Crafted by Grace

Thanks for stopping by!  I'm Rebecca, a life-long creator,  and my hope is to  CREATE  beauty, to INSPIRE you,  and  to help CONNECT you  to others in supportive community.   Looking for help with Motherhood or Ministry Mentoring?  >> More Info here! >> Scroll Down 👇🏼 to Explore my Creative Communities & Connections: Stampin' Up Demonstrator SHOP WITH ME   UPCOMING EVENTS:  *NEXT RETREATS*  October 22-25, 2026 Sub up here:  Quick & Easy Registration Link March 11-14, 2027 Pricing Details TBA We'd love for you to join us ! Each spring (mid-March) and fall (end of October), you have the opportunity to come away to beautiful Asbury Camp & Retreat Center in Perry, NY , with the best, kindest, most welcoming & creative ladies you could ever find.  2026 Pricing Choices: Connect with Me on these platforms: YouTube : s...

Registration is now open for March 5-8, our annual spring all-inclusive retreat at Asbury in Silver Lake.  This is your chance to be creative for hours uninterrupted, sleep in every day if you like, snack and visit to your heart's content ... and even be served two excellent meals each day! Come get away to spend time with your friends, or make new ones!  And the best news?   I have decided to extend my 2025 pricing to both of my 2026 retreats! 🩷 Here's your 3 minute form to Register!   https://form.jotform.com/240698730317158 Don't forget, you can also get acquainted with us in our  Facebook Group , just for local crafters. And please follow my page there, as well! See you soon! 🌷❄️  🩷 Rebecca Next Retreat:  Fall Crafters Getaway:  October 2026  on Silver Lake, NY

 Registration is Open Our Fall Crafters Getaway is just two months away, so it's time to reserve your spot!  Fall Crafters Getaway:  October 23-26, 2025  on Silver Lake, NY Each spring (mid-March) and fall (end of October), you have the opportunity to come away to beautiful  Asbury Camp & Retreat Center  in  Perry, NY , with the best, kindest, most welcoming & creative ladies you could ever find.  Spring Retreat:  March 5-8, 2026 Our craft rooms have large windows with beautiful light streaming in, and sit atop the hill, surrounded by tall maple & oak trees, overlooking Silver Lake. I offer an Early Bird Discount for those who pay in full by Sept. 21. Registration is open!   Sign Up What to Expect? This is two to four days of uninterrupted crafting time, whether you enjoy scrapbooking, knitting, painting, quilting, card-making, or whatever you do!  Our group centers around the pap...

We have a winner!!   Monday was a VERY snowy, cold President's Day. In our Simplyscraphappy Community , I hosted a little " Monday Funday " photo posting thread, and I think it lived up to it's name.  It's always fun to learn more about each other, and connect across the miles with our fellow crafters.  The group is primarily for those who attend my local events, in Western New York, but we do have some who travel or are friends of mine from other places! We had participants from WNY, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts yesterday!  We also have Michigan, Ohio and Florida members in our group. So fun. We had about a dozen girls join in the photo posting fun, snapping and sharing.  There were three posts.  #1: 📸 your feet The running theme was definitely slippers... but we did have one superstar in the bunch who shared her pretty, manicured feet with gorgeous cherry toenail polish!  (Go, Deb!) #2: 📸 your favorite water bottle Staying hydr...

It's hard to believe it's been over a decade since I first signed up with Close to My Heart!  I have never regretted that decision for one single day.  We have a brand new, jam packed Holiday Expressions catalog, a new monthly kit program, and BEAUTIFUL new colors!  Can't wait to share it all with you.  Email me to request a new catalog or set up an event!  rebecca@scrapbook-simple.com Here's one of my favorite products: Grab a BASHFUL (ballet pink) Shimmer Brush for only $2 on our clearance page !!! But there's more!  Been looking for a chance to step back, take a deep breath, and get refreshed?    Our all-inclusive Fall Crafter's Getaway is just the thing, and I have a few spots left!  Delicious meals, craft table for the weekend, sharing snacks and conversation with friends, leaving a new trick or two, looking out over the beautiful lake at Covenant Acres camp ... what's not to love? Contact me to re...

Our August Workshop will be at the Delevan Scout Building ...  order now to join us! All these layouts ... (for real!) Plus:  ** SPECIAL OFFER : Order the Deluxe Kit include Bunch of Love Stamps  & Value Pack Cards & Envelopes (qty of 50!) and you will qualify for our: To register:  Contact me to place your order in person (cash or check) by Friday, Aug. 12 OR Simply place your Online Order by Monday, August 15 (to ensure delivery by our Workshop)

Let's face it.  New moms are BUSY.  They may not get time to sit down and craft a scrapbook for a long, long time.  So one thoughtful gift I like to create is an EASY Baby Shower Gift Book.   Here is one I made awhile back for a friend.     All you need is a handful of papers that co-ordinate well.  Grab one or two cardstock colors and a few patterned papers to match.  (Or grab one of our  CTMH Paper Packs  ,  all perfectly coordinated and ready to go!    Using the rule of thirds, (or halves, for variety), is a sure-fire way to a, easy, balanced page.       G o for it .  Use your stash!

Shop local, and get the ease of internet ordering at the same time.  Close to my Heart Cyber Week sale includes over 40 items at 25% off!  Shop the sale :  http://ctmh.com/rebeccalaird Share your Wish List with your spouse!   BONUS Husbands/Wives Offer:  Husbands who order online for their wives this week will receive a $5 Gift Certificate from me for FREE!   Thank you for supporting my small business.    ~ Rebecca

The mice will play!  With my husband and eldest away tonight on a Scouts canoe trip, I decided to help the little mice play with me ... scrapbooking!  I am amazed at what their little imaginations can so quickly come up with.  This is the gift of innocence.  Creativity abounds!  Unfortunately it is not matched with equal amounts of hand-eye coordination OR wisdom yet ... which results in: spinning office chairs, tape runners occasionally running along the desktops, and glitter where it absolutely should NOT be.  But that's where I come in.  I simply use every ounce of patience I have to keep my helpful "nice words" flowing instead of the glue.  Well anyway ... Here's what my Nathan saw when I opened the first page of the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge booklet ... A COMPASS!  Really?  I thought it was a flower on a tag.  What do I know.  Look what we made! We couldn't resist adding a belt to match ....

We have a new name here at Rebecca's Close to my Heart Connection!  Due to company policy, I had to remove the words Close to My Heart from my web address.  So we will now use the name Crafted by Grace for the URL and title of this blog! This fresh new look and name is a nice start for the new year.  I love how the Grace title corresponds with so many things in my life.  Hope you like it, too!