Sale-A-Bration!!

Here is a card I made awhile back for a friend and one of my unit managers. They both won trips to Hawaii with lia sophia. It is such a BIG accomplishment that I wanted to create something for them to tell them how proud I was of them.

I just finished up my order for my stampin up club this month. Of course I ordered enough to get the So Many Scallops set. I thought I might also order enough in March to get the one with all the "notes"....but then I saw this card on SCS today. I did not like this set - in fact, it was borderline "make me want to gag". Funny how the colors used will completely change my attitude about a set; I have not cared for anything in this set when it's been darker colors, but these light, bright, soft colors appeal to me! I'm not for sure that I would actually order this set.....but I'm thinking about it. Which is more than I could say yesterday.

And finally, I can't believe I'm over 1,000 visits. That's amazing!! I'll work on getting something together next week when I'm back from Houston and settled.

The Day the Music Died

No one wanted my rhapsody downloads. No biggie. I think I'll just post them on SCS then!
I've been super busy ----- just staring at my desk and stamps. I have worked on some things....but they are just BLAH!!!

I am leaving for Houston on Friday. I am going down to start a gal with her own lia sophia business. I doubt I'll have anything to post before I leave, so I'll just leave it to ya'll to create gorgeous things for me to look at when I get back!

Love Music?

I have three free songs from Rhapsody that I am going to give away. We don't have any sort of an MP3 player in our house and they are off a Wendy's cup. But I don't want to let good music go to waste!
To enter to win, post a music-related comment on this topic. Post a link to a music themed creation of yours and get an extra chance to win! On the off chance that you might want to create something I'll leave this up until WEDNESDAY, February, 27th. I'll draw a winner sometime that afternoon (after 12 Noon CST).
Best of luck!

It's raining HEARTS

I've never really been one to be fond of hearts. But I thought this heart stamp was pretty cute and it was only $1. I used VersaMark to emboss the heart - first with what I thought would be a pretty, hot pink....but then I switched to Bridal. Still not the contrast I was hoping for but I went with it. The DP is from ???? and the ribbon is just some that I dug out.

As I was assembling these little 3x3 cards, I was struck with this idea: took me a few days to get it down and I fussed with it some, but I am pretty happy with how it turned out. Guess I'll save it for V-DAY next year. I embossed the umbrella portion with clear EP so it looks really shiny. And I ended up cutting that coat out THREE times - the first time, I cut off her boobs - YIKES! then the second time I didn't stamp very well and cut off part of her hand! YIKES again! You can tell from this photo that I made the panel for this card and then attached it to a white card. How many of ya'll do that? It seems like everywhere I look on blogland, that people make the actual card base from colored CS. Kim Hughes mentioned on her blog today that sometimes she just makes fronts and then attaches them to cards.


Have a Terrific Thursday!

Happy Mail!

Hi gals!! Miss me?
I've got some serious catching up to do around here so get ready for a post attack!



First up is a lovely card that I got from my SBS3 sister Annie. I've been raving about her cute little Tilda cards forever and she took pity on me and sent me some! Isn't this the most clever way to send images to someone?!!?!? I love it and will SOOOO be copying it. I haven't had time to color on mine yet, but I will - as soon as I can give them the glory they deserve! Thanks Annie! I also love all the foreign postage. I'm going to give that little treasure to my friend Karen from stamp club. I know she'll use them to create something great!

Next is this cute card I got from Susan Liles - yes, THE SUSAN LILES!! Her blog was one of the very first ones I found and it's one of my favorites. She sent me this for suggesting some things on her blog - now, she asked and so I kinda ran with it. She also sent along a Studio G stamp set, acrylic block and had some heart confetti inside too! I've seen so many cute things made with this stamp set that I had about decided to get it. Then I saw my friend Suzann ordered it at our last club so I'll just share hers. That's what is great about having local stamping friends - we just share each others stuff. Right before Christmas, we could order a Cuttlebug and get a free alpha set with it, so Suzann, our friend Kim and I all picked out different alphabets and had our hubbies get them for us for Christmas!

Thanks so much girls for the happy mail!! It's such a boost to get something handmade like this in the mail! You made my week when I really needed it!!

Where does the day go?

I have been busy working on my taxes - what a time consuming, not fun job. I did manage to get some ATC's done for my club and I also got to spend some time at my stamp desk last night. I was just assembling some cards and had a great idea for a card come to mind. I haven't quite finished it yet but I am hoping to be able to do that tonight. There is a winter storm coming through so it is dreary and gray here today. I need to take some photos but don't think they will turn out very well at all. Thanks to those of you who have sent me some happy mail in the last few days. I'll get it posted on here this weekend so that everyone can enjoy them and not just me!


This is a photo taken from my stamp club. That's me on the left and next to me is my friend Karen. She is an UBER-talented stamp lady. We have completely different styles but I love everything that she does. Isn't she gorgeous!! I just adore her!!


This is Shirly who used to own the stamp store in town and then Karen and Fern, who are sisters. Almost everything I know about stamping I learned from these four women. It's so fun to see what all we create and just spend time together.
Well, I better get off - I am going to attempt to cook a steak for dinner tonight. I love steak so I hope I don't ruin it!

Checking In

I am checking in real quick!! I spent this past weekend in Dallas at a rally for my jewelry team! It was such fun - 2 of my managers under me were on stage a bunch and I was surprised to be up there too! We flew up early on Friday so that we could get some good shopping in! One of the 3 is not a crafter at all - she hates anything related to craftiness (she enjoys getting some things from me I think but definitely has no interest in doing anything herself) - so we didn't carve out time to hit a stamp store - oh well! I did find some great pants and shoes!! I have not had a chance to sit down and work on a card for well over a week now. This is BAD!!!! My stamp club is tonight and I am supposed to have 10 ATC's done by 7. In addition to having a hard time getting back into the swing of things after being "gone", my assignment is really tough!! I have to create something valentined themed with blue, orange and brown. I tried to pull some stuff out the week before to work on these....but just couldn't get excited about the colors. I much prefer to just have free reign and go wherever my brain and heart want to take me! I'll share with you later what I come up with - good or bad!

Let's try that flag again, shall we?

America's Flag

I created this card (Blogger won't let me upload - will try again later!) a few weeks ago and hadn't gotten around to sharing it. And I haven't stamped in days....(jewelry bingo went very well -- every lady at my table won bingo at least once and the 2 big grand prize drawings went to my ladies too! My friend Suzann said it's only fair as they didn't win anything last time!) Since bingo, I've been getting ready for a big training we are doing in Dallas this weekend. But I've missed checking out all my blogs - hang on my dear sisters, I'll be back next week and I'll catch up!! I have had to FORCE myself not to spend hours this week oohhing and aahhing over all the lovely creations everyone has!
Back to the card - that is what ya'll come for, right! Remember this card? I liked it, but thought that it could be so much greater! So I sat down one evening and worked on coloring my flag even better. Love the way it turned it so much more this time. I also popped up it and added another little sentiment layer. BOY - are those scallops BIG or what???? I didn't realize they were going to be so BIG....but went ahead and used them anyway!!
I've really got to dash - my minutes are ticking away!!
Have a SUPER weekend girls and I'll see you next week!

Bella PJ Party Update

I went back this afternoon and added some more to my Bella Sketch Challenge card. I like it much better now.

I also had time to finish out the last challenge, which was to use your favorite things! So many favorites on these cards. Of course, you all know by now that I LOVE that paper. I also love gingham and polka dots and I have both of those on here - at least gingham ribbon on the one card. And then there is sparkly stuff as well, because I looooovvvveee to SPARKLE!! I don't know if you can tell, but bellas clothes have stickles and then I also edged my main panel with stickles.

Have a Marvelous Monday! I have a ton of stuff to get ready for my team's Jewelry Bingo on Tuesday night so I don't know that I will have time to make any cards or even check out all the blogs I love to read! I'll be back on Wednesday if I don't have a chance to check in!

R.A.K.

What a treat I found in my mailbox on Thursday. This gorgeous card is from Denise, my SBS sister! Yummy colors - made me want to go get an orangsicle snow cone.

Here is one that I am sending out to one of the new gals on my team. She is going to take her town by storm selling jewelry! She's just cute as a button and had an awesome starter party so I had to send her some congrats. I love getting "real" mail in the mailbox and I am making a commitment to make sure that my team gets that same treat this year! This was the last of this yellow polka dot and floral paper. I had a few scraps left over but I cleaned my desktop off earlier this weekend and so they went away (that sounds nicer than "in the trash" don't you think?)

Have a great day! I've got to finish up some things around the house before we leave to watch the big game (have you seen Jen's post at i{heart}2stamp today?? Go read it - I was shocked by the number of times the super bowl has been mentioned in the last two weeks!
P.S. If you are a lover of all things - that set in the backdrop is up for grabs. It was a gift from a friend of mine years ago. I love TEACUPS but I don't actually drink tea. And I'm working on clearing my house of things that clutter it up. I'd be happy to trade it for some....let's see....STAMPS!!! Hee Hee!! Cause stamps aren't clutter! *wink*

Bella PJ Party

Hi girls!! It is 2:18 am and I am still awake!! That's just crazy!! I did stamp on Friday night but had some issues getting my pics off the camera. I was supposed to be working tonight -- getting goodies ready for our Bingo Kickoff on Tuesday, but hubby needed the camera and computer ----SOOOOOOO---- I went and stamped instead. I checked in and out the other night at the Bella PJ Party so I worked on the three challenges from that tonight. I got 2 done and the last one - well, my stickles aren't dry and I got in a hurry and added them before I had it all assembled.

The first card was for the Sketch Challenge. I needed a card to send to my top seller for January so I chose my Rockabella --- I have the best team --- and they totally rock it every month so hopefully they will enjoy it when she comes to their mailbox! I used some foil tape from the hardware store to create the silver layer. You can't tell from the photo but Miss Bella has stickles on her top and her pants. I am thinking as I look at this, that there needs to be more sparkle around the red circles - so I may play with that and see what I come up with.

These are for the Inspiration Challenge (see it HERE). I loved the harlequins first and foremost and also the colors used. Pity that there isn't a bella in a cute little nightie! I used that yummy Bazzill paper that I ADORE and some Target $1 DP that I just picked up. I couldn't decide exactly how I wanted her outfit to come together, so I ended up making 2 cards - hey, I had the clothes - might as well! I really love how they came together! Here are some close-up shots; I can't decide which one I like best!



Super Bowl is tomorrow (DUH! I am sure you knew that). We are going to my parent's house to watch the game. I am going to try to stamp some images before we go over so that I can color while we just hang out! Have a Super Sunday!! Thanks for stopping by!! I am going to go get some sleep now!

Share the Love!

My bloggin' sister Annie over at Ink 'n' Rubba gave me this award. Stop by her blog and check it out!

And here's a quick recipe for you - just in case you need one to gain more time for STAMPIN'!!! This is my sloppy joe recipe. I love Sloppy Joes but am not a fan of Manwich, which I think is too tangy. My MIL made this one night and I have been a fan of it ever since. It sounds like really weird ingredients, but it comes together so nicely.

Sloppy Joes
1 lb. hamburger, brown and crumble (I just got this gadget from
Pampered Chef that got my hamburger meat crumbled up really
fine -- so easy!!)
1 can Campbell's Gumbo Soup
1 jar Chili Sauce.

After your hamburger is browned, add the soup and the chili sauce. Turn the heat down and let it simmer for a good little bit. The longer it simmers, the thicker it gets and the more the flavors meld. I simmer for at least 20 mins. Serve on hamburger buns. You can add cheese if you like!

Thanks for stopping by! I may post a project later on tonight. I just photographed some but I don't have time to edit right now!


Oops - I almost forgot to SHARE THE LOVE! I am going to award this to:
Cindy
Deborah
Heidi

Oh and my sloppy joes simmered for an hour because I got a phone call right as I was about to set the table and it was a drama with one of my downlines. Now I love a recipe that I can't burn! *wink*