With this CATALOG....I Thee Wed....

Ok--so I have some NEWS---

significant news...

but first, let me give you some background...

This past week...the Close to My Heart annual convention

has been happening at Disneyland in sunny California.

I had no desire to spend the time or money to take this trip to attend this event...

(it would be no fun without Theresa!)

So those of us who stayed home

have been monitoring the events via the bulletin boards and Twitter.

I didn't even start doing this until Wednesday-

I didn't feel well on Mon.,

Tues. I was busy getting ready for our scrapbooking group...

where we decided that, in September Theresa will do a class on how to use

our Cricut machines.

On Wed-or maybe it was Thurs.

THE WEDDING was announced...

Evidently

proposed to

and the words "I DO! were uttered!

The "ceremony" was sealed with the new Autumn/Winter 2011 Catalog!

CTMH now offers a 700 image Cricut cartridge

that matches a significant number of CTMH stamp sets

(with more to come, I am sure!)

It also has 10 boxes for crafting & gifts!

It will be available August 1st

a $ 129.64 valued item

 for a mere  $ 99.00!!!

Now I shook my head at first---

THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY, PEOPLE!

But... the more I've read about it...

the more stamp sets I've seen that it coordinates with

that I actually like--

This is going to be a must-have for me.

And, as if that isn't great enough...

all the stamp set prices---are going DOWN!

That is awesome!

So---I think I will be sticking with CTMH a little longer!

The bad news is...

the acrylic block storage case is being discontinued

(available while supplies last...)

and the paper packs are decreasing in size

and increasing in price...

I think they should've found a compromise

between the stamp and paper prices---

but they didn't ask me...

and until Theresa and I win the lottery

and have our own store--

we're stuck with the other person's rules...sigh.

If you want something from the old catalog-please let me know---

If you want a new catalog--let me know...

Until then, I am going boating (aka swimming, napping, reading & picnicing!)

Until next time, happy stamping and scrapping!

Blessings,

Wednesday Reveal...

We had a great time with our "groupies" last night

and our young visitor, Kelsey, was a delight!

I never remember

to take photos-drats.

Oh well.

Here's what we made...

I actually goofed the "recipe" on the page below---

(and don't even ask what my camera is doing-the pic is horrible!)

that 2" strip was supposed to go over (not under!) the matted white panel-

I caught it tho before I had the gals glue so at least their's is right--

and it does look better!

The middle multi-colored square on the page below opens up for more photos-

or hidden journaling...whatever you prefer...

This layout is from the MAGIC book by Close to My Heart.

It's really a great book as it has the layouts (all interactive!)

the measurements for all the papers and photos...

all the "hard" work is done for you!

There was LOTS of measuring involved in putting the layout together

but the gals finished in record time!

 I was impressed!

Next month...maybe I will incorporate

them reading the recipe and doing the cutting!

; )

Until next time, happy stamping and scrapping!

Blessings,

 

Tuesday Sneak Peak...

I guess I had too much fun in the sun Sunday afternoon

after finishing the sample layout for our group tonight...

as I was really, really sick yesterday.

That, or my hormones are all out of whack-again.

Or both-and.

Anyway.  Two pain pills last night

and while I didn't sleep

(they keep me awake, believe it or not!)

at least I feel a good bit better today!

Good thing---as I am teaching our group tonight...

here's a sneak peek

They asked for a 4th of July theme

and Sharon B. asked for this layout from the Close to My Heart Magic book.

I tried the layout no less than 3 times with CTMH paper Fanfare

and just wasn't happy with any of them!
Sat. I got paper at AC Moore-and, lo and behold,

discovered that *not all paper* that "claims" to be 12x12...is!

GRRR.

It was just under by something between 1/16 and 1/8"!

Go figure!

Anyway, I made it work and I am happy(ier)

with their project for tonight

(and yes, I made all those little buttons for all of them!

15 buttons per kit x 6 kits

(and that's only ONE layer!)

One morning last week we got up to a rainstorm.

I looked out our kitchen window at the bird feeder on our back deck

and this is what I saw...

if you look close,

you can see two baby sparrows huddled together

underneath the feeder

(I was taking the photo through the wet and screened window!)

trying to stay dry!

They stayed that way for a good while

well, until we tried to sneak the door open to

get a better photo...sigh.

 They were cute!

Well, I still have straightening up to do

groceries to get for dinner...

and work!

It will be a loooong day--

but fun in the end, I hope!

Until next time,

happy stamping and scrapping!

Blessings,

BLOG-GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

Just lost my entire post!

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

I am so not happy!

oFF WITH THEIR HEADS!

I realized something yesterday---

after Theresa called and nixed our Wilmington

shopping trip-it was raining cats & dogs

& she said her husband said

they couldn't see to drive

(he works for Fed-Ex---he should know!)

sigh

I went in the "magic kingdom"

& realized I don't go in there

as I am on OVERLOAD

when I do---

too much stuff-too many projects

waiting to be done...

don't know where to start.

Well.

I have a solution.

I need a SleepNumber bed.

Badly.

My fibromyalgia has been raging

for weeks now.

And while a craft supply sale

(and attic and...)

won't pay for all of one,

it would be a start.

So look out STUFF

me & my price gun are after you!

Some great deals will be had

at some point by someone for sure!

I've been on a Flylady kick

again.

The cleaning ladies came last week

(we have tile floors all thru the house---and it's hard for me to mop

on top of all the rest)

but I can do my daily routines & keep things picked up

no hot spots here

(well, other than the winter clothes that are still waiting to be put away...!)

so I worked in the craft room some yesterday

and wow!

What a difference

just 15 minutes at a time made!

 I spent a few hours but it seemed like a lot less--

doing bits & pieces 15 mins. at a time! ; ) 

I have my project back on my worktable

(and not on the dining room table!)

and, speaking of which,

I am teaching our group next week

and did the sample pages

several times

and still don't like them. Any of them!

So hopefully I can find some paper today

and can pull kits together quickly

and a 1" circle punch.

GOD PLEASElet me find one that works!!!

No time to order one from Theresa from SU

and while my 1 1/4" CTMH punch is the pits

(it's hard to punch and sounds like a cannon going off!)

it at least works

the TWO 1" ones I have---stick.

Every. Single. Time.

I need to punch 210 circles total

for these layouts.

Sigh.

Need more coffee just thinking about that!

Until next time, if YOU want more time to play

go check out

Flylady
and figure out your routines---

they work if you work them! ; )

and

happy stamping and scrapping!

A Happy Day...

"To my guy with the great green thumb..."

"whose other parts aren't so bad, either!

Happy Growing Better (Birth) Day!"

Yesterday was my darling husband's birthday!

A "firecracker baby" for sure!

These past years it's been somewhat bittersweet

as his mother passed away on the same day...

so it's been difficult to find a balance but I think some healing has happened

as time has passed and he really seemed to enjoy the day!

I fixed him breakfast and the first thing he wanted to do

was deliver the doggie goodie bag and check on Carla.

So we called her new mom and went for a visit.

She came and greeted us--but was also busy checking out a new furr friend.

It was great to see her actually running and playing in her new yard!

It was a quick visit and on the way home we stopped

at our local surf shop and he picked out a new bathing suit--my present for him.

While he chatted with one of our sons

I went to the local BBQ house and picked up our "picnic"--

ribs, fries, slaw

and came home to slice the key lime pie to pack to go with it!

We went out on the boat, anchored in our favorite spot

and found a tide pool that was as warm as a hot tub!

We just floated and relaxed

watching birds and the crabs crawling along the edges.

After a nice swim we chowed down!

It was the first attempt since my surgery at significantly fatty food-

but all was well! A relief!

We sat and read for awhile and headed home about 8 pm--

had time to unpack and head up to our widow's walk to watch the fireworks.

It's a great view from up top

 and we saw fireworks from Southport, Myrtle Beach and

a number of other places--

including homes just 2-3 away from ours!

Seeing them that up close and personal was pretty spectacular

and there were plenty of them, too--

at least an hours worth!

Hot showers to get the salt from swimming off and a nice snuggle

was the end of what  I would say was a pretty perfect day!

Had I remembered THE CAMERA....it would have helped! Oh well...!

The photos above are of the card I made

using the gardener guy & potter's bench

from Mo's Digital Pencil.

She just added the gardener guy last week-perfect timing!

The paper is from Theresa and Stampin' Up. 

Not too girly and perfect for the gardening theme.

I used the "make your own pop dots out of fun foam" trick

and it worked nicely

(hubby was glad to see pop dots--he likes the dimension, too

and teased that Theresa must have taken and hidden my "mia" pop dots! lol!)

Since the cleaning ladies were here last week

(coupled with my feeling somewhat better!)

I have managed to stay on the Flylady routines I have

and keep things straightened up

even with all our comings and goings and company!

It's really not hard---use the "do it now" principle and the quick pick ups.

The dishwasher is running as is the washer as I type. 

They will be ready for a quick put away when I get home from work

and then I can prep the class kits for next week's class!

For now, I'd better go get the royal buns ready for work.

Sigh-

it was really nice having a 4-day week-end...

Until next time, happy stamping and scrapping!

Blessings,

D is for Dog...

Been a wee bit busy between getting Carla (aka Ms. C) settled this week and my step-son visiting!

I did want to make something special for her new owner to thank her for giving her a forever home.

I actually had the book in my stash to be finished

(just needed the cover embellished, rings & ribbon added) and the amazing thing was--I was able to find it! lol! 

I made a card to go with it...

I just used the SU top note die and cut my cardstock base

just to the inside edge

also layered the dp on top of that so actually cut three layers at once...

and then repurposed an old bag

(shock---we LOVED this store-it's the second place my stamp addiction took off-it opened the same year my late husband passed away and it was my "sanctuary" for a number of years-broke our hearts when it closed and I cherish anything I have with it's name on it--including their old bags!) to make it look like this...

We didn't see Karen in church this am so we're going to use it as an "excuse" (as if we need one!)

to go and visit them! ; )

I also made hubby's birthday card today---and will post that tomorrow-

he's a firecracker baby!

Now it's time to get ready for a boat ride, reading and relaxing!

Until next time, happy stamping and scrapping!

Blessings,