Time for an Update!

I swear I didn't think it was THAT long since I posted but evidently time passes faster than I realize.  I've had a great time with family over the holiday weekend and spent great time with my kiddo's.  Thanksgiving was awesome and I cooked.  The good news is everyone survived.  Then Russ and I had a CRAZY thought to go out on Black Friday!  The crazy part is we started at 2am.  WOW!  As I was standing in line at Old Navy in the cold I had a fleeting moment where I thought I was a complete idiot.  Once inside I confirmed it.  The fun part was doing the crazy shopping with my friend Cathy and Russ went his own way.  I have never laughed so hard.  Just watching all the crazy people was all the fun and being part of the crazy people will forever be a memory!  I wish I had brought my camera. 

Tonight we put our Christmas tree up.  I love putting Christmas music on and watching the kids put ornaments in places that almost make me jump out of my skin.  All the while telling them it looks FANTASTIC!  Do you do this?  I remember my mom every year putting the tree up.  It drove her CRAZY when we would put ornaments close together.  I knew she couldn't wait for us to go to bed so she could completely rearrange.  I didn't have the energy to rearrange our ornaments tonight.  There is a major bare spot that I can see and it will just have to be fixed at a later time.   

So how about some creations?

I have stamped!  I've actually been working on some Build a Bear projects I will share later this week.  Here are a few fun projects I worked on tonight!

I love that little Dasher stamp set.  He is super cute and inexpensive.  I used Serene Snowflakes all over the card and then used Christmas Greetings for the sentiment.  Of course no card is complete without a little ribbon and a few buttons.  Oh how I love buttons! Speaking of buttons, my MIL brought me a ton of VINTAGE buttons.  I squealed LOUDLY when I opened them up.  They are delightful!

Here is a close up of my Dasher!

Then I decided to pull out my Yuletide Christmas stamp set out.  Love this set!

I added a little ribbon, and some beads.  Oh my!  Just vintage pretty!  <squeal>

Last I had to make a birthday card and I wanted to add snowflakes for a winter birthday feel.  Does that even make sense? Oh anyhoo!

I LOVE Kraft paper! I LOVE buttons!  I LOVE Stampin' Up!  Seriously!  Love all their products.  I used the Serene Snowflakes and the Charming stamp set on this card.. 

Here it is close!

Love Kraft cardstock with Soft Suede cardstock.  It just screams PRETTY!

Lastly I will leave you with a peek of my kids and their cute santa hats.  I love this time of year!

Have a GREAT week!  Create lots!

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Role Models

My little boy called me from school this morning and made my heart ache, but also got me thinking.  He joined the school archery program two weeks ago.  It's a short, before school program that only lasted two weeks.  Brandon is not a huge sports fan however this program was super exciting for him.  Every morning getting up extra early getting ready for school and the program.  While he struggled with the program because of strength he kept going and truly enjoyed it.  This morning was the last day of the program.  His sweet teacher called me to talk to him because he was so sad after the morning archery events.  It seems that awards were handed out and Brandon came out with no awards.  He was just pitiful on the phone.  Heartbreaking for any mother to hear.  He was sad that he didn't get a ribbon.  Of course I put my "mommy" hat on quickly and explained to him that even though he walked away without a ribbon he did his very best and we are so proud of him and he should be proud of his accomplishments.  He worked HARD! 

I hope that with my business I am able to teach my children that while we work hard at what we do, it's not always easy.  I've been with Stampin' Up! 6 years and my success came after many many obstacles and failures along the way.  It wasn't until two years ago that I was given any award even though I have worked hard the last 6 years.    I tried to explain this to my little boy this morning, that even though we work hard for our accomplishments it doesn't mean we will always be rewarded for them.  It may take awhile to learn the skill of archery to become good at it.  Then with lots of hard work he will be GREAT at it. 

That is my morning dose of motherhood.  My boy did ask that I come eat lunch with him at school and of course I said yes.  He then asked for McDonalds.  How can I say no?  McDonalds cures everything. 

I do have something pretty to share.  This card was demonstrated at the Stamposium.  I used the lattice die cut and made a template using Thick Window Sheets.  I then sponge daubed around the template using Soft Suede.  I like the way it turned out.  I used the Serene Snowflakes stamp set with Soft Suede ink and stamped over the template.  That beautiful snowflake on the Designer paper is soft and fluffy and comes from the Christmas Cocoa Specialty paper.  It's stunning designer paper. 

I'm off to McDonalds and then to give my little boy a hug.  Have a fabulous weekend!

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Whippin’ out the Holiday Tags!

It's craft show season and I'm busy as an elf here.  My stampin' studio is a complete MESS!  Between classes and craft shows right now I will have to live with the fact that my room will just be MESSY!  I am whippin' out these gift tags and having a blast using all kinds of stuff on them.  You will notice that I have used a few retired products from last year.  I have some Felt Flurries left over from last year that I wanted to use and I just loved those things.  They are so fun and I could touch them all day!  You will notice I added lace using my sewing machine.  I had it and just wanted to use it.   I also used lots and lots of buttons.  They are my new favorite embellishment.  Love me some buttons!!!!! 

Here are the tags:

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Please note that if  you are a subscriber, you will have to go directly to my site to see these pics.  I hope this gives you a little holiday inspiration. 

Okay, now for more Birthday cards that I had received.  These are just awesome.  It's so fun to get cards in the mail.  I just LOVE it. 

My friend Linda Shaw made this card and she thinks she is not creative.  She must be out of her crazy mind!  It's gorgeous.  I love tone on tone. 

Lisa made this fun balloon card using the Sweet Centers stamp set and oval punches.  I must take her up and away!  LOL!

I love how my friend Lisa used the Cracked Glass technique on this card.  Super beautiful!!!

My sweet friend Mary made this gorgeous card.  Love the glitter and she used the spritzer tool.  Oh how I love that spritzer tool.    I sure do miss you Mary!!!

These two cards below were made by my dear friend Patty Bennett!  Are these not just BEAUTIFUL??  Love how she is a ROCK STAR with the My Digital Studio.  She can whip these out so fast and they are gorgeous.  I'm so jealous!!!

Isn't this just CRAZY inspiration today????  I have one more. 

This is a card I made for Tara's stamposium.  Remember I did projects using the Big Shot.  I wanted to show them how to do the Top Note Medallion.  It's so fun and pretty. 

I made the top note medallion and stamped the French Filigree background  onto the Top Note.  Oh so pretty!!!  I then used A Happy Heart stamp set and stamped the heart and cut it out.  Yea! Overall a pretty easy card. 

I hope this gives you lots to be inspired with today.  I'm off to work and get ready for the week of classes and clubs.  Non stop stamping in my house this week.  I don't think I can gripe about that.    Plus I have SO much craft show stuff to do. 

Big Hugs to each of you!

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Scrapbooking and more!

Good morning friends! 

It was a busy weekend here in my household.  I had an excellent trip to Denver and managed to get myself and my friends safely there and back even in the snow.  My friends even gave me the Golden Wheel award for my driving efforts.  I think they white nuckled it all the way to Denver but we did get there safely for the Stamposium and had a great time.  We did leave a little early because the weather was going to get worse which was a big FAT bummer.  We were wide awake with THREE stops to Starbucks!  I'm surprised I could drive. 

I want to share with you some of the projects I shared at the Stamposium.  Tara Bazata and her amazing downline put on a wonderful gig.  We really enjoyed ourselves and met a bunch of GREAT demonstrators.  My favorite part of these events is meeting other demonstrators.  You become instant friends.  SO FUN!

Here is a picture of my friend Christy and I. 

I was presenting projects with the Big Shot.  How can you not love this fantabulous tool????  It has made my stamping life so much GREATER.  I worked with the Top Note Die, Lattice Die and the Circle #2 Die.  Here are the projects I made:

This layout uses the Circles #2 Die Cut.  It's perfect for all kinds of circles, but makes the prettiest posies.  Well, that is the flower I am calling it.  LOL! Love how buttons just add so much to a layout.  I added felt flowers and a few fun brads for embellisments. This is an 8.5 x 8.5 layout. 

This layout used two die cuts: Hearts & Brackets and Lattice Die Cut.  Both are exclusive to Stampin' Up! and PERFECT for a scrapbooker.  The Hearts were cut out using Stampin' Up!'s Long Board Chipboard and Felt.  ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh I love cutting felt.  The Lattice Die was cut and you can see I made it twice it's normal size.  So fun.  I hope to make a video on how to do this as soon as Russ (camera dude) can free his travel schedule.    These are really simple layouts, but FUN! 

Now, let me share with you some fun Birthday cards that were sent to me.  They are so pretty and I am so thankful for my friends. 

I have many more to share.  I have to shoot more pics.  It's time for me to get back to work for a little bit.  So many things to do… not enough time. 

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He’s home! I’m Happy!

That's right!  I am so happy my sweetheart is home.  Can you tell from the picture above?  He was away for awhile overseas. While we have been apart much longer, it seemed like forever this time for both myself and the kids.  This explains the lack of blogging on my part.  I've been trying to play Super Woman for the past month and figured out on day 2 of Russ being gone that it wasn't happening.  It's okay.  I get the reality check of not being Super Woman every other week.   

This is my sweetheart!  He really is a great guy and deserves a medal putting up with me!    He gets to see all my creations in action!  I just love this guy!

Now that he is home I was really able to get some FABULOUS creating time in today.  Whoo Hooo!!!!  I have boat loads in the works and so much to share it really is pretty sick.  You would be here for a day if I uploaded all of it.  But I am going to try over the next few days.  In a few short hours I am headed to Denver for a Stamposium that my friend and fellow Advisory Board member is holding.  I am presenting Big Shot projects and I am giddy about it.  I love my Big Shot.  You just have to have one.  It's the best tool ever.  Below is one fun project I am showing.  I used the Charming stamp set from the Holiday Mini and I love this set.  I used the Itty Bitty Box and Envelope die cut and put these two cute 2 x 2 cards inside the box.  If you look carefully the top of the box has the Lattice die cut on top of it.  Isn't that Lattice Die just the best?   

 You can see here I used Soft Suede and Kraft cardstock.  I also used the Great Friend stamp set.  Love that set too.  Yippie!!!!

 Another minor detail I left out the other day…. Tuesday was my birthday.  I'm not going to lie.  I held  my own pity party until my friends sprung me out of it.  While my kids are out of this world wonderful, I was a bit sad not spending the day with Russ.  However, my friends and fellow demonstrators were not going to let me have that pity party.  They made my day more than fabulous.  They called me, came by and just made me smile.

 My friend Dawn made me this beautiful box below and took me to lunch.  Check out the detail of this box.  She painted it and stamped it.  I was just amazed at the beauty of my special box.  Guess what?  It has the best truffles inside.  They are so yummy!!!!

 Check out the detail on this box.  See the curly cues that she made with the ribbon?  Oh so pretty!!!  Thank you Dawn for making my day so special. 

 Then my friend Bonnie made this beautiful matchbox with my BUSINESS CARD!  Holy Cow I almost wet my pants.  Is that not just the coolest thing?  She also made me a strap for my camera that is unreal.  She is going to be making them and selling them.  She is super UBER talented and the beautiful buttons she put on my camera strap just blew me away.  Thank you Bonnie for making my day so very special. 

The end of my birthday was a TRUE surprise.  My friends Wendy and Angie brought me a cake with beautiful balloons.  They knew Russ wasn't here and knew the kids were not bringing mommy a cake.  When I opened the door I wanted to cry because it meant so much to me.  The fact they knew it was my birthday blew me away.  I had so many friends that really made my day special.  They are the BEST.  I have beautiful cards I will share over the weekend.  You must see these gorgeous cards.  Spectacular. 

I'm off to bed.  Early morning for me and a snow storm coming.  UGH!  Pray my awesome downline and I make it to Denver okay. We are super excited about the event.  Have a great weekend. 

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