A lazy day of cardmaking

Ok, so it is New Years Eve and I am still in my jammies at 4pm. I have been having so much fun scrappin and card making all day. Miraculously, my kids are playing well with one another...thanks to the creator of Guitar Hero World Tour. Hubby is also home from work, so that also gives me a break from watching 5 boys. My teenage daughters have party plans tonight, but my DH and I are staying home and playing games with our sons.

Here is the last of my Emporium Cards that I made for a swap I am in. I absolutely love the colors of this paper pack...sweet leaf, crystal blue, vineyard berry and cocoa. Well, I better get a shower and dressed just in case we have unexpected guests drop in for the New Year. Happy New Year to all of you and stay safe!

Emporium Cards

These are two cards made from the new Emporium paper pack.

Materials used:

Emporium Paper

Pewter brads

Dream Wishes Stamp set

Just blooms flowers

bitty brads

Winding down year 2008

Tomorrow is New Years Eve. I am looking forward to playing the Wii with my boys and playing our traditional games of scrabble and monopoly. 2008 was not my favorite year. Our family dealt with too much illness and added stressors. I was also extremely disorganized this past year; so much so that it may take me the first 3 months of 2009 to dig myself out of my disorganized self. I am actually looking forward to a fresh beginning. I learned so much resilience from 2008, that I feel stronger and ready to take on whatever challenge comes my way. One challenge I have taken on is to grow my Close to my Heart Business. Here is a layout I completed using the new paper pack, Emporium. This paper pack will be released on January 1. Hope you enjoy!

Just one more thing

Every year at this time I make a promise to myself to be more organized next year so I don't have to deal with the Christmas "just one more thing to do" . The 3 days just before Christmas are so hectic and full of last minute necessities that I begin to forget about the simplicity of Christmas. The children are hyped, acting out, and bubbling with excitement. Parents on the other hand are trying to hold it together, to make this Christmas memorable, to make this Christmas the extra special day and to try to uphold family tradition. For me, it is so stressful. I try to be so perfect that I feel I let myself and others down. So I leave you with this to ponder...I will make sure I do too....
GREAT WORKS DO NOT ALWAYS LIE OUR WAY, BUT EVERY MOMENT WE MAY DO LITTLE ONES EXCELLENTLY, THAT IS, WITH GREAT LOVE...FRANCIS DE SALES

THE MOST VIVID MEMORIES OF CHRISTMASES PAST ARE USUALLY NOT OF GIFTS GIVEN OR RECEIVED, BUT OF THE SPIRIT OF LOVE, THE SPECIAL WARMTH OF CHRISTMAS WORSHIP, THE CHERISHED LITTEL HABITS OF THE HOME.

Sneak peak at the spring paper from CTMH

Here is a sample of Unforgettable....one of the new paper packs available from CTMH this January. This lovely paper features colors of cocoa, juniper, desert sand and sorbet. More sneak peaks to follow.

A Simple yet elegant Christmas card

I just love the look of red and white at Christmas. While playing with card designs, I came up with this simple little card. I hope you like it too. Materials used: White cardstock, Dimensional elements simple alphabet, ribbon, stamp set Feathery Flakes, and glitter sparkles.

Who was watching Matt?

Here is my sweet Matthew at 1 year old. The supplies need to create a page like this are Majestic Blue Paper, dimensional elements, and mini medley accents(denim blue). A cricut cartridge, Stamped, was used for the title. Embellishments also include denim blue brads and natural hemp. All products from CTMH, excluding the cricut lettering.

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Who was watching Matt?

Ok, so I just left our annual cookie exchange upon where I chatted with dear friends, drank yummy drinks and ate delicious cookies. One guest played the piano and sang a beautiful rendition of O Holy Night. I left feeling so uplifted. So what do I return to? My two year old got into my scrapbooking stuff once again and spilled the embossing powder all over my desk, pulled apart markers and he also smeared moisturizing face cream all over my piano keys. SO WHO WAS WATCHING HIM? For any of you who know me, its not often that I go out, and when I do there is a price to pay. Just another typical day in my life.

My first baby is driving!!

Well, I knew the day would come. You know, the day when your child asks for the car keys. I can't believe I am saying this, but I am so excited that my first child is driving. You see, I have 7 children, and carting them all over creation gets to be exhausting. So when my daughter passed her license exam, I was beaming with joy. So on the first day of her license, she picked up her sister from band practice. Tonight she is at the mall shopping for a dress for the Christmas Ball. Deep down inside, I shudder every time the phone rings, but I trust her and am so proud of her accomplishment. Great job Holly!! Next year, I can add another driver and so on and so on....

December 9th, 2008

While visiting other bloggers, I came across the most endearing site: A Daily Scoop by Stephanie Waite. I encourage any of you to read her blog. It will touch your heart forever. She had the meaning of Christmas posted on her blog and I just had to add it to mine because this is how Christmas is meant to be cherished.

The Meaning of Christmas
Just a week before Christmas I had a visitor. This is how it happened. I just finished the household chores for the night and was preparing to go to bed when I heard a noise in the front of the house. I opened the door to the front room, and to my surprise, Santa himself stepped out from behind the Christmas tree. He placed his finger over his mouth so I would not cry out. "What are you doing?" I started to ask him.
The words choked in my throat, as I saw he had tears in his eyes. His usual jolly manner was gone. Gone was the eager boisterous soul we all know. He then answered me with a simple statement, TEACH THE CHILDREN!
I was puzzled: What did he mean? He anticipated my question, and with one quick movement brought forth a miniature toy bag from behind the tree.
As I stood there bewildered, Santa said, Teach the Children! Teach them the old meaning of Christmas. The meaning that a now-a-day Christmas has forgotten!
Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a FIR TREE and placed it on the mantle. Teach the Children that the pure green color of the stately fir tree remains green all year round, depicting the everlasting hope of mankind. All the needles point heavenward, making it a symbol of man's thoughts turning toward heaven.
He again reached into his bag and pulled out a brilliant STAR. Teach the Children that the star was the heavenly sign of promises long ago. God promised a Savior for the world, and the star was the sign of fulfillment of that promise.
He then reached into the bag and pulled out a CANDLE. Teach the Children that the candle symbolizes that Christ is the light of the world, and when we see this great light we are reminded of He who displaces the darkness.
Once again he reached into his bag and then removed a WREATH and placed it on the tree.
Teach the Children that the wreath symbolizes the eternal nature of love. Real love never ceases. Love is one continuous round of affection.
He then pulled out from his bag an ornament of HIMSELF. Teach the Children that Santa Claus symbolizes the generosity and good will we feel during the month of December.
He reached in again and pulled out a HOLLY LEAF. Teach the Children the holly plant represents immortality. It represents the crown of thorns worn by our Savior. The red holly berries represent blood shed by Him.
Next he pulled out a GIFT from the bag and said, "Teach the Children that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift. Teach the Children that the wise men bowed before the holy babe and presented Him with gold, frankincense, and myrrh. We should give gifts in the same spirit as the wise men."
Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a CANDY CANE and hung it on the tree. Teach the Children that the candy cane represents the shepherd's crook. The crook on the shepherd's staff helps bring back strayed sheep from the flock. The candy cane is the symbol that we are our brother's keeper.
He reached in again and pulled out an ANGEL. Teach the Children that it was the angels that heralded in the glorious news of the Savior's birth. The angels sang 'Glory to God in the highest, on earth, peace and good will.'
Suddenly I heard a soft twinkling sound, and from his bag he pulledout a BELL. Teach the Children that as the lost sheep are found by the sound of a bell, it should bring people to the fold. The bell symbolizes guidance and return.
Santa looked at the tree and was pleased. He looked back at me and I saw the twinkle was back in his eyes. He said, "Remember, teach the Children the true meaning of Christmas, and not to put me in the center, for I am but a humble servant of the One who is, and I bow down and worship Him, our Lord, our God."

A New Idea Book is Coming in January

Beginning January 1st, you will be able to order from this new idea book. Here is a sneak preview of what you can expect. The five new paper packs are Emporium, Unforgettable, That's Amore, Stardust and Daydream. I can't wait to start playing with the new paper packs and post artwork for you to see and use.

Your the key to my heart

This beautiful paper is part of Close to my Heart's "Key to my Heart" Kit, which is a promotional item for January's National Papercrafting month. Kit is available from Dec 16th to Jan 31st.

I just love to scrapbook my children, especially toddlers because they are just so innocent and precious. But don't let that heartwarming smile fool you. This little guy may look innocent, but he has been known to flush ipods, break computers and draw all over walls. I know he will grow out of this soon, but until he does, he must be watched like a hawk.

HE DID IT AGAIN!!!!

My 2 year old son Matthew is by far the most destructive child I have ever raised. I just received my laptop back from HP ( due to repair of a broken screen and missing keys.) I powered it up last night, set up my internet, created my blog, and had fun shopping on cyber monday. Today, I left him alone for 10 min (what was I thinking) and when I went back to my laptop, I discovered 21 missing black keys from the keyboard!!!!!! I wanted to cry. He is so curious, maybe he is one of those genius kids(just trying to make myself feel better). I studied the keyboard and successfully replace all 21 keys. Now I can add computer repairman to my resume.

My Very first post, still in shock

I consider myself to be a bit computer illiterate, so creating a blog was not even in my radar. However, I am mesmorized by fellow bloggers and find myself surfing from blog to blog. So I took the plunge and created one all by myself. My name is Jen Dastalfo and part of the reason for creating this blog was to showcase all of my scrapbook artwork from Close to my Heart. The other part was to be able to share all my crazy Mom days. I have 7 children ranging from 2 to 16, and I am told I should have my own reality show. Yes, my house is that crazy sometimes. I am blessed to have such terrific children, yet bedtime can't come soon enough some days. I look forward to my beginner blogging days and learn this blog thing.