Sometimes life just gets in the way...

It has been a very long time since my last post. On August 4 we lost our three year old beagle, Maxwell, to an accident.  He swallowed a piece of plastic and even after surgery just couldn't get well. We were pretty devastated.

We had a couple of trips we needed to take in August and September so we decided to adopt a dog when we got back from our travels.  Enter our new dog, Kira.

On September 27 we went out to Southside SPCA in Meherrin, VA and picked up a beautiful beagle mix.  Her name was Ellen but we named her Kira (Kira Nerys for those of you who are Star Trek fans.)  She was estimated to be 3 years old and it was obvious that she had recently had a litter of puppies. She has been a challenge but, I believe, worth every moment of effort.  She was afraid of her own shadow and very cautious with strangers.  She and I developed a bond immediately but she was afraid of my husband.  She was also afraid of confinement of any kind.  Needless to say we have been busy trying to keep up with our regular schedule and also care for this beautiful but needy dog.

She has been with us for 5 months now and has greatly improved. She and I have really become good friends and she is doing better with her confinement issues.  She is still afraid of my husband but is doing better in some small ways.  I think it will take awhile but she is bound to eventually be a great companion to both of us.

 Maxwell

Kira 

Well, I'm finally back to creating.  I didn't ever completely stop but I didn't have the time and energy to take pictures and post what I did.

It is Sale-a-bration time at Stampin' Up! and time to rake in your free stuff with every $50 product purchase.  Browse the Sale-a-bration catalog Here.

Below are a pictures of some of my creations for this month's Sale-a-bration parties. If you would like to host a party, make these great cards and earn hostess dollars for anything in the current catalogs send me an email or comment below.

Christmas Card Club

   

Three Cards ~~ 1 Stamp Set!!

I have loved experimenting with

the Mosaic Madness stamp set.

What a versatile stamp set.

The fourth card below is using a 

technique called"starburst" and I 

thought it worked well with the

Christmas star from the "Christ is Born" 

stamp set (retired) along with an 

easily made and cut out Christmas star

on our silver glimmer paper.

 This is just a sample of the cards we will make this year during our Christmas Card Club.  If you come to all four classes you will have 40 beautiful, handmade Christmas cards before December.

We will make ten cards at each class ~ 5 of two designs.  The cost for each class including envelopes is $20. These particular cards are a little more labor intensive than the other four designs will be so the time it takes to make them should balance out.

Christmas Card Club

Session 1: Saturday, September 21 from 2-4 pm   RSVP by 9/17

Session 2: Friday, October 4 from 7-9 pm   RSVP by 10/1

Session 3: Saturday, October 19 from 2-4 pm   RSVP by 10/15

Session 4: Friday, November 8 from 7-9 pm   RSVP by 11/5

Please bring your own SNAIL or tape runner to each class.  I will provide all other adhesives such as Tombow liquid glue, glue sticks, glue dots, dimensionals etc. 

I have a small supply of SNAIL I can sell you at the class if you have run out of your own.

Please comment on this blog to hold your place for these classes by the Tuesday before each class.

Space is limited. I will prepare all materials on the Wednesday before the class that weekend so I can accept no cancellations after the Tuesday before.  I can always make you a take home craft kit if you find you can't make it.

Hope you can join me for some Christmas crafting soon.

 

Butterfly Bundle Sale

Who doesn’t love butterflies? No one, that’s who. Butterfly shapes are great on projects for any occasion. So make sure to get in on our current offer: bundle and save 15 percent on this butterfly stamp set and punch between August 29-September 30, 2013!

Bundle Item	Description	Retail Price	15% Savings Price	Amount Saved!
135311	Butterfly Bundle (Clear Mount) Papillion Potpourri Clear Mount Stamp Set Bitty Butterfly Punch	$30.90 US $39.90 CA	$26.27 US $33.92 CA	$4.63 US $5.99 CA
135312	Butterfly Bundle (Wood Mount) Papillion Potpourri Wood-Mount Stamp Set Bitty Butterfly Punch	$34.90 US $44.90 CA	$29.67 US $38.17 CA	$5.23 US $6.74 CA

  Get the Butterfly Bundle today

Five projects for Friday (and Saturday)

These are the five projects being offered in my FREE workshop Friday evening and Saturday afternoon.  There is limited space so comment before Thursday evening as your RSVP. Please bring your own adhesive.  If you like to decorate your envelopes they are not included this time so bring your own.

Very Vanilla, Rich Razzleberry

Stamp Sets: Flower Shop, You Are Loved

 Daffodil Delight, Whisper White, Strawberry Slush

Stamp Set: Label Love

 Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Cajun Craze

Stamp Sets: Mosaic Madness, Pretty Petites (SAB2013)

 Whisper White, Coastal Cabana, Strawberry Slush, Crisp Cantaloupe, Pistachio Pudding

Stamp Sets: Summer Silhouettes, Really Good Greetings

Very Vanilla, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake

Stamp Set: Pretty Postage (retired)

Guess what I got in the mail today...

Paper Pumpkin!

When I went to the mailbox today I was so excited to find this little orange box inside.

Inside it is wrapped like a beautiful present with a gift card.

 I not only got buttons, stickers, card stock, and envelopes to make four cute cards but I also got a Stampin' Spot of Basic Gray and a size D acrylic block (free gift with first order) for the two exclusive rubber stamps that are only available through Paper Pumpkin.

If you would like to try Paper Pumpkin now is the time.  Only until August 31 you can get Paper Pumpkin for two months for only $10 a month.  That is half price! If you change your mind you can cancel at any time.

Contact me by posting a comment if you want to know more about this fabulous once a month craft-in-a-box.

It's Definitely Time For Some Crafting!!!

I am desperate for some craft time.  Creativity is calling my name. 

Wow, I can't believe it is the middle of August.  This summer has come and gone, many kids are already back at school and I have been mainly MIA as far as Stampin' Up! and creating goes.  I had a really good couple of weeks in June and July and then life got in the way and there seemed to be no energy for creative time.

Since I have had so few events lately I am offering two FREE classes in August.

Friday, August 23 from 7:00 to 8:30 and Saturday, August 24 from 2:30 - 4:00.

These two days will be the same class repeated.  I will offer a total of 5 cards to make.  Work at your own pace and make as many as you can in an hour and a half.  If you don't finish on Friday you can always come back Saturday and finish the rest.

We will be using new colors, new stamp sets and new tools offered in the new annual and holiday Stampin' Up! catalogs.  Come, eat a snack or two and craft until time is up!

If you need a new catalog I have a few available~first come, first serve~free with a $50 purchase. The new Holiday catalog is absolutely free until my supply runs out.  If you don't get a hard copy there is always the ONLINE CATALOG.  Just click on Shop Now and you are ready to go.

Be checking this blog for the card designs I am offering at the FREE classes or even better, enter your email address on the right to get notified every time I post something new.

Also please let me know your are coming by Thursday, August 22 so I can have your materials ready for you.

Looking forward to seeing you next week.

Useful Crafting Tip #1

Have you ever put some SNAIL on your Card Stock, lined it up on the card base and carefully stuck it down just where you wanted it only to realize that you forgot to put the ribbon under the CS first?

No problem.  Just go to your bathroom and grab some dental floss.  Tear off a generous length and slip it under one corner of the top piece of CS carefully sliding it between the two layers and gently ease it back and forth until you have separated the CS from the base.  

The best part is that you can put the ribbon where it belongs and replace the CS usually without adding any more SNAIL.  

 Voila!