'Beauty Abounds'

Hello!!

With the New Year comes some resolutions (or goals) that we want to achieve.  The New Year is like a clean slate or a time to start some things!  I know I have a list of things I want to accomplish this year!!!  I hope I can find time to follow through & achieve them.  Spending time with family, walking more, loosing some weight, getting some more sleep, getting my stamp stuff organized & doing lots of stamping are just some of the things on my list!  What is on your list?  

Tomorrow- Thursday, 1/3/19 is the BIG DAY!!!  Woo Hoo!  As the NEW Occasions & Sale-a-bration Catalogs start!  I know I'll be placing an order tomorrow for some things I have on my huge wish list!!  

If you are a customers of mine- I mailed out Occasions & Sale-a-bration catalogs to you.  And you should have gotten them in the mail by now!!!  I will be posting the links to these 2 NEW catalog tomorrow (1/3/19) here on my blog too.  So if you can see the catalog on line then also.  

NOTE:  If you plan to attend one of my monthly January classes, but want to order right away- (before the class) please email me & I'll give you the hostess code for your class, so that the hostesses get credit for it & your order then will go towards your class minimum purchase.  BUT if you plan to order over $150- then you won't want to use a hostess code- as you'll want to be your own hostess & earn the free products for yourself!  REMEMBER for every $50 you spend you get to choose a Level  1 Sale-a-bration item!  If you spend $100 or more then you can decide to choose 1 Level 2 item or 2 Level 1 items.  Gosh......this is my favorite time of the year.......I just love getting free stampin' products!!  And there are some really cool products on my list this year!

I've been gearing up for all of my January classes !!  I'll be using LOTS new products at them & I can't wait to share with all of you joining me for them.  

Today I'm sharing another simple stamping card with an added z fold to make it a little fun!  

There is no coloring & just 2 colors of ink on this card!  I did add some ribbon & Basic Pearls to dress it up!  And I have a few layers too, along with dimensionals!

I also added some Wink of Stella into the center of the flowers too- as it is a great & another easy way to add some bling!

stamp set:  'Beauty Abounds'
card stock:  Mango Melody, Early Espresso, Whisper White
ink:  Mango Melody, Early Espresso
other:  1 3/8" Scalloped Circle Punch, Dimensionals, Glue Dots, Basic Pearls, Grapefruit Grove 1/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Wink of Stella

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I am off early this morning to head to town.  I'll get the boys & hurry home to spend my day with all 6 kids today.  There is no school, but their parents are all back to work.  It will be a fun, but crazy day with everyone!!  I have some things planned to keep them busy!  Tonight when everyone has gone home I'll be a stamping!!!

I hope you have a WONDERFUL Wednesday!!

Happy Stamping!
Hugs-

SUSIE

Happy New Year- 2019!!!

Oh wow- Happy New Year!!! 

I am sending cheers to the NEW YEAR of 2019 to each & every one of you!!!  I hope we all have a very healthy, happy & prosperous year!!!  

With today's card I'm sharing some old that is retiring, some new that you can't buy yet & some that has been around for awhile in the Annual Catalog!  Isn't it great to combine them all!  

Check out the layout of the card.  I cut the Basic Black base of the card at 5 1/2 x 8 1/2"; scored the card at 4 1/4' & folded it in half; scored the front edge of the card at 1 1/4"; folded in back & taped it down (after tucking the DSP in behind it).

Where did this cool DSP come from?  It is one of the NEW Sale-a-bration choices for 2019!  It is available for you to get for FREE with a $50 order, starting on 1/3/19!  It is on page 11 in the Sale-a-bration Mini Catalog & is called- Botanical Butterflies DSP!  Be sure you look it up!  Yep- on each side of one of these DSP pages there are butterfly images.  And then on the back side of each page is some type of black & white image!  I just totally LOVE THIS- as you know I'm a black & white card lover!

NOTE:  Oh yeah- the butterfly images in this DSP also coordinate with a NEW Butterfly Duo punch too......so stay tuned for more information on this & check out NEW Butterfly Duo punch on page 35 in the NEW Occasions Catalog!

Today I added a little splash of Blackberry Bliss to go with the Black & White.  I stamped the wine glasses onto the Whisper White card stock using my Black Memento ink pad.  I then used my Dark Blackberry Bliss Stampin' Blend & colored the wine in each glass.  On the 2 larger wine glasses I used my Wink of Stella over the wine to give it an added sparkle!

Check out the NEW ribbon here.....it is the Black/Silver 1/4" Striped Metallic Ribbon on page 43 in the NEW Occasions Catalog!  

The word stamp set is the hostess set- 'Warm Hearted' in the Occasions Catalog on page 54 & is retiring.

The Wine stamp set is called- 'Half Full'.  It is on page 22 in the Annual Catalog!!  It has endless possibilities for many different occasions!

And then the numbers are from the set called- 'Labeler Alphabet' on page 175 in the Annual Catalog.

stamp sets:  'Half Full' & 'Warm Hearted'
card stock:

• Basic Black-  5 1/2 x 8 1/2- score at 4 1/4" & fold in half for card base.  Then score along the front edge of the card at 1 1/4", fold back & adhere (after you have attached the DSP); 3 3/8" x 1 7/8"
• Whisper White- 4 x 5 1/4" (for inside of card- repeat stamping the wine glasses along the right edge); 1/2" Strip to stamp numbers onto & punch out using the little circle in the Cookie Cutter Builder Punch; 3 x 1 1/2"- stamp words onto; 2" strip to stamp 2 big wine glasses onto & then use your Paper Snips to fussy cut them out.
• Blackberry Bliss- 3 3/4x 2 1/4" 

designer paper:  NEW Botanical Butterfly DSP- 5 1/4 x 2"
ink:  Black Memento Pad
Stampin' Blend:  Dark Blackberry Bliss
other:  Cookie Cutter Builder Punch (for the little circle); NEW Black/Silver 1/4" Striped Ribbon; Wink of Stella, Paper Snips, Dimensionals, Glue Dots

I'd like to share a little bit about this stamp set- 'Half Full' , as it just warms my heart.  Partially because my dear stampin'' demonstrator friend Linda Bauwin designed this wine set for her Million Dollar Achievement.  It is also special to me, as her husband Jay- passed away just before Linda hit her million in sales.  He was her biggest cheerleader & her best friend.  They were together all of the time.  He was just an awesome guy & Deke & I love them both.  We enjoyed our time spent with them each year on our incentive trips.  But long story shorter- this stamp set- 'Half Full' has much meaning as Linda is now only 1/2 full since Jay passed (they are no longer one) & then the wine bottle has the year 1975 on it, as that is the year that Linda & Jay got married.  The font, the images & the words in this stamp set are pretty cool!  Be sure you check it out & add this stamp set to your wish list!!  

I hope you have a VERY SPECIAL DAY!!
Happy Stamping!
Hugs-
SUSIE

A LOT to celebrate!!!

Well- those of you that know me know I don't toot my horn too often!  But I have lots of great things to share with you today & I finally made the time last night to get this big post all typed up! 

On Friday afternoon, November 22nd, 2018 I became the 30th Stampin' Up Demonstrator to be a Million Dollar Sales Achiever in the 30th Anniversary Year of the company!!!  Oh my gosh.......talk about what a privilege & honor this amazing accomplishment is!  And I accomplished this huge milestone because my friends came to stamp with me & ordered Stampin' Up! products from me.  I could never have reached this huge milestone without each & everyone that has stamped with over the past 17 1/2 years.

So on Monday, November 26th, 2018- we had a ton of snow & no school, so I was home all alone.  I literally spent my whole day answering phone calls, emails, text messages- just lots of messages from my friends (far & near) congratulating me on this huge milestone.  The first call I got was from Sara Douglas, our Stampin' Up! CEO.  We talked for about 1/2 hour & she just made my day!  And from then on it was a domino affect with one thing after another.  As Stampin' Up! posted the news release on their website, facebook, instagram & twitter!!  My cup was over flowing with so much from so many!!  It was just an unbelievable day! 

Here is the photo of me & the congratulations post that they shared this day! 

 

 ONE MILLION in career-to-date sales is something worth celebrating!  

Congratulations to Susie Wood for reaching this amazing milestone.

Then on Thursday, 11/27/18- I got a delivery from my UPS man.  

It wasn't a normal SU! box, but a box with beautiful flowers 

& a gorgeous card from Sara & Shelli! 

Yes- these flower are real!  And they were beautiful aren't they!!  And the best part is that they dried nicely & I still have this beautiful arrangement sitting in our dinning room 

so that I can enjoy it each day!  

Check out the hand made envelope that has my card in it.  

It is monogrammed, embossed.....it is just totally amazing and way over the top!!

Here is the card!!  Check out all of the detail on it- including my name on the tag!

Notice the Blackberry Bliss embossed piece under the card-  

is actually the back side of the envelope!

This is a fun tri-fold card.  The inside of it was even stamped & elaborately decorated!  

And Shelli wrote me a super sweet note.  And both Shelli & Sara signed it.

Look at the flowers, ribbon, lace & embossing on the tri-fold part!  

WOW!

I would say that they hit the nail on the head when they made my card!

It is a totally Susie card & I just absolutely love it!

All I can say is how blessed I am!  

And how I love stamping & sharing with all of you!!  

And I thank you from the bottom of my heart for stamping with me!

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Stampin' Up! then released this write up on our Demonstrator website 

the first part of December.  

I thought I'd share that photo & the write up with you too, 

so that you all know "my story"!! 

Susie Wood

November 2018: One Million Sales Achiever

After she attended her first workshop alone, spent over $150, and stamped her Christmas cards that year, Susie Wood vowed she would never stamp again. But then . . . she laid eyes on the spring mini catalog and the rest, as they say, is history! The path to one million dollars in personal sales is just that—personal. It’s unique to each demonstrator. And we love Susie’s story! It’s been a 19-year journey of stamping & self-discovery.  She has been a demonstrator for 17 years & 5 months.  She has a consistent, traditional approach, a passion for creativity, and a close-knit community of family and friends.

About a year after signing up, Susie finally admitted to a friend that she was a demonstrator. That friend kick started her business by hosting a workshop where Susie won them over, got two bookings, and transformed the group into a popular monthly stamp class. Even Susie is still surprised: “I never thought I'd stay a demonstrator. I only signed up to do it for a short period of time. Being a demonstrator hasn't ever been my job! It has been a passionate hobby of mine that I get to share with many of my friends. And I so treasure all of my customers, team, and other demonstrator friends. Stampin' Up! has been a true blessing in my life!”

Susie is no stranger to hard work. She juggles many responsibilities on her farm in rural Iowa, while she works a full-time job, and supports her family as a mom, wife, and grandma. “Oftentimes I just don't get much sleep. As when I should be sleeping is when I get to stamp!” Sleep deprivation doesn’t stop her from spoiling her customers with the hallmark of her business, in-person events. “I'm an old-fashioned stamper! My sales are all from face-to-face events.” She prepares down to smallest details and makes it easy for her customers. “It’s all about friends getting together for a fun time of stamping!”

With her creative wheels constantly spinning, Susie can eye new products and envision exactly how she will use them to make her mark. It’s this passion for creativity that keeps her stamping late into the night. “I'm not good at copying things. I like being creative and unique. I love that I have my own style.”

Susie and her husband (of almost 35 years,) Deke, definitely make time for fun and family. They have two married children and six grandchildren who all live within a half mile to 5 miles from them and they see each other daily. “Our son has a dirt track race car. We love racing as a whole family event and have done this since 1999.” Hers is definitely a family business. “We live, eat, and breathe stamps at our house.” Deke is an excellent Big Shot assistant while the grandsons know all about stamps, punches, paper, and markers.

Stampin’ Up! has not only made her family grow closer, but it has made her friends feel more like family. “I love the friendships I have. If it weren't for me sharing my love of stamping I'd never have met any of my customers and team. Many of them have become my best friends.” Susie and Deke look forward to catching up with friends from around the world every year on the incentive trips. “It just warms my heart that our husbands have become such great friends too!”

One thing’s for sure, Susie has found success by finding what works for her. And her advice to others on their own path is simple—“Share what you LOVE! Tell everyone! Enjoy!” Well said, Susie. And congratulations on reaching this million sales milestone!

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I am sending much love & many blessings to each of you as we end 2018!

I look forward to sharing & stamping with you in the New Year of 2019!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being such a huge part of my life 

& letting me share my love of stamping with you!!  

Happy Stamping!!

Hugs-
SUSIE

Another Sneak Peek!

Look closely at both of theses rectangle!!  Wow- there is a new set of stitched rectangle framelits!!  Woo hoo- they are soooo cool!!!  We needed these & I'm super excited about them!

This card is another one I created for a swap that I did with other demonstrator friends.  I love these little hand prints!  They are sooo cute!  They work great for baby cards, but have other uses too!!

This is a Z fold card.    Here it is when standing up!  

And here it is when it is opened up!  

Check out the stripped designer paper too!!!  

AND look at the sparkly stars!!  They are actually in the Twinkle Adhesive Backed Sequins Assortment on page 197 in the Annual Catalog!

stamp set:  'First Steps'
card stock:  Whisper White, Melon Mambo
designer paper:  How Sweet It Is
ink:  Melon Mambo
other:  All My Love Ribbon (Lovely Lipstick), 1 1/2" Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Scalloped Circle Punch, Big Shot, Magnetic Platform, Rectangle Stitched Framelits, Dimensionals, Glue Dots, Standard Platform, Simple Stripes Embossing Folder, Twinkle Adhesive Sequins

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Yesterday I worked on bookwork & then tried to get caught up on emails & things around the house. 
Today I'm home again- which rarely ever happens!!  I need to find a big burst of energy as I have LOTS I need to get done.

I hope you have a SENSATIONAL Sunday!!

Happy Stamping!
Hugs-
SUSIE

'To Have & to Hold'

Today it is a simple Saturday card!!!  And it is a sneak peek at some more NEW Occasions Catalog products!

I was needing a wedding card real quick this week.  These just happened to be some of the left over pieces from Manda & Steve's Anniversary card, that were laying on my counter.  So this is the card I created!  I think it turned out cute!

stamp set:  'To Have & to Hold'
card stock:  Lovely Lipstick, Whisper White
dsp:  All of my Love
ink:  Lovely Lipstick
other:  All of My Love Ribbon, dimensionals, glue dot 

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I haven't had any kids this week, but have been at one of my other jobs- busy trying to get caught up on my farm book work things.   Hopefully I get finished up with them today.  I need to make a quick trip to the bank & other than that I plan to stay home all day & play catch up.

I hope you have a SUPER Saturday!!!

Happy Stamping!
Hugs-

SUSIE

'Beauty Abounds'

Here is a quick & simple card today!!  I used the NEW Occasions Catalog stamp set- 'Beauty Abounds' (again).  I really like it!!! It also has coordinating framelits that I just got- so I have had a chance to use them yet.  If you like butterflies- you'll love them!  

In this stamp set there are several different bohek images, along with some splatters, butterflies & several words.  It is a stamp set that has lots different uses & possibilities!

stamp set:  'Beauty Abounds'
card stock:  Basic Black, Whisper White, Calypso Coral
ink:  Calypso Coral, Basic Black
Stampin' Blends:  Dark Old Olive, Dark Calypso Coral
other:  White Twine, Dimensionals, Wink of Stella, Darling Label Punch Box

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Yesterday I worked on bookwork the majority of the day.  Last night we went to Deke's parents for supper & visited with everyone, celebrating their Christmas get-to-gather.  Most of us were there, except for our Wood Family that lives in Pennsylvania.  We missed them.  

This morning I'm up early to finish working on bookwork for our appointment we have this afternoon.  Tonight we will go cheer Drake on at his wrestling meet!

I hope you have a FABULOUS Friday!!

Happy Stamping!
Hugs-

SUSIE

January's Paper Pumpkin Sneak Peek info!

January’s Paper Pumpkin Kit and Coordinating Suite-

Perfectly coordinated products set Stampin’ Up! apart, and that unique offering is something that we all love about Stampin' Up! A great example is January’s Paper Pumpkin kit. It coordinates with the Animal Expedition suite on p. 26–27 of the 2018-2019 Annual Catalog— the crafting possibilities are endless.

About the Kit
The January’s Be Mine, Valentine kit coordinates with the Animal Expedition Suite. But here are a few more details to help you promote and get excited!

• Makes 24 adorable Valentine’s treat packages
• Coordinating colors: Crumb Cake, Flirty Flamingo, Lemon Lime Twist, Melon Mambo, Petal Pink, and Pool Party

Subscribers must have an active subscription by January 10, 2019 to receive the Be Mine, Valentine kit.
Supplies are limited, so don’t wait!
In the event of supplies running out, we will end the subscription period early and stop taking new subscribers for January.

To join as a Paper Pumpkin Subscriber & get this kit you can go to- www.paperpumpkin.com
Choose me as  your demonstrator- Susie Wood

If you have any questions- don't hesitate to contact me.
Happy Stamping!
Hugs-
SUSIE

More sneak peeks!

Check out this cute DSP!  And how about this cool new embossing folder!!!  These are more sneak peeks of some NEW Occasions Catalog products!! 

stamp set: 'Birthday Cheer'
card stock:  Coastal Cabana, Melon Mambo, Whisper White
designer paper:  Ho Sweet It is DSP
ink:  Coastal Cabana
other:  Bermuda Bay Ribbon, Big Shot, Magnetic Platform, Layering Circles Framelits, 2 1/4" Circle Punch, dimensionals, Glue Dot, Dot to Dot Embossing Folder, Standard Platform

This is another card that I made last week for one of the swaps that I did with some other demonstrator friends. 

Sorry this is short & sweet!!  I've been wearing one of my other 'hats.  As yesterday I worked on farm book work literally from morning until midnight.  I know I was tired of looking at numbers when I finally went to bed!!  I'm up early this morning to work on it some more.  Hopefully I have it almost all completed by noon.  As we then have Deke's family Christmas (with those that live around here) tomorrow night- so I have food to make & things to get ready for that too!

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

It is almost Sale-a-bration time!!!!!

WOO HOO!!!  What is my favorite time of year?  It is Sale-ab-ration time!  What is Sale-a-braiton?  It is when SU! offers some special products for FREE with a $50 minimum order purchase.  There are alot of great choices this year & I can't wait for you to see them all!  Sale-a-bration starts on January 3rd, 2019!  That morning I'll post the link to the Sale-a-bration flyer so that you can see all  of them!  *If you are a customer of mine- you have probably already gotten your own Sale-a-braiton mini Catalog in the mail from me!!

This adorable frog is one of the Sale-a-bration choices.  It is called- 'So Hoppy Together'!!  There are 3 different frogs images, some flies, some words, a butterfly & crown in it too!

If you follow my blog & read my posts, I mentioned that last week I was super busy working on swaps that I was doing with some fellow demonstrator friends from all over the US.  Well- this cute card is one of the swaps I made & mailed out!  I thought it turned out cute!!  Hope everyone else likes it too!

stamp set:  'So Hoppy Together'- SAB available 1/3/19
card stock:  Granny Apple Green, Basic Black, Whisper White
designer paper:  Botanical Butterfly Designer Paper- one side has different butterfly images & the back sides of each page has various black & white images on it!  SAB available 1/3/19
ink:  Black Memento
Stampin' Blends:  Light & Dark Granny Apple Green, Dark Daffodil Delight
other:  Granny Apple Green Ribbon, Wink of Stella, 1" Circle Punch; 1 3/8" Scalloped Circle Punch, Dimensionals, Glue Dot

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Yesterday was a busy day spent with family!!  It is always great to get together & see everyone!  We ate way too much!!  I was miserable last night.  We went to my sister Beckie's for lunch.  Then to Nathan & Sarah's for supper.  The kids had a blast!  It is just so great seeing things through the eyes of a child.

This morning Deke is up early to chore & head to the courthouse for his weekly board meeting.  I'm up early & will be wearing a different 'hat' today.......I'm going to hide in the computer room & work on entering things into my Quicken program for our Wood Farm things.  We have our annual tax appointment on Friday & I have lots to do!  Our kids have the week off of work, so I won't have little ones here.  I'm on a mission.......lots to get done & hope I get it all done!

Have a WONDERFUL Wednesday!!

Happy Stamping!
Hugs-
SUSIE

Happy Christmas Wishes to you!!!

This card is very fitting for me.  I just love it!!  The stamp set, the coordinating DSP, the colors, the burlap & the coloring with the Stampin' Blends!I  t is the total farm house look/style that is so popular & on trend right now!!

I am sending many blessings to each of you on this special day.  We all went to church last night & love the sermon, the songs, the candle light church & the celebration of the birth of baby Jesus. 

Merry Christmas!!!
Hugs-
SUSIE

Happy Anniversary!!

Today's card fits into that clean & simple slot!  But I like the way it turned out!  As here are some more sneak peeks from the NEW Occasions Catalog for you to see. 

Last Thursday, December 20th- Manda & Steve celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary!!!  This is the card that I made for them.  I used a NEW Occasions Catalog stamp set called- 'To Have and to Hold' & some NEW DSP called- All of my Love.  AND I also used some NEW All of my Love ribbon too!

I added 10 little hearts across the bottom from a retired heart punch.

stamp set:  'To Have & to Hold'
card stock:  Lovely Lipstick, Whisper White
dsp:  All of my Love
ink:  Lovely Lipstick
other:  All of My Love Ribbon, dimensionals, glue dot, retired small heart punch

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I hope you have a VERY SPECIAL CHRISTMAS EVE TODAY!!

I am on a mission today, to finish getting everything ready for our Christmas with our kids & grandkids that we are having here tonight.  We are going to church & then back home for supper, opening gifts & playing games.  Nathan is going to cook a prime rib for us on his smoker & I'll make the potatoes, etc, to go along with it.  

Happy Stamping!!
Hugs-
SUSIE

Another Occasions Catalog Sneak Peek!!!

Gosh- I love the way this card turned out!  This is another swap I made this week.  I used a super cute new stamp set called- 'First Steps'!  I had hand prints, foot prints, a bottle , stars, dots & some cute words!  

Check out this NEW dsp too- it is called How Sweet It Is!  I added the stars to it from the Twinkle Builder Punch.  I used the Simple Stripes Embossing folder & the 1/4" Mini Striped Bermuda Bay ribbon! 

stamp set:  'First Steps'
card stock:  Bermuda Bay, Coastal Cabana, Whisper White
designer paper:  How Sweet It Is
other:  Big Shot, Standard Platform, Simple Stripes Embossing Folder, Bermuda Bay Mini Striped Ribbon, Twinkle Builder Punch, 2" Circle Punch, Starburst Circle Punch, Dimensionals, Glue Dots

This stamp set reminds me of an old one we use to have years ago (that I just loved)!  The images in it were similar, but they were bigger.  These images are just the perfect size for layering with punches.  And since I'm a punch girl- you know how happy that makes me!

So what do you think?  I hope you love it like I do!

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Yesterday was a busy day!  We were up early yesterday morning to sell hogs.  When I got in I started working on my pile of bookwork.  I finally can say that I am all pretty much caught up with it!!  Yeah!!!  Now to get caught up on so many other things around here.  Last night I started unpacking & putting away all of my laundry baskets full of supplies that I used for all of my calendar classes this month. And I finally called it a night.

This morning I'll run to town to get some groceries & a do my Christmas shopping.  Then I hope to finish getting all of my stamp stuff put away- as we have got to get our Christmas tree put up tonight!  The countdown is on- as our kids will all be here tomorrow for our Christmas with them.  

I hope you have a SUPER Sunday!!

Happy Stamping!
Hugs-
SUSIE

MORE Sneak Peeks- check them out!

Every spare minute I've had for the past 5 days I've been working on swaps!  I have demonstrator friends from all over the US & we make cards & share (swap) with each other whenever new catalogs come out.  I've made over 185 cards!!  They are all done, in the mail & I'll have lots of ideas in my card basket for you to see at all of my upcoming January classes.  

So don't you love it!!  Do you see lots of new things you like?  I just love getting to play & create with new products!  It makes me feel like a kid in a candy store........it is so exciting!

This card is one that I did for one of the swaps.  I used lots of NEW Occasions Catalog products here:

• Happiness Blooms DSP
• 'Forever Lovely' stamp set
• Gingham Gala Adhesive Backed Sequins
• Calypso Coral 3/8" Satin Ribbon
• Dot to Dot Embossing Folder

stamp set:  'Forever Lovely'

card stock:  Calypso Coral, Blushing Bride, Call Me Clover, Whisper White

designer paper:  Happiness Blooms

ink:  Calypso Coral

other:  Big Shot, Standard Platform, Dot to Dot Embossing Folder, Calypso Coral Ribbon, 2" Circle Punch, 2 1/4" Circle Punch, dimensionals, glue dots, Gingham Gala Sequins

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Yesterday was a wild day!!  I got up early to finish swaps.  We ended up getting more baby piggies too (but we thought they were coming today)- so I spent most of my day outside helping Deke with pigs.  When we got the baby piggies all sorted & in their home, we then sort outside big hogs too.  So I was a farmer the majority of the day!!  Last night Trey came to stay with us for awhile.  We cut his hair, made cookies & played games!  I think he liked being the only one here!

This morning we are up early at 5:30 to mark, sort & load hogs.  I then will be working on cleaning our house & getting ready for Christmas.  I haven't bought any gifts yet & we don't even have our tree up!  So we plan to go Christmas shopping tonight & get everything done today & tomorrow, to be ready in time for our Christmas here on Monday with our family!

I hope you have a SENSATIONAL Saturday!!

Happy Stamping!
Hugs-

SUSIE

'Beauty Abounds' sneak peek!!

This is another sneak peek of an upcoming Occasions Catalog NEW stamp set called- 'Beauty Abounds'.  

Stampin' Up! announced a challenge at On Stage last month to do simple stamping.  Humm......that is a hard one for me.  I like layers, fun folds & different techniques.  So this card was a challenge for me to do.  I don't know if it is simple stamping or not.  But it is one ink pad & only 3 colors of card stock.  And not too many layers!

I added some Basic Pearls on the inside of some of the flowers.  And I sprayed some Champagne Shimmer/Rubbing Alcohol mix over the top of the card for some added sparkle!

stamp set:  'Beauty Abound'
card stock:  Thick Whisper White, Gorgeous Grape, Basic Black, Whisper White
ink:  Black Memento Ink
other: White Polka Dot Ribbon, Basic Pearls, Champagne Shimmer Paint, Dimensionals, Glue Dots

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Yesterday was a busy day with the kids.  And last night I stamped!!

This morning I'm up early to stamp.  I will have the kids later this morning.  Later this afternoon I'll be helping Deke outside to sort pigs in the outside lot.  Tonight Trey will be hanging out with us & I will cut his hair too!  

I hope you have a FABULOUS Friday!!!

Happy Stamping!
Hugs-

SUSIE

My 2019 Calendar- how it stands up!

Many of you have asked me how my calendars stand up.  And why do they have the holes punched in the top of each page.  Well- I hook them all together using 2- 1" rings.  The calendar then stands up like this (like a tent) & you flip to the next page each month.  

The fronts & the backs are a light 4x4 chipboard coaster.  

For the front of the calendar, I decorate it a little bit- but honestly- when you give the calendar to your recipient they see the front at that moment only......but then they open it up & it is never seen again.  As they are looking at the months from then on!

Did you NOTICE the hole punch in the center bottom of the front?  The front & the back both have holes like that & the line up exactly with each other.  

I then put a 6" piece of ribbon in the back chipboard piece, tie a double knot on the inside (of the back chipboard) & let it hang out the back of the calendar (like a tail).  Then when you stand up the calendar & flip up the front chipboard piece-  you put the ribbon in the hole on the front & tie a little knot in the tail end. 

This is what it looks like when it is standing up & flipped open.  Here is the January calendar page!!!

And here is the February calendar page!!!

I hope these photos help you understand how I assemble & use them.  Please let me know if you have any questions!

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Yesterday was a busy day!!  The kids & I ran errands- recycle center, bank, ASCS Office, Cathy's home, City Hall, Insurance Office, and finally the courthouse so that Deke & I could get our yearly flu shots.  Everyone was here after school......and grandma cut Brody & Drake's hair.  When the kids were all gone home I spent my night stamping!!

This morning Deke is up early to chore & head to Ottumwa for a meeting.  I'm up early to stamp again before I head to town.  I'll take the twins to school & then spend my day with the 3 little ones.  The 3 big boys will be here after school again.  And tonight I'll be a busy bee stamping again!!!

I hope you have a GREAT Thursday!!
Happy Stamping!
Hugs-
SUSIE