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Monday, April 25, 2011

Birthday Wishes!

Well Aloha again everyone & Happy Monday to you all!  Hope you all had a wonderful Easter yesterday!  I am still in Maui thru Thursday and will get home on Friday (sob, sob)!  We are having an absolute blast here and I have enjoyed every second, minute and hour in Maui with my family.  We have had more laughs, more memorable experiences and just really enjoyed each other.  I have to type this blog post up super quick as they are waiting for me to go on an evening walk on the beach after I'm done & I can only do work down in the lobby, LOL!  Today we did a Maui Hike/Tour of 5 waterfalls and ecological tour that was hands down FANTASTIC--we got to jump off waterfalls, swim and hike through the rainforest.  And guess what?  NO SNAKES in Maui or rain days or bad weather--I think I'm gonna have to move here for sure now, hee hee!  After our hike we stopped at Mama's Fish House and ate and it was so worth it.  The day before we did Surf School and it was a BLAST but I am soooo sore, LOL.  Alexa and James were naturals, Riley got the hang of it halfway thru and my instructor said "I was his special project---his challenge", LMBO! Yeah right!  I did finally hang 10 the last hour but apparently my wanting to do everything "super fast" does not rollover well in surf world where you need to be slow and graceful----two things that I am NOT, LOL!  But we had fun, got some sun and had a great experience--I enjoyed every minute and I'll share our photos of our surfing and trip when I get back home!

Today is ALEXA'S 15th BIRTHDAY and we are going on an all day snorkel/cruise to Molokina Island and whale watching as well!  Since Alexa was 3 years old she has always said she wants to work with marine animals---so one year we took her to SeaWorld on her birthday and she ate with Shamu & talked to the trainers.  She is researching colleges that specialize in Marine Biology/Psychology programs with Oregon State & SC University topping her list.  So today will definitely be super fun for her and James & I are thrilled we get to spend an awesome day with her.  We'll top it off with an Italian dinner "Maui style" :)  So just a couple pics below for you and then I'll share the rest when I get home with y'all!



Since it's Alexa's 15th Birthday I just chose a few pics of her alone or with one of us for this slideshow--the rest will be up next week!  She's a goofy, fun-loving, laugh-out-loud, smart, beautiful, stubborn, silly,  mini-me who is growing into a beautiful young woman.  I can't wait to see what the next 15 years bring both her and us!  Love you and Dad and I are so lucky to have you in our lives!  See the slideshow to see a bit more of this gal at her best (and ummm silliness, lol)! Happy Birthday Lex & many more to come!

Slideshow Pics:





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Gina K Blog Hop


I get to share two cards with you today featuring 2 NEW sets by Gina K that you will love and want to add to your collection.  This first set is called "Follow Your Dreams" and its great for so many occasions and people in your life.  I really wanted to create a masculine card since I tend to not do those as often and I like how this turned out.  I used both the boat and tree stamps to create my scene and then colored it all in with my Copics.


The papers I used are by BoBunny and I loved the masculine colors and patterns---perfect for this card! This might be my Dad's birthday card this year since he loves boats so much and still sails his regularly! Some twill ribbon, distressed edges and buttons finish off the card--no frills on this one! LOL


The images were colored with Copics and I added a stripe of dark red on the boat to pick up the reds in the papers. A little bit of Stickles on the water adds some sparkle without "glamming" it up too much!



The second card uses the beautiful set illustrated by Melanie Muenchinger called "Branching Out"! This set is just so elegant and there are so many ways to use it (see the post below this for another idea).  I really needed a sympathy card for a friend of mine so I decided to use this set to create it.  It's a gate-fold card that is easily made--my papers are from Paper Trey Ink.  The colors are all monochromatic & elegant--perfect for this type of sentimental card.  I created a belly band to go around the gate-fold to keep it closed and it easily slips off.


The images all got embossed with gold EP and the sentiment is from another Gina K set that was perfect for this card.  The image and mat were cut with Spellbinders Nestabilities.


On the inside I used the same papers and embossed the longer branch image across the top & bottom of my paper leaving a space for a note for my friend.  This set is so versatile that I know you can find 100 different & beautiful ways to use it!


Now make sure to hop along on the hop list below to see the DT's take on all of these sets for more inspiration!






Thursday, April 21, 2011

Aloha!

Aloha & Happy Thursday to you all!  Yep I made it to Maui and as some of my friends said "Maui may never be the same!" LMBO!  It is absolutely stunning here, just like I knew it would be and I am soaking up lots of sun and enjoying every minute of it all.  It has been a dream of mine to come to Maui since I was 6 years old--so this is truly, truly a DREAM come true for e and I get to spend it with my family.  And we ALWAYS know how to have a good time! After 14 hours of travel (11 in the air) we were tired but excited when we arrived at 3 pm on Tuesday (Hawaii time) and checked out our resort and then found a great place to eat dinner and watch the sun set over the ocean.  We have an ocean view room that is spectacular as well with a balcony and I got up early this morning to watch the sun rise---beautiful.  We were all in bed by 9:30 pm last night which was around 3:30 am EST and we got about 8.5 hours of sleep--we were all exhausted (me especially as I was up for more than 48 hours at that point, ugh). I loved, loved the 767 jet we flew from Dallas to Maui on---we got seats all together in a row in the middle section of the plane---so there were 4 rows with 2,3 & 2 in each row.  Riley and James has 2 seats each and then Alexa & I shared the middle 3 rows.  It was quiet and dark in our little section with mostly newlyweds which was nice. We watched "Tron" and napped and played games during the long 8.5 hour flight.  Yesterday we had yummy breakfast (lovin' all that fresh pineapple) and did both the fabulous beach & pool and just took it easy.  We all got a bit of sunburn as to be expected I guess, LOL. But I did get knocked down by the waves and lost my bikini top not once but TWICE and my sunglasses (boo hoo) but it sure was fun! But we'll be doing the Road to Hana trip, a snorkel/whale expedition on Alexa's 15th birthday (25th) to Molokini, some ziplining and going to see the volcano.  So lots planned and you can always keep up with me on Facebook---I update it regularly in case you want to see some pics :)  Also below is a slideshow of some pics so far---I know I'll have 1000's by the end of the trip!

Maui Slideshow #1:



**GINA K PREVIEWS!! We are very excited to extend an invitation to Gina K. Designs April Release Party. We have a fun evening planned for you - chatting, prizes, challenges, stamp sets reveal, design team shares, and most importantly, at the end of the party you will be able to go shopping!

If you came from Sharon Harnist's blog, you're at the right place. If not make sure to head over to StampTV where you will find a list of all those participating in today's hop!
Hope to see you at the party, here are all the details:

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Preview of Gina K's "Branching Out"


Today I get to share a preview of one of the beautiful (1 of many) NEW sets that Gina K is releasing tomorrow night.  This one is called "Branching Out" and it is so versatile and so many ways to use it--very elegant and a must for your stamp collection in Suzanne's PO (personal opinion, lol)!  I kept it elegant and simple--no patterned paper used at all (GASP) just 3 colors of black, white and a gray blue.

I stamped the main branch elements in black ink and then went back in and accented the branches with small white berries with my Sharpie Poster Paint pen to highlight it just a bit.  The smaller branch/frame element was stamped separately and matted with black & white cardstock and then put on the larger frame with dimensionals to make it pop a bit.  The sentiment I used is from an older Gina K set that I adore called "Hope is Faith"embossed in white EP.  Then I finished it off with a bit of stickles on the branches (gotta have some sparkle) and some fun b/w gingham ribbon.


Now you have seen this beautiful set from me, go to each of the designer's blogs below to see them use some of the new sets in many more fabulous ways.  You are sure to be inspired!  I'll be back on the 25th with another fun project for you----until then ALOHA to you all!




Friday, April 15, 2011

Peekin' At??

Yay its Friday Friends---happy days for sure huh? As you read this I will be making my drive up to Connecticut to teach for the weekend (hopefully uneventful) and it's about a 7.5 hour drive there.  I hope to shave about 45 mins off of that time (shhhhhhhhh don't tell the hubby, lol)---yes I do speed but ONLY when I'm around a pack of speeders, hee hee.  So I'm a "pack speeder" you could say :)  I don't mind the drive so much as I get to listen to ANY music and news radio that I WANT to, no hollering from the backseat KWIM?!  Then I will leave on Sunday evening after my last class to drive straight thru the night and get home around 3 am.  Don't worry about me, I'll be fine since I'm a vampire..........er... night owl, LOL.  Then I will be running around like a crazy woman, barking orders to children and animals as I get us ready to leave on Tuesday morning at 5 am, LOL.  Seems I MUST pack for everyone or else critical items will get left behind (I kid you not) and get the house prepared for our day leave to Maui.  I am really looking forward to some quality time and fun with the familly and my work will go down to "slo-mode" KWIM.  I will have a few posts up while I'm gone so make sure to check in here at the blog for some new releases.  You can also keep track of me and my Hawaiian adventures on Facebook as I will post regularly there (yep I'm an addict--but you can find me under my name Suzanne J Dean).  I know my family will be ultra strict with my time on the laptop so emails will be done either very early in the morning or late at night---please only email if you really, really, really NEED me for something, LOL!  IF it is an emergency or serious CRAFTING CRISIS put 911 in the subject line 'kay? Got it?  LOL!  We are lucky to have a housesitter taking care of the house and kitties while we are gone so that eases my mind a bit too---lucky her right? hee hee

NewsBitz:

-I sent out the April NewsBlast for the CMC Classroom---if you didn't get it or would like to read it you can access it at the CMC Classroom by clicking on the CMC NEWS tab!

-Gina K Designs will be releasing and showing off the new stamp sets next week so stay tuned--they are yummi-licious!  I will have my projects up next week for ya while I'm away :)

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Peekin' At Baby!!


This cutie-pie image is from the NEW Elisabeth Bell for SCACD line called "The Peekers"--they are just so adorable.  This one is called "New Beginnings" and is so perfect for a new baby, new parents, baby shower OR for the new sibling!  I did the card in neutral taupes and aquas so it could be used for a girl or boy very easily!  This card is also for this week's new Copic Creations Challenge!  Our FABULOUS sponsor this time is The Paper Temptress owned my friend Patricia.  IF you need ANY kind of cardstock, trust me she will have it in stock--from sparkly, suede, leather, linen, pearlized to papers for coloring on you need to visit her store.  I used my fave Cryogen Iridescent 89# cardstock to color with copics on--it is my #1 fave to use and I highly recommend it!  Find all the details on our challenge, prize info and fab DT projects at the Copic Creations Site!



I used papers from DCWV's "Linen Closet"--which remains one of my all time favorite paper collections!  I embellished the card with scrolls from Marianne Designs, new Prima flowers and Kaisercraft Pearls.  The paper trim was done with a MS border punch punched out of kraft cs.  The scalloped circle behind the main image was done with my SB's nesties and then I punched small holes in each scallop to make it more delicate looking.



The image was colored with Copics E44,E43,E42,E40/B04,B02,B000/E11,E00,R20.  I paper pieced her hat bow and the baby's blanket to bring in some of that pretty paper.  I used stickles (stardust of course) on her shirt and the baby blanket and carriage trim.  Diamond Glaze was used on her shoes and the carriage's handle and wheels.



I hope you all have a fabulous weekend and enjoy time spent with your friends and family!  Hope you get to spend time outside or doing something crafty OR just something fun "Suzanne-Style" LOL!



Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Retro Kitty---Meooooow!

Hello everyone & a very Happy Wednesday to you all!  Slowly but surely I am getting out of this "accident" fog I seem to have been in---not fun at all!  But I will continue blame any weirdness on my concussion for awhile longer okay, LOL!   I just finished planning out our Spring Break trip for next week and I'm super-excited about it.  I get home Monday morning at 3 am from CT and then we leave on Tuesday morning at 4 am for 10 days in MAUI---whoooo hooooooo!  It is a NON-WORKING vacation for me so other than checking emails I am off duty for 10 days.  There will be some posts on my blog while I'm gone so keep checking in but for the main part I will be ALOHA for a bit, hee hee.  I have wanted to go to Maui since I found out "what" it was in elementary school so this is a huge DREAM come true for me and I get to share it with my family.  We have a luau, some snorkeling, surf school, some zip-lining, beach walking, waterfall hiking and singing fun planned while we are away.  I will post on Facebook regularly with pics if you want to keep up with me over there.  We have a flight to Dallas and we all sit together, then a 3 hour layover (whoo hoo sing-a-long time) and then the flight to Maui.  LOTS of time for Suzanne to embarrass her family but then again they know me well so they'll just walk sloooooooooowly away from me!  Alexa already warned me that I better NOT have any "wipe-outs" in the airport.  She'll be celebrating her 15th birthday while we are away so I TOLD her that if she "deserted me" that there would be NO PRESENTS, LOL!  Riley is ready though--he said he'd do some singing with me, hee hee! (trained him well, huh?)  If any of you have been to Maui, I'm taking suggestions on things I MUST do while I'm there---so email or comment if you have any!  I'd love to hear what we need to see!

NewsBitz:

-If you haven't checked out the NEW Elisabeth Bell for SCACD "Peekers" yet than you need to get over HERE and see these cuties!  You will definitely want one, or two or ALL! LOL!

-New NC location is up for my CMC Copic Classes on the Road including a NEW Card Class---see the details at www.cmcroad.com.

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Retro Kitty----Meoooooow!


Today is another fun 7 Kids Challenge and our hostess this week is Marlena Peduzzi and she has challenged us to create an Easter/Spring project!  Well I really, really wanted to use this image so I used spring colors instead!  When I was in Phoenix I was lucky enough to be able to go in Tab's (7 Kids owner) stock room and get some goodies, raid her supplies, bug her, dance around, you know the routine, lol---like I needed more right? But YES I did and I had to have all these cool new Stampavie Sarah Kay grown up girls with dogs & cats stamps--I LOVE them!  So I scooped up one of each, LOL!  You can find out all the details for the challenge at the 7 Kids Challenge Blog!

I used some gorgeous new papers by SEI "Sunny Days"--I loved the bright cheerful colors, they just make me HAPPY!  I love to skew my layers a bit for a touch of whimsy--I find I do it a lot lately--does that mean I'm a bit SKEWED, LMBO!  I added some layered Prima flowers and pearls---the circle elements were done with my Spellbinders Nestabilities.  The scrolly leaves are by my fave Marianne Designs dies (shhh they may be coming soon here) cross your fingers.




Isn't she just a cutie-patootie with her retro clothes and cute kitty?  Her name is "Josephine Cuddling her pet cat Kiki" (that's a mouthful huh?).  She's colored with copics RV17,RV13,RV10/Y15,Y11,Y00/YR18,YR12,YR00/E11,E00.  I added some stardust Stickles to her shoes and sweater for some blingety-bling! 



Make sure to stop by the 7 Kids Challenge Blog to join in on the challenge with us and see the gorgeous DT projects!  I'll see you back here on Friday!




Monday, April 11, 2011

Dude!!

Hiya my lovely friends and Happy Tuesday to you all!  I am back from my trip to Utah and I did have a great time EVEN though it SNOWED the whole time, LOL---yuck!  The mountains of Utah are just beautiful and I had a great time with my friends and doing some other "top secret" business (shhhhh can't tell y'all about it yet).  I got to visit some fun sites in and around Salt Lake City including the HUGE movie theater in Jordan, UT---I've never been in a theater so big and where it has restaurants inside that will deliver the food to you, LOL (awesome)!  We saw "Limitless" which I really enjoyed minus some of the violence & blood drinking (uck)!  They also took me to a country-western bar where with a live band and we did some line-dancing and people watching.  Some of those people there deserve to be on Dancing With the Stars I tell ya---they were awesome!  I also discovered some new things that I think we need here in VA including "Papa Murphy's Take-n-Bake" where you can order your pizza and pick it up fresh so you can bake it at home and "Cafe Rio" with its yummy Mexican food (I've got hubby on it, LOL). Sunday morning we had breakfast (yummo Eggs Benedict) at The Grand America Hotel which is beautiful and I will definitely be staying there next time.

My flights were pretty uneventful which I was glad since I was pretty sore & tired.  I got home from the hospital at 11 pm on Thursday night and never went to bed before I had to be at the airport at 4 am, LOL---lord help me.  BUT I did have a flight home with the ENTIRE Georgetown Univ. Men's Lacrosse team and they were LOUD.  I also had 2 guys behind me when we were flying from Utah to Chicago who had never flown before and I'm pretty sure that they might enjoy the medicinal "pot" a bit, LMBO (yes the marijuana drug) because they were HILARIOUS.  Every other word was "DUDE"---"Dude, I see an airplane underneath of us--is that dangerous?", "Dude, why is the plane sideways, is that the wind?", "Dude, what are all those lights in rows down there?", "Dude, the window is fogging up--is that a cloud?"  LOL--they were cracking me up.  They had to say "Dude" at least 100 times and must've rang the stewardess 20 times to ask her questions---I couldn't sleep because I was laughing so hard.  The guy next to me bet me that they would say it 100 times at least :)  But all the flights were on time, no issues, no falling down or anything like that---I don't think my poor body could have taken it KWIM.   I have a few pictures of Utah below for you---sorry I didn't have more but I left my camera at home so I just had my Iphone for pics.

On Friday I am off to Connecticut to teach for the weekend as well so this is a busy, crazy week for me.  Oh I forgot that's every week for me, bwahahahaha!  HERE is a funny Saturday Night Live clip from this past Saturday about the Southwest plane incident.  Flying so often on Southwest this really cracked me up!

Utah Pics: (if you receive my blog via email, you must come directly to my blog on the web to view slideshows)





NewsBitz:

-I Brake For Stamps is now the US Distributor for Wild Orchid Crafts flowers---if you haven't ordered yours yet you need to get on that.  They are the most beautiful flowers made of mulberry paper and come in so many varieties and colors.

-I have added a new location to my CMC Classes on the Road Schedule for Greensboro, NC in June.  I will be doing one day of Copic classes on Sat. and then on Friday evening I will be doing a combined Cards/Copics class as well if that interests you.  I will have some pre-registration up for info on my classes in Chicago and Ontario, Canada this summer as well very soon--so stay tuned!  Go to www.cmcroad.com to stay updated.

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Black N White


I had to pull a project out of the "Dirty Dozen Vault" from last year that I never shared on my blog for you today, LOL.  I am busy creating projects today for upcoming releases and magazine stuff so I will be pulling from the vault again soon :)  This project was made for my term on SCS Dirty Dozen team last year.  My fave color combo is always black and white---so crisp and elegant me thinks.


This beautiful floral image is from the Gina K set "Spring Florals" (one of my faves) and instead of coloring it (gasp!) I embossed the image with white EP.  All of the papers are from My Mind's Eye "Lush" which are some of my faves---the large brocade is flocked so its nice to touch too.  Very luxurious feeling.  I used the Spellbinder Die "Deckled Edge Ovals"--I like the torn look of them and its fun to mix some vintage/distress to an elegant card.  Since the papers & image take center stage the only embellishment was this pretty velvet ribbon wrapped around the card & tied in a bow.


Ok, hope you enjoyed this card today and I'll see you back here tomorrow with a new project (crossing fingers, lol).  Have a great Tuesday!



Friday, April 8, 2011

Peekin' At You!

Happy Friday to you all my friends!  Wow what a day I had yesterday, YIKES!  I will keep my chitter chat short for you today for a few reasons---I am on my way to Utah via Chicago as you read this for a weekend business trip (no teaching) and I was in a car accident yesterday evening.  Some of you know that last month I bought myself a brand-spankin' new BMW Sports Coupe Convertible that I called my "baby" cuz I wanted it forever & ever, LOL.  Well I was dropping off Alexa at the high school for a game, I was stopped on the street waiting to make a left hand turn across traffic.  When I looked up in my rear view mirror I saw a car going super fast at us and I had no time to move, think or do at that point.  He wasn't looking (he admitted he was fooling with his radio & he is 17 yrs old) and when he did look up he saw us and I saw the terror on his face and then I just saw white.  My head slammed into the steering wheel and then the back of my seat---like a ping pong ball.  So I was taken by ambulance to the hospital for a few hours and I have severe whiplash & possible concussion but I'm just really sore and really sad! But I will say that my BMW was a little tank--his car is totaled but my car doesn't look to bad and for that I am grateful.  Alexa was safe and she got checked out too, she's just sore.  But if I had been in a lesser car the outcome might not have been the same so I'm very grateful to those guardian angels that were hovering nearby.   I know some of you are shaking your heads (like my mom & hubby) but I'm pretty hard-headed and this is nothing in pain compared to what I have had in my lifetime--I will persevere just fine dontcha' worry ;)  I'm a pretty tough broad so this is just another notch under my belt, hee hee!  Hubby told the DR he wished I would be more "needy"---ewwwwwwwwwwwww, who me? NEVER, LOL!

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Elisabeth Bell for SCACD Stamps - The Peekers

Today is a HUGE Elisabeth Bell for SCACD Release called "The Peekers" and these lil' ones will just sneak right into your heart (and cart)! They are each so adorable and I love them all!  The DT is doing a fun Blog Hop so you can see all these cuties in action so don't miss out on it!



I get to share this beautiful lil peeker called "Daydreaming Peeker" by Elisabeth Bell for SCACD and I loved her at first site.  Reminds me of my daughter when she was young all dressed up in her ballet finery and ready to dance.  I'm thankful Alexa has decided to go back to ballet for a bit this fall---I so miss watching her dance, she's very talented. 



I kept the colors very soft and pretty---all pinks and creams.  The papers are new from Melissa Frances (love them) and then I prettied it up with lots of trims.  A Spellbinders die on the polka-dot paper, MS border punch on the edge, Bow Easy bow and scrolls by Marianne Designs dies.  All the edges got roughed up with my Zutter Distress tool and then inked.  A few blingy rhinestones finish it all off and the sentiment is from PTI that I cut in half.


She's colored with Copics: R21,R20,R00,Colorless Blender/E11,E00/YR24,E25,E50,E31 and then I added stickles to her ballet shoes and bodice for sparkle.  The mirror in the jewelry box got a coat of diamond glaze as well.  She's just sooooo CUTE!

Now to see more of these cuties in action you need to head over to CAROLYN'S BLOG NEXT on the hop!  And stop by the store HERE to pick a few for yourself--go on & treat yourself 'kay? LOL!



Thursday, April 7, 2011

Marry Me!

Hiya Friends & Happy Thursday!  The weather in VA has been just fabulous--70's yesterday & today--whoohooo!  Makes me not miss the AZ weather so much, LOL!  I finally got to watch the ACM Award show last night--I had tivoed it before I left home.  Oh how I love 'dem country folks like me, LOL--good times.  I had it blaring last night--hubby & kids thought I had lost it but hey they always think that.  I love me that "Dirt Road" song and OMG Carrie Underwood & Steven Tyler--yes ma'am that was a good show!  Just got word that Tim McGraw & Sugarland are coming to town and GUESS WHAT?  Yeppers Suzanne bought tix already so I'm good to go--cannot wait.  IF I had to have a girl crush it would definitely be on Jennifer Nettles from Sugarland--that gal can SING! LOL  How can you not love a good country song--good story and they CAN REALLY SING, none of this studio altered crappo KWIM! But I do NEED to see Blake Shelton & the Zac Brown Band--gonna have to stalk their tour dates, hee hee.  For those who NEED to see my Blake Shelton (shhh he's not mine but I pretend, LOL) see below for his NEW AWESOME SONG called "Honey Bee"!  AND OMG the Zac Brown Band singing my favorite song "Colder Weather" with the James Taylor (lovee him)--I was SCREAMING.........................LOL--hubby really thinks I am MENTAL, hee hee! (and I might agree)

For those that got thru my Travel Story yesterday, well I applaud you, LOL!  I'm not sure how I got thru it all to tell you the truth---patience and perseverance me thinks!  And I CANNOT be responsible for anyone who peed their pants while reading it, hee hee---sorry!  So Life is all about the experiences you have each day and my life is very FULL, LOL!  If you're not experiencing LIFE than what the heck are you doing my friends??  Question of the Day for ya! (PS--the Lockheed Martin guy WAS NOT the drunk guy, he was the nice one--in fact all the men I have met from Lockheed Martin have been very nice & respectful :))

Blake Shelton:



NewsBitz:

-Love those gorgeous Wild Orchid Craft flowers?  Well, for those in the US I Brake For Stamps is now the US Distributor for them!  Get over there and buy 'em cuz' they are going fast (don't worry more are coming) LOL!

-The CMC Classroom Birthday Events are all done and the winners are posted on the main page HERE! Thanks to everyone who played along and celebrated with us--it was a BLAST! And I'm proud to say we raised $2000 for Relief for Japan along the way---that is AWESOME!

-Winner of my last Blog Candy (geez I'm late again, I'm bad, smack me) is Katheleen of Chilliwack BC (love that name chilliwack, makes my tongue happy KWIM, hee hee-yes I know I'm strange)!  Congrats--please email me for deets on your prizes!

-Make sure to stop by the SCACD store blog HERE to enter that yummy Blog Candy and the release will be tomorrow with a fun DT Blog Hop, so stay tuned.  You will want all of these cute Elisabeth Bell for SCACD stamps ;)

-Want a good book to read?  The Discovery of Witches is EXCELLENT and so worth the read!  Yes I didn't care for the Twilight Series (I know, shoot me, lol) but this was fab! So fab that I awoke my husband to ANNOUNCE to him that I might be a witch (not the mean kind but the magical kind, hee hee).  I have had "certain" things happen to me over my lifetime that encourage me to think that, LOL--well he just said "Sure thing Suzanne" and rolled over & went back to sleep, LMBO! Oh My!


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Marry Me!


Today I'm sharing my April Magnolia-licious Challenge Card with you--I'm a few days late so I apologize but I didn't get to finish it before I left for AZ.  This month our hostess is the lovely Sharon Caudle and she challenged us to use BOTH Tilda & Edwin since poor lil' Edwin is so underused, LOL!  Well I love this image from the Wedding Collection 2010 at Magnolia-licious---so lovely!  You can find all the Challenge details at the Magnolia-licious Highlites Blog HERE!


This image is just the sweetest dontcha' think?  I love how she's reaching for his face--so sweet!  I created this card thinking of a beautiful Spring Wedding outside (or could be for Prom too).  I used "Loving Bridal Couple" and then the newer "Stone Pathway".  My papers are new by Melissa Frances--love them, so soft & pretty!  The die behind my image is a newer Spellbinders Pendant (I split it in half and added it to each end of the circle) and the green leaves are a new Marianne Designs die (love me them dies).  The flowers are new by KaiserCraft--aren't they gorgeous!?



Yes this got colored with Copics---BG15,BG10,Colorless Blender/E43,E42,E41,E40/YR24,YR20,E31/E25,E31,E50/E11,E00,R20.  The couple got cut out and popped up on dimensionals in front of the garden.  I added stickles to the flowers & bodice of her dress for some soft bling (also on the scrolly leaves).



Now make sure to hop on over to the Magnolia-licious Highlites Blog to participate in this challenge AND the awesome Easter-Spring Extravaganza Contest!  The prizes are FABULOUS!



Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Desert High?

Well hello friends and Happy Wednesday to ya!  Did you miss meeeeeeeeeeeeeeee?  LOL!  Feels like I've been gone awhile even though I know its only been a few days :)  I had an awesome trip to Arizona and enjoyed every last minute of it --- errr....well there were some dilemma's and delays along the way of course.  And you know ME--I will share ALL of them with you, hee hee!

**WARNING----LONG, SCARY, LOONEY, LAUGH-OUT-LOUD STORY below!  You have been warned okay! **

I left on Friday morning, got to the airport at 4 am after arguing with my hubby again about how I like to get there 2 hours early---he asks me everytime I fly why I need to be there early and everytime I say the same thing.  It's like an old black-n-white movie that keeps rewinding, arghhh! Men--LOL!  So I struck up a conversation with a guy and woman next to me (of course) in the terminal--totally non-event, doing good so far right?  Got on the plane and made friends with my seatmate--a nice guy from Oregon that worked for Lockheed Martin (yes where he works is important, stay tuned) and a 7 ft Basketball player (yes big guys like to sit next to me for some reason I can't figure out but they are indeed drawn to me) we all talked for a bit then I fell asleep till we landed in Denver, non eventful and I'm thinking "OH YES Suzanne, YOU SOOOOOOOOOOOO GOT this this time--smooth sailing"!  Well DUH---dumb butt Suzanne must've jinxed herself for sure!  Got off the plane thinking I'd be in Denver for 45 mins---yeppers right?!  NOoooooooooooooooooooooooo of all the 100's of flights leaving ONLY ONE WAS DELAYED---yep it was mine and delayed for 3.5 hours, arghhhhhhhh.  I was not a happy girl as I was supposed to land at 10:30 am in Phoenix and meet friends at 11, but now I wouldn't get there until 1:10.  So I went stomping off in my own lil' Suzanne Temper Tantrum (lol) and stomped (yes I stomped in my heels, I wear heels just so I can STOMP, I'm a stomper all right) right onto a people mover (you know the flat escalators that you walk fast on, hee hee).  Well I'm texting madly cuz I'm MAD and I'm STOMPING along and didn't see that the people mover had ended and YEP SUZANNE WENT FLYING FACE FIRST onto the carpet and all the contents of my bag flew across the floor--thank god I did not take anyone down with me.  Well.................I bust out laughing and I was laughing sooo hard I could not get up!  Three guys behind me either thought I was a "damsel in distress" or JUST PLAIN OLE' CRAZY (I think they thought I was a loon & I don't blame them) and they picked up all my stuff and put it in my bags and helped me up.  I'm still laughing while I'm in the restroom and still laughing when I finally sit down for my 3.5 hour delay, LOL (oh yes I can always amuse myself)!  I am always a little off kilter which makes me clumsy but I've learned to laugh it off---cuz it WAS pretty funny!  I worked for a bit and talked to some random people including a group of rag-tag musicians that had a Bluegrass band (Canyon something was their name, I cannot remember for the life of me, lol) for a bit and interrogated them (hey I'm always trying to find someone who KNOWS Tim McGraw and who can take me to him)!  Now when you fly Southwest THEY tell you that their policy is they only wait 5 mins for late fliers right?  Well we finally loaded on our plane and we WERE ALL READY to gooooooooooooooooo.  I had an 18 year old girl beside me (she was a riot with a tongue piercing) and a guy who had flown from DC with me (and yep he worked for Lockheed Martin too--remember that ok--he's #2).  Well we waited for other passengers for 25 mins, then it took us 15 mins to taxi to the runway and another 10 mins to take off.  Well by that point Suzanne was ready to BLOW (and yes when I blow I blow Cherry Coke, lol)--I was ready to be arrested and thrown off the plane cuz' I WAS MADDER THAN A HORNET.  OMG since when do we wait for 25 mins for fliers AFTER WAITING 3.5 hours for a delay---ugh.  And I wasn't the only one so I was in good company, wheeew, LOL.  When the plane finally took off the whole plane cheered and clapped, LOL---that's how ready we were to go. And talk about a party plane--the whole plane was singing, talking & dancing the WHOLE WAY---I loved it and before you ask..............YES I WAS SINGING---duh!!!  I talked with my seatmates the whole way and come to find out the guy knew mutual people that I knew---see that 6 degrees of separation that is always inevitable, LOL.  So he offered to drive me to my hotel as he lives in Phoenix and since he knew some of the same people I knew and he was married I said sure (don't shake your head, I checked his credentials, lol).  So he got my luggage and dropped me off at the hotel but NOT before I dropped my purse on the ground and my wallet spilled all the change, receipts and whatnot all over.  Geez what an impression I always make!  But it was so nice of him to drive me to the hotel and he was very sweet and I was thankful.

Then I get in the hotel and the little bell boy guy couldn't lift my luggage---I was dying laughing cuz even I can pick my luggage up, so another BIG guy came over and the luggage rack was rolling everywhere.  Well I thought I would help and rolled the rack right over BIG GUY's foot---owwww!  They already identified me as "TROUBLE" since I was sitting on the floor laughing hee hee & everytime they saw me they pretended to hide and yelled TROUBLE (how did they know my name right? lol).  Met my friends, went to pool and laid out in the 99 degree weather---whooo hooo and never let out a drop of sweat.  They now REALLY do believe I'm a vampire of some sorts & then went to dinner in downtown Scottsdale which was having BIKER WEEK---well that was a site you don't always see and I can't say I want to see some of that again, lol.  Great night but didn't sleep much!  Tab picks me up in the morning in her tiny Yaris not knowing I had a bag the size of an elephant, lol! Had a fabulous class with fabulous ladies and it was FUN (even had a few ladies fly in from Cali for the class--waving HI to y'all)!  Went to dinner with Tab, Charlene and a few others from class at a yummy Mexican restaurant that we closed down (but of course) and was nice and uneventful!  Slept like a log that night and then woke up to a beautiful Arizona morning of 86 perfect degrees and met up with my pal Charlene Randall and she took me to the Botanical Gardens.  The gardens were breathtaking and the Butterfly Pavilion was sooo worth the visit.   Then Charlene twisted my arm to go shopping (ha ha) and we did some shopping (errrr... I did shopping, lol) and then we had a fabulous organic lunch (and dessert in the form of mini Key Lime Pie).  Then I met up with my friend Janiel (from the Magnolia-licious DT) and she took me to a Western Saloon Restaurant (Rustler's Rooste) in the hills that was SO MUCH FUN!  I think that Janiel and I really might be sistah's from anotha mistah', LOL--we dressed alike, ate the same exact food and shared each others thoughts.  This restaurant had a real bull, live country band, sawdust on the floor and a SLIDE and YEAH we both went down it a few times laughing our fool heads off.  And then she convinced me I HAD to buy Riley a real rattlesnake head (ewww) but I did and he loves it (ewwwwww)---do you see how I love snakes (ewwwww). NOT!  But it was a great night and I was sorry to see my trip to AZ end.

So got to the airport 2.5 hours early since I had found out the night before that my fave airlines had a HOLE RIP OPEN an airplane the day before and oxygen masks had to be used.  Ummm were they TRYING TO keep me in AZ at that point!  UGH---scared me just a bit but I was afraid my flight would be cancelled/delayed so I wanted to be there early so I could do what exactly?  God only knows but that was my great idea, LOL! Got on my flight with no issues or dilemmas and sat next to a young kid of 22 who was getting ready to be shipped to Afghanistan--he was a bit scared and I talked to him a lot and it was all good.  I hate seeing these young "babies" being shipped off to war---breaks my heart.  Landed in Denver on time and looking forward to only a 45 min delay----NOT.  Yep my flight was delayed another hour---OMG--I'm cursed I tell ya!  Ate a nasty piece of pizza that maybe had fake cheese or sawdust in it not sure, talked with some folks (my fave pastime) and got to meet some mascot of some team there (a dog of some sorts, lol) and I helped him put his tail back on, hee hee.  I'm VERY helpful dontcha' know!

Finally got on plane and got my fave seat (I sit in this seat 90% of the time)--6th row back on left side in the window seat (yesssirrreeee I have issues, lol).  A guy sits in the aisle seat and I leaned over and said "hey--sit real BIG so no one sits in between of us okay", hee hee and he DID TRY!  So who gets on the plane?  A VERY DRUNK GUY--OMG it was sooooooooooooo BAD and I'm chanting under my breath, please don't sit here, please keep going.  But OH NO--NO WAY JOSE was god on my side that day, NOoooooooooooooooo!  Half the FREAKING PLANE IS EMPTY still but for some odd reason he is DRAWN TO SIT RIGHT NEXT TO ME!  ugh!  Yep I know you're thinking "Wow Suzanne YOU really know how to pick 'em"---yep I do, LMBO!  Well he falls into the seat ON TOP OF ME and smells like a BAR of the worst kind.  I was GAGGGINNNNNG and bile was nearby just waiting to come out.  HE continued to drink, lay on top of me and slurr and talk the whole 4 hour plane ride.  He also had a very tiny bladder.  How do I know this most intimate of facts?  WELL HE FRIGGIN TOLD US and got up (no lie) every 15 mins to pee!  He also told us how he kissed women (ewww what were THEY thinking) while he was away even though he's married, thought the hotel maid liked him sooo much she took his clothes and more stories like that---it was UnBelievable!  The guy on the end of the aisle and I were DYING---we were both laughing our arses off and trying not to gag at the same time!  Well guess who this guy (the nice guy not the nutjob, lol) worked for?  Yeppers.....Lockheed Martin...he was #3!  AHA--I found out why I was so freaking cursed and it's all Lockheed Martin's fault I do believe, LOL!  We were both ready to DIE by the end of the flight--I've never felt so nauseous on a flight before and I swear the air tasted like stale beer (grosssss).  Plane lands and we taxi into the airport going 2 miles an hour and I SWEAR it was ON PURPOSE to just PISS ME OFF (sorry for the language but at this point words were coming out of my mouth that could've curdled your milk).  Then we pull in the gate and we're sitting, we're sitting, they've turned the air off and I'm gagging, and we're still sitting.  Finally they say "because of the late hour 12:30 am there are NOT enough employees to open the gate so we will have to wait"! WHAT!!!  Get me off this plane and I will open the freaking GATE OK PEOPLE--I KNOW HOW, IT IS NOT HARD YOU JUST OPEN THE DARN DOOR AND GET OUT!! OMG!  So the nutcase beside me decides he needs to write an email on his phone---I SWEAR he typed the same sentence 15 times and at this point the gate opens and people are getting off.  I'm sweating, gagging, cussing and ready to pee my pants at this point---I didn't care who I took out but you better clear a path cuz I WAS GETTING OFF.  The nutcase decides he has to finish his email and he's just sitting there and I'm like "I'm so sorry but I have to climb over your ARSE and get the hell outta here!"  The guy on the end takes my bags and lifts me up & over the guy and into the aisle and then we BOTH RAN OFF THE PLANE AND KEPT RUNNING all the way to the luggage, LOL. We were laughing the whole time like we were CRAZY--I think some of the alcohol fumes had contaminated us.  My husband thought I had LOST IT when we came running in like crazed zombies---he was like "have you been drinking?" LOL---well only in the air my friend, hee hee!  So we're waiting for our luggage, and waiting and waiting---guess the airport only HAD ONE EMPLOYEE that night cuz it took 30 mins for our luggage to arrive.  I just squatted on the floor and laid down at that point---I was done--stick a fork in me and I'm done kinda done!  I couldn't stop laughing and I think my hubby thought I needed mental....errr....medical attention at that point.  So we didn't get home until 1:30 am cuz I ANNOUNCED TO hubby that I NEEDED (yes I have major needs, lol) an Arby Beef-n-Cheddar cuz I was STARVING.  Fell into bed after seeing kids quickly & slurping my sandwich down in bed and was ready for sleep.  But ooooohhhhh nooooo not that easy for ole' Suzanne KWIM--cuz it just HAD TO STORM, it just had to.  Mother Nature couldn't hit the PAUSE button and wait one night, no way.  Well hubby is sick and I banished him to the downstairs (sorry but I really can't be sick again right now) so I thought sleep was on my side right?  NO--cuz my one dog hates storms.  So an hour later she's on my head, panting and howling---OMG SHOOT ME NOW PLEASE! This went on for 5 hours---FIVE HOURS PEOPLE of panting, slobbering and howling--I just got off a plane with someone like this!  I felt like I was on crack and that Mother Nature had given me a good smack.  I was ready to HOWL MYSELF at that point--hubby would've really taken me to the nuthouse if I had so I kept my howling to a minimum to keep the peace...ahem...what lil' peace there was to be had! What a way to end the night! 

So that is my fabulous story, no embellishments, just the real truth and I'm sticking to it!  So if you never believe that I have unbelievable things happen to me---go no farther than this here blog, LOL.  You can ask ANYONE who knows me that my life follows this direction, I have the CRAZIEST things happen to me and you ask why I LAUGH SO MUCH.  WELLLLLLLLLLLLL...........what can you do when every day is like this?  See I'm either just getting way used to it all or I'm slowly losing my mind---I'm not really sure yet but I'll let y'all know eventually!  LMBO!

Now I ask you?  Anyone want to take a trip with me?  bwahahahahahaha, LOL!  James HAS DECIDED THAT I NEED a traveling assistant that will keep me safe & outta trouble (but shhhhh don't tell him, I would probably drag you down with me, hee hee hee)!

If you dare--the slideshow is below for y'all!  I will have a project for you tomorrow I promise---this story has now depleted me of all energy and I am still stunned myself and I feel the need for sleep and medical attention, LOL!  See y'all tomorrow!

Slideshow: