SUNDAY ROAD TRIP..............

What better way to spend a fall Sunday afternoon than going to a scrapbook/stamping garage sale?  No other way than I can think of.

We heard about this garage sale taking place at Violettes in Lakeland Fl.  Always heard good things about Violettes and it was on my bucket list anyway.  And a garage sale on top of it all?

So three of my stamping friends and I took the two hour (yes, two hour) drive to see what this was all about.  Upon arriving, we saw the crowds in the parking lot, and lots of table selling all sorts of stamping things.

There were lots of Stampin Up set there, all at really good prices.  Here is my loot:

I got:

That Martha Stewart punch set Doily Garden Trim
Spellbinders dies Labels 47
Heidi Swapp Memories File Album
Starform stickers, snowflakes
Stampin Up sets:  Yummy, Lexicon of Leaves, Pendant Park and Defining Alphabet.  I spent about $45 for all.  I think that's a pretty good deal.  I did leave some things on my first go round, and when I went back for one particular stamp set, it was gone!  You have to get them when you see them.

And then we went inside to Violettes store.  Oh my goodness, room after room of stamps, paper embeliishments and tools of all kinds.  I kept on getting lost in there.  What fun that was! I got the new Prima Christmas line, Tim Holtz's Christmas paper pack and a really pretty Penny Black Christmas word stamp set.  I'll show them later.

I am going to be a busy girl this holiday season.  I got a seasonal job at Kohls, it's part time and I'm excited to be getting back into working a little bit.  Hoping to start this week in orientation, and the Christmas holiday is only 9 weeks away!  That's it for 2015.

And that's all for me today.

Ciao!

Paula

WHERE DID SUMMER GO?............

Well it's hard to believe that it's September 6th already.  The summer flew by for sure!  For those of you who get the change of seasons, it may be bittersweet.  For us here in Florida, it is pretty much eternal summer.  Usually September is the hottest month, at least it seems that way to me.

I am participating in a swap over on Splitcoast Stampers; I have to make cards every other month and the theme is decided upon by the hostess for that month.  This swap runs for a year and this is the third set of cards we have made.  The theme for this go round is 5 of your favorite things.  Favorite stamp, color, technique, embellishment and season.  Here is my card.

I watercolored the background for my technique.  Summer is my favorite season.  The greens and aquas are my favorite colors.  The fairy is one of my favorite stamps, she is a Lavinia stamp I got for free with one of the UK stamping magazines.  My embellishments are the gemstones and stars, I love bling. I had envisioned this card when I signed up for the swap and it came together exactly like my minds eye saw it.  

I used a few other stamps that I have in my collection for the rest of the card.  Now all I have to do is get these in the mail to the hostess and wait for my swap cards to come back to me.  Can't wait to see everyone's interpretation of this theme.

All for now!

Ciao.

paula

HAVING A SPOOK-TACULAR TIME!

I couldn't help the pun, sorry.  What better time to use it than Halloween.

I got a Cricut Explore Air about 2 months ago.  I didn't think I wanted one as I have an Expressions I hardly ever use, along with eleventy billion cartridges.  I live near an HSN outlet, and one day sitting on the shelf were about 5 Airs, along with a sign that said "70% off".  What???? I couldn't leave it in the store for $89 and change.  Boy am I glad I got it.  This version does so much more than the Expressions ever could.  It cuts like  a dream too.

I just had to learn design space and there is so much there to learn, but I can do basic things and every day is a learning experience.  I found an awesome website, SVG Cuts, which has tons of files to purchase. Lots of wonderful 3D projects to download into Design Space.

I fell in love with this:

 

 A very detailed haunted house, the set is called "Haunted Forest" and comes with this house, 2 Halloween cards, a witches hat that can be filled with treats, and a jack-o-lantern that can hold a battery operated tea light for a spooky decoration. The files are reasonably priced and once purchased are yours to use over and over.   By the way, tea lights can go in this haunted house too, I used 4, and it looks adorable when lit in a darkened room.  Sorry, no pictures of that.

Here are some more views and versions:

That's what I've been up to. I'm on my fourth one, they are great gifts too.

All for now, ciao.

paula

FOR A FRIEND...

I meet the nicest people on the internet, it seems stampers, as a group, have a kind of kinship that shines through.  I am grateful for my American stamper friends, and now I am happy to say I have a UK stamper friend.

I wanted to send her a cheery greeting, so this is the card I came up with.  I am showing it now because I know she has already received it.  I am happy to say she loved it.

Lots of die cuts, some embossing and three embellishments from one of my favorite bloggers, Christina Griffiths, of  Flowers, Ribbons and Pearls.  Thank you for all your inspiration Christina.

Have a happy and safe weekend.  I am going to a stamp show tomorrow.  Lots of inspiration, lots of shopping.  Can't wait.

Ciao!  paula

NEARLY TWO MONTHS!!!

I KNEW it was a while since I posted anything to the blog; I just didn't realize how long it's been.  I have been creative during this time.

First I spent almost two weeks visiting my daughter and her family near Philadelphia, Pa.  My granddaughter Lauren graduated from Temple University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in speech and hearing pathology.  I am so proud of her; she was lucky and found a job in her field right away.  Go Lauren!

I have been making mini books like a mad woman.  For some reason I am just feeling it.  I have something up my sleeve and I hope everything goes according to plan.  I haven't made any cards in a while, except one.

I  joined a swap group on SplitcoastStampers.  We are the Bakers Dozen group.  There are 10 (or maybe 11) of us and each member takes a month where she sends out a card kit to all the other members of the group.  When it is "your month" you get to pick a theme, propose a challenge, etc.  I always wanted to join a group like this, and didn't know what to expect.  I got my June envelope, my first one, just late last week.  We got some stamped images, cardstock and patterned paper along with some embellishments and were challenged to make a card and a tag.  I got the card done pretty quick.  The tag I will have to think on a bit.

Everything came in the kit except the clouds and the little bit of gold glittered paper over the verse.  I like my little card, The next few months should be fun.

All for now.  Ciao!

Paula

Where does the time go?.......

It's been over a month since I posted?  What?  It doesn't seem that long so I'd better get to it.

Right after my last blog post my daughter and son-in-law came for a visit.  It was a fun 5 days and it went by too fast.  I miss them a lot, but next week I will be flying away to visit and attend my granddaughters college graduation!  She will graduate from Temple University with her bachelors degree; I am so proud.

Last weekend I attended a 3 day crop, what fun that was!  We stayed at the Embassy Suites where the crop was held.  Both Friday and Saturday night I was up in the crop room until 3 A.M. with a few die-hards.  I got some good work accomplished and would love to do one again.

Yesterday my old friend from high school and I met 2 other high school friends for lunch.  We haven't seen each other for 20+ years and it was fun catching up.  I hope to meet up again with them when I go up north for granddaughters graduation.

I needed a get well card rather quickly so I went to my reliable box of die cuts and put this one together pretty quick.  I have lots of die cuts that I pre-cut and just filed away for this very situation.  Am I glad I did that. This card is a little flat but it's being mailed and I didn't want to pay extra postage.

The card looks like it was photographed in black and white but actually it is silver and white.

All for now.  Ciao!

paula

HOLLY JOLLY CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE

It's time for another challenge over at the Holly Christmas challenge blog. You have to use dies and punches on your card.  Actually I am a little late, but because I am working almost daily to finish a mini album, I had to squeeze in time to make this card before the challenge expires. I am making it just under the wire, the challenge expires in two days.

 

I really like the soft pink and green color combination.  Add in the little silver accents popped up on the white background and the card is complete. 

I used an Anna Griffin die for the geometrical background, A SU die for the large silver snowflake,  Impression Obsession snowflake die, a Martha Stewart punch for the small silver snowflake topping the flowers and some gems and JeJe peel off silver lines to outline the focal point. I hand cut the joy banner, which is a SU stamp.

This is being entered into the Holly Jolly Christmas challenge.

All for me.  Ciao!

paula