LOVE MY STATE!

Even if stamping isn't your prime craft you have to love these new state stamps!! Of course, Ohio is the heart of it all! But CTMH has all 50 states, plus all the Canadian provinces - and they're only $2.95!. You know you want one... but which state has your heart???

FUN FACT

Fun fact: CTMH My Reflections papers all come with a bonus strip that you can use in layouts or on cards! Here's a pic of the 3 bonus strips from the new Zoe papers. How would you use these bonus strips?

FACEBOOK PARTY!!!

Hi everyone!

I am holding a FACEBOOK party on Monday, Aug. 31 starting at 7;00 PM. What does this mean?  It means you don't have to leave your house, can attend in your pajamas if you like, and can still get a look at some of the NEW products Close To My Heart has available starting Sept. 1st!!

If you haven't been invited to this spectacular event, friend me on FB and I will send you an invite!

I'll be posting pics, comments, and maybe even some videos of some of the new products.  You'll also have chances to win PRIZES if you visit during the time the Facebook party is live!

(You'll always have the chance to go back and look at posts after the party is over, and of course, you can always place orders at my Close To My Heart page - shirleyventresca.ctmh.com!

You can order items from the CURRENT Idea Book now through Aug. 31st - just join my Facebook Party: Current Idea Book party on my website.

Once you've seen the new items you will be able to order products starting Sept. 1 by joining my Facebook Party: New Idea Book on my website.  Orders will be taken for this party through Fri., Sept. 4 - AND one special guest will be randomly chosen to be the HOSTESS of this party and eligible for DISCOUNTED and FREE new products based on the sales for the party.  IT COULD BE YOU!!!

I look forward to sharing the new items with you, hearing your comments, and helping you in finding those special papers, embellishments, and other items you've been looking for!

Stay posted on FB for news bits about the party... and of course, Have a MARVelous time crafting everyone!

WORKSHOPS AND PREVIEWS

I'm so excited to tell you that Close To My Heart's new Annual Inspirations is coming out Sept. 1st, as well as a new Holiday Expressions! (The covers of these amazing new Idea  Books are shown in the sidebar to the right.)

I'm even more excited to tell you that you can get a sneak peek and preview this month!

I've scheduled 2 workshops at my home during August:
Thurs., Aug 13 6:30 PM - Simple Scrapbooking and
Tues., Aug 25 6:30 PM - Simple Cards

At both of these workshops we'll be using a new paper pack called ZOE from the new Annual Inspirations Idea Book.  This paper pack is incredible; here's a peek for now:

You'll just love ZOE's color palette and wonderful patterns!

RSVP by Wed., 8/5 for the Simple Scrapbooking workshop; $15 payable via PayPal to shirleyventresca@ymail.com.

RSVP by Fri., 8/14 for the Simple Cards workshop; $15 payable via PayPal to shirleyventresca@ymail.com.

As always contact me if you'd like to have a workshop in your home! It's always a great time with friends!!

Have a MARVelous time crafting everyone!

The Reasons Why

My Finished Project

I hope everyone had a happy and safe holiday!  My 4th was pretty quiet.  But I did get my project finished - just in time for the 4th of July!  I'm very pleased with it!

I used the CTMH Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge, cutting 2-1/2" and 2" flowers, which can be found on p. 69 of the Art Philosophy booklet (it's the flower made with the Shift key on that page). I want to thank Angela Jones Garcia for her project, which was my inspiration!

I was so pleased with myself that I thought I'd take this crafting 'high' and keep going with it - I'm already working on my NEXT project! While I like to scrapbook, I also like to make things - home decor or gifts.  I decided I wanted to find something different to work on and hit Pinterest for ideas.  I found some really neat silhouette ideas using scrapbooking paper and the light-bulb in my head went off and away I went working on the idea! It's going to take a bit, but... Stay tuned!

(Plus, I am expecting a box from Close To My Heart coming tomorrow with some really neat paper and other things in it! I found cute pics of Matthew to scrapbook, so I ordered this paper.  Can't wait to show you!)

Besides my crafting 'high' there is another impetus for me to craft - CTMH's annual convention is this week and unfortunately I won't be going.  I'm excited to see new things, but also VERY envious of my CTMH sisters that are attending!

Have a MARVelous time crafting everyone!

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!

I have just tonight and tomorrow to finish the project I've been working on - yes, it's a 4th of July project!  Nothing like waiting until the last minute, right? But that is SO me.

I spent last week at a meeting in Washington DC.  I love the history of our country, learning about the people that shaped it.  I took an afternoon and headed over to the Smithsonian Portrait Gallery and looked at the paintings of all of our presidents.  Each painting had a brief story about the president - very intriguing!  Of course, there were other portraits and sculptures, and even non-portrait paintings.  I'm in awe of the talent of these artists.

A business trip leaves little time for being creative - and getting back home and back into my routine has held me back, too.  But July 3 is a day off, and the holiday is Saturday.  After cooking for a friend's 4th of July party & attending the same party - I plan on scrapbooking.

Oh, really, tell you something you don't know, right?  ;-)

I hope everyone has a really fantastic holiday weekend!  Perhaps the rain will hold off a bit so we can sit in dry lawns and watch fireworks in amazement!

When you have the chance: Have a MARVelous time crafting everyone!