After Christmas Shopping!

Did you get money for your crafting habit?  Don't forget you can make a $20 purchase on my website and receive a free stamp set from Close To My Heart free.  You have until the 31st for this amazing offer.  You can make as many $20 purchases as you would like. 

My website link is: neelydean.myctmh.com
Happy Shopping!

White Christmas in Corner, Alabama

We woke up this morning to rain that turned into snow very quickly.  We opened our gifts and then we headed outside to play with our new basketball and hula hoop in the snow.  We know that this does not happen very often here so we wanted to take advantage of it as much as we could.  It wasn't a lot, but it sure was beautiful. These are just a few of the pictures taken.  Then we went inside to change clothes and warm up and then headed out to Grandma's for the afternoon.  I got some beautiful pictures and can't wait to scrapbook these in the new year. 

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!  I hope you have a wonderful holiday season. 

Neely

   
     Remember that there is still time to take advantage of the December stamp of the month. You can also order this online and receive a free stamp set with the Plenty for $20. 

Happy Holidays!!!

     Monday was the first day of no school. We began the day by sleeping in and then having breakfast at Cracker Barrell.  Then we did a little shopping and a lot of cleaning.
      Today we slept in some and then we went to Staples, then to the Galleria for a Carousel ride and train ride. We also picked up a few gifts still on the list, had lunch, and then went to Publix for groceries.  We came home and delivered one of our fruit baskets.  We have made dinner, cleaned up the kitchen, brownies are cooling, and the dry ingredients are ready for scones for breakfast in the morning.  A load of clothes are in the dryer and one is folded and put away. 
      I have a movie date planned with dear hubby on the couch as soon as the girls go to bed. 

12 Weeks of Christmas - week 12

       Today is the last day of our 12 weeks of Christmas.  I can't believe next week is Christmas.  Are you checking your list twice.  I will be doing that this week.
       Sorry I am late with this post. I went to visit my cousin today at Children's Hospital. He was able to sit up for the first time today.  It wore him out but was good.  He does not have Wilms as initially thought. They do not know what he has right now.  If all goes well he may get to come home Monday or Tuesday. 
      On to our gift items.  These are very easy to make. I just covered tubes with paper and added a ribbon. One of them has chocolates in them and the other has bath salts.  These tubes are empty ribbon and brad holders from Close To My Heart but you can use anything that you can glue.  These are very simple and are great for last minute ideas.  Wrap some paper attach a bow and a card fill with candy, bath salts, nuts, ribbon, brads, hair bows, marbles, GI Joe men, if it can fit, you can fill. 

Happy Holidays!!!!

Prayer Request

Please pray for my 12 year old cousin who is having surgery today.  They are removing his good kidney.  He has a tumor that is almost as big as the kidney.  They are removing it before it ruptures and there is a slight chance that it could still rupture during surgery.  They will do a quick analysis and if it is malignant they will put a port in while he is still asleep. I will update when I have information. Thank you

12 Weeks of Christmas #11

Time is running close to that very special day Christmas Day.  You may have already begun heading out to parties and spending time with those special friends.  Need a quick gift for that unexpected hostess?  Try a notebook. That's right you can dress up any size notebook and create a journal, or address book, a to do list, the list just goes on and on.  I have three different types for you.  The first is a spiral memo notebook - these come in all sizes too, I just chose a small one.  The next one is a small composition book, these come in a larger size too. I use the larger one to write down my Christmas and birthday presents for the year. That way I know who and what gift was given and I don't repeat.  The last one is a notebook that Close To My Heart sales.  This one has a blank cover with a built in  pocket. Make a 5x7 card front and slip it in the cover. The book is made of blank pages so you can fill it in with anything.  Add a quick pen and an instant gift.

Discounted Products

Close To My Heart has added a discounted product section to my website.  Visit http://www.neelydean.myctmh.com/ and get some favorite products at a discount.  Order $20 and this will count towards the plenty for $20 and you will receive a free D-size stamp set.

Final deadline for guarantee shipping in time for Christmas is December 13.  This does not include FedEx time. 

WOW!!!

          Can you believe it is already 18 days until Christmas and only 24 days until the first of the New Year! They say time flies. It is hard to think that this time last year we were in Memphis, Tennessee and this time three years ago we were in Schertz, Texas.            I am excited about the holidays here in our new home. I am knee deep in preparations.  We are still trying to finish arranging our garage. My parents are bringing a load of there stuff to store in our basement when they come for the holidays.  They are moving back here after 13 years of living in Texas.  My office is of course always the last one to get tidied up and boy do I have some tidying up to do. 
          Today, I was able to get my December birthday and anniversary and thinking of you cards completed, addressed, and stamped for the mail tomorrow.  I completed the Tabitha class letters to be mailed tomorrow. I prepped items for the Cradle Roll class door so I can decorate tomorrow.  I made my grocery list and that will have to be checked again tomorrow so I am ready for shopping on Wednesday.  Planned out my Wednesday night Bible Class lesson and I'm ready to copy and set up tomorrow.  I began bagging the ingredients for 8 of my 16 jar mixes for the holidays.  I finished a star album that is ready for delivery.
          What a great day! Hopefully tomorrow will be as productive!

Plenty for $20

PLACE AN ORDER OF $20 OR MORE from My CTMH website from December 1–31, 2010, and we’ll reward you with a popular, retired D-size stamp set for FREE! Talk about getting more for your money—the free stamp set is valued at $22.95 US/$26.95 CAN! We’re sure you’ll be thrilled with the set we pick out for you. We’re also giving you FREE shipping/handling and tax on your free stamp set. That’s a lot of Plenty for your Twenty! Grab Plenty for Twenty in December by visiting your

Consultant’s MyCTMH website and making a qualifying purchase today! Plenty for Twenty
Spend $20 or more in December and receive a FREE D-size stamp set!

Exclude tax and shipping/handling. Qualifying purchases must include shippable products (StudioJ layout purchases excluded, StudioJ Memberships and 5-packs will count toward a qualifying order only if shippable items are also ordered).

12 Weeks of Christmas week #10

Today I am posting week #10 of our 12 Days of Christmas.  This is a recipe box from Close To My Heart. This box has many possibilities.  You can find the template for the paper cutting dimensions on my website http://www.neelydean.myctmh.com/.  You go here and click on CTMH TV, then click on Cooking Up Creativity - you can watch the episode where Jeanette Lynton shows her recipe box and download the template.  The template is in the small print directly above the How To make This Project.  I hope you enjoy these.

Other ideas for the box:
Recipe box
Address box
Gift box
Card box
Jewelry box
Treasure box
And many more...

I am using this one as a mailbox for the ladies in our congregation.

12 weeks of Christmas week #9

I am finally getting to week #9 of our 12 Weeks of Christmas.  I completely got behind but on a better note I have a clean house (that is always a plus). This week I am showing you a 6x6 album. This album was created by our Loving Hearts team headed up by Carol Harris. Unfortunately, I do not have all of the names of the ladies who created these layouts to list them individually.  I made the first one that is alone that says January. This was supposed to be a year album with one layout for each month. These albums can be used for so many ideas.  We also made one that was a recipe book. We each made a cookie recipe and took a picture of the finished product and added the recipe to the other page.  That album was made by our Loving Hearts group as well.  6x6 albums may be small but they can hold a lot. I have made one for my cousin when she was expecting as a month by month so she could take pictures of herself if she wanted and update about the doctor visits and whatever else she wanted to add.  The possibilities are endless. 

Week of Thanks

      This week I am thankful for family and friends.  The girls are out of school all week so we have gone to Texas to spend Thanksgiving with our parents.  My brother and his family have come too.  This is going to be a fabulous week.  We are going to the Alamo and Riverwalk this afternoon.  Thursday we will have a big Thanksgiving feast. Friday we will all depart to our homes. 

      I will try to get week #9 of our twelve weeks of Christmas by Saturday. If not I will post it Monday.  Sorry everyone.  I was so excited about packing and getting ready for our trip that I didn't get it done before I left. 

     Happy Thanksgiving to all!

12 Weeks of Christmas week #8

We have been working on gifts for the past few weeks. Today I thought I would give you some wrapping ideas.  Take some plain white paper (non-glossy) works better and random stamp with the colors you need.  This one that is pictured was for Father's Day.  This works with any occassion.  Then you can make a bow to match with your papers. 

Gift bags are often used too.  You can make those too.  Choose your color, random stamp the outside and enjoy!

Don't forget the tissue paper.  You can stamp that and personalize it too. 

Happy Gift Giving!

12 Weeks of Christmas #7

     Today I am showing you a great gift idea.  This is our event calendar page.  I created this using 3x3 pieces of paper and scraps.  This is a great way to use up those small pieces of scraps.  The calendar itself is just $8.50 and by using scraps you have no other cost and you can clean out some of that stash you are always wanting to clean. The front can be decorated using paper, leaving it alone, random stamping, stamping words and cutting them out. The great thing about this calendar is that it is not dated so it can be used year after year.  Just add new items each time. 

     You can also use it as a baby's first year calendar. (This idea came from Shirley Ross a fellow consultant). She made one as a baby gift and all mommy had to do was right in those special dates of first tooth, first sitting up, first cereal, etc....  If you use the calendar as a baby's first year, then you can use a specific paper pack for a girl or boy or something generic or you can still do one that is monthly like this one.

Happy Birthday!

     Happy Birthday United States Marine Corps! Today is the Marine Corps birthday of 235 years. Thank you Marines. 
     My husband served active duty from 1985-1992.
     Today Corner School held a Veterans' Day program for the Veteran's. It was a wonderful program. They also included the Marine Corps birthday and cake ceremony. The first piece of cake went to the Guest of Honor who was Mr. Charles M. Burkett former Corner Principle from 1974-1991. Then second piece of cake went to the oldest Marine in attendance. The third piece of cake went to the youngest Marine in attendance and was served by the oldest Marine in attendance. This is a tradition that all Marines take time in which to participate.
     Here is the link to the Commandants message www.marines.mil/usmc/Pages/2010MarineCorpsBirthdayBall.aspx

          HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARINES

Christmas cards

Do you want handmade cards but don't have the time?  Place your order with me personally by November 19th for delivery no later than December 4.  The earlier the contact the earlier card delivery. 

Christmas Wish List



Get what you want this holiday season!

Craft Fair

Hi Everyone!

     If you were wanting to visit my booth last Thursday but couldn't, I will be at the Corner Theatre fish fry and craft fair this Saturday from 10-2. I will have items for sale so you can get a head start on your holiday shopping.

     If you would like some items and can't make it I have posted the items on my blog over the past few weeks. You are welcome to email me and purchase the items as well. You will be able to special order your items and I will get them to you. Easy shopping just look and email or post a comment.

     If you are looking for something hand made and don't see what you are looking for email or call me or comment and we will see what we can come up with.  We can make gift baskets as well for your favorite scrapbooker or card maker or crafter.

    Happy Shopping!!!

12 Weeks of Christmas - Week #6

     Wow!  I can't believe it is only 6 weeks until Christmas. I absolutely love the holidays. Christmas has to be my favorite holiday.  I love being able to decorate, have parties, be with family, giving, and all the fun.  Halloween is my least favorite but I do like the chocolate that comes in the house and the fact that Halloween begins the holiday season.
     This week I am showing you a file folder holder that was shared with me by Melissa Robinson a fellow CTMH consultant. One I made for you to use as a Christmas shopping folder.  One side you keep the receipts and the other side you make your list and any notes you need. The other is a grocery/household shopping and you can put coupons on one side and make your list and notes on the other.  A pen comes with this folder and you have everything you need in this neat little pouch. 

Wednesday Words

- Thank you America for voting.  Voting is a privilege that we need to continue exercising. 

- Corner Elementary/Middle School craft fair is tomorrow night.  If you are in the area stop by and check out my booth.  I have been posting pictures of items I will have and now you can see them  up close and touch them.  I will also have a special order section where you can order and pre-pay tomorrow night and I will deliver your items to you when they are completed.  This way you may personalize your order.  You can also pick up a new catalog and some past catalogs that have great ideas and techniques.  So stop by for some fun.  There will be a cake walk, inflatables for the children, chili....

Neely

12 Weeks of Christmas #5

I am so sorry that I missed Saturday.  I will do better next time.  I am already working on Saturday's item.  This weeks item is a denim purse that I stamped on using our white ink.  Close To My Heart's white ink is pigment based and not water based so this color will show up on dark colors such as black and our outdoor denim. It is very fun to use but can also be messy. This ink will need to dry more than the other inks.  You can also heat it to dry it as well.  I recommend heat setting the ink if you use it on fabric items. These were a hit when I made them for the girls in the family.  Other pigment based colors we have are colonial white and vanilla cream. 

Neely

12 Weeks of Christmas #5

I am so sorry. I just realized I didn't have anything set up for today's 12 weeks of Christmas. Please check back Monday morning and I will have it posted. 

Neely

Embossed Gift Tags

This is my new favorite technique. Embossing.  This was so fast and easy.  I simply stamped my image in the embossing/watermark ink pad and then stamped my image where I wanted it on my project.  Next, sprinkle embossing powder over stamped image and shake off excess.  Third, using your craft heater heat the image until the image is completely embossed. You will see it change as it is heated and you will know when it is complete. 

Scrapbook in a box

These are so easy to make. I made these using our school colors and a school theme stamp set.  You can make these using any colors and stamp set to customize to your needs. 

More Craft Fair Fun!

     I have been working this afternoon on more craft fair items.  I do hope that if you live in the area you will visit my booth at the Corner Elementary/Middle School craft fair on November 4 and the Corner High School Theatre craft fair on November 13.

12 Weeks Before Christmas - week #4

        Today I am showing you a great little stationary set.  This set can be made with any paper pack and decorated in many ways.  Here I just used a general type stamp set but I have made these using Bible verses and Monograms.  Make a holder, add 8-10 cards and envelopes, you can even add a pen and joila a cute little gift in no time.  Happy Crafting!

Friday October 22

     There are no pictures for today. I have been working on more craft fair items.  If you are in the area I will be at the Corner Elementary/Middle School craft fair on November 4 and at the Corner Theatre fish fry and craft fair on November 13.  Please stop by and visit.  I will have items for display and sale.

     Today is my niece's birthday and we are going down to South Alabama for her birthday party.  She is 10 today. 

      Tomorrow we will be going back to visit at MSOP where we were students last year.  We have a class mate that is graduating next week and will be going back to South Africa. We are going to see them one last time before they fly out.  Then we are going to meet another couple we were in school with on the way back home and have dinner. We are looking forward to all of our visits this weekend.  With that said, I have a few things to do to get ready to leave after our girls get out of school.

     Be sure to check back tomorrow for week 4 of our 12 weeks before Christmas. 

Neely

Final Page of Baby Album

This is the last page I decided to make for the baby album. It is a keepsake portfolio so items can be kept in a secure place. 

The other is the card I am using for the gift. 

Baby Album

     Here is the baby album I created for my cousin.  I used a magic moments prepared packet with all the embellishments.  I added the name page and the page titled together for the birth day. The rest of the layouts are each months of the babies first year.