Tutorials and Graduation Card

Hope this post finds everyone happy and well today.  I just want to bring one thing to your attention before I share my card with you.  I have some very fun TUTORIALS that I post frequently.  However to make it easy for you to always find them I don't post them in the main body of this blog.  They are posted above in the tabs at the top of this blog. 

Click on the above tab "TUTORIALS" for general scrapbooking, paper crafting, techniques and lots of fun stuff.  Click on the above tab "STUDIO J CLASSES AND TUTORIALS" for any tutorials concerning Studio J which is digital and online scrapbooking.  Have I every mentioned I LOVE Studio J and it totally rocks!!!!!!!!!!!!!   Check these tabs frequently as I add new tutorials as CTMH produces them and if I ever get brave enough to post some of my own.  They are great, very short and full of tons of ideas-ENJOY.

Now I want to share a card I made for my cute nephew that is graduating from High School.  The card was made from the stamp set "You and Me" which you can only get in May.  So if you want one let me know ASAP.   The stamp set it very universal and I have used it for many occasions already.  Click HERE to watch a quick tutorial on the special.

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  You and Me (available only in May)
Paper:  Lucky Paper Pack  (I LOVE this paper pack)
Ink:  Outdoor Denim  
Stars:  Dimensional Elements-Stars
Opaque Gems:  Mocha

Thanks for stopping by.  Have a fantastic day.

Block of the Month-FINISHED

Hello quilting friends.  It took me over a year to finish this project, but it was well worth the wait.  I have been very pleased how it turned out so I wanted to share it with you.

This is my 2010 block of the month quilt.  We completed one block a month in my awesome quilt club I attend every month.  It then took me a couple of months to get the center applique just the way I wanted.  Then I had to do my share of brainstorming to get the boarders just perfect.  In the end I was pleased how it all came together.



Click on any of the images to enlarge photo if desired.

 I believe I am going to put this one on the wall.  It matches my front formal room perfect.  Here are a few detail shots for those that want to peek.  Don't critique too hard I have only been quilting for a little over a year and I am still learning, but I love it and it's just the therapy I need.


Applique Oak Leaf.



Just a few of the blocks.  Thanks for stopping by.  It feels great to have this done.  Don't worry I have several others quilts in the works.  This is a very addicting hobby.

Long arm quilting was done by my friend Juli.  I am happy to hook you up with Juli if you should need any long arm quilting. 

Made From Scraps

I wanted to share something with you that my daughter and I made a couple of weeks ago.  However, first of all I wanted to thank all of you for your sweet thoughts concerning my daughter Alyssa.  I have had many emails and text checking up on her.  WOW I feel so blessed to have so many great friends and family.  She is moving around and the pain is under control.  We meet with the doctor next week for a follow up and hopefully he will give her some clearance to be able to start doing a few things like driving ect.   She is going crazy just watching TV, but she is doing well.

So speaking of Alyssa she has a good friend going on a two year mission for our church in one week.  She wanted to give him something special that was unique and fun.  So together we made this fun book for him.  I made the book and she was in charge of putting photos and journaling in the book.  She contacted five or six of David's good friends and his parents and had them each write a tribute to David and then she printed photos to coordinate with the tribute. 

It was a big hit and he was so impressed it brought him to tears.  The cool thing about the book is I really wanted to use the Lucky paper pack but all I had as far as Lucky paper was the left over scraps from this months workshop layouts.  Well believe it or not I had just enough scraps to make the book. 

So those of you that attended the Lucky workshop you should have enough scraps left over to put this fun book together.  I will post the Lucky layouts just as soon as things calm down at my house.  Sorry I have not had a minute to post those.



Cover. 
Remember to click on the images to enlarge if desired



page 1-2



page 3-4



page 5-6

page 7-8



page 9-10




Inside back cover

 Supply List (these items can be ordered on my website by clicking on the below links)

My Creations 3-Ring Binder
Lucky Paper Pack
Irresistibles Electric Alphabet
Suset ink
Lucky Level 2 assortment
Designer Buttons
Mocha Opaques

Adhesive, ribbon, hemp, chipboard frame (items I had in my stash of scrapbook supplies)

Thanks for stopping by.  If you have any questions concerning the project or anything else please let me know.

The Good, The Bad The Ugly, and the Blessed

WOW it's been a wild week here at the Kankamp home.  We tend to have a motto here at our house.  "If you are going to do something do a good job or don't do it at all"  hahahah.  Here are a few updates from the wild week.

THE GOOD:  Well other than Fred still having lots of pain it's been so nice to have a month break.  The month long break came and went very quickly and it was time for that break to come to an end.  We did another PET scan to see how things were looking in order to determine the next treatment plan.

Have I mentioned my heart STOPS every time he has a PET scan.  Waiting for the results and knowing what the Dr is going to tell us just makes my heart stop and my stomach turn.  This time Rachael and Alyssa wanted to come to the appointment to view the PET.  I was very nervous having them there to possibly hear really bad news and wondering how they would handle hearing it from the doctor instead of me,  but they wanted to come and see pictures.  Since they are both pursuing medical degree's it was very educational for them.  Anyway we were very pleased with the results.  Still not super fantastic put we will take any bit of improvement we can get.

Basically the rectal tumor still glows on PET meaning it wants to be active.  Be it is not as bright as it has been and has decreased in size.  The liver and lungs did not light up at all. You could still see a few  tiny "spots"  but they were not glowing and definitely decreased in size and some of them have melted away-possibly.  So that was very good news.  We are going to meet with a surgeon.  We are hoping to not do surgery but think it's a good idea to get connected with one in the event that a blockage does occur due to the fact that his bowels are sluggish right now.  So next week we will meet with a surgeon. 

So I was feeling so good  and so blessed and feeling every prayer out there and a huge load of bricks lifted a few inches off my shoulders for a moment and then the bad came.

THE BAD:  So after the PET Alyssa and a friend decided to go on a bike ride.  She is training for her annual cycling tour where she rides from SLC to ST. George (approx 300 miles) in three days.  So that evening she was cycling around 25-30 MPH and went around a round-about and the tire somehow slipped sideways and she flipped off the bike.  She suffered a major fracture to her clavicle (collar bone).  So you can see below (only if you want) that Alyssa is keeping with the family motto and if you are going to break a bone break it really well.

So we met with an outstanding Orthopedic surgeon and we went in for surgery today.  I hate that she had to have surgery and be held together with a metal plate and screws, but I am so very grateful that she didn't suffer a head injury.  Her helmet was cracked and smashed.  Once again we were being watched over and very blessed that this was not more serious.

THE UGLY:  With permission here is her fractured clavical scroll on by if you don't like to look at bones.

THE BLESSED:  The surgeon squeezed her into the schedule today at a nearby hospital that I don't work at.  I was a bit nervous about having surgery elsewhere, because I would not know the medical staff and especially would not know the anesologist  I know I am a little picky,  What many don't realize is how vital the anesologist is to the case.  The anesologist can make the difference on how stable the patient is coming out of the operating room as well as how the patient recovers. 

Anyway, when we got there this morning and got her back in the room I asked the nurse if she likes the anesologist and she assured me he was fantastic and comes highly recommended.  Well when the anesologist walked in it was one that I work with all the time and he is excellent.  I didn't realize he also did shifts at this hospital.  You have no idea how happy I was to see him and was feeling very blessed.  Of course he took excellent care of Alyssa and kept me well informed.  Other than a little nausea she is doing great and recovering well. So I feel super blessed that all went well and that we had a wonderful anesologist.  Hopefully we can keep the pain under control.



Minutes before going to surgery. 
She was not to thrilled with the blue hospital socks.



Create Your Custom Banner

I love making these banners.  They are perfect for just about any occasion and simple to make.  You start with a MY CREATIONS BANNER and paper pack that will work for your occasion a few accessories to decorate your banner and your favorite adhesive.  It's that SIMPLE.

Here is one I made for a friend to display at a wedding shower on the dessert table.

I used the X7134B Sweetheart paper pack, E1019 Bohemian Alphabet set, tulip ink to sponge around banner edges and some ribbon and various accessories I had in my stash.

These paper flowers are simple to make and you can make them all sizes.  If you don't know how to make them you can watch a video tutorial by a sister CTMH consultant by the name of Tracy Mason that is amazing at making these roses HERE  I learned how to make the roses from her.  Mine does not look anything like Tracy's because Tracy is the queen of these roses.  TRUST ME.

This banner was designed by my upline Karen.  We did this little project at a team meeting.  One side says "Spring" and the back side says "Summer"  I finally can hang the spring side up on my door.  It's so fun.

Thanks for stopping by.  If I can answer any quesitons for you  let me know.  All products can be ordered on my website at http://www.staminscrapexpress.myctmh.com/  Enjoy making your banners.

"Sophia" Workshop

Here is the Sophia workshop we did last month. I love this kit and paper pack so much. I hope someday when my kids get married that one of them picks these colors as there wedding colors so I can make the entire wedding album with this paper pack and colors.  You see it's all about me and the photos and the layouts.  TEEHEHE

Pinks, Greens, and a bit of Orange for a summer wedding just spells beautiful. Actually I think that just spells summer and fun in general. Well as far as I know I don't have to worry right now about planning a wedding. WHEW!!!!

Layout One:

I chose to use bigger photos.  You may want to refer to the brochure if you plan on putting more photos on the page.

Photo Tip:

Remember to take photos of yourself.  It's a hard thing for me as well but I am trying to do better and hand the camera to someone else or use my camera timer.

Layout Two:

This layout uses lots of white space.  I usually am not a fan of white space.  I tend to like LOTS of color.  However with this layout the white space really makes the other colors pop.

Photo Tip:
These photos of Rachael and her friend Brandon were taken in a very busy restaurant with lots of background noise.  So try printing your photos in black and white.  When the photo is in black and white it will fade the background noise and focus on the subject.

Layout Three:

This layout is such a fun layout for Spring.  Enjoy taking lots of photos of Spring colors for this layout.

Have fun finishing up your layouts complete with photos and journaling.  This month we will work with the "Lucky" kit.  You are in for a treat.  I have loved working with the Lucky kit and you will too. 

Thanks for stopping by.  Speaking of Spring I am off to do some yardwork.  Have a great weekend and  Happy Mothers Day to all the mothers out there.

Photo Tip:

Don't be afraid to when taking photos to tilt your camera.  The photo on the right hand page of Rachael leaning against that twig I tilted my camera.  It give the photo a fun and interesting twist.

National Scrapbook Month Special

Are you ready for National Scrapbook Month? Let me introduce you to a fantastic special Close To My Heart is running for National Scrapbook Month.

WHEN YOU PLACE A MINIMUM ORDER OF $50 IN CLOSE TO MY HEART PRODUCTS* IN May, you can get the exclusive You & Me scrapbooking kit for the discount price of just $15—that’s more than half off the retail value! You’ll create two fully embellished two-page layouts using the new cardstock-weight B&T Duos® papers, D-size stamp set, accessories, and instructions. You can also purchase the kit at full retail for $34.95 with no minimum purchase required.

Become a Close To My Heart Consultant during May and we’ll include a You & Me kit for free* as part of your New Consultant Kit. Contact me today to get the celebration started.

(Remember to pause playlist at bottom of blog before viewing video)


In addition to that amazing special you may also want to know that during the month of May the New Consultant Kit is HALF PRICE...AND you get the May National Scrapbooking Kit along with it! The New Consultant kit is usually priced at $129, but you will get $300 worth of products for only $65 Now that's a great deal.