HEARTBREAKING DAY

 Today was a very very hard day for our family.  

Our beloved family dog, Jesse, died today.  

She was our 13 year old black lab that was truly one of the
sweetest dogs I've ever known.  

We are all so heartbroken.
It is especially hard on our children who cannot 

remember a time when she wasn't a part of our family.

JOY

Today's card is the second card that we made at the "Stamp for a Cause" event.  

A very pretty and simple Christmas card.

The next few days are very busy for me.....Remember....I'm now working all day on Thursdays and Fridays.  I'm adjusting, but still not use to it yet.  I come home pretty bushed!  It's forcing me to think about Thursdays dinner today.....the crockpot is becoming my friend.

Until next time, find some time for stamping!!!

Hugs, Cindy

A DAY IN YOSEMITE

Last Saturday, Steve and I went up to Yosemite National Park with a group of friends from our church for a day of bike riding around the valley floor.  It was SO BEAUTIFUL!!  We couldn't have asked for better weather.   Yosemite is just spectacular....and one of the best parts is that it is so close to where we live.  We can be in the valley floor within a 2 hours drive.....each time we take a trip up there we always say, "Why don't we come up here more often?!".

Here is a picture of us with some of our dear friends.....this picture is taken from a famous lookout before you reach the valley floor.

When we rode up to Mirror Lake (which is just a big sand bar now) we took a big group picture which somebody is suppose to email me.  There were about 16 of us that went.

Steve and I at that same lookout.  After I downloaded the pictures onto the computer, I noticed that his head is blocking out Half Dome....oh well, it still shows a good picture of El Capitan on the left.

Half Dome from Mirror Lake....even after all these years and countless visits to Yosemite, I am still in awe of the scenary.  WOW!!

This last picture is Steve and I stopping by the bike trail to enjoy the view....

God is good to us!!

Until next time, find some time for stamping!!

Hugs, Cindy

THINKING OF YOU

A couple of weeks ago, I went to a "Stampin' for a Cause" event that my friend Karen had at her home.  The "Cause" was to benefit a church friend of ours' daughter whose home burnt down.  We made 2 cards....here is one of them...I'll share the other one on another day.

Isn't it CUTE?!  

We all had a great time stamping, talking, and eating!  

Thanks Karen for organizing such a good time.

Until next time, find some time for stamping!!

Hugs, Cindy

MERRY CHRISTMAS MUGS

Here is the second card that we made at Stamp Club on Monday.  We used the Scentsational Season Bundle that is in the current Holiday Mini Catalog.  

That bundle is a bundle of joy to me!!

This is a bright and cheery card....I'm kinda beginning to like the new In Color Gumball Green.  Wasn't too sure at first, but now I'm thinkin' I just might have to get the stamp pad for that one....currently I only have the set of markers.  It's just a cute, fun, and upbeat color!  The red is the always fabulous Cherry Cobbler....a deep, rich color of red!

Also, I'm loving the Be of Good Cheer DSP that's in the big catalog.  

The Gumball Green ribbon used was one that I received for FREE for ordering $40 of SU goodies!  Click HERE for all the details on the "Back to Spool" promotion going on now!

That's all for today.....THANKS for visiting!

Until next time, find some time for stamping!!

Hugs, Cindy

FRENCH FOLIAGE

 Today's card is one that we will be making tomorrow in Stamp Club.  I used the Triple Time Stamping technique......it's super easy and yet looks super cool too!

 I didn't have a place to put the sentiment I wanted to use.....so I just left the front plain and put the sentiment on the inside.  Here it is.....sorry, the picture came out yellow for some reason

The skeleton leaf  is stamped in Crumb Cake after "stamping off" once.....the leaf would have been too dark under the writing without stamping off first.

I will share the second card we made next time...so come back for another visit!

Until next time, find some time for stamping!

Blessings, Cindy

MAY WE NEVER FORGET

Today is the 11th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centers, Pentagon, and the downed plane in Pennsylvania.  

My prayers and heart goes out to those thousands of people who lost loved ones on that horrible day.

Until next time, find some time for stamping!!

Blessings & Hugs, Cindy

THANK YOU CARD

Today's card was sent to us from a long-time family friend of my husbands, Karen,  after we had her over for dinner when his brothers were here visiting recently.

This cute card was made by Gloria Clet, who is not only Karen's cousin but a follower of my blog!!  Can you believe what a small world it is?!  I have never met Gloria, but I'm looking forward to sometime in the NEAR future!!  Are you reading this Gloria? :-)  We will have to get together and do some stamping!  Maybe we can even see if Karen would like to join in on the fun.

Gloria, Thanks for making such a cute card!!  

To me, receiving this card just re-enforces how important, and special, handmade and handwritten cards are in this techno age of emails, texts, and tweets! 

There's nothing like good old-fashioned snail-mail.

Well, today I start my working all day on Thursdays and Fridays....hopefully I won't come home "punch-drunk" from having taxed my brain almost beyond its ability :-)

Thanks for visiting!!

Until next time, find some time for stamping!!

Blessings & Hugs, Cindy

PS: Gloria: Leave me a comment!

QUICK SNOWFLAKE CARD

Today I'm posting a card that I quickly made last night.  I was in need of a major "stamping fix"!!  

I was inspired by a card that I saw on Pinterest by Darlene Adamo.....and here is my version....I added SEWING (please don't look too closely....I'm not a very good seamstress).  Sewing isn't something I normally do....although I love how it makes cards look.

I'm just wild about the Distressed Dots background stamp....it adds so much with such little effort...LOVE IT! 

I used a base of Crumb Cake card stock with a Chocolate Chip liner....the DSP is some retired Christmas paper from last year, sentiment is from Contempo Christmas stamped with Chocolate chip, sponging is also with Chocolate Chip, and the final touch is the Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine.

Thanks for visiting.....let me know you were here by leaving a comment.

Until next time, find some time for stamping!!

Blessings & Hugs, Cindy

HAPPY LABOR DAY

Well, here's hoping that you don't have to labor on Labor Day!!

Today, we are heading out to the ski lake for a day of fun in the sun with some friends.

Labor Day always has the "feel" of being the last day of summer.....although where I live, sometimes September is hotter than August!

Enjoy the day!!

Until next time, find some time for stamping!!!

(I know I need to!!)

Blessings & Hugs, Cindy

BACK TO "SPOOL"

While the kids are heading back to school, Stampin' Up! is going back to 'spool'! 

For the month of September, get a FREE package of 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon-an $8.95 value-for every $40 you spend!

Choose from the following ribbons:

126848	Gumball Green 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon	$ 8.95
126847	Midnight Muse 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon	$ 8.95
126844	Primrose Petals 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon	$ 8.95
126845	Raspberry Ripple 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon	$ 8.95
126846	Summer Starfruit 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon	$ 8.95

Spend $40 get one free, spend $80 get two free, spend $200 and get all five FREE...there isn't a limit to the number of free ribbon!!
Perfect time to stock up on ribbon for the upcoming holidays!!

Until next time, find some time for stamping!!

Blessings & Hugs, Cindy