As Promised...

OK, so last night I got a later start than I had anticipated. That's OK, because I was still able to get a few cards done.

If this Bud Basics card looks familiar it's because I had all the card stock cut and the wheeling done at one of my workshops and this was left over. I changed it a tad by adding some of our chipboard covered with some self adhesive die cuts from Stampin' Up!'s "Build a Flower" Accents and Elements. For the center of the chipboard flower I used our Cropadile to punch a hole for a rhinestone brad. Cute cute cute. Add to that the double stitched grosgrain ribbon in Purely Pomegranate and you're set to go!

My second card here is using the Oh, So Lovely hostess stamp set. I have a few friends who are gaga for it, and sure enough it's a treat to use! I was a little worried when I was cutting it apart that I would hate it, but honestly it's great! I used River Rock, Elegant Eggplant and Pale Plum card stock and ink. Stamp sets: Oh, So Lovely, Canvas, and Hugs & Wishes; Paper: River Rock double sided designer paper. Accessories: Metallic Art Pencils and sponge daubers.

So I'm SUPPOSED to be visiting with Gwen today to play some more with our new stuff, but we'll see if the children let me. They seem pretty intent on us staying home today. But, as Tyler will remind everyone he comes across, Mom has VETO power - the greatest super hero power of them all!!

Home Again

Sorry friends! I didn't get any stamping done this week! We were gone to Washington DC.

First we went to Arlington where we buried my Grandmother beside her husband in the National Cemetery. Grandma lost her battle with Renal Failure on June 26 of this year. The sun was shining and birds were singing as we laid her to rest. I know for certain that she would have loved the day and that her family had gathered from all across the nation to celebrate her life.

After the funeral we took the children (my two kids, along with my niece and three nephews,) on a tour of Arlington. It was very interesting and especially exciting for a history nut like me. We were pooped by the end of the day and so went back to the hotel and swam in the pool - isn't that what everyone does when they're tired out?!

The next two days we spent touring Washington DC. Some of the places we visited: Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, Washington Memorial, the WWII Memorial, the Viet Nam Memorial, the Korean War Memorial, the National Air and Space Museum, and the Natural History Museum. Oh, and we walked to the CVS pharmacy about ten times because we had forgotten this or that! UGH!! This is a picture (self portrait) of my boys and I taken just before the showing of "Space Station 3D" at the Air and Spaces Museum. Totally great show about the building of the International Space Station!

The highlight for my boys seemed to be the Metro. Oh what fun it is to be a boy - though they were a little put out that we made them sit down for the rides. The other "bestest part of all of it" (according to David Grant) was the Dinosaur and Fossil exhibit at the Natural History Museum. The hands on "How Things Fly" area of the Air and Space Museum was a close runner up however!

OK, so enough about our trip. I'm going to go grab a soda pop, a thing of chocolate and my stamping supplies that came in the mail while I was gone and get to work making a kick-butt series of cards!! Look for them on line later today!!

New Cards

So, I had a workshop recently. Thought I'd go ahead and share the cards we made. I was so excited to share the new Fall and Winter Collection for the first time at a workshop! We had quite a few ladies in attendance and I enjoyed them so much! I'm looking forward to stamping with them in the future at various workshops and stamping events!

The first cards we made we used the All Occasions set, which is a Level 3 hostess set. This set includes two Jumbo Wheels and a four piece stamp set. When it arrived at the house I kinda looked at it not sure what in the world I was going to do with it but have since found it to be quiet easy to play with and actually a lot of fun!

We used Soft Sky, Purely Pomegranate, and Regal Rose card stock; Regal Rose and Purely Pomegranate stamp pads; white grosgrain ribbon dyed with the Purely Pomegranate ink pad, and both the tag punches. The ribbon dying was a huge hit and is one of my favorite tricks!

We made our second card using the Bud Basics stamp set, Basic Outline jumbo wheel, and the Hugs and Wishes stamp set. Ink colors: Soft Sky, Purely Pomegranate, Blue Bayou, and Wild Wasabi. Cardstock: Whisper White, Blue Bayou, Soft Sky, and Purely Pomegranate. We used circle clips from the Pewter Hodge Podge Hardware, and Ice Circle Rhinestone Brads.

I love the look of the new In Colors together! The only two I have yet to use are the River Rock and Groovy Guava though I'm sure it won't be long before I use them as well!

Now I need to get back to laundry duty in preparation for our trip this week. I'll be sure to tell you all about it when I get back!! Oh, and don't forget to check the list below for retired stamp sets for sale!

Cleaning Out!

All sets are mounted and used unless otherwise indicated. I only have one of each set (except the SAB sets, and I’ve indicated there how many I have of each.) This list is first come first serve. If you're interested in any of these go ahead and email me: stampinmerr@email.com

To get a better view of the stamp sets click on the image!

Hostess Sets
All-Around Argyle $20
Basket Full of Fun $20
Blooming with Happiness – Unmounted $10
Both Way Blossoms $15
Love It – Unmounted $15
Measure of Life $15 - PENDING
Reason to Smile $10
Tags So Much $10
The World Over $10
Warmest Regards $10

Holidays
Merry – Cut Unmounted $18

Occasions
First in Fashion – Unmounted $14
Swell News $14

Sentiments
Bubble Queen $14
Espressoly for You $16 - PENDING
Olive You $12
Stampin’ Fun for Everyone $16
Under the Weather $12
What’s for Dinner $21

Growing Up

Birthday Beauty $12
Power Up $14 - PENDING

Flowers
Roses in Winter $20 - PENDING

Nature
Bold Butterfly $22
Ruff Day $14
Sparkling Summer $20
Winged Things $17

Vintage
Mostly Flowers $9
World Tour $16

Borders & Backgrounds
Crosshatch $13
French Script $13

Say it With Stamps
All Year Cheer II - $20 - PENDING

Sell-A-Bration Sets $10 Each
Big Blossom – 2 Unmounted, 1 Used
Delight in Life – 2 Unmounted, 1 Used
Very Punny – 1 Used
So Very – 1 Unmounted, 1 Used
Just Delightful Simply Scrappin’ Kit – 3 Unopened

Mini Catalog Sets
Small Sayings $9
Like it a Latte $18
Cowboy Kid $20
Sassy and Seasonal $12
Fancy Flexable Phrases $15

Misc. Sets
Haute Couture (05/06 Hostess Set) $12
Pocket Full of Posies (05/06 SAB) $7
Send a Celebration (05/06 SAB) $7

Miss Me?

I know some of you have missed me because you've been calling and harping on me about updating my blog! To those who don't know me well enough to have my cell number I hope you'll still read this darn thing even though it's been AGES since I've posted! I am glad to be back though, and looking forward to posting new cards!

As for my absence, there's been a TON going on at home. Tim (my DH) came home for two weeks from Iraq. While his visit was short it was wonderful to see him, and we had an absolute blast! It was nice to be able to spend some time with him and renew our marriage a little bit. While he was home we went to Eureka Springs, Arkansas and stayed at the Crescent Hotel. If you ever get a chance to go that way I suggest you stop in and stay the night. It was an amazing adventure to say the least!!

On the coattails of the good news about Tim's visit there was some scary news in our family. My daddy was diagnosed with cancer during my time away from you. I'm sure a lot of women feel that their daddy is the best, but I KNOW mine is. He's over come a lot in his lifetime and it seems so unfair that now he has to face this as well. I am a daddy's girl and this is particularly hard for me - in fact I think he's taking the news better than I am! He has already had the tumor removed, but has to have 14 teeth pulled and a feeding tube inserted before he can start radiation and chemo. Please, if you read this, join my family and I in prayer for Dad's health and well being.

In addition to all that I've been an assistant seamstress for a renaissance guild preparing for their first joust of the summer! It's been an interesting adventure, and so nice to meet new people with a decidedly different view point on a lot of things! I've enjoyed my time with them and am REALLY looking forward to the White Heart Renaissance Faire coming up the next three weekends!

And, as if all that wasn't enough, I've managed to have a few uncomfortable health issues as well. First I managed (who knows how) to pull some of the muscles in my ribcage. Each breath was a struggle and THANKFULLY I recovered quickly. The same can't be said for my next more mysterious illness - a systemic reaction to a bug bite. Yup. Hives and rashes all over my body. I've been itching for just over three weeks, but am making progress since the swelling in my face has gone away and the rash is now located to places not seen by the general public.

So enough about me. How about a card? I did manage to get ONE done while I was away, as well as a pretty little something else too! LOL. What do I call it though? Lets start with the card first though, OK?

I used a new Hostess Stamp Set called All About Occasions that will be coming out July 2007 from Stampin' Up! As a demonstrator I was able to preorder this set (along with a few others!), and I'm SO happy! It is such a cute set, and easy peasy to work with. It comes with two Jumbo Wheels and a four-piece stamp set. So I used black, white, tempting turquoise, and real red card stock, our large tag punch, and ticket corner punch, tempting turquoise and summer sun markers, and turquoise ribbon.

On my LOVE paper craft I used another new Hostess Stamp Set, this one is called In the Spot Light and is SO fun to play with! I can't wait to start demo-ing with this set! Anyway, I covered four coasters with Chocolate Chip cardstock. I stamped the images tone on tone on the Cameo Coral cardstock and then doodled with my Galaxy marker. I punched chocolate chip scalloped ovals out, detailed them with the Galaxy marker again and then added the letters in Apricot Appeal cut out on my Cricut machine. I punched holes in with the Cropodile and tied the pieces together with our white organdy ribbon. So cute, so easy and I think I'll give it to my mother.

Anyway friends, it's getting late and I've got to get back to work on stuff for my retirement party coming up on Monday. If you're in the Springfield, Missouri area and want to come, please join us! Email me for more info!!