Convention Continued

A lot of you who follow my blog know that I LOVE clouds.  I tend to always look at the sky (better looking up than down - correct :)  Sometimes the cloud formations make just feel soooo close to God - and that's way these did.  I was really having trouble with my autoimmune - and walking was difficult - but then I looked up and saw this amazing picture in the sky and I felt such peace.  Isn't it beautiful?

Here's a quick picture of the note I left on the wall at SU's message room - It was really difficult to even find a small part of the wall that had not been written on - so I had to stand on tiptoes behind the door - but I did it.  The Crazy Stamping Ladies left their mark.

Finally a quick picture of all the new goodies I got to go home with - isn't that CRAZY!!! This is why you have to bring an extra suitcase when you travel to convention.

See you soon!!! ~Maureen

SU Convention 2013

So  for the next few days I'll be sharing pictures from convention last week - myself and 11 others in my downline made it to Salt Lake City for their 25th anniversary celebration.  The theme this is year was "BE the Difference" - which is one of the many reasons SU is such a great company.  They truly what to make a difference in the lives of those we meet.

So here I am with 5999 of my closest friends :)   Talk about crazy times - just getting from one room to another could be a challenge - but we chatted and swapped along the way and all was fine.

Got to connect with a wonderful friend of mine - Carole from Arizona - was surprised we even saw each other in call the chaos.  There were several others I had hoped to see that I never even caught a glimpse of :(

Great time with great people.  ~Maureen

Cards Stamp Camp July - Card 3

Oops - somehow with being gone - I missed publishing the third card we made at my Cards class this month - it was a Sympathy card.  We had done sympathies recently, but sadly I had to use mine up already - so we made another design.  Sympathy cards are the one type that I really like to have on hand, as they are very difficult to make when you need them - for obvious reasons.  This card uses our "Love and Sympathy" set, and Always Artichoke and Elegant Eggplant.  We used the markers to color directly on the flower stamp before stamping it, then huffed on it and stamped it again on the envelope (see how it's lighter) - I actually huffed on mine again and stamped it one more time on the inside of my card - very subtle.

I think it's a lovely card expressing loving thoughts.  We did add just a little sparkle to the flower with glue and dazzling diamonds glitter - I think you can see it a bit on this close up.

Tomorrow I plan to post some Convention pictures - stop back if you get a chance.  ~Maureen

Appreciation Lunch gift!

Today's my last post regarding this year's downline luncheon. First a couple pictures of those of us who were there.  I think it's everyone that attended (except Toni - who had to leave early and didn't get in the pictures :( - sorry Toni) -

Heidi, Kathy B, Me, Kathy S and Julie

Heidi, Lyn, Julie, Lois and Me

We took several pics and had to get Julie in a bunch of them, as she was moving out of town right after this picture ( I mean literally right after) - but she promises to make it back often - hopefully all our quarterly meetings!!  We'll miss seeing you every month Julie- but are so excited for your new adventure - can't wait to hear all about it.

I forgot to mention what we ate, as we were so busy I didn't get a picture - but I ordered family platters from Daphne's Greek restaurant so we indulged with warm pita break, gyros, grilled chicken, rice pilaf, greek salad, and taziki sauce.  Plus I made a greek pasta salad and we got some tabouli - it was so fresh and good and pretty healthy.  Then for dessert I put out a make your own sundae spread and the ladies did just that - made their own and ate them - it was all very Yummy!!!  A special thanks to my daughter Jenee who was our food runner for all these hungry ladies - thanks hon!!

So here's the little gift that welcomed each of them to the table.  I am a coffee fanatic (as many of you know) so I wanted to do something with the Perfect Blend set - and I thought what better gift than a package of "Espresso" twine :)   The little tag is very simple with paper-piecing for the band around the cup, and the perfect saying for the day.  I decorated a little clothespin with some DSP to match my color scheme for the day and a cute tiny flower with a pearl center.  It's my new go-to way to close a package or attach a tag - because the gift recipient can re-use it in many ways - clip papers together, close a back of chips, add a magnet to the back to clip a picture and hang on the fridge - the uses are endless.  So ladies, just know, I really do appreciate all of you and your friendships!!  ~Maureen

Appreciation Lunch Project

As promised - a bit more about my luncheon for my #1 Gals :)   Not everyone could make it but for the eight that were there, here is the project we made right before we ate.  I found these adorable little vases at a local 99 cent store and thought they were just so cute and the perfect size to add our SU Bloomin' Bouquet kit flowers to for a special little gift. 

 So here's the sorting and prepping process as I get the kits ready for the attendees.

And here's our finished product.  Each one of them had five flowers - three large and two small - in a variety of colors - though the colors varied a bit.  They came together so easily since SU put pretty much everything you needed in the kit.  They pretty much completely assembled with glue dots and a small bit of red sticky tape for the stems.  Since all had yellow and orange tones in them - we then decorated the vase a bit with some Tangerine Tango and Daffodil Yellow accents - the could pick from a variety of sayings to add to the front of their vases. Then we added some iridescent shred in the vase to kind of hold the flowers in place; and then our flowers.

So what do you think? Cute huh!?!   I really thought they were - and I think I'll make up a few extras - just to give our as RAKs in the future.  Stop back soon.  ~Maureen

Downline #1 Appreciation Lunch

Quick note:  I want you to know the rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated :)  I had an amazing time last week at Convention, but very little access to computer time.  Was set in my mind to blog, blog, blog when I got home - but most of my time since I got back has been in bed with a fever, headache, aches and when I was not in bed I was pretty much throwing up or on the toilet.  Saw my Dr. today and she thinks I possibly have that Cyclospora this is breaking out all over the country.  I guess I picked it up somewhere on my travels. It's a parasite, so thank God I am not contagious; but she has put me on Zofran for my dizziness and nausea and antibiotics to knock out the bug.  Crazy huh!! Just wanted you to know I am still here  --  now back to blogging - I'm a couple weeks behind so Convention stuff will be coming soon.  ~Maureen
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So today I wanted to share some pictures from my downline appreciation luncheon last weekend.  I have a great group of women who signed up under me - so once a year I have a lunch just for them.  Here are the tables all set up and ready for them to arrive.  Yellow is my favorite color and the tables looked so cheery with the yellow and daisies!

 Each table had a couple jars of Albanese gummy bears -they are absolutely the best and a great sweet treat for my gals.

 Stop back tomorrow for more about this lunch!  ~Maureen

July Cards Stamp Camp - Card 2

Today I'm sharing the second card we made at my Cards Stamp Camp this month - isn't it great!  I saw one very similar on pinterest and I just loved the black and white with a POP of color.  This card uses the new set Flower Shop with the matching punch as well as Sassy Salutations. 

The Fancy Fan embossing folder and the Bird Punch for the leaves - just completed the card perfectly!  Hope you liked it!  ~Maureen

Cards Stamp Camp July - Card 1

Here my first card from this month's Cards SC - I am not a "Pink" person - but I LOVE Strawberry Slush- don't know why as it is SUCH a pink - but I love it.  This card really shows it - it uses Strawberry Slush and Gingham Garden DSP -

We stamped the sentiment from Million and One - such a beautiful font.  Cut it out with the Windows Frames frame-lits -Then made five little fluttering banners that hang from the center.  I think the little hearts with the gems just make it.  Bright and cheery - hope you enjoyed!! ~Maureen

Gramma Day with Paisley

Last weekend I had a Gramma Day with Paisley - one of my most fun things to do.  We started out at the Mall where she got a cute little stuffed animal from Build a Bear.

Then to Red Robin for lunch of Chicken strips and fries -

And a yummy mint/brownie shake - just look at that face!!

Here's my beauty with Gramma right after lunch -

And back at my house with her stuffed Hello Kitty from Build a Bear.  Note the duct tape - we spent much of the rest of the afternoon crafting. 

Great day with such a sweet young lady.  Can't wait till next time.  Love you Pais!! ~Gramma

Club Gift Bag

Today I'm going to share the 3D project we made at club this month.  My club is a technique club so we always do that - but then we also do a 3rd project that usually does not use the technique - it's just fun.  So this time we made little gift bags out of our wonderful DSP. I used the bag on page 88 of the current SU Idea Book and Catalog as my inspiration. 

We took a 6" x 11 1/2" piece of DSP and laying it horizontally on the Simply Scored we scored it at 1 1/2", 5 1/2", 7" and 11".  Then turn the piece vertically and score at 1/2" and at 4 1/2".  Turn sheet horizontally again, and as if making a box you cut in on the folds from the bottom to the horizontal fold and the same from the top to the horizontal fold.  I punched two holes evenly spaced just below the 1/2 " score line - on each of the larger panels - fed ribbon (7") through each of the holes - outside to inside and using sticky tape taped the ribbons down with the 1/2" folded portion of the DSP.  Added embellishments and voila - a cute little gift bag.  See you soon!! -Maureen

Card Using Vellum Image Technique

Here is the lovely card we made at club this month using the Vellum Image Technique - I saw a very similar card on Pinterest (of course) and so it stuck in my mind when it came time for club.  You can see the actual technique card with instructions for this in yesterday's post.

We embossed the flowers, cut them out and then colored them from the backside using markers - then added matching colors of our new Candy Dots adhesive embellishments for the centers. 

We also  dry embossed the beautiful lacy image along the bottom using the Big Shot.  Just look how beautiful and deep the images are in the photo below.  Just a lovely card for just about any occasion.

See you soon!!! ~Maureen

Vellum Images Technique Card

This month for our technique card we learned about Vellum Images.  You can see the 6x6" instructions on the card below.  I love this technique as it gives a nice airy feel to your cards, and projects.

 We used the "Papillon Potpourri" set to make these lovely butterfly images.

Stop back tomorrow to see the lovely card we made using this technique.  ~Maureen

Club Hostess Gift for June!

So it's a new year for CLUB - so that means a new round of hostess gifts - so here's my first one.  I used out new SU Chevron bags as the packaging - they are so great just alone -they look wonderful.  I just used a simple decorated clothespin -as the closure.

Inside - this set of four beautiful notecards.  This is my plan - each month a different stamp set to make four beautiful cards for my hostesses.  Who doesn't need more cards :)

Here's a close-up of one of them so you can see how I cut out and popped up the flowers.  The pearls add that little needed touch of glitz. 

Hope my hostess liked them - and you too!  ~Maureen

Happy 4th of July!!

To all those who have served our Country - I thank you from the bottom of my heart!!!  To everyone out there celebrating today - be safe - be happy - and have a wonderful day!!  ~Maureen

Sleepover with the King Kids

This past weekend Papa and I had a wonderful sleepover night with the King kids.  We LOVE spending time with our grandkids - so whenever they are over it is a special time for us.  Heidi and Aaron had a much deserved evening off to go to dinner and see a movie -

Here's our youngest grandson, Kyan - just look at those big eyes.

He is such a happy baby - full of coos and giggles.  He's probably smiling because he's two months old!  Or maybe because he got lots and lots of Gramma holding and loving.

One of the highlights of sleepovers is Popcorn time - a family fav.  Here are Makai and Papa enjoying the treat.

And Kamili and Zavian full of smiles - think they were having a great time.

We played games, drew pictures, put puzzles together - watched the Very Hungry Caterpillar movie - and of course had popcorn and sparkling lemonade before bed.  This morning eggs, toast, strawberries and OJ.  Yum!!  It was supposed to be a new waffle recipe I got from my sister-in-law when we visited them last week.  It was the best waffles I ever had and you prep the yeast batter the night before.  So around midnight, I soaked the yeast, melted the butter, warmed the milk and was all ready to make the batter when I realized I had NO flour :(  Unbelievable - don't know how I ran out of that.  So waffles will have to wait.  ~Maureen