Good evening from snowy Colorado!  I think half the US is getting lots of snow.  I know my husband has seen his fair share in the DC area.  He has been snowed in for a few days.  I am hoping the airport re-opens and he is able to fly home later this week. 

I've been busy the last few days getting my classes/workshops ready for the month.  Lots of stamping happening here.  I've also continued with my mission to make my honey a few Valentines.  One product I had on hand and have not played with NEAR enough are the Wood Sheets.  I used these in my club last month and I really liked them.  Check out this card:

I cut the wood sheets using the Clear Circle (114533) and the Chocolate Chip cardstock with the Scallop Circle (113468)  Die cut.  Before putting the Wood sheet onto the cardstock I stamped with Chocolate Chip ink using the I {Heart} Hearts stamp set.  Then I used the Heart Punch and punched the heart so I could fit one of those cute Heart Treat Cups (120435) inside.  Fits PERFECT!  There is still time to get those awesome little cups.  I put some M&M's inside the Heart Treat Cup.  I tied a bow using Chocolate Chip Tafetta ribbon and then added a small tag using the Jewelry Tag punch and the new stamp set Tiny Tags (118091) .  I think I should make my kids something like this for Valentines.  Hmmmm…

Speaking of the kids!  Tonight we spent two hours working on Valentines.  I love, love the age of my kids right now.  They say the funniest things. My son told me tonight that he has a crush on two girls.  He was making their Valentines extra special.  Remember, he's in third grade!  What was funny was how he told me this crush was "serious" because he new the girls "MIDDLE" names.  Oh boy! That's SERIOUS!  <giggle> 

I hope your week is starting off great.  If you are snowed in, stamp something pretty. 

Are you ready for Valentines Day?  My sweetheart comes home that weekend so I am not just READY, I am counting down the DAYS!  Yippie!  I'm getting lots of stamping done in the mean time.  I need to make sure everything is caught up so I have the weekend free and clear.  Hubba hubba!

I'm completely focused on finishing up my mission for Russ with these Valentine cards.  Here is another one I finished. 

This card uses a lot of the Simply Scappin' Kit Love Sparkles.  I used the die cut stickers on the background of the Chocolate Chip Textured Cardstock and I loved how these stickers really stand out on the card in real life.  Hard to grasp it in the picture.  The Scallop Trim border punch is from Sale-a-Bration.  Love that punch.  I also added a Pink Corduroy button with linen thread because I felt it needed it.  LOL!

Pretty simple card.  It's what's on the inside that he will care about! <wink>

Have a FABULOUS DAY!

You are probably asking yourself, "what in the world?"  What does this title stand for?  Let me tell you how my world changed in a split second on Sunday!

My Alexis LOVES to play with Stampin' Up! boxes.  Believe me, there are plenty that make it through my door.  She loves to decorate them, and color them. She had a friend over on Sunday and her and the friend were playing with the boxes.  They were using their imagination and making a cool club house.  I thought it was awesome.  Just a few minutes later I heard screaming.  It was Alexis!  The friend was poking a hole through the box using CHILD SAFE scissors and Alexis was on the other end of the hole.  The scissors poked her eye.  OUCH!  The nurse in me FROZE!  (yes, I was a nurse prior to Stampin' Up!)  I could see blood in her eye and that scared me.  We dropped everything and went to the ER.  I am so thankful I had a girlfriend  working in the ER that night.  Not only did she make my little girl calm she made me calm.  I needed that. {I love you Lisa!}  Long story short, Alexis is going to be fine.  She did lacerate the sclera of the eye (white part of your eye).  It's still looks awful.  Her vision is fine.  Thank God!  All this craziness happened on Sunday!  Monday was a day of going to see an eye Dr. What a MESS!  Again, I am just thankful she is okay.  Poor Russ.  Nothing is worse than hearing the frenzy over a phone. I kept him in the know at all times but I know it still hurt not being here.  For me, his calming voice was like a GIANT prozac pill.  Of course, that is typically what he does for me.  <sigh>

That's a mouthfull of information tonight, wasn't it.  Guess what Alexis taught at school yesterday?  Scissor SAFTEY!  <smile>

So tonight I am sitting quietly in my stamp room listening to music being a little thankful for many of the stamping friends in my life.  One talked to me for hours during the day and the other in the wee hours of the morning.  Ahhhh…. Took my mind to other fun places.  

  Let me show you a few things I have created! 

Remember I am on a mission to send Russ lots of Valentine cards.  I am so proud of myself.  This card uses a few stamps and a Stencil!  I used the Love U stencils.  Did you know there are 7 stencils in this set?  WOW.  All for 14.95!  I love that. 

Look at all these stencils you get in the pack:

I just laid the stencil down on my Kraft cardstock and then used a Real Red Craft pad and a sponge dauber and colored inside the stencil.  Since I used Craft ink I let it dry for a little bit and then I started embellishing.  I stamped over the stencil with the Bella Toile background stamp set with Creamy Caramel ink to give the area a little something somthin'.  I likey!  I added other little embellishments like a button (big surprise!) and then a few of those fun chocolate brads.  yummo!  Don't forget to give it a little spritz with shimmer mist.  Love those Shimmer Paints!!!

Remember a few days ago I mentioned I was having my big Diva night?  I've been asked what this is all about.  It's a special night of stamping for demonstrators on my team that have worked really hard in the last quarter.  I make dinner for them (they survived, yeah) and then we stamp all night.  Those crazy ladies kept me up until 2:30am.  I made them each a little goodie bag with this tag attached.  I love my entire team.  They are VERY special! The designer paper on this tag came from the Simply Scrappin' Kit called Love Sparkles.  Fun Scrappin' kit!  I love the little gems that come from the Eggcellent Eggs Kit.  If you get bored you can put one on your cheek bone and pretend to be Lady Gaga for a moment.  Ahhhh… I digress. 

Well that's my news for this Tuesday night.  I've got a lot of stamping to get done since none was done the last two days.  It's time to get busy!

Have a great week.  If you have kids, teach them SCISSOR SAFTEY!!!! 

I've spent most of the day in my office prepping for lots of clubs/workshops/classes today.  That means I've been cutting paper! LOL!  I have two projects to share today.  One was a scrapbook layout we did late last week.  The other is a card I just made tonight.  The scrapbook layout has tons of fun products on it.  Let me show you!

I don't have pictures on the layout yet because I am going to put pictures with the upcoming Valentines Day.  Actually, I am hoping that Russ has something cool up his sleeve for Valentines Day and then I can put it on this layout.  ROFL!  That really makes me laugh!  It will probably be me planning that little gig.  Anyways, I have tons of products on this layout.  I am going to list them below so you can see ALL the fun things here. 

Supplies:

Stamps: Whimsical Words (SAB), Extra Postage (Mini), Things I Love

Inks: Whisper White Craft Ink, Chocolate Chip

Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Real Red, Pretty in Pink,

Accessories: Sending Love Specialty Paper, 1 3/4" Circle Punch, Scallop Circle Punch. 3/4" circle punch, Hearts & Brackets Die Cut, Stampin' Up! Alphabet Simple, Modern Label Punch, Sherbert Buttons, Small Heart Punch, Chocolate Chip 5/8" Satin Ribbon, Large Glassine Envelope, 1 1/4 Square Punch, Scallop Square Punch, Dimenisonals, Linen Thread

I loved using the Glassine envelope on the layout because it gives me a chance to journal the things I love and there is another piece of cardstock for HIM to write what HE loves.  It's a fun layout.  I love the Hearts & Brackets Die Cut.  Great die cut to have right now with Valentines around the corner. 

This next project was a quick card I made tonight.  I've had this idea in my head since I took a shower this morning.  You know, "shower inspiration".  We all get it!

This is another card for Russ.  It does have special meaning.  It's filled with "Grandma" buttons. 

It's a fairly simple card.  I cut a piece of chipboard and Real Red cardstock and die cut both of them using my Hearts & Brackets die cut.  For the base of the card I used Naturals Ivory cardstock.  yummo.  It's one of my fav cardstocks to use.  I layered it with another piece of Naturals Ivory but this time I ran it through my Big Shot using the Polka Dot embossing folder.  I attached the Chipboard heart using dimensionals and then I started adding those buttons.  The last tiny element on the card was just adding the tiny tag with "LOVE" stamped from the Tiny Tags stamp set.  I tied it on with a little Linen Thread.  It's not a secret that I love buttons.  This card for Russ will add just a little more "love" since they are mostly "Grandma's" buttons. 

Hope your week is going FANTASTIC!  Stamp something pretty today. 

Valentines Day is not far away and I thought I would *try* and surprise Russ with a card at least every other day until Valentines Day.  So far I have succeeded to send him NONE!  Ahhhhh!!!!!  I needed to do some midnight stamping after a day of only doing paper work.  To start my night I thought I would make the first card for him.  I don't think I need to keep these manly.  He already knows I like frilly, foo foo things so I kept to what I like. My thoughts are this will make him think of me.  ROFL!  Who am I kidding?  I really don't know how to make a "man" card.  Maybe I will challenge myself next week.  LOL!

So here is the start of my personal challenge:

Believe it or not this card only took a few minutes to make.  Lots of different products are on the card, but it went together pretty stinkin' fast. 

I started with a Chocolate Chip cardstock base.  On the bottom half of the card I used the French Filigree Background with Basic Black Craft ink.  I embossed over the image with Clear embossing powder.  I then added some Sweet Pea Designer Series Paper.  WOW I love this paper pack.  Totally new and great designs with that paper.  It's SICK! (I'm laughing at myself)

Once I added the designer paper I used a corner rounder on all four sides of the card.  The mid section of the card I used Real Red cardstock and paper pierced it and sponged it softly with Chocolate Chip.  Reminds me of Chocolate Covered Cherries that my friend sends me.  YUMMO!  The XOXO are Chipboard letters from the On Board Loads of Letters.  I just wheeled right on over those letters using the I {Love} Love Wheel found in the Mini Catalog.  Lastly, I stamped the sentiment from the Mini Occassions Level 1 Hostess Set, Picture This onto Kraft cardstock in Chocolate Chip ink.  I punched the image out using the Modern Label Punch. GREAT PUNCH!!!  Then of course this is when the foo foo comes in.  I added the little red button with some Linen Thread.  You know, that Linen Thread could be portrayed as Manly!  Is Manly a word? Maybe it's supposed to be Man-ly?  Oh who cares at this time of night, really?  Thanks for stopping by today.  I think I need to go to bed. I am starting to get a little silly!

Have a GREAT Tuesday!  Remember… you can help Haiti today by ordering the I {Heart} Heart stamp set.  $2 from every set will go to help Haiti! 

XOXOXOXOXO