Monday, Monday....

The camera is possessed---(so is Blogger but I won't go there right now...) by what I am not sure---but what a mess! At least I did get one or two pictures! The "Celebrate/You're Invited/Save the Date" card...is for an order I received. My customer originally told me that she needed "about 30..." The deadline being they had to be in the mail this week...I talked to her on Friday and she said, "Oh-we need about 80..." Well! That certainly was a SURPRISE! Of course I didn't like the background paper I had--so Theresa and I traipsed all over Wilmington Sat. in the rain---and I never found the green I wanted-found the great flower punch I used tho! So yesterday was mass production and I am proud to say I am at least half-way through. The pic that didn't come out...was my "assistant"-INKY-checking out my work! He's improving--and acting like himself again. Thank you all for the prayers. I had tears in my eyes as I was moving him off the photo-shoot area on the worktable-it's been so long since I had to do that...

Back to stamping: The cute little circle with the "save the date" is from a Close to My Heart set---and it comes with all kinds of sayings to use---congratulations-it's a boy/girl, you're invited, to a party...and many more. It also gives you the months and numbers you can use in the center to put in a date. Way cool--check it out on pg. 79 of the Spring catalog-it's called Express Postage Set.

Speaking of pets...our sometimes neighbors called last week and said that they had to put their beloved Lab, Winston, down. As with most labs, hip issues got the better of him. We will miss Winston--as I know they will-so I made a card to send. The inside says, " May God's love heal your sorrow and His peace replace your heartache with warm and loving memories". One of my pet peeves (no pun intended)--is when you see these great cards in magazines...but they don't tell you or show you what's on the inside! Grrrr..

Well, time for breakfast with my beloved, and then off to (real) work I go. Hope you have a great day and until next time, happy stamping and scrapping. Blessings, Sharon

A Few of My Favorite Things...

Anybody that knows me knows that POP-DOTS top the list! I love pop-dots! I once took a class and thought, "gee, this really needs pop-dots added to it to make it even better"---and so I did...page after page...and when I finished the book---it wouldn't close! Lesson learned: too many pop-dots..can SOMETIMES...be a bad thing?! Lol.

Next to pop-dots, I would have to say SLIDE MOUNTS are a favorite of mine to use in projects. They make such nice little "frames" for things. I used so many that I finally bought the large slide-mount die so I could cut my own! Pricey but worth it. I have a "stash" of small ones (THE STAMP QUEEN graciously lets me use her small die cut when I am in Winston-Salem and need to replenish my supply...) but then I found this great set of SLIDE MOUNT STAMPS* from Close to My Heart!!! I played with them for the first time this past Saturday---and whooo-wee...you will see them cropping up (and popping up!) in a lot of my projects! I needed to make a card for our new --well, what do you call the parents of your son's girlfriend?! Raymond proposed to Meredith before Christmas and she said yes! So we have a wedding coming up in the spring of 2010--As (step) mother of the groom I was supposed to contact her parents first-opps! Anyway-I needed a card and had new stamps to play with...so this is what I came up with. Since the stamps are clear...you can actually see where you are stamping and placement of the image in the slide mount is a snap! There are large and small slide mounts in the set as well as different designs on them and words to fill them. Of course you can always cut out the center and add a photo! The possibilities are endless!

CATS are another favorite thing and again, any of you who know me know that I have been struggling to find answers to Inky's health issues. It seems we've hit upon the right vet (Dr. Travis at River Road Animal Hospital, Southport, NC) and he is on his way to recovery once again. We've not pinpointed the issue---but she is determined and I feel most comfortable with her and her skills. Answered prayer for sure. THANK YOU to all of you who have/are praying, and have listened to me endlessly fret about him. He is such a sweetheart and my "baby".

Speaking of SWEETHEARTS...don't forget VALENTINE'S DAY is right around the corner! Get that card stamped NOW so you don't miss it! I have to confess-I've been caught more than once stamping and scrapping minutes and seconds before Brook came home when I've put it off! My "groupies" will be well-prepared after Friday's class (and gee, we'll be doing a card with BOTH pop-dots and slide mounts : ) and will have Valentines for friends and loved ones alike! I will post what the group does on Friday---as long as the camera cooperates!

Well, one must go to work to support one's habit...so, until next time...happy stamping and scrapping! Blessings, Sharon

*Unfortunately, this set was discontinued in 2008! : ( boo hiss....but...you can buy slide mounts---and cover them or stamp on them-or get a die cut for a cutting machine and cut your own...give them a try in a project...If you're in my group I will gladly give you a few to play with---or stamp a few to use-or---try ebay-that's where I found my set!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Where or where did 2008 go? It seemed like only yesterday I was in the midst of wedding preparations! It really did fly by! I hope and pray that 2009 will be blessed, happy and healthy for everyone! Did you manage to stay up until Midnight on NYE? Brook was in VA with Bad Cat, I was home alone with Inky and Poppa Cat. I confess-we crashed before midnight-woke to the sound of fireworks at 12:15, looked at one another and went back to sleep! Lol. What PARTY ANIMALS we were! Lol!

So-did anyone make any RESOULUTIONS for 2009? I did-I am going the work on getting HEALTHY-myself and this poor sick Inky whose just gone through yet another issue/episode. And I've got to say something about that here-if you have a doctor-or, in this case, a vet, who refuses to LISTEN, you've tried the "same old, same old" and its just not working, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE...don't hesitate to get a second or even third opinion. Just because they are doctors doesn't mean that they (individually) have all the answers. End of soapbox. My other resolution is MORE TIME TO STAMP AND SCRAP. I am going to do an album of my goddaughter, Maren, as well as a book of all the events of 2009. That, and finish the stack of projects in the "to be finished" box! Lol. I have some new routines in place that will help head me toward the craft room more often. A happy Momma is one whose had a few minutes for herself (sounding like Flylady now! Check out her site if you haven't--a great way to start the year! Her motto for 2009 is "Peace of mind in 2009" or something to that effect-and PEACE is something we could ALL use more of!

I am working on creating the VALENTINES (along with a variation on them-your welcome, Mary Cobb!) for our January class, the demo book for our February class...so some surprises are coming your way.
Again, may 2009 be blessed, happy & healthy for you and yours. Until next time, happy stamping & scrapping! Blessings, Sharon

Only 12 DAYS 'til CHRISTMAS?!!!

I simply cannot believe it! Have I taken down the fall decorations? Have I made the first Christmas card for us (Shh---don't tell my groupies the "teacher" doesn't practice what she preaches! Lol!) Have I done any shopping?! NO!
And I am sure I am not alone in this! Why do we do this to ourselves? Christmas comes the same time each year-and yet we seem to let it SNEAK UP ON US! Check out Flylady's website and her Holiday Control Journal. I may just blow the dust off mine and try and catch up---right after Theresa and I go shopping today! Seriously, take a few minutes and think on what this season is all about. We've all heard the "Jesus is the reason for the season" but Pastor Fred threw a new one at us. Someone had sent him an e-mail of a woman's tummy---a VERY PREGNANT woman's tummy--and you could very clearly see this tiny foot pushing out against it...Christmas...It's about "the WHOM in the WOMB". God came as a Baby...who doesn't love a baby. Why, then, can we not love the MAN he grew into...? Sigh. THE SONG that was the turning point in my becoming a Christian, that and the love of a youth group who adopted me, named me Mom and showed me what true LOVE was all about...Jon and his guitar...and BABY SONG....which goes like this:
Well, I bet your Mommy cuddled you when you began to cry; she fed you when you wanted food; she held you up in her arms and kept away all the little harms and loved you only like a mother could; and I bet you played in your cradle, climbed upon the kitchen table and wet your diapers in the night; you played with little wooden toys like all the other little boys and you grew up doing what you knew was right. And I bet you played with your friends in the valley where the Jordan bends, and you fell down and skinned your little knee; You went back home and shed a tear, cried to your mother dear, and she fixed it up and kissed your little cheek. And I bet as you grew older and the chilly winds grew colder, you used to fish in the mountain streams; You learned about the laws of life, walking daily in the Light, and seeing life and things and earthly dreams. And I bet you cried unlike a man when they drove the nails in your hands and you died like a robber on that tree....but I know you live, you're still alive and like a child with a tear in his eye, you shed a tear that fell...and set me free. (end song)....Baby Song...the song of the Christ child-the song of Christmas---THE GIFT. I may not have a tree up or a wreath on the door---but there is a small, "exploding" box sitting on my dining room table...that has a story that tells of shepherds and the birth of a babe...and in the center....a mom, dad, and the WHOM who was in the WOMB...Yes, take time...say thanks...enjoy the hush and the miracle...ask Him in...

On another note...
The Spring 2009 CLOSE TO MY HEART catalogs are here! I am so excited!!! There are lots of new stamp sets and papers that I absolutely want and have to have! A few things are going up in price so check your old ones and let me know if you want to order before Dec. 31st!
Until next time....Happy stamping and scrapping. Blessings, Sharon
ps/This pic...is INKY (the problem/sick kitty)-he was just a few months old in 2006 and LOVED the Christmas tree! He was shaking branches and climbing while we were putting it together (Mom's allergic to the "real deal")--but left it alone and stayed out of it once we got it decorated! He's a really good kitty!

Happy (Belated) Thanksgiving

I don't know about ya'll, but I feel MORE STUFFED than the turkey was! lol! We traveled to VA on Monday with all 3 cats...and it sure has been an eventful week. Poor Inky got sick so he and I met the vet-on-call late Wednesday night while Brook was waiting for our boys to come in. She sent him home with me but, following our FABULOUS dinner Thursday, we ended up back to see the second vet-on-call (at least she was here in town). He ended up staying overnight but is home and doing well. Praying the trip home won't be too stressful on him and they introduced some new food and meds so maybe that will make a difference. In-between my worries over my baby, it was NICE to visit with James, Raymond, Tommy & Dawn, and our neighbor here, Paul. Paul is always so generous in leaving goodies for us and even decorating the house so when we come in its not just a cold, empty space. This time he had eggs and sausage for our breakfast on Tuesday, and croussants, cheese and even RICE CRACKERS for me for snacking on upon our arrival! All the guys & gals are GREAT about pitching in and helping with the cooking, cleaning up and just anything that needs doing. And, because of that...I DID have time to scrapbook--and am proud to say---THE WEDDING ALBUM IS DONE (and I didn't even break the Kodak machine at the local Wal-Mart!) My dear husband even sat down right away at my pronouncement and looked at it! Smart man! lol! Today, inbetween cleaning up and packing up, I will stamp some things for our Christmas cards and another order to work on cutting out while I ride back. Please keep Inky in your prayers-that the ride won't be too stressful and recreate the issue. I AM THANKFUL...forFAMILY, for FRIENDS, for my "BABIES" (cats!), for having a table full of great food, a warm home, a wonderful job, the creativity I have...and a GREAT GOD who looks out for me and blesses me beyond measure. So, HAPPY BELATED THANKSGIVING to one and all...until next time, happy stamping and scrapping. Blessings, Sharon

You've gotta have the RIGHT TOOLS...

This is THE StampQueen's mantra and I've learned this the hard way these past few days. Brook's been out of town this week-end and, after the "Groupies" left Friday afternoon, I pulled out the wedding scrapbook and photos and all the paper, embellishments and STUFF I've bought...and I have literally cropped 'til I dropped for three days! The good news is---the book is almost DONE! The bad news and rest of the story is...

First, we had (past tense!) dial-up (another long story). When I ordered the wedding pictures, I ordered them from Shutterfly (great company-check it out!). It took FOREVER to upload the photos and I wasn't sure what I had and didn't have. So I was missing pics. No problem. I will print a few here. So I thought! Then the printer died. It will do word documents but don't even think about photos or color anything. So--Plan B is the Kodak photo machine at W-M. It gave me fits yesterday but I had some success. As I scrapped along, I realized there were more photos I needed and went back today. First, photos I THOUGHT were on the cd I made...weren't. So I was still missing a few. Not a total loss-I had the disk of Theresa's photos as well as Joel's disk. I started selecting and printing...and up pops an error message. The printer was out of ribbon. None at the camera counter, the nice, patient young man went to the back. While he did, the machine ATE my cd-two actually but we won't go there. Thank you, God, it was Theresa's (and not Joel's) as she, knowing me, had the presence of mind to make TWO...I have a copy here at home. I never got the cd back, they didn't have another ribbon (what did I expect-it's WM) I ended up with only 1/3 of the photos I needed...and am frustrated at being so close and not able to finish! Brook has said "get a new printer". I've not finished my research but I will be working (HARD!) on it.

That said, I have to admit---I've never been to a crop. I am hooked, though! I had the table and the bar and the craft room covered (well, still is but he won't be home for a few hours yet!), and no interruptions, schedules--just me and paper and stamps and embellishments....SIGH. It was awesome! Yes, I missed him (and not just when I got hungry (did I mention he cooks?), either!) It was cold this week-end with no one to cuddle up to--the cats don't count! Lol. Theresa told me about a crop in Cape May, NJ---they have a MASSAGE THERAPIST come in while your there who does 15 MINUTE MASSAGES while your there as part of the crop...along with dinner, free gifts....where do I SIGN UP???!

Speaking of which, it's time for me to eat (crock pots are AWESOME TOOLS for scrapbookers-dump it in and let it go= dinner when you're ready-tonight it's chili!) and start cleaning up...well, maybe just ONE MORE PAGE...! ; ) Until next time, happy stamping and scrapping! Blessings, Sharon