Cards I've made or received

I've got a few cards to share with you today.

The first one is for my oldest step-grandaughter, Torri. She is getting braces soon and having one of her baby teeth pulled. I feel for her. I wore braces too for TOO long!!! But, so did my son and daughter. Guess it's a right of passage nowadays.

The second card is from my Monday Mailer partner. This is the last of the Bold Bright cards. Isn't it "fabulous"???? Love that pink!

The last card is from my Secret Sister. It uses the Pick a Petal stamp (same as I used in the one for Torri). It is very pretty!

Convention - waaaah

I'm so bummed that I'm not at convention. I've been reading all the posts gals have been doing that actually at Salt Lake City and drooling all over the new stuff!! Think we are going to be in for a lot of spending! Now, just to find that cash.

Here's a taste of some of the new stuff in the catalog - scallop square punch, large big oval punch, curly label punch, new designer paper that is absolutely gorgeous ; all the new stamp sets are DIE CUT !!!!! and the new ribbons are amazing (there's even a 1 1/4" grosgrain ribbon in the New Pink Pirouette colour), amazing new brads, and library clips !!!!

Here's a picture of the new catty and the tote bag & stamps the lucky convention goers received. Just a couple more weeks & I'll have mine.

How old is your brain?

Here's a neat brain test someone sent me. It's pretty interesting. It's supposed to tell you the age of your brain. Not sure about that since mine came back with a 33 but it's fun anyway!!

Procedure of Flash Fabrica Game:
1. Click on 'Start'
2. Wait for 3, 2, 1.(countdown)
3. Memorize the number's position on the screen, then click the circle from the smallest number to the biggest number.
4. At the end of the game, the computer will tell you how old your brain is.
Good luck !!!

http://flashfabrica.com/f_learning/brain/brain.html

Iris Folding

I had fun doing Iris Folding! I haven't done it in a long time and my sister has gotten interested in learning it since it is like quilting for her. I knew I had some Iris Folding supplies somewhere filed away. So, I spent a lot of time looking for a book I knew I had .... somewhere in my room .... about iris folding and it has patterns and papers. Finally, I found it so thought I'd put it to good use. The first time I did iris folding was many years ago and I thought you were supposed to lay your strips of papers on the pattern. I didn't realize you were supposed to cut an open pattern & lay the numbered pattern in the opening so you could see your work! Maybe that was why I haven't done iris folding in a long time!! I found a great website today though if anyone is interested with patterns. Here are my cards. The "2" I used primary colors since it is for a child. I am going to use that one for my grandson's birthday card - he will be 2 in August.

Coupon

Click HERE for this week's Michaels coupon!!

Friends

I just have to reiterate what a great time we had with our friends who were here last weekend from Texas. Her name is Sharon also and we met many years ago when we both worked at the same high school in Texas. She was my kids' Calculus teacher and I worked in the Counseling Office. Our daughters and our sons were in the same grade so we had a lot in common. Our daughters had been trying to get us and our husbands together for several years - they thought we'd be great friends. My daughter won't let us live it down that we didn't become friends until our sons played football together. That was probably about 15 years ago!! Since then, we have gone on skiing vacations together; to Vegas; on a cruise; many trips to Shreveport and New Orleans, plus several years we spent Thanksgiving together at the same dude ranch in south Texas. When we lived in Texas, we usually got together at least once a week for dinner, drinks and fellowship. After we moved away, we continued our friendship. They visited us in Washington and in NC and we have either met them (in New Orleans) or visited with them when we have returned to Texas. They are great about meeting us at the DFW airport when we have longer than an hour lay-over and taking us to get some Mexican food close by before catching our next flight!! Gotta have that Mexican fix .... we sure miss it!

On Saturday, before the surprise party, we went to Stampers Alley and made two Christmas cards for the final day of Christmas in July. Sharon is not a real crafty gal, but she was a good sport about going and I think enjoyed herself and was proud of the cards she made. Her hubby mentioned to her later that she might enjoy getting into card making. He obviously did not take a close look at my stamp room and figure up the expense!!! (or talk about it to my DH!!) As much as I love it, it is not a cheap hobby if you are addicted!!

Surprise!!

Sorry I've been MIA lately. We had good friends from Texas here from Thursday through today and we had a great visit. Also, our daughter, Ashley (you can see her picture below with her grandmother and her cousin) arrived on Friday and left today. We were on the go 24/7!! Friday, Sharon (my Texas girlfriend) and I visited the Shelton Winery in the Yadkin Valley - about an hour away. We did a little wine tasting, had a great lunch (and a little more wine) at their restaurant, and took a tour .... and did a little more wine tasting!! And, I had to drive home - I was OK but beginning to get a headache!! We went back to my house and tried to take a quick nap before hitting the road again. The guys (and Ashley) picked us up shortly after we got home and we went to the Prickly Pear Restaurant in Mooresville. We met the rest of my family and some more friends from Florida and we all surprised my mother when she walked in for her birthday. She thought just my sister was taking her out to dinner for her birthday and we would be having a cook out on Saturday for her birthday. Ashley called her earlier to wish her a happy birthday and told her she wished she could be there but maybe she could visit in August. She was really surprised!! We had a tiara for her to wear and a blinking Happy Birthday pin!

On Saturday, we had her 80th surprise birthday party at her clubhouse. We had close to 100 of her friends and neighbors at the party. She was blown away and definitely surprised!! When she walked in, we all yelled "SURPRISE" and she burst into tears. Of course, my sister and I were crying with her. She had the time of her life visiting with everyone. After the party was over and we cleaned up the clubhouse, all the family came back to my house for sandwiches and fellowship. It was a great night but I sure was glad when it was all over!! She kept wanting to know what Sunday's surprise was going to be! It didn't come from us, but her Sunday School teacher was the preacher at church and announced to the whole congregation that it was her 80th birthday. She acted embarrassed but I know she loved it!

We were able to take some family pictures at the party. It seems like we never all get together long enough to get pictures! But, this time we got pictures of all us kids with mom and later some of the grand kids and husbands and wives and friends .....!! Now my sister and I have got to get busy and scrapbook all the pictures!!

So little time .... so much to do!!

Busy, busy, busy!!! My sisters and I are giving my mom a surprise 80th birthday party on Saturday. She thinks she is coming to my house Saturday evening for a cook out and has invited a few of her friends. In reality, we are having a surprise party in the afternoon for 60+ friends at her clubhouse! Hope we can pull it off! Her actual birthday is Friday and we are taking her out to dinner Friday night for a surprise .... trying to throw her off the track in case she suspects anything. I have made some paper flowers and am going to put them in vases on the tables. I started out stamping them with the Pick a Petal stamp set, but after a few, decided to just use my Oval Punch & punch out patterned paper!! Much easier!

This morning I had time to make a quick card for a good friend's grandson whose birthday is Friday. I'm so excited - I was finally able to use my new Sock Monkey stamp set. This stamp set will be in the new catty (available Aug. 11) and is so cute. It works great for paper piecing which is my favorite thing to do lately.

Retiring Accessories List

Retiring Accessories List as of 7/21/08

CLICK HERE for the Retiring Accessories list from Stampin' Up!
Remember, as items sell out, they will not be restocked, so everything is on a First Come, First Served basis. Email me with your order or contact me with any questions.

Playing with my new toys!

Well, I just don't know where to start with all my new toys. Not only did I receive my new SU stamps, in color inks and paper, but I also got some new clear stamps. They were on sale at Little Paper Shop and what gal can resist a sale???? They have some really nice stamps at a reasonable price (I got all 3 for $25 and that included shipping.) One set has a older woman with a martini in hand and several comical sayings (like, You're still hot .... It just comes in flashes now!) Another set are sympathy quotes. I never seem to have any of those when I need them. And the third set is about grandparents and grandchildren (There's only one perfect grandchild and every grandparent has it.) Let's hope I can use these in the future.


Here's a quick picture of some of my new Stampin' Up things.

I made a card today for my Monday Mailer. I made a Spring Card. The card folds flat and is 5 1/4 " square. When taken out of the envelope, it will "spring" up. You can find directions for this card on Splitcoast HERE. It was fun to make. I used the new set I bought from another SU demonstrator, Older and Wiser. We are supposed to use Bold Brights this month so I used Turquoise, Pixie Pink and Green Galore. I put Crystal Effects on the turquise spots on his back and sponged the bottom to look like grass. It's bright but I really like it. The paper I used is from Bali Breeze which will probably not be in our new catalog in August.

Work Before Play

I got my new stuff yesterday!!! Before I let myself play though, I made myself clean up my stamp room and rearrange some things. My stamps had become a jumbled mess! I had them separated by Retired and "in the catty" but my retired stamps were beginning to outnumber my "in" stamps, so decided to put them all together. I put them on shelves loosely alphabetical ... top shelf A-E, next F-O, etc. And I put a blue dot on all the retired ones. My background stamps are on top of the shelving unit. Anyway, it works for me most of the time!!

So today after cleaning a bit, I did a one-sheet wonder for my VCR roomie. I need to get her package in the mail Monday. I was in a one-sheet wonder swap so I used one that I received to make my cards and I am sending cardstock and another of the one-sheet wonders that I received to her for a "make and take".

After I finished that project, I worked on my swap for Jami. Jami is a Dirty Dozen (Splitcoast) alumni and her swaps are always excellent. I have been participating in her swaps for several years and they are always high quality. I only have to make 8 cards so it'll be pretty easy. My assignment is to use the new "in colors", Pink Piroutte and Riding Hood Red. The stamp set that I chose to use is a new one that I received yesterday - Window Dressing. I think the card really turned out cute! I also used another new color - Kiwi Kiss. I think Kiwi might be my favorite!!

I used our new Scallop Punch (it's great!) to punch the little curtain. I tried to make the windows up top look like stained glass by doing the Polished Stone Technique and cutting the little windows out individually (like I said, I only have to do 8!). The shutters on the side are also paper pieced. I stamped them on the Pink Pir. and cut them off and layered them on. I think I might do some doodling around the edges or just in the top corners. What do you think????

Post #100 - A Touch of Humor!

Since this is post #100!!!!! thought I'd insert a little humor into your day.

HOW QUICKLY THE YEARS PASS!

TIPS FOR THE LADIES

1. Aspire to be Barbie - the bitch has everything.

2. If the shoe fits - buy one in every colour.

3. Take life with a pinch of salt... A wedge of lime, and a shot of tequila.

4. In need of a support group? - Cocktail hour with the girls!

5. Go on the 30 day diet. (I'm on it and so far I've lost 15 days).

6. When life gets you down - just put on your big girl panties and deal with it.

7. Let your greatest fear be that there is no PMS and this is just your personality.

8. I know I'm in my own little world, but it's ok. They know me here.

9. Lead me not into temptation, I can find it myself.

10. Don't get your knickers in a knot, it solves nothing; and makes you walk funny.

11. When life gives you lemons in 2008 - turn it into lemonade then mix it with vodka.

12. Remember every good looking, sweet, single male is someone else's ex-boyfriend!

Hornet nest anyone?

Anyone who has lived in North Carolina any length of time has probably seen a hornets nest. I just discovered a huge one in a corner of our roof. The exterminator will be here tomorrow!! But, I'd really like to preserve it! Don't think that's gonna happen though. This nest is about 10-12" in diameter from my best judgement. I climbed up on a ladder today to snap this picture. My daughter is coming for a visit soon and she is deathly afraid of bees, hornets, etc. so we figured we'd better get rid of it so she could enjoy her visit and so she would come out of the house!

When we were first married, we lived in South Carolina and had a huge hornets nest growing in a pyracantha bush we had on the side of the house. My mom wanted us to preserve it for her and unbelievably, my husband did just that. (newly weds and all that - still trying to impress maybe??) My DH had me stand by the back door so he could spray the hornets and run into the house before they caught him. It was a funny sight but it worked.

Enjoy ... Monday Mailer #2

Bright, wouldn't you say? My second Monday Mailer this month for my NCSU Demo group uses red and yellow for inspiration. I used the Polka Dot background stamp on the yellow pieces and rounded their corners. The "enjoy" is stamped on a piece of designer paper. I dry embossed using SU's Pick a Petal brass stencil on the white and yellow pieces. Hope Mandy likes it!

Secret Sister Card

I got a great card this week from my Secret Sister. We have just started a new round of Secret Sisters in my NC group and this is my first card. She made the card using Chocolate Chip with Green Galore on top. Then where the orange tab is, it opens up also. The stamp set is from Bugs & Kisses. Enjoy!

Family

Family is really important to me. When we moved into our home in NC, I acquired a lot of old pictures of family members - most who are not with us anymore. On both sides of my dining room, I have pictures of these family members - my grandparents, great aunt, mom, dad, me and DH as children and of course, pictures of my son and daughter. So, I was delighted with Stampin' Up's new Decor Elements! I have been wanting to put something like that on my walls. My daughter-in-law has a "wallie" in her house and one of my good friends has one or two in her home. My order arrived Friday and today, I put up my own FAMILY!! It was so easy to apply - took about 20 minutes! Here's a link to the brochure so you can view other options. My other favorite is "Life Is Good". I saw a picture the other day of it on a truck window and on a boat!! Hmmmmm!

Watermelon anyone?

I received a great Monday Mailer this week. For July, we are to send cards using SU's Bold Brights. These used to be my favorite color combo, but I think I'm more of a Rich & Regals gal now. But, for summer, Bold Brights are great!! My card came from Hulda Pollock. It came along with a new stamp set I just bought from her. She sold me the hostess set Older and Wiser. I can't wait to use it. I think it is so cute.

Hulda's card is also very cute. She made a watermelon!! She used her Scallop Punch to punch out the "eaten" part. (a little tip she gave me ..... punch the pink & green scallop separate - the punch won't go through both pieces together .... how do you think she knew that?????). It looks like she hand drew the seeds and did a great job of keeping them uniform.

Thanks Hulda!

End Table Troubles

Our new end tables arrived last week while we were in DC. Yesterday was the first day we had a chance to drive to Hickory to pick them up. I had Sonny drop me at Hobby Lobby to shop while he went to the furniture store to pick them up. (didn't take him near as long as I had planned!!) After lunch, we were driving back home, when he asked me "Do you know that the tables don't match?" Duh ..... no, I didn't know that. When you buy 2 tables to put in the same room, you expect matching tables. The tables are square with an oak base and 4 slate tiles on the top. The slate are all different colors. When he told the guys at the warehouse they didn't match, they said, yep, that's the way they come. Wouldn't it have been nice for the salesman to tell us that? So, when we got home and opened them up (some assembly required!), sure enough .... one table (which I kept) is real nice and pretty much like the one in the store. It has 2 black tiles and 1 tile that is sort of a copper color and the other is sorta marbled greenish.

The other table has 3 black tiles, but one of the black ones has what it looks to me like discoloration on it and the 4th tile is dark brown/coppery. Not even close to matching.

I called the store and was told that this is the way the natural stone looks - that anything from nature is that way and they could not guarantee that they would match. Well, why not tell us that before we pull out the Visa Card!!! But, she said they would just send me a box of tiles and I could replace them and pick whatever I wanted from the box to put in the table. Well, about 30 minutes later, the Parts Dept. called to tell me that they had just gotten the order for the box of tiles, but, SORRY - these tiles don't come out. They are siliconed or something in the table and no, there is not a Manager available. I could return them, BUT would be charged a 25% restocking fee! I was all ready to call the store this morning and demand satisfaction. But, surprisingly, they called me and told me they would refund them if I wanted. I really like the table so we went back to Hickory and took the "ugly"one with us. Of course, the salespeople in the store oohed and aahed over the stone in this one - how unique and different it was. (they can have it!) We were told that all the tables are different. . . At the factory, they just randomly pick tiles to put in the tables. And the funniest thing is, I told the Manager that I couldn't believe that the people putting together these tables couldn't match the tiles - that if this was going to be a floor in her home, she wouldn't want all different colors of tile. She said that a computer pulls the tiles and assembles them. That you would only have matching tables if you were buying from a high-end furniture store (can you believe she said that??). But that is the reason they are #1 in the country - because they make and sell in bulk. I don't think I'd tell a customer I don't consider my store high-end!! And I'm not talking about Wal-Mart - this is Ashley Furniture. After much discussion, the manager told us she would work it out for us. Don't know what she is going to do, but my guess is somehow she knows how to get these tiles to match! I will have to say, they were very agreeable and helpful and we didn't have to get ugly!! We'll see what happens - I'll keep you posted - if you care!!

These Boots Are Made for Walking and other Boot info

When Judy came over yesterday, she brought me some really cute 12x12 western paper and a package of western style stickers by Jolene. So, after cleaning up my stamp room yesterday (surprised my hubbie too!! I even vacuumed!!), I proceeded to create a card with my new goodies. I really love the way it turned out. I used SU's Vanilla Cardstock with the boots paper layered over it. I stamped the cowgirl (from My Favorite Things) in brown ink and colored with my blender pens. The skirt is Ruby Red and the boots are in Thyme (last year's In Colors). Then I layered it with Thyme; More Mustard and another piece of 12x12 paper (in dark mustard-y color). The rope and horseshoe are from the Jolene's sticker pack. I stamped the saying on a strip of the mustard-y colored paper and raised it up with dimensionals.

One of the pieces of paper had all kinds of stuff I didn't know about BOOTS!! And I lived in Texas for 20+ years! Did you know .....

A boot set atop a fencepost is a sign that someone is at home.

It is bad luck to step into your left boot first.

Drop an old boot outside the front door as you leave on a journey and you won't have any bad luck on the trip.

If you wear your boots out on the toe, you'll spend your money as you go.

Never wear a pair of old boots or you will walk in the former owner's troubles.

New boots that have never been worn should be placed high above the floor for good luck.

Pun Fun Card Set

I had a very productive day today. My friend, Judy, came over this morning with her sister-in-law (also named Judy - I didn't have to remember names!!) for a mini workshop. She was treating her sister-in-law to the class so she could take what we made back to Florida with her. She is very involved in Red Hat's and I thought this would make a cute little gift for someone. We made this Pun Fun Card Holder Set. When you open the card holder, it folds downwards to reveal four 3 ¼” x 6 ½” tag cards in their decorated envelopes. The envelopes are attached to the inside of the card holder – when you’re ready to give a card, you just tear away the decorated envelope and attach it to your gift! Each card “tag” opens in a different way. I got the directions for the holder from Andrea. She is so clever!!

I will be doing this class at Stamper's Alley in September using stamp sets from Inkadinkadoo.