Big Mac & Fries .... not on my Weight Watchers!

I've been fighting the Battle of the Bulge for several years now. I'm a lifetime member of Weight Watchers - from way back - just keep gaining and losing the same pounds, I think! Although in the last several years, more pounds kept creeping up and I did more gaining than losing. Finally, about a year ago, I got tired of my clothes being too tight, getting out of breath too easily and just having no energy. So, back to WW I went. I have lost almost 25 pounds and gone from a size 16 to size 12 (and a few things in size 10). I just can't seem to get rid of the last 4-5 pounds. But in reality, I have not tried so hard in the past few months. I plan to get back on track and my goal is to reach my weight goal by my BIG birthday at the end of October!! Now, I've said it to the public .... I've gotta do it! If you have any suggestions or great recipes, send them to me. I'm a "quick and e-z" type of gal.

Not that I stop at McDonald's much (if I did, I'm afraid I'd order FRIES and a Big Mac!) but if you're out and about and do want to have a quick bite, here's a WW point count for McDonald's that you may find helpful. Hungry Girl's site has some good tips and I subscribe to it and get a lot of tips from her. Check it out -

http://www.hungry-girl.com/week/weeklydetails.php?isid=1536

Cards from my Secret Sister & Monday Mailer

I have 3 cards to share. The first one is from my Monday Mailer program. Jana sent me a card today using Inspired by Nature (my favorite set!!). It looks like she misted her stamp after inking it up and then clear embossed the flowers. Very pretty!

The next 2 cards are from my Secret Sister. The orange one is monochromatic using the new Tangerine Tango and she made a flower using the Scallop Punch! Clever!

The second one is a Christmas card using Heard from the Heart and the Bella Designer Paper. I love the way she used 2 ribbons - white & red gingham!

Guest Stamper Today

 

I have a guest stamper today!  My daughter, Ashley, is very creative.  She made this card for Torri - her brother's oldest step-daughter.  She used a retired SU stamp set "Just In Style" and definately, bold bright colors.   Isn't it darling?  Great job, Ashley!! 

My Monday Mailer

Today kicks off a new round of Monday Mailers for my NC Demos group.  Since I am in charge of this group now, I thought long and hard about this month's theme.  I decided to make it fairly easy on us .... cards can be anything new in the new catalog.  It can be a stamp set, designer paper, punches, "in" colors, etc. 

I mailed my card today, so I will go ahead and share it with you.  I used the stamp set, Crazy for Cupcakes.  The paper is Tangerine Tango with Hawaii Papaya designer paper.  It's pretty bright but I like it.  I'm a bright colors kind of gal!!

Sharon

Birthday Bookmark

Saturday is my step-granddaughter's birthday.  She is a voracious reader so I am sending her a gift certificate from Amazon so she can buy what she wants.  But, I also made her a bookmark for her books.  She will be 14 - you know ... 14 going on 20!!!  So, I didn't want to make it too childish but "hip" enough that she would use it!! 

I used some patterned paper that I had on hand (from Stampers Alley).  The flower is from Time Well Spent - an old SU hostess set.  Her name is Torri (therefore, the "t"!!)  I think it turned out pretty cute.

If you want directions, let me know.  It's pretty easy.

Sharon

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