Disneyland 2014 - CTMH Convention

Oh my goodness, I haven't blogged about one of the best times in my life!  I was lucky enough to be able to attend Close To My Heart's 2014 Convention in DISNEYLAND!!  For 5 fabulous days I got to be a kid and feel like it was Christmas all in one!

This post is going to be LONG and PHOTO EXTENSIVE!!

This is the fantastic team that I belong to!  The Hearts of the West team led by our fearless leader Nancy Klein!  These ladies are so much fun and I'm so glad that I got to meet them!!  Here we had just gotten our brand new goodies in a absolutely fantastic exclusive CTMH bag!

So who do I get to see when I first get to the Disneyland Hotel but Goofy!  AHHHHH!!!  I didn't get my autograph book out but I did get my camera in time.  In the hotel lobby was also Alice, Balou, Cinderella and either Chip or Dale.  It was pretty awesome for a first time visit to anything Disney!

I wandered Downtown Disney and had lunch with some new friends.  I had a mishap with checking in, but we forget that part of the day!  This is the first time I'd ever seen a palm tree.  Yes I'm serious!  I didn't do too much this day because I was still waiting to check in.  I did have dinner with some really great ladies and then finished the evening off with some really great room mates that adopted me for the evening.  We stood and watched the fireworks that first night from the hotel.  And for those of us that are used to fireworks at 11 PM ... these started around 9!!  It was so weird seeing it get dark so early!

We started the day off right, with breakfast at the Plaza Inn and CHARACTERS!!!  My autograph book got to see Tigger, Pooh, Eyeore, Minnie Mouse, Chip N' Dale, and Mr Penguin!  I know I didn't eat very much because just when you got a chance, one would come over to the table!  I LOVED EVERY SECOND OF IT!

Mater!  And he talked!  It was so fun to meet Mater!  I didn't get to spend much time in California Adventure Park because we rushed through to ...

THE TOWER OF TERROR!  I can't believe they got me on this ride!  You are sitting in an elevator and it literally DROPS!  I seriously felt like I was coming out of my seat!  You can barely see me, but I'm there!  I've got a death grip on poor Gena's jean shorts!  I don't think she was expecting that when we got on this ride!  Here is what Wikipedia has to say about this ride ...

"Drop sequence
On the last word of Serling's narration, the elevator starts its drop sequence. Rather than a simple gravity-powered drop, however, the elevator is pulled downwards, causing most riders to rise off their seats, held down only by a seat belt. At least once during the drop sequence, wide elevator doors in front of the riders open to reveal a view of the park from a height of about 170 feet (52 m). The back of the "Hollywood Tower Hotel" sign partially obstructs the view (it is on the back of this sign that the on-ride camera is located, which photographs the riders for purchase later).

Randomized pattern of drops and lifts have been added, where the ride vehicle will drop or rise various distances at different intervals. Other effects were also added, including new projection images of the breaking window, wind effects, lightning flashes, and ominous bluelit figures of the five ghostly original riders. These changes were made so that each trip on The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is a slightly different experience. The ride was reprogrammed most recently in its fourth conversion. The result of the reprogramming is that the ride system allows for any number of randomized drops and lifts. When guests enter the drop shaft, a computer randomly chooses one of four drop profiles, one of which is a modified version of the ride's third incarnation.^[7] Regardless of the number of randomized drops and lifts, each drop sequence always features one "faux drop" meant to startle the riders, and one complete drop through the entire tower."

Holy man is all I can say about this ride!  I'm proud of myself for actually riding it though!  It was a thrill that I will NEVER repeat!

I rode on Splash Mountain as a single rider!  That is me in the back of the log looking like I'm about to pee my pants!  I can't believe the lady in front of me isn't even holding on!  It was AWESOME!

I rode on Big Thunder Railroad, The Matterhorn and some little kiddie ride that isn't even worth mentioning!  I had so much fun!  I can't wait to do it all again!  But I'll be spending more time in the parks and riding more and seeing more!  It was a whirlwind of a day but I'll never forget it!

These are my fantastic room mates for the trip!  Stacey, Ashely and Martha!  We had so much fun!

Here are two of my first night room mates and another friend!  I was getting ready to have a Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki rum drink!  Yes there were 5 Tiki's!

 
And who can leave out the highlight of the trip?  MICKEY MOUSE!  I can't believe that I got my picture with Mickey Mouse!  I didn't get my autograph book out, which upsets me, but to have my picture is fantastic!  It was a dream come true!

And of course all good things must come to an end!  Good-bye California!  Until next time, cause you know there is going to be a next time!

So this was my first ever trip to Disneyland!  It will not be my last trip that is for sure!  I will make sure that I get back here many times because it was so much fun and there is still so much to see and do!  Thanks Close To My Heart!  You made this girl a very happy one indeed!

May Stamp of the Month - You've Got a Friend in Me

May's stamp of the month is so cute!  Make sure you grab this one before it disappears!

 

I can see many cards in my future with this stamp set!!

April Stamp of the Month - Balloon Talk

Ahh ... can you believe that it is April already?  I really don't know where the time has gone, but it's been an awesome year so far!!

 

Be sure to get your hands on this great new stamp of the month!  You'll be balloon talking your way on every page you create!

March Special - Studio J

 

So the special for the month of March is Studio J layouts for $5!  This is a fantastic deal!  Studio J is a great way to catch up on your scrapbooking.  If you find you don't have enough time to scrapbook, this may be the perfect way to find your creative outlet!

Check out the Studio J program and let your imagination run free!   If you decide you want to add some embellishments after you receive them, that is great too!  It will give you a 3D look with an ease that is so quick you are done before you know it!

Don't delay, get in to Studio J and place your orders!  This program is AWESOME and this deal is FANTASTIC!

March Stamp of the Month - Happy Place

Don't let the month pass you by without getting this really cool stamp of the month!  It's exclusive to just this month and then no more!!  So don't wait too long!

 

 Here are some ideas for you on getting your stamp for only $5!

Happy Place

SET OF 7

Available March 1--31, 2014

Get the Stamp of the Month set for just $5 (S1403A) when you place an order of $50 or more.
Jump-start the fun by ordering the items from the list below to create this artwork!

Jubilee Paper Packet

($9.95, X7181B, p. 43)

Skylark Assortment

($5.95, Z3000, p. 19)

Sparkles Black Flourishes—Small

($4.95, Z1916, p. 123)

My Creations™ Journaling

Cards Box

($5.95, Z1953, p. 129)

Jubilee Textiles

($8.95, Z1971, p. 83)

Stitch Guide

($12.95, Z1852, p. 133)

Cricut® Artbooking Collection

($99, Z1906, p. 63)

RECOMMENDED BLOCKS:

2" × 2" (Y1003), 2" ×3½" (Y1009),

4" × 5" (Y1012)

Good Intentions

Why is it that I think to myself that I will get in and be more active on my blog, but it doesn't happen?  Life seems to be speeding by and I'm not even sure I'm slowing down to enjoy the good points ... LOL ... I think I need to really start!

I've had a lot going on the last few months, super busy with crocheting!  You can find all my creations on Hooked With Holly.  There are quite a few different hats and there are still more to come!

I'm going to start getting much more diligent with keeping this updated.  I'm going to aim for at least twice a month right now.  That way I'm touching base!  When I create something, I'll update more often, but at least twice a month I can jump in and just say "Hi" and let you all know what is going on with me and my life!

This year has been the start of a very great year for me and my husband.  We are venturing in to territory that we've never been in before!!  It's awesome!  And there is still way more territory that will be ventured in to as well!

I'm going to be super busy with renovations to the house, crocheting, scrapbooking, and just life in general!  I've got a crop coming up this Sunday, so I'll get some pictures and be sure to post them!

I'm getting ecstatic with the fact that I'm going to ... wait for it ... DISNEYLAND!!!  97 more days and I fly off for Convention for Close To My Heart!  I truly love this company!!  I've been busy trying to plan what all I want to see and do while I'm there, but I've started to think that maybe just relaxing would be good too!  I'm going to see my very first palm tree!!  I know ... 37 years old and saying that just doesn't seem right ... LOL ... but it is so true!  I'm so looking forward to this!  I get so excited just thinking about it!!

Ok, so yes, I'm going to really try and be in here more often!  I'll do a revamp of the site and make it fresh and inviting!  Looking forward to seeing you all more often!!

Knitting and Crocheting Fun!

So I've been having a blast knitting and crocheting these past couple weeks!  My niece had a little girl and that got me in to the mood to knit booties and a hat and then a blanket.  Because my great niece was born premature, I had to knit really tiny booties and a hat!

Here are the tiny booties!  The foot part of them are as big as my thumb!!  She was born at 2.2 lbs and is now 3.9 lbs after a month and a bit!

This is the hat and boots together.  I hope that they will fit!  I've also thought to make a bit bigger booties!  I didn't want her to outgrow these too quickly, so I made these next ones with some really fuzzy yarn!!

These ones were made with the same size of needles and the same pattern and stitches ... but what a difference the type of yarn makes!  These are ones she can grow in to and stay with her for a few months!  Or maybe a year!

So then I got to making a blanket for her!  Making blankets has always been my thing to do sort of.  I tried to make each of my nephews and my niece a blanket.  I'm a few behind but I will get them all done!  Christmas comes around every year right!

I absolutely love the stitching on this blanket!  Believe it or not, it is the most elaborate I've ever done!  I was so proud of it!!

Here is another shot of it!  I really wanted to put a different colour as the border, but I'm not that good yet!!

So all this led me to start making hats!  I decided that all the younger boys were getting character hats for Christmas!  I started with a really fun one!!  My one nephew loves Angry Birds, so I made him this awesome hat!

I'm still debating if I want to put ear flaps on it or not!!  I've put ear flaps on the next hat, a tiger, but I don't have it completed yet, so I can't show you that picture.

Here is another shot of this hat!

For my first attempt at a character hat I'm pretty impressed with myself!  So yeah, this is where I'm at right now for my knitting and crocheting!  There will be more to come!  The hats are pretty addicting!  Blankets are too!  So maybe, just maybe ... LOL

Frosted Christmas

I was supposed to be participating in a blog hop for the Frosted paper pack from Close To My Heart, but due to lack of participants, it was canceled.  I'm still going to post my projects though!

Here is a gift card holder that I made!  I used Slate Grey cardstock with the Frosted paper.  I cut out a scallop circle from the Art Philosophy cartridge.  I then used the Perfect Fit - Holidays stamp set and used Black and Twilight Ink.

Next I made another gift card holder.  I used Ruby cardstock and the Frosted paper again.  The stocking is cut out from the Art Philosophy cartridge.

Next I had fun making this little box!  It too was cut out from the Art Philosophy cartridge.  I used Slate Grey cardstock and the Frosted paper.  I then cut out the reindeer from the ArtBooking cartridge in Chocolate cardstock.  I then got some Christmas tinsel and wrapped it around the box.  The fun part ... I filled it with chocolates and two candy canes!!

Here is a close up of the cute little reindeer!

More Christmas Cards

So I forgot to add the rest of my cards for my card workshop on November 16th!  I know right!  So here are a few more that I've got finished.

In total I have 9 card designs for the 16th.  Only 8 have been posted as the 9th still needs to be completed.  I have it ready to go, I just need to get some spray adhesive to put it together!

Crafty Saturday

So today I set forth on trying to really bring my to do list down!  It's pretty intimidating let me tell you!  Here is my list:

Make tags for craft fair
Make trees for craft fair x1
Make mailboxes for craft fair x4
Make gift card holders for craft fair x 20
Make tea bag holders x4
Make Christmas mini albums for craft fair x2
Finish card samples and prep for Christmas card workshop

With two craft fairs coming up on November 21st and November 29th, I've got to be prepared.  Plus I have a card workshop on November 16th, so I've been getting all those prepped to!

To date I have all my card samples prepped for the workshop except one card design.  I will get that one done this weekend!  I have tags cut out but they aren't decorated.  I have one tea bag holder started, just need to finish the decorations on the outside.  This was the first time I've ever made one so having it done this far is great!  I started a new project making some paper ornaments ... LOL ... I know I know ... I should finish what I've got first then start new things!

So here are some of the things I've been getting done!

 This one isn't finished yet!  I need something in the middle but I drew a blank when I got this far, so I will come back to that one!  I'll make a couple more and call it a day with those ornaments.

This is my first attempt at a tea bag holder!  I'm really liking how it is turning out.  I just have to put some finishing touches and it is good to go!

Ok, so I haven't bitten off as big of a piece as I was hoping to today, but that is ok!  I will come back a bit later and get some more done.  Plus I still have 2 full days because Monday is a holiday!  So I plan to take a big chunk off my to do list!
 

Creative Time

So I've got two craft fairs that I'm going to be taking part in this month.  The first is on the 21st and the second is on the 29th.  I've been working on different items to have at each of these craft fairs and I've set myself a tall order!

I just thought I would post what I've been working on so far.  I'm finally getting some creative time in and I'm having a blast!

These are the little snowmen that I made.  Each one has battery operated tea-lights that sit in the bottom two boxes!  I love these little guys!  They make really great table centerpieces at Christmas!

So I saw someone post some really cute angels and I had to give them a try!  Here are mine so far!  I'll post a new picture when I get the heads attached!

Here's a close up of them.  I really liked this idea of the angels!  I can't wait to get the heads on them so that I can see the finished product.

Huntington Mini Album

So I created a mini album for my sister for her 5th year wedding anniversary.  I love all these different colours together!  I'm a huge fan of scenery and leaves and trees, so this one was really fun to make!

I hope she likes it!  I've used different items that she had at her wedding!  Used leaves and stickers and an RSVP and invitation that she sent out!  I added a few flowers in the same colours.  All in all I'm very impressed with the outcome!