I Wanna Hold Your Hand Hand Hand...

Hi, everyone! Last month our daughter and friend came to visit us for about a week. One of the adventures we took was to a fun Sea life Aquarium. We saw a pink octopus! It was a little creepy but also very cool looking. And yes, that is a REAL live starfish in the background. 

Today's Miss Kate Cuttables Ocean Friends Card

Miss Kate Cuttables Smiling Octopus

Sketch found on Pinterest

Doodlebug Design, 6x6 paper pad, Under the Sea

Doodlebug Design, 6x6 paper pad, Anchors Aweigh

My Favorite Things, Cross Stitched Oval Dies

Purple Sequins

Foam tape to adhere image

Enjoy the rest of your day.

:) Janis

See the Close to My Heart Catalog HERE

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Join my Close to My Heart Team HERE

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Weight Watchers Wednesday

Hello all my bloggy friends!

I've decided to change my weekly Weight Watchers posts to less frequency. There just isn't a lot happening on the scale. I'm hovering in the 179's. So instead of posting the same stats on Wednesdays, I thought maybe I'd try just posting when there's a major change or maybe going to once a month recap. I'm still hanging in there. Don't think I've given up, because I haven't!!

I'll have a craft post going up on my blog in about a minute, so don't miss that. You may have to refresh your screen.

Enjoy the rest of your day.

:) Janis

See the Close to My Heart Catalog HERE

Order Close to My Heart Goodies HERE

Join my Close to My Heart Team HERE

Join me at Weight Watchers HERE

Mermaid Tales of the Sea

Hi, everyone! I had a great day last Sunday. I printed a whole bunch of Miss Kate Cuttable files and then went to my favorite sketch blogs and started whipping out cards one after the other. I love productive days like that. Here's another card from Sunday's crafting time.

Miss Kate Cuttables Mermaid Card

Miss Kate Cuttables, Mermaid

Sketch Saturday #421

Doodlebug Design, 6x6 pad, Under the Sea

My Favorite Things, Stitched Circle Dies

Star Punch

Tim Holtz Tea Dye distress ink around edges of some of the papers

Foam Tape to adhere Mermaid and Star

Kraft Card Base

Enjoy the rest of your day.

:) Janis

See the Close to My Heart Catalog HERE

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Join my Close to My Heart Team HERE

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Happy Ant Card

Hi, everyone!

I'm back today with another card using a fun sketch from Viva la Verve.

Today's Miss Kate Cuttables Card

Miss Kate Cuttables, Ant with Apple

Viva La Verve Sketch, July #2

 Kraft card base

My Favorite Things, Zig Zag rectangle dies

Mini Banner Punch

Doodlebug Design, 6x6 pad, Spring Garden

Enjoy the rest of your day.

:) Janis

See the Close to My Heart Catalog HERE

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Join my Close to My Heart Team HERE

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Flower Card

Hi, everyone! I hope you are having a relaxing Sunday.

I didn't have anything scheduled to post for today, so I decided to take today's FREEBIE at Miss Kate Cuttables and combine it with a current sketch challenge.

Today's Miss Kate Cuttables Card

Miss Kate Cuttables, Cute Sunflower Freebie for 7-17-16

Freshly Made Sketches #245

I also used a stamp & die set from Ki for the page tab.

Doodlebug Design, 6x6 pad, Spring Garden

My Favorite Things, Zig Zag rectangle stitched dies

Foam Tape to adhere image

Enjoy the rest of your day.

:) Janis

See the Close to My Heart Catalog HERE

Order Close to My Heart Goodies HERE

Join my Close to My Heart Team HERE

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Daily FREEBIE by Miss Kate Cuttables

Miss Kate Cuttables FREEBIE of the Day!

Get your's HERE!

Enjoy the rest of your day.

:) Janis

See the Close to My Heart Catalog HERE

Order Close to My Heart Goodies HERE

Join my Close to My Heart Team HERE

Join me at Weight Watchers HERE

July Scrapbook Page 3

Hi, everyone! I am officially all caught up with July's scrapbooking at this moment. Pocket Style scrapbooking is awesome for keeping it simple and staying up to date without all the guilt and pressure of not getting it done. 

Love it!

July Scrapbook Page 3

Background pattern paper for pockets from DCWV The Travel Adventure Stack

Lots of die cuts on this one.....

Miss Kate Cuttables print and cuts:

Beehive

Bee

Boom

Sunshine Title

Super Hero

Wham

Kitty

Making Memories Title

Camera

Other Die Cuts:

Bear Silhouette, Sil ID# 139331

Tag, it's a Sil cut, but I don't think it's in the store anymore. I couldn't find it.

Grass, Sil ID# 40183

Other Supplies:

Crinkle Ribbon on Tag, DL Art

Some inking around cuts using Tim Holtz Tea Dye distress ink

This was so fun!

Enjoy the rest of your day.

:) Janis

See the Close to My Heart Catalog HERE

Order Close to My Heart Goodies HERE

Join my Close to My Heart Team HERE

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Beach Box Card

Hi, everyone! It's time for another PDE Linky Party craft challenge. 

This week we are asking for BEACH THEMED projects.

Beach Box Card

Beach Box Card, Sil ID# 60672

Miss Kate Designs for all 3 print and cuts:

Day at the Beach

Crab with Sunglasses

Pineapple Drink

Pattern papers, DCWV Little Miss

Orange gem (Walmart)

Tim Holtz Tea Dye Distress Ink for shading around some of the cut outs

Thanks for stopping by!

Enjoy the rest of your day.

;) Janis

See the Close to My Heart Catalog HERE

Order Close to My Heart Goodies HERE

Join my Close to My Heart Team HERE

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July Scrapbook Pages

Hi, everyone! I'm just now getting my July Title Page created and photos printed for my scrapbook. I had started the title page a couple of days before July, but it was not coming together like I liked, and I kept putting off working on it since I wasn't happy with it. That problem was solved earlier this week when I decided to trash the page I didn't like. I mean really. I don't need that kind of negativity in my life. LOL  The whole problem was using a different pocket style format that incorporated 4x4 pockets on the page - a style I have not used before. I could not wrap my head around how to make that work. So I went back to my standard page with 4 of the 4x6 pockets and 4 of the 3x4 pockets and guess what? Life is good again. :)

I also used my new Cannon Selphy CP1200 printer!
Now, I know what you're thinking... Tom bought you that great HP Photosmart printer just so you could print scrapbook photos!  That is correct. And I love that HP printer. But when my daughter and friend came to visit and were talking about the Selphy printer, I was tempted to give it a try. I'm glad I did. The speed and quality are almost matched to the big HP Photosmart printer. I mean the difference is so minute, it's not worth discussing. The HP photos are a bit better, but for scrapbook purposes, the Selphy printer is just fine. I'm actually hoping to save myself some ink expense with the Selphy printer. We use our HP Photosmart printer for more than just photos, so I do go through quite a bit of ink. And that's okay. I'm not going to NOT use my printer for fear of ink costs, but if I can decrease the ink cost by going to a printer just for photos, why not give it a try and see if works out well?

All solid cardstock is Close to My heart. (Shop: http://janislewis.ctmh.com/)

Background pattern paper fro the title page pockets is from DCWV Honey Chic Stack.

Font for JULY title, Silhouette Online Store, Rainy Day

50th Birthday, Sil ID# 24570

Alaska Home Sweet Home, Sil ID# 141617

The back of the title page used pattern paper for the pockets from DCWV My Sunshine Stack.

Flower, Sil ID# 42094

Gold gems added to flower center (Walmart)

Edges of flower petals inked with Tim Holtz Walnut Stain distress ink

Bear Silhouette, Sil ID# 139331

Enjoy the rest of your day.

:) Janis

See the Close to My Heart Catalog HERE

Order Close to My Heart Goodies HERE

Join my Close to My Heart Team HERE

Join me at Weight Watchers HERE

July Mailbox Hugs

Hi, everyone! I was so honored over the weekend to be asked to join a small group called Mailbox Hugs. The group is set up to minister to individuals needing encouragement for various situations by mailing them handmade cards. What a great ministry! Our July recipient of this month's Group Mailbox Hug is Shelby. After watching the video of her riding an adult-sized tricycle for physical therapy, I knew I had to include some sort of bike on my card. 

July Mailbox Hugs

Sil ID# 59702 Kite Tree Bike Box Card

Miss Kate Cuttables, Riding My Bike print and cut

Most pattern papers from DCWV My Sunshine Stack

Other pattern papers from scrap box

Foam tape to assemble kite and adhere smaller cloud.

Inking around some edges with Tim Holtz Tea Dye distress ink.

Gold gems added to kite flags 

And see, you can even fold these box cards flat for mailing!

When they get the card, it can sit up by itself on a shelf, counter, table, etc.

I'm loving making this type of card.

Thanks for riding by to see me.

Enjoy the rest of your day.

;) Janis

See the Close to My Heart Catalog HERE

Order Close to My Heart Goodies HERE

Join my Close to My Heart Team HERE

Join me at Weight Watchers HERE

Weight Watchers Wednesday

Hi, everyone!  Join me at Weight Watchers HERE

Did everyone have a good Weight Watchers week? I hope so. I am struggling. I went through a week of wanting to eat constantly. Is that a Menopause thing? Because that needs to stop. We did stock up on fruit over the weekend, so that will help tremendously. I've also found that sometimes I just want something salty and crunchy that's not potato chips. Here are two things we snack on for that:

These are also great...

As far as frozen meals.... these are my favorites for lunches....

 

Don't go by the points on the photos. Either scan the barcode or put in the nutrition information to make sure the points convert to the newest point system. 

Sigh. It would be nice to have an elevator to success. But then the reward and satisfaction of our accomplishments would not be as great.

Alright, enough chatter. Time for the nitty gritty details of my weigh in.

Weight Loss Update

203.4 Start

179.4 Current

-24 Total Loss

- 2 1/2" Total inches lost since June (Bust, Waist, Hips combined)

We can do this! I believe it!

Enjoy the rest of your day.

:) Janis

See the Close to My Heart Catalog HERE

Order Close to My Heart Goodies HERE

Join my Close to My Heart Team HERE

Join me at Weight Watchers HERE

Heart Gate-Fold Cards

Hi, everyone!

Last Friday I was making some cards to mail out to my parents. We are in Alaska, and they are in South Carolina. I made one to mail to Mama at her home, and one to mail to Daddy at the nursing home he is in. I included photos of us in both cards. They love getting photos in the mail. I wrote on the insides before I remembered to photograph them for my blog post, so instead I just held them both up in my hand for a quick photo to include here.

I love these card folds! There are several in the Silhouette online store with different shapes on the center fold like paw prints, a lighthouse, these hearts, and many more. They are fun to make!

Sil ID# 140072 

Heart Fold Card

All of the pattern papers are from new DCWV 12x12 stacks I picked up at Joann's recently. Normally here in Alaska these 12x12 pads are $24. In the lower 48 I think they are more around $20. I went to Joann's a couple of weekends ago and just happened to see they were all on sale for $9.99! Then when I got to check out, I was able to use a 20% off coupon even on the sale items. I was thrilled!

So last Friday, I went back to get some more because they were still on sale. I haven't bought 12x12 stacks in so long that almost all of the ones they had were new to me. I got 3 more on Friday, and this time instead of the 20% off coupon on your entire purchase (sale or not) at checkout, I had a 25% off one! Woo-Hoo! Another fabulous shopping trip!

Some of the papers were inked around the edges with Tim Holtz Tea Dye distress ink.

Enjoy the rest of your day.

;) Janis

See the Close to My Heart Catalog HERE

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Join my Close to My Heart Team HERE

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Pet Sympathy Card

Before I get to the card I want to share with you today, first I want to plug in a one minute video my husband, Tom, took yesterday on his hike up Mt. Baldy and a little beyond. I can't go on these hikes with him because 1) I'm too out of shape and 2) I stay home with Bonnie who can't do that much exercise. We have to watch it because her heart will cut up and she'll pass out. Tom always sends me lots of pictures through texting so I feel like I'm with him. The stuff he sees is breathtaking. I always print some of the photos off to include in our scrapbook. Those are usually the best pages, in my opinion.  But I digress... enjoy the video!

Now, onto today's card.....

I thought I had posted this card already, but I guess not. Today I want to share with you a dog sympathy card I made for a friend who recently lost her furry loved one.

Dog Sympathy Card

Sil ID# 138929 Paw Print Trifold Card

Pattern papers, DCWV My Sunshine stack

Sil ID# 42855 Summer Borders, Grass

Sil ID# 39137 Dog Silhouette

Sentiment Stamp, Simon Says Stamp July 2016 Card Kit

Thanks for stopping by.

Enjoy the rest of your day.

;) Janis

See the Close to My Heart Catalog HERE

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Join my Close to My Heart Team HERE

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Mini Card

Hi, everyone. I hope you guys are enjoying your weekend. Today I have a mini card to share with you that I'll be sending to our daughter.

Mini Card

Sil ID# 130874 - Pregnancy Belly Card

Assembly Instructions here

For my card, I sized the card base to 2 3/4" x 3 1/2".

The added foam tape for different pieces, really makes this card pop.

Here's the inside:

I love this little card. 

Enjoy the rest of your day.

;) Janis

See the Close to My Heart Catalog HERE

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Join my Close to My Heart Team HERE

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Summer Box Card

Hi, everyone! I saw this cute Lori Whitlock box card file in the Silhouette store and thought I'd give it a go. It incorporates cut shapes along with print and cut shapes.

Box Card

I've made box cards in the past, but not very many. I'm really happy how easily this one came together.

The base is dark brown, not black as it appears in the photo.

I added an additional shadow layer for the sentiment scallop circle using the offset feature of the Silhouette software.

The cute little girl swimmer is a print and cut.

Pattern papers from a new DCWV stack called "Little Miss." (When I say "new," I mean new to me.) I went to Joanns here for the first time over the weekend and was thrilled that the 12x12 stacks were $9.99 PLUS I got to use a 20% off coupon on top of that. Woo-Hoo! It was a good shopping day.

The sentiment stamp is from Close To My Heart #A1188 called "Hello Sunshine." I cut the sentiment in half and stacked it. You can shop at my online CTMH store here.

This card does fold flat for easy mailing as shown above.

Enjoy your day!

:) Janis

Cut It Up's 100th Challenge & Celebration

Join me at Weight Watchers HERE

Welcome to Cut It Up's 100th Challenge! Cut It Up thought it would be fun to gather up everyone who has been a part of the Design Team in the past. That included me, and I am honored to be a part of the 100th Challenge! Be sure to hop over to Cut It Up and see all of the projects from the current and some of the past Design Team's projects for this special challenge, and check out the sponsors and prizes. Don't forget to link up your projects!

My Special Project for the 100th Challenge

Treat Box with Tag

This project was created using cut files from the Silhouette Online Store. You can purchase the cut files individually, or go to the Ready Set Make section to purchase them in a group and get a little discount. If you purchase from the Ready Set Make section, you will be able to download and print the PDF instructions.

Modern Pattern Gift Box

In addition to the Silhouette cuts, I also used a Gold Foil Round embellishment from a Project Life kit, some retired tulle from Stampin' Up, Pear Ink from Close To My Heart on half the tag, and my favorite part.... the flower centers. Let me tell you how they came to life.

I received a Happy Birthday themed Pocket Letter that was wrapped in this gorgeous white tissue paper with gold foil hearts on it. I couldn't just throw that away like you would with wrapping paper on Christmas morning. No way. It was so pretty.  My flowers were rolled after being cut out with the Silhouette, but they lacked something. I remembered the tissue paper, grabbed a cotton ball, and went to work. I separated one cotton ball into 3 sections and wrapped the tissue paper around it. Then I used a large glue dot to adhere it inside the flower centers. I love how it came out. They are fluffy and pretty! Yay for thinking outside the box sometimes. (Which is rare for me. LOL)

I'm tickled with this whole project. 

Thanks for stopping by! Don't forget to check out the other Design Team members' projects, the sponsors and prizes, and to create something to link up.  Enjoy the rest of your day!

See the Close to My Heart Catalog HERE

Order Close to My Heart Goodies HERE

Join my Close to My Heart Team HERE 

Join me at Weight Watchers HERE