This Year is Starting off With a Bang!

Okay, I'm not one who would normally toot her own horn...oh, who are we kidding, I TRY not to toot it too much, okay? Anyhoo, I received the most amazing email this morning from Kellene Adams, who works in Shelli Gardner's (founder and CEO) office at Stampin' Up! (can you say "dream job"?). She wanted to let me know that my entry was a winner in Shelli's Terrific Techniques Challenge (one of the monthly So Shelli challenges).

I was flabbergasted, to say the least! If you could see the quantity and quality of the entries that get submitted every month, you'd understand why it is such an honor to be one of the ones chosen. This is the card that won. Thank you, Shelli, for making my day, and Kellene for letting me know!!!

This challenge open to anyone, not just Stampin' Up! demonstrators, and the entries don't necessarily have to be cards. Just stick to the theme Shelli gives each month, and maybe you can win, too! The prize is any stamp set out if the current catalogs. Yep, even the pricier ones!

So, winning the So Shelli contest today is just continuing a month that started out great by Mickey Roberts (Paper Conversation), a "sister" SU demonstrator, awarding me a Stylish Blogger Award. Thanks, Mickey! Sorry it took so long for me to acknowledge & pass it on. Been busy!

 

The deal is, I have to tell you 8 things you may not know about me, and then pass the award on to 8 bloggers whose work I admire. (Oh man, how can I narrow it down to just eight?!)

1.  I used to be the owner/designer of my own line of bra patterns, and had a home-based mail order sewing supplies business.

2.  I am a published author (in a couple of magazines, anyway).
3.  I began card making three years ago this month, after years of not doing anything "crafty". The blame, uh... I mean, credit for this addiction rests solely on my BFF Barb's shoulders. (Love you bunches, Barb!)
4.  I spend way too much time on the computer, looking at other people's blogs for inspiration, checking in at Stampin' Addicts and Splitcoast Stampers, playing Free Cell, and on Facebook. I could get so much more done if I could just pull myself away!
5.  My husband and I are big Moody Blues fans, and we've seen them six times in the past five years. (Number seven is coming up in May, woohoo!)
6.  I love to garden, even though I only have a very small space to "grub in the dirt".  Nothing tastes better than a fully ripened home grown tomato, still warm from the sun!
7.  I love horses.  Always have, always will.
8.  I love being a Stampin' Up! Independent Demonstrator! Sharing the fun of making something beautiful with people who never thought they could do it, gives me so much joy. And just think about how much happiness one little card can give!  There's the pleasure you get from making it, the happiness you feel when you see how much the recipient enjoys it, and the joy that THEY get in receiving it!  That's a lot of happiness in one little card!

And now, here are the names of 8 bloggers who inspire me.  I am passing this award on to:
1. Jennifer Timko, Stampin' on the Fly
2. Debra Burgin, Heartfelt Inkspiration
3. Ilina Crouse, My Creations
4. Sally Jones, Sally's Creative Corner
5. Lisa Young, Add Ink and Stamp
6. Judy May, Just Judy Designs
7. Sharon Field, Created by You
8. Krystal De Leeuw, Krystal's Cards and More

Wow, a Blog Award!

Sweet Sally, from Sally's Creative Corner, just gave me this blog award.  Thank you, Sally!

The rules are this:
I need to pass this award on to five people, post on their blog to let them know I left this award, and then I need to answer a list of questions in ONE word. This was much tougher than I expected.  Number 8 was going to be Founder's Circle, or Stampin' Up! Cruise....but too many words, dang it!!!  And number 35 - all of my fave restaurants are more than one word, as well.  Grrrr.

1. Where is your cell phone? Purse
2. Your hair? Colored
3. Your mother? Loving
4. Your father? Loving
5. Your favorite food? Pizza
6. Your dream last night? Stamping
7. Your favorite drink? Water
8. Your dream/goal? Cruise!
9. What room are you in? Bedroom
10. Your hobby? Cardmaking
11. Your fear? Flying
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Retired
13. Where were you last night? Home
14. Something that you aren't? Cruel
15. Muffins? Blueberry
16. Wish list item? Organization
17. Where did you grow up? California
18. Last thing you did? Card
19. What are you wearing? Jeans
20. Your TV? Plasma
21. Your Pets? None
22. Friends? Yes
23. Your life? Great
24. Your mood? Content
25. Missing someone? Barb
26. Vehicle? SUV
27. Something you're not wearing? Earrings
28. Your favorite store? None
29. Your favorite color? Blue
30. When was the last time you laughed? Today
31. Last time you cried? September
32. Your best friend? Barb
33. One place that I go to over and over? Rosalie's
34. Facebook? Yes
35. Favorite place to eat? Outback

Here are 5 bloggers, in no particular order, to whom I am passing this along (why must I pick just five, when there are about 50 that deserve it?!):
1. Jan
2. Sandi
3. Krystal
4. Marie 
5. Andrea