Club Cards #1

This week is Stamp Club. You can tell from looking at the cards I designed that I am ready for SPRING!! This has been the winter that will never end all over the country.  Monday and Tuesday was bitter cold here - never got out of the 30s either day.  Today wasn't so bad - It did get up into the mid 50s and I only had to wear a sweater when I went outside.  But tomorrow - the first day of spring - the predicted high is supposed to be 66 and Friday in the 70's!!  I'm more than ready.

My club cards are not only spring based but also use a lot of Sale-a-bration items.  This is the final month that you can get these items FREE - or for that matter, get the items at all.  After March 31, they will be gone (except for the Banner Punch.)

This card is one I CASE'd from Monica Gale, a UK demo.  I used the Deco Labels framelit for the opening. The banners are from the Sale-a-bration set, Banner Blast (love it!!) and punched out with the coordinating punch which will be in the 2014-15 SU catalog,   I used a couple of other Sale-a-bration items too - the Decorative Dots embossing folder and the Summer Starfruit twine which I love.  The sentiment is from the Happy Watercolor stamp set.

This is a fun card (above) similar to the one we made last week at Allison's.  I used Soft Suede cardstock cut at 8 1/2" x 5 1/2.  Fold it over without creasing and slide it into the Scalloped Tag Topper Punch, center and punch.  Next score at 4 1/4" from one side.  Cut away the pieces on either side of the scallops and crease one of the scallops - on the larger side.  Decorate as desired.  One interesting thing I did on this card is to stamp on the ribbon.  I used the Petite Petals stamp and Word Bubbles Bundle on the card.

Tomorrow is my eye doctor appointment.  I'm anxious to see what my vision is.  I'm starting to think I miss my old bifocals!  I've been wearing readers that I bought at Michaels for close up.  But taking them on and off constantly is a pain!!  Guess I'll get it figured out soon enough.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I don't get whatever crud my husband has.  We think it is the flu even though he had his flu shot.  He said he can't remember ever feeling this bad before.  I better not get it!!!!

Daily Deals

It was bitter cold today and rainy.  Uggg - I've had enough!!

And here are this week's deals:

Crisp Cantaloupe 3/8" Ruffle Stretch Trim Price: $8.95 $6.71 Grad Party Ensemble - Digital Download Price: $9.95 $5.97 In Color Boutique Details Price: $8.95 $6.71 Pewter Stampin' Emboss Powder Price: $4.75 $3.56 Scallop Trim Border Punch Price: $15.95 $11.96 Silver Glass Glitter Price: $3.95 $2.96 Tempting Turquoise Stampin' Emboss Powder Price: $4.75 $3.56 Vintage Trinkets Accents & Elements Price: $5.95 $4.46

Wild Rose

HAPPY ST PADDY'S DAY!

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Did you do something fun for St Patrick's Day this year?  Mine was pretty quiet.  I played bridge and that was pretty much it.  I did put a corned beef brisket in the crockpot before I left this morning.  I bought some cabbage this afternoon and put some in with the beef.  I know that doesn't sound like a big deal but I don't eat cabbage!  Sonny only likes it raw - which sounds awful to me.  Many years ago, my friend, Margaret, made some cabbage for me and I actually liked hers.  I haven't had any since but I ate the cabbage I made tonight (with added butter, salt & pepper) and liked it.  Sonny wouldn't eat it - of course - but he is picky about everything!!  He ate his cabbage raw with Italian dressing on it.

 I got a call back today from my doctor's office about my lab results and I have an infection - a UTI.  It is so weird because I have not had any of the usual symptoms that I have had before.  Oh well, at least it is nothing serious and with the antibiotic, I am on the road to recovery.

Sonny and I went to the movies yesterday.  It was cold and rainy and the theater was packed.  Guess a lot of people had the same idea of what to do on a cold rainy day.  We saw Non Stop.  It was really good.  We didn't find out who the bad guys were until pretty much the end of the movie and they weren't who we thought!  Very entertaining show.

I made this card a couple of weeks ago using a favorite retired stamp, Wild Rose.  Such a pretty two step stamp!

I used two of the In Colors - Gumball Green and Strawberry Slush and the Banner Framelit.

Do you ever lose things in your own home?  I have gotten so bad.  I was getting things together for Stamp Club this week and couldn't find one of the stamps that I needed.  I knew it had to be somewhere in my room since I had just used it Wednesday or Thursday to make the card sample.  I looked everywhere for about an hour - got down on my hands and knees looking under things; went through my stamps about 4 times; cleaned off both desks (which were a mess) and still no stamp.  I was starting to worry that it had fallen in the trash and we emptied the trash on Thursday.  So I decided to take a break and eat dinner and hopefully get a fresh view later that night.  When I went back upstairs, I started the search again with no luck.  I had to take some things into the attic which is accessible through the closet in my craft room and where I keep a lot of craft items that I don't use often.  Would you believe my stamp set was in there????!!  I guess I had it in my hand when I went in there to get something and laid it down.  That would have been the last place I would have looked!!  It's like having keys in your hand and going to the fridge to get the milk and putting your keys in the fridge!!  Oh well at least my desks got cleaned off!!

Swap Cards

I have a few more swap cards that I got at Allison's Monday night.

Nancy's Card

 This card uses the Banners Framelits and the Word Bubble bundle - framelit and stamp.  I love the Word Bubbles!!  I love the colors Nancy used for this card - so bright and cheery.

Allison's Card

Allison used a technique that I haven't tried yet.  The lattice on the side of the card is used with the Chevron Border Punch.  I have seen some videos with this technique but just haven't gotten around to doing it yet.  You punch 2 strips with the Chevron Punch and then weave them together.  I'll do it soon and take pictures - I promise!

Kathryn's Card

I am also in love with the Happy Watercolor stamp and DSP!!  There's so much you can do.  This card uses that great "blob" from the watercolor stamp set.  The flowers are punched with the Petite Petals Punch.  There are a few sequins (from Occasions catalog) and the Watercolor washi tape!  Love it!

So most of the cards are spring like.  Are you ready for spring?  I know I am!  We had another cold front move in yesterday and the high today was about 45.  It was almost 80 degrees on Tuesday!!!

My eye has been doing good the past two days.  I need my readers (from Michaels for $3!) to see close up.  But now I have another problem.  I discovered blood in my urine Wednesday night.  So I went to my doctor today and gave a speciman.  They went ahead and put me on an antibiotic until they can get the results back from the lab which probably won't be until Monday.  Grrr!!  I don't feel bad which is a good thing.  Thing good thoughts for me.

Weekly Deals and Surgery

I had cataract surgery yesterday on my right eye.  Guess I was spoiled by the cataract surgery I had done on my left eye a couple of weeks ago.  The surgery went fine and I was feeling fine until about lunch time.  I think I was trying to use my eye too much too early although they tell you it is ok to read, watch tv, be on the computer, etc.  My eye hurt most of the day - just scratchy and watering a lot - so I spent most of the day laying on the couch.  I also had another funny reaction.  When I got home from the hospital and doctor's office (had to go there right after surgery for them to check it with their equipment), I poured a glass of the flavored water that I drink.  I noticed it tasted odd - kind of flat - but didn't think much about it.  Later I fixed a glass of Diet Coke. UGG!  It tasted awful so I poured it out.  It was from a new case that I had just opened up and we had bought on sale a few months ago so I just thought it had gone bad.  So, I tried a second can - same thing - down the drain it went.  Then I decided to try a Cherry Coke that I had in the fridge (not from that other case)  and it was awful too.  That's when I decided to give Ashley a call and see if she had any insight into the matter.  She told me that sometimes anesthesia has that effect on people - giving things a metallic taste.  At dinner time, I tried the coke again.  It wasn't as bad but I could really taste the metallic flavor that time.  A nurse from the hospital called this morning to check on me and when I told her, I got the feeling she had never heard that.  So far this morning, I am ok.  I've had two cups of Spiced Tea that my good friend made for me and it has been good.  My eye is a little scratchy but nothing like yesterday.  Hopefully, I am on the road to recovery now.  I have things to do and no time to lay around on the couch all day!!

Here are this week's Weekly Deals.  Some good items for your Big Shot!

3 Inch Circle Originals Die Price: $17.95 $13.46	Ahoy, Matey Ensemble - Digital Download Price: $14.95 $8.97	Argyle Textured Impressions Embossing Folder Price: $7.95 $5.96	Chevron Textured Impressions Embossing Folder Price: $7.95 $5.96
Circles #2 Originals Die Price: $15.95 $11.96	Dress Form Pop' N Cuts Price: $21.95 $16.46	Peekaboo Frames Bigz L Die Price: $32.95 $24.71	Set Designer Frames Textured Impressions Embossing Folder Die Price: $8.95 $6.71

If you do My Digital Studio, here are the specials on sale this week:

Baby We've Grown Stamp Brush Set - Digital Download Price: $4.95	Gold Silver Baker's Twine - Digital Download Price: $4.95	Hello Sailor Stamp Brush Set - Digital Download Price: $4.95	High Tide Designer Series Paper - Digital Download Price: $4.95
Striped Grosgrain Ribbon - Digital Download Price: $4.95	The Grad Life Ensemble - Digital Download Price: $10.95

Swap Cards

Marianne and I have been busy making plans for the NC Quarterly.  It's going to be a good one!  If you live in NC, you might want to join us - just saying!  It's April 4 & 5 and only $20.  So if you are interested, let me know.

Monday I went to Allison's demo meeting.  Allison had some really cute projects for us to do and surprised us all with a really cute frame that she had made for us using her Silhouette Cameo.  I'll share pictures later this week.  We did a small card swap.

This is the card I made:

I used a lot of the products from the Occasions catalog - On Film Framelits, Fancy Foil Designer Vellum (with hearts), Foil Sheets, and Word Bubblets Bundle.  The vellum is on top of a piece of Afternoon Picnic DSP (purple checks).  I added a few red glimmer hearts punched with the Owl Builder Punch.

Here is the card Marianne made:

Isn't it pretty?   I can't help but laught when I think of when I moved here and Marianne told me she was a quilter.  She wasn't going to get involved with my stamping hobby - had no interest!  And here we are several years later and she is a demonstrator!!!

I have to be an the hospital in the morning at 7:45 a.m. for the cataract surgery on my right eye.  Soon I will have both eyes working together and hopefull be able to ditch my glasses.

Life is a Gift

Someone sent me this and I thought it worth sharing and thinking about.



1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short enjoy it.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and family will.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Stay true to yourself.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the future.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye, but don't worry, God never blinks.

16.. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful. Clutter weighs you down in many ways.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19.. It's never too late to be happy. But it’s all up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative of dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. Accept what you already have, not what you need

42. The best is yet to come...

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Spring Sampler

I have been wanting to make a Sampler Frame (not sure what to call them!) for quite some time - let's say, over a year!!  At one of the Quarterly's a year or so ago, we did a "inchie" swap so we could make our own sampler card or frame when we got home.  Well, those "inchies" are somewhere here in my craft room.  I actually saw them a few weeks ago but can't remember where!!  So I decided to do my own.  I made this first frame a couple of weeks ago mostly using extra pieces that I had made for cards and not used.  I keep them on my desk in a little box.  So, I pulled them out - the flowers, bird, butterfly, pinwheel and added a few other pieces and made this frame.  I used a lot of retired colors in making this frame - Pretty in Pink, Bashful Blue, and Certainly Celery - a few of my favorite colors.

close up of pieces in frame

Spring Sampler Frame

Yesterday I decided to make a second sampler to fit in the same frame.  By the way, I bought this frame at Wal-Mart for about $12.  I am going to offer this sampler as a class and having the two samplers, the gals can pick the squares they want to make for their own sampler.

This second sampler uses In Colors - Coastal Cabana, Pistachio Pudding, Cantalope Crisp and Baked Brown Sugar.

Close up

In Color Spring Sampler

So what do you think?  Would you like to sign up for this class??

Paper Crew Challenge 83

Here is my card for this week's Paper Crew Sketch Challenge.  I used paper from the Retro DSP in the Occasions catalog in MDS.  Notice how 3D it looks?  I achieved that by doing the drop shadow feature at about 50%.

 I love this paper.  Check out all the great colors in the pack.

My eye is healing wonderfully.  I went to the doctor last week and my eye was 20/20!!  Now to get my other eye that way.  I have scheduled my second surgery for next week.  By the beginning of April, I should be seeing great!!

Sorry for the short post tonight.  I can hardly keep my eyes open so saying good night!!

Petite Petals Card in a Box

I made another fun Card in a Box.  This time I used my Fringe Scissors to make grass for the flowers inside the box.  I am loving those Fringe Scissors.  Obviously, a lot of people like those scissors and ordered them so much that they are now in back order for the second time.  This time though they are not due in until March 31!!  Marianne is waiting for hers so I lent her mine for a while.  She is going to make the wreath that is in the Occasions Catalog.  I will get her to send me a picture and share it with you when she finishes it.

I used the Petite Petals stamp and punch for the flowers.  I punched stamped and punched each one twice and inserted a thin piece of wire in between them using glue dots to adhere them together.  I used the small butterfly punch for the butterflies and adhered a small strip of a transparency behind them.  There are two rows of flowers, butterflies and grass.

I played bridge today and we have a new venue for playing.  We normally play in each others homes but a couple of the ladies have problems with their health or their husband's health which makes it difficult sometimes for them to host the group of eight.  So I came up with the idea of playing at a restaurant.  It worked great!  We met at the NY Bagel and Deli Restaurant in Mooresville which was centrally located for all of us and had a varied menu plus a gluten-free menu for one of our members who cannot eat gluten food.

We are having crazy weather!!  Yesterday it was almost 70 degrees and beautiful.  This morning when I left for bridge, it wasn't bad - in the 50s I think.  When I finished playing bridge, the wind was blowing like crazy and the temps had dropped to the 30s!  Brrrr!!! Marianne and I were supposed to go to Concord tonight to stamp with Allison's group but it was called off because of the threat of freezing precipitation.  We are supposed to have a low of 19 degrees tonight.  Sonny is going to have to get his "long johns" out to go skeet shooting tomorrow!!   The high is predicted for 43!

I have a few Sammi pictures to share!  When I was working in my room tonight, she climbed up on the tallest shelves that I have and nestled herself in my box of chipboard.

Laying in front of the fireplace!