Hello friends!  WOW! It's been a long month since I have blogged and I am so so sorry! I was leading you on an adventure that threw many curve balls and still laughing when all of a sudden the laughter stopped and the adventure got a little crazy!  I could seriously write a novel on this move and the mishaps and some funnies, but I am sure you are like me and just have no time to read that mess.  Instead, I will get you a few insights and we will try to continue on the path of why you probably really read this crazy blog of mine… stamping inspiration.  Bare with me a few paragraphs though and I will give you a little hint of what is going on in my world. 

First, we did finally move into the house 5 days after the date expected.  This 5 days sent me over the edge because I was really on a timeline and had things to get done before leaving for convention.  Of course someone else had another timeline for me and that is when I got sick, sick, sick!  In fact, I have never been that SICK.  I was basically a piece of furniture in my living room succumbed to watching TV shows I had never heard of.  I did catch up on my soap operas that I had not watched in two years.  The good news is it only took a few days to catch up on those.    Honestly, I was out for about 9 days.  This really through me for a loop as I had so much I wanted to accomplish prior to leaving for convention.  It didn't happen!  In fact, I didn't start feeling "good" until almost the end of convention.  SERIOUSLY! 

The house is a CRAZY mess and I am still unpacking.  It will be a while until we are fully set up.  I've come to terms with it.  My stamp room is a beautiful mess.  I mean with stamps all over the floor and embellishments needing a "place", they are pretty to look at they just need to be organized.    This too will take time but there is an end in sight.  If I wasn't such an organization freak I wouldn't care as much. 

Let's chat about convention.  I almost do not know where to begin!  Convention is always such a high for me because I'm reunited with my friends and I love spending time with them.  It's a time to share!  The experience and fun that you have at convention is just CRAZY!  The flower power night was awesome and the crazy get-ups that people wore were hilarious.  I LOVED that party.  As you will see below, I had fun dressing up too.  I am truly thankful to my downline for putting this outfit together because I had not one ounce of energy to help.  They did it for me.  I love you guys. 

Awards night….speechless.  Seriously??? Being awarded #1 goes down with some of the greatest moments in my life.  Up there with marrying the greatest man ever, Russ and having two beauties I call Brandon and Alexis.  However being awarded #1 doesn't mean it's all about me.  What that "number" means is that my team is #1.  That would have NEVER happened without these great ladies.  The #1 is a reflection of the great team I call Stampers by the Sea.  My heart was beating so fast when two of my downline were awarded with Rising Star this year.  When I watched three of my ladies walk across that stage earning the Incentive Trip.  Then I have ladies that did not make it to convention but I've watched their business soar this year in ways they never thought it could.  My team is a group of women that loves each other to the core.  They help each other, share with each other and love each other.  THEY are #1!

The hardest part right now is being so far away from all these great ladies.  They are all over the United States because I have LIVED all over the U.S. This will be the 5th move since starting my business 7 years ago.  I am so lucky that I have my Denise here near me.  She always can bring a smile to my face when I am feeling on the edge of insanity.  Oh, I have shed a few tears already.  Moving sucks.  It's not easy.  You have to start ALL over.  What keeps me going and rebuilding?  I just want to share the greatest company in the whole world and teach as many people as I can how to use these great products.  They are the BEST.  It's the way that I make new friends.  Stampin' Up! is all about building relationships and providing an experience like no other direct selling company I have seen.  So, it's time to make new friends and continue to build the friendships I have.  This is why I love this company! 

I want to say a HUGE thank you to so many of you for the warmest emails of encouragement during our move.  Believe me, Russ thanks you.  Thank you for being so kind.  I also want to say a HUGE thank you to the demonstrators I met that live close to me.  They have been SO kind and welcoming.  All I can say is WOW! To my team…. there are not enough words for me to say about you.  You are the BEST and will always be the BEST in my book. 

Now, how about a few pics from the "room", Convention and even a little stamping inspiration. 

Here are a few pics of the new "room!"  We will call it a room until I feel like it's my paradise again. 

This is eventually where I will hold classes.  I can't wait for the finished result. I am sure things will look much different.

This is going into my office.  Love that I can shut doors if I am a messy stamper that day!  I've opened them for you and it's an utter disaster right now.  YIKES!

This is my desk.  Nothing like Dorito's and a coke for lunch.  The cat is outta the bag!

This area  is what I like to call the command center.    It's where lots of GREAT things are created. 

Again, it will look much different in the upcoming weeks and I will share with you once I get the room updated. 

Here are some pics from Convention!

I love this photo.  We felt so silly and had so much fun!!!! That is me on the right.  <smile>

I can't believe I am actually going to show this picture but it makes me giggle loudly.  My hair dresser is in my downline.  GREAT, GREAT lady! I love her to pieces.  She is simply the BEST.  Before I left Colorado I begged her to bring supplies so she could cut and color my hair.  She did! So, we played hotel beauty shop after the Flower Power party.  Whit, you are the best and thank you!!

We can dress up nicely.  What a night!

Here is Jenny! Rising Star #4!  Holle couldn't make it to convention this year.  She was #8.  I can't wait to give her the biggest hug in St. George for Founders Circle. 

Ahhhhh……. I love this picture!

Shelli, Me and Tami White!  Love this picture too!

You can see that I am pointing to my TEAM and I think I was blowing them kisses?  Who knows, you never know what I'm up to! Just being SILLY!

This was Jenny and I after getting our bags.  Ahh…… it makes me smile!

Lastly… something creative.  Now don't shoot me.  This card has a few retired buttons on it.  I know!  Remember, it's been a month since I stamped.  I made this card a while back.  Stamping is on the agenda!  Keep me accountable. 

This card uses the new stamping hostess set Apple Blossoms!  I love it!!!  Who wouldn't want to host a workshop and earn this set for FREE?  You would just be silly not too!

Well, I guess I made this into a novel!  It felt good to write about the happenings.  Thank you again for taking time and coming to this little place of mine.  It's time to unpack a little, work a little and stamp a lot.  Not exactly in that order. 

Stampin' Hugs!

Our second day on the road was fairly uneventful except for the smell of cows!  I have seen more cows than I have ever wanted.  The good news is that Russ and I can calculate very well how much gas we have left in the tank.  <sigh>  The weather has been beautiful and the kids are doing exceptional.  We stayed a day in Iowa at Russ' parents house to relax.  It was a GREAT day filled with the kids riding the golf cart (aka Gator), fishing and of course I had to get in a little shopping.  Life is good. 

Fishing is not my idea of fun.  I never liked it as a kid and nothing has changed today.  Mostly because I am extremely impatient.  I also do not like putting a live WORM on a hook.  It's nasty and I feel like I am hurting the worm.  I know, silly!

The kids on the other hand love to fish.  Anything outdoors they are game. Alexis still holds a fishing pole with a little fashion:

Brandon had dirt from head to toe at the end of the day.  You can tell from his picture that he is just happy to be out of the car and not stranded on the side of the road!

…and then there is Russ! This pic speaks volumes!  This is why I love this crazy guy! We have laughed at each other over and over again!

You might be wondering if we caught a fish… the answer would be NO! Russ scared them all off. 

We are actually sitting in West Virginia tonight.  The last leg of our trip is tomorrow.  It will take about 5 hours. Thank you to each of you for sharing your fun stories with me. Russ and I have enjoyed them and laughed together.  While moving is never easy it's been much easier when I can share it with you. 

While I've been on the road my little brother had a birthday.  Here is a card I made for him. It's not in the mail yet but will be in just a few short days.    He's also in the Navy so I thought this would be a fun card done in Red, White and Blue.  The stamp set comes from the Level 3 Hostess set called Playful Pieces. WOW this is a great set.  There are tons of pieces in it.  

I stamped each of these boxes in Craft ink onto Crumb Cake.  I really love Craft ink and love it even more on Crumb Cake.  I cut each image out and popped them up with dimensionals.  It's a super easy card including the cutting.   

I hope your weekend is fantastic!  Again, many thanks to each of you for your continued prayers, thoughts and laughs.  If you only knew what it does to a girl's spirit.  <wink>

XOXOXO

If you remember a few weeks back I stated that our trip across the country may not be a Thelma & Louise scene, however Russ and I never do anything half a$$!  HERE is the link to refresh your memory!  We started our trip across the United States last night.  Boy did we make memories!  We didn't get on the road until late as we finished up last minute things around the house getting it ready for our lovely renter.  Once we were on the road it was a great feeling of accomplishment from the last week.  Dealing with movers is never easy.  Especially when they show up and they're fighting.  That's always a nice start.  We stopped for dinner and the kids were so happy.  About an hour later we passed the exit where we had first planned on staying.  Not TWO seconds after passing the exit the gas low light came on.  Russ said in his calm voice, "Can you check the GPS for the next gas station?"  Once I checked I told him we had about 13 miles until the next gas station.  About 5 minutes later I noticed Russ (aka Thelma) had a funny look on his face and the Van was slowing down on an interstate that you can go 75mph on.  NOT good.  We just ran out of GAS!  Now it's about 1030pm and the kids are a little freaked out.  I immediately start laughing hysterically because I couldn't believe this was actually happening.  WE ran out of GAS?  We pulled over and called for help.  Brandon tells us this has to be the worst day in the car ever.  I calmly told him that the day could only get worse if a storm came.  Guess what?  YEP! A big storm came with lightning, hail and HUGE rain.  Brandon was right.  This was turning out to be a crazy car ride.  It took 45 minutes for the tow truck to come save us with gas.  He brought us 6 gallons to the tune of $45!  OUCH!  We got to the gas station and filled the van quickly still in disbelief that we actually ran out of gas.  Remember, typically my husband co-pilots a plane.  <insert scary face>  He will never live this one down! We ended our night at 1230am in a fine hotel still laughing.

Today, my co-pilot husband redeemed his manhood.  We noticed that the gas gauge was not moving at ALL after traveling about 150 miles.  The gas gauge is officially BROKEN!  He did mention last night that after he put the 6 gallons of gas in the tank the gauge said we had a half tank which just wasn't right.  Anyways, this means we have to do a little math along the way so we know when we're running out of gas.  So much for relaxing. The rest of our trip has been uneventful.  Kids are doing great and we are in Iowa for a few days chillin'.  Friday we start the journey again. 

After reading this novel story I better leave you with something fun.    More new stuff.  This time it's a new Hostess set coming.  Customers, you will want to host a workshop to receive this amazing hostess set. It's a Level 2 set called Apple Blossoms.  Such a FUN stamp set. 

I love how White Craft ink looks on Crumb Cake cardstock. It's so pretty.  It won't be long and this set could be yours for any workshop over $300.  Whoo Hoo!

Don't forget, just a week left of the Last Chance list.  Also check out the Clearance Rack in my Online Store.  GREAT savings up to 70% off.  WOW. 

I'll keep you updated on more of Thelma's antics as the adventure continues. Thank you for all the sweet comments you have been leaving.  You are giving me warm fuzzies during this entire process….AGAIN. 

Just a quick post tonight.  I'm emotionally drained from the day.  The good: All the stuff is packed up and on it's way to the new house! The bad: Saying good bye!  Heart wrenching.  I watched my little girl say good bye to her best friend today and I cried.  Then tonight it was back to back good byes that just SUCKED.  Again, I know I will see many of these friends again.  I just won't have these great friends around all the time like I've had.  Sigh! 

Tonight's card doesn't have new stuff actually.  I was going through pics of cards I had made and wanted to share this one because I think it's fitting for how I feel today.  Honestly, I made this card for my dad's birthday which is at the end of the month. The birds however look like our little family today.  Big Birdie Dad and the rest of his flock following him.  That pretty much sums it up!

At the end of the day… this is how I really FEEL:

We took a break this weekend and decided to go to the Renaissance Festival on Saturday after a long week of packers in our house.  It was a great time for the kids to get away from the mundane moving process that I so dislike.  The Ren Fest is one of my FAV places to go because there is so much creativity that surrounds you.  People are free and use their imaginations!  I truly love this place.  We have gone every year since we've lived here.  I really wanted to dress the part this year but it just wasn't in the cards.  Next year for sure. 

First, the packers…. they were great but took forever.  Imagine that.  Those of you that have been in my home know that we have a ton of stuff.  Friday the packers were here until 9pm.  I was a little miffed to say the least.  We were all WIPED!  My house obviously looks like a chaotic mess.  The stamp room…

Just not a pretty site.  In just a few short weeks it will look back to normal.  I feel pretty confident. 

Now, back to the fun at the fair and then I promise a pretty card that will give you warm fuzzies. 

Besides the Pirates I love the fairy's.  They always look amazing. 

Loved seeing this family of fairy's.  That little one was just PRECIOUS.  My kids received beautiful dragon tears from them.

OF course a little face painting.  I thought this was the best painting Alexis has ever had.  The lady was amazing.

What's a Ren Fair without a little Bad Girl action?  Cathy and I had to get a Henna Tat! I get one every year.  I love them.  I love the artists.  The lady that did mine actually stamps on Domino's.  We had a great conversation and she was a lovely gypsy! 

Time for my own artwork.  It's time to start showing you what I have been working on the last two weeks.  It really was non stop stamping.  I have many things to share over the next two weeks during the move.  All NEW stuff to get you excited with the upcoming catalog.  I think you will likey!

This card uses both Old and New.  I used the new Newsprint Designer Series Paper with the Perfect Punches stamp set.  I love how this card is elegant and fluffy.  The ribbon will carry over into the new catalog.  SO thankful. I did a little sewing with this card.  Then I got really crazy.  I actually took the Itty Bitty Buttons and sewn those onto the ribbon.  They are the little heart buttons.  I love how these are clear and can go with just about any card.  The center Fleurette will also be in the new catalog.  I love these little flowers because you can dye them any color you need.  Great embellishment. 

Well, Monday is loading day.  I am sure they will be here ALL day but it will all be GREAT. 

XOXOXO