Happy Thanksgiving!

STAMPS: Vintage Leaves, Teeny Tiny Wishes  CARDSTOCK: Very Vanilla, Soft Suede, Island Indigo, Crushed Curry, Pumpkin Pie  INK: Early Espresso, Soft Suede, Pumpkin Pie, Real Red, Basic Black Archival  ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, Woodland embossing folder, Tea Lace Paper Doilies, Gold Cording Trim, Word Window Punch, Stamping Sponges, Stampin' Dimensionals

Today when we sit down to stuff ourselves gorge on eat turkey and all the trimmings, we will take time to reflect on our numerous blessings. Besides being grateful for the usual things, like a warm bed, the roof over our heads, food on the table, and indoor plumbing, we are also thankful for things like the nice neighbors who have been so welcoming to us "outsiders." Truly, other than moving next to my BFF Barb, I couldn't have asked for better neighbors, and for that I am so very thankful!

I made this card for them, and hope someday to show Erika how easy and fun it is to stamp and be creative. She says she's not talented, but with the right tools, anyone can do it!

"Is it safe to come out yet?"

Happy Email Surprises

STAMPS: None!  CARDSTOCK: Pre-printed, included in kit  INK: Real Red  ACCESSORIES: Watercolor Wishes Card Kit (all embellishments included in kit, except for Expressions Natural Elements {Thanks}, and Tip Top Taupe 1" Dotted Lace Trim), Fine Tip Glue Pen

Last week I received a happy email from Stampin' Up! informing me of an online order from a lady I had never heard of. I love those kinds of happy surprises!!!

I was delighted and honored that she chose me as her demonstrator (thank you Kim, if you're reading this!), and wanted to send her a thank you with a little sample of product. The Watercolor Wishes Card Kit makes it so easy to send a note of thanks, or birthday wishes, or even just a thinking of you card! I placed the 'thanks' and heart wooden elements face down on the Real Red ink pad and tapped it lightly to ink them up. Helpful hint: If you ink up the wood bits, use a paper towel to blot up as much excess ink as you can from the wood, then dry it thoroughly on the low setting of the Heat Tool. Otherwise, you will end up with ink all ove the place. Don't ask me how I know that.

The Hardest Part

STAMPS: Awesomely Artistic, Elementary Elegance (ret. SAB) INK: Basic Black Archival, Copic Markers B02, B16, B37, G24, G46  CARDSTOCK: Whisper White Thick, Whisper White, Pacific Point, Silver Glimmer Paper, Smoky Slate DSP (ret.), Silver Cording Trim, Big Shot, Stampin' Dimensionals

For me, the hardest part about moving across country wasn't the planning, purging, and packing. Yes, it was exhausting, both physically and mentally, but the really hardest part was saying good-bye to my friends. Some of them I'd known for over thirty years, and some of them were newer friends I made through our shared love of stamping. One of those is Becky, who holds a special place in my heart. We became closer than just stamping buddies, and without her help and resources, I'm not sure we could have pulled off the move as well as we did. So, huge shout out to Becky, whom I love and miss so much!

Becky's birthday was Saturday, and since we both love the color blue, I made another card using the Awesomely Artistic stamp set, but in shades of blue this time. This one was a little trickier to fussy-cut, because I wanted it to look like some of it was hanging off the edges of the rectangle on which it was stamped. That involved the Stampin' Trimmer and some very careful straight cuts. If I had been smart, I would have cut it before I colored it, in case the blade slipped. But I lucked out and didn't chop off any important bits, thankfully.

Happy birthday to my friend, Becky. I hope the celebrations are continuing all week!

Meanwhile, in the news: Stampin' Up! started its week-long Online Extravaganza today. Select products are discounted up to 50%, and there are two 24 hour Flash Sales, today and next Monday. Check it out here: ONLINE EXTRAVAGANZA

Anyone who places an order through me during the Online Extravaganza will get a personal thank you from me in the mail, and if you use the Hostess Code NX7HKCQB you will be entered to win the Hostess Benefits from this party! The winner will be announced next Tuesday, Dec. 1st.

Thinking of Mandy

Everyday Occasions Card Kit

This "Thinking of You" card was sent to my cousin, who is fighting for her life battling Stage IV Melanoma. She's only 33 years old, and a mother of two adorable boys, and life is so freaking unfair sometimes that it takes my breath away. The treatment isn't working, so they are trying something new starting this week. The side effects from the first treatment have been horrendous, but she bravely keeps a smile on her face as she endures it.

I know this is such a very small thing, but I hope this "hug with a fold in the middle" brings a smile to her beautiful face. Love you Mandy Moo!

(I can see from the last two cards I've posted that I need to set up my photo area to take better pictures. Having the harsh sun shining on them doesn't look very good at all.)

Okay, So It's Been a While....

This is a long post, so if you just want to see the card, scroll down.

Things have been a little, um, hectic these past few months. Here's what's been happening:

1. We bought a home in East Tennessee, which closed escrow the beginning of June.
2. We did some major renovations on our house in California in preparation for selling it, and listed it on July 24th. Within four days we had multiple offers, all above list price. We were under contract by the sixth day, with a 30 day escrow.
3. Things got kicked into overdrive at that point, because we had 40 years' worth of accumulated schtuff we had to sort, donate, throw away, give away, or pack and bring with us. (Let's just say we could have been on a episode of Hoarders, and leave it at that.)
4. I planned and orchestrated everything, from hiring the movers to getting the Harley transported, to getting the "retirement project" old Chevy (which didn't run) transported. THAT was a nightmare, and I swear I have twice as many grey hairs as I did before!
5. My dear hubby gave notice at his job that he was going to retire early, and worked his last day August 26th. On August 31st, the day escrow closed (and with the help of some very dear friends without whom we would never have been finished on time), we were on our way to Tennessee.
6. THEN the fun began (har de har). We arrived Sep. 3rd, and had the fiber optic Internet, TV, & phone installed the next day, the same day our belongings arrived. Since that time, we've had a new roof put on (red metal!), our own well drilled (no more shared well, yay!), the driveway re-graveled, ordered super-duper energy-efficient windows and sliding doors for the whole house (should be installed next week), ordered a standby generator to be installed for the inevitable power outages, and the list goes on and on. And on......

Homestead before, just as the leaves started to turn

Homestead after, leaves almost gone!

The very last thing to be unpacked and put away was my craft room.

Crap, er...CRAFT room before (Note the wood burning stove, our heat source)

Craft room after, but before I got my comfy rolling chair in there

Craft room, again (Love the Stamp n Storage units!)

And it got delayed by about a week, because we found an abandoned kitten that some jerk dumped down by the river, so we rescued him and now have a new family member, too!

Skinny, scared Pumpkin. "More salmon, please!"

Filling out nicely, and getting comfortable!

Totally relaxed and spoiled!

So here I am, in my happy place at last, and not feeling at all guilty because I took care of the "must dos" first. The very first card I made was for my sweet friend, Diane, whose birthday was last week. It was sent a day after the fact, but better late than never, right?

STAMPS: Awesomely Artistic, Elementary Elegance (ret. SAB) INK: Basic Black Archival, Copic Markers V91, V95, RV99, G24, G46  CARDSTOCK: Whisper White Thick, Whisper White, Perfect Plum, Smoky Slate, Smoky Slate DSP (ret.), Silver Cording Trim, Clear Wink of Stella (coming in new catty!), Big Shot, Lawn Fawn Small Stitched Rectangles Dies, Stampin' Dimensionals

And that, my friends, is why I've been AWOL for so long! I promise now that the craft room is up and running that posting will happen more often!

OH, I ALMOST FORGOT!!! Stampin' Up! released its retirement list for the Holiday Catalog already, so if there's anything on the list that you've been wanting, better get it now because it's "while supplies last."