me on a new path).  

Today finds me with barely a foot in "that door" but I am slowly inching it open a bit more each day....

I can reach hand through and wave wildly....and I can peek through to the other side....

WOW!  more "forks in the road".

Kaitlyn's Promise Crop 2013

Memorial Crop 2013

There is only 2.5 months until Kaitlyn's Crop 2013

Please forward this to ALL of your scrappin' friends and family and if they list YOU as the person that told them about the crop then BOTH of you get a free raffle ticket !!!!

Kaitlyn's Crop 2013 Registration

24 hours of Scrappin' Fun

Friday July 26 2013
12pm to Midnight

Saturday July 27 2013
9am - 9pm

Lonestar Convention Center
Conroe TX

$100 for the weekend

Includes:
6ft table with electricity
Internet Access
4 meals
Unlimited Soda and Water
FULL Candy Bar
World Famous Sundae Bar

Goodie Bag filled with the latest and greatest

Make N Takes all weekend 

($5.00 will cover ALL of the make n takes for the entire time)

Close to My Heart Consultant Carolyn Burch

will be here both days with a 12 x 12 layout make n take along with Cricut demos and other projects using rolled flowers.

Carolyn's Web Page

Stampin’ Up Consultant Adriana Chicken 

will also be here both days also with beautiful cards for the  make n take

Adriana's Web Page

Make N Take Charge $5 for ALL of them !!!

Full store set up by Jennifer Stewart

Chair Massages, Photo Booth, and more surprises to make this weekend one you won’t soon forget


And LOTS AND LOTS of fabulous raffle prizes !!!

-- 

"There is a choice you make in everything you do. In the end, the choice you make, makes you." ~Author Unknown

When the world says, "Give up," Hope whispers, "Try it one more time." -unknown

Kaitlyn's Promise

I will be a vendor at this event along with a couple of my CTMH sister consultants.  I will be posting our make N take soon.  We will have a full booth with a variety of CTMH items for sale in addition to Custom ready to make kits.  

I have always heard wonderful things about "Kaitlyn's Crop" but it never seemed to work out for me to attend.  When my dear friend Cheri Vallery contacted me several months ago and asked if I would be interested in vendoring for her I immediately put it on my calendar. 

Please take a moment to visit the Kaitlyin's Promise website and then grab a young person that you love and hug them VERY tightly.  And THEN clear your calendar, make your plans, and sign up to be a part of this wonderful weekend.....even better, bring that someone you love with you.

TIME TO CELEBRATE

Today is Wednesday, May 8, 2013

and YES it is "Party Time" in SOOO very many ways. 

 

My beautiful daughter Madison turns 16 today

My oh my WHERE has the time gone?  She is a joy.  Quirky & funny, with a quick dry wit, and oh so brilliant....it is so inspiring to watch as she chooses which path in life to take.

I am celebrating my "Gave Birth Day"

Don't you just LOVE that term?  A dear friend introduced me to the concept a few years ago.   Since then I have never spent the birthday of a child sad & blue but instead celebrating & rejoycing 

Today is Fluster's Creative Muster Linky Party

In honor of Madison I am going to feature this layout which I just finished over the weekend as part of the Big Picture Classes National Scrapbook Day Challenges.  I entered this one in these challenges:

CHALLENGE #4:
Use a sketch to create a multiple-photo layout.   They provided us with this sketch

CHALLENGE #6:
Instead of falling back on your usual techniques and supplies, take a creative hike and try to mix up your next project I created the title in WORD instead of using the cricut or pazzles like I normally do....and all that white (yellow) space....just feels kinda naked....but hey, I'm TRYING to scrap outside of the box!

THIS IS THE LAYOUT I CAME UP WITH

I hope you all find something YOU can celebrate in life today

Gonna Kiss Me?

Well....I have been scrapping almost NON-STOP since my post about National Scrapbook Day yesterday I DID join in on the fun over at Big Picture Classes.  

We were given a new challenge every hour on the hour for TEN HOURS!!!!  We have till tomorrow night midnight Texas time to get finished and upload the layouts to the appropriate galleries.   

For those of you that know me wanna guess how many layouts I've gotten done so far?  

• THREE traditional double layouts (one still needs old pictures)
• ONE single page digital 
• ONE "I challenge" project  

I'm still scrapping but wanted to share this one....I am REALLY happy with this one, it was for Challenge #5.  We were given a sketch to work from (I stuck PRETTY close to it just flipped the title & the journalling strips), and told to scrap about someone we love....this is what I came up with

It may be hard to see on the screen but the journaling ON the pictures was done in PicMonkey, it's the lyrics to the country song "Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or What?"

I doubled up a bit and submitted this layout in two more challenges also:

• Challenge #8 - use arrows on your journaling (I did it digitally to point to the ring)
• Challenge #9 - journal using your own handwriting....ok, still think it would look NEATER with computer journaling :-)

Wednesday's Linky Party

Today  I am featuring the March layout from 
my "Dotty 4 You - Year In Review"

 at this linky party

Won't you join me?