Remember me? :)

I have stopped saying that when life slows down, I will get back to blogging. I have a feeling I will never touch it again if I wait for that! Adjusting to the sudden, very unexpected death of my brother-in-law, two dear friends from our church and the son of my mother-in-law's best friend, all within a month of each other, has not been an easy road. Another dear friend (the third person in our trio) had to have surgery to fix a very messed up shoulder and has been out of commission. Seems like a long time since we got to sing. Oh, and then this week, my sister had to have a minor surgical procedure that was very stressful for both of us. But we ARE surviving!!! :)

I did want to post this card that went out to some friends from our church who are gone for a few months. Hope you are back soon, Carland and Pauline!!!!

This is a full 8 1/2" X 5 1/2" card, using all Stampin' Up! products. I stamped the bottom with the retired SU background "Fine Lace" with versamark ink and embossed it with clear EP. Then I swirled Bordering Blue classic ink. The trees from the "Lovely As A Tree" set was stamped in Old Olive craft ink and embossed with clear EP. Then I lightly sponged the edges in Bordering Blue classic ink. I layered it on Borderling Blue cardstock put it on the card. I used a piece of Bordering Blue cardstock that was ALMOST the same width as the Old Olive wide grosgrain ribbon and tied the ribbon around it, then adhered it to the card where the bottom background image stopped. I stamped a piece of Bordering Blue cardstock with the "Fine Lace" background and then used the scallop punch. I sponged a scrap piece of glossy cardstock with Old Olive classic ink and punch out a 1 1/4" circle and adhered that to the scallop. Then I stamped the Thinking of You 365 days 24-7 stamp from "Circle of Friendship" set, once in Bordering Blue classic ink and once in Old Olive classic ink, both on Whisper White cardstock. I punched the blue one with the 1" circle punch and the green one with the 1/2" circle punch, layered it all together and put it on the ribbon with dimensionals. Such an easy card. Oh, and I had everyone who was at church Sunday morning sign it before mailing it to Carland and Pauline. I sure hope they like it!

Praying for Tricia, Nate and Gwyneth

Life here has been one huge roller-coaster and has kept me from doing the fun stuff, including updating this blog. Today, though, I have to make time to post this. It isn't a matter of doing fun stuff, this is necessary.

My post just prior to this one is about Nate, Tricia and Gwenyth. This morning I read on Nate's blog that Tricia had her double lung transplate during the night. Please, if you ever pray about anything, pray that things go well for Tricia and this young family. I have never met them, but they have been on my heart. GOD is just that way....he knows what prayers are needed and he just puts them on the hearts of people.

I will try to get back in the swing of blogging soon. Ummmmm, but first I have to make some cards. :)

A Touching Story

A couple of weeks ago, I stumbled upon a thread on SCS by a lady who's sister and brother-in-law are, as she said, on the journey of their life. She posted a link to the brother-in-law's blog, cfhusband.blogspot.com and, of course, I had to check it out. Now, I anxiously read the updates, praying for the day I will see that both mother and baby daughter are healthy and home! If you go to the blog, go back a few weeks and read their story. And then, please put these people on your prayer list. And while you are at it, please include other people who are in similar situations. We don't know them, or their situations, but God does and He is the one in control.

Goodbye to My Cousin

One of my cousins passed away this week. I'm sorry to say I didn't know her very well. My dad's family is strange that way. But I do remember thinking she was one of the prettiest ladies I had ever met. Anyway, I made this card to send to her mother.

The stamp set I used is out of the new Stampin' Up! catalog. It is called Morning Soft and I LOVE it! I love to watercolor...well, I love to ATTEMPT to watercolor, so this kind of stamp set is right up my alley. I stamped it on Naturals Ivory CS in Jet Black StazOn ink and watercolored it with Brilliant Blue, Apricot Appeal, Old Olive and Always Artichoke WWCrayons using an aqua painter. Then I mounted it on Apricot Appeal CS. I stamped the sentiment (from Close as a Memory) with Brilliant Blue Craft ink and embossed it with clear EP, mounted it on Apricot Appeal and mounted them both on Brilliant Blue CS. I tied a knot between them with Apricot Appeal Grosgrain Ribbon and then used the Pretties Kit (which I have been hoarding for months!) and stuck a pin through the knot. I stamped a border of Beyond the Basics using Sahara Sand ink on Naturals Ivory CS and then glued on the images. Inside, I stamped "Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal. -Thomas Moore" at the bottom of the left side and "Your loved one will always be as close as a memory, and the God of all comfort as close as a prayer" toward the top of the right side.

I'm just kinda sad that my first card out of the new catalog is for this reason.

Peaceful

My sister and another friend (who is a sister-at-heart) were at my house earlier this month while I was trying to come up with a demonstratable card for a workshop. This card is one that I came up with that day, but I just didn't think my customers would be impressed with it. I almost threw it away, but they talked me out of it. To make a long story shorter, I came up with another card that I used for that workshop and put this one in my "stash". The more I looked at it, the more I liked it until now, I can finally share it.

Since this was going to be for a SU workshop, I used only SU products. The base is Confetti Cream and the edges are sponged with Creamy Caramel classic ink. I put some Purely Pomegranite Satin Ribbon around a strip of Holiday Harmony DP and put it on the bottom of the card. I stamped the Peaceful Wishes branch on watercolor paper with Always Artichoke marker and Purely Pomegranate reinker and then in versamark on Purely Pomegranate cardstock. Then I just started layering everything with the coluzzle ovals.

What do ya think?

Thanks, Timmy

I needed a thank you gift for a very special friend and she has been wanting a stamp set that has "Thinking of You" in it, so I bought this set for her. Instead of wrapping it or putting it in a bag, I wanted to do something different so this is what I came up with.

It was so very easy! I just made an envelope out of Dashing Designer Series paper. (which is this month's promostion - buy 3 packages and get a 4th free!) Then I stamped the flowers from the retired Stampin' Up! set, Christmas Cardinal (because it is, after all, getting close to Christmas) in Jet Black StazOn ink and water colored it with reinkers (Purely Pomegranate, Always Artichoke and More Mustard) and aquapainter and cut it out with the Coluzzle Cutting System, then "messed up" the edges with Purely Pomegranate Ink. Usually when I stamp, I start with the smallest layer and then layer "up". But for the note inside this, I started with the largest layer so I could make sure it fit inside the envelope opening and layered "down" to the smallest using Always Artichoke, Purely Pomegranate and River Rock Cardstock. After I stamped the Thank You from the Party Punch, Level 1 Hostess Set and punched it out with the Round Tab Punch, I adhered it to the note card, wrote the thank you message and slipped it inside. Then I just made a "belly band" out of the Dashing Designer Series paper to fit on the stamp set box and glued the envelope to the band.

Ok, I'm sure that made no sense whatsoever. I need some of the awesome stampers in my blog roll to give me writing lessons. There descriptions are always so elequent and helpful!

I'm on my way to get my hair cut so have a great day........

Music or No Music?

I read a post by a very successful blogger that said she did not like music on a blog. I certainly don't want to offend anyone so my question to you is, should I get rid of the music playing here? I know this is not a "high-traffic" blog, so to the 2 or 3 who might read this every once in a while, (and anyone else who might stumble upon this message) what do you think?

Hmmmmm, never thought about this before.

TIA

Happy Birthday, Daddy

Today would be my daddy's birthday. I miss him tremendously every day, but on days like today, I just seem to get a little blue. My co-worker said to me, "He and your mom are probably celebrating high today." Yes, I know, but I miss them so much.

Checking In

What a month this has been! To start it off, Labor Day weekend, I came down with a cold. Not just a little cold, a mother bear of a cold! I was so sick that I didn't care if I ever saw a stamp again, ever. That hung on for two entire weeks. But after two trips to the doctor for gigantic shots, and two weeks off work, I finally went back last week. I didn't feel wonderful, but I just had to go back.

Then, Friday, my sister called me and said that our pastor's wife, who is like a mother to us, found out Friday morning that she had colon cancer and at 1:00 Friday afternoon, she went into surgery. So we spent a lot of time this weekend with her at the hospital. (which is in a town 40 miles from home)

Ok, I said all that to say this....I haven't stamped in a month and I am finally to the point where I am missing it. I hope I get to stamp this week! I'm having a stamping "event" for World Card Making Day and I don't have everything ready so I better get busy, huh!

In the meantime, I found this heart that I altered some time back so I thought I would put it up here, just so the picture would finally change. LOL

This heart started out as one of those printed advertisements that have lots of different businesses listed. It was outdated, so rather than just throw it away, I thought I could do something with it. I stamped the chef from the Voila Stampin' Up! set with black stazon ink. Then I put the image on the tray and colored it with watercolor pencils and a blender pen. I cut a heart out of the magnet and traced it on whisper white cardstock, cut it out and adhered it to the magnet heart. Then I just distressed the edges with elegant eggplant, direct-too-paper and there she be! Too easy.

Stamps: Voila
Cardstock: Whisper White
Ink: Jet Black StazOn and Elegant Eggplant
Accessories: Watercolor Pencils, Blender Pen

Everything used was Stampin' Up!

Jami's Swap

I am finally posting my creatiions for Jami's new catty swap. I have been privileged to participate in a few of Jami's swaps and wow, she is just the best. Due to some major "real life" happenings, my part was close to a fiasco, but with Jami's help, everything turned out ok. And I am so happy that it did! I was in 2 rounds and every single card I got was just wonderful! Most of the cards have been uploaded in the SCS gallery here. Anyway, these are my cards for this swap.








This was so incredibly simple. I stamped Weathered BG on Blue Bayou cardstock with BB ink. Then I took the two music symbols in Elegant Notes stamp set and randomly stamped them in BB ink. I stamped the "a note for you" in Jet Black StazOn ink on Whisper White cardstock and mounted that on Soft Sky cardstock. I left a litte more at the top and just folded that down over the top of the sentiment. I punched two holes with the 1/16" hole punch, put in some silver eyelets with the wonderful crop-a-dile, and attached yummy Whisper White taffeta ribbon. This was adhered at an angle. Then I took a 1' strip of Soft Sky cardstock and tied some more the the yummy ribbon and adhered that on the side. See, too simple!










This one was super simple too. I stamped the splatters in the Itty Bitty Background stamp set on Groovy Guava cardstock in GG ink. Then I stamped the rose from the Wing It stamp set on the bottom, approximately 1/3 in GG ink. I stamped the rose in GG ink on Confetti Cream cardstock in GG ink and cut it out. (I forgot to add the CC cardstock in the SCS product list, oops) Then I stamped the wings in Wild Wasabi (I don't know why I used that color) on CC cardstock and cut them out. Then I mounted them on Sahara Sand cardstock that had the splatters stamped in SS ink. I layered that on Always Artichoke cardstock and then on SS cardstock, after punching the corners with the ticket corner punch. This was adhered to a strip of AA cardstock with a piece of Very Vanilla taffeta ribbon tied on. It also had three holes punched with the 1/16' hole punch and gold brads attached. This was placed on the card to "hide" where the roses on the background stopped. Another super easy card.



I want to again thank all the ladies in rounds 2 and 4 of this swap. They were so nice about my cards being delayed and sent to them separately. And my cards in no way compare to the great ones I got from them.


I hope you have a great day!

50th Anniversary Card

Some relatives of a friend of mine are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary later this month. I was asked to make a card for the occasion and this is what I came up with. I'm not totally happy with it, but I'm running out of time. :)

The card is 8 1/2 by 5 1/2. The flourishes in Baroque Motifs set is stamped on groovy guava in groovy guava ink. Then the little flower is randomly stamped around in the "holes". I used the Martha Stewart punch (that my adorable downline let me buy from her since there is not a Michaels anywhere close to me) and punched a line to put behind the groovy guava layer and the always artichoke layer behind it. Then I used the same punch and made a little "tag" to write the last name of the couple and layered that on always artichoke and then chocolate chip. I wrote their first names and punched them out with the small oval punch and then lightly sponged the edges with always artichoke and layered it on always artichoke punched with the larger oval punch. I stamped my favorite Lizzie Anne Designs flower and watercolored it with groovy guava ink. I wrote the 50 on brushed gold cs, punched it out with the 3/4" round punch and mounted it in the center of the flower. I punched all 4 corners and mounted it on always artichoke. Then, I stamped Happy Anniversary from the Hugs and Wishes set on white cs, sponged the edges with always artichoke, mounted it on a chocolate chip layer and then decided to cut it apart and put it on either side of the flower. I put olive organdy ribbon under all of that. I stamped the little flower on the top of the shimmery white base and mounted all of the above on the bottom of the base. To balance out the top, I stamped the scalloped stamp in always artichoke, cut out the inner part and mounted it on chocolate chip....and that is it.

Like I said, I'm not totally happy with it, but it is just going to have to do. The lady who asked for it is pleased with it, so I'm going to just accept it and go on. LOL

Stamps: Baroque Motifs, Hugs and Wishes, Lizzie Anne Designs Jolies Fleurs
Paper: Shimmery White, Groovy Guava, Always Artichoke, Chocolate Chip
Ink: Basic Brown, Always Artichoke, Groovy Guava
Accessories: Always Artichoke Stampin' Write Marker, Olive Organdy Ribbon, Non SU Brad, Martha Stewart Punch, both SU Oval Punches, Ticket Corner Punch, Blender Pen
Techniques: watercolor with blender pen and reinker

Tagged

This is a really quick card that I did for a make & take at last Friday's workshop. It is sooo easy!



Stamps: Sweet Shapes and Sincere Salutations

Cardstock: Whisper White, Real Red, Yoyo Yellow

Ink: Basic Black, Real Red, Yoyo Yellow

Accessories: Red Gingham Ribbon



The card is so simple, it is self-explanatory.



I have been tagged by Tami. You have to go visit her blog! She has some gorgeous creations posted! So for this tag, I'm suppose to tell you 7 things about myself and then tag 7 more people. Hmmmmm, I'm not sure there are 7 interesting things about me, but here goes....

1. I have 2 sisters by birth and another sister by choice. All 3 are the greatest sisters in the whole world!

2. I signed up to be a Stampin' Up! demonstrator the day after I attended my first workshop. When I got my starter kit, I had made a grand total of 2 cards.

3. I use to be an Emergency Medical Technician, but only because it was a requirement to work at the Police Department. I let the license expire as soon as I left the P.D. and have never regretted it. I didn't really like being an EMT.

4. I am a very shy person and have trouble talking to people until I know them really, really well. Some people think I am snobby and have no idea that I'm just scared of them! LOL Now, I have no idea why demonstrating Stampin' Up! products doesn't scare me. Or how I can sing in the trio in front of real people. Hmmmmmmm.

5. I love Mexican food, especially if it is spicy HOT! The hotter the better. Maybe that is because when I was a very little girl, I got in my daddy's pepper patch and set my little mouth on fire! Somebody told my mom to put syrup or honey on my lips to stop the burning and it worked. I don't remember if she used syrup or honey.

6. My son has always been one of my very best friends. Even when he was a little guy, we had some really great conversations. I got him hooked on Queen (the rock band) and he got me hooked on NASCAR.

7. But my very best friend is Jesus Christ. It still amazes me that he died on the cross for me.

I am going to have to edit this tomorrow to tag people. I can't believe it is after 2:00 a.m. and I have to work in the morning and here I sit at the computer.

Pastor Martin

My sister and I have been fortunate enough to have a "step-in" daddy since our daddy passed away. He is our pastor and he and his wife have taken us under their wings. He plays the guitar and his favorite hymn is "Amazing Grace" so that is how this card was born. I gave this to Pastor Martin for Fathers' Day.

I copied the song and sponged the edges of Very Vanilla cardstock with Creamy Caramel ink. I masked the guitar and sponged around it, then "rock & roll" stamped the guitar with Creamy Caramel and Chocolate Chip, cut it out and plopped it on the card. I layered this on Chocolate Chip cardstock and then on a 5 1/2" X 5 1/2" square Very Vanilla card that had been wheeled with the Jazz Wheel in Creamy Caramel. Then I just sponged and stamped the envelope in Creamy Caramel and was done.

Stamps: Jazzed Up and Jazz Wheel

Ink: Creamy Caramel, Chocolate Chip

Paper: Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip

One more brag...

Can I brag one more time on my son? Thank you! :)

Kevin is hooked on Trans Siberian Orchestra. (if you don't know who they are, check them out at Christmas) Anyway, he participates in some of the members' forums and sent a link to this video to one of the singers, Tommy Farese, and got a very nice email back from him. When Kevin went to their OKC concert, he introduced himself to Tommy and asked if he could use the email in his resume. To make a long story short, Tommy was VERY nice and told Kevin that he was going to have his webmaster put Kevin's video on his website. Of course, Kevin was over the moon excited. But then, it didn't happen for a while and I thought Tommy had probably forgotten as I'm sure he has tons of fans that talk to him each concert. Well, it is there! Here is Tommy's website. The post about Kevin is second in line at this time.

An old stand-by

Finally, I get to upload a card! I'm almost as nervous about this as I was the first time I posted. lol

I lost so many sets to retirement this year. I have very few sets left that have images. Most of what I have are sentiments. But, I am trying to replenish my "sample basket" with what I have until I get to order new stuff. (hyperventilate....I can't wait!!!) Anyway, Heartfelt Thanks is an old standby so I used it to make this card.

The Linen BG was stamped in creamy caramel on whisper white cardstock and then the edges were sponged in bordering blue. You can't tell in the scan, but the centers of the flowers have dazzling diamonds. The flowers were stamped in bordering blue for the first step and then the outline stamp was in night of navy. I cut them out and popped them up with stampin' dimensionals. The "stems" were stamped in creamy caramel. This was mounted on a layer of creamy caramel cardstock and then a layer of bordering blue cardstock and then on the whisper white card that also had the Linen BG in creamy caramel. Thanks was stamped in creamy caramel on whisper white cardstock with heartfelt stamped over it in night of navy and then that was mounted on bordering blue cardstock over ribbon.

This was a very fun card to make, even though it is not spectacular. I hope you enjoy it a little.

Stamps: Heartfelt Thanks, Linen, Bodacious Bouquet

Paper: Whisper White, Bordering Blue, Creamy Caramel

Ink: Bordering Blue, Night of Navy, Creamy Caramel

Accessories: Stampin' Dimensionals, Crystal Effects, Dazzling Diamonds, Ribbon

Introducing my son...Kevin

As I said in "about me" I have a wonderful son, Kevin. He is a music major/history minor at Oklahoma Panhandle State University. I think he is an awesome guitar player/piano player/saxophone player/singer. I know, I am extremely prejudiced. But anyway, since his primary instrument is guitar, he has to pass a "forum performance" before advancing to the next semester. Forum is where he has to play something before a panel of judges. "Kevin's Forum Performance" in the sidebar is a link to one of these. If you can tolerate bluesy/rock guitar stuff, I would love for you to hear him play.
ETA: I just realized I could do this, so HERE it is.
Ok, I will stop bragging now.

My computer is all set up and ready to go. However, it is now 10:24 p.m. so I don't think I will get anything scanned tonight, but I am going to have pictures soon! LOL
Good night...hope you have a great one.

It's Here! It's Here!

My computer has finally made its way to my house. I am so excited! I can't wait to get it all set up so I can upload and PLAY! :) I wish I had ordered a watermark. :/ Oh well, I can fake it till I can make it. LOL

I hope your day is as wonderful as mine is today!

Waiting patiently...

My new friend, Julia Stainton was tagged and instead of tagging anyone, she left an open "tag". So I thought I would take her up on it. (I wonder if I can throw in a few more tags in this paragraph!?)

Here we go.....

Yourself: Shy
Your Partner: Spoils me
Your Hair: Brown
Your Mother: Precious
Your Father: Superman
Your Favorite Item: LOTS
Your Dream Last Night: Forgotten
Your Favorite Drink: Water
Your Dream Car: Lexus
Dream Home: Mansion
The Room You Are In: Office
Your Fear: Spiders
Where You Want to be in Ten Years: Here
Who You Hung Out With Last Night: Family
You’re Not: Tall
One of Your Wish List Items:Rubicoil
The Last Thing You Did: Typed
You Are Wearing: Black
Your Favorite Weather: Rainy
Your Favorite Book: Bible
Last Thing You Ate: Roast
Your Life: Fulfilled
Your Mood: Content
Your Best Friend: Sisters
What Are You Thinking About Right Now: Sleep
Your Car: Pacifica
What Are You Doing At The Moment: Typing
Relationship Status: Married
What Is On Your TV: Nothing
What Is The Weather Like: Cloudy
When Is The Last Time You Laughed: Today

I'm not going to tag anyone either, but I think everyone should do this. It is sure not as easy as you might think to keep the answers to one word. I cheated on one of them and used two words. LOL

I got an email today informing me that my new computer has been shipped! I can't wait to get it hooked up and running. I am going to start doing some of the SCS challenges as soon as I can upload. Until then, I hope you have a great day!

Getting closer!

We received partial payment from the insurance company!!!! I can now, when I can find the time, order my new computer! I can't wait to upload new stuff.

We have trio practice tonight. I love that! We are hoping to record a CD soon. We have been so lucky that people have liked our music and have asked for a CD. One of these days, (after I get my computer and can do this at home and not sneak time in at work) I am going to make a post about the trio, how we got our name and what we do.

In the mean time, have a great day!

Frustrating Insurance Companies!

STILL waiting on insurance to get my computer replaced! DH called the company yesterday and they said that the person who has to do this will be out of the office until May 23. That is a full month after the break-in! This is unacceptable. With the outrageous premiums we pay, I demand better service than that! I guess when this is all over, we will be insurance shopping. UGH!

But all is not bad news. I got my SAB reward set Monday. I ended up getting Amazing to Zany. I am a little concerned about mounting it, but I know I'm going to love it. And I am expecting a nice box from Stampin' Up!® tomorrow. That is always like Christmas to me. LOL AND, I received notice from Missy B that my Alexa set has been shipped! WOOHOOOOO. I can't believe I have waited so long to order that. I "subscribed" to Lauren's (mytime) thread on SCS when she announced the set and have been "meaning to" order it ever since. Can we say procrastinator??? AAANNNNDDDDD, I got my bind-it-all yesterday. I am so excited and can't wait until the weekend so I can play with it! Now, if I could just get the insurance company.....but I digress....

I hope everyone has a wonderful day!