Lost and Found

Well, you may have thought I was lost since I haven't posted anything in over a month but don't worry, I have been found. I just have been very busy at work. I have made some cards lately but hadn't posted so I will be sure to post today.

The Change of Seasons

You know the season is changing by the activities that change during the year. At school we are getting ready for the staff and children to come back. At home, I am watching my son pack up his room to go back to college. The weather changes to cool nights so that the pool water doesn't stay warm to the next day. The mornings are cooler so that some may need a sweater, while I still wear sleeveless tops (all year). I even noticed commercials on TV begin to change with the announcements of new shows for the "FALL" and ads to visit NY or Vermont to see the changing colors. But with all the changes year after year the one thing that has not changed is that Autumn is fine favorite season of the year. The cool weather, the changing colors, the warmth of friendship, the smell of pencils, the smiles of staff and children when they come back to school, are some of my favorite things. Rain drops on roses just doesn't do it for me. But yellow, orange, burgundy, red, brown and green give me warmth and knowledge that I made it here again and hopefully will see it another year.

I'm Expecting......

I just got a new stamp set from Stampin' Up called FYI which has a lot of cute sayings. When I was mounting "I'm expecting!" I thought what in the world would I use this for, since I am not a young chicken any more. So when the opportunity came up to use it I couldn't believe it would work.

So here is the card front.....

but inside it says, "you to feel better soon!" See, I can use it as part of a get well message. I did have to include "Gottcha!" as the next line though. I know she will crack up when she reads it. So get well Kim and come back soon.

Well, off to a workshop........

Mojo 97

Well here is the finished card I made for the Mojo 97. Let me know what you think.

The Weekend Happenings

Stampin' Up Special for August 2009

#1 From August 1–September 30 only, get the exclusive Décor Elements™ Growth Chart — plus, receive a free applicator tool!

#2 From August 1-31, spend $35 on stamp sets* from the Growing Up section of the 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalog (pages 74-90), and choose a FREE package of Designer buttons—a $7.95 value!
Click the picture to see the flyer

Item # Page Description Retail Value
116313 181 Playground Designer buttons $7.95

116312 181 Sherbet Designer buttons $7.95
114333 181 Button Latte Designer buttons $7.95

MOJO 97

Well, I did have a late start on the Mojo 97 Challange that was posted on Monday, July 27th. Here is the design.

Build a Bear and Stampin' Up

The exclusively designed collection includes stamp sets, Designer Series papers and Sizzix dies providing young and young-at-heart Build-A-Bear Workshop enthusiast endless handcrafted possibilities for scrapbook pages, cards, invitations, home décor and more.

A Working Weekend

Well, I did make one card this weekend. (MOJO 96). The rest of the time I was doing computer work for my job. We ran into a problem with the student schedules and realized there was only one thing left to do to fix it, so I worked over 12 hours to fix it. Unfortunately, when I ran the process in bombed. Okay, 12 hours down the drain. One solution left, agreed upon, and put into action. Finished it today at work and it ran beautifully. The schedules are good. And my brain is fried.

My First Color Challenge Attempt

Don't let anyone fool you when they say making a card is easy. Just try a color challenge and you will find out that it can be pretty hard. Of course for my first attempt I should not have tried to do a card based on two challenges. I am too new at this do do that. But here is my CC238 Color Challenge for Note Quite Navy, Really Rust and Pretty in Pink. The layout was based on the Mojo for week 96. I will do a different Mojo later this week after I recouperate from working on this card for several hours. I really had a hard time with the pink but I did like the blue and rust together. I used the SU cardstock and ink and used a Sizzix texture plate (squares) for the blue cardstock. I also used a Souffle pen in pink to outline the flowers since the pretty in pink was so light.

Mojo 95

Well here is the sketch I worked on this week. I love looking at everyone else's but I have such a hard time figuring out what colors go with what and what I should stamp that I get frustrated.

I didn't get a chance to work on it until the weekend so check it out and let me know what you think. I am absolutely terrible at tying a bow so it is just ribbon going across.

MOJO 94 and Deal of the Week

Today was my first day back to work at the school after taking last week off for vacation. My vacation consists of staying home, but I got to do a lot of things I wanted to do. It was quiet at work with just my co-worker/friend and assistant principal. But I couldn't wait to get home to check out the MOJO sketch. So here is mine. Hope you like it.

Now I guess I better check out my mail and what's happening with Stampin' Up. Have a great week everyone.

So here is this weeks "Deal" from Stampin' Up.

July 6th - July 13th 9:50am MT
Item # 113474
Description Sizzix Big Shot Doctor's Bag
Special Price $49.95

MOJO 93

The 4th of July is over and I get to relax today (or recoperate) and spend some time with my papercrafts. So here is my MOJO for week 93.

So as far as the 4th, we had our 10th annual party with friends and family. My best guess is we had about 75 here eating with another 10-15 to watch the fireworks. Luckily we didn't run out of any food with that number of people. But people ate from the minute they walked in the door until they left the house. The county fireworks wer great as usual and my husband's fireworks were great too. He had one towards the end that was breathtaking. And we saw at least four other towns letting off their fireworks display at the same time. I said when we moved here that with the perfect view of the fireworks we would have a party every year as long as I am alive. It is getting harder though as I get older and the aches and pains get worse, but I can't let my friends down for a place to spend an evening.

As for the MOJO I used Provo Craft paper by Karen Le Mieux, Provo Craft Sizzors for the edging and Stampin' Up Oval punches, and Whispers Red Cranberry and Royal Blue Ink.

Stampin" Up's Deal of the Week

Stampin' Up! is doing something new during the month of July - a "Deal of the Week". Each week, a product will be offered at a discount. There's no minimum order, and no limit on quantities. These items will make great add-ons to your order or workshop!


This week, the Deal of the Week is the Scallop Border Punch (#112091). This is one of my most frequently used punches! It's available for just $10.99 (regularly 15.95!) This Deal is available until Monday morning, July 6, 11:50 AM Eastern Time. The next deal becomes available at noon Eastern Time.

So check out my site every Monday for the new "Deal of the Week."

30th Wedding Anniversary

5th Row Orchestra seats

My husband surprised me with tickets to see Mamma Mia this past Tuesday. I really had no interest to see it over the years or even see the movie. But if you know me, you'll know that he comes up with some great surprises that turn out better than planned.

I knew going to NYC was going to be rough on me, but I was told not to worry. I should have gone with my instincts - bring my cane and an umbrella. We ended up getting soaked in a torential downpour and ended up walking forever.

Dinner was at a Thai place that was small but the food was great. Service was ok. I had salmon in a sweet and sour sauce with pineapples. Rice ended up costing extra. We then headed to the theater which turned out to be the one I saw "Cats" in - The Winter Garden Theater." It turned out that the original anniversary event is two weeks away, but when he saw the price of the tickets for this show he couldn't pass it up. We were in the orchestra section Row F seat 10 and 12 on the right side. Even though we were on the side we could see everything. Of course we could hear everything too, especially since the big speaker was in front of us. The show was great. I enjoyed it so much that I think I liked it better than my hubby. Unfortunately, I end up liking the music and the characters but the recording on CD is the original cast and to me this cast sounds better than the original.

We finally headed home and arrived at 1:30am. Needless to say, I was glad I am on vacation and hubby went to work late. I was so tired I hardly did anything all day. But what an evening it was. He truly surprises me at times with his choices and ideas.

Mojo Monday 91

This is my first attempt at doing a challenge in making cards. But since I have such a hard time creating something without anything in my mind, I figured it was worth a try. So here is my idea for Week 91. I have to say I really had fun coming up with something. This will be going to a teacher who helped me out the last two month with the special events we hold here at the middle school.

I used Stampin' Up stamps and ink, a texture plate from Sizzix and a bunch of unknown paper for this project.

Down to the Wire

Four school days and counting. I have to honestly say that I can't wait for the year to end. This has been the worst year for me. The work load has doubled and I never seem to get out from under it. Another problem is the changing of the guard, the Business Adminstrator, that comes in with their ideas to totally screw us around. At times I wish it was like when I first started at the school. At least there was some stability. Not now, we are on our 6th Business Adminsitrator in 18 months and this latest one is supposedly only here for 6 weeks. Heaven help us.

As ofr life otherwise, my health has turned to crap and causing so many changes in my lifestyle that I wish I really had. I am going on my 5th year of bad knees that won't be fixed for at least a year if that. But enough complaining. I am thankful for my children and my co-workers.

I am finally doing a card tonight. Mojo Monday Week 91. Of course I plan on giving this card away but hope to remember to take a picture of it before I let it go. I had a teacher for the last month helping me out with so much - Awards Breakfast, Awards Evening, Graduation, etc that she deserves a special thank you. So a card and a Sizzix box of Totsie pops without the stick.

So Where in the World Am I?

My life has been so crazy lately I haven't had time to do much of anything - including cards. I did get hooked on a home design program that takes some of my spare time (and the not really spare time) but I have to break the habit. So this weekend, Memorial Day Weekend, I hope to actually become part of the world again. However, I would like to make some cards or learn some new techniques.

My youngest is home from college for the summer. My oldest is still working his part time job. The husband is still sitting around listening to music and smoking his pipe. But he did get the pool ready for the season and has done so many things in and around the house that my friends want him at their house, but not to live or marry. I can't seem to find anybody who wants him. Guess I'll keep him.

School for the year is coming to a close with the normal too much to do and so little time. I will work my outrageous hours to get it all done and then take some time off. Actually I have 10 vacation days I haven't used that I will end up carrying over, per my principal, to the next year which starts July 1st.

So, as far as Stampin' Up, I am trying to decided what to purchase before the June 1st release of "Last Chance" items with the money I set aside for May and June. Hard decisions. Well I guess I'll have to look through the catalog again and see.

Comings and Goings

The last day to get free items from the sale-a-bration catalog is March 31st. So be sure to place your order with me before then. April will bring the Occasions Catalog which will run from April 1 to May 28. Check out the sneak peek catalog. After April 1st the full catalog will be online.

Ocassions Sneek Peek

http://www.stampinup.com/us/documents/pg11-13_Occasions_09_US.pdf

Stampin' Up has announced that a few of the items coming out in the Ocassions mini catalog in April will be available now. The items for sale are Easter stamps. So check out the link and see what is available before April 1st release of the mini catalog.

Changes Everywhere

I heard that a person goes through 1000 changes during their lifetime. I'm not sure what that means but I do know that the comings and giongs of people in our lives is always changing. This week at work we are losing someone that has worked with us since September. Other than the fact that he has this goofy sense of humor, which cracks me up all the time, he has been a real nice guy to work with, especially in relation to sharing, explaining and discussing the latest information from the state. So as we say goodbye to our Interim Business Administrator, John Bolil, the office sent this card to him that I made over the weekend.

SALE-A-BRATION

The annual Sale-A-Bration vent has begin for Stampin'Up free products. Just purchase $50.00 of product from the Spring Summer 2009 Catalog and you get to pick one of the items shown in the Sale-A-Bration catalog. Check out the regular catalog above and the special sale catalog to the right. Contact me if you're interested in placing an order.

Card Making 101

Tonight I had a wonderful group of friends that came over to learn about card making and make 3 different cards to take home. What I enjoyed the most was that one of the girls created her own layouts once she saw the ideas. So hopefully she will be able to join the group when we meet again for card making as well as participating with the papercrafts group. Here is a picture from cardsandmore that I used as for the basis of one of the cards we did tonight. Thanks to all that came.

Decor Elements - Designs for Walls and .......

Get into the latest craze of decorating walls with vinyl designs and words. Where ever you look now there seems to be more product being developed for this handy way of decorating. Well Stampin' Up is also in the mix with their product of vinyl decorations. So check out the catalog by clicking the picture.

Super Bowl Sunday & Stampin' Up

Well it may be Super Bowl Sunday but it's just another Sunday to me. We will be having some people over later and Lots of food to eat. As for me I hope to do some stamp projects. Meanwhile, since today is February 1st - it is the start of the annual sale-a-bration. Basically, when you purchase $50 worth of supplies from the Spring Summer Catalog you can pick any of the items listed in the sale-a-bration catalog. So take a peak at the catalog shown on the web site. And I hope your team wins.

UPDATE: I actually watched the game and loved it. What an exciting game it was.

Time for Stampin'

Well the new year is here and the new catalog has arrived. I just can't wait to show you all the new stamps and accessories that are available. For the workshop on February 6th, we will start from the beginning for our new people. You will be able to make 3 cards and a 3-D item of surprise. So come on in and join the fun.