Michael's Coupon for you....

Michael's 40% coupon

If you have a Michael's by your house, click here and print a new online coupon. It is good through this Saturday, March 1st. Apparently, it is a trial since they've only done newspaper ads before. If I don't have a coupon, and it is a "coupon week" in the paper, my Michael's is great and will let me sign a paper that says I have not used a coupon that week. Then they'll give me the 40% off of my one item. I have heard that not all Michael's will do this.

My favorite blog....ever...(not stamp related)

My friend Holly introduced me to this blog last fall. It is called The Pioneer Woman Cooks. You must, must, must go see this site. I can spend obscenely, long periods of time there. Not only does Ree prepare the most *delicious* recipes, but she has a step-by-step photo tutorial. She uses regular ingredients that I usually have in my house, which is unbelievable. The best part, besides the photos, is that she is HILARIOUS. I am addicted to this blog and have made several recipes. The latest recipe is Sherried Tomato Soup. I'm dying to make it and I do not even like tomato soup. She lives on this ranch and is married to the man she refers to as "Marlboro Man". Go check it out! Let me know what you think and if you try something!

Here are the recipes I've tried:

Olive Cheese Bread....oh....so yummy. No one else in my house will even look at an olive, so I ate way too much of this.

Maple Frosted Cinnamon Rolls.....very time consuming, but the *BEST* cinnamon rolls I've ever had in my life. You know the yummy ones you buy from the nice Amish lady? Yep. These are the ones. Now, I have to warn you. These will make a big, gooey mess. And it makes like 7 pans at one time. You can freeze these, but they were not nearly as good. This is by far, my favorite TPWC recipe....so far.

Candy Cookies....Quick and easy when you want peanut butter and chocolate, but I prefer my husband's recipe for Peanut Butter Blossoms.

Biscuits and Gravy....just like my Grandma's recipe. So yummy. Again, I'm the only one who will eat this.

Have fun checking this out!

Math 911

As an elementary school teacher, and a mom, I thought this was hilarious. Kudos to the 911 operator for being so kind....

Pink and Brown Birthday Whimsy

Anybody who knows me can testify that I *love* pink and I love it even more when it is matched up with brown. And it uses my new *favorite* Berry Bliss Designer Paper. This was going to be one of the cards that we made at the Sale-a-Bration workshop. You can't tell from the photo, (unless you click on the photo for a close-up), but I used Crystal Effects on the pink plate to make it shiny like a real plate. I thought that was a mighty smart idea!

Stamps:
Birthday Whimsy (free Sale-a-Bration set)

Ink:
Black StazOn
Whisper White Craft
Regal Rose Marker

Paper:
Chocolate Chip cardstock
Regal Rose cardstock
Berry Bliss Designer Paper

Crystal Effects
Ribbon from Michael's

Event canceled

Due to lack of participants, this Saturday's Sale-a-Bration event has been canceled. However, place an order by 10:00 on Saturday and I will offer free shipping.

Birthday Box

Click on any image to make it larger...
I made this box a while ago and forgot about it. You use the 12x12 cardstock and stickers that come in the Simply Scrappin' scrapbooking sets from Stampin' Up! I think this set is from last year's Sell-a-Bration (now called Sale-a-Bration).

Use the Simply Scrappin' Kits to create the boxes. You can make 2 full boxes and card sets with one kit, plus have some extras that you could put together with various scraps to make a third.

You will need 12x12 patterned paper and solid paper. The patterned paper is for the lid and the card accent squares. The solid paper is for the box and the card bases. You will also use the stickers. These can also be divided equally between people for a class, just like the paper.
You will make 4 cuts, two on each side to make the middle "square" a flap.

The measurements are on the photos. The box is 3 1/2 inches tall and 2 1/2 inches wide at the sides. The bottom is 2 1/2 inches wide and 7 inches across. An eyelet goes where the x is for the ribbon closure.
This will be the BOX and it will be a solid color.

The lid that gets taped with Sticky Strip to the back of the box is 1x7. The 'front' of the lid is 1 1/2 x 7. Put an eyelet hole where the x is, then put a ribbon through it.
This is the LID template and it is on patterned paper.

For the card bases, you will use 2 different colors of solid cardstock. Cut each piece into 6x6 squares. You should have 4 of one color and 4 of the other. Fold these in half. These fit in the open ended envelopes (same as Long Notes).

For the card accent squares, use your patterned paper (left over from the lid) for 4 of the squares. Cut them at 3x3. Use another coordinating patterned paper for 4 additional squares of the same size. Use double-sided tape to attach them to the card bases.

Use the stickers in the SS kit to embellish. You don't even need to stamp. You could stamp the box but you don't need to.

I forgot to mention above....use the RED Sticky Strip for the box, unless you want to keep putting it back together.

This would be a great gift for someone!

Installing a Husband

INSTALLING A HUSBAND 1.0

Dear Tech Support,

Last year I upgraded from Boyfriend 5.0 to Husband 1.0 and noticed a distinct slow down in overall system performanc e -- particularly in the flower and jewelry applications, which operated flawlessly under Boyfriend 5.0.

In addition, Husband 1.0 uninstalled many other valuable programs, such as Romance 9.5 and Personal Attention 6.5 and then installed undesirable programs such as NFL 5.0, NBA 3.0, and Golf Clubs 4.1.

Conversation 8.0 no longer runs, and Housecleaning 2.6 simply crashes the system. I've tried running Nagging 5.3 to fix these problems, but to no a vail.

What can I do?
Signed, Desperate
---------------- --------------------------------------

Dear Desperate:
First keep in mind, Boyfriend 5.0 is an Entertainment Package, while Husband 1.0 is an Operating System. Please enter the command: 'I Thought You Loved Me.exe' and try to download Tears 6.2 and don't forget to install the Guilt 3.0 update.

If that application works as designed, Husband 1.0 should then automatically run the applications Jewelry 2.0 and Flowers 3.5.

But remember, over use of the above application can cause Husband 1.0 to default to Grumpy Silence 2.5, Happy Hour 7.0 or Beer 6.1. Beer 6.1 is a very bad program that will download the Snoring Loudly Beta.

Whatever you do, DO NOT install Mother-in-law 1.0 (it runs a virus in t he background that will eventually seize control of all your system resources).

Also, do not attempt to reinstall the Boyfriend 5.0 program. These are unsupported applications and will crash Husband 1.0.

In summary, Husband 1.0 is a great program, but it does have limited memory and cannot learn new applications quickly. You might consider buying additional software to improve memory and performance. We recommend Food 3.0 and Hot Lingerie 7.7.

Good Luck, Tech Support
INSTALLING A HUSBAND

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! OK, who *honestly* waited until 9:00 p.m. the night before Valentine's Day to make all of the cards and gifts?!? Me! Ugh. This week just flew by and I had such good intentions. I knew exactly what I was going to do and it just didn't happen.
Monday...staff meeting and visit to the chiropractor
Tuesday...choir concert for DD
Wednesday...another visit to the chiropractor

At least the kids got their valentine's written on Tuesday night, except for Carter had to rewrite two of them because Emmett ate the first ones.

So, tonight after the chiropractor, I went downstairs and stamped this card for my DH. I won the Dr. Feelgood set from Cammie's blog candy. It's my first "unmounted" set where I used acrylic blocks. Pretty cool, I must say. And I got to use my new Spica glitter gel pens from Amuse.
And even though my mom reads this blog, I'll post the inside...

Then, I stamped and punched these little cuties for my kids and friends at work using the Happy Heart Day set by SU! I found the little ziploc bags at Hobby Lobby a long time ago and they were just the right size for the yummy Dark Chocolate M&M's. I used both of the Stampin' Up! tag punches to punch the image and it went SUPER fast. It would have been a lot faster, had I not had to shoo Emmett away from me and the M&M's like 40 times. Finally, I used the Crop-a-Dile to add brads with the SU! eyelets. I attached the tags with SU! mini glue dots. Simple as can be. Except for now, I think I *may* have eaten too many M&M's. Did I mention it's like 10:28 p.m.?

And here's a close up...

No, I am not a model

That's the first thing my husband thinks of, "Modeling, like an agency?" Not quite. You know how glamorous teaching is.

As part of my job as an elementary school Literacy Coach, I go into classrooms and model (teach) lessons for teachers as professional development. I'm kind of like a "teacher of the teachers". I have an ugly computer printed schedule on my office door and decided today that I needed to "pretty it up" a little bit.

I used my new Cricut that my parents got me for Christmas, plus my very favorite Berry Bliss Designer Paper to make this header. Plus, it gave me an excuse to try the rub-ons from the Sale-a-Bration catalog. How easy are those? I've never used them before, but it involves a non-sticky sticker and a craft stick. The photo does not do justice to the paper and colors, but believe me, it's really *cute*.

All materials are from Stampin' Up!, except for the Cricut that I used to cut the letters.

Stamps: None!
Paper: Berry Bliss Designer Paper, Chocolate Chip, Regal Rose
Accessories: SU! Rhinestone Brads, SU! Sale-a-Bration Rub-ons

Mounting Die Cut Stamps...so easy peasy!

You know how you know something, but then you forget about it and then when you remember you're like, "OH YES! I forgot about that???" That is exactly the way I felt today. I *knew* that my Sale-a-Bration sets were already die cut, but I forgot. So tonight, after being cranky, I decided to cut out and mount the stamps I got yesterday. I get out the Craft and Rubber scissors (fabulous, by the way)and my little junk bowl for the rubber and park it. When I open the box, I squealed, "YES!". I don't actually mind cutting and mounting the stamps. I find it kind of relaxing, plus I have the really good scissors which make it a breeze. I am usually parked in the recliner watching t.v. and it flies by. But tonight, I mounted a set in about 60 seconds flat and that includes stopping to take the photos.

Here's how it goes....This happens to be my favorite SAB set, So Many Scallops.

First, take out the rubber. Notice the special pretty purple color for Sale-a-Bration...

Next, punch out the image. It's so easy, I can do it with one hand while taking a photo with the other hand.
Punch out the rest of images.
Voila! (Hey, that's a stamp set name!) Image is ready to be mounted. Peel off the paper backing to reveal the sticky side.

Center your image and stick it on the wood block. Repeat with the rest of the images.

Now, take out your sticker sheet. Each image has it's own precut sticker, plus there's a label for the end of your clear box.Peel off one sticker at a time. Since they're already cut, it's a breeze. Center it on the top of your block and stick it on. Get it straight, cuz they're hard to peel off after you've stuck them once!
Doesn't this look nice?
Repeat with the other blocks and stickers and here's what you end up with.

And here's the back...

How easy was that? Now you just have one more reason to place an order of $50 or more to get this set or one of the others for free this month during Sale-a-Bration!

What about the mounting the stamp sets in the Spring-Summer Collection that are *not* die cut? I'll post that tomorrow!

One last thing....if you want to use these SAB sets and try them out, come to my workshop on Saturday, Feb. 23 from 10:00-11:30 a.m. We'll not only be using SAB sets, but other new ones from the Spring-Summer Collection as well. Send me an email if you want to come! Space is limited to 10 participants. :)

One more Jack update...

After posting the latest entry on my blog and on the Splitcoast Stampers website, I have probably received 20 or so comments, emails and PM’s with kind words and questions about Jack. Most people are just so happy for us. Other people are sharing their stories with me and want to try the powders as well. One person even thanked me for not giving up on Jack. I don’t have any medical answers, but just the story of what happened to us.

I am just so thrilled that we did that “one more try”. We had tried everything and I did not have hope that this would work. Once again, I am a firm believer in medicine. I have Crohn’s Disease and I know that I need my medicine. But I also know that medicine (the allergy shots, mostly) did not work for Jack. The steroids helped him with the itching, but it wasn’t keeping it under control and there are long-term side effects.

I am not an advocate of boycotting the veterinarian. However, I am a believer in trying other things when what you are doing doesn’t work.

Happy Update!!

I know this is long and isn't stamping related, but I feel like it is a miracle that saved our dog's life, and wanted to share.

I posted a few months ago about how we were going to have to give up our beloved Sheltie. Jack was diagnosed last summer with a bad allergy to GRASS. I know....a dog allergic to grass. Plus trees, weeds, mold and wool. You can read the original story here. I was crying the whole time while typing.

So......the wonderful lady Linda from Secondhand Shelties basically saved his life. She wanted me to try these powders from a place called Nature's Farmacy West. (Yes, that's the way they spell it...).

She said that all of her rescue dogs go to their rescue homes on these two powders, plus the powders are given to the adoptive families. My husband really didn't want to give one more thing a try...we had been spending $120 every 6 weeks for allergy shots, plus $20 for steroids. I gave him an allergy shot every week and steroids every day. In addition, he was on antibiotics all the time for infection. He'd lick so much that he'd be raw. The worst part was that he was snipping at our 5 year old and was very nervous. This was not my Jack. ANYWAY, I said that I was going to give this one last thing a shot. I couldn't *not* try this and then have regrets and questions on "what if..." for the rest of my life.

Before I tell you exactly what these powders are...look at the before and after photos...

BEFORE.....look at his nose, around his eyes, his legs and paws. He also was raw under his armpits and had no fur there. Actually, this is not his *worst* photo. At the worst point, he had no fur on any of his legs or paws....

AFTER....much better, right?
We've still not run out of our first tubs and just ordered the second one of each. They are all natural, with no medicine.

The first is called Dogzymes Ultimate. We sprinkle one tsp. daily into his breakfast. The first ingredient is parmesan cheese, but otherwise, there's a bunch of stuff like vitamin A, vitamin E, niacin, riboflavin, and aminos. $12 for 1 lb. tub

The second is called Dogzymes Digestive Enhancer. This one has digestive bacteria, enzymes, natural amino acids and herbs. He has 2 small scoops of this a day, which is probably about a teaspoon as well. $18.95 for 1 lb. tub.

We noticed that he started growing his hair back after about 3 weeks and it has been COMPLETELY all grown back for a couple months. We were told there were probably spots he would never get hair again because of scarring, but he did get all hair back. According to Linda, this heals from the inside out.

We are also giving these powders to our new dog, Emmett. He's healthy, but the ingredients are all natural and Nature's Farmacy says we can give it to him as well. Additionally, my brother is giving it to his Great Dane to get rid of a urinary tract infection that will not go away and my sister-in-law is giving it to her German Shepherd in hopes that he will be able to be weaned off of his steroid.

And, here's the picture of our new dog, Emmett. I'm sure having a new friend to play with has had an impact as well. :)

Sale-a-Bration is HERE!

Today is the first day of the highly anticipated Sale-a-Bration! Any order of $50 earns a FREE stamp set from the SAB catalog. There are also rub-ons! SAB starts today, Feb. 1st and runs until March 17th. Click HERE for more details.

You should have already gotten your copy of the Sale-a-Bration mini catalog in your mailbox. There is a link to the download the SAB mini catalog HERE at the bottom of the page. Not on my mailing list? Contact me. :)

Want to try some of the sets yourself? I am having a workshop on February 23rd at 10a.m. and you are welcome to join us! Click on my Stampin' Up! website link here to find out more info!

Don't forget that there is an added incentive for Sale-A-Bration this year--all new recruits will get 20 percent off the Starter Kit in addition to the regular Sale-A-Bration benefit of a free stamp set from the Spring-Summer 2008 Collection!


Do you want to see some awesome examples with cards made with Sale-a-Bration stamp sets? Click HERE! These are some of my favorites:

Embossed Chocolate Cake

Birthday Scallops

Birthday Blue

Friends Together

Lots of Thoughts

Pink and Green Merci