I'm here with a few cards to share

No apologies - just haven't posted in a long time!!  What can I say????

I have been working on swaps for Quarterly and Convention so I'm not trying to do everything at the last minute.  Our NC Quarterly is the last weekend in September and I have signed up for two shoebox swaps (12 cards in each), a Fall card, Christmas card and Christmas package.  Don't know the numbers for the Christmas card and fall card but we only have to do 10 of the package.  I plan on using Stampin' Up's Pizza Box.  Plus I've been asked to do a project at quarterly (not sure what yet!) 

For Convention, which is in November, I have signed up for two organized swap (so far) - making a Christmas card and a Birthday card.  I have had to write everything down in a notebook so I don't forget what I am doing!  I would like to take at least 50 swaps to convention and am also working on them.  Wednesday was the day to sign up for convention at noon EST.  I had a luncheon I was in charge of at noon also but had to excuse myself and try to register.  I was in full panic mode because I couldn't get the website to cooperate plus I was on the phone with SU with a 15 minute wait.  In the meantime, Marianne and Debbie (2 of my downlines) were texting me that they had registered with no problem.  So, I ended up giving Marianne my password and info and she was finally able to get me registered.   Then I was stressing out that Ashley would not be able to get registered since she was waiting till she got to work to do it.  But it all worked out and we all got registered!!  As of this morning, registration is near capacity - and I understand that there will be 7,000 demonstrators there!!  Wow, I can't wait!!

Here are a few cards I've made that I haven't shared (I don't think!)

This card uses retired items - Eclectic Expressions (Sale-a-bration)

Love Dandelion Wishes!

The background is watercolored.  The stamp set is Enjoy Life - great sentiments!

Another Enjoy Life card with watercolor background.

This card is also Enjoy Life.  I used my square block for the background - inking it up and then spritzing with water before stamping.

Don't you love these colors - Highland Heather and Mango Medley!!  I sent this card to Ashley after she was recognized for excellent teaching in her job.  It uses the retired set, Crazy About You.

90 Candles!

I had fun making Mom's birthday card.  I had to have 90 candles on it and I did!!  It took me almost all day to make this card!!

Each panel is 6" x 6".  I used tape to adhere the panels to each other and accordian folded it.  I cut 1/2" candles out of Designer Paper and adhered them to the panels.  I stamped the flame using Broadway Birthday stamp set and stamped "happy birthday" on each panel.  

This is the card all tied up with pretty ribbon.

The front of the card.

We collected over $900 in donations for Camp Dogwood.  Camp Dogwood is a wonderful retreat for the visually impaired and blind sponsored by the North Carolina Lions Clubs.  The camp is located on Lake Norman so the campers get to go on boat rides, swim, tube, and fish.  Mom did not go to Dogwood this year because of her trip to Hawaii but she has gone the last two years and just loved it!

These are the thank you cards I made for Mom to send to her friends.

I used Share What You Love for these cards.

I used one of my favorites, Daisy Delight for these cards.

End of the Month Specials plus Party Pictures

As the end of the month is approaching (3 more days!), I wanted to remind you of the Stampin' Pad Recruiting Promotion.  During this promotion, new team members will receive a FREE assortment of Classic Stampin' Pads (your choice) with your Starter Kit!  That's an extra $67.50 of goodies.

People join Stampin' Up! for different reasons.  While some want to build a business with customers and clubs, most just want to be a part of the Stampin' Up! community and earn a discount on the products they already love.  There are so many great reasons to be a Stampin' Up! demonstrator.  Not only will you immediately receive a 20% discount on the products you love, but you're eligible to earn a bigger discount with other benefits and incentives.  The Starter Kit is just $99.  You get to choose what products you want to add to your Starter Kit AND get free shipping (plus the assortment of Stampin' Pads mentioned above.)  AND there is no commitment to ever purchase anything again!

Another promotion that will end in 3 days is the Designer Series Paper promotion.  You can get one pack of select papers FREE when you buy three packs of select papers,   Here are the ten papers that are part of this amazing promotion:

• Nature's Poem, #146338
• Twinkle Twinkle , #146284
• Under the Mistletoe, #146921
• Animal Expedition, #146902
• Best Route, #146897
• Petal Promenade, #146913
• Tranquil Textures, #146331
• Garden Impressions, #146289
• Tropical Escape, #146916
• Wood Textures, #144177

Remember, Tuesday is the LAST DAY for these offers!!

OK -  enough business - on to some fun pictures from my Mom's 90th birthday party!  She was surprised but she really enjoyed herself!

Beautiful cake from Publix

We asked for donations to Camp Dogwood (a Lions Club camp for the visually impaired.)  I decorated Mason Jars and scattered them around the tables for donations.

My brother, Lee and my daughter, Ashley.  I think they were trying to see who was the tallest!

Not 90 candles but enough that she had a hard time blowing them out!

Mom and Sally, her sister-in-law (my dad's sister.)  They don't get together nearly enough!

Mom and her niece, Candy (mom's brother's daughter)

Lee, Marianne, Mom, Me and Angela

Mom with Marianne's Girlfriend (Sharon) and Sally

The grandchildren that were present + Morgan (the future granddaughter in law)

We were missing my son, and my brother's 2 children.

Greg and Marianne, mom, me and Sonny

Mom with Candy and Mark

After the party, the family and close friends went to a local BBQ restaurant.

We didn't have a kids table at the restaurant, but most of the kids were at the end of the table - away from the old folks!

August Stamp Club

These are the cards we made at Stamp Club this month.  I was thankful to have Ashley here to help out!

I think this one was my favorite.  It uses the Handwritten background stamp (P 172) and the Daisy Delight stamp and punch (p 123).  I sponged a little of Grapefruit Grove ink over the background.  I used the Detailed Dragonfly Thinlits for the little black dragonfly.

What a great use of the Tailored Tag Punch .... and a great way to use up scraps of DSP!!

I love the Varied Vases Punch!  For this card, I stamped the flowers directly onto the Crumb Cake cardstock with Versamark and embossed it with white powder.  The vases were stamped onto scrap white paper and punched out.  I love the color combination of Lemon Lime Twist and Gorgeous Grape!

I don't usually purchase the Hostess stamp sets but I fell in love with Hand Delivered (p 229) this year.  It is so versatile as you can see in the other cards below.  One of my gals needed a wedding shower card so I made this one for her to use.

Hand Delivered - birthday - I used the Stampin' Blends on the balloons.

Hand Delivered - missing you!  The dress is paper pieced with Subtles DSP stack. (p 191)

Here is another card using the Tailored Tag punch and some retired DSP.

Hopefully these cards give you some inspiration!

Broadway Star Paper Pumpkin

Yay!!  Another opportunity to spread the word about Paper Pumpkin.  These kits just keep getting better.  If you have not subscribed to Paper Pumpkin in the past, NOW is the time!  Please choose me as your demonstrator when signing up for Paper Pumpkin and use the Promo Code BLOOMO818.

I broke into my June Paper Pumpkin kit last weekend and made 2 of the cards per the included instructions and four alternative cards.  I still have materials to make several more cards.  I just love this kit - the Lemon Lime Twist and Lovely Lipstick go great together!

Card #1 per instructions included in Paper Pumpkin kit.

Card #2 per the instructions.

Alternative card #1 - I pieced the "Yay" together from the Hooray sticker that was included.  Peel and stick it with the balloons and stamp "It's your day."  Super easy!!

Alternative card #2 - I stamped the party hats, candles, etc. on the white sticker using the stamp set from Broadway Birthday (pg 69, annual catalog).  The die cut "WISH" is from the Broadway Lights Framelits.  I love how this bundle coordinated with the Paper Pumpkin this month.

Alternative card #3 - I die cut "happy" (retired Hello You framelits) from Lovely Lipstick cardstock and stamped "birthday" from Special Celebrations, masking "happy" that was on the stamp.

Alternative card #4 - The white piece with green dots down the side is one of the envelopes that came with the kit that I cut down.  The "hello" die cut is also from the retired Hello You framelits.  It is cut out from Gold Foil Sheets.

Manly Moments

I think a lot of us struggle with masculine cards - at least I know I do!  So I was tickled "blue" (not pink - it's a girly color!) when I opened my Paper Pumpkin last month and discovered the Manly Moments inside!  I love the laser cut pine trees in the kit.  The kit makes 10 full sized A2 cards with 10 decorated envelopes.  There are 2 styles of cards included - 5 regular side-fold cards and 5 tri-fold cards.  I made a couple of them using the directions that were included.  But I had fun looking through Pinterest and finding a few other ideas for the cards.

This is an alternate card.  I used the negative from the pine trees and sponged different greens on it, layering them on the card.

This is another alternate using the negative after popping out the label (see the Happy Birthday above).  I sponged Mint Macaron, Granny Apple Green and Soft Sea Foam onto the white card.

Another alternate.  This time I cut strips of the envelope, one of the cards and some scraps I had from the Wood Textures DSP pack and layered them onto a Mint Macaron card.

This is another alternative using the lighthouse from a previous Paper Pumpkin.  The Happy Birthday is from the die on page 217 of the annual catalog.

This card folds in from both sides.

Simple - just taped a piece of Mint Macaron ribbon underneath the badge (sentiment)

If you'd like to get signed up for Paper Pumpkin, there are a couple of ways to subscribe.  You can sign up for a subscription where you are billed monthly for your kit OR you can purchase a pre-paid subscription in my online store.  To see more information and to sign up for the monthly subscription, click above on Order Paper Pumpkin.  To see the options for pre-paid subscriptions in my online store, click above on Order Online.

I have been busy getting ready for my mom's 90th Surprise Birthday Party on Sunday!!  Ashley is flying in on Thursday so I'll have to keep her hidden until Sunday.  Mom will really be surprised to see her since she and I were just there (in Hawaii) visiting Ashley last month.  It worked out that Ashley has a class in DC in a week so she was able to take a little vacation time for the party.  Mom had told us girls a couple of months ago that she didn't want a party because all her friends were dead.  My sister (who lives with mom) is in charge of the invitations since she knows most of mom's church friends and friends from the Lion's Club.  Our numbers creep up every day and we are now at almost 80 people!!  So I guess everyone's not dead!  I have to go to the Dollar Store every couple of days to get more packs of plates, napkins, cups, etc.  After the party, our family members are going to a local restaurant for dinner which will make her happy too for all of us to get together.  The only one missing will be my son and his family which makes me so sad.