Never ending Story...walls up!

My backyard is almost done! We are so happy to have it almost 'fixed' up. We still have alot of work to do, but this area is getting so much better! (at least there is NO DIRT!) , The walls are up and the deck in the back is LOOKING GOOD! It still needs work, and there are alot of dirt areas, but overall, it is better than where it started! So in addition to having stamping, we can also do a pool party too, with a fire pit and s'mores!

I think that so far, so good. Right now, it is called a Planter..for all intents and purposes! Our wall is almost done, and we have just a few more things that need to be done, before the 'planter' will be done!
Our wall is getting the last part put on, the cap or top brick.
It is going up slowly....but, it should be done this week.
Then we'll have wrought iron gates put up, and then it will look much better...
Now our party animal will have a yard that he can't just knock the fence over and invite his friends from the other side, to come and party in our yard! I know he will miss his friend Rocky, but, Rockie is going to have to just make do with barking at his friends over the new Block wall! ...I think he'll be ok. I just hope that someday, we'll have friends over so that he can play.....I think maybe after the yard is really all cleaned up!

Summer is almost here!

Summer is almost here! and Spring will be a memory. We haven't had alot of rain, but hopefully this summer will bring some nice weather. Last summer was hot hot hot! and I did finally install a small ac unit in my bedroom so Tori and I won't roast! These flowers were at my friend's garden in Wales, and although it was 5 years ago, the colors are so beautiful and vibrant that I had to share their beauty!

Today I will be finishing up a swap that I am in for VC-Rocks (virtual convention) using all Stampin' UP! Stamps! I hope to be putting them in the mail tomorrow (monday!)

2007-2008 Baroque Motif Stamp set!

Wow! THE New stamp sets that are coming in the PREVIEW Mini Catalog! I just had them mailed out from Stampin' Up! If you did not get one, you need to let me know. I haven't ordered extras yet, but they are really fun to play with. This one is my favorite right now, and I love the Baroque Motif Stamp set! This one is a Boho set, that will work for most any pages or beautiful cards! this one is mono in the sense that I used 1 ink and 1 cardstock color. I think if you play with this one you will like it! This is the NEW color Sky blue with Chocolate Chip Ink! You will want to try them out...!

Be sure to be on the look out for the NEW catalog coming up..I have been looking in my mail box and waiting for the BROWN truck to come up to my house with a nice big box that has a black logo on the side! (STAMPIN' Up!)

EAST finally meets WEST!

This paper is from the Palette O' Prints collection and it comes out so cute when it is folded! I love the cute designs that the paper gives off when

it is folded and changed! You can create fun ideas when you take the paper and manipulate it into other shapes other than just background! Get creative and fun. This dress is from the Minigami book by Gay Merrill Gross. You can click on the link (I hope it works) and see other cute designs that can be incorporated into card making! My friend Chiaki used this book to make the cutest cards. I hope you will be inspired to make some cards for your friends and family!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/1554070910/ref=sib_dp_pt/102-9528364-7524163#reader-link

PUNCH POWER

PUNCHES make a plunge in my stamping!
I am so amazed now at my punches. I have been collecting them for some time. You can see my collection! (Do I have you interested in coming?) now....it is in chaos right now, but, I tell you, I have been having fun doing other things besides just stamping!
Do you see the amazing border around the photo? Okay, the subject of the photo is cute enough! Can you believe that was 5 YEARS ago! She was only 10! But, look at how the lacy border goes around the photograph. It was punched separately, and then layed across the back of the photo. You can be more detailed by lining up the border so it matches perfectly, but without, it still looks amazing!

This photo shows a different way to use the same punch. You can punch the corner of a square, and then fold over the edge to leave this lacy edge. Then you can layer it with a circle or a square with a stamped image to make a frame. This is a large square that was punched (I think it was about 3 inches in diameter) I cut the circle with the Coluzzle cutter. I stamped it with the Doodle flower and then colored it in with an Aqua Painter.



This one shows a smaller square, but I did use the paper from the Palette o' Paper.






It is a cool effect to have it reversed with a design on the back. I also used the Large Jumbo wheel on the back of the page to give it a design on the paper. Rockie looks so cute as well as my beautiful girl Tori. This was from this last MEMORIAL Holiday ...we went to the park!


This one is probably the most fun! I got this idea from my upline, Kathy Pardee. She had a class using punches, and this was so fun! I did this at the class, and my customers went to town with theirs. I am showing their cards too! (MINE is simple! You should see theirs!)

The push up is Valerie's and the one that says HAPPY is Norma's! Aren't they cute!

Just a new Update on my girl. THEY splinted her hand in a cast, and had it on for 2 weeks, and now, just got another cast, which she has to wear for 2 more weeks. She actually tore her ligament and partially tore 2 side ligaments.
I have been stamping....soon, I will have more things to share!

On Board 5x5 Journal

This is the class I did with the 5x5 Chipboard ON BOARD Book available now from the SPRING Mini Catalog. It is easy and very versatile to use as a Prayer book, Blogging book, Notes, Addresses, Sketch book, idea book etc.