How to . . . Adorable Candy Favor Box

Box measures 4"x3" and holds Ghirardelli chocolates!

Step 1: Cut two pieces of coordinating Cardstock or Background & Texture (decorative paper). The spotted, outer envelope is 10”x4” and the inner (not shown here) is 10 ¼” x 3”.

Step 2: Score the spotted, outer envelope as follows: 3”, 4”, 7”, 8”. Score the inner box at 1 ½”, 5”, 6 ½”, 10”, 10 ¼”.

 

Paper Scored. Inner box adhered to outer paper.

Step 3: Fold the outer envelope at the lines and set aside. Fold the inner envelope/box at the lines and glue together at the 10 ¼” to opposite 1 ½” side. Use strong, permanent adhesive. Squeeze the box front to front, leaving a soft inward fold, as shown.

Inner Box folds.

Step 4: Using permanent adhesive glue the inner box to the outer box, centering it in the middle of the outer box. The Top and Bottom of the inner box should be will be flush with the 4” outer box score line and the bottom of the outer envelope.

Inner Box view. Now add candies. :-)

Step 5: Use a Velcro closure or a tab to hold the envelope close. Decorate as desired.

Home again, home again . . . scrapity scrap

My roomie, Janelle, showing off her tiny book she made.

Ah, the sweet sound of peanuts being ripped opened and free sodas for all, as I wing through the air on my way home. I find myself reliving all the fun I’ve had the last 5 days. What a great Convention! My brain is full of all the new things in the amazing new catalog, stamping and scrapbooking projects, motivating speakers’ messages from Kristine Widtfeldt and Stacy Julian, and of course, the camaraderie of my team, friends, and my roommates.

It amazes me how fast the last 15 years have passed. My son, now almost 16, was a little 6 month old baby when I started selling D.O.T.S. and I’ve loved every minute of my journey through the levels of the company. I was called on stage Friday to collect my beautiful pin with a ribbon in the center sporting a little diamond chip.

I wear it proudly, along with my pin that denotes the fact I’ve been through the company training program and I proudly hold the prestigious title of PhD. This makes me a photo and cardstock doctor, so just call me Doctor Elaine. I can be called upon to help you preserve your memories; learn beautiful new techniques to make adorable cards, all faster, simpler and easier. 

The last event of Convention was a very fun Crop that went late into the night. There wasn’t just stamping and scrapbooking at those round tables; we had dancing to a D.J. and chit chatting with friends, both old and new. I made the two layout kits and am most pleased with my beautiful pages. Now I just have to find photos for the finished pages. If I can’t find pictures that match, never fear, I’ll just pose some. My kids are used to this. I once bought a set of scenes by the sea and we had to take a trip to Half Moon Bay to lounge in the sand so I could snap some fun sandy pictures. LOL

I didn’t get a chance to make the 6 beautiful cards last night. My brain went into over drive and I had to go sit in the hot tub to let some of the images dancing in my head have a chill session. With all these new stamps, papers, kits, doo dads, tools, and the new Cricut cartridge, I do believe I’ll be spending lots of time in my new Stamp Studio Room.

Stay tuned for new classes and a long overdue Team Gathering. (Don’t feel left out, there’s room on my team. Join so you too can be treated to a very fun Team Fun Building experience.)  Our kits now start at just $49! It’s never been easier, or as inexpensive, to join the best scrapbooking, stamping company. Just saying.

I am also actively looking for those that would like to plan a Girls Night Out or a fun evening/afternoon of stamping and scrapbooking. Just send me an email or comment below. I love to show and tell.

Thanks for reading along with my adventures of Convention. It was fun to share. Stay tuned for more sharing just as soon as this plane lands and I am home in my comfy Stamp Studio!

Get Ready . . . this is all about ART!

Yesterday I had my camera snapping away at some amazing artwork. I took the very best and am sharing it . . . it makes me want to go home and get some stamping done, that's for sure. I hope it inspires you too!

Pretty Card

I love these flowers!

I want to make this layout! Be ready, I'm taking pictures of friends!

My room mate, Janelle, submitted this in the art contest. It should have won! It's all about her dad, who recently passed away. I thought it was very good.

Thank you cards . . . you can never have too many!

This card looks crooked, but it's not, the photographer (me) didn't know what she was doing.

Corporate artwork that inspires me to play!!!

A little gift bag from my room mate, Joyce. She used the Cricut Art Philosophy to cut out a french fry box and then filled it with yummy candy. Very sweet design.

Stars Shine Bright at this Convention!

Our very cool new carrying bag! Full of scrapbook treasures!

Yesterday I had every intention of updating this blog, but alas, my brain was full to overflowing and my body was done. I was asleep well before 10:00 p.m. This makes it an early morning for me, so I came down to the lobby to give my room mates a little rest, from me. No one appreciated me singing the rise and shine monkey song so early in the morn. Go figure. LOL

In the opening session yesterday, Thursday, Jeanette announced that all the new product in this season's catalog would be as exciting as Christmas and boy, what an understatement. We are ALL so excited by everything that is in this amazing new issue of the Idea Book.

The Executive Corporate team put on a show, while they announced our new products and it was adorable . . . all the characters were dressed up like stars from Texas TV shows like Dallas, Beverly Hillbillies, Real Crafters of Dallas, Darlings of Hazard, and many more.

Among all the new products we now have; 53 new accessories, mostly Level 2 accessories coordinating with the Level 2 papers, 5 new house decorating products including a Bracket Frame you can hang on the wall, a large star, blocks to spell out words, and a display tray. I want to order them all and fill my house with my art.

My VERY favorite new product!? A new Cricut Cartridge exclusive to CTMH!!! It's called Artiste and includes 700 images, including projects, shapes, a font, and special card designs. But don't despair, the Art Philosophy cartridge is still available. Yeah! 

It was also announced that Workshops on the Go are no longer all about scrapbooks. Two of the kits are cardmaking based, 5 are home decor based . . . etc. I can't wait to order all those puppies. I love kits . . . all the thinking is done for you and if you can follow directions, presto wow, you have a beautiful finished product.

One thing that is a HUGE shift is our color palette. We now have 40 colors to choose from, not 60. At first I was horrified, until I looked at the list of colors and realized it really is a shift in dynamics from some colors that were not being utilized to colors that will be more in tune with the kits and projects and papers that we have available. Not only that, we have 6 NEW colors; Champagne, Cashmere, Saddle, Whisper, Slate, and my favorite -- Ruby! AND, you can now order the cardstock in packs of 24 again. YEAH!

And that's not all on the color front. We now have alcohol based pens. They are very similar to the copic markers. Our pens come in sets of two, one lighter or darker version of the pen name. I played with the pink ones yesterday and I have to say, I'm hooked. Coloring will be even MORE fun than ever!

There were Studio J changes also planned and I think you will be pleased. First of all, no more memberships . . . all the patterns will be available to everyone at one low price of $6.95. If you have a membership there are bonus things planned for us as our memberships phase out, so don't worry, Corporate will still take care of us!

15 Year Pin

Joyce and I . . . 15 years we've been friends! Congrats to us!

One important thing happened yesterday, Joyce and I received our 15th anniversary pin. Joyce was my very first downline all those years ago and I'm so pleased she's still part of this amazing team we have. Go California Dreamin' Team!!!

Other exciting news? Oh yeah baby, are you tired of reading yet? We're actually expanding our territory. Currently we sell in the U.S. and Canada. Well, that's not all, soon we will be expanding our to Australia. Oh baby, we're growing in leaps and bounds.

Okay, that's all for now. I'm going to grab some breakfast and get ready for some more fun. Be sure to comment on my blog if you have any questions or want more details. I'll be checking it regularly and getting ready for another post later in the morning. One thing to look forward to? Pictures from the Art Gallery. My new camera is getting a workout, that's for sure.

I hope you are enjoying your updates. :-)
More later!!!!

Rootin' Tootin' Team Meeting

Tonight was the best team meeting ever . . . only it wasn't really a meeting at all. We're talking big country western themed party full of fun games, like blackjack, bingo, horse shoes, and a coin toss.

Then there was the Sheriff. I was thrown in jail for not wearing my bandanna, but that's not what my room mate's charge was. The Sheriff thought she looked hung over so into the slammer she went.

I say, I had no idea I had such crooked room mates. LOL

Joyce went panning for gold, only she was blind folded. At least she didn't end up in jail like somebody else we know.

And this is my very fun upline, Naomi, who hosted the fun party with a couple of other Directors. Doesn't she look cool all duded up in her country attire? Thanks, Naomi!!!

Now it's time to call it a night because I need rest for all that excitement that will rock this hotel tomorrow. I can't wait to get my hands on that brand new catalog.

Good night, partner!
See you in the morning.

Big Changes Coming!

At this morning's session, Kristine Widtfelt spoke about changes to the Studio J program. Starting tomorrow, all content will be free regardless of membership or not. Membership to Studio J will be phased out, but don't worry if you still have months left on your membership, there's a plan for that which Kristine didn't go over in any great detail. I'm sure we'll learn more in tomorrow's session.

Our next incentive trip was announced and it's exciting. Earn the incentive trip in 2014 and you get to enjoy an all inclusive resort in Costa Rica, ohhhh la la! That would be so much fun! I'm going to have to get this business going again to earn that. I can imagine myself chillaxin on the beach!

And speaking of imagining, we had an excellent guest speaker who taught us how to Train Your Brain to become more productive and successful by positive self talk and instead of negative thoughts, to come up with a mantra. If you say it enough, you will achieve or become what you what. My mantra is "I'm healthy and happy and my confidence is back. I will start actively sharing this wonderful company with my friends, family and current customers."

Janelle, my room mate, has the material for the seminar out and is trying to train her brain, mine unfortunately is in Costa Rica, without me. Darn it.

Purchase this beginning kit for just $49 and presto, you're a Consultant!.

The next exciting thing we found out about . . . two new recruiting kits. The essential kit is only $49.00 and includes the bare necessities. The master kit is $99 and includes more catalogs and forms and more non-consumable goods. This is going to make it much more affordable to join this awesome company. Yeehaw!

I'll leave you with this interesting factoid, the number one selling product this last year was the CTMH Cricut Cartridge, Art Philosophy. The second selling product was Studio J. Interesting, eh? I really hope there's another cartridge coming, wouldn't that be fun!

We'll find out this and so much more tomorrow. I can't wait, can you tell?

Let the fun begin!!!

So, here I am . . . FINALLY at Convention. Excited? Oh yeah. Opening session starts in exactly one hour and 10 minutes. I can wait, right?

The Hotel Anatole is unlike any hotel I've ever stayed at. There is artwork everywhere. Even our room has a statue of a Chinese style horse, like the kind outside of P.F. Changs. My favorite statue is this elephant . . . and I really think he could stand  in for my 6 foot chicken on the front porch. I'm sure my HOA wouldn't care if I placed an 8 foot marble elephant instead.

I also like the three women statue and their hair all going sideways.

And of course, I saw a Buddha statue somewhere last night on the way to the pool and he had his hands up in the air. It made me smile, but alas, I can't find him now. This place is so big, he could be anywhere. It's like a museum.

These statues have a windblown look.

So, let the fun begin. Stay tuned for my next post which will be a sneak peek of the products that are coming our way. I. Can't. Wait.

Instead of a 6 ft chicken for my front porch, how about an 8 foot elephant?

Janelle and I are having a great time . . . stay tuned for more details.