Birthday Wishes and the Bronze Star

Last week was my nephew's 22nd birthday.  Wow!  Where has the time gone?  Seems like just yesterday when I  made him a little wooden stool with Barney painted on it so he could reach the sink to wash his hands!  Now, Marianne (his mom) uses the stool to reach the higher cabinets in her kitchen since she's so short!!  The family celebrated his birthday at his favorite Japanese restaurant. 

It's been another busy week so far.  Yesterday I played bridge.  When I got home, I worked on some cards for various swaps I am doing.   Today I worked at the Soup Kitchen.  It always makes me feel good to work there.  I feel like I'm doing some good in the world and not just "getting by".

I remembered to take a picture of my Monday Mailer this time!  Last week I put it in the mail before I took the picture.  The theme this month is Favorites.  I used a few of my favorite accessories in the new catalog - the Incolor Designer Brads and the new Designer Frames embossing folder ( you get two folders for $8.95).  I made the cupcake with the Cupcake Punch - super easy!

 

Do you know what this medal is?        

 Well, it is a Bronze Star Medal Award.  Ashley showed us hers today (via Skype) that she received in a ceremony this week!  We are so proud of her!   This award is given for meritorious achievement or meritorious service.

I ddn't forget you!

Remember me?  I was on the go all last week and just was too tired at the end of the week to take pictures and post them!!  I worked at my friend's stamp store last Thursday and didn't think I'd be very busy.  So, I took a bunch of stuff to do - my book, my computer, stuff to make a few cards, etc.  Well, I ended up bringing it all back home with me!!  I didn't sit down all day except to have a sandwich (which my dear hubby brought to me!)  Friday I played Hand & Foot. and when I got home, I got busy working on making a few swaps to take to Regionals in Charlotte in a couple of weeks.  Marianne came over Saturday afternoon and ended up spending the night.  She is going to Regionals with me and wanted me to help her come up with some swap ideas.  She is using the Snow Much Fun set and made 10-20 cards with it.  I meant to take a picture of them before she left.  Well, I really couldn't take a picture anyway.  You know, I ran out a couple of weeks ago and bought a new camera to take to NC Quarterly with me.  I did a little research and bought a Cannon digital camera.  I really decided I paid too much for a camera (Sonny and Ashley helped me make that decision!!)  I also didn't like the way I had to hook it up to the computer to download the pictures (too flimsy) and the battery died on me after only 1 week.  So, I returned the camera this weekend and have ordered another one from Amazon - a Kodak Easy Share.  I have had 2 Kodaks and they are good cameras for the money.  I was just trying to go with a different camera this time.  But, I already have the program downloaded on my computer for Kodak and it is one of the newest models so we'll see.

We got the final word last week as to Ashley's return home!!  I am so excited!!  Due to security reasons, I can not divulge the exact date.  But I will be seeing her in a little less than a month!  Sonny and I have decided to drive to Texas at the end of the month although we did get a credit from Delta for our plane tickets (that we were supposed to use last week!)  Ashley's air conditioner went out at her home last week and we had the renters put some freon in it.  We are hoping that will remedy the situation until Sonny can get there and replace the unit.  So by driving, he can carry all his tools with him.  That was his business before he retired, so he can do a lot of the work himself and save her some money that way.

I am working on a Ribbon Share.  If you are interested, please let me know.  I will be putting the first order for ribbon in this week.  As soon as another one fills, I will order it.  Here are the details:

3/8" Ruffled Ribbon Share (matches the new In Colors as seen on page 194):
Each share receives 2 yards of the 5 in-colors (10 yards total) - Calypso Coral, Island Indigo, Lucky Limeade, Pool Party, and Wisteria Wonder. 

Cost: 14.00/share

1.  Diane C
2.  Margaret W.
3.  Donna M.
4.  Sharon A.
5.  Marianne W.

1.  Kenny M
2.  Sharon M
3. 
4.
5.

 

3/8" Scallop Dots Ribbon Share (*new ribbon seen on page 195*): 
Each share receives 2 yards of 5 colors (Cherry Cobbler, , Elegant Eggplant, Marina Mist, Old Olive, Pretty In Pink)   10 yards total

cost - $10/share

1.  Diane C
2.  Margaret W
3.  Judy N
4. Donna M
5. Marianne W

1.  Kenny M
2.  Sharon M
3. 
4. 
5.

3/8" Scallop Dots Ribbon Share (*new ribbon seen on page 195*): 
Each share receives 2 yards of 5 colors (Basic Black, Melon Mambo, More Mustard,  Tangerine Tango, Chocolate Chip)   10 yards total

cost - $10/share

1.  Donna M
2.  Margaret W
3.  Marianne W
4.  Sharon M
5.

1. 
2.
3.
4.
5.

I think this is going to be my next big project:

Village of Cuteness

 Aren't they so cute?  This was a class that was offered at convention.  It didn't sound that great to me so I didn't sign up but now, I sure wish I had.  These cute houses were made by Karen Culler at convention and she shared them with us at the NC Quarterly.  I showed them to Sonny and told him I'd like to make some so Friday when I came home from cards, he had cut 6 houses out for me from some scraps he had in the garage!  Now I have to decide how to decorate them.  I think they would also be cute decorated as Christmas gingerbread houses!  Any other ideas???

Tax Free Weekend 2011

The state of North Carolina is having a sales tax holiday for school supplies up to $100.00 per item from August 5-7. Because school supply items are included in this sales tax holiday, the below list of items will be state tax free during the holiday period. You can order on line from my WEBSITE or you can contact me to place your order but remember it is for a short period of time.

The following items are tax-exempt during the North Carolina sales tax holiday:

Item Number Description Price
100425 2-Way Glue Pen $3.50
100902 Dotto Refill $6.50
101879 Watercolor Pencils (24) $19.95
102845 Blender Pens (3) $9.95
103179 Craft & Rubber Scissors $19.95
103305 Dotto $12.95
103579 Paper Snips $9.95
103683 Mini Glue Dots $4.95
104045 Anywhere Glue Sticks (2) $3.95
104294 Sticky Strip $6.95
104331 SNAIL Refill $4.50
104332 SNAIL Adhesive $6.95
104430 Stampin' Dimensionals $3.95
105021 Uni-ball Signo Gel Pen $3.95
105394 Basic Black Stampin' Write Journaler $3.50
108360 Craft Scissors $29.95
110755 Multipurpose Liquid Glue $3.95
Varies Stampin' Write Marker $3.50
119700 Subtles Collection Stampin' Write Markers (10) $28.95
119701 Regals Collection Stampin' Write Markers (10) $28.95
119702 Brights Collection Stampin' Write Markers (10) $28.95
119703 Neutrals Collection Stampin' Write Markers (8) $22.95
119801 2010-2012 In Color Stampin' Write Markers (5) $14.95
119802 Subtles Collection Watercolor Wonder Crayons (10) $16.95
119803 Regals Collection Watercolor Wonder Crayons (10) $16.95
119804 Brights Collection Watercolor Wonder Crayons (10) $16.95
119805 Neutrals Collection Watercolor Wonder Crayons (10) $16.95
120962 Stampin' Pastels $24.95
123002 2011-2013 In Color Stampin' Write Markers (5) $14.95

SU DSP Sale!

Promotion Dates: August 1-31, 2011

Promotion Details: During August, get a FREE package of Designer Series Paper when you buy three! Stock up on all your favorites, including brand-new designs from the 2011-12 Catalog and Idea Book.

Things to Remember:

There is no limit to the number of free packages of Designer Series Paper you can earn.

Specialty Designer Series Paper and Hostess Designer Series Paper are not part of this promotion and cannot be redeemed through this offer. On-line ordering deadline is Aug. 31 at 11:50 P.M. MT

More Quarterly Projects

I thought I'd share a few more of the Quarterly projects with you .... while I am watching the finale of The Bachelorette.  This is the first time I have watched this show (and maybe the last!).  I just don't understand how someone thinks they can find their true love of their life on a reality TV program!  Maybe that is what is wrong with young people getting married these days.  I think they go into a relationship thinking, well, if it doesn't work out, we'll go our separate ways and find someone else.  We'll see how long Ashley (from Bachelorette) and whoever she picks tonight stay together.

This is our "one size fits all" card!  I've made these bikini cards before but this one was fitting for our Beach Party theme!

How do you like the flower tatoo??

 This is a potpourri holder.  This is really a pretty basis project that most beginner SU demonstrators make but I don't think I have ever done one!  Tina made her own potpourri that she gave each of us to put in the envelope.  You cut the envelope in half (after sealing it closed) and crimp the bottom of the envelope.  Then you stamp, fill the envelope, fill it and punch holes and insert the ribbon.

 This one was my favorite project!  I think we will make these at Stamp Club this month.  It is a plant stake that made from metal roof flashing and run through the Big Shot to cut and emboss it.

 This is another great project from Pat - a tissue holder!

Quarterly Bookmarks

I had a great time this weekend at NC Quarterly in Taylorsville.  I visited with old friends and made new ones.  I ended up coming home and sleeping in my own bed instead of on the air mattress!  I finished my shoe box swaps around 10 pm and since it had only taken me about 40 minutes to get there, I hit the road.

We did a bookmark swap and it was great to see all the different bookmarks!

by Debbie Tadt

by Leah Harrison

by Tina Lesson

by Pat Wilkinson

from Kathy Hunt

by Letricia Blake





Nancy Carr

This is one of  the 3D swaps that I received.  It is soooo cool!!

by Dina Wilson

Dina shared her instructions and template for this Fabric Flower Pot.  She got the idea from Qbee's website.

Last Day for Special!

Just a reminder that SUNDAY is the last day for the $99 sign up special.

Check out this video from Shelli Gardner (the head "STAMPER" of Stampin Up) - she also shows you the Christmas Keepsake Box you will receive for free, and guess what, she is going to do a video and create that box, so we can all watch it and stamp along with her, won't that be fun?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_zLn1SzeWc

Quarterly Rejects

This week as I have said, I have been working on cards and projects for my Quarterly swaps.  Tuesday I did 2-3 cards that I loved but decided after doing them that they would be too complicated for my Shoebox.  We do a Shoebox Swap on Friday night.  You design a card and put all the materials to make the card in a box for everyone else to make.  Friday night we only have 12 participants but still, we need to get 12 cards made, visit, and snack and still make it to bed at a reasonable hour to get up bright and bushy tailed for the next day of events!

This wa my first reject.  This is a card that was demo-ed on stage during convention and I love it!  The "cake" is 3 Hershey miniatures wrapped in DSP.  I used punches to make the Razzleberry cake stand - Border Punch, Word Window and Oval.  I pulled a thread in the satin ribbon to gather it around the candy.  This would definitely be a card you would need to hand deliver!  It just took too much time and I decided it would not be a good card for the shoebox.

This was the next card that I made.  I embossed the Vanilla cardstock with the Elegant Lines Embossing Folder and then painted the raised lines with Gold Smooch.  I used the Big Shot and Scallop Circle Die for the Early Edition circle that I "smoothed" in gold on the edges.  The Fabulous Florets flower is embossed with Melon Mambo embossing powder and cut out separately.  Again, too much time and tools involved!

This is the card I settled on.  It uses the new Occasions Alphabet.  I have already die cut all the Top Note shapes for everyone and embossed the dots on the white Top Note.  So, basically they have to stamp and put it together!  The paper is from Paisley Prints.  And notice the edge on the white stamped piece?  I used the new Postage Punch to make that!!  I love it when you can do more with a Punch than it's intended use!  The flower is punched with the Triple Layer Blossom Punch.  I punched 4 flowers, spritzed them heavily with water and crumpled them up.  Let them dry a bit; then flatten them back out and put together with a brad.  I did not put them straight on top of each other but instead put every other one slightly to the side of the other one.

This is my Bookmark Card for another swap.  I used the Two Tags Die for the bookmark and just sponged Marina Mist on the bottom and Peach Parfait and Daffodil Delight on top (masking a circle for the sun).  Then I stamped the Sail Away sailboat.  If you click on the picture to enlarge it, you might be able to see how I did the sails.  I stamped them separately onto Vellum, cut them out and turned them over and used a Stylus and a rubber mat to gently rub onto the sails and puff them out.  It really looks cool in person!  This is another great stamp for a great price!!  It is a single stamp in the Summer Mini catalog but will be gone the end of August.  So, if you like it, contact me to order it!!

And finally, my Punch Art Swap!  Good enough to eat, huh?  I used the following punches to make it:

Bun Top:  Extra Large Oval Punch (Crumb Cake)
Bun Bottom:  Word Window
Lettuce:  Blossom Punch (Celery)
Tomatoes:  3/4" Circle Punch (Cherry Cobbler)
Cheese:  Word Window (More Mustard)
Meat:  Modern Label (Choc. Chip)

Well, that it for Quarterly Swaps.  Think I am going to have to shop around for a camera today.  Mine has bit the dust I believe.

Be Flirtatious!

There is some gorgeous new designer paper in the catalog.  I saw it used at convention and I received some really nice swaps that used the paper.  And bummer .... I placed an order a few days ago, and forgot to include it in my order.  You better believe I won't forget next time!  Check out pages 126-127 of the 2011-2012 Idea Book / Catalog to see the beautiful coordinating fabric, patterned paper, stamps and punches, all with flirty feminine colors and delicately detailed doily designs.

The Flirtatious Specialty Designer Paper includes two sheets of double-sided laser cut doily paper that is ideal for adding detailed embellishments to projects.  Use the full sheet of doilies on a scrapbook page or cut the individual doilies apart and you'll have 32 embellishments to layer on your cards, scrapbook pages, and decor projects.  The coordinating Lace Ribbon Border Punch is another great option for adding beautifully detailed accents.  I love how the Lace Ribbon Border looks with the 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon threaded through it - gorgeous!  The doily images from the Flirtatious Specialy Designer Paper are repeated in the intricately detailed Hello Doily and Delicate Doilies stamp sets.  With the cheerful colors and feminine designs, the Flirtatious Suite is packed full of fun, coordinating details sure to bring out your flirty side!

 

Beach Bucket Survival

I have been trying to get ready for the NC Demos Quarterly meeting this weekend.  We will be meeting in Taylorsville which I think is less than an hour west of me.  Unfortunately, the town is really small and there are no hotels so I will be taking Marianne's air mattress and sleeping with everyone else in the church where we are meeting!  I don't usually get much sleep when I have to do that but it is only for one night so I guess I can handle it!  I have signed up for the Shoebox Card Swap on Friday night, 3D swap, 6x6 Punch Art swap, Bookmark Card swap and the Beach Bucket Survival swap.  The Beach Bucket swap is really cute.  Everything listed below has to fit in a beach bucket and be decorated.:

B:     use a sand bucket 

E:     eatable project (I put candy in a couple of sand molds)

A:     anything to take to the Beach (decorated flip flops)

C:     chap stick (picture below)

H:     head or hair accessory (sun visor - stamped)

P:     punch art project (fish card)

A:     animal project (fish card)

R:     rolling Wheel project (Hershey miniatures)

T:      thank you card project (picture below)

Y:      your favorite stamp set project (box for Hershey minis)

Fish Punch Art (uses Ornament Punch and Word Window Punch)

Chap Stick Holder - closed

Chap Stick Holder open

Flip Flops

Thank You Card - from Convention Swaps

Candy Box Project

Top of Box

Hershey Miniatures wrapped with paper that is wheeled with SU's Decor Wheel

Beach Bucket

 Tomorrow I will share the other swaps I have made for the weekend.  I had a lot of rejects today trying to decide what to do!