Although you cannot physically see my excitement… I am so excited I couldn't sleep! I am SOOOOOOO excited because my family and I are flying out to Florida today!  Yippie! Everyone is packed except for me of course.  I wouldn't have it any other way.  I'll be doing the FAST pack this morning.  It's going to be a big reunion as many of my family members come together.  My brother, Aunt and Uncles… So AWESOME. It's also our last summer hoo-rah before the kids start school. 

Last night I made something special for my mom.  Check it out…

The big question on my mind- "How will I get this on the plane without a wrinkle.  I'm flying with two kids, a dog, the prince and now the box.  Oh jeez.  This sounds like a blog post all by itself. 

Back to the box- The box was made from the Box #2 Die Cut.  This has always been one of my favorite box Sizzix Die Cuts because I can cut the top off and make the box all my own.  Very versatile box.  There are a few Holiday Mini products on the box too.  You can see the supplies I used below.  All products of course Stampin' Up! They are so fantabulous!

Stamps: Messages from Mom, Artistic Etchings, Style Beautiful

Cardstock: Riding Hood Red, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake

Ink: Early Espresso

Accessories: Rhinestone Gems, Box #2 SIzzix Die Cut, Big Shot, Large Label punch, Early Espresso Taffeta ribbon, Neutral Buttons, Cutter Tool Kit, Linen Thread. 1 3/4 Circle Punch, Spritzer Tool, Self adhesive Pearls, Vintage Trinkets

*The Big Scallop around the edge of the box is a new die cut coming out in the Holiday Mini. WOW!!!

I'll keep you posted on the family affairs and hopefully show you my favorite White Sandy Beaches. It's never a dull moment when we travel either.   Stay tuned. 

A couple of days ago you will remember I showed you the treat holder I demonstrated at my workshop.  You can see it again HERE.  I promised a video and I have it ready for you.  There is a funny in it, as always.  Jeesh!

Instead of doing the same ole treat I switched it up and created a little treat for Halloween.  My poor kids are so confused with the holidays right now.  Alexis does NOT understand why I am creating for Halloween so soon.  Brandon thinks Christmas is next month!  So funny!

Okay, here it is…

Ready to create? Watch my video:

Materials List:

Stamps: Wicked Fun

Ink: Basic Black

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Basic Black, Naturals Ivory, DSP Wicked Fun Specialty #117400

Accessories: Decorative Label punch (Holiday Mini), Glimmer Brads (SO fun, coming in the Holiday Mini), Markers: Tangerine Tango, Concord Crush, Basic Black, Vintage Trinkets, 1 1/4 Basic Black Grosgrain Ribbon, Border Scallop punch, Chocolates at Costco…

In other news, I am trying to get my kids ready for school.  You know the drill- haircuts, school clothes and school supplies.  Tonight as I put my boy to bed we had a deep chat.  More like another life lesson.  I have to admit that I love bedtime because it seems to be the time my kids really open up and chat.  Probably because they don't want to go to bed! Tonight's conversation was so sweet.  It was all about making new friends.  He's nervous and misses his friends in Colorado.  I wiped away little tears tonight and shed my big tears later.  Again, this will all be water under the bridge soon.  Friends will be made and we will laugh about all this soon. With our other moves the kids were smaller and meeting new friends was all relative.  Now that they're a little older this is a HUGE issue.  I'm excited for the school year to start so they can meet new buddies.  I think the first day of school will be memories like their first day of Kindergarten.  Bittersweet.  I'll be nervous for them myself. 

Enjoy the video and we'll meet up again in a few days-possibly tomorrow if I can get myself together. 

Tap, Tap, Tap! That's my foot on my floor as I wait for my new video to upload.  I wish I wasn't so impatient and so does my husband.  Sometimes it takes forever for videos to upload and even more so as I look at the clock and it reads a time I shouldn't even repeat.  Ack!

Tonight will be a quick post and something new.  My goal was to keep showing Summer Mini Products.  I can't lie…. I just needed to touch that new stuff.  It's so pretty and was calling for me to play with it. 

Can you scream for FABRIC???  I'm beyond excited that Stampin' Up! is offering a few pieces of fabric and I think you will too when you see just what you can do with it.  Don't think of of the traditional sewing machine.  If you are like me and have a sewing machine but only know a few stitches, well the fabric is still for you. It will be available on Sept 1st and it's going to be an adventure as I show you non traditional ways to use it.  Yippie.  Now, notice that cute little bag? It's also available on Sept 1st.  Wanna know the coolest thing?  It's already scalloped.  If you are a busy mom looking for FAST, FUN and SUPER cute goodie bags… Look no further.  Stampin' Up! is here to take care of you.  For me, time is precious and this saved me time just making this fast little bag. 

As I was playing with the Fabric, Alexis asked me to teach her to sew.  I had a feeling of, "oh no!" Where is my mom when I need her?  I really do not know how to sew.  Maybe a basic stitch or two but that is it.  In fact I have to get the instruction book out every time I need to thread the machine.  Seriously pathetic!  I couldn't let my little girl down and I couldn't embarrass myself so I sat with Alexis and taught her pretty much what I know about sewing.  She had a blast and it was GREAT bonding time for the two of us.  Tomorrow we are learning the ZIG ZAG stitch.  Don't laugh… this is HUGE for both of us. 

Here is my girl:

Isn't that sweet? Okay, so much for short…. the video is still not ready. I'm off to bed.  A video will be posted soon.  Hope your week is everything and FABULOUS!

I hope you don't mind me sharing about my first workshop I held last night in my new Stampin' Room.  One of the greatest gifts I get from being a demonstrator is forming new friendships while teaching the art and beauty of rubber stamping.  Many of you asked how in the world did I get this workshop so fast?  It's actually a little blessing from two great demonstrators.  Our stamping world really is a small world. Both demonstrators, Debbie Keane and Lisa Freeman referred them to me when the hostess had inquired about finding classes or a demonstrator and they lived about 4 hours away. Last night as we sat at the workshop I was demonstrating a 6 x 6 scrapbook page and showing them how great our albums are.  I opened one of my scrapbook albums and there was a few layouts of Lisa and I.  Completely unplanned, but funny with the way this whole story goes.   The hostess and I laughed and it proved what I've said so many times before…. Friendships are formed in this great craft we call "Rubber Stamping!"  Thanks to Debbie and Lisa I have 6 new friends that enjoyed a night of stamping in my house. We plan to have many more fun nights of stamping together! Hopefully Debbie and Lisa will get to come up and stamp in my room too!

Here we are playing with stamps…

It felt GREAT to teach again.  Ahhhh…. This is what I LOVE!

Let me show you what we made last night. 

I first demonstrated how great the Big Shot is.  Who doesn't love the BIG SHOT? Seriously, it's the BEST. I wanted to show how the Two Tags Die Cut is fabulous and versatile.  Remember the last card I showed to you?  Remember I said I created that card with something in mind? I wanted to show many ways to use this die cut.  I showed the card, Birthday/Christmas Tags and then this little cutie:

I will share how to make the project above tomorrow.  It's fast and easy and great for party favors. 

Then my workshop guests made these two projects:

I love the bright colors of this scrapbook page.  The inspiration for the colors came from my Color Coach that Stampin' Up! has.  This is such a GREAT tool that everyone should purchase. If you struggle with color combinations, Get the "COACH!" -120148

Lastly, we made a Christmas Card.  It's that time to get busy on your Christmas cards.  There are tons of great stamp sets to choose from and this one is a fun, simple set to use.  It's called Welcome Christmas- 120597

It was a fantastic night and I can't wait until the next workshop…. Yes, we will be meeting again.  WHOO HOO!!!!

The rest of my weekend has been filled with enjoying my family and more organizing.  Today I took Russ to IKEA.  He was in a state of confusion because he didn't "get" the store set up.  He probably couldn't concentrate either because I was singing the entire time we were in the store.  What can I say?  The store just makes me happy! I did get a few goodies for my stamp room.  I'll share soon.  LOL!

Enjoy your week. 

I felt a little emotional today.  Partly because things are "ending" here in Colorado Springs.  I held my last club today.  I called them the Pink Flamingo's.  Each of my clubs have always had a name either by an Ink color or DSP.  It had to be catchy and something I could remember.  My club members are like my family members.  I've gotten to know them and they have gotten to know me and my family.  I've loved how some of these ladies did not know each other in the beginning but learned to love each other and became friends throughout their club.  Many of them will continue to stamp together after I leave.  THIS is what I love about stamping.  It's something that can be done with a group of friends and we can share what we love together.  Great feelings.  Now the Pink Flamingo's will fly on their own.  Thank you to all my club members for all your support and bringing many happy, funny memories to my home.  I think my SCRAP club will go down in the history books for the FUNNIEST things that happened here.  ROFL!  Hmmmm….. 

Okay, time to focus!  I want to share with you a project we did at the club.  This is super EASY and fun.  It was inspired from one of my Scrapbook magazines. 

To make this I cut a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock at 9 x 4.  Score the cardstock at 3 and 6".  I used the Storybook DSP for the bottom of the accordion book.  ***Note, the front piece was snailed on.  The other two pieces I created pockets to fit the tea bag or a gift card using sticky strip.***I love this DSP and I think it's missed quite honestly because you have to touch it… It's a great designer paper to make boxes with because of the thickness.  The butterfly was die cut using the Sizzix Beautiful Butterflies Die Cut.  This is a Stampin' Up! exclusive… you gotta have it.  It's yummy!  I stamped it using the Elements of Style stamp set and Whisper White craft ink.  Then I embossed with White EP.  The cardstock I used for the butterfly was Crushed Curry.  Sniff… I am going to miss that color.  The FUN, FUN, FUN sentiments are from the stamp set Favorite Thoughts.  Another super set.  The scalloped Melon Mambo cardstock is stamped using the fun Punched Posies stamp set.  I love love this set.  I know, it's a Level 2 hostess set but it's stinkin' CUTE!!  I let the ink dry a bit and then sponged lightly around the edges with Chocolate Chip ink.  The butterfly was sponged first with Rich Razzleberry ink and then again with Chocolate Chip.

I hope you like this one.  I have two more projects to share still. 

Have a GREAT week.  It's my kids last week in school.  I have to make the most of this week.  Lots to clean out.  I'm counting down the days until my sweetheart is home.  Yippie Skippy! ***5 days***

Oh, have to ask…. Do any of you watch the show Glee?  I am sickly hooked.  I had to download the song Poker Face (Gaga's song) that they sang.  I just have it on repeat and haven't gotten sick of it yet.  Silly, I know!  At least you know what I'm doing.  Bwhhhahhha!