So, I did a thing!

Good afternoon scrappy friends!

I hope you are all well! I had to go grocery shopping today so, I guess I start a new two weeks at home! Thank God I have this beautiful place to craft and enough supplies to take me into eternity!

I wanted to share one of the most wonderful things about Close to My Heart products! EVERYTHING MATCHES! You might look at this photo and say, Bonnie, you are crazy! How do these things match?

Maybe match is not the correct word for this! Coordinate might be a better word!

There are 2 paper suites and a Mix-In collection featured here. The paper suites were created to work together as one unit! All the paper themes and embellishments work together to create the theme.

“Seas the Day” has a beach theme! This collection on its own would be perfect for documenting a trip to the beach. If you didn’t go to the beach, this collection might not interest you, right?

Similarly, the “Yesterday & Today” paper suite is very anituque looking. It is perfect, and I mean perfect for those of you that are working on Heritage Albums. The collection is stunning! But, you might not see its potential if you aren’t working with old photos.

The Mix-Ins are just that, papers designed to mix in with these two paper suites to help you extend your crafting possibilities. These papers work with both collections!

There was a layout featured in the current CTMH Idea Book that I absolutely loved! I wanted to make it! And it used papers from all 3 collections. So, that was a perfect time for me to show you the potential that these 3 collections have outside of their “themes”! So, I pulled out all the papers in each collection, along with their coordinating sticker sheets and some coordinating cardstock. (Yep…the paper, the cardsrock, and the inks all match! They all coordinate!!.) And I began to mix and match and create beautiful pages!

I had so much FUN!! I have created 8 layouts already and am completing two more!! And guess what? They are not “theme” specific!

Here is one example. The page on the left was the layout I fell in love with. This was designed by Close to My Heart and was featured in the current Idea Book. I modified it slightly and created a second page to complete the two page spread. And I love it!!

So…don’t be afraid to work outside a “theme”. Go outside your comfort zone and try something new! Pattern and color mixing is FUN!!

Have a great evening my friends!! Happy Scrappin’!!

Rays of HOPE shining through my window!

Today is a beautiful day! Like many of you, I have run the gamut of emotions the past month. My heart has been filled with fear, worry and doubt and yet bursting with GRATITUDE! The world is filled with uncertainty! My life has been a big roller coaster ride, with highs celebrating the birth of a beautiful new granddaughter, and lows seeing both of my daughters temporarily close their businesses. 

But, today, I woke to bright, beautiful, sunshine beaming with HOPE through my bedroom window. A reminder that God is in this! 

I'm not sure about you, but my ability to craft has been a saving grace. It has kept my hands busy and my mind focused on those that I love. Printing photos and looking at the faces of my people and telling their stories has made my heart happy! And those cards I have been hoarding for years, they are slowly finding their way to the mailbox. Happy Mail!! Bringing smiles to those that I love!!

And, I am so grateful for technology! I have had a LOVE/HATE relationship with it for years. I struggle figuring it all out! It is so dang frustrating. But, it has been such a blessing! I have been able to talk to my children and grandchilren and SEE THEIR FACES, even though I am miles away! I have been “scrapping” with some friends via ZOOM! Staying connected is so important to me!! And it has made us feel better!

I am actually planning some OPEN SCRAPPY TIME via ZOOM!! So be sure to watch for details!!

Ok..the SUN is calling me! I am going to embrace the sunshine and spend some time breathing in the fresh air this morning! I hope you all have a wonderful day today!

May a beam of HOPE touch your heart today!!

Love to all….Bonnie

Be a LIGHT!

Good morning crafty friends!

How are you all doing? These are some confusing and stressful times, I know. But…it is temporary!

And fear, worry and doubt won’t change things. The stress and anxiety will weaken your immune system and make you susceptible to other illnesses. So…how can we eliminate or curb our fears?

Turn off your TV!! Go outside and breathe! Take a walk. Clean up your yard. Put your face to the heavens and say THANK YOU for this day!

We have lots of choices to make my friends. We can choose to angry, afraid, mean and continue to be driven with the fear and panic OR we can choose to be grateful and a light to those around us!

Life is different. It’s not what we are used to. This is not how we expected to be living our lives right now. But, we are here and this is our current situation and we have to do what we can to be our best selves and a light to those around us.

I have decided to wake each day with gratitude in my heart. I will wake with thanks that I have been given another day to share love and kindness with those around me. And by starting the day on a positive note, I will carry it forward through my day.

And I am going to foster love and kindness with YOU!!! I am going to sharing some inspiration and love with you in hopes that you will pay it forward. I want us to continue shine brightly as a community, and to spread the love we have for one another far and wide!

So…here is my first challenge for you!!

Does this look familiar?

This is a box, and only one of at lease 4 this size, that I have filled with beautiful cards that I have created. I know you have several if these too! Why do we hoard our beautiful creations? Are they bringing joy to anyone in that box?

I know I have lots of friends and loved ones that would be thrilled to receive some happy mail! A beautiful piece of inspiration and love to brighten their day!

So, I challenge you to send at least one piece of happy mail today and be a light to someone who may need you!

I love you!!

Happy Scrappin’ Friends!!

Sharing some LOVE this Valentine's Weekend!

Close to My Heart is sharing the LOVE this weekend with another FLASH SALE!!! You will enjoy savings on individual items, bundles AND an exclusive stamp set and paper bundle!

The exclusive stamp set features icons and saying that are perfect for the Irish in all of us! This set celebrates St. Patrick’s Day!! And how lucky we are to have wonderful friendships!

What else might be on sale?

Well cardstock of course!! There will be black, french vanilla, toffee and espresso to name a few!

Do you still use the strap hinge albums? Well guess what? Our strap hinge memory protectors are featured in this sale!!

You will want to shop early as supplies are limited and some items will sell out fast!! But, don’t be discouraged as there will be a little something for everyone!!

Don’t be late!!! Starts at 5PM EST!!

Time

As I sit here drinking my coffee, reviewing my calendar and jotting down “my to do list” for today, I can’t help but think about time. It is that one thing we just never seem to have enough of. We all have calendars that are full and lists a mile long filled with tasks that need to be accomplished. We have jobs to go to, children to get to school, groceries to buy, meals to cook , bathrooms to clean, laundry to do, sports activities to attend and so much more. I am exhausted before I finish my coffee.

My list is done, my day is full, and yet I can’t get myself off this couch! I am finding it hard to motivate myself to get into the shower and begin checking off the tasks on my list. And I know how good it feels to cross out each task on my list! It means I actually accomplished something! You know what I’m talking about, I know you do!

But as I review that same list, I notice that nowhere on my list or on my calendar have I included any time for me. There is no yoga on my list. There is no visit to my moms. There is no crafting. There is no reading. There is no walk. I have filled my day with tasks, some that absolutely must be done, but my list has no line for me!

Is your calendar full? Does your list look like mine? I have no doubt it does!

And all the things on my list are important. But I’m not on the list! Am I not important?

I will be 61 this month! Maybe that’s why I am contemplating time! I want more time. I want more time with my husband, my children, my grandchildren. I want time with my parents and my friends. I want time to travel and to craft. And I know that more time is not guaranteed! Is that why I fill my calendar and my list so full that I am overwhelmed?

It is T.I.M.E. my friends! It is time for me, and for you to change our attitude about time. We have the opportunity each and every day to choose how we spend our time. Of course there are things we must do everyday, like go to work and care for our families. But if you are like me, you spend alot of “time” complaining about not having enough “time” for things we enjoy!

I spend a good hour every morning drinking my coffee, scrolling through Facebook and playing Toon Blast on my phone! Perhaps, I should start my day with my yoga mat! Or maybe I should get my first task checked off my list so that I can snuggle my grandson for an hour. If I am honest with myself, I have time, I have lots of wasted time! It is time to stop complaining about not having enough time, and take advantage of the precious time I have. It is time…to make better choices! It is time to really do what matters most.

I want you to take T.I.M.E.

I want you to TREASURE.INDIVIDUAL.MOMENTS.EVERYDAY.

Have a great day friends!!

Oh My Heart

Do you have a little one going on a date with her daddy? My granddaughter is attending the Father/Daughter Sweetheart Dance this weekend and I needed to create the perfect layout to capture their special time together. The Oh My Heart Collection from Close to My Heart was just perfect!

I have created a beautiful kit that includes this sweet layout! You can learn more about purchasing this kit HERE.

The Oh My Heart paper collection is only available through the end of this month! You will want to order yours before it is gone! You can order this paper collection HERE.

Until next time,

Happy Scrappin’ Friends!

Have a Happy Day!

Good morning scrappy friends! Welcome to my new blog! It has been a while in the making but I think I am beginning to understand! As most of you know I am computer illiterate so this has been very challenging! But, I think I am ready to give this a try! I have so many wonderful things to share with you!! So please keep checking back!

Have a Happy Wednesday friends!!

And Happy Scrappin’!!