Fresh Cuts - June Special!

During June, we have the opportunity to purchase a brand new stamp set that will be in the Fall/Winter Catalog called Fresh Cuts. When you purchase this set, you can also get the coordinating Fresh-Cut Notes for only $5. The note card set (shown here) has 15 white 4x4 notecards and envelopes. The cards have a die-cut flower in them. CUTE!

June Hostesses: host a $400 workshop and get the Fresh Custs stamp set and Fresh-Cut notes FREE!

It is always fun to play with a new stamp set. For this card, I used Groovy Guava and Chocolate Chip ink. I used the Chocolate Chip Poly Twill Ribbon from the Occasions Mini Catalog. Have you used it yet? It is soooo soft and lays so nice on your cards. It is also available in Old Olive. The 5 Petal Flower Punch fits perfectly behind the punched flower in the notecard, so I punched one of those out of the Groovy Guava to layer behind. The Designer paper I used is Afternoon Tea, also from the mini catalog. Don't forget: this mini catalog has been extended through June 30th!

Busy!

A parade, doctor appointment, soccer games, two all-day field trips, dinner for the missionaries, a "book bistro" with cupcakes and punch, a concert, etc. but no time for stamping so far this week. I hope to be back soon!

Stampin' Up! Retiring List

I've was asked recently when the Retiring List would be available. It was just announced, so here it the scoop..... The Retiring Stamp Set List will be up on June 15th and those sets are available through August 10th only.

The Retiring Accessories & Wheels list will be available on July 21st, but these are available while supplies last or August 10th, whichever comes first. Last year a deal was made with the wheel vendor and those were made availabe until the next catalog began, but that hasn't been announced so far.

The new 2008 Fall/Winter Catalog will begin on August 11th. The date has been adjusted from July 1st so that the 2009 Spring/Summer Catalog doesn't start right after Christmas. I'm not positive of the exact start date of that catalog at this point, but I think it is late January or early February. I think this is a great change!

Beate's WSC #49

What does that title mean? Well, Beate has a weekend "sketch" challenge (WCS) that anyone can participate in. I've never done it before now, but I always enjoy looking at them. A sketch is a different layout for how to arrange your card. It is fun to see how everyone interprets it.

I know the boys are going to be needing some graduation cards coming up soon. Our school colors are purple and gold, but I decided to go with eggplant and saffron! This one will do for the girls, but I'll have to come up with something different for the guys, or just switch out the Designer Paper for something un-flowery.

This is a cute set is called Great Grads and is found on page 55 of the catalog. The word "graduate" around the big G doesn't show up on the scan, since I stamped it in the saffron color. I used the Stamp-a-ma-jig to line up the background stamp along the bottom several times so it would match perfectly. The Stamp-a-ma-jig CAN be your friend! I don't know what I'd do without mine.

Last Night's Class

Last night's Simply Scrappin' Card Class was simply FUN! We were all soooo tired, but still got 32 cards done in 2 1/2 hours. It sounds amazing, but it's true! Everyone did a great job and their cards were beautiful. Now we're are all hooked on the speed and ease of Simply Scrappin' Kits (see them on pages 172-175 of the Spring/Summer Catalog). Thanks to everyone who came. It is always fun to get together with other stampers. See the cards we made in past posts, here and here.

(I am aware that the catalog dissappeared from the right hand column yesterday. I'm waiting for a call from my "brain" aka Teri ..... then it will be back up. Sorry about that!)

New Oink, Ink.!

The new Oink, Ink. is here! I'm so excited about it. Leelou Blogs has been working on this for me for the last few days. Hasn't she done a great job?! I love the pig walking through the ink puddle. How perfect is that? She is definitely a creative one!

For the next few days things may be moving around until I decide where I want everything and things may be blank when it looks like something should be there. I'll get it figured out eventually. ;) In the meantime, be sure and check out Leelou's many free blog backgrounds and if you want something "custom", I highly recommend her!

Mom Tag

I was looking at my friend Tiffany's blog and I panicked when I saw my name being tagged! You know when your heart kind of jumps? YIKES! I had read through her cute answers and then saw my name at the bottom. Here I am with two 16 year olds that don't even speak to me half of the time! My 11 and 8 year olds aren't at that point, thank goodness, but this was not an easy quiz for me!

1.Typically, what time do you wake up? 6:00 a.m.

2. On a good night, what time are your kids in bed? 9:00 during school, 10:00 during the summer

3. How long have you been a mommy? Almost 17 years

4. How old were you when you became a mom? three weeks shy of 23

5. What is your favorite kids T.V show? Hannah Montana

6. What is your least favorite kids T.V. show? Rugrats

7. What is your favorite chore? I hate cleaning bathrooms, but I love it when they are clean.

8. What is your favorite meal to cook? Spaghetti & Breadsticks

9. What meal do you cook most often? Tacos / Quesidillas

10. What is your kids favorite meal? Spaghetti & Breadsticks

11. What is your favorite thing your husband does with your kids? I like it when he takes them to the flea market because it is something they all enjoy.

12. What are 5 things that make you smile when you’re being a mom? C telling me he is trying to be like Jesus, K calling me on his cell from across the room, Z getting excited about naming all the countries in Africa in 57 seconds, B coming to find me for a hug and kiss every few minutes, and when all my kids are getting along at the *same* time!

13. If you could take your kids anywhere, where would it be? Alaskan Cruise

14. When was the last time you went out without your kids? This morning to buy a new van! :)

15. What is your favorite pastime/activity to do with your kids? I like to go to movies or out to eat with them.

16. Name one thing you said you would never say as a mother? I didn't think I would say "grow up!" as much as I do.

17. Name something you do, that your own mom did? Love my kids, no matter what.

18. What is your favorite quality your mom has? Patience

19. What is your favorite kids book? The Giant Jam Sandwich & Seven Silly Eaters

20. What is your favorite advice for new moms? Sleep when they sleep....really! Try to let them go to sleep on their own sooner than we did (you'll be glad you did). Enjoy them!

21. What is your most heartbreaking moment as a mom? We don't want to go into that....

22. What is your most joyful moment being a mom? Anytime my kids are truly happy, I'm happy.

23. When was the last time you told one of your kids you loved them? Tonight.

24. When was the last time you were told? Tonight.

I tag Tanya H. and Jodi R. if you'd like to participate. ;)

Pick a Petal

This is kind of a fun layout for you to try. It uses 12x12 paper, cut into four sections, so you have four 6x6 squares to make four cards. The finished card size is 3x6, just like the Summer Days cards we'll be making at the class on Friday. (Can't wait!) They fit perfectly in the Small Open-End Envelopes.

I've used the Berry Bliss Designer Paper at the bottom. This paper will likely be discontinued in August because it features one of the current "In Color" colors, Perfectly Pomegranate. I've also used the same color of ink and ribbon. The In Colors from this year are really some of my favorites! Last year's grew on me over time, but this year's had me from the minute I saw them! I am really going to miss them. If you need to stock up on any card stock, ribbon, reinkers or Designer Paper that feature any of the In Colors, be sure and do so by August 10th.

Happy Birthday Elephant

This elephant is so cute! He comes from the stamp set called Happy Heart Day. I used it at a Valentine's Day Class, where we made Valentine themed things, plus generic items, since it also has stamps that can be used for everyday occasions. The "happy birthday" comes from the Amazing to Zany stamp set. In the background I used the stamp called Dotted. I call those big ones Big Mama stamps! They are as big as a card.

I have a friend with a birthday coming up, so I made this card for her tonight. The layout idea came from a card my sister made a couple of years ago. I've been hanging onto it because I figured if I gave it away I would forget about the cute layout. So now I've copied it, but I'm giving this one away, so I'll still need to hang on to hers! You'd think I could just make a second one, but I don't have time right now. Some day my life will slow down.

Just Celebrate Cake

I love how this card turned out. Nothing like I had planned, but sometimes that is good! It didn't scan well because of the Ballet Blue card stock. Sometimes that color and Brilliant Blue look purple on scans, so I took a picture and then had to wait for K to get home from his job shadowing to help me unload the camera. I know I'm pathetic.

He was job shadowing the high school principal's wife at the hospital in surgeries. I think it is safe to say that won't be his career. I won't go into that any further. Anyway......

I've needed lots of birthday cards this year because I'm in charge of the staff birthdays at B's school. In July and August alone there are 18 birthdays! I need to get busy, so that is how this card came along. I wanted to use something from the On Board products again, so that is where the circle came from. I stamped it with the Canvas stamp and Pumpkin Pie Craft ink. I used Crystal Effects on the frosting of the cake. This cake comes from the versatile Just Celebrate set featured in the current Occasions Mini Catalog.

Online Journal

I want to share this website with you because I have really enjoyed it and you might too. It is called LDSJournal.com . It is a free, completely private, easy way to keep a journal online. I've kept a journal at different times, mostly when I was a teenager, but have been terrible as an adult. I've been doing this for a few weeks now and it is so much easier for me.

If you'd like to check it out, click on the link and then on Take a Tour. It can explain the benefits much better than me and you can hear the testimonials. If you are one of those fancy people who can do things from your phone, you can even do journal entries that way! I'm excited to use the "All About Me" feature and catch up on all of the things I've slacked on for the last oh.......we won't say how many years.

Time Well Spent

I haven't had any time to stamp lately, but that is okay. My mom has been visiting and has to leave tomorrow. :( We've done massive amounts of yard work. My yard will probably never look like this again. We are walking weird and hurt like crazy! We've had the usual schedule of keeping up with running the kids around. Saturday was one of those days. Two soccer games in different cities and then back home to go and watch the kids walk the red carpet for the prom. This is just the second year we've gone to watch, but what fun! The "arrival" is the big thing in our town. Everyone tries to out-do the other. The highlight this year was a true Flintstone mobile. It was great. It is so much fun to see all the kids dressed up. I always wish the girls were a little more "dressed", but that is just the modest freak in me coming out. No one else in the crowd ever seems shocked at the lack of fabric, which I always find surprising. Anyway, it made for a fun day.

On to stamping. This definitely isn't my favorite card ever. I was using up some of the extra Designer Paper from the Summer Days kit. I stamped the butterflies from Time Well Spent in StazOn Black and watercolored them with coordinating ink pads and an aquapainter. From the scan, it doesn't look so coordinating, but in person, it does match! A simple card, but nothing spectacular. I did use one of my favorite tools....the Tearing Edge. I have a brand new one sitting here if anyone has been wanting one. Someone ordered one accidentally and I haven't sent it back yet.

Summer Days Simply Scrappin' Card Class! - part 2

These are the other 8 cards that we'll be making at the upcoming Simply Scrappin' Class on May 23rd. Be sure and sign up by May 12th and tell your friends. Click on the title of this post for complete class details, and email me to sign up or if you need additional information.

Summer Days Simply Scrappin' Card Class!

Today my Simply Scrappin' Kit came for the next class. I had a ball making the cards for it. They were so fast and easy! I think you'll really enjoy this class. There are several options available. You can choose to make a full kit (32 cards - 2 each of 16 designs) or a half kit (16 cards - 1 each of 16 designs). Originally I had the Small Open-End Envelopes automatically included with this class, but I've added the option of choosing them or not, since some of you already own them.

This class will be held on Friday, May 23, with a morning and evening class. See my website for complete details. These are 8 of the cards we'll be making and I'll post the other 8 in a day or two. Let me know if you have questions. I know it is very different from what I usually do, but I think you'll really have a great time!

Year After Year - On Board

Here is another card made with the On Board Accents. After I played with the On Board products so much ....was it last spring??....I haven't for a while. I really like them! I actually made this card about a month ago, before I even knew about May's promotion. I even used the Cutting Mat and Hobby Blade. I felt like I was having a psycho or psychic moment or something! I stamped the graduation cap and congrats with Black Craft ink and embossed with clear. It looks super shiny, but I'm not sure how it will come through on the computer.

Supplies: Stamps - Year After Year, Phrases for a Friend, Canvas; CS - Textured Blue Bayou, Very Vanilla, Soft Sky; Porcelain Prints DP; Ink - Craft Black, Blue Bayou; Accessories - On Board Accents, Cutting Mat, Hobby Blade, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Pewter Jumbo Eyelets, Cropodile, District Ribbon, SNAIL, Sticky Strip, Dimensionals, Aqua Painter, Bone Folder

One of those days...

Today is one of those days. I kind of dread it every year, yet look forward to it in some ways. Four years ago today my dad passed away suddenly. I dread it because I worry about my mom and how she is handling the day. I worry that I can't be there on days like this. But I also take days like today to remember how awesome my dad is/was.....I never know quite how to put that! Of course I think about him every single day, but a little extra on days like this. My youngest was home with strep (again) today. He was being my helper, as usual, and I reminded him what today was. He said that he remembered exactly when it happened. Keep in mind he was four at the time, and just barely a year old when we moved away from where my parents live. He remembers what he was watching on t.v., where he was sitting, how the rest of us were reacting (we were a wreck!) and so on. He said "mom, I can take pictures with my brain you know!" He is such a cutie. He really got us through that rough time and was our comic relief. He was too young to really realize exactly what was going on, but he'll never realize how much he helped us. My sister, brothers and their families all live close to my mom, so I assume they all got together tonight. They usually go up to the cemetery and the grandkids all release balloons. They love doing that! We sure miss our family at times like this!