July Stamp of the Month Artwork

The July Stamp of the Month, Happy Forever, is the cutest thing ever.  Just look at these cute little hedgehogs!  Aren't they adorable?

Now, look at the fabulous artwork from my friend Sheri using this stamp set.  This layout is going to look even better once I get my own photos on it!

Here is a 6x6 card

And one of our new clear cards

And another clear card.  Don't you just love the belly buttons on these guys?  LOL!

Just let me know if you, too, just have to have these little guys.  I will be putting in another order at the end of the week.  I can add your order to it if you wish.

Also,m don't forget about my blog candy giveaway.  See my post below for all the details!

Happy Scrappin,

Happy Birthday, Grandma and RAKs with blog candy

Yesterday was my dear Grandma's 84th Birthday.  I want to wish her another wonderful year!  She is a wonderful lady that taught me a lot of things along the way.  When I was a kid, I used to spend a lot of time at Grandma's house (she was just across the corn field from my house...we even had a path through the field up there).  I have so many fond memories of the time spent at Grandma's!

Speaking of learning things from Grandma, one of those things was being nice to other people.  Enter Random Acts of Kindness.  I have been thinking a lot about this lately and decided now was the time to blog about it.

See, on Father's Day my husband and I went up to the cemetery to visit our kids.  Upon arriving, we noticed right away that something was missing.  The solar lights we had placed at their graves had been stolen (along with a lot of others from the cemetery).  It was not the monetary value of them, but rather the disappointment in human kind.  How low can you stoop to steal from a cemetery?  I was heartbroken.  We even wrote a letter to the editor of our paper talking about it.  A couple of days later, we discovered that an anonymous someone had replaced the lights along with a few more.  It renewed my faith in people.

In continuing to renew my faith, on the way home from Washington DC last Tuesday, we witnessed not one, not two, but THREE Random Acts of Kindness!  It really did my heart good.  One kind gentleman on the plane got up out of his seat and helped me put my carry-on in the upper compartment.  Then an elderly lady got on the plane and another young gentleman helped her out.  How awesome is that?  It really made me feel good that these young men had such great manners.

Then, in the car on the way home, we saw a van pulled to the side of the road having problems with the load on his trailer.  There was a pickup pulled off to the side in front of the van and another man helping him out.  It was another young man that just happened along, pulled over to help a stranger, and then had to turn around to go about his business.

Simple acts that made a difference in someone else's life!  Leave me a comment or send me an email to let me know what RAKs you have witnessed, whether you delivered them or received them.  I will be drawing one lucky winner from all comments to receive a handmade goody from me!  I will be drawing the winner on July 31st.

I look forward to hearing your RAKs!
Happy Scrappin'

A Create & Take Layout and more sightseeing

Here I am with one of the layouts that we created at the Create & Take at Copnvention.  Just wait until you see some of the great new products that will be in the Autumn/Winter Idea Book that is available to our customers on September 1st.  I am going to have a very hard time holding it all in until then (especially since our Convention was a little earlier this year...it's that much longer to wait!)  But the wait will certainly be worth it...TRUST ME!!

Here is a 5 generation photo of me with my Mama Upline Sheri, my Grandma Rachel, my Great Grandma Jillene, and my Great, Great Grandma Tina.  My don't they all look great for being Grandparents??  LOL!

This is just a random shot of me and Sheri while we were out sightseeing.  We came across this sign and thought maybe it was put there just for us :)

This is just a beautiful scenery photo behind our hotel.  Isn't it gorgeous...oh yeah, I'm in there, too!

Happy Scrappin'

Art Wall at Convention and the Old Post Office

I was so excited when I saw the art wall that Corporate puts up at Convention.  I made the art wall, not once, but 3 times.  I had three cards put up.  How cool is that?

While in DC, we had to make a trip to the Old Post Office.

We even took the elevator to the top of the tower.  Just look at the beautiful view we had from up there.

Happy Scrappin'

Iwo Jima and the Patriotic Parade

After touring Arlington National Cemetery, we walked (yes, in that 106 degree weather!) to the park where the Iwo Jima statue is to watch the Marine Corp Drum and Bugle Corp perform for the Patriotic Parade.  They did a fabulous job.  How amazing to be able to watch that!

We have stopped at the Rosa Mexicana Restaurant twice now.  I have never been a guacamole lover, but now...things have changed and I am ready to make my own...now if I can just find a grocery store to buy avacados in (remember, I live in a very small town).  They make this stuff right at your table in front of you.  It was amazing and made a guac-lover out of me (yeah, I know...the diet is on hold this week!)

We really are here for the Close To My Heart National Convention, too!  Here is the cool sign that is hanging on the big windows of the hotel to greet us.

Just look at the stairs, they even have our convention logo on them, too!

Until later, Happy Scrappin'

What a beautiful hotel at our scrapbooking Convention!

I absolutely LOVE to travel...add in some scrapbooking and it just can't get any better.  I am in Washington DC for our annual Close To My Heart National Convention.  I truly treasure the time I get to spend with some of the most creative women I know.  It is the best time a girl could ask for.  We are kept BUSY every day and evening, but it is soooo worth it!  We learn some great new business ideas, get to create some wonderful new artwork, get to share some time with new and old friends, get a sneak peak at the brand spanking new Idea Book (I can't even show you that part yet), and just plain get rejuvenated!

What a beautiful hotel the Gaylord National is!  Of course, for over $200 per night, it better be!?!  Good thing I have my 3 wonderful roomies to split the cost with (waving hello to Sheri, Rachel, and Lynn :)

Here is what the joint looks like...and this is the 'back' side of the place.  How would you like to have a backyard like that?

This is the view from our room. We get to look out over the Atrium and also get to see out over National Harbor.  It is awesome!

Our first day in town, we did a little sight seeing. We went to Arlington National Cemetery.  Here are the graves of President John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline along with the eternal flame.

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers and the changing of the guard.

Stay tuned for more sight seeing photos and some new artwork.  We are exhausted here every day, but it is so worth it.  I may have to go home and go back to work just to rest up!

Happy Scrappin'

Washington, DC rocks!

Well, here I am in Washington, DC for our National Close To My Heart Convention.  Today was our Leadership Day and I learned so many great things.  I will have artwork to post, but am just plain too worn out to do it tonight.  We just got back to our room a few minutes ago (it's about 11:30 pm here) and have been going non stop since about 7:00 this morning.

I will have some great new swap layouts to show you, swap cards, layouts we make tomorrow, touristy photos, and much, much more. 

I have got to head to bed for tonight, but check back tomorrow night to see what's new.

Happy Scrappin'