Cruising

We made it home Tuesday afternoon and picked up Sammie from my mom's. Mom really liked having her visit and I don't think she wanted to see her go.  But I think she missed me a little bit!  While I was trying to type my blog posting, she jumped up in my lap and stretched out in my lap so I couldn't type anything on my laptop. 

Our cruise was awesome!  Alabama put on their first concert out on the pool deck as we were pulling out of the Miami port.  They may look pretty old but they can still belt out the songs.  We were all having a great time singing along with their familiar songs.

 

Alabama Concert .... day 1

 Day One was the first theme night - Rep Rally Night.  We showed our Steeler pride and got lots of attention!

Sonny & Ashley at Alabama concert - day one

When we woke up on Friday (day 2), we were in Nassau and docked next to us was the Disney Dream cruise boat.  I don't know if this is the same one Jeff and Darcie sailed on last month but if so, too bad we didn't plan our trips so we could have met up with them.

 

 

 

This was the view from our balcony of the Disney ship!



 

Day 2 - we woke up and saw this next to us!

Day 2 - Ashley and I showing off our tees

 Day 2 we disembarked in Nassau.  It was drizzling a little bit making it pretty hot and sticky.  But that didn't stop us. 

Day 2 MDS tees
 

 Ashley and I made tees using My Digital Studio.  On the front are flip flops and the caption "Alabama and Friends Festival at Sea" and on the back is the picture of my feet in the sand and the caption "Dance Barefoot"

Norwegian Pearl

I'm on my way back home.  We had a great trip / cruise!  Made lots of new memories.  We dropped Ashley off at the Ft Lauderdale airport about 11:00 this morning and made our way through Florida to a hotel in Brunswick, Georgia.  So, tomorrow's trip should not be too long.  I am going to try to share a couple of pictures but the internet in this hotel is pretty slow!

Our ship - we were on the 9th floor - one of those rooms up there with a small balcony.

Waiting to go through Customs - at Miami cruise terminal

The view from our Miami hotel - just beautiful!

Night View from our hotel window in Miami Wednesday night

We made friends with the Security Guard at the Miami Marriott and he gave us vouchers for drinks Thursday a.m.  He didn't realize we were checking out that morning for our cruise.  Ashley and I couldn't let them go to waste though!  So we headed over to the bar and had mimosas and bloody Mary's!!

The 3 of us as we pulled out of Miami on Thursday

Have a Holly Jolly!

I have been working on the cards for my Christmas Stamp a Stack which will be Saturday, Nov. 16.  This is one of the cards that did not make the cut.  I really like it though.

 

I used Real Red cardstock that is embossed with a Script embossing folder.  The tag is from the Chalk Talk dies and the "Holly Jolly" label is stamped from the Tags 4 You set and punched out.  I used a piece of Coredinations card stock in Early Espresso that I sanded to look distressed along with half of a doily that I sponged with a little Espresso ink so it would not be so stark white.  I love the Season of Style DSP made into a bow with the Biggz Die!!  Love that die!

 

 

 

Banner Kit

At Stamp Club last week we decorated the little canvas bags found in the holiday catalog.  I used Stampin' Up's new Banner Kit to sponge and to spritz the bags.  This kit makes it sooo easy!!

Here is the full kit.  You get a full set of alphabet stencils, some background stencils, jute twine, 18 canvas pennants and a spritzer.   Although the kit comes with a spritzer, you can also use a sponge or a dauber.   This kit is just $19.95!!  item # 133407.  you get 18 canvas pennants. 

This is the refill kit.  You get 18 canvas pennants and some jute twine (approx. 9 feet).  The refill is just $9.95 item #13699.




Here is the bag that one of the gals made stenciling her initial on it.

Pretty cool huh?

I'll be making a Christmas banner when I return from my cruise and will be sharing it.

Envelope Tag Bookletenvel

 This is the project that I taught the gals to make at the Quarterly meeting in Shallotte.  The tag book is made using the Envelope Punch Board!  The front and back covers are just cardboard (from packages of DSP) that I covered with Designer Series Paper (retired).  I used this retired DSP because I love it!  I think it is probably my favorite that Stampin' Up has ever had and I still have 2-3 unopened packages!!  When it was in Clearance, I really stocked up.  I'm not sure if it is still in the Clearance section or not.

Front Cover using Expressions Thinlits and the stamp set from Truly Thankful.

I used Shipping Tags that I bought at a local office supply store to fit in the envelopes.  I just measured the shipping tag and found an envelope that was closest to it in size on the board.

I printed out a bunch of quotes from My Digital Studio to decorate the pages of the book

Add caption

Each tag had an inspirational quote that I printed out from MDS
 

I also made a second tag booklet from my SU Convention trip.  I put pictures of Marianne and I at convention in each little pocket.  It really turned out cute.

Made it to Florida!!

I had a pretty uneventful 65th birthday yesterday.  I got a wake-up call from my mom at 8:30 am but she actually didn't realize it was my birthday.  She knew it was on Tuesday but didn't realize that it WAS Tuesday until later that night!!  She told me later that was what I got for waking her up 65 years ago wanting to make my appearance into this world!  Later in the morning, Ashley called to wish me a happy birthday and while talking to her, my girlfriend called from Texas.  To top it off, I got a phone call from my son, Jeff and his family Tuesday night just as we were checking into our hotel in St. Augustine, Florida.  That made my day!  It was so great to talk to all of them.  Monday was Darcie's birthday (my daughter in law) and we had texted back and forth Monday night when I couldn't reach her by phone.

Yes, we made it to St. Augustine  - leaving home around 11:30 and arriving here about 7:30.  A long day rainy in the car - especially for Sonny who did all the driving.  Today I am excited to be meeting up with Karen, my college roomie, after 40 years!!  I wonder if we will even recognize each other.  After our reunion, we will be driving to Ft Lauderdale to pick Ashley up at the airport and then heading on over to Miami to our hotel.  Thursday morning, we will find a place to put the car and head on over for our cruise.  Super excited! 

So you might not hear from me for a few days.  Internet is too costly on the ship so I will be waiting until Monday to do more posting .... except for the posts I have scheduled in advance.

Ta-Ta for now!!

Happy Birthday - Let the Party Begin!!

Happy Birthday to me!  Guess Stampin' Up planned this party in my honor!!  Since I am now officially on Medicare, I can use the savings!!  We are heading out today for Florida.  We will pick Ashley up at the airport in Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday and spend the night in Miami before boarding the Norwegian cruise ship and the Alabama Festival At Sea!!  Whoo Hoo!!

 

I always love when Stampin’ Up! rolls out a wonderful promotion.  We’ve been celebrating Stampin’ Up!’s 25th anniversary all year-long.  It all started with an amazing Sale-a-Bration with Silver Glimmer Paper as a bonus for certain hostess orders.  It continued with Best of 25, monthly limited-edition collections of stamps from the last 25 years.  Customers earn an additional $25 of hostess rewards on orders greater than $250 in October.  For the past two weeks, we offered you the opportunity to join Stampin’ Up! for just $25 (and we’ve added more time for you to join - more on that later).  Those are all great, but the promotion that launches today will surely send fireworks into the night sky. 

 

 

Starting today (October 22) and through Monday (October 28), Stampin’ Up! is offering a 25% discount on 25 pre-selected stamp sets.  Wowzers!  There are some amazing sets here – gorgeous holiday sets, great sentiments, single stamps and even an alphabet set.  I’ve already made my wish list – and I know some of these are on yours, too. 

 

Click on the flyer HERE and see all the great deals!! 

 

Go to my Online Store (link at top of blog) and order away!!  Please use the hostess code  KYR7ZKH9.

 

WEEKLY DEALS

We’re not done yet.  Today is Tuesday, which means we are starting a new week of Stampin’ Up!’s Weekly Deal, typically a selection of five products at discounted prices.  This week is no exception. 

 

And don't forget the new items added to the Clearance.

 

Too many great deals to pass up!!

The Present

Imagine there is a bank that credits your account each morning with $36,400.  It carries over no balance from day to day.  Every evening the bank deletes whatever part of the balance you failed to use during the day.  What would you do?  Draw out every cent, of course!

Each of us has such a bank.  It's name is TIME.  Every morning, it credits you with 86,400 seconds.  Every night, it writes off, as a loss, whatever of this you have failed to invest to good purpose.

It carries over no balance.  It allows no overdraft.  Each day it opens a new account for you.  Each night it burns the remains of the day.

If you fail to use the day's deposits, the loss is yours.  There is no going back.  There is no drawing against tomorrow.

You must live in the present on today's deposits.  Invest it so as to get from it the utmost in health, happiness and success.

The clock is running.  Make the most of today.

To realize the value of ONE YEAR, ask a student who failed a grade.

To realize the value of ONE MONTH, ask a mother who gave birth to a premature baby.

To realize the value of ONE HOUR, ask the lovers who are waiting to meet.

To realize the value of ONE MINUTE, ask a person who missed the train.

To realize the value of ONE SECOND, ask a person who just avoided an accident.

Treasure every moment that you have!!
Remember that time waits for no one.

Yesterday is history.
Tomorrow is a mystery.
Today is a gift.
That's why it's called The Present.

Everyday Occasions Cardmaking Kit - Awesome!

Stampin' Up! recently introduced this AMAZING Everyday Occasions Cardmaking Kit and although it's intended for true-blue beginners, I say it's for EVERYONE!  




It's great for those of us who occasionally forget someone's birthday (don't we all???) or when we don't necessarily have the perfect handmade card ready to give or put in the mail.  It comes with everything that you'll need to make 20 cards, PLUS an adorable stamp set that you can use FOREVER! 



Here's what's included:

• Cardstock and envelopes for 20 cards
• Twine, buttons and clips
• Full-color Tips & Tricks brochure
• A cool, storable, giftable box (put a bow on it and give it as a gift!)
• Die-cut paper embellishments
• Stampin' Spots (mini ink pads)
• 7-piece Occasions Stamp Set & clear stamp block

All you need aside from all of the contents in the Kit is a bone folderand some adhesive. Talk about EASY!

 I hope that I have inspired you to get your own Everyday Occasions Cardmaking Kit and get crafty with it, as well as buy one or some as a gifts for friends and family members who has been too afraid to play with paper.  

How Short Life Is

Wow!  It's already Friday??  Where does time go?! 

I have been trying to wrap my mind around a tragic event that happened this week.  One of my son's high school friends committed suicide.  He went to a park and put a gun to his head.  What led up to this young man's death?  What demons was he fighting?  Why did he not get help?   I heard from another friend of my son's last night who is struggling to understand this tragedy also.  He and James had parted ways several years ago over a disagreement and now, he is realizing how short life can be. He is now trying to reach out to other friends who have become estranged (one being my son).  So maybe some good can come out of this tragedy.  We are reminded how short life really is at times like this, and how we are just passing through. So, all the people you haven't told you love lately, tell them, and live your days like you mean it.

I want to share with you the muslin bag that Joy did at club this week.  She decided to make the bag her own and stenciled her initial onto the bag.  I think it turned out really cute.

 

Also - SAVE THE DATE!!  I will be sending out info soon about the Christmas Card Stamp A Stack.  I will be finishing up the cards for the event this weekend.  I have one date so far - November 16 (Saturday).  We will also be picking a weekday evening which has not been determined yet.  This is always such a fun event.  You don't want to miss it if you live in this area!!

Here is one of the cards I made this week.  Will it make the cut?  Not sure  - what do you think?