Happy Valentines Day!!

I am LOVIN the new Topstitch! I created this two-page 12x12 layout for my sweetheart. My Life Preservers Club will be using these products for our project this weekend and I'm sure they're gonna love it too. We'll be working with the Topstitch Workshop on the Go which is available on my website. The paper is Topstitch Level 2 which uses Baby Pink, Chocolate, Heavenly Blue, and Vineyard Berry from the CTMH exclusive color palette. The stamp set that comes with the workshop is so cute! I thought it was a must-have. It didn't disappoint! I love how versatile our stamp sets are and this is a great one. I accented by making my own embellishments with the stamp set and ink-ing some Dimensional Elements Hearts. Of course, you can never have too many clear sparkles on a project and they added a great touch to the Love theme of the layout. I've also seen the same layout and papers used with boyscout photo's. The products are great for many occasions and themes. You'll notice that I only used one colored photo and the rest are black and white. My Junior prom dress just happened to be a close match to the Heavenly Blue in the paper so this made a great focal photo. (Plus, my husband really likes that photo) The rest of the pictures I wanted to use had many different colors since they were taken in different places and years apart (note that I labeled each photo with the year) so making them all black and white worked out really well and helps draw the eye to the focal photo of the younger, thinner us!

Hearts for Haiti

Our hearts go out to the victims of the earthquake in Haiti, and like so many of you, we’re eager to help. We’re excited to announce Close To My Heart’s February Constant Campaign, Hearts for Haiti—where customers can get a great deal while doing great good for those affected by the devastation in Haiti.
From February 1-28, 2010, our 12” x 12” textured cardstock combo packs are buy one, get one FREE—and with every offer purchased, Close To My Heart will donate $2 US to Operation Smile’s Haiti relief efforts. Operation Smile is always a fantastic charitable partner—offering free facial reconstruction surgeries to needy children throughout the world. They’ve currently marshaled their medical teams and resources to provide emergency relief in Haiti, and the donations given as part of Hearts for Haiti will be used exclusively for Operation Smile’s efforts in Haiti. For more information on their on-the-ground response, you can visit www.operationsmile.org/haiti.

Visit my website at www.chasidygegg.myctmh.com to get in on this great offer and help a great cause!

Think outside the book - 1

Lately I've been trying to challenge myself to create projects that are not scrapbook pages. I love to scrapbook and my kids give me plenty of reason, but it's also great to find new and fun ways to use CTMH products. This is the first in a blog series called "Think outside the book". I hope you'll like these ideas and try them yourself. I'd love to hear your feedback!

Lets make a flip-flop card!
You will need: (a)A piece of cardstock, cut to 8-1/2" x 4-1/4"
(b)A second piece of cardstock (not the same color as the first), cut to 8-1/2" x 3" (c)A piece of B&T paper cut to 4" x 3-1/4"
(d)A piece of B&T paper cut to 4" x 2-1/2"
(e)A piece of cardstock (can be the same as 'a' but not 'b') cut to 2-3/4" x 2-3/4" (f)A piece of B&T paper cut to 2-1/2" x 2-1/2"

I chose to use the Topstitch Level 2 Paper Packet for mine. It's brand new in the 2010 spring idea book and I love the soft colors in this pack.
I chose to swipe the edges of all my pieces with Chocolate ink to give it a distressed look. Then I start my assembly....
You'll need to score the two pieces of cardstock that make your base, 'a' and 'b'. Piece 'a' is scored at 3-1/2". To score you just align your paper where you want your crease to be and use a bone folder or an embossing stylus, as I did, and apply pressure (not too much) along the line you want to fold.

Use the same technique with 'b' and score in half at 4-1/4".
Attach the two pieces together as shown.


Next attach 'd' to the inside of the card as so...

Then attach piece 'c' to the front of the card on the bigger flap. The smaller flap should fold over the top.

Attach piece 'f' to the top of piece 'e' and embellish as desired.

Attach to the front of your card.

I also made a flip-flop card using Veranda Level 2 Paper. I think it turned out really cut too.

Heavy hearted for earthquake victims

I just can't hardly turn on the television lately. It's so hard to watch what's happening in Haiti. My family lost our home in the great midwest flood of 1993 and one thing that I'll always remember was how people came! Friends, neighbors, strangers, just tons of people came to help sandbag day after day. We live in a very generous country. We are blessed to be surrounded by such caring people. We always need to pass that on. We need to turn around and give to the next person in need and to teach our kids that it's the right thing to do. I remember watching t.v. when Katrina hit and racking my brain trying to figure out what I could do, beyond sending money, to help. Well, here we are again. We have neighbors who need us. I strongly believe that the most important thing we can do is pray! Remember to pray for them! Ask God to bring peace and safety to Haiti. Ask for him to clear the roads for the aid workers. Ask for good weather and a break in the heat. And, importantly, ask him to tell you what he wants you to do to help these poor people in need.

Please check back because I'm trying to come up with a plan to use my business website to raise funds for the earthquake victims. Perhaps a day set aside where all my website profits will go to the Red Cross.

Let's do this thang! Let's share our love for each other while showing the world that we're not the great satan, but generous people who see a need and ACT! That's God's kinda love, agape love.