Happy Halloween!

Hope you have a safe and scary Halloween.  We will be driving to DC.  We have tickets to the Monday night football game (on ESPN!).  The Redskins are playing our Steelers!!!  Hoping the weather warms up just a little or we'll be freezing our "you-know-what" off.  We are especially excited because Sonny's cousins (who are actually Ashley and Jeff's age) will be there.  Davey and his wife are driving down from Pittsburgh for the game.  Ashley was able to get them tickets as well as for his sisters who live in DC.  We haven't seen them in several years, so it will be good to reunite.  We'll be tailgating before the game and are trying to decide what Pittsburgh delight we'll bring.  I'm thinking kielbasa will be the easiest!!  Also, we want to make a sign & hopefully be picked up waving it on National TV.  Our seats are in the end zone and pretty close to the field, so there is a chance.  Got any suggestions as to what it should say?  I was playing around with the letters ESPN and came up with Extra Special Pittsburgh ..... but hit a snag with the "N".  We also had the idea to get a Halloween wig - black curly - and attach it to a sign to represent Troy Polamalu's hair.

 

Here's a Halloween card I received this week from Brenda.  Isn't it so cute???

Start Walking!!

Check out below how far you must walk in steps, miles and kilometers to walk off the candy listed below.

25 small jellybeans/140 calories
20 pieces of candy corn/100 calories
2 Brach's caramels/80 calories
2 Hershey's Kisses/50 calories
1 mini Tootsie Roll/25 calories
1 Fun Size candy bar (Snickers, Milky Way, Butterfingers, etc.)/80 calories
1 mini bite-size candy bar (Snickers, Milky Way, Butterfingers, etc.)/55 calories
1 Fun Size M&M packet—Plain or Peanut 90 1 mini Reese's Peanut Butter Cup/33 calories
1 full size chocolate candy bar (Snickers, Hershey, etc.)/275 calories
1 King Size chocolate candy bar (Snickers, Hershey, etc.)/500 calories
1 piece pumpkin pie (1/8 of 9-in pie)/180 calories

…that comes to 1608 calories. In order to burn that off, you will need to walk 16.08 miles, 25.93 kilometers, or 32,160 steps, assuming you cover one mile in 2,000 steps.

~About.com—Walking…Calculator

A great birthday card

OK .... I just have to show you this card that my cousin, Candy, sent me!!  She did not make it - bought it at the store, but it is just too good not to share!!  It is one of those holographic cards that when you move the card a certain way, the picture changes.  Well, I couldn't get a great picture of both views, but you'll get the idea, I'm sure!!

AND THE INSIDE IS:

Priceless, huh????

Monday Mailers this week

These are October's last Monday Mailers.  I have enjoyed receiving cards from Becky - she does super work.

Here is this week's card.  In the corner is a bookmark.  I have made these before, but no one has ever made one for me.  So now, I have my own bookmark made by a special friend!

This is the Monday Mailer that I sent to Nikki.  See .... still celebrating birthdays!

Toast to good friends and good food!

I have more birthday cards to share!!  I love it when my birthday just keeps on going!!  Yesterday, my good friend, Judy, treated me to lunch AND gave me a great present!  We went to lunch at Toast Restaurant.   I had heard about Toast and thought they were only in Davidson, but we went to their original location - a charming little cottage in Huntersville.  I had a yummy Quiche - we both wanted quiche, but there was only one serving left, so Judy let me have it.  It was delicious!!  For dessert (yes, we splurged!) Judy had a decadant looking chocolate fudgy cake and I had Creme Brulee.  That is one of my favorite desserts (thanks to Heidi!!).  This one was ok - not the best I've had, but good anyway.  I want to make a return visit to Toast for their breakfast or brunch sometime.

This is the front of the gift card holder that Judy made.

This is the inside of the gift card holder.  Notice she didn't sign it so I could use it again!  That is a true card maker to another card maker!

Thanks, Judy!

The Party's Almost Over

 

The 20% off Birthday sale is almost over.  Have you taken advantage of the "Spend $20 and get Birthday stamps at 20% off" yet?  Check out the details HERE.

These are some samples from SU's Artisian Awards using some of the Birthday Stamps to give you inspiration!!

This sample features Party Hearty, Pacific Pointe Blue Ink and cardstock, Baja Breeze Cardstock, Kiwi Kiss Cardstock, Whisper White cardstock, earth elements old olive brad, dazzling diamonds glitter, assorted circle punches, paper piercing tool.

This amazing box features the Exclusive Stampin' UP! Top note die, Pacific Pointe blue cardstock, Kiwi Kiss cardstock, metal edge tag, Tangerine Tango Striped Grosgrain, white gel pen and Party Hearty stamp set.

This features Party Hearty, Pink Pirouette Cardstock, Pink Pirouette Designer Series Papers, Pink Pirouette Ribbon, Pink Pirouette Ink, Chocolate chip designer series papers, chocolate chip cardstock, chocolate chip ink, chocolate chip grosgrain,  dazzling diamonds glitter,  on board chipboard frame.

"50" birthday card

My brother in law will turn 50 next week so I made a card today to help him celebrate this milestone.  Marianne is having a combo Halloween / birthday party for him Friday night, but we will be out of town then.  I thought the card turned out really cute!  I made an accordian card using my wonderful Scor-Pal and actually got 50 candles on the card!!  I made a belly band to go around the card to keep it closed and cut out the "50" with my Cuttlebug.  The saying on the front is computer generated.  The candles stamp-set is from a retired SU set, Older and Wiser (a great birthday set!).

Front of card with "belly band" wrapped around.  The scallop was cut with my Nestabilities.

Front of the card with belly band removed.  The saying is computer generated and the candles are embossed white.

Card opened - each panel is 3".  The candles are stamped in black with the flames colored in yellow Copic markers.  The "Wishing You ...." is from the Riveting stamp set (retired).

Sneak Peak of my Thanksgiving table!

If you are going to be at my table on Thanksgiving, you just may see something from this video (http://studio5.ksl.com/?nid=61&sid=4573672) The video is of Shelli, the CEO of Stampin' Up making napking rings and place cards for the holidays. Check it out and if you want to order any of the supplies to make them, contact me!!

Halloween Spiders .... so good you can eat them!

2 tbsp. Peanut butter
2 tbsp. Powdered sugar
2 tbsp. Graham cracker crumbs
2 tbsp. Coconut
Licorice
Raisins

Mix peanut butter, sugar and crumbs together and form a ball. Divide the ball into 2 parts to form 2 balls, 1 slightly smaller than the other.
Roll balls in coconut and place smaller ball on top of larger one.
The smaller ball will be the head and the larger one, the abdomen. Add 8 licorice legs and 8 raisin eyes.
Makes 1 scary spider.

~Razzle Dazzle Recipes

My Birthday Cards

I got some great cards for my birthday made by my stamping friends and family and just have to share them with you!  Enjoy!

This bright card is from Jackie who also works part-time at Stamper's Alley.  I just love the cupcakes with the adorable penguins!!

This card is from my NC Stampin' Up group.  There was no name on the back so I don't know who created it.  It is so sparkly.  A really great use for the SU Pun Fun set.

TThis card is from my good friend and neighbor, Judy.  She used a mini envelope to hold the prima flowers in and tied them up with a ribbon.  She also decorated the inside of the card with punched flowers with an eyelet in the center.

This is from Brenda who owns Stamper's Alley.  I just love the coordinating paper she used on the card and of course, the BLING!!

This is from Connie, one of my Stamper's Alley pals.  I love how she matted the designer paper (Memory Box, I think).  It really makes the paper stand out.

Karen sent me this one.  She is also a good friend I've made at Stamper's Alley.  I'm honored because she actually colored the flowers and pot on the card .... Karen does not like to color!!

This is from "Girlfriend" (Sharon Ridgway).  She is my sister's best friend and they call each other "girlfriend".  That really came in handy at my party since there were 3 Sharon's there!!  I love how she made the cupcake using the scallop punch and it is so sparkly (she embossed it I believe).

This is from my sister, Marianne.  I'm so proud of her!  She has just started stamping since I moved here 2 years ago.  She is doing great!  Of course, most of her cards are purple since that is her favorite color!

This is from my daughter, Ashley.  She used our favorite Sock Monkey and the set from "Cheers" that are both in the SU catalog.  This card is so bright and cheery!  I also loved what she put inside the card!!  (a voucher for dinner & a show in NEW YORK!!)  You go, girl!!

This is from my good friend and fellow stamper, Margaret.  She used the Cuttlebug and the pearls from SU's Pretties Kit (can't believe she used 4 on my card - I really rated!!).