New Catalog Goes Live Today Blog Hop

This is the moment we all look forward to this time of year as the retirement list is published and we anxiously await new rubber and accessories!  


This years new catalog does not disappoint! 

We, as demonstrators, had the chance to preorder just a select few of the new stamps and in-color supplies and accessories.  I Love the new in-colors as you will see that is what I have mostly used.

I can't get enough of this hardwood background stamp and how cool it looks on any color of paper.  The linen thread inspiration comes from all those old fence posts tied with rope that seem to stand the test of time.

Stamps - Hardwood, Hello There (exclusive Hostess Stamp set)
Ink - Whisper White, Hello Honey, Meadow Moss, Blackberry Bliss, Lost Lagoon
Paper - Lost Lagoon, Whisper White
Accessories - Starburst Framelits, linen thread, dimensional's, gold metallic marker.

 
 
I have seen so many different card layouts with offset  papers.  I had this one in my head and was excited to put it to paper.  I love it when the projects come together quickly.

Stamps - A Dozen Thoughts, Hello There (Hostess set)
Ink - Blackberry Bliss, Hello Honey, Meadow Moss
Paper - Whisper White, Blackberry Bliss, Hello Honey, Moonlight DSP Pack
Accessories - Starburst Framelits, scalloped circle card from Thinlits Circle flip card, linen thread.




Front View

This little bag was demonstrated by Donna Griffith at the New Catalog Premier Party.  This little bag measure 4 x 2 and is made out of one sheet of the Moonlight DSP stack (6 1/2 by 4 1/2)  Do you notice the top zig zag edge of the bag?  I used the Tiny Wave Stampin Trimmer rotary cutting blade to create it.  Just gives it that extra little final touch.

This little bag will hold a miniature Hershey bar, or other little candies.

Side View
 

Stamps - Hello There
Ink - Lost Lagoon, Hello Honey
Paper, Lost Lagoon, Whisper White, Moonlight DSP Stack
Accessories - Starburst Framelit, Banners Framelits, 1 3/4 Circle Punch, gold Bakers Twine, dimensional's, Fast Fusion tape, Tiny Wave Stampin Trimmer Rotary Blade.


Lengthwise score at 1, 1 1/2, 2, 4, 4 1/2, 5
Shortwise score at 1/2 in

Cut all edges off except for middle section  (see pattern)
I used Stampin Up's new Fast Fuse Tape.  As strong as sticky strip, but so much easier to use.  I love it for things that need to hold strong.
You can see where to make the mountain and valley folds. These create the gussets to your bag.  The edges meet up and use your favorite strong adhesive and seal them and then seal the bottom up.

Go check out what the amazing Jeanna Bohanon has created just for you!



I am too old

I hate it when people use age as an excuse to "not" be able to do things.  I have seen some amazing things done by people considered too old.  We have a 70+ year old woman in our Ward that recently lost her husband.  She was a primary care giver as he had suffered a stroke a few years back.  Within the last year she has had both knees replace and is back to clogging.   She is an inspiration to me.

So in the back of my mind as I drink my diet coke and eat my pie pizza loaded with cheese and pepperoni, I am thinking I need to make sure I keep myself healthy enough so that if I wanted to climb Mt Olympus or go kayaking on the ocean at 70+ years of age I can.

So what has prompted this little tirade.  I went to bed last night at a decent hour, between 10:30 and 11:00, and was wide awake.  Oliver has developed a serious over development of saliva issue that we are currently attempting to work through without having to pay the vet, so I was trying to steer clear of the puddles and making sure there were towels under his cute little head.  I opted to read myself to sleep.

This usually works as I find myself bonked in the head with my book as I drift off to sleep.  Last night was exactly the opposite.  I stimulated those little gray cells with a new book I had picked up from the libraryand finished my 300 page book at 3:30 a.m.  Lights went out and 3:45 a.m. with a hope that I would quickly fall asleep and 2.5 hours would be enough to get me through the next day.

I now sit here with my 2nd 44oz caffeinated beverage within the last 4 hours attempting to keep my head off my keyboard.  Saying to myself......I am to old for this.   Sleep in essential for my proper functions.

Now you have read my ramblings here is a b-day card I made for a BFF.
The products used are from Stampin UP, Papertrey Ink and the die for the card is an accordion circle card die sold through ecraftdesigns.com.  Karen Burniston designed them.  So cute I had to get my hands on them

I hope everyone's Friday was productive and fun
Ta Ta for now.

Valentines Count Down

So I decided with all my free time (LOL)  that I was going to come up with a little something-something for Ralph everyday of February up to Valentines Day.  I got pictures and thought I would share.  Pinterest gave me some great ideas and some were my own.

In no particular order

Extra gum and Hershey's kisses.  I love extra kisses, I mean really....who doesn't?

back

Bag full of pistachios

We all have bad days...Ralph is awesome being so patient with me.
Could have gone a different route with these, but kept it G rated :)

you should try these - they are deep fried and oh so tasty

"berry" Naked

Two bottles of hot sauce should do the trick

Martinelli's Sparkling Apple

The cup was filled with cinnamon hot lips

This box was filled with all kinds of hearts - juju, cinnamon, dark chocolate, strawberry cream, & Reeses,

Junior Mints - Love the Moose's...Meese?

Chewy Granola Bars - We are kind of a salty sweet mix. :)

The bottle of Mountain Dew was drank before I got the picture :)

this key chain should hold up to his pile of keys

The Last one - saved for Valentines Day won't be shown until after I give it to Ralph.
It has been kind of fun to place them in different locations around the house each day.  He has very carefully stashed each one by or around his computer where he works each day.    I got behind one day and mentioned that I needed to finish the gifties before I went to bed.  He responded , and said "its ok, you don't have to......but I do really like them".

Last Project - Kind of cheesy but very Valentiney

Ralph is good for my heart.

Ta Ta for now

The Witch is In

On Labor Day Monday, I took the day to spend with Emillee to play with some toys.  She designs for a local wood craft store and I took advantage of her amazing talent and her deep stash of goodies.

Here are the boots and the hat -

Here is the entire display - with the broom and quote

Another decor item in my house that makes me smile.  I love Halloween!

Happy Monday

These two words are kind of a contradiction on a normal basis, but today not so.  I took half a day off to come and prep for our dinner party tonight. 
Listening to showtunes, putting together the favors, setting the table, cleaning the last few household rooms, and prepping for dinner.  Definitely one of my favorite ways to spend my time (except for the cleaning)

Here are pictures of the favors and table that shows my new place mats.   The idea for the favors came from Becky Roberts scallop candy wrappers

Don't you just love those colors.  Now I just need a big bouquet of Gerbera daisys. (Another favorite of mine )

Menu

Starters:

Goat cheese and onion phyllo triangles

Octopus Salad (don't knock it 'till you try it)
Orange and Onion salad

Greek marinated olives

Main Course:

Greek Salad

Roasted Lamb

Fresh Pitas

Gyro Toppings

Dessert:

Honey almond cake with ice cream and fresh strawberries

Keeping with the Greek theme, in between the main course and dessert we will all take a Greek God's Quiz that Ralph put together.  Here is your chance to give it a try.

Demonstrate your knowledge of ancient Greek mythology!!!

               

                You will receive one point for each correct answer, but you will also lose points if you confuse Greek and Roman names of the Gods.  Spelling doesn’t matter, but pronunciation does.  Socrates would allow you to argue to defend your answers, but Plato would expect your answers and your arguments to be ideal.  Because democracy originated in ancient Greece, we will vote on whether disputed answers are acceptable.

1.            Name the king of the gods, who defeated the Titans to take control of Mount Olympus, and who controls the weather?

2.            Name the queen of the gods --she is the goddess of marriage, and is incredibly jealous of her philandering husband?

3.            Poseidon, who carries a trident, rules what domain?

4.            Name the god of war and his famous parents?

5.            The goddess of love and beauty is married to the handicapped, ugliest god – what are their names?

6.            The goddess of wisdom was born from Zeus’ forehead after he swallowed his pregnant mistress – what famous city is named after her?

7.            Zeus and Hera had twins:  Apollo and Artemis.   He is the god of _________ and she is the goddess of __________________.

8.            Name the brother of Zeus and Poseidon, who rules the underworld, and name the river that blocks access between the world of the living and the world of the dead?

9.            Which mortal was chained to a cliff and sentenced to have his liver eternally eaten by birds because he stole the secret of fire from the gods and gave it to humans?

10.          What famous oracle spoke the will of the gods to humans?

11.          From what handicap did Homer, the poet of the Iliad and the Odyssey suffer?

12.          Odysseus was prevented from returning home to Ithaca for 10 years because he blinded the Cyclops.  Which god was the Cyclops’ father?

13.          Who was the Trojan prince who started a war by kidnapping Helen, the wife of King Menelaus?

14.          Who was the half-human son of Zeus who has famed for his strength and courage?

15.          What are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet?

16.          Bonus question:  Name the Old Testament prophet who most likely lived at the same time as the Trojan War?

17.          No-points question that is designed to tell us about your personality:  If you were a Greek god or goddess, who would you be and why?

I wasn't required to take Greek Mythology in school so, if it wasn't for Disney's Hercules, The Lightning Thief and the movie of the Odyssey I would be sunk.  I still don't think I will pass with high marks, but it should be fun anyway.  Answers will come later this week.

The Easter weekend was good to me.  I had a great time with friends and family.  Too bad I can't adopt a four day work week permanently.  It made showing up to work today somewhat tolerable.  I hope everyone else had a good weekend.

Ta Ta for now

PS - Wild Boar ham for Easter Sunday dinner turned out great :)

A Baby Shower and Chores

Today we are having a family shower for my neice who just not quite a month ago adopted a little baby.  He is the Cutest little guy.  She has already had a couple of showers and had a lot of the baby supplies before he even arrived - just so they could be prepared.  So I thought and thought about what to give...another baby outfit of which she will have several - or something else. 

I opted for a box of home made thank you cards - 30 of them.  It seems like sending a thank-you card is becoming a lost art.  I know how much it means to me to receive a thanks for all you do/did.  So, by giving this gift to her, she can give back to so many.  I am also including a package of diapers. (expensive little suckers)  Glad I don't have to budget those in.  So..with that thought here is a picture of the card and the package.

I used the Cuttlebug baby folder for the background in whisper white.  I then cut out a giraffe with the special delivery cricut cartrdige in barely banana and creamy caramel.  The tag is cut with the same cartridge with gable green.  I printed the sentiment on my computer and punched it with a 3/4 in punch.  The flower is punched with a stampin up flower punch and adhered with a white brad and tied with a piece of linen thread.  Simple, but effective and oh So cute - I know!!!!! 

I wrapped 8 hershey nuggets to match the box I made so that the new mommy could have some chocolate as she wrote out her thank you cards.   I always wonder, when I give gifts of "myself" meaning I created and made them - how they will be received and if the receiver will appreciate the work that went into them as a home made gift. 

The family decided on taco salad and fruit.  It happens to be one of my favorite meals and easy to fix.  I get to bring lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers.  I am all for the veggies!

After the shower - hopefully I will get some exercise in, (especially after having pizza for dinner the night before) some house cleaning, some thank you notes to my Stampin up customers for their orders before they get delivered, and a sharing time for Sunday planned.  Whew - Don't you just love weekends.  All that free time 

A quick recap to catch up

Did you know...paper crafting can wear you out?  Actually I think it is more like my sister in law Marlene.  She is an energizer bunny.  I couldn't get her to slow down, even for my sake.  Needless to say, we had a fabulous time and each of us came away with some great projects.  These don't include the Christmas cards and neighbor gifts that didn't quite get finished, but there are enough pieces to have an excellent start.

We painted these blocks, and papered them, mod podged them, numbered them, labeled the bottom block and then mod podged them again.  Does anyone know which way the apostrophe is supposed to go?  One of the designer papers we used had Christmas trees all over it.  Silly me put the 9/6 numbers on that particular paper.  So when you turned the number one way it was right side up, then the other way all my Christmas trees were upside down.  BOO!  I ended up scraping paper off and redoing that side. Marlene and I had a good laugh.

I covered wooden letters with autumn paper and embelished with cute rub-ons, ribbons, and buttons.  I need to add a few more emblishments, but I ran out of creative juice.


This project was the most difficult to photograph, because...it is too dark without using a flash.  The flash creates shadows.  You can sort of see what it is, but I love it.  "Welcome family and friends"

I think my most favorite day was the day we drove to Manti to go to the temple.  It was such a beautiful day.  The temple workers were so nice to us and we ran up and down the hallways trying to figure out where we needed to go.  We were treated so good.  The temple artwork and murals are amazing.  I loved being with my Mom and Marlene.  Ralph was unable to go with us because of a business meeting.  I missed him.  We stopped on our way out of town at Freds sports grill.  I was so hungry and that burger was sooo good.  Bacon, cheese, beef, tomato, pickles.  YUM!  The fries and soft drink were icing on the cake (so to speak)

Well, we had a great time,

We had great food, and the company could not have been better.  I think this should become an annual event.

Well the dog is farting - so it is time to go for a walk.  Have a great day! Ta Ta for now.