Leaving On A Jet Plane!

Happy Happy Friday My Blogger Friends!

My Count-down to Wisconsin has FINALLY ended!

I'm leaving on a Jet Plane TODAY.

 

Jack and I are heading up to Mesa this morning at 4:30 and I'll catch my direct flight into Rockford, Illinois and be driving to Madison, Wisconsin by 1:00.  I'm soooo excited that I'll be meeting up with my favorite Little People at Noodles for dinner.   I have plans to get up bright and early Saturday morning to head out to Cross Plains for a scrapbooking retreat that my Wisconsin Gal-Pals have put together.  So needless to say ...... My Christmas Vacation has officially begone and it's all hands on deck for this old gal. 

 

My post for today will be a quick little post sharing a couple cards that I received in November from my Upline Lisa Pretto.  Here are the two cards that I received......

Lisa made this card for me as a way of recognizing me for all the hard work that I put into making my sales month for October such a HUGE SUCCESS. 

Just love the color combination of Raspberry Ripple and Midnight Muse.  This is a PERFECT COLOR COMBINATION and it makes me SMILE BIG!

And the second card that I received from Lisa was recognizing me for being part of her immediate first level downline and for all the hard work I've put into my Stampin' UP! business.  She even tucked this awesome gift inside my card - A packet of rhinestones ........ HOW SWEET!

Lisa used the new Core'dinations Early Espresso cardstock for the front panel of her card.....and she even ran it through the Stripes Embossing Folder for an amazing and deep embossed texture to her card.  Many Thanks Lisa for your support and for your recognition of all my hard work.  I really apprciate hearing from you.

I'll be back tomorrow to kick off the Holidays with a FUN LITTLE GIFT that I made and gave to each of my kids for their offices.  Hope you can come back and join me for that share.  Keep Living Your Dream (I AM!). 

Happy Birthday FRIEND!

Happy Happy Thursday My Blogger Friends!

Count-Down to Wisconsin in 1 Day Left!

Okay Friends.....I'm down to the final day before I leave on my trip back to Wisconsin - and I'm beyond THRILLED to be going back to see my kids and little people.  It's all about PACKING and FINAL TOUCHES for me today.

I'm dedicating my blog post today to my REALLY GOOD FRIEND Mary Fish. 

I'll share some BIG BIG NEWS with you.....If you can KEEP A SECRET......And PROMISE NOT TO TELL her I told you.......TODAY IS MARY'S BIRTHDAY!   Oh My Gosh......Mary Fish is celebrating a birthday today - and I for one......Just have to CELEBRATE!

I sent Mary a card earlier in the week - but my "REAL" birthday surprise is this card that is without a doubt.....A "Mary Fish" card.

I CASE'd the card recipe from Connie Stewart at Simply Stamping.  Connie is one talented lady and she ALWAYS comes up with some of the GREATEST card on the planet.

I am in LOVE LOVE LOVE with this stamp set - the Happy Birthday is SO PLAYFUL and FUN!

But the best part of this card is it's being dedicate to my good good friend Mary Fish.  Happy Birthday Mary!  I'm sending this CYBER Birthday Hug to you today and hope you have a FABULOUSLY YUMMY DAY! 

 

 I'll be back tomorrow to share a fast little post before I head off to Wisconsin.  I'll be sharing a couple cards that my upline Lisa Pretto created for me......Hope you can join me for that share.  Keep Living Your Dream!

November CrafterNooners Cards Part Two

Happy Happy Wednesday My Blogger Friends!

Count-Down to Wisconsin in 2 Days!

HOT DAMN....It's all SYSTEMS GO for me.  I'm counting down the hours now before I leave for Wisconsin.......and I have a ZILLION things to get done today.  I need to stay FOCUSED and ON TASK if I plan to get it all done.

 

My share today are the two CrafterNooner cards I received from Berta and Opal at our November gathering.  Let me share those two cards with you......

Here is the card that Berta made....... 

Our color challenge was River Rock, Cajun Craze and Soft Suede and our technique challenge was to incorporate stitching onto our card.  Berta did an amazing job of stitching around the edges of her flower.....OH MY GOSH - AWESOME STITCHING Berta! 

Berta used several DSP and colored cardstock to meet her color challenge...... 

And she even added some fun lacy border to give her card an extra added POP of FUN!  Without a doubt......this card has Berta's signature look to it.  WELL DONE MY FRIEND! 

 And here is the card that Opal had us make.......

 We ran our Soft Suede cardstock through the Big Shot and used the stripes embossing folder to create this amazing texture on the left hand side of our card.

We met our stitching challenge by adding a corner edge of stitching to the upper right hand corner and the lower left hand corner of our card.

We stamped our floral image onto a piece of River Rock cardstock and then used the Big Shot and the Labels collection framelits to cut our our image and mat it with Cajun Craze cardstock.  LOVE EVERYTHING about this card.....and can see using this recipe on other cards I will be making this upcoming holidays.

 

I'll be back tomorrow to share the cards that my FU Group made at our November gathering - Hope you can join me for that share.  Keep Living Your Dream!

November CrafterNooner Cards Part One

Happy Happy Tuesday My Blogger Friends!

Count-Down to Wisconsin in 3 Days!

I'm in the final days of my count-down to Wisconsin and I'm feeling under control for getting all the packets prepared and all my packing done.  It's going to be LAST MINUTE PANIC come Thursday morning.....but for today and tomorrow....It's all system GO.

 

My card share today is Part One of my November CrafterNooners Swap cards.  Here are the cards that Jan and I made......

Our cardstock challenge was to use Cajun Craze, Soft Suede and River Rock and our technique was to incorporate Stitching onto our card.   

 Jan knocked this one out of the park for all parts of our challenge......

She had us do our stitching on this FUN piece of burlap and then we attached several buttons directly onto our piece of burlap.

I told the girls that these colors were not my colors...but by the time I finished Jan's card....I think I changed my mind.  GORGEOUS CARD JAN!

My card is the "Twisted Greeting Card".

I watched a YouTube Video that Kelly Gettelfinger (SU Demonstrator) made.  (Here is a link to her video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhMJl_Mh8FY)

The card is wacky and fun and comes together in a SNAP and with the help of Kelly's video.....It was SUPER EASY to make one of these cards.

I started with a 4-1/4" x 11" piece of Very Vanilla cardstock and I scored it from the upper right hand corner and went on an angle down to the lower left hand corner of my cardstock.  All you need to do to get your center fold is fold on your angle fold lines and put your folded cardstock at the top of your score board and then score at 5-1/2".  This is what creates your twisted/wacky fold of your card. 

I used Soft Suede.....Cajun Craze and River Rock cardstock and also added some coordinating SU DSP to my inside panels for a little added FUN.  SERIOUSLY FUN card and with the help of Kelly's video....they are SUPER EASY to make.

 

Thanks for joining me today .... I'll be back tomorrow to share Berta's and Opal's November CrafterNooners cards with you .... Hope you can make plans to come back and join me for that share.  Keep Living Your Dream!

Leftover Thanksgiving Treats

Happy Happy Monday My Blogger Friends!

Count-Down to Wisconsin in 4 Days!

I honestly can't believe that in 4-short days I will be leaving for Wisconsin......I'm not sure where the month has gone that I have been counting down my trip.  There is still SO MUCH to do......But I have to remember that what I don't get done before I leave.....will be waiting for me when I return!

 

My share today are a few leftover Thanksgiving treats.  AND....I don't mean Turkey leftovers!

They are two gifts that I made for Jack ....... and he has both of these gifts sitting on the vanity of his bathroom!

First up is a FUN fall pumpkin........... 

I took some Party CrepePaper and wrapped it around a roll of toilet tissues and created this SUPER FUN and SUPER HAPPY Pumpkin. 

I used the Autumn Accents Bigz Die to create all the leafs.... 

And even ran all of the leafs through the woodgrain embossing folder and distressed the edges of each of the leafs. 

I cut some stripes of Early Espresso cardstock into thin slivers and then wrapped a pencil around the cardstock to create a little curl to each of the stripes of cardstock. 

 And here is Jack's Thanksgiving Scarecrow......

 I created a "Happy Thanksgiving" banner to his little fellow......And I also distressed all the edges of not only his scarecrow....but also his treat box.

 Here's the backside of Jack's Blessing Box....and YES.......Jack hasn't eaten any of his blessing mix.

Jack said that his favorite part of this little fellow was his mouth......and it just made him smile!

 

Thanks for joining me today....I'm off to go spend the afternoon with my DFF galpals.....we are going out to lunch and then we will probably do a little shopping (I need to get my Little People's 2012 Christmas Ornament-which I will give to them on Friday when I see them)....and then it's back into my studio to unpack a large SU order and put some finishing touches on some the projects that I'm taking back to Wisconsin at the end of the week. 

Hope to see you back here tomorrow......Keep Living Your Dream!

Thanksgiving Gifts Part THREE

Happy Happy Sunday My Blogger Friends!

Count-Down to Wisconsin in 5 Days!

Today is my final share of the Thanksgiving Gifts I received from my SaddleBrooke Friends.  I received this GORGEOUS gift box from my good friend Maureen and I was SO BLOWN AWAY when I opened it.

This is not your every-day "give thanks" greeting card.  It's one of those "gifts" that when you receive it ..........  you know that someone really went that  "EXTRA MILE" when they packaged up their card up.  That is exactly what Maureen did when she packaged up this "OH SO PRETTY" card for me.

I was seriously BLOWN AWAY at the "art of presentation" that was done to this card.  Maureen packaged my card inside a charming clear gift box that showed me immediatley......I was receiving something VERY SPECIAL!

And special - this card is.  Maureen created this embossed "give thanks" card with two colors in mind.........Peach and the softest most creamiest Sage Green colors.

Maureen sprintzed to PERFECTION not only these Pale Peach petals.....but she also tied a PERFECT bow with the softest Sage Green ribbon.

She even ran her Whisper White panel through an embossing folder that created this beautiful background for all her 'give thanks' images to sit upon.

Thank you Maureen for creating this beautiful card for me.......and without a doubt, your card and packaging were OVER THE TOP and SIMPLY LOVELY!

 

Well.........I'm off to start gathering supplies and begin cutting up material for my December Stamp Camp.  I'm expecting a full crowd in December and I figured if I did some of the work for Camp before leaving for Wisconsin.........I wouldn't have all that cutting and sorting waiting for me when I return.  Hope you can join me tomorrow for one last Thanksgiving Surprise......Keep Living Your Dream!

Thanksgiving Gifts Part TWO

Happy Happy Saturday My Blogger Friends!

Count-Down to Wisconsin in 6 Days!

Today I have part two of a three part series on the gifts I received this past Thanksgiving Holiday from several of my SaddleBrooke Stamper Friends.  Let's jump right in with two of the cards that I received.......

First up is this SUPER FUN card that Pam made for me....OH MY GOSH.....

It cracked me up how Pam embossed several different fall leaf's and arranged them to make a TURKEY ....... CHECK OUT HIS LITTLE HEAD.....

It's the acorn sitting on top of a pumpkin.  TOO STINKIN CUTE!

It's one of those cards that was made to MAKE YOU SMILE.

REALLY PAM.....Super Fun Thanksgiving Card. 

Thanks for including me in your Holiday card giving this year.

This is the card I received from Berta - SUCH AN ELEGANT CARD!

I am in LOVE with this Happy Thanksgiving sentiment........

And this pumpkin is so gorgeous!  Berta did an amazing job coloring it ...... Simply a work of art!

Thank you Berta for sending me this beautiful Thanksgiving Card.....I appreciate your friendship and look forward to seeing you back in SaddleBrooke next week.

 

My task today is to get our house decorated for Christmas.  I have to admit that I had not even put this task on my "NEED TO GET DONE BEFORE I LEAVE FOR WISCONSIN" list ...... So I'll be working overtime to get it all done!

 

Thanks for joining me today....I'll be back tomorrow to share Part Three of my Thanksgiving Gifts with you.  Hope you can come back and join me for that share.  Keep Living Your Dream!

Thanksgiving Gifts Part One

Happy Happy Friday My Blogger Friends!

Count-Down to Wisconsin in 7 Days!

Today I have Part ONE of a three part series on the cards and gifts I received from several of my SaddleBrooke Friends for Thanksgiving.  Let me share two of the 3-D Gifts that I received......

 First up is this ADORABLE Oreo Turkey that my good friend Carol made for me.......

OH MY GOSH.....have you EVER seen anything SO ADORABLE in your life? 

She used two oreo cookies and added five candy corn candies between the cookie...... 

 And she added a whooper for his head.....and a peanut butter cup for his belly.....

The acorn was made with a hersey kiss and a nutty buddy cookie (OH MY GOSH!).....

 I love the turkey face....and knew for a fact that by the time Carol was done with making SEVERAL of these - her hands were shaking BIG TIME when she needed to add the eyeballs!  FABULOUS PROJECT Carol.....and without a doubt....You BLEW ME AWAY this year with your Thanksgiving Project.  THANK YOU for making me one of these cute cute turkeys!

And my last share today is this GORGEOUS BOX that my good good friend Liz made me! 

She told me that when she saw this pattern.....she thought of me (guess it's because I make lots of box projects and Liz is ALWAYS on my gift giving route).

 I was not able to get a good picture of this leaf.....but let me tell you something.....It is LOADED with shimmer and sparkle.   It is sitting on a rosette that is adhered to the top of the box that Liz created.

And speaking of LOADED.....OH MY GOSH!  Liz not only STUFFED this box with LOTS of LOVE.....but she also stuffed it with LOTS of CHOCOLATE! 

I have put this box in my studio and Jack has made SEVERAL TRIPS into my studio to see what I'm working on and before he leave my studio.....he stops by to pick a piece of candy out of this box that Liz made me.  (SMART MAN!)

Liz also added a BEAUTIFUL elastic gold ribbon around the box and it works perfectly to keep the lid to this box on super tight. 

LOVE LOVE LOVE the DSP that Liz used to create her base box and lid.....and adding a scallop edge to the lid edge is such a pretty pretty touch.  

Such a pretty box and one that will proudly display in my studio.....THANK YOU LIZ!

 

I'll be back tomorrow to share Part Two of the cards and gifts I received from a few more of my SaddleBrooke Friends ...... Hope you can stop back tomorrow to check out those projects.  Keep Living Your Dream!