Easter Fun ...

 
I'm so ready for our monthly Demonstrator meeting tomorrow evening at my upline Michelle Deslandes!  My family of girls is my lifeline and they bring so much brightness to the dreariest of days.  I hope they don't peek at my blog ... 'cause I'm sharing the swap that I made for them.  The theme this month was a 3D Easter swap.  I had so much fun making these cute little door hangers inspired by Andrea Walford. I ended up filling them with Easter grass and tying a bow around the boxes.  I love them!  After I finished I couldn't settle down so I whipped up some of these cute little Easter cards.  I don't know why my camera messed up the color. I used the Ice Cream Parlor DSP from Sale-a-Bration again.  It goes great with Rose Red and Marina Mist.  What do you think?
Hugs from chilly VT!

I'm Honored ...

 Finally having found my way back to my blog to add a quick post, I noticed that I had received this beautiful Stylish Blogger Award from Maddiebug Designs  http://www.maddiebugdesigns.blogspot.com/)  This really touched my heart and I am so honored to accept.

In accepting this award I need to do the following:

1.Thank the person/persons that shared this award with me and link it back to their blog/blogs.

2.Share eight things about myself.

3.Pass this award onto eight other bloggers that I have recently discovered.

4.Leave a comment so they can pass along the recognition!

 

Eight things about me:

1.  I live in a very small town with a good 'ol fashion Village Market, Fire Station and we have to get our mail at the post office as they do not deliver mail to our homes.

2.  I just graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Psycholgoy in December.

3.  I have five beautiful and amazing children.

4.  I own and operate my own Registered Family child care in my home and this is my 13th year.

5.  I have a phobia of mice.

6.  I am a chocolate addict.

7.  This is my second year as a SU Demonstrator.

8.  I love to read and my Kindle is fully loaded!

There are so many inspirational blogs to share this award with.  Many have touched my heart!  I would like to pass this award along to:

1.  Kathy Kalthoff:  Stampin to Share 

http://www.stampingtoshare.com/

2.  Wanda:  my Creative Corner

http://www.starlightstamper.com/

3.  Madeline Morcello:  The Stamping Studio

http://thestampingstudio.blogspot.com

4.  Deanna: De Stampin' Corner

http://destampincorner.blogspot.com

5.  Rita:  Cards by Rita

http://ritascreations.blogspot.com

6.  Rose:  Rose's World

http://rosemariediehl.blogspot.com

7.  Chat (nightstamper):  Me, My Stamps and I

http://memystampsandi.blogspot.com

8.  Heather Miles Portney:  Blinging Home the Bacon

http://blinginghomethebacon.com

Hartford Regionals ...

As the date draws closer to the Hartford Regionals, I find myself so excited.  I get into this crafting mood and can't slow down.  I managed to do 70% of my card swaps and made a few 3d items to share.  I have never been to Regionals before so I have no idea what to expect.  All I know ... is that any time spent with demonstrators and Stampin' Up family is a blessed time in my life!!   So ... I'm addicted to making these 4x6 desk calendars.  They were a huge seller at my craft fairs this year so after some quality time with my kids (yes, we went and saw Gnomeo and Juliet and shared some much needed laughter, junk food and family time) I whipped up some of these to swap.  I used clear 4x6 frames that I found in a department store of all places.  I struggled with the first two - taking out my favorite color combo of elegant eggplant and so saffron.  I noticed I had a package of Ice Cream Parlor DSP & Accents from the Sale-a-Bration catty and started to play around.  I love it!  What do you think?
     Hope all is well in your crafting world!

Stampin Up wedding ...

        I've sat here all day frustrated and lacking a bit of confidence.  I was awed that an individual who I have never met before contacted me about whipping up some wedding invitations for her ... I mean, me? Really?  So I was told that she wanted flat invitations around a 3 1/2 x 7 1/2 with pink and purple.  I tried and tried to come up with something that I liked but to no avail.  I changed the invitation size to 4 x 8 in Ellegant Eggplant and pretty in pink.  Though the color combo is great ... for a baby shower or birthday card ...I just couldn't get it to work for these invitations.  I finally contacted the bride to be to please sit down with me and give me a 'vision' of what she has in mind!!  I was honest in explaining that I was having difficult coming up with a card that didn't look too 'feminine'.  We talked for a while and I learned a bit about her ... I got over the hurdle of making phone contact (yay for me - LOL).  She is a very sweet girl!  She is coming over this week with one of our mutual friends to look at colors, stamps and 'feel' the paper etc.  They asked I have a catalog ready!!  I think this is another +One for me ... stepping outside my comfort zone!  I have so much to learn!  I look forward to your comments and thank you for sharing my journey with me!
       Blessings,
            ~Samie

  

Stampin Up' - more than just ink and stamps.

My card - left and Allison - right

 One of the ways that Stampin' Up has impacted my life is the manner in which it has brought family and friends into my life.  Women who I've never met before sharing their talent and growth through inspirational blogs.  My brother and sister-in-law stopped in today and I wanted to make a Valentine's Day care.  She is a newbie - very little crafting or card making experience.  I had pulled a sample from Convention 2010 that I wanted to try (there was no label on the back of the card so I can't give credit - sorry).  She rocked it! My card is on the left and hers is on the right!  Wowser!
 

 Well it just wasn't fair that the girls were having all the fun so my son Caleb and my brother Jeff were brought to the table.  They made cute little Valentine treats with the I {heart} Hearts, the Heart punch and some skinny bags!  After they finished I had them 'exchange valentines'.  What a fun time!


Another treasured relationship that has grown from my Stampin' Up business is the group of young girls that join me on the last Friday of every month. Now these
girls know how to get crafty!  We made pinwheels, valentine treats and washer necklaces!  I've learned to love their individuality and each one has blessed my heart!

Black and White

Black and white ... that kind of sums up the way I've been feeling lately.  Some days I'm in such a dark mood.  The Vermont weather has taken it's toll and moods seem to be plummeting.  I decided that I needed to take a jump out of the snowbank ... and land in my crafting chair.  Though I only had a short amount of spare time, I encompassed the moment and put this card together.  I have to say that I felt like the sun had come out and my mood lifted the moment I had Stampin' Up products in my hand!  I should have added some sponging around the edges.  The new pinking hearts border punch rocks! 

Valentine Defined ...

Here come some fun samples of cards and projects that we made at a Demonstrator swap organized by my upline Michelle Deslandes.  It was so fun getting together with all the girls and sharing our passion for stamping!  I have fallen in love with the new seam binding.  It has become one of my favorite accessories to add to my cards, pages and projects!