Friends in Low Places

We've had a nice visit with our good friends (in low places) Sharon and Don.  They flew to Atlanta from Dallas to spend time with a sick friend and we met then in Greenville, SC.  It's great to spend quality time with friends and reminiscence about the good old days! 

Greenville is a really cool city - very pedestrian friendly and walkable with shops, bars and restaurants over a 5-6 block area of downtown.  We saw lots of families with small children and a bunch of people walking their dogs through town.  Scattered throughout are receptacles with pet bags in them to clean up after your pet.  It is a very clean city.  Sonny and I lived in Greenville 40 years ago and I worked downtown.  But it was not the downtown that I saw on this trip - far from it!!  I am not sure when the revitalization began but they really did a great job of planning out this area.  There is an area right outside our hotel called Falls Park on the Reedy River that is just gorgeous!  It is an oasis within the city with waterfalls, benches, places for children to play and splash in the water as well as art studios, a few restaurants, statues and the Reedy River running through.

Miss U

We had a great visit with Ashley last week but it went way too fast!   Here is the card I snuck (is that a word???) in her bag yesterday before we took her to the airport.




I used the Label Thinlits for almost everything on the card - to cut the card itself and the white label, arrow and heart also come in the thinlit packet. 

Took this one day on the boat - not so great picture of me (too many chins!!)

I took this picture Saturday night while we were watching tv (well, some of us were watching!)  Ashley watched through closed eyelids!

Bowz

Shelli Gardner, the owner of Stampin' Up had an accident this week. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.  Here is what her daughter wrote on her blog:

Hi, everyone, this is Sara, taking liberty with my mom's blog.

I just wanted you to know that yesterday my mom was involved in a riding accident in southern Utah; the horse she was riding stumbled. She was taken to the Kanab hospital where X-rays were taken, and she was diagnosed with a fractured wrist, pelvis, and collarbone. She flew by plane to Intermountain Medical Center in Salt Lake City, where she will likely be for a few days.

Obviously, she is in a great deal of pain but wants you all to know she is fine and is grateful it wasn't worse. Thank you for your concern, well wishes, and prayers! I suspect she'll blog herself as soon a she feels up to it. . . .

 Ashley is leaving later today.  This week has just flown by!  I sure will miss her.  Saturday was a low key day.  We played with MDS working on designing our tee shirts for one of the theme nights on our cruise.  Later in the day, we went to the movies and saw The Millers.  It was really funny.  Ashley and I made Hatch Pepper Quesadillas for dinner - yum!  Sonny and I are heading to Greenville, SC after dropping Ashley off at the airport.  Some good friends of ours from Dallas are flying to Atlanta Sunday to see a sick friend.  They are going to drive up to Greenville, SC and we are going to meet them for a visit for a couple of days.

I've just ordered the Bowz Die from the Holiday Mini catalog.  It arrived on Thursday and I've been so busy I haven't been able to share my bows with you.  Maybe next week!!  I made a cute gift this weekend for one of my granddaughter's birthday and topped it with one of the bows.  It was so easy!!  Instead, I'm sharing a couple of bow ideas from convention.





 

Butterfly Bundle

 We have been seeing a lot of butterflies around our yard this summer.  Guess Stampin' Up has too - now you can as well!!  Stampin’ Up! announced a new bundle - it’s available starting NOW and through September.  While they were at it, the little elves over at Stampin’ Up! also released their September Best of…set a little early.

Click HERE to see the details on the flier.
 

While you are snatching up this bundle offer, you can pick up September’s Best of stamp set … Best of Autumn.  It's a really good one this month.  For just $14.95, you don’t want to miss this deal.  Click HERE to see the images of this month’s set:

PAPER PUMPKIN $10 DEAL ENDS SATURDAY!

There's still time to sign up for Paper Pumpkin for just $10 a month!  You just have until Saturday to get this deal.

What a deal!!  It's a surprise each month—anticipation for the surprise is seriously half the fun! No worries, though, you'll have everything you need to complete the project: paper, stamps, ink, accessories, and more! (You will need adhesive.) 

You can cancel it any time - no questions asked.  So give it a try - the first two months will only cost you $10 so it's a "win-win"!!  After 2 months the price will return to $19.95 a month (with the option to cancel your subscription). 

To start your Paper Pumpkin subscription, click on PAPER PUMPKINS SUBSCRIPTION at the top of this blog post.  Go to the bottom of that page and click on Join Here.  

BE SURE TO USE THE PROMO CODE PUMPKINDEAL in order to get the $10 deal.
 

I'm Paper Pumpkin . . . a Stampin' Up! Monthly Kit Program

I come to your door each month (a fully decked-out creativity carriage). I'll help you to escape your life with some paper fun, perfect for a beginner or those short on time!

I come in a sweet box, but you'll really love what you find on the inside:

All the stamps, ink, paper, and accessories to create pinable projects. Create stuff like cards, journals, décor, and more!

What are you waiting on?  Quite blog surfing and join up!!

Topsy Turvy Paper Players Sketch Challenge

It's time for the Paper Players Sketch challenge this week.  I made a digital birthday card this week.  It's fun and colorful!!

     Background
     Color = White
Embellishments
    Grosgrain Ribbon\Marina Mist Grosgrain Ribbon (re-colored)
    Grosgrain Ribbon - bow\Marina Mist Grosgrain Ribbon - bow (re-colored)
    _Designer Kits\Topsy Turvy Celebration - embellishments\Topsy Turvy Celebration - cake

Stamps
    Under the Big Top\Under the Big Top - happy birthday
    Under the Big Top\Under the Big Top - happy birthday
Punches
    Basics\1.25 Square Punch,  Filled with: Designer Series Paper\_Designer Kits\Big Top Birthday - designer series paper\Big Top Birthday - 8
    Basics\1.25 Square Punch,  Filled with: Designer Series Paper\_Designer Kits\Big Top Birthday - designer series paper\Big Top Birthday - 6
    Extras\Flag Punch, 
    Basics\Medium Oval Punch, Fill Color = 230,WATERMARK 
    Basics\1.25 Circle Punch, Fill Color = 230,WATERMARK 


Check out what the other players have done with the sketch this week HERE.

Butterflies

I think this week is going to go too fast for me!  Ashley arrived Thursday night and we have been on the go ever since!  Friday she and I went with the Newcomers group and toured the Charlotte Motor Speedway.  We even got to go around the speedway (80 mph) in a van.  It was really cool!  I'm not into racing these days but I grew up going to races, camping in the infield and knowing a little bit about racing.  My dad and uncle used to drag races and I can remember going to those dirt tracks on Friday nights to watch them.  We had lunch at the Speedway Club which was really nice.  What a great view of the track while we were eating!!

View from window next to our table while eating lunch.

Stands  - doesn't it look like there are people in the stands?  That's the way they planned it.

Ashley in the Winners Circle!

Ashley and I

Later on Friday, Marianne came over after she got off work and spent the night.  Sonny and I took our guests to the best places in Sherrills Ford!  First we went to Drum's for dinner .... catfish and shrimp!!  And after dinner, we had a few beers at Horsefeathers before returning home. 

Saturday we picked up Mom (who was excited to see her granddaughter!).  Ashley, Mom and I had our pictures made and then came home and changed into our swim suits.  Sonny had the boat ready and we went out for a ride.  The rest of the family joined us later - Marianne's husband and boys and Angela.  We came back to the house and Sonny grilled chicken and veggies for us.  It was a great family time.  Just always wishing ALL our family could be here - my brother and his family and my son and his family!  I miss them so much!

On Sunday, our plans got changed a little bit!   We had planned on taking the boat over to the Rusty Rudder in the afternoon.  There was a couple of guys playing from 4-8 that will be on our Alabama cruise and who have also been on Ashley's Rock Boat cruises in the past.  BUT, Sonny got a call from a friend of his who lives in our neighborhood who was on the lake and needing a tow back home.  His prop had hit something and broke.  It turned out that he was way on the other side of the lake from our house.  We left our dock at 1:00 pm and it was about 2:30 when we finally found them.  By the time we hooked up the two boats and towed him back, it was 6:30 pm!!  Luckily, Ashley and I decided to ride along with Sonny on the rescue mission so we enjoyed the sunshine and were able to visit with each other.  We decided to hurry up and try to make it to Cornelius to hear the band.  Well, wouldn't you know it .... we were 1/2 mile from our exit when we got stopped by a terrible accident on I-77.  A Ford Explorer flipped several times on the highway with a woman and 5 children having to be air lifted to the hospital.  By the time we got to the restaurant, Scott (Mumms) was just tearing down his set!  Oh well, Ashley visited with him a few minutes and we headed to another restaurant for dinner.

Monday we all went to the "Y" for a workout.  Ashley ran the track, Sonny walked the track and used the equipment and I took a swim exercise class.  Afterwards, Ashley and I had appointments for a massage.  We both got 90 minute massages and didn't want it to end!!  Then we met Marianne and went to a local "paint your own pottery" shop and visited while each painting our masterpieces!!  A stop at the Blue Star Café for dinner and we headed home.

Tuesday we plan on heading over to Ikea while Sonny is out at the shooting range.

I have had a little bit of time to be crafty (but not much!)  Last Thursday, I made a Butterfly picture that I have been wanting to do ever since I saw it in a friend's home.  It was soooo easy - didn't take me much more than an hour to do it.  I hung it in my guest bathroom.  I used the Sizzlit butterfly die as well as two Butterfly punches and embossing folders to cut all the different sized butterflies.

Coppell and Gig Harbor

I have been fortunate to live in some great places in my life - North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Washington and Texas.  Most of our married life was spent in the Dallas/Ft Worth area of Texas in Coppell.  That is where my children grew up and where they called home.  I recently came across a very uplifting article about Coppell High School.  Not only did my children graduate from CHS but I worked there for 10 years.  This article is about a recent happening in Coppell but it shows the sense of community Coppell was when we were there and still is today.  It was a great place to raise a family and I still miss that town!

Read the article HERE.


Another place we lived was Gig Harbor, Washington where we saw spectacular views of Mount Rainier and the Puget Sound every day.  I miss these views!

Happy Things Pocket Card Sketch Challenge

My digital card for the Paper Players Sketch this week is a pretty simple card.  I used elements from a Pocket Card download and it came together pretty quickly.  You don't have to make a pocket card - just use bits and pieces to make your own creation.

Background
     Color = SOFT SKY 
Embellishments
    Baker's Twine\Baker's Twine - White
    Baker's Twine\Baker's Twine - White
    Baker's Twine\Baker's Twine - White
    Baker's Twine\Baker's Twine - White knot
    Antique Brads\Antique Brads - brad 4
    Antique Brads\Antique Brads - brad 4
    Antique Brads\Antique Brads - brad 4

Stamps
    OVERLAYS\Hip and Handsome Overlays\Hip and Handsome Overlays   Color = PISTACHIO PUDDING 
    OVERLAYS\Hip and Handsome Overlays\Hip and Handsome Overlays -
    Designer Kits\Happy Things Pocket Cards\Happy Things Pocket Cards - whatever you are be a good one
   Designer Kits\Happy Things Pocket Cards\Happy Things Pocket Cards - airplane

Punches
    Basics\1.25 Square Punch, Fill Color = BASIC BLACK
    Basics\1.25 Square Punch, Fill Color = 230,WATERMARK
    Basics\1.25 Square Punch, Fill Color = SOFT SKY
    Basics\Small Photo Corner Punch, Fill Color = PISTACHIO PUDDING

We are leaving in a few minutes to pick Ashley up at the airport.  I am so excited to see her again!!  We have lots planned for the next week.

Flip It

I am loving the new Flip Card Thinlits!  Paired it with the Magnetic Platform and you have a home run!  I know .... some of you are still waiting for that platform but it should be coming to you soon from what I heard at CKC this weekend!  I just got the Circle Flip It Card Die this weekend and made 3 cards with it in about an hour!  I'm telling you, they are so easy to use.  It cuts your card and scores it for you. I find myself searching my stamps (and the catalog) to see what stamps will work for this flip method!  It's addicting. 

Plus you get a lot of other dies in the packet.  Here is my Circle Die.  You get different dies in the Label Die packet.

HERE is the flier with info about the die.


Here are my cards:

Front of card using Tasteful Trim for the "rick rack" on side and Polka Dot Parade DSP.  The scallop circle is included in the Thinlit Die pack



Card Open



Pool Party and DSP from Winter Frost Stack (pg 29 in holiday mini)  The stamp set is a "carry-over" item from last year's catalog - Ornament Keepsakes and has matching framelits.

 To see the other "Carry Over" stamp sets and accessories, click HERE

This card did not photograph well.  I used Wisteria Wonder and Blushing Bride DSP (retired stack)  The scallop is pink - not orange!!  The stamp set is Field Flowers. 

On this card, I added an additional flap making it a tri-fold card. 

When I was at convention, this die was demo-ed and they even made a little mini scrapbook using the die.

 And here is a card using the Label Card Die (I don't have this one .... YET!!