Playing Catch Up

I had to share this beautiful tree!  This was taken right outside our bank last Saturday.  The fall colors here came in a jiffy this year.  If you weren't in the right place at the right time, you missed them.  We had hoped to go to the mountains to see all the beautiful foilage but never made it this year.  Hope next year is better.

I haven't stamped anything in three days!  Wow!  I've just been doing nothing.  I think I burned myself out getting ready for that craft fair and now I have to find my mojo again.  I've got to get my butt in gear and get to work on Christmas cards and calendars.  I've got ideas in my head by they haven't reached my fingers yet.  I forgot to mention last week that I won some blog candy!  It was my first time to actually win AND receive it.  A couple of years ago, I won some blog candy but never received it so that didn't count.  This time, I won from Nancy Dawson over at Paper Dreams & Creative Wishes.  She sent me Technique Junkie 2010 Edition CD!  So, I'll be learning some new techniques soon.  I used to subscribe to Technique Junkies newsletters (for several years).  It is a great resource.  If you are interested, check it out HERE. 

So .... back to playing catch up.  I have several cards I have received in the past few days / weeks that I have not shared.  So, here you go!



Halloween Card from Margaret



Sonny's birthday card - from Margaret

Monday Mailer from October

Monday Mailer from October

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?



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!

Stop the Merry Go Round!

Stop the merry go round and let me off!  That's the way I feel ... too much to do and too little time to do it.  Since I was gone all weekend, I felt like I needed to spend a little quality time with my hubby on Monday.  So, we went to the Y, out to lunch and ran a few errands.  Yesterday, my sister's (and mine) "girlfriend" came over to learn a few stamping tricks while she was in town.  (Marianne calls her girlfriend although her name is Sharon.)  I showed her how to make a few flowers - the spiral ones I made HERE and the ones that you run through the crimper and then peel the paper apart like THESE.  I taught her the Black Magic Technique and a few other things.  Then we worked on some of our projects we didn't get finished at CKC.  After all our hard creative work, we went out to dinner with our respective husbands to Prickly Pear and shared a pitcher of their wonderful Pricky Pear Margaritas!  They are the best!!  Today I played Mahjong and have been working on the newsletter for Newcomers all evening.  I will be glad when my year is up as Secretary of Newcomers.  I have held this position for almost 2 years now and I am SICK of it!!  I need a break!  I just have to hold on about 5 more months. 

I think I told you a few weeks ago that my computer monitor died on me.  My brother in law lent me a smaller monitor that I have been using.  But, last week he sent me info about a super deal on a huge monitor so I ordered it.  It came today and ... WOW ... is it big!  It is 24".  I was previously working on a 16" or 18" screen.  This one takes up half of my desk!  It sure is nice though.   Well, you can also see my messy desk!

I do have a card to share with you.  It is a birthday card that I sent to a friend .... just a little late.  But you know, better late than never!!  I used an ice cream stamp that I bought from a big box store for $1.  It is colored with Copics and blinged with Stickles.

I'm sad

Well, I'm sad today.  We took Ashley to the airport EARLY this morning.  She had a 6:10 flight to Texas which meant we got up about 3:30 to leave the house at 4:15 a.m.!!  I was really surprised at how many people were at the airport that early in the morning!   After we dropped her off, we came back and got a couple more hours of sleep.

Sonny and I went to a retirement seminar today sponsored by the Golden Boys.   It was pretty interesting.  It had to do with finding balance in your life.  Each person (or couple) should assess their own balance and brainstorm the areas of your life that are important to you and put these on a wheel (see below).  Then you rate each of these areas to determine if your "wheel" is balanced.  After that, you should plan a 30-day action plan to help get your life in balance. 

What would you put on your wheel?  The items I included on mine were:  Financial Security; Family; Friends/Social Life; Fun; Giving Back to the Community; Health/Fitness; Travel; Love.  If you would like to make your own Wheel, check out the article HERE.  There is a template included in the information.

Wednesday was my nephew, Derek's, 21st birthday.  The family met at Kobe Steak House for his birthday celebration.  That is the restaurant that Derek and Harrison always choose for their birthday dinners.  Almost the whole family was there.  Unfortunately, Harrison was at soccer try-outs (YEAH - he made Varsity!!) so he wasn't able to join us.  Here is a scrapbook page I made from the pictures I took that night using My Digital Studio:  (you can click on the picture to see it close up - just remember to hit the arrow button to come back to my blog)

These are the birthday cards that Ashley and I made for Derek:

This one was mine.  I used a Jumbo (retired) Wheel for the bottom piece.  Unfortunately, I did not have a beer mug, so used the drink from Tropical Party.

This was Ashley's card.  Isn't the Sock Monkey the cutest?  He has new accessories in the new catalog - check them out on page 83.

OK - I'm falling asleep at my desk.  It's time to hit the sack!!  Good night & sweet dreams!

Birthdays - Old and Young

 Wow - I have been on the go all week.  I'm trying to do better with my exercising so I went to the "Y" a few times this week.  Sunday is my mom's 82nd birthday so I had to do some shopping to find her a present.  She really doesn't need anything but she loves clothes.  So, I found a really cute black and white kinda leopard print jacket at Ross that I bought for her.  We took her out to dinner last night at Red Lobster.  Plus, I had two doctor appointments on Thursday and played mahjong on Wednesday.  I had an appointment with a rheumatologist Thursday morning to discuss my osteopenia.  I have taken Fosamax for about 10 years and was my doctor was concerned if it was doing the trick for me since my last 2-3 scans have shown a slight decrease in bone.  The Rheum. gave me all the options that are available and did a test on the computer showing my risk of breaking a hip in 10 years (.07).  After weighing all my options, I have decided to stay on the Fosamax which is what he recommended.  Later that afternoon I had an appointment with my primary care doctor to discuss my recent lab results.  As I was afraid of, my sugar test was high as well as my chloresterol.  I am going to work real hard to bring it down with diet and exercise.  Wish me luck!!  I don't want to get diagnosed with diabetes and have to do the testing and take the meds every day like my husband does! 

Today we went out to lunch with friends to a restaurant that we had never been to, Caruso's in Mooresville.   It was delicious!  I had Salmon Picatta ... yum!  I really prefer to eat a larger meal at lunch and just have salad or something light for dinner.  We have been doing that a lot more often.  Plus, if we eat out at lunch, I don't have to cook at night!!  (I'm no dummy!)   Twice this week I've made "Chop Chop Salad".  This was a salad we used to order when we lived in Gig Harbor and it is so simple I don't know why I didn't think to make it before.  I used the shredded lettuce that is pre packaged.  Then just finely chop up vegetables to go in it.  I used celery, green pepper, red onion, shredded cheese, green olives, salami and deli ham.  Add a little low-cal dressing and you're good to go!  Now, take it to your tv tray and eat it while watching Jeopardy!! 

Another of the reasons I haven't posted in a few days is because my monitor went out on me.  Wednesday night it kept flickering so I turned it off.  When I turned it back on Thursday, I could only get a black screen.  If I turned it off and back on, my screen would come on, but only for about 10 seconds.  So, this morning, my nephew came over to see what the problem was.  I was afraid it was the video card in my hard drive.  He brought another monitor with him and hooked it up.  Voila!  I had a picture.  So, he is letting me borrow his monitor until I can get one.  I will be looking for the best deal this weekend.

Here are a couple of cards I did have time to make this week. 

This card I made for Noah.  He is my friend, Margaret's grandson who lives in Charlotte.  His birthday is Sunday - the same day as my Mom.  I hope to see Margaret and Graham next week since they are in town visiting their daughter and her family.  The card uses the old faithful, Bugs and Kisses and the Square Lattice Embossing Folder.  Have I said how much I love this folder???  The card is 4 1/4" square so it will still fit in a standard envelope.  The colors used are:  So Saffron, Tangerine Tango and Pacific Point - taken right off the SU Color Combo.  I embosses the bugs with white embossing powder and punched them out with the 1 3/8" square punch.

This card I made for my Mom for her birthday.  It is also in response to the Mojo Monday Sketch.  This was a tough sketch this week - lots of layers!!  The colors I used are Tempting Turquoise, Regal Rose and Sahara Sand.  The DSP is retired - from an old hostess pack.  Lots of punches that coordinated with the stamp set, Punch Potpourri (Level 1 hostess set).

Well .... stay cool if possible.  It's still really really hot here - still 83 degrees at 11:45 pm!  Supposed to get up to 99 or 100 tomorrow.  Might be going to an air conditioned theatre!!