Occasion Balloons!!

Oooh ..... it's cold outside baby!!  The high  was Monday was 37 I believe and today's high is supposed to be 32 with overnight lows in the teens  That's cold!!  For fun, I have Honolulu weather on my phone app  They had a high of 82 on Monday!!  And of all times for our gas fireplace not to be working!!!  Sonny is going to fix it as soon as he gets the part.  He had ordered the part through a local company but they ordered the wrong piece  The correct one should be here tomorrow ...  let's hope!!

This was a football watching weekend.  There were two NFL game on Saturday with Arizona (my son's team) and New England (yuck) both winning.  On Sunday Carolina won their play off game - barely.  After leading 31-0 at half time, they almost blew the lead in the second half ending up winning 31-24.  They didn't score any points in the second half!  They will be playing Arizona for the conference championship next weekend - wonder which team will show up - the first half Panthers or the second half Panthers.  And my Steelers played for the final time this season Sunday.  We almost had the win but in the last few minutes, we fumbled the ball and Denver was able to score.  I was really disappointed but truthfully, did not think we would win anyway because we had so many key players injured and unable to play.

Thought I'd share a few more cards from Quarterly.  This time they are all using balloon stamps from the Occasions Catalog.

Stamp set used:  Party with Cake

Balloon Celebration

Balloon Celebration stamp set

Balloon Celebration

Sale-a-Bration Samples

I got a lot of great cards last week-end and got samples of just about every stamp set in the Occasions and Sale-a-bration catalogs.  It is so different to see the cards made with the stamps than just having to see them in the catalog.

Here are samples from Sale-a-Bration Catalog that were on the display board:

Flowering Fields (pg 12)

Honeycomb Happiness (pg 15)

Perfect Pairings (pg 11) plus Wildflower Fiels DSP (pg 13)

Sky Is the Limit (pg 16) plus Perfectly Artistic DSP (pg 19)

What I Love (pg 7)

What I Love (pg 7)

Botanicals For You (pg 4) plus Botanical Builder Framelits (Occasions catalog pg 26)

I have been making cards with the few stamp sets that I have bought (so far) from the two new catalogs.  I am trying to be a little more frugal this time and love having all the samples for my customers to see.  I have been working hard in my craft room all week.   Except for last night when I had to get dressed to have dinner at a friends house, I have been in my pj's for 3 days!  It has been great!  Sonny went with some guys yesterday on a duck hunting trip.  He came home late last night. He said if he had this on his bucket list, he could check it off.  He won't be going duck hunting again! He never even fired his rifle!!  One of the guys with them got a duck but out of the four of them, one got a duck, one fired his rifle once and Sonny and the other guy never took a shot.  It was a 5 1/2 hour drive to the NC coast Wednesday.  They got up at 5:30 a.m. Thursday (no thank you!) and stared at the blue sky and then drove back home, another 5 1/2 hour!  Sonny was really stiff when he got home from all the sitting.  I had much more fun at home!!

Swap Cards

Marianne and I traveled to Matthews this weekend (only about 45 minute trip for us) for the NC Demos Quarterly meeting.  Before we got there, we were both hungry for lunch and spotted a restaurant right off Independence Blvd. with a banner hanging down advertising their Soul Food!  Marianne quickly changed lanes and pulled in!!  It was delicious (even if we were the only white people in the small restaurant!) I had fried chicken, black-eyed peas, mashed potatoes and cornbread - all freshly made.  Sure wish we lived closer to that restaurant .... or maybe I don't if I think I'm going to lose weight!!

We had a great time at the Quarterly and came back Saturday afternoon really tired!

These are the two cards I took for my swaps.

This card was for the Sale-a-Bration swap using Flowering Fields stamp (pg. 12).  I stamped the images in black ink and used markers to color in the flowers and butterfly.  The sentiment is from Flower Patch (from the annual catalog,)  I used the Curvy Corner Trio Punch for the top right edge and the Proj. Life Corner Rounder for the Melon Mambo layer.  The card base is Blackberry Bliss.  I also used the new Wink of Stella (clear) on the flowers but it is hard to see that in the picture.  I LOVE that Wink of Stella.  I have not tried the gold yet - only the clear.  It is easy to use and just leaves a hint of glitter.

Here are a few other ideas for using this stamp set:



Now for my next swap card.

This card was made for the Occasions Catalog swap.  I used  the stamp set, Balloon Builders to make this card.  This set is great and I can't wait to "go outside the box" with it.  The versatile shapes let you create anything you can imagine!  I also like the soft colors on this card.  I used Wisteria Wonder, Blushing Bride, Pool Party and Smoky Slate.  There is also a coordinating punch for the balloons.  (pg. 13 - 14)

My Memories Suite 7

You will start seeing more digital pages from me.  You know I was so sad when Stampin' Up! did away with My Digital Studio.  I started using My Memories! which is by the same company that MDS was but it just wasn't the same .... UNTIL a few weeks ago.  My Memories released a new update, Suite 7, and it has several great new features including some that MDS users had really missed, such as the ability to crop stamps (imprints) and embellishments.  I used the cropping feature all the time and am so happy that it has been added to MMS7.  Here is a list of other items that were added:



I love the photo used indicator.  When you have a folder with lots of photos, it makes it easy to see which photo you have already used and not duplicate one.  I look forward to trying out the blurred photo edges also.  I have seen a couple of layouts using it.

I used My Memories Suite 7 to create a calendar for Ashley for Christmas.  Not only was it easy to create, but it was cheaper than the ones I used to purchase from SU; the quality was great; and the turn-around time was really good.  I ordered it on Dec. 17 knowing that was only a week away from Christmas and chances are, it wouldn't arrive in time.  Well, it didn't, but it did arrive the following Monday which really surprised me.

I also made several sets of 6x6 calendars to go in the holders that Sonny makes.  Here is my January pages:

Picture Perfect

I love to watch the hummingbirds feeding at our feeders in the spring and summer.  This past year though we didn't have very many to visit us.  It is funny how territorial they are.  We have two feeders on our deck and when I am sitting outside they will dive bomb another bird if it comes to get a drink of the nectar.  So funny!

So, you can guess that I was excited to see the hummingbird image in one of the new stamps in the Occasions catalog!   And it's not just any old humming bird .... it is a 4 Step Stamping bird!!  This photopolymer stamp set has 4 separate stamps to complete the hummingbird, as well as 3 steps to complete the roses; for for the starfish and 3 for the leaves in the set.  The sentiments are pretty sweet too.  This was my favorite stamp set out of the catalog this time.

I will have to admit though that it is not the easiest set to use.  There is a bit of a learning curve.  I practiced with several birds, roses, and leaves before I got the ones I liked and got more adept at the technique.  The images are numbered 1-4 (or 1-3) so you know what order to stamp the images in.  Stampin' Up! recommends that you start with the stamp numbered 1 (in your lightest ink) and progress one-by-one to the fourth stamp.  I found that it was a little easier to stamp the bird backwards from 4 to 1 starting with the darkest color.  But I did them both ways with good results.  I played around with different colors and stamping off before positioning and stamping a couple of times.  Every stamp has a little tag on it that will help you line them up properly.  I also found it easier if I also used the bird's eye to line up with.

For the card above, I stamped the bird and sentiment directly on Very Vanilla cardstock.  But I stamped the flowers onto scrap Vanilla card stock, fussy cut them and popped them up with dimensionals.

 The color combos I used were:

Hummingbird - Pistachio Pudding (retired color) / Wild Wasabi / Mossy Meadow / Cherry Cobbler
Roses - #1  So Saffron - once full strength and once stamped off
#2 - Blackberry Bliss (full strength and stamped off)
#3 Rose Red  (full strength and stamped off)
Leaves - Pear Pizazz, Wild Wasabi, Mossy Meadow

Marianne and I are driving to Charlotte tomorrow for the NC Demos Quarterly meeting.  I have been busy getting my swaps ready for the event - 35 Occasions swaps; 24 Sale-a-Bration swaps; 35 Shoebox cards; and 8 Technique cards!  Whew!!  I will have lots to share.  We will return Saturday afternoon and gearing up for the Steelers play-off game Saturday night.  Got my fingers crossed!!

New Year's Resolutions

Are you thinking about New Year's resolutions?  Every year there is a lot of talk about setting resolutions and everyone is motivated and eager to improve.  I am not a good one for setting resolutions but I am going to try this year.  Do any of these feel familiar:

• Drop 20 pounds
• Get out of debt
• Start a business
• Declutter my house

If you have written out some resolutions, take a look at your list.  Are you feeling overwhelmed?  There are ways to make your resolutions feel less daunting.  For example, focus on one goal at a time; like one per month.  Or break down each goal into smaller baby steps.

Envision the end of 2016.  Envision YOU at the end of 2016.  What do you want to feel or look like in December 2016?  This is the principle of beginning with the end in mind.  Once you have a clear vision of what you desire for yourself, that is exactly what you need to guide you in setting goals or resolutions.  Defining the "end result" (we're just talking about the end of 2016 for now) means that you now have the compass you need to keep you focused on what kind of goas to set.  Having the big picture in your mind and in your heart means that you can steer yourself in a direction that will keep your smaller goals in line with whatever's most important to you.

Begin with the end in mind.  Allow the bigger picture to guide you and keep you focused so that instead of having an unrealistic list of 30 goals to tackle, you have a vision of the person you'll be 12 months from now.  If you've already written your list, now's a good time to check in twice and cross off anything that's not supportive of the bigger picture that you have in mind. 

I personally think having just one or two resolutions is more "doable."  I am going to set a goal to lose weight this year so that next year when I'm visiting Ashley and sitting on a beautiful Hawaiian beach, I won't be mistaken for a whale that has washed up!

My short term resolution is to made a new blog heading this week and remove this Christmas elf one!!

Countdown to Occasions 2016 Catalog and Sale-a-Bration!

The countdown is on .... and we are almost to the launch of the Stampin' Up! 2016 Occasions catalog and Sale-a-Bration promotion!!  I love this time of year when it's so easy to get FREE products!

Here is the scoop -

• Occasions 2016 Catalog:  first day for customer orders, Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016
• Sale-a-Bration Promotion:  first day to receive FREE PRODUCTS with each $50 you order:  Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016.

To clarify things, you do NOT need to purchase the suggested items shown in the Sale-a-Bration brochure to receive those free Sale-a-Bration products.  You will earn one (1) free Sale-a-Bration item with EACH $50 purchase from ANY Stampin' Up! Catalog OR any online store product OR Clearance Rack product purchase!

Another way to earn free Sale-a-Bration products is with a Paper Pumpkin 3-month Prepaid Subscription for $55.  Watch the video below to learn more.

Happy 2016!!

I haven't ushered in 2016 yet - got about 25 minutes here in Texas until 2016 arrives!  Sonny and I are on our own tonight.  Ashley's friends surprised her with a flight to DC where they are celebrating her 40th birthday in style.  They have been planning this surprise since July and it has been hard keeping quiet!  She has known for a few weeks that she was flying somewhere because she had to take leave for the days she will be gone.  One of her friends flew to DC yesterday from Texas and another gal came by this morning at 6:45 to give her the plane ticket and take her to the airport.  I don't know how she worked it but she flew to DC too.  I'm guessing she dropped Ashley at the door with Ashley not knowing she was going too while she parked and sneaked back in the airport.  But looks like they are having fun!

Sonny and I had an early dinner at a Mexican restaurant and then went to the movies.  I had been wanting to see Joy so Sonny agreed.  It was terrible!!  I really owe Sonny now for sitting through that horrible movie.  Don't waste your money!!  We came back to Ashley's and watched a movie on TV that was much better (Alex Cross) and are now watching the countdown on tv and waiting for midnight.  We fly home tomorrow and will be celebrating Christmas with my NC family on Saturday.

Have a safe and prosperous 2016!!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!!

Mine has been great so far.

 Bogart was looking for Santa😁

Christmas morning ....before

Texas Ramblings

It is so nice to be back in Texas although I should have brought my shorts and tees!!  It has been very warm here.  The temps have not gotten in the 80s (YET) but they have been in the high 70s!!  I don't think I ever pack right!!  It is not even noon and it is already 70 degrees today with the high expected to be 81!  Saturday the prediction is 84!  Yep, should have brought my bathing suit.  Sonny has stayed busy doing small "fixes" around the house.  That makes him happy.  Ashley has been working but able to come home around 2-3:00 each day.  I have been working on my swap cards for Quarterly in January, reading, playing games and just relaxing.  It has been really nice.  Her realtor is coming this afternoon to talk to her about putting her house on the market.  She will be moving to Hawaii in mid June.

We celebrated Ashley's birthday a few days early.  Several of her friends (and us) went out to dinner Saturday night and then went to Martini's Club.  Martini's was a favorite of Ashley's when she was in medical school.  It is an old school cocktail lounge.  The owner, Wayne, sings "Las Vegas style" and does great vocal impressions of the old singers we love - Neil Diamond, Barry Mantilow, Sinatra, etc.  It is really a fun place!

At Martini's

Yesterday was Ashley's 40th birthday!!  Hard to believe!  We picked her up from work around 2 and had lunch.  Then we took a tour of the Center for the Intrepid.  It is next door to the hospital where Ashley works.  The CFI provides rehabilitation for soldier who have sustained amputation burns, or functional limb loss.  They have state of the world technology for rehab, research, training and education.  It is an amazing place!  It is like a "one stop shop" where the wounded troops can undergo physical and occupational therapy; get their prosthetics designed, made and fitted right there in the CFI; and learn how to transition back into the world .... with many of them returning to active duty.  Some of the soldiers stay there as long as two years.  There is housing for them there as well as their families at no cost (Fisher House).  It was a very inspirational tour.

This is the front of the Fisher House