Bestest Buddies

Today's Project

Hanging Note or card holder made with CTMH Bella Paper Pack and Stickease.

White Christmas!!

We never thought that when we moved to North Carolina we would be able to have a White Christmas but just look at the beauty of it. We were all so excited when it started snowing on Christmas day and then all through the night and we woke up to a beautiful Winter Wonderland.

My Christmas cards for 2010

I hope that everyone has a Wonderful and Blessed Christmas this year and the Happiest of New Years to come.

No School Today!!!!

The boys are off school today because of Icy Roads. Lisa doesn't have to go in until this afternoon. We have my son-in-law's parents visiting for the holidays and the kids were very excited to see them. Should be a great time visiting and having fun with the kids. Hope this finds you all well.

Holidays are getting close!

I hope everyone has been enjoying the excitement and anticipation of the upcoming Christmas season. I, for one, am still not ready. I think it will all get done at the last minute and just in time. We have family coming into town tomorrow to spend the holidays with us and we are all looking forward to that. After all, Celebrating the birth of Jesus and spending time with family is what it is all about to me.

Wonderful time last night

Mike and I had a great time at the Christmas Around the World dinner at church last night. Great food and great fellowship with my church family.

Christmas Around the World Dinner

Tonight my husband and I are are going to dinner at the Lakeside Church of God for the Christmas Around the World Dinner. There are still tickets available if you are interested and live in the Denver, North Carolina area. There are two seatings available. One at 5:30 PM and one at 7:00 PM. Tickets are $10.00 per person and helps raise funds for the youth. Should be a great time of fellowship and great food. Hope to see you there.

Are you interested in getting your catalogs for FREE?

Here is what you do:

PLACE ONE ORDER A YEAR
Then…
YOUR CATALOGS FOR THAT YEAR ARE FREE! 
That is it.
There are several ways to place an order:
1. Hold an EZ INVITE ONLINE GATHERING
2. Email me with your order (vjr1022@yahoo.com)
3. Attend a Free Crop Night  or Workshop Class and place your order in person.
4. Just call me.  (209)914-7725.

I mail catalogs based on orders so as long as your address is correct on your  shipping label then you will be getting your catalogs free for one year.

There will be 2 catalogs a year for a value close to $10.00 for FREE!

Church tonight at 7:00

A church is just a building for some people. A building where hypocritical people gather to check off their visit for the week. They go to say that they were there. They leave the same...unchallenged...bored...unmoved...and certainly untouched by the Presence of a Holy and Loving God. Church doesn't mean anything to a lot of people.

But to me...it is so much more.
I can't imagine not wanting to go.

My church is so dear to me. It is the place where God is waiting to reign down upon us. Where He speaks through His Word. Where He challenges how I think, how I act, and convicts me of sin. A place where hugs abound from people who pray for you. An open altar to ask for help, repentance, and intercede for myself and so many others who are hurting. My church is an extension of my family. It is grace-filled and full of people who are at best pathetic without the life-changing power of Jesus Christ.

CTMH December SOTM

Want to join an exclusive club? Every month Close To My Heart offers you an exclusive My Acrylix® D-size stamp set FREE or at a large discount. The stamp set is available to qualifying customers for that month only. It’s our way of saying thank you, and your way of getting fantastic deals on our amazing stamps!

Here’s how to get a fabulous deal on your very own Stamp of the Month!

You spend You save You pay only
$25 US / $29.50 CAN 25% off $17.21 US / $20.21 CAN
$50 US / $58.95 CAN 50% off $11.48 US / $13.48 CAN
$75 US / $88.50 CAN 75% off $5.74 US / $6.74 CAN
$100 US / $117.50 CAN 100% off FREE!
December’s Stamp of the Month is:
Amore (Set of 13)

Recommended Blocks:
1" × 6 1/2" (Y1005)
4" × 4" (Y1008)
2" × 3 1/2" (Y1009)

Where did this year go?

I woke up this morning and realized that this is the last month of 2010. Where did this year go? Life seems to be moving at lightning speed these days. It is hard for me to comprehend that there are only 24 days until Christmas. I am not even close to being ready. We have the decorating finished but that is just about all we have done. We need to get busy and finish our shopping and baking and wrapping and shipping. Wow! I get tired just thinking about it.

I hope everyone is ready for this hectic but joyful time of year. I pray that each and everyone of you remember the reason for the season is Jesus and give him all the praise and glory in all things. Please join me in spreading the word so that everyone will remember to keep Christ is Christmas

Inside out Ladies/Lakeside Church of God

Last night we all got together to help decorate the church for Christmas. There are still a few things to do but the church is looking beautiful already. As usual, we had a wonderful time together in fellowship with each other and with the Lord. Our God is so awesome and these ladies I am so lucky to be associated with are proof of his goodness. I look forward to spending more time with each and every on of you. I love you all.

Earn CTMH Hostess Rewards Easily

Close To My Heart EZ Invite system has changed to make it possible for you to earn Hostess Rewards WITHOUT hosting an actual home gathering. Well, effective immediately, the system is up and running and there is no time like the present to give you all the details.

As I mentioned, with the CTMH EZ Invite system, you no longer need to host a face-to-face home gathering to earn Hostess Rewards and with collected orders of just $175 you start qualifying. Getting the online gathering process started is easy. Just contact me and you'll be on your way to earning rewards in no time.

So How Does and EZ Invite Online Gathering Work?

Once I have started the process on my end, you'll receive an email with a link to access your CTMH EZ Invite Manager. From here, you simply add the names and email addresses of the people you'd like to invite to shop and you're all set. All orders placed through the EZ Invite system before the closing date the we've decided on will count towards your Hostess Rewards total. Your virtual guests will have until 11:59pm on the closing date to participate. Once the closing date has passed, I will contact you and let you know how much free product you've earned through Hostess Rewards. You select your product and we're finished! It's that easy.

The EZ Invite Manager will make it easy for you to send personalized, professional looking invitations, reminder messages and thank-you notes to your virtual guests. You can also track the total of orders placed, and add/remove guests from the system at any time. As a consultant, I cannot access your EZ Invite Manager, so you can rest assured that your guest's contact information as entered to this system is not shared with me. Only when an order is placed is the information transferred to my database.

Orders placed via the Online Gathering system are processed and shipped as they are received. This means that your guests do not have to wait until sometime after the closing date to receive their product. This is good news for them! This is good news for you too - because regardless of when the order is placed, it will still count towards your qualifying totals for Hostess Rewards!

So what do you think? Are you interested in hosting an Online Gathering and earning Hostess Rewards? Email me at vjr1022@yahoo.com or call me at 704-489-8062 to contact me and we'll get things started right away!

Punkin Pie

This is my grandson Quinn Riley (affectionately know as Punkin Pie) who turned 3 years old on November 27, 2010. We celebrated yesterday with cake and ice cream. Happy Birthday Punkin Pie. I love you very much!

Getting Ready for Christmas

We have started our decorating and the tree is up. The kids are very excited now that the tree is up and cannot wait for Santa to show up.

Thanksgiving Day

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends. We enjoyed the day at home with the kids and went out for dinner. I am truly thankful for the many blessings that God his given to me but most of all I am thankful that he is my Lord and Savior and I will praise him in all things and at all times.

I hope everyone has a wonderful, blessed Thanksgiving. I have so many things to be thankful for this year and always. I thank God for being my Lord and Savior and all the blessings he has given to me. I thank all of my family and friends for being a part of my life and always being there for me. I love you all!

Feeling Very Blessed Today

Prayer changes things...situations, attitudes, people, relationships, & the list goes on. God is so AWESOME!!!

Happy Birthday Kyle!

Happy Birthday to my grandson, Kyle. Today, he is turning 10 years old. He is absolutely one of the sweetest little boys you will ever meet. I love you "Mister"

Some Progress, Finally!

Good morning everyone. I made a good start yesterday on getting my craft area set up in the garage. After church today, I hope to get some more done. Will post some pictures of the progress I am making. Hope everyone has a great day in the Lord and a wonderful week to follow!

Good Morning Everyone!

Hope all of you have a great weekend! I am going to be working on getting my craft area set up in the garage. Since we have moved to North Carolina, I have not been able to do much crafty work. I miss doing that. The weather this morning is cool but supposed to warm up to 70 degrees later today.

Don't miss out on your chance to get free stamp set

My Acrylix® Stamp Sets

Innovation at its best and more than two decades of decorative stamping have brought about the My Acrylix® stamping revolution, where expression is made easy and everyone’s an expert! Our premium quality, clear polymer My Acrylix stamps are easy to use, simple to store, and most importantly, offer creative control and artistic precision with every project.

I absolutely obsessed with these stamp sets. They are so easy to use and so versatile.

See below for Thank You from CTMH

Happy Veterans Day

Remember

by Brittany Vigoreaux



American soldiers sacrifice so much,

All for the freedom of our country.

Leaving their families and heading off to war,

Not knowing what the future holds.



Working day and night

Determined to stay strong.

Watching friends be killed every day

Letters from home inspiring them to keep fighting



So little is given to them

Although there is little to do,

For those who have died in war

We can still remember



Remember all the men who have died.

Remember all the battles fought

Remember all the tears families cried

Remember it was freedom the soldiers brought



To this very day soldiers are under-appreciated

Veterans Day is the day

For the dead, living, and fighting soldiers

To be remembered

Motivation Needed

I am just asking the Lord for motivation today to get my scrap supplies opened and put away. I am tired of unpacking boxes and I want it to be finished and everything put in its proper place and I do not have the motivation needed to complete it. Prayers needed for energy and the willpower to get it done.

Little Lady Lexie

My daughter and son-in-law surprised me with this precious little puppy when I got home from church today. Isn't she just the cutest?!

Home from Ladies Retreat

Had an amazing time in a cabin in the Smoky Mountains. Got to know the ladies a little more and what an amazing group of women they are. We had so much fun. Went to two services and heard two powerful messages by Amanda Crabb and Judi Jacobs.

EZ INVITE ONLINE GATHERING

Close To My Heart EZ Invite system is changing this month to make it possible for you to earn Hostess Rewards WITHOUT hosting an actual home gathering.  Well, effective immediately, the system is up and running and there is no time like the present to give you all the details.

As I mentioned, with the CTMH EZ Invite system, you no longer need to host a face-to-face home gathering to earn Hostess Rewards and with collected orders of just $175 you start qualifying.  Getting the online gathering process started is easy.  Just contact me and you'll be on your way to earning rewards in no time.

So How Does and EZ Invite Online Gathering Work?

Once I have started the process on my end, you'll receive an email with a link to access your CTMH EZ Invite Manager.  From here, you simply add the names and email addresses of the people you'd like to invite to shop and you're all set.  All orders placed through the EZ Invite system before the closing date the we've decided on will count towards your Hostess Rewards total.  Your virtual guests will have until 11:59pm on the closing date to participate.  Once the closing date has passed, I will contact you and let you know how much free product you've earned through Hostess Rewards.  You select your product and we're finished!  It's that easy.

The EZ Invite Manager will make it easy for you to send personalized, professional looking invitations, reminder messages and thank-you notes to your virtual guests.  You can also track the total of orders placed, and add/remove guests from the system at any time.  As a consultant, I cannot access your EZ Invite Manager, so you can rest assured that your guest's contact information as entered to this system is not shared with me.  Only when an order is placed is the information transferred to my database.

Orders placed via the Online Gathering system are processed and shipped as they are received.  This means that your guests do not have to wait until sometime after the closing date to receive their product. This is good news for them!  This is good news for you too - because regardless of when the order is placed, it will still count towards your qualifying totals for Hostess Rewards!

So what do you think?  Are you interested in hosting an Online Gathering and earning Hostess Rewards? Email me at vjr1022@yahoo.com or call me at 704-489-8062 to contact me and we'll get things started right away!

Thank You from CTMH

During November Close To My Heart is expressing their gratitude to YOU by helping you earn two fabulous My Acrylix® stamp sets for FREE!
When you place a minimum order of $100, you will not only receive the November
Stamp of the Month set, A Little Thanks, for FREE, you will also receive one stamp set of your choosing from the 2010 Autumn/Winter Idea Book for FREE*!
This means you can increase the value of your purchase by
up to $45.90—that’s almost 50 percent more in value! It’s just our way of imparting A Little MORE Thanks to you for being a great customer

Bookmark for the Retreat Ladies

The ladies at the retreat will get an opportunity to try their hands at paper crafting by making their own bookmarks just like this one.. I am hoping to get enough people interested to start a Faithbooking ministry at the church.

Layout to show the ladies at retreat

This layout is made with Paper Garden from CTMH.

November Stamp of the Month

Want to join an exclusive club? Every month Close To My Heart offers you an exclusive My Acrylix® D-size stamp set FREE or at a large discount. The stamp set is available to qualifying customers for that month only. It’s our way of saying thank you, and your way of getting fantastic deals on our amazing stamps!

Here’s how to get a fabulous deal on your very own Stamp of the Month!

You spend You save You pay only
$25 US / $29.50 CAN 25% off $17.21 US / $20.21 CAN
$50 US / $58.95 CAN 50% off $11.48 US / $13.48 CAN
$75 US / $88.50 CAN 75% off $5.74 US / $6.74 CAN
$100 US / $117.50 CAN 100% off FREE!
November’s Stamp of the Month is:
A Little Thanks (Set of 16)

Recommended Blocks:
1" × 3 1/2" (Y1002)
2" × 2" (Y1003)
2" × 3 1/2" (Y1009)

Retreat this weekend!

I am leaving Wednesday night to go on a women's retreat with the ladies from my church.I have only started going to the church here in Denver, NC about a month or so ago and the ladies of my church are an amazing group of women and I look forward to getting to know each of them better. We will be staying in a cabin in Gatlinburg, TN. It will be a great time of fellowship, worship and sharing God's word. I can hardly wait.

CTMH October Campaign

WHETHER YOU’RE A BRAND NEW OR EXPERIENCED HOSTESS with Close To My Heart, this is the perfect opportunity to hold one or more Home Gatherings and receive special sales incentives! That’s right . . . at every Gathering held from October 1 to October 31 that reaches a minimum of $450 in sales, hostesses will be able to “jump” to the next level of Hostess Rewards—which means more free products and more items at 50% off! And it’ll be so easy to do, because October is the ideal time for guests to buy scrapbooking, cardmaking, and papercrafting supplies to preserve their memories. It’s enough to make you Jump for Joy!
Ask your Consultant for more information about this fabulous opportunity today!

CTMH Stamp of the Month

Stamp of the Month

Want to join an exclusive club? Every month Close To My Heart offers you an exclusive My Acrylix® D-size stamp set FREE or at a large discount. The stamp set is available to qualifying customers for that month only. It’s our way of saying thank you, and your way of getting fantastic deals on our amazing stamps!

Here’s how to get a fabulous deal on your very own Stamp of the Month!

You spend You save You pay only
$25 US / $29.50 CAN 25% off $17.21 US / $20.21 CAN
$50 US / $58.95 CAN 50% off $11.48 US / $13.48 CAN
$75 US / $88.50 CAN 75% off $5.74 US / $6.74 CAN
$100 US / $117.50 CAN 100% off FREE!
October's Stamp of the Month is:
Share the Magic (Set of 12)
Recommended Blocks: 1" x 1 1/2" (Y1001), 2" × 2" (Y1003), 3" x 3" (Y1006)

2010 CTMH Fall/Winter Idea Book

I'm still here

Well, it ended up taking us six weeks to get phone cable and internet hooked up. I thought it was never going to happen. We have been so busy with trying to get everything unpacked and set up. It has been slow going because my son-in-law has been working lots of hours and my daughter started working at the doctor's office fulltime so my husband and I have been with the kids all day through the week.

Still do not have a scrap/craft area set up. Need to get the garage cleaned out to find everything. Will post some pictures of the new area and projects completed as they are available.

Arrived in North Carolina

We made it safely across country and very glad to have that trip behind us. It is slow going to get everything set up in the new house but we are getting there slowly but surely. We will not have Internet set up for another two weeks so I am posting this from my iPhone. Willpost again when we get our Internet hooked up.

Leaving California on Saturday

I have a attached a few pictures of our new home in North Carolina. Can't wait to get there and get everything set up and we are looking forward to exploring our new surroundings.

One week from today

The house is pretty much packed up except for the last minute things we are still using. We are all getting very excited about this new adventure in our lives. Can't wait to see what God has in store for us. We are hoping that instead of complaining about the trip. we will be able to enjoy the journey to our new destination. We have planned some car activities for the young ones so that they will not become too bored along the way.

10 DAYS AND COUNTING

We now have 10 days left before our big move to North Carolina. Yard Sale was a success. We managed to get rid of everything we put out for the sale. Packing is almost complete except for last minute things we are still using. We and the kids are getting excited. Going to try and make the best of the long drive by playing games with the kids and we have movies and car games as well.Should be quite and adventure.

Moving Sale this weekend

We are having a moving sale this weekend to scale down so that we can get ready for the move to North Carolina. We are scaling down on furniture and household items. We are, after all, moving to the Furniture Capital of USA. 20 Miles of furniture between Hickory and Lenoir, NC. Yeah, Baby! That is what I'm talkin' about! Can't wait! It will be exciting to decorate a new house.

Lenoir is a 20-minute drive northwest from Hickory, 90 minutes from Charlotte and five hours from the coast. Other metro areas within 100 miles include Asheville and Winston-Salem, NC, Greenville and Spartanburg, SC, and Johnson City, Kingsport and Bristol, TN. The 20 Miles of Furniture is only a short drive to the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Big jump ahead for the move to NC

Well, we originally thought that we were going to be moving on August 25, 2010. We found out today that we are actually leaving on the July 24, 2020. That is only 18 days away. Isn't that crazy? We are running around like mad men trying to get everything ready to go now. We found out that my son-in-law has to report to work on August 2, 2010. I will be so glad when this is all over with. Needless to say, I will not be working in my craft room anymore until we are settled into our new place. Will try to keep in touch.

Time to Pack Up

We had relatives visiting this weekend and they are leaving this morning. Will be starting to pack up everything for the move to North Carolina. Very exciting and a little scary at the same time. Not sure what to expect back there. Never been there before but I'm sure it will be a great move for all of us.

CTMH Stamp of the Month

July's Stamp of the Month is:
Happy Forever (Set of 9)
Recommended Blocks: 1" × 1" (Y1000), 1" × 3 1/2" (Y1002), 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" (Y1004), 4" x 4" (Y1008)

Want to join an exclusive club? Every month Close To My Heart offers you an exclusive My Acrylix® D-size stamp set FREE or at a large discount. The stamp set is available to qualifying customers for that month only. It’s our way of saying thank you, and your way of getting fantastic deals on our amazing stamps!

Here’s how to get a fabulous deal on your very own Stamp of the Month!

You spend You save You pay only
$25 US / $29.50 CAN 25% off $17.21 US / $20.21 CAN
$50 US / $58.95 CAN 50% off $11.48 US / $13.48 CAN
$75 US / $88.50 CAN 75% off $5.74 US / $6.74 CAN
$100 US / $117.50 CAN 100% off FREE!

Heart to Heart Challenge (Patriotic)

On the star Bank, I used CTMH Independance paper Pack and red trim. On the tall round Bank, I used CTMH Blue Ribbon Paper Pack and red ribbon.

New Camera Shots

We did get a new camera and these are my first pictures. I need to read up on how to use this new one. It is a Cannon Rebel and I am use to just pointing and shooting.

Stressed to the Max today!

If stress were a type of diet, I think I would be invisible by now. We are still waiting for a definitive answer on whether we are moving to North Carolina or not. First we were, then we weren't, then we were again, now it is not so sure, and it is driving me crazy. I just want to know one way or another so I can either start packing my scrap room or start working in it.

My Stagner Grandsons

This is the latest picture we have of the Stagner Boys.
Collin....11 Years old
Kyle.......9 years old
Cody.......5 years old
Quinn......2 years old
CJ.........8 months old

My husband and I live with my daughter and her husband and these are their boys. They keep us busy, laughing and young at heart.

Great Weekend ahead with visiting friends

Friends of ours are visiting this weekend. Mel and her daughter,Ivy from Reno, NV and Mike and April and their twin girls Savanna and Quincy, and their newborn boy, Parker from Redding, CA are visiting this weekend. What a blast the kids are having. It is total chaos at the house because that makes a total of 17 people here, but, well worth it. Mel is taking family pictures of the Stagner family and Smith family and combined family pictures of the Stagner/Smith clans. They should be great. She is an awesome photographer. Well, I am off to join in the craziness. Have a great weekend everyone!

D1422 Wonderful Friend, June 2010 Stamp Of The Month

Available June 1–30, 2010 only.

With a minimum qualifying purchase, get your Stamp of the Month set at a great discount or FREE!

US / Canadian Pricing:

When you spend: You pay only: You save:
$25.00 / $29.50 $17.21 / $20.21 25% off

$50.00 / $58.95 $11.48 / $13.48 50% off


$75.00 / $88.50 $5.74 / $6.74 75% off


$100.00 / $117.50 FREE! 100% off

Set of 9
Recommended My Acrylix® Blocks:
2" × 2" (Y1003), 3" × 3" (Y1006), 2" × 3 1/2" (Y1009), 2" × 6 1/2" (Y1010)
$22.95 D1422

Pictures Bad

I am sorry for the pictures in the previous posts not being up to par. Kids were playing with my camera and now it is all messed up. Good excuse to get a new and better camera. Don't you agree?

Lisa and Kelsey Wedding Album