Love Blooms In Me

Arrived Safe, But Not Sound!

I would say I'm never sound, and anyone who knows me, knows that's true! We finally got into Ft Lauderdale at almost midnight Saturday and headed for the condo. Yes, it's on the beach and kinda nice in an old fashion way. A little run down, but still nice. We met up with my sister yesterday and that was the best part. Her very nice husband took mine to lunch and let Debbie and I get around to some of the stores! AC Moore was our first stop. I think they must have been restocking, cause they seemed low, but I did manage to get 4 new stamps. 3 from Amuse and 1 new Disney stamp. More ribbon seemed to find it's way into my basket too. Next stop the scrapbook store! Very nice finds and to top it off we are taking a class on Thursday. I've never taken a class with Deb, so we're looking forward to that. It using some of those Target $ lanterns. I'll post a picture when I get home. Please be sure to check back.

Today we spend the day doing nothing. We did stop at the same store again on the way to Deb's for dinner. I bought lots of things to show off and the neatest thing is that I sold some stuff to one of her customers! Found money--I say! And that the owner of the store knows who I am. She's been in SS magazine and SCS as well. Neat!

Well, I guess that's it for today. I'm using my sister computer, but no pictures till I get home. I hope everyone had a safe and fun weekend! Until next time-------

OFF TO THE BEACH

Oh yea, it's the day! Finally here!! Our flight doesn't leave until almost 7, but the good thing about that is I don't have to rush around like crazy this morning. I'm still washing and making a few extra cards to take with me. Maybe I'll even get around to cleaning my happy room before I go. I hate coming home to the mess it's in NOW!

Today I'm sharing a card made using my new Copic markers. OMG, the colors are just wonderful. So rich. I just love this layout for my cupcake card. I've make this one time and time, and time again and it always looks different! I covered the cupcakes with LOTS of glitter glue. The stamps are from Lockhart, except the tiny cupcake. That's part of my M's $ sets.

Since we don't have a laptop I don't know how much I'll be on the computer. I'll try and update this site at least once while we're away. I love to go to the computer coffee spots. Kills both needs with one stop! Take care everyone and have a safe weekend!

GIFTY GIFTS

OK, so I made that up, but I've been busy yesterday and today making gift sets. The first one I made I'm sending to my secret sister...I'm not showing hers, so she'll be surprised! I am however sharing another one I've made today. This set was made using my new Lizzie Anne stamps! Talk about nice rubber stamps, these are that! Nicely etched and deep too. The stamps come unmounted in a plastic case. They came yesterday and I drove right in. I stamped the flowers are different pieces of My Mind's Eye paper. I really enjoy using their paper cause it's card stock weight. I think I have every color out there! It was on sale several months ago and I needed it all! My "let's chat" is from Amuse. I bought several packages of these clips at the office supply store and I'm ready to make lots of bookmakers with them. I sandwiched the clip between the cut out flowers.

I went to a SU workshop last night for my friend who is a new demo--it was her coming out party! We had lots of fun and I love to meet new gals who share similar interest. I ordered Big Blooms. It was one of the sets that we saw made up. I wasn't sure weather I needed to add this to my collection, but you never know when you might need another flower set!!! (BIG JOKE!)

Thanks to everyone who left a comment about what makes them smile. It's so neat to hear what other's think. I'm smilin' big tonight since I have the whole evening to myself. Barry is going to a meeting and my dinner with the kids was canceled. Madelyn had a tummy bug and I don't want to get sick before we go away....what should I do with all my time?????

Have a great night!

Things Make Me Smile!

I'm thinking today of what makes me smile. Good friends and a loving family always make me smile. Tonight when I asked our youngest son to drive us to the airport on Saturday, and he said "sure" right away, that made me smile, too. Most things make me smile. I'm not a moody person and rarely sad. Sometimes life can get me down, but that usually goes away pretty fast. I want to have so much good living left that I don't have time to be unhappy for very long!

I made this card a few weeks ago when I found this "smile" stamp in my collection and thought it really could use a card to go with it. This stamp is part of a set of four from Hero Arts. I always find the nicest sayings with their stamps. I used my CB on the bottom of the card and found a nice piece of scrap for the top. I had already bought several boxes of chipboard from K & Co at M's, but hadn't used any yet, so this seemed as good as any time. The ribbon is from M's as well, way back in the dead of winter buy, and finally the pretty Prima's. I tried to tie it together with the ribbon. My flower stamp is from Penny Black. I just stamped an extra out and used pop-dots to mount it.

I found another thing that made me smile yesterday while shopping at the outlet mall. Pink Crocs! They match my new pink pants and top too. Can you say VACATION!! No I'm not ready yet, but I will be by Saturday!

Have a wonderful evening and hurry back! Please leave a note to tell me what makes you happy, besides our families. Mostly that's a given, but what makes you tick besides them?????

Special Friend

Don't tell anyone, but this is a special card for a special sister! We're going to visit next week. Oh yes, a week at the beach! Just what the doctor ordered--Doctor Bloom that is!

This card was made using the layout from SCS that I've grown to love. Made with My Mind's Eye papers and my new Martha flower punch. Couldn't help myself! I stamped out several flowers and just added them randomly. The dress was stamped with a stamp by Amuse on printed paper. The celebrate is from my new Paper Trey set and the sisters stamp is from Morning Star stamps http://morningstarstamps.com/. They are a lovely small company who makes some of the neatest small stamps.

Everyone have a wonderful day!

Little Lady Flies Home

Is she and her little one not the cutest pair you've seen!!! I got my new little lady set the other day and finally had some ME time to play with it. I'm in love with the little two tiny dot stamp! I can see lots of ways this can be useful. I think using the craft inks is the easiest for me on these stamps. I know other's have tried the regular SU inks, but I can't seem to get good coverage. I added some flowers using both this set and last months set. I like the flowers and leaves with that set, too! I added the two "celebrates" to the card due to having cover up some Miss-placed black ink. All-in-all, I think this set is wonderful!!

Tomorrow I have to start cleaning my happy room. I'm sure it's going to take all week. I hate to go away with it messy. Nothing worse then coming home to that! My problem is not the cleaning, it's the finding of things I thought I LOST and might need to work on some cards. I get a bit lost in thought that way!! And I still have to make some things to take to my sister. Tomorrow I'll post the "sister" card I made this morning to take to her. I can't wait for tomorrow to come. It's going to be stamp club night and we're making some fun new projects, but don't tell anyone!!

Have a good night and I'll see you tomorrow!

MR CRABBY COMES HOME

Yes, Mr Crabby has finally found a home in my happy room! I think I ordered this set the day it came out, but I still hadn't cut it up, but now I'm so sorry I waited so long!!

I made this card using a layout from SCS called SC124. I've made several cards using it for two reasons, It's neat and it uses up some of the scrap I've got growing on my desk! Even the verse was stamped on scrap this time. I'm trying to find the bottom of the desk before we go away so I can come back to a clean room. This card was made using My Mind's Eye pp. I think I've bought every piece I can find. Cool Caribbean is the base and I added a piece of Chocolate Chip and So Saffron. Mr Crabby, who is colored using my favorite technique, is popped up on tiny little pop-dots! I like the way coloring turns out when you use a blender pen and refill ink. It's like painting, you get a nice bit of coverage.

Barry is off this morning to a program called Challenge Air. Children who have special needs can come to the local event held at airports around the country and get to ride in a small plan and see the lay of the land!  It's a wonderful program that the Lion's Club works very hard each year to make a success.

What this means is that I have the morning to my self! I say "self" what are you going to do this fine morning?? Since the stores aren't open yet, I guess I'll finish this rambling, then I think it's off to the mall. I want a pair of Crocs. A pretty pair in pale green and then I need to have another pair of shorts for our trip. What would a stop at the LSS hurt either!! Yes, I think I'll make the most of my FREE time!!

Have a great weekend!

Strawberries & Cream

Nothing is so wonderful as a nice big bowl of fresh strawberries and since I don't have those right now, I used my Paper Tray set to make a card! My-oh-my is this Crate Paper fun too! I used a new Amuse stamp for the wording as well. Several SU punches were used on this card. I really like the way they give a card "motion"! I've found that I get the best coverage results on these stamps using my craft inks. I have several brands, but I like the new stacks of cat eyes ones.

Did you see the new preview catalog for the Fall/Winter Stampin' UP! things??? It's so mean to tease us, but so good to finally see some of the new things! I've added the shortcut to view it---enjoy!

http://www.stampinup.com/us/documents/fallwinterpreview_07.pdf

Whipper Snapper Swap

Isn't this a fun card! This is for the swap I've signed up for on SCS. My new cuttlebug flowers folder is the backround along with a piece of polka dots from My Mind's Eye. I got some a huge amount of new Prima's in the last several months and thought it would carry out the dot theme using the orange one. It's hard to tell, but I added some glitter on the tail and leaf. The verse is from Paper Tray.

Speaking of Paper Tray, did you see the new ladybug set today??? I not only saw it, but I ordered it too. The shipping is oh so fast on the things from them and the Ladybug needed to come live with me!

On a personal note...I had an email from another crafter this morning letting me know that she's in the same boat I am. Being a care giver to a wonderful husband who is ill with a similar surgery as Barry and that she was so glad to hear someone else talk about it. It's wonderful that people call and write and ask how everything is. It really does the heart good and much needed part of the healing process, but please, please don't forget about the care giver. There are many out there either taking care of elderly parents, ill children, or a spouse. If you live in the same town see if you can help out for even a few minutes of your time. You can't image the wonderful feeling of having those few minutes to yourself. Barry and I have gotten past that point with his recovery. I can leave him alone for a while and he'll be ok. What a small blessing that is! Just remember that we all need a little pat on the back and know that someone else cares about us! Blessing to you all!

Paula

FLOWERS & WINNERS!

Thanks to all the people who came and left a note about their Mother's. It was a wide mix of things that our Mom's have taught us for sure! I'm glad I don't have to pick, I let the random numbers pick for me.

Congrat to Gail (Abi). Say said "The best thing I learned from my mom is how to be strong. She has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer (only in February) and had a mastectomy. Now she has to have a second mastectomy to remove the other breast. She has never batted an eye or complained about anything! She has just taken everything in stride and thought about the positives of all of this. Also, last year my dad was diagnosed with cancer and he had to undergo surgery and chemo treatments and she supported him 100% without a complaint in the world! I love my mom dearly and have learned to see the positive in everything and not complain about the situation! ". Please send me your snail address and I'll get your package out to you!!

Isn't this a fun card! It started when I saw a card made by Amy Rysavy. This paper was so bright and I thought the middle solid would TAME it down. I used my best friend "the pot" on this card and an SU set of flowers. I can't believe this is one of the sets that is retiring.

Barry is doing a little better these days. The weekend wasn't too bad for him. He was able to sleep most of the nights. That's become a big problem for him. He seems to have gotten his days and nights mixed up as far as sleeping goes, so I was, needless to say, very happy that I wasn't woken up by the TV during the night!

We are going to be going to Florida on May 27 for a week. We were able to exchange our time share for one on the beach near my sister's house. It will be so good to wake up to the sound of the beach. I know that just the sound has healing powers and the water will be calling my name! Barry really enjoys just sitting at the beach and feelin' good! I know he's bit concerned about the swimming part, but it's something he's going to have to get over. The doctor told him it would be ok to go the beach and swim, but now he's got to get his head around it!!

Have a great day and come back soon!