New Look

Hopefully you've noticed the changes to the look of my blog. The basic white was getting on my nerves. I have developed a bit of an obsession with the pool/red/chocolate color combo, so I figured I would just incorporate that into my blog.

What's Up?

It's been a week since my last post... and for good reason. Things have been pretty hectic! I think it's important to document everything, but am ready to move on to fun stuff, so please bear with me and this bullet-point list.

• My husband called me last Wednesday at 5 p.m. to tell me that his doctor had scheduled him for surgery to remove a kidney stone the following morning. I quickly cleared my calendar at work and headed home to get the full scoop.
• We spent all day Thursday at the hospital for his outpatient surgery. He was groggy, goofy and in a lot of pain, so I stayed home with him on Friday.
• I scored great deals for a new laptop, new printer and RAM upgrades. So now I'm blazing fast! I love it.
• Have spent the last several days getting the new computer up and running. Thank heavens my old laptop (which isn't really that old) had a DVD burner, so that made file transfer a breeze.
• Getting ready for alot of busy-ness over the next 3-4 days. My parents arrive in town tomorrow for the Titans game. They are staying over to celebrate my birthday on Friday night. Going for mani-pedi's with my BFF on Saturday... her treat for my birthday. Vanderbilt college football on Saturday... and a big group dinner on Sunday to celebrate my birthday.

What's going on in your world?

Swappin'

Seems I can't get enough of this card swap stuff. I just completed my second swap. This was arranged by a local scrapbook store. I had to make 26 cards, so I doubt that I participate in theirs anymore. That is just too many cards.

I'm not nearly as jazzed about this design as my last one. The theme was 'get well'. I had lots of ideas, but they all ended up being very elaborate and considering how many I had to make, I scaled things back and went very basic.

For those of you interested in the details...
Cardstock: Starch White by French Paper (card), Positively Pink and Tempting Turquoise (Stampin' Up!), Cougar White
Stamp Pads: Basic Black and Positively Pink
Markers: Pretty in Pink, Positively Pink and Tempting Turquoise
Stamp Sets Used: Little Hellos and Polka Dots & Paisleys
Ribbon: 7/8" grosgrain from Ribbon Factory


Next up: Birthday Card swap. Only six of these to make, so I may get a little crazy!

**Have you done anything crafty lately?**

Crop Til You Drop 2008

I love this event. It is so much fun to plan and even more fun to experience. I'm half-way sold out for my 2008 Winter Retreat. It is just over five months away, and spaces have been selling like hotcakes. Last year I didn't sell out, but I don't think that is going to be the case this time around. I'm getting started early and most of the planning is done since it's basically a carbon-copy of last year.

Have you gotten this far and can't figure out what I'm talking about? So sorry! Let me explain... I plan and host a weekend crop/crafters retreat each year. About 40 crafty ladies gather at a state park just south of Nashville for the first weekend in February. We get the fire roaring in the lodge and crop. til. we. drop. It is loads of fun and I can't wait.

If any of you are interested in joining in the fun, you can get more details and register online here.

Did you know...

... that if you change your email address for your blogger account, comments left on your blog don't automatically follow? It's true! I was on my blog earlier linking to my fave blogs when I saw that I had seven comments on my last post. Huh? I never got an email about them!

So, if you change your email addy, be sure to go into Settings in your Dashboard, click on Comments and update that email address as well. Thanks for all the sweet comments on that post you guys. I feel like a total dummy for not knowing they were there until today.

Trick or Treat, Smell my Feet - Part 1

So I signed up for my first ever card swap. I thought this might be a fun way to put to use all of those stamp sets and supplies that have just been sitting around. I love to make cards, but aside from my stationery, I hardly ever take the time to do it. The swap I signed up for was for Halloween cards and this is the design I settled on. Turns out, I only have two stamps that are Halloween related.

Here is the design I came up with, and I love how it turned out. It uses printing, stamping and watercolors for the graphics. I love this color combo for Halloween. Below is my stack of completed cards. I will pop these in the mail in the morning. Next month, I will get a pack of with five cards, each made by a different person.

** Have you ever participated in a card swap?**

Welcome to the blogosphere

I would like to give a big welcome to my friend and sorority sister, Shannon. She has just started her own blog. She kicked things off with two very important announcements. Ya'll drop by, say hello and make her feel at home.

inspiration: it's a good thing

One of the things I love most about the internet is what seems to be the endless sources of creative inspiration. I have been piddling around on splitcoaststampers the past few days looking for ideas and inspiration for my Christmas cards, when I stumbled upon a blog address that has me completely pumped and ready to create!

Image property of kwernerdesign.com

This is just one example of the incredible things she has on her site. I love her cards, too. It's killing me to have to sit here at work when all I wanna do is make some cards.

Speaking of... I just signed up for something new today. It's a card swap. I've never done this before and I'm actually pretty excited about it. I will make x number of the same card and send it in, and will get back a card from each of the other participants. I am hoping that this will be a great way for me to build up my supply of cards. I'll post my version when I finish, so stay tuned.

Happy Birthday

Today is my niece, Danee's 10th birthday. So in honor or her special day, I wanted to share ten things that I love about her.

1. She loves to learn and try new things.
2. She is so very quiet and sweet.
3. She has a terrific sense of humor for someone of her age.
4. She enjoys reading and reads well beyond her grade level.
5. Shares my love for paper and crafts.
6. She is a low maintenance kid.
7. She loves being a part of our family.
8. She is perfectly happy to hang out with me.
9. Her skin is flawless.
10. She gives great hugs.

Coming Undone

For those who follow my blog, you know that I have been working on this afghan for my neice's 10th birthday for quite some time. Well, today is her birthday and I am very disappointed to report that it looks like I'll have to start over on this little project.

I was doing the last bit of finishing work last night and found that several of the pieces were coming undone. Apparently I am not tying it off well enough. This yarn is very soft and slippery, so that may be part of the problem.

As you can imagine I was completely disgusted by this last night. What a let down. Oh well, like I told my husband, it's just time and money and I have plenty of both. Oh how I wish that were true.

There's No Place Like Home

After ten days on the road, it sure is good to be home. My travels have taken me to Orlando, Florida and Columbus, Ohio. I am very tired, but so happy to be back. I'm off to work this morning. I'll try to post about my adventures later this week.

Vacation Sale

Orders placed from July 18 - 31 will not begin shipping until August 1, 2007.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
During this time you will be able to place orders and email us with questions.
We will respond to all inquiries within 24 hours.

Start shopping now....

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Shopping Cart Updates:

The shopping cart has now been updated to allow for coupon and voucher codes. This allows me to offer % off specials and gift certificates (coming soon)! In addition, you can now pay by major credit card directly on the site, or you can continue to utilize Paypal, whichever you prefer!

Have a wonderful day!

Stefanie

Precious Moments

Last night, Rich and I went to the ball park, where my BFF Lisa was going to get the surprise of her lifetime. Her boyfriend, Jon had invited all of their family and friends to join them for what she thought, was a fun night at the game. But, actually, he wanted her to be surrounded by those who love her most, as he asked her a very important question.

I captured the entire event on camera. It was fantastic! They were invited up to play "Name That Tune" at the end of the 4th inning. The song in the video below is the song from the 'game'. It was a great night and I can't express how exciting it was to be there and see this happen.

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Advice for DVD Slideshows

Anyone have any experience with this product?

It is Ulead CD/DVD PictureShow 4

A few years ago I put together a DVD slideshow, but used a different software. I want to create another slideshow again and was thinking about purchasing this software. It looks easy to use and is very affordable (only $30). Before I made a purchase I thought I would see if anyone has any opinions about this. Please email me or leave a comment if you have anything to share.

good things - item of the week - July 4-10

Preppy Stripe Address Labels

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good things | item of the week | june 26 - july 3

Hey guys! I've been in Dallas for five days, so I'm a little late in getting info posted about this week's item. Click here to check out the great savings on mix & match notes!

Learning to Swim

For the past month, we have been fortunate to spend our Sundays swimming and picnicing with Rich's family. I have always loved hanging out at the pool, but as I've gotten older, it has become more difficult to make time for this indulgence. I am so glad to now have a weekly 'appointment'.

My neice, Josie, is such a joy. She really is such a sweet and pleasant child. It is a rare occasion when she is in bad spirits, so spending time with her is always a good time. She is one month away from her first birthday, and she is getting bigger and stronger everyday. For the past several weeks, she as been perfectly content to float around the pool in her little froggie float. But this week, she wanted to be in the pool with the rest of us. I caught her as she was trying to climb out of the frog.

I happened to have a pair of water wings that I had used a couple years ago when my nephew came for a visit. So we put them on her and it wasn't long before she had figured things out. As soon as she learns to keep her mouth closed, she'll be a pro! Here is one of my favorite photos of the day. She was really having a great time swimming over to me. And I love how you can see her mom cheering her on in the background.

Flag Day 2007

O say, can you see, by the dawn’s early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight
O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming
And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there;
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave

On the shore, dimly seen thro’ the mist of the deep,
Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses
Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam,
In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream
’Tis the star-spangled banner. Oh! long may it wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion
A home and a country should leave us no more
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave,
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war’s desolation,
Blest with vict’ry and peace, may the Heav’n-rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our Trust"
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

-Francis Scott Key

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