Greetings from Convention!

Hello! I have been super busy and having fun at Convention! We made some cute make and takes today that I can't wait to share. We also got these darling cupcakes at lunch. It was so funny to see all of these crazy ladies taking pictures of their cupcakes. The topper was made of chocolate, too! How fun! The demos were great today and I can't wait to get new stuff!

Swaps!!!

I am headed out in a few hours to go to Convention! I am super excited. I just finished getting my swaps and Shoebox swaps prepped for tonight. I wanted to share, but I don't have time to give all of the details on everything. I will give more info when I get back! Thanks for fluttering by! I will post updates on convention when I can!

*Release Day*

Today is the day you can head on over to The Saltbox Studio to purchase your new sets and maybe some of the old that you can't live without! LOL! I chose to use this cute house from the Saltbox Sampler and the thank you sentiment. As soon as I saw these great sentiments, I knew I wanted to use this great pattern paper from Cosmo Cricket. I thought the font on the sentiment looked like it had been stitched. I also added an X in the stitching on the button to continue with the cross stitched theme. Today is my daughters *friend* birthday party, so I have pools to fill, cupcakes to make and decorate, etc. etc. Then on Wednesday I am off to SU! convention for loads of fun and new stamps! Yippee! Hopefully I can get some things made to post each night when I get home!

A Kid and a Card!

Last night we headed up to Kamas, Utah for a BBQ and then the Rodeo with my cousins, Aunt and Uncle, etc. It was a lot of fun and it is nice to be in the country. It is always so peaceful!!! The Rodeo was a ton of fun! My kids *loved* it! They did a great firework show afterwards. So...now I am in need of a Thank You card to give to my cousin and their family for hosting the BBQ! I thought a Bronc Buster card would be perfect. I used the sketch from Jen's Blog http://www.iheart2stamp.com/ for this weekend. I had so much fun with last week's sketch I thought I would try today's. Wouldn't you know it? It was a perfect layout to use with this set! I used the retired Outlaw paper as well. I really miss that paper! I hope they have some fun western paper in the new catalog. Thanks for fluttering by!

Saltbox *Sneak Peek*3

Good Afternoon! I hope everyone is having a great Friday! I was able to get out into my yard this morning and get some deadheading, weeding, etc. done! It always feels good to get those things done! My husband is home again today, so I decided to let him sleep and I came down to make a card using my fun new Saltbox Stamps! I decided to use the Farm Friends set for this one and I thought this Daisy D's paper worked well with it. I also added an older sentiment which is one of my faves-Live Simply! I need to be reminded of this on a daily basis! LOL! I added a little machine sewing because these papers are fabric designs as well. I just think is adds a little something extra. I used my color spritzer and a black marker to add some speckles to the focal image. Mr. Rooster is colored with prismacolor and copic markers. Now...I have to get my swaps done for Convention! I need to clean my space and work on that in the next few days so that I can get some more samples made for release day which is MONDAY!!! Thanks for fluttering by!

ETA: I decided to add a little more shading to the rooster and some scallops! I thought it looked better!

P.S. There won't be *A Closer Look* installment this week either, because of my crazy deadlines! Check back next Sunday when life has calmed down!

Saltbox *Sneak Peek* 2

Today is a holiday here in Utah! This image is perfect for today's 24th of July Holiday! I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it! I had a lot of fun coloring it and I added a few ants as well. Aren't they cute? These images are new from The Saltbox Studio and will be available next week! I colored the image with Copic and Prismacolor markers. I colored yesterday's image with these as well, to answer the question that was left yesterday! This image has such a primitive feel, but I decided to use the pinks and greens to bring out the watermelon! Yummy! I will be posting more sneak peeks, so stay tuned!

Saltbox *Sneak Peek*

Yes! It is that time again! I am so excited for this release from The Saltbox Studio. Every set has such great images! I decided to make my sneak peek card today using the sketch challenge over at SCS and what do you know? It worked perfectly with these new images. I chose to use the new Banner set because I knew I could use some great country colors as well. If you have been collecting the Banner Collections, you don't want to miss out on this one!

I have been a little MIA recently while I have been getting my new creations made. I also am trying to get ready for SU! convention which is exactly a week from today! Yippee! I am excited and stressed all at the same time! Lots to get done before then! Please bear with me while I get through all of my *to do's*! Check back for more Sneak Peeks this week! Thanks for fluttering by!

Q & A and a Card

There will not be *A Closer Look* insallment today, since I shared some photos of my home yesterday. Instead, I decided to answer a few of your questions that have been asked. Also, I fell in love with the sketch over at Jen Del Muro's Blog which can be found here http://www.iheart2stamp.com/ So I decided to play along! I got pun fun last month and have made quite a few cards with it, but haven't shared any...so I thought I would make another using this great sketch. I was also excited that it used a star so that I could use my neglected "Classic Backgrounds".

Question 1 What size are your square cards? If I ever make a square card it is always 5 by 5 unless I otherwise note it. Sometimes I will make a 4 by 4 or a 6 by 6, but if I do, I will note it in the text.

Question 2 Where did you get your Making Memories Embellishment Center? I purchased it from Michael's with a 50 % off coupon! yippeee! It is around $80.00 normally, so I definitely wanted to use a coupon!

Question 3 How do you store your stamps? I am in the process of re-d0ing this aspect of my space. I have lost so many stamps to retirement, that I only have a few left. As a demonstrator, I only like having current sets in my work area. If I want to keep it even though it has retired, I keep them in a different room. If I don't want it anymore, it goes into a box for sale, either at a garage sale, or my openhouse. I will share pics when I get it all done!

That is all the questions I can think of right off the bat, but if you have any others, I will be glad to answer them.

I have quite a few design team commitments coming up that will keep me busy in the next few weeks, so bear with me as I get them done! Thanks! There will soon be some great new stamps from The Saltbox Studio and I will share sneak peeks as soon as I can!!!!

Wall Works

For those of you who saw my creative space in the "Create Your Space" article in the April issue of Stampin' Success, you may be wondering about my vinyl lettering above my storage shelf.

Now that Stampin' Up! has come out with their new line of Home Decor Vinyl Lettering you may be wondering if Stampin' Up! supplied me with my lettering. The answer is no! Stampin' Up! came to photograph my space and do the interview last October. I know that SU! puts things into production way ahead of time, but I had no idea nor was it ever mentioned to me that they would be doing a home decor line. I asked my friend in my neighborhood to do my vinyl lettering. I have been getting my lettering from them for about 5 years. Here is the link for those who are interested: http://www.wallworkshome.com/index.php I did have her use the exact wording from the "Define Your Life" set that SU! sells. I really loved that for my space and I really like how it turned out. I was really excited to see their Home Decor line and I can't wait to put some of them up in my home. I did want to take the time to answer any of your wonderings, because I know their are a few out their who were wanting to know. I also added a few photos of other vinyl lettering in my home.

The "I love you right to the moon and back" is in my daughter's room and I placed that in the corner and I really love how it turned out. The Grace sign is not by Wall Works, but one that my Mom bought for me. That is also in my daughter's room. Can you tell I love her? LOL!Thanks for fluttering by!

Hello Kitty

My 4 year old is going to a birthday party on Friday for one of her friends. I got a darling "Hello Kitty" T-shirt and some other things for her gift, so of course I had to make a "Hello Kitty" card to go with it. I found these stamps I have had for quite some time. Being born in 1975, I was always in love with Hello Kitty. We could never escape the department store without drooling over all of the Hello Kitty, Little Twin Stars and My Melody novelties. I am pleased to see My Melody and Little Twin Stars making a come-back as well. Because of my love for all things Sanrio, my daughter has quite the Hello Kitty collection of things. Infact, she took over the Hello Kitty Tin that has housed these stamps as well as band-aids, notes, inkpads, stamps, bubble-gum(could be a little scary after all these years), lipgloss, etc. I have been saving these things for when I had a daughter and now they are hers...well... I guess we can share the stamps! LOL! So...for all of you Hello Kitty fans, this one is for you. I used the sketch challenge for today as well as Tuesday's color Challenge. They couldn't be more perfect because these are the colors on the shirt as well. I added some stickles because the t-shirt is super sparkly!!! Well, enough of my ranting about Hello Kitty! Thanks for fluttering by!

P.S. I recieved the sweetest sympathy card from Bevmom the other day. Thank you...I will be posting it soon!

Stamps: Sanrio-Hello Kitty ( I am sure they can't be found after all these years) Fundamental Phrases by SU!

Paper: Whisper White, So Saffron, Wild Wasabi, Almost Amethyst

Ink: Same as cardstock, plus Brick White Prismacolor marker

Accessories: fire brads, wild wasabi striped grosgrain, dimensionals, blender pens, crystal stickles

*A Closer Look* #4 and a Card

Many of you have let me know how much you have enjoyed the *A Closer Look* Installments, so they are back and they will continue to be posted on Sunday! I have promised you photos of my new Embellishment Center, so here they are! You are all very lucky that you are actually getting photos because of all the trauma I have had with this thing! The first time I mounted it on my wall it was CROOKED. I even used my level and everything! Then I moved it and it was even more CROOKED!!! ughh!!! So...I got my wits about me and I was determined to get it hung. I finally did it! It was even straight! Yipee! So...I begin adding all of my ribbon, jars, etc. I just added the final jar and CRASH!!!!!!! The whole thing came crashing down, GLASS, BUTTONS, GLASS AND MORE GLASS! I couldn't believe the horror! I wanted to sit down and cry! Not only did I have a bajillion holes in my wall that I have to putty and paint, but it broke some of the dry wall and my precious button collection was amidst shattered shards of glass. I had to throw them all away!

Thank goodness that the rest were in the Making Memories plastic jars...I am realizing how smart they are to make them plastic! So...to make a long, sad story a little shorter. I decided to set it on top of my sewing table like a hutch (for the time being). My sweet husband said he would install it properly for me! I love him!!!! I also added a basket with items that are newer that I will use for inspiration. I actually like having it on the table because it looks like an old-fashioned general store! Lot of fun things to *shop* for! LOL!
I also made a card using my new Bella Rose DS paper from SU! and the new Dreams Du Jour Stamp Set! Isn't it all scrumptious? I am in love!

Country Bumpkin

I just love this little rabbit out harvesting carrots.The image and sentiment are both from The Saltbox Studio. This little guy is from the April Banner set, but I thought it worked well for the summer, also. I colored this image a while ago and decided to use it tonight and make a fun gardening card. I personally don't have a vegetable garden, but we usually get some great stuff from the neighbors. I will probably use this card as a thank you to them for whatever summer harvest we are fortunate to recieve. I decided to use some fun patriotic colors which are perfect for this month. Here in Utah we celebrate Pioneer Days on July 24th, so red, white and blue are out all month long! I used some great wide gingham ribbon I picked up from Hobby Lobby when the Hen and Chicks set was released. I really like the country touch it gives my creations from The Saltbox Studio. I also added one of my new SU! buttons with a touch of linen thread.

Thank you again, for all of your kind comments and prayers over the last week! It really means a lot!!!!

Capture the Moment

Many of you probably only know me from my cards and 3-D items, but I have been an avid scrapbooker as well. I will admit that my pages and books have been put on the back burner in the last year or so. At one point, my son's and daughter's scrapbooks were completely caught up. I can't say that now! LOL! Anyway, my mom asked me if I would put together a mini-album for my cousin. I jumped at the chance. I needed to get my feelings out and reminisce all of the great times we have had together. I didn't take pictures of all of the pages because of time restraints, but I did manage a picture of the cover ( I erased his face with my photo editing program for privacy) and one of the layouts. The picture is from a very memorable trip to Promentory Point where my brother and older cousin ( the shirtless boys) constructed a raft out of old boards we found. We didn't bring our swim suits, so we were all in our clothes, sopping wet, but having a great time. I think I was around eight years old.

This whole process made me realize how important it is to capture the moment. I don't take as many pictures as I used to and that needs to be changed. My kids are growing up so fast. They will be grown in a flash! So...with that being said, I will be sharing more of my scrapbooking!

Paper: Signature Line by Jen Wilson

Stamps: 7 Gypsies

Stickers: 7 Gypsies and Rusty Pickle

Metal Embellishments: We R Memory Keepers, Stampin' Up

Ribbon: SU!

New Goodies!!!

Mr. Brown just brought me my box full of new SU! goodies. I can't wait to play! I am making a mini-album for my Aunt with pictures of my cousin so I can't stamp today. I will be working on that today so we can give it to her tomorrow at the funeral. I will post photos when I am finished. I will also post any creations that I make with my new stuff! I can't wait to play with the new In-Colors! Thanks for fluttering by!

With Sympathy

Thank you so much for all of your well wishes and prayers. It really means a lot to me. The funeral will be Thursday. I was supposed to be driving a car full of cub scouts(including my son) to day camp . Life has a way of making other plans. I will still send my son so that he can pass of his requirements. I will have my husband and daughter with me.

I was finally able to sit down and get some sympathy cards made this afternoon. I made 4 of the same design. The design is simple and no stamping whatsoever. I ran some white cardstock through my cuttlebug for the card front. I computer generated the sentiment and punched it with my large oval punch from SU!, added some silver brads and adhered it to the card front with dimensionals. The finishing touch is a length of green satin ribbon knotted and glued down. I wanted something that wasn't too overwhelming or distracting. This design would also be great for Wedding Shower Invitations if you changed the sentiment and used the Bride's colors for the ribbon. Again, Thank you for your well wishes.

Sadness

It is with deep sadness that I write today's post. My dear cousin passed away. I wanted to let you know that I won't be doing much stamping or blogging for the next week or so. If I get some sympathy cards made, I will post those.

Stamping Withdrawal!

It seems like ages since I have had a chance to sit down and stamp, but I guess it has only been 2 days! LOL! I decided to check out the color and sketch challenges that I missed over the last couple days. This card works for both and I realized that this sketch looks *very* similar to the card I made on Sunday. I kept it quick and simple today. I did add a little embossing for some texture, but it really has minimal stamping. I love this set and thought these colors worked well for a baby.

Also, my new stamps from TJ Designs came yesterday. I can't wait to play!

Stamps: Nursery Necessities

Ink: Purely Pomegranate, Certainly Celery, Wild Wasabi, Basic Black

Paper: White, Pomegranate, Celery, Wasabi

Accessories: 3/4 inch circle punch, dimensionals, buttons, cuttlebug and swiss dot embossing folder, wild wasabi stitched ribbon