MDS Monday .... Final (take #1)

Hi friends!  It saddens me to write this post and show you my latest creation for MDS Monday since this will be our last challenge.  It is still hard for me to believe MDS is being discontinued.  I will continue to use it because it gave me such delight to create with the program and it is so easy to scrapbook my memories digitally.  This week for MDS Monday we are supposed to feature our favorite downloads.  That was a tough one for me!  My mood changes and it will depend on my picture as to what download I might use. Or I will notice a new download and everything will change!  Recently when I was working on my New Zealand scrapbook, I almost had it done when I saw a kit I didn't have.  So, I immediately purchased it and downloaded it into MDS and started my New Zealand book over!  I do tend to like the digital kits and ensembles because a lot of the work has been done with you in terms of coordination of papers, stamps, embellishments, etc.

So for this one, I looked through a lot of my old pictures and found this one of Jayce when he was just a baby.  I had taken my mom to Arizona to meet her first great-grandchild and we were having fun in the pool at our hotel.  A lot of work went into this page!!

My favorite things on this page are:
Overlays, Beautiful Today Kit, Splatter Stamps, Watercolor Wash (In Any Event) and the Flag Punch.

The background paper is white with an Overlay from Hello World (Colored Chalk Dots).  I also used the Torn Edges for the sides to give it a torn look.  I love overlays and tend to use them quite a bit.


Embellishments
    Watercolor Wash\In Any Event - watercolor

Stamps
    OVERLAYS & BACKGROUNDS\Hello World Overlays.embellishments\Hello World - overlay colored chalk dots,
    Splatters\Ink Splatters\Ink Splatter 4, Color = BASIC GRAY
    OVERLAYS & BACKGROUNDS\Torn Edges\Torn Edges - distressed scallop
    Splatters\A Split Second\A Split Second - splatter 1, Color = BASIC GRAY
    Beautiful Today\Beautiful Today - small wash 2, Color ,WATERMARK
    Beautiful Today\Beautiful Today - small wash 1, Color WATERMARK
    Designer Kits\Chevron\Chevron - 5 grunge
    Designer Kits\Chevron\Chevron - 8 grunge
    Splatters\Ink Splatters\Ink Splatter 6, Color = BASIC GRAY
   OVERLAYS & BACKGROUNDS\Torn Edges\Torn Edges - hand torn,
   Beautiful Today\Beautiful Today - polka dot,
    Beautiful Today\Beautiful Today - cloud,
    Beautiful Today\Beautiful Today - heart,
    Beautiful Today\Beautiful Today - wonderful life,
 
Punches
    Basics\1.25 Square Punch
    Basics\Flag Punch,  Filled with: all patterns from Designer Kits\Beautiful Today

I will be sharing another page I made tomorrow.  I couldn't decide but this one is my favorite!

As I said yesterday, Ashley sailed off yesterday for her deployment.  We had thought that she would not be able to keep in touch with us but it seems we were wrong!  Yay!!  I already received an email from her today. She said they were sailing slow yesterday waiting for a helicopter to land on the deck but that they picked up speed during the night.  So far, she is not sea sick!!  The food has been good so far with a nice salad bar and fruit at every meal.  But she was told not to expect the fresh fruit and veggies for long!  She thinks she will have a mailing address so we can send her packages.  She wants pictures for the inside of her locker so I will be printing some out (with my new printer that I got today!)

Enjoy your Friday!

Stippled Blossoms

Just a few more days to be able to order from the 2014-15 Stampin' Up Catalog.

Here is a card using the beautiful flower from Stippled Blossoms.

Here is the view from the top:

I used Smoky Slate card stock and stamped the flowers in Rich Razzleberry.

The sales periods for the 2014-2015 annual catalog, the 2015 occasions catalog, and the 2015-2016 annual catalog will overlap on June 2 in all markets. Please note the following about the transition day of June 2:

• All carryover items from the 2014-2015 annual catalog and 2015 occasions catalog will keep their 2014-2015 prices on June 2, while brand-new items in the 2015-2016 annual catalog will follow the 2015-2016 printed price. Beginning 3 June, all 2015-2016 pricing will take effect.

• Current host program benefits will remain in effect on June 2. Beginning June 3, all new host benefits will take effect.

• On June 2, hosts may choose host items from the 2014-2015 annual catalog, the 2015 occasions catalog, or the 2015-2016 annual catalog.

• Beginning June 3, hosts will no longer be able to choose host items from the 2014-2015 annual catalog or the 2015 occasions catalog, and the new Stampin' Rewards program will begin.

Ashley called me today as they were setting sail to say good bye.  She is pretty excited about this new adventure.  I made sure she had a journal with her so she can write everything down and share with us when she returns.  There are about 6 computers on board (for a couple of hundred!) so she figures she'll be able to e-mail us a couple of times a week.  She posted a picture and information about the ship on Facebook that I found quite interesting.




Here is the article  - The Millinocket is being deployed with the USNS Mercy, a hospital ship for an international disaster response preparedness exercise.

Weekly News

I was able to talk with Ashley Thursday.  She called when I was at lunch but that was ok considering the 6 hour time difference!  She was able to call again late Thursday night and is going to call one final time before they set sail Wednesday morning (which will be afternoon for me.)  She has been in training learning the cultures of all the countries they will visiting.  It is going to be quite an adventure!

The sales periods for the 2014-2015 annual catalog, the 2015 occasions catalog, and the 2015-2016 annual catalog will overlap on June 2.  Please note the following about the transition day of June 2:

• All carryover items from the 2014-2015 annual catalog and 2015 occasions catalog will keep their 2014-2015 prices on June 2, while brand-new items in the 2015-2016 annual catalog will follow the 2015-2016 printed price.  Beginning June 3, all 2015-2016 pricing will take effect.

• Current hostess benefits will remain in effect on June 2.  Beginning June 3, all new hostess benefits will take effect.

• On June 2, hostesses may choose hostess items from the 2014-2015 annual catalog, the 2015 occasions catalog, or the 2015-2016 annual catalog.

• Beginning June 3, hostesses will no longer be able to choose hostess items from the 2014-2015 annual catalog or the 2015 occasions catalog, and the new hostess benefits program will begin.

• On June 2, all Online Store categories will be replaced with new categories in support of the 2015-2016 annual catalog.  The new categories will contain NEW and CARRYOVER items in the 2015-2016 annual catalog.  All other items will be searchable and orderable, but not categorized.  The Retiring Products category and any remaining available items will be active through June 2.

Online Ordering will be down on both Tuesday, June 2, from 11:00 PM to 1:00 AM (PDT) and Wednesday, June 3, from 11:00 PM to 1:00 AM (PDT) while Stampin’ Up! transitions the system to the new 2015-2016 annual catalog.  During that time, you will not be able to place online orders.  You can order products from the new catalog starting at 1:00 AM (PDT).

June 2 is the last day to order retiring products from the 2014-2015 annual catalog (only available while supplies last).  See what’s available here.    It’s also the last day to order from the 2015 occasions catalog!

New Weekly Deals:

I would recommend getting the Painted Blooms Designer Paper along with the twine!

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Happy Memorial Day

Did you enjoy your Memorial Day?  Ours was pretty quiet.  We went out on our boat Sunday and Monday.  The weather was very enjoyable - temps stayed around 80-81 degrees so it wasn't bad at all.  We stayed in a cove protected from all the jet skis, fast boats, etc., read our books and played a little backgammon.

I made this card today in honor of Memorial Day using the stamp, Blended Bloom.

Ashley left for her deployment this weekend but they haven't left the port yet so I have been able to talk and text her.  I'm not sure when she will set sail - probably in a couple of days.  They are doing training for a few days first.  She posted this picture on her Facebook page so guess it's ok to share here also.  This will be her home for the next few months - as she says, "her next great adventure."



She has been pretty lucky.  A couple of her girlfriends from San Antonio flew down with her.  They are there for the week for a promotion ceremony.  So Ashley has been able to have them come and pick her up for dinner tonight and spent the day with them yesterday.

May Stamp Club

Wow!  This is my 2000 post on this blog!!

I finished up Stamp Club Tuesday.  We made four great cards using mostly items that will be retired in just a couple of weeks.

I had to take a deep breath in order to cut into this Painted Blooms DSP.  It is so pretty I have not wanted to use it!  But, it's just paper, you know???!!


This was such a simple card to make.  I didn't want to put much on it and cover up the beautiful paper.  Everyone got a different piece of DSP to make their cards and choose their sentiment.  They turned out beautiful.

This is a cute little pocket card.  I folded the Crumb Cake card stock up and sealed three sides with Washi Tape. But first, cut the center out with a Framelit.  The Coastal Cabana card slips inside the pocket and is stamped with Chalk Talk.  Punch out a few flowers in Calypso Coral and add some Coastal Cabana and Garden Green leaves and a few pearls to the centers of the flowers, and bada, bing, bada, bang .... you're done!

This card uses the Hostess set, Bloom with Hope.  It is stamped on Naturals Ivory paper with Early Espresso accents.  I used the retired textured Early Espresso which distresses very nicely.  I love the flower from Blooming Kindness.

MDS Monday 141 - Disney Style

Time for another MDS Monday sketch.  This makes me sad because after this one, there is only one more.  I am so thankful for Stampin' Up for this wonderful program.  I was never very good at scrapbooking but found my niche with My Digital Studio.  I even taught a few others to use it.  I will continue to use MDS but probably combine it with another program.  I need to check and make sure I have all the downloads I want before it is too late!

This week's sketch is based on a page that Cindy created when she applied to be on SU's Artisian Design Team a few years ago.  The flags and ferris wheel on her design are great but I decided to go a different route.  I still used pennants (or flags) on my sketch but instead of the ferris wheel, used a photo of The Magic Kingdom and lowered the opacity.  I also inserted it into a Frame Overlay from Thoughtful Overlays.

This is the first time I have used the Spiral Punch!  I layered a rectangle of white, a rectangle of black and then the spiral punch (colored white) on both sides.  After inserting the 4 photo boxes on top, I grouped everything together.  The polka dot background is also an overlay from Hello, World.

Products used on this page are:

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

San Diego

Well, I made it home safe and sound.  We had a great time in San Diego although it was pretty chilly. So much so that Sonny and I both bought jackets!  We really needed them on Friday as it was rainy and cool until the afternoon.  The temps were in the high 60s, low 70s the whole time .... and I took my bathing suit thinking I'd be laying by the pool or on the beach!  Ha, ha!

When we arrived at the San Diego Airport Tuesday, we were meeting Ashley in the baggage area. Well, we had not seen her new hair cut and did not recognize her!  She was on one side of the room and we were way over on the other.  She kept waving at us and Sonny asked me who was that girl over there waving.  I told him I didn't know but I waved back anyway.  As we got closer, we discovered it was Ashley!!

We spent Wednesday at the San Diego Zoo.  It was great.  Ever since our trip to New Zealand, I have been a big fan of zoos!  We didn't get to see the #1 attraction though - the Panda.  There was a 30 minute wait to stand in line and we opted out of that!

These were the most gorgeous trees!  They were all over San Diego.  They are the Jackaronda Tree.

Sonny used his cane most of the time when we were walking around and did o.k.  He is penciled in for surgery on June 3 now so let's hope his cardiologist gives him the green light when he sees him on Thursday!

Greetings from San Diego

I guess you've notice my lack of posts this week.  That is because we met Ashley in San Diego on Tuesday and have been on the go ever since!  She just took the shuttle over to the airport to fly back to Texas.  We will be leaving in the morning.  

This morning we took a cab over to the U.S. Grant Hotel and explored it a bit.  Wow!  How opulent it is.  It was built by Ulysses S Grant's son and opened in 1910.  The chandeliers were just beautiful as well as the orchids and flowers everywhere. 

 

Last night we wandered around Seaport Village and discovered this huge tree growing almost sideways!

 

We had a beautiful view at dinner of the Coronado Bridge that takes you over to the quaint little town of Coronado.  The bridge is over 25 stories high and spans a little over 2 miles! 

 

 We toured the USS Midway, a Naval aircraft carrier which was commissioned towards the end of WW II.  Until 1955, it was the largest ship in the world.  I can believe it.  We were going all over that ship most of the day - about 5 hours!! 

 

This statue is the famous one of a sailor kissinga nurse in the middle of Times Square at the end of the war.  It stands 25 feet tall!!  That is the USS Midway in the background.  

Don't Ashley and Sonny look like midgets??

 

 

These are some of the flowers (orchids) on a table at the US Grant Hotel.

   

We went to this restaurant in Little Italy twice .... it was so delicious!!  

 

More of the flowers in bloom at the US Grant Hotel.  Anyone know what they are???

 

 

I'll be heading home tomorrow and opening up my box of goodies from the new Stampin' Up Catalog!!  Can't wait!

Sonny was supposed to have his hip surgery on Wednesday but it was canceled until he can get the "go ahead" from his cardiologist.  Grrrr!!  Now it looks like it will be early June before he can be scheduled.

 

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there.  I hope your day is special.

I'm sad that I am not with either of my children but I know I will be talking to at least one of them plus we will be seeing Ashley on Tuesday.  I am going to my sister's house in the afternoon and we will be celebrating our mom with a cook out.  I have made potato salad and coleslaw and some fresh salsa - yum!

Here is the card I made for my mom using Indescribable Gift from the Occasions Catalog:

My mom is the best.  She has always been there for me, no matter what.  She believes in me wholeheartedly and thinks I can do no wrong.  I haven't always been the best daughter, I know.  Over the years, I have learned, with my own children, that being a mom is sometimes a thankless job but one I would not give up for all the tea in China.  My mom has always been the one I turn to when things go wrong.  I know she always has my back.  She wiped my bottom, wiped away my tears, and was always my biggest cheerleader.  I want to take this opportunity to thank my mom for always being there for me.

I have loved being a mother too.  I have two kids that I love with all my heart.  We may not always see eye-to-eye, but I hope they know I always love them and would do anything for them. I have many fond memories - as I hope they do - of them growing up and all the things we did as a family.  I will worry about my children for the rest of my life - they are my treasures and will always be on my mind no matter how old they are.

 Being estranged from my son on Mother's Day makes it a little tough.  I have recently read that estrangements between adult children and their parents these days is a silent epidemic.  I believe this. It's amazing how many people I have talked to that are estranged from some member of their family. When it is your own child, it really hurts but I always have hope that a resolution is in my future.

Mother's Day should not just be one day of the year.  It takes so little to show your appreciation on a more frequent basis and I am going to make an effort to do just that.  Whether it's a quick cup of tea, a movie, going shopping or simply telling your Mother how much you love, appreciate and treasure her, consider doing this often.  Simply say .... Mom, I love you!  My daughter does this for me.  I always know she is there and she loves me unconditionally.  We never hang up the phone without saying "I love you."  It's the little things.

Thanks Mom for making me the woman I am today.  I thank you, love you and am sending you a big hug!

And thanks to my daughter for being my best friend and the greatest daughter in the world.

MDS Monday Sketch

This is my submission this week for MDS Monday.  The instructions were to keep the page simple and concentrate on the photo.  I love these two pictures of my grandson, Jayce, taken last year. 

We had such a good visit with Jayce and his parents.  I had not seen Jayce since he was 18 months old so it took a little time for him to warm up to us but once he did, it was great.  We took him to a park in Austin and he loved climbing a big tree and racing down the hill.  I thought the Project Life cards were appropriate for this page because to all little boy, Life Is An Adventure!