The Best Laid Plans!

I decided to make this a priority today!  I think I am just getting lazy and not scheduling any posts.  I am going to try to do better .... but no promises!!  I am the same way with logging in my meals for Weight Watchers.  Now that I am in the "maintaining" position, I have slipped a LOT in counting points and not eating the smart way I should.  Need to get these Dove chocolates (my fav!) out of the house!!  Going out for lunch is not great for my plan either!  Today it was with friends to Outback which recently opened in Mooresville.  OMG - just looked at points for the 6 Coconut Shrimp that I had and they were 20 pts!!  Then add in the French Onion Soup for 8 points and I have exceeded my point count for the day!  Luckily, I didn't eat breakfast (saving up for lunch!) and am making a Chicken Taco Soup that is zero points!  Yesterday, I played bridge and our hostess was really good about planning our entree to make it gluten free and fat free.  It was a delicious taco soup.  BUT .... then the dessert was served and this gal can't say no to dessert!  She had devils food cake with something on top, served with fresh whipped cream AND Bailey's liquor drizzled on the cream - quite decadent!  But we couldn't stop there!  Oh no, then we all had to try a shot of the Bailey's Chocolate Cherry liquor!  I didn't bother to add up those points!  I'm still at my goal weight (at least I was when I weighed in last night) but if I continue to eat like that, I won't be!

(NOTE - I think I was jinxed!  I wrote the above paragraph yesterday mid-day.  I downloaded pictures from my phone to include in this blog posting and would you believe - my computer would not connect to internet after that.  I have been working on getting it fixed since about 4:00 on Tuesday until 6:30 Wednesday night!  I did all I could do before calling for help this afternoon.  Luckily one of our friends that lives in the next subdivision is a computer "guru" and was able to help me.  Although he did admit to me when I told him everything I have tried to do to fix the problem that I probably knew as much about it as he did.  We finally got it running and he installed a malware program and a cleaner program on my computer.  So now I can share some cards with you!)

HAPPY VALENTINE's!!

I think this stamp set is so cute.  It is on page 39 of Occasions Catalog - We Must Celebrate.  I used my Blends to color the little guys.

I decided I might get more use out of the stamp set if I cut all the little critters apart.  Some of them are pretty close together but if you are real careful, you can cut between them.  Then you can make a card like this one easily!  Again I used my Blends to color them.

FAST FUSE SALE

Starting Tomorrow

February 8- February 12th

or

until Supplies run out

When you purchase( 1) Fast Fuse

you will get

(2) Refills for FREE

FYI

Last year the Fast Fuse promotion

ran out a 4 year supply

in a matter of just a few days .

Stampin' Up! is bringing back the

5 day ONLY promotion

BUT

it's while supplies last .

Please act quickly!

Stamp Club Cards

I had my Stamp Club last week and we made these cards:

My Paper Pumpkin came in handy for this card.  They were able to pick which card they wanted to make and if it was to be a Valentine card or another type of card.

I love this panda from the Sale-a-Bration Catalog!  You can get it FREE by spending $50 on anything Stampin' Up sells.  Another great item on this card are the Tutti Free sequins - they have adhesive on the back so they are so much easier to use  The sentiment comes from the stamp set, Lovely Inside & Out.  Some of the gals die cut "hugs" and adhered it on the card instead of stamping HUGS.

• ·        Stamp the panda about 1/2” from the bottom of the Whisper White layer with Black ink.
• ·        Add a shadow under the panda w/High Tide stamp piece with Smokey Slate ink
• ·        Die cut a Lemon Lime Twist balloon using the 3” Layering Circle Framelit die in the Big Shot.
• ·        Add the die cut balloon to the Whisper White layer at the top of the stamped balloon string.
• ·        Stamp “sending you HUGS” in Black ink on the balloon as shown.
• ·        Trim the left side and top of the balloon off at the edge of the Whisper White layer.
• ·        Punch the balloon stem from the Tree Builder Punch and adhere to the balloon base.
• ·        Tie a bow with the black ribbon and add to card where shown with a Mini Glue Dot.
• ·        Adhere panda layer to Basic Black layer and then to card front.
• ·        Add sequins where desired.

Another panda - this time a party panda!  I also love this birthday set - Picture Perfect.  It's a great birthday set with confetti, candles, ribbons and more. 

• ·        Emboss Bermuda Bay cardstock w/polka dots folder (retired).  Adhere to Lemon Lime card.
• ·        Stamp “cue the confetti” on square of Whisper White.
• ·        Stamp party horn with Pool Party & Bermuda Bay (dots); Berry Burst & Peek-a-boo Peach.
• ·        Stamp panda on scrap white & cut him out.
• ·        Cut Clear Envelope apart so you have two pieces.  Wrap one piece around the white square & adhere 3 sides on the back. (like you are wrapping a present)  Put sequins inside and seal up the “package.”
• ·        Adhere white square to Lemon Lime Twist Scallop Square.  Adhere to card.
• ·        Use dimensionals to adhere panda to card.
• ·        Tie ribbon & use Glue Dot to adhere to card.
• ·        Decorate inside of card.

For this card, I used Touches of Texture.  I've had this stamp set for a while and only used it for backgrounds.  But I love the flowers and notice I also used the bee and flower in the background.

• Ø  Stamp flower outline & inside of flower with Sweet Sugarplum ink
• Ø  Stamp center of flower w/Early Espresso
• Ø  Randomly stamp flowers, bee, & splatters on card with Crumb Cake – stamp off for lighter images.
• Ø  Stamp sentiment with Early Espresso

Watercolor Stamp Set is a Keeper!!

I've had a great time today playing with the Waterfront stamp from the Occasions Catalog.  Wow!!  This stamp set can make anyone a watercoloring artist!  The soft, buildable images create scenes from the north woods to a beach front.  It's impossible to mess them up.  Well, I guess you COULD, if you really tried super hard.  The best part about this set is how it made me feel like an artist creating a tiny little scene on a small canvas.  I loved it!  Any time you can come out of your craft room feeling great about what you just made, I'll take it!

The colors I used on these cards are - mountains - Fresh Fig, Trees - Tranquil Tide, Water - Pool Party and Bermuda Bay, Sand - Crumb Cake

I added water marks using the High Tide stamp set

I used watercolor paper on this card and used my Aqua Pen with clear water to blend the colors.

I used Marina Mist for the water on this card.  The little houses are stamped with Lemon Lime Twist, Berry Burst and Tempting Turquoise.

The Waterfront Stamp set was inspired by Stampin' Up! Demonstrator and Million Dollar Sales Achiever, Connie Heisey.

Waterfront is only $17 (what a deal!) but if you need other supplies, now is the ideal time to add to your order.  With every $50 spent, you can choose anything out of the Sale-a-Bration Catalog.

Christmas Cards from 2017

I received some beautiful Christmas cards before I left for Hawaii.  I thought I'd share a few of them.

This was a beautiful frame that my downline, Debbie Michael, made for me.  She did a wonderful job on this!  I love it!

This was also made by Debbie.  It is a many dimensional card!  I asked her if all her Christmas cards were like this - if so, she deserves a medal!!  Isn't it beautiful?!!

Pictures from Hawaii 2018

How do you like that flower at the top of my blog?  That was taken last year.  It is a huge tree in Ashley's back yard.  We call it the Q-tip tree!  It is just starting to bloom now and I am think the flowers will be fully opened before I leave next week!

Thought I'd share a few more pictures from our trip in no particular order.

This was taken on our hike the first week we were here.  Ashley and I are giving the "shaka" sign.

The shaka sign, sometimes known as "hang loose", is a gesture often associated with Hawaii and surf culture. It consists of extending the thumb and smallest finger while holding the three middle fingers curled, and gesturing in salutation while presenting the front or back of the hand; the hand may be rotated back and forth for emphasis.

 Ashley's cat, Bogart watching the birds!  He loves it when we go out on the lanai so he can go too!  He drives us crazy though walking along the ledge.  I am so afraid he is going to jump from there onto the roof and down.  Her lanai is on her second story.

 This was a beautiful sunset on New Year's Eve at Molokai.  That missile looking thing is actually a torch that wasn't lit yet.  This picture was taken from the pool, bar and restaurant area of our hotel.

Ashley & I at the beach on the Marine Corps base while Sonny was playing golf.

Beautiful panoramic view!

Cool picture!  Me & my shadow!

This was one of the views from our hike.

We had dinner at Waikiki Friday night after enjoying a great show.  This was taken at an open air mall that we walked through.  The statue is the late, great Don Ho.

Aloha!

Aloha from Hawaii!

Well, it has been a while since I wrote on my blog.  We are in Hawaii with only a week left.  I will be sad to leave .... especially since back home the temperature hasn't been out of the 20s I don't think while I am enjoying high 70s and low 80s!!  What an adjustment we'll have to make!

The Occasions AND Sale-A-Bration catalog are ready to go.  There are some great products in there - hope you have had a chance to look through the catalog.  I have placed my first order and hopefully, it will be waiting for me when I return home next week!  I can't wait to play with new goodies.  I had a hard time narrowing down my choices since, of course, I wanted it all!!

We have been busy ever since arriving here on the 24th.  We had a quiet Christmas, just the 3 of us eating, visiting and watching football.  We went on a hike one day during the week and saw some awesome views.  The hike was not steep but was long - think we figured it was over 4 miles round trip.  I was glad to see the end!  For New Year's, we flew to the island of Molokai where the leper colony is.  Our plane was definitely a puddle jumper - only held 9 passengers and we were asked our weight before we boarded!  There are only 8 past patients living at the leper colony now.  I don't know what will happen to the "town" once they are all gone.  The only way to get to the colony is by hiking or riding a mule.  We chose the mule!   The route down to the colony was rocky with puddles of water everywhere (Hawaii set a record a few days before with rainfall!).  It was a trail with 26 switchbacks.  It was a little bit scary!!

Sonny and Ashley on the way back up

View from the top.  You can see the colony below.

Ashley made it safe on our puddle jumper!

Ashley in the saddle!  At the end of the ride, we had mud from our ankles to our knees!

3D Box Card

I can't believe that Christmas is less a week away.  So I imagine many of you are scurrying around getting ready for the Holidays and some are greeting family and friends.  This is always a busy time of year.  Stampin' Up! has released more clearance items.  So grab a cup of coffee I and check out these items.  CLEARANCE

We do have some housekeeping to do before we close for the year.  You have only until December 30th to reserve your Stamparatus.  Remember you do not pay for it until it ships in March.     Here are the product details which should answer all your questions except one.

Product Details:

• Compatible with Stampin’ Up!’s red rubber and photopolymer stamp
• Foam mat to use with photopolymer stamps
• Rulers and gridlines for quick measuring
• 2 open sides so you can stamp on larger paper
• 2 reversible plates: a total of 4 surfaces to work with
• 2 magnets to hold the paper in place
• Magnet storage areas
• Retail Price–$49.00 USD/$65.00 CAD

    ' How do I get my hands on this Stamparatus?   Consider it a Christmas gift to yourself.  It will ship March 19th and will not be charged until it ships.

If you are one of my customers, you should have received your Occasions Catalog AND the Sale-a-Bration catalog.  If you have not, please email me.

I will be leaving town this weekend .... flying away to Hawaii!!  My posts will be probably very sporadic (what else is new???) but I will try and post a few pictures from the beach!  We will be going to the island of Molokai for New Year's.  Ashley has reserved us mules to travel on!  Check it out here and HERE!

I had Stamp Club this week and we made a 3D Box Card and a New Year's card.  Everyone made either a Garden Green or Real Red card with the polka dot paper (non SU).  I gave them several choices for decorating the inside.  

This is the New Year's card we made.  The numbers were die cut from Large Numbers Framelits in silver paper. The silver polka dot vellum is adhered on top of the Whisper White card.

Merry Christmas - FREE Shipping!!

Are you interested in saving yourself some money???  Well, Stampin' Up has you covered!

24 HOURS ONLY!  On Monday, December 11, receive free shipping on all Stampin’ Up! orders.

No minimum or maximum purchase amount!

FREE SHIPPING AGAIN!  YOU BET!  Here’s your chance to stock up on paper crafting basics (card stock, envelopes, adhesive) and/or fill your wish list for the holidays!  It’ perfect for last minute gift giving, too!  

• Order as much or as often as you want ALL DAY.  Shipping is FREE!
• STOCK UP!  Fill your wish list and stock up on basics like card stock, envelopes, stamps and ink! 
• Don’t miss out on additional savings with 10% OFF Bundles and the Stampin’ Up! clearance rack.
• FREE products!  Earn Stampin’ Rewards when you spend $150 or more (total before shipping and tax).
• Year-End Sales Event!  Dec. 1 – Jan. 2:  Retiring holiday product list PLUS discounts on select retiring and surplus items while supplies last.
• Reserve a Stamparatus TODAY.  Learn more about the “Cadillac” of stamp placement tools and how to reserve one. 

If you are not ordering $150 (or more), please use my December Hostess Code when prompted to (on-line ordering). 

DECEMBER HOSTESS CODE:  SNUBBDSH

YEAR END SALES EVENT

Stock up and save on Stampin’ Up! clearance products.  Up to 60% off PLUS many items on the Holiday Catalog Retiring List have been discounted, some up to 40% off.

Discounted products are only available while supplies last so please don’t wait to order your favorites.

TIP!  Need inspiration for sale products?  Use my SEARCH tool on the top right of my blog to find samples I shared previously using discounted stamp sets, tools and more!

SEE EVERYTHING ON SALE HERE!

The Details:

• Promotion Dates: December 10, 2015-January 4, 2016.
• No minimum purchase required.
• No refunds or exchanges on Year-End Sale items.
• Items offered during the Year-End Sale are while supplies last.
• Year-End Sale & clearance items may be combined on your order with other Stampin’ Up! products.

And, don't forget about the Clearance and Bundles sale items!  Check them out HERE.