It's a 'Number of Years'!

Check out this cute card that my demonstrator friend Sandy Carlson made & sent to me for my birthday back in February!  I LOVE IT!  And the colors she chose are perfect- Blushing Bride & Mint Macaron. 

Check out this stamp set in the Occasions Catalog on page 11.  And be sure to notice the sample on pg. 10 that is similar to this. 

This is a really cool stamp set that you can use to personalize for whatever year you are needing to make a card for.  

It is awesome that this stamp set has coordinating framelits that go with it!!  I always love it when Stampin' Up! designs coordinating sets & framelits.  And you can save 15% when you buy this stamp set & framelits together in a bundle!!  

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Yesterday was another beautiful day out!!  We had warmer temps & a little wind- but it was great & the boys had fun playing outside!  We are so happy to see some nice spring days.  I picked up sticks in our yard for about 1 1/2 hours again yesterday morning while the boys played.  And I'm still not done picking them up yet.....will work on them again on Monday if the weather permits.  

Last night Deke, Nathan, Sarah, Brayden & Masen went racing.  Nathan got wrecked in his heat, but the guys got things fixed & he ended up getting 7th in the main.  Luckily he wasn't hurt.  I hope the car wasn't hurt too bad. 

I went to watch Brody & Drake play soccer last evening.  It was fun & they did good!  I then came back home & burnt the midnight oil working on stamping stuff.

This morning I'm up early to get my walk in & will then spend my day/night stamping- other than running to town to watch the boys' soccer games- I will be a stamping fool today.  

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

A CUTE pop up card!!

Oh my.....I just love this fun pop up card!  This is one of the cards that everyone joining me for my April monthly classes got to make last week!

Aren't these little balloons just so stinkin' cute!  I just love punches!!  They are from the Party Punch Pack. 

And if you look really closely at the bottom of this Real Red card stock on the front/bottom of this card- you can see that I used the Confetti Textured Embossing Folder on it. 

When you open up the front flap on the card- look at what you see on the inside!!  This little cake & message pops up out of this little pocket!

stamp set:  'Party Wishes'
card stock:  Real Red, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White
designer paper:  Brights 12x12 Designer Series Paper Stack- Daffodil Delight, Real Red & Tempting Turqouise
ink:  Archival Basic Black, Tempting Turqouise
marker:  Daffodil Delight  (to color directly on the candles on the top of the cake shown here)
other:  Big Shot, Confetti Embossing Folder, Party Punch Pack (small Balloon), Dimensionals, Glue Dots, Simply Scored Scoring Tool, Daffodil Delight 1/4" Cotton ribbon, White Gel Pen (for the strings on the balloons), Tear & Tape Adhesive

Measurements:
*Tempting Turquoise:
-5 1/2 x 4 1/4"
-4 1/4 x 1 3/4"
*Real Red:
-4 x 11"- score at 3 1/2" & 8 3/4"
*Whisper White:
-5 x 2 3/4"- score at 3/4"
4 1/4 x 1 1/2"

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Long day/night yesterday!!  I was just beat when I got in last night from the farm.  I worked on a little stamping stuff & called it a night.

This morning I'm off to go pick up the boys & spend my day with them.   Tonight the twins have a soccer game that I'll go to.  Nathan is racing, so Deke will be going with him & his family to the races.  When I get home from the soccer game I'll burn the midnight oil stamping!!

Gotta run......

I hope you have a FABULOUS Friday!!

Happy Stamping!
Hugs-
SUSIE

Pretty flowers in 'Helping Me Grow'!

Check out this pretty flower card!  It looks like spring!  

This is another card that everyone joining me at my All Occasions Card Classes made last month.  This big flower imaged stamp is just really cool!

stamp sets:  'Helping Me Grow' & 'Suite Sayings'
card stock:  Pear Pizzazz, So Saffron, Shimmery White
ink:  Archival Basic Black, So Saffron, Pear Pizzazz
other:  Aqua Painters, Banner Triple Punch, 1 1/34" Circle Punch, 2 3/8" Scalloped Circle Punch, Dimensionals

I colored the flowers here by squishing the ink pad lid & picking the ink off of the inside of the top lid with the Aqua Painters!  

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Yesterday was a busy day with the boys.  We did get to play outside for quite awhile yesterday morning.  It was a little windy, but the temps were around 59*- so that was nice.  

Last night we all went to the races to cheer Nathan on.  It was late when we got home.  He looked great & won his heat!  He was running about 6th & had to pull in during the main, as his motor was too hot.  So it was a bummer of a night. 

This morning I'm off to go pick up the boys for the day.  Deke is home to work on the farm all day.  It will be nice he'll be home to eat lunch with us today. 

My sister Julie is coming to visit us for a bit this morning.  My niece, Mattie graduates next month & I'm gonna help Julie figure out the food for her party.

I'm hoping the weather is good again today so we can play outside.  Tonight when the boys all leave I'll be headed out to be a farmer & help Deke with the pigs.  Hopefully I will get in early enough that I can work on some stamping stuff for a couple of hours too tonight.  

I hope you have a WONDERFUL Thursday!!

Happy Stamping!
Hugs-
SUSIE

It is 'A Beautiful Ride'!

This is another one of the cards I created for my April monthly classes.  Everyone joining me last week got to make it.  Isn't this just the cutest little love bug car!  There are several different word stamps included in this set for many different occasions. 

Check out the cool foil tape along the bottom of it that I embossed it with the Zig Zag Embossing Folder.  I found this at my local hardware store in the heating department.  It comes in a big roll & it is already sticky on the back side.  It is already this width too.  And it so cool to emboss & add texture to.

stamp set:  'A Beautiful Ride'
card stock:  Basic Black, Whisper White, Real Red
ink:  Archival Basic Black
marker:  Basic Black
other:  Big Shot, Zip Zag Embossing Folder, Banner Punch, Large Oval Punch, Hearts Border Punch, Candy Dot Brads, Dimensionals, Glue Dots, Paper Piercing Mat, Paper Piercing Tool

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We had a full day with the boys yesterday.  The 3 Seeley boys got to each ride with Papa in the tractor for about 1 hour- so they were thrilled!  We also played outside for quite awhile yesterday afternoon.  We are loving this nicer weather.  All of the boys just love being outside!

Masen is growing up fast & on the move- everywhere now!  When my UPS man (Chase) came he laughed that Masen was trying to escape, as he was clear over at the door when Chase came in.  Masen also loved swinging & riding on the little push car when we played outside yesterday too.  He loves watching the bigger boys & especially likes Trey- I think they'll be best buds.  Wow- I know that they are all growing up too fast!!  We are very blessed that we get to see them all so often & be such a big part of their lives. 

Last night I worked in the yard for a couple of hours picking up sticks so that we could mow.  Wow- the grass is sure green & growing.  When I got in I then burnt the midnight oil working on stamping stuff.  

Woo Hooo- Deke finally got done pumping last night.  Now he's got some field work to do before Jess can come plant the corn, but we are gaining!

This morning Deke is off early to chore.  He'll then head to the office for a little bit & then he's off to Mt. Pleasant for a meeting.  And then home again to chore. 

I'm off to pick up the boys.  Hopefully it will be another nice day today so that we can go out to play.

Tonight we're all headed to Osky to the races.  I hope that Nathan has good luck!  We'll be there to cheer him on! 

I hope you have a WONDERFUL Wednesday!!

Happy Stamping!
Hugs-

SUSIE

This weeks "WEEKLY DEALS"- APril 12-18, 2016!

This is the last week for "WEEKLY DEALS"!  There are ALOT of good deals here! 

Check them out in my on line store- CLICK HERE!
 

Here is a great guy card!

Here is another card that everyone made at my All Occasions Card Classes.  It is a great card.  I just love this World Traveler Embossing Folder.  I used a sponge dauber with Lost Lagoon ink & rubbed over the top of the embossing folder to make it darker & more dominate, so that it would "pop" more.

stamp set:  'Going Global'
card stock:  Sahara Sandy, Basic Black, Lost Lagoon
ink:  Archival Basic Black, Lost Lagoon
other:  Big Shot, World Traveler Embossing Folder, Large Oval Punch, 2" Circle Punch, 2 1/2" Circle Punch, Banner Triple Punch, Paper Piercing Mat, Paper Piercing Tool, Candy Dot Brad, Stampin' Sponge, Dimensionals

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Yesterday was a long day......

I enjoyed the boys!  It was a little warmer, but still really windy out, but we played outside for over an hour yesterday anyways.  It was great to hear them have fun running & playing.  I picked up sticks!  Our yard is just full of them.  We had a terrible wind storm on Saturday, 4/2.  We had alot of branches & sticks knocked out of our trees & we lost part of the roof off of one of our hog buildings.  So now to find time to get that stuff all cleaned up too.

Last night Deke worked late in the field.  If everything goes good today, he is home & will be working on the farm & in the field- so will hopefully get all done with emptying our 3 lagoons.  

After the boys all went home I burnt the midnight oil working on entering orders & finalizing things from my classes I had over the weekend.  

I'm off this morning to go pick up all of the boys for the day!  I will be burning the midnight oil again tonight when they go home.  I'm trying to catch up on farm bookwork, stamping bookwork & piles of papers that need sorted & filed.  I have LOTS of stamping to do the next 2 weeks too- so have to get caught up on everything else so that I can get going on that too.

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

'Party With Cake'

Here is another one of the cards everyone joining me for my All Occasions Card Class made a couple of weeks ago.

stamp set:  'Party With Cake'
card stock:  Basic Black, Melon Mambo, Whisper White
designer paper:  It's My Party Designer
ink:  Archival Basic Black
other:  Baker's Twine Combo Pack (Melon Mambo), Washi Label Punch, Scalloped Tag Topper Punch, Dimensionals, Glue Dot

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I had a long day yesterday from the time I left the house until I got back home.  It was a fun day stamping with everyone though!!  And I got to visit Judy for a little bit on my way home too!

We ran to Osky late last night to deposit a hog check, get a few groceries & ate a late supper.  I then burnt the midnight oil getting caught up on emails, mail, laundry, etc.

This morning Deke is off early to chore & head to the courthouse for his weekly board meeting.  He has another meeting to attend tonight too.  

I'm off to pick up my boys for the day.  When they leave tonight I'll be working on catching up on things around here & getting things from this past weekends classes all unpacked & put away.

I hope you have a MARVELOUS Monday!!

Happy Stamping!
Hug!
SUSIE

ENJOY!

Here is another card that everyone joining me for my monthly April classes this week got to make!  Doesn't it remind you of spring?

stamp set:  'Happy Home'
card stock:  Mint Macaron, Whisper White, Soft Suede
designer paper:  2015-2017 In Color- (Mint Macaron)
ink:  Soft Suede, Soft Sky, Mint Macaron
markers:  Mint Macaron, So Saffron, Wisteria Wonder, Pink Pirouette (to color the little flowers)
other:  Big Shot, Softly Falling Embossing Folder, Circle Thinlits, 2 1/2" Circle Punch, Word Window Punch, Sponge Daubers, Dimensionals, Glue Dots, White Perfect Accents, Whisper White 1/4" Cotton Ribbon, Paper Snips (to make a banner on the end of the word window punch out)

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Yesterday was a fun morning stamping!!  Then I was off to Brody & Drake's soccer game.  Back home to pick up everything & pack up things for tomorrow's 2 stamp classes.  And then we were then off to the races in West Liberty!  

I'm off early this morning to spend my day stamping!  I have 2 stamp classes.  I can't wait to see everyone & share!!

I am going to stop to visit my dear friend Judy for a few minutes on my way home tonight!  I can't wait to see her.

I hope you have a SUPER Sunday!

Happy Stamping!
hugs-
SUSIE 

A CUTE card with 'A Nice Cuppa'!

Here is another fun fold card that I created for my April monthly classes!  I used the cool set- 'A Nice Cuppa' for it.   This card would be great Mother's Day or you could use it for any occasion to send to a (girl) friend.

stamp set:  'A Nice Cuppa'
card stock:  Vellum, Whisper White, Wisteria Wonder, 
designer paper:  Have a Cuppa
ink:  Wisteria Wonder
other:  Cups & Kettle Framelits, Bit Shot, Magnetic Platform, Circle Collection Framelits, Hearts Border Punch, Tea Lace Doilies, Wisteria Wonder 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon, Simply Scored Scoring Tool, Simply Scored Diagonal Plate, Whisper White Baker's Twine, Tear & Tape Adhesive

Check out the fun fold!  This is from the back side.

Measurements-  Wisteria Wonder- 5 1/2" x 8 1/2"- using the Simply Scored Scoring Tool= score at 4 1/4'; make a quarter of a turn, using the diagonal score plate- score at 2 3/4" on both ends, meeting in the middle.  

 Fold up on the diagonal scores so that the points meet in the center front of the card.  

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The boys & I had a fun day yesterday.  We are ready for warmer temps though, so we can go outside to play!!  This darn cold & strong winds have been terrible!

Last night I had a great group that came to stamp with me!!  We all had a good time!!!  I am glad everyone joined me!

When everyone left last night I got the house & tables all picked up again, so that I'm ready for my next stamp class I have here at our home in this morning.  Then I took food & went out to the field to ride in the tractor with Deke for awhile so that we could catch up on each others days.  He worked until wee hours this morning.  I came in about 12:50 & was ready for bed. 

This morning I'm looking forward to stamping with everyone joining me here at our home for my class.  

At noon the twins (Brody & Drake) have a soccer game, so we'll bundle up good & run to town to watch them play.  Then tonight we are all going to West Liberty to the races to cheer on Nathan!  So today is going to be a long & busy day!!  

Tomorrow morning bright & early I'll be heading out to stamp again for the day!  I'll be having a class in the morning & a class in the afternoon too.  Cheryl & Becky are my hostesses!!  Woo hoo!!  

On my way home I'm going to stop & visit my dear friend Judy for a few minutes too!  I can't wait to see her. 

Gotta run.....

I hope you have a SENSATIONAL Saturday!!

Happy Stamping!
Hugs-

SUSIE

You're In My Thoughts!

This is another card that everyone joining me at my All Occasions card classes last month got to make.

Personally I've had a ton of sympathy cards to send lately.  This is one that I've used.  It would also make a great guy card too! 

I just really like this card & these colors together. 

stamp sets:  'Wetlands' & 'Best Thoughts' (hostess set)
card stock:  Sahara Sand, Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip
ink:  Chocolate Chip
other:  Very Vanilla Thick Twine, Dimensionals

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We had a busy day yesterday on the farm.  Here is a couple of pictures of the boys with Papa.  

 Brody, Drake & Papa Deke

Trey & Papa Deke

Last night we worked on the farm & sold hogs after the boys left.  I then burnt the midnight oil working on getting things ready for my upcoming classes here. 

This morning I'm off to go pickup the boys for the day.  Deke is home today to work on the farm all day.  

Then tonight I have a house full joining me for my monthly Stampin' class here at our home!!  Woo Hoo!!  We're gonna have a fun!!  I can't wait!

I hope you have a FABULOUS Friday!!

Happy Stamping!
Hugs-
SUSIE

Here is some happy mail!

Here are some cool cards that I made to send to a few members of my Iowa Inkers team to celebrate some things- new team members, promotions, sales, birthdays, anniversaries, etc!

This card is CASED (copy and share everything) from a card/layout that was shared in our demonstrator bi-monthly magazine called Stampin' Success!

Check out the banner!!  Isn't it cool!  I made it using the Triple Banner Punch!  I'll be sharing how to make this banner at some of my upcoming classes. 

We have a super busy week & going 100 mph.  I will update this post with the supplies I used later this week.  

Last night we went to Sam's visitation.  Then Brayden's soccer game.  The races were rained out- so all of our family came to our house for supper.  Sarah made a casserole & we had garlic bread & salad to go along with it.  Deke's sister Darci stopped by a few minutes to visit a few minutes, as she was down for Sam's visitation too.  When everyone was all gone I worked on getting toys picked up, dishes done, etc.  

This morning Deke is off to chore early & I'm off early to go pick up the boys.  We have baby piggies coming again this morning.  The boys are excited to get to help Papa on the farm today!  Tonight when the boys go home I'm a farmer & helping Deke on the farm & selling hogs.  

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

'In the Meadow'

Check out these cute deer from the set- 'In The Meadow'.  This is another one of my cards that I created for my monthly April classes that are this week.  It is a great guy card!!!  I thought it turned out just perfect!  I used our Watercolor Paper & Aqua Painters to color with.  And look closely at the deer, as I used my White Gel Pen & colored it onto their ears, tails & spots on the baby deer. 

Look at the fold!  Neat huh!  I used my Diagonal Scoring Plate & score it so that I could fold the top corner down.  

My Mossy Meadow Designer paper is from the Going Places Paper Stack in the Occasions Catalog!  Wow- how perfect for a guy card!  Do you like the little banners that I layered behind the Extra-Large Oval Punch?

This would make a great card for any guy & it could be personalized for any occasion you need- Father's Day, birthday, etc.

stamp set:  'In the Meadow' & 'Suite Sayings'
card stock:  Crumb Cake, Mossy Meadow, Basic Black, Watercolor Paper
designer paper: Going Places Paper Stack
ink:  Archival Basic Black, Mossy Meadow, Soft Sky, Crumb Cake
other:  Simply Scored Scoring Tool, Diagonal Scoring Plate, Dimensionals, Extra-Large Oval Punch, Banner Punch, Aqua Painters, White Gel Pen

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Wow- what a busy day we had yesterday & we're gearing up for another one today.

We got baby piggies delivered yesterday.  The boys have been sick, so Steve stayed home with them & they didn't come out until about 11, when I got in from the hog house.  Poor little guys don't feel good yet......coughs, sore throats, ear infections.  Drake got meds now too- so hoping they are all feeling better soon.  And I hope that Masen doesn't end up getting sick/ 

When the boys left last night I burnt the midnight oil cutting card stock.  And Deke worked in the field again all night until it started raining.

This morning Deke is off early to chore & he'll be headed to a meeting & then to the office at the courthouse for awhile.  I'm off to go pick up all of my boys & spend my day with them.  

This evening we'll go to What Cheer to Sam's visitation.  Then were headed to all 3 boys soccer games & then off to the races to cheer on Nathan!  Hoping the weather is nice & we don't end up freezing or getting wet. 

Woo Hoo!!

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

SUSIE

WOW- This weeks "WEEKLY DEALS"- April 5-11, 2-16!

It's a beautiful purple flower!

Check out the beautiful purple card!  Don't you like it?  This is one of the cards I created for my upcoming April classes that I'm having this week.   You can't tell by looking at the photo here, but the big flower is cut out & popped up!  I cut it out using my Paper Snips.

I played with the different colors of purple when coloring these flowers.  Look how different they look.  Notice that I stamped the whole flower image in the black around the outside edges of the card to help give it dimension.  I colored the flowers using squished ink pad lids & aqua painters. 

stamp set: 'Birthday Blooms'
card stock:  

• Elegant Eggplant- 5 1/2 x 8 1/2
• Basic Black- 2" strip (circle to layer the words); 3 1/2 x 4 1/4 
• Pear Pizzazz- 3 1/4 x 4 
• Shimmery White- 3 3/4 x 3; 2 3/4" strip (for the big flower you cut out), 2" strip (for the words)

ink:  Archival Basic Black, Perfect Plum, Elegant Eggplant, Pear Pizzazz
other:  Aqua Painters, Dimensionals, Paper Snips, 1 1/2" Circle Punch, 1 3/4" Circle Punch

This stamp set is in the Occasions Catalog.  I got this set as one of my Pillow Gifts when I was at Founders in Utah, last September.  This set is probably one of my favorite sets I've ever gotten.  I just really like the font of the words & the different flowers in this set.  I have used this stamp set for a ton of different cards that I've posted on my blog over the past 3 1/2 months. 

Be sure you check out this stamp on on pg. 9 in the Occasions Catalog!  
#140655 (wood)= $27.00 or #140658 (clear)= $19.00

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Manda & Steve ended up taking the 3 boys to the dr yesterday.  Brody was up early yesterday morning & running a high temp.  Brody & Trey had coughs, red throats & ear infection- so they got meds.  Drake had a cough too- but she thought it was allergy related, so he will be going to see our Allergy Dr next month.

I spent my day trying to catch up on farm things & stamping things!!  Brayden & Masen were both here after school for awhile. We then went to Brayden's soccer game.  It was a really good game!!  Brayden's team lost in over time, but they all did great.  I came home and burnt the midnight oil cutting card stock.

Deke had lots of meetings yesterday.  He went right out to the field when he got home last night about 9:30 pm. & worked until the wee hours this morning.  I went out about midnight, took him some tea & snacks & rode with him for awhile. 

We get baby piggies delivered this morning, so we are all up early & getting ready for them.  It was a short night.  

We had a change of plans this morning....the 3 boys are still sick with temps & they were up most of the night- so Steve is staying with them this morning & I'll go get them when we are done unloading  & settling in our baby piggies.  Such a bummer!  Poor little guys!  Masen might just be the only one here today again- guess we'll see what happens & how they feel in a few hours. 

Tonight when the boys go home I'll be burning the midnight oil cutting card stock again, getting ready for all of my April monthly classes that I have this week.  And Deke is hoping to burn the midnight oil working in the field again if it doesn't rain today.

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

You're a Star!!

This is another card from my All Occasions Card Class.  I used the silver foil paper to punch out the little stars on it.  It is really cute in person!

My All Occasions Card Class is suppose to be a clean & simply card style class.  That style is hard for me to do- as I like layers & dimensionals.  And so what the heck was I thinking when I created this card??  It is super cute!  But it took awhile to cut 5 of the Smoky Slate strips for each card! 

stamp set: 'Pictogram Punches'
card stock: Basic Gray, Smoky Slate, Whisper White, 12x12 Silver Foil
ink:  Archival Basic Gray
other:  Banner Punch, Triple Banner Punch, Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack (small star), Dimensionals, Glue Dots

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We all had a great day stamping yesterday!!  I so enjoyed it!!  I stopped to see my dear friend Judy on my home too- so that was special!  She loved all of the cards I took to her.

My mom called me when I got in the car & was headed home.  She told me that a dear family friend (my dad's best friend- Sam) had just passed away.  What a shock!  So we'll have his visitation & funeral this week sometime too. 

It was late last night when I got home.  I took supper to Deke in the field & rode with him in the tractor for awhile.  I then unloaded the car from my class.  I was just beat & finally called it a night about 12:30.  Deke still wasn't in from the field yet- but I couldn't wait for him any longer. 

This morning we have 3 sick boys that are going to the dr.  Tonight Brayden will be here after school & then we have his soccer game.  When I get home from that I'll burn the midnight oil working on stuff for this weeks upcoming stamp classes.  

Deke headed out early this morning for his weekly board meeting, then home for lunch & off again to an afternoon meeting & a night meeting.  Somehow he'll chore in between or else it will be really late.  

Tomorrow we get baby piggies.....so the boys are excited!  We have a very busy week around here....stay tuned.  

Gotta run.......

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