Stamp Kissing

I am just so dang tired after our big conference at work this past week, I decided to something fairly easy here today. And when I ran across this tutorial and got permission from the fabulous Tressa Black (the author of the tutorial) to put this on our blogs, I thought "Yeah! My job is complete for today's blog!"

Be sure and go visit her on her blog at http://www.fabulouslyartsy.blogspot.com/.

I'll be back tomorrow or Tuesday to catch up! (If it doesn't play when you click on it, it's because there is so much traffic being sent to the site as she just published it. Wait a little while and come back!)

Cousin's Reunion 2008

My mom and her sister's used to get together for a sister's reunion once a year. It was just those 5 girls and no one else was invited! We have pictures to tell us some of the stories, but 4 of the 5 of them are gone now and many of those stories and secrets and private moments have gone with them.
Well, those sister's had lots of kids. And those kids had kids and so on and so on!
Last year, the oldest sister, Aunt Gracie (who by the way is 103 this year!) daughter's (5 of them, too!) all got to talking and decided to have a cousin's reunion. We had the best time. We thought! Well, this year, we did it again! (Sounds like we have started something here!)
We met in Locust Grove Oklahoma at Trixie's house, Saturday. Food was being brought in and people were coming for miles. Oh, my! What an afternoon. After we all got done eating (for the time being), we started catching up. The talking and the laughter could have been heard for miles! I really think we were louder than usual! I suppose when you have something to say and you want to be heard, ya gotta be loud!












Here we are, in the house, just sitting around talking and eating. Our cousing Jenny made it this year. I had never met her before and I could tell immediately she was a Carroll! She was just like the rest of us. She came in with a big box of pictures she had that were her "grannys". My Aunt Beulah. I saw pictures of my grandparent's parents. Until that moment, I had only known of their existence on paper. I had never seen a picture of them. And then, more... my family was all in that box! It was a little overwhelming but absolutely fantastic!
Then, we all started the de-toxing. That will have to be a story for later. Judy has pictures of my feet in the water. You soak your feet in the tub of water charged with electricity (oh, and don't forget the grounding of your body!). All of this junk comes out of your feet. Gross! Pretty amazing stuff.
Saturday night was the big weiner roast. We all sat around the fire and talked and told stories. And a little after dark, we all started getting ready to go to our respective sleeping places. Judy and I were inside helping put stuff away when someone said "Come on girls... let's go swimming!" Most replied... "I don't have a bathing suit!". "Who cares!!!". So, off to find a t-shirt and then to meet at the pool.
But, not before Aunt Gracie makes things a little exciting. As we were standing there discussing the pool, we hear a faint... "help!". It was Aunt Gracie (now, remember, she is the 103 year old). She had fallen out of bed. She was just fine, but she was on the floor! After she got her sense about her, she wanted it made very clear that was the very FIRST time that had happened! With the help of several, we got her back in bed. She quickly said... "I'm ok... you all get out of here!". So we did.
And off to changing clothes. Judy and I headed to the motorhome. We found Sue in bed and almost asleep. With much persuading, we got her out of bed and heading up to the pool with us. She was not happy about it! And, oh my goodness! The water was SO cold!
We didn't swim long, but we did swim... ALL the girls that were there!
Then, off to bed for a wonderful nights sleep filled with happy thoughts of the day.
The morning woke everyone to thunder and lightening and rain! We were fine, but we were sure thinking about those in the tents!
Breakfast at 8:30, more talking and then the saying goodbyes.
Once again, it was a wonderful time and we can't wait until next year!
Thanks so much to the Garoutte Girls! We had a blast!
(I was so busy this year talking, I didn't get nearly as many pictures as I wanted! Hopefully, I'll be able to get some from all of those other camera buffs!)

Too Busy!

This is my crazy week. At my job, we are getting ready for a big conference that will be held next week starting Tuesday and finishing up Saturday with a big Golf tournament. As of this morning, we had 312 people registered. They are coming in from 28 different states and it's going to be very busy! This week is crazy because this is the week we are finalizing things and you know, if something is going to go wrong, it will be this week because it will reak panic in everyone! And right in the middle of everything, I am having to interview to try to find a replacement for one of my people.

But, everything is going to be just fine. I had a talk with myself early this week and I made a decision. I decided that if I remain calm, that no matter what happens, it can be dealt with much better. And I have done so... and I think it has been reflected in my unit. Yes, we've had out panic moments, but we've dealt with it and we've gotten through it. And blood pressure has stayed down. (note to self... remain calm... it's contagious)

Anyway, I got home tonight and my brain was just fried. I met my sister on the patio and after chatting for a few minutes, we, of course, decided we were hungry. But, as usual, we didn't know what we wanted. We ate really healthy last night. She fixed these wonderful foil packets of potatoes, onion and chicken on the grill with a side of peas. YUM! So, tonight, we didn't feel like being so good.

Off to Pasta Express we went. Motzarella Sticks and Marinara Sauce and a diet Coke. mmmmm. And then, off to Dairy Queen. Have you seen those crazy new chocolate covered strawberry sundaes in a chocolate dipped waffle cone? All I can say is... OMG! These are heaven on earth! And I really can't believe I ate the whole thing!!! And so did SHE!!!!

If it doesn't cause me to have nightmares, I will probably sleep really well tonight and be ready for more interviews and another day full of surprises tomorrow.

Wish me luck!

Hopefully, after the conference next week, I'll be able to get back to being creative and come up with some more projects to post!

Happy Scrapping!

Cards I Made Last Night

I just love these cards. I found them on the CTMH Bulletin Boards and just had to play with the design last night. I like the boldness yet the simplicity of them.

All of the cards are 5" x 4"

On "Great Job", I cut 2 strips (1" x 5") using the stripe from Paper Garden.. "Great" was stamped on White Daisy (2 1/8" x 5") in Sweet Leaf using Rustic Alphabets and "Job" was stamped in Petal using Precious Alphabets.

Thank You was made the same way only I stamped
"Thank" in Petal and "You" in Sweet Leaf.

On "Happy Birthday" I used the Polka Dot from Whoops A Daisy. (I used the same dimensions as above). "Happy" was stamped using Rustic Alphabets in Ocean and "Birthday" in Hydrangea.

I hope you like them as much as I do!

The Eagles in Branson!

Ok, well, it wasn't the REAL Eagles, it was the Eagles Tribute Band. They were so incredible. They sang all of my favorites and by the end of the show, everyone was up and dancing... even John! Being the music critic he is, I wasn't sure what he'd think about them, but he was impressed! If you are ever in Branson, I'd highly recommend seeing this show... actually, it's more of a concert. Nonstop music... no comedian... no talking... just music! And, you better love The Eagles, because that's ALL you get!

I forgot my camera, so this was taken on my cell phone. Not the best, but you get the idea!

Happy Monday!

Most people don't Monday's, but I do... really! It's the start of a whole new week! And lots of time ahead of you to accomplish things. Work was busy today, as it will be over the next couple of weeks. We have a big conference my unit is very involved in that will occur the week after Father's Day. And the weekend of Father's Day is our Cousin's Reunion in Oklahoma. I have a workshop that Friday night, but after that is over with, my sister and I will hop aboard the Lewis bus (my brother's motorhome) and head to Locust Grove Oklahoma! We will drive to Joplin and park it in a Cracker Barrel and spend the night. Yes, that is only 1 hour from home, but it's what we do every year! Then, Saturday morning we will get up and eat breakfast at Cracker Barrel and then head on down. It will be a lot of fun seeing everyone again. Hopefully the weather will hold for us and the campers won't get wet!

I'll be sure to take lots of pictures to share when I get back.

I haven't been too creative here lately. I have been working on more "fabric trashbags" and will need to get lots more made later in the year.

Close to My Heart is having a fantastic special this month. STAMPAGANZA! This only comes along once a year. You can buy 2 sets of stamps and get the 3rd of of equal or lesser value for free! FREE! Stop by my website www.jmpurves.myctmh.com and check it out. If you don't have a new 08 Summer Idea book, click HERE to look at one online. And you can also check out the 08 Spring Idea book by clicking HERE. AND, you can go to the Product Guide by clicking HERE to see any sets that aren't in either of those books. And to make it really handy... you can order right off my website!

I'm off to grab some dinner and then try to get the yard mowed! Later!