Whale You Be Mine?

Here are two more Valentine swap cards received yesterday.

Nancy Flanagan - Oh, Whale!

Isn't this whale adorable?  This is such a sweet card.  I love this stamp and the coordinating Clearlits Die to go with it...and a wheel to match as well.  What more could we ask for?    :)

Laura Lipe - Vintage Verses

Do you see where Laura used the new Honeycomb embossing folder on the top two-thirds of the card?  Great idea!   :)

That's it for today.  Don't forget to check out the Occasions Mini catalog and the FREE Sale-a-Bration brochure.  There are lots of wonderful items to pick from.  You qet a FREE Sale-a-Bration item for each $50 in merchandise ordered.  At $150, you get 3 FREE Sale-a-Bration items and a FREE pack of Silver Glimmer Paper.  WOW!!!!  I love this time of year.

Happy Stamping!   Judy   :)

 

Be My Valentine :)

I want to share a couple of great cards I just received from a Occasions Mini catalog and Sale-a-Bration brochure swap.  They are just in time for Valentine's day.

Jeanne Nielsen - Hearts a Flutter

The Tea for Two Designer Series Paper is so pretty!  Beautiful Card!

 

   

Jann McCollom - That's  the Ticket

Jann tied a piece of the new Natural 7/16" Trim Ribbon into a knot for the center of the flower.

Both cards use the Hearts a Flutter stamp set and matching framelits.  Aren't these pretty???!!!! 

Happy Stamping!    Judy   :)

Feel Goods - I LOVE the new 5/8" Flower Trim!

I designed this card for our January Stamp Camp South and used as many of the brand new products  I could incorporate from the Spring Mini catalog.  It is so easy to color the wonderful  new 5/8" Flower Trim flowers.  I used Sponge Daubers to color them.  These flowers are my most favorite product from the Spring Mini catalog.  

Stamps:  Feel Goods
CS:  Island Indigo, Pool Party, Whisper White
Ink:  Island Indigo, Pool Party, Daffodil Delight
Accessories:  Big Shot, Honeycomb Embossing Folder, 5/8" Flower Trim, 
          Basic Rhinestone Jewels, Large Rhinestone Jewels, Glue Dots, Paper Snips, 
          Sponge Daubers

Happy Stamping!    Judy  :)

Secret Garden

Here is the card I designed for an Occasions Mini Control Freaks Swap.  It was fun using some of the brand new products from the Occasions Mini catalog and Sale-a-Bration.  Stampin' Up! outdid themselves again!!!

Stamp Set:  Secret Garden

CS:  Primrose Pink, Baja Breeze, Whisper White

Ink:  Basic Black, Baja Breeze

Marker:  Primrose Pink

Punches:  Word Window, Modern Label, Small Butterfly, Blossom Petals Builder

Misc:  Big Shot, Secret Garden Framelits die, Vine Street Embossing Folder [SAB]

        Fancy Fan Embossing Folder, Large Rhinestone Jewels, Stylus, Glue Dots

Happy Stamping!   Judy   :)

Watercolor Winter Cards

Here are the Christmas cards I wanted to send out.  Maybe I can finish them for next year.   I love this stamp set.  I taught these cards at our Stamp Camp South and Stamp Camp North in December.

They are both cased and changed up.  The first one is thanks to Julie Davidson and the second one is thanks to Georgeann Manning.   

Stamp Set:  Watercolor Winter, Many Merry Messages

CS:   Real Red, Very Vanilla, Whisper White

Ink:  Basic Black Craft & Classic Pads, Gumball Green, Cherry Cobbler, Daffodil Delight

Misc:  Big Shot, Labels Collection Framelits, Lacy Brocade Embossing Folder, 

         Black Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Dazzling Details, Aqua Painter, SU Dimensionals, 

         Glue Dots, 1/4" Real Red Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Sponge Dauber, Non-SU Pine Branch die

Stamp Set:  Watercolor Winter, More Merry Messages
CS:   Raspberry Ripple, Old Olive, Whisper White
Ink:  Old Olive, Basic Black
Markers:  Raspberry Ripple, Old Olive, Daffodil Delight
Misc:  Raspberry Ripple Stitched Satin Ribbon, Big Shot, Labels Collection Framelits,
         Petals-a-Plenty Embossing Folder, Rhinestone Jewels, SU Dimensionals, Paper Snips,
         Blender Pen, Aqua Painter, Dazzling Details, SU Dimensionals, Glue Dots

Happy Stamping!   Judy   :)

Happy New Year!!!!

First, I want to wish you a healthy and HAPPY NEW YEAR!  The Christmas season crept up so quickly, I wasn't prepared...so ended up purchasing store-bought Christmas cards.  I wanted my friends and family to know I was thinking of them even if I didn't make the cards myself.  

We flew to Falls Church, VA on Dec 19th to spend Christmas with our son Joe's family.  The weather about froze us.  It rained and rained and snowed some, too.  Brrrrr!  Joe and his family are so busy so we helped where we could.  We ate more than our share of  wonderful Italian food.  It was fun to be there on Christmas morning to see what Santa brought the kids.  He even left something for us.  :)

Here is my door prize for our December Christmas Stamp Camp at the Westminster Elks Lodge.  Each participant received a door prize as well as a pre-pay gift...and some were lucky enough to win for best sweater, funniest outfit, birthday month, etc.  It was a fun day.  I didn't see who picked it....so hope they were happy to get it.

The ornament was made just like the one on the Holiday mini catalog.  Thank you Stampin' Up! for coming up with such a great choice of products, again!     

My stamp rooms are out of control.  PLEASE SEND THE NEAT FAIRIE!!!!!!

Happy Stamping!   Judy   :)

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   :)