Happy 2B

Snow, Snow & MORE Snow!

Living on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, we don't often see a lot of snow but today is an entirely DIFFERENT STORY!!  We currently have 11" according to my yardstick but the weatherman is forecasting 10" to 20" with 4' to 5' drifts!! 

 

I thought it was all over when I took this picture of the picnic table on our patio but then....

the snow started coming down so thick that I can't even see the house across the street.

Here is a view from my nice WARM and COZY office window.

Because we don't get a lot of snow, we are not equipped to handle it and everything will probably be shut down forever!!  Thank goodness I don't have to go anywhere. 

To celebrate or commiserate, I sent out a special SNOW discount to everyone on my mailing list.  If you didn't get it, sign up for my newsletter (upper left corner) in the next 24 hours and I'll send the special your way too!

Fun & Easy Backgrounds

Are you looking for some new ideas to inspire your cardmaking creativity?  Here's a few ideas for you to try for your card backgrounds...

· Use the round eraser on the end of a new pencil to put dots on your card. Simply ink the eraser as you would a stamp and dot, dot, dot. This is great confetti for birthday cards.

· Pressed Flower Background: Take 2 pieces of cardstock, lay one on your stamping surface, then pull apart some "juicy" flowers and spread out the petals on the cardstock. Then place the 2nd piece on top and roll with your acrylic brayer. This will press out the color from the flowers onto the cardstock.

· Apply marker to baby wipes or damp paper towel and wipe across paper.

· Rip pieces of paper and scatter on a piece of paper or cardstock. Go over the paper with an inked brayer, then remove pieces of paper.

· Crinkle up any patterned tissue paper (really wad it up so it is REALLY crinkled!) Flatten it out. Place decorated side down and place freezer paper shiny side down on top of tissue paper. Iron back of freezer paper on fairly low setting so that the stickiness of the freezer paper adheres to the tissue paper. You now have a cool sheet of background paper! Note: If you do a whole sheet and then cut into pieces you may have to reheat the edges.

· Take 2 pieces of wax paper. Turn one piece wax side up and sprinkle some glitter, embossing powder, pieces of crayon (use a vegetable peeler to peel off slivers) dried flower petals, etc. on it. Cover it with the second piece - wax side down. Iron at a medium hot setting. The two pieces will stick together and you will have an interesting piece of background paper or paper for collage.

First Snowfall of the Winter

  

   

While I was in York, Pennsylvania at the RAD Retreat we were surprised with 6" of snow...the first snowfall of winter for me.  I love the beauty of snow just don't like driving in it.  I was thankful that it quit snowing and the roads had been cleared before I had to drive home.  On the drive back to the Eastern Shore, I pulled off the road several times just to snap some pictures of the countryside.  Enjoy!

Change of Pace

 I love to take photographs of the flowers in my garden.  It gives me so much pleasure to take a few minutes out of my day and just walk through the garden.  I don't do it often enough but today I decided I needed a break and took a few minutes to enjoy the view!

Thought you might enjoy "the view" as well.  If you don't like creepy crawlies though, you might want to skip over the last picture in this post!! 

Anyone know what kind of spider this is?  It is very intimidating to look at but it actually was quite content to let me get very "close and personal" to get this photograph!

I'M FINALLY BACK!!

Well, I am finally back to the world of blogging!!  I have had several computer problems and was not able to post for awhile now so I will be trying to make up for lost time over the next week.  Just before my computer died on me, my husband and I enjoyed an awesome trip to Hawaii compliments of Stampin' Up!  I knew it was going to be a wonderful experience but I had no idea that it would be all that it was.  Below is a picture of us just after receiving our leis as we were welcomed at the airport.  If you would like to see more photos, click on the photo album links at the bottom of the left column

We started the adventure by leaving a few days early and staying on the Big Island just south of Kailua-Kona and right next to one of the greatest snorkeling spots on the island, Kahaluu Bay Beach Park.  My husband and I love to snorkel and did so every chance we got.  I really enjoyed the sea turtles that seemed to be everywhere. 

The first day we sat in on a presentation about the island and, in the process, we won a free snorkeling trip to Kealakekua Bay where the Captain Cook monument is located and the Place of Refuge.  We saw several sea turtles, angel fish and schools of yellow fish. 

The second day, we rented a car and toured the island on our own.  We visited several waterfalls, ate Saladas (Hawaiian style donuts), chatted with some local fisherman at Laupahoehoe Harbor, left a message on the lava bed using coral graffiti and ended our day at the Kilaeua Volcano on the east side of the island.  (As we drove to the area where we could view the volcano, we saw an entire community of homes encased in a lava flow!)  We waited till night so we could see the glow of the lava.   The next day we met several other demonstrators at the airport and rode a bus to Waikoloa Village.  The 60 acre resort was incredible with beautiful gardens, swimming pools with waterfalls and art and artifacts of Hawaiian history everywhere.  It was mating season for humpback whales so as an extra treat there were whales breaching every time you looked out over the Pacific.

Each night Stampin' Up put "pillow gifts" in our rooms so it was always fun to see the goodies that awaited us.  The first night, they gave us each a tote bag.  Mine matched a wallet that Stampin' Up had used to send me our travel documents.  The second night we received a huge variety of snacks wrapped up in Ti leaves...Hawaii style gift wrap!!

 

Other gifts included a sarong and a handcrafted silver necklace with the word "Aloha" engraved on it.  The last night Stampin' Up! treated us to a luau that ROCKED!!  Children greeted us with leis made from nuts and shells which we were able to take home with us.  The luau included a beautiful and moving blessing ceremony, a feast of local dishes and a time to enjoy being with friends...new and old.  We were able to make our own leis, watch locals cut open coconuts with machetes, learn how to weave palm fronds into tiny fish,enjoy a display of Hawaiian quilts and handcarved drums, sample poi (if you were brave enough), be entertained with local dancers and musicians and have our pictures taken with Hawaiian warriors. 

Stampin' Supplies Index

For those of you who are familiar with our Big Idea Book & Catalog, you may have noticed that the Supplies Index listing all the products used in each project in the catalog was removed from the back of the Spring/Summer book.  If you are like me, it was a resource you frequently used and now miss.

Now you can find the same information including color pictures in the document titled Stampin' Supplies Index found in the Links section of my blog (left hand column).  Note:  It can take several minutes to download the document even with hi-speed DSL because it contains a LOT of info but it's worth the wait.  I love the ideas Stampin' Up! provides in their Idea Book and hope you do as well.

The Health Benefits of Crafting

I recently read an article about the health benefits of crafting which I found very enlightening.  Here is just a portion of the arcticle...

Make time for your craft every week, and ideally every day. Don't think of this time as a self-indulgence, but a medical necessity. “View your craft as if it were a medication that you need to take every day for optimal benefit,” says Robert Reiner, PhD, a

New York

University

psychologist whose landmark study documented the health benefits of sewing and other leisure activities. “If you stop taking the drug or doing the craft, you'll lose the benefit.”

“Even if it's difficult to schedule,” says Gail McMeekin, MSW, author of The 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women and

The Power of Positive Choices, “it's important to make time for crafts because they allow you to tune into your body and your creativity, to release frustration and tap into your deepest emotions.”

 

Take a class to advance your skills. An added bonus: You’ll meet other crafters. “Countless studies show that socializing with others is an effective way to release stress,” says Dr. Reiner. “We are social animals and we need to interact with other people to stay healthy.”

I have always enjoyed crafting and agree that it is an effective way to release stress.  We all need a little stress relief from the busy, hectic pace of the life that most of us live in this day and age.  If you would like to read the article in its entirely, click on the link in the left hand column...the Health Benefits of Crafting.

The Critic's Favorite Products

As recently announced in the February 2009 issue of Creating Keepsakes, Stampin’ Up was named the #1 Reader’s Choice Winner in several product categories.

 

Favorite Idea Book:  Stampin’ Up! Spring/Summer 2008 Idea Book & Catalog

Favorite Stamping Inks: Stampin’ Up! Classic and Craft Ink Pads

Favorite Stamps:  Stampin’ Up!

Favorite Pencils:  Stampin’ Up! Watercolor Pencils

 

Stampin' Up! also received 2^nd place recognition for their product in the following categories:

Organizational Tools:  Stampin’ Up! Stack & Store

Stampin’ Write Markers

Internet websites

Punches

Ribbon 

And the Mystery Hostess Winners Are....

DRUM ROLL PLEASE...

Kim Tracey won $75 worth of merchandise of her choice from the new 2009 Spring & Summer catalog!  Dawn Cordrey won a Level 3 and Level 1 exclusive Hostess gift.  You can imagine how excited these lucky ladies were tonight.

Now you might be wondering what these ladies had to do to win these great prizes...they attended the Mystery Hostess Event at my home in Denton, Maryland this evening.  They could get their name entered into the Mystery Hostess drawing by placing an order, joining a club, booking a party, becoming a demonstrator or bringing a guest.  Two names were drawn randomly and the hostess gifts were given based on tonight's sales.  Ten ladies were in attendance.

The guests munched on hot-out-of-the-oven chocolate chip cookies and sipped hot chocolate with marshmallows, coffee or cold drinks.  To add to the fun, at the end of the night, I packaged up the leftover cookies and we drew names using the event tickets to see who would take them home.  Each guest also went home with a sample pack of Designer Paper and a FREE shipping coupon good on their next order.

Each guest made two make 'n takes...one was a sweet treat bag using the Sale-a-Bration set "Yummy".  Other supplies used were Riding Hood Red and Kiwi Kiss card stock, Chocolate Chip Classic ink, the Photo Corner Punch, small cello bags and Bella Rose Designer Paper. 

The second make 'n take was a Valentine card.  The card was made using Bella Rose Designer Paper, 12"x12" Whisper White card stock cut into 12" x 4" strips folded in half, the Big Shot with the Sizzix Join in the Cheer decorative strip die, Always stamp set, Riding Hood Red Classic ink, Fire Circle Rhinestone Brads, white grosgrain ribbon, Scallop Edge punch and Dimensionals.  With this make 'n take, I included a small open-ended envelope (catalog pg 157) for mailing.

Everyone had so much fun they have asked me to have another one so mark your calendars for Wednesday , February 25, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. and watch for more details to come. 

Leadership Conference 2009

 

I had so much fun at the Stampin' Up! Leadership Conference held in Orlando, Florida in January.  I just had to take a few minutes to share.   The fun started on Tuesday as I arrived to WARM weather!!  I checked into the Castle (to go along with the Disneyworld theme!), met friends (Maria Pane and Blaney Spinelli) and had a blast at the Outta This World Magic and Comedy Theater that evening.

On Wednesday, my roomies and I headed to Disney World AFTER going to the Convention Center and picking up our new and absolutely AWESOME Stampin' Up! Spring Summer 2009 catalog and filling our shopping bags with Logo merchandise at the Momento Mall.  (I will be rewarding my team with these goodies at the next team meeting.)

We had a fun day at Disney World...the park was not crowded and there were no waiting lines...what could be better?  Of course Disney isn't Disney without getting your picture taken with Mickey and Minnie and they were kind enough to accomodate us. 

We also couldn't resist the photo opportunity in one of the stores to try on our Mickey ears!!  (Can you keep a secret?  I always wanted to be Muskateer!)

That night I met my third roommate, Jill Hilliard...hi Jill!  While Blaney spent time making some cards to swap, Maria and I went to the jacuzzi and pool (with a beautiful fountain in the center) and enjoyed some down time getting to know each other better.   One of the very best benefits of being a Stampin' Up demonstrator is the wonderful friends you make...every demonstrator will testify to that!!

Thursday morning I was up bright and early to attend Opening Session at the Convention Center.  And right out of the gate, Shelli Gardner, Stampin' Up! Founder & CEO, announced quite a few BIG things to come...how about...drum roll please...My Digital Studio...digital scrapbooking software to be released sometime later this year!!  And if that wasn't enough, they gave away about seven free ones AND yours truly was one of the very fortunate recipients!!  I could not believe it.  Another great benefit of being a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator...free product!

The FUN got really cranked up that night when everyone who was Manager level and above was invited to attend the Manager's Reception at Universal Studios.  The park was closed to the public and opened just for us!!  All the rides we wanted to ride, all the shops we wanted to browse, all the food we wanted to eat...and I'm not talking just park food, I'm talking Lobster!!  That's right...and everything else you could imagine.  The dessert bar included CHOCOLATE fondue...did I die and go to Heaven? 

The Spiderman heros...and villians...were there for photos and I'm not sure who had more fun...them or us.  There was dancing in the streets including two dancers on stilts dressed in lighted costumes.  The street banners that usually had words on them like "Shazam!" and "POW!" had been changed to read "PUNCH", "CROP" and "STAMP".  The free Frozen Ice was a big hit.  (Notice the word "INK!" on the canopy in the photo above.)  As we were leaving, we each received a Spiderman lunch box with a FREE stamp set inside to add to the one we received in our Conference tote bag!  Did I mention FOOD, FUN and FREE...I love my job!!  (Hey, if you want to get in on some of the fun...click HERE to learn how you can join me!)

Everything about Leadership was so exciting...exciting announcements, exciting events, exciting classes... hopefully I'll remember at least half of what I learned!                             

To celebrate the last night in style, a large group of us (I think something like 32!) gathered at a local restaurant, Café Tu Tu Tango to chat and laugh and of course, EAT!!  Then we went back to the "Castle" and shared our card swaps so we could come home with pictures of all the latest creations to share with our great customers...like you!  Here's one of my favorites...I'll post more in the next day or two.

Leave me a comment if you like reading about Stampin' Up! events on my blog.  Or for information on how you can participate in them, email me at carolyn@oh2bstampin.com.