Pictures from Texas

I brought a bad cold home with me.  Luckily it didn't hit me until Friday.  I have not been out of the house since I got home and have not gotten out of my sweats!  Sonny was a sweetheart and went to the store for me yesterday and bought a case of ginger ale (which I have drunk half of it in two days!) and a decongestant.  One of my tricks for fighting a cold is to use Mentholatum ointment on my nose.  I rub it all over and inside my nose and it helps me breathe.  It grosses Sonny out!  I felt a little better today compared to yesterday so hopefully Monday will be a much better day. 

While I was in Texas, we had a visit from my son, Jeff, his wife, Darcie and their son, Jayce.  Oh, it was so wonderful to see them.  We have not seen each other in almost 6 years.  They came to Ashley's house on Dec 26th after their flight from Tucson.  We had a good visit, had Christmas with them, took them over to the Quadrangle at Fort Sam, and then went to one of our favorite Mexican restaurants.  The next day Sonny and I drove to Austin and spent some time with them at Zilker Park and then enjoyed some BBQ at Stubbs. I had such fun with Jayce and it was such a joy to hear him call me Grandma! He is a typical boy and reminds me so much of Jeff at his age - very precocious, stubborn and definitely has a mind of his own!  I kept trying to take pictures and he would run and hide from me.  I finally was able to get a few pictures ... on the sly!  Such a sweetie!  Also, it was wonderful to spend time with Jeff and Darcie and catch up with their lives.  Just wish we'd had more time.

Darcie and Ashley

Darcie, Jeff and Jayce

Darcie took a picture of all of us.

Jayce and me

Jeff and Darcie
 

Jayce, me and Sonny at the Quad

Something We All Need - A Gift Card Holder!

I have been on the go so much this week I don't know if I am coming or going!  I went to a Christmas party every day last week except for Wednesday.  Monday was bridge where I too a squash casserole, gift for our exchange as well as a little hand made goodie for all 17 people that were there; Tuesday was Bunco in our neighborhood - again I took a dish for dinner and a gift for the exchange.  Thursday was Southern Living - this time I made Ambrosia Macaroon Cookies and a gift for the exchange.  Friday it was Mahjong - again, a gift and I took sausage and biscuits for our brunch.  Saturday was a cold dreary day here and I was glad to spend it indoors working on my Christmas projects for the following week and my Christmas cards.  Today in between football games, we had our family Christmas.  Luckily, we gathered at Marianne's house.  I took my gifts for all the family and my requested potato casserole (a favorite of Marianne's boys); squash and zucchini and an apple pie.  Monday I go to my other bridge group and take my gift and a corn casserole.  Afterwards, I have an appointment for a massage ..... much needed!!  Tuesday I am getting my hair cut in the morning and then coming home to get ready for my Stamp Club Christmas gathering.  We are going to make gift cards on Tuesday plus I have some goodies for the gals.  So, please forgive me for not blogging much last week .... and possibly next week.  We will be leaving for Texas on Wednesday hoping to make it to San Antonio by Friday.  I am hoping I am going to find some time to pack!!  Plus, I need to pack for New Zealand since I will be leaving from San Antonio for New Zealand on the 28th.  I don't think I will have any trouble sleeping on that flight after the hectic weeks I've had.

My brother and sisters

My nephew, Derek and Mom (resting her eyes)

Niece and nephew (my brother's kids)

Marianne and Lee - my baby sister and baby brother!

My nephew, Harrison and Mom

I have been working on a few gift card holders.  These are something I think everyone could use this time of year.  This one is a super simple one.

I made the smallest envelope using the Envelope Punch Board in red card stock.  Then make a belly band with black card stock.  I used the Curly Label Punch for the silver glimmer paper and cut a rectangle out of black card stock for the center of the glimmer "buckle". 

Here's another easy gift card using the Bigz Bow Die to decorate it:

Gift Card Holder "present" open

gift card open - you can just barely see the brad on the left side I used to attach the top to the bottom.

Salute to our troops on Veterans Day

Happy Veterans Day to all those who are serving our country or who have served our country with their service. 

I read this article in Sunday's Parade Magazine and thought it worth sharing today.  Perhaps there is something in the list that you can do to show your appreciation for our veterans and those still in uniform.

• Upgrade a soldier's helmet
  For $35, you can provide a service member cushioning helmet pads to help protect against traumatic brain injury.
  operation-helmet.org
• Foster a companion animal
  Pets for Vets pairs shelter dogs with veterans in an effort to ease the emotional wounds of war. Volunteers are needed to offer foster care for rescues, as are professional trainers to prepare the dogs for their new roles.
  pets-for-vets.com
• Help throw a baby shower
  Celebrate an expectant mom whose husband is deployed or injured by sending a gift or volunteering in person at a party hosted by Operation Shower.
  operationshower.org
• Mail a care package
  Look up specific requests for reading material, DVDs, games, and relief supplies from service members in all five branches of the military; pack the items with a letter of thanks and ship them off.
  booksforsoldiers.com
• Tune in to Tim McGraw
  As part of his initiative with Chase and Operation Homefront to provide mortgage-free homes for vets and service members in need, the country star is performing a concert tonight for military families, to air on the Pentagon channel and on his website (8:45 p.m. ET).
  timmcgraw.com
• Support a Mission Continues fellow
  The Mission Continues fellowship program allows post-9/11 veterans to continue serving at home by volunteering for 26 weeks with organizations like Habitat for Humanity and American Red Cross. Your donation can help vets finds ways to channel their skills as they transition back to the civilian world.
  Missioncontinues.org
• Share your points
  Transfer your hotel rewards points to Fisher House Foundation’s “Hotels for Heroes” program, which provides accommodations to the families of military service members who are undergoing medical treatment.
  Fisherhouse.org
• Offer a vet a ride
  Join the VA’s Volunteer Transportation Network and you can drive veterans to and from their appointments for services.
  Volunteer.va.gov
• Donate gifts for kids in Iraq and Afghanistan
  Operation Give collects toys and school and art supplies that our troops can then distribute to to local children in the areas where they are serving.
  Operationgive.org
• Share your expertise
  Sign up to teach a class or be a mentor to wounded veterans interested in exploring business opportunities after they leave the hospital.
  100entproject.org
• Send a holiday card
  To date, amillionthanks.org has delivered more than six million letters to service members and veterans. This holiday season, express your appreciation for our troops with a festive card containing a personal message or prayer, postmarked by December 1.    http://www.amillionthanks.org/

Ashley with her cousin's son - the day before she left for Iraq

Jeff when he was in the Army

Fall Wreath

Hopefully this week has gotten you inspired to start creating with MDS.  I know there were quite a few of you that missed out on some of the Daily Deals, so as one last final surprise to end Digital Scrapbooking Days, the My Digital Studio team has decided to put all of the Daily Deals back on sale for 24 hours!
Get your orders in between November 8 at midnight and November 9 at midnight 
Here are the downloads that will be on sale at 50% off:

• Amped Up Ampersands Kit (item 134844)
• Hello There Kit (item 133374)
• All Time Fave Photobook Template (item 132915)
• Modern Medley Overlays Kit (item 134839)
• Be Brave Pocket Cards (item 134840)
• Nobody’s Business Photobook Template (item 132812)
• Autumn Traditions Kit (item 127600)
• Afternoon Daydream Kit (item 130861)

Ashley made it back safe and sound Friday from Seoul, Korea.  There was such a huge time difference.  I talked to her around 4-5:00 Friday afternoon while she was waiting to go through Customs in Dallas.  She said she had left Korea around 6 pm Friday - it wasn't even 6 pm here yet so she lost a whole day .... I think!  Hopefully she has not got a full schedule this weekend so she can rest and get readjusted to the Central Time Zone.  She has a three day weekend since Monday is Veterans Day and she is off.  Here she is with the other docs that she was with in Seoul.  Just wish that sign wasn't in front of her!!  She says she's not short but looking at this picture, I'm not so sure!!

I made a wreath for my front door on Wednesday.  I had seen a picture of a nice wreath in Women's Day magazine and they just used a box of potpourri.  So I picked up a twig wreath and a box of potpourri at Hobby Lobby along with some discounted fall leaves and got my trusty hot glue gun out and went to work.  The whole project probably only cost about $20 or less and took me about an hour to make.  Everything was on sale except the box of potpourri and I used my coupon to buy it.

Step 1 - gluing on the leaves - with a little help from Sammie, my supervisor!!

I had a roll of wide burlap that I stuck in along with that plaid burlap ribbon that I bought at H.L.



I already had the little Welcome Friends sign hanging on the wreath hook.



I love how it looks!  And the glass at the top of the door reflects the fall leaves in the trees in my front yard.

Have a great weekend!

FREE Moments Ago

It's official-Digital Scrapbooking Day 2013 has arrived! And with a bang we might add.  One of Stampin' Up's talented concept artists, Jen Campbell, created the FREE Moments Ago Stamp Brush Set and today she's sharing some project ideas. Plus, we have more guest bloggers to highlight our daily deal, the Hello There Kit- a fan favorite!



Here's a quick page I did on MDS using the FREE set above.



My grandson doing his best Dracula face!

Christmas Projects

Monday night Marianne and I went to Allison's house in Concord for her demo meeting.  What fun!  Allison had prepared three projects for us to make; we had a show and tell; and we did a holiday card swap.  Here are the projects we made last night:

Cute notebook with bow made with Bow Maker

Wiper Card - the message (in white -merry Christmas) pops up when card is opened

Santa using Purse Die

I know I talk about my daughter a lot on my blog.  But I also have a son who lives in Arizona with his wife and family.   I just don't get to see them very much.  They recently had an anniversary and a vacation.  While on vacation in Disney, they dressed up and "did the town."  Darcie posted this picture on her blog of the two of them.   Handsome man and beautiful gal!

Butterflies

I think this week is going to go too fast for me!  Ashley arrived Thursday night and we have been on the go ever since!  Friday she and I went with the Newcomers group and toured the Charlotte Motor Speedway.  We even got to go around the speedway (80 mph) in a van.  It was really cool!  I'm not into racing these days but I grew up going to races, camping in the infield and knowing a little bit about racing.  My dad and uncle used to drag races and I can remember going to those dirt tracks on Friday nights to watch them.  We had lunch at the Speedway Club which was really nice.  What a great view of the track while we were eating!!

View from window next to our table while eating lunch.

Stands  - doesn't it look like there are people in the stands?  That's the way they planned it.

Ashley in the Winners Circle!

Ashley and I

Later on Friday, Marianne came over after she got off work and spent the night.  Sonny and I took our guests to the best places in Sherrills Ford!  First we went to Drum's for dinner .... catfish and shrimp!!  And after dinner, we had a few beers at Horsefeathers before returning home. 

Saturday we picked up Mom (who was excited to see her granddaughter!).  Ashley, Mom and I had our pictures made and then came home and changed into our swim suits.  Sonny had the boat ready and we went out for a ride.  The rest of the family joined us later - Marianne's husband and boys and Angela.  We came back to the house and Sonny grilled chicken and veggies for us.  It was a great family time.  Just always wishing ALL our family could be here - my brother and his family and my son and his family!  I miss them so much!

On Sunday, our plans got changed a little bit!   We had planned on taking the boat over to the Rusty Rudder in the afternoon.  There was a couple of guys playing from 4-8 that will be on our Alabama cruise and who have also been on Ashley's Rock Boat cruises in the past.  BUT, Sonny got a call from a friend of his who lives in our neighborhood who was on the lake and needing a tow back home.  His prop had hit something and broke.  It turned out that he was way on the other side of the lake from our house.  We left our dock at 1:00 pm and it was about 2:30 when we finally found them.  By the time we hooked up the two boats and towed him back, it was 6:30 pm!!  Luckily, Ashley and I decided to ride along with Sonny on the rescue mission so we enjoyed the sunshine and were able to visit with each other.  We decided to hurry up and try to make it to Cornelius to hear the band.  Well, wouldn't you know it .... we were 1/2 mile from our exit when we got stopped by a terrible accident on I-77.  A Ford Explorer flipped several times on the highway with a woman and 5 children having to be air lifted to the hospital.  By the time we got to the restaurant, Scott (Mumms) was just tearing down his set!  Oh well, Ashley visited with him a few minutes and we headed to another restaurant for dinner.

Monday we all went to the "Y" for a workout.  Ashley ran the track, Sonny walked the track and used the equipment and I took a swim exercise class.  Afterwards, Ashley and I had appointments for a massage.  We both got 90 minute massages and didn't want it to end!!  Then we met Marianne and went to a local "paint your own pottery" shop and visited while each painting our masterpieces!!  A stop at the Blue Star Café for dinner and we headed home.

Tuesday we plan on heading over to Ikea while Sonny is out at the shooting range.

I have had a little bit of time to be crafty (but not much!)  Last Thursday, I made a Butterfly picture that I have been wanting to do ever since I saw it in a friend's home.  It was soooo easy - didn't take me much more than an hour to do it.  I hung it in my guest bathroom.  I used the Sizzlit butterfly die as well as two Butterfly punches and embossing folders to cut all the different sized butterflies.

Bags for the Beach and for Baby

I had a very productive weekend in my stamp room.  I am trying to figure out what to do in Stamp Club this week but I have too many choices!  So, I keep playing around with different sets and techniques.  I need to make a decision!!

We got some good news this weekend that our family will be growing next year.  My nephew and his wife, Katrina, are expecting their second child in February.  They already have a precious little boy.  I'm hoping for a little girl but we'll have to wait a few weeks before they know the sex.  I made this little baby bag card to send to them to congratulate them.  I found the pattern on-line (Pinterest probably).  I think we will be making a similar bag in club this week too!

I also think I was in a pastel mood this weekend.  Seems most of the cards I made were with pastel colors which is unusual for me.  I usually go for the Brights and Regals.  But I love the new in colors and the way they seem to go together. 

This little bag opens on the side.  The little closure is punched with the Ticket Punch and has a bit of Velcro to keep it closed.  The mosaic background piece is from the DSP packet, Quadrefancy Specialty.  It is a clear window sheet with the quadrefoil design in white.  The sentiment is from That's the Ticket.  I used a few pearls and my white gel pen to dress it up.

On the inside, I punched 4 little hearts to cover up where the straps were glued down.








Here is another bag I made.  This time I used the DSP from a Christmas pack!  This DSP is in the Holiday catalog - Winter Frost (pg 29).  So, you can use winter DSP for a summer bag, can't you!?!  I really like this paper.  This time for the bag closure I used the Oval Punch.  The sentiment is from Oval All that I just realized is retired!  Oops - I had it on the wrong shelf.  The little flower is from Secret Garden - hard to tell but it is stamped in Pool Party and I used the dauber and Island Indigo for the edges.  Instead of a pearl on the closure, I used one of the Candy Dots (I love these things!)

 And how about a beach bag tote?  Again, this DSP is from a Christmas stack.  This time the DSP is Season of Style (pg 22 of Holiday mini).  I am a polka dot gal and love this Soft Suede polka dot bag with the pretty Blushing Bride card stock.  I stamped and heat embossed the anchor from Open Sea and added a little bit of twine to it.  The flowers are punched using the Itty Bitty Shapes Punch (but you could also use the Boho Blossom flower.)  Again I used the Candy Dots for the closure and for the center of the flowers. 

So what did you do this weekend?  Productive or just lazing around?  Both are fine with me!!  Oops gotta run - Sammie wants to play straws.  (I throw her straw down the stairs and she runs down and fetches it just like a dog!)

Bombs Away!

Stampin' Up is excited to announce that the second photopolymer stamp set is now available. Bombs Away Birthday (item 133411) is a fun, unique set that will certainly bring a smile to anyone. Try it out today! To learn more about photopolymer stamps, check out the flyer for the Bombs Away Birthday Stamp Set HERE

I had a really long day today.  Waiting is the hardest thing, don't you think?  But Ashley came through her surgery with flying colors and is now recooperating at home.  Talk about hurry up and wait .... We had to be at the hospital at 8:00 a.m. but we sat in the waiting room until 12:30 when they finally took her back to prep her.  The doctor came out and talked to me at 5:30 and we left the hospital about 8:00 pm.  Wow!  12 hours!  She slept when she got home and just got up (10:45 pm) and wanted something to eat.  Hopefully, she won't have much pain and will sleep well tonight.

Sonny and Jack made it back home late / early Tuesday a.m. around 1 or 2 AM.  God was looking after them for sure.  They were just a few cars behind a really bad accident.  A 16-wheeler truck turned over on the median spilling it's load of steel pipes into the other lane.  Sonny said he felt sure there were probably some deaths involved because several ambulances left without their sirens on.  They were delayed by the wreck around 3 hours.  Guess there was an angel sitting on their shoulder or in the bed of their pick-up.

Girls Gone Wild Trip

I did a MDS challenge for Heather and Kim's Simply My Digital Challenge on Facebook.  Each week they post a new challenge.  This is my first time to participate.  The challenge was to use a pie graph in our layout and to follow this sketch:




I had fun creating the pie graph with MDS.  First I used a Circle Punch and enlarged it.  Next I used a Square Punch and just stretched it down to make a long line.  I dissected the circle with the "line."  Then I took a Triangle Punch and stretched it so it fit in each slice of pie.  I filled the punch with my photos.  When I finished filling all the triangles, I deleted the original circle and lines.

I used pictures that I took last week of Ashley, Mom, Angela, Marianne and I having fun in San Antonio. Note the title - Girls Gone Wild!!   Hope you like it!

Paper Craft Sketch

This week we have a fun and easy sketch for the Paper Craft Crew Sketch (#31).    It was a great one to work out with My Digital Studio and the Happy Hour stamp set.

My take on this sketch is in honor of my daughter this week.  She is on her annual Rock Boat Cruise and I'm sure these drinks are being downed by her and her friends.  Too bad I didn't have a picture of a beer bottle - that's more likely what Ashley is downing!  There are all kind of activities on board the ship but here is just one of them - Boozical Chairs (you know, like Musical Chairs!)  You run around in circles, drink a little, run around in more circles, drink a little... well, you get the idea.   After each round, the band will give you a task to complete before you're allowed to sit back down in a chair as they work their way from 100 players to 1.  Ya gotta love being young!!

I just got a call from my Mom this morning.  She goes to water aerobics at the Senior Center in downtown Mooresville twice a week.  Since she is legally blind, she has to depend on the bus - ICATS - to take her.  She called  to tell me the bus had taken her to Statesville which is the next town over from her!  She had no clue where she was.  They stopped at the Statesville mall and told her to get out - this was her stop.  She asked them where they were and when they told her, she told them that was not where she was going!  So they've taken her over to the Social Security office (??) and she is waiting for my sister to come get her.  Luckily, Angela had not gone to work or Mom would be waiting for who knows how long for another bus to come get her and take her where she needs to be.  She has been taking this bus for several years.  This makes me so angry!  Not to mention that they arrived at her house about an hour early.  Angela happened to look outside around 7:30 a.m. and the bus was sitting out there.  So Mom had to rush and get ready - no breakfast - to get on a bus that took her 30 miles out of the way.  Guess that's what you get for free public transportation.

Daring Adventure

Happy Monday!  Hope your weekend was a good one.  It was a pretty quiet one at our house.  Ashley left on Friday headed to Philadelphia, New York and DC!!  Sonny is still sick (over a week now) and didn't feel like going which was ok with me.  We did go to town on Sunday to get him a decongestant and to watch the football game.  The decong. seemed to work - at least he didn't sleep in his chair last night!  I called the dr. first thing this morning and he is on his way there to see the PA.  Now, just keep your fingers crossed that I don't get that little bug!

I am working on a new blog header for winter - time for the turkey to go.  Hopefully, it will be up tomorrow.  Have you been eating your turkey sandwiches?  I sure have!  But all we had in the house was a few slices of wheat bread.  I don't know about you but I have to have my turkey sandwich on white bread - Sunbeam is the best!  So that is what I bought yesterday.  I know a lot of people eat their sandwich with all kinds of sides like cranberries, dressing, etc.  I just like mine simple - Duke's mayonnaise and a little bit of salt with the turkey.  Yum .... can't wait till lunch!

I actually have some cards to share with you today!   Ashley was on a roll last week and made several so I took pictures.  She found 2-3 of my stamp sets that she really liked and used them for her cards.  The first ones are with the Daring Adventure stamp set.  Don't know if you remember, but this was one of my favorites last year when it came out. 

Aren't they great?  One stamp set can make two totally different cards!

Here are a couple of pictures I took on Thanksgiving.  Ashley took most of the pictures with her IPad but she hasn't sent them to me yet.

Marianne, Derek, Harrison, Ashley and Sonny

Angela looking for the chandelier!  (Mom and Greg also along with the back of Sonny's head)

Home Again!

Wonder how many posts I've done with this title!  We had a great time in the Outer Banks.  Unfortunately, the weather was a bit of a problem but we worked around it.  Ashley and I laid out on the beach most of the day Sunday and Monday.  The water was ice cold and we never got much further out than our waists.  Don't know if it's always that cold or not but our legs would feel like they were frozen when we got in.  We stayed in Kill Devil Hills Saturday - Tuesday and then drove to Hatteras to catch the ferry to Ocracoke.  We stopped at the Bodie and the Hatteras Lighthouses along the way.  The Bodie Lighthouse was under construction with scaffolding all around it.  Luckily, the Hatteras Lighthouse wasn't (it was when I was there a few years ago!)  So there were lots of photo opps. 

When we got to Oracoke, we found our motel, got unpacked and drove over to Howards Pub.  We all loved Ocracoke Island and wish we could have stayed there longer.  Unfortunately, it poured down rain on Wednesday most of the day.  We were able to sneak down to the beach for a couple of hours late in the afternoon.  It worked perfectly - Ashley & I took our chairs down near the ocean and read our books while Sonny sat up on the wooden shelter out of the sand and read his book!  Perfect!

Our motel had a great view of the ocean and the Ocracoke Lighthouse.   I got some great sunset pictures from our balcony.

Ashley and I on our balcony at sunset

Sonny and Ashley sitting on beach shelter railing

Beautiful sunset - see lighthouse in background

Ocracoke Lighthouse