Happy Halloween!

Today was Sonny's birthday.  We went to Daveste Vineyards with some friends for a Halloween party.  Sonny doesn't drink wine but I gave him a chance to go somewhere else!  It worked out good though - our friends brought him a mini keg of Heineken in a cooler so while Cathy & I drank our wine, the guys trekked over to the car and poured themselves the beer!  We did not dress up but there were quite a few people there that were in the Halloween spirit.

The "undressed" crew!!

Minnie Mouse



Psycho Movie - The Bates Motel crew!



This couple were really cute!

The band was really good - glad it wasn't raining though!

Pretty Spooky!



Chile Mine Worker - he had a sign on his back that read:  "I love my wife girlfriend.

Speaking of birthdays, I found a website full of Birthday Freebies!  Who doesn't like FREE!!  Go HERE and check it out.  Sign up for the restaurants that are in your area.  This is when I wish we were back in Texas - a lot of the restaurants are there.  But, I did make sure I signed up for Blue Bell.  That is our favorite ice cream!!  We can only get it here at Walgreens in Mooresville.  Which reminds me, Sonny ate the last bit of it last night so guess we'll be going to Walgreens tomorrow.  On their website, I found a $1 off coupon so I will be using that also.

Hope you are pulling for the Rangers in the World Series!  They won tonight at home.  My nephew and his wife got tickets and were at the game tonight.  It was a good one.

Have a safe and happy Halloween!

Holiday Purse

I have made the cutest holiday purse with a set of cards and note paper to go inside.  Yes, all paper!  I love Becky Roberts' work on Inking Idaho.  She did a 12 Days of Christmas (like just about everyone else!) and when I saw the purse she did, I knew I had to purchase her tutorial.  They were such fun to make!! 

Here's my version:

Cardinal Cards for the purse

Note card for purse

Purse made with Deck the Halls DSP

Snow Swirled cards for Deck the Halls Purse

Snowman (Cute Christmas) note card for purse

I was finally able to talk to Ashley today.  Her internet has been down since Sunday.  She went out yesterday with a group to check out the medical facilities at a base a couple of hours from her.  I don't know all the specifics of why she went or who she went with as I came in the room on the tale end of the story as she was telling her Dad (probably didn't want me to know!).  Anyway, they went out in a type of Humvee vehicle and she was sitting in the back seat just taking in the scenery.  She said the guys up front had headphones to communicate with each other.  The colonel asked her if she'd like to put his headphone on to hear what was going on and she told him no, she was just enjoying the scenery.  When they reached the base, the people there told them they were glad they arrived safe and had listened to their directions.  Evidently, while Ashley was "checking out the scenery", an IED (explosive device) had been thrown at the humvee in front of them but it was faulty and didn't explode.  The colonel told her he figured if she didn't want the headphone, there was no reason to tell her about what was happening!  She said it worked out ok for her - she  didn't have to get stressed out!  Really brings it home that this is a WAR she is in and not just a vacation.  All I know is, it's going to be a long year!

Ashley is very thankful for the cards you have been sending to her!

Birthday and Sympathy .... what a combo!

Whew .... we've had some bad weather here the past two nights.  Last night there were tornado warnings all over our area from about 7 - midnight.  There was a lot of destruction last night around Lincolnton which is where my sister works.  And, it looks like they are in the path again tonight.  Sonny was so mad because he couldn't watch his recorded programs on tv!!  May have the same problem tonight.  As I am typing this, I am listening to all the tornado warnings in our area.  The storm is supposed to be over Sherrills Ford and Mooresville in the next hour.  It has been hot and humid the past two days - great conditions for that bad weather.  I finally turned our A/C on today and closed my windows.  Hopefully, it will cool down again tomorrow.

I received a few more birthday cards that I want to share with you. 

from Brenda

from Joyce

This is actually Sonny's card - from Ashley

from Ashley



from Margaret - love that bow tying!!

 Tomorrow my Stamp Club gals are coming over.  They requested sympathy cards so I have a few for them to pick from.  We are going to do it a little different this time.  I have 4-5 cards made up and I am going to let them pick the ones they want to do - kind of like a smorgasboard.

 This one was CASE'd from one that was sent to me for my birthday.  I love the simplicity of it!  
• Run white card base (5 ½” x 8 ½”) through Big Shot with Finial Press folder.
• Stamp flower (in black) from Awash With Flowers twice onto white CS (4 ½” x 3”). Stamp stems.
• Color in leaves & flower centers with markers.
• Mat onto black cardstock (4 ¾” x 3 ¼”)


• On Glossy White paper, adhere 1 3/8" circle mask. Sponge Artichoke ink around the top and then sponge Mustard & Caramel as desired.
• Remove circle mask & stamp flowers so that the tallest flower is inside the white circle.
• Trim white card at bottom of flowers (about 3 ¾” square.) 
• Stamp “Thinking Of You”
• Mat onto Artichoke paper (4” x 4”)
• Trim about ½” off the front of the Dusty Durango CS. Use scallop punch to scallop the front of the orange card.
• Tie seam binding ribbon around the card.

 

• Crumb Cake is the base card – cut 5 ½” x 8 ½”

• Confetti White (5” x 3 ¾”) – stamp leaves all over in Crumb Cake, Pear Pizazz & Peach Parfait ink)
• Sponge edge of leaf stamped piece with Crumb Cake & dauber. Adhere to card.
• Stamp tree from Thoughts & Prayers w/Crumb Cake ink onto 3 ½” x 2 /3/4” Confetti White piece. Stamp sentiment in bottom corner.
• Color some of the leaves of the tree with markers (Pear Pizazz & Peach Parfait)
• Sponge edges of tree piece with Crumb Cake & adhere to Crumb Cake piece (3 ¾” x 3”)  Adhere to card.

Which will you pick?



Holiday Bundles

Have you heard about the Bundle Special that is going on now?  If not, read about it HERE.  If you've had your eye on some of those great sets in the Holiday Mini, now is the time to get them.

From October 19 through December 16, you can choose from several different holiday "bundles" of Stampin' Up products perfect for creating cards, gift packages, gifts, etc.  And all for 20% off!  So check it out and give me a call to order!

Shelli's Box

I was just on Shelli's blog (SU Guru Queen) and she has posted the instructions to make the cutest box.  Thought you might like it too!  She presented it last weekend at the Portland Regionals.  Portland was the first regional I ever attended.  I had just started with Stampin' Up and didn't know anyone other than my upline but I knew I wanted to learn more.  So I talked Sonny into driving to Portland for the weekend and I went to the Saturday Regional all by myself.  But, that was ok because SU demonstrators are so friendly.  In no time, I had met a bunch of gals and was included in their group.  In the weeks and months to follow, I discovered that many of them were part of the "Dirty Dozen" on Splitcoast Stampers!!  I also met the couple who started Splitcoast and was given one of their tees!  Anyway, I disgress!  Here is the box:

And if you follow THIS LINK you can get the instructions and "how-to."

Tag - You're It!

I spent all last week making tags I think!  I had an old SU holiday kit  with a lot of chipboard pieces that were pre-cut into shapes with matching DSP.  So, I got busy and made up a bunch of the tags.  Then on Thursday, I got a shipment from SU and one of the items was the "Tags Till Christmas" stamp set from the Holiday Mini.  That is such a great and easy way to make tags!  I highly recommend it along.  Most of the tags in the set match up with SU punches so it makes it so easy!!   

These are the tags that I made from the Tags Till Christmas set. 

These are some of the chipboard tags I made

Close up of a snowflake tag - using a corduroy button (from Clearance sale!)

So, with all these tags, I needed someplace to store them.  I love these Tag Holders and usually make a few each year for friends and family.  These will be offered for sale in the craft fair in November.

This has velcro for a closure - the button is just decorative.

The blue ribbon holds this one together.

Another velcro closure - button is decorative.  I used white cardstock and stamped all over it.

The red gingham ribbon is the closure.  I used the circle for reinforcement.

Velcro closure with Scallop Punch decorating the flap.

These are super easy to make.  You need 6"x6" page protectors and cardstock or DSP.  Cut a piece of DSP 6" x 5 7/8" and slide it into the page protector.  (I put a little adhesive on the back of the DSP just to keep it in the page protector.)  Next cut a piece of cardstock or DSP (best if cardstock weight) 6 1/4" x however long you want it to be.  You will score it lengthwise to fold over the page protector and adhere the page protector to it.  Decorate as desired.  I use a little piece of velcro to hold it shut or tie ribbon around it.  You can see the different closures I did above.  If you have any questions, let me know and I will try to help.

Great Birthday!

I had a great birthday yesterday.  I got so many sweet wishes from family and friends via Facebook, e-mail, telephone, in person, Skype .....!!  It was wonderful.  I am so blessed.  I missed hearing from one person who is very special to me but I hope in the future, I will hear his voice again.  I can not dwell on the "what ifs" at this time.

We went out to dinner last night at the Boathouse Marina on Hwy 150 (right on Lake Norman).  If you have never been there, it is not a fancy place by any means.  The food is good and inexpensive.  We love going there on Friday nights for their catfish special - catfish filets, 2 sides with dessert for $6.95!  Can't beat it!  They also have great BBQ since they are owned by the Lancasters.  Give it a try! 

I got so many nice things yesterday - gift certificates, new kitchen towels and potholders, a wine "coozie", new printer (which I've had a few weeks so no surprise there), a pretty miniature rose plant.  My best surprise was a beautiful bromelaid plant from Ashley!  She had planned with Marianne to get it for her.  Of course, Marianne doesn't know the first thing about plants or where to find it.  She had to do a little detective work with Sonny and my Mom but she did good!  It is beautiful!  When Ashley moved into her house last year, one of her best friends gave her a bromelaid plant and I told her I had always wanted one.  Every time I visit her, I water her plant and take care of it, drooling over it probably!  So, she decided I needed my own! 

I also received some great cards - some store bought and some hand-made.  I want to share a few with you.



from Carol, my upline - love those inchies!



from Marianne!!  didn't she do great!

inside of Marianne's

from Judy - just beautiful!

Happy Birthday

I've had a fun couple of days and hope to be enjoying tomorrow as well even though I'll be older!  Friday is my birthday but I'm not one of those gals who hate to admit I'm getting older.  I think age is a matter of how you feel and right now, I am feeling ok! 

I got my hair cut yesterday .... really cut - not just a trim - and I love it!  My hair is very thick and I can't stand it falling into my face all the time.  Most of the time, when I am home, I use a clip to hold it back.  So, I decided it was time for a change.  Here's a picture I had Sonny take of me last night with my new "do".

What do you think?  Sonny's not so sure about it - too much of a change for him.  Guess he's one of those people that likes the same old, same old. 

Today was our Frugal Fashion Show (Newcomers).  We had about 15 models and it was just amazing to see the fashions everyone came up with.  If you haven't shopped at Goodwill or Salvation Army before, you might want to stop by and check them out!  You can get nice jeans for $3.75, slacks - $4 and more.  One of the gals found an Anne Taylor silk dress for $4. 

This is one of my outfits.  The slacks are Talbot brand ($4).  The top is two separate pieces.   

Even though the picture makes the jacket look pink, it is a deep embossed red.  The buttons and the trim at the collar are rhinestones.  The skirt is Jones of New York brand ($3)!  The jacket would be great for a Christmas party.

Here's a group picture of the finale.  We had dressy as well as casual clothes.  It was really fun!

I even made a scrapbook page using MDS!

I haven't talked to Ashley in a couple of days.  We have gotten in the habit of talking about every day for about 30 minutes and I am getting spoiled!  She has been telling me how spoiled she feels.  She is being kidded a lot about how many packages and letters she receives.   On Tuesday, she got 8 packages!!  She had to have a truck take her home that day!  She keeps telling me she feels like she is at Girl Scout camp again when, if you received too many letters, you had to sing!  She's mentioned this several times so my guess is she must have had to do that a lot and it left a lasting impression on her.  She keeps telling the other soldiers there that she has a lot of friends and family who really care!  And that is the TRUTH!  Seven of the boxes were filled with books from the volunteer organization "Operation Paperback."  You can read about them HERE.  If you have paperbacks that you have read, consider donating them to this great group!  Or if you know a soldier overseas, tell him/her to register and they, too, can receive seven boxes of books! 

Happy Birthday to ME!

MAKE A SOLDIER'S DAY!

Go to this link and make a soldier's day! 

Write to a Soldier Online

Do your part and write to a soldier TODAY!   The soldier receives a free CD.  Read about the program HERE.

Monday Mailer Christmas Collage

I've had the Christmas Collage stamp (from Holiday Mini) for a couple of months and haven't been totally thrilled with anything I've made with it .... until I made this card!  I love it and hope you do too!

 It wasn't the quickest card to make but that's probably what makes it so special.  I stamped two pieces of Very Vanilla cardstock with the whole stamp in Early Espresso.  One was used as my card base  and the other was cut up - I tore the top corner and cut a rectangle of the song (Silent Night) to use.  I sponged all the edges with Espresso.  The base piece was adhered to the Always Artichoke card.  Then I layered the corner piece with a strip of torn Cherry Cobbler in the right corner.  I used my blender pen and squeezed a little ink (Cherry Cobbler & Artichoke) in the lid of my ink pad and colored the holly leaves, berries and poinsetta.  I used So Saffron marker for the bell.   I punched two holes in the small rectangle Silent Night piece and threaded the Cherry Cobbler seam binding (love it!!) through it and adhered it to the card at an angle.  I stamped Merry Christmas from the Bells and Boughs stamp set and adhered it to the card (with dimensional tape).

Here is a close up view of part of the card.

So, what do you think????