Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope all you wanted you got! I hope to be posting some new scrapbook pages real soon. They are done, they just need to be photographed and uploaded. My goal before the end of the year!

I'm Always Amazed!

At how people can find you that you don't even know. Someone... "anonymous" has left spamming comments on this blog. It's kind of freaky since I didn't realize that many people even KNEW about this blog! OH, well, just thought I'd comment on that.

WOW! Time Flies!

I made it through the retreat and I'm already on to planning a Spring one! Check out my Fall Retreat Blog at www.2009bransonretreat.blogspot.com and the brand new one for the Spring Retreat at www.2010springretreat.blogspot.com. We had a blast and will have just as much, if not even more, fun at the Spring Retreat!

I'm in Retreat Mode!

I cannot believe we are only a week and a couple of days away from my 2009 Fall Scrapbook Retreat in Branson, Mo! I hope you are among the wonderful group of ladies who are joining me for a fun-filled, hopefully productive 4 days of scrapbooking at a wonderful location in Branson. I love organizing these things and I can't wait for it to begin. Come on over to my other blog... www.2009BransonRetreat.blogspot.com and see what's going on! You just may have to join us for the Spring Retreat I am planning in April!

Provocraft Celebrates 100 Cricut Cartridges!!!

This is right from their message boards...

Help us celebrate our 100th Cricut cartridge—Winter Woodland! That’s right, we reached 100 cartridges. As a thank you for our great Cricut community members we want you to celebrate with us. So, we’re giving away 100 cartridges over the next five weeks (20 per week).

Here’s how it will work.

Each week we will be posting a thread. When you respond to the thread you will be entered to win. (here is the link to the first thread - http://www.cricut.com/messageboard/tm.aspx?m=5248058&mpage=1) You can enter once by replying and you can enter a second time by posting on your blog about the celebration and linking back to the cartridge product page. Here is the link to include in your blog. Once you’ve posted on your blog with the link back you can post again to this thread.


this may be helpful :)
http://www.cricut.com/shopping/ProductDetails.aspx?id=361&s=1&sc=2

Thanks for your continued support. Good luck.

How awesome is THAT! And I might add, this is one fantastic cartridge! I just got mine Friday and can't wait to play with it! Be sure and enter... you could WIN!!!

Back to Reality!

I've been on vacation (off work) since last Thursday! That's a week and a half away from the office! I don't think I've ever been gone this long! I'm not sure if it's good or bad, either. I'm kind of sad today because I have to go back tomorrow! That's pathetic, isn't it!!!

I did have a great time while I was off. Shelly and Devin and I went on a road trip. We started off going to Wichita where we got to spend a couple of wonderful days with my cousins at Critter Corner. That Wichita bunch has always, always, always made me laugh and just enjoy life. We fell in love with the farm life and the animals and the 4 wheeler!

We left there and went to Tulsa to visit more family... Uncle Don, Marilee, Pat and Brenda. So good to see everyone! And Shelly got to get up early one morning and hunt golf balls with Uncle Don. She loved that!

Teresa, Devin and Jess

Bitsy, me and Bubber on the 4 wheeler heading out to hunt for corn or the horses!

Devin on a horsey with Bitsy standing guard close by!

I got home on Wednesday and have been busy getting my house ready for my Close to My Heart Open House next Saturday. Come by and see me! It's from 1pm to 3pm on Saturday, September 19th! Be one of the first 10 and get a special gift from me!

Cricut Vinyl

Friday was such a blast. Some friends, Christy, Mary Jo and Becky and I got up way early for a day road trip to the CK Convention in Tulsa. We stopped at several Scrapbook Stores in and around the area. We really had a good time, but we were exhausted when we got home... at 10:30 Friday night. Then, last night, as my sister and I were doing a little Cricut Vinyl project on my wall, I got a call from the last store we stopped at and I was told I won one of their drawings!!! How exciting! Ashley, at "A Memory to Scrap" told me I won a basket of a new line of paper from Reminiscent! It's 12 pages of double sides paper and 4 sheets of embellishments to match! I'm so excited! I will be in Tulsa early September and will go pick it up then. It's always fun to win, isn't it!

So, yesterday afternoon, my sister and I got busy on some wall art for my back door. When I was in Tulsa, I saw this saying and love it. So, I designed it on Design Studio and cut it out of the Brown Cricut Vinyl. Judy crawled up on the bar stools and before long, a finished project! I absolutely love it! Leave me a comment and let me know what you think!

Retreat Goers!

If you haven't been there yet, hop over to my other Blog... http://2009bransonretreat.blogspot.com/ for all of the latest on my Scrapbook Retreat in Branson in October! We are going to have SO much fun! If you haven't signed up for it.... come on!!! We have 9 spots left and it's gonna be a great scrapbook getaway... You know you want to do it!

National Stamping Day!

September is National Stamping Month and, of course, Close to My Heart is going all out to celebrate! This Delight in the Everyday Card Kit is fabulous! Please check it out by going to my website www.jmpurves.myctmh.com! You simply HAVE to have this card kit!

Fall Scrapbook Retreat in Branson

It's a done deal! The place is booked and registration forms have been sent out! If you'd like to join us for a fun filled 4 day, 3 night scrapbooking retreat in fabulous Branson, Mo, shoot me an email for details! It is going to be SO much fun. And you won't want to miss it. Games, prizes, scrapbooking, food and friendship... who could ask for more! I'll be back soon to add more detail... if you want to email me, my email addy is jmpurves@mchsi.com. I hope to see you all there!

Cricut-ing the Weekend Away!

Well, it's been a full weekend! It started Friday night at 5:00. It was my Open Crop til Midnight. What a great time we had! My house was full, the creativity was flowing and the Cricut's were a-hummin'!!! I can't wait til next month. I love this group and we just have SO much fun.

Then, yesterday, I had 2 classes, back to back. A big thanks to Becky Jones, Creative Memories consultant, who invited me to her all day crop to teach the Cricut. It was a good turnout and everyone seemed to have learned a lot.

And today... well, it just goes to show not everything is as it seems! I went to the ScrapNook expecting only one person in my 1:00 class and only one person in my 3:00 class. If I have a class scheduled and only one person is signed up, well, I feel I owe it to that person to show up, too. Before the first class got going, we had 3! And 4 in the second class! It was a great group! We had so much fun and I think they all learned, which is my complete goal.

If you have a Cricut you need to know a little bit better or you have the Design Studio software and would like to learn more about what you can do, shoot me an email and I'll get you signed up. I love my little bug and I love teaching what I know to everyone.

Did you know... you can make wordbooks... make your own custom made chipboard... weld words and shadow just about everything? You CAN! Call me and I'll teach you how!

June was Quite a Month!

Would someone please tell me where time goes? I just popped over and realized it's been almost a month since I blogged. I vowed to do better and look at me! Well, I do have a bit of an excuse. June is my busy month at my day-job. We have a big conference and have close to 300 people attend. That's big to me! Anyway, I'm past that now and moving right into the 4th of July weekend! Oh, yeah, and a couple of weekends ago, we had our Carroll Cousin's reunion in Locust Grove, OK. What fun that was. I have such a crazy family. It was so hot some of us decided to just "take the plunge" and get wet. Well, everyone knows swimming works up an appetite! Once cousin went inside and came back out with an assortment of yummo desserts. Well, we didn't want to get out of the pool, so we made her bring the desserts IN the pool.


And then, on June 30, my assistant of 14 years retired. It was bittersweet seeing her go. We had a party and her family was there. Mary Jo, we will miss you!

Here is our group.

And Mary Jo and Ed... How sweet!

Cricut Class Weekend

Judy and I got up early yesterday morning and headed to Mountain Home AR. We left here about 6:45 and got there close to 9:30. It was a beautiful drive and I think we hit every McDonald's along the way... for coffee, potty breaks and breakfasts! Lyla already had people there and before long the room was filled to the brim and we were "Learning How to Use Our Cricuts"!

At 11:30, we broke for a wonderful potluck lunch and before long, we were getting back together for the next class... "Beginning Design Studio". Again, we had a full house and everyone seemed to be learning and doing and just have a great time.

What a GREAT bunch of gals! This is my second set of classes I've done in Arkansas and I have SO enjoyed both of them. I love me some Arkansas Cricuteers!!!

Today, I am teaching 2 classes at the Scrap Nook. "Beginning Design Studio" and "Intermediate Design Studio" from 1pm to 5pm. I absolutely love watching my students learn and have "ah-hah!" moments.

Come join us!

Here's a couple more pages I've recently done. I just love how they turned out. The paper is from "Daydream" from Close to My Heart and the colors are Lilac Mist, Blush and Sweet Leaf. Do you love the flowers? Those are Dimensional Elements from Close to My Heart covered in the paper from the same paper pack. I love the way they pop off the page. It doesn't show very well, but I did tons of hand stitching. The BIG flower, which is part on the left and part on the right and has "Girly Girl" in it was my favorite. It looks WAY better in real life. The pictures aren't right where I want them but Blogger won't let me move them! Let me know what you think by leaving me a comment! Thanks.

My backyard

I was finally able to get my pictures to upload! Sometimes Blogger really tries me! Anyway... here are the benches. I love the color, don't you? See our Topsy Turvy planters? We got those for Mother's Day this year and I can't believe how well they are coming along. I also can't wait until we get tomatoes! I love fresh tomatoes and green peppers.

That's my dog, Ally, sitting there looking at me. Check out the next picture and see how she "helped" me paint the benches.

Yep, that's her hind quarter. She is NOT cut! She just kept walking by the benches and scraped her sides. BOTH SIDES! She looks like she has been in surgery! I have no idea how in the world I will get that off. I guess it just makes her my "striped dog"!

Outdoors Weekend

My sister and I have spent most of the weekend outside. We started yesterday morning by mowing on our new/used John Deere rider. It is wonderful! I mowed and Judy trimmed and then I cut back some bushes and we spent some "sitting time" in the back yard admiring out work. Then this morning, I got headed out to scrape and repaint the benches on the deck out by the gazebo. My son-in-law helped us put lattice work on the top in place of the torn up canvas canopy over Mother's Day Weekend. It looks so great! Anyway, the benches needed some TLC. As I was scraping, I was uncovering the several other layers of paint. 2 shdes of blue, yellow and terracotta. I chose a bright red. They look fantastic!

I've been trying to upload some photos, but I can't get it to work!!! When I can, I will. Until then, just imagine... nice red park benches!

2 MORE from Memorial Day Weekend!

And, here are TWO more! I used Close to My Heart's "Animal Cookies" Level 2 paper pack for these pages. I love this paper so much. It's so bright and cheerful. I matted pictures in Tulip and I cut some accents with the Cricut and used black bling and BIG yellow and blue brads. They just fit perfectly with these pages. I'm off to work on some more! I've got 2 more just about done. I'd love to get them finished and posted today. That will be 8 pages done this weekend! WOW! That's great for me!

Leave me a message and let me know what you think! Thanks!

2 more from Memorial Day Weekend

Well, after doing the pages of "My Girls", it only seemed fitting to do pages of "My Boys"! I used Close to My Heart's "It's a Guy Thing" Level 2 paper pack. It was perfect for this layout. I cut a few elements using the Cricut and I used Barn Red Cardstock for accents. I like the way it turned out!

Memorial Day Weekend

It has been rainy and stormy and humid all weekend and I've been scrapbooking with my sister the entire time! It's been awesome because we haven't had to feel guilty not doing yard work! So, she hauled all of her stuff over here and we have had a blast. AND, we've been productive. I know it's not much, but it's more than I've gotten done in months. I had been thinking about doing this layout for a long time now. I was wanting to do lots of different techniques on a page and that's just what I did. My base pages are from Close to My Heart's Whoops A Daisy Level 2 paper pack. I did all of my journaling on the computer, (which sure makes things go faster for me). I matted the two pictures on Hydrangea and from there on, I went crazy. The flowers each have some type of bling in them. "Unique" on the first page was cut on the Cricut using Hydrangea and Ocean Cardstock. The circles are each filled with a pearl half circle embellishment (looks much better in person). There's some stitching here, too


I actually did more stitching on this page. I love the flourishes."Love" is cut on the Cricut, also. And the brackets are Dimensional Elements from Close to My Heart. The bullet points are small pink paper flowers with a bling in the center.

Here's a couple of pages I've done recently. Animal Cookies is one of the new Close to My Heart Paper Level 2 paper packs. I love the colors... Tulip, Dutch Blue, Clover Meadow and Sunflower. And of course, the best part of all.... my grandkids! All three of them!

Happy Birthday, Miss Trella

Yesterday was my granddaughter's THIRD birthday! Wow, to be 3 and have your whole life ahead of you. Miss Trella got her beautiful name from my mom. I have only heard of 2 other people with it. Here she is eating birthday cake at her great, great aunt Gracie's 104th birthday party a couple of weeks ago. Isn't she beautiful! Ok, I've also added a picture of Aunt Gracie (who is my mom's oldest sister), too! 104 earns her a place on my blog, for sure!!!

I'm Back!

I hope I can stay back! It's amazing to me how life just takes over and before you know it, it's May! I cannot believe it is May already. I suppose it's good to be busy. It means you aren't sitting around just watching you life pass you by. Even though it feels like life is flying by, it really does mean you are living it!

So many things are going on in the world right now... a new president, the economy in the toilet, everyone's savings and investments... gone, the outbreak of the Swine Flu. I know things could be worse, but it's pretty bad out there!

Now, in my personal life, I can't really complain! And that helps keep my mind off of what is going on out there in the "real world"! My new grandson is almost 5 months old, my granddaughter is 3 years old today (Happy Birthday Trella!), my oldest grandson will be 10, my family is doing good, I still have my job and I'm very busy at it, my Close to My Heart business is doing good... just had my Open House and it was a great success, I'm starting to teach Cricut classes and they are taking off... life is good! I really can't complain.

Now, it's just a matter of organizing, and that needs to include keeping up with my blog better! So, here it is May and I am making a new year's resolution... Keep up My Blog Better!!!!

But for now, I am off to get my computer packed up for Cricut class tonight, get ready for work today and then, after I get home, start cleaning house for the entire family to come this weekend for Mother's Day and Birthday celebrations!!!

Happy May!

Wow! Time Flies!

I can't believe I haven't blogged in over a month! That is so not like me! But, it's been a very busy start to the new year. I promise I will be in a catch up mode over the next couple of days!

More Pictures of Baby Devin

Just a few more pictures of my newest grandson. Finally, the weather has broke and I am going to able to head home tomorrow. It's really bittersweet.... I'm ready to be home, but I hate to leave this little one. Hopefully, I will get to see him in a week or so for the family Christmas in Springfield. He is doing so good. His mom is very lucky to have such a good baby.

Devin James - He's HERE!

Well, I got the call last Sunday around noon and Shelly has lost her mucous plug. We talked and agreed it could be a while, like a few days, so no one got too excited! But, then, at 5:30, JR called and they were at the hospital! Her water broke around 4:30 and they got in there and were told they were going to have a baby! I got packed up (which I did just fine, except I forgot to take one whole suitcase of clothes!) and headed to Chanute. I got there at 10pm and things were looking good. Here we are looking all happy and excited about the impending birth!

Well... after 20 hours, 6 epidural tries that failed, she finally had him C-section.

At 12:54 pm on Monday, December 8th, Devin James made his way into this world! He weighed 6 lbs and 12 oz. and was 19 1/2 inches long and is perfect in every way!

Here is his announcement on the hospital marquee. I love small town hospitals. I was so worried that they would be able to handle everything, but I've got to say they were fabulous!!!

His dad says he WILL be an OU fan!

Here he is chilling out on daddy while mom is hanging out reading the paper. I was so amazed at how good she did! And what a good dad JR is. Such a happy little family! (We'll see what the 2 4-legged kids think of him when we all get home later today!)

Heit's Point Retreat - Nov 20 - 23

All I can say is WOW! This was the most amazing time I've had in a long time. 17 of us converged on Heit's Point for the best Scrapbook Retreat ever! We ate and talked and laughed and even got a little scrapbooking done! I am posting these pictures just to give you a little taste of what we were doing. I hope to get some more posted later. I am hoping to get some of actual projects that got done!

Remember... You can click on the pictures and make them HUGE!

Here is Jeanne working on the computer. She was probably working on some journaling. That is the lake you see out the windows. It was an amazing view.

Here is a great shot of the room. Look at the stuff that was here! I couldn't believe how much stuff everyone brought! It was crazy!

Here's Debbie and Laura working on the Design Studio and the Cricut. Very intense.

And here is the whole group. We got down right silly after taking so many serious ones! I love this because this is just how we were the whole time! Having fun!!!

If you didn't make this one, don't miss the next one! We are already starting the plans in motion. If you'd like to be kept updated, just leave me a comment or shoot me an email and I'll add you to the list. You will have the time of your life!

Our Retreat

Isn't this a beautiful setting? This is where our Retreat is being held this year.


And, I only have to work 1/2 day tomorrow and the rest of the day is for getting ready to go on Thursday. 4 days of bliss! Scrapbooking until we drop! Eatting until we can't move. Sleeping very little! No phones, no TV's, no kids, no husbands, no cleaning, no cooking... just scrapbooking and look at that view! sigh.... so close.

I'll take tons of pictures and I'll post when I get home. If you are joining us... drive carefully! If you aren't we'll be thinking about you and wishing you were there!

Happy Scrapping!

Gift Card Holder

As I was preparing for a party tomorrow, I was trying to decide what "hands-on" item we would be making (I always like for my group to make something with our fabulous products). And since we are getting closer to the holidays, I was trying to keep that in mind. We have all made Christmas Cards at my workshops, so I needed something more unique.

I had seen a money holder card that caught my attention, but never got around to making it. So, I got my instructions out and starting making some dimensional changes. This was so easy I could hardly believe it! For the base of the card, I used a cardstock and cut it 6 x 4.25 (I tried 6 x 4 and it worked, but a gift card fit in there very tight, but for money, it would be perfect!). You score it at 2.5" and 5". Fold at both score lines and you will see it come together! I folded the small flap up and adhered just the edges, creating a pocket for the gift card or the cash.

Then, in order to keep it secure, I cut a strip of the cardstock 6 x 1.25. I tried scoring it, but I never could get it quite right, so I simply folded it around the card and it was perfect!

Before you do any adhering, you decorate as desired.

I used paper from the Aspen paper pack. The first one I made is for a girl. I used Pink Carnation Cardstock (which is retired but I still have tons of!). And just the back of the paper because I just wanted the beautiful muted blue only. Then, I stamped the snowman face from the November Stamp of the Month, All Decked Out (I love this set... it is so versatile!) on a piece of white cardstock (1.5 x 3, folded in half to make a tag) on the front. Then, with Hollyhock ink, I stamped the scarf on a piece of the Pink Carnation cardstock and cut it out. (I then used a little stickles on the scarf for accents - what girl doesn't love bling!)

And, of course, the blue, is for a boy. I used Outdoor Denim ink on Twilight paper on that one.

I thought they were fun and I hope you like them!

"Hidden" Crop Cash

This post is for the Heit's Point Retreat ladies!

If you are looking for the answer to #9 of the Scavenger Hunt and you have found your way here (which you should have!) AND you are reading this post...

You have earned your

$100.00 Bonus CROP CASH!!!!!!


AND.... if you figure out how to leave me a COMMENT,
you will earn another
$50 in Crop Cash!!!

My Grandkids... Again!

Don't they look sweet here?
She loves her brother so much and he is just so good with her.
I love this picture!

You have to click on this picture and look at it bigger. Her face is priceless!!!

Cards I Made from Art and Soul

Have you had a chance to check out the newest video "Crazy for Cards" in the CTMHTV section "Art and Soul" of my website (www.jmpurves.myctmh.com)? Well, I watched it the other night and was thinking how much I wanted to try to make those 20 Christmas Cards! So, I put my mind to it yesterday and did it! It was hard... I have to admit... sticking to their plan. I kept wanting to do my own thing, but I didn't! I was very tempted several times, but I didn't! And I am so glad I didn't because these cards are fantastic! Ignore the mess around the group shot! I didn't even clean up before I wanted to take pictures! I may just have to get busy and do another group with a different Level kit!

In case you haven't checked it out, here's the deal. You use only 5 sheets of the background and texture paper (the patterned stuff) and all of the cardstock from a Level 2 kit (I used our new Evensong Collection and Cranberry and New England Ivy Ink) and follow their cutting directions. So check these out! And let me know what you think!

Lewis Family Reunion

Just as we've done for the past 5 years, we had our Lewis (my dad's side of the family) reunion at my brother's house this weekend. How in the world can so many people have so much to say! It was absolutely non-stop talking, oh, yes, and eating. Sue fixed more food that I believe is legal to have in one house on any one weekend. All I can say is WOW!

It was so good to see everyone. Here's a few pictures that were taken. (Be sure and click on the pictures to see them MUCH bigger!)


Here a bunch of them are around the fire in the back yard. That's Lake of the Ozarks in the background. Such a beautiful view and the weather was perfect!

I think I made my brother deaf! My sister and sister in law were being crazy and shoving and pushing and I was about to fall, so I squeeled.... right in Jim Bob's ear! Oooops!

This is a new bridge and I just thought it was really neat and was a great photo op!

Here's the whole clan!

That's Sue(my sister in law) on the left and Judy (my sister) on the right. That kitchen was buzzing the entire time we were there. I think Sue said she went through 6 dozen eggs and 8 pounds of sausage. There is no telling how much else she went through. She fixed enough food to feed a small nation.

Thanks Jim Bob and Sue! You always go completely out of your way for your guests... and we always appreciate it!

Grandma Babysits!

I learned several things this past weekend (I babysat for my 9 year old and 2 year old grandkids for the past 4 days!).

1. God had good reason for NOT letting older women have kids.
2. Older women may be wiser, but have WAY less patience.
3. 2 year olds are completely capable of kicking your butt.
4. No one talks more but than a 2 year old (and what language is that?).
5. There are no sweeter hugs and kisses than from grandkids.
6. I am NOT smarter than a 3rd grader (much less a 5th grader!)
7. There is no way to keep a house picked up with 2 kids in it.
8. You cannot keep enough milk in the refridgerator with kids in the house.
9. You better have a vehicle with a DVD player in it.
10. When you get any of those dang Chipmunk songs in your head, they do NOT leave.
11. I need to exercise more.
12. There is nothing more peaceful than 9:30 at night when everyone is asleep!
13. When they say "I can do it", they MEAN IT!
    

It was a great time! Really, it was! And don't they look like little angels!!!!


Don't let the one in pink fool you!!!!

Oh, and one last thing.... Dorothy, you were so right... "There's NO place like home!" Both theirs and mine!!!!

I love you Brenden and Trella!

Christmas Card Workshops

Here's what I'm doing this year for my Christmas Card Workshops. This is my blue set using the new Close to My Heart Aspen papers. Attendees will be making 2 each of 5 cards for $10.00. So far, I have 3 workshops that are filling fast!

And these are the more traditional red and green set made from the new Close to My Heart Evensong papers. I can't decide which ones I like better. I have a feeling I'll be making a bunch of both for myself!

News from My Open House... But First!

Did you all see those adorable little girl invitations I was going to do for my daughter's upcoming baby shower? Well, she had her 2nd level ultrasound last Wednesday and guess what... here are the NEW shower invitations!That's right! They are NOT pink! Shelly and JR are having a boy! Devin James. I know... Devin is spelled wrong on this one, but this is just a sample. All of the ones we made last night have the correct spelling!

Shelly told me Friday morning she is so glad it's a boy because she was already sick of PINK! She is such a "NOT PINK" girl! Yeah! We are so excited!!!

I'm working on finishing up my Open House stuff and I'll post soon! I promise!!!