"Finally a Bride" shower...

Let me just say that my girls know how to throw a party!!!  They all know how much I love Close To My Heart...they knew I'd be scrapping these pictures using CTMH colors Sweet Leaf, Cocoa and Colonial White so made everything "matchy matchy"...they knew that I have waited for almost 13 years to marry this man that I love and finally have the Taylor name with him and our children!  It was a very special day with tons of presents, lots of WONDERFUL food and some very special friends....did I mention all the HANDMADE goodies!!!! 

Let me share those today...1st let me explain that the theme was "finally"....much to my urging and one of the hostesses is one of my best friends and fellow CTMH Consultant, Sylvia Williams...this came in handy for decoration items such as these:

This 1st project is a 12x12 canvas she made using our wedding invitation package...she added the word

"finally" to tie it in to the shower theme...she borrowed some of the singed silk flowers I've been making for bouquets and such...isn't it GORGEOUS!!!!  After we display this at the wedding, I will probably be putting it into a shadow box and hanging it up in our house.

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 Here's a close up of the flowers....

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Here's a close up of the Dimensional Elements and the damask ribbon from Hobby Lobby...doesn't it go PERFECT with our wedding invitations!  You'll see some more of this ribbon on my card box that I will share later...

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This is the second project Sylvia made...it's a banner made from CTMH's My Creations Banner and more Sweet Leaf B&T from the Wings Paper Packet, Cocoa Grosgrain and Sweet Leaf 1" Stitched Ribbon and Pearl Opaques.  Truth be known, I bought several of these banners (can't beat $5.95) and had great plans for doing something with them...I might still but at least I know that I already have one made in case I run out of time!!!!

Here's a closeup...

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Here are some of the wonderful "handmade" cards I received (I only took pictures of the handmade ones because that's what this blog is all about...my obsession with scrapbooking, paper crafting and card-making and it's quite obvious that I couldn't take a picture of the 30+ cards we've received)...

The 1st one is from my upline, Pamela...she stitched around the edges, she mimicked our wedding invitation using the Friendship stamp set...she used the Mocha Opaques and she's a woman after my own heart...she decorated the inside equally as pretty!!!  If everyone knew how special you feel when you receive a card that has so much feeling and hard work put into it, they'd STOP BUYING HANDMADE CARDS...lol

isn't it gorgeous!

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This one is a tag from Sylvia...she did the same and used Friendship stamp set and added Love Always just like Pamela...

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This card is from one of my good friends and monthly club members, Renee....she used Sweet Leaf Ink and the little eyelet hole detail at the bottom of the card is so pretty...the envelope matched!!!

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This card is from another loyal CTMH fan...Myra happens to be a monthly club member of Sylvia's and is helping us with all the linens and such for the reception...she's an EXCELLENT seamstress and is very generous with her time and suggestions!  Can you believe she made the envelope!!!  See...I told you she was a very "loyal" CTMH fan...everything is CTMH and she's not even a Consultant!  This is a present itself, not to mention the gift card inside...like Myra needed to get us anything else!!!

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This is a gift from another one of my besties, Meg....she's normally right there with everyone else hand-making cards for people but she's elbow deep in a Father's Day album for a friend's husband and she's short on time which I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND!!!  She said that she found this months ago and thought of me...you betcha...I'm gonna be ironing this onto something...I just don't know what yet!

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This is from Dana, a very talented, professional woman that started scrapbooking only a year ago...she started quite ambitious with making a WHOLE ALBUM for her niece's birthday...she asked for my help, I went over to her house and showed her some basics and she's taken off from there!  She scrapbooks all the time and she's a VERY BUSY Attorney so if she can find time to preserve her family's memories, SO CAN YOU!!!!  The bow was tied much prettier when I received the package but I had to hurry and tie it back to take this picture...inside was a well-LOVED gift card!!!!  Thanks, Dana!

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This is a glimpse of our "present corner"....it's so fun getting presents but even more fun knowing that these sweet cards (both handmade and store-bought) and well-wishes that our guests are writing will find a special place in our Wedding Scrapbook for us to treasure always!  

A very VERY SPECIAL Thank You to my hostesses: Cary (my very bestest friend in the whole wide world, my sister and Matron of Honor), Susan (my best friend since the 3rd grade), Shannon (my best friend and once roommate), Sylvia (my best friend and fellow CTMH Consultant), Malinda (the SWEETEST Nini you'll ever meet!!!), Shona (my good friend, hair extraordinaire and monthly club member) and Roann (another good friend and monthly club member)...you girls truly went over and beyond!!!

Even though this small gift I gave to my hostesses didn't even begin to express my gratitude, I hope they enjoyed the "pun" (my *new* name will be "Taylor")...

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the flowers were made using the singe technique...I added tulle in between the satiny layers and added a big Cocoa-colored bead...I sewed the flower onto Sweet Leaf Ribbon and then tied the ribbon around the bottle...