Blog Candy Alert!

Check HERE for some Valentine blog candy! Who knows, someone's gotta win it .... it just could be you (or ME!)

Monday Mailer Card

My NC Stampin' Up group has started back with our Monday Mailer program.  This month I chose for the cards to have a Winter theme each week.  So, for my first card, this is what I sent to my partner:

I used Holiday Line stamp set and stamped & embossed the snowmen on watercolor paper.  Then I used my watercolor crayons and my markers to color them in.  Using my markers, I did a faux watercolor technique where you use the markers around the edges of the area and use your Aqua pen to bring the color in the middle and blend.  Truthfully, it's just as easy to use the watercolor crayons with the Aqua pen!! The designer paper is some I still have from the Holiday Mini Catalog, Frosty Day layered with Bashful Blue, Tango Tangerine and on a Kiwi Kiss card with Kiwi Kiss satin ribbon (love this ribbon!).

I have spent the past 3 days getting my stamping room reorganized (not all day each day - but a few hours each day!!)  Monday night, Sonny suggested he get a yellow Caution tape and string it over the door!!  I'm getting there though!!  Just hope after I finish, I can find where I've put everything!  Here are few picture!

This is the view from the door - not much room to walk through.  Plus, I've got a folding table that doesn't belong in the room loaded down with stuff.  I need to clean it off and give it back to my hubbie!  When I had friends over Thanksgiving & Christmas stamping with me, we used that table and it's been a crutch for me to stack stuff on ever since.

Here is a closer view of the mess!  You can't even see my computer - and hardly my desk!! 

But ... here is a cleaned up version of my Stampin' Up stamp shelf - all nice & neat! They are a loose alpha order - A-D on top shelf; E-K next; L-P next; Q-S next and on the bottom, T-Z with the boxes stacked according to size.  The Retired sets have blue circles on them.  On the top are jars of ribbon divided by colors.  The plastic jars used to have Almonds in them from BJ's!!  The wire shelf next to my SU stamps are my clear stamps and non-SU stamps - still need to work on them a bit, but they're not too bad since I organized them a few months ago.

Hopefully, by the end of the week, I'll have a clean desk and floor to share with you!!

Retired Accessories

Items on this retired accessories list will be available at regular price while supplies last or through January 18, whichever comes first. These will sell out FAST. order today if you want something.

Products are marked as available or unavailable. If an item is unavailable, our supply is exhausted and the item can no longer be ordered. This list will be updated every day through January 18. I will try to keep it as updated as much as possible.

With most catalogs, some accessories are completely retired while others are redesigned or reconfigured for the new catalog. Sometimes popular items are "retired" in their current packaging or style to come back with improved packaging or added product features. This year, no accessories are being reconfigured.

Here also is the list of RETIRED STAMP SETS.

NOTE: Items out of stock are initalics & PURPLE

Item #
Product Description

• 111377 ACCENTS & ELEMENTS ROOF GARDEN
• 112012 ACCENTS & ELEMENTS SEASON TO SHARE
• 112088 ACCENTS & ELEMENTS TRUE ELEGANCE
• 102782 ALBUM LEATHER BLACK 12X12 Not Available
• 104188 ALBUM LEATHER BLACK 6X6
• 105384 -ALBUM LINEN POST MELLOW MOSS 6X6*
• 104516 ALBUM LINEN POST NAVY 6X6
• 105381 ALBUM LINEN POST REAL RED 6X6* not available
• 103977 BUTTONS BOLD BRIGHTS*
• 103978 BUTTONS EARTH ELEMENTS
• 103981 BUTTONS EARTH ELEMENTS & NEUTRALS
• 105446 BUTTONS RICH REGALS
• 105445 BUTTONS SOFT SUBTLES
• 103604 DAYS-TO-REMEMBER CALENDAR 12X12
• 102174 DAYS-TO-REMEMBER CALENDAR 8 1/2X11
• 112465 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER BANBURY
• 112462 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER GEORGIA PEACH
• 112463 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER GHOSTLY GREETINGS
• 112040 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER GREEN TEA
• 112470 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER HAIKU
• 112460 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER HAWAII PAPAYA
• 112469 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER HOLIDAY TREASURES
• 112458 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER JUNIOR VARSITY
• 112459 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER MAINE BLUEBERRY
• 112466 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER MUIRFIELD
• 112149 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER PARISIAN SUMMER
• 112467 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER PRESTWICK
• 111355 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER SUMMER PICNIC
• 112039 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER WINDSOR KNOT
• 106523 ENVELOPE TEMPLATE FIVE-IN-ONE CARD COVER
• 104104 ENVELOPE TEMPLATE MINI
• 107298 ENVELOPES CONFETTI WHITE MEDIUM
• 110695 ENVELOPES OPEN END KRAFT SMALL
• 109115 ENVELOPES OPEN END VERY VANILLA SMALL
• 103372 METAL EDGE TAGS ALUMINUM WHITE SQUARE
• 107925 ON BOARD BITTY BOOK*
• 109190 ON BOARD CLIPBOARD 9X9*
• 109180 ON BOARD SIMON UPPER
• 112086 ON BOARD SOMETHING SEASONAL
• 107923 PAGE PROTECTORS RING 3.25 X 3.25
• 104942 PUNCH 1/4 INCH CIRCLE not available
• 104943 PUNCH 1/4 INCH SQUARE
• 107273 PUNCH 3/4 INCH SQUARE
• 104389 PUNCH DOUBLE CIRCLE*
• 100391 PUNCH HANDHELD 1/8 INCH CIRCLE Not Available
• 104830 RIBBON GINGHAM CARAMEL
• 104829 RIBBON GINGHAM LIGHT BLUE
• 104828 RIBBON GINGHAM LIGHT PINK
• 104831 RIBBON GINGHAM MOSS
• 109037 RIBBON GROSGRAIN MORE MUSTARD 1/4 INCH
• 110282 RUB ON ANCHORED
• 111806 RUB ON CHILLS & THRILLS
• 111805 RUB ON SCHOOL DAYS
• 111417 RUB ON WORD FLURRIES
• 110283 RUB ONS TAKE NOTE
• 112193 SIMPLY SCRAPPIN I WISH
• 112186 SIMPLY SCRAPPIN PINA COLADA
• 112068 SIMPLY SCRAPPIN SUMMER HOME not available
• 112043 SIMPLY SCRAPPIN U R SWEET
• 112061 SIMPLY SCRAPPIN WINTER RETREAT not available
• 112016 SIMPLY SENT CARD ELEMENTS HANDMADE HOLIDAY
• 109868 SIMPLY SENT CARD KIT LIFELONG NOTES
• 103647 STAMPIN STORE MINI
• 105813 WRITE ME A MEMORY FONT CD VOL II
• 107212 MATEYS MAP wheel
• 106749 BRIGHT BULBS wheel
• 109672 BRONCO wheel not available
• 104100 MAKING TRACKS wheel
• 108978 SANDY SHELLS wheel
• 110332 SNOW wheel
• 101233 SNOWFLAKE wheel
• 109694 SWEET STARS wheel
• 111249 TAKE A NUMBER wheel

Contact me now if you want any of these items!!

Sharon

FIRST TIME EVER SU SALE

First time EVER!!

Stampin' Up! is offering current, retired and retiring* stamps up to 50% off regular price!! Click HERE for the complete list!!

HERE is a picture of the items not found in the regular catalog that are on sale.

• Items and special pricing are limited supply.
• Retired/previously retired items will be sold until quantities run out.
• Current items may revert to their retail price if inventory levels become acceptable.

Contact me if you are interested in ordering any of the items.

This Day In History

On this day in history - January 5 -

• In 1933, construction begins on the Golden Gate Bridge, as workers began excavating 3.25 million cubic feet of dirt for the structure's huge anchorages.
• Sonny Bono, Congressman and former half of the singing duo Sonny and Cher, was killed in a skiing accident (1998).
• In 1949, President Harry S. Truman announces, in his State of the Union address, that every American has a right “to expect from our government a fair deal.” .
• Richard Nixon signs a bill authorizing $5.5 million in funding to develop a space shuttle. The space shuttle represented a giant leap forward in the technology of space travel. (1972)
• In 1920, the New York Yankees announces its purchase of the heavy-hitting outfielder George Herman "Babe" Ruth from the Boston Red Sox for the sum of $125,000.

Betcha didn't know!!

Belated Birthday Wishes

While watching the football playoff games tonight, I made a birthday card .... although a little late.  One of my college friends turned 60 Dec. 29th and I forgot!!  Jackie's the baby of the three of us - Brenda turned 60 in September, me in October and now, Jackie.  It's hard to believe we're that old!!!  I sure don't feel like it .... well, most of the time, anyway.

I used Pink Passion, Turquoise and Green Galore cardstock.  I used the Happy Birthday Cuttlebug embossing folder on the card and cut the circles out with my Nestabilities (also the Happy Birthday tag is a Nestie tag).  The cupcake has SU's chunky glitter and the balloons have Crystal Effects on them.  The inside says "I thought and I thought and then I forgot..."

A productive day and a squash (card that is)

I've had a rather productive day I think today.  Hubby & I went out for breakfast .... Stacy's in Denver - yum!!  Then we had to go by a shower installation place.  Seems his little project has turned into a major project!!  He noticed a couple of weeks before Christmas that our shower was leaking into the wall in our bathroom.  So, he pulled the baseboard off to assess the damage.  Yep, the wood and drywall were wet.  So, with the holidays, we've just been letting it dry out and using the guest bathroom - no biggie.  Wednesday, he decided to tackle it and clean out some mold that had gotten into the caulking area.  It was easier (his idea!) to remove the whole glass shower enclosure so he could clean it real good.  Well, that was ok UNTIL he took it to the garage to clean it and broke the glass!!!  It took him quite a while to get that cleaned up (and of course, it was New Year's Eve and we had places to be!!)  So, some friends told us about a shower supply house in Denver that we visited today.  They will be out on Monday or Tuesday to give us an estimate.  We think they may be the company who originally put in our shower when the house was built, so they can perhaps just replace the piece of glass.  Or .... I may be getting a new shower.  Especially, since the guy at the shop today asked me what color my shower trim was and when I told him gold, he said no one uses gold anymore!!!  The downside is that it will probably take 1-2 weeks to order the glass.  So, guess we'll continue to shower in the guest bathroom.

After that little trip, I went to the library to return my books (and pay my fine!); to the post office to mail my swaps which I will be sharing with you soon; to Target where I picked up a few Christmas items for 75% off (what a deal!) and the gift card for my granddaughter's card; then home where I made a few cards and a little scrapbook. 

Here's one of the cards I made today using SU's new stamp-set, Love You Much.  Remember - this is available NOW in a bundle at 20% off!!  Check it out HERE.  The heart punch punches out all three of the hearts in the stamp-set.  The card I made is a squash card and it was fun to make.  If you are interested in the "how-to's", check out the instructions on Splitcoast HERE.  This was their Technique Monday challenge (funky folds).  I have made a squash book before but haven't done one of these cards in a long time.  I'm giving you a SNEAK PEEK and used some of the new designer paper (Raspberry Tart) that will be in the new catalog.  I'm really loving the paper - it's pretty funky.  It coordinates with Cameo Coral, Rose Red and Kiwi Kiss, Real Red and Pretty in Pink.

This is the card closed -

Here it is opening -

And fully opened -

I also used my new Label Two Nestabilities that I received today with my new Big Shot!!  (Jackie - you are an enabler!!)

Stampingly - Sharon

Happy Birthday Kennedy

Well, I've finally got some cards to share with you. I needed to do a birthday card for one of my granddaughter's, so I decided to check out the weekly Sketch Challenge on Splitcoast. It was a pretty good one so I made my card accordingly. It is always so much easier when I have a starting place - sketch, colors, etc.

Here is the sketch:

And here is my card: I used the dinosaur from My Favorite Things clear stamp set and the balloons are from Crazy for Cupcakes. The green and pink striped paper is actually digital paper!!

Now I just have to buy a gift card to put in it & get it in the mail.

Recipe Box

I want to share one of my Christmas gifts with you!  My sister, Marianne, made this recipe holder for me.  She did a super job.  You know, she is the one who told me, when I moved here, that she was not going to get into doing cards and stuff that I did - she is a quilter and was going to continue with that.  (Think she's made one quilt since I've been here!!!)  When we went to CK Convention in August, she signed up for Quick Quotes Club Q - a monthly kit club. This recipe box is one of the monthly kits that she got.

These are the dividers -

These are little bookmarks that I would think you could use for placeholders or even attach them to the recipe cards.

These are the only 3 recipes she included in the box but they each tell a story!!  We LOVE my grandmother's vegetable soup.  I make at least 2-3 huge batches every year and eat on it all winter.  (I'm the only one in my house who will eat it - Sonny doesn't like veggies!)

The Vinegar Pie is another one of our grandmother's recipes.  Not many people have heard of vinegar pie and we usually get strange looks.  But, it is really good and easy to make - tastes kind of like a chess pie.

The Chicken Spaghetti recipe is mine from an old Beta Sigma Phi recipe book.  Marianne came to visit me in Texas when Derek (her oldest son who is now in college) was only 3 or 4 years old.  He was is a pretty picky eater - only eats chicken (to this day!).  I made the Chicken Spaghetti and she told me he wouldn't eat it.  Well .... he just about cleaned the casserole dish!!  Now, it is a favorite of both of us!

Now, I just have to come up with more special recipe to put in the box!!

Twas the month after Christmas .... and I ate too much

'Twas the month after Christmas, and all through the house
Nothing would fit me, not even a blouse.
The cookies I'd nibbled, the eggnog I'd taste
At the holiday parties had gone to my waist.

When I got on the scales there arose such a number!
When I walked to the store (less a walk than a lumber).
I'd remember the marvelous meals I'd prepared;
The gravies and sauces and beef nicely rared,

The wine and the rum balls, the bread and the cheese
And the way I'd never said, "No thank you, please."
As I dressed myself in my husband's old shirt
And prepared once again to do battle with dirt.
I said to myself, as I only can"You can't spend a winter disguised as a man!"

So--away with the last of the sour cream dip,
Get rid of the fruit cake, every cracker and chip
Every last bit of food that I like must be banished
Till all the additional ounces have vanished.

I won't have a cookie--not even a lick.
I'll want only to chew on a long celery stick.
I won't have hot biscuits, or corn bread, or pie,
I'll munch on a carrot and quietly cry.

I'm hungry, I'm lonesome, and life is a bore,
But isn't that what January is for?
Unable to giggle, no longer a riot.
Happy New Year to all and to all a good diet!