Monday, October 31, 2011

Happy Halloween!


Today, I thought I would share a SPICED PUMPKIN CUPCAKE recipe that I had at my All Day Crop on Saturday. These cupcakes are so yummy! A terrific fall treat...Enjoy!

SPICED PUMPKIN CUPCAKES
1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
3 tablespoons sugar
1 box yellow cake mix
1 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 cup water
1/3 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
1-1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1 container cream cheese frosting

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Place paper baking cups in each of 24 cups of a muffin pan.

In heavy skillet, cook pecans and 2 tablespoons sugar over low heat about 8 minutes, stirring constantly, until sugar is melted. Sprinkle with remaining 1 tablespoon sugar and toss.

In large bowl, beat cake mix, pumpkin, water, oil eggs and pumpkin pie spice with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds. Beat on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups, filling each about 2/3 full. Bake 20-25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from pan to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.

Frost cupcakes with frosting. Sprinkle frosted cupcakes with pecans and sugar. (I added a candy corn too for Halloween!)

--printed in Colorado Country Life (October 2011), recipe courtesy of Bobbe Jones

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Studio J - Love Your Layout



If you haven't tried Studio J yet...maybe this video will inspire you to give it a try! Studio J Online Scrapbooking requires nothing to be downloaded to your computer, simply load the pictures you want to use on your two-page layout from your computer, select your kit mix, and pattern...and personalize it! Trust me...it's SO user friendly!

(View the Studio J Step-by-Step Basics video when you click the Studio J Online Scrapbooking TAB above.)

If you're interested in a personal one-on-one session to learn more about Studio J...I'd be happy to get you started! OR watch for Studio J classes on my Calendar of Events to learn more.

Studio J is PERFECT for people who:
1) take lots of pictures, but keep them stored on their computer
2) are behind in scrapbooking their memories (who isn't?!)
3) don't have room to store all the products used in classic scrapbooking
4) need to create several copies of the same layouts for relatives
5) only have short bursts of time to scrapbook (Studio J saves your work!)

Studio J Memberships have benefits too! Save 50% on every custom printed layout purchased, get free shipping on your monthly order, get free memory protectors, free JPG files for every layout purchased, special member only patterns and papers...and so much more! Contact me to learn more of what Studio J offers!

Friday, October 28, 2011

ROXIE Birthday Cards


Two more cards for birthday's in October. Whew...it's been a busy month! The stamp set with the candle image is no longer available (Candlelight) but still one of my favorite's for making birthday cards. The paper is Roxie (X7140B, $9.95)...don't you love the animal print? I plan to spotlight this paper packet in February for Valentine's Day too!

Watch your mailbox...these might be on their way to YOU! Happy Birthday, friends!

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

FUN Mail Day!

Don't you just LOVE to open the mailbox to find a package inside, especially when it's for you? I do! Last week, I had several fun mail days filled with birthday wishes (Thanks, everyone!) and a birthday package from my friend, Shari. Look what she made for me...
She tells me she made the pedestals, and boxes from the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge! I have yet to discover the cricut image for the pedestals...but I will! One of the boxes is filled with color coordinated m&m's (go figure! LOL), and the other is filled with delicious chocolate truffles! This paper is another one of my favs...Wonderland.
I feel so blessed to have such dear friends who made my birthday EXTRA special! I cherish each of your friendships!

Monday, October 24, 2011

Road Trip!

Sorry for not posting much over the last few days. I got home from one long weekend being away, and had one day to get ready for another mini vacation. Last week, I had a birthday...and my hubby surprised me with a road trip to Moab, UT. We actually spent my birthday hiking the trails of Arches National Park and Canyonlands.
Sunset at Dead Horse Point State Park.
If you've ever visited Arches National Park, you'll recognize this famous arch...Landscape Arch. Can you imagine resting under this arch and hear what you thought was cracks of thunder from distant clouds, when actually a 60-foot long rock slab was peeling away from the arches right side. It actually happened in September 1991, and changed the arch forever...glad we could experience it's beauty!
Here we are inside one of the arches known as the North Windows arch. I may be smiling in the picture, but my knees are trembling! I don't DO heights...and directly behind me was a HUGE drop off!
This one is my all time favorite. Ken ventured off to this rock ledge, and I decided NOT to join him...and I'm so glad I got this picture! It shows Ken admiring the view with the canyon floor thousands of feet below him.
After spending a couple days hiking and walking the National Parks, we decided to take a scenic drive around the area. Here, we're overlooking the town of Moab, UT and sporting our matching jackets! LOL
I'm thankful we were able to take this impromptu road trip and mini vacation, and I can't wait to scrapbook these memories. I promise...more artwork coming! Thanks for stopping by!

Monday, October 17, 2011

Retreat Treat Bags

I just returned from a wonderful weekend scrapbook retreat with some great friends. I thought I would share the treat bags that I made for them. These are so easy to make! Remember, you can click on the images to see more detail.
Take a paper lunch bag, fold the lunch bag in half, then fold down the front flap about 2". Tie a ribbon around the bag to hold down the front flap creating a pocket. Embellish to your desire. I used the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge to create the leaf clusters, and the scallop tag. I added the Mischief Complements Rub-Ons (#X7144C, $4.95) to each of their bag treats as a special goodie. The rub-ons have 2 sheets of Halloween images, and 2 sheets of Autumn images...they are so fun to use!
I also added an M&M stick (gotta have some chocolate!), filled a 1x8 clear bag with autumn colored m&m's, sealed the end, and made a cute tag using the owl image from the Pair-a-Phrase stamp set. The tag image is on the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge too. So many Cricut images...so little time!
I loved how these turned out. Everyone was excited to get their treat bags. These little goodie bags seemed to inspire the creative juices too...one gal even used her leaves cluster on a scrapbook page she created!
Finally, here we are...I can't wait to scrapbook our group photos! Thankfully, we were able to see some of the Colorado fall colors too. Thanks ladies for a terrific weekend!

Thursday, October 13, 2011

THANKS card



I've created another Thank You card (3-1/2"X8") using scraps of the Dreamin' paper packet (#X7142B, $9.95). All products are CTMH. The flowers were first cut using the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge (#Z1686, $99), then stamped using Hooray Bouquet (#D1491, $17.95) in Honey, Goldrush and Pacifica inks. Other stamp sets used: A Little Everything (#D1408, $17.95) for sentiment, and Love Life (#D1482, $17.95) for swirl. Leaves were also cut using the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

An Incredible Deal when YOU join...


Have you heard? During the month of October 2011, when you sign up to become a CTMH consultant, you can get over $400 worth of product for only $99.* How? The New Consultant Kit has what you need to start your business off right, including a HUGE supply of CTMH products (shown below), all for only $99.

In October, each new consultant will receive one FREE* New Consultant Kit add-on collection! This is an incredible deal since each add-on collection is priced at $40 and has a retail value between $80-$130!


Then you can purchase one or both of the other add-on collections for only $40 each...making this an incredible offer!

*Shipping/handling is free on add-on collections. US tax will be charged on the retail price of $40.

Join my team, and I'll be there to train, encourage, and support you. This business can be all that YOU want it to be! Click HERE to contact me to answer any questions you might have.

I'm ready to join! Click HERE to go to the online application to join my team!

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Mischief WOTG Layouts

Remember...you can click on the photos to enlarge for more detail.

These are the layouts showcased in the Mischief Workshop on the Go kit (#G1029, $29.95), just in time for your Halloween photos. You're going to love the texture and look of the Midnight Felt Shapes on these pages. Let me show you how to create these pages when you attend my workshop on Friday, October 21 (9am-1pm) or Saturday, October 22 (6-10pm). RSVP required by October 13th at noon. Contact me to place your order, or place your order from my website and have it shipped to your door.
Order OPTION #1: #G1029 Workshops on the Go Mischief Kit ($29.95) includes Level 2 Paper Packet, Mischief Workshop Stamp Set, Midnight Felt Shapes, and an Instructional Brochure. OPTION #2: Mischief Level 2 Paper Packet (#X7144B, $9.95), Midnight Felt Shapes (#Z1462, $5.95), this option does not include the stamp set or instructional brochure.

Friday, October 7, 2011

SPOOKY Banner

Banners are all the rage right now, so here's one I created for Halloween! This is the Bonus Project when you purchase the Mischief Workshop on the Go kit (#G1029, $29.95). After creating your two 2-page layouts, you can use your left over papers, and midnight felt shapes to create this SPOOKY banner. Just add the My Creations Banner (#Z1378, $5.95) to your order. I used the PosterBoard Alphabet (#E1014, $29.95) for the letters instead of the Dimensional Elements Notable Alphabet (#Z1682, $6.95) because it's what I had on hand at the time.

I'll be posting the Mischief layouts on Monday, so make sure you come back to check them out too! Thanks for stopping by!

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

5x7 Holiday Magic card

My card is a design from Originals (#9032, $21.95) called Flap Overlap (pg.121) using Roxie papers with the addition of Olive cardstock. Remember, you can click on each picture to enlarge it for detail.
I dry embossed around the base of the card, then sanded it to show the white core. The tab on the side is a Cricut image, as is the shape and frame around the word "Celebrate". I used the Glitz Glitter Gel in Silver (#Z1482, $2.75) for the sparkle...this stuff is like bling in a bottle...love it! Then I mixed a drop or two of Smoothie re-inker with Liquid Glass and painted it on the Bling Button (#Z1466, $4.95) on top of the tree. Using this technique you can create bling in 60 colors to match your artwork. Try it!


When you raise the top flap, your message underneath is revealed. Then lower the bottom flap, and you still have the inside of your card for a personal note.

Monday, October 3, 2011

Holiday Magic Artwork - October Stamp of the Month

If you haven't started planning for your Christmas cards yet...you just might want to consider this stamp set. It's perfect to get you into the holiday spirit, with images of trees, stockings and a sleigh too! (Click on the picture to enlarge for more detail)
Artwork by (Top L-R): Julie Nilsson (Roxie), Randa Wacaster (Elemental), Bertha MacMillan (Sonoma), Vicki Price (Believe), Angie Petersen (Wonderland) (Bottom L-R): Jodi Frank (Dreamin), Cathlene Burk (Mischief), Krista Staton (Roxie), LeAnne Dudley (Elemental)


And with the Stamp of the Month program, during the month of October, it can be yours for only $5 with a $50 order, OR you can purchase it for only $17.95.

See the entire stamp set and more artwork on the 'Stamp of the Month' tab in the menu bar above.

Saturday, October 1, 2011

Announcing Cricut Shape-a-Day


Be sure to check out Jeanette Lynton's blog (Founder and CEO of CTMH) as she showcases a different Cricut Art Philosophy shape everyday! That's right - it's going to be 31 days of art projects adorned with shapes from the new Cricut Art Philosophy Collection. October is shaping up to be a great month!

If you have the CTMH Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge Collection on your wish list - contact me to order yours today!

Artwork by Close To My Heart Art Department