Vintage Vogue Birthday Card

Blogger changed some of their settings and posts and I had this posted for last week and decided to look and see why it didn't post.....Have no idea why, so I am sending it now.  If anyone knows why it didn't post as I had scheduled it to post, would you let me know?? ....I will send you a Stampin' Gift.



Onto my original post:


I had to make a birthday card for a friend, so I went to clean off my desk so I could stamp!!!! I found some cut out flowers from one of my favorite stamp sets (also retiring...boohoo), Vintage Vogue.   I decided to use them to make the card.  

I also used Elegant Lines embossing folder, scallop circle and circle dies using the big shot, modern label and word window punch, some retired DSP and ou wonderful rhinestone pearls!!!

ENJOY!

Stampin' at the Meadows

Four years ago, I started attending a Church in Westminster, Crossroads Community Church.  I have since joined the church, been baptised there and volunteer when time allows in the office, nursery on Sunday's and the Information Desk.   I just love this church...love the pastor, Reid, how he speaks - on my level in terms I can relate to easily.   There is always something going on at the Church, events, Small groups and more.

After I started attending, they had a "Be the Church Sunday".    This is where the church body (those that could/wanting to participate.   We met at church on Sunday and then went out into the community to be the church out in the community doing things for others;  to various organizations, people in need, nursing homes, etc.   This is a tradition each year now, and last year I went to a local nursing home and played a game like bingo, but instead of numbers, the activity director would read a description of someone, something, someplace in Maryland and if you new the answer (as most of these residents did!) they would yell out the answer and everyone would cover that image on their card if they had it....Winning small prizes.   The residents had a ball!   I decided that day, I was going to do that, go to a nursing home or assisted living place nearby and volunteer, stamping, making cards.   Well, finally, time/dates/place all were aligned up and I went yesterday.   They had a good time and most of the residents made two cards, and even some late comers to the activity got to make a card.  One of the cards we made was the same one I used at the RMDH.   I just loved how some of the residents, switched papers and wanted to design their own card.   I will be going back next month for some more stamping....

I wished I had taken pictures of their individual cards, but here are my samples instead.

 One of the residents there is Walter, so I decided to have something masculine.   Simple, but I added a jumbo neutral brad and some linen thread to mine.   The sailboat is from a retired set, Winds of Grace.

 This is the same card as I did for Ronald McDonald House...They made some of them with Mother's Day greeting and some using Happy Birthday from the same set, Messages for Mom.

This card was copied from splitcoast stampers.  A friend came over to stamp and she brought some pictures she had printed from SCS and we copied this card.   The residents, workers and on lookers loved this card the best.   It uses the elegant bouquuet embossing folder (which I premade) and our stampin' pastels.  I used a birthday greeting from a retired set, Well Scripted and added some old olive 1/4" grossgrain ribbon.

ENJOY!

Update on My Mom

Early Monday morning, my Mom woke up with burning chest pain and called 911.  They took her to the hospital and yesterday evening had cardiac cath and this morning had some stents put in her 3 blocked arteries.   She is resting now in observation at the hospital and not sure when she can go home.   Those readers who know her and wish to send her a card, contact me and I will give you her address.

Thanks for all your prayers and a BIG THANKS to my nephew, Pete, his wife Karen, my brother's fiance` Patty for being the glue to hold everyone together.  


My Mom is a great stamper, she loves stampin' and enjoys brightening someones day with a card.  Her latest creation....This card uses the Nautical Expeditions DSP from last Summer's Mini catalog.   I told her how to go on her computer and print whatever greeting she wanted on card stock and cut it out, I think she did a FANTASTIC JOB.   and I know Boyd will LOVE the card.

Clean and Simple Stamping!!!

When I go to RMDH in Baltimore, I take a card that either I or someone else has designed (or copied from an idea seen elsewhere) for the guests to make.  These cards are what stampers refer to as CAS or Clean and Simple cards.    Minimum layers, easy stamping or easy coloring, something quick! 

Here is this month's card:

I used blushing bride (retiring in color)  as my card base, I added a small strip of blushing bride designer series paper (DSP).   I added a later of blushing bride and then stamped my image from a retired Hostess stamp set, A Slice of Life.   Boy have I got my $ worth out of that set.   It has 4 main images and 2 smaller images in the set.   There is a baby onesie stamp that I used for my daughter's baby shower and this image of the vase of flowers that I have used a bunch and a birthday cake that I have used some and some cups withe steam rising out of them that I have used a bunch too.
The image was stamped in black classic ink and colored in with markers, pool party, blushing bride and melon mambo.  

ENJOY!


Here are some of the guests at the house, having fun and stamping!!!

Retired Stamp Sets, Accessories and More

Stampin' Up! has released their retiring stamp sets, accessories and more lists.   Click on the Retired Lists box to the left of this post, it will take you to my website and the list of retiring items.   If you have any questions about the items that are retiring or want to place an order, just give me a call or email me at sbjcarol@yahoo.com.   I will be placing a order for retiring items on Saturday afternoon, if you want to order with me to share the shipping, and if the total order earns Hostess $$$ I will distribute those earnings to everyone ordering.

I can't wait til the new catalog gets here!!!  June 1st it will go live, I will probably have my supply of catalogs by the last week of May....Want one?   just leave me a comment at the end of this post or email me.

Ronald McDonald House 5K Red Shoe Shuffle

Being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator has been a blessing in my life and I try to pay it forward and be a blessing in other's lives too.   Stampin' Up! has a statement of the heart....  "To Love what we do and to Share what we Love as we help others enjoy creativity and worthwhile  accomplishments .....in this we make a difference!".

 Eight years ago, Apr 28th, I became a Stampin' Up! demonstrator  It was one of the best things I have done in my life.   I have met so many people, made lasting friendships, in person and on line that I will have forever!!!, just by becoming a Stampin' Up! demonstrator.   Five years ago I was asked by Stampin' Up! home office if I would like to become a Lead Volunteer at the Baltimore Ronald McDonald House.  I was nervous as to whether I would like it, would they like me...etc.   Well, it has been another thing I am so grateful to have done with my life.   I volunteer once a month, spending an hr or so, stamping with the guests who are staying at the house, hopefully giving them a break from whatever they are going through while there.   The staff is wonderful and the other volunteers who are there are GREAT!!!   Poole and Kent always prepares the dinner meal on the day I go there...Fabulous food and Fantastic desserts provided by a Wonderful Chef, Harry! 

Two weeks ago, they had their first Annual Red Shoe Shuffle, 5K Run, Walk for the Baltimore RMDH.  It was a HUGE success and I felt honored to be a part of it.   My sister, Joyce and my daughter Robyn walked along with me (actually it was my sister's idea to participate).    Here are a few pictures of the event:

 Robyn, Joyce and Me, before the race.

The runners lined up to get ready for the start of the race!   We started far behind, with the walkers, strollers and shufflers.!!!  There were 1500 people signed up to do the race, and raised $105,000.00!!! Awesome event.    

I encouraged everyone reading my blog to volunteer or donate in some way to your local Ronald McDonald House.   Everything at the houses are either donated or volunteer!   For those of you who are Stampin' Up! demonstrators, I encourage you to go to the S/Up! website and sign up under Making a Difference to your local Ronald House.   and if you are local to Maryland, Baltimore or surrounding area, contact me, I would LOVE for other demonstrators to be involved, either at the house - stamping or donating some supplies or planning a simple M&T for the guests to do or planning a Demo event...

Stampin' Up! News and a Contest on my Blog

Stampin' Up! has put a huge amount of items on the Clearance Rack!!! Check 'em out!   If you see one or 2 items you would like, I can put a few orders together to save on shipping.   Email me and let me know.   I will not place the order til Friday, so there is a chance the items might sell out...you never know.   ANYWAY.  if you have questions?????? email me at sbjcarol@yahoo.com    Check out my Stampin' Up!  website to check the Clearance Rack out.   To do that, Click on the SHOP ONLINE button at the top of my blog.  When my website comes up, click on the SHOP NOW button on the top right, then Click on Clearance Rack.

On April 15th, Stampin' Up! will reveal the Retired Stamp List!   It’s kinda bittersweet, excitement for the new stamps sets to come out, but sad for our favorite sets to go…Of course we (ME) keep those sets cause I don’t want to part with them.

 I decided to play this game that I saw last year.

 Here is how it works:

1. Go through the catalog
2. Make a list of which stamps YOU think will be retiring on April 15th
3. Email your TOP 10 list - the ten sets YOU think are most likely to retire.
4. Wait  til the 15th.   I will post  the list  on my blog and email it also.     

The RULES:

1. Only ONE entry per person
2. This contest is NOT open to demonstrators or anyone outside of the Continental US
3. Your list MUST be emailed - do NOT reply to this blog post
4. The contest begins with this post and ends at 11:55 pm EST on April 14th, 2012
5. The person who has the MOST correct entries will win their choice of stamp set (up to $21.95) from the current catalog or Occasions Mini catalog (no hostess sets).
6. If there's a tie, the earliest received entry will win

 Happy Stampin'

Rachel and Aunt Robyn learning the Apple Ipad

SO, since it has been almost a month since I posted, that it has been a month since I have shared a picture of Rachel.   Of course with my change in jobs at the hospital I now get to babysit from time to time.   Yesterday was my Rachel Day.

When I got there on Monday evening (I go the night before since it is 1 1/2 hrs away) Aunt Robyn was there and was teaching Rachel some things on the ipad.   I think she would make a great Apple Ipad commercial!  She was really watching whatever was happening on it too.

This picture was here I took of her in her high chair watching me eat some breakfast.   She loves sitting in the highchair, she is on my level and can see everything instead of sitting in her seat on the floor.   It was a nice day yesterday and we went for a walk, it started getting windy just as we were headed back into the house.  Today, we even had some snow earlier this morning!!!!

ENJOY!

Easter Card

WOW, I can't believe it has been almost a month since I last posted.   Well I have a couple of posts for today.   The first is a Easter Card I sent out to some people I don't see that often, of course, most of those people received their card after Easter.   I must get better at sending them out earlier.

I copied this card from several sources....A friend had a card for her son, a purchased card and I took a picture of it.   It used the top note die and the colors were masculine, browns and blues and of course no flowers.   The ticket corner punch....that idea struck me when a friend, thanks Sue! was working on cards and using that punch, so  used it and added some long ago retired designer series paper and retired ribbons...In fact, making these cards I used retired cardstock, designer series papers and ribbons to try and use up some of what I had (so I can make room for new stampin' stuff coming soon).

ENJOY!