Anchorage

It's so weird to see the sun just now setting at 11:30 PM!  It is end of our first full day in Alaska.  Anchorage is nothing to brag about, let me tell you!  We took a narrated trolley tour this morning to see what there was to see around the city . ... not much!  Then we took our own walking tour that we found in the Fodor's Guide Book.  It mostly took us to local statues and art around the city.  Anytime that a walking tour takes you through a shopping mall, you should be forewarned!  That was one of the first stops - through the 5th Avenue Mall, with Nortstrom's and Penney's as the anchors.  It was a pretty small mall but is supposed to be the fanciest mall in Alaska.  We went by City Hall, Performing Arts Center, Town Square, and to the Convention Center which had a really great observation deck upstairs where we got great views of the snow covered mountains.  Another cool thing on the tour was the Lightspeed Planet Walk which is a scale model of the solar system in which you walk to the various planets positioned around town at the speed of light.  

Ashley, Sonny & I at Resolution Park near the Captain Cook statue

Wednesday we head to Talkeetna where we will be taking a float plane trip and landing on a glacier!!  Can't wait!

Alaska!

We're here!  We arrived in Anchorage about 4 pm after about a 4 hour flight from Seattle.  The weather is great!  After checking in at the hotel, we walked a few blocks to Glacier BrewHouse for dinner.  Yum!!  We started with an appetizer of Amber Ale Cheddar Queso that was wonderful.  It had been a long time since breakfast!  Then for dinner, Ashley and I shared a macadamia crusted salmon while Sonny enjoyed King Crab Legs.  Both were delicious.  We strolled back to our hotel, popping in a few gift shops along the way and taking a few pictures.  We have a beautiful view of the Alaskan snow covered mountains from the window.  It is 10:00 pm here now and looks like it is about 4-5:00 outside!  The sun looks like it is behind the mountains but it is plenty light outside.  It is also warm -- 59 degrees right now.  The temps for the week is supposed to be in the low 60s!  We might have packed too warm!  We'll see.  We did bring layers so we'll probably be ok.

view from our motel window

outside a gift shop

Ashley & Sonny

Greetings from Sunny Pacific NW

We are on our trip!  So far, so good.  Those who say it rains all the time in Washington should be with us .... haven't seen a drop or even a rain cloud!!  We arrived right on time Friday around 10:30.  Had a 6 AM flight from Charlotte meaning we had to get up at 3:00 AM (after about 4 hrs. sleep!).  Ashley arrived about 15 minutes after we did so timing was perfect.  Picked up our luggage and grabbed a cab to take us to the Owl and the Thistle Pub in Seattle where we had a couple of brews and enjoyed a wonderful lunch.  We looked like traveling gypsies hauling our luggage around the streets of Seattle and into the pub.  A couple of guys on the street asked us if we were moving in to the pub .... hummmm, not a bad idea!!   A little after 2, we gathered our bags, and walked a couple of blocks to the ferry terminal where we caught the ferry that took us over to Bremerton.  We each stretched out on a bench and slept for the hour it took us to cross over.   When we departed, our friends, Joe, Ramey and little Joey were waiting for us to whisk us away to their house.  I was excited to see our house (next door) where we lived for the 3 years we were in Gig Harbor.  Wow!  Is it overgrown!  We had flowers all over - more than you can even imagine.  I didn't plant them - the lady who lived there before us had a real green thumb and spent every waking moment in the yard.  I did my best to keep it going but it was a LOT of work.  The people who live there now have not even tried - pretty sad.  Ashley visited with us a short while until her friend, Dawn came to pick her up.  On Saturday, we picked Ashley up and headed over up the peninsula to a couple of cidery's to do some tasting.  They were great and it was a good time.  One of them was a working farm with chickens, pigs, goats, etc.  so Joey enjoyed exploring the farm.  He is a little dynamite - 3 1/2 years old and never still!  After spending the day exploring that part of the country, we headed back to Gig Harbor and to a new brewery that has opened up since we lived here and then on to a restaurant for dinner.  Gig Harbor has really built up in the 6 years we have been gone.  So many new stores, YMCA, Costco .... they are even building a Kohls!  You don't know how I would have killed for those when I lived here!  Today we are hanging out here at the house for the day and headed over to Dawn's house late in the afternoon for a cook out with Ashley's friends.

Ashley and I at ferry terminal - Seattle

Glorious view of the snow covered Olympic Mountains as we were crossing the Hood Canal Bridge

Joe, Ramey & Joey at Finn River Cidery



Cool dog with his own sunglasses at 7 Seas Brewery in Gig Harbor

Tomorrow we board a plane for Anchorage!  Not sure how much posting I'll be able to do in the next couple of weeks but I'll try!

Note:  Just looked outside and it's raining!!  Hopefully, it will let up by 4 this afternoon for our cook out at Dawn & Pete's house.

Find Waldo!

You know that kids book - Where is Waldo?  Well, Sammie (our cat) has been trying hard to open my linen closet door for a few days.  She keeps jumping up and trying to get the handle to go down so the door will open.  I finally just opened the door for her yesterday.  She promptly climbed up and snuggled down on one of the quilts in the closet.  Can you find her?

Out with the Old, In with the New

Wow! There is a lot happening in the stamping world this month! We are celebrating National Scrapbooking Month and saying goodbye to retiring stamps and accessories. If you haven’t checked all the goodies off your wish list yet, you’ll want to order quickly!  Retiring stamps are only available through the end of May and retiring accessories, including Stampin’ Around Wheels and Décor Elements, are only available while supplies last! 

June 1st we will unveil our exciting new Annual Catalog!  Stampin’ Up! fans across the country are clamoring to see all of the inspiring new products and project ideas. Contact me to find out how you can be one of the first to get your hands on it!

I have a card to share with you that uses one of my favorite stamp sets that is retiring, Awash With Flowers.  This is another one that I will hold on to and use in the future.  I mixed the old with the new on this card - new In Colors and three retiring stamp sets.

Stamps:  Best Friends Forever, Awash With Flowers, Peace Within (sentiment)
Card Stock:  Primrose Petals, Gumball Green, Whisper White
Ink:  Primrose Petals, Gumball Green, Basic Black
Accessories:  Framelets Labels, Big Shot, Gumball Green Ribbon, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Dimensionals

I have been trying to pack for our Alaska trip.  I keep putting things in my suitcase and then taking them out.  I'm not too sure what to take.  We are not doing a cruise but are doing a driving tour.  I am putting in lots of layers - long sleeve tees, quilted sleeveless jackets, sweaters, socks, long underwear, short boots, tennies.  My son and daughter-in-law are going on a Disney cruise to Alaska at the end of the month.  She blogged today (Such the Spot) about some of the outfits that would be appropriate to pack.  Really cute - but I'm not going out and buy all new stuff to take with me!  Wish I could look that fashionable!

 I am so excited about our trip!!  We leave tomorrow .... 6 a.m. flight - ugh, so early!!  We'll have to leave home by 4 a.m. or before so not much sleep.  Hopefully, we can sleep on the flight because we will be on the go once we get there.  We will be meeting Ashley at the airport - her flight arrives about 30 minutes after ours in Seattle.  We are planning on taking a taxi over to one of our favorite Irish pubs in Seattle, The Owl and the Thistle for lunch.  Then we are walking a couple of blocks to the ferry to take us over to Bremerton where our ex-neighbors will pick us up and take us to their home for the weekend.  Ashley is staying with some of her Army buds there.  Our friends (and ex-neighbors) have had a child since we moved so we are anxious to meet little Joey.  We are going to a Cider Tasting Farm on Saturday and Sunday, Ashley's friends are having us all over for a cook out.  Monday, we are headed back to the airport for our flight to Anchorage. 

Stamping Queens Sketch 39

I got carried away with making my cards for the Stamping Queens Challenge this week.  I forgot I had made the card last week and I made another one a couple of nights ago.  So, you have 2 cards this week for the challenge. 

Here is the sketch:

For the first card, I turned the sketch on it's side.

Sneak Peek - Papaya Collage

I got my new catalog yesterday!  I had looked at it on-line but that is not the same as holding it in your hands and studying each page!  It is much smaller than our old catalog but still has lots of goodies inside!!  The samples are great and I think the new in-colors are going to grow on me!  I think the Raspberry Ripple reminds me a lot of one of my favorite retired In-Colors, Purely Pomegrante.  The Midnight Muse is a darker Blue Bayou; Gumball Green is a brighter Wasabi.  I don't have a reference to compare Primrose Petals or Summer Starburst to.  You'll have to figure it out.  I wasn't too sure about the Summer Starburst until I stamped it.  It's a good yellow.  It shows up when you stamp it - not too bright but not so light that you can't see it.  I like the new pads too.  I can see me replacing my old ones gradually.  Guess Ashley will like that as I will be giving her my old pads!!

So, as I was looking through the catalog last night, I had my Wish List in hand making note of all the things I want.  I do that each year.  It is always fun at the end of the year to look back and see what I changed my mind about after seeing what other people do with the different products and stamps.  If you want your own catalog, just let me know.  They are a deal this year - $5!! 

I didn't go crazy ordering sneak peek items this year.  I just got the new In Color ink pads, paper and markers, one stamp set, Papaya Collage, and the Bitty Banners Framelits.  I don't understand the name for this stamp set - Papaya Collage.  If anyone can figure it out, please leave a comment!!

I used my new stuff to make this card:  Let me know what you think.

Supplies used:
Card Stock:  Summer Starburst, Raspberry Ripple, Very Vanilla
Ink:  Summer Starburst (butterfly); Gumball Green, Raspberry Ripple, Soft Suede
Accessories:  Bitty Banners Framelits
Stamps:  Papaya Collage, Curly Cute

Happy Mothers Day!

Happy Mothers Day to all you moms!  Hope you have a restful, peaceful day and are with the ones you love.

What a busy few days this has been!  I would truthfully been happy to just stay in bed and stay home all day today but don't think that will be the plan! 

Friday Sonny & I were in Shelby for an all day CPR/First Aid class.  You have to get certified in CPR every 3 years but I just wish there was a quickie 2-3 hour course to go over the basics!  There probably is but our instructors on Friday were new - we were their first class I think - and they covered every detail.  Oh well, we are done for 3 years anyway. 

My mom had back surgery on Friday (outpatient).  I hated that I was not there but she was in good hands with Marianne and Angela.  Besides, what could I have done except keep them company in the waiting room for several hours?  She came through the surgery fine.  The doctor said she definitely had spinal stenosis and she should have relief after the surgery.  She was in Recovery for a while dealing with the pain but by 3 pm, she was headed back home.  I went over to visit her after my CPR class.  She was sitting up in her chair watching tv.  Her main complaint now is that it hurts when she gets up and down to go to the bathroom.  But any surgery is going to take time to heal and she needs to be patient.  I talked to my sister today and she is not doing so great today.  I think she thought after the surgery, she would be instantly better.  But any time you have surgery, you have got to expect pain for a while.  She just needs to be patient.

Marianne's son, Derek, graduated from UNC-C yesterday.   We didn't attend the graduation - he only got 6 tickets and they went to the grandparents.  But that was ok - sitting through graduations is not the most fun .... especially when your last name starts with "W"!!  But we went to the party afterwards.  Sonny and I went over early to set things up while they were attending graduation.  We had a great time.  It is hard for me to believe that Derek is 22 and a college graduate!  Where does the time go??

I received a beautiful Mothers Day card yesterday from Ashley.  I just might be CASE-ing this card!!

Here are the beautiful flowers Ashley sent to me on Thursday:

Now I'm crossing my fingers hoping for a call today from my son!

I'll be going over to visit Mom and take her her Mother's Day gift and card later today.  Unfortunately, she does not feel up to going out, but that's ok!  As long as she gets better, we will all be happy.

Happy Graduation!

My nephew is graduating as I type this post from University of North Carolina-Charlotte.  His degree is a Bachelor of Science in Software and Information Systems with a minor in Cognitive Science and an emphasis in Information Technology!  Whew - that's a mouthful! Let's just say he's good with computers!  I made a hybrid card for him - that is I did part of it with My Digital Studio, printed it out and embellished it with eyelets and mounted it on card  stock.  I did it this way because I don't own a graduation stamp and this way, I could have a digital stamp with several stamps for about $5!  Not bad, huh?  

This uses the MDS stamp brush set Go Graduate Plus.  These are all the images that come with the set:

This is printed on the inside.

Got to run.  I have a graduation party to attend!!

Stamp Club Cards plus Mother's Day flowers

My Thursday Stamp Club came today and made the cards and projects that I had prepared for them.  I love seeing the different little twists everyone does making their cards.  I can always count on one of them to go "out of the box" each time with her cards.  That is what I love - for someone to take my idea and improve upon it. 

All the cards use stamps or punches that are retiring.

This card had so many parts to it!  But I had already done all the hard work so all they really had to do was put it together.  But they told me I usually didn't have them do such a complicated card! 

• Card is Pool Party; Bottom strip is Pear Pizazz; Middle strip is Wisteria Wonder
• Pink Layer = 3 ¼” x 4” Regal Rose / White Layer = 3” x 3 ¾”
• Use Wheel and Pear Pizazz ink on Pear Pizazz cardstock strip.  (grass wheel image is retired)
• Punch So Saffron cardstock with Lace Ribbon Border Punch – layer Wisteria on top.
• Punch clouds with Cupcake Punch; sponge tops in Baja Blue.
• Leaves – stamp with Build A Blossom in Lucky Limeade & punch out with Blossom Builder Punch.
• Stems – punch out with Bird Punch.
• Flowers are punched out with Triple Layer Flower Punch (retiring).  Put DSP Brad through center of flowers and adhere to card.
• Attach Wisteria ribbon with glue dot or glue.

 

This uses my favorite technique - two step stamping.  I love this stamp set and will be sad to see it go - Garden Greetings - as well as the wide grosgrain ribbon.

• Card is Soft Suede
• Daffodil Delight layer – 4” x 5 ¼” embossed with Tulip Embossing Folder
• White layer – 3 ¼” x 4 ¼”
• Stamp flowers in Daffodil Delight
• Stamp 2-step layer with Peach Parfait - Stamp middle of flower with Soft Suede
• Stamp stems in Wild Wasabi
• Wrap Yellow Grosgrain ribbon around white layer & glue bow on top
• Stamp sentiment on white scrap & punch out with Oval Punch

 This is one of my first Stampin' Up sets.  I just love this little pick up truck and there is so much you can do with it.  It is so versatile and can be used for all occasions - just put a tree in the bed of the truck for Christmas; eggs for Easter; hearts for Valentines, etc.  I won't be getting rid of this retiring stamp.

• Mask off bottom of 4" x 5 1/4" white cardstock at a diagonal with sticky notes & sponge Bashful Blue for sky
• Mask off top of the white cardstock at a diagonal & sponge Lucky Limeade for grass
• Stamp the  truck (use stamp-a-ma-jig) on the incline area in black.
• Stamp truck onto Blushing Bride polka dot DSP; cut out and adhere on top of the stamped truck on the card.
• Color the dogs (or whatever you put in your truck) and the tire wheels with Blender Pen. 
• Stamp sentiment on white scrap & cut into flag shape; draw flag pole and adhere.
• Draw in butterfly & color.
Mount onto white card.

These are little bags we made using the Fancy Favor Die.  They are great to put a little gift in for Mother's Day.  Mine have a small Antibacterial Soap in them but they would also be good with a few chocolates in them too!

• Use Fancy Favor Die to die cut white cardstock
• Emboss if desired - I used Polka Dot embossing folder.
• It is easier to put decorations on bag before putting it together.
• DSP Squares are punched with 1 ¼” Square Punch; layered onto 1 3/8” card stock punched squares.
• After matting the squares, emboss using the Square Lattice folder & Big Shot. Adhere to scallop bag.
• Option: punch flower, butterfly, etc. for center or punch scallop square for center.
• Put box together with Red Line Tape.
• Make handle with either ribbon or cardstock (crimped), adhering it to bag with brads.

After everyone left and I was cleaning up, my doorbell rang.  To my surprise, I had a beautiful delivery of flowers from Ashley for Mother's Day!  She sent them a little early so I could enjoy them before leaving next Friday for our trip to Alaska!!!  I'll have to share the picture of them later - I can't get my camera to work!!!   She is so sweet!