Card Classes

I think I am finally back in the swing of things around here now. That means back to the card classes!!

I am going to try something different. I will be offering two different classes.

Option 1
Build Your Stash Workshop Kit-you get to take home the 6 cards, 3 different designs, and all of your leftovers. After you are done with your class Close to My Heart offers 2 more card designs or a scrapbook page that you can create using your leftovers from the kit. You can look at those here.


Wings Workshop Kit (includes):

Wings Level 2 Paper Packet ($12.95)

My Acrylix® Wings Workshop ($13.95)

Mini-Medley Accents Black Collection ($4.95)

Spray Pen (1) ($1.30)

Workshop Guide ($1.00)

Retail Value: $34.15

You Pay: $29.95 + tax and shipping

All you need for the workshop is the basic kit above. Here are additional things that you can order as well to help build your stash.

Optional Tools

Z2257 Vineyard Berry Exclusive Inks® Re-inker $4.25

Z2157 Vineyard Berry Exclusive Inks® Pad $5.25

Z2105 Black Exclusive Inks® Pad $5.25

Z1039 Create-a-Shade® Pearl Paint $2.95

Y1000 1" × 1" My Acrylix® Block $3.95

Y1005 1" × 6 1/2" My Acrylix® Block $6.50

Y1006 3" × 3" My Acrylix® Block $8.50


Option 2

Original Card Class

You make 4 different cards, and learn a new technique. In this workshop you will learn how to use a spray pen to make awesome backgrounds.

This class is $8.00 and I provide all the materials.  You take home the 4 cards.


I am looking at the first weekend in February. Please let me know if you are interested!

Cheeseburgers and other morons....

Those of you who don't want to listen to another rant about Governor Cheeseburger, I suggest you stop reading now................................................


Dear Governor Cheeseburger and the morons at SPO,

Your justification for the 400 15% pay raises sucks ass. MOST peon state employees (you know, the little people who actually do the work) have been "filling in" for several positions for years now because you put out a hiring freeze. Where is our 15 % raise? Heck, maybe you could just not furlough us. That would at least be a start.

Ms. Perez at SPO, you are an idiot. I think you should be more worried about the little people at the end of the line walking out. Let's just think about that. All the teachers, probation and parole, corrections officer and other vital staff, CYFD, and HSD, walk out because we are sick of you all screwing us. Then what? Well it is happening. Slowly, but it is happening. Just take a look at all the officers you have lost at Western recently.

My only hope is that I am around when all that Karma comes back around and shits on you.

:)

Hello Again!!

Wow, I have not posted in a while. To tell you the truth, I just didn't feel like being fake happy because I wasn't really happy. I have been going through a lot lately and I know this is a crafty blog but before I get back to my regularly scheduled programming, I need to get some things off my chest.

I had to take some time to get rid of a terrible person in my life and that totally drained me.

This person has Narcissistic Personality Disorder. If you have never heard of it, here is the definition from the Daughters of Narcissistic Mothers page:

Narcissism Definition

The Narcissism Definition, as defined by the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders is as follows.

There are nine possible traits, and a person with genuine Narcissistic Personality Disorder will experience at least five of these to attain (if that's the right word) a complete Narcissism Definition.



A person with Narcissistic Personality Disorder:



has a grandiose sense of self-importance,



is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love,



believes that he or she is "special" and unique,



requires excessive admiration,



has a sense of entitlement,



is inter personally exploitative,



lacks empathy,



is often envious of others or believes others are envious of him or her,



shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes.

I found an awesome support group, and an even more awesome therapist. I realized that the only way I would heal from the abuse I have encountered was to cut off contact with this person. It was my birthday present to myself and it has been the most wonderful liberating thing I have ever done.


I know it is a hard thing for some people to grasp as this person was very close to me. I have a question for those people though...Would you tell a woman who is being physically abused in a relationship to just go back to her abuser so that she doesn't make waves? I know I wouldn't, so I can't understand why people want me to go back to heavy duty mental/emotional abuse. Especially from someone who is supposed to love me unconditionally.

Scrapin' in Sun Valley....Here I come!!!

I leave tomorrow morning (at 4:30 a.m. !!!! to get to the airport) and I don't think I will be able to sleep tonight. I am all packed, just need to throw my toiletries in and I am ready in the morning. I have over 32 pages planned and if I complete all of them I will have Colin's album done to the point of NOW! I am extremely excited about that! So I will post pictures when I get back. This will be the most luggage I have ever taken on a plane trip. When I was in Rainbow I was taught to take only what I want to carry so I know how to pack light...let me rephrase...I know how to get a lot of junk in ONE suitcase! Now I have 1 carry on suitcase and one check on and I upgraded my purse to "tote"size...good thing huge purses are in right now! Hope you all have a great weekend, I know I will!!!

It's been a while....

I have been so busy!! I decided to go back to school...in the summer....and take THREE classes! I really don't know what I was thinking! I didn't even get to do a card making class this month! I hope to do two next month. Next Thursday I will be heading to Sun Valley Idaho to scrap with an awesome woman named Destinae! I met her through AC Bailey and I am so excited to go scrap with her!

I haven't had much time to scrap but I did my recipe card box and a set of cards. I need to order a stamp set which is why they look unfinished.These will be the cards for the next card class.

1. What do you think makes a good friend, or friendship?

My brain must really be fried I cannot think of anything to say here......Need sleep..and a massage.... 

2. What is the last thing you bought & later regretted?

Hmmm..can't really think of anything...wow maybe I shouldn't have answered these questions today.

3. Have you ever had a prank played on you?

I'm sure I have....don't really remember. Ok seriously, sorry if you are reading this, I think my brain has turned to mush with school and work right now.

4. What is your favorite theme park?

I love all theme parks!

5. Have you ever seen someone else give birth?

Nope, and they wouldn't even give me a mirror to watch my own because my husband at the time was a wuss.

 

Now go check out Mama M over at Five Crooked Halos!

5 Question Friday!!

Questions for Friday, May 28th: (Special thanks to Lorilynne, Erin, Sandy, Kyrsten, and Renee for their question suggestions!

1. Is there something you've always wanted to try but just can't muster up the courage to actually do yet?

Yes I want to try hang gliding. They have an area near Albuquerque but I have not looked into it yet. Of course I am so accident prone when I do stuff like that, I would probably break something.

2. If you had $100 handed to you in cash without your significant other knowing about it, what would you spend it on?

DUH! You have to ask? SCRAPBOOK stuff!!

3. What was your favorite piece of playground equipment as a child?

At Mt. Taylor Elementary there was this big wooden playground with a bridge that swung back and forth and tire swings. I loved it!!

4. Do you prefer a sweet or hearty breakfast?

I would rather have eggs, bacon, tortillas, potatoes, yummy. Ok I am hungry now...

5. Are you a Neat Freak or a Messy Bessy?

At work I am a neat freak. At home not so much as long as it's clean. I would rather relax when I get home not make sure everything is perfect!

Blog hop winner!

Sheesh sorry this is so late! School started so I will be missing for a while. I may be crazy taking 3 classes this summer at 10 credits!!

As you can see the winner is......
happy2scrap56!!!!!
Please send me your address so that I can send your prize!
chris_nm@hotmail.com

 

 

Rules for Five Question Friday: Copy and paste the following questions to your blog, answer them, then link back to, Mama M.!

If you don't have a blog, but want to play along...feel free to answer the questions in the comments of this post!

Questions for Friday, May 21st: (Special thanks to Pam, Jill, Liz, Erin, and Lula Lola for their question suggestions!

1. Do you have an iPhone and, if so, how do you get apps and what are your favorites?

Nope but the iPad looks cool.

2. What is your fondest memory of K-3rd grade?

I can't think of just one. I loved elementary school.  Like really now I have all these memories running through my head. Hmmm in Kindergarten I hit a boy and my teacher made me kiss him. lol

3. What makes you cringe at the thought of touching?

SNAKES!!!! Also food stuck on dishes when I am washing them.

4. If you could have any celebrity show up on your doorstep who would it be and why?

Either Stacy and Clinton because they would be there to give me a makeover, or Jillian and Bob because I would going to The Biggest Loser!

5. What would you say is your best physical feature?

I used to love my legs. I had the most gorgeous legs. Sigh....then I got pregnant and fat.  :( Now either my eyes or hair.

Spring into Summer Blog Hop

If you came here from Lisa, Welcome!! Isn't her gift card holder card amazing? I will definitely be scraplifting that one for all my graduation cards I will be making this week! If you found me on your own why don't you hop on over to the Paper...Talk...Scissors when you are done here?

I decided to show you all a really easy water color technique.

You will need Staz on, colored pencils, blending stumps, a dry body oil (do NOT use baby oil), and of course some really cute stamps that you would like to color in.

1. Stamp your image using the Staz On.
2. Take your colored pencil and color a dark line around the edge of the image.
3. Dip your blending stump in the oil and scrap the excess off on the top of the oil bottle. You don't want a lot of oil on your blending stump. Trace the colored pencil line that you made, and then start blending the color into the middle. Repeat until you get desired color. You can always use different colors. I do this a lot in my flowers.

That is it! Easy right?

Please leave a comment, and I would love to see what you create with this technique! There will be an RAK for one lucky commenter!!

Now go visit the Paper...Talk...Scissors Forum!

5 Question Friday!!

Here is your 5 Question Friday from Momma M.

 

1. What is your worst memory of your siblings?

My brother was supposed to "watch" me when my parents went out. (My brothers are a lot older than me) He kept teasing me that he was going to leave me there by myself. He decided to take a shower but told me he was going to crawl out the window. So I sat in front of the bathroom door screaming and crying the whole time he was in the shower. BTW the window in the bathroom was about 4 inches by 12 inches. 

2. What was YOUR naughtiest childhood memory? (Must be something YOU did, no pawning it off on someone else!)

I'm sure if you ask my parents they could come up with a whole list of things I did, but nothing is really coming to me.

3. Where do you like to go to relax?

Camping, fishing anywhere. Fun Valley in Colorado is the best because Colin is entertained and we can really relax!

4. What was the last thing you won?

Some stickers at the Inspired Retreat. 

5. If you could be on a game show, which would you choose?

I am so liking that Minute to Win It. Looks like fun!

Jess's Jewels

I have some VERY creative friends!

I met Jessie in college and she is one amazing woman! She is now making Jewelry and it is spectacular! I keep hinting that I want one for mother's day. If I don't get one, I will buy one for myself. They are very inexpensive and one of a kind. That means that no one else will ever have the same piece as you!

If you are on Facebook visit her page.

She has some ready made pieces available on there, but she will also make custom pieces!

5 Question Friday!!

1. If you could, would you go back to high school?
Could I go knowing what I know now? If so then yes I would definitely do it. But if I just had to relive it again...I don't think so. It was fun but I am glad it is over.

2. If a genie appeared and granted you two wishes, what would they be? (And, no saying "more wishes".)



a. to be able to work from home...for my own business and make money off of it.
b. a new house where we can spread out...with a theater room, a pool, and enough money to pay for it!

3. What kids show do you secretly like?
iCarly...hmm haven't really seen any of them except for that one.

4. What is your beverage of choice?
Water, unless we are talking alcohol, then anything with tequila.

5. What is something that you would change about yourself (or are working to change in yourself)? 
My weight! I hate it and I'm trying to change it.

***Alert*** Lady Bloggers Circle Blogging Workshop

I recently signed up to take an online blog workshop with what I thought was a reputable blog. I saw so many girls who I respect, that had the Lady Bloggers Society button on their page. If you click that link you will notice that her site is conveniently "down" for a while.

So here is a checklist another smart blogger I met through this experience, came up with:

- What are the credentials of the person offering the service / workshop? Are they successful? In what niche?


- What are previous participants saying? Can you contact them to see if they are satisfied?


- What are the refund policies? Are the benefits of the workshop specific and clear?


- Is it too good to be true? It probably is



The workshop I attended was with The Lady Blogger Society. It was called the Lady Bloggers Circle, run by Stepfanie Bishop.

 So this would be almost the end of week three. She has not posted the 3rd assignment. We were supposed to be paying for her expertise. She never replied to any of our forum posts. When all the participants started emailing each other, we realized that we all felt the same way. We joined the most expensive forum ever!

When we started questioning her and asking for refunds her answer was...I will only return part of your money because you completed two assignments, you never got your consultation, and you got 2 E-books.
1. Yes, I completed the assignments and she did not reply.
2. The E-books? I could have found that info on google by searching for "how to improve my blog".
3. Really....after all she hasn't done do you really think I want her consultation?

All she had was excuses and lies, and that is no way to run a business. I think she is finally going to refund my full amount. I just wanted to share my experience with all of you. You may have noticed that I took down her button from my blog. I just hope that none of you will be swindled by her like I was. Please be careful when it comes to things like these and make sure you ask yourself those questions.

Crappy Crackberry Pictures

I was reading a blog I follow and today she posted something like this. She was looking through her pictures on her Blackberry and decided to post her random pictures on her phone. So I stole her idea and here you go. I will let you enjoy the pictures first...in all their crappy Blackberry glory, then I will explain them! Enjoy!

1. A picture of one of the kittens, I just love the evil lurking kitten in the background.

2. I was cleaning out some stuff and found my Donnie...New Kids on the Block Earrings! Aren't they awesome?!?!

3. I took Colin and two of his friends skating for his birthday last year, and this is what happens when you are only about 3 feet tall, there is something cool happening, and it's happening behind a 4 1/2 foot wall.

4. My crazy dog. She is spoiled...but not THIS spoiled! No I did not buy her a stroller. We were at soccer practice and she decided that since the kid wasn't using it, she was going to.

5. Toast. My kiddo is so thoughtful. One day he gets in the car after school and pulls this bag out of his backpack. Then he says...."Hey mom! I brought you toast!" Oh yeah I made a scrapbook page for this toast!

6. A Random picture of the roundhouse in Santa Fe. This is when we were there for the Union Rally.

7. So many things wrong with this picture. First of all we are at El Cafecito and Colin has, on his head, a Happy Meal box from McDonalds. Second, he was supposed to take the golden arches off to make a helmet. Uh, yeah...

8. A picture of a chair from the Hyatt. We were deciding where Colin would be able to sleep since they gave me a king bed instead on two queens. Of course Colin and Zig were stowaways at my scrapbooking retreat.

9. So I took this picture today of the horrible dust cloud. That's what happens when the wind blows in the desert. I posted it on Facebook, and my friend responded saying something like wow it's so dusty you almost can't read the Sands Motel sign....Ha Ha never even realized that!

5 Question Friday!! (Saturday)

Here you go! I can't believe I forgot!

http://www.fivecrookedhalos.blogspot.com/

1. What was the first car you owned?

Ugh...You really want me to get started on this?!?! It was a Chevy Corsica...and it was a piece of crap! Thanks to my dad!

2. What song are you embarrassed to know the lyrics to?

Probably any rap song, or Miley Cyrus.

3. Have you ever had stitches?

Yes....we won't talk about that either. Those were thanks to Colin...when he was born.

4. What was your first job?

My dad would take me out to Laguna mart to stock. My first real job was as a waitress at Grants Station.

5. Who is your favorite Sesame Street character?

I love Oscar, and the little worm. Oh and Aloysius Snuffleupagus. So I just had to look that up to see how it was spelled. Did you know that his first name is Aloysius? He has a sister named Alice. Big Bird always called him Snuffie!

Honest Scrap Award!!

The Rules: Share 10 things about yourself and pass it on to 10 Blogger Friends.

Ten Things about me:

1. I am a caseworker in a men's prison.
2. I hate wearing shoes and would rather be barefoot.
3. I am addicted to bags and purses.
4. I can't stand to not have lotion on my hands and I have some in my desk, car, and purse.
5. It has to be a specific kind of lotion because most lotions feel sticky too me.
6. I have always dreamed about being an elementary school teacher, and am going back to school for my degree.
7. I buy tons of girlie scrapbook supplies....and I have a boy.
8. My maiden name has 4 letters in it, my married name has 12 letters in it, and when I get remarried next year my last name will have 8 letters in it.
9. We are going to get married in Vegas, and I want it to be tacky and FUN!
10. I am deathly afraid of snakes.

Now, I award the following with some honest scrap!

1.auntie ems creatables
2.that crafty cowgirl
3.snips of paper shades of ink
4.stone land and cattle
5.cardsister
6.scrappin with z
7.mtn mommy scrapper
8.sarahs weight loss journey blog

9.

Subconsious messages

10.Oh Scraap!

CTMH Goodness!

I am in love with this kit that CTMH designed for National Scrapbooking month! I am addicted to die cut papers, which is probably why I love it. Ask me how you can get one of these for yourself!

On another note, I had the greatest time ever with my first class on Saturday. I only had 5 ladies...well 4 ladies and 1 very crafty girl...who attended. I was a little bummed at first, but after it was all said and done those 5 were perfect for my first class! I am pretty sure they had fun as well. As my guinea pigs, I figured out what I needed to do different next time. They all seemed pretty into my Card Club I want to do, which is awesome!! For 4 of them being beginners, they caught on easily and my kits seemed pretty simple to follow. I can't wait for the next class!!

Which brings me to my next thought.....
I want to do a set (for me of course) of the Sugar and Spice recipe cards, and a box to go with them. I just wanted to see if anyone else might me interested in hanging out with me to put one of these together?  I wouldn't charge for a "class" but you would just buy your own supplies, then come on over, eat chocolate, maybe have some drinks, and make the cutest recipe holder ever. I wish I had a picture of it already, but the new catalog is not available for customers to look at online yet. It is on page 32 when the book comes out. You can always let me know if you would like to see it and I will find a way to show you the picture!

So here is the breakdown of the price for it:
Card Kit $12.95--comes with 32 4x6 recipe cards, 3 stickease sticker sheets, and 6 4x6 dividers.
Box $6.95
about $3.00 if we split a bulk paper pack to decorate the box

**optional-- you can purchase a level #1 paper pack for $9.95, a level #2 paper pack for $12.95, and/or a stickease set for $4.95.

The paper pack is Cherry-O and it is so adorable! Here is a sneak peek......

5 Question Friday!!

Here is today's questions!

1. What words do you use on your blog/online that you don't use in real life?

I don't think there really are any. Pretty much what I post on my is just how I talk in "real life".

2. Do you still write checks?

Nope, I don't even have a checking account. I pay everything online through my savings!

3. Who was your favorite President and why?

Probably Ronald Reagan. He was president through my whole childhood, and I was still naive enough to think that the president was a really nice guy! 

4. Are you a yeller?

Yes, definitely at work. Since I work at a prison I have to yell!

5. Have you ever dumpster dived?

No but I yard sale...kinda the same thing!

Retreat!

This weekend I was able to attend another Inspired Retreat by Charlene. I think I got about 12 Layouts done and did several make and takes and classes from the awesome vendors. Is it wrong that I will be giving one to my mom as a mothers day present? It is handmade even if it wasn't my idea. (Sorry mom, I know you read my blog, but you will love this gift!)

Charlene put me at a table with a few of the ladies I sat with last September. I will definitely be asking to get seated with someone else next time. One of the ladies is great and she scraps for the fun of it. The other two are Scrap Snobs. I do not like scrap snobs. Everyone has their own style and their own experience level. These ladies look at my layouts and turn up their noses!! They do some awesome work but c'mon it isn't THAT great!

The hotel did a great job of booking polar opposite events that weekend too! We had ballroom full of Soccer Mom types, and on the second floor...a Tattoo Convention which featured everything from human suspension to midget wrestling! So of course at our pajama party on Saturday night, I won a prize by showing off my half back tattoo of butterfly wings!! Oh the looks of shock and surprise!

Here are some of the layouts I completed. Sorry about the bad pictures I was being lazy and used my BlackBerry. So I am missing 3 pictures and I will post those as soon as technology cooperates with me.

Oh! and the horrible picture in the middle on the bottom? It is an awesome picture sorter box thing. It is a quick quotes kit. Love Quick Quotes and the ladies at Heart to Heart actually gave the class. Love Heart to Heart too!

And....I just realized that one is on there twice...sorry.