400 free prints credits & 1 free 8x8 custom cover photo book

Check this out...

http://www.artscow.com/default.aspx?Ref=341215

I Must Apologize to You all...

I'm sure some of you have been hearing about this 'New Age Christ' that Oprah is promoting.  I just received an email from a very dear and knowledgeable Sister in Christ about this 'New Age Christ' and from the link she provided...I came across this one.

http://herescope.blogspot.com/2007/11/oprah-and-friends-to-teach-course-on.html

Please take the time to read this article and I pray that you will not be falsely lead by others and by Oprah's false teachings on this 'New Age Christ' .

The apology that I owe you is this...

While reading the above article, I realized that I had unintentionally promoted the 'New Age Christ' through one of my posts not long ago. I came across a website a while back for the author of Conversations with God , Neale Donald Walsch, and I subscribed to his ezine and I've been getting daily emails from him about 'I Believe God Wants You To Know...' In the above article, I learned that this man is a promoter of this 'New Age Christ'!?! Please forgive me for falling for these false teachings. I thank God for making me aware of this mistake. I will be removing myself from his ezine subscription ASAP and removing my post as well.

I pray that each of you will turn to The Bible...God's Holy Word...and be on alert for the false teachings of this 'New Age Christ'. It goes completely against what we as believers in Jesus Christ know and trust.

God bless us all! Pamela

Something New to Share

but borrowed and blue. LOL! I totally CASE'd (Copy And Steal Everything) this from a fellow consultant, Tina Lovell. Isn't it darling! Ü I did add a computer generated message and scripture on the inside of the card that I created in MS Word using Close To My Heart's Expressives Font CD Volume I.  I have been playing around creating messages and scriptures using this font CD.

 

I came across a really cool blog a while back (it's no longer around) by a gal that had a card ministry she called Purpose Driven Cards. God keeps reminding me of this blog and has put it on my heart to send more handmade cards more often and not just for special occasions to encourage those people that I come into contact with in my everyday life. So...these new CD fonts have come in really handy for this type of thing. You will definitely be seeing more of this type thing in my cards and scrapbooks. Ü

Hope you enjoyed the art and ideas. Sweet blessings and good night, Pamela

Can I Tempt You with another Sneak Peek?

It's killing me to have to wait until May 3rd to reveal all the wonderful new products and artwork ideas Close To My Heart has in store for you! Several of my local team members and myself are hosting a National Scrapbook Day crop, our very own Scrapbook Fiesta, on May 3rd  to raise awareness and donations for Operation Kids through the art of scrapbooking and stamping.

Here's a sneak peek at our new Summer 2008 Idea Book!

All the new papers, stamps & accessories are to die for! I have already gotten some of my new goodies and I'm still waiting for a few more things so that I can start creating fun things to share & show at our Scrapbook Fiesta on May 3rd!

If you are in the Concho Valley area, contact me at pamela@myctmh.com for more details and to reserve your spot  and your very own Summer 2008 Idea Book! We are going to have so much fun...and it's all for a good cause...helping children around the world.

Make it a great day! God bless, Pamela

Encouraging Thought of the Day Ü

When we accept tough jobs as a challenge and wade into them with joy and enthusiasm, miracles can happen.

Arland Gilbert

Sneak Peek into my weekend

I returned last night from a wonderful weekend at The Covered Bridge Inn in Weatherford. This place is the all time best place to scrapbook for an entire weekend with no distractions. This was my 6 time attending and I will no doubt be back again...in June! Ü

Check this out...

EAT...

SLEEP...

SCRAPBOOK...

 

What more could a girl ask for? Ü

Here's to a beautiful week! Make it from your heart, Pamela

I'm Gonna Set the World on Fire

I heard this song yesterday morning by Britt Nicole and it took my breathe away!
I wanna set the world on fire
Until it's burning bright for You
It's everything that I desire
Can I be the one You use?
[CHORUS]
I, I am small but
You, You are big enough
I, I am weak but
You, You are strong enough to
Take my dreams
Come and give them wings
Lord with You
Nothing I can not do
Nothing I cannot do
I wanna feed the hungry children
And reach across the farthest land
And tell the broken there is healing
And mercy in the Father's hands
[CHORUS]
Take my dreams
Come and give them wings
Lord with You
Nothing I cannot do
Nothing I cannot do
My hands my feet
My everything
My life, my love
Lord, use me
I wanna set the world on fire
I wanna set the world on fire, yeah
Take my dreams
Come and give them wings
Lord with You
Nothing I cannot do
Take my dreams
Come and give them wings
Lord with You
There's nothing I can't do
Nothing I can't do
I'm gonna set the world on fire
Set the world on fire
And this is a quote my bff shared with me tonight...
Catch on fire with enthusiasm, and people will come from miles around to watch you burn" - John Wesley
I believe God wanted me to share this with you this day! Sweet Blessings, Pamela

The Daffodil Principle

THIS ONES FOR YOU............MAKE TIME!!!!! FOR THE GOOD THINGS...LOVE, PAMELA (Thanks to my wonderful CTMH Upline, Kim, for sharing this with me today. Ü

The Daffodil Principle

Several times my daughter had telephoned to say, 'Mother, you must come to see the daffodils before they are over.'

I wanted to go, but it was a two-hour drive from Laguna to Lake Arrowhead   'I will come next Tuesday', I promised a little reluctantly on her third call.

Next Tuesday dawned cold and rainy. Still, I had promised, and reluctantly I drove there. When I finally walked into Carolyn 's house I was welcomed by the joyful sounds of happy children. I delightedly hugged and greeted my grandchildren.

'Forget the daffodils, Carolyn !  The road is invisible in these clouds and fog, and there is nothing in the world except you and these children that I want to see badly enough to drive another inch!'

My daughter smiled calmly and said, 'We drive in this all the time, Mother.'

'Well, you won't get me back on the road until it clears, and then I'm heading for home!'  I assured her.

'But first we're going to see the daffodils. It's just a few blocks,' Carolyn said.  'I'll drive. I'm used to this.'  

' Carolyn ,' I said sternly, 'Please turn around.'

'It's all right, Mother, I promise. You will never forgive yourself if you miss this experience.'
After about twenty minutes, we turned onto a small gravel road and I saw a small church. On the far side of the church, I saw a hand lettered sign with an arrow that read, ' Daffodil Garden '  We got out of the car, each took a child's hand, and I followed Carolyn down the path. Then, as we turned a corner, I looked up and gasped. Before me lay the most glorious sight.

 

 
It looked as though someone had taken a great vat of gold and poured it over the mountain and its surrounding slopes. The flowers were planted in majestic, swirling patterns, great ribbons and swaths of deep orange, creamy white, lemon yellow, salmon pink, and saffron and  butter yellow. Each different colored variety was planted in large groups so that it swirled and flowed like its own river with its own unique hue. There were five acres of flowers.

'Who did this?' I asked Carolyn .  'Just one woman,' Carolyn answered. 'She lives on the property. That's her home.' Carolyn pointed to a well-kept A-frame house, small and modestly sitting in the midst of all that glory. We walked up to the house.

On the patio, we saw a poster. 'Answers to the Questions I Know You Are Asking', was the headline. The first answer was a simple one. '50,000 bulbs,' it read. The second answer was, 'One at a time, by one woman. Two hands, two feet, and one brain.' The third answer was, 'Began in 1958.'

For me, that moment was a life-changing experience. I thought of this woman whom I had never met, who, more than forty years before, had begun, one bulb at a time, to bring her vision of beauty and joy to an obscure mountaintop. Planting one bulb at a time, year after year, this unknown woman had forever changed the world in which she lived. One day at a time, she had created something of extraordinary magnificence, beauty, and inspiration. The principle her daffodil garden taught is one of the greatest principles of celebration.

That is, learning to move toward our goals and desires one step at a time--often just one baby-step at time--and learning to love the doing, learning to use the accumulation of time. When we multiply tiny pieces of time with small increments of daily effort, we too will find we can accomplish magnificen t things. We can change the world .

'It makes me sad in a way,' I admitted to Carolyn . 'What might I have accomplished if I had thought of a wonderful goal thirty-five or forty years ago and had worked away at it 'one bulb at a time' through all those years? Just think what I might have been able to achieve!'
My daughter summed up the message of the day in her usual direct way. 'Start tomorrow,' she said.

She was right. It's so pointless to think of the lost hours of yesterdays. The way to make learning a lesson of celebration instead of a cause for regret is to only ask, 'How can I put this to use today?'

Use the Daffodil Principle. Stop waiting.....

Until your car or home is paid off

Until you get a new car or home

Until your kids leave the house

Until you go back to school

Until you finish school

Until you clean the house

Until you organize the garage

Until you clean off your desk

Until you lose 10 lbs.

Until you gain 10 lbs.

Until you get married

Until you have kids

Until the kids go to school

Until you retire

Until summer

Until spring

Until winter

Until fall

Until you die...

There is no better time than right now to be happy.
Happiness is a journey, not a destination.
So work like you don't need money.
Love like you've never been hurt, and,

Dance like no one's watching.

Wishing you a beautiful, daffodil day!
Don't be afraid that your life will end, be afraid that it will never begin.
If you want to brighten someone's day, pass this on to someone special.   I just did!

Scrap with Me!

Here's a little snippet of what we do each month at my scrapbook clubs...

 

Hope you will join me sometime! Ü

Pamela

Family Recipe Box w/Dividers

I came across a darling gift set on a fellow stamper's blog with the cutest recipe holder. Here is my version using Let's Get Together L2 Paper Packet. I didn't have the LGT card kit, so I decided to create mine from scratch. :O) What do you think? The recipe holder is SUPER easy to make! Here is the link for the instructions. ..

http://notimetostamp.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/2008/03/15/more-blog-candy/

I did a little more surfing and I found several more examples using this same template to make a Favorite Scriptures box and it would make a great Rolodex (that doesn't roll...LOL).

Let me see what you can create using the template provided in the above instructions! I'm going to add a few more items to this display and  take it to show at Scrapbook Fiesta!

Have a little fun today stamping!

God Bless, Pamela

Reflections of my heART

Time spent scrapbooking is time spent in open, ardent appreciation of your family and the experiences that you have had. It's a way of honoring the experiences and people in your life with your time and reflection.

I had an awesome day today, scrapbooking. It was so peaceful and relaxing to quietly sit and reflect and work on some projects up at the church annex. :O) I wish someone had come and joined me though! Just thought I'd share what you missed out on...

Looking forward to next time! I hope you will join me. :O)

Sweet blessings, Pamela

How Could I Possibly Miss This?!?

Well...I'm not missing out on this trip of a lifetime! Check this out:

Itinerary

Day 1: Leave the U.S. on a flight bound for New Zealand. Lose a day on the calendar as you cross the International Dateline.

Day 2: Arrive in Auckland and transfer to a flight that will take you to Christchurch, the beginning of this amazing adventure. Your first evening will be spent at the exclusive Willowbank Wildlife Reserve where you will enjoy a formal greeting by a group of native performers. After traditional Maori entertainment and buffet dinner, tour the Reserve and see the wildlife both native and introduced to New Zealand. On the way back to the city you’ll be treated to a guided nighttime tour of Christchurch.

Days 3 & 4: Christchurch — Explore this beautiful city, known for its amazing gardens. Hagley Park, the Botanic Gardens, Victoria Square, and the spectacular Mona Vale on the banks of the River Avon, all help give Christchurch the nickname, The Garden City. Optional excursions will be available.

Day 5: Christchurch/Mt. Cook/Queensland — Travel south today via Lake Tekapo where you can view the solitary Church of the Good Shepherd. Continue alongside the Tasman River to Mt. Cook National Park. Enjoy a hosted lunch as you enjoy the spectacular scenery of this beautiful park. Continue southward through the beautiful countryside as you make your way to Queenstown.

Day 6: Queenstown — Spend a free day enjoying all New Zealand’s adventure capital has to offer, from the incredible beauty to extreme adventures. Optional excursions will be available.

Day 7: Queenstown — Continue your exploration of this fun four-season city from its majestic mountains to its crystal clear lakes and glacial fjords with the many available optional excursions. Join your friends on a scenic gondola ride to the breathtaking vistas of the Skyline complex high above Queenstown for a special farewell dinner as you prepare to leave this exotic land.

Day 8: Board a return flight to Auckland with onward connections to the U.S. and Canada.

Sampling of Excursions and Optional Activities ... More to Come!

New Zealand’s South Island is rife with wildlife, adventures, and sight-seeing. The only limit to the fun is your imagination. As you prepare to join Close To My Heart on this amazing land tour, consider some of these exciting optional excursions you can enjoy with your fellow Consultants:

In Christchurch:

• Alpine Safari by Road, Train and Boat
  Drive by road through the Canterbury Plains to the Waimakariri Canyon in the foothills of the rugged Southern Alps. Travel by jet boat into the canyon past train viaducts, waterfalls and thick beech forest. Travel in a 4×4 vehicle across Torlesse Station while viewing the spectacular alpine scenery. Following lunch at Te Kowhai Cafe, travel on the historic state highway to Arthurs Pass National Park and join the TranzAlpine train for the return journey to Christchurch.
• Akaroa Day Tour
  Depart Christchurch and drive to Akaroa via Sign of the Takahe and Little River. Stop at the hill-top on the volcanic rim for panoramic views of Akaroa Village, harbor and surrounding areas. Stop at the Barrys Bay Cheese Factory to taste New Zealand cheeses. Continue to Akaroa and explore the craft shops and old French colonial buildings. Enjoy lunch in Akaroa and join the Canterbury Cat for an Akaroa Harbour cruise to see dolphins, penguins and seals before returning to Christchurch.
• Kaikoura Discover the Whales
  This full-day tour travels north from Christchurch through North Canterbury to the township of Kaikoura. Here, the ocean's continental shelf is very close to the shore—with over 200 species of marine life. See hundreds of fur seals, spectacular leaping dolphins and sperm whales. Kaikoura is also on the migratory route for pods of orca ("killer") whales, pilot whales and the rare blue whale. View whales in their natural environment (weather permitting). Departs daily at 7:45 AM and returns approximately 6:30 PM.
• Hammer Springs Tour
  Just north of Christchurch is the small alpine destination of Hanmer Springs—perfect for rest, relaxation or adventure. Sit back and relax in natural outdoor thermal waters or opt for a thrill-seeking adventure of an exhilarating jetboat ride or breathtaking bungy jump (own expense)!
• Tramway Restaurant
  A truly unique experience in restaurant dining! Relax in the luxury of a colonial style dining tram and be treated to superb service and cuisine, breathtaking scenery and cultural heritage. The 36-seat tram departs daily at 7:30PM from the Train Station tram stop in Cathedral Junction.

In Queenstown

• TSS Earnslaw & Walter Peak High Country Station
  Relive the elegance of turn-of-the-century travel with a cruise on board the vintage steamship TSS Earnslaw. During the 40-minute cruise, enjoy an entertaining and informative insight into New Zealand high country farming. On the walking tour of the farm, see animals, sheep dogs, and the farm demonstrator shear a sheep. Wander through the gardens and enjoy morning or afternoon tea and home baking in the Colonel’s Homestead before the return cruise to Queenstown.
• Shotover High Five
  This is a day of fun and excitement! Start off with a Jetboat ride through the Shotover Canyons. Then fly high over Queenstown with a scenic transfer helicopter ride. Visit the Skyline Gondola complex and enjoy the thrills of the luge track. Ride the Gondola Cableway down to town and finish with the Kiwi Magic Movie at the cinema downtown.
• Dart River Excursion
  This jetboat safari is an exciting journey along the Dart River amongst towering mountains and the pristine wilderness of the Mt Aspiring National Park—a World Heritage Area where snow-capped mountains range over a glacier formed valley. Stroll through ancient forests and enjoy a back road journey through remote areas of this region.
• Luxury Milford Sound Tour
  Travel by luxury vehicle along Lake Wakatipu and The Remarkables Mountain Range to Te Anau. After morning tea, continue to Mirror Lakes and the Homer Tunnel. The guide will share tales of the adventurers of the area. Embark on a scenic cruise of the majestic Milford Sound and enjoy lunch onboard. The return journey to Queenstown is either by vehicle or scenic flight.
• Safari of the Scenes
  Based around specific filming sites, this 4WD tour offers a spectacular look at New Zealand High Country’s diverse scenery. These are real places—there are no movie sets. Two tours are available, or combine them for a full day. Duration is 4 hours; refreshments provided.
• Shotover Jet
  Get ready for the world’s most exciting Jet Boat ride! Shotover Jet is the only company permitted to operate in the spectacular Shotover River Canyons. It’s a thrilling ride — skimming past rocky outcrops at close range in the Shotover Jet “Big Red” as it twists and turns through the narrow canyons at breath taking speeds. And a major highlight — hold tight for the world famous Shotover Jet full 360° spins!
• Funyak Adventure
  Funyaks provide one of the most unique adventures available in New Zealand—experience over an hour of scenic jetboating and then float down river in your own inflatable kayak allowing plenty of time to explore the rivers hidden secrets. Enjoy a wilderness buffet lunch, stunning scenery and the expertise of the guide.
• Milford Sound Heli Flight
  This captivating flight soars over alpine lakes, lush rainforest, and past rugged peaks. Experience the grandeur of the Southern Alps before landing at Key Summit. Fly into the heart of Fjordland, with unparalleled views of world famous Milford Sound and Mitre Peak. View the spectacular Tutuko Glacier before returning to Queenstown. Tour’s duration is 1 ½ hours.

This is going to be totally amazing. I will be using my blog to keep you all updated on my progress for earning this incentive trip for my 40th birthday! :O) That's not til January 2010, but all the hard work will obviously be well worth it!

A goal needs to be out of reach, but not out of sight.

I'm off to make some sweet dreams. :O) Pamela

This is almost too much!

I LOVE being a Close To My Heart consultant!!! Today is a GINOURMOUS day for CTMH!

• NEW Summer 2008 Idea Book for consultants has been unveiled (ask me today how you can get a sneak peek)! Mine are out for delivery today, so, I'm stalking my UPS man. LOL!
• NEW Incentive Trip details to New Zealand are being announced today! I am so there!
• NEW Gatherings and Workshop on the Go details have been posted...you are going to love all the new fun projects I'll be sharing. :O)

Gosh! There is so much more to share, but I'll have to wait til the unveiling of our Summer 2008 Idea Book on May 3rd at our Scrapbook Fiesta & Operation Kids Fundraiser! Hee hee! Ask me how you can be apart of this amazing event!

Sweet blessings to you! Pamela