A Mom's Ode to Teachers

In May the teacher's plight was lost 

Amid the joyful day

As children books and pencils tossed

And hurried off to play.

The next three months pass in a haze

While mothers entertain
And sweep and clean for endless days~

Summer days wash down the drain.

Exhausted, August finally comes

And school begins once more!

A smiling teacher now welcomes

Each child at classroom door.

A Mother feels both sad and glad

As she waves her goodbyes.

Grateful and appreciative, Mom knows (and Dad!)

That teachers deserve a PRIZE!

(Sample by Pam Clyde, from the Summer Mini Catalog Swap)

Only 6 days left to order from the Stampin' Up! Summer Mini Catalog!

Click here to go to my website and choose "Shop Now"

Summer's End

The end of summer is always bittersweet: It's the end of late nights and lazy mornings, but the beginning of preservation season as we can/bottle/dry the fruit of the season and the smell of new school supplies. It's the last chance for summer vacations and the first opportunity to print the pictures from those trips. August is also the last chance to order from the Stampin' Up! Summer Mini Catalog, and with that said, I wanted to share some summer-themed samples made by talented demonstrators showcasing the Tropical Party and Sentimental Journey stamp sets from the Summer Mini! First from Jennifer Valk, a taste of the tropics:

 "If you like Pina Colada! Getting caught in the rain..." And I do! And how about that totally cool Designer Series Paper? It's called Island Oasis and is so vibrant, it gives your projects POP!

Next up, the perfect stamp set to use for decorating those scrapbook pages after your vacation or to journal your journey of self-discovery: Sentimental Journey by Pam Staples:

All stamp sets in the Summer Mini catalog are available in wood mounted or clear mounted rubber stamp options, and both of these sets have coordinating Designer Printed 6x6 Albums (only $10.95!) and Designer Series Paper to make scrapbooking your summer vacation a SNAP! Consider it your "Passport to Creativity" :) and you can order on my website anytime, just click the "Shop Now" button in the top right.

Feeling Punchy?

Sweet Treat Cups and Sunflowers

The Sweet Treat Cups (pg 170 of current catalog) from Stampin' Up! are really fun to play with...and even more fun to give/receive! I was trying to come up with a different way to use them without having to destroy a card to get to the treats, and came up with this design that has a flap:

You can just pull the cover out the left side to get to the sunflowers (or any other treat you fill it with).  I promised my Stamp Club members that I would share the dimensions and instructions for this card, and I'm finally making good on the promise! The dimensions/colors are given for this particular card, but go ahead and get crazy using your own colors :)

Step 1:  Cut Daffodil Delight card (8.5"x5.5"folded to create card), Melon Mambo card stock layer (5.5"x3.5"), Tempting Turquoise card stock (8 1/4"x 2 3/4"~scored at 2 2/4" and 5.5") and another Turquoise and white card stock 2 1/4" square. Also punch a Turquoise Round Tab Punch to use on the slider.

Step 2: Stamp the greeting in Early Espresso Ink on the Melon Mambo card stock and run it through the Big Shot in the Perfect Polka Dots Impressions Folder.

 Step 3: Fold the Turquoise card stock and punch a hole with the 1 3/4" Circle Punch in the center square and one side  (HINT: glue a punched circle from a different color in the center to ensure perfect 

placement, then flip your punch over so you can see the circle and punch it out.)

Step 4: Apply sticky strip along the edges as shown...stay as close to the edge as possible! Remove red cover and fold so both holes are together with one open edge.

Step 5: Adhere the Sweet Treat Cup to the front, as shown below. Affix the round tab punch to the edge of the remaining Turquoise square and slide it behind the cup, between the card stock circles.

Step 6: Wrap Daffodil Delight Taffeta ribbon around polka-dot Melon Mambo layer and adhere to front of card. Glue the Turquoise flap (the piece I'm holding, above) to the front of the card over the layers. Punch out a 1 3/4" circle from the White card stock square and stamp the petals (from the Something Sweet stamp set on page 56 of current SU! Idea Book & Catalog) around the opening with Daffodil Delight classic ink and adhere it around the sweet treat cup. 

Slide the cover open, fill the cup with your favorite treats, slide it closed and give it away!

Top 10 Reasons to host a workshop with ME in August:

10. Celebrate the beginning of Mother's Vacation (school starts!)
9. You've ignored your friends all summer long to cater to your kids.
8. Get the brand-spankin'-new 2010/2011 Idea Book & Catalog FREE!
7. You can serve root beer floats 'cuz it's still hotter than blazes :)
6. We can giggle, laugh and share like we are 13 again.
5. Give your husband a chance to bond with the kids at McDonald's!
4. CHOOSE what you want to learn!
3. Get a FREE Stampin' Up! Shopping Tote (when you have 8 guests I've never met in attendance)
2. Earn FREE hostess gifts that aren't available for purchase
1. Earn an EXTRA $25 in merchandise (with qualifying workshop*)

Ready for some fun? I only have 5 dates left in August, so call 801-376-8685 to schedule your party (anywhere in Utah County) ASAP: 12th, 17th, 18th, 25th, 31st

Musings of a 43 Year Old

I turned 43 two weeks ago and it has caused for some reflection. Surprisingly, I LIKE THIS AGE! Today I'm sharing some of the things learned along the journey to this point. I invite you to share your life lessons in the comments, or tell me what you liked most!:

1. Eat to Live, don't live to eat (thanks, Anita Refroe for the musical reminder)
2. Desserts are an exception to #1
3. Don't get attached to a house or "stuff"~ Get attached to people. 
4. Friends are the only thing worth keeping. Everything else is yard sale fodder.
5. A new rubber spatula is a better gift than diamond earrings.
6. I don't worry about what my behind looks like...I can't see it, so it doesn't bother me.
7. ...but NOBODY over 24 (or 120 pounds) should EVER wear spandex in public!
8. You always find things in the last place you look (because who would keep looking after you've found it?)
9. In my mind, I stopped aging at 19, but my body tells me we've traveled a few miles since then
10. and I may need to see if Miracle Ear can help me hear what you just said.
11.  I'm learning to say NO and not feel guilty.
12. My kids are actually fun to hang out with...
13. So are my parents!
14. Laughter is the best medicine, but Tylenol P.M. runs a close second.
15. I {heart} coming home to a clean house, scrubbed toilet and kitchen sink...
16. That really says "I love you" to me!
17. ...but a *little* clutter is a sign that "Life Happens Here" and I *can* let it go.
18. There is a definite line between clutter and filth. 
19. Sitting on a porch swing with the one you love in silence is a great date.
20. Roller coasters are still my favorite, and I'm grateful I to have a strong stomach.
21. Be firm in your standards but never extreme in your opinions.
22. There are more good people in the world. It's just easier to be annoyed at the dorks.
23. One person can make a difference.
24. Clean sheets are underrated.
25. My favorite chore is to fold clean laundry!
26. New cars are overrated. As my wise father says, "Cars are just a bucket of bolts."
27. Having said that, you *should* vacuum out your car occasionally.
28. I used to be a night owl, but have turned a 180 (as only owls can do) to find mornings are truly my favorite time of day. I am full of hope at dawn!
29. Chickens make the best pets.
30. Most people need to learn how to use an iron.
31. Watching your children suffer the consequence of their choices is really, really hard.
32. Letting them do it helps them grow. 
33. Mothers really do know best, but they can't tell their kids that. 
34. Keeping my mouth shut is a life skill/parenting technique I wish I had learned earlier.
35. Cold cereal can be eaten at any meal
36. ...and comes in handy when mom is reading a good book and is too engrossed to cook.
37. Family dinner is important and something I need to work on.
38. Together is a great place to be.
39. Rubber Stamping is cheaper than therapy!
40. Photos are better enjoyed in a scrapbook that in a box or on a computer.
41. Listen to that still, small voice
42. Forgiveness feels good.
43. Mistakes Happen. The Atonement Helps.

Cupcake, Baby!

This is the "Cupcake Box" that we taught at the Late Night Stampers Reunion Party last week before convention (We: Sue Stratton and I with special thanks to Sally Hadley who stepped in to help at the last minute!) As promised, here are the instructions! Supplies needed (from Stampin' Up!):

• 4 Scallop Envelopes cut from card stock using the Big Shot
• Coordinating strip of Designer Series Paper, 12" x 2" (Nursery Suite Specialty paper, shown)
• Window sheet or card stock Vellum, 8 1/5" x 11"
• White card stock (+scrap of matching card stock) for tag
• White card stock 3" x 5", scored 1" from each end (for cupcake insert)
• 30" Taffeta ribbon
• Markers, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, 2-way Glue, adhesive, Large & Small Tag punches, 2 3/8" Scallop Circle punch, Horizontal Slot punch, paper trimmer/scorer

Take your scallop envelopes and glue flaps corner to corner, with one flap on the inside and the other flap on the outside (don't worry, your DSP will cover the flaps on the outside and nobody will see them). Hint: Sticky Strip works best for adhering 3-D projects together!

Finish the box like this, then you can glue down bottom flaps and inside flaps:

To keep the cupcake in place inside the box, take your 3" x 5" white card stock and punch a hole in between the scored lines, fold in insert into the bottom of the box with the 1" sides down:

Now you can cover the outside of the box (under the flaps) by wrapping the DSP strip around and leaving the gap in the front~the gap is covered by the stamped sentiment "A Little Treat for Someone Sweet" from the Got Treats stamp set. Stamp and punch out tag (tag shown from the Birthday Bakery Hostess Level 1 Stamp Set...earn this FREE when you host a workshop!). Add a little Dazzling Diamonds to the tag to give it some bling!

Use the Horizontal Slot punch along the top edge of each side of the box and slip the taffeta ribbon through/under each side scallop and under the bottom of the box. To create the cover, score your window sheet or vellum card stock at 2 3/4" from each long side and 4" from each short edge, then cut out the corners so it looks like this:

Fold along score lines and insert over cupcake into box and tie off the ribbon on the top, add tag!

Share with a friend :)

Convention Highlights!

It was another fabulous Stampin' Up! Convention in Salt Lake City last week! Here are a few of my favorite things from Convention! Let's start with the Late Night Stampers pre-convention events (stamp camps, shoebox swaps and reunion party):

Sherrill Graff is my SU! "Mom" (top right, at left)~ a wonderfully warm and generous person who spends months planning these incredible pre-convention events, letting us extend the party:) 

I am privileged to be an instructor at the Late Night Stampers Reunion Party, so if you come back on tomorrow, I'll share the instructions and pictures of my project: a cupcake box!

On check-in day, Sue, Murlynn and I drove to the Stampin' Up! Riverton office to check out the Legacy room's makeover:

And if you think that is cute, you should have seen the "Sweet Shop" they had set up at convention...who knew your mouth could water at paper confections?

 

Of course, there were Make-n-Takes using the free stamps we got at check-in:

Entertainment on Awards Night by country music singer Charlie Jenkins 

(check out his guitar decorated in Designer Series Paper from SU!):

A "Flower Power Party" with everything from hula-hoops to Twister (all in new Stampin' Up! colors):

Thousands of stamped samples and demonstrations:

And best of all, friends/fun/laughter/wonderful times sharing what we love together:

You can join the fun next year in Salt Lake City when you join my Stampin' Family!

(Click on "Join Now" and my password is "stampwithme")

Desserts for Diabetes

It's been 8 years. 11,680 insulin injections. 14,600 finger pricks to check blood sugar. A million worries. 

And we are just getting started.

While he's outgrowing the "Juvenile" part of Juvenile Diabetes (most days), he'll never outgrow the Type 1 Diabetes. Not until we find a cure. So you'll be hearing from me every year until that cure is found.

With Type 1 (or Juvenile) Diabetes, the pancreas produces NO insulin, so the person with this disease must act as their pancreas, giving insulin injections from the moment of diagnosis. Unlike Type 2 Diabetes, it cannot be controlled by diet, exercise, pills, essential oils, cinnamon or acupuncture (well meaning friends and family have suggested them all). The good news is that with a lot of pricking/poking/injections and the ability to count carbs accurately, a Type 1 Diabetic CAN eat sugar (despite the claim of Kayson's shirt, above).

So this year, we are trying something new for our fund-raising event for JDRF and the Walk to Cure Diabetes: 

Desserts for Diabetes

Saturday, July 31

7-9 p.m.

860 E 1050 S, Spanish Fork

 $5 per person

Enjoy a scrumptious dessert bar and silent auction as we help fund the research for a cure. 

To purchase tickets, call: 801-376-8685.

 

Can't attend? Visit my JDRF walk page and make a donation and/or join our walk team! Your generosity will help millions of families to never know what they are missing. And wouldn't that be a blessing?

Rhaphsody in Blue

You can never go wrong with a monochromatic color palette :) and while this one was created with a now retired color (Ballet Blue), I've made this card in MANY colors recently and they were all equally as beautiful!

Have you tried the Embossing Resist technique? It's very simple: emboss an image using the Versamark ink pad and clear embossing powder on white card stock (I used the swirl from the Elements of Style stamp set...my FAVORITE set from the Summer Mini Catalog!). Let it cool for a few seconds, then sponge a classic ink color over the top and wipe off any extra ink with a tissue. The embossed image "resists" the ink.

I used the Finial Press embossing folder with the Big Shot for the background texture, and the Top Note die for the white background shape. And who could resist that hummingbird (from the same stamp set)?

Try this technique and share it with me by posting a link in the comments to your card!