Wedding Invites

Here is the formal invite we mailed for James and Dawnmarie's upcoming wedding.  It was a team effort - the kids put the photos on and Dawnmarie did all the brads (bless her heart!)

Some MDS projects

I love My Digital Studio!  It is my 'go to' for quick easy notes and memos.  I use it for a fast 'thank you' or 'congratulations' card for online friends and family.  I also use it for my monthly calendars of events.  Here are a few of the creations I've made lately - If you want to get a copy of this great digital papercrafting software, shoot me an email or a phone call.  ~ ~ ENJOY!


 

April club projects

These projects were all done at our April Stampin' Up! club meeting.We were at Jana’s house and had a wonderful time!  She is such a lovely friend.  She was so preoccupied by taking care of babies and her house that she hardly got to do her projects, so I did them for her and her daughter Janal.  Here are the 4 cards and one scrapbook page we did. 

Jana's son Evan does BMX racing and is quite good at it, so we did a scrapbook page for him!  It used the Extreme Elements set and the BMX set.  The colors are Handsome Hunter, Not Quite Navy, Really Rust and So Saffron.  We also made a card fit for any teenagers' birthday!  It used Extreme Elements set also and Extreme Guitar as well as Four Square.  The colors worked so well together – Basic Black, Basic Gray and Real Red.

This next card was our technique card – we did a reinker spread technique I had seen by many consultants – the colors are Cameo Coral and Summer Sun.  I will miss these colors.  The set we used is 5th Ave Floral – it is one of my all time favs!

This card was a quick and simple one – we used the Little Angel stamp set and the Sweet Pea Stitched felt pieces. The colors were Rose Red and Old Olive.  We did a companion card to use some more Sweat Pea Stitched Felt – the mothers day card below.  It used Chocolate Chip and Pretty in Pink for the fun Mother’s Day card. 

Mission Bound

These were the last few photos we took of Nathan before he left for his mission for 2 years!  Mozambique is a long way away, but he is in God’s hands now!  Do well my son!

Have I been shot into a time warp?

So, I realized today that it has been 2 months since my last post.  What kind of blogger am I?  Well, I guess I am a crazy busy one!  My life has radically changed since that last post.  Here are the highlights -

• Nathan got his mission call!!  On February 18 he called us on Mike's cell phone at my book fair at school.  We put him on speaker phone in the reference room in the back of the library while he read us his call.  He is going to the Mozambique, Maputo mission.  WOW!  AFRICA.  Who would have thought he would go that far!  Not me... I am thrilled and scared all at the same time.
• March was a whirl wind!  I have no idea what really happened in that month ....  I just let it slip by without really paying attention to what happened.
• April was insane!  The first week was spring break.... yay!!!  Upon my arrival back to school, I was given some of the worst news of my life.  I was not going to have a job in the fall at my school; the school district was getting rid of half of their librarians and would share 3 librarians between 6 elementary schools.  I have just been reeling from that ever since.
• April also was filled with long talks with James as he was making the life changing decision to marry his sweetheart, Dawnmarie.  I am grateful he asked many questions and did a ton of praying and fasting about it.  He officially asked her on April 24 at the Open House for the Gila Valley Temple.
• Nathan came home from college the end of April and thus began our whirlwind May!
• May was filled with preparations for Nathan's depart to his mission.  We went with him to the Mesa Temple on May 1 for him to recieve his endowments.  That was a lovely day!  and one I will cherish forever.
• May 23 Nathan was set apart as a missionary for the Lord.  That was a momentous occaision; one none of us will ever forget.  Then the next day, Mike, Nathan and I departed for Utah to take Nathan to the MTC to begin his mission.  That was an emotional week - and I was surprized that I did not really cry - the emotions are still very close to the surface and I am sure I will take some time soon crying about his absence.

WHEW!  Now we are almost to June and I have no idea what my future holds besides having my son learn Portuguese and preparing for Africa, having another son make preparations for a wedding in July, and try to figure out what to do with myself after I finish up my last few days at my job.  What will we do?  How will we survive without my check?  How will I make it without my 2 oldest boys?  Many questions that wrack my brain to help me through some crazy times ahead! 

Vintage style

I have really come to love this Stampin’ Up! set – Vintage Vogue.  And the wheel that matches – Very Vogue.  I have made some fun things with it – here are a few of them. 

crazy life!

So, February ran away and here I am at the end of March!  How does that happen.  I will post all the samples i’ve made lately.  I think part of the chaos has been Sale-A-Bration with Stampin’ Up!  I have been crazy trying to make sure everyone gets all their free stuff before it ends on WEDNESDAY.  So – if you have a few more items you wanted from the Sale-A-Bration brochure – email me!  I have an order ready to go in on Wednesday … so you still have time!
Enjoy my creations!
 
     

Wow… time flies!

So, this past month has been ridiculously busy!  We just ended January it seems.  But February was a very exciting month for us.
I had my book fair at school and we even had Wilbur the Wildcat from the University of Arizona come to mingle with the kids.  It was great!   In honor of him I did the first card I will share today - 
A BIG Thank You to Wilbur for making our Family Night Event a Success – we sold $1500 in books that night!  Here is the card I made using my trusty Stampin’ Up! stamps!  I will send it with their check.

Stamps:	Starring You, Thank You Kindly
Colors:	Night of Navy, Real Red
Accessories:	Small Star Punch

A little inky fun

I wanted to share a few things I’ve been working on. Some were for workshops and others were just for cards to make when I play with my grown-up Stampin’ Up! toys!  Here is the first one from a workshop a couple of weeks ago.  I really love this little Like-o-meter stamp!

Stamps:	Like-o-meter, All Holidays, I {Heart} Hearts
Colors:	Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip, Real red
Accessories:	Small Heart punch, Sending Love DSP,

Sunday Share 2

This card doubles for a couple of challenges I took on today.  I wanted to recreate a sketch put out by Gretchen Barron one of my favorite Stampin’ Up demos to follow and CASE – she issued a sketch and this is my take on it.  I also was using a color combo from Colour Q again. 

Stamps:	Birthday Bliss
Colors:	Certainly Celery, Barely Banana, Night of Navy, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White
Accessories:	Big Bold Cupcakes Sizzlets, Wide Oval punch, Whisper White 1/4” grosgrain ribbon, Polka Dot embossing folder

Sunday shares

I found a fun blog a while ago and decided to try one of the challenges.  ColourQ issues creative color combinations each week.  This particular one was Melon Mambo, Bravo Burgundy, Pretty in Pink and Pumpkin Pie.  It was tough but I love how my card turned out. 

Stamps:	Vintage Vogue,  Whimsical Words
Colors:	Bravo Burgundy, Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White, Pretty in Pink
Accessories:	Scallop Border Punch

Sympathy card for a friend

I made this card for Mike for a co-worker who lost his mother-in-law. 

Stamps:	Thoughts and Prayers, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Cardstock and Ink:	Not Quite Navy, Very Vanilla
Accessories:	Bella Blue DSP, Scallop Trim Border punch, Scallop Trim Corner punch

Thank you card Stamp-a-Stack

Yesterday I had a thank you card stamp-a-stack.  Each lady made 10 cards – 2 each of 5 designs.  The first 2 were the ones I showed a while ago from the new Occasions mini catalog and the others were great cards too!

#1 - 

Stamps:  Elegant Thank You

CS:   Ballet blue

Ink:  Dusty Durango, Ballet Blue

Accessories:  Whimsy Jumbo Wheel, Dusty Durango Polka Dot Ribbon, Top Note Die, Scallop Square punch

#2 -

Stamps:  Elegant Thank You

CS:   Green Galore, Bermuda Bay, Barely Banana

Ink:   Green Galore, Bermuda Bay

Accessories:  Scallop Circle Punch, Matchbox Die, Bermuda Bay Polka Dot ribbon, Bermuda Bay Designer Specialty Paper

#3 -

Stamps:  One of a Kind, Thank you Kindly

Ink:  Handsome Hunter

CS:  Old Olive, Handsome Hunter

Accessories:  Rose Red Designer Specialty Paper, Rose Red marker, Certainly Celery marker, Curvy Label punch, Boho Blossoms punch

WOW! January is off with a BANG!

It has finally come!  The most loved time of a stampers life - Sale-a-bration from Stampin' Up!  This year is full of excitement for sure.  If you are not familiar with how Sale-a-bration works for every $50 you spend on Stampin' Up! products, you may choose a FREE gift from the Sale-a-bration brochure.  These are limited edition items that are only available during the sales period.  This year Stampin' Up! did something so exciting!  You can also choose a stamp set from a specific list taken from the Idea Book.  You can view the Sale-a-bration catalog by either clicking here or the Sale-a-bration brochure icon on the ride sidebar.

Also today, a new mini catalog came out with amazing items for our spring celebrations.  With the unveiling of this new Mini Catalog comes some amazing announcements.  Stampin' Up! has begun offering Clear Mounted Stamps.  They maintain the high quality of the rubber stamps they always have, but now with the option of using a clear acrylic block to stamp instead of wood.  I have to admit... I have played with them for almost a month now and I AM IN LOVE!  Also introduced is a new punch design and over 5 new punches!  You can view this mini catalog on the right sidebar.  Just click on the cover of the orange book or click here.

As if all that wasn't enough to make your mouth water, you can also purchase limited edition Heart shaped Treat Cup.  these are the most fun little gift giving idea just perfect for Valentines Day.  You can check out the flier HERE.

Now is the perfect time to book your workshop with me.  It will be a wonderful time with friends creating and laughing.  My calendar will fill up fast, so get with me soon!  You don't want to miss out on the most amazing sale of the Stampin' year!

Some card play tonight - farewell dear Serene Snowflakes

As of Monday this set will no longer be available.  I will miss this gorgeous set! It is in the Holiday Mini Catalog and it will leave the product line to make way for the new Occaisions mini coming Tuesday!  If you have items you were dreaming of from the Holiday Mini, make sure to let me know by Monday so I can order them for you!

Stamps: Serene Snowflakes
Colors: Real Red, Always Artichoke, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Eyelet Border punch, Real Red 1/4" grosgrain ribbon