Sunday, December 2, 2012

The 45 Lessons Life Taught Me


I came across these fabulous words of advice this week written by a 90 year old.

I think each of us will be able to identify with them ... the trick of course is to remember them!

I recommend that you copy them and read them a least once a month.

Written  by Regina Brett, 90 years old, of the Plain Dealer,  Cleveland , Ohio .

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most  requested column I've ever written.

My odometer  rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once  more:


1. Life isn't fair, but it's still  good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short - enjoy it..

4.  Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your  friends and
 family  will.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Stay true to yourself.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10.  When it comes to chocolate, resistance is  futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't  screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all  about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it..

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye But don't worry; God never  blinks.

16.
  Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful. Clutter weighs you down in  many ways.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really  does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to be happy. But it's all up to you and no one  else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21.  Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy  lingerie. Don't
  save  it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22.  Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be  eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear  purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness  but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with  these words 'In five years, will
  this  matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28.  Forgive but don't forget.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31.  However good or bad a situation is, it will  change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No  one else does..

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God  is, not because of anything you did or didn't  do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the  most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the  alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone  else's, we'd
 grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. Accept what you already have not what you need.

42. The best is yet to come...

43. No matter how you  feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44.  Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's  still a gift."

This was well worth sharing!  I've been busy creating and getting ready for Stamp Camps and Pirate Swaps so haven't posted lately...but will soon.  Remember to keep the Christmas Spirit in your Heart!!!!

Happy Stamping!   Judy   :)

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

It's Time for our Christmas Blog Tour :)


HO! HO! HO!...or WHOA, WHOA, WHOA!  Christmas is quickly approaching.  Are you ready???  I'm not.  It sneaks up on me every year...even though I vow to be ready the next year.  I would like to add two months to the calendar before Christmas so I/we have enough time to get all our projects and gifts done by Christmas...or I would like to stop the clock until I/we get everything done and then start it again when I'm ready.  I'm dreaming...but Christmas is a great time to dream.  :)

 We are focusing on Christmas which is a wonderful time of year.  You may have just come from Mary Brown's blog....or if you are just starting the tour from my blog, you can go through the whole tour until you get back to me.  

My first four cards show how you may use the same layout with different results. 



  

Stamps:  Watercolor Winter, Open Sleigh, Teeny Tiny Wishes, More Merry Messages
CS:  Gumball Green, Real Red, Whisper White, Creamy Caramel [retired]
CS:  Marina Mist, Night of Navy
Ink:  Gumball Green, Real Red, Basic Black, Yellow Sharpie
Ink:  Basic Black, Night of Navy
Markers:  Gumball Green, Real Red
Markers:  Marina Mist, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive
Punches:  Word Window punch, Modern Label punch
Ribbon:  1/4" Stitched Real Red Ribbon, 1/2" Scallop Dots Marina Mist Ribbon
Accessories:  Big Shot, Lacy Brocade Embossing Folder, Petals-a-Plenty
                  Labels Collection Framelits, Rhinestone Jewels, Glue Dots, SU Dimensionals
                  Dazzling Details Glitter 
---------------------------------------------------------------

Next is a card I taught at our September Stamp-a-Stack.  It's one of my favorites.  It's so glittery and bright.  :)



Stamps:  Evergreen
CS:  Midnight Blue, Whisper White
Shimmer Paper:  Champagne
Ink:  Basic Black, Marina Mist
Accessories:  Big Shot, Petals-a-Plenty Embossing Folder, 
         Star punch from Punch Pack [in Holiday Mini catalog],  1/8" Handheld Circle punch
         SU Dimensionals
---------------------------------------------------------------

I taught this card at Stamp Camp North last month.  What was I thinking??? Fifty ladies stamping and die cutting the ornament... after they used Heat & Stick Powder and Dazzling Diamonds and the Heat Tool to make it spectacular.  Everyone did a great job with it.   


Stamps:  Ornament Keepsakes, Teeny Tiny Wishes
CS:  Marina Mist, Whisper White, Bashful Blue
Ink:  Basic Black Craft Pad, Not Quite Navy Classic Pad
Ribbon:  1/8" Marina Mist Grosgrain Ribbon
Punch:  Word Window
Accessories:  Big Shot, Holiday Ornaments Framelits, Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder
                Rhinestone Jewels, Glue Dots, SU Dimensionals
----------------------------------------------------

Now for my 3D project.  I made my ornament just like the one on the front of the Holiday Mini Catalog.  The only difference is that I used Designer Paper that had more punch to it for my front rosette.  I toyed with the idea of teaching a class on it but after making one, decided this is a good project to share with a friend and a good use of a "play date".  I love to have play dates with my friends.  :)  



There are quite a few free tutorials online to make this beautiful ornament keepsake.  There is room on the back of the ornament to put some words to express your friendship or love for your family...and personalize it for the recipient of your beautiful gift.  Make a pretty box to put it in and make the box top clear so you can see what is inside.

Stamps:  Ornament Keepsakes 
CS:  Whisper White
Ink:  Cherry Cobbler, Lucky Limeade
Accessories:  Big Shot, Holiday Ornaments Framelits, Designer Rosette Bigz XL Die
        3" Circle Bigz Die, Simply Scored Stylus & Tool, Vintage Faceted Designer Button
        Crustal Effects, Cherry Cobbler 1/2" Scalloped Tulle Ribbon, Linen Thread, 
        Large Rhinestone Pearl, Glue Gun 

Now you'll want to head on over to Deb Currier's blog to see what great projects she has in store for you.  Thanks for stopping by.  :)


Happy Stamping!    Judy  :)

Monday, November 19, 2012

ONLINE EXTRAVAGANZA STARTS TODAY :)


The Online Extravaganza promotion is Stampin' Up!'s biggest online sale of the year! During these 10 days only (from Nov. 19th to 28th), you can get incredible discounts-up to 50 percent-on some of your favorite products!

In addition, there will be three products 20 percent off for 24-hours only on both the first and last days of Online Extravaganza-our very own doorbusters!
 The Online Extravaganza Sale starts today!!!
IMPORTANT NOTE:  When you place an order ..... please make sure you use the item number with this sale.  If you use the item number from the Stampin Up! catalog it will not reflect the discount.
For 24 hours only you get 20% off these three items:
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 
Page    Item             Description                     Retail Price     24-Hr Sale Price
 181      125586    Simply Scored Diagonal Plate       $15.95                $12.76
186      113439     Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine      $122.95                $98.36
186      113474     Big Shot Doctor's Bag                    $93.95                $75.16
==========================================
The following items are on sale between Nov. 19th - 28th.
These are the items that are 20% off ...
These are the items that are 25% off ...
These items are 30% off ..... 
These items are 40% off .....
These items are 50% off ....
And ... don't forget to check out the Clearance Rack!!!

You can order from my Stampin' Up! website below or email or call me to place your order.
There are some great deals!!!  :)
Happy Stamping & Shopping!     Judy  :)

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Christmas Luminary Card

I love the Christmas season but it comes too quickly each year.  I really need to add at least two more months to the calendar before Thanksgiving.  Who would I talk to about that?????   :)

These luminary cards were a big seller at our November 3rd Craft Bazaar.  Somehow I sold my luminary so I don't have one for me right now.  Time to make more!  

This luminary card was designed last year but there were still ladies who wanted to learn to make it this year.  I made it so you could enjoy it all year.  One side has a Christmas theme and the other side has a floral theme.  I made them for my mom and sister last year.  These are wonderful gifts for someone in a nursing facility where candles aren't allowed.  This luminary card is designed to use a battery operated tea light.  I ended up using a larger key charm and smaller red bow...and I also added two more bows...one to the bottom of the stem on each of the flowers.  The new Stitched Real Red Grosgrain Ribbon looks really nice on these.

Christmas Themed Side

Floral Themed Side

Stamps:  Snow Much Fun, Serene Snowflakes
                  You are Loved, Elements of Style
CS:  Night of Navy, Old Olive, Real Red, Shimmery White, Whisper White
         Vellum
Glimmer Paper:  Red, Silver
Ink:  Craft Whisper White, VersaMark, Basic Black, Real Red
Markers:  Old Olive, Real Red, Marina Mist, Bashful Blue, Basic Gray
          Basic Black, Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Crumb Cake, Certainly Celery
Punches: 1 3/8" Square punch, Modern Label punch, 1/4" Circle punch
          Merry Minis Punch Pack - star
Accessories:   Big Shot,  Northern Frost Decorative Strip die [retired]
          Linen Thread, Glue Dots, SU Dimensionals, Rhinestone Jewels
          Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Multipurpose Liquid Glue
          Dazzling Details Glitter Glue

Happy Stamping!    Judy  :)

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

A Scarecrow Card and Some Christmas Cards

It is time to start sharing some Christmas cards...but first I want to share an adorable Scarecrow card done at October's Stamp-a-Stack.  It makes you smile when you look at it, doesn't it?    :)
                  by Rochelle Hart

Here are the Christmas cards made at our October Stamp-a-Stack:

                by Jolene Sutcliffe                                            by Sharon Madsen

                          by Lisa Gray

                                     by Deb Gardunio





                     by Tammy Wasson

Nice cards ladies!  Our next Stamp-a-Stack is this Thursday at 6:30pm at the Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit, 6400 South University Blvd, Centennial, CO 80121.  

Happy Stamping!    Judy  :)
 











Crosses of Hope & Manhattan Flower

Okay, there is finally time to take a breath and get back to business.  Saturday was our annual Holiday Bazaar,  I did pretty well with sales.  I thought I was being smart by getting ready all year for this event.  Then, Connie, my 'evil companion' [as my hubby says] and Stampin' Up! upline, asked me to co-host a booth with her at a new show called Stamp & Scrap-A Paper Arts Expo   put on by Susan Dorland from Stamp Craft and  Sheree Reiners from Candilay Creations Too in August.   I did well with sales there so had to replenish my "stock" for our Bazaar.



I made several special cards.  These two were using Marina Mist card stock.  They sold very well as did some wedding cards with the same layout.

Stamps:  Crosses of Hope, 
CS:  Marina Mist, Shimmery White, Bashful Blue
Ink:  Craft White Craft Pad, Marina Mist Classic Pad
Misc: Big Shot, Beautiful Butterflies Embosslit, Manhattan Flower Embossing Folder
         Rhinestone Jewels, White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Paper Snips
         Dazzling Diamonds Glitter

Happy Stamping!   Judy  :)

Friday, October 19, 2012

October Control Freaks Blog Tour - focus on Inspiration for projects "For the Men in our Lives"



Welcome to our Control Freak Stampers October Blog Tour.  Our tour officially begins Friday morning, but who wants to wait????  So glad you could join us. Our tour features some of your favorite Control Freak Stampers sharing projects made with Stampin' Up! products.  You may have just come from my fellow freaker, Jason Casper's blog,  I bet you enjoyed his projects and inspiration.  :) 
Our theme for this month is: "For the Men in Our Lives.  Sooooo, here we go...
We are hoping to inspire you with our Masculine Inspiration projects.  I don't know about you but I have to really work at getting projects done with a masculine feel.  I'm using the words INSPIRE & INSPIRATION so they will, maybe INSPIRE me to do great things.  

This first card was one I taught at our October Stamp Camp South.  I prepared 15 cards ahead of time and we had about 50 ladies at the event,  It was one busy evening, but fun.  We crinkled the leaves after cutting them out and sponging them so they would look just like real leaves.  Then we molded them into real leaf shapes.


Stamps:  French Foliage, Best Dad Ever
CS:  Always Artichoke, Cajun Craze, Very Vanilla
Ink:  Always Artichoke, Cajun Craze , More Mustard
Misc:  Big Shot, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Twine, SU Dimensionals

---------------------------

This next card came about at 2:00 AM the night before last.  Thank goodness I didn't go to bed instead of designing it.  I'm always more creative after midnight.  This was my first time using the new Framelits - Window Frames Dies and I LOVE them!!!!  I decided to use my Serene Silhouettes stamp set and used the birds stamp since I hadn't tackled it yet.  I love bird stamps anyway so was happy to finally use it.  The new Core'dinations Card Stock is wonderful!!!  Don't miss out on it.  I'm ordering more so I'll have plenty of it after the Holiday Mini is finished.


Stamps:  Serene Silhouettes, Itty Bitty Banners
CS:  Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze, Early Espresso Core'dinations, Whisper White
Ink:  Basic Black, Not Quite Navy
Misc:  Big Shot, Woodgrain Embossing Folder, Framelits - Window Frame Dies, Framelits - Bitty Banners Dies, Sanding Block, SU Dimensionals

---------------------------------

It was time to break out two new stamp sets so the next two cards use the Horse Frontier Set and one uses the Papaya Collage set.  The first one is more masculine and the second has a slight feminine flair. We have many friends and family with horses so this was fun to do.  I didn't take the time to make the trees look like fall but they look fine being green...just pretend it is the middle of summer.  :)  These cards came together quickly



Stamps:  Horse Frontier, Lovely As a Tree, Papaya Collage
CS:  Garden Green, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, More Mustard
Ink:  Basic Black, Garden Green, Crumb Cake, More Mustard
Misc:  Sponge Dauber, SU Dimensionals

--------------------------------------

Now for my 3D project.  It started out with the intent of being masculine but somewhere along the way, well, it got prettied up a bit!  I'm sure that the man who gets this gift card holder will be just fine with it...since it will have a gift card in it.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it.  :)



Stamps:  Bootiful Occasions
CS:  Gumball Green, Midnight Muse, Very Vanilla
Glimmer Paper:  Champagne [on pg 18 in Holiday Mini catalog] [A must have!]
DSP:  Snow Festival [on pg 10 in Holiday Mini catalog]
Ink:  Midnight Muse
Punches:  Large & Small Star, Large Tag & Small Tag
Misc:  Midnight Muse 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon, Window Sheet, Linen Thread, Glue Dots

------------------------------------

Hope you like my projects.  Leave me a  message.  I love hearing from you.  Now it is off to the next stop on our tour, Dannie Graves blog.  Wait until you see her great projects.  :)    Thanks for stopping by...


Happy Stamping!   Judy  :)

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Last of the Birthday Jewelry Pieces

This month we celebrated two birthdays at our Rubber Ducky Club.  First up is Michele Templeman.  Her birthday theme was Halloween.  Michele loves bling like I do so I wanted to really Bling it up.


I found a big pink jewel at a big box store so used that for the main focus.  The back of the pink jewel is attached to a Tim Holtz Ornate Plate.  I found a couple of pink round jewels to attach to the sides of the piece.  Luckily they were the same color of pink.  I Love Pink!  Anyway, I took some Stampin' Up! Rhinestone Jewels and colored them with alcohol ink to make them a lime green.  I found some lime green embroidery thread and tied a bow on top.  I used a couple of Halloween Scrapbooking stickers to attach a witches hat on the top and a coldren on the bottom.  I finished up the back of the piece with a piece of the Champagne Shimmer Paper that is new in the Holiday Mini catalog.  I glittered the ghost and then added Crystal Effects to it.  Love how it turned out.  It definitely makes a statement.  :)

Next up is Jane Price.  Her birthday theme was Moose.  I bought a couple of Moose charms to help get me started.  I spent a couple of days awhile back looking for a specific die I own but couldn't find.  In my search for the die, I came across a Moose punch I forgot I had....so put that aside to use on Jane's piece.


First I brayered a piece of Glossy White card stock with a multi color background that worked well for a sky backdrop and punched it out with a scallop oval punch.  The Moose was punched out of Gold Mirricard.  The trees in the background were made using the Serene Silhouettes stamp set.  I took a sponge dauber and only inked the two lower clumps of leaves and trunk.  It was the perfect size to make this scene. I then put black embossing powder on and heated it...so now the background is done.  I found a little old grass punch that I had to stand on to get it to punch each time.  No wonder I hadn't used it in years!!!  I cut out the white clouds from more glossy white card stock.  SU Dimensionals made the moose stand out and I buried his hoofs in the grass.  Nestabilities dies were used to cut the two outside ovals in black and Pumpkin Pie.  Whaa laa a Moose Jewelry Piece.

I got my last Pearls & Lace Jewelry piece for my August birthday...last night from Michele Templeman.  Now...to find time to finish my Shadowbox.  I can't wait until it is finished.  I"ll share the results when it's done.
Michele likes little stamps and tags so there is a lot on this small piece.  I saved a place in my shadowbox for it...and it turns out that it has the subtle pink that goes with the others already received.  What more could I ask???!!!???!!!   :)   It's been a fun year but I think we are all ready to go onto something else.  Each new year brings another challenge.  

Happy Stamping!   Judy  :)


Saturday, October 6, 2012

Rubber Ducky Card Projects for October

Jane Price was our ring leader this month.  She prepared for us to make these two nice fall cards.  The first one is a cute Halloween card.  She didn't remember who the stamps were made by...but they sure are cute.  The second card is a Fall card.  We stamped and sponged 15 pumpkins and folded them in half and glued  them together.  I only attached 5 pumpkins together so I could mail this card.  I had to press it hard to be able to scan it.  It should have a full 3D pumpkin fanned out on the front of the card.



We got our first snow a couple of days ago here in Littleton.  It was just an inch but it was a nice surprise.  The cooler weather is wonderful.  It won't be long before the Trick or Treaters come and show off their costumes in exchange for candy. 

Happy Stamping!   Judy  :)




Sunday, September 30, 2012

French Foliage & Wonderfall Cards

I have three wonderful cards to share.  These were among the cards taught at recent Stamp-A-Stacks.The first one makes great use of the Window Frames Collection Framelits Dies [on pg 30 of the current Holiday Mini catalog].  The Summer Starfruit color is so stunning on this card!  The  dies create a window on this card.  Very clever!  The main image is inside the card.  Lisa does such nice cards.

                                                      Lisa Gray - French Foliage

The next two cards are also great fall cards.  The first one was taught at our August SAS and the second one was taught at our September SAS.  If you didn't attend, you really missed out on some amazing cards!  Sharon's blog 


    Sharon Madsen - Wonderfall                                         Sharon Madsen - Wonderfall

Fall is a great time of year.  The leaves are so pretty...ON the trees.  I'm happy the temperature has finally come down.  It was one long and hot summer!!!!   :)

Happy Stamping!   Judy  :)