Father's Day 2012

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there! I meant to post earlier, but the day got awfully hectic pretty fast and haven't had the chance to sit down until now. We had lunch at the newly opened Lumberjacks Diner today. They were packed! My kids played tic-tac-toe while we were waiting for our waiter. They were laughing and giving each other a hard time...just being siblings. I just sat there taking it all in...all my blessings and how truly lucky I am to have been happily (on most days - ha) married to my childhood sweetheart all these many years, to have two awesome kids and to have an entourage of strong and fabulous women supporting me no matter what. I have everything any girl could ever want. I had my last SAS (Stamp-a-Stack) class yesterday before I go on medical leave and the outpouring of love and well wishes from these wonderful ladies are just very touching. After they left, I sat down and realized how lucky I am (once again) to have friends who come over to create beautiful things with me and order Stampin' Up! products from me, right? I've heard runners talking about runner's high - that's why they do it. I guess, I get the rubber stamping high. It's such a good feeling when these ladies ooohs and aaahhhs over my samples in class. They keep me motivated and inspired. It's such a great feeling when I can share my passion with other people. Anyway, I know the stamp sets I used here have just been retired, we made them in class last month and I want to share them with you.

Plant Hope, Black Craft Ink, Clear Embossing Powder & Sponge Daubers

Nature Silhouettes, Black Craft Ink, Clear Embossing Powder & Sponge Daubers

This is a quote I found online and should be my ready response to people who say they are much too busy to have any form of recreation in their lives. Oh well, so this is it...have a great summer, everybody! I promise to back in time for the Holiday Mini Catalog! Much love...

Retired BNF Friday #10

I have been going 100 miles an hour the past couple of weeks. It just occurred to me that life altogether is a series of endless preparations. Preparing for trips, exams, events, holidays, special occasions/events, classes, fiscal year end, meetings, budgets, medical procedures, retirement and sadly, in as much as most of us are not fond of talking about it, we are all preparing for death whether we are aware of it or not. We're constantly preparing, getting ready to or as what they say in South Carolina, "fixing to..." I kept track of myself in the office and every time someone asked me what I was up to, I replied..."Oh nothing, just preparing for the meeting, or a special project or reports, lists and stuff." So, if we are perpetually preparing for stuff...when do we live? I think it was John Lennon who said, "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans." Having just typed all that mumbo-jumbo, I want to let my very few followers know that I will be taking a very much needed summer break and will not be able to post for a few weeks due to medical reasons. I am hoping for the best. I welcome all your good thoughts and well wishes.

I would like to share a card today from one of my favorites called, Morning Glory.  I just love this set and I am still waiting for Stampin' Up! to come up with a replacement. I find water coloring very relaxing. I can't draw anything, but this technique makes me feel like a true artist. I am in all honesty so exhausted right now, but I have no time to slow down. I keep thinking I will get my rest soon after I get out of the hospital and recovering at home. Creativity always help.

Card Recipe

Stamp Set: Morning Glory
Paper: Old Olive and Lovely Lilac card stocks and Watercolor paper
Ink: Basic Black Classic Stampin' pad
Accessories: Watercolor Crayons in Chocolate Chip, Lovely Lilac and Old Olive, Old Olive Ribbon

BTW, my son just got his driver's license. Yay! I can't take much credit for it, it was my hubby who spent time driving around with him and took him to the DMV to take both tests. Watching them took me back to that time when my son learned to ride his bike without the training wheels many years ago. I remember the exact moment when my husband let go of the bike and my son just took off on his own. I was so nervous for him as I watched him pedal his heart out around the cul-de-sac of our neighborhood and then back to our driveway. He is leaving for work then college in five days and once again, I am fearful for him. I'm a mother, I am fearful all the time. However, this time I am afraid to let go. I will miss finding him in his room and seeing his face across the dinner table. I'll miss him opening our fridge just for the heck of it and asking what's for dinner. Parenting is such an emotional roller coaster ride. Oh well, that's it for now and have a good weekend, everyone! Just want to share this poster I found online. It's so true!

Retired BNF Friday #9

Well, what da ya know, it's Friday once again! This week went by too fast for me. I didn't even have to ask, "Is it Friday yet?" when I returned to the office last Monday. Every single day was a full day. Oh well, this weekend I have to do plenty of chores and also to prepare for my upcoming class next Saturday. No down time in sight...aughh! However, it helps that my kids are out of school for the summer.

Father's Day is coming up, so I thought I'd share a card from the recently retired Totally Tool Stamp Set.  I was bummed to see this one go, because it's such a versatile and cute masculine set.

Card Recipe

Stamp Set(s): Totally Tool, Delightful Dozen (Wood 122650 Clear 122652), Woodgrain (117100)
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Close to Cocoa and Very Vanilla card stocks
Ink: Basic Black and Stampin' Write Markers
Accessories: Brads Silver (104336), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430), Ribbon, Paper Snips (103579), Punches in Decorative Label (120907) and Extra Large Oval (119859).

Well, that's it for now. The weather has been nice here in Northern California. Didn't need to turn the A/C on at all this past week. I hope it stays like this all summer long. Wishful thinking, I know. Have a fun and creative weekend, everyone!

Gift Card Holder

The new catalog for 2012/2013 is out.  You can view it by clicking the icon on the right side of my blog and remember that you can SHOP online 24/7 by going to My Store.

We spent yesterday cleaning my son's bed room. He sorted out his things, threw away lots of accumulated stuff from high school and donated a bunch of clothes to our LBC box to the Philippines. I often caught him reading notes and finding memorabilia from a few years ago. He kept sighing and saying..."ahhh, memories." I smiled back and told him, "you just wait...twenty years from now you'll be surprised how little you'll remember."

Today, I would like to share the Gift Card holder I made for my daughter's teacher. It turned out really pretty. I was told she really loves her coffee. So, I thought there's no better way to say thank you than a Starbucks gift card in a cute gift card holder. I am sure she got a kick out of the sentiment inside, "a morning without coffee is like sleep..." That's exactly how I feel until I've had one or two cups of coffee.

Recipe

Stamp Set(s): Morning Cup (Wood 116988 Clear 120489) and Tea Shoppe (Wood 125545 Clear 125547)
Paper: Pacific Point, Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie and Whisper White card stocks, Summer Smooches DSP (125409)
Ink: Rich Razzleberry and Basic Black Classic Stampin' pads
Accessories: Punches - Modern Label (119849) Word Window (119857), 1 1/4" (119861) and 1 3/8" Circle (119860), 1 3/4" Scallop Circle (119854), Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack, Pearl Basic Jewels (119247), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430), Velcro (from local craft store), Sticky Strip (104294)

Well, that's it for now. Have a wonderful week, everyone! Stop by again soon!

Retired BNF Friday #8

My son's graduation was last night. So, together with my hubby, daughter, mom and younger sister - we endured the scorching heat, thirst and the crowd to watch the graduation ceremony in their football stadium. We got there two hours before it started to secure a good parking spot and seats. We succeeded in both. We amused ourselves by watching other people walk-by. I just love how we can always find something to laugh about. It made the wait bearable.

As the graduating kids walked to their seats with the music playing on full blast, I was flooded with all these emotions and felt a little mournful. I remembered how I was walking up to the auditorium to receive my High School diploma a little over two decades ago. It felt like I was just that young and naive a "few" days ago. Oh, how I thought I knew it all back then! Memories sure have a funny way of sneaking up on you. They played the same music during my graduation, same young faces in their cap and gown, overall same speeches. Yet, I have not evidently stayed the same. Instantly, I had a flashback of how this precious boy came into my life eighteen years back; how there were plenty of times as a young mother I doubted my ability to provide him a good life...then there I was watching him graduate from High School. In the midst of it all, my husband and I looked at each other both teary-eyed and without saying anything we both knew that this special day was ours to celebrate as well. We made it! We didn't spoil our kids, but we also know that we have given them better lives than we had. I think that's really the bottom line of good parenting: to hope that we can provide our children a better future and instill in them the value of family. I have two weeks with my son here at home, and then he will go to Southern California to work this summer, and then off to college. I am sad to see him go, yet I am proud that he keeps telling me that he's ready. I want to see him experience life with all its pain and glory. I hope to receive post cards from all his travels. I hope all the wonderful things his heart can hold. Through it all, I want him to always remember his way back home.

So, today's card is for my dear hubby and me. Cheers to you us, indeed!

Card Recipe

Stamp Set: Cheers to You
Paper: Crushed Curry, Melon Mambo, Textured Razzleberry, Pumkin Pie, Pacific Point and Whisper White card stocks
Ink: Basic Black Stampin' pad, Stampin' Write Markers
Accessories: Embossing folder in Squared Lattice, 1 3/8" Square Punch, Crushed Curry Polka Dot ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals

Well, that's it for today's post. It will be so nice to be able to move at a slower pace every morning...no rushing the kids to get them to school. Cheers for summer vacation! Thank you for stopping by. See you soon!