Hot and Humid

It's hot and humid today - the worst kind of weather. It's also hot, hot, hot though that I got my June release PTI goodies today AND a Stampin' Up! box. What could be better? Oh, yeah, new catalogs were also shipped today. Three great things in one day - yeah!

Speaking of the new catalog, I promised more "peeks" today.

I
I LOVE this box - it is so pretty and simple.

This is a super simple treat bag holder. I love the new Soft Suede color. I know that it will be my favorite In Color this year. Prepare to see a lot of it!

Sorry for the short post, but I'm about out of steam for tonight. Thanks for stopping by!

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Box:

Paper - Tall Tales DSP, Rose Red and Old Olive

Accessories - Sizzix Big Shot, Flower Layers Originals Die and Flower Layer w/Leaf Bigz Die; Chocolate Chip Corduroy Button

Treat Bag:

Paper - Soft Suede, Rich Razzleberry and WW CS, Razzleberry Lemonade DSP

Stamps - Animal Stories, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink - Crushed Curry, Soft Suede

Accessories - Circle and Word Window Punches; Summer Sun Corduroy Button; Rich Razzleberry Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon; Cutter Tool, Dimensionals

Not Again!

Sorry, and I won't apologize again for being such a bad, bad blogger. Busy, busy work and home keep me so far away. I will try to be better - honestly!

I got a great new camera - a Nikon D60 with all the 'ccessories. I LOVE IT! All I want to do is photograph everything - seeing things new ways, looking for interesting angles, finding meaning ... it's crazy.

We've also been doing a lot of gardening and work in the yard. See? I have a ways to go with my photos, but I love these shots.

This is some strange fella that my husband planted. Isn't he fun?

I just thought these were so pretty. The purple is not as vibrant in the photo as the flower really is - I want to learn how to enhance that.

I love this photos! Tulips are my fav flower, I love the blurred photos with a hint of color. I also love the contrast of the beautiful flowers against the old building.


Again, I love the contrast of the beauty and the beast (or beaten, in this case).

I gathered a bunch of fun, old items to plant my herbs in. I love the way they are all together, and right on the front patio. You can't see it, but the tall wash tub is the home of the lettuce that is also handy, dandy - just feet from the front porch. What's better than fresh lettuce and herbs for summer cooking?

With Stampin' Up's new catalog on the horizon, I have also been doing some stamping. A peek today, and some more tomorrow (I promise!)

I made this great little box for a colleague who is struggling with some funding issues (darn Illinois government funding...). I didn't know what to say except that I'm sorry. I filled it with tea - great for a hot or cold tasty treat!

Thanks for stopping by, and I WILL be back.

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps - Circle Circus, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Paper - Razzleberry Lemonade DSP, WW

Ink - Rich Razzleberry, Dusty Durango, Crushed Curry

Accessories - Scalloped, 1 1/4" and 3/4" Circle and Word Window Punches; Rich Razzleberry Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon; Dimensionals

Other - Papertrey Ink Rounded Wrapup Timeless Template

Way Too Long!

It's been waaaay too long since I've been able to post. Life is so crazy/busy sometimes, and I don't know where April went!
Part of that crazy is that I have been working, working, working in the stamp room. I'm struggling with photography (don't know how to do it well, which makes me insane) but I'll keep working on it.
I thought I'd show you the cards that I made for my MIL for Mother's Day. My husband's advice was to avoid any bling - she's not into fancy schmancy at all.

I LOVE this set (SU! Puns from the Past). I do know that MIL sends cards, so I hope that she likes these. I'll have to get the scoop on that from DH, as I won't be here on Mother's Day when she opens them. It's kind of a funny, strange story.

My sister and I have talked for awhile about doing a sister's weekend. What could be better, right? A sibling weekend, perhaps, so we decided to invite our brother to our weekend of rest and relaxation. Unfortunately, he couldn't get away, so we decided to go to him (he lives in Albuquerque, sis and I in Illinois). Without consulting any calendar, we just chose the a weekend in May. After booking tickets, we realized that we could not have chose a worse, as it is Mother's Day weekend and also the weekend when both of our daughters are graduating from college! Never again will we "just pick a weekend"! Anyway, after MUCH deliberation, it was decided that sis and I would go with the original plan. I know we'll have a great time, and we appreciate that our families are giving us this gift. No guilt, no regret!

Anyway, I know that MIL doesn't read this, so it will be a surprise for her next week.

Take care, and enjoy the rest of this beautiful Sunday!

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps - Puns From the Past

Paper - Baja Breeze, So Saffron, Sahara Sand, Sweet Slumber Specialty DSP

Ink - Basic Black

Accessories - Dimensionals

Other Supplies:

Nestabilities, Clear Box (Papertrey Ink)

One Week Down

I am smack dab in the middle of taking two entire weeks off of work. I have never done it before, but I desperately needed the break. One week down - one to go.

I am LOVING playing at home mom/wife/homemaker - cooking, baking, freezing goodies, cleaning and organizing, napping each day and of course stamping like a fiend. I have lots of goodies to share for the next few days.

Today's card is from theFeatured Stamper Challenge at SCS. I didn't begin with the thought of the skulls on the dress, but one of the great things about stamping is that anything can happen! I love the way this card turned out, and I love the dress. If I were in high school again (and with the appropriate tan and non-hangy arms) I would definitely wear this dress! Too fun!

Check back tomorrow for a fun little cutie from the Big Shot.

Have a great night!

Supplies: (All supplies Stampin' Up unless noted)
Stamps - Retro Boutique (Gina K), Handwritten Notes (PTI)
Paper - Whisper White, Basic Black, Rockabilly and Parisian Breeze Specialty DSPs
Ink - Basic Black
Accessories - Nestabilities, Whisper White Organza Ribbon, Black Stampin' Write, Scalloped Edge Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals, Sewing Machine

Welcome, Spring!

Good Monday morning! I'm off to work in a short time for another one of those crazy, busy weeks. It's grant funding season. Lots to write, submit, present ... it's the nature of the beast.

It's so warm and "springy" here I couldn't resist a short post with a card that I think oozes spring!

Have a great day!

Stampin Up! Supplies:
Stamps: All Holiday
Paper: Regal Rose, Old Olive, WW, Sweet Always DSP
Accessories: Circle Punch, Old Olive Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Marvy Flower Punches

Rock Stars!

My soon-to-be college graduated daughter (yeah!) is doing her internship at a local assisted living facility, and she asked me to do a scrapbooking demonstration with some of the residents. I spent an afternoon there last week, and it was so much fun!

I can't post photos of the residents and I don't have photos of their pages, but here's the pages they worked from.

Some made their page exactly as I demonstrated. Some positioned the ribbon or paper strips differently. Some made three punched flowers or hearts. They were offered buttons and brads, and they all chose buttons, but they all used them in different and amazing ways!

They were not crazy about the tape adhesive in the beginning, and were confused in the beginning about how to use the dimensionals, but in the end it was all good.

I told them they are the true ROCK STARS of scrapbooking! (Insert them beaming from ear to ear.)

Stampin Up! Supplies:

Stamps - Polka Dot Punches

Paper - Certainly Celery, So Saffron, Bashful Blue, Chocolate Chip, Delicate Dots DSP

Ink: Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Scallop Circle, 5-Petal Flower and Full Heart Punches; Dimensionals, SAB Ribbon Bundle

Good Saturday Morning!

This is a busy weekend. The Bowl for Kids' Sake event that suports the Big Brothers Big Sisters program where I work is this weekend. The program Director works incredibly hard every year to make the event successful, and for her it is always for the kids in the program. I have a great deal of respect for her as a colleague and as a friend. I made this small gift for her - and a matching card, of course - to say "thanks" for her hard work. She is stamper too, so I have filled the box with some ribbon, buttons and bling! I know she'll love it!

The flower on the box is made with some AWESOME wool that I found at a local quilt shop that I didn't even know about. How did that happen??! I'll be back later with the scoop on the why and how. Here's the delicious little pieces that I picked up there - they just sing spring, don't they!

Okay - off to the bowling alley!