Might be GLOOMY but I have HOPE!

The weather outside is quite fitting for the day.  It's dark and dreary with oodles of rain coming down.  Perfect day for a stamper in all honesty!  Unfortunately the gloomy weather goes along with the gloomy feeling I have today.  We received word yesterday that my kids Principle at the school passed away.  She had been very sick and lost her battle with cancer.  I sat with the kids as we talked about what happened and how we know she's in a beautiful place now and pain free.  Since my kids haven't been at this school for very long they didn't know her as well as many of the other children did. This Principle was very active in the school and engaged in many activities with the kids and was well loved by so many.  Our school is SO sad!  

This morning I brought some cards to a few of the teachers and friends that I knew were having a really hard time with the news.  I am ALWAYS at a loss for words when it comes to death or grieving.  Simply because I shake in my boots that I may say the wrong thing.  It's been known to happen ya know!  I went ahead and kept my mouth shut and quietly handed them a hand stamped card.  I know it brightens my day whether its a good or bad day so why not brighten theirs?  

There was one card I made last night for one of the staff members I think is really special.  She has no clue I think she is SO special but this woman always puts a smile on my face when I see her and she ALWAYS gives me hope.  Stampin' Up! is releasing this new stamp set below called Strength & Hope.   This stamp set and a new Digital Kit will be available in the Summer Mini for purchase on May 1st.  For every set sold, Stampin' Up! will give $2 to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.  Isn't this amazing? 

I thought this was a perfect card for my special person.  While CANCER is such an awful awful disease, I do have hope that we will one day find a cure.  I have HIGH hopes that you will want this stamp set and TOGETHER we will make a difference! Don't worry, I will remind you when it's available!

There are a few other things besides the Strength & Hope stamp set that I used.  You will notice the Paisley Prints Designer Series Paper and the label image from the Four Frames stamp set that will be available April 1st.  Here is a list of supplies:

Cardstock: 
Blushing Bride, Early Espresso, Naturals Ivory

Ink:

Blushing Bride, Early Espresso

Accessories:

Victoria Lace, Crumb Cake Seam Binding, Antique Brads, Decorative Label punch, Paper Piercer & Mat Pack,

You can find these supplies in my Online Store.  Make sure you check out the Clearance Rack too!  Great sales and great products!

I'm going to finish working on the supply list you will need to stamp with ME next week.  {SO exciting!} In the meantime, what is the ONE thing you love to do for a special friend?  

XOXOXO

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Simple Sympathy Card

I wanted to share another card from my Stamp a Stack the other day.  You've heard me say before that Sympathy cards are ones that I just don't keep on hand.  While it may be one of my least favorite cards to make, the stamp set Thanks for Caring is simply beautiful.

I used Sahara Sand and Basic Black for the cardstock and ink.  I love how this card was easy to make with the help of punches.   I used the Decorative Label, 2 1/2" Circle and the Modern Label punch for the focal point of this card. Of course, we missed you at my Stamp a Stack, but you can get all the supplies to make this card in my Online Store. 

Time for  Weekend Update!  The kids are still fighting their cooties.  In fact, I took Alexis to the Urgent Care tonight because she just wasn't herself.  She took a nap today and that was WAY off base for her. She complained of a new symptom today which was the straw that broke the camels back.  While the rapid strep test came back negative we'll see what happens from the culture.  She is now on an antibiotic and I hope this helps. Poor girl has been sick too long.
While the kids may not feel 100%, they are still playing around the house and acting like monkeys.  This is how we all felt tonight!

I just keep telling myself, it will get better. 

Enjoy your weekend. 

XOXOXO

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Box of Wisdom

Having a loss of stamping mojo? Let me introduce you to the Box of Wisdom & Box of Awesomeness!

I love when my kids use their imagination and this is one of their cool creations.  The Box of Wisdom has been around for months and was built by my little gems.  We took it down during the holidays to make room for our Christmas Tree but promised it would come back!  It's back and they added another room!  We now have the Box of Awesomeness!  Alexis says when I lose my Stampin' Mojo the box of Wisdom can help and who wouldn't want to step into the Box of Awesomeness? While this huge box is an unsightly scene in my "dining room" it has brought out the creative imaginations of my kids and myself.  I've been "allowed" inside a few times and have to say they are brilliant.  The fun ways they use it makes me laugh and I love when they add something new to the creation because it's a BIG deal!  We've even had sleepovers inside this crazy place! It is quite awesome.

Okay- onward to some Stampin' Awesomeness!  Is that even a word?

I had to make a card tonight that I really didn't want to make.  A sympathy card.  My sweet SIL lost her father this past weekend while I was in Nashville.  I hate not being closer to my family.  I hated not being there for her this week.  Just stinks.  This is for her-

Here is another card I shared at Leadership:

And here is a layout I shared at Leadership:

Love those trinkets!

Time to stamp a few more things before I rest my eyeballs. 

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A dear friend of mine recently lost her Father in Law and I wanted her to know she was in my thougts.  I used a few different stamp sets for this card.  I always pull out my Friends 24-7.  It goes with everything!  Thoughts and Prayers is one of my favorite Get Well/Sympathy sets.  The images are beautiful.  The last set I used was Happy Together.  It's that cute bird!  Oh the BIRDS!  They get me every time.  Overall the card is simple, but I just wanted my friend to know I love her and thinking of her during this rough time. 

I've had lots of emails about the tiles.  If you have tile questions, go to this post http://stampinbythesea.com/tile-questions and I think it will answer a lot of your questions.  I am so sorry I cannot answer all the emails right away… but I have a BIG stamp a stack tomorrow and of course I am NOT ready.  <big smile>!

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Serious Stampin’ Going On!

Like I told you yesterday, there has been lots of stamping going on here in my stamp room.  I had two card classes back to back where my stampers really took home lots of cards.  I wanted to share some of the cards we did tonight.  This class is "Just Cards" and each month I change the theme.  If your like me, I can stamp these wonderful cards but I am always out of the traditional all occassion cards.  This month the theme is one I never like to stamp, but I do need.  We stamped Get Well and Sympathy cards.  I call this class an express class because we really do fast stamping.  These cards are nice and quick and easy to put together.  Here is taste of the express….

This card uses the Wellness Wishes (115356) stamp set.  You can barely see it, but I used the Textured Jumbo Wheel (116685) on the  bottom of the Brilliant Blue cardstock.  Don’t forget to stamp the envelope.  How cute is that Bandaid.  I just love it. 

This card uses the Wellness Wishes stamp set too.  Again, simple assembly to make many of these cards.  I made a faux ribbon banner by using the Crushed Curry DSP on the side of the card.  Super easy, and a cool technique. 

With these colors, who wouldn’t feel better?  This is the last stamp in the Wellness Wishes.  Really a great stamp set.  I love the new In Color DSP.  Designer Paper always adds such spunk to any card. 

This beautiful stamp set, Thoughts and Prayers (113252) is really a must have in any stamp room.  The stamp set is beautiful.  I could go crazy with embellishments on ths card but I thought I did a good job of keeping it on the simple side.  I used Bordering Blue, Soft Suede and Not Quite Navy cardstock.  Oh yummy!

You know my feelings on the Medallion stamp set.  It’s just a must have.  YOU NEED IT!  I love how these colors worked together.  The front cover of the new Idea Book and Catalog gave me the color inspiration for this card.  I really don’t think you can make an ugly card with the Medallion stamp.  Just stamping on the envelope made me jump for joy. 

This last card I am sharing is a card made at my last workshop.  It was a Fall Themed Workshop!

This card uses the Falling Leaves stamp set and Bright Blessings Jumbo Wheel.  Such a GREAT jumbo wheel.  Can you see all the fabulous words?  I also used a label from the Hodgepodge Hardware and cut the bottom piece off and had the sentiment hang from the Linen Thread. 

I have many more to share tomorrow.  I hope this inspires you to stamp some all occassion cards. 

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