Exhausting Week\Weekend

Although it was an amazingly fun day, I was totally exhausted when it was all said and done. I celebrated my 50th Birthday this past weekend. This is kind of a long story...

To begin with, Scott had asked what I wanted to do for my Big Birthday, and I decided that I wanted to have a party, knowing full well that I would have to do all of the planning etc., on my own. I didn't mind, I love planning parties! That was 2 months ago...plenty of time...HA! I made my guest list, and started on the invitations well in advance because I know myself too well, and that I am very good at procrastinating. I was also working on wedding invitations, programs, etc., for a friend; working; and Casey had started school -- full time -- so I was babysitting a lot. I have a very large family, and with friends, the original guest list was 100! Needless to say, I did some narrowing down...as much as I would have liked to have every one of those 100 people, I had to face reality...that was a bit much.

I worked on various planning/cleaning projects for the next 2 months feeling pretty good about being so organized and ready for my party. Then, I got my work schedule for that week...Tues., Wed., Thurs., and FRIDAY...no way! I knew I had requested that day off. Friday was only a 4 hour shift, so I figured as organized as I was, I would still be able to do it. Then...Scott made the announcement that they were working "shift" work that week, and that he would be working nights. How could I get anything done at home during the day while he was trying to sleep...it's rather difficult to vacuum quietly. Believe me it was quite a challenge to keep a 5 year old entertained quietly, 2 dogs quiet, and clean/prepare for a party for 70 people...quietly. Unfortunately Makayla spent a lot of time watching movies...thank goodness for the $1 Red Box Rentals.

All was going well, and then Friday came. I went to work, my 12-4 shift. It had to be right in the middle of the day too! It was very slow...I just wanted to go home...all I could do was think of all the things I could be doing while pacing the sales floor of Pier 1. Finally, 4 o'clock came...I was out of there! Scott left for work at 6:00pm, and Casey was working, so I had to take Makayla to the grocery store with me. It's hard to concentrate while she's finding "treasures" on the floor, and wanting to add all sorts of things to my already overflowing cart. We didn't get home until 8:00pm. Again, another movie into the DVD player...and the food preparation began.

I knew it was going to be another late night, but that was okay. There were a couple of things I had to put together the night before, and the rest I could do in the morning...we weren't eating until 5:00pm. It was about 1:00am, and the Chocolate Sheet Cake had about 3 minutes left before it was ready to come out of the oven, and all of the sudden, I became extremely dizzy. All I wanted to do was lay down in my bed. I could not wait for that timer to go off. I could put the frosting on in the morning, and all would be fine...not so...I was so dizzy, that I could barely stand. The timer finally went off. I was done for the night. I had put my pajamas on while waiting for the timer, so I immediately climbed into bed. As soon as I laid my head on my pillow, I had to head to the bathroom. I began vomiting. By now, I couldn't keep my eyes open, and could barely walk, because the room was spinning so fast. I have experienced vertigo before, and have a prescription, but couldn't get it because I couldn't open my eyes. I spent the next 3 hours sitting in the bathroom with my pillow laying my head on the toilet (because every time I tried to lay down I had to throw up). Sorry if that is TMI. As I sat there, I heard the thunder rolling in and the rain begin...how was I going to fit 70 people in my house if it kept raining...

When Scott got home in the morning, he got my pills. I was finally able to lay down and did get some sleep. It wasn't until about 2:00pm that I was really feeling "good" again. Casey prepared the rest of the food that I hadn't been able to do the night before. The rain ended before noon, and the sun came out. It was a beautiful day, and the party was a huge success!

This week's Deal of the Week is the Heart to Heart Punch. Click on the picture to check out the details.

This Friday, is the second Happy New Year Event featuring the New 2009/2010 Idea Book & Catalog. We are running two sessions again, a morning session, and an evening session. If you are interested in joining us, please contact me. We are completing several fun projects using the new In-Colors, and new products.

After Friday, I will share the projects from this event. Thanks for visiting! No parties to plan for a while, so I should get back to regular posting :)

dd

Styled Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware

Just a quick post to remind you to be sure to check out this week's Deal of the Week.

Add some hardware to your projects. The high-quality metal Hodgepodge Hardware contains a variety of etched designs on brads and accents that coordinate with several of the punches. These make the perfect addition to any card or scrapbook page. Each kit contains approximately 100 embellishments and 100 3/16" brads.

Click on the picture on the sidebar to see a beautiful sample card.

I have a really busy week. Hopefully I'll have time for another post. Thanks for visiting!

dd

Razzle Dazzle

I got up early this morning and got this card made before I started the rest of my day. As Demonstrators, we are fortunate to have access to a wonderful gallery of ideas. That is where I got the idea for this card. I have a wedding to attend this weekend, and thought this would be the perfect card to put with the gift.

This is the new Razzle Dazzle stamp set along with a bit of the Razzleberry Lemonade DSP. I am loving these new In-Colors! This is Rich Razzleberry Cardstock and Classic Ink and Crushed Curry Cardstock. The Eyelet Border Punch creates the perfect edge to coordinate with the polka dots on the new 1/2" Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon, available in all 6 of the new in-colors.

If you have been considering joining my Team, now would be a great time! From July 15 — August 31, you can join Stampin' Up! for as little as $85 with the Mini Starter Kit. You can do what I do and have fun helping friends and family create exciting projects, while earning free products and even a little extra cash! Contact me, or go straight to my website to sign up today!

As always, thanks for stopping by!

dd

Square Fire Rhinestone Brads

This week's Deal of the Week is the Square Fire Rhinestone Brads. From July 13 through July 19, they are only $6.99. That's more than 30% off the original price of $10.95! Now is a great time to stock up. There is no minimum order to qualify for this discount, and no limit to the number of packages you can buy.
These fun brads come with approximately 80 pieces per container. There are 4 colors, 2 sizes. The Fire assortment includes Pink, Red, Pumpkin, and Yellow, great fall colors. If you want to take advantage of this incredible deal, contact me, or hop on over to my Stampin' Up! website to place your order today!

I am babysitting and working a lot this week, hopefully I can get a project or 2 worked in to share with you. Thanks for visiting!

dd

Stampin' Event Success

Sorry I've been gone for a couple of days. I was preparing for our first big event featuring the new 2009/2010 Idea Book & Catalog. We held the event on Wednesday, July 8. We had a morning session, and an evening session. It was so much fun to see every one's excitement each time we showed a new product. I always wondered if it's just me, or if other people would get as excited as I do over new stamping stuff. Well, now I know it's not just me! I'm not going to share any of the projects just yet. We are repeating this event, and I don't want to spoil the surprise for those coming later this month. We still have room, if you are interested in joining us, just contact me, and I will give you all of the details.

I do however, want to share an invitation that I made for a Birthday Party. I am celebrating a BIG Birthday this month, and decided to have a party for myself! These are the invitations I'm sending out.

The base of the card is Kiwi Kiss (retired) I have a lot, so that is one reason I decided to use it. The Whisper White layer is the Top Note Die, cut with the Big Shot. When I first started planning my party, I thought I would go with a tropical theme, and chose the Petal Pizzazz stamp set. Then I wound up not really going with any theme at all, but definitely did not choose to go with the black doom & gloom "over-the-hill" stuff. The invitation stamp is from the Please Come stamp set. This is a great set. It has a Save the Date stamp, and a couple of different Invitation stamps.

Be sure to check out this week's Deal of the Week, and remember, you can order online any time from the convenience and comfort of your own home. Just choose me as your Demonstrator to get the best pricing.

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great weekend!

dd

Cheep Talk

I'm very pleased with today's card. I think it turned out very cute. I had just a little time yesterday after work, and was inspired after flipping through the Paper Crafts magazine 225 Cards & Gifts. I hadn't looked at a magazine like that for quite some time, probably since the scrapbook store that I managed had gone out of business. I had forgotten how fun it was to peruse the craft magazines, and see all of the wonderful projects that everyone was creating. It was really nice, and definitely got my creative juices flowing again. Thanks Lynn, for lending me your magazine.

The birds are from the Cheep Talk stamp set, and the saying, which I thought was absolutely perfect for this card is from the Great Friend stamp set. The patterned paper is the Razzleberry Lemonade DSP with coordinating cardstock and Classic Ink, Pumpkin Pie and the new In Color, Crushed Curry. The sentiment is stamped on Very Vanilla, punched out with the 1-3/8" Circle Punch and layered on a Pumpkin Pie Scallop Circle. I adhered them to the card with Stampin' Dimensionals.

Don't forget to check the Stampin' Up! website after 10:00 am MT to see what the "Deal of the Week" is this week.

Thanks for stopping by today, have a great week!

dd

Trendy Trees

Just a quick post today before I have to go to work. I realized that I had used the sentiments several times from this adorable stamp set but had neglected to share a card showing the actual trees. Well, here there are!

This is a 2-Step Stamp Set. Try saying that three times fast...whew! First you stamp the tree trunks, then you stamp the tree tops. I Love It! The best way to achieve perfect placement is by using the Stamp-a-ma-jig. It's one stamping tool that I reach for all the time. You can also use it to line up letters if you are stamping a title on a scrapbook page, stamping several images in a row, or if you are randomly stamping, but want to precisely place where you are stamping your image.

The colors used are Old Olive and Chocolate Chip Cardstock and Classic Ink; So Saffron and Very Vanilla Cardstock; Certainly Celery and Always Artichoke Classic Ink. The patterned paper is the new Designer Series Paper Tall Tales. The ribbon is Old Olive and Chocolate Chip 1/4" Grosgrain.

If you don't have a new catalog yet, be sure to pop on over and check out all of the new stuff. Just click on the picture of the catalog and it will take you right there!

Let me know if you'd like your own copy of the catalog. I'll get one out to you right away.

Thanks for stopping by!

dd

Deal of the Week!

Every week during the month of July, Stampin' Up! will offer one discounted product as a "Deal of the Week." No limits and no minimum purchase required. Monday they will announce an item that will be discounted for that week. You can find the deal from my Demonstrator Business Web Site (DBWS) or the Online Store. The special promotional price for each item will be available for that week only.

This week's deal actually starts today, along with the release of the new catalog, but only runs through Monday morning, so there is a very limited time to take advantage! If you have been thinking about getting the Scallop Edge Punch, well now is your chance!

Here is a card using the Scallop Edge Punch, and three of the new In Colors; Dusty Durango, Soft Suede, and Bermuda Bay. The punch only does the scallop, I punched the holes in each scallop myself with the 1/16" Circle Handheld Punch. If you look closely, you can see that they are not perfect. You can achieve this same look by using your Paper Piercer and your Mat Pack. The Birthday Celebrations saying is from the Upsy Daisy stamp set, and the butterfly is from the Priceless stamp set...one of my favorites.

You can see everything new, or order your very own copy of the new catalog by visiting my SU website at www.debbied.stampinup.net.

If you are local, and are interested in attending our Happy New Year Event taking place on July 8 at either 10 am or 6 pm, contact me to get further details!

Happy Stamping!

dd