A lovely leaf!

Check out this lovely leaf card.  This is one that I made in Utah last week at Susan's stamp class.  

stamp set:  'Light Hearted Leaves'
card stock: Rich Razzleberry, Very Vanilla
ink:  Basic Black Archival
markers:  Delightful Dijon, Mossy Meadow, Rich Razzleberry
other:  Big Shot, Woodland Embossing Folder, Into the Woods Ribbon (Rich Razzleberry), Gold Cording, Gold Glitter Ribbon, Dimensionals, Glue Dots

++++++

Wow- What a great day of stamping with everyone at my Halloween Treats class yesterday!!  A special thanks to my Aunt Kathy for going up with me & helping me all week!  I know I couldn't have done it without her.  

We got home late last night & I hadn't hardly slept.....so was beat!!   Now off today to celebrate with family & friends at Sarah's bridal shower!

I will update my blog soon.....just sharing new photos now & will share more about the projects sometime soon when I am home to get caught up.

I hope you have a SUPER Sunday!
Happy Stamping!
Hugs-
SUSIE

A CUTE little pumpkin!!

This is one of my "Halloween Treats" boxes.  It is made with the Curvy Keepsakes Box Thinlits.
I LOVE IT!!!  It is just absolutely adorable!  

stamp sets:  'Sparkly Seasons' & 'Chalk Lines'
card stock:  'Tangelo Twist, Black Glimmer Paper
designer paper:  Happy Hauntings
ink:  Basic Black Archival, Tangelo Twist
other:  Big Shot, Curvy Keepsakes Box Thinlits, 2 1/2" Circle Punch, Word Window Punch, Tree Punch, Bow Builder Punch, Spider Web Doilies, Glue Dots

This is one of the cool projects I made in St. George last week when I attended a stamp class at Susan's home.  I think that Janet designed this awesome little witch hat for the pumpkin.  I so enjoyed going to their class & getting to make 4 super cute projects!

I'm headed to Cedar Rapids here soon for my Halloween Treats class.  I've been a stamping fool this week getting ready for it.  This morning several gals will be joining me for a "KITS" class to make either the Witches Hat (which is now sold out) or the Season to Season Wreath.  Then this afternoon some more gals will be joining us & everyone will be make LOTS of Halloween treat boxes, a cute card & a 8 x 8 (or 12x12) framed Halloween sampler.

My Aunt Kathy is riding up with me & stamping today too!  So it will be nice to have some company in the car.

I'm off to take a quick nap & then get up, shower, load the car & off I go!

I hope you have a SENSATIONAL Saturday!!
Happy Stamping!
Hugs-
SUSIE

A Halloween Treat bag!

At convention in July a treat bag like this was shared on main stage by Stampin' Up during an on stage presentation!  I thought it was super cute!  And loved the way the polka dots popped out when ink was rubbed over them.  Doesn't this bag remind you of candy corn?  It sure does me.

This bag is one of the many projects that everyone joining me at my upcoming Halloween Treats classes the next 2 Saturday's will be making.

Check out the ribbon handles I added to my bag.  I think this bag is just the perfect size for many different items to fit inside of it.  What trick-or-treater (or co-worker) wouldn't like to have gotten this from you?

stamp set: 'Howl-o-ween Treat'
card stock:  Whisper White
ink:  Basic Black Archival, Pumpkin Pie & Daffodil Delight
other:  Spider Web Doily, Big Shot, Boo to You Framelits, Stapler, Glue Dots, Dimensionals, Whisper White 5/8" Satin Ribbon, Sketched Dots Tags & Bag Gift Bags, Stampin' Sponges

This Sketched Dots Tags & Bag Gift Bags are on pg. 151- #138316- $4.00 for 10 bags.

++++

It was a late night on the farm.  Brayden & Nathan were here for awhile in the shop.  I came in right after we were done loading hogs (a couple of hours before Deke did).  He statyed out & moved pigs & rinsed out pens in the old finisher.  It was right at midnight when he finally walked in the door.  Nothing like making tacos for supper at that time of night.  I worked on sorting orders & making projects for my Halloween Treats class last night. 

Deke is finally home all day today with no meetings, so he'll be working on the farm.  The boys will be excited he'll be here to eat lunch with us, as we've missed him.  He has lots to catch up on outside. He is going to move piggies from the nursery to the old finisher this morning if all goes as planned.  And spend the afternoon grinding feed & mowing.  I'm off this morning to pick up the boys & spend my day with them.  Then tonight everyone in our family is going racing in Memphis, Missouri (which is my very favorite track to go to).  And I'll be home alone cutting & cooking- getting ready for tomorrow big Halloween Treats class.

I hope you have a FABULOUS Friday!!
Happy Stamping!
Hugs-

SUSIE

A 'Wonderland'!

Here is a very pretty card that everyone stamping at my September classes this month got to make.  It has a vellum over lay on top of the stamped tree images.  It is just stunning in person.

How did I attach the vellum card stock here?

I just used glue dots on all 4 corners of the vevllum.  If you touch the vellum directly to the strip of glue dots & can leave the glue dot as the circle & flat (as they come) they show less on the adhesive when you go to press it down.  The vellum overlay is the exact same size at the Whisper White card stock above it.  
 
But attaching our new vellum DSP is another story.....it is thinner & no matter how I've tried attaching it- the ahdesive shows.  So you'd need to hide this if possible- like I did on the ORNAMENT CARD I post a few days ago- I put mini brads over the glue dots to help hide them.
 

stamp set:  'Wonderland' & 'Wetland' (words)
card stock:  Mossy Meadow, Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Vellum
ink:  Mossy Meadow
other:  Big Shot, Softly Falling Snow Embossing Folder, Extra Large Oval Punch, Satin Crumb Cake ribbon, Dimensionals, Glue Dots

It is a fun fold door card too!  Isn't it just beautiful!!

++++++

It was a long day & a very late night last night.  I got groceries after the races & then had to put everything away when I got home.  I am just swamped & can't keep up!  I was behind before I left for Founders last week & now I am buried with piles & piles of work.  I have too many jobs.  And just because I wasn't here didn't mean that things just stopped & waited for me- nope they just kept piling up.  

I got some of my farm bookwork done late last night before I went to bed, and the rest of it will have to wait until next week.  I finally got caught up on all of our laundry from the past week & half of it is now put away.....the rest of it is folded & laying on the couch, waiting for me to get to it.  And I literally have stamps all over our house!  The UPS man has delivered lots of boxes this week that I need to get opened, sorted & delivered.  Plus I have project boxes from this months classes that still need to be all put away.  And I have projects for my upcoming classes that need to be created & cut.  Oh yeah.....and our wedding invites need to be created & cut & mailed out as soon as possible too. 

We are up early again today....Deke is off to chore & then he is gone again today for meetings in Ottumwa.  I am off to pick up the boys.  When they leave tonight I'll be headed out the door, as tonight I am a farmer....so it will be another late night working outside.  And somehow I have to get lots of stuff cut & things ready for my upcoming Halloween Treats Class.

Gotta run.....I hope you have a very special Thursday!!
Happy Stamping!
Hugs-
SUSIE

An adorable bag!

Wow- Check out this adorable bag that was sitting at our place setting when we had lunch at our Kanab Stampin' Up! Manufacturing Center last week.  It had our napkin & all of our plastic silverware in it.

It is just stunning- huh!

supplies used:  Gold Sequin Trim, Gold 5/8" Satin Ribbon, Basic Pearls, Vintage Faceted Button, Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack (Small Flower), Melon Mambo card stock (for the flower), Mini Muslin Bags, Glue Dots

other:  Purple Rit Dye

Yes- this is our Mini Muslin bags sold on pg. 151.  They come 8 bags in a set for $10.00- #132180.

How did they dye this? 

• dye the muslin bag in Rit Dye- they did it in a stainless steal sink. 
• rinse out good with cold water.  
• then wash in washing machine & put in dryer.  It did shrink some- but not alot.
• make sure you don't wash this with any other items- unless it is more muslin bags, as the color will bleed.

+++++

We had a busy day yesterday.  The boys & I worked out in the yard setting out pumpkins, mum plants & we even went to the corn field to pick some ears of corn to hang on our fence.  They had a blast playing in the corn field.  We swang, played in the sand box & enjoyed another beautiful warm fall day! 

Last night Sarah & Masen were here for awhile to visit.  Aunt Kathy stopped by too to pick up some things to take home with her to cut for me- for my upcoming Halloween Treats class.  So we both got to get snuggles from Masen. 

I burnt the midnight oil again- using the Big Shot & doing lots of cutting for my upcoming Halloweens Treats class too.  

Deke finally got home about 6:45 last night & was off to chore.  He'd been gone all day to meetings.  It was late when he finally got in last night.

This morning Deke is up early to chore & off to another meeting again.  And I'm off to pick up the boys.  Tonight we'll be going to Brayden's football game & then we're heading to Osky to the Season Championship Southern Iowa Speedway races to cheer Nathan on!  I'm going to drive over separately so that I can head home as he is done with his racing- as I still have lots of cutting to do yet every spare minute I can the rest of this week.  

I hope you have a WONDERFUL Wednesday!

Happy Stamping!
Hugs-
SUSIE

This weeks- "WEEKLY DEALS"- September 22-28, 2015!

A Halloween Treat!!

This is another box that everyone joining me for my upcoming Halloween Treats class will be making!  It is a fun one to fill with candy or any other little treat you'd like to give to someone special.  It has a velcro dot under the top flap to hold it down. 

AND check out the adorable tag here!  And the little spider web in the corner!  Plus the designer paper is cute too!

stamp set:  'Sweet Hauntings'
card stock:  Basic Black, Tangelo Twist, Very Vanilla
designer paper:  Happy Hautings
ink:  Basic Black Archival
supplies:  Simply Scored Scoring Tool, Spider Web Doily, Note Tag Punch, Paper Snips, Basic Black, 3/8" Stitched Satin ribbon, Dimensionals, Glue Dots
other:  Velco dots

++++++

Yesterday was a busy day with my family!  The boys were all as happy to see me, as I was to see them.  We read, played & watched a little movie.  Then went outside & ran, swag & enjoyed the beautiful day.  After lunch when Trey was napping, Brody & Drake had their pre-school class.  We worked on numbers yesterday.  Writing them & drawing connect the numbers, etc.  I bought some really cool dry erase markers & books.  I thought they were neat & so did the boys!  It will be fun to watch their progress in tracing & doing the fun activities over the next few months at G'ma's Pre-School class.  

Brayden rode the bus out after school, so we played outside for a few more hours.  Trey even learned how to push the gas on & make the gator go!  He can't steer it yet- so I had to walk beside him- but he definitely knows how to push on the gas & go.  It was super cute!  I can't believe he is that big already!  He does way more than most 15 month olds do.  He has to try to keep up with the big boys I guess. 

Sarah, Masen & Brayden were here to visit & eat supper with us.  Gosh....I hadn't seen Masen for 6 days & he changed sooooo much!  G'ma enjoyed some snuggles & hugs with him.  Nathan is gone a few nights this week for work.....so we missed him being here with us.

It was a late night around here......as Deke, Trevor & Mark worked on changing motors in the race car until wee hours this morning in the shop.  I burnt the midnight oil working on projects for my upcoming Halloween class. 

This morning Deke is up early to chore & he is gone all day to Des Moines to a meeting.  He'll get home from there & leaves again right away for another meeting he has tonight to attend.  He doesn't think he'll have time to chore in between meetings, so he'll be out late on the farm tonight with the piggies. 

I plan to go pick up the boys early this morning, as Manda has a meeting before school.  Then tonight I need to pay bills, unpack & get caught up on things here at home too....plus burn the midnight oil again creating & cutting more projects for my upcoming Halloween Treats class.

I hope you have a TERRIFIC Tuesday!!
Happy Stamping!!
Hugs!
SUSIE

A beautiful ornament!

This is another one of the cards that everyone stamping with me at my September classes made last week!  Isn't it just beautiful with all of the sparkle!

stamp set: 'Embellished Ornaments'
card stock:  Basic Black, Whisper White, Silver Foil, Silver Glimmer
designer paper:  Winter Wonderland Vellum Stack
ink:  Basic Gray Archival pad
other:  Big Shot, Precision Plate, Magnetic Platform, Silver Cording, Mini Silver Brads, Paper Piercing Mat, Paper Piercing Tool, Dimensionals, Glue Dots

++++++

I had a great time in Utah & learned alot!  I am always so thankful for the many friends I have & value our time together sharing about our stamping & our families.  We are definitely a big family!

Yesterday was not a good day.  I finally got home at 1:50 this morning.  It was a very long & awful day of waiting in airports.  I sat in Las Vegas for over 7 hours waiting.  Thankfully my planes were pretty much on time & I arrived in Des Moines at 11:50 pm as scheduled.  I hated driving home in the dark & played an I-Spy game with myself to keep myself awake & watching for deer.  I saw many animals- 8 coons, 2 big white dogs, 2 fox, 2 possums & 1 skunk.  Plus there were only 5 cars I met clear from Des Moines to Sigourney.  I had a hard time staying away once I hit Osky.....I was happy to pull into our driveway & climb into bed.

We were up early this morning.  Deke is off to chore & go to his weekly board meeting.  I'm to head to Manda's to pick up the boys.  I sure will be happy to see them.  G'ma missed them terribly!  I am looking forward to seeing Brayden & Masen tonight too!

I hope you have a MARVELOUS Monday!!
Happy Stamping!
Hugs-
SUSIE

A fall 'Happy Scenes'

Hey- check out this pretty fall card!  This was one of the cards that everyone that attended my September classes last week got to make.  I LOVE fall (as you all know) & this is just such an awesome new stamp set in the Holiday Catalog.  

stamp set:  'Happy Scenes'
card stock:  Chocolate Chip, Tangerine Tango, Cajun Craze, THICK Whisper White
ink:  Chocolate Chip, Mossy Meadow, Tangerine Tango
other:  Big Shot, Stylish Stripes Embossing Folder, Washi Label Punch, Gold Sequins, Metallic Gold Baker's Twine, Dimensionals, Fine-Tip Glue Pen, Glue Dots, Aqua Painters

Check out my neat PLAID embossing here.  I used the Stylish Stripes Embossing Folder.  
How did I do that:

• Ran the Chocolate Chip card stock through the Big Shot in the Stylish Stripes embossing folder.
• Removed the piece of embossed Chocolate Chip card stock from the embossing folder & flipped it over (so that the diagonal strips are going opposite of what they did before).  And ran it through the Big Shot again- embossing it again.
• AND It turns out to be this cool plaid look!!

+++++

We had another fun & long day in St. George yesterday.  I worked on some projects for one of my coming classes for awhile at the hotel in the hospitality room.  We then got on the bus & went to our final event with an early supper outside (in the yard) at the Arts Center.  It was totally amazing!  

After supper we got back on the bus & went a couple of blocks, attending an awesome musical & the St. George Musical Theater called- "West Side Story".   It was late when we got back to our hotel, but many of us hung out in the lobby visiting & saying our good-byes.  

I didn't get much sleep as I was up late packing & getting ready to leave St. George this morning.  As many of you are reading this post I'll be on a 2 hour bus ride, headed to Las Vegas where I'll get on a plane & fly to Phoenix.  I'll have a long lay over in Phoenix & finally land in Des Moines tonight at 11:50 p.m.  I'll hope to be home by 2:00 a.m. in the morning.  So I'm already dreading my day being spent traveling & trying to get home.  I just pray that my flights are all on time & I get home safely.  As I have to be ready to be at work at 7:00 a.m in the morning.

I've had a great time here at Founders this year & have enjoyed my time spent with my Stampin' Up! friends.  But I've sure missed my family!!!  And I can't wait to see Deke, our kids & all of our boys when I get home!  

Gotta run....I hope you have a SUPER Sunday!!
Happy Stamping!
Hugs-

SUSIE

Autumn Wishes

Here is one of my cards everyone joining me to stamp at my September classes last week got to make.  There is alot of new products from the Holiday Catalog used here.  I used the Curvy Corner Trio Punch again. Click HERE to see the card that I posted yesterday using it. 

stamp set:  'Among the Branches',  'Acorny Thank You' & 'Teeny Tiny Wishes'
card stock:  Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, Delightful Dijon
ink:  Soft Suede, Delightful Dijon, Cajun Craze
other:  Big Shot, Woodland Embossing Folder, 2 1/2" Circle Punch, 2" Circle Punch, Banner Triple Punch, Acorn Builder Punch, Word Window Punch, Paper Snips, Sponge Dauber, Dimensionals, Glue Dots, Gold Cording Trim

 This card is a fun fold door card.  Here it is opened up.

+++++++

Oh wow!  What a fun & busy day we had yesterday!!  We left early yesterday morning to go to Kanab to tour our Stampin' Up! manufacturing center.  We got back to the hotel & ate a quick bite to eat & then left on the bus again to go to Disney When You Wish at the Tuacahn Outdoor Theater.  The show was totally amazing!!!  I've been to 8 shows there before over the years & this was probably my favorite.  

My feet were swollen & I was beat!!  I went to bed shortly after we got back to our hotel.

This morning we are just hanging out here at the hotel stamping.  This this afternoon/evening we go to our final event activity.  This event is always a surprise.....so I wonder where we'll be going.

I hope you have a very special Saturday!
Happy Stamping!
Hugs-

SUSIE

My Founders swap!

Here is my Founders swap.  I made 110 of these with help from my Aunt Kathy (bless her).  I designed them, cut & stamped them and she helped me assemble them.  There is a vellum over lay on top of the Night of Navy snowflakes that I stamped onto the white card stock.  

Check out the new Curvy Corner Trio Punch & the beautiful big Iced Rhinestone Embellishment that I used in the center of the snowflake.

stamp set:  'Flurry of Wishes'
card stock:   Thick Whisper White, Whisper White, Vellum, Night of Navy 
ink:  Night of Navy
other:   Night of Navy Seam Binding Ribbon, Extra Large Oval Punch, Iced Rhinestones Embellishments, Curvy Corner Trio Punch, Dimensionals, Glue Dots

 ++++

We had a full day yesterday!  I enjoyed my stamp class at Susan's home yesterday afternoon.  It was so much fun & we made some super cute projects!  Last night I went out for supper with a group of friends & then back to the hotel for our PJ Party/Swap.  I was super tired when I finally got back to my room last night. 

This morning we are off bright & early on the bus for our annual tour of our Stampin' Up! facility at Kanab.  We'll get to tour the plant & eat lunch with the employees & head back to the hotel.

Tonight some of us are going to the Tucahan Outdoor Theater to see the musical- 'Disney's When You Wish'.  It will be late when we get back to the hotel.

I hope you have a very special Thursday!!

Happy Stamping!
hugs-
SUSIE

A beautiful snowflake card!

Hello!!
Greetings from St. George, Utah as I'm here for my Stampin' Up! Founders  trip.

Check out this beautiful snowflake card that I made.  I love the shine of the silver foil paper on it too!  And check out the silver cord I added to it.  I just think it is a pretty elegant card!

stamp set:'Wonderland' (small snowflake cluster) & 'Holly Jolly Greetings'
card stock:  Marina Mist, Whisper White, Silver Foil
ink:  Marina Mist
other:  Oval Punch, Extra Large Oval Punch, White Satin Ribbon, Silver Cording, Dimensionals, Iced Rhinestone Embellishments, Glue Dots

+++

Yesterday was a really LONG day!!  Lots of hours traveling to get to Utah.  I was so happy to finally walk in the door to the hotel.  They had a yummy buffet with chicken crepes & a salad, waiting for us.

I love flying, but I just hate the length of time wasted in the airports.  And today on top of it, I had to take a 2 hour ride on a big van/bus when I left the airport- in order to get to our hotel.  I get motion sickness when riding in big vehicles like this.....so the van/ride sure wasn't fun for me. 

We did have a fun night at our Welcome "BBQ" supper out around the pool.  Supper was good, but our chocolate cake for desert was awesome!  It was great to get to see old friends & meet some new ones too.

I was just exhausted, but had a hard time falling asleep last night so I stayed up working on adding ribbon to my swaps for awhile......I still have a few more to get my ribbons added to this morning yet.   I have to have them done before we have our big swap tonight. 

This afternoon I am headed to a stamp class at Susan's home here in St. George with some other demonstrator friends.  WOW- I'm excited that I get to actually go to a class & I don't have to create & cut for it.  I just have to show up & stamp!  We will be making 3 projects.

Tonight many of us are going out for supper together.  Then we'll head back to the hotel & have our big Founder's Swap & P.J. party!  

Check out the banner above the door to the hotel!  It was just for us! 

Until tomorrow.....

I hope you have a very special Thursday!!
Happy Stamping!
Hugs-

SUSIE

A sunflower!

Check out this cool sunflower that I made using the new Festive Flower Builder Punch on page 31 in the Holiday Catalog.

This was one of the cards that everyone joining me last week for my monthly classes got to make!  You all know that fall is my favorite time of the year & so this cool flower is very fitting!

stamp set: 'Happy Birthday, Everyone', 'Gorgeous Grunge' & 'Watercolor Wash'
card stock:  Early Espresso, Whisper White, Always Artichoke, Delightful Dijon
ink:  Early Espresso, Crumb Cake 
other:  Stapler, 1 3/4" Circle Punch, Big Shot, Decorative Dots Embossing folder, Festive Flower Builder Punch, Dimensionals, Glue Dots

+++++

Yesterday the boys enjoyed playing outside the majority of the day.  My mom & sister Julie visited us awhile in the morning.  In the afternoon Deke went to the locker & brought home meat that we got put away in our freezers.  When the boys left I spent my evening canning the last of our tomatoes.  They sure will be good to eat & cook with this winter. 

Nathan, Sarah & Masen stopped by a few minutes last night too so that G'ma got to feed Masen his bottle & have some snuggles with him!  He was a month old on Monday!  I can't believe it!  

I burnt the midnight oil packing my suitcases & getting everything done around the house.  I will be sleeping on my plane today!

As many of you read this I will be headed to the airport this morning.  I'm flying from Des Moines to Pheonix & then to Las Vegas.  There I'll get on a bus & have a 2 hour ride to St. George, Utah.  I'm blessed to have earned Founders again for the past 10 years in a row & I'll be spending the next 5 days with the top 100 Stampin' Up! demonstrators!  I am excited to get to see so many of my friends there.  And I am looking forward to meeting some new friends there too!  We have lots of fun things planned to do!!  And of course I have a ton of stamping that I hope to get done too while I'm there.  I have a bunch of stuff laid out to pack in my suitcase so that I can work on upcoming class projects while I'm on vacation & resting.  Ha!Ha!

I plan to continue my blog posting each day....so be sure to check back to see what projects I've created to share & I'll chat you on on things I've been doing in Utah.

I am already worrying about missing my family (especially all of my boys) while I'm gone....I'll be looking forward to seeing them all early on Monday morning again.  I am a home body!

Ok....I'm praying I have safe travels.....until tomorrow!

I hope you have a WONDERFUL Wednesday!

Happy Stamping!
Hugs-

SUSIE

This weeks "WEEKLY DEALS"- September 15-21, 2015!

A cute little Dracula

Check out this cute little Dracula!  He is from the stamp set- 'Haunt Ya Later'!  This is one of the projects for my upcoming Halloween Treats Class.  

I made the coffin by altering the Gift Card Envelope Thinlit.  This is just an adorable treat box that is big enough to hold a bigger candy bar or some other similar sized treat. 

stamp set:  'Haunt Ya Later'
card stock:  Basic Black, Very Vanilla
designer paper:  Happy Hauntings
ink:  Archival Basic Black
markers:   Smokey Slate, Tangelo Twist
other:  Spider Web Doily,  Basic Black 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon, Big Shot, Gift Card Envelope Framelit, Oval Framelit, Paper Snips, Dimensionals, Glue Dots, Tear & Tape Adhesive

+++++

We were on the go all day yesterday & we will be again today!  I got my hair cut after the boys left last night.  I came home & made supper & then I burnt the midnight oil placing orders.  Tonight after work I'll be doing farm bookwork (paying bills), finalizing a workshop order, finishing some swaps & packing!!  YIKES- I leave early tomorrow morning for this years Founders in St. George, Utah.  Humm....I doubt I get to bed before I have to leave for the airport, so I'll plan to sleep on the plane. 

I'm off this morning to pick up the boys for the day.  My mom is going to stop down to visit us a bit & pick up her new scrapbook & supplies she ordered.  So....gotta run.......

I hope you have a TERRIFIC Tuesday!!
Happy Stamping!
Hugs-
SUSIE