Check out his blog....

Kristina Werner suggested this blog...The Pioneer Woman. Its pretty cool, check it out!

KWerner Design Blog Color Inspiration # 20

Two post tonight....I'm on top of things. Yes, I'm feeling slightly better. And when I say slightly, its very slight. Here is my card for Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration. Love these colors. Tell me what you think!

Stamp: Its Your Birthday (retired)

Ink: Regal Rose

CS: Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Regal Rose, Pink Pirouette, Certainly Celery

DSP: Bella Rose

Accessories: Very Vanilla Grosgrain Ribbon, 5-Petal Flower Punch, Scallop Edge Punch, Certainly Celery Brad, Dimensionals

Happy Halloween

Here is a cute post it note holder I made for a lady that works with my husband. She's looking for things to give to her daughter's teachers. I got this idea from Angie Juda at ChicNScratch. This lady comes up with the cutest ideas. Here's the tutorial from her Stampin' Academy.

Stamp: House of Haunts

Ink: Pumpkin Pie

CS: Whisper White, Kiwi Kiss, Basic Black

DSP: Ghostly Greetings

Accessories: Bind-it-All, 1/2 Owires, green grosgrain ribbon, white grosgrain ribbon, black satin ribbon, 4x4 Heavy weight coasters, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Dimensionals

Stamp Camp

Its Stamp Camp time! My next Stamp Camp is scheduled for September 27th. All the details are to the right. This one should be a lot of fun. As I mentioned before the Fall is my favorite time of year. So, most of the projects at this stamp camp are going to be geared toward Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. If you are interested in attending just let me know.

I received my order yesterday from Stampin' Up! and so I'm working on a few projects. I'll be sure to post them this evening.

Blah...

I'm feeling blah...Mostly because I'm pregnant. Don't get me wrong, I'm super excited. I just have what you would call all day "morning sickness." I don't actually get sick, just feel blah all day and just about every bit of my energy is gone. Its making it hard to do anything. Not to mention I have a 2 year old to keep up with. Its harder this time, no lazin' around, ie. naps, like the first time. My coworker, Jennie has been on vacation and I've been holding down the fort here at work. It hasn't been too bad, but when you aren't a 100% familiar with a project its an uneasy feeling. So needless to say I'll be glad when she gets back tomorrow. I think it will help a little, but until the 10th week (magic date the first time around) of pregnancy rolls around, I'm going to feel like this. Just 3 weeks left!


I'm expecting my first of I'm sure several Stampin' Up! orders from the new catalog to arrive tomorrow. I'm sure that will put a little pep in my step. I'll try very hard to post something if I can get around to making anything. Looking forward to my square scallop punch. Gotta love those scallops!

KWerner Color Inspiration Challenge #19

Here's my card for Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration Challenge #19. This is my favorite by far. I love black and white, especially with another color. It was hard for me to hold back on adding more, but I'm very pleased with the end result. I added a little embossing too. Let me know what you think!

Stamp: Heard from the Heart, Priceless
CS: Basic Black, Whisper White, Riding Hood Red (sorry, no basic gray)
Ink: Riding Hood Red, Versa Mark
Accessories: Making Memories Black and White paper & clear embossing powder

Thinking of You....Fall

I'm so glad that summer is winding down. The only positive thing for me in the summer is my birthday, I'm just not a fan of the heat. Now that my birthday has past, I'm totally focused on the fall. I've been thinking of it a lot lately, with all the fall decorations appearing at the craft stores and all the rain we've gotten lately. I thought I would make a fallish card. Enjoy!

Stamp: Three Thoughts (retired)

CS: Really Rust and Old Olive

Ink: Old Olive

Accessories: Fall Flowers DSP, Pewter Brads, White grosgrain ribbon

To sell or not to sell.....

I have been approached by a few people suggesting that I sell some of my creations on my blog. I would love to do this, but I'm not sure if I would have enough takers to make it worth my time. So, I'm asking for some input. Let me know if you would be interested in purchasing my goods. I'll randomly draw from the comments and one lucky winner will receive some blog candy. It will be something that I created to sell. Thanks!

**Update**

It occured to me that you might not have any idea of what I would sell. Remember the letter S, the card bundles, various paper crafts that hold post-its, etc....

New Catalog!!!!

Here's the new catalog! If you would like a hard copy, just let me know, they are only $5. You can also receive one free if you make a purchase of $50 between now and August 31st or if you schedule a workshop. Its going to be hard pacing myself.

I'm back

I'm back from New Orleans. It was a lot of fun. Things have definitely changed...there and with me. I find that I'm really not interested in walking down Bourbon street...at all! I love the history, the food, the shopping and the architecture. I use to be sad when I left, but the last time I went I didn't have a daughter and I missed her terribly. Of course I missed my husband, but you ladies out there who have children know what I mean. I found some awesome books, clothes and jewelry. We shopped Friday on Magazine Street and then headed to the hotel around 4:00. Had dinner and then walked around some more. By the time 7:00 rolled around we were exhausted. We headed to our room and up to bed.

Started out early Saturday morning at Cafe du Monde (regular tourist spot) and then down to the French Market. There is a lot of renovations taking place, which was great to see. Stopped off at our favorite jewelry store (New Orleans Gem and Lapidary) and heard the most amazing story from the owner, Guy. He actually remember me and my mom, we do stop by every time we go. He stayed during Katrina and of course had to deal with the aftermath. Here is where I veer off to tell you Guy's story.

He slept on the floor of his shop with his shotgun and two dogs for 6 WEEKS!!! No food, water, electricity, sewage...nothing. He has so much stuff, there would have been no way for him to pack it up and I don't blame him for not wanting to leave. He would have been looted for sure. Keep in mind this is a man that owns his building. Owning a piece of property in the French Quarter is a big deal. Its extremely expensive and you are usually very wealthy or have owned it for a while, like 20+ years. I say this because he is a very successfully shop owner and what he ended up doing to survive was something I'm sure he never imagined he would ever have to do.

Because no one really expected Katrina to hit New Orleans, there were no preparations made. No one expected the power to go out for an extended period of time. After the levees broke, things shut down so there was no food to buy because stores were closed and even if you had a car, it was difficult to get threw all the water. So here is where the story begins....Guy purchased a bike from a random person on the street for $10 and would ride to the Convention Center and Superdome area to scavenge threw what was being left behind by the people who were finally being evacuated from those areas. They were not allowed to bring much with them so they were leaving water and various food items behind. This is what he did to survive. There were military personnel all around and they had mounds of those military meals, but would not share them with anyone. Guy's theory is that who ever was in charge wanted everyone to leave, so handing out meals would only encourage people to stay. Eventually the power, water, etc all came back. Guy's story was very hard for my mom and I to hear. We had thought of him and prayed while we watched the craziness of the aftermath of Katrina unfold. I'm so thankful to see he survived.

We talked to many people over the weekend, many of their stories were the same...devastating. I'm glad we went back and did our part to stimulate their economy because that is what they need. I will say it is very safe in the French Quarter and the Garden District. If you were considering going, go! Just be smart and don't go where you would never had gone before, ie. the 9th ward. There is a very big police presence and I never felt uncomfortable.

So onto more happy things and to finish my trip....we ate and shopped and shopped and ate. Finally finishing up all our souvenir shopping today and the 1850 House. This is a cool place, lots of books on New Orleans. Its located in the Pantalba Apartments (oldest apartments in the US). There is a tour of them with a space set up just like it would have been in 1850. We didn't have time today to do that, so its on our "to do" list for next time.

So now, onto the pictures......

Wedding Card

Here is a card I made for my brother in law, Kyle and his fiance Sherie. Their wedding shower is this weekend, but I'm not going to be able to attend. When this post actually posts I will be well on my way to NEW ORLEANS!!! WOOHOO!!! I have been looking forward to this trip for a while. My mom and I are doing what use to be an annual trip, but since my daughters birth, its not as easy to get there and its really hard to be away from her for too long. We haven't been since 3 weeks before Katrina hit. I'm anxious to see how everything looks 3 years later. I'll be sure to post pictures when I get back.

KWernerDesignBlog Color Inspiration #18

Hi Everyone!

Here's my card for Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration. Hope you like it.

Another Bundle

Here's another bundle I made for AquinasFest.

Stamps: Priceless, Circle of Friends (retiring)

Ink: Tempting Turquoise

CS: Gable Green, Pink Passion, Tempting Turquoise

Accessories: 3/4" circle punch, 1 1/4" circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, scallop circle punch, black sheer polka dot ribbon (WalMart)

Great Deals with Stampin' Up!

Hi Everyone!

There are going to be some really great deals with Stampin' Up! starting Monday, August 11.

First let me start with my special:

Make a purchase of $50 or more and receive a free Fall/Winter Idea Book and Catalog ($5 savings)as well as a free gift from me! This special runs from August 11th-31st.

Now onto all the Stampin' Up! Specials:

There are 3, count them 3 awesome specials starting August 11th!

From August 11 through September 30, Stampin' Up! is providing never-before-seen savings on brand-new stamp sets: 15% off select new, die-cut stamp sets from the Fall-Winter 2008 Idea Book & Catalog--no additional purchase necessary.

From August 11-October 11, potential recruits will have the option of becoming a Stampin' Up! demonstrator by purchasing one of three special mini Starter Kits* priced at $99.

New Recruit Incentive: August 11-October 11, 2008Join as a demonstrator with the standard $199 Starter Kit and choose one stamp set out of the Fall-Winter Sampler or Idea Book & Catalog for free. Let me know if you would like a copy of the catalog sampler.

The new Idea Book and Catalog will be available to purchase on August 11th. I'm expecting my hard copies any day and there will be an online version available on both this blog and my Stampin' Up! website that day for you to view. Also, FYI...starting very soon you will be able to purchase directly from my Stampin' Up! website....stay tuned for many more exciting announcements.

Card bundles for AquinasFest

Every year my church, St Thomas Aquinas has a traditional church bazaar/festival to raise money. My mom and I have helped serve food in the past, but we decided this year we could put our true talents to good use. We've decide to both make something to donate to the Country Store. My mom has been crocheting these incredible scarves. I told her they are going to go like mad, she doesn't believe me. I'll try to get some pictures of them before we take them to the church. I'm making card bundles, which consist of 6 identical cards with envelopes, bundled together with a pretty ribbon. I thought these would make great gifts. I'm mainly doing cards that say thank you, but I'm also including baby shower cards and Christmas cards. I'm thinking of throwing in some birthday ones too. Here is one of the bundles I did.

Stamp: Much Appreciated (retiring)

CS: Baja Breeze, Tangerine Tango, Close to Cocoa, Old Olive, Very Vanilla

Paper: My Mind's Eye

Ink: Baja Breeze

Accessories: Pewter brad, 5 petal flower punch, scallop circle punch

Heard from the Heart

Hi Everyone! Here is a card I made using Heard from the Heart stamp set, brand new in the Fall/Winter Idea Book and Catalog. I also used the new Bella Rose paper (which I totally love) and Kiwi Kiss (new In Color) and Chocolate Chip CS. Let me know what you think of the card. Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Oh and sorry for the smudgy picture...someone must have touched the lens, don't know who that would have been.