Mini Spa gift

This is a gift I put together for a friend whose birthday was in Feb!! gasp - I know...better late then never, though - right?? We've both been pretty busy (of course that was about the time we moved so it was not feasible to get together then). So we talked about it & waited just long enough to celebrate BOTH of our special days (mine is on Sunday) tomorrow we're meeting for lunch at El Arroyo. I got the cute little saffon bag at the $1 Target bin, the tissues & mesh at Dollar Tree & the bath stuff (Lavender Vanilla scent) at Bath & Body works. I just love how stamping supplies can really tie a project gift together. I love my big Primas from Target & the brad bling from JoAnn's. I hope she likes it!

More Bellas!

Bella Coloring Fun!!!

I want to give a shout out to Michelle Wooderson who is so AWESOME - check out her blog Mish Mash so you can see tips (recently for Mass Producing cards) she posts often. I made a few Bella cards from this tip for Colored Images. It was so fun to grab some Bella images I got in a swap on a yahoo group for Bellaholics. Come join the fun if you LOVE Bellas!! I took My Mind's Eye papers Magnolia from Costco & colored my images to match while watching t.v. (that's how I relax) then assembly was easy - I went to my scrap stash & voila!

Little Lady by Papertrey ink!!!

oh man...do I LOVE Papertrey!!! Nichole & her partners are AWESOME!!! I love my Little Lady set (Donna means lady in Italian) and I love lady bugs! I love their white cardstock/envelopes - they are SO nice!!! I designed this card to send to some friends who have blessed my DH and I recently with their friendship (homemade meals, bought meals at favorite restaurants).

Used Real Red, Only Orange inks, cardstock by SU! and my CB D'vine Swirl Embossing Folder & Red Gingham ribbon by SU!

new Tag by Jeanne!!!

I was tagged to answer these questions with one word answers about me (No explanations…)
by Jeanne

Yourself: Thoughtful
Your Partner: Awesome
Your Hair: Natural
Your Mother: Memorable
Your Father: Wonderful
Your Favorite Item: Purses
Your Dream Last Night: Many
Your Favorite Drink: Coffee
Your Dream Car: Have
Dream Home: Building
The Room You Are In: cubicle
Your Fear: Crime
Where You Want to be in Ten Years: Cedar Creek
Who You Hung Out With Last Night: Friends
You’re Not: A real Texan
One of Your Wish List Items: Baby
The Last Thing You Did: Type
You Are Wearing: Clothes
Your Favorite Weather: Sunny
Your Favorite Book: Mirror
Last Thing You Ate: Mint
Your Life: Blessed
Your Mood: Sleepy
Your Best Friend: Lots
What Are You Thinking About Right Now: Sleeping
Your Car: CR-V
What Are You Doing At The Moment: Typing
Relationship Status: Married
What Is On Your TV: N/A
What Is The Weather Like: Sunny
When Is The Last Time You Laughed: Yesterday

This is a new game of tag. Let me know your one word answers. You can link back here in the comments, so I can check them out! Here’s my list of people I am tagging:

Ashley
Charmaine
Deb
Kristine
Trish

Last Spring Blogger Swap!

I love this card by Mimi with the littel Giraffe from Littel Hellos! I love the colors, the punched window, the gingham ribbon! Check out Mimi's blog - it's a great one!!!

You Go, Girl!!

check out Trudee's Treats in honor of being published in a new magazine!! Just post what 'girly' thing you love & she 'be choosing *one* lucky winner on Thursday, May 24th at 8pm EST (My 2 month blogging anniversary!!' Don't forget to congratulate her!!

Spring Blogger Swap - Double Line Doodles!

How cute is this card Julie made! Go check out her blog - it's great! This one was my DH's favorite! He loved the embossing of the sentiment on the designer paper. I love the spinning flowers & the simple row of paper piercing at the top (how come I never think of using my paper piercer?). I just love the colors & everything about this one! Thanks, Julie (I'm almost done posting the cards, phew)

Avery & Don's 1st time to TEXAS!! Happy 12th Birthday Avery!!

This is a long overdue (by a year) scrapbook for my Godson Avery of he & his dad's visit to Corpus Christi (bowling tournament) & Austin a year ago. I gave it to him for his 12th birthday which is TODAY. I've yet to talk to him, but he picked up his package (card & some $) last night from my sister's house (I just talked to his dad & he said he liked it) but Avery is with his mom today & I am having a difficult time getting a hold of him to say Happy Birthday (ugh, long story) He's growing so much. Anyway - I also made him a paperbag album last year of pictures from when he was a baby & since he liked that one so much I knew I HAD to make him one from their trip!

I used several sets for this album, maily A to Z Accents by SU! and the Wild Wild West set. Colors are Real Red, Brilliant Blue, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa. Assorted embellishments & fibers. My favorite photo is the one at the end - Avery loved spending time with Shelby & it this moment was captured as he said good-bye to her.

Wonderful Swap

This is my first time seeing a Paper Tole IRL - how pretty is this?? Fairle made this neat card! Check out her blog I wanted to include her details & instructions so you can see. Sorry I haven't been so consistent in how/when I upload these swaps! I kinda like variety in my life and I don't really suffer from much OCD either. So it doesn't bother me.

Don't cha just love the way the ribbon is just laying under the sentiment and the slit punch to keep the card closed? Awesome job, Fairle! Thanks

Gabriella's One Year Photo!

Here is a picture of my sweet adorable niece! This was taken a few weeks before her 1st birthday. She is wearing a dress I picked out for her. She has the sweetest smile, disposition (smiling & laughing first thing in the morning & all day long) I just had to share her with you!! I enjoyed EVERY minute of the 4 days we spent with her but most of all her joyous laughter as I playfully exaggerated each step down the stairs we took in the model homes we toured around the Bay Area. I realized making a mundane task such as stairs a little fun for a baby makes it equally as fun for an adult. Geez, I miss her so much already (tears in my eyes)

Another Blogger Swap

So sorry to be taking FOREVER to post all these awesome cards! But coming back from vacation has wiped me out! I have not even stamped for fun since being back! Just here & there stuff I needed to do! Plus, I need to seriously organize!!

This cute card was made by Julie Masse - check out her blog!!

I absolutely adore her tweed-looking paper pieced pants!! I love the BG paper too!!! Julie said the paper is from Chatterbox (double sided) Thanks, Julie!!!

Ashley wants to know - Do you have a life? Do I have a life?

Heck yea! Ashley saw a blog post on Michelle's blog that has a list of 239 movies & you can check next to the ones you've seen - if it totals 85 or more you don't have a life. I'd love to participate in this fun little activity - BUT I have to go watch a movie!

HA - seriously, I LOVE movies, so does my DH and it would take me much less time to take this list & mark the ones I HAVEN'T seen because it's just a FEW. If you'd like to see a list of my favorite movies - just check out my complete profile.

Blogger Swap Cntinued

I need to finish posting these awesome cards! I have a dead camera battery so I'll scan them, which I don't believe turns out as nice - except in this card! The scan shows the tulle that Mimi carefully sewed on this card! It is AMAZING IRL - I was so STOKED to get this one!! I've wanted to sew on cards for a while now, just have never made the time to do it. Now my sewing machine is in storage.

Mimi used a $1 stamp from JoAnn's which I remember seeing & thought a little about getting - now I wish I did!! Behind the tulle - she used the d'vine swirls cuttlebug embossing folder & captured punched out flowers - how cute is that? Thanks for the great card, Mimi!! Check out Mimi's blog for more creations!!

Thanks, Deb Lenox!!!

I got a RAK in the form of a SWAP CD from Deb I guess as Thank You (there wasn't a note in it, just a business card) for sending her some blog candy she won! It has a TON of ideas on it!! Thank you - Deb, what a treasure!

Beauty comes in all forms!

This was a fun questionnaire...there are so many quotes about beauty: it's in the eye of the beholder, beauty comes from within, etc. etc. Growing up as a chubby girl, I didn't always 'feel' like I was pretty although I was told I was somewhat often. I suffered from the teasing, name-calling, one time a fight with a boy that was caused by my weight. It caused me to do something about it several times over the years but comfortability & the love of good food does that in at times. I believe it's everyone's desire to be desired & made to feel special. I feel sorry for people who do not have someone to make them feel that way. My DH compliments me OFTEN, and it means a lot to me. I just need to do the same & I fall short most times.

I was so close with my dad unfortunately I only had him for 9 years when he died suddenly of a heart attack. But I remember he was the first man to make me feel special. I was named after him - his name was Donald. I was his baby - the one who came out looking just like the love of his life & I think that's one reason it was easy for him to make me feel special. My mom's name was Josephine & my dad affectionately called me Little Jo because I looked just like her. I began to think I needed to look like myself & not be associated with looking just like my mom...but over time I began to really take that compliment to heart. My mom was a BEAUTIFUL woman! She was loved, well-liked, generous, fun, a great mom, etc. She did a wonderful job raising 3 young girls on her own because she nver re-married. I was blessed to have her for 26 years but that was not long enough! I welcome the compliments of looking like her because it keeps her memory alive in me!

Society has a way of making little girls feel insecure & inadequate when they glorify the paper thin gals & that's all you see in the movies & in fashion magazines. It took me a while to realize that my beauty does not consist of just the body image; it's all about how you feel, being confident, finding the good things about yourself & playing them up. I remember meeting gals who were considered, "comfortable in their own skin" and I wanted to be one of those gals! Well, it wasn't until a few years ago that the curvy & voluptuous were given more attention with options of cuter clothing (such as Lane Bryant) and gals with meat on their bones were played up more! I love wearing MAC makeup but still find myself not taking the time (I wear makeup about once a week now, sometimes not at all) and remember a few years ago being at church & my pastor at the time (who is quite handsome & younger than me) used to say when he saw me, 'hello beautiful' there was a moment I got back into that insecure stage & remarked about not feeling like that because I wasn't wearing makeup. Why did that thought come up? Why did it take makeup to make me feel beautiful? Well, our conversation turned into a time when I was in high school & the owner of the company I worked for told me something that always stuck with me. When someone takes the time to compliment you, respond by saying thank you even if you don't think the statement is true. The most insulting is to dispute the remark to the person complimenting you. So I proceeded to relay that conversation to my pastor & apologized for the comment. Then he told me something that stuck with me & made me realize something. I didn't NEED the makeup or special clothes to be considered beautiful. He stated I had a Natural Beauty on the inside that made its way on the outside. Light Blub moment...I realized after that something I should have been believing for a long time...it's not what you see in the media that dictates true beauty. Being a Christian, I believe that God changes a person over time and I was a product of that! There was a time growing up I was pretty ugly with my attitude, comments, etc. and God slowly transformed that with peace, joy, fulfillment in my life. I must give credit to my wonderful DH too...he has ingrained in me that I don't need the makeup because he too believes I am a natural beauty. Sometimes it takes a while for certain people to believe something about themselves that is always there.

You Are a Natural Beauty!

You're the kind of beauty that every guy dreams about... One that looks good in the morning - without a stitch of makeup That's doesn't mean you're a total hippie chic though You have style, but for you, style is effortless

What Type of Beauty Are You?

Blogger Only Swap

Man - I'm behind on posting these awesome cards! Forgive me...it's been rough after being on vacation for a week+ having to get back to a routine!

This was the 2nd card by Kirsten DuBosque isn't it adorable?? I have to admit, I was not crazy about the busyness of Office Accoutrement but this card makes me change my mind! Maybe it's because this note is always at the top of my To Do List (wink) How many times I have a long day at work & all I can think about is unwinding by stamping (hence, I find my serenity in stamping) and I'm so beat I just don't do it? Seriously...I don't even have the kids to tend to because we don't have any yet! Whatever will I do when I can't FIND the time to stamp? Not sure how y'all do it! I digress...I love the layout & colors! Thanks, Kirsten! I'm so glad I got BOTH of your cards!!!

Proud of my Friend Jeanne!!!

I just have to toot the horn of my downline & friend Jeanne Streiff who has been named one of the Design Team members for Lizzie Anne Designs and is also a design member of My Favorite Things.

Jeanne is the sweetest, fun-loving, generous & downright Artsy Fartsy (that's what her DH Joe affectionately calls her) gal you'll meet! I met Jeanne at a Stampin' Up! workshop I was demonstrator at 2 1/2 years ago. She was the epitome of the future demonstrator; she was there early, she helped out, she out shined everyone with her make 'n take, stayed after to help clean up (she lived next door to the hostess) oh and I can't forget she bought a boat load of stuff! I have to tell you a funny story too! I had about a 40 min drive from my house to the hostess' house. She knew she'd be late in arriving so she asked Jeanne to keep a lookout for me & let me in when I arrived. But I didn't know this. So here I am after having drank a whole diet coke on my ride ther (big mistake) and I couldn't FIND the hostess' house! She didn't have a # there. I was looking all over the street for that house! Well, finally Jeanne caught a glimpse of me & asked if I was the demo and I said yes, I'm looking for Valerie's house. Then she told me she was there to let me in. I said something like, 'Thank God - I really need to go to the restroom! I'm about to have an accident!) Jeanne saved the day!

We've had some great memories & I was so glad she decided to sign after about 3+ months attending her friend's workshops because I knew the benefits not only for her but for me & my downline. Jeanne is so generous with her creativity, her home (she hosted several of our get togethers because she has an AWESEOME stamp room!) and is a great friend!!! If you ever have a chance to get to know her - you BETTER! She will make you laugh - hers is very infectious! I love you, Jeanne & I'm SO very proud of you!!!

Stampin' Up! Retiring Sets List

Stampin' Up!'s Retired List (click on the left)

Dormant List (defined as stamp sets that, while they have not been retired, will not be listed in the Fall/Winter Collection 2007). These sets are available for purchase from July 1 through January 1, 2007 and may or may not be listed again in future catalogs.

Also here is an updated list of retiring wheels someone posted on SCS

Let me know if there is something you'd like to purchase before it's too late!

VC RAK from Kimm

check out the cute card I received from Kimm (she is the new VC Rocks coordinator) What is VC ROCKS, you ask?? It's a CELEBRATION of Stampin' UP!'s new catalog and annual convention, an expression of our ENTHUSIASM for Stampin' UP!'s new stamps and products, a SHARING of creative stamping and scrapping ideas and ENCOURAGEMENT of friendships based on our common interest in stamping and Stampin' UP! VC 2007 is scheduled to open April 20th! New Members are not accepted after June 1st.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vc_rocks/

I'd love to extend a personal invitation to YOU to join, you do not need to be a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator - just someone who loves the products, ideas, etc.!! This is my 2nd year participating because I was not able to go to convention last year & will have to pass again. This is so much fun!! This card background was made using SU! spots & a brayer (she posted it as a make & take on-line with pictures) that's just a sampling of what you can expect with VC Rocks. If you have questions, let me know - otherwise I'd love to see you join! The theme this year is Friendship! Make a friend - be a friend - invite a friend!

Blogger's Only Swap card #2

This card was made by Chris Smith visit her blog from my inkpad to yours Isn't this adorable? She put a note in it that says, "This card was inspired by some 'jewel' encrusted crabs I saw while visiting the Shedd Aquarium Gift shop in Chicago, a few weeks ago. It just goes to show you can make any trip stamp related!" I love the bright colors she chose, everything just pops & glitters!! Thanks, Chris!

I've been tagged!

I think it was 3 times, but I lost count because it happened before/during/after my vacation. We just got back LATE Sat. night & I'm playing hooky from work today - I should have gone back this morning but I was not physically or mentally ready because this was one of the most FUN & EXHAUSTING vacations ever! We went to Seattle & we walked or took public transportation everywhere! But walking was the majority! It was 10 blocks (several uphill) from Pike's Market to the condo we stayed at & we went there daily!!! We even got to the AMUSE store! Woohoo!! I'll post a pic of what I got there soon. Then we went to Monkey Love Stamp Store & spent MORE $$ (best thing was, it was OUR $ and not MINE!) HA!!! Anyway - I better do the tagging thing now...I was tagged by Leah Ashley and Kristine So now I have to tell 7 things about me

1. I grew up in San Leandro, CA (BAY AREA) and lived in the same house for 26 years

2. Then I met DH on-line (sorta) and got married after knowing one another in person just 8 days but 3 1/2 months long distance. Then I moved to TEXAS (we're celebrating 10 years July 6)

3. I moved 5 times in those 10 years and have one more move to go

4. We purchased 2 1/2 acres & we're going to build our dream home & that will be the LAST MOVE!!

5. I have a tattoo on my left ankle Faith, Hope, Love with a heart at the back. Corinthians 13:13 is my favorite Scripture in the Bible.

6. I MUST have coffee in the morning because I LOVE the way it tastes, smells & it helps me function

7. I ADORE ice cream! My mom told me she ate it every day during her pregnancy with me (Black Cherry) which ironically I do not like.

There's been so many tags, I am going to skip listing 7 people. But if you'd like to share a tidbit about yourself, I'd love to hear it! These have been fun to read - getting to know fellow stamping bloggers!!!

Blogger Only Swap on SCS

Boy, am I glad I signed up for this swap! It's by far the BEST cards I've received in a swap!! Each one remarkable in its details! Unfortunately I didn't get them until the night before I left for my vacation so now that I'm back I plan to post them all.

This first card is from Kristen DuBosque -check out her blog Confessions of a Naptime Stamper this card is bright & cheery & I LOVE the paper Basic Grey Romani & the sentiment at the bottom! Love the CB background too! I just LOVE it all!!