Our Alaska cruise- Day #3

Here are some photos of our Day #3 in Juneau, Alaska on Sunday, July 22nd, 2018!

Deke is standing by a big stuffed bear here, as we are getting ready to 

take the Mt. Roberts Tramway to the top.  

Here are some of the beautiful views from the top!

And then we (Deke, me, Amy & Jimmie) all hiked 2 1/2 miles up to 

the top through the rain forest.  

This cross was at the top.  It was sooo cool!!  

And Jimmie is a minister.  So that made it even more special!  

 The view was just amazing!

We are headed back down the mountain.  

Here is a photo of Deke, Amy & Jimmie on the little bridge we crossed.

And here is a picture of downtown Juneau, as we are walking back to the ship.

We walked over 8 miles this day!!  

It was a beautiful day weather wise & we had a great time with friends!

Our Alaska cruise- Day #2 (Holiday Catalog sneak peeks)!

On Saturday, July 21st we sailed all day.  

We had our Stampin' Up! General Session & got our NEW Holiday Catalogs!

Want to see some sneak peeks?

Here are a few photos that I took of the display boards.

These are some of the new stamp sets & products in the Holiday Catalog.

They will be available for customers to order beginning September 5th, 2018!

Our Alasak cruise- Day #1

Day #1- Friday, July 20th, 2018
We are leaving Seattle, Washington & sailing to Alaska!

This is our new room while on board the ship.

It isn't very big, but it is bigger than many of them.  

We even had an outdoor balcony with a little table & 2 chairs!

 A couple of views from our balcony as we are leaving Seattle, Washington!

Our Stampin' Up! group gathered together at our Welcome Reception in one 
of the big rooms, where we got to socialize & have snacks. 

We will be at sea all day today & all day tomorrow!

We are sailing away..........and I won't be posting again until July 29th!

Yes- Deke & I are so looking forward to our trip!!  We are headed to the airport soon.  We have had a busy week trying to get ready to go, so guess we will sleep on the plane.  We love cruises and we love Alaska (we are not hot weather lovers).  And it will be great to spend time alone together, as that doesn't happen much.  Each year we look forward to seeing our demonstrator friends & their spouses on the trip.  It warms my heart that our husbands ares such good friends too & keep in touch & look forward to seeing each other too each year.  They all have various jobs, yet have so much in common= Stampin' Up!  It is so nice that we can go to these events & everyone knows each other by name.  We know all about each others families, etc.  It is just like a big family reunion each year & it is just amazing!  It is way more than just a trip.  We all share & learn so much from each other.  It is cool when we can sit at the supper table together & talk about products & techniques & ways we do something & our husbands can chime in & know the names of the products & understand what we are talking about. 

I am not planning to post anything on my blog while we are gone.  Why?

• Internet on the ship is expensive.  
• Our phones won't work while we are gone without being super expensive to use.  
• We have a local internet carrier- so can't get email while we are gone either.  
•  So we are planning to unplug for the week.  
• I'll share pictures & things when we get home on my blog!!!  So be sure you stop back by on July 29th to check things out!

So if you try to reach me during this time & I don't reply, know I'll be in touch shortly after we get home.

THANKS AGAIN TO ALL OF YOU FOR STAMPING WITH ME & LETTING ME SHARE MY LOVE OF STAMPING WITH EACH OF YOU!!  I will see you when I get home & I will have LOTS of new things to share at that time.  
Happy Stamping!
Hugs-
SUSIE

More 'Dandelion Wishes'

Here is a bright & cheery card.  It makes me think of summer & a picnic!  And I used one of my favorite stamp sets 'Dandelion Wishes' to make it!

 stamp set:  'Dandelion Wishes' & 'Ribbon or Courage'
card stock:  Crushed Curry, Gray Granite, Night of Navy, Whisper White
designer paper:  Twinkle Twinkle
ink:  Crushed Curry, Night of Navy
other:  1/2" Gingham ribbon, Basic Pearls, Sponge Daubers, 2" Circle Punch, 1 3/4" Circle Punch, Starburst Punch, Dimensionals, Glue Dot, Wink of Stella

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This is short & sweet!  I just wanted to share a cute card with you before we walked out the door! 

A HUGE THANK YOU to all of my customers for stamping with me!  It is because of you that I have earned this years Stampin' Up! trip to Alaska.  Deke & I are excited to get to spend a week together.  I will be coming home with lots of great new things to share with you all, so make sure you don't miss out!

I will not be posting while we are gone.  I will not have phone, email or internet.  So if you contact me I'll reply to you shortly after we get home on 7/28!

Again.....THANK YOU for allowing me to share my love of stamping with you!!!

Be sure to check back on 7/29 to see all of the cool things I will have to share with you then!

I hope you have a great rest of the week!!

Happy Stamping!
Hugs-
SUSIE

A fun fold Easel card!

This is a card that everyone stamping with me at my July monthly classes made last week.  This is from a really cool stamp set called- 'In Every Season'!  And it has LOTS of different flower images in it. 

Check out the yellow doily.  I colored it using the Pineapple Punch ink pad & a sponge dauber.  The back side of the doily is a flat white & the front side is pearlized, so you have some different options.

This is what it looks like when it is opened up!

Check out the Scattered Sequins Embossing folder!  And the neat Navy & White Gingham ribbon.  

Here are the supplies & the measurements for this card-

stamp sets:
'In Every Season'- #146706 (w)= $31.00 or #146709 (c)= $23.00- pg. 46
'Itty Bitty Greetings'- #146664 (w)- $48.00 or #146667 (c)= $36.00- pg. 231
'Detailed with Love'- #146603 (w)= $28.00 or #146606 (c)= $20.00- pg. 39
card stock: 

• Night of Navy N (24)- $100867= $8.50- pg. 184  4x4"; 2 3/4" strip; 2 3/4 x 1 1/2"
• Pineapple Punch IC (24)-#146971= $8.50- pg. 183  5 1/2 x 8 1/2"; 1/2" strip
• Whisper White (40)- #100730= $9.75- pg. 194  4 x 3 1/2"; 2 1/2 x 1 1/4"

designer paper:

• Twinkle Twinkle- #146284= $11.00- pg. 189 SPECIAL  4 1/4 x 1/2"; 4 1/4 x 1/2"

ink: 

• Black Memento- #132708= $6.00- pg. 203
• Pineapple Punch- #147141= $7.50= pg. 183

Stampin' Write Markers: Pineapple Punch & Old Olive
other:  1/2" Gingham Ribbon (Navy)- #144232= $7.50- pg. 201  13"
Sponge Daubers (5)- #133773= $5.00- pg. 203
2" Circle Punch- #133782= $18.00- pg. 210
1 3/4" Circle Punch- $11985= $18.00- pg. 210
Pearlized Doilies- $146936= $4.50- pg. 192
Classic Label Punch- #141491= $18.00- pg. 210
Wink of Stella- $141897= $8.00- pg. 203
Big Shot- #143263= $110- pg. 214
Scattered Sequins Embossing Folder- #145649= $10.00- pg.223

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Yesterday was a busy day with pigs, kids, stamping & racing!  We were up early yesterday morning & sold hogs.  Then the kids came for the day.  We rounded up things in the machine shed & are getting ready for Brayden's first year of showing 4-H pigs......so got out the tackle box & everything cleaned up.  He weighs his 3 pigs in this morning.  And then he shows them on Friday. 4-H is an awesome life time experience & I'm so excited that he is loving it!!  I know I learned sooo much being in 4-H & I know our kids learned lots of life long experiences that have helped to mold them into the adults they now are. 

Last night Nathan raced.  We were there to cheer him on.  Uncle Jerry, Aunt Kathy & our friend Shelley came too to watch.  I think he got 4th or 5th in his heat & he finished 2nd in the main.  He won the Southern Iowa Stock Car 2018 championship, by a lead of only 1 point!  When I got home I burnt the midnight oil stamping!

This morning we are up early.  The kids will be here & we'll get Brayden's pigs loaded & on their way to the fair.  I have several errands to run in town today.  And the Seeley twins will be here for awhile this afternoon.  Tonight we are racing again- so we'll all be going to cheer Nathan on.  When we get home I'll be stamping & packing!  And Deke will be out grinding feed & getting things done on the farm.  As Deke & I head out early in the morning for our Stampin' Up! trip.  This year we are headed to Alaska!  We are super excited to get to see our friends from all over the world.  And we are looking forward to spending time with each other & seeing some beautiful scenery.  I doubt either of us go to bed tonight.....so we'll have to get some sleep on the plane.  

Gotta run......

I hope you have a WONDERFUL Wednesday!!

Happy Stamping!
Hugs-
SUSIE

Another fun fold with the Petal Promenade DSP!

Here is another fun fold card using the beautiful Petal Promenade Designer Paper.  Doesn't it look great with the Poppy Parade ink pad & card stock!

Here it is as you start to open it up.

 stamp set:  'Perennial Birthday'
card stock:  

• Blushing Bride-9 3/4 x 4 1/4"- score at 5 1/2"; 8 1/2 x 1 1/2"- score at 5 1/2"; 2 3/4" strip
• Poppy Parade- 4x4"; 2 3/4" strip
• Whisper White- 4x4" (for inside of card); 2 1/2" strip

designer paper:

• Petal Promenade- 3 3/4 x 3 3/4"

ink:  Poppy Parade
other:  Mini Ruffled Powder Pink Ribbon- 4"; 2 1/4" Circle punch, Starburst Punch, 1 3/4" strip, dimensionals, Glue Dots

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Yesterday was a busy day.....appointments in the morning for my yearly dr visit & kids as soon as I got home.  I burnt the midnight oil working on stamping stuff.

It was a short night as this morning we are up at 4:30 to mark, sort & load hogs.  I'll then spend my day with the 2 little ones.  Tonight we'll all be going to the races for the Southern Iowa Speedway's Season Championship & cheer Nathan on.  When I get home I'll be burning the midnight oil stamping!

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

A fun fold Dandelion Wishes!

This is one of the cards that everyone joining me for my July monthly class made with me.  It is a fun fold card using the awesome stamp set- 'Dandelion Wishes'!

If you look at my blog, you know that I love this stamp set!  And I have several different cards already posted using it!  So be sure to check them out!

The card base is a new color called Gray Granite.  It is really neat!!  It is a great addition to our Neutrals Color Family for sure!

This is a fun fold that I've done before.   It is a fun & easy one to do.   I made a card stock strip, attached it to the back side, folded it over the front & attached the circle/words to it.  I cut off  1 1/4" from the front edge of the card base, so that I can add the dsp strip on the edge.

 This is what it looks like completely opened up.  

Oh & check out this new Gray Granite ribbon!  It is so soft & easy to tie!  It is the perfect embellishment to finish off this card.  

I used a sponge dauber & my Crushed Curry ink pad to add a splash of color to the inside of the dandelions!

Here are the supplies & the measurements for this card-

stamp sets:
'Dandelion Wishes'- #146744 (w)= $28.00 or #146747 (c)= $20.00- pg. 188
'Calligraphy Essentials'- (for inside of card) #146780 (w)= $27.00 or #146783 (c)= $19.00- pg. 230
card stock:

• Gray Granite- #146983= $8.50- pg. 184  2 3/4" strip; 3 1/4 x 3 1/4"; 9 3/4 x 4 1/4"; 8 x 1 1/4"
• Crushed Curry- #131199= $8.50- pg. 187  3 3/4 x 3 3/4"; 2 3/4" strip
• Whisper White- #100730= $9.75- pg. 184  4 x 4"; 2 3/4" strip; 3 x 3"

designer paper:  

• Twinkle Twinkle- #146284= $11.00- pg. 2189 SPECIAL

ink: 

• Gray Granite- #147118= $7.50- pg. 184 
• Crushed Curry- #147087= $7.50- pg. 187 

other:  Starburst Punch- #143717= $18.00- pg. 210 
2" Circle Punch- #133782= $18.00- pg. 210
1 3/4" Circle Punch- #119850= $18.00- pg. 210
Basic Pearls- #144219= $5.00- pg. 197
1/2" Textured Ribbon- Gray Granite- #147676= $7.50- pg. 200  3"
Sponge Daubers (5)= #133773= 45.00- pg. 203

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Yesterday was a busy day full of stamping!!!  

This morning Deke is up early to chore & head to the courthouse for his weekly board meeting.  And I'm up early to stamp!  I'll then head out, as I have my yearly dr appointment this morning.  When I get home the Wood kids will be here.  Tonight when everyone goes home I'll be stamping!

Gotta run.....I hope you have a MARVELOUS Monday!!

Happy Stamping!
Hugs-
SUSIE

It is Time for Tea!

So this stamp set- 'Time for Tea', just warms my heart!!  I love it!!  

I collect old cups & saucers.  Plus I'm a coffee & hot tea drinker.  So this set is a perfect fit for me.  The words in the stamp set are super cute too!

This is a card that everyone joining me for my July month stamp classes made.  I think it turned out cute!!!  And check out the circle image of the leaves in the center.  I made them using by using my Stamparatus, doing circle stamping.  (I will share more about circle stamping sometime soon.)

Notice how I stamped the cup/saucer onto a strip of designer paper & cut it out with the framelits.  I added a Gold Metallic Pearl in the center of it.  

To dress it up & add some glimmer I used some Gold Foil too.

Here is the list of supplies & the measurements that I used to make this card.

stamp set:
'Time for Tea'-  #147069 (photopolymer only)= $17.00- pg. 15 (Bundle available)
card stock:

• Tranquil Tide IC (24)- #144246= $8.50- pg. 183  5 1/2 x 8 1/2"; 2 1/4" strip
• Mint Macaron S (24)- #138337= $8.50- pg. 186  5 1/2 x 3/4"; 3 1/4 x 3 1/4" 
• Whisper White (40)- #100730- $9.75- pg. 184  4 x 5 1/4"; 2" strip; 3" strip
• Gold Foil- #132622= $4.00- pg. 192  5 1/2 x 1/4"; 3x3"; 2 1/4" strip

designer paper: 

• Tranquil Textures- #146331= $11.00- pg. 190  **SPECIAL this month!

ink: 

• Mint Macaron- #147106= $7.50- pg. 186
• Tranquil Tide- #147146= $7.50- pg. 183

other:  Spot of Tea Framelit Dies- #146821= $26.00- pg. 15 (Bundle available)
Big Shot- #143263= $110 Tea room Ribbon combo pk- #146893= $8.00- pg. 201    5"
2" Circle Punch- #133782= $18.00- pg. 210
1 3/4" Circle Punch- #119850= $18.00- pg. 210
Stamparatus- #146276= $49.00- pg. 207
Metallic Pearls- #146282= $7.00- pg. 197

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Yesterday was a busy day full of stamping!!!!  I had a fun group of friends that came to stamp with me  yesterday.  When everyone left Ainslee came to stay with me for the afternoon.  And while she napped I stamped!!  

Today is another full day of stamping!!!

I hope you have a SPECIAL Sunday!!

Happy Stamping!
Hugs-

SUSIE

More Dandelion Wishes!

Here is another card using a different image from the 'Dandelion Wishes' stamp set!  This stamp set is one of my favorites in the annual catalog! 

I used the words from 'Ribbon of Courage' on it too!  I thought they combined well with it!

I stamped the dandelion in Crushed Curry ink & used a sponge dauber to color the center of it a little!

Isn't this a cute diagonal layout.  

stamp set:  'Dandelion Wishes' & 'Ribbon or Courage'
card stock:  Crushed Curry, Coastal Cabana, Whisper White
designer paper:  Tea Room Specialty DSP
ink:  Crushed Curry, Coastal Cabana
other:  Bermuda Bay ribbon, Basic Pearls, Sponge Daubers, 2" Circle Punch, 1 3/4" Circle Punch, Dimensionals, Glue Dot, Wink of Stella

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Yesterday was a busy day with kids & stamping!!  I had a fun group of friends that joined me to stamp at our home last night.  

This morning I'm up early to walk & get ready to stamp again!!  I have more friends joining me this morning to come stamp here at our home.  This afternoon & evening I'll be working on swaps!  

Gotta run.......I hope you have a SUPER Saturday!!

Happy Stamping!
Hugs,

SUSIE

More Petal Promenade DSP!

Here is a clean & simple fun fold card showcasing the Petal Promenade Designer Paper.

Check out the pretty ruffled ribbon too!

stamp set:  'Perennial Birthday'
card stock:  

• Blushing Bride-9 3/4 x 4 1/4"- score at 5 1/2"; 8 1/2 x 1 1/2"- score at 5 1/2"; 2 3/4" strip
• Sahara Sand- 4x4"; 2 3/4" strip
• Whisper White- 4x4" (for inside of card); 2 1/2" strip

designer paper:

• Petal Promenade- 3 3/4 x 3 3/4"

ink:  Sahara Sand
other:  Mini Ruffled Powder Pink Ribbon- 4"; 2 1/4" Circle punch, Starburst Punch, 1 3/4" strip, dimensionals, Glue Dots

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Yesterday was a busy day with kids.  And then working on stamping stuff last night.  

Today I'm up early to walk & will work on stamping stuff until Nathan gets here with the kids.  When they leave tonight I have a group of friends joining me to stamp!

Deke is up early to chore & then he has another dr appointment with the Orthopedics Dr to check his knee.  He'll work on the farm the rest of the day & then they are going to Memphis tonight racing.  

I hope you have a FABULOUS Friday!!

Happy Stamping!
Hugs-

SUSIE

Graceful Glass vellum

WOW- have you seen the cool stained glass vellum called Graceful Glass? And the coordinating 'Painted Glass' stamp set that are in the catalog on pages 164 & 165?  Be sure you check them out!

This is a beautiful card that I did at a class last weekend.  It turned out sooooo pretty!!  I used the new purples- Highland Heather & Gorgeous Grape, along with my NEW Stampin Blends that I just got.  Check out below what colors of NEW Stampin' Blends I used!

It is clean & simple, yet very elegant!  I love the way it turned out!  

Here are some tips-
The vellum is black/raised embossed on one side.  So if you want your colors to be brighter, then color on the front side.  If you want your colors to be lighter or more subtle, then color on the back side.  

On this card here I did color on the back side of it, as I wanted it to be more a true stained glass look.  I also added some Whisper White card stock behind the vellum to make it look more realistic too.  

I shared this idea at my class- Barn Quilt painting is big in our area right now.  This is where you paint a quilt pattern onto a wooden board (approx. 20" x 20" & use it as decor in your yard or inside your home.  I think that you could totally change the 'idea' of this vellum, by adding colored card stock behind it & making it more vibrant by coloring on the front side of the vellum.  Thus, you could make it look more like a barn quilt than a stained glass window!!  So stay tuned......I hope to find time on Sunday to do a little stamping & want to try this out!  Manda & I did a fund raising barn quilt painting class a couple of weeks ago & I'll share photos of the ones I painted for me & for Sarah too!

Here are the supplies & the measurements for you-
stamp set:  'Painted Glass'
card stock: 

• Highland Heather- 5 1/2 x 8 1/2"
• Gorgeous Grape- 3 3/4 x 3 3/4"; 3 x 1 1/4"
• Whisper White- 3 1/4 x 3 1/4"; 2 3/4 x 1"; 4 x 5 1/4"- for the inside of the card

designer paper:  Graceful Glass- approx. 3x3"; strip of the diamond pattern- approx. 3/4 x 4 1/4"
ink:  Black Stazon
Stampin' Blends: Dark & Light Highland Heather, Dark Pineapple Punch, Light Granny Apple Green

other: Dimensionals, Glue Dots, (Gorgeous Grape) Glitter Enamel Dots

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Yesterday was a very LONG day with pigs & kids.  We all went to the races.  The boys were really good.  Deke, his brother Doug & Nathan have been putting LOTS of hours & time into getting the wrecked car fixed.  It is now back & is black in color.  I looked good!  Nathan won his heat.  He started 12th in the main & ended up 3rd.  So it was a good night!!  There was a big crowd of cars & big crowd of fans in the stands!

I'm up early this morning to walk & will spend my day with the 2 Wood kids.  When they go home tonight I'm going to be burning the midnight oil stamping.  I have stamp classes this weekend!!!

I hope you have a great Thursday!!

Happy Stamping!
Hugs-

SUSIE 

Petal Promenade

OH my gosh.......talk about gorgeous!!!  This Petal Promenade designer paper is just that!  It is definitely gorgeous!  It is all photographic floral images on one side & then marbled/textured images on the other side.  I just love it!

You can see another card I made using the Petal Promenade designer paper & the same layout by CLICKING HERE!

I made this card for a monthly swap that I'm in with some other demonstrators.  The top flips up.  

Did you notice the ribbon?  It is the new 3/8" Mini Ruffled Fresh Fig Ribbon.  It is so pretty & so easy to use.  
 
stamp set:  'Stitched All Around'
card stock:

• Mossy Meadow- 7 x 5 1/2"- score at 4 1/4" for card base; 2 1/2" strip; 5 x 2 1/4"
• Fresh Fig-5 1/4 x 2 1/2"; 4 x 5 1/4"- for inside of card
• Sahara Sand- 2 1/2" strip to stamp words on & cut out with oval framelit;

designer paper:  Petal Promenade- 4 3/4 x 2"
ink:  Fresh Fig
other:  Big Shot, Magnetic Platform, Layering Ovals Framelits, Stitched Shapes Framelits (ovals), Basic Pearls, Dimensionals, Glue Dot, Ruffled Fresh Fig Ribbon

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Yesterday was a busy day with kids.  It was so hot.  I'm ready for it to cool back down again some.  Then when they went home, I went out & worked on the farm until dark helping Deke.  I hurt my shoulder.....so took some tylenol, rubbed on some of my Essential Oils Deep Relief oils, got supper & went to bed.  

We are up at 5 this morning to sell hogs. We have to get them marked & sorted & ready to load when the trucker gets here.

I have the 2 Wood kids again today.  Manda, Brody, Drake, Trey, Masen & Ainslee will all be riding with me to the races tonight.  It is Dekalb Seed/CPS night- so Sarah has to be there early.  

Gotta run.....I hope you have a WONDERFUL Wednesday!!

Happy Stamping!
Hugs-
SUSIE

Healing Hugs fun fold!

Oh wow!  Here is another card I made for my class last week using the 'Healing Hugs' stamp set!  

This stamp set is a Distinktive Stamp- which means it shows the many different dimensions of the image when only stamping it one time.  Often you can achieve this look by using a 2- 3 step stamping.  But this flower is just stamped one single time to get this look!

Isn't it a cool fold!!  Check it out when it is opened up!

You can click here to see another card I made using this same fold, along with this stamp set too!

Here are the supplies & the measurements for this card-

stamp set: 'Healing Hugs' & 'Stitched All Around' (for inside words)
card stock:  

• Blushing Bride- 4 1/4 x 5 1/2; 3 1/4 x 4 1/2"; 2 3/4" strip- to cut out the scalloped edge square
• Granny Apple Green  5 1/4 x 4"
• Whisper White-2 1/4 x 2 1/4"; 1 1/2" strip (for the leaves to fussy cut out with your paper snips); 11x 4 1/4"- score @ 1 1/2", 3", 5 1/2" & 8"

designer paper:

• Tropical Escape - 4 x 1 1/4"; 4 x 2 1/4" & 4 x 2 3/4"

ink:  Granny Apple Green, Blushing Bride
other:  Big Shot, Magnetic Platform, Layering Squares Framelits, Standard Platform, Tufted Embossing Folder, Paper Snips, Whisper White 5/8" Polka Dot Tulle Ribbon, Simply Scoring Tool, Dimensionals, Glue Dot

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Yesterday was a busy day with the kids.  It was late when they went home last night, as Nathan was working late & Sarah is gone for work.  We played outside & enjoyed the nice evening.  When they went home I worked on stamping stuff.

This morning I'm up early to walk & then spend my day with the 2 Wood kids.  When they leave I'm headed out to work on the farm, helping Deke tonight.  

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