Getting to know you :)

I always endeavor in my business more than anything to 'keep it personal'.

I want my customers to feel connected to me and know that I care about them.

I love seeing their personal growth and watching their families live through their photographs.

Going a little bit deeper into keeping it personal I thought I would create a fun lil' survey for us all to do that would help me get to know you even more and personalize your gifts and prizes too! I have already done the survey so you can get to know me better and now I want to hear from you! Once you've completed the survey, simply email me your answers to be entered into

a drawing for some wonderful stampin' up goodies!

My email address is: chrisanntomasso@gmail.com

Please put "GETTING TO KNOW YOU" in the subject line so it catches my attention!

Have fun and hope you win!!!

(The winner will be drawn and announced on Saturday, September 27th)

Give Thanks with a 

Grateful HEART...

So often we get busy and swept away with everyday life that we forget to stop and thank the people that have done so much to make our lives easier, peaceful, fun, happy, even bearable during rough times.

Something that's been on my heart lately is being grateful - am I really telling those around me thank you as sincerely as I should be? I mean really appreciating them for not only what they are doing but for who they really are.

I was excited to learn that in keeping with this theme ringing in my heart when I went to a special demonstrator only stamping event hosted by Sherrill Graff (my amazing stamping mum) she had planned some beautiful projects to teach us, one in particular included a wonderful 'thanks' stamp!

Here are a couple pictures I made with what I learned and that beautiful stamp:

This project was made using a multi-colored ink pad we created - don't you love the colors?
Elegant Eggplant, Night of Navy, and Garden Green compliment each other well.

This project was made after learning how to water color the paper with several colors to make a beautiful
background to stamp on. I love how the gold embossing looks against the striking fall colors!

For my "Art with HEART" project I will be making multiple 'thanks' cards and taking the time to write personal notes to people who have blessed my life in some way or have done a great service and deserve to be honored.

Who do you owe a great deal of thanks to?

Tell them right away how much they mean to you and how much you appreciate them. We all need to hear it from time to time. 

A spirit of thankfulness is a beautiful thing to spread around!

Products used in these cards are:

Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder

Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder #109130 $4.95

Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder

Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder #109130 $4.95

Crushed Curry Stampin' Emboss Powder #133753 $4.95

Rhinestone Basic Jewels Embellishments #119246 $4.95

Aqua Painters #103954 $16.95

Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad #126974 $5.95

Elegant Eggplant Classic Stampin' Ink Refill #105222 $2.95

Early Espresso 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock #119686 $6.95

Crushed Curry 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock #131199 $6.95

Embossing Buddy #103083 $5.95

Night Of Navy Classic Stampin' Ink Refill #103033 $2.95

Garden Green Classic Stampin' Ink Refill #102059 $2.95

Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder #109129 $4.95

Heat Tool #129053 $29.95

Petite Petals Punch #133322 $12.95

Night Of Navy 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock #100867 $6.95

Rich Razzleberry Classic Stampin' Ink Refill #115664 $2.95

Seasonally Scattered Clear-Mount Stamp Set #135023 $17.95

Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin' Ink Refill #105229 $2.95

Snail Permanent Adhesive #104332 $6.95

Stamping Sponges #101610 $3.50

Whisper White Craft Stampin' Pad #101731 $7.50

VersaMark Pad #102283 $7.50

Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock #100730 $8.50

 Click here to SHOP NOW... THANK YOU for your order!!!

Treasure Hunt Blog Hop Starts September 1st...

Treasure Hunt Blog Hop Starts September 1st...

Enter to win a GRAND PRIZE!!!

If you are an active Stampin Up Demonstrator and on Stampin Connection

there is still time to participate in the Treasure Hunt Blog Hop...

http://www.stampinconnection.com/group/LNS/forum/topics/lns-fall-treasure-hunt-and-blog-hop-join-the-fun-starts-september

If you are a customer

and LOVE Stampin' Up! products

then visit the links below and 

keep track of each clue and where you found it!

You will need a clue

 from each blog listed below

to enter the drawing for 

the Grand Prize!

My clue for this blog only is:

"Flamingo Lingo" Item # 134306

it can be found on page # 249

of the current Stampin' Up! catalog

and is only $16.95 for this darling stamp set!

Stampin' Up! will donate $3 from every

Flamingo Lingo stamp set sold to the 

Ronald McDonald House Charities...

Now that's ART WITH HEART!!!

Clear Flamingo Lingo Stamp Set $16.95

2014 LNS Fall Treasure Hunt Blog Participants

1.     Sherrill Graff, NV-US – http://latenitestampinwithsherrill.blogspot.com
2.      Sherrill Graff, NV-US – http://parttimepapercraft.blogspot.com
3.     Sherrill Graff, NV-US – http://latenightstamper-stampandscrap.blogspot.com
4.     Sherrill Graff, NV-US – http://sostuckonstampin.blogspot.com
5.     Deborah Smart, BC-CA – www.stampandcreate.net
6.     Bev Farmer, MD-US – www.createwithbev.blogspot.com
7.     Katie Shimshock, US – www.stampin-shimmy-style.blogspot.com
8.     Bridget Sandoval, CO-US – www.krittercrafts.com
9.     Jana T. Secord, US – www.stampinjana.stampinup.net
10. Misty Snell, OK-US – www.snellmisty.wordpress.com
11. Michelle McCarthy, US –     http://creativeexpressions.typepad.com/creative_expressions
12. Rhonda MacNally, CA – http://www.rhondalovesstamping.wordpress.com
13. Sarah Souza, US – www.sarahsstamplab.com
14. Carol Gleason, WI-US – www.inkshimmerandshine.com
15. Diana Carr, US – www.secretlifeofpaper.com
16. Debi Teague, TX-US – www.inkandpapertherapy.com
17. Olivia V. Studley       - www.oliviastamps.blogspot.com
18. Cyndy Ponczek, US – www.cyndystamps.blogspot.com
19. Patricia Olson, MN-US – http://www.pattiolson.blogspot.com
20. Mary Lee, CO-US – http://www.maryleestamping.blogspot.com
21. Tracy Elsom, NS-CA –     http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/tracyelsom.blog
22. Nora J. Hampton, US - http://craftingwithnora.com
23. Karina Chin, US  - http://www.karinaskreations.com
24. Angelica N. Fletcher      - www.redcloudcrafter.blogspot.com
25. Angie Jones, AUS – http://angiescraftfusion.blogspot.com
26.  Sharon Tong-Robinson, CA-US –      http://sharonscreativestampinplayroom.blogspot.com
27. Ann Shafer, US - http://fyhcards.blogspot.com
28. Angeline Anny, HI-US – http://angiespapercloset.blogspot.com
29. Laura Simnick, IN-US – http://laurasimnick.blogspot.com
30. Janis L. Thomas, PA-US – www.letsstamptogether.com/wordpress
31. Cindy Mitchell-Clark, TX-US – www.cindysstampingcorner.wordpress.com
32. Christy Minshall, NY-US – http://www.createwithchristy.com
33. Marie Green, OR-US – http://www.mytanglewoodcottage.com/
34. Lisa Tyndall, US – http://lisatstamps.blogspot.com
35. Valerie Malkus, NY-US - www.valstamps.typepad.com
36. Cheryl Laxton,
37. Billie Moan, US – www.ramblingrosestudio.com
38. Becky O’Donnell    - www.artfulcreationsbecky.stampinup.net
39. Angela Henninger, TX-US – www.studio31eighteen.wordpress.com
40. Melanie Coverston,     - http://melaniestampsforfun.blogspot.com
41. ChrisAnn Tomasso, CA-US - www.createwithchrisann.blogspot.com
42. ChrisAnn Tomasso, CA-US - www.chrisannsartwithheart.blogspot.com
43. Suzanne Johnson, US – www.gottastampwithsuzanne.com

Each Customer may enter with only ONE demonstrator... 

Please look for one living near you.

If you live in the USA and are southern CA e-mail me with your entry 
once you have your list of blogs and the clue you found at each one. 

My email address is: chrisanntomasso@gmail.com
Your name and address would also be appreciated, 
we will need that information if your entry is drawn.

Have fun and happy blog hopping!!!

*************************************************************************************

Find JOY in your journey, ChrisAnn

***STAMPING WITHOUT STAMPS? YES IT'S TRUE! SOMETIMES WE DO!!!***

My husband Richard and I have been married for 12 years and have yet to be blessed with a child of our own. Naturally when the opportunity came up to be a host family for some exchange students from China we couldn't wait to accept the invitation! 

We were given two college girls - Jessica and Lisa.

(Our dog Sadie decided this was something she had to be a part of too!)

In addition to completely spoiling the girls (I couldn't help myself), I had to let them go for a little while each day so they could take classes while they were here. So, I jumped on my computer, took the pictures I had taken of our first outings together, and with Stampin' Up!'s My Digital Studio program I created these folders for the girls to take to school for their assignments.

The pictures are from our first meal at Sizzler's when they arrived (they LOVED being able to try so many things, especially the onion rings), Carriage House Antique Store, and Oak Glen. The girls were sooooooo excited when they woke up in the morning for their first day of school and found their folders! They told us that many things are 'made' in China but very little is 'HANDmade' in China so they loved how personal this was and that no one else would have something like this but them! After school they said they have to keep saying the whole day "don't be jealous!" to all of their classmates, ha,ha! 

I sure miss those sweet girls. What a blessing it was to have 'children' for a few weeks!