Our trip up the coast - part II

Wanted to share a couple more pictures the little trip Paul and I were able to take up the coast to Cambria, CA - one of our favorite places to get away.  When you're there - all stress just melts away.   Here is a view out of our door at the Whitewater Inn on Moonstone Beach - how can you beat that!

Here I am just across the street on the boardwalk that goes all along the ocean here.  The beauty is simply amazing.

 Here's Paul up on top of the hill on our drive wine tasting - you can see Morro Bay Rock in the backround behind that haze.

We also got to enjoy a bit of wild life - here is a little bunny who visited us on our morning walk.

And these wild turkeys were out having a great day while we were driving around. 

Cambria is just a wonderful place - hope you all get to go there sometime.  ~Maureen

April Stamp Club

Last Friday was our April Club - what a great group of ladies - our group grew by two for this next year - and I'm looking forward to lots of FUN!  Our group is a technique club and each month we learn a different technique.  This month it was two-step stamping - as so many great two-step stamp sets are being retired.

Here's our 6x6" technique card for their binders - using the "Raining Flowers" set.

This is the greeting card we made using the "Flower Fancy" set - one of my favorites!!!  The verse is from "Kindness Matters".

Finally - we made this little corner bookmark using the "Flight of the Butterfly" set.  I love these simple bookmarks - they work so well to hold your page!

Thanks Ladies for a great Friday night of stamping!  See you soon!  ~Maureen

Close to Heaven.....

One of my favorite places on this earth is Cambria, CA - when we're there I feel a little closer to God than just about anywhere else.  It is the beauty, the majesty of his creation all around us.  Recently we were able to get away for a couple days and head up there and today I just want to share some of the beauty with you..

Blue skies and wispy clouds!

More clouds over the ocean at sunset - note the seagulls flying by.

View of countryside just south of Cambria.

Another view - this one faces out to the ocean.

Waves crashing on the rocks - this is just across the street from where we stay.

 Hope you enjoyed!!  May your Sunday be peaceful and restful - and may you feel close to God!  ~Maureen

Mini Catalog Cards

For this month's Cards Stamp Camp I wanted to showcase sets in the current mini - just in case they go away the end of the month (of course we don't know what sets from the mini-catalog will come back in the big catalog) - so if you love the sets - I'd say get them NOW :)

This first card is similar to one I found out on the net - sorry I don't remember where - I see things and then a few days later stamp from memories of what I've seen.  It uses the "Bordering on Romance" set embossed with white on vellum and colored from the back - isn't it lovely!!

 The next card is a similar layout as the sample on Page 5 of the mini - it uses the Hostess set "Up in the Air" - I changed it up a bit - but still love how it came out - 

 

The final card is made with the "You're My Type" set - I've got to admit that this is one of my absolute favs in the mini - I am so hoping it comes back.  This card is also almost a direct CASE of something I saw - changed up a few things though -

On this one we cut out an extra stamped image of the paper coming out of the typewriter, then just attached it at the very bottom of it, and curled it a bit - so it looks like that paper is coming right up and out of the typewriter - how cool is that!!!

Thanks for stopping by.  Take a moment to let me know what you think.  Come stamp with me sometime :)
~Maureen

Easter Blessings!

I LOVE Easter!!  It is the celebration of my Risen Savior - and everything about it is wonderful.  Even though my health was not fantastic - we had a houseful of people come over to celebrate and enjoy this special day.  Here is our drink station -

 And two of our eating tables all set and ready for guests -

The food was delish, weather was amazing and we had a great Easter Egg hunt in the backyard (97 eggs were hidden :) -  I was taping the hunt so don't have any still pictures to show.  But I have lots of pictures of my lovies -

Kamili, Paisley and Prince with their new pinwheels!

Kamili, Zavian and Makai posing.

Makai and our friend Scarlett

Paisley, Prince and Zamarah posing

Scarlett, Zavian, Prince and Makai

 Guess I forgot to get pictures of the adults (LOL).  But we had a lovely day - can't think of any crew I'd spend my time with!

The Retiring LIST from SU is HERE!!

This is by far, the LARGEST LIST that Stampin Up has ever done, over 300 items are retiring...

They decided with the NEW catalog format, size and date of release, it was also a great opportunity to revamp the entire content, so, while you may be sad that so many are leaving - Be HAPPY - we are getting a WHOLE CATALOG of new exciting Products!......these stamps will no longer be available when the new Idea Book and Catalog goes live June 1st, and sometimes they also sell out.....so if you have a favorite on this list, consider ordering soon.  Just email me your order at www.crazystampinglady.blogspot.com or order directly through my website - www.stampingwithmaureen.stampinup.net

~*~*~~ALERT~~*~*~

***2010 IN COLORS are retiring****

If you own Poppy Parade, Concord Crush, Blushing Bride, Pear Pizzazz or Peach Parfait, please do not wait until the 25th to order the coordinating ink refills, card stock or ribbons! Order asap to ensure that they are not sold out before you can order yours!

You can view the retired list at www.stampinup.com

 

IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES!!

April 25th - The retiring Accessories and Definitely Decorative List will be available

April 30th - is the last day you can place an order from the OCCASIONS MINI CATALOG

May 1st - Demonstrators get to pre-order from the new Idea Book and Catalog and get the first peek at the new IN-COLORS...- one of the many benefits of being a demonstrator! - contact me if that interest's you!.

June 1st - New Idea Book and Catalog goes LIVE

Cute Heart Flowrs

So on Saturday Sandy shared a demonstration with us on how to make 3 dimensional flowers using heart punches.  Here she is with her punched out hearts - she folds each in half, and using a circle in the center of her card to help with placement she tapes the hearts down -

Here is the sample where Sandy is doing the placement.  Depending on the size of the hearts and how close you place them together your flowers get completely different looks.

Here are some of the beautiful samples that Sandy made to show us how you can use these flowers.  This was a great demo Sandy - thanks so much for sharing with us!

See you soon!! ~Maureen

Downline Meeting Challenge and SSS

Our card challenge for last week was your best Spring card using the Subtles color group from Stampin' Up! and the winner was this beauty from Julie - how pretty is that!!You can see more of her work at www.SimiStamper.blogspot.com -

While we were in our meeting a little Easter Bunny - in the form of a Secret Sister dropped off these goodies for Karen!  Pretty sneaky little bunny!!

See you all soon! ~Maureen

Happy Easter!!

He is Risen - yes, He is Risen indeed -

Hope your day is blessed with family and friends and fun - but mostly I pray that Jesus is your Lord and Savior so that Easter means to you - a risen Savior!

Just wanted to share a cute punch art bunny card with you - so fun!!  We made these little bunnies at my downline meeting this last Saturday.  I put mine on a card and voila!

Below are the pieces you'll need to punch to make your own little bunny. All pieces are attached to each other with two sided tape, except the small flowers and circles which I attached with glue dots.  The white circles for the cheeks are popped up on dimensionals.  Then I added a few highlights with gel pen and a black marker to bring him to life.  I saw many bunnies out there in blog world and combined bits and pieces of several to make this little fellow!

Stop back soon!! Have a wonderful Easter!  ~Maureen

Prince's Lego Birthday - Part II

So today I want to share some of the FUN of Prince's Lego birthday - the first picture is Jenee's spread of goodies for the party - note the juice boxes decorated like Legos - these went FAST - cause they were so cute!

Here's our birthday boy with his Lego birthday cake his Mom made - how adorable was that.  Each color of cake was a different flavor - made you want to just pick up the cakes and play with them.  The frosting was a great marshmallow frosting - really yummy!

 Here's a close up of the cake!

Heidi did her Candy Buffet for the event - Lego guys everywhere.  The Hershey's bars, red bags for candy and the toppers on the big pixie sticks were all decorated like legos.

Here a close-up of one of the Lego Guys - these were marshmallows dipped in chocolate and decorated.

The kids played Lego Hunt (kind of like an Easter Egg hunt) -

Here are Zavian and Zamarah  enjoying their cake -

And finally our birthday boy opening his presents!

Happy Birthday Prince - we love you so much!!
~Maureen

Prince's Lego Birthday!! Part I

My Grandson Prince is Lego crazy!!  At Christmas he asked for Legos and was disappointed because although he got Legos, he got other stuff too!  So for his birthday when asked what he wanted - he said Just Legos!!  So I had to go with that theme for his card and gift - here is the card I made him.  I love the primary colors -

 And here is his gift all wrapped, with the card by it -

Here is a close-up of the legos I added to the bag - so easy - so cute!!  And so lego-y :)  Just rectangles of cardstock and six punched circles popped up on dimensionals on each rectangle - love it!!

And here is our handsome birthday boy with the lego set we gave him - just one of MANY he received - and note the big smile :)  Happy birthday sweet boy!! Stop back tomorrow to see more of his party!

See you soon!!  ~Maureen

It's beginning to look a lot like.....

Christmas??  Well at least in my monthly Christmas Card classes - here are the two designs we made at our March class.  Each attendee made 5 of each design - so they are well on their way to getting their cards done - way ahead of time.  Woo Hoo!!  This first card features a 1/2 front with a tab using the Stampin' Up! Merry & Type set - so elegant and pretty. 

Then we made this cute little stocking card featuring the stocking punch - the layout mimics stockings hung by the fireplace - makes me feel all warm and cozy.  Love it!!!

If you want to get a head start on your cards plan to join us on April 29 for our next Christmas card class where we'll be making two brand new designs.  Thanks for stopping by.  ~Maureen