Love Blooms In Me

Little Ole Snowman

It's still hot in Dallas, but I need to get a move on making Holiday cards and so this is really the first of many I hope to get done. I stamped out 10 images first and just started playing with colors and layouts. I'm not sure this will be the finished end product or just one step along the way. I like the colors and little saying and even the buttons, but I'm not sure it's PERFECT! When I sell cards, specially for the holidays, I want perfect or as close as I can come. Maybe a little bling with help. I know I'm playing a game in my head holding out for the new Basic Grey paper coming in October. I've been making great cards for the last several years with all the BG papers and this year will be no exception!

If you sell your holiday cards, how many do you usually make and sell? Where and to whom do you sell them? I've been selling on ebay for the last 5 years and have gotten lots of customers that just email and say they want whatever they want. Many of them just say send cards. They don't care what color. Sometimes they say mix birthday, thanks, and something else. I love those kinds of customers. They know that they're going to get a great card that when they give it the person will think WOW. It's the WOW factor I like the best!

Yesterday we had our granddaughter Madelyn for the afternoon and night. What a treat grandchildren are. You don't have to say NO to them. Nothing is ever wrong and sweets are perfect treats! We took her to the Mattel toy outlet and got two new dolls. They both have lots of clothes for playing and long blond hair to comb. A 4 year old can't get enough clothes for her dolls we found out. After that we went to the grand opening of a new shopping area. They have pony cart rides and face painting along with a guy making balloon animals. Yes we did it all. A stop at CiCi's pizza was the perfect topper. She was very tired at the end, as was her Grandpa, so after a little doll playing, off to bed...for both of them! Her mommy said she had a great time with us. No, it was us that had a great time with her!!

Tomorrow Barry goes for his 6 month CAT scan and next Monday we see the surgeon again. I can't believe all that time has passed. Barry and I are still working on getting the right bags to work for him. It's always something with this type of surgery, but as with most things in life, a work in process.

OPEN LETTER OF THANKS FROM SUMI

I just wanted to say a great big THANK YOU to all you sweet ladies for the wonderful cards I received for the troops. I was able to get them all in time for my mailing today.  They are now headed for Iraq along with other holiday cards I made and purchased off eBay. 

All of the cards were so beautiful and even more so in person. It was so difficult to pick a winner.

A special thank you to Dottie, Robin, and Gwen for the extra cards sent as well.  That was unexpected and took a bit more pressure off me at the last minute when it became crunch time to get my box filled for this mailing.  The soldiers from this area are now done thankfully and now I am on to another area.  Their work never seems to be done and neither does mine! LOL! 

I tell you that ever since I started doing this for the troops I have had people out of the clear blue want to help me and show their gratitude towards our troops but didn't know how.  People like Paula who came up with this great idea to use her stamp set as a prize for these donations but I am sure that you all would have done this without the stamps.  It's great American's like yourself and Paula that remind our troops when they are tired, overworked, dirty and missing home as to WHY they are there doing what they do.  We as Americans enjoy a freedom not experienced by other countries that enable us to do things we feel are right without someone saying we have to go through this avenue or that one or ask permission to do it in the first place.  Something as simple as a card that we send can keep families that are torn apart by long deployments together and communicating and bring a smile or a tear to the eye of a lonely wife/husband or a child that misses their daddy or even mommy.

Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for what you did when you sent off those cards and to Paula for helping to make that happen! Ladies like YOU truly make America what it is...a wonderful place for us all to live and call home!

Sumi      

MOJO Problems

Am I the only person who has a problem when you don't like stamps, but have to do something with them that just avoids doing anything? I have deadlines to make samples with the stamps I've received and I'm having a hard time working with them. I don't know if it's in my head or just the product, but I can't seem to make anything I stamp with them work. So what do I do---work on another project with some of my favorite stamps and see where it takes me! I saw so many cute cards today with the new MFT images that are coming out 10/1 that I thought I'd drag out my Wild About You set and make a card. This set is always a pleaser! I even "grounded" the animals with an AMuse oval stamp and drew in some flowers. My cuttlebug was used for the backround. See I can make something without printed paper!

Yesterday was such a nice day. Barry had off and we slept a little later but we did get up in time to go Grandy's for breakfast. I love the bacon they cook. We went to Wally World and Cosco and then hit the $ movie. The screen wasn't working on the Pirate movie so we saw Die Hard. It was the kind of movie you hold your breathe for most of it. I like Bruce Willis so it was a fun date. Dinner ended the eating-out-for-the-day day at Long John Silver's. I was so full of junk by last night that today is coffee and yogurt day!

Tomorrow Barry is going to Challenge Air which is a project that involves small private planes taking children and their families up flying who have special needs. Its a nationwide program that the Lion's Club has supported from the beginning. It's really grown but always needs helpers. Around 4 we are taking Madelyn for the night. First we told her we'd take her to the toy store. We noticed she has a small, very small space where she can add a new toy. No really, this child has no room, but we have a Mattel outlet near us. Hope they have some toys left that haven't been recalled! Then we'll do dinner and then home. By that time I hope she's really to rest! She has a birthday party tomorrow morning so that should slow her down just a wee bit!

Hope everyone has a great weekend planned. Is it fall yet near you? No in Dallas, but we have high hopes for rain soon!

Blessing to you all!

APPLE CIDER AGAIN

Gee, can yo tell I really like this paper??? I think I've made a dozen cards using it so far. I used a bunch of different SU stamp sets for this card. Doodle This and an old alphabet set Tidy Alphabet and the Delightful is It's All Good. I love to mix and match sets up. The flowers were stamped on the paper and cut out. Each layer is stacked using pop dots. I used Crystal Glaze over the center of the flower. It's just hard to tell in the picture. The ribbon is 5/8" grosgrain ribbon from Ribbon and Bows Oh My!. Alot of the colors they carry watch up with SU and CTMH colors well.

Barry is off today. He's still got lots of comp time to take for the long hour he put in while his parents were visiting. He's sleeping late and soon I'm waking him up to take me to breakfast. Sounds like a good plan to start the day. Then my desk and stuff is getting moved back into my studio. I've love working in the middle of the living room, but the fun must end---I need my own space back!

Thanks everyone for coming back day after day to read my stories. It's so fun to write about the things I do and how I feel. I've learned from several people that I'm telling stories that are common to lots of us. Barry's cancer, my in laws, and all the things in everyday life that make life so good! Even in my darkest days I can see the light! I KNOW that no matter what happens today, tomorrow will come and we can start again. If you feel as I do, or even if you don't, just remember that you have friends who care. I've learned that you can really make good friends from people you've never met in person and they are just as real as those friends we've had for a lifetime. A Friend Is A Friend, no matter what!!!

Blessing to you All!

Short Note

Just a quick note of hello's today. I'm feeling a bit under the weather and I'm headed back to bed! As luck would have it, my in-laws left on time yesterday, but the plane sat on the ground for almost 3 hours and they were one of the lucky ones. There was some problems in TN with the flight control system and many flights were canceled, but they just sat. My FIL keep in touch with his cell phone and they finally made it home at almost 8 last night. They were suppose to arrive at 4! I bet they're sleeping late today!

Today I have just the cutest card to share. I've made several of them. I started with a stamp from Ginak. I first stamped the image and then used my circle punch to cut it out. I can line up the image better that way. I colored in the flowers with copic markers and then added some buttons for the center. The layout was a weekend challenge I saw and thought it would be fun. Another fun thing I did on this card was to color over the ribbon with a copic marker. I have one that matches the new River Rock color from SU and wanted to "age" the ribbon a little. It was a bit too bright for this paper, so I just colored over the ribbon and now it has the river rock and orange combination! The paper is from Basic Grey! I can't wait until the new Christmas paper is out!

Have a great day everyone and come back soon!

DOIN THE HAPPY DANCE

Yes, that's right, it's really me doing the naked happy dance right now! I know it might not be a pretty picture, but I'm one happy camper! Don't get me wrong, I love Barry's parents, after all I've known them for 40 years, but a little bit goes a long way. And of course I hope that we get to see them for many more years. Poor things, they really aren't doing very well and I was glad that the children could see them again.

Last night was Stamp Club, and of course I don't do a darn thing there but talk, talk, talk. It's so much fun to see the ladies and catch up on all the things from the last month. The projects are fun, but I never seem to get around to them. There is always so many gals that show up now, not like last year when 4 of us were the "show ups" and the rest were the "no shows". But I did order my Peaceful Wishes set and some paper to go with it.

Isn't this card too cute! First time using the new set from SU. I added the pumpkins from the Loads of Love set on the boat and the other pumpkin set I found in my stamp stash. If you haven't seen the new Apple Cider paper up close from SU, you need to check it out. It's one of the pretties papers I've seen. The colors are so right and true and they go so well with my copic markers! The ribbon is nice and thick from Martha's collection.

Well, I'm off to go and do something now...like...maybe take a nap! Have a wonderful day and come back tomorrow. I got 3 new sets of stamps from Flourishes yesterday and can't wait to play with them. I'll try and get something made later to show you tomorrow.

Blessing to you all! BTW Sumi says another big thanks to all of the gals who sent cards for the troops to her!

ONE MORE DAY

Before I go any further, the winner of the ribbon and stickers is Cathy Myers! Good luck with your move! Thank you everyone for stopping by and sharing what you were up to this weekend.

Yes, folks, this is the last full day of my in laws visit. Don't cry for me. I'll get over it! Right now I'm hiding out in the computer room....don't make too much noise....Annette will find me! No, really, I mean it! Barry was home all weekend and had a small taste of what I had told him for the last two weeks. They are nuts! He NOW agrees with me! At least last night I didn't have to cook. We went to Larry's house for dinner. It's MIL's birthday tomorrow, so we celebrated early.

Enough of them, let me show off my card I made. Not much work has gotten done in the last two weeks, but this is one card I made. I stamped a whole sheet of paper first with stamps from Paper Tray. They make such fun stamps. I wanted to make my own PP. The large center flower is from a Lizzie Anne set of flowers as is the bee. Back to Paper Tray for the small flower and the leaf behind the center flower. Are you following all that???? See the ribbon? I colored it using my Copic markers. I love doing this. It's so easy. I started with cream SU ribbon and used the wide end of the marker to color the ribbon. It takes seconds to dry and then you have the match you wanted. I would tell you the colors of the copic markers, but then I'd have to go out in the living room and that's where she's waiting for me!! Sorry, I can't do it yet!

Have a great day everyone. I'm going to Stamp Club tonight. What to get, what to get? I have a long wish list, but I can't afford to cover most of it. Tonight I think it's Peaceful Wishes and Pomegranate Paper. I'm getting ready to make holiday cards soon. I'm waiting for the new stamps to come from Flourishes this week, so there will be some sneak peeks when they arrive. Three new sets are on their way!!!

Blessing to you all!

BLOG CANDY, SMALL BUT FUN

Can you tell where I've been shopping lately??? M's has all the latest new stuff at the $ bin and I picked up some extra things I'd love to share for blog candy today! Two rolls of Halloween ribbon, much cuter in person, and neat 3-d stickers from Mary Englebriet. I have been buying these for about a year. Using them is another thing, but I have a fine collection. I think the Christmas one's are the cutest. They are full of glitter and lots of layers. You'll find ways to use them on cards. I love them as cute little accents! Just leave a comment about what you're doing this fine last of summer weekend!

I only wish you could see this card IRL. It's so pretty and the colors are so rich. I first stamped the Penny Black saying (50% off at HL this week) in black stazon and then added the flower on top. I used used new Heidi Grace paper for this card along with buttons and some ribbon from my stash. This paper is so neat because it has all the layering already done for me. I don't know where I got it, but I know it hasn't been too long since it was near the top of the pile of papers!

Now to the continuing story of the Bloom Zoo. Barry did work all day yesterday, but got home in time to go out to a nice dinner at Olive Garden with his parents for our Anniversary. He wants to know what we bought to mark the day. I told him nothing until today. The stamp store called and said they had the holiday issue of Hero Arts catalog in and I could pick it up. Now I'll find what we're buying for our anniversary! Barry is off today and I have to get my act together and cook. The kids are coming tonight for dinner to celebrate Yom Kippur. Tonight I'll make some chicken soup---good for every holiday---a nice rump roast and veggies to go with that. Tomorrow we fast. We're suppose to fast from Sundown tonight until Sundown tomorrow, but since dinner is always late at our house, it will be from after dinner until dinner tomorrow night. Tonight and tomorrow we pray that the Lord will put us in his book of life for the next year and we say a prayer for those we've lost. Tonight I'll light a candle in honor of my parents. It's suppose to be a time of forgiveness as well. So, if my inlaws behave today, I'll ask for forgiveness when I pray....if not....well, you know!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone and I'll post the winner of the ribbon on Monday! So don't forget to leave a comment!!

ONCE UPON A TIME...

There was a very pretty and somewhat poor Jewish Princess. She met a sorta tall, wildly handsome Jewish Prince, who she thought came from a very wealthy family. After dating lots of the Prince's friends and even his brother, she knew it was only him she loved. Now, 37 years later, two our their own Jewish Prince's, the Prince and Princess are still together...somewhat older and bit more aged, but as handsome a couple as ever!!! Now wasn't that a good story?!~! My Jewish Prince has left me again today with his parents. The job must get done, so that day off he had, is no more!

It's going to 93 in Dallas today, but I'm starting to feel like the holidays are coming and so I'm posting a nugget box today. This was is a die cut from a company I used do design for called Creative Cuts and More. They have wonderful things already cut and they carry lots of the items in SU colors. All I had to do for this box was add a little red line tape and stamp my heart out! I made this one using some paper left from last years collection of Anna Griffin papers. I have a stash left for making this years cards. I've used this snowman from SU over and over. It makes the cutest cards as well as this box. I used a big square punch to do the central part.

Well, since it's only 6:50 now in the morning, I have lots of time to get things done before my MIL gets up in an hour. You just never know how much you treasure that "me" time till you don't have it! Just a few more days...OK...6 day...but who's counting!  I've made lots of new cards this week, but each time I show her one, she makes it her next new card. I'm having so much fun playing with the new Apple Pie paper from SU. Yesterday my new Paper Tray stamps came. Another new toy to play with. And finally, if you have a Hobby Lobby near you, they have the ribbon at 50% off this week. I found some nice for lots of projects. I think the first project will be where to put more ribbon in my studio!

Take care friends, and please hurry back. Tomorrow is Friday and I'll be posting some blog candy for the weekend!

Flowers & Dreams

Every time I use this dream stamp from Flourishes Floral set, I love it even more! There is something elegant about the font. I know it's crazy, but that's me alright! I used some of my new imaginisce paper again and teamed it up with a script back round stamp and Doodle flowers from SU. Lots of glitter was used in the flowers. I used some hardware from SU kit, and I'm sad to say I have to buy another kit!

It's just another day in paradise at the Bloom house. I had Madelyn yesterday and that was tiring enough, but my guest have stayed a day too long now! My FIL needs hearing aids badly and won't buy them and my MIL has some but forgets to put in batteries in, so the TV is soooo loud, I have a headache most of the time, and yesterday my MIL told me that Barry was NEVER messy when he lived home! He hasn't lived home in over 40 years! I wasn't kind about my answer either. I said if I had a maid every week, I won't be messy either. Can you see how the day was going???? And to top it off, Larry and Tina stayed for dinner when they came to pick Madelyn up! I went to bed at 9! I try and get up early to have some me time, but MIL just came in to let me know she's up! It makes for a very long day. Thank goodness Barry is suppose to be off the next two days. They are all his then! If you're reading this now and are a MIL, please be more like me then her. I love my DIL, but stay out of places where I don't belong!!

Tomorrow is my 37th anniversary. I don't know where the years have gone. It seems like yesterday I was that young 20 year old, so eager for the good life. Well, life is certainly what I've gotten. In 37 years, we're had ups and downs like everyone, tears and laughs, joy and sorrows, but always managed to hang together no matter what. This last year maybe has been the hardest and the easiest as well. We needed each other and our children more this year then any other time. I'm glad to say we made it through the storm and turned out better for it...if not poorer! No, we're not those young lovers anymore, but we still love and cherish the time we have together and plan to have many more years together! Who else would put up with all my crafting stuff at the foot of our bed?!~!~!

Have a wonderful day and come back soon!