Yes - it is here and I am ready to share....

The Close To My Heart Spring 2009 Idea Book is here and filled with wonderful new products. It went live on 1/1, but I have been keeping it to myself and I am ready to share. This book is amazing - not only is it filled with great new CTMH products but the artwork, is once again fabulous. If you want to check out the book - you can do so online by visiting my CTMH site.

While you are there, don't forget to take a peak at the fantabulous (ok - so it might not be a word, but I like it) special that CTMH is running in honor of National Papercrafting Month. The gorgeous new Key to My Heart Level 2 paper packet features all of our luscious new exclusive colors: Tulip, Juniper, Sorbet, and Creme Brulee. The packet is accompanied by the awesome new E-size My Acrylix(R) Key to My Heart stamp set brimming with elegant, charming designs. This beautiful combo is available through January 31 OR while supplies last. It can be yours at a substantial savings, or even FREE! You may purchase this gorgeous kit for $47.90; or when you order $75 you may purchase it for just $20; or purchase $130 and you will receive it FREE! You can check out all the details on the home page of my site, just click on the banner underneath the image.

You won't want to miss the January Stamp of the Month either. This great set includes 47 Acrylic Stamps featuring months, dates, years and reminders....enough for years worth of fond memories.

Enjoy! And if you haven't joined the Unity Stamp Co. Hip Hop Thursday Blog Hop today - what are you waiting for? The fabulous DT over at Unity has some great inspiration going on this week (and every week!) - you can join the blog hop by starting here at Angela's Blog...have fun, it is my Thursday escape!

Life around here...

As I have said before, I am making a whole hearted attempt to accomplish Project 365 (1 pic/day/year). I have been doing pretty good and am hoping that this project not only helps me record the daily life and memories of my family, but helps improve my photography skills, which I admit are pretty bad. Today, I will post my catch up pics, and then hope to post 1 pic a day....among other things.

Yesterday I was blog hopping during Unity Stamp Co. Hip Hop Thursday and got so inpsired. This weekend is Operation Clean House but I have already scheduled some scrappy time so I will post some scrappy goodness late this weekend.

Speaking of inspiration though... Check out the blinkie on the side of my page that brings you to 52 Sketches...52 Weeks. I discovered this site last year, mid sketch and it is new and improved for 2009! In a nutshell, Julie will post 1 sketch a week for 52 weeks - you take the sketch and create your layout. You can also post your sketch on the site to be entered to win some fabulous goodies each week....how great is that?!

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I discovered over Christmas that my kids LOVE Gingerbread Men, so we had to make some. They had so much fun decorating...and eating these guys.

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Our first attempt at snowboarding. JT did amazingly well and had a blast. This pic was taken after 2 lessons, contmeplating wether or not he wanted to go up the lift with dad.

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Back to the grind. After a long day (pretty much everyday) this is my escape. A good bottle of wine (well not the whole bottle...at least not all the time). My fav - Cabernet Sauvignon is pictured here with my two favorite wine glasses....pretty glasses just make the wine taste even better.

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My favorite little photogenic 9 year old. She just loves to have her picture taken and smiles perfectly on cue everytime.

It's a girl, and a boy and a girl and another.....

The smallest, furriest members of our family have had their own. At the end of October, we adopted two dwarf hamsters for the kids. Tessie and Chester have been a welcome addition to our household. We are actually on Chester #3 due to unfortuneate circumstances which I won't go into, but this one has actually lasted longer than the other 2. The problem is, we knew the first was a girl (we told JT she was a boy because he was set on Chester), we were told by the pet store that #2 and #3 were girls as well. Well....obviously either #2 or #3 was not. We can't be sure who the daddy is because the gestation period for hamsters in 18-25 days and Chester #3 was welcomed to our family 19 days ago.


Anyway, Monday morning, JT was in the playroom with the hamsters and told me they were making funny noises. All day long I heard squeaking coming from the cage and Tessie would not come to me or Kelsey. Tuesday morning Kelsey went to go check on Tessie because she was still squeaking and image the look on her face when Tessie was nursing 6 babies! We now realize that the squeaking we heard was actually the babies and not Tessie or Chester.


I tried to get a picture but it is hard to get the camera in the cage and close enough for it to be clear so here is the best I can do. They are so stinking cute...like tiny little pink erasers about the size of the top half of your pinkie finger. If you are local and would like your very own dwarf hamster in about 5 weeks, please leave a comment.


In other news. I have been working on Project 365. This is where you take one picture a day for each day of the year. It is a great way to work on your photography skills but also to record the everyday events in your life. For obvious reasons, this is today's photo (007/365). Tomorrow, I will post some of the other shots I have taken. This project is great because it checks off 2 items on my List of Things to Accomplish and Work on in 2009.

Lasts, firsts and looking forward....

I can't believe that in less than 7 hours it will be 2009! Unbelievable how time flies. As I look back over the year, I only have one regret...that I don't remember half of it and I didn't enjoy the little things...the everyday things that memories are built on. (Ok, so maybe there are a few more things that I regret, but I really am not going to sweat the small stuff here.) See, I am a sentimental type of person and those little memories are the ones that mean the most to me. So, this morning...jug (yes jug) of coffee in hand I started to think. Not about what I forgot (that is absolutely no use) but of how I can move forward without forgetting again. This brainstorming session led to my goals for 2009. I won't actually call them resolutions, because lets face it...does anyone actually keep those? These are my "List of Things to Accomplish and Focus on for 2009". The list is long but many of them are related to each other and in the end, if all are accomplished the one true goal of being a happier person will be achieved. So, to keep myself accountable....here goes (in absolutely no particular order):

• Loose (and keep off) the weight (this is the year!)
• Finish the house (decorating and updating that is)
• Get organized
• Keep a clean(er) house (one I can relax in & be proud of)
• Enjoy everyday, record the memories & take pleasure in the little things
• Focus on family
• Get rid of the clutter (ok, that goes with cleaning & organizing...but trust me, it needs its own bullet)
• Credit cards are for emergencies...CASH only!
• Be a better mom & wife
• Pay down some debt (long term...debt free by 2011)
• Breathe...don't yell!
• Complete 100 layouts in 2009
• Be happy with me
• Let it go....RELAX!
• Project 365 (1 picture a day)
• Work CTMH smarter...not harder (this refers to personal business goals I have set for myself)

So, there you have the looking forward. I am committed to these 16 items and will post my progress regularly (should make for some interesting reading material...). This also relates to the firsts. This is actually the first time that I sat down and thought of what I could do to make my life better, happier and be in control. The first time I took ownership and took a step to stop the out of control whirlwind I am constantly walking into. Now, I need to take action.

So now, to leave you with the "last"....

The last snowfall of 2009. This is a picture of the Kissing Ball my mom graciously hung on my front porch just before my parents went south for the winter. I had to take a picture of it covered in snow as it looked so pretty. I have always wanted one, but could never justify spending the money....so thank you mom. I look at it often (see it is the little things).

This is a picture of my backyard looking from the kitchen. I wish it came out a bit clearer, but it was snowing like the dickens and the back door is blocked from all the snow on the deck. It just looks so peaceful and serene with the snow. Funny that I see it that way as I don't like the snow...see that list is already taking its toll (enjoy everyday)....

I wish you all a safe and prosperous New Year. Enjoy the little things in life, they are afterall what makes it so special....

Until 2009 -
Tracy

A little bit of this, a little bit of that and time to refocus....

It has been just over a month since I last posted (bad blogger....) so I thought I should do a little catch up, and a little tweaking of what I post and how. First, I must admit that the main reason I started my blog was to showcase cards and projects for my Close To My Heart business. As I started blogging, and everything and anything got in the way of my creative escapes, I have realized that I want more out of my blog. I have now decided to focus on pretty much everything. For those of you who happen upon my little corner for some creative inspiration - do not fear, it will be here from time to time, but I will also be focusing on family, me, random thoughts, daily stuff and pretty much anything I feel like focusing on for that entry. I do hope that you will continue to check me out and maybe, just maybe, someday I will have a group of followers who actually are intrigued by my life, thoughts and ramblings (a girl can dream....can't she?)


So for those of you who are family, friends, and just the curious stranger (because you are welcome to) the next several posts will be about what I (and my family) have been up to over the past month. When I get scrappy or just crafty again, I will be sure to fill you in.

Have to finish up the shopping now though, so until tomorrow....

Look what I have been up to...

I started creating again - yeah! I have been working like a mad woman lately creating cards for a craft and vendor fair we are holding at my kids school tomorrow night. Not only will I be selling my cards and other wares, but....I am organizing the event also and I had another one last night as well. Needless to say everything else in my life has suffered, but after this weekend the pace should slow down - just in time for the holiday season to kick in. I am, however, making a pledge to myself (and my family) right now to slow down and enjoy December and focus on the true meaning of the holiday season. Since I have been promising something crafty - here are a few cards I made this week.

This first card uses the great little elf from Close To My Heart's Merry Pursuits stamp set. He seems to get himself into a few predicaments.

Recipe: All products CTMH; Merry Pursuits Stamp Set, Creative Basics Holiday Collection, Designer Ribbon Rounds Holiday Collection, Cranberry CS, Ponderosa Pine CS, White Daisy CS; Markers~ Cranberry, Olive, Black; Red Sparkles (retired)

The second card I lifted and unfortuneatly when I went to give credited to the creator, I noticed all I had was first name and last initial - no blog name for you to go check out the rest of her work. So, Jess B gets the credited for the original concept, it was so cute I couldn't resist. I changed it up just a bit by using the cocoa ribbon and stamping the sentiment at the bottom (the inside says... A Merry Little Christmas).

Recipe: All Products CTMH; Creative Basics Holiday Collection; Cocoa Ribbon; Red Sparkle (retired); Chocolate Ink; Journaling Pens; White Daisy CS, Ponderosa Pine CS, Cranberry CS; Sentiment Stamp - unkn. this was an old CTMH wood mounted set that is long retired.