Finally a new post:)

Hello stamp friends!

It was a very busy and quite emotional week for me last week. I know I mentioned that our little Chinese Dwarf hamster was sick in my last post. He never got better and despite him taking the medication, it just wasn't enough.

I had plans to attend a demonstrator event which I knew about for almost 2 months, but with Snuffy being sick, it was very hard to concentrate and get my swaps done. One of my customers/friends came over on Tuesday & Wednesday to help me get the swaps done. I honestly don't know what I would have done without her. (Thank you, Cathleen!!!) When she left on Wednesday, I got him out of his cage and held & comforted him. Here's a picture I took of him sleeping on my chest.

I'm so glad that I took this picture (with my cell phone) that afternoon, because he passed away that evening. He was a very unique type of hamster. He didn't bite, he loved to be held and he'd take a nap on my chest while I watched TV in the evenings. He was my little buddy. I definitely feel the loss.

Thursday was a rough day. I was so glad that it was a hectic morning and the kids didn't go looking for Snuffy; otherwise, they wouldn't have wanted to go to school. I had to break the news to them when they got home. My 8-year old took it pretty good, but my 6-year old cried his eyes out. I took a break and just laid down next to him and tried to answer his questions. Once my hubby got home, I put on the radio and after struggling for a few hours, I finally came up with a card. Then I went to sleep. Friday I did all of the cutting and managed to get everything ready to go before I went to bed.

Saturday I got up early so I could be there at 10am. We made 7 cards and then took a break for lunch. The demonstrator that was hosting the event is also a caterer. We had fully loaded baked potatoes and an awesome salad for lunch. Then we made the second half of cards, watched demonstrations and then we voted on our top 2 cards. Even though my card wasn't in the top two, I was excited to win a door prize... the new "Go, Graduate" stamp set:) The hostess gave everyone a pair of Flip Flops and let us choose fabric we liked to make the fabric flower using the Big Shot and the Stampin' Up! Flower Folds die. Then it was time for dinner. We had the best chicken fajitas I ever had! Debbie, you rock!!! This was my first all day event and I can't wait for the next one, which will be held in September. I learned so much and all of the demonstrators were so nice and helpful. It was really what I needed to cheer me up.

I wanted to share my cards with you. This one was the swap:

 Supplies Used:

• Stamps: Sweet Scoops & On Your Birthday
• Card Stock/Paper: Tempting Turquoise, Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron, Whisper White & Pink Flamingo DSP
•  Ink: Tempting Turquoise, Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron, Creamy Caramel & Basic Black
• Other: Punches (Modern Label & Word Window), Ribbon (Tempting Turquoise & Pumpkin Pie 1/4" grosgrain & Elementary Ribbon Originals), Fire & Ice Circle Brads, Heat & Stick Powder & Dazzling Diamonds glitter

and this one was my make-n-take:

Supplies Used:

• Stamps: Vintage Vogue & On Your Birthday
• Card Stock/Paper: Rich Razzleberry, Very Vanilla, & Cottage Wall DSP
•  Ink: Rich Razzleberry & Old Olive
• Other: Big Shot, Top Note die, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, Old Olive 5/8 Satin ribbon, Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware & Stampin' Dimensionals.

We're getting ready to get some thunderstorms, so I better sign off. I hope to have something new to share soon. Have a wonderful week!

Julie

What a day!

Today was quite a day. One of those days when you already have a plan, but it doesn't turn out that way. I had plans to have lunch with a friend and to spend some time in my stamp room. Those of you that read my blog on a regular basis, know that I have a little Chinese Dwarf hamster that I adore. Snuffy has been acting strange lately (slouching forward, laying around, heavy breathing, no running in his wheel, etc.) I decided that if he made it through the night last night, I would take him to the vet today. I was able to get an appointment at 11am. I spent a little time in my stamp room before going to the vet. I was happy to clean up my desk. It's so much easier to work when you can see the top of it. LOL!

Snuffy has a respiratory infection. The doctor gave him fluid under the skin and gave me antibiotic drops to give him one drop twice a day. She also said that he has a 50/50 chance of making it. I had to at least try. I keep him in my stamp room/office, so I'm able to keep an eye on him. I'm happy to report that he's been getting up to drink water. I'm praying that he will be up and running in his wheel soon.

Tonight I pulled out a little craft keeper with a couple unfinished projects in it. I found this, which I made last year, but never put it together with adhesive, etc. My aunt wanted some cards and she requested light blue, lime green and yellow. I pulled out Cool Caribbean, Green Galore &; Summer Sun. She wanted a summery type card. This is what I came up with.

Supplies Used:

• Stamps: Dad's Day & Just Beachy
• Card Stock/Paper: Cool Caribbean, Green Galore, Summer Sun & Whisper White
•  Ink: Cool Caribbean, Green Galore & Summer Sun
• Other: Crushed Curry In-Color Polka Dot ribbon, 2-Way glue pen, Dazzling Diamonds Stampin' Glitter® & Stampin' Dmensionals®.

Gift card & Color Renovation

Good Evening stamp friends!

I'm sorry it has been a while since my last blog entry. We made a last minute decision to take the kids to the beach for Easter. The weather was chilly, but we had a nice time. I even got a "little" stamping done. I always like to take something with me, because the hotel that we stay at has a nice table and I feel very comfortable. This time I went a little crazy when getting something together to take with me. I had to pack in a hurry. (I'm always doing something at the last minute:) I had a project in mind, (to make a baby shower invitation for my sister-in-law) but the only stamp set I took with me was "Fox & Friends". I've been wanting to sort my scraps by color for a few weeks now, so I took that big box with me too. (Isn't that nuts?) Other things I brought with me included the "Chit Chat" rub-ons, a couple sheets of Baja Breeze & Chocolate Chip card stock, "Parisian Breeze" Specialty designer paper, Baja Breeze & Chocolate Chip Classic Ink pads & when I went to grab the Baja Breeze ribbon, I thought to myself that it looked a little thick, but I grabbed it anyway and I also grabbed the "Soft Sky" retired "In-color" ribbon. I held it up to the Parisian Breeze paper and it was a pretty close match. I grabbed the little bag that I carry all of my basic stamping tools in and my paper cutter and was ready to roll.

One evening, my husband took the boys to the arcade to play games, so I sat down at the table with my big box of scraps. I had taken 4 clear envelopes (8x8) that I had at home and I sorted the scraps into the 4 main color families. I was left with the "In-Colors" and "Neutrals". That's when I pulled out the other things that I brought and decided to start with just a simple 3x3 card, but I wanted to use the color scheme I had planned for my sister-in-laws baby shower. I decided to make a gift card. I first tried using the Baja Breeze Striped Grosgrain ribbon, but just like I thought, it was too thick, especially for a little 3x3 card, so I tried the Soft Sky and loved the way it looked. Then I pulled out the Chit Chat rub-ons and used only part of the sentiment "for you and baby".

Here is the final result:

The turtle was stamped using the Baja Breeze stamp pad, because that's all I had with me, but the colors are a pretty close match. What do you think?

Speaking of colors, I have some exciting news to share with you! Stampin' Up! has undergone a Color Renovation! At first, I didn't know what to think of it, with so many colors leaving...especially a lot of colors that I really like and used quite a bit. Then when I actually sat down and looked at the new Color Collections, I thought to myself how beautiful they are. I rarely used Soft Subtles, but now with this change, I can see myself using every one of them. Now the biggest test will be dealing with my impatience until the new Idea Book and Catalog is released in July. I can't wait!!! I love how Stampin' Up! has simplified the colors by including the neutrals in the 4 core collections. It makes life so much easier!

Here are the colors that will be retiring:

Though it may seem a little overwhelming, once I sat down and looked at them, there were so many that I didn't use. (Don't get me wrong, I am a little disappointed to see a few go, but I will make sure to stock up on anything I can't live without. I'm so glad that they gave us extra notice so I will have time to make decisions before the new catalog comes out on July 1st.) Now take a look at the new color palette, which includes 5 brand new colors and 10 In-Colors from the past that are returning. Isn't it gorgeous?

Though I've only been a demonstrator for a little over 6 months, I've been using Stampin' Up! products since I started stamping in September 2006. Since then, with each catalog that has come out, I've added the things I had to have to my wish list and it never fails, I wind up falling in love with many other sets once I see the beautiful creations that were made with them.

I have one last thing to share. I went to a meeting on Friday night and we were looking at some of the older Stampin' Up! catalogs. It was comical seeing what was popular then and seeing how far they have come. Change is definitely a good thing:)

I hope you have a wonderful week!

Julie