It is too hot out there!

Hello friend!

I'm "hiding" in my house from this heat.  It wasn't bad last week when we had an ocean to go jump in... but this is ridiculous!

Gotta show you a couple of things.  Our friend Amanda is getting married next month, and we had an informal shower for her last night.  I made this bag and card for her in about 10 minutes flat cause I was running behind--as always.

The bag decor should look familiar--I needed something large to quickly fill the space,

so I used the flashing to create an ornament.

 This is one of our notecards, so its small.  I was able to fun it through the Big Shot with the Framed Tulips Folder to create this fun border on the edge of the card.  Her wedding is purple & silver, so I used Elegant Eggplant & Wisteria Wonder with a little silver ribbon. 

This is special.  Just before we left on vacation I received my 10-year anniversary pin in the mail from Stampin' Up!  Pretty cool.  (I also received 3 free stamp sets the same week that I earned by my activity during Sale-A-Bration.  Free is good!)

Stay cool out there!

Happy Stamping!

Wendy

We're back from vacation!

Hello friend!

Yes, we went on vacation to Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina.  WE LOVED IT!  (everything except that 12 hour drive)

Our condo was on the beach.  Only thing that separated us from the ocean was a pool and the sand dunes:

The weather was perfect.

The seafood was wonderful.

Every morning I would wake up and spend about 2 hours on the deck, listening to the ocean as I pieced a quilt top--actually, I'm taking one apart because I just wasn't happy with the way it was put together 18 years ago.  I'll keep you updated because I can't wait to finish it:

The white blocks in between are history....

One night we spotted a doe in the sand dunes.  She was making a great meal of that grass:

At night, the girls and I would go out and walk the beach with flashlights.  We'd find these little guys:

On the beach right behind our condo was a sea turtle nest.  It is all roped off, with a notice that states there is a $100,000 fine if you disturb the nest.  Every morning as I sat on the deck, an official on an ATV would come down the beach and check it.

(Our condo is the second on the right.)

Driving over the causeway to the island, we could "see" our condo, because it was two buildings from the only high rise building on the island--way over there on the west:

But of course the best thing was the ocean:

I've never used our My Digital Studio for more than little things, but I believe I will make a book from our vacation.  If you are not familiar with My Digital Studio, you can go to the web site:  

http://mydigitalstudio.net/

Tonight I will finally mail my Hostess Club Cards from July on the way to see the new Harry Potter movie!  I can't wait--have you seen it yet?  I desperately want to see the battle between Mrs. Weasley and Bellatrix--and so help me if they messed that part up I will think they messed the whole thing up!  (my apologies to those of you who think I just went a little crazy)

Happy Stamping!
Wendy

Happy 4th of July!

Hello friend!

Hmmm... this post should be red, white & blue and wildly patriotic... but I have something else to show you.
If you read this blog, you know I'm having fun with quilting with the Big Shot.  Here is a block I made  for the Block of the Month group.

This block is based on one I received in a swap a while back.  I wish I could give you the name of the woman who made the original--but I don't have it.  So, to whoever you are out there--thanks!  (this was one of my favorites in the swap)
It is going to be so much fun to show you the finished quilt!   I started out with a pretty simple, basic layout, but now I'm getting ideas, and I think its morphing into something else.  We'll see.  

Also, I've had several more women express an interest in quilting, and the current class doesn't want to stop with 6 blocks.  We're working on keeping the fun going, so let me know if you are interested in joining us.  (Quilting experience is not necessary--just a desire to create something special!)

Remember, if you ordered a 2011/2012 Idea Book and Catalog, you can pick them up!  Just call and you can let me know when you are coming by.

  :)

See you soon!
Wendy

Projects from the brunch

Hello friend!

One of the best parts of the Hostess Appreciation Brunch is always the stamping.  We always make two projects, and I search for at least one idea of something very different to show... and boy did I find it!  The first project I gave them was a card made with "The Open Sea" from the Occasions Mini.  (love this set!)

Of course this is lovely, and a great masculine card, but the reaction to the second project (which was my wildly "different" project) was MUCH more vocal.  In fact, there were (yes I'm gonna say it) there were SQUEALS when I showed it!  :)  Just the kind of reaction I like! 

Garden Markers!

I wish the photo did them justice. They look great in a flower bed, vegetable garden, or a flower pot.  In fact, I think they'd even be neat in a potted plant in your house--then you could enjoy them all year long!  If you could see the square one a little better, you'd notice the center is not embossed.  You can use a permenant marker to write on, so you can mark the name of a plant.

So far, I've shown these to two groups, and gotten such a fabulous reaction that now I'm offering to teach everyone how to make them.  Schedule a party today!  One of the really neat things about these is that they don't blow away--so we can have a party outside, in your backyard!  (Sometimes it can be difficult to stamp outside... card stock has a tendancy to blow around!)

Let me know when you and your friends want to get together!

Wendy

the new Idea Book is here!

Hello friend!

See the link on the right?  Click to see the new 2011/2012 Idea Book & Catalog!

And if you want your own copy, let me know!
Wendy