Tractor Pulling in Roberts

What a busy week-as you probably already guessed as I haven't posted anything all week. I am sorry, but had lots going on. I am back to work now, remember, my time is a lot shorter for me. You know, this work thing really gets in my way! I would love to be home all the time, but I guess my checkbook is thanking me for going back now :)

Friday night we went to our first tractor pull of the season. We headed down to Roberts with the 2 John Deere GM's. People tend to get a little confused and think they are pulling the same tractor twice, but in reality, we have two of them that look pretty much identical to each other. Rhonda was going to pull one of them and asked her Dad to put the chrome stacks back on the one again. Now they really do look alike. Deere Power and Deere Power II. I think my family bleeds green and yellow :)The track down in Roberts is a favorite of Dale's with this tractor. He always seems to do good there. This year he ended up with a 2nd place finish out of about 21 tractors. Not too shabby!Rhonda did not place, but she sure had fun pulling. She was so proud (and looked good too, if I do say so myself!) She was impressive considering she is just a "kid" to many of the pullers, plus she's a girl. The other girls that pulled needed help from their husband (or boyfriend, dad or brother) to back the tractor up and put it in gear and everything. They would even have to walk down the track beside them to 'coach' them. Rhonda did it all by herself! She is a true farm girl :)We got home late Friday night and I was exhausted (this is after putting in a full day at work, too). Then I got up Saturday morning and had a house full of company for my Norwex party. Let me tell you, these cleaning cloths are amazing. It makes it so easy to clean, dust, do windows...plus the side benefit is that they are environmentally friendly. No chemicals, just plain old water. It really is unbelievable. My party will be open for a couple of days yet, so let me know if you are interested and would like anything. Check it out at Norwex.ca.

*OK, sorry, here's the correct link for Norwex*

Then it was off to a graduation party in Baldwin. What a good time we had there-thanks Barb!

Today it is off to another graduation party in St. Croix Falls. See you in a little bit, Shelly!

Happy Scrappin'

New paper pack artwork

Alright, I think you have all waited long enough. You are due for some more artwork. This time it is not from me, it is from our demo board swap. I showed you my Moon Doggie artwork already, now here is the artwork from the other new paper packs in the new idea book. These came from my great friends Sheri, Rachel, Lynn and Liz. They are fabulous artists! Thanks girls, I just love my new artwork (and with the 2 parties I had this week, they loved it, too!)

Here is the new Bella paper pack
Animal CookiesTinkerin'And Back CountryI have said it before and I will say it again-our idea books just do not do the paper justice. So many times I look at the paper in the idea book and think that I do not know if I really like it or not. Well, let me tell you, after seeing artwork done with it, I almost always change my mind. Seeing the paper in person and getting it in my little hands makes me LOVE it!

I need to get busy today as I have a ton of things to get done on my day off. Then tonight we are leaving to go camping with our good friends Bill and Vicky. It should be a great time...as long as we have good weather :) Either way, we always have fun with them.

Have a happy and safe Memorial Day Weekend!

Happy Scrappin'

The Lemonade Stand Blog Award

How cool is this?? I received my very first blog award - The Lemonade Stand Award - from Brenda. Whoo Hoo! I really feel honored receiving an award from such a great artist. If you have not visited her blog, you should. Thank you, Brenda!

Here's how this award works...

• comment on this blog
• cut and paste the award logo and use it on your own blog
• nominate 5 to 10 blogs that show great attitude and gratitude
• link your nominees within your blog post
• comment on their blogs to let them know they received the award

I am passing The Lemonade Stand Award on to:

1. Tiffany is such a great artist and I get a lot of my inspiration from her!

2. Aaron is also a great artist plus she has some wonderful templates she sells and the profits all go to Operation Smile.

3. Holly is a sister consultant of mine. I just love her story telling (I just wish I could write half as good as she does) PLUS she's a great artist!

4. Jena although I don't believe we have ever met in person, I feel as though I know her. With 4 young children, she always has a story to tell-and she's creative, too!

5. Patti is a downline of mine and a creative gal, too. She also has the gift of writing-it is always interesting to read what she writes...is there a class where I can learn this??

You can click on their names to visit their blogs. I bet you will enjoy them as much as I do.

Thank you again, Brenda for giving me this award. I feel so special :)

Happy Scrappin'

A new FFA Officer in the family

I ended up not creating anything yesterday...Aaarrrrgggghhhhh...I hate when that happens because I love to create! Today I will have to get it done as my party is tomorrow night and I have to work all day tomorrow. This work thing is really getting in my way :) Oh well, I did get a lot accomplished around my house, though. I couldn't do anything outside as it was pretty cold and super windy. I sure hope that wind decides to die down sometime soon or we will all be blown away!

Last night we had to be at the school by 7:00 for the FFA Banquet. We came home the parents of an officer for next year. Rhonda will be the Reporter next year. She is already looking forward to all the traveling they will get to do. My friend Rachel may get to see her quite a bit as she is an FFA Advisor (just at a different school).Off to another busy day. Happy Scrappin'

Be Yourself and the Breast Cancer 3-Day

I know, I've been missing in action. I only have one excuse...WORK! I know, it stinks, but my checkbook appreciates it :) I got called back to work from my voluntary layoff and I have been exhausted all week!

I did manage to make a card and send it to my niece. See, Rita is doing the Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk again this year. I commend her for this huge undertaking. She has a committed to raising $2300 in donations towards the fight against breast cancer. Especially in this economy, that is a huge thing. Even more than that, all her training is a tremendous commitment. I know that I could not do it. I am so proud of her for doing this. Bowing down to you, Rita! In addition to the donation I sent her, I had to make a card to send along with it. I used the May Stamp of the Month, "Be Yourself." I admit, I got my inspiration from Kathi and Cibele. They each used the 2nd and 3rd generation stamping technique to make their cards and I followed suit. I think it turned out pretty good.

It's off to my basement and a little creating today. I have 2 parties next week and I need to prepare. Of course, I also need to get out in my yard and get some work done. Why is the weekend only 2 days long and the week is 5 days? I think it should be the other way around!! Anyone with me on that one?

Happy Scrappin'

Thank you cards

Well, my first day back to work didn't go too awful bad. It really wasn't as bad as I had anticipated. Now, it wasn't fun by any means, but it wasn't all bad either. I'm sure my checkbook will be telling me "thank you!"

I got home from work and went out and mowed the lawn. I feel much better now that it's done. I love how it looks when it's freshly mowed. This was the first time of the year (it probably needed it about a week ago, but...you know how it goes :)Then I went downstairs and finished making the hundred thank you cards I started earlier in the week. They are all addressed and ready to send out tomorrow. What a good feeling to get so much accomplished in a day. Maybe I should have gone back to work a while ago to accomplish more!?!?! Not!!!These are some very simple cards, but sometimes less is more. I love how easy these are to put together, but they also look good.

OK, off to work again today...

Happy Scrappin'

A great Mother's Day!

What a fun Mother's Day I had. We headed up to Hayward to Famous Dave's (the original Famous Dave's for any of you who know about this place). Their brunch was wonderful. We met my Mom and her husband and my sister and her family up there. We all left very full and satisfied. It was good to get everyone together for a couple of hours. This is my sister and her girls, Mom, and me and Rhonda.Then we stopped in at Dale's Mom and Dad's place. His brother and sister ended up there at the same time as we were. What a lot of laughs we had there. Here is Dale and his Mom and Rhonda.I have to say that I have a fabulous family :)

It is back to work for me today...yuck!! I bet tomorrow I won't be smiling so much. It'll be back to the aches and pains :( I am sooo dreading it. I know, in this economy, I should not be complaining, I should be happy I have a job, but it is definitely not the same placer as was to work when I started there. Let's just say, 23 years later I am not any younger either :) I am happy to have a job, but am wondering how many more years I am going to physically be able to do my job. I may have to start looking for something else.

Happy Scrappin'

Happy Mother's Day

I would like to wish a very Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms out there! It is a sort of bittersweet day for me. I love my daughter to pieces, but am really missing my son. I miss the humorous cards he used to get for me. I will never get another one of them again, but my daughter is much like her brother was. She can be oh-so-sweet or funny as can be!

I miss the days of them being babies, but have loved every minute of watching them grow up. It seems like only yesterday I had those sleepless nights...oh wait, I still have them-only now instead of the middle of the night feedings, it's the worry and wondering when she'll be home :) Teenagers...need I say more?

I used to really dislike the days when people would say to me how much I looked like my mom. Well, now that I am older, that is quite the compliment. If I end up as beautiful as my mom and my grandma, I've got it made! They are very young looking ladies-see for yourself
Also, my mother-in-law is another wonderful lady. I do not have those typical "mother-in-law" stories. She is more like another mom to me. I could not have picked a better one if I had tried.Happy Mother's Day, ladies, you mean the world to me!

My Creations Cube

Oh my gosh, can you believe that yesterday was my 100th post?? Wow! It doesn't seem like it's been that long since I've been blogging. I guess it's true, time does fly when you're having fun!

I hate to tell you this, but my posting is going to come to a complete slow-down (notice I didn't say stop? I can't do that!) I got the call yesterday afternoon that I have to return to my full-time job on Monday. See, I have been on a voluntary layoff from work since the first of the year. I have LOVED my time off, but of course, now that it's time to go back, don't want to. I have been whining like crazy! I just feel like I did not get enough accomplished...same old, same old. I guess I should be happy for the time I did get. I enjoyed just about every minute of it!

I promise to try to continue posting as much as possible, but give me just a little slack :)

Here is a little more artwork for you-the My Creations Cube. Remember those old plastic photo cubes from the 70's? Well, it reminds me of them, except that it's bigger and you can alter it and make them look beautiful. This was a gift from Rachel. She is such an over-achiever! (but I love it! I am so spoiled, Thank you, Rachel!) She used the Unforgettable paper pack on this one.And the card from Rach-Happy Scrappin'

May 2009 Stamp of the Month cards

Just look at these fabulous cards I received from my friend Rachel. They are made using the Silhouette paper pack and this month's Stamp of the Month (only available until the end of May, so if you want one, contact me soon!) The more artwork I see done with this set, the more I love it!I won these at our Art Day in Apple Valley last Sunday. What a great prize! Thanks Rach!

Happy Scrappin'

Cards from Art Day

Art Day on Sunday was absolutely fabulous once again! Three times per year (to coordinate when our new idea books come out) our team gets together for 'Art Day.' We each teach a technique or a product knowledge item. We try not to duplicate what we have done in the past, so those of us who have done it every time don't get repeats. We each have to make a 6x6 product knowledge or technique page that describes how to do the technique or what to do with the product. Then we also prep and bring the supplies needed to make a standard card using that technique or product. Not only are we learning how to do these things, but we get to try them out and bring home a sample, too!

Sometimes the techniques are a review for something we already know how to do, but sometimes we are learning something completely new to us. Each of us also get the 6x6 cards to put in an album for our customers to see. What a great tool!

Maybe the most fun part of the day is meeting the gals on the team or re-connecting with the ones we already know. It is a fun day of creating and networking. I look forward to every one we do! On to the art...

Embossing Designer brads-Jen ZEmboss any color-stair step card-Jen LScratch & Sniff technique-SusanEmbossing transparencies-Sheri (I'm not sure how my card got the big smudge on it, it looked good when I set it aside to dry, but someone must have put a finger in it or something-oh well)Hinges-Rachel
Tape Transfer-AmandaFaux paper tearing-AnnFoam embossing-Liz HPretty Pins-AbbyPaper WeavingCorner Rounder-making scallops-Sarah
Suspension Card-KateFoxi Oxi technique-HeatherSwinger Card-AnnaMosaic-Liz H
Glitter Window-LynnColor Ready Alphas-TammyWow, that was a lot of photos...enjoy!

Happy Scrappin'