Fields of Lavender!!

Happy Thursday my friends!  Yay the weekend is almost here again…whew I swear the weeks just fly by lately…well ok always for me it seems LOL!  I am not feeling so hot and think I have some kinda flu bug but I’m a bit sore and dizzy so if NONE of this post makes sense please forgive me…yes some of my other posts don’t make sense but I have NO excuse for those!

Tuesday night the family went to see a hockey game in DC (our beloved Capitals) and our seats were front row on the ice…always so exciting to be up that close..I thought Alexa might hyperventilate she was so excited and apparently addicted to slamming on the glass wall at the players.  I’m SURE they thought the two of us were NUTS…what else is new eh?  Hubby was probably thinking the same thing…which may be why he doesn’t bring me that often hahahaha (See some pics below)  The one official liked me…he kept winking & grinning at me…not sure what to think about that…but he made some crappy calls so I started giving him my evil eye…maybe he thought I was flirting…ummm not!!!  And darn it all, my Caps lost in overtime…what a bummer!  So we headed to Hamiltons in DC to drown our sorrows ourselves with dessert errr….food cuz…my dessert was oyster soup & sushi..yeah I know we are odd.  Hubby had sliders and Riley had tempura..only Alexa had dessert.  And this was AFTER we’d already had dinner earlier hee hee.  So it was a fun night but so hoping the Caps win some more and get into the playoffs again this week…we shall see!

Our star "Ovechkin"

Riley & James

NewsBitz:

-If you are near Charleston, WV and want to come take a Copics class with me…I’ll be there next weekend on March 17th!  See www.cmcroad.com for details!  If not I will next be in San Jose, CA and then Montreal Canada and then Baltimore, MD—would love to see you!

-The CMC Classroom’s 2nd Birthday Bash begins on March 19th!  You will not want to miss all the fun festivities (games, challenges, chats & fab prizes)—its always a blast!

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Fields of Lavender!!

The Gina K. Design Team is excited to invite you to another fabulous Release Party tonight!!! The party starts at 7:00 pm Central Time in the Stamp TV Release Party Forum. Join us for Challenges, Contest Questions, Design Team Samples, Full Stamp Set Reveals and, of course, party chit chat!!! Everything will go "live" at 7:00 pm Central in Gina's Store so there won't be any long wait to start shopping! Hope to see you there!

If you came from Michelle Woener's blog, then you're right where you should be. If not, please go to Stamp TV where you will find a list of all those participating. Here's a sneak peek of one of the cards I will be sharing with you at the party tonight!

Today the Gina K Designs DT is sharing sneakie peekies with you all of the new releases and YEAH of course they are awesome!!  I’m sharing a card made with the new StampTV set called “Petals & Wings” which is stock full of awesome stamps to use!  I also used one of the fab new paper packs called “Parisian Garden“---I love the soft lavender tones, so pretty!

I'm entering this into the following challenges as well:

 Repeat Impressions DCC229 Designer’s Choice Challenge (pastels)

My Mum's Craft Shop (spring)

Deep Ocean Challenge (spring)

Craft Your Passion (anything goes)

 
The tag stamp in this set fits perfectly into Spellbinders Labels 16.  To create the popped up purple frame around it, I just used 2 sizes of the dies to cut out the frame and then ran it through a CB embossing folder for texture.  The green matting is from a Marianne Designs die (as is the leaf die), I cut it in half to spread it out on the sides and ran it thru another embossing folder & inked it a bit.  A few flowers and then Stickles on the image to make it sparkle just a bit.  The flower was colored with Copics to match the pretty papers.

Your next stop on today’s hop is Tami Mayberry’s fabulous blog!!!
Have an awesome day!!  Hope to see you tonight at the party! 

Guitars & Such!

Hello everyone & Happy Monday to you!!  How was your weekend?  Mine was grrrrr--eattttt LOL!  I worked my bum off last week so I could take all of Saturday off to lounge around and basically do nothing...course I have an issue with doing just nothing.  So I read, watched some TV and then I groomed & bathed both of my doggies :)  That's always so much fun--my oldest Cairn terrier loves to be brushed, groomed and bathed but my youngest Cairn DOES NOT...oy vey she HATES it and acts like I'm torturing her.  She was born with a broken tail bone and she hates having her bum touched in any way, if you even motion like you are gonna touch it she goes and hides. So yeah grooming & bathing her is a realllll treat I tell ya...but they smell & look so pretty!

Then hubby and I had a date night Saturday night as both of the teens were out with their friends.  Funny how as the kids get older hubby and I get more and more alone time...when they were younger we always wished for date nights but rarely got them.  We went to dinner and then came home and watched the movie "The Change Up"...I don't suggest seeing that movie...not my cup of tea at all.  I love both Jason Bateman and Ryan Reynolds and I like some crude/crass stuff but whooooa nelly was this a very crude movie..I couldn't watch parts of it that's how bad it was.  And then to find out the DirecTV movie we chose was the UNRATED version....ummm oh yeah how'd that get on there LMBO--even hubby was disgusted at part of it....ewwwwww...some things you just NEVER need to see visually on TV KWIM...ugh LOL!

Ok so if you want to see my airboat ride in the Everglades while I was in Florida go to my wall on Facebook and its on there...it shows us flying over the gator yes it does.  That's Pat yelling "oh no, oh no" the whole time and me and Dana laughing hysterically UNTIL it starts growling/hissing...then I was scootin', scootin' away cuz it was closest to me!!  I've seen enough gators for awhile yes indeedy I have :)

NewsBitz:

-Wanna take a fun Copic Class with me?  My next locations are Charleston, WV / Montreal Canada / and Baltimore MD!  In Baltimore we are having a Retreat for a fun weekend in the beautiful Inner Harbor...so come for a day or for the whole weekend, its gonna be FUN!!  I'd love to meet you so check out the info at www.cmcroad.com ok!

-Tonight at 8 pm EST the BookEndz Group at CMC is having our Wrap Up Party!  If you love to read and love to chat about books then you should join us...everyone is welcome and you only need a computer and a love of reading to join.  We will discuss our February book pick, give away a few prizes and then announce our March Book Club pick!  Always a good time!  The chat starts at 8 pm EST sharp on the front page at www.scrapbitzcopics.ning.com in the CHAT box at the bottom of the main page!  See you there!

-The CMC Classroom's 2nd Birthday Bash starts March 19th and runs thru March 24th!  Mark your calendars for a fun filled week of games, challenges, chats and extraordinary prizes!  Its gonna be a BLAST!!  Everyone is welcome to join in on the fun at www.scrapbitzcopics.ning.com!!

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Play Me A Song!!

Yesterday I got to play with a newer La La Land Crafts stamp called "Mod Marci" that I knew I HAD to have as soon as I saw it!  Did you know that La La Land offers digi images AND rubber stamps now AND they have a fabulous NEW collection out that includes scenes and things to sit these cuties on! YEP they do so go check them out!

My goal this year is to learn to play the guitar...yeah in my spare time right...I hear ya...but it really is my goal so I start lessons real soon!  I may not be fabulous at it but I'm gonna try it...like my surfing adventure in Maui last year, it was on my bucket list and I did it (not gracefully or well) but I did it! And to me that's all that counts and to have fun in the process.  So I basically made this card for myself as inspiration...my two fave colors red & black, distressed and a cute image to keep me smiling :)

I used some fab MME papers from the Lost & Found Collection called "Union Square"--love the fun patterns and colors in this paper pad!  Course I love all the MME papers..its a darn problem...err addiction!  I distressed all my papers with my fave Zutter Distress machine...gosh I use that and love it bunches..so worth it!  The sentiment & twill ribbon are from PTI and a button with bow finish it off.  The black circle was embossed with a Sizzix Tim Holtz wood-grain folder.

I'm entering this into the following fab challenges:

Opus-Gluei Challenge (use a ticket)

Pile It On Challenge (stripes & dots)

That Craft Place Challenge (anything goes)

Deconstructed Sketch #41 (sketch)

Catch the Bug Challenge (anything goes)

One Stop Craft Challenge (buttons)

She was colored with Copics R29,R24,R22,R20 / C9 thru C1 / E18, E97,YR23,YR20 for hair/ E11,E00 / E25,E31,E50 for guitar.  I added stickles to the brim of her cap, the guitar strings and her kick-butt boots!  Diamond Glaze on her eyes and metal parts of guitar for shine!

That's all for me today...hope your Monday kicks off a fabulous week and I'll see you back here soon!

Chiquita Banana Time!!

Welllllllllllllllllll Helllllooooooo again everyone!  I am back home again from a FABULOUS trip to Naples, FL and I now have a new place I want to call home LOL!  My pal Pat Jaynes and I stayed at Dana Shaw’s lovely home, each in our own guest rooms and it was so nice of her to have us at her “Dana Hotel” hee hee…I’m sure her hubby was glad to see us go LOL!  The weather was sunny & in the 80’s every day and I got to spend it with my bestest BFFs.  Classes were a sell-out and I enjoyed them so much and all the wonderful ladies that came out to Coleen & Janet’s store Scrapbooks Etc (a must visit store if you are in town)—thanks to everyone for the warm welcome and FUN dinner!  I laughed so much my abs/ribs still hurt and there wasn’t a whole lot of sleeping done at Dana’s house LOL…we got in bed around 3 am (except the first nite which was 5 am…yikes huh)…chatting, laughing, facebooking, shopping (oh boy), eating and having NO schedule.  It was a great break for me….recharged my mojo and I so needed it.  Everyone needs some me-time and to get away with your girly pals is a MUST do at least twice a year LOL!
So one of the funniest things on the trip….well there were many but I’ll start out with the airboat ride in the Everglades…OY VEY!!  It was so much fun and we three were in the front seat and Pat had the rope…she was holding that darn rope like she was riding a horse (see slideshow below)…it made her feel in control I guess.  I on the other hand had nothing to hold on and was sliding around like crazy!  So there were LOTS & LOTS of alligators…now I respect all wildlife…however I do not find them cute or cuddly nor do I want to touch them…you feel me on this?  So we get right up next to the first alligator and he’s pretty large and the lady behind us says “I really want to pet him…he’s so pretty”…ummm are you a NUTTO…do you need psych help…let me take a picture while you get your darn arm bit off!!  So we continue on thru the mangroves and we are speeding at quite a clip around a curve…Suzanne almost flies off her seat…literally I kid you not, I was 2 inches from going in the water…that is NOT a story adventure I wanted to have.  So I had to brace myself with my legs in different positions to keep on the seat LOL!  Then we are speeding down a path at quite a clip…when the 3 of us spot a big gator in the pathway…oh yeah…WE RAN OVER THE ALLIGATOR WITH THE AIRBOAT…yes we did and we were screaming as we bumped right over him..LMBO!!!  Dana has a video of it and when she gives me a link I’ll share it…it is hilarious.  Well the driver spins the boat around to go back to Mr. Gator (who was fine but boy'-o was he PISSED)…yep he was hissing & growling at us and GUESS WHO WAS NEXT TO HIM??  YES ma’am it was me and I kept scooting back…especially after said-driver tells us they will jump…I was pushing Pat & Dana off the end of the boat.  I was not a HAPPY or thrilled girl at that point…pretty sure me & my new sunglasses were gonna be GATOR DINNER!  OMG I was skkkkeeeeered!  I thought perhaps I’d have a heart attack for sure on that dang boat…I was thinking about running across the water as fast as I could!  Then we head back and they have baby gators you can hold…yes everyone held the baby gator…’cept me.  HEY—its not on my bucket list, if it ain’t on my bucket list then I do NOT feel a need to do it…got me? LOL HEY let's face it...those baby gators grow up to be large-people-eating-gators...yes indeed they doooo!  So I stood next to it but I did not touch it…I don’t touch reptiles…never, ever, never!! Sheesh!

I have more stories but I will share that I got home at 3 am yesterday morning…why you ask?  Well OOPSIES…Suzanne accidentally booked her return flight home for March 29th instead of February 29th LMAO…yes I did and luckily was able to get a flight leaving around same time but…… That is what I get for booking flights at 2 am in the morning…no more of that stuff.  I was stuck in the middle seat to Atlanta and then my flight was delayed so I didn’t get in till 1 am.  The KICKER of this lil’ story…ummmmm my flight flew into DC National Airport not Dulles which is an hour away…OOPSIE…LOL…yeah hubby was NOT so thrilled with me.  Good thing he loves me and knows me well huh?

Florida Slideshow:


NewsBitz:

-Upcoming Copic classes are in West Virginia, California, Baltimore and Montreal Canada!  See www.cmcroad.com for more details!

-Winner of that fab Imaginisce Ribbon MagiCutter is…….Aixa of "Aixa's Creativity Garden"!  Congrats...please email me for details ok!

-La La Land Crafts has a fun new blog JUST FOR KIDS…its for kids and by kids…so if you know a kid that likes to craft and color, then head over to the new blog challenge HERE!

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Chiquita Bananas!!

So today I have a fun, cheery project to share with you---the colors just put ya in a good mood dontcha’ think?  I made this for the current March Magnolia-licious DT Challenge which is hosted by Sharon Caudle…this month she’s challenged us to create projects the “Move & Groove” (they need to move, shake, slide, pop, etc)!  So I created this Pop-Up Gift Card (see tutorial here) which was easy to make and fun too!  See all the details for this fun challenge at the Magnolia-licious Highlites Blog….we want to see what you create so come’on!!!

I'm entering this into the following fun challenges:

Pixie Cottage Challenges (anything goes)

Simon Says Stamp Challenge (anything goes)

Perfect Sentiments Challenge (anything goes w/ sentiment)

Anything Challenge (anything goes..no cards)

Going Grey with Scrap-Creations (pop up projects)

Make It Monday (anything Goes)

 I used this super cute stamp from Magnolia-licious called “Tilda Goes Bananas” –she is so stinkin’ cute I almost can’t stand it LOL!  And she reminds me of a crazy-banana friend of mine (ahem….Tina….ahemmm)!  She comes in mini-stamp too…go get her…she’s just TOO fun to not have!! I used papers from Basic Grey’s “Picadilly” – love the fun, bright colors!  The sentiment is from PTI, border punch by from Martha Stewart, rhinestones and layered flowers.  The swirly die is a Marianne Designs die - ( Magnolia-licious now carries dies from Marianne Designs, Memory Box, PoppyStamps & Cheery Lynn)

She’s colored up with Copics R29,R24,R22,R20 / YR23,Y15,Y11,Y00 / E11,E00/ E37,YR23,YR20.  I used Ranger Liquid Pearls for her necklace (yellow) and added Stickles to her bananas, shoes and ruffles—this gal has gotta SHINE!!!

On the inside it pops a gift card envelope up so you can add any gift card you’d like!  I added a few paper flowers I made with my Nellie Snellen dies and brads.  I used my handy-dandy Scor-Pal to create the inside...always makes it so much easier!  The whole project closes with a belly band but instead of slipping off the card it closes with a brad-twine closure…wind the bakers twine around to close..unwind to open.  Just a fun way to deliver a gift card dontcha’ think?

Ok that’s it for me today….I sure hope you enjoyed this post & play along with us over at the Magnolia-licious Highlites Blog!!  Have a great weekend everyone!

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Thanks for choosing me for Top 3 Crafts & Me!!!

Happy Like SunShine!!

Happy late Thursday my friends and a very sunny one it is here too! I am such a happy girl that we haven't had a terrible winter this year...its been so mild that I actually haven't worn my gloves/winter coats as much as usual. I think I wore them more in October and November than in Dec, Jan & Feb...and HEY I'm FINE with that, yes indeed-y!! And tonight I'm flying to Florida for a week...wahooo...80's down in the Naples area so that makes me an EXTRA-HAPPY gal! And I get to spend the week with my besties Pat Jaynes & Dana Shaw...now the 3 of us can get into some TROUBLE...and I know my sides will be hurting from laughing cuz' it never fails! So hopeful that we don't visit the local jail due to our hijinks and hope that we aren't fed to the gators down there either...we are going on an airboat ride in the Everglades and I ALREADY feel sorry for our boat captain...well I pity him actually cuz he has NO idea what he may be in for right? I am teaching on Saturday to sold-out classes in Bonita Springs at the Scrapbooks Etc store---so if you are in the area stop on by and say hi (and shop and hey get into some trouble with me too ok)! I KNOW y'all are dying to get into some trouble with me right? But HEY I can ASSURE you that's its always the fun kinda trouble...although my one friend says if I am put in jail I'll probably have all the inmates doing a sing-a-long and they are probably right.

So I won't be home until next Thursday so I have lots of time to play and have a mini-girls vacation....I'm so looking forward to it. Then I'll be home and gearing up for some fun releases coming from SCACD and Gina K and some top-secret newsies too. I will TRY, TRY, TRY to post some pics and blog antics for you while I'm gone. You can always keep track of me on Facebook or Twitter cuz I'm always posting on their while I'm traveling for sure.

NewsBitz:

-Mark your calendars for March 19th thru 24th cuz the Color Me Creative Classroom is having their 2nd Annual Birthday Bash!! We partied hard last year and this year it will be even bigger & better...so get ready for some fun games, puzzles, challenges and of course AWESOME prizes. We'll have two fun LIVE CHATs that week too and if you've been to some then you know we can get a bit rowdy but always a good time! So save the dates and see you there soon!

-the CMC Classroom's February Newsletter went out this week and if you didn't receive yours via email then you can see it HERE to catch up on all the going-ons over there!

-Also new registrations are up for my CMC Copic Classes on the Road including Charleston, WV / Montreal Canada / San Jose, CA / and the Baltimore, MD Retreat in May! I'd love to see you so head over to www.cmcroad.com for more info!

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Happy Like SunShine!!

Today I have a fun, cheery card for you that features one of those awesome Stampavie Sarah Kay stamps from 7 Kids College Fund...the collection isn't super new but you know I love my cats & dogs and I adore the retro style of these gals and so fun to color!  This one is called "Cherie & Her Best Friend Blondie" and you can see the rest HERE as well.  They are the "grown up" versions of Sarah Kay gals and perfect for teens and girlfriends.

I'm entering this into the following fab challenges:

Wacky Wednesday Challenge (circles)

Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge (anything goes)

Paper Pretties Challenge (dies/punches)

Going Gray with Scrap Creations (critters)

Sassy Cheryl's Challenge Blog (no embossing)

I used some beautiful new papers from Teresa Collins called "Everyday Moments" and I love the brilliant navy blue and buttery yellows and fun patterns to boot!  The white border was made with my MS border punch and the white mat around the circle is a SB die.  The sentiment is by PTI "Handwritten Messages" I believe its called...cute sentiments written in the DT's handwriting.  A few layered Primas and some pearls finish it all off nicely.

She's colored with Copics B39,B37,B34,B21 / Y32,Y21,Y11,Y00,E35 / W5,W3,W1 and her hair stamps solid so I added my Black Copic Spica to it for some depth and sparkle.  As always I do my "faux airbrushing" with my fave tool the Inkssentials Blending Tool with Foam attachments---just pat it into any stamp pad (I use my SU pads) and swirl it softly on...every card I make uses it.

That's all for me tonight...I'm landing soon at Fort Meyers and my girlies are picking me up....hope to talk them into taking me for a snack cuz this girl is hungry LOL!  Talk with y'all later & have a great weekend!

You Are My Sunshine!!

Happy Monday everyone and if you are home today because of Presidents Day…enjoy!  I am doing a project and then taking most of the day off…I’m claiming it as my Saturday and enjoying it a bit.  Hubby and kids are home and I’m recovering from Texas trip and the 8 teenage boys that ravaged my house last night.  Don’t know what I’m talking about…well then read post below this (or click here) for a laugh at my expense yes, its ok LOL.  Seriously I need a break from incidents or else I feel like I might DIE heehee…boring is GOOD…I want some boring ok, so if you have some extra send it to me.

So short post, blab here cuz I’m beat and you can read the post below for my weekly novel LOL!
Have you seen those new Imaginisce I-Magicut Ribbon Cutters?  I saw them at CHA and I loved it…I hate ribbon that frays, and I tend to fiddle with my ribbon so it always frayed.  But this small cutter heat cuts it and seals the ends of ribbon…and best part…no weird smells. 

 
BLOG CANDY…..So I love my ribbon cutter so much I’m giving one away…just leave a comment on this post by Thursday ok!  If you want to buy one go to my pal Terri’s site and she has them for sale at a great price!!

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You Are My Sunshine!!

So today the Magnolia-licious DT has a fun Blog Hop with the theme “Spring is Right Around the Corner”.  So all of our projects feature SPRING and cute Magnolia stamps from Magnolia-licious.  I used this beautiful “Tilda with Butterfly Dress” (out of stock at Magnolia-licious but sure Diana will be getting more in) but you can find the mini one HERE.  You can find all the details on the blog hop & how to join in the fun at the Magnolia-licious Highlites Blog.

 I used this beautiful paper from MME “Miss Caroline-Fiddlesticks” (I adore it)—soft pretty papers and colors….perfect for spring.  The leaf dies are from Marianne Designs, flowers are by Wild Orchid Crafts and then I used my Bow Easy for my double bow.  The sentiment is a fun one from PTI!  You can find a great selection of dies from Marianne Designs, Magnolia Doohickeys, Cheery Lynn, Poppy Stamps and Memory Box HERE at Magnolia-licious.

 She’s colored with Copics BV04,BV02,BV00,BV0000 / YR20,Y11,Y00,E31 / E99,E35,YR21,Y00,E31 / E11,E00,R20.  Then I added Stickles to the trim on her dress, her hair bows and around the image for lots of sparkle.

Ok so your next stop on this hop is my pal

 Janiel’s beautiful blog!  

Enjoy visiting the DT blogs and getting some inspiration and don’t forget to leave a comment for a chance at the blog candy I talked about at top of post

People Movers & All Sorts of Fun!!

Well good morning everyone....whewwww wheee what a morning it is! In fact I am typing this at 3 am from a 24 hrs Denny’s in San Antonio, TX LOL.  Why you ask?  Well cuz I am a NUT and I got the butt-crack earliest flight out of San Antonio so I’m home by 12:30 tomorrow to be with my family...cuz I’m that nice kinda mom KWIM ;)  (and yes I fly to FL on Thursday for a week so I feel a tad guilty...that darn mom’s guilt stuff)  So yes I have been up since yesterday at 7 am and YES I am tired but it didn’t make sense to check into a hotel for 3 hours, drive to San Antonio from Waco and catch my flight.  Soooo I went to dinner with a group of lovely ladies last night from class and then got on the highway around midnight for the 3 hour drive to San Antonio and my friend Shelby told me of a Denny’s that was open 24 hours not far from the airport.  That is where I currently am....they hooked me up with a quiet booth with a plug for my laptop away from the many drunks that are stumbling in once the bars have closed hee hee...oh boy what fun it is to watch them....like a free side show I tell ya!  All I can say is I’m wayyyyy too old to be doing that kinda craziness....leave it to the other kinda crazies...but then I’m sure y’all are reading this and thinking I AM THE CRAZY ONE hahaha and I might agree with ya today.  When I get home I have a project to work on and then I have eight 14 year old boys coming over for a sleepover for Riley’s belated birthday...umm yeah apparently Disney was not enough and he needs a sleepover too.  Funny thing is that it was supposed to be last night...but hubby & son decided to switch it for the day I get home but of course with work to do and no sleep...so I should be really RIPE by 9 pm when I die and fall into bed!  I threatened Riley that if I heard any weird noises drifting up from the basement tonight that I would ground his bum and send everyone home and he said “yes ma’am” LOL--so I don’t expect to have any issues (well I hope)!

So I know y’all want a travel story and let me start off by saying I WOULD LOVE TO NOT have one for you all....cuz I’m tired...and my body/brain needs a break from incidents (praying that my flight to Chicago is smooth & UNEVENTFUL).  Well I have a doozy of a story for ya and I hope you all laugh cuz I did laugh but afterwards I SHOOK MY OWN head at myself.  I’m pretty sure James is rethinking my decision to travel alone...yep I’m pretty sure he is LOL.  My flight to Texas started out in Virginia at 7 am flying to Chicago first...I had the WORST migraine on the plane so midway I woke up to take a few Advil...3 to be exact and leaned back to go back to sleep.  Woke up about 20 mins later feeling slightly “odd” (yes odder than usual lol) and woozy and knew something wasn’t right & figured I was either getting a bad migraine or a sinus infection.  So I leaned down to take another Advil just in case...when to my HORROR I realized I had taken 3 Maximum Strength Benadryl instead...UH OH!!!  Benadryl DRUGS ME...like woozy, stumbling, drool on my darn self kinda drug me...ok, not pretty at all.  AND THEY HIT ME LIKE A BRICK OMG...I literally was like a drunk...slurring my words and stumbling.  I stumbled up the gangplank to exit the plane in Chicago and I could barely walk people...I texted hubby to say “ummmm I think I mighta made an oopsie...a big one”...well he’s not really surprised much by me after 18 years so his response (in typical James form we call “James-isms”) “well ok, as long as you are somewhere safe you’ll be ok”.  UMMM DID YOU HEAR ME...I AM DRUGGED and its NOT PRETTY...HELLLOOOOOOOOO!!!  But I guess cuz’ I was in an “airport” that suddenly I was contained and safe to him LMBO...yep....not!  Cuz Suzanne thought getting on the people movers to her next gate would be helpful....less walking right?  RIGHT???  Umm yeah I put my small wheelie tote on the people mover & for whatever reason it made me dizzy and I lost my balance...I DID THE DARN SPLITS ON THE PEOPLE MOVER...it was NOT a good site (it was not sexy, hot or cool in ANY way ok).  And I split my jeans open....where you ask?  WELLLL right in my darn butt area....did I have clothes in my tote...of course not...that would never be my luck huh?  And yeah I had red undies (clean ones though that did over my rear) on and my jacket DID not cover it...so I’m trying to get upright and the guy behind me is trying to help me and I KNOW he’s trying to NOT laugh and I’m like “no, no I GOT THIS” as I stumble off and try to arrange my jacket around my waist in a manner that didn’t look like I was trying to cover up something LOL.  I get to the gate and sit down & the man next to me is chatty-cathy...wrong time bud ok--you have nooo idea who or what you are talking to right now! I think I slurred something like “immmmm soooo slorrry but I am berry heavibly medicated and am having sub bigggg isssueeesss”...he looked at me like he felt badly for me and hey at that point I felt badly for me toooo LOL and figured it was best to sit there and NOT move or talk until it was time to get on plane--so I pretended to be a statue & VERY interested in my phone although I was so medicated I'm sure drool was coming out as my head bobbed up & done...oy vey!!  So I go and get on plane....oh yeah that was fun...Suzanne tripping on the plane and literally running my body down the wall of the gangplank so I didn’t fall...I looked REALLLY special at that point ;)  I was lucky to get a window seat in the second row...two guys sit next to me and I’m trying to NOT make eye contact cuz I don’t wanna look like a drugged weirdo LOL.  I cover up with my blankie and go to sleep...wake up halfway thru flight and feel “slightly” better, enough to form somewhat sane sentences.  So I asked stewardess for 3 cokes...yep 3...trust me I really needed about 20 at that point & I musta looked like I did cuz she brought them quickly.  The guys next to me start laughing & I’m like you have nooooo idea buddies so just shut up cuz I’m not in the mood.   Ends up the guy next to me is a fighter pilot who had traveled home from a tour in Afghanistan and had been traveling 3 days (yeah made my travel journey not so sad huh).  So we were chatting about the military and stuff and the guy on the end joined in.  So we are all chatting having a GRAND time & the guy on the end asks me what I’m doing in San Antonio and blah blah blah....wants to know if I’m there for the Rodeo (I wish cuz I have always wanted to go).  Turns out the guy on the end is Joe Nichols...yep the country singer...yep I didn’t recognize him...AT ALL and I yell “you liar...you are not”...yeah real good zinger Suzanne, geesh!  And he pulls out his drivers license & sings a line of his song “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off”...umm yeah appropriate song for a girl who has her undies hanging out of her darn pants LMBO!!  But he was really nice and he signed my Country Weekly magazine which I JUST happened to have in my bag (no pants but darn it I have some magazines) and invited me to rodeo where he was singing today.  DARN IT...if I didn’t have to be home I soooo woulda stayed an extra day to hang out...I mean of all the darn luck...split pants druggie sits next to Joe Nichols and can’t go to the rodeo...UGH...story of my life LOL!  Needless to say we get to San Antonio just fine (via Houston) and then I rent a car to drive 3 hours to Waco...in the pouring rain on a Friday afternoon...yep thru Austin traffic.  Took me 5 beautiful, oh so fabulous hours in bumper-to-bumper traffic...had to pee...was a tad hungry...and bum tired but darn it I got to Waco.  Great class....great ladies (waving hi) who now all KNOW that I really am a total nut LOL but hope they had fun and I promise I will be back in Texas this year...albeit not drugged ;)  And if you are near Waco stop at Emmalie’s fabulous store Crop Paper Scissors...you won’t be disappointed!!

So the moral of this delightful travel story....don’t take unlabeled meds that are same color as Advil...maybe don’t travel alone...don’t attempt moving things while drugged...always wear clean underwear that cover your rear & pack extra pants JUST IN CASE, cuz you NEVER know what could happen.  AND ALWAYS, always talk to the people on the plane cuz you NEVER know who you could be sitting next to...yup that’s my way of traveling.  Now here’s praying that while you are reading this...and visualizing it all (cuz I know you are, I hear you laughing so don’t think I don’t)...I’m asleep on a NON-eventful plane ride to Chicago & then on to home.  NO drugs, clean underwear and non-ripped pants (and darn it yes I have an extra pair in my carry-on just in case) so I’m armed & prepared.  Now I gotta start packing all the “just in case stuff” in my tote...as if its not heavy enough...I’m pretty sure there is NO tote bag big enough for “just in case stuff for suzanne”...yeah in fact I know there isn’t ;)

Have a great Sunday, enjoy your family and get crafty or hey....just hang out & relax...do it for me ok...so I can visualize it this time :)

See ya tomorrow with a super-fun Magnolia-licious Blog Hop!!!

A little Mickey, a little Pooh….!!

Well hello there everyone….yes, yes I have been GONE, GONE, GONE and guess what?  I’m getting ready to go, go, go…as is the story of my life these days.  So where have I been? Well if you don’t follow me on Facebook or Twitter than you didn’t know that I planned a total impromptu trip to Disney World in Florida this past Friday for my son’s 14th birthday.  Impromptu….well yes I booked it at 11 am on Friday and we left at 8:30 pm from Baltimore.  Did the kids know? NOPE! LOL!  Riley has really been sick since November with pneumonia, bronchitis and asthma issues so hubby & I wanted to do something really special for his birthday.  Alexa’s birthday is almost always during Spring Break so she’s had her birthday in Disney, SeaWorld and last year in Maui but Riley never has.  So we thought a spontaneous surprise would be perfect…so I packed for 4 people, got someone to watch the cats, picked up kids from school and drove 2 hours to my mom’s to drop off kids to race to Baltimore to catch flight & meet up with hubby.  Ummm sounds ok right?  Ummm yeah NO---I thought I was gonna have a REAL heart attack LMBO!  Finding summer clothes, shoes that fit for everyone, turning off water and all those other chores that are usually planned in advance got me in stress mode.  Then of all things I took a wrong turn on the Beltway…ummmm I’ve lived here all my LIFE and have traveled these roads 1000’s of times but NO, oh noooooooo!  They are doing construction and had exits blocked and I realized it too late and ended up on Rte. 66…if you live around here you feel my pain ugh.  So my poor GPS was trying to find a new, quick route to get us out of DC on a FRIDAY, during RUSH HOUR, crazy I tell you…literally I was driving like a Nascar driver. Thank GOD there were no cops out to get me cuz I went about 80 miles an hour & drove my BMW like a darn go-kart…the kids were laughing their bums off (while I was cussing out a horrible stream, yes I am a terrible road rager cusser crazy woman and yelling at the kids that they were NOT to tell their father any of our goings-ons LOL) but I thought I might die for sure.  Drop dogs off with my mom…my mom who so graciously took a manic phone call from me to meet me 30 mins closer than going all the way to their house LOL!  I literally threw the dogs in her car while she’s telling me I’m a “maniac and need help” LOL and I’m like '”umm yeah I know but I gotta gooooo” heehee!  Then we raced up to Baltimore to get at airport at 7 pm…whoo hoo I was on time and about to die, only drank 2 sodas all day and run into airport with bags and teens….to find out….wait for it…..wait for it……THE FRIGGIN FLIGHT WAS DELAYED 40 mins…ugh!  I wanted to yell I was so peeved and WHY were we delayed??  For a flight that was coming in that had been delayed….see we were the last flight out that night to Orlando so instead of leaving at 7:59 we left at 8:45 pm and that was with AirTran…so apparently THEY wait for delayed planes.  Unlike most airlines….let’s NOT revisit my United flight and my Vegas adventures ok!?  And I’m starving right?  Yes STARVING!!!  We use the restroom and head to our gate….this is AFTER getting my clueless teens thru security and behind a woman with 3 young kids that was so UNPREPARED I coulda screamed (yes I am type A and can get thru security in 2 mins flat thank you much)!  She didn’t have their shoes off, they were screaming and throwing things…I was ready to scream with them ugh!  Alexa is fussing that its too stressful and too rushed and she starts freaking out, then Riley gets buzzed cuz’ he didn’t empty his pockets like I told him to at least 3 TIMES!!  So after getting thru that and using restroom, hubby & son head out to get food for us. THEN Alexa remembers that she left her boarding pass in the restroom….you did WHAT?  She’s running down to the bathroom and then they say “we are going to start boarding”….seriously I thought about boarding and leaving my family at that point…I won’t lie…cuz I really had that thought haahaha!  And yes I am MANIC about boarding…you have to be ready to line up if you have carry-on (which we all did) cuz people eat up all the bin space and get pushy…I don’t do pushy…but I can do NASTY if need be.  So I’m texting & calling everyone to get a move on….Alexa is running back with her found ticket and then hubby & son slowly come.  What’s for dinner you ask?  Ummm a shared hotdog in a pretzel and a shared Coke….yeah, it was so darn good I coulda eaten 10 of them….NOT! LOL!  So I pulled out my laptop and worked 99% of the way and tried to ignore the crying babies around me and my daughter asking me 5000 questions about silly things…oh boy…makes me appreciate traveling alone I tell ya! I love ‘em but they drive me nutsy!  Then said daughter leaves her purse on plane…yep she did…this is the same child that I will be sending off to college in 2 years….yep I’m worried   So we arrive at 11 pm in Orlando and I’m STARVING STILL….seriously I was ready to eat the darn floor.  So we get our rental car & head to Chevy’s…it was open late…it was very good….I ate wayyyy tooo much…then I was sick at hotel….so is the story of my life…my travel adventures….and the way I choose to live.

Anywho, I have a slideshow of our trip below….which was crazy fantastic and we enjoyed every minute!  Something about Disney that makes you just wanna stay even though you are thoroughly worn out LOL!  Yep the Dean family totally terrorized Disney World, laughing and bee-boppin’ the whole way thru from morning to about 1 am each day…I’m sure they were ready for us to go.  Our hotel was too probably as we laughed hysterically every night, ordered enough room service for an army and generally acted like loons on vacation.  Yep that’s my family…and I love ‘em!  And a belated Happy Birthday to my baby boy…who is now 6’2 and towers over me…but I love him to pieces and he knows that I can still kick his bum if he gets outta line!  (if you get my blog by email click HERE to see slideshow ok…it’s a doozy I tell ya).

Slideshow of Disney World:



NewsBitz:

-Ok I have new locations up for my Copic Classes!  I will be in Texas this weekend, then headed to Florida (Bonita Springs & Port St. Lucie) to teach next weekend.  Also upcoming are W.Virginia, San Jose CA, Baltimore MD –registration is up for all of these at www.cmcroad.com.  If you live in Montreal Canada (in May) or Guelph Ontario (in Nov) I have upcoming dates for both so stay tuned for registrations.

-SCACD has some new yummies in stock!  Oh my if you have not tried Best Glue Ever or the Scrapperfect Cleaner…they ARE MUST HAVES & I HIGHLY recommend both.  I now use this glue 90% of the time, its perfect for any material (paper, metal, glass, fabric, felt..you name it) and it dries clear & flat so if you have an issue with glue bumps under paper or ribbon…you need to try this! And the cleaner is non-toxic, smells good & cleans friggin’ everything..I kid you not! It even removes Staz-On ink from your hands/stamps and best of all its a GREEN product so it won't hurt ya!!  And the owner/inventor is the nicest lady & a riot too, love her!  Watch the videos to see more at SCACD but I promise you will love them both!!

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Adore….able!!

So I did get time to finish a project yesterday after going thru about 5000 emails and doing chores and all that other good stuff that piles up while you are away!  I got to use this super adorable (yes…hence the title…ironic…nope…lol) Sylvia Zet for SCACD stamp called “Give Peace a Chance”.  I decided to use just blacks,warm grays and kraft brown colors with small pops of gold.  My papers are by MME called “Kraft Funday” (now 20% off).  The swirls are Doohickey's by Magnolia and the flowers are Petaloo topped off with black buttons tied with bakers twine--I'm a Maryland girl so I have always loved Black Eyed Susans so that that's what I kinda created LOL!  I distressed all the edges with my Zutter Distress machine.

I'm entering this into the following challenges:

Crafts & Me Challenges (distressed) 

My Mum's Craft Shop Challenge (pearls & swirls)

Penny's Challenges (anything goes)

Ruby's Rainbow (vintage)

Make It Monday (anythng goes)
Simon Says Stamp & Show (anything goes)

This cutie got colored with Copics W9,W7,W5,W3,W1 / E44,E43,E42,E41 / E11,E00, R20 / YR23, E35, YR20 / E49,E35, YR20, E31.  I added some Stickles to the flower petals and the ruffles on her shirt for some sparkle.  To create sky I like to use my Inkssentials Blending tool (with foam) and sponge on blue ink by SU—easy & quick sky for ya!

Ok that’s all for me today…I leave on Friday for Texas (flying into San Antonio & teaching in Waco)… have a couple of spots open if you’d like to come and have some fun with us!  Have a great day!

A Birthday Wish!!!

Hello & Happy Friday to you all!  Do you have a fabulous weekend planned?  Its Riley’s birthday (# 14) on Sunday so I’ll do a fun post for him on Sunday to celebrate.  We still haven’t figured out what we’re doing….pulling info outta a teen boy is HARD man…HARD!  So I THINK we are going to DC for the day on Saturday to the Air & Space Smithsonian, then dinner and some other fun activity with him and a friend.  Then next weekend he will have a slumber party…umm yay mom will be in Texas so it will be up to my hubby to control the teens hahahaha (no I do not feel bad as that is my life most weekdays and weekends lol).  So his big present….we got him into a football camp taught by his favorite Redskin Brian Orakpo this summer.  It’s a 4 day over-night camp at a VA college and they do nothing but eat, sleep & run football drills…right up his alley eh? LOL—he’ll have fun and enjoy it I know.  He’s such a big guy…6’1 currently and still growing with size 13.5 feet…clothing and feeding him is EXPENSIVE I tell ya---where the heck did my baby boy go?  You blink and they disappear I tell you!

NewsBitz:

-My Copic Classes are ongoing at the CMC Classroom and I will be traveling this year again of course…fun for me & you right lol.  I will be in Texas next weekend and I have just a couple of spots left if you want to attend…just email me if you want.  Then I”ll be in Florida in 2 locations and then WV.  I am working on dates for Vancouver and Montreal Canada as well so stay tuned for those   Also this summer will be Chicago, Ontario, maybe Buffalo and possibly Montana…yayyyyy!  All details will be on www.cmcroad.com for you.

-The weekend of May 19th the Outlawz is having a Crafty Retreat in Baltimore, MD and I will be teaching one day of classes.  You can see the details HERE and then sign ups for my classes will be up at www.cmcroad.com --- I will do two classes that day from 8 am till 4 pm if you are interested in coming.  There will be other classes, fun activities and people to meet with and its always lovely in the Inner Harbor during spring….so hope you can come!

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Birthday Wishes!!

Ok so today this post is for my friend and fellow Magnolia-licious DT sister Angie Hunt who is a Birthday Girl!  Angie also teaches the Distress Inks class over at the CMC Classroom and is the owner of Little Darlings Rubber Stamps Store s and she’s just a super talented designer to boot and I’m happy to call her a friend!  So her DT Lead & friend, the sweet Mindy Baxter decided to have a Birthday Post Day for her to celebrate and show off the new Lil’ Darlings stamps “Cutie Pies”.   And while you are at it don’t forget to wish Angie a Happy Birthday at her blog here too!

So hope you enjoy and you can pop over to Mindy’s Blog Here to see the rest of the ladies participating with projects today!!

I got to use this super cute image from the Lil’ Darlings “Cutie Pies”…she’s adorable and her name is “What a Sweetheart”.  I used papers from Prima for a spring-shabby chic look, I’m soooo ready for spring I tell ya LOL.  To decorate I added some swirls made with a Heartfelt Designs SB die “Bella Rose” and then added some Prima flowers.  A few pearls finish it off---I added some pearl buttons to her shirt and to the flowers on her hat too. And yes I had to bling her up a bit with some Stickles on her shirt, shoes & sash on her hat.



So go check out these “Cutie Pie” stamps…I’m sure you will find them absolutely adorable and want to add a few to your collection!!  Enjoy & don’t forget to visit Mindy’s blog to see the rest of today’s birthday participants!

And a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ANGIE….I hope its fabulous, fun and filled with lots of love and joy my friend!!!

Some Shabby-Love For Ya!!

Hello all my friends and I know, I know…(hanging head low)…I’ve been absent from blogging the past few days….sorrrryyyyyy!  It has been some CRAZY good times for me the past 2 weeks…dang…LOL!  Get back from CHA and kinda…semi-recovered from it and then we headed 3.5 hours south to Norfolk, VA on Saturday to see Eric Church and Brantley Gilbert in concert (me, Alexa, my mom & niece).  We had pit seats and yup we were right up against the stage…oh yeah baby…it was awesome and they both rocked it (see pics below).  We got home around 3:30 am from the concert, I was exhausted and lacking my voice LOL cuz yeah I’m a bit of a screamer….why not eh?!  Then we had friends and teens over for Super Bowl Sunday (yeahhhhhh Giants…way to bring it home) and I think we got in bed at 1 am.  Then I was up & out the door by 8:30 am to head to NC to see my friends at Betty’s Stamping & Scrapbooking Room Store (in Greensboro, packed to the gills with goodies so get on over there to shop if you live close lol).  I also got to have dinner with my pal Cyndi Bundy at her restaurant in Winston-Salem and then met up with another friend that evening that I hadn’t seen in ages.  So bedtime was around 2 am and then I was up and outta there and back on the road home for the 4.5 hour drive…I got home at 1:30 pm and sat in my chair and promptly fell asleep for 2 hours until kids got home.  WOW—I never ever take naps unless its on a plane so I guess I was beat huh?  Yep I was, so I’ve been working but my creative mojo took a hit and I didn’t even go up into my craft room at all for 4 days but think I am recovered from all that.  Slow down?  Yeah I hear you all asking me that, and ummmm well NO…not till I’m dead….life’s too short and there is lots to do and I won’t complain much but you gotta do what you gotta do when the opportunity strikes LOL! Plus I’ve always been a very spontaneous person and the more the better is how I like to live so YES 2012 will be packed to the gills with travel, events, family stuff and crafty stuff…so hope you’ll join me on the journey

I had a blast at CHA yes I did and I got to meet up with lots of my friends which is always fun and met some new friends and got to do lots of fun things.  I have a slideshow below for you of some pics.  Thanks to all the ladies that came out to my classes in Anaheim, it was fantastic to meet you all and so much fun!  Some parts of CHA are a blur as I ran from 7 am till 1 am every day working, meetings, lunches & usually 2 dinners and then drinks with another group afterwards.  So YES CHA is a blast but boy the CHA hangover can really suck it outta ya…so if you get the chance to go beware ok LOL.  I will be at summer CHA in Chicago again this year so if you are coming, make sure to come meet up with me ok…I love to see everyone!

I will tell you another fun CHA story that involved the Magnolia-licious crew LOL!  We always go out to dinner with the lovely Diana Crick and this year we went to Bubba Gumps.  Well Diana decided to mess with the waiter and tell him it was her 93rd birthday….and YEP he thought she looked fabulous for her age hahahaha.  We had some great laughs, some great drinks & food and then ……..the birthday dance.  YES all the male waiters came and serenaded Diana for her “birthday” and then she had to get up and shake her booty with them….and YES she did…I thought I might pee my pants I was laughing so hard.  It was absolutely hilarious and a highlite…hmmmm Cabio has video so you might want to see if she’ll share it with ya LOL!  We won’t talk about the idiot cabdriver that dropped me off in a empty parking garage under the GardenWalk….creepy…scary…and I had to run in heels.  So thanks to my NEW cabdriver friend Pev for hauling me around CA while I was there…key to good travel---get a great cabdriver, get his card & call him when you need a taxi which for me was like 5 times a day.  In a cab, outta a cab, back in the cab and outta the cab….the bell boys at my hotel weren’t SURE who I was or WHAT I was doing hee hee…its all good!

CHA Slideshow: (yes I have the same outfit on in most pics CUZ that was the only day I really took pics LMBO)



Eric Church/Brantley Gilbert Slideshow:


NewsBitz:

-Ok so I have Copic Classes in Waco, TX next weekend & still have a few openings if you are interested.  Also I have 2 locations in Florida the end of the month then I will be in WV after that.  Upcoming dates include Baltimore, San Jose, possibly Montana & Vancouver Canada.  Keep informed at www.cmcroad.com or email me!

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Some Shabby Love

Today I’m sharing my project for this month’s Magnolia-licious DT Challenge hosted by my friend, the lovely Patti Jo Skogquist this month.  She’s challenged us to create Shabby Chic/Vintage Projects and you can find all the details on the Magnolia-licious Highlites Blog and how to join in (plus see all the great DT inspiration).

I chose to use this new cutie from the Sweet Crazy Love Collection at Magnolia-licious—this one is called “Tilda with Peonytails” and she’s just a super sweetie!  I colored her in sepia tones but kept the peony in pinks to pop!

I'm entering this into the following challenges:

Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge (Love is in the Air)

Simon Says Stamp Challenge (Love)

Make It Monday (anything goes) 

Crafty Sentiments Challenge (Girly)  

Ladybug Crafts Ink TLT Challenge (Loves me Not)

Papertake Weekly (anything goes/love)

My papers are all a mix of scraps from Graphic 45, Melissa Frances and PTI.  I used my fab Zutter Distress machine to distress all my papers and inked the edges.  Then I had fun adding stuff….for me this is my fave part after coloring, putting different things on the card until I find the right recipe.  I used some Prima rhinestone swirls, mix of Prima flowers, some tulle that I burnt (cuz I love to burn it lol) and the Magnolia Doohickey “Vintage Keys” die.  The keys got a nice coat of stickles for sparkle cuz you gotta have bling!  I also created a few tickets from a Tim Holtz stamp set, cut them out & inked them and added them to the mix.





I colored my image with Copics E47,E44,E43,E42,E41,E40 / E00 / R20,R22,R00.  I stamped & colored the center of the peony twice so I could pop one part of it up for dimension.  Then I added some Stickles to the flower for more sparkle!  Around the edges of the image I stamped some Tim Holtz vintage stamps in brown.  The mat die around the image is from Spellbinders.  The Prima flowers were all inked a bit with brown ink to distress them too.



Ok that is all for today!  I will be back on Friday with a special post so stop back!  Also stop by the Magnolia-licious Highlites Blog to join in on the fun there!  See ya!