Labor Day

The roots of Labor Day can be traced back to a time and place when the balance of life was askew. It was 19th century America. The industrial revolution was in full bloom, and people were needed en masse to feed the hungry machine of progress. Millions responded, lured from the farms by the dream of a secure year-round income in an environment sheltered from the often harsh elements. They awoke from the dream to find themselves toiling twelve and fourteen hours a day in dingy and sometimes dangerous conditions in factories and underground mines.
The observance of Labor Day began over 100 years ago. Conceived by America's labor unions as a testament to their cause, the legislation sanctioning the holiday was shepherded through Congress amid labor unrest and signed by President Grover Cleveland as a reluctant election-year compromise.

The first Labor Day parade was held in New York City on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, organized by machinist Mathew Maguire. Twenty thousand workers paraded up Broadway with banners that read "Labor Creates All Wealth," and "Eight Hours for Work; Eight hours for Rest; Eight Hours for Recreation!" This was more of a festival than a demonstration. It was a celebration with picnics and fireworks. It was also an idea that quickly captured the interest of the nation and spread from coast to coast.

Today, Labor Day is celebrated more as the last big fling of summer than a tribute to the work we do when we're not on vacation. That may be OK. Trying to celebrate our work lives only one day a year might turn this holiday into just more work. We need to value the everyday work we do, not just once a year, but every day.


Whatever you want it to mean to you, enjoy the long weekend and refresh yourself!!

A Pot of Flowers for you

Here's another stamp set that I showed to my friend, Margaret, while she was here. Another one I really had not used that much but after playing around with it, came up this card. Margaret loved these stamps too and bought some when we went to Stampers Alley!!

The stamps are by Rubber Stamp Tapestry. This particular stamp set is actually their September Internet Special and you can purchase the set for $10.50!! You get 5 stamps and the instruction sheet - pretty good deal!! The stamps are teeny and on pegs with a black line on the peg to help you line them up.

I used Really Rust, Kiwi and Pacific Point cardstock for this card as well as Pacific Point designer paper.

Thomas Kincade stamping

I bought a Thomas Kincade stamp several months ago at our local stamp store because I saw so many beautiful cards on display and I saw a "how to" demonstration.  Well, when I tried to stamp and color the images, mine were not so great.  So, this week when my friend, Margaret, was here visiting, I pulled out the stamp to show her not knowing she was not a Thomas Kincade fan.  (I love his paintings!)  Anyway, I pulled up a demo on-line and we proceeded to try to create a card.  Wow!!  Were we ever surprised!  We both used the same method, but boy, did our cards come out differently.  I wish I'd remembered to take a picture of her card for a comparison, but I didn't.  But, here is mine:

We ran a piece of acetate transparency through the Xyron machine.  Then I stamped in Stazon Black on the acetate (on the non-sticky side).  I peeled off the Xyron backing and used SU pastel chalks to dab color on the image.  After chalking, I brushed Copper Pearl Ex over the entire image.  It would only stick where there wasn't any chalk. 

 

 

So, after playing with these on Tuesday night, we had to go to Stampers Alley on Wednesday so Margaret could buy a Thomas Kincade stamp of her own.  I stamped a few images before she left today and have been playing around with them today.  How different they are and it is the same stamp set!

If you ever get a chance, buy a Thomas Kincade stamp and become an artist too!!

Sharon

This week's Monday Mailer

Just a quick post! Wanted to share this week's Monday Mailer from Beth. She did faux stitching all around the butterflies. This is a stamp set that I keep seeing great cards made from it. I'm on the fence as to buying it. I have made a little promise to myself that I will use some of my neglected stamp sets before I purchase a whole lot more (notice, I didn't say "before I purchase ANY more!!"). This one is Flight of the Butterfly.

Have a great day! I plan on doing some fun stamping with my Texas friend, Margaret. We picked her and her DH up at the airport yesterday afternoon. They will be here for a couple of days before they head over to Concord to visit their daughter and her family.

Challenge using Cuttlebug & Nestabilities

I have not done a card lately "just for fun" so in the midst of cleaning today, decided to go for it!!  Much more fun than cleaning!!  The color challenge on Splitcoast was to use Kraft; Black and Rose Red - interesting combos.  I had the stamp set, Eastern Influences, on my desk since I am using it in a swap, so used it for the challenge.  I also pulled out my Cuttlebug and my Nestabilities - they were both lonesome since it's been a while since I used either.  I am always playing around with the "sandwiches" for the Nesties on my Cuttlebug, but, by George, I think I got it today!!  At the CK Convention, I picked up a Compatibility Chart at the Spellbinders booth and went by it today & it worked like a charm!!  I don't have the tan mat that they say you MUST have, but I have a similar rubber mat and it worked.  (And, I was just getting ready to break down and buy their mat!!)  Here's what worked for me:

TO CUT (stack from bottom up)

1. A plate
2. C plate
3. Spellbinders Die (cutting side UP) - the side w/ridges
4. Paper or cardstock that you want to cut
5. B plate
6. Run through Cuttlebug

TO EMBOSS (stack from bottom up)

1. Remove C plate for embossing sandwich
2. A plate on bottom
3. Leave die face up on A plate with die cut still in the die
4. place Spellbinders Tan Embossing Mat on top of die
5. Use 2-3 pieces of cardstock to "shim" (I cut up a Cheez-It box)
6. Place two acrylic B plates on top of sandwich & run thru Cuttlebug to emboss

So, here is my card:

I used the largest square scalloped Nestie on the black.  Then I used a smaller scallop Nestie on the Kraft paper and embossed it also.  I stamped Eastern Influence on the Kraft using my Choc Chip & Rose Red markers.  "kindness" is stamped in Rose Red on Kraft and scalloped with SU's new scallop punch as well as the black piece behind it.  It is raised up with dimensional's.  The small flowers are from Eastern Influences also and I embossed them with SU's Holographic embossing powder (retired).  I cut them out and raised up the bottom one.  I ran the Rose Red card base through the Cuttlebug using the Vines folder.  I used a non SU ribbon on it.

Enjoy!  Sharon

Michael's coupon

Michael's coupon for your use!

http://www.michaels.com/coupons/081908/coupon.html

Those Were The Days!

Tomorrow two of my college girlfriends are coming for lunch and a visit.  The three of us were best buddies at East Carolina many moons ago (in the 60's!!).  Brenda & Jackie had rooms across the hall from me our freshman year.  They were from the mountains of NC (Forest City) and to me, they were definitely hillbillies!!  They were both pretty poor and were at ECU on scholarships so they were really careful with their money unlike me!!  I was the city gal, born and raised in Charlotte, and pretty spoiled.  I didn't have a clue about the value of money, so we made a pretty interesting group.  I was always trying to talk them into going to Happy Hour at the local bars with me and they were trying to talk me into going to the "free flicks" on campus!!  Those were the days!!   We have so many stories to share of some of our escapades at ECU including following Steven Stills (Crosby, Stills & Nash) to Raleigh to party with him and his band; arriving in Greenville one night to find the town locked down because of MLK being shot and being stopped by the Nat'l Guard!!  Brenda and I added to our stories by waitress one summer at Myrtle Beach and driving my 1949 Dodge (The Toad!) to the beach.  One night while out bar hopping, The Toad broke down right in the middle of Atlantic Beach (back then, that was the black beach!).  In reality, they both had it together.  They both graduated from ECU, were elementary school teachers and are  retired now.  Whereas, my partying got the best of me and my grades and I dropped out after 3 years (one of the biggest regrets of my life - I was determined my children would not follow in my footsteps although there was no chance of that.)

Anyway .... we have continued our friendship over 40 years!!  Brenda and Jackie have both stayed in NC while I was moving about the country.  Since I have moved back to NC, we have tried to get together at one of our homes a couple of times a year.  We drag out the blender and make strawberry daiquiris just like we did back then.  Tomorrow is my turn and I have decided to do something different than daiquiris .... something more grown up!!  I bought some Chambord today and am going to make Pink-a-tinis!  I have had these before at a restaurant and have tried to duplicate them at home.  They are really good.  You mix Chambord with White Zinfandel and Cranberry Juice.... yum!! 

I made these bags for everyone and have put 4-5 cards and envies in them.  My mom is coming for lunch as well as Brenda's mom too.  I think they will enjoy them.  They were very easy to make plus I was able to use up some of my old designer paper .  I got the instructions off Andrea's Blog.

Here they are close up:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beat Stress .....

Super-Foods to Help You Stay Healthy
You can help beat stress by eating…

• Sunflower seeds, which are a good source of folate.  Folate helps your body produce a pleasure-inducing brain chemical called dopamine. [1 or 2 tablespoons would make a great snack.]
• Spinach, which contains magnesium. Magnesium improves your body's response to stress. 
• Blueberries, which contain antioxidants that counteract the effects of stress hormones like cortisol on your body. [Blueberries are great on your morning cereal or as a snack.]

You can get energized with…

• Almonds or almond butter, which help to stabilize energy levels with a mix of protein and healthy fat. [
• Eggs ~ by adding a lean protein to your breakfast, like eggs, you will help fight fatigue. When you have an all-carb breakfast (muffin, bagel, toast) you will find yourself sluggish because carbs boost your levels of serotonin, a calming hormone. [A good energizing breakfast is 2 eggs (or 1 egg and 2 egg whites)

~Woman's Day Magazine

A New Me!

I got new glasses today. Trying to look younger .... not sure if I've succeeded, but I like them anyway! I really wanted smaller glasses, but with bifocals, can't go too small unfortunately.

What do you think? NEW LOOK -

OLD LOOK:

Come one, Come all .... to my Card Buffet

I am having a Card Buffet tonight and expect about 8 people. I have been working fast and furious to get the cards ready and the directions written up. I am doing things a little different (at least for me) tonight. I have made 12 cards - 8 sets of each. Each guest can pick and choose which ones they want to make at $2 per card. If they want to do 2 of one card, they can. It will be on a "first come, first served" basis. Hope this works out!!

Here are some of the cards we will be making.

This one uses Crazy for Cupcakes stamp set and Tart and Tangy with the Summer Picnic Designer Paper.
This one uses Life is a Breeze stamp set and is glittered! We will also be using a wheel for the bottom.

This card I did a brayer technique and it actually worked!! I used a sticky note to mask the moon. The stamp set is my new favorite, Inspired by Nature! I just love this stamp.
This card uses the stamp set, Always and the Whimsey wheel on the side panel.

This card uses the Curly Label punch in the center and the Scallop Square punch behind each of the squares. I thought the arrows (from My Way punch) made a cute addition.

This card is another great use for Pick a Petal! That is such a versatile stamp set!