New In Colors for 2009-10

Well, the new Stampin' Up catalog is out.  I don't have mine yet .... just couldn't see paying an extra $35 for Expedited Shipping to get it overnight!!  If yall would order more stuff from me, maybe I could!!  (Just kidding - I wouldn't!!)  I hope I have mine next week before I leave town (again).  I have ordered all the stamp pads and paper of the new In Colors and a few of the ribbons.  I can't wait to see them.  It's always interesting to see what names they come up with for the In Colors.  Ashley said she thinks they must have a whole department just dedicated to naming them!!  They are stretching the names this year!

  Anyway .... here are what the new colors look like:

CRUSHED CURRY (as compared to Yo Yo Yellow on top & Summer Sun on bottom)

DUSTY DURANGO  (as compared to Pumpkin Pie & Really Rust)

RICH RAZZLEBERRY (as compared to Bravo Burgundy and Elegant Eggplant)

MELON MAMBO (as compared to Pink Passion and Rose Red)

SOFT SUEDE (as compared to Kraft and Chocolate Chip)

THE NEW CATALOG STARTS JULY 1.  Contact me if you want a catalog and/or to place an order!!   Your first order of $30 or more will get you a free catalog!!

Red and Black Frame

I found my "mojo" today and had fun making a couple of frames. I had plans to go to our neighborhood pool and "veggin" while tanning and reading my book, but got carried away instead in my craft room.

About a month ago, I shared this baby book with you that I had made for a friend who had a baby girl in early April. Well, today I finally finished the "name frame" I wanted to give them too. It turned out pretty cute, I think. Now I just need to get it in the mail! I bought the frame at the Dollar Store and the animals are cut from the Designer Paper I used in the baby book. I used a retired SU alphabet set for the letters and stamped them in Regal Rose Craft Ink and embossed them. (click on picture to see full image)

After I finished that, I made another picture frame for our Newcomers Bingo Auction next week. I had seen a similar one on Splitcoast a while back in blues and browns and had been wanting to create one. The squares are punched with my 1 1/4" Square Punch from Red, Black. various Designer Papers and some are embossed in white on red and black with the Baroque Motif stamp. I used a variety of ribbon, stamps, Daisy Die (Sizzix), Dew Drops, buttons, prima flowers, brads, and Hodgepodge Hardware. I adhered a piece of white cardstock to the glass and adhered the squares on top of the cardstock. I couldn't put the glass on top because of the raised items. I used Red Line Tape to adhere the squares to the white paper.

Top Note Box Instructions

Several of you have asked about instructions for the Top Note Box (seen HERE).  I made eleven of them for the Quarterly Die Cut Swap and they seemed to have been a big hit.  I am sorry - I thought that I had already posted the instructions.  Anyway, here's the pattern (thanks to Kerin at stampsppaperglitter.com)
Cut out the dark gray areas, score on the dotted lines and cut on the solid lines. Once you've got it cut and scored, you'll be able to see the shape of the box come together...you don't have to use anything super strong for adhesive to hold the sides together if you're going to wrap it in ribbon. You can round the corners if you want it to fit a little better in the box.   When you're done making your box, just close up the box, put sticky strip on the top and bottom, and adhere it onto the Top Note shapes you made!
Now you make one and send me a picture & I'll post it on my blog.

Quarterly 3D Project Share

I participated in a 3D Project at Quarterly and got the neatest things.  Here are a few of them:

A darling Strawberry!  I think you can find the directions on Split Coast.

A butterfly that holds a pack of Smarties!

 

A Top Note purse .... made by my sister!!

A Top Note decorated hand towel

Ideal for a picnic - Top Note holder for napkin and silverware.

A Faux Alligator purse.

RETIRING .... STAMPS, ACCESSORIES, DECOR ELEMENTS

Boy am I in trouble!! My best customer called me this afternoon wanting to know why I had not put the retired list on my blog yet!! She was having to read it on someone else's blog. So sorry, Margaret!!

I am sorry guys, but I was out the door before 8 a.m. this morning for a doctor's appointment then to the "Y", lunch with hubby, grocery shopping and a pedicure. (Guess I should have gotten up about 4 a.m. and blogged!!)

Here is the link to the retired stamp sets -

ALPHA LIST OF RETIRING STAMPS

DECOR ELEMENTS RETIRED ITEMS

I'm working on getting the Retired Accessories list on my blog - will post it ASAP.

I will be placing an order tonight (Monday). Call me if you want to add to the order. Some items are already sold out so time is of the essence.

Now - I've got to go check it all out!! Haven't had time yet.

Stampin' Up Quarterly

What a great time we had in Kernersville this weekend at the Stampin' Up Quarterly.  Luckily, Marianne was feeling better on Friday and was able to go.  I picked her up at Mom's after I did my stint at the Retirement Center.  We stopped along the way at the Enchanted Cottage Stamp store. WOW is all I can say!  It is overwhelming because it is so big and has so much stuff in in.  Unfortunately, we had a little trouble finding the store and by the time we got there, we only had about 20 minutes before they closed.  It is definitely a place you need more than 20 minutes - maybe a whole day to see everything. 

We checked into our hotel and went across the street and had a yummy dinner - country style steak, mashed potatoes, baked apples ..... really good!  Then it was on the the quarterly.  We got set up and got started with our Friday night project.  Janie Murphy was in charge of this one and she did a great job.  We each had half of a Simply Scrappin' kit and made 11 cards and a magazine holder for the cards from the kit and even had a few pieces left over to take home with us.  I was impressed.  I have never done much with the Simply Scrappin' kits (page 162-165) but that will change.  The cards are so cute and were so quick and easy to put together.  We made the 11 cards and holder in about 2 hours!!  We were back at our motel by 9:30 which never happens at Quarterly!  We used the Sunshine Garden kit to make these cards:

Big Boy Panties

I found this pattern on Splitcoast earlier this week and just had to try it!  My niece, Melinda, is trying to potty train Zach (although he is not interested at all!) so I thought I'd send him this card.  I used the Life's A Breeze stamp set.

Here it is opened:

Busy, Busy, Busy

I've been busy since I got back .... getting unpacked; doing laundry; and getting ready for NC Stampin' Up Demo's Quarterly meeting this weekend in Kernersville.  My sister, Marianne, is supposed to go with me but she called me about 3 this afternoon and she's SICK!!  How could she get sick at a time like this????  We're crossing our fingers that she'll feel better tomorrow and be able to "road trip" with me.  She's been working hard on her swaps and has paid her $$$ so I know she doesn't want to miss it.

Also tomorrow, I am going to the retirement home in Mooresville to do a card project with the group.  My friend, Judy, is going too and has made a card and a bookmark for them to make.  I did a card today using the Big Shot that they will just have to put together.  Here's my samples:

 

I'm taking a few items to the Quarterly for "show and tell."  Here is a Milk Carton that I made using the Parisian DSP.  I just love how it turned out.  That paper is the best and is on sale through Sunday.

I'm baaaack!!

Wow - it's gonna feel good to put my head on my own pillow tonight!   You know, it's always good to travel but it's always great to come home!!   Our trip to Texas came to an end today.  We had a great time!

My flight to Texas last Saturday (May 16) was not so great!   When we landed in San Antonio, I got the most horrific pain in my gums on my left side.  The tears were flowing and I tried putting pressure on my gums to make the pain subside.  It's hard to describe how bad it was.  My nephew and his girlfriend met us at the airport and drove us to Austin.  By the time I reached their house (about an hour later), I was in severe pain.  I called my daughter to get her advice and could not even talk to her I was crying so hard.  When we lived in Texas, I had a lot of sinus problems so went prepared, thank goodness!  I had taken a couple of Imitrex pills with me so I took one of them and laid down for about an hour.  The pain dulled so we were able to go out to eat.  When I came home, I took a Tylenol PM and went to bed.  That was the end of my pain but the weirdest thing is my gum is still dead feeling .... like I've had Novocain or something.  We are thinking that perhaps a nerve in my sinus/gum area is damaged.  Guess I'll be calling the dentist tomorrow!

We spend the first weekend we were in Texas at my nephew and his girlfriend's house.  They were excellent hosts and fixed us wonderful breakfasts each morning!  We went to my niece's home Sunday and cooked fajitas on their grill.  We also had yummy tamales!!  I've missed that Mexican food since being in NC. 

(remember - click on the photos to see the whole picture!)

I had such a great time playing with my niece's little boys.  They are just so cute.   The oldest is just finishing kindergarten and Jake is just sooo smart!  Her youngest, Zachary, is just 2 weeks younger than my grandson, Jayce.  Zach will be 3 in early September.  So, since I don't get to see my grandson, I did a double effort in spoiling and loving on Zach! 

We went back to San Antonio Monday night and started our house hunting with Ashley on Tuesday.  We look at a little over 60 houses Tuesday through Saturday!  I love looking at houses but Sonny wasn't so thrilled with it!  He got a reprieve on Saturday when our friends from Dallas drove down for the weekend.  Ashley was able to find several houses she liked and made a list of a "top 5-8" houses.  Now, we just have to wait for the sale of her condo in Bethesda before she can make a offer on a Texas house.  I know it will all work out, but say a little prayer that it will sell sooner than later!!

Happy Birthday Harley Friend

This is a birthday card I made for a good Texas friend who loves his Harley!