I have such sad news...

We lost our beloved Yogi on Friday.  I couldn’t tell you about it until now... just too hard to talk about, still is actually.  He was the highlight of our lives for the past 10 years. 

Yogi loved the ‘kids’.  We had to bring the kids in without him knowing it or he wouldn’t of allowed them in.  So he was on his leash and chain out in the front yard while we were bringing them inside in the back door.  When we let him in, all was fine.  Outside was his territory.

The one above is my favorite picture, he slept with his baby until the ‘kid’s came in.

This was our Christmas Card in 2006.  Yogi loved the snow!!!  He wanted to stay out for hours, you’d have to go outside and literally bring him in.

He’d even let Stevie Lynne try to nurse from him.

 

Yogi and Sammy

Yogi, Sammy and Dad

My boy!!!  Here’s a real short video Wes took, its how Yogi ate his supper every night for 10 years.  No joke!!!

YouTube
- moth rand yogi

Yogi had a very fast growing cancerous tumor in his bladder.  Where his tumor was located, there just wasn’t the option for surgery or any type of treatments.  We took him in for what we thought was a bladder infection.   Dr. Brown had to go in and see what the blockage was, it didn’t show on the x-ray and he then had to recommend Yogi not be brought out of sedation from the surgery, that we let him go.  The pain would be unbearable for our Yogi.  It has been such a sad time for us here.  The silence is deafening and the shock is unreal.  From what we all thought was just a bladder infection to cancer and gone in 7 days.  Yogi was 10 years old and brought into our lives so much joy and life!!!

Thanks for letting me share my story, it really helped me to talk about it.  Hugs to all your critters out there and give them a special hug today from you.

Aviary with Night and Day

Today, I decided to showcase the Aviary Stamp Set.  I wanted red and black for my colors, so I had to go into my stash and get out the retired Night and Day DSP.  You’ll see me still use those awesome papers once in awhile.  They are still my favorites and I really, really miss them.

If you look closely, the card base has some scores lines I created using the Scor- Buddy.  Its specifically for Card makers and I am so glad I have one.  I never use my Scor-Pal and the Scor-Buddy is just the right size to leave out, right beside my cutting mat.  Be sure to check it out, its by Scor-Pal. 

I popped the next layer on after embossing with the Polka Dot Embossing Folder and layering my DSP and strip of Real Red Textured Cardstock.  Using the Deckled Edge Nestibilities I cut out Real Red, Basic Black, both in Textured Cardstock, and one in Whisper White.  I stamped the image on in Real Red and the Bird in Basic Black.

I then stamped my flowers onto Whisper White and cut them out and popped a Gem in the center.  They are also staggered with pop dots.

My supplies...

• Aviary Stamp Set 120462
• God’s Beauty Retired
• Whisper White Cardstock
• Real Red Textured Cardstock
• Basic Black Textured Cardstock
• Night and Day DSP Retired
• Polka Dot Embossing Folder
• Deckle Edge Nestibilities
• Score Buddy
• Real Red Stamp Pad
• Basic Black Stamp Pad

As always, if you have any questions just drop me an email.  If you’d like to place an order click the shop now below or the top right of my sidebar.  Make it an awesome day!!!  Hugs,

Are you ready to take your Papercrafting skills to whole new level?  If you in the Peoria, IL area, I am offering free Stampin’ Up! workshops, evening card crops or I can help you organize a catalog party.  I’ll share new techniques, card designs and more! You’ll earn free merchandise and any Hostess Sets you qualify for.  Email me to learn more.

Join me at Michaels for Scrapbook, Design and You (SDU) Classes.  Beginner or Advanced!!!  You’ll learn new ways to build and create those layouts, titles, journaling and embellishing, that you can apply to all your papercrafting and have a winning layout, scrapbook or card every time.   Click here for more details.  Printable Class Schedule and Supply List for Classes can be found on my sidebar, just look for the SDU logo, click and print!!!

Updated Post... How do you store your finished cards?

Hey, thanks so much for letting me know my pictures didn’t upload with my blog post... they were there when I scheduled the post.  Must be a blogger issue again.  Anyway... here is that post.

I thought I’d show you how I store mine.  I figure if we’re gonna spend good money on stamps and supplies, we might as well protect our cards. 

I use Protective Closure bags from Clearbags.com.  The adhesive is not on the flap and they are resealable.  With the adhesive not on the flap, you don’t risk damage to your card when your pulling them in and out.  I like that!! 

The bags above are for my A-2, regular standard size, cards... the one on the left is 5 7/8 by 4 1/2, B45PC and I keep my flatter cards in this one.  The one on the right is 4 15/16 by 6 9/16, B65PC and I use this one for my cards of the same size, just with thicker embellishments. 

 

My drawers are part of a 4 drawer little unit and approx 5 9/16 by 6 7/8 by 12 1/2 deep.  I don’t remember where I got it, I know I got it to store photo’s in.   The only thing, my drawers don’t fit the square cards you can make from the SU Med Square Envelopes, which I’ve recently became a big fan of.  Plus they have clear bags for those too,  B66PC.  Plus, I can now easily find my cards. 

I also liked that these clear bags with the protective closure were priced pretty good.  The two for the A-2 cards are just $5 each for 100 and the Square ones are $6 for a 100.  So I hope you are protecting your cards too.  I am so glad I did mine. 

Leave me a comment and let me know how you store and protect your finished cards.

Have an awesome weekend!!!

 

Are you ready to take your Paper crafting skills to whole new level?  If you in the Peoria, IL area, I am offering free Stampin’ Up! workshops, evening card crops or I can help you organize a catalog party.  I’ll share new techniques, card designs and more! You’ll earn free merchandise and any Hostess Sets you qualify for.  Email me to learn more.

Join me at Michaels for Scrapbook, Design and You (SDU) Classes.  Classes start Monday August 30th!!!  Beginner or Advanced!!!  You’ll learn new ways to build and create those layouts, titles, journaling and embellishing, that you can apply to all your paper crafting and have a winning layout, scrapbook or card every time.   Click here for more details.  Printable Class Schedule and Supply List for Classes can be found on my sidebar, just look for the SDU logo, click and print!!!

PPA 57 Sketch Challenge

Its Thursday and our own Margaret Moody’s Sketch Challenge is here and waiting for you to create and upload your card to the Pals Paper Arts Challenge.  This is week 2 for me on the Design Team and I so hope you enjoy my card. 

You know me and purple!!!  Lap of Luxury really fit the bill for this weeks PPA Sketch Challenge.  I love the pink with this purple and no Polka Dots!!!  I’ve been anti-polka dot lately, but thats for another post. 

Here’s the inside...

Do you notice my mistake?  I am so used to grabbing Whisper White for my cards, I put it on the inside, instead of Very Vanilla.  I will never get used to using Very Vanilla in my cards.  Undu to the rescue, of course.

 

My supplies for the PPA Challenge are...

• Lap of Luxury DSP 120436
• Concord Crush Textured Cardstock
• Pretty in Pink Textured Cardstock
• Fast and Fabulous Stamp Set Hostess Level II
• Pretty in Pink Marker (to color stamp)
• Wild Wasabi Marker (to color stamp)
• Concord Crush Ribbon 119266
• Pink Candy Dots from my stash

 

 

Well, that’s it for me today.  I can’t wait to see what you create for this weeks PPA Sketch Challenge.  If you have a minute, please leave me a comment on today’s card.  I’d love to hear from you. 

Make it an awesome day!  Hugs,

Are you ready to take your Papercrafting skills to whole new level?  If you in the Peoria, IL area, I am offering free Stampin’ Up! workshops, evening card crops or I can help you organize a catalog party.  I’ll share new techniques, card designs and more! You’ll earn free merchandise and any Hostess Sets you qualify for.  Email me to learn more.

Join me at Michaels for Scrapbook, Design and You (SDU) Classes.  Classes begin August 30th!!!  Beginner or Advanced!!!  You’ll learn new ways to build and create those layouts, titles, journaling and embellishing, that you can apply to all your papercrafting and have a winning layout, scrapbook or card every time.   Click here for more details.  Printable Class Schedule and Supply List for Classes can be found on my sidebar, just look for the SDU logo, click and print!!!

PPA 57 Sneak Peek...

Here’s a little teaser for Pals Paper Arts Challenge.  I am so excited to give you a sneak peek today.  I want you to have your creativity all ready to go for tomorrow’s PPA Challenge.   

I will leave you today with a reminder about the Stampin Up specials going on now...

Starter Kits

The Standard Starter Kit includes Four complete stamp sets (including a clear-mount set and clear-mount block) A Stampin' Around wheel, handle, and ink cartridge  Assortment of Designer Series paper and card stock Four Classic Stampin' Pads Two Stampin' Write markers VersaMark Pad Whisper White 5/8" satin ribbon Songbird Décor Elements and applicator Adhesives Blender pen Stamping sponge Stampin' Scrub and Mist  Box of Idea Book & Catalogs Business forms and tools

The Digital+ Starter Kit includes My Digital Studio software suite Three complete stamp sets (including a clear-mount set and clear-mount block) Assortment of card stock Four Classic Stampin' Pads Two Stampin' Write markers Real Red 1/4" grosgrain ribbon Brights Designer buttons Songbird Décor Elements and applicator Adhesives Stampin' Scrub and Mist  Box of Idea Book & Catalogs Business forms and tools

Choose the Starter Kit that best matches your stamping and paper-crafting interests, and get over $330 of Stampin' Up!'s high-quality products for just $175.

Contact me today to get started!

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Extra, Extra Hostess Promotion

From July 27 to August 31, Stampin' Up! hostesses can earn an EXTRA $25  to use toward Stampin' Up! products of their choice when they host a workshop or place an order with friends and family totaling $350 or more!

This extra benefit is included along with the standard hostess benefits you earn.  The standard hostess benefits include

Free stamp sets only available to hostesses (with qualifying orders; select from the products on pages 10-16 of the Idea Book & Catalog)!

• Free Stampin' Up! products of your choice!

Workshop total (before tax and shipping)	Free Stampin' Up! merchandise		Extra, Extra hostess awards	Grand Total
$350 - $399	$40	+	$25	$65
$400 - $449	$45	+	$25	$70
$450 - $499	$50	+	$25	$75
$500 - $549	$60	+	$25	$85

 

Summer Mini Catalog (May 1-August 31, 2010)
Check out all our new products in the 2010 Summer Mini Catalog!

 

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Coming in the next few days are a couple of cards I’ve made.  One is a fall themed card using Inspired by Nature.  Another is with the 2 Step Owl Punch, he is soooo cute!!!  Then I will be showing you how I store my finished cards.  One of my favorite cards to make is for Halloween.  So I’m thinking and planning what they’ll be this  year.  I’ve got my stamps purchased too.  

Make it a terrific day...  Hugs,

Are you ready to take your Papercrafting skills to whole new level?  If you in the Peoria, IL area, I am offering free Stampin’ Up! workshops, evening card crops or I can help you organize a catalog party.  I’ll share new techniques, card designs and more! You’ll earn free merchandise and any Hostess Sets you qualify for.  Email me to learn more.

Join me at Michaels for Scrapbook, Design and You (SDU) Classes.  Classes start Monday!!!  Beginner or Advanced!!!  You’ll learn new ways to build and create those layouts, titles, journaling and embellishing, that you can apply to all your papercrafting and have a winning layout, scrapbook or card every time.   Click here for more details.  Printable Class Schedule and Supply List for Classes can be found on my sidebar, just look for the SDU logo, click and print!!!

A Card for Paig-r

My granddaughter, Paige is going to be 9 in November, this is her birthday card and this is Paige...  I don’t know the dog, Paige has cats, Sneaky and Stinker.

 

When my D-I-L, Dahl (her real name is Val, but Gabby, Paige’s 1/2 sister couldn’t say Val and called her Dahl, so we do too) was pregnant with Paige, they knew she was gonna have a girl and name her Paige.  Well my son, Wes nicknamed her Paig-r before she was born.  It was Paig-r this and Paig-r that.  Well Dahl told him in no uncertain terms she wasn’t going to be called Paig-r.  Well low and behold, as soon as the Doctor put little baby girl in her arms, Dahl got tears streaming down her face and said “Oh Paig-r”.  No, we don’t let her live it down. 

Paige gets the abbreviation of her name now.  When she was little, that wasn’t her name!!!

Back to the card,  I decided to make a square card, so I could get the letters on it.  The size is 5 1/4 by 5 1/4 and will fit in SU’s Medium Square Envelopes.  Of which I have on order now. 

I used my Outline Alphabet Stamp Set and stamped them on Whisper White with Pretty in Pink.  I then took my Peg Stamps, (Rubber Stamp Tapestry) all florals of course, and randomly stamped the images onto the letters and cut them out.  I then layered them with Stampin Dimensionals.  Now don’t be afraid to layer, the P has 3 stacks to get it high enough.  But where it overlaps the G, it only has 1 pop dot.  The G has 2 layers.

My supplies for today...

• Whisper White Cardstock
• Pink Pirouette Textured Cardstock
• Marina Mist Textured Cardstock
• Pretty in Pink Ink Pad
• Marina Mist Ink Pad
• Wild Wasabi Ink Pad
• Marina Mist Ribbon 119751
• EK Success Border Punch
• Peg Stamps, Rubber Stamp Tapestry
• Outline Alphabet Set, Unknown

I wanted you to know that Annie helped me with this card too... *smile*  I woke her up when I took the picture.  She’s one that when you look at her you can if she’s tired or not.  Its so funny.  She’s tired in this photo.  (Hi Linda C, I know you’re shaking your head at me  lol)

Anyway, I’m hoping Pg-r  likes her card, of course we’ll add a Michaels Gift Card, one of her favorite places to shop.  She says she’s going to work there one day.  I hope I’m still working there when she does.  lol  She wants the Grid Paper Pad from Stampin Up to do her papercrafting on at home, so of course she’ll get that too. 

Thanks for visiting today.  Let me know what ya think.  If you ever have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask, thats what I’m here for.

Make it an awesome day.  Hugs,

Are you ready to take your Papercrafting skills to whole new level?  If you in the Peoria, IL area, I am offering free Stampin’ Up! workshops, evening card crops or I can help you organize a catalog party.  I’ll share new techniques, card designs and more! You’ll earn free merchandise and any Hostess Sets you qualify for.  Email me to learn more.

Join me at Michaels for Scrapbook, Design and You (SDU) Classes.  Classes start August 30th!  Beginner or Advanced!!!  You’ll learn new ways to build and create those layouts, titles, journaling and embellishing, that you can apply to all your papercrafting and have a winning layout, scrapbook or card every time.   Click here for more details.  Printable Class Schedule and Supply List for Classes can be found on my sidebar, just look for the SDU logo, click and print!!!

PPA 56 Simplified!!!

Are you challenged by this week's Pals Paper Arts Challenge (PPA56)? 

Here's a great tip and an opportunity for you to narrow the scope of this week's inspiration challenge.  Simply focus on the bird or flower in the photo on the left (we snipped it from the larger version).

Play with the colors.  Find a bird stamp.  Grab a punch and create a flower.  Anything goes and there's still plenty of time to participate.  It's that easy.

Click here to reach the original challenge post and upload your card.  Look for the blue "add your link" button at the bottom of the post. 

Problems uploading your project?  Please email the PPA Design Team HERE!

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Are you ready to take your Paper crafting skills to whole new level?  If you in the Peoria, IL area, I am offering free Stampin’ Up! workshops, evening card crops or I can help you organize a catalog party.  I’ll share new techniques, card designs and more! You’ll earn free merchandise and any Hostess Sets you qualify for.  Email me to learn more.

Join me at Michaels for Scrapbook, Design and You (SDU) Classes.  Beginner or Advanced!!!  You’ll learn new ways to build and create those layouts, titles, journaling and embellishing, that you can apply to all your paper crafting and have a winning layout, scrapbook or card every time.   Click here for more details.  Printable Class Schedule and Supply List for Classes can be found on my sidebar, just look for the SDU logo, click and print!!!

PPA 56 Inspiration Challenge

Have you been to the PPA today?  Did you notice the fabulous new Design?  Did you happen to see my picture with the other Design Teams pics? I am so excited and honored to be a part of the Pals Paper Arts Design Team!!!  I only hope I can do everyone justice.

Todays challenge is an Inspiration Photo...

I went with the fabric in the photo, navy and pink.  Even though my pink isn’t as bright, I didn’t like the brighter Melon Mambo with my card today.  I am not one to get much out an inspiration photo, so bear with me as I get used to this type of challenge.  I see candles, a pepper mill and gold trinkets.

My mom actually helped me with this card.  I had everything in place except the 2 little butterflies.  I knew it needed something, and finally after much trial and error I ask Mom what does it need.  She said little butterflies.  I said okay and went and punched them out with Martha’s butterfly punch, layering them by cutting the center out of the butterfly punched with the DSP.  I knew the gems would cover the seam.  Then I took them back to Mom and said now what.  She told me where to place them and my card is finished.  I kept trying to put them right above the big butterfly and mom said no, they need to go with the flowers.  Well... who knew.  She was right and now I like my card and I hope you do too.  Should I have the gals welcome Mom to the DT too?  *smile* 

Since the butterflies worked so well going into the design on the front, I thought they might as well go into the middle of what I write when I send it.  I thought I’d put their name to the top left of the butterflies and the rest to the right of them.

My supplies for today...

• Favorite Thing Stamp Set 115436
• Island Floral Die 118871
• Beautiful Butterflies Die 114507
• Punches:
  • Boho Blossoms 110711
  • 2 Step Bird for Leaves 117191
  • Scallop Border 112091
  • Modern Label 116630
  • Corner Rounder 109047
  • MS Small Butterflies
  • Marvy Small Daisy
• Oval Nestibilities
• Night of Navy Textured Cardstock
• Pretty in Pink Textured Cardstock
• Whisper White Textured and Regular Cardstock
• Night of Navy DSP from the Regals Collection 117154
• Pretty in Pink DSP from the Subtles Collection 117152
• Night of Navy 1/8” Ribbon 119258
• Night of Navy Ink Pad
• Clear Gems from my stash
• White Candy Dots from my stash.  Whew.  I didn’t think I had that much out!!!

Now, get on over to the PPA and show us your card or layout, heck you could even do a 3-D item.  I thought about that red purse.  I did make the matching envelope too.  I always like to add the element of surprise when someone gets there card.

I hope you have a moment to leave me a comment and let me know what ya think, especially since its my debut as a Pals Paper Arts Design Team Member!!!

See ya over at the PPA.   While your there, be sure to let us know what you think of the new makeover.  Hugs,

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Are you ready to take your Paper crafting skills to whole new level?  If you in the Peoria, IL area, I am offering free Stampin’ Up! workshops, evening card crops or I can help you organize a catalog party.  I’ll share new techniques, card designs and more! You’ll earn free merchandise and any Hostess Sets you qualify for.  Email me to learn more.

Join me at Michaels for Scrapbook, Design and You (SDU) Classes.  Beginner or Advanced!!!  You’ll learn new ways to build and create those layouts, titles, journaling and embellishing, that you can apply to all your paper crafting and have a winning layout, scrapbook or card every time.   Click here for more details.  Printable Class Schedule and Supply List for Classes can be found on my sidebar, just look for the SDU logo, click and print!!!