B.E.E.

Be An Example Everyday!! That's the theme we have chosen for this year's Girl's Camp. And I have been busily crafting a couple of things to start the girls off with their Secret Sister event (each girls draws a name and then does nice things for the girl that she draws while we are at camp ... thoughts, quotes, little homemade gifties, treats ... We have a clothesline with ziploc baggies on it with a baggies designated for each girl. Their Secret Sister can deliver their surprises to the baggies when no one is looking!). The first thing I knew I was gonna create was a little purse using the Petite Purse Die.

I had to dig waaayyyyy back in my stash of stamps to find this little bee image (remember Watercolor Garden??). It was the best size for the job, so I just had to use it!! I filled the purses with Reeses Peanut Butter Cups ... YUM!!

Stamps: Watercolor Garden (Retired)
Paper: Real Red, Whisper White, Polka Dot Parade DSP
Ink: Basic Black, Signo Gel Pen
Accessories: Petite Purse Bigz Die, Triple Blossom Punch, Small Oval Punch, Word Window Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Black Rhinestones (from the Halloween swirly rhinestone thing SU had in the holiday mini a couple of years back ... can't remember the name!) CK Font

Next up ... each year when I work on stuff for Girl's Camp I did in to my nearly-infinite stash of NON-SU cardstock (GASP!! Yes, I know ... so many of us have that!) I literally have a HUGE container full of the stuff. So much so that even though I keep using it, it never seems to dwindle ...

This paper is from DCWV's Safari Chic stack. LOVE every single pattern in there!! There are three others that I used, plus LOTS of others that I didn't!!! These are filled with saltwater taffy ... sugar rush!!

Stamps: NONE
Paper: DCWV Safari Chic DSP, Very Vanilla
Ink: NONE
Accessories: Fancy Favor Bag Bigz Die, Delicate Butterfly Punch, Amber Rhinestones, Vanilla Organza Ribbon (something else I have in my infinite stash!), Slot Punch

Have a busy day ahead ... LOTS to do before we leave in the morning for camp. Wish me luck!

Old/New/Borrowed/Blue!

As you can see, this is NOT a wedding card!! But it DOES have all of the elements to the "Something old (sentiment from Tickled Pink and Twill Tape), something new (Designer Naturals Buttons/Midnight Muse cardstock), something borrowed (the idea, from Paula Dobson HERE, and something blue (Island Indigo AND Midnight Muse)!" Needed another guy card ...

I am still LOST in Swapmaking Land ... SOOO much more to do!! And I am STILL getting ready for Girl's Camp!! These two events (camp and Convention) were back to back LAST year, too!! YIKES!!

Gotta go stamp something else ...

Happy Monday!!

Stamps: Aviary, Tickled Pink
Paper: Island Indigo, Midnight Muse, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla
Ink: Island Indigo, Crumb Cake
Accessories: 1 1/4" and 1 3/8" Circle Punches, Twill Tape, Designer Naturals Button, Linen Thread, Corner Rounder

Singing Mountain Goats!

What??? That's who I have spent the last three days with ... singing mountain goats ... aka my daughter and her friends. We took a little "Senior Trip" down to Zions Park. And those kids ran me into the ground!! Of course, they were SINGING all the way, so how I am going to get frustrated with THAT??

I have soooo much to do in the next couple of weeks before Stampin' Up Convention. I have Girl's Camp NEXT week, and I have a BUNCH of "secret sister" gifts to make. AND I still have a MOUNTAIN of swaps to do (mountain goats, mountains of swaps ... I have a theme goin' on here). I had a box of new stampy goodness waiting for me when I got home yesterday, so I made up a quick card (the new stuff is the framelits and the woodgrain embossing folder). I realized when I opened the box that the stamp set/die cuts I wanted the MOST were not there!! I had ordered the WRONG ones!! (I ordered "Friendship Preserves" instead of "Pefectly Preserved" ... DRAT!!)

Here we are on the top of Angels Landing ... this hike is NOT for wimps!! These guys were mostly unfazed by it at the time (although MOST of them took a nap after we got back to the house!). Great bunch of kids ... LOTS of singing, laughter, hiking, eating and good times.

Now, off to swap-making land!

Stamps: Stippled Blossoms, Petite Pairs
Paper: Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla
Ink: Crumb Cake, Soft Suede
Accessories: Woodgrain Textured Impressions Folder, Window Frame Framelits, Large Oval Punch, Crumb Cake Seam Binding, Linen Thread

I've Been Hiding ...

... sort of!!! Another busy week at our house! Spent Tuesday through Thursday at a church youth retreat. It was SUCH a great time. We all came home exhausted (which is a sure-tell sign of fun had by all!).

And since yesterday I've been stamping my BRAINS out!! I have to do 138 swaps for Convention ... and not just any ol' swaps ... every swap I am doing is a kinda "wow" sort of thing. I hadn't planned for it to turn out this way, but things sometimes just kind of happen. I have stamped SEVEN different samples. This is one of them. I decided that this was a bit too busy. Turned out a little more detailed than I had planned, but sometimes it's just hard to stop yourself, ya know?? I did another card with the same stamps and color scheme. I was happy with how it turned out, and I'll share it with ya after I swap some at Convention.

I finally have all my swaps planned out. I now just need to cut, stamp, trim, stamp and embellish everything. I hope I can get them all done!!

Stamps: Summer Silhouettes, Curly Cute
Paper: Lucky Limeade, Daffodil Delight, Raspberry Ripple, Whisper White, Summer Smooches DSP
Ink: Lucky Limeade, Daffodil Delight, Raspberry Ripple, Midnight Muse
Accessories: Apothecary Accents Die, 3/4" Circle Punch, Punch Pack, Daffodil Delight Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Modern Label Punch, Fancy Fan Textured Impressions Folder

MDS Layouts & BIG Thank You's!

First of all, I'm gonna start with the "thank you's" ... I can't begin to tell you HOW MUCH I appreciate all of the well wishes I have received since the Artisan Finalist Announcement. I have received sooo many emails, phone calls, texts, blog comments and Facebook messages with the NICEST comments, virtual "high fives" and votes of support. You have NO IDEA how much these have meant to me. Thankyouthankyou from the bottom of my heart. I am sooo happy that the next three weeks are really busy for me (church youth retreat, senior "getaway" to southern Utah with my daughter and her friends, girl's camp). The countdown continues ...

And I am really HAPPY to be able to share some more digital layouts with you. Have I mentioned that I LOVE MDS???? (The answer??? Probably ... more than once ... winkwink!) I have enjoying going down memory lane as I have put some of these layouts together. The one above, actually, is just from 2010. My dear, sweet mother-in-law was celebrating her 80th birthday. Doesn't she look AMAZING??? Makes me all the more grateful for her spunky spirit and healthy mindset that helped her through her recent fall and long hospital stay. She is truly an inspiration to ALL of us!

Ingredients: Paper - Number One, Tickets & Tags; Stamps - Number One, Greatest Moments, Greatest Moments Two, Decorative Overlays, Bold Branches, Thoughtful Overlays, Frame It, Family Reunion; Punches - Large Arrow, 1-1/4" circle; Embellishments - Black zig-zag stitching, Button Latte, Antique Brads; Font - Banner.

And this one just makes me SMILE!! My kids have not known a summer of their whole lives without a visit to our family condo up at Bear Lake (in fact, I haven't known one since the day I met my husband). I plan to be going there for the rest of my life ... so many happy memories!!

Ingredients: Background Paper - Island Oasis DSP; Punches - Scallop Circle punch; Embellishments - Whisper White grosgrain ribbon, Flower Brads (Brights); Stamps - Calendar Kits (Sun), Sunny Days (Sunny Days), Torn Edges (Hand Torn); Fonts - Berlin Sans FB Demi.

Well, it's 5:15 a.m. and I still haven't packed a THING for our church youth retreat ... AND I need to take a shower ... AND I need to go drop the doggie off to my friend ... ANDANDAND ... you get the picture!!

Have a happy Tuesday!

Shut UP!!!

Are you SERIOUS???? Hoooooolllyyy sa-MOKES!!! I am so over-the-top-beyond-compare EXCITED at the moment!! I entered Stampin' Up's Artisan Award Contest this year ... again ... which is the THIRD time I have actually done so. This year it is a bit different than past years as well. In the past, they have announced the 10 Artisan winners before Convention. Then, while at Convention, the "honorable mention" people are announced. Kinda lackluster, actually, as the names are flashed across the big screen during a general session. It's very exciting, but it seems kind of anti-climactic.

This year, however, they decided to pick 20 finalists before Convention. Each finalist will be given a $250 shopping spree with Stampin' Up (COOLCOOLCOOL!). At Convention, the 10 winners will be announced. Each of the winners will receive a $500 SU shopping spree AND $500 cash AND they will be on Stampin' Up's Design Team for the next year, receiving new product each month with which to create lovely goodness and post it on their blogs or DBWS's (Demonstrator Business Websites). GUESSWHATGUESSWHAT??? I was PICKED!!! HUZZAH-HOORAH-HOORAY!!

This is kinda how it went down ... (names have been omitted to protect the innocent) was Skyping and pretending to clean my craft room last Thursday evening with friend #1 ... friend #2 (who also entered the contest) texted me and asked me if I had heard anything yet, to which I replied, "Nope. You?" To which SHE replied, "YES!! They called me about 10 minutes ago!!" OHMYGOSHFREAKINGOUTTHEDOOR!! I immediately called friend #3 on the phone (who had ALSO entered the contest). We were both having a spazzing-out type of conversation, "She got called??? Oh how cool!! Why haven't they called US??" In the middle of the conversation my OTHER line starting ringing. I said, "MYOTHERLINEISRINGING...ANDIDON'TRECOGNIZETHENUMBER!! Gotta go ... call ya right back!" Friend #1, still hanging on via Skype, is laughing by this time ... Caller on the phone says, "Hi, is this Wendy?" "Yes, this is she." "Is this the SAME Wendy Weixler who created -------- (omitting until the BIG REVEAL at Convention)?" To which I replied the first two intelligent words that popped into my head ... "Shut UP!!" Seriously ... that is EXACTLY what I said. I jumped out of my chair (in my basement craft studio) and flew up the stairs ... the whole time saying something intelligent like, "This is making me CRY!" (which it was!) Cute gal from Stampin' Up says, "Don't CRY! You're making ME cry!!" I honestly don't remember pretty much ANYthing she said after that ... honestly and truly ... my brain turned to oatmeal. As soon as I hung up, I ... with all the maturity and composure someone of my age SHOULD have ... started JUMPING UP AND DOWN and SCREAMING!!! My daughter and her friend, sitting downstairs playing video games, looked at me as if I had totally LOST my marbles (which I had!!)! Friend #1 is now CRACKING UP via Skype .... take a deep breath ...

I am going to admit that friend #3 is my deardeardear BFF, JanTink!! She is sooo amazingly awesome. The only thing that takes the shine out of this INCREDIBLE experience is that she didn't get a call ... a fact that I am STILL befuddled about, as she has been an "honorable mention" both of the other times she has entered. She is sooo gifted and talented ... and wonderful and smart ... she inspires me and helps me when my brain cramps up (which is way more often than I care to admit)!! In all the scenarios I imagined for the outcomes for this contest (BOTH of us winning/being finalists, HER winning/being a finalist), I NEVER thought she wouldn't be here on the list. SOOO happy she is gonna be staying with me during Convention, as I know she is going to be the most gracious and enthusiastic of supporters for me ... which is why she is my BFF. (Just know that I will have LOTS of chocolate waiting for you when you arrive, my dear friend!!)

On to the cards posted for today ... had my Stamp Club this morning. Always love having stamp-y friends over. We made the first card with, what else??? More butterflies!!! The little butterfly in the card posted waaayyyy back at the top of this post at the beginning of my loooonnnggg saga is heat embossed in Melon Mambo (both layers), as is the lattice-y looking image in the strip behind the hole.

Stamps: Papillon Potpourri, Summer Silhouettes, Fabulous Phrases
Paper: Whisper White, Gumball Green, Melon Mambo
Ink: Gumball Green, Basic Black
Accessories: Elegant Butterfly Punch, 1 3/4" Circle Punch, Word Window Punch, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Fancy Fan Textured Impression Folder, Perfect Pennant Bigz Die, Rhinestone Basics, Melon Mambo Embossing Powder




My girls have been wanting to make this Origami Diamond Fold card for a while ... they had seen the one I had out from when I did the tutorial here on my blog (click HERE to see it). So, this is what I did. They wanted to use some Crystal Effects, which is on the little eggies in the nest.













Here is a peek under the first flap ...











And inside ... cute, eh?

Stamps: Take Care
Paper: Midnight Muse, Raspeberry Ripple, Summer Starfruit, Whisper White, Patio Party DSP
Ink: Primrose Petals, Summer Starfruit, Midnight Muse, Early Espresso
Accessories: Scallop Trim Border Punch, Scallop Trim Corner Punch, Crystal Effects, Whisper White Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon

It's gonna take me a while to come down off the ceiling (just ask my family ... they will tell ya it's TRUE!). I look at the list of finalists and am astounded to be among them. Many of these talented women have been idols of mine forEVER! Such an honor ... now I hafta wait about 3 1/2 weeks to see how this all plays out. Not gonna lie and say I don't WANNA win, but I consider having made it THIS far a HUGE thing. Sooo thrilled!!

Butterfly Blues

I really love being a Challenge Hostess on SCS ... one of my favorite things to do in the stamping universe!! It was my turn, once again, to hostess the Free for All challenge for today. I chose to do paper piercing ... for a couple of reasons First of all, I haven't done it a lot in the past couple of years. And secondly, I got some WONDERFUL new paper piercing goodies from the new Stampin' Up catalog!! LOVING them to bits!! (As well as this GORGEOUS butterfly punch and stamp!!)

I am totally excited today, too! My mom's house has been on the market for well over two years (almost two and a half, actually!). She has been with 24-48 hours of closing on a sale about 5 times!! We are FINALLY going to close this morning!! The buyer had a BUNCH of cash to put down, his loan has been secured, and he already has a cashier's check for my mom!! This is SUCH good news!! Such has had sooo much anxiety over this (which has been felt by all of us!). Sooo happy to have this going well!! What a relief!!

Is it really going to be the weekend already??? Boy-oh-boy! This week has just ZIPPED right on by!! Gonna by a WARM weekend (up in the 100's+)! YAY Summer!!

Stamps: Papillon Potpourri, Itty Bitty Banners
Paper: Island Indigo, Pool Party, Whisper White
Ink: Basic Black, Island Indigo,White Signo Gel Pen
Accessories: Elegant Butterfly Punch, Adorning Accents Edgelits Dies, Paper Piercing Pack Essentials, Whisper White Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Folder, Pearl Basics, Designer Label Punch, Extra Large Oval Punch, Bitty Banners Framelits

Freakin' Into the New Catalog!!

Welcome, friends! This month the Freaks are sharing some of the new stampy goodness from the AWESOME 2012-13 Stampin' Up Catalog. You should have just come from the blog of my freakishly and abnormally-on-time buddy, JanTink!! She is sooo amazing with color ... I wanna be like her when I grow up ...



First off, y'all KNEW I was gonna have to share something with BUTTERFLIES, right? We have a NEW butterfly punch!! Joy!! Happiness!! Rapture!!! I am IN LOVE!! And the coordinating stamps are GORGEOUS!!!! Sigh ... more butterflies for me to chase!

Stamps: Papillon Potpourri, Create a Cupcake
Paper: Basic Black, Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Lucky Limeade, Tempting Turquoise, Wisteria Wonder
Ink: Basic Black
Accessories: Fancy Fan Textured Impression Folder, Basic Black 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Extra Large Oval Punch, 1 1/4" and 1 3/8" Square Punch



On to my second card ... which is also kind "buggy" ... I am also a HUGE fan of bumblebees!! And this one just HAD to be accompanied by some red polka dots, don'tcha think?

Stamps: Bug Me
Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White, Real Red, Daffodil Delight, Polka Dot Parade DSP, Vellum
Ink: Basic Black
Accessories: Scallop Circle Punch, 1 3/8" and 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Delicate Designs Textured Impressions Folder, Pearl Basics, Daffodil Delight Seam Binding


And last, but certainly NOT least ... here is a great little quick and easy gift. I am ALWAYS buying stuff at Bath and Body Works to give away ... so here is a fun way to jazz up a bottle of anti-bacterial soap.

Stamps: Reason to Smile, Itty Bitty Banners
Paper: Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White, Lucky Limeade, Floral District DSP
Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Lucky Limeade
Accessories: Scallop Circle Punch, 1 3/4" Circle Punch, Extra Large Oval Punch, Whisper White Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Bitty Banners Framelits

And now ... on to the marvelous Yvette Ashe!! LOVE her creativity!!

Squares for Dad

It's been a whirlwind several days! My daughter and I headed up to Logan and Utah State University last Friday for new student orientation (I was doing just FINE with it until she went and got her student ID card ... came back and proudly showed it to me ... nearly cried!). Then, we hustled off to our family condo at Bear Lake on the Utah/Idaho border. The boys and their dad were down in southern Utah with their uncle/cousins for some hiking in Zions National Park. We were all spread across the state ... happy to report that everyone made it home safe and sound yesterday afternoon.

Which brings me to a confession ... I hadn't done a SINGLE THING for Father's Day. I've been battling a nasty cold/sinus issue for about a month. My brain is fuzzy, so I guess I can blame my lack of action on that, right?? So, my husband reminds me that we need to go visit his dad ... and I didn't have a card or anything!! So, I pulled this together and we picked him a large bowl of fresh raspberries from our garden ... so that took care of that!

Gonna head out to the ENT clinic this morning where they are doing a CT scan of my head to see what is in there (if they happen to find NO brain, it will confirm what my husband has suspected for years!). Hopefully they will find where they need to pull the plug so everything can drain out!! Ewwww!!

Stamps: Family Reunion
Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Polka Dot Parade DSP
Ink: Basic Black
Accessories: 1 3/8" Square Punch, 1 1/4" Square Punch, 1" Square Punch, Large Oval Punch, Chevron Textured Impression Folder, Neutrals Button, Paper Piercing Tool/Template/Mat

Surrounded ...

... by flowers!! I am embarrassed to admit that most of the new stamp sets I bought from the catalog are floral ... of one sort or another! Embarrassed??? Okay, maybe too strong of a word. But I do think that it is funny that I am drawn, over and over again, to flowers!! (and it's not like I don't have about a gajillion flowers stamps already!)!

I made this for my niece and nephew who are celebrating their 13th wedding anniversary (and getting ready to welcome baby #6!). Soo happy for them and their beautiful family!! (And is it weird to admit that I am in LOVE with this Whisper White Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon??? I'm using it on EVERYthing lately!)

I am heading up to Utah State University with my daughter tomorrow so she can do the orientation thing, and then we can go to our family's condo at Bear Lake. YAY Bear Lake!! My weekend begins tomorrow ... HOORAY!!

Stamps: Summer Silhouettes, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Island Indigo, Lucky Limeade, Pool Party, Whisper White
Ink: Island Indigo, Lucky Limeade, Pool Party
Accessories: Word Window Punch, Itty Bitty Circle Punch, Adorning Accents Edgelits Die, Paper Piercing Mat, Whisper White Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Pearl Basics