Have You Been Boo-d?

My second project for UStamp with Dawn and Friends I Love the Holidays is one of my favorites!  It's a real toss-up for me as to which is my favorite holiday...Christmas or Halloween.  I love Christmas because our families come together and spend quality time together.  Halloween is so much fun because of all the cute costumes!  My favorites are the little bitty kiddos. 

I created this super adorable Boo Bucket that I just love.  And I'd like to think the recipient is going to love it, too! 

If you'd like the step-by-step tutorial for this project and many more, head on over to UStamp with Dawn and Friends!  There's still plenty of time!

More UStamp with Dawn and Friends!

I am super super excited to announce that Early Bird Registration is now open for UStamp with Dawn & Friends!! Paper Parade - Early Fall 2011!!

WOO HOO!!!!!!!


UStamp with Dawn and Friends!! has implemented a new FAST AND EASY way for everyone to join as a member and you no longer need to wait for Opening Day to receive and invite!!

BIG YAY on that one!!

What do you think of the new banner...I LOVE IT of course...hope you do too!!

Are YOU a Paper LOVER?? Who isn't, right??!!

Paper Parade will be focusing on showcasing Stampin' Up! Paper from the USA/Canada 2011 - 2012 Idea Book & Catalog as well as the 2011 Holiday Mini Catalog!! Obviously not all papers are available in all the Stampin' Up! countries, so Designers from the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand will be showcasing the Paper Designer Series Paper Stacks (which by the way are some of my FAVES!!).

This is a HUGE Challenge to cover all the papers in 40+ projects...but all the Designers are way excited and are more than up for the challenge!! Keeping in mind that the most important element is the AWESOMENESS of the project, each Designer is working MAGIC with the Stampin' Up! Papers!!

Here is the list of all the Stampin' Up! papers that the Designers will be covering...


Cardstock
In Colors (10)
Brights Collection
Subtles Collection
Regals Collection
Neutrals Collection
Basics
White Vellum
Glimmer Paper
Waffle Paper
Watercolor Paper
Specialty Designer Series Paper
Designer Series Paper Stacks
Simply Scrappin'

Since our focus this round is PAPER and not just the upcoming Holiday Season, we have a VAST VARIETY of FANTASTIC Projects!!

Come join us and take advantage of the Early Bird Savings!! ONLY $19.99


Click the blinkie below to start the payment/sign up process....it's E*A*S*Y*!!



The Paper Parade website is OPEN NOW, so you will not need to wait for an invite on Opening Day!!


Remember, with the implementation of the new payment process allows YOU to enter the website as soon as you make your payment!! Woo hoo!!


Hope you join us...I will "see" you over at the Parade Parade Website!!

Quilted Fabric Photo Ornament

If you've been reading my blog, then you know that I design for UStamp with Dawn and Friends.  I Heart the Holidays kicked off last Friday and the projects so far are FABULOUS!  Today, I get to share with you my first project. 

I've seen these quilted ornaments around for awhile and always thought they were gorgeous but must be very difficult to make.  Boy was I ever wrong!  This was so much fun to make.  I was really surprised at how quickly and easily it went together.  The picture of my kids makes this a perfect keepsake gift to give to their grandparents, don't you think? 

As usual, with every project you get the instructions to make a coordinating card and envelope.  I really wanted to make my card unique to the ornament and I think I managed to pull it off.  What do you think? 

I hope you enjoy!

If you like my project, head on over to http://www.ustampwithdawnandfriends.com/ and sign up to join us!  There are still loads of projects to be seen, plenty of prizes to win and live chats!  The event runs through August 31 and you will have access to the site for many months to come.  It's some of the best fun around.

Quick Update

Hi everyone.  Just wanted to give y'all a quick update.  We are trying to settle in.  We have been getting our vehicles in order.  Hubby's truck has been stored for all intents and purposes (at my parents' house) for the last six years and my van has been in a storage facility for three.  We found a house that we want to have built and will be signing the contract tomorrow -- have already put down the lot deposit.  My kids start school on Monday.  Hopefully all this means I will get back to crafting next week!  Thank you all for sticking with me through this process.  I promise I will show you some creativity before too long!

Home At Last!!!

My family and I FINALLY made it home on Friday morning.  It was a crazy trip to say the least.  Everything was going great until our ride to the airport in Okinawa was an hour late picking us up from our hotel.  My hubby was in total panic mode because we had no back-up plan (unusual for him) and no phone!  I walked across the street to our local wi-fi hot spot and was unable to reach anyone online so took a cab to our old neighbor's house.  Just as she was finishing getting dressed so she could take us to the airport (Love You Steph!!!) our initial ride showed up! 

We made it to the airport with plenty of time to spare and arrived at our first layover on time.  However, while in Tokyo there was a lightning storm which delayed our flight to Dallas by THREE hours.  American Airlines held our plane for quite awhile as there were many passengers from the Tokyo; however, since we were in the very last row of the plane, we were the last people off the plane!  We took our time as we were certain we had missed our connection.  Had we known they were holding the plane we'd have moved a little faster.  As it was, we DID miss our connection.  I have to say that American Airlines was phenomenal, though.  They put us up for the night in a fairly nice hotel and gave us a voucher for dinner.  Not too bad when dinner for four only costs $2.36!!

We were all pretty exhausted so got checked in to the hotel, had dinner at Denny's, which was a real treat for us as we hadn't been to one in six years, and then went to bed.  Got up at 4:00 a.m. to head back to the airport and arrived in San Antonio at 8:55 a.m.  My mom, dad, mother-in-law and great friend Robin were all at the airport to meet us! 

I don't think I want to get on an airplane again for awhile and I sure am grateful to be home! 

On Our Way!!!!

Well, we made it through Typhoon Muifa unscathed and are now spending our last day in Okinawa packing and doing last minute preparations to leave tomorrow morning.  Our To Do List includes our son's last baseball game and our daughter's last softball game, both at the same time but on different fields on different bases!!!  Thank God we have amazing friends who are able to help us get the kids to their various locations.  The next time I post, it will be from the Good Ol' U S of A!!!!  I'm so very excited to see my family again!  Wish us luck on our very long day of travel tomorrow.  We leave Okinawa at 10:40 a.m. JST and arrive at our destination at 7:40 p.m. CST for a grand total of 23 hours in airports and planes!!

Move Update

I had several people ask me to keep them posted on our move, so here goes ...

The movers came yesterday and packed AND loaded our entire house!  I was amazed that they were able to do it all in one day.  Really, they only took about five hours.  We are now living in temporary lodging until we leave the island the morning of the 11th.  It will be a very long day, but we are all looking forward to getting back to the States and seeing our family.  However, our first stop (as demanded by my boys) will be Whataburger on the way home from the airport!

In the meantime, we are holed up in our room waiting for Super Typhoon Muifa to hit our tiny island of Okinawa.  It is projected to be a Category 4 when it hits us.  We are well stocked and the housing here is built to withstand these storms, so all is good.  Just hoping that the power and Internet don't go down. 

My next post will probably be in a week when we are on U.S. soil.  Thanks to you all for hanging around and waiting for me to share creations with you again!

Buy 3 Get 1 Free Designer Series Paper!!!

So the movers are coming tomorrow, but I just had to share with you the new promotion at Stampin' Up!  During the month of August, for every three packages of Designer Series Paper that you purchase, you get one absolutely FREE!!!  What a great way to stock up on your favorite papers!  I know I plan to!  For more information, click on the link on my sidebar in the top right corner.