BLOG CANDY

Okay, here it is....the long awaited BLOG CANDY that I promised when I reached 5,000 hits!!! This pack includes: Provencal stamp set, Rub-ons from SAB (pack contains 4 sheets in black, white, brown, and green), green hemp twine, adhesive eraser and a magnetic calendar made using the Provencal set!!!





Now you ask, "How do I win it?" Easy---just leave a comment on this post and tell me what wonderful vacation location you are going to this summer (or anytime this year) and why it would be an excellent destination for myself and my family!!! You must include your e-mail address in your comment (especially if I do not know you personally), otherwise I will not be able to contact you if you are the winner!!! One more thing, you have until noon Eastern time on Wednesday, June 18th to post.

And while you are here checking out my BLOG CANDY feel free to see the other things that I have posted and comment on those, too! :0)


Happy posting and good luck to everyone!!
~Amy

I'm back, I'm back!!!

Well, I am finally back! After 3 weeks of having my computer in the shop and a week prior to that having some major computer issues, I have a working computer once again. It's amazing how dependent we can come on these gadgets!

I am so excited, too, to be able to update my blog. And I noticed that I have just gone past 5,000 posts, so I'm going to make up a blog candy package today or tomorrow, and take a picture and start the giveaway. Make sure to check back soon!

Stampin' Up!'s retiring stamp sets list comes out tomorrow so I'll be posting that for you also.

Are you ready for some pictures? Here is a project that I did a few weeks ago that I can finally share with you! I made a little photo album using SU!'s clear envelopes and cardstock. It was so easy and I love how sweet it turned out. I used the sealing strips on the envelopes to hold them together so that I could punch the holes through the envelopes and covers. I just used ribbon to hold my little photo album together. The pictures are of my middle daughter, Meredith, when she was about 2 years old---I won't tell you how many years ago that was!! Now you should try one of these little albums.






I apologize for the blurring last picture, but you get the idea!



Have a blessed day!!

~Amy

Quick note

I apologize again for not updating in days, but I am still experiencing computer problems. The problem is all with my e-mail right now, but my computer is in the shop where they are trying to find all of my e-mail from the last few years (including anything that you have sent me in the last 3 weeks or so because that is all lost too....). Ugh!!

My husband and I are heading out of town for several days so I will not be updating during that time. Hopefully the problems will all be solved by the time I return because I have some projects that I would like to share with you.

I did want to tell you about the Stampin' Up! (r) special that is coming for June. You will be able to order a new stamp set called Fresh Cuts for $21.95 and you can then add on cute little Fresh Cuts notecards for only $5 (the regular cost will be $8.95, I believe). The little notecards are so cute!! They have a cut out flower on the front so you can put card stock behind to show through. I wanted to give you a link to a GALLERY OF CARDS made with this stamp set and some use the little notecards also. (Click on the capitalized, colored words above to see the gallery!)

Enjoy!! I'll be back in a few days. :o)
~Amy

Prize and a goose

I've been wanting to share with you a prize that I won from my up-up-upline in Stampin' Up! (r). She and one of her first level downlines are doing a fun contest for us, their downline, during this SU! year. They are having random prize drawings after each quarter, then for the Top 15 achievers (in receiving the cute little stars that you see in the picture for preset parameters) and 5 randomly drawn winners will be invited to a Gala event in July with more gifts, prizes, make and takes and other fun stuff!! I've been working hard to receive those cute little stars. I can get stars for things like a $400 show in a month, submitting cards to card contests each month, signing up any new downline members (would you like to join?), listening to great training audios from SU!, etc. It has been so much fun and so far I have gotten a prize each quarter!! First, I got a pack of Bashful Blue card stock, then I got the stamp set Ginormous Flowers (wow!), and this time I got Mini Glue Dots and Sponge Daubers! How fun is that!?!

The other pictures that I want to show you today are just fun. We have a pond in the back yard and every year, we have geese who come through and visit. Most years they also have eggs and then goslings, unless some predator like a snake gets them. The first picture you can see how calm and beautiful the mother goose looks. But my daughter was pretty close to get these pictures and so the goose stood up and began to hiss at her. That explains why the picture is a little blurry! But you can see those eggs under her. I can only count 5 in the picture, however I believe that she has 6 under there. Now we will wait for our little goslings. They are so much fun to watch!! I'll try to remember to take pictures of them for you, if I'm able.

Have a blessed Monday, everyone!!! I have been stamping and will try to show you some cards soon. My internet service is back, however all of my saved e-mail and new e-mail from the last week or so is totally missing!!! So if you've e-mailed me in the past week, I probably didn't get it. Please try again...

My stamping space

I know that this is hard to believe, but I am still having e-mail touble and now internet problems too!! We have the satellite people coming out today to install a new dish, so I am hoping that then most of my computer woes are over! Computers----they're great when they work, but not my favorite things when they don't work!!



So for today I thought that I would show you some pictures of my stamping space for those who have never been to my house. You'll have to try to come over for a camp or class sometime! My room is in my basement. (And it is a little messy in these pictures, but it's an often used, well loved space.)

As you can see, I have six tables that can be arranged any number of ways for whatever is needed for my classes. That makes them very convenient! You can also see the 4 drawer file cabinet that I use for all of my 8 1/2" x 11" paper. I have the 12x12 paper in containers on the bottom of the little bookcase and in a plastic container on one end of the countertop. Too much paper. I hoard paper because I love it, but I don't want to run out especially if it a discontinued package.

I have part of my stamp sets of our built in bookcases, but another part on a little bookcase that my husband made years ago. And the little yellow stickers that you see on some of the stamp sets mean that those are retired! I just love them too much to part with them yet though. :0) I have a hanging shoe holder on the wall to keep those odds and ends close at hand and visible so that I remember to use them. (You know what they say---out of sight, out of mind! So true.) I really need to somehow put my punches out so I can remember to use those, too. But I'm always trying to upgrade and improve my space.

And you can see half of my countertop/desk area in the final picture. I have my ink pads there and all the extra ink pads are on the wall unit. (I use that for my Stazon pads and the In Colors.) I would really like to add some shelves to the wall there so my countertop area would be more usable. Someday.... And all of those drawers and cabinets are stuffed full of supplies as well. Incredible!! Actually as I am sitting here looking around my room, I believe that a coat of paint would be an excellent idea soon. I wonder when I can work that into my schedule....

You can also see some large totes around the room....those are pictures that are patiently waiting to be scrapbooked. Can you imagine so many pictures? Please tell me that you have lots around that need to be done as well. :0) And I'm not even mentioning all the pictures that are currently trapped in my computer from the digital camera.

And in case you are wondering, the tiles on the floor are made into a chess board. They are 12"x12" black and white tiles, and we have huge chess pieces to go with the board. (The king is 12" tall.) Maybe I'll take a picture of them for you sometime.

Have a great day! I hope that you enjoyed the tour of my stamping space today. I'm trying to make my post quickly (so not so detailed) because I am using a telephone connection. I don't want the phone to be tied up all day. Happy stamping!!

A Project using Rub-ons

I had a chance this week to play with my rub-ons quite a bit and I just loved how quick, easy and cute these are!! I used an Accents and Elements empty tin to make a holder for a set of note cards. The rub-ons that I used are called "A Perfect Day" and they are found on pg 15 of the Occasions mini catalog. Did you know that you can still order from that mini catty through the end of June? Don't miss these cute rub-ons and the other fun stuff in the mini. :o)

This set will make a nice gift and it only took me about 2 hours to complete this whole project. I decorated matching envelopes for several of the cards. I took a couple of close up pictures of my favorite cards. What do you think of these?

I'm sorry that it has taken me several days to post again, but we are having more internet trouble. We have satellite service through Hughes and it is really leaving a little to be desired right now. :o( The help desk thinks that something is wrong with our dish, so hopefully when the guy gets out to fix that, our problems will be mended!!

Have a wonderful Mother's Day to all of you moms out there! I'll post again whenever I can.

Can you take one more shell card?

I just LOVE this new Seaside stamp set, don't you?!? I am ready to go to the beach, but I'll have to wait until August for that. So until then, I'll just keep playing with my shell stamps. :0) For this card, I used Bashful Blue, Night of Navy and Whisper White card stock. My ink colors are Night of Navy for the shell and the sentiment (from the set called Sincere Salutations) and Basic Gray for the Background stamp called Tweed. I added a beautiful decorative brad from the Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware set in the Occasions Mini catalog and hooked a piece of Striped Bashful Blue ribbon between the brad prongs before opening them on the backside of the card stock. I attached the shell card stock piece with Stampin' Dimensionals to give some depth. I once again am very happy with this creation. How do you like it?

I also wanted to share May's Stampin' Up! (r) specials with you. These specials are only available through May 31, 2008. Here they are:

1) Get On Board with Chipboard---Place an order for at least $35 worth of merchandise, then you can get 25% off any On Board Chipboard products in the Spring/Summer catalog that you purchase!!

2) Cutting Combo Pack---Purchase a Cutting Mat and get a Hobby Blade for FREE!!

3) Hodgepodge Recruiting Promotion---What a great deal!!! Purchase the Starter Kit for only $159 plus tax (a 20% discount) and choose a Hodgepodge Hardware Kit from the Spring/Summer Catalog for FREE (a $27.95 value). Finish choices are: Antique Brass, Pewter, or Aged Copper. And the great part is that you never, ever have to sell a thing if you don't want to or maybe you just want to get the demo discount on everything that you order personally. SU! has very low quarterly minimums. Or maybe you are interested in making enough with your business to purchase whatever you want without dipping into your personal budget. Ask me if you'd like more details about any of these options!!! But don't delay because this offer ends on May 31, 2008.

On the homefront, I am so excited to share that we finished our standardized testing today!! Now it is all downhill for the rest of our school year. Woo-Hoo!! Have a great day and I'll post again soon because I've been playing. :0)

~Amy