A good cry is in order!  Today I set my sites on getting out of the house and passing out business cards.  Possibly this was a day or two early!  Don't get me wrong, I am TOTALLY ready for new stamping friends. However this house is a wreck!  Have you ever felt that you've taken a few steps forward only to find that you are 5 steps back?  That was my day.  Overall, it was fantastic.  I'm trying to unpack and organize and after I looked at my accomplishments I felt a little deflated that more wasn't done.  Russ heard a good cry after he came home from work today.  This prompted him to run down to my office with his drill and hang hardware on my walls.  <sigh>.  I just want to twinkle my nose and have everything perfect so I can MOVE on.  One day of NORMAL isn't asking too much is it? I guess when you are not "normal" that is asking a lot.  JEESH!

Anyways, another way to cure a not so fab day is to stamp.  Tonight, I officially STAMPED!  WOOT! Once the stamp was in my hand it was all okay.  Although it's just a 3 x 3 card… ROFL!  I'm making a few 3 x 3 bundles for gifts to give to NEW "friendly" friends.  For instance, the pharmacy lady was super nice to me when I was so sick.  I wanted to thank her so I thought a few 3 x 3 cards would be easy and a fun gift. 

These are very vintage using all kinds of fun stamp sets and DSP.  I love the Fabulous Phrases in the new catalog.  WOW.  I also used the Love Note DSP.  WOW WEE!! 

Isn't that LACE gorgeous?  I love how easy it is to work with.  So many fun new toys. 

Okay, now for something totally fun and new!  The last few days I have been getting a few emails about business and life in general.  I thought it would be fun if I did a little Q & A.  Ask a question-Business or Personal and I will compile all the Questions together and then answer them in a video.  I will take Questions until Sunday, August 1st!  Just ask your question in the comments.  It will be easy for me to keep up with them there.  I will post the video on Monday!

Hope your Friday is Fabulous!

I love the new Milk Carton die cut that's in the Spring Mini Occasions.  You can do so many cute things with it.  Today I had a workshop for a great friend of mine and her husband recently purchased the Milk Carton die for her.  So we decided to demonstrate the Milk Carton so she would know how to put it together.  I made two milk cartons and then put them in this cute little box.  While I thought for sure the two milk cartons would fit into the Box #2 Die Cut, not so.  The BEST thing about paper is you can make your own box!  I took a piece of Kraft cardstock measuring 7 x 5 1/4 and then scored all four sides at 1 3/4.  Fits two of those super cute milk cartons.  I added a few extras to finish the box.  I used the Chocolate Bunny and inked it with VersaMark and embossed it using Gold embossing powder.  I then punched it out with the 1 3/4 circle punch and adhered it onto the box. 

Here is the project they made at the workshop:

I will make a video of this project soon.  It's a little 3 x 3 card holder.  We used the Rich Razzleberry and Crushed Curry cardstock to make this project.  We also used the Beautiful Butterflies Die Cut.  The sentiment for the middle of the butterfly on the 3 x 3 card is Whimsical Words which you can receive FREE with any $50 order you place until the end of March. Who doesn't love Sale-a-Bration? 

Now it's time to finish up projects for next week.  I've been watching the foggy, snowy weather tonight.  Blech! It's a perfect weekend for stamping.  I hope you are stamping something pretty, too!

This card reminds me of something very delicate.  Maybe it's the soft background which is brand new in the Occassions Mini Catalog?  It's called Fine Flourish and it's so beautiful.  Then when you pair it with these fun Butterflies I think it makes it even more delicate.  The butterflies are from a new Embosslits Die called Beautiful Wings by Stampin' Up!  So love it. Everything on this card is Very Vanilla except for one piece of Chocolate Chip cardstock piece.  I also used the Tiny Tags stamp set and Tiny Tag punch.  The border is from the new Sale-a-Bration punch called Scallop Trim Border.  You can make this fun border around your cardstock layers when you use the Scallop Trim Corner punch with that cool Border punch.  Yee Haw! Love it. 

These butterfly tags were made using that same new Embosslits.  I made these when I was home stamping with my mom.  Something I already miss.  My mom is so fun to stamp with.  She is a great stamper and we giggle together over our creations and boy can we make a MESS.  My dad would just walk by and shake his head and then look at us and acknowledge our "beautiful" creations. Even if it wasn't pretty, he said it was.  Kinda like when I was a teenager and I came out of my room with blue eyeshadow and stirrup pants.  He just said, "Beautiful".  ROFL.  And GET THIS… did you know those stirrup pants are back in style?  I am "totally" going to get some.  It's a must.  May help with my "I'm turning 40 soon, crisis!" 

I guess it's time for me to go to bed.  I'm babbling and my arm is killing me from all the stamping I have been doing lately. 

It seems like time is just flying by lately.  I am finally back from a whirlwind, but WONDERFUL vacation.  I had a great time with my family in Florida and then headed to Phoenix for the BEST Leadership I have ever been too.  First, Phoenix is a GREAT city.  I loved the weather and everything about that place.  I also made some GREAT memories with my downline.  While it was pretty busy during the conference I loved spending time with so many demonstrators.  Being with my friends on the Advisory Board was delightful.  It's funny how in the beginning I really did not know many of these ladies and now I feel like they are my sisters.  Older of course.  ROFL!  I am sure I am going to hear about that one.  <smile>

To sum it up… GREAT time.  I do have pictures, but not many.  I was too busy gabbing.  Nothing unusual.    I am going to ask my sweet friends if I can borrow some of their pictures. 

Well, I do have a few fun things to share.  These are some of the swaps I have done recently. 

I used the set Garden from the Heart.  I also used the new Scallop Punch that you can get during Stampin' Up!'s fantastic Sale-a-Bration special going on NOW.  Wow there are alot of great stamps and accessories in that catalog.  I also used the stamp set Well Scripted (117072).  I love the elegance that each of the sentiments have.  Great set!

I thought this card was appropiate.    This is the Good Neighbors stamp set in the Sale-a-Bration brochure.  Isn't that the cutest set.  Love these little houses. 

Gotta run.  Getting ready for some fabulous ladies stampin' at my house. 

No, I am not talking about myself.  Hee Hee.  How about the stamp set Fox and Friends?  I've been holding out on all the new fun products since the first week of December.  I've been playing with them and they are more than amazing.  I love when a new Mini Catalog comes out.  It always brings excitement to my business at a time I need it.  Don't get me wrong, 99% of the time I am excited about everything.  New products just give my belly butterflies.  This Mini Catalog gave me more than butterflies.  There is a transistion in this Mini Catalog that you are sure to enjoy.  Clear mount stamps.  When I received my stamp sets I was a little timid to use them.  In fact, I have to admit that I called Stampin' Up! to ask how to mount them although the instructions were in front of me. Oh jeeze, call me stupid… it was really simple.  If I had read the instructions it was all easy.  <smile>. Now a few weeks later, I want to share a few samples I have created.  I will be sharing sneak peek samples up to the day of the launch of the catalog.  I think you are going to love these products. 

I used the Fox and Friends Stamp set and the Itty Bitty Box and Envelope Die Cut.  I used Kraft cardstock to make the box.  Once the box was together I embellished the front of the box with just a few simple elements.  I used Brocade Blue Craft Ink to stamp the whale and the sentiment comes from the Stamp Set Teeny Tiny Wishes stamped in Chocolate Chip ink.  The scallop edge punch is a new punch from the SAB catalog.  Oh, such cute stamps and accessories in this catalog.  I then added my favorite embellishment, a button and Linen Thread.  Easy Peasy!

For all of the little cards (they measure about 2 x 2) I used Kraft cardstock and the scallop punch again.  Super easy and cute.  Each card has a different animal.  Ironically, the only animal I didn't stamp was the fox.  Call me crazy!  I used all Craft inks on the cards.  I love Craft ink because the colors are muted and soft.  I think this stamp set is just adorable.  Even if you do not have children, it will make a fun stamp set for your collection.  We all have those. 

I wanted to add a special note to my previous post the other day about our big move.  First, thank you for following this blog of mine.  Second, I wish I could hug each of you.  You always tell me how much I inspire you, but really you inspire me.  I appreciate your kind words towards my family.  I know the next 5 months will not be easy but I have gone through worse.  These are the things that make me stronger.  If you can endure me telling you that I miss Russ, it will all be good.

I hope the rest of your week is fantabulous.