I have discovered something today. Three weeks sure can fly by!! I can't believe I have been here in San Antonio three weeks ... seems like just a couple of days ago that I was packing my suitcase (and hoping it didn't exceed 50 lbs!). Now I am packing my suitcase to return home. No worries over it being too heavy this time - I am not taking 2 cases of Cheerwine in my suitcase like I was coming here. I've got most of my clothes in and it's only at 30 pounds so I'm good to go. I wish I could stay just a few more days to make sure Ashley keeps getting stronger but I'm sure she will be ok. Yesterday we went to the movies and saw "42." She came back home and hit the couch until dinner time when we went to a Mexican restaurant that is close to her for my final Mexican "fix." Just those little trips wears her out, Luckily she has 3 weeks off of work so she will have plenty of time to rest and get stronger. She tapered herself off the Percodan today but she still has it if she needs it. It just makes her sleep all the time which is not a bad thing. We've enjoyed making a couple of meals that Sonny would not even touch. Tonight we had Quinoa which I had never had before. I had clipped out a recipe from the Charlotte Observer for stuffed peppers with the quinoa, dried apricots and cherries, pistachio nuts, celery, cilantro, cinnamon, and ginger. A very different combination of items but it was really good (and good for you!) Last week we made a Greek Tabouli Salad that I had tasted a few months ago. The recipe is on the box of tabouli. It was yummy and I actually ate it for a couple of meals. Again, nothing I will make at home since only one of us would eat it!
I made a card tonight using MDS for the Late Night Stamper's color challenge to use Old Olive, Summer Starfruit and Raspberry Ripple. What do you think?
This would be very easy to reproduce using real paper and stamps.
Here are the elements I used with MDS:
Background - Old Olive Embellishments Satin Ribbon\Satin Ribbon - Old Olive Satin Ribbon\Satin Ribbon - Old Olive bow
Stamps Berry Christmas\Christmas Jingle - stamps\All Scallops\All Scallops - scallop 4, Color = VERY VANILLA
_Designer Kits\Topsy Turvy Celebration - candle, Color = RASPBERRY RIPPLE
_Designer Kits\Topsy Turvy Celebration - candle, Color = RASPBERRY RIPPLE
_Designer Kits\Topsy Turvy Celebration - candle, Color = SUMMER STARFRUIT
Perfectly Penned - happy birthday, Color = OLD OLIVE Punches Basics\1.25 Square Punch, Fill Color = VERY VANILLA
Basics\1.25 Circle Punch, Fill Color = SUMMER STARFRUIT
Basics\1.25 Circle Punch, Fill Color = RASPBERRY RIPPLE
Basics\1.25 Square Punch, Fill Color = OLD OLIVE
Basics\1.25 Square Punch, Fill Color = VERY VANILLA
Today is a two-post day. I can't help myself - when I stumble across exciting news, I can't always wait to share. I just saw this video on Stampin' Up!'s Youtube channel and had to share it with you. It's a sneak peek at the new packaging for wood mount sets - starting May 31!! I love to organize so I am beside myself with excitement over this storage solution. It is perfect, and I can’t wait to get my hands on these cases!
While I still collect many wood mount sets, I’ve started buying a lot of clear mounts because they are easier to store and take up less space. This new packaging will definitely make my clear mount / wood mount decision much more difficult when I am selecting sets.
Stampin' Up is excited to announce that the second photopolymer stamp set is now available. Bombs Away Birthday (item 133411) is a fun, unique set that will certainly bring a smile to anyone. Try it out today! To learn more about photopolymer stamps, check out the flyer for the Bombs Away Birthday Stamp Set HERE
I had a really long day today. Waiting is the hardest thing, don't you think? But Ashley came through her surgery with flying colors and is now recooperating at home. Talk about hurry up and wait .... We had to be at the hospital at 8:00 a.m. but we sat in the waiting room until 12:30 when they finally took her back to prep her. The doctor came out and talked to me at 5:30 and we left the hospital about 8:00 pm. Wow! 12 hours! She slept when she got home and just got up (10:45 pm) and wanted something to eat. Hopefully, she won't have much pain and will sleep well tonight.
Sonny and Jack made it back home late / early Tuesday a.m. around 1 or 2 AM. God was looking after them for sure. They were just a few cars behind a really bad accident. A 16-wheeler truck turned over on the median spilling it's load of steel pipes into the other lane. Sonny said he felt sure there were probably some deaths involved because several ambulances left without their sirens on. They were delayed by the wreck around 3 hours. Guess there was an angel sitting on their shoulder or in the bed of their pick-up.
I am so in love with the This and That digital kit! But ... if you don't want to go digital, you can get the This and That bundle that includes Designer Series Paper, stamps, journal, washi tape, and stickers that all coordinate. I have ordered the bundle and it is waiting for me at home. I'll be sharing it when I go home.
Today is the Paper Pals Challenge #37. I used the This and That kit to make my card.
I made this in honor of our 40th anniversary
I liked the card so much, I made another one to send to Ashley. She found out today that she got the job she had applied for as Program Director for Transitional Medicine. I am so happy for her! She works hard and deserves it.
This will stay at the top of my blog until Monday.
FREE SHIPPING ON EVERYTHING!!
April 6-8 (excluding expedited orders)! That's right. There are no minimums or limits and all order types qualify (customer, demonstrator, workshop, online).
Free shipping starts:
o Saturday, April 6, 2013; 2:00 AM (EST)
Submit orders by:
o Phone: Monday, April 8, 2013; 8:50 PM (EST)
o OEX or online: Tuesday, April 9, 2013; 1:50 AM (EST)
Sorry I haven't been posting much ... just enjoying my time with Ashley. We haven't done a whole lot this week, just visiting and getting caught up with each other. While she was at work, I've just chilled here at her house. She took off work on Friday and we ran errands all day. Yesterday we worked in the yard for a few hours; then met her girlfriend, Courtney, at Typhoon Flats for a pitcher of margaritas and some lunch. We had a real wholesome lunch - fried pickles, chips and queso and a hot dog!! But it sure was good. Courtney and her mom are going with us to New Zealand so we looked through our guidebooks and they got their laptops out to do a little research on our trip. Today Ashley and I went to church, had a massage and we invited Courtney over for dinner and to watch the Academy of Country Music awards show on tv. Courtney brought me a beautiful vase of flowers for my anniversary.
Today was our 40th anniversary!! How fast those 40 years have flown by - it's hard to believe. I think this is the first anniversary we've spent apart. I was so proud of him - I actually got my anniversary card in the mail on Thursday! Ashley surprised me with a great gift! She is sending us on a cruise - and she is going with us - in October. The cruise is by the same company that she takes her Rock Boat cruise with every year. This one is Alabama and Friends celebrating Alabama's 40th year (in honor of our 40 years of marriage!) I'm so excited. I knew she and Sonny had been up to something in the past month or so but I never guessed it was this. My daughter is such a blessing in my life.
Here is the card I made for Sonny. I should have left it home for him to get when he returns but since I didn't have time to make it before I left, I'm putting it in the mail tomorrow!
I used Ashley's "Cheers to you" stamp set.
Ashley and I made a wreath today to put on her front door for Fiesta. Fiesta is a big deal in San Antonio. It began as a way to honor the heroes of the Alamo and the Battle of San Jacinto. Now it has grown into a huge festival to honor the diverse cultures in San Antonio. It lasts a couple of weeks with parades and events held all over town. I have actually never been here during Fiesta but I think it would be fun to see some of the parades - especially the one down the Riverwalk.
I did a MDS challenge for Heather and Kim's Simply My Digital Challenge on Facebook. Each week they post a new challenge. This is my first time to participate. The challenge was to use a pie graph in our layout and to follow this sketch:
I had fun creating the pie graph with MDS. First I used a Circle Punch and enlarged it. Next I used a Square Punch and just stretched it down to make a long line. I dissected the circle with the "line." Then I took a Triangle Punch and stretched it so it fit in each slice of pie. I filled the punch with my photos. When I finished filling all the triangles, I deleted the original circle and lines.
I used pictures that I took last week of Ashley, Mom, Angela, Marianne and I having fun in San Antonio. Note the title - Girls Gone Wild!! Hope you like it!
Get your cup of tea - or coffee - this is a long one!!
TWO HUGE ANNOUNCEMENTS TODAY FROM STAMPIN' UP
First some 'refreshing news'! Today Stampin' Up! has announced that they will be refreshing the four color families. Don't freak out like I did! Some of them I am really sad to see go - like Regal Rose and Baja Breeze (my favorites!) and Certainly Celery and Pretty In Pink .... but I'm happy to see some others like Pear Pizazz and Calypso Coral staying around. (I'm still looking for my favorite green - Kiwi Kiss but no such luck.)
Beginning TODAY (4/4), all retiring/discontinued color products (i.e. ink, paper, ribbon, accessories, etc.) will be available ONLY while supplies last. This means that some products will not be available through the retired list period (WHICH BEGINS APRIL 24 AND RUNS THROUGH JUNE 3, 2013). Stock up on your favorites this weekend while shipping is FREE (April 6 - 8--SEE OFFER BELOW).
FREE SHIPPING THIS WEEKEND!
Stampin' Up! is offering FREE shipping on EVERYTHING April 6-8 (excluding expedited orders)! That's right. There is NO $6.95 shipping minimum or limit on how large or small your order must be.
Free shipping starts: Saturday, April 6, 2013; 2:00 AM (EST). Online orders must be completed no later than Tuesday, April 9, 2013 by 1:50 AM (EST)
Need help building your list? Here's a list of some of my favorite promotions going on now:
Stampin' Up! Photopolymer Clear Stamps. Perfect placement and great cling. #132956
Sign up now for Stampin' Up's Paper Pumpkin Kits. Quick, simple and fun paper crafting projects delivered to your door each month. Info HERE.
OnLine Classes #133385 - $14.95 - Tip, techniques and videos to create 30+ projects. Wonderful for seasoned as well as new stampers. I just watched a video that's part of the class on the Stamp-a-ma-jig and learned how to easily line up stamped letters once and for all. To order - click HERE
New Product - Talking Tags - Buy 'em by the sheet. With Talking Tag, you can record your own personal message that recipients can access by scanning the Talking Tag. Attach them to cards, invitations, gift tags, business cards, catalogs, scrapbook pages, wine bottles . . . well, anything! Info HERE.
You never know what is waiting for you in the Clearance Rack!! Check it out here -
Best of 25 Years Stampin' Up stamp sets - April's set is butterflies! Don't miss these monthly collections of Stampin' Up! oldies but goodies (plus a brand new stamp in each set)! To order and see all the previous month's stamps, click HERE
And a bit of sad news - Watercolor Wonder Crayons and Pencils are being discontinued - the Brights crayons and the pencils are done - the remaining Neutrals, Regals and Subtle Crayons - are available while supplies last and will not be on re-order - so if you want to finish your collection - get them now.
#119802 - Subtles Collection $16.95
#119803 - Regals Collection $16.95
#119805 - Neutrals Collection $16.95
■Place an order with me between April 6 and April 8 to take advantage of TOTALLY FREE SHIPPING. Order as little or as much as you want. This is one exciting promotion! Place your order with free shipping between April 6 and April 8.
■Review the color refresh charts
■Stock up on the retiring colors you love – once the papers and inks are sold out, they are sold out. Get them while you can.
■Go ahead and replenish your stash of the colors that are sticking around for at least another year. These are not retiring. Woo hoo!
Well, are you still with me? A lot of stuff, huh? Check it all out and if you decide to place an on-line order (see the ORDER ONLINE button at the top of my blog), if you use the Code EBB22MUZ - you can have everything shipped directly to your home. If you cannot order on-line, contact me and I will work something out for you.
It's time for Wednesday's sketch challenge from the Paper Craft Crew. It's pouring down rain here now plus thunder and lightening so hopefully I won't lose power before posting this!!
This was such an easy card to make using My Digital Studio. Everything on the card came from the digital kit, Simple Snapshots. By using a designer kit for everything, I don't have to worry about things matching. The only thing not part of the kit is the button and bakers twine I used on the flower.
My family headed back to NC today. Ashley was a great sport and took them to the airport at 6:15 AM while I slept!! I did get up to tell them good bye. They looked like traveling gypsies! We were all starting to panic last night when we could not get everything in the suitcase without going over 50 lbs. At one point, Marianne had her carry on bag so stuffed, it was weighing in at about 40+ lbs. There was no way she was going to be able to carry it! But we got everything in finally. Ashley hung around the airport after letting them off in case she had to come back and get something that wouldn't fit (in case their bags were over 50 lbs.) As it turned out, everything went through and when they got to the gate, they were able to check two of their carry on bags. That just left each of them with one additional carry on, mom's wheelchair and Marianne and Angela each had a sea-pack breathing machine!! Hopefully, when I return home, I will not have any problems with my luggage being too heavy.
We found a new Mexican restaurant yesterday for lunch over near the mission we toured. It was really good!
Yum .... sopapillas!
Mom couldn't look at the camera - too busy sipping her Margarita Swirls!
And a bit of sad news - Watercolor Wonder Crayons and Pencils are being discontinued - the Brights crayons and the pencils are done - the remaining Neutrals, Regals and Subtle Crayons - are available while supplies last and will not be on re-order - so if you want to finish your collection - get them now.
