This is a card that I created for a swap I was in this month.  It is similar to the birthday card that I made for Manda back in November.  I used the set- 'Birthday Blooms'.  I love the script of the words in this stamp set.  I thought it turned out cute with the Mint Macroon designer paper.  Don't you like it?

stamp set:  'Birthday Blooms'
card stock:  Mint Macaroon, Blushing Bride, Whisper White
designer paper:  Birthday Bouquet
markers:  Mint Macroon, Watermelon Wonder, Blushing Bride
other:  2 1/2" Circle Punch, Banner Triple Punch, Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack (small flower), Pansy Flower punch, Soft Subtles Candy Dots, Dimensionals

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Last night was a late night working on the farm.  We were both cold & tired when we got in.  I made a big pot of chili soup late yesterday afternoon & it was nice to have it all done & ready to help warm us up. 

I'm off to pick up the boys for the day.  Tonight when they leave I'll be a stamping fool!  And I pray that I have good mojo.

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

A 'Grateful Bunch'!

This new set in the Occasions catalog is called- 'Grateful Bunch'.  It has a coordinating punch that goes with the cluster of 3 flowers that are in the set.  This new punch is called- Blossom Bunch Punch.

There is not a punch to go with this bigger flower that I used here on my card, so I had to hand cut this flower out.  The little center white flower though is the smallest of the 3 flowers in the punch.  

stamp set:  'Grateful Bunch'
card stock:  Old Olive, Crushed Curry, Whisper White
designer paper:   It's My Party
ink:  Old Olive, Crushed Curry
other:  Blossom Bunch Punch, It's My Party Enamel Dots, Tea Lace Doilies, Paper Snips, Dimensinoals

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I burnt the midnight oil stamping last night & I created 2 more cards using this stamp set & coordinating punch.  I'll be posting them in the next week or so here on my blog, so stay tuned.  I think that they turned out pretty cute!! 

I'm off to pick up the boys this morning.  Trey has a doctor appointment later this morning.  And Steve & Deke are both sick.......so we can't win around here.  

Tonight when the boys go home I'll be headed out to work on the farm helping Deke mark, sort & load hogs.......so today is going to be another crazy day around here.  

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

It is yummy- Birthday Bouquet Designer Paper!

Check out this cool designer paper!  It is called Birthday Bouquet & coordinates with the stamp set- 'Birthday Blooms'.  I love it!  Isn't it just yummy!  There are lots of different colors & patterns in this assorted package.

stamp set:  'Birthday Blooms'
card stock:  Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Blushing Bride
markers:  Blushing Bride, Mint Macaroon & Watermelon Wonder
other:  White Perfect Accents, 2 3/8" Scalloped Circle Punch, 2 1/2" Circle Punch, Triple Banner Punch, Dimensionals

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Susie's Hair Hut was open last night & I got Steven's hair cut.  Masen was here with me late & I worked on catching up in the house.  I burnt the midnight oil working on stamp stuff.  Deke worked late on the farm & then he helped Nathan in the shop.

This morning Deke is off to the office & I'm off to pick up my boys.  When the boys all go home tonight I hope to get lots of stamping done.

Gotta run.....

I hope you have a WONDERFUL Wednesday!!

Happy Stamping!
Hugs-
SUSIE

Check out the NEW Catalogs that start TODAY!

Click HERE to see the NEW Occasions Catalog

The NEW Occasions Catalog begins today- January 5, 2016 & ends May 31, 2016! 
It is jam packed full of LOTS of NEW THINGS!  So be sure to check it out!

Click HERE to see the NEW Sale-a-bration Catalog

 

Sale-a-Bration is one of my favorite times of the year & I always looks forward to it.  During Sale-a-bration there are many ways you can earn FREE Stampin' Up! products and you know we all love things that are FREE!

Sale-a-bration starts TODAY- January 5, 2016 and ends March 31, 2106!

You can enjoy Sale-a-bration in these 3 different ways-

• With every $50 your spend (before shipping & tax), you can earn a FREE Sale-a-Bration exclusive product.
• When you place an on-line order of $250 or host a party that totals over $250, you earn an addiontal $25 in Stampin' Rewards.  AND you will also earn a FREE Sale-a-Bration product for every $50 you spend (before shipping and tax)!
• But this is the best deal!  Purchase the $99 Starter Kit and get up to $155 in your choice of Stampin’ Up! products.  That’s $56 in FREE products!  You can learn more about this amazing deal by clicking HERE on my demonstrator website OR you can contact me HERE!

This weeks "WEEKLY DEALS" January 5-11, 2016!

Woo Hoo!!! The New Occasions Catalog & Sale-a-bration Catalog start today!

Woo Hoo!  Today the NEW Occasions Catalog & NEW Sale-a-bration Catalog- both start!!!  I am sooo EXCITED about them!  Aren't you?  They are both jam packed with LOTS of cool new things!!!  I can't wait to create & share ideas with you in the coming months using things from them. 

If you haven't gotten an NEW Occasions Catalog or NEW Sale-a-bration Catalog in the mail from me yet- let me know. 

Here is a card I made using the new sets called- 'A Nice Cuppa' & 'Suite Sayings'.  Notice the new designer paper too.  It is called- Love Blooms!

This card makes me think of my grandma! LOL- maybe that is showing my age- but I love it!  And it really does remind me of her. 

stamp set:  'A Nice Cuppa' & 'Suite Sayings'
card stock:  Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Blushing Bride
designer paper:  Love Blooms Paper Stack
ink:  Crumb Cake, Blushing Bride
other:   Big Shot, Cup & Kettle Framelit dies, Magnetic Platform, Crumb Cake 3/8" Stitched Ribbon, Basic Pearls, Tea Lace Paper Doilies, Dimensionals, Glue Dots, Scalloped Tag Topper Punch

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I had a full day yesterday with all of my boys!  Then last night Deke & I went to Osky to a co-worker & neighbors mother's visitation.  We ate supper at Taco Bell & got a few groceries before we headed home.  I burnt the midnight oil doing laundry & bookwork.  I had hoped to get to stamp- but that didn't happen.  

This morning I'm headed out to pick up all of my boys.  Tonight Susie's Hair Hut will be open for business, as Steve needs a hair cut & the boys need trimmed up too.  After supper & everyone leaves I hope to get to stamp a little.  I'm just dying to get a chance to play with my new products from the Occasions & Sale-a-bration Catalogs & I just haven't had time to yet.

I hope you have a TERRIFIC Tuesday!!

Happy Stamping!
Hugs!
SUSIE

My August calendar

Lovin' my August calendar page.  I created it with my friend Judy in mind.....as she loves purple!  And I love this flower & dragonfly stamp set.  

I shadow stamped the flower images onto the Elegant Eggplant piece under the dragonfly too.....even though it is hard to tell that here in the photo.

stamp set:  'Awesomely Artistic'
card stock:  Tip Top Taupe, Whisper White, Elegant Eggplant
ink:  Elegant Eggplant
other:  Large Oval Punch, Banner Punch, Paper Snips (to cut out dragonfly), White Gel Pen

++++

I worked all day long yesterday unpacking & putting away boxes of left over things from classes, from early in the morning until about midnight.  I got alot done, but still have tons more to do.  

This morning I'm off early to pick up the boys.  Tonight after work I'll be working on creating cards for upcoming stamp classes I have this week.

Deke is off early this morning to chore & then he is headed to the office for his weekly board meeting.  

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

Time to Celebrate!

Here is my July calendar page.  What else can you do for a July page but stars, red, white & blue?  I think it turned out cute. 

If you look closely at the Night of Navy background piece I did emboss it with the Lucky Stars Embossing folder to add dimension to the page. 

stamp set:  'Watercolor Wishes'
card stock:  Night of Navy, Whisper White, Real Red
ink:  Night of Navy
other:  Big Shot, Lucky Stars Embossing Folder, Washi Label Punch, Itty Bitty Accents (small star) punch, Dimensionals

++++

Manda with me to visit Dick at the hospital yesterday afternoon.  He was doing really good.  If he continues to do well- he'll get to go home later today.  We enjoyed getting to visit with him & my mom.  And my step-sister Brenda came right before we left too, so it was good to see her too. 

I worked on emptying & putting away old stamp class things for the majority of the day/night, except when I ran to the Sigourney Hospital to see Dick.  I am not planning on leaving the house today.  I am planning to continue to go though boxes of stuff.  I also have to get our Christmas tree down & put away & everything in the house back to normal......as tomorrow I'll have all 4 of my boys back full time.

I hope you have a SUPER Sunday!!

Happy Stamping!
Hugs-
SUSIE

Celebrate in June!

This is my June calendar page.  I did it as a masculine one & marked Father's Day on June 19th for 2016.  (This is also Deke's birthday!)  It is a clean & simple page- but love the little banner punch ere where I punched it out 2 times & used it as 'flags' under the Extra Large Oval Punch.

stamp set:  'Guy Greetings' & 'Birthday Blooms'
card stock:  Chocolate Chip, Whisper White & Sahara Sand
ink:  Chocolate Chip
other:  Extra Large Oval Punch, Banner Punch, Dimensionals

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We had a fun morning with the boys!  When they went home yesterday afternoon I worked on getting caught up on boxes of left over things from stamp classes.  I got alot done, but I didn't even make a dent in the piles.  So guess what I'm doing today!

My step-dad Dick, fell yesterday & went to the hospital in the ambulance.  He'll be there a few days.  Thankfully there weren't any broken bones.  Please keep him in your prayers.  I'm going to go see him later today.  

I hope you have a SENSATIONAL Saturday!!

Happy Stamping!
Hugs-

SUSIE

Count down to a "HAPPY NEW YEAR" is here!

Our New Year has started out as busy & crazy as ever.  Gotta love it!!  We treasure these times & realize how blessed we are.  We had all of the boys (except Masen) stay with us last night.  We played games & had lots of fun!  Drake wanted to have a slumber party, so the 3 big boys camped out on the family room floor all night!!  I think Trey was the winner at staying up the latest.  Everyone did sleep in a little this morning until 8- so we were a little late at getting breakfast.  Brayden wanted homemade cinnamon rolls & bacon, so he got his wish.  We then took him home to his moms.  

This afternoon we will all be watching the Iowa Hawkeye's & cheering them on!  

Go Hawks!!

Wishing you all a happy, healthy & wonderful 2016!

Love & Blessings from our home to yours!

Susie, Deke & family

May Flowers....

Here is my May calendar.  This flower stamp is such a pretty set & I thought it was perfect for this page.  I don't know if I've ever done a page before with colored card stock & stamped the images in black before. Plus I love it even more that this flower image has a coordinating punch to go with it!!  And I really like the words in this stamp set too. 

stamp set:  'Birthday Blooms'
card stock: Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Whisper White
ink:  Archival Basic Black
other:  Basic Pearls, Paper Snips, 1 3/4" Circle Punch, Pansy Punch, Dimensionals

+++

Yesterday I spent my day with Masen & enjoyed that.  It isn't often I have him alone.  He is so sweet & growing so fast.  He is 4 1/2 months old already & has quite the personality.  

Last night we all went to the Little Savage Wrestling Tournament at the Sigourney High School.  Brody & Drake wrestled in the little Pee Wee division.  It was their first tournament.  They did pretty good & both came home with 3rd place metals in their weight groups.  They've been going to Wednesday night wrestling practices the past couple of months.  Their dad (Steven) was a very good wrestler.  It was fun to watch them & see their personalities reflecting.  It was a packed gym with 200 little kids there from pre-school to 8th grade that were all wrestling.  It was late (about 10:45) when we got home.  We were all tired. 

This morning I'm off to work with Deke on the farm.  The boys will come about 1:00 this afternoon & they will be spending the night with us.  So we'll be celebrating the end of 2015 with our little guys here.  We're gonna have a slumber party according to Drake!  We'll play games & have lots of fun!

It was 30 years ago tonight that Deke's little brother Daryn passed away.  He was such a great guy!  We miss him so much.  So this is a night that we really don't celebrate much.......

Gotta run.....I'm late at posting this & getting outside.  Our internet wasn't working last night & I couldn't get this all done ahead of time like I normally do.

Wishing you a safe & fun New Year Eve!

Have a great day!!
Happy Stamping!
Hugs-
SUSIE

Spring- has sprung!

Here is my April calendar page- making me think of spring!  Flowers & rain shower.....isn't it cute!

And I thought the words- 'The Sky's the Limit' was perfectly fitting here.

stamp sets:  'Over the Rainbow' (words) & 'Sprinkles of Life' (clouds, rain drops, stems of flowers)
card stock:  Marina Mist, Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White, Watermelon Wonder
ink:  Marina Mist, Archival Basic Black
marker:  Pear Pizzazz
other: White Gel Pen (center of flowers), Glue Dots, Dimensionals, Tree Builder Punch (for the clouds & little flowers)

+++++

Oh my!!  You gotta love our wintery weather.  Sleet, snow, ice, snow & more snow!  I think we woke up to about 6" of snow yesterday morning.  It was slick!  I tried to go to town, but couldn't even make it up the hill on our gravel road.  It is a good thing my dad taught me how to be a good backer upper!  I had to back up about 1/2 mile.  Thankfully I made it back home & into our garage & I didn't end up in the ditch or have to have Deke pull me out because I got stuck!  I was pretty proud.  

I ended up working outside with Deke on the farm from about 10:30 yesterday morning until about 5:30 last night.  Oh Boy am I sore!  I used muscles I haven't used in awhile.  We got alot done.  I do love working on the farm with him.  We make a good team.  

Today Masen will spend the day G'ma.  Then tomorrow I'll work on the farm with Deke all day again.  And tomorrow night we are having a New Year's Slumber party with our boys!!

I hope you have a WONDERFUL Wednesday!
Happy Stamping!
Hugs-
SUSIE

This weeks "WEEKLY DEALS"- December 29, 2015- January 4, 2016!

Good luck!

This is my March calendar page.  Green & shamrocks= good luck! 

I thought this page turned out cute!

stamp set:  'Awesomely Artistic' (dots in the background), 'Over the Rainbow' (words- Good Luck), 'Pictogram Punches' (small stripped heart)
card stock:  Cucumber Crush, Basic Black & Whisper White
ink:  Cucumber Crush
marker:  Cucumber Crush
other:  1 1/4" Circle Punch, 1 1/2" Circle Punch, Itty Bitty Punch Accents Punch Pack (small heart), Glue Dots, Dimensionals

++++++

Wow- we started out yesterday morning with sleet, then slush, freezing rain & then snow!  Winter is here!  What a mess!!!  At least we didn't have a bunch of ice or downed power lines. 

Yesterday morning I ran errands in town while Deke was at his board meeting.  We then went to Keota to pick up plastic & strips so that we can cover the curtains in the finisher, so help keep it warmer for the smaller pigs.  I worked on bookwork all afternoon.  Last night we went to our friend Terry Hollingsworth's visitation.  I've worked with Terry on & off at many of my jobs the past 32 years.  He has become a very good friend to us.  He was a deputy sherriff's officer when I worked as a jailer/dispatcher, then a city officer when I was at the county attorney's office & is currently the mayor of our city.  He lost his long battle with brain cancer.  He will definitely be missed by many in our community.   He was also neighbors to Manda & Steve- so I saw him almost everyone morning when I got to their house, as he was out walking his dog.  

Today if the roads is good I need to run to Osky & What Cheer to the banks.  I then plan to help Deke put on the plastic that we got yesterday for the finishers.  So we have alot to get done if everything ends up working out the way we have planned for it to- so I have my fingers crossed.

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

A heart.....

Here is my February calendar page.  I used the stamp set- 'Gift from the Garden'.  Check out the Red Glimmer paper I used for the punch out heart on the flower pot.

stamp set:  'Gift from the Garden'
card stock:  Real Red, Basic Black, Whisper White, Red Glimmer
ink:  Archival Basic Black
markers:  Real Red, Wild Wasabi
other:  Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack (small heart), Dimensionals

++++

We had a great day spent with my side of the family yesterday!  It is always so much fun to get together & see everyone.  We had a house full!  

Last night was a late night on the farm with the piggies.  It was cold out!  We had soup to help warm us up for supper when we got in.  

This morning Deke is off early to chore & head to the office.  I'm off to run errands (post office, John Deere store, grocery store, recycle center, bank, etc).  We are suppose to have ice, snow & a wintery mix of bad weather all day today!  We are not looking forward to this.  So depending on the weather- we'll see how much I get done this morning.  I think Nathan & Brayden will be here later today for a bit working in the shop- so looking forward to seeing them.

I hope to work on bookwork this afternoon & will be going out to help Deke with the piggies for a few hours too. 

Wishing you a MARVELOUS Monday!!

Happy Stamping!
Hugs-
SUSIE