Winner, winner, chicken dinner

Well, I'm not a winner yet but Marianne won big today.  First she was pulling for Germany in the World Cup and they won in the second overtime.  We found a small pub to watch the game here in Salt lake city.  I'm not a soccer fan so I took my Kindle and read.  This evening we went to the Late Night Stampers meet and greet where we exchanged hand made gifts.
They did a couple of drawings and Marianne won big!  She got the complete set of clear stamping blocks!!  I want to share the gifts but can't figure out how on this tablet.

It is really HOT here...feel like I'm back in Texas!!  Supposed to be in 100s tomorrow.  Luckily we'll be in the hotel all day doing stamp camps and other projects.

Bed time!!

Convention Gift

Convention time is getting close.  Marianne and I fly to Salt Lake City on Saturday .... EARLY!!  We have a 7 AM flight which means we have to be at the airport by 6 AM which means we'll have to leave home around 5:30 which means we'll have to be getting up at .... oh I can't even think about it!!  I am going to spend Friday night at Marianne's so that will cut a little bit of time for me.  Luckily, our first planned event is not until Sunday at 6 so we will have plenty of time to take it easy and rest.  We got this flight because it was cheaper than flying Sunday to Sunday.  I am almost all packed.  Today I will do a few last minute things, wash a load of clothes (so I'll have clean clothes when I return!)

Sunday night will be the Late Night Stampers Meet & Greet party.  We are supposed to take a handmade gift to exchange with someone (with the supply cost $5 or less).  Here is what I am taking:

 This is the front.  I bought the frame at Ikea's for about a dollar.  The DSP in the background is from the Moonlight paper stack.  I created and printed the rest of the pieces from My Digital Studio.

I decided I needed something for the back so I stamped the Hardwood stamp for the background.  The Blended Bloom flower is stamped with Momento Ink and colored with Blendabilities.

Exciting new products are in the Stampin' Up store!!  NEW arrivals include a fun Christmas stamp set that will be available in the new Holiday Mini Catalog BUT it is available to you NOW!!  Get a heard start on your Christmas cards!!

July 4th Thank You

I made this card and sent it last week to Ashley to thank her for her service to our country.  I used the new Stars Framelits for this card.  The red striped square is Fancy Foil DSP (pg 193).  The stripe is actually silver but I colored it red with my Blendabilities!!  I made this card for a challenge to use a word bubble but I can not remember whose challenge it was!!

Saturday when I was checking out a few other blogs, I ran across a blog by Erin Gonzalez who lives in San Antonio too.  She said that her family made a pact to spoil some of the many service men and women that they ran into around town on July 4th. (If you have never been to San Antonio, believe me, they will have no trouble finding any military people.) They were going around with treats, thank you cards and other goodies to give to the service men and women that they came in contact with.  Erin said that she wanted her kids to know the sacrifices these service men and women make.  Isn't that cool?!  If you get a chance, check out Erin's blog and leave her a comment on her July 4th posting as I did to thank her for what she and her family did on July 4th.

Here are a few of the photos I took on Saturday while we were on the lake waiting for the fireworks.

MDS Monday Challenge

I decided to do another MDS sketch challenge using one of my New Zealand layouts.  At this rate, I may get my book put together by Christmas!!  I am hoping to concentrate more on my New Zealand scrapbook after convention and all that craziness is over.

The sketch on MDS Monday was a little challenging to me. Here it is:

 I started out scrapbooking  pictures from our Alabama cruise but didn't like what I came up with.  Plus, my computer froze up and I lost the pae I had been working on anyway!  So I started over and this time pulled up these pictures from New Zealand.  We stopped off in Otorohanga for a quick breakfast on our way to Rotorura so the girls could go Zorbing.  Their pastry case was a dream come true!  So many choices of so many different pastries and breakfast items.  I settled on a donut that was filled was delicious cream.  It was not round like our donuts but looked like an eclair.  It was heaven!

                                                                                                                                                                     For this page I used paper and elements from the Sweet Shoppe download except for the word bubble which is from Seriously Teen.  

Hope you like it!   Check out the rest of the sketches at MDS Monday.                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Happy 4th!

Well, I spent most of the day working on my new blog header.  Do you like it?  When I get into My Digital Studio, I just lose track of time.  I try so many different things until I get just the look I want.  But it's fun!

We are keeping our fingers crossed that the rain holds off for the 4th of July activities.  The YMCA is doing fireworks tonight (Thursday)  We are meeting Mom and Angela for dinner and then going to their church which is on a hill a few blocks from the Y and has a good viewing area for the fireworks.  Tomorrow night (Friday) there will be more fireworks put on at Queen's Landing on the lake.  Sonny and I plan on taking the boat out early and getting a good spot in a cove to view the fireworks.  So keep your fingers crossed for the weather.

While I was in My Digital Studio, I decided to make a card for the 4th.  I used a card template that was already there and just changed around some colors and inserted the 4th stamp set and stars.

Hope your 4th of July is a safe one!!

Sun & Sand Paper Craft Challenge

Oh how I wish I was at the beach!  I ache to walk on the sand, bake in the sunshine and just soak in the salt spray!  How did a beach lover marry a "I hate the sand and sun" type of guy???  I don't know but I guess after 40+ years, I should be used to it by now!!  Marianne and her family are on their annual 4th of July camping week at Myrtle Beach.  I'm hoping that the tropical storm that is lurking in the Atlantic Ocean does not cause them too many problems.  I don't think it will.  They will probably have to do indoor activities tomorrow but after that, they should be ok.

Here is my digital card I made for Paper Craft Crew sketch challenge.  Just about everything on this card came from the Anchors Away MDS kit.  I really like to try and use one kit - makes coordination a lot easier!

Check out the rest of the designers' cards HERE.  Also ... you could win some blog candy if you go the the site!! 

In celebration of our 100th Card Sketch we are going to offer some BLOG CANDY!  Pam will be doing a drawing after the Sketch ends and will announce the winner when she announces the Featured Artisans.

The blog candy you'll receive includes:

Blackberry Bliss Stamp Pad

Pistachio Pudding Thick Backer's Twine

Chevron Embossing Folder 

Island Indigo Chevron Ribbon

and.. the Banner Punch!

Also, you'll want to visit the other blogs…  You never know who else might be offering some blog candy!

Moonlight Pouch

I have been working hard on my convention swaps and I think I have enough.  Last count was about 100.  I don't know what I will do with them all but it is just so much fun to walk around the convention center and swap with everyone.  It's like a contagious disease!  Here is one of the cards I made this weekend.

I used the new in-colors for the card base and embossed them with various folders. I created a little pouch for a tag and adhered it to the card.  I started with one sheet of Moonlight Paper Pack DSP (measures 4-1/2" x 6-1/2").  Score it at  1", 2", 2-1/2", 4", 4-1/2" and 5" with the long side at the top of the Simply Scored Tool.  Then turn it so the short side is at the top and score at 1/2".  Trim away the two sides (at the 1/2") leaving the middle section.  Fold the pouch to create mountains and valleys and adhere the pouch closed with adhesive of your choice.

The flowers are punched with the Flower Fair thinlets.

I was playing with my Kindle Fire tonight and took a "selfie".

How to Use Blendabilities

Blendabilities You Tube Video

Blendabilities are coming!!

If you're tired of waiting to order Blendabilities, you'll be happy to know that Stampin' Up! has finally published a release date of JULY 1st!!  That's next Tuesday!

If you don't know what Blendabilities are and what all the excitements is about, read on.

First off, Blendabilities are very different from our Stampin' Write Markers.  They are alcohol markers instead of water-based ink markers.  That means you can actually BLEND the colors which you can't do very well with the water-based markers.  Each color assortment includes light, medium and dark shades of one color.  I've been playing with mine and I think they are awesome!  Alcohol markers work very differently than the water-based markers.  The ink actually soaks into the card stock, as opposed to sitting on top.  You can go over and over the area with different shades without degrading the card stock.

One of the Blendabilities pens is called a COLOR LIFTER.  It doesn't act as an eraser exactly; it's more like it moves the ink you've applied around a bit.  It's also alcohol based and when applied to an area, it can push the colors into the card stock more.  That's how you can get light areas into whatever you are coloring.  The Color Lifter is great for blending layers of colors.

The are also super great for coloring your rhinestone, pearls and even buttons!

They work best with Stampin' Up's Whisper White card stock.  And another must have item is the Black Memento Ink.  It is the best black ink I have ever used and you really need this ink for the Blendabilities.  You can find it on page 212 along with the Blendabilities markers.

To see one of the cards I have made using the Blendabilities Markers, go to Blended Bloom and check it out.  Also, here are a couple of other cards I made:

Can you tell I also really love the Blended Bloom single stamp???  It is a bargain too - pg. 167 - $11.95.

If you are ready to order your very own Blendabilities, click above ORDER ONLINE and then SHOP. Please use the July Hostess Code when inputting your order:   7TJFYD2M 

This & That Paper Craft Crew Challenge

I forgot to share my MDS card I made this week for Paper Craft Crew's sketch challenge.  Probably because I was on the ball last week and did a couple of sketches at one time and then forgot I had done them!  Anyway, this is for challenge #99!!

The elements for this card are from the This and That Epic Day download.  I love to use just one download - paper, elements, stamps, etc. to make a project.  That way I am assured that it will all coordinate nicely.

I am playing Hand and Foot Friday at the Mooresville Bowling Alley.  We have started meeting there and I was pleasantly surprised at how nice the place is.  We order our lunch there and there is a large and varied menu to choose from.  Tomorrow night is our Newcomers annual Bingo night.  This is the only fundraiser we do all year and it is a lot of fun.  Sonny doesn't agree with me and I am having to drag him along!  He's a good sport and won't complain too much!  My mom and Angela are coming also.