Manhattan Flower

Oh, it's good to be back!

After the crop on Sunday, I just had to spend some time in my craft room yesterday sorting everything that I had packed up to take with me. I also got to sit down and finish a couple of the projects that I started but didn't have everything I needed to complete them on Sunday.

This card is very simple, yet very elegant, and very easy. I made it using the Manhattan Flower Die. Remember the brass templates, stylist, light table, and great amount of patience you needed to achieve the dry embossed look? Well, put all that stuff away! Now you can create that same embossed look with one simple step. The Manhattan Flower Die is a Textured Impressions Die used with the Big Shot. It is basically a heavy plastic folder. Just choose your cardstock, put it in the folder, run it through the Big Shot, and viola! You now have a beautiful embossed piece you can use for a card, or an embellishment for a scrapbook page. This particular die also coordinates with the Fifth Avenue Floral Stamp Set. Check out that little flower. That is one of the Fleurettes, they are crocheted flowers and come in an assortment of 12. The Thinking of You is from the Trendy Trees Stamp Set. I have a very cute card to share with you using that set...how about tomorrow.

Today is the LAST DAY FOR SALE-A-BRATION! Please contact me, or order online early if you want to take advantage and earn FREE Sale-a-Bration products. Again, remember, if you order online, you will receive a free 2009 Spring/Summer Idea Book & Catalog.

Thank you so much for visiting. I will be back tomorrow with another card to share with you!

dd

Rejuvenated

Well, what can I say, I have been in somewhat of a creative slump lately. But...never fear...I feel those creative juices starting to flow again! I found the best cure. I attended an all day crop yesterday with some of my dearest friends. We gathered at a local hotel, brought in our own food & drinks and had a fabulous day of visiting and sharing our creativity. I completed several cards, one scrapbook page, and started several other cards. With everything that I brought with me, there was always something else that I needed that I didn't have to complete certain projects. Can you believe that I forgot my white cardstock? That actually forced me to get a bit creative...you can bet that that will be the first thing to go in my bag next month! Yes, we have decided to make this a monthly event. I am already looking forward to our crop in April.

I will share my projects as soon as I get my stuff sorted and the pictures taken and downloaded. Thank you ladies, for your creative inspiration ~ I really needed that!

Also, just a reminder that these are the last two days for Sale-a-Bration. If you want to earn FREE Sale-a-Bration products, be sure to contact me, or place your order online before 11:00pm Tuesday, March 31, 2009. Remember, if you order online, you will receive a FREE 2009 Spring/Summer Idea Book & Catalog.

The Best Day Ever...

It's Saturday, and I'm finally posting after a bit of a hiatus.

A dear friend stopped by Pier 1 the other evening concerned because I hadn't posted anything for a while. We talked for a while, and she mentioned that she was going to hear Nicholas Sparks speak Friday evening, and asked if I would like to go. It just so happened that I did not have to work, so I started my day by spending time in my craft room working on some projects ~ nothing ready to post yet ~ but soon. Then, I met my friend and we went to McAllister's for a sandwich, before heading to North Central High School, to hear Nicholas Sparks speak.
If you're not familiar, NC is a very large high school, with a huge auditorium. It was packed.

Nicholas Sparks was very enjoyable to listen to. He talked about how he came about to write his first novel, and get it published. He has a fantastic sense of humor. I laughed and cried while he told us where he got his inspiration for some of his other novels. They are based on some real event from his life. I think that is why I enjoy them so much, because I know that the basis of the story is real. After his speech, he did a book signing. When I saw the length of the line, I thought we would probably be there until midnight! We were not. It went fairly quickly, so we only had to wait about an hour. He chatted a bit with each and every person whose book he signed. I took my favorite ~ Three Weeks With My Brother ~ I commented that I would love to take the trip that he and his brother had taken, and he said that this was his favorite book. If you haven't read any of his books, I highly recommend any of them.

To top the night off, we stopped for ice cream. Neither one of us had been to Cold Stone Creamery before, so we decided to try it. It was delicious!

Thanks again April, for inviting me, and treating me to ice cream! I used this title just for you!

Hope you all enjoy this first weekend of Spring!
dd

Occasions Sneak Peek

There are so many things going on right now with Stampin' Up! I will try to get you updated with today's post.

One announcement that some of you may be interested in is that they are going to offer a Three Easy Payment option for the Starter Kit to anyone interested in joining Stampin' Up! For a limited time, with a partial initial payment, a new recruit can receive her Starter Kit and get her business running. Two subsequent monthly payments take care of the rest. I don't have all of the details yet, but they did promise to have this in effect before the end of Sale-a-Bration, so you can also take advantage of the discounted Starter Kit price, and choose any stamp set from the catalog for free.

The Occasions Mini Catalog has been mailed. If you have received yours, and don't want to wait until April 1 to order, there are a few Easter specific items that can be ordered early! You can see all the details on the website. Remember, you can place your order online, and get a Free 2009 Spring/Summer Idea Book & Catalog with your order, now through April 30.

Sale-a-Bration is still in effect. When you purchase $50.00 of regular merchandise, you can choose one Sale-a-Bration item for free. You can see the entire selection of Sale-a-Bration items and all of the details for all of the current promotions on the website. Just click on Products, and then Specials. You can also access this information from my website. Just click on Details under the Promotions picture.

I also want to say Thank You to those of you who placed orders through my website while I was on vacation. I hope you found it easy and convenient!

Thanks for stopping by today! I have some catching up to do around here, but I will try to take some time today to prepare a project for tomorrow.

dd

Still On Vacation

We've had a slight change in plans. The weather has been rather chilly, and windy. Not the best for sitting on the beach, or even by the pool. It actually got down in the high 40's the other night...I know...it has been in the teens in Indy, so I shouldn't complain. Everyone we have talked to said that this is the coldest winter that they can remember.

We were scheduled to come home Wednesday afternoon, but the weather man forecasted 80 for Thursday, and the rest of the weekend, so we decided to stay here a couple more days. We have enjoyed our time here, and I have spent some time by the pool...in jeans and a sweatshirt! We did go to the Everglades and take an airboat ride. It was chilly, but a lot of fun. I'll share pictures when I get home.

My brother-in-law's boat was delivered yesterday, so he, Scott and my dad took it out this morning to do a little fishing. I think they have hopes of bringing home dinner. My sister & I will be going to the store to get something to fix on the grill...just in case.

It is 75 here now, and a little breezy, but I think I'm going to brave the elements and try to soak up as much warmth today and tomorrow as I can before we head home Saturday.

Enjoy your weekend, I'll be back soon!

dd

Spring Occasions Mini Catalog

Oh My Goodness!!! I just got my copy of the Occasions Spring Mini Catalog. I wish I could share with you all of the fun new stuff they have packed inside! I can guarantee that you are going to LOVE it! 22 pages of new adorable, fun & classy stamp sets, rub-ons, Designer Series Paper, ribbon, Designer Hardware, printed window sheets, a new punch, and a new die for the Big Shot ~ #1 on my wish list! This catalog starts April 1 and runs through June 30, so you have plenty of time to get everything I know you're going to want.

Hello From Marco Island

It's Monday, and I'm on Marco Island. Yep, this is paradise. Palm trees, sunshine, beaches, and quaint little shops. What a great place to get away and enjoy a relaxing vacation.

Here's today's card. This is the Designer Series Paper Candy Lane, and the new Accents & Elements Fleurettes. Fleurettes are little crocheted flowers that are simply adorable! I hope they add these in more colors! Right now, they are available in an assortment of three sizes in a combination of Pink Pirouette, Riding Hood Red, and Whisper White. You can see the whole assortment on page 177 of the catalog. I'm also really liking the Rhinestone Brads. It was just the right touch for the center of the flower. The Good Friend sentiment is from another new really cute bird set called Good Friend. You can see this entire set on page 91. I'll do a card with him later. And, yes, you are seeing the Eyelet Border Punch again...I just can't get enough of this punch!

Have a fantastic week! I've got a couple more days to enjoy paradise, then it's back to reality.

dd