New Things

I gave my Blog a make over. Hope you like the change.

Updated links to cagalogs, etc.

Since my last blog, I attended CHA in Chicago and the Scrapbook Royalty Crop. Had a great time at both and met a lot of great people. I was blown away by all the products I saw at the show.

Last month I attended a Shoebox Swap in Hartford WI. We made some beautiful cards and had some optional swaps and lots of great door prizes. Attendees vote on their favorite of each swap. Shoebox, ABC, Altered Notebook, 6x6 Recipe Card, Unique Technique and Lottery (Secret Sister). My Lottery item was voted the best.

I made a 'gumball' machine using terra cotta planters. The base is the planter turned upside down and the top is the dish that goes under the planter. The glass globe is a small plant bowl. I filled it with M&M's. I used some metal sheets and cut the hardware. Square punch and Round Tab Extra Large, Hodgepodge Hardware and the acrylic adhesive bubble from the Build-A-Bear. Also used some M&M stickers. The wire basket was filled with assorted stamping items.

For the ABC I made some square boxes using the Scallop Square Die and fabric. They fold up for storage and will hold scraps, pens, etc.

Off to see what I can do next.

Honor our Service Men and Women

Monday, May 31st will be Memorial Day.

Let us all take a moment to remember and thank those who have served in the Armed Forces to keep us free. I will also be remembering my eldest brother who passed away 7 years ago on this day. He was a Navy Veteran of the Vietnam War. He also did a lot of volunteer work helping others without looking for recognition. I looked to him as a role model and miss him dearly.


I am still out of work and catching up on my stamp life while looking for the job to pay for my habit. Maybe some day my habit will pay for the 'real' life. I can keep hoping and working toward that goal.

This weekend was the VSN on SCS. So many beautiful cards. Working on spreading love in the galleries for all.

Hugs to all.

Door Closes - Door Opens

When one door closes, another door opens.

On April 26th, I lost my job and so started looking for a new one. I have yet to find the door that the Lord has opened for me, but I'll keep looking.

In addition to apply for jobs, I've been able to catch up on all the blogs and web sites I like to visit. This week I plan on working on catching up on my stamping. I have several things I've wanted to try and just never made time before. Now is a perfect time.

The Friendship Swap was a success again. Saw 'old' friends and a few new ones. All the cards were fantastic and it was really hard to pick a favorite. The extra swap were once again excellent. I don't know how we keep getting better with all the projects. It is amazing to see what everyone comes up with.

My card for this was a simple one that I received as a swap at the Milwaukee Stampin'Up! Regional from Suzy Krebs . I had the strips cut, the participants only had to punch the one end, and punch the white circles and hearts and then stamp and put everything together.

This coming weekend I will be at the Rubber Stamp and Scrapbook Expo in Milwaukee WI. Working registration and meeting up with some more friends. I've done this for the past several years and have enjoyed it. Get to see lots of goodies, purchase a few and just have a good time.

Until next time, happy stamping everyone!

Out of the Darkness into the Light

Where does the time go? I've missed updating my blog for over 2 months. Bad me.

Recovering from the winter blahs and SAD and stamping again. April is going to be full of fun.

Friday, April 9th, I'll be attending SU Regionals in Milwaukee WI. I got my badge in the mail today, so the excitement is building. I'll miss seeing Sherrill Graf present on Saturday, April 10th.

April 17th, is a 'Year of Cards' fund raiser. The hostess does all the work of preparing 13 card projects and card holder. We attend, make each item, eat, visit, buy raffle tickets and hope to win one of the great items.

Aprl 24th, is the Friendship, WI Shoe Box Swap. Time to meet up with some of the CURDS.
I've been working on my swaps and other items and will post items after the event as I don't want to spoil it for those attending.

I'm also working on my challenge for the MAY VSN over at SCS. I am a hostess again and hope that you'll stop by and join in the fun.

ALL MAY's SHOWERS

Mini VSN Saturday, April 23, 2010 6-10 PM ET

VSN Friday, May 28 6-10 PM ET

VSN Saturday, May 29 12 - 10 PM ET

Thanks for stopping by and checking out my Blog.

More Craft Room Photos

Here are more photos

Craft Room Photos

Here are pics of the craft room about 1/2 way done.

Chloe and Connor

Here are the new precious additions to the family.

Chloe and her brother Connor

Another Year Has Come and Gone

Wow. I can't believe that it is 2010. A new year to have new fun in. The holidays were not too exciting for me this year. Just Mom and I as usual. I made Mom's Christmas cards for her to mail out. Now I'm working on birthday cards.

We did have 2 new additions to the Family Tree on December 13th. My niece and God-daughter gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl. Chloe and Conner who joined their 2 yr old big sister Caila. Haven't had a chance to see them other than the hospital photos but both are home and doing fine.

My sister sent me some really neat gifts for Christmas that she had made. An inventory book for all my Stampin'Up! items and non-SU items. It is 4-1/2" x 7-1/2" inches and she bound all the pages using a Bind-it-All. She left it for me to alter as I wished. The pages are set for the different color family (Pads, Reinkers, Papers - all sizes, and markers). She also has pages for th In Color items, Designer Series Paper, In Color Ribbon, Ribbon by the different sizes, Big Shot dies by the types of dies, and stamp sets. She has lots of pages set up for the different sections that are blank - to fill in as I want. I am working on getting what I have listed. The book is a good size to carry to events that I may want to know what I have and what I don't have.

I also received a recipe book that she had typed up and printed out all the family recipes that we had that had been hand written or we had collected over the years. She made one for each adult female in the family - 9. A lot of work.

My craft room is almost done. I need a few more cubes and then I think I will have a place for everything. Working on labeling everything. It is nice to have things where I can see them and not have to dig through boxes. I have a desk for my computer and printer and another to work on. Now I have to get my stamping mojo going and make things.

Weather here has been typical winter - snow and cold. At least it has been sunny most days.

I am starting to fill in my calendar with stamping events with my Wisconsin Friends - The Curds. Can't wait to get back in the swing and meet with the old friends and make new friends as they join in the fun.

That's all for now. I hope this year I can keep this up better than I did last year. I also am working on learning how to add links and more exciting things to this blog.

Thank you for stopping by and checking me out. Happy New Year to one and all.