InkerUpTilDawn...

Last days of summer...

We are closin' in on the last days of Summer. Gettin' in that last dip in the pool or dunk in the ocean. I can't think of the beach without thinking of Sandcastles....

This card is so easy to make and is so impressive!! SU! Classic Reinkers, cotton balls, SU! Glossy Card Stock an image and some Classic Black Ink...that's it.

The technique is called "swipping" and os perfect for any project...looks awesome on a scrapbook page!!

BTW...funny memory of my Dad...one of the ONLY times at the beach...him sitting in a beach chair, which was placed ON TOP OF a blanket...socks AND sneaks ON!! I just crack up laughing everytime I think of that day!! Needless to say, my Dad did NOT enjoy the sand or the beach!!

Get the Net!!

August is the best time to go "crabbin" in NJ. I have great memories of "crabbin" as a kid with my Dad and my Uncle Paddy. We would get up early...like when it's still dark outside. I wouldn't get much sleep that night since I was so excited about going!! We would get up early and my Dad would always have raw fridge biscuits to put in the "Kellie Trap". We would use chicken backs and bunker in our box traps and on our drop lines...seemed like we caught a million of em' back than!! Dad taught me how to throw a trap, pull up a drop line every so slowly and about "keepers" and to throw the females back. It was always so much fun to yell "get the net"!! When you scooped that crab outta the water it was just the BEST!!

On the way home my dad would always START..."now when I clean the Crabs (you gotta clean em' before ya cook em' for garlic & oil), I don't want to hear eewwwhh, that's gross or any of that stuff. If you start with all that, I'm not cleaning the crabs"!! My Dad could clean them if he didn't think about it, otherwise he would just puke. Well Of course, we would always say all the yucky stuff and one time it really got to my Dad and he was hurlin'!! Boy, those were some good times!!

My Mom made the BEST crabs in Garlic in Olive Oil and of course in "Gravy with Macaroni". My Uncle Paddy and I would eat crabs for hours!! We would be crackin shells and dripping with juice until we couldn't move!! YUM!! YUM!! YUM!!

We are planning on doing some crabbin' this week and I can't wait. My daughter wants to crab in "Uncle Paddy's Bay". See that's when you know you've made it...when kids name a WHOLE BAY after ya!! My Dad won't be with us, it will be 2 years the day after Labor Day that we lost him, I really miss him. My Daughter Brielle misses him so much. We ALL miss him. I have so many great memories of my Dad, but crabbin' together was always a favorite time...

 

I have stamped thousands of cards....

Really...it's true.

I was organizing my Stamping Studio yet again. BTW... before I get to my point, I want to to say that I have surrendered to the fact that my Stamping Studio is like laundry...the only way you ever have ALL your laundry done, is if you do the last wash load NAKED!! So....unless I stop my business, which will never happen, I will just have to live with "stuff" in transition. Ok anywhoo...while going through my samples, I thought about how many cards I have stamped. Thousands I am sure. As I was looking through my samples, it also helped me to remember the very many friends I have made through stamping. Some if them I only see at big events, like Convention, Leadership or on the Stampin' Up! Cruise. I enjoy our time together and all the laughs we have....and I am talking some really good laughs...sides hurting and tears coming down ya face kinda laughs!! So much fun!!

This card was created by my very good friend - Beth Favata. I wish I was able to spend more time stamping with Beth because she is one creative chickie!! Miss You Beth!! 

This 6x6 page also reminds me of good friends. Brielle and her SU! Cruise friend, Mykala from Canada, playing on the beach in Cozumel in our 1st SU! Cruise...what a great time we had. Alicia and Jim, Mykala's parents are lots of fun...can't wait to see them again in April on the SU! Cruise to Panama.

Thankful for today....

Yesterday was a tough day with my son at the hospital....

I stress and stress when I need to take my son for his testing at the hospital every other month. Leukemia...I pray I never hear that word in the same sentence as my sons name ever ever again!! The trips to the hospital, mentally, just beats the tar outta me. After 3 years, it's still not easy...for him, for me, for anyone. As my son gets older he *knows* more. The crinkle sound of the paper on the examination table sends him into a frenzy...truth be told, the smell of the soap at the hospital sends a flood of flash backs to the NICU for me. Sooo not good...

Today was a GOOD day!!

* We received great news about my sons blood test...**Normal** LOVE that word!! It's always stressful until we hear. I am like a caged panther until they call.

* Spent a nice day at the pool with the kids and my very good friend Sandi. I always look forward to Thursday's with Sandi!!

* Sandi gave me like 6 new scrapbooking mags!! Love that!! Sandi is a really good sharer!!

* Came home to find lots of great mail!! No bills and several checks I had been waiting on...yipee!!

* My Daughter Brielle received a note in the mail letting her know who her 1st grade teacher was...1st thing that was awesome was I handed her the note and she was able to read it by herself!! 2nd great thing was she will be with the teacher she really was hoping for!!

* To round out a good day...UPS delivered a whole box of SU! stamping stuff for me!! It's all good I tell ya when I open a box from SU!!

Yep...it was a good day!! I even got to stamp late tonight and came up with this card that I think is trendy and sweet. Gonna make up a bunch with different sentiments, so when the need arises I am all set to go. Been doin' that lately...making up about 20 at a time...gotta say, I have been able to send out lots more cards recently...feels good to be able to do that :)

Created this card using....

Card Stock: Cool Caribbean, Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise, Chocolate Chip and Taken with Teal.

Inks: Cool Caribbean, Tempting Turquoise, Chocolate Chip and Taken with Teal.

Cool Tip **used the Cool Caribbean refill & the blender pen to make a marker!!

Stamps - Mixed Bouquet, Canvas BG and Cheery Chat

Monograms...

Monograms make me smile. These monograms make me smile. The colors make me smile too. I created these initials with SU! Background Paper and Modpodge. Can't wait to display them in my Stamping Studio!!

I admit it!! I am without a doubt an alphabet addict!! I love all the SU! alphabets and I love all the millions of ways a letter can be created. Each hand, eye and mind have a little different interpretation of what the letter should look like. From now until forever we will never be able to exhaust all the creative possibilities of the alphabet....something about that statement is intriging...don't cha think?

How do I feel about the new Stampin' Up! IN COLOR....Cool Caribbean

It's dreamy!! I could stamp with that color FOREVER and never get bored. I was able to spend some time at the shore this past weekend and smuggled some stamping supplies in my bags. The shore is my second fav place to put the ink to the paper. My first fav, of course is my Stamping Studio!! Anywhoo...I stamped with Cool Caribbean and am tickled over the result. 

It's simple and sweet...just right for little Thank You's to send to some NEW stamping friends. This is what I used to put it all together...Circle of Friendship, Canvas BG, Cool Caribbean ink and paper, a few circle punches...and that's it!!

Last night I stamped this "Not too Scary" paper bag scrapbook project with my scrapbook club girls...always FUN FUN FUN!!

This project was SOOO easy and the perfect picture place for all your Halloween cuties!!

I am one lucky Mommy!! My kids are THE bestest sleepers...my friends with kids are all very jealous!! It's early yet, so the kids are still snoozin' & me?? Well, I am sneakin' down to my Stamping Studio for a little stampin' R&R!!

Summer's not over YET!!

I love all the seasons in NJ, but I really love the Summer and it always seems like it takes FOREVER for July to come. Probably cuz I am so excited about going to the Stampin' Up! Convention and once it comes and goes the summer just ZIPS by!! BAM!! It's almost September!!

No secret here... I LOVE to stamp!! Stamping, is by far, the best therapy I could ever give myself. The day I started to stamp...my life CHANGED. Can't imagine my life now without stamping and all the genuinely nice friends, good friends and BEST friends I have made both here in the US and in Canada...I appreciate all of you!!

Stamping is such a *giving* craft....you are always making something for someone else...to touch someone with a little piece of art that I created really makes me happy!! Of course, only those who really appreciate the effort ever receive something I have made...no sense in spending time on something that will just be tossed in the trash. THAT would just KILL me!! When someone sends me a stamped card or gives me a hand stamped or otherwise handmade gift... I am over the moon!! LOVE...LOVE..LOVE that!!   

To be in my Stamping Studio is just so inspiring!! When I get into my "creative place" - it's ALL good!! My husband says if I had a fridge down there, I would just be a stamping mole and never come out...he may be right!! Thanks Goodness I have natural light in my studio otherwise my skin might turn a funky color due to lack of sun light!!

OK so ya already know that I absolutely love the Summer!! But.....Summer is a struggle for me because during the Summer I don't get to stamp as much as I would like...schelpping 3 kids to the pool - trying to get ON LINE to get the chair by the baby pool with the umbrella - don't even get me started on this one!!...hitting the shore...hangin' outside on the deck...just all around good clean fun and the days is gone!! I am stunned each day when the clock strikes midnight!! UGH!! I try to squeeze in as much stamping as I can and luckily, I have recently been able to hit the ink pretty good!!

Check out this cutie I stamped last night with my stamp club girls. I have been creating these cards at **Halloween Workshops** this month. No Hokus Pokus!! Just a little Crystle Effects on this Witch and WHAM!! She is on her way!!

Some other stuff I have going on - Classes.....lots & lots of CLASSES. UStamp Sept 23rd - You DON'T want to miss this one!! Brand Spankin' New Class I came up with...By the Book. Check my SU! website for all the details!!

Off now to sneak in some more stamping...hooray for me!!