A Glimpse of My Haven

The challenge over at Heart 2 Heart Challenges this week isn't an artwork challenge, it's a "show us" challenge.  They want to see crafty spaces!  Let me tell you, I have been drooling over some of the crafty spaces that have been shared.  Don't get me wrong, I love my little haven, but man-oh-man would I LOVE to have some of the spaces I've seen!  Anywho, I stopped drooling long enough to snap some pictures of my little crafty haven (and I even cleaned it up and vacuumed the floor!!).  

I used to have my scrapping stash out in the office where our computer and everything was (that was pre-laptops) so that we could have a guest room and another room to use as a nursery whenever we have a baby (it was being used as a storage room for now).  But, as any crafter knows, my supplies that I *must* have (wink/wink) eventually outgrew my designated office space so I had to move.  I decided to turn the "future nursery" into my crafty haven and whenever we have a baby we'll just lose the guest room...oh, well!  

It's kinda small, and totally needs a paint job (by the time I got it all cleaned out I had no desire to paint, I just wanted to get my stuff set up and get to scrappin'!), but it's all mine! :o)

This is the view as you look in from the door: (notice my little heater...my 1970s era concrete brick house with as little insulation as needed to pass inspection is always FREEZING!)

My TV stand that now houses all my stamps (and who knows what else) and my awesome wire rack that houses all my cardstock (totally scored this at a scrapbook store that was going out of business...YAY! for cheap and no shipping!!)

A clear plastic shoe organizer holds my punches

My cube shelves from Target...eventually I'm going with a pink and green motif.  The canvas cubes hold everything from glitter to die cut and embossing folders to basic supplies to flowers and random embellishments.

This wire rack holds all my paper packs in alphabetical order.

And, finally, my work table.  The shelf above the table just went up Christmas Eve (thanks to my awesome hubby) so I'm still in the process of organizing it and decided what I want to store on it...I do, however, love the dowels for my ribbon!

There's not much on the walls because eventually I do want to paint them.  I love having my own space to go and just turn on the TV and create.  I find myself crafting a lot more than I used to and using more of my supplies because I can either see them or easily locate them!  My hubby just walks in and says, "I don't want to know how much money is in here, do I?"  I just smile and say, "NOPE!"  :o)

Challenges, Challenges!

I am a newbie when it comes to challenges...but I'm really starting to like them!  I created a card for two different challenges, Mojo Monday and Heart 2 Heart Challenges.  This week at Heart 2 Heart was a color challenge.  Here are the colors: (a bit of Sorbet could be added as well...which I did!)

And here is the sketch for Mojo Monday.  It's sketch #173:

And, finally, here is my card! (Click image to see it larger)

I think it turned out pretty darn cute (if I do say so myself!).  Oh, see those flower buttons on the card and that polka dot paper in the background?  Those are a SNEEK PEEK of some new products that will be available February 1st in the new Spring/Summer Idea Book!! Thanks for looking and be sure to check out Mojo Monday and the Heart 2 Heart Challenges blog to see more beautiful artwork and play along! :o)

Supplies used (all CTMH unless otherwise noted):

Paper: Colonial White, Pear, Sky cardstock

Ink: Pear, Sky, Sorbet; Black StazOn

Stamps: Piece of Cake (D1407)

Other: Colonial White grosgrain ribbon (Z1102), Red Assortment Buttons (Coming Soon!), Sorbet brads

Letters from Africa

I have had this Memory Keeper box for about two years now and just got around to putting it to use.  I know, kinda sad...LOL.  What's really sad is that it's no longer available so this will be my only one. :o(


I needed a place to keep the letters and updates I receive from Esnart and Carilus, so I thought this box would be perfect...and, it is! (If you haven't met Esnart and Carilus yet, click here).

And these are the envelopes that I so look forward to seeing in my mailbox:

Air Mail from Esnart in Zambia

Air Mail from Carilus in Kenya

On a side note, I started taking a photography class at our community college so hopefully you will begin to see an improvement in my picture taking ability! :o)

Supplies used (all CTMH unless otherwise noted):

Paper: Barn Red, Cocoa, Bamboo cardstock; Passages B&T (retired)

Ink: Barn Red, Cocoa

Stamps: Live Inspired (C1408), Rustic Alphabet (E1002)

Other: Basic Craft Buttons, Tan Hemp, Cocoa Grosgrain ribbon

Gift Card Holder

I must start by saying that I cannot take ANY credit for this card.  The gift card holder was created by the super talented Tresa Black (you can view her video tutorial here).  The sketch is Mojo Monday #172, and I completely CASEd (copy and steal everything) the front from Jan.  I really like this month's Stamp of the Month and had fun playing with it!

The inside is what I really love about this card.  The little pocket is the perfect size to hold a gift card!

Supplies used (all CTMH unless otherwise noted):

Paper: Black, Vineyard Berry, Juniper, Sweet Leaf cardstock; Wings B&T

Ink: Black, Vineyard Berry

Stamps: Curly Sentiments (retired), Find Your Style (D1452)

Other: Opaques Licorice (Z1335), Juniper grosgrain ribbon, butterfly punch (Martha Stewart), scallop circle die (Spellbinders)

Inspirations Blog Hop!

Welcome to our Inspirations Blog Hop! We will be featuring products currently offered in our January Inspirations Brochure. If you have come here from Rachel's Blog, you are on the right path! The Blog Hop is a great big circle, so you can start here and work your way all around. If you get lost along the way, you'll find the complete list of participating Consultants here.

We have 13 Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their creations using this month's brochure and other great CTMH products on their blogs.  This is simple to do - just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one!  Here we go!

When I first saw this Wings paper, it was love at first sight!  Butterflies are my FAVORITE and this paper is GORGEOUS!  I decided to use it to make this banner for my sweet Esnart (to meet my sweet Esnart, click here).  Click any image for a larger view.

Those fun ribbon flowers were made with the awesome new pleated ribbon in the Wings Level 2 Assortment.  Here's a close-up:

The letters are sprayed with a mixture of Vineyard Berry re-inker, Create-a-Shade Pearl Paint, and rubbing alcohol using the new Spray Pen that, for the month of January, is only available in the Wings Workshop on the Go.  I just had to use my Martha Stewart butterfly punch and added some Prisma Glitter for some sparkle.

Now "Hop" on over to Judy's Blog to see her work! Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their Blogs to get some great crafting ideas and other fun ideas! Remember, these products are only available at a discount in the month of January!  Contact your CTMH Consultant (or click here) to see how you can get these products!

Supplies used (all CTMH unless otherwise noted):

Paper: Black, Vineyard Berry, Juniper, Sweet Leaf, Olive CS; Wings B&T

Ink: Black; Vineyard berry re-inker

Stamps: Take a Picture (C1440)

Other: Simple Alphabet Uppercase DE (retired), Wings Level 2 Assortment (Z1398), Black Mini-Medley (Z1393), Opaques Pearl (Z1336), Prisma Glitter (Z134), Scallop border punch (Fiskars), Butterfly punches (Martha Stewart)