Prayers needed



This card was inspired (copied) from the February Stampin' Success magazine.
I basically just changed the colors.



Last Wednesday night I had the opportunity to have a workshop with my friend Barb.  She invited some of her closest friends to be there.  All of them took advantage of the Sale-a-bration going on with SU!  It was a great workshop.  We made a gender-neutral birthday card that could also double as a Valentine's Day card.  All you'd have to do is change the sentiment.

Stamp: Create a Cupcake

Paper: Pear Pizzazz, Springtime Vintage designer series paper, Whisper White

Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Soft Suede

Accessories: Build a Cupcake punch, Pear Pizzazz ribbon, dimensionals

My new friend and downline Linda came to observe me.  Near the end of the workshop, Barb's phone rang. It was Linda's husband. I could tell right away that something was terribly wrong.  Linda got off the phone and said that her 13 year-old grandson who lives in Massachusetts collapsed at hockey practice and was in the hospital on a ventilator.  She said that she had to leave immediately.

A strange silence took over the room.   Linda and I have only known each other a few months, but it seems like a long time.  We've not really talked at length about our religious beliefs, but I thought that she was a believer.  Now, I am not one who feels comfortable praying out loud with a group of people.  But I felt the overwhelming need to pray right there with these ladies.  So I did. 

Linda drove me to the workshop, so I was with her for most of her ride home.  She talked about what she needed to do to get ready for the drive to Massachusetts including packing her clothes, finding a temporary home for her dogs, etc. I told her that we would all be praying for Nick to make a complete recovery.

In the days since Nick's collapse, I have texted Linda a few times to get updates on Nick's condition.  I put Nick on my church prayer chain and also asked for prayer via Stampin' Connection, an online community for Stampin' Up! demonstrators.  Several of the other ladies including Barb have added Nick and his family to their prayer chains, too. 

Today I received an email from Linda that said that Nick is still undergoing tests to determine the cause of his heart problems.  Tomorrow he will be having an internal cardiac defibrillator implanted.  They do know one thing: he will never be allowed to play sports again.  This news has been very hard for Nick to accept because he's been playing hockey since he was four years old.  The doctors say that it is a miracle that Nick is alive and made it through this ordeal.  Linda wrote that Nick's earthly mission is not over.  God kept him here on this earth for a reason.  Please pray for Nick while he recovers.  He is not only suffering physical problems, but is also grieving that he has to give up hockey and completely change his lifestyle.   Also pray for his parents as well as his teammates. 

Happy stamping!

Susan



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Snow Day!

I've been MIA from my blog for a few weeks. No real reason other than I've just been busy.   And for the last few days I've had a blog update on my "to do" list, but it just kept getting pushed down the list.  So, of course, I choose today - a snow day for my four kids - to share another creation with you.

This card uses the new Valentine Defined stamp set found in the Occassions Mini catalog.  I created the hills using retired old olive designer series paper.  I colored the tree with markers then stamped and cut it and placed it atop my tallest hill with dimensionals. The sentiment is stamped in chocolate chip. This is one of the cards that stampers can create at my Valentine's Day stamp camp.  The next session will be held on Thursday, February 10th. Please contact me if you're interested in attending.

Stamps:  Valentine Defined
Paper: bashful blue, real red, whisper white, old olive dsp
Ink: chocolate chip plus old olive, chocolate chip and real red markers
Accessories:  stampin' dimensionals

I'm off to shovel some more snow!

Happy stamping!

Susan

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Big Cupcake

Have you ever seen the commercial for the giant cupcake pan?  Well, I think it looks so cute.  I found one of the pans marked half off at CVS a few days ago. To make things a better deal, I had a $5 off coupon.  So I paid $5 for it.  Gotta love that : )  When I brought the pan home on Monday I didn't feel well.  After all, the reason I was at CVS was to pick up prescriptions for myself.  I have some kind of upper respiratory/sinus infection.  Moms aren't allowed to be sick - ever!  The doctor even prescribed some antibiotic ointment for my eyes because they were all red.  I'm trying to use it, but it's really difficult to function when you can't see.  Since I'm a mom, I have to take care of myself -- and sick eyes don't feel good either.  (That reminds me, I haven't use the ointment yet today.)

Yesterday right before my kids got home from school, Clarice said, "Let's make tuptakes, Mommy!"  I asked, "Do you want to make little cupcakes or one big cupcake?" She said, "One big one!"  So I got the pan out and gave it a try. We used a confetti cake mix.  I thought I greased up the pan enough, but some of it stuck inside the pan. You can't tell the difference once it's been frosted.

 

Look how quick Clarice is in sneaking a lick!  (Actually, Randy had the wrong setting on the camera, but I thought it looked funny!)



We let her do it again so we could get a "proper" photo.

By the way, the cupcake cake was just for our family. That's why we allowed the licks.


Annika's best friend Sophie is turning eight today.  Annika reminded me that I needed to make a card.  But since I spent half the night making the big cupcake, I didn't cook dinner OR make Sophie's card.   At the not-so-bright and early time of 5:32 am the phone rang. It was a recorded message from the school superintendent announcing a two-hour delay because of snowy and icy conditions.  After shoveling snow for a half hour, I still had plenty of time to make a card.  And here it is:

I used some new products from the Occasions Mini catalog - the Create a Cupcake stamp set and the Build a Cupcake punch.  The pretty in pink taffeta ribbon was tied using the fork bow method that I saw on Diana Gibbs's blog.  (I should've straightened the bow a bit before taking the photo. It really did turn out cute!)  Annika was really impressed with the fork bow.  I used a serving sized fork to tie it and joked to her that I should keep the fork in my stampin' studio.  She wants me to tie A LOT of bows for her after she gets home from school - in every color! It's hard to tell from the photo, but I added dazzling diamonds to the "frosting."  I told Annika have Sophie show the card to everyone at school.  Maybe I'll get some workshops scheduled. You never know :  ) 

Happy birthday, Sophie!!!

Stamps:  create a cupcake

Ink:  early espresso, pretty in pink

Paper:  whisper white, pretty in pink, crumb cake, early espresso

Accessories:  pretty in pink taffeta ribbon, build a cupcake punch, big shot, polka dot embossing folder, dazzling diamonds, glue dot

Happy Stamping!

Susan

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Go Confidently in the Direction of Your Dreams

I mentioned in an earlier post that I have a younger sister.  Well, I also have a younger brother named Joe. He's the baby of the family, but he's all grown up now.  In fact, he's a successful pharmacist currently living in Winchester, Virginia (and he's single ; )  ).

When Joe came home to visit in the first week of December, he made a stop to the Victorian Christmas Bazaar where I had a table selling my Stampin' Up! goodies.  (I didn't sell many cards, but I did make a profit.  That will be the topic of another post.)  Anyhow, it was really the first time that Joe had seen what I do and all that Stampin' Up! has to offer.

Joe's passion is Beachbody. He signed up to be a Beachbody Coach about a year ago.  You may have seen those Insanity/P90X workout infomercials on TV.  Well that is part of what Beachbody sells.  He has really gotten into this whole workout thing and thinks everyone else should too. 

Beachbody is also a direct sales company.  After just a year, Joe has sponsored several other coaches.  When he saw some of my Christmas cards, Joe asked if he could buy some to give to the coaches in his down line.   I said, "Yes!"  To make a long story short, Joe forgot to take the Christmas cards with him that weekend.  The next time he came home was a few days before Christmas, and it seemed too late to send them.

Joe still wanted to send some kind of cards to his team. I agreed to make them for him, but didn't know exactly what.  Then last week I had an "Ah ha!" moment and reached for my Word Play stamp set.  I inked up the stamp "Go Confidently in the Direction of Your Dreams," made a sample card, took a photo, and emailed it to Joe.  I thought that this would be the perfect card to send:

Stamps:  Word Play
Paper: marina mist, pacific point, poppy parade, soft suede, whisper white, designer series paper patterns pack brights, designer series paper pack in color (hostess level 1)
Ink: marina mist, soft suede, and poppy parade markers
Accessories: dimensionals

Joe loved the cards!  Said it was perfect for the occasion.  He printed the Beachbody emblem small enough to punch out with the 1 3/4" circle punch and glued it to the inside of the card (sorry, no photo.)  Joe said that the Marina Mist color that I used for the card base was almost the same as the Beachbody emblem color.  Joe is writing an encouraging message to each member of his team to do well in the upcoming year.  As a bonus, he said he would enclose a copy of my Stampin' Up! business card in each envelope.  Thanks, Joe! 

Here is link to Joe's Shakeology web site.  Shakeology is a nutritional product marketed by Beachbody.

Happy stamping!

Susan

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I should always have extra cards made -- just in case!

Yesterday at about 3:30 pm my dear husband Randy called me from work and said that he needed a card for his co-worker Gary.  Randy informed me that Gary's last day on the job is today.  Now, my dear Randy knew this information two weeks ago, but neglected to tell me until the day before he needed it. 

So after I cooked dinner, broke up some disagreements between the kids, cleaned up the leftovers, washed dishes, put a load of laundry in the washer, got the kids ready for bed, looked for an already finished card that I might be able to use (and didn't find!), and broke up some more disagreements, I took time to make Gary's card.  The only request that Randy made was that it say, "Best Wishes."

Without further adieu:

Stamps: Lovely as a Tree, Fabulous Phrases
Card Stock: Soft Suede, Old Olive, Very Vanilla
Ink:  Soft Suede
Accessories:  word window punch modern label punch, sponge

It's not a complicated card at all.  I own the Fabulous Phrases stamp set in the clear mount variety, so I mounted the two words next to each other and stamped them at once.  Then I punched out the words with the word window punch.  After that, I adhered the words to a piece of soft suede card stock, then I punched it out using the modern label punch.  It's much easier to do it that way so you don't have to fuss about getting the top layer centered on such a small area. 

I was a bit disappointed that I didn't already have a card made - even one that I could switch out sentiments.  Honestly, Randy rarely asks me for cards.  And I don't often send masculine cards.  So I will have to make some man-cards to add to my stash.  I also do not have any sympathy cards on hand either.  (Those are not fun to make, so I usually wait till I actually need one.  That way, I can also pray while I'm creating.)

Even though I seem like I'm whining a bit with having to make this card at the last minute, I really didn't mind.  Randy appreciated that I made the card for him.  He knows that I am a multi-taleted wife and mom and never let him down : )

Happy Stamping!

Susan

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Christmas ATCs

I've got my four children home for the Christmas holiday : )  My sister, who only has one child and lives in a spotless house on the weekends (she lives with my mom and dad during the week because of her job -- long story!) came to visit this morning.  Toys, pillows, blankets, dirty dishes, etc. were ALL over the living room floor.  Even after she complained, I didn't even care.  My kids are having fun and that's what matters.  The mess has been cleaned up numerous times and it will get cleaned up again.

Today I'm sharing Christmas ATCs that I sent out earlier this week.  I belong to the Transit Traders, an artist trading card group that meets quarterly to, of course, trade cards, share techniques, etc.  At the October meeting we all decided to make Christmas ATCs and send them to everyone in the group.  At first I thought, "Oh no!  One more thing that I have to do for Christmas."

Cards from other members started arriving in the mail and I started to feel the pressure.  It took me a while to decide exactly what I was going to do. Once I got started I really enjoyed creating these beauties: 

I stamped the trees with versamark, then applied white embossing powder.  After that, I used the void area from the scallop oval punch to add clouds to the sky and snow to the ground.  My only regret is that I didn't put a "merry Christmas" on it somewhere. But I like it how it is.  And that's how I like my living room, too.

Stamps:  Lovely as a Tree
Paper:  Bashful Blue, Brushed Silver, Night of Navy
Ink:  versamark, craft white
Accessories:  white embossing powder, scallop oval punch, sponge dauber

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Christmas Angels

Yesterday afternoon the elementary bus that my two daughters ride was over 10 minutes late coming home.  The schools they attend are only blocks away, so I knew that something was amiss.  I called my husband at work and he told me that there was a bus accident across town.  I started to pray for whoever was injured.  A few minutes later, the girls safely arrived home.  My dear Annika was concerned about being late because she had no way of contacting me and knew I'd be worried.

I still didn't know any details about the collision with the bus.  Rumors were going around town, so I found some information online.  Here is a link to the news article.  The front page of The Derrick had this photo on it:

 

The teenage driver of the car suffered multiple fractures and other injuries.  I haven't heard an update on his condition, but he was life-flighted from the scene.  Several students on the bus suffered minor injuries.  Please pray for all of those who are suffering from this tragic accident.

I haven't updated my blog in a few weeks.  I participated in a vendor fair a few weeks ago and was busy making cards, etc. to sell.  Then I've just been busy with life.

Here is a card that I made for my friend, Tina.  She bought the stamp set from me and insisted that I use it before delivering it to her.  Today's card is a personal reminder of how thankful I am for my family.

Stamp Set:  Angelic Joy
Paper:  Always Artichoke, Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla, regal dsp
Ink: Cherry Cobbler, versamark
Accessories:  gold embossing powder, Very Vanilla taffeta ribbon. modern label punch

I have another version of this card using Concord Crush and Daffodil Delight.

Happy Stamping!

Susan

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