NO STAMPING BUT......TARPS GALORE!!

Today, I was outside ALL DAY pressure washing tarps from an RV storage shelter so that Steve could put them up and store his tractor and other equipment in it. These tarps are 30 feet long.....and were DIRTY!!! But they are all cleaned up now! Here's a picture of the tarps along with Steve and Andy.









Thankfully it was a GORGEOUS day....sunny and warm. This truly was a day the LORD had made and I rejoiced in it!!!

Until next time.....Find some time for stamping.....I know I'm going to try!!!
Blessings, Cindy

CLUB NIGHT

Tonight was my monthly Stamp Club....a time that I always look forward to. A FUN time of talking and stamping!!

The first card we made was with the Branch Out stamp set....this is just a fantastic set!! It has become one of my new favorites! The card had a very simple layout with no frills, yet when they were done, they all turned out looking anything but simple!

















The second card we did was FUN! The gals actually made a couple of these little cuties (some even more!). Using the Big Shot, we made quick Top Note cards and added a flower with the Build a Flower Bigz die. Some of them we even embossed using the Big Shot and a Cuttlebug embossing folder....these turned out even CUTER!!!







I had a great time too!!!

Until next time.....
Find some time for stamping!!!
Blessings, Cindy

THIS WEEK "FLU" BY & FTL32

This week "flu" by!! I really mean FLU!! Andy was sick at the beginning of the week and Madison spent all of the week sick!! Andy is completely well and Madison stills has some very stubborn symptoms that just don't seem to want to go away....but other than being annoyed by the congestion and an occasional cough, she is doing pretty good.

Well, the other day the Clean and Simple Stamping website posted their "Fall to Layout 32". Here is a copy of the sketch:

Here is the card that I made for this sketch....it took me all of about 3 minutes!!!

The big shot just makes it SO EASY!!! I don't yet own the circle dies, but I just used a circle cutter (which mine is a MAJOR PAIN), but everything else is BIG SHOT!! I folded a piece of Kiwi Kiss cardstock and ran it through the Big Shot with the Top Note die, making sure the fold was just inside the cutting line. The flower is from the Build a Flower Bigz die, which I topped off using the 1/2" circle punch. The image inside the 1/2" circle is from the Sale-A-Bration set Polka Dot Punches, the sentiment is from Sincere Salutations.

At my stamping club on Monday evening, we are going to be making a card almost like this....except I am going to use the 1-3/4" circle punch instead. I think if I would make the ladies use my circle cutter, they would all run out the door screaming in frustration....and I don't want that to happen. Here is a picture of my sample. They will be able to choose what color they would like the flower....we might have to make a couple of these little babies!!!

Until next time....
Find some time for stamping!!!
Blessings, Cindy

Stampin' Up!'s Monthly Contest

Today I had the crazy notion again to make something for this month's Stampin' Up! contest. The winners of these contests are able to pick three stamps sets for free.....and since I am always up for free stuff and have nothing to lose.....I went for it!! The last time I entered one of their contests, I didn't win but my card was posted on Stampin' Up!'s website in the Stamper's Showcase. Pretty cool!!

Anyways....each month in SU's Stampin' Success magazine that is sent to demonstrators, they post a different contest. One of this month's contest is entitled "Bleach It Good". You make something using the technique of bleaching. I had never done this before and so I read the article that was published on bleaching and gave it a go.

I am not able to post my card.....but I thought I would show you a peek at one of my "trial and error" cards. Sorry the picture is blurry, but I was REALLY zooming in on the tiny image.

Winners are notified sometime around April 10th.....I will let you know whether or not I won. I'm such a rookie compared to other demonstrators that I don't expect to win, but I tell myself that if I don't enter I can't win....at least by entering I have a shot. Plus again, it was just relaxing and fun creating something and working on it until it was "just right"!

Find some time for stamping!!!
Blessings, Cindy

I'M CHALLENGE CHALLENGED...in other words....Challenges are Challenging :-)

Each day Splitcoast posts a new challenge for each day.....Monday it's New Technique, Tuesday it's Color, Wednesday a sketch, and so on. I am not very good at their challenges....but I try. In fact, half the time I feel somewhat embarrassed to post my card.....these stampers on SCS are AWESOME!!! These challenges really stretch me.....but I keep telling myself that "no pain, no gain". Anyway....This week's color challenge was to use the colors Kiwi Kiss, Chocolate Chip, and Passion Pink. So I dug out those colors and since I was feeling behind thought I would try and combine the Color Challenge with the CAS Challenge (another challenge posted on Monday)...which was using paper piercing.

I think in my case....trying to mix the two challenges was like trying to bake a cake and make chili all in the same bowl!!! IT DON'T WORK!!!!

Funny that I put "Get Well Soon" on it, since the card itself needs the same sentiments :-)

Oh well, sometimes you have it and sometimes you don't!!! I'll need to go back to the drawing board on this one! But it was fun tryin'!!!

Find some time for stamping!!!
Blessings, Cindy

THINKING OF YOU

Well, I think we are through the worst part of the kids being sick. I am taking Madison to the doctor's tomorrow....she just can't seem to shake her fever and sore throat. Also, she has been terribly congested, so she might have strep and/or an ear infection....something that might need some antibiotics. Poor girl!!!

I did get around to stamping a bit this evening after they went to bed. I made a real quick card before I went to bed myself. This is a perfect example of the type of card that we will be making at my Clean & Simple Class on March 14th. The medallion was something I had stamped at a demonstrator's meeting a long time ago....I just never used it. And using the Big Shot and Top Note die really makes things EASY!!! In fact, we will probably be using the Big Shot a lot at the class!!! (Gotta love that Big Shot!!)

I am hoping to get back into the full swing of things in the next couple of days.

Find some time for stamping!!!
Blessings, Cindy

SICK KIDS :-( CAS04 Challenge

Andy started getting sick on Saturday evening, was sick yesterday and is still sick with the flu today. Madison started getting sick Sunday evening and is sick today. I went to bed around 10:30 p.m. last night and was up with her every hour for the rest of the night.....she is so wiped out, and so am I! Both of them missed school today and when I emailed the school to tell them they wouldn't be there today, the attendance secretary told me that there were LOTS of 6th graders out with the flu too. So I think some germs went to camp too!....who invited them!!!???

Today's CAS Challenge #4 is "Accenting With Dots" (click on the title to go to the Splitcoast thread that lists the challenge and the details). Here is the definition of the challenge:

"This week we are accenting our CAS cards with dots. Whether you use a piercer or a marker, they are great additions to bring bring balance to a card or highlight a focal image.

Yes: Piercing, dots made with markers that looks like piercing
No: Cuttlebug dots, dotted patterned paper, pop up dots (You can use these, but they shouldn't be considered your accented dots on your card. Use a paper piercer or marker.)"

These types of challenges can just be a jump start to creativity! Have fun with it.

I'll TRY and get to some stamping later today, after a nap, and then post my card this evening or tomorrow.

Find some time for stamping!!!
Blessings, Cindy