Friday, May 30, 2008

Tornado Hits My Town

Hey everyone! I am still in Ireland with news that a tornado hit my town in Nebraska -- this is a quick note to say that I am thankful that my family is okay -- my house did get hit, but not severely. We did lose all the beautiful crabapple trees that I posted about a few posts ago, so God gave us a gift with all those beautiful blossoms for the last time. If you would like to look at the pictures of my town, go to www.kearneyhub.com.

Otherwise, my trip has been amazing and I will write more about that when I get home next week.

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Off to Ireland!

Well, my daughter and I are off to Ireland tomorrow morning at 6 AM. Of course we aren't packed and have a zillion things to do, so I just wanted to say that I hope I can post some while I am gone, but if not, I look forward to sharing my pictures and stories when we get back. So look for a new post for sure on June 4th!

Have a great Memorial Day weekend and stay safe!

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Today's Colors and Light!


Today's SCS Color Challenge was a beautiful combination of some of my favorite colors:
Blue Bayou, Certainly Celery, Soft Sky~

I stamped the lighthouse image in Palette Noir Black and then watercolored using the three challenge colors.

I decided that this was a good verse for me today, since I am getting a little frazzled about packing and the trip! We had our last choir rehearsal last night and that went really well. I still have to find a long black dress for the concerts!! So, I am off to see what I can find~

Tomorrow I will have a yummy recipe for you to try~

Have a great day and thanks so much for coming by!

Monday, May 19, 2008

More flowers!

We are seeing the fruit of a long, cold winter and a lot of spring rain. Here is a picture of my tulips in my front yard. It is hard to tell from the photo how big they really are, but a dessert plate would be about right when they are all opened up. It's so cool -- in the morning they are all closed and tall, and by the afternoon they have opened up fully in the warm sunshine.

I am hoping to make a card tomorrow inspired by these bright parrot tulips. Today I am at work and also busy marking things off my list -- it is so long -- and Ireland is only a few days away (see my giraffe counter in the sidebar?). For those that don't know, I will be leaving on Friday (EARLY) to travel to Ireland for 11 days with the high school choir. My daughter is also going. Tonight is the last rehearsal before we go. So much to do! Two more days of school left and then I can concentrate on the trip!
Thank you for all your lovely comments about the lilacs - I am thankful that the fragrance doesn't affect me as it does some of you. We are enjoying them so much and I know the blooms will be gone when I return from Ireland. Here is another peek at some blossoms:
Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!!

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Time Flies . . .

Two years ago on this same Sunday, I was preparing for my son's graduation and reception. I can't believe he is through his sophomore year in college. This afternoon more students will graduate and move on to the next phase in their life. And in three more years I will be getting ready for my daughter's graduation. I know that time will fly!

I have many receptions to attend today, so I needed a quick and easy card that I could change slightly to fit each student. I made this card for today's SCS Featured Stamper Challenge.Congratulations to Dawn McVey! Here is her card I chose to case.
I kept the layout, changed images and added brads to the top piece, as well as an extra layer and the Cuttlebug EF.

Stamps: Celebrate Everything, Big Pieces
Paper: Whisper White, Pink Passion, Lovely Lilac, DP by The Paper Studio
Ink: Lovely Lilac, Green Galore
Accessories: scallop punch, word window punch, circle punch, large green brads, small purple brad, dotted grosgrain ribbon, Cuttlebug EF, dimensionals, Fiskars scallop scissors

Do you need ideas for quick and easy cards? Check out the May issue of Sheetload of Cards: It is a great free ezine with lots of ideas and samples!

Thanks for coming to look! Have a great day!

Saturday, May 17, 2008

Floral Inspired....Hundreds of Lilacs!

Today's SCS Inspiration Challenge was three pictures of candles in purples, yellows, and greens. For my card, I chose to combine the purple and yellow colors.

My cardstock base is Elegant Eggplant, with a mat from DCWV Old World Mat Stack to add some dimension for the background. I stamped the flower from Happy Harmony in Elegant Eggplant ink on Whisper White, and then added crystal stickles to the flowers. I matted this piece on Apricot Appeal, added a scalloped edge and tied an organdy ribbon around all. I used my heat gun to curl the ribbon edges. The sentiment is also stamped in EE, and mounted on AA. I used the ticket corner punch for the corners. The sentiment piece is raised on dimensionals. I added the three gem brads and --- all done!

I was also inspired today by the beautiful purples in my back yard. We have one whole side of our property lined with lilacs and they are in FULL bloom this year! Tons of huge flowers everywhere. We have three different hues of purple, although in these pictures they all tend to look the same because of the bright sunlight yesterday. Have a peek:

Aren't these blossoms just HUGE? And there are several hundreds of them. The lilacs are about 9 feet high and they run along our property for about 100 feet! LOTS of flowers and a fantastic fragrance!

I do cut some and bring in the house, but they only last about 2 days cut. I would rather just look out the window!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Stamps: Happy Harmony
Paper: Elegant Eggplant, Whisper White, Apricot Appeal, DCWV Old World Mat Stack DP
Ink: Elegant Eggplant
Accessories: orchid organdy ribbon, heat gun (to curl), ticket corner punch, gem brads, scallop scissors, crystal stickles

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Celebrate Life and Mother's Day!


Happy Mother's Day to all!
My daughter took me out (just the two of us) yesterday for a surprise lunch at my favorite restaurant (Applebee's). It was so much fun. I don't think we have ever been to a sit-down restaurant together - just us! I loved it. She gave me a sweet card and we enjoyed the time together. She knows I love to eat out, and that today would be busy for all the eateries here! This afternoon we will go to my mother's and plant flowers -- a tradition at my house, and now that my mother lives here, a tradition to start at hers!

Here is my card to celebrate life and mothers today. I made it for the SCS Featured Stamper Challenge and cased Jennifer's card here. I also made it for Tuesday's Color Challenge.
I changed the images and colors, substituted brads for buttons, and changed the Cuttlebug EF. I kept her layout and ribbon placement. The flowers are watercolored with dye ink pads and an aqua brush. The white background paper is all shimmery.

Stamps: Embrace Life, So Many Sayings
Paper: Bazzill Bling White, Lovely Lilac, Whisper White, Certainly Celery
Ink: Lovely Lilac, Certainly Celery, Black Stazon
Accessories: Cuttlebug Swiss Dots EF, white organdy and lilac grosgrain ribbon, lilac brads (American Craft Co.), photo corner punch, aqua brush, tag punch, purple staple
Techniques: watercolor

Thanks for stopping by and take a moment to remember your mother!

It's Never Too Late

to remember

Our memories are a treasure trove -
our living photo album.
All the pivotal moments are captured there.
Even some we've jammed into the dark recesses.
Take time to visit your memories.
Spool through them.
Enjoy them.
Be sobered by them.
Learn from them.
Then add to them.

"The richness of life lies in memories we have forgotten." -- Cesare Pavese

Saturday, May 10, 2008

And the winner is.......

CINDY BENGSTON! Congratulations to Cindy for finding and answering all of the Scavenger Hunt questions correctly! Thank you to all of you that played too! I hope you had as much fun as I did!

The winner was chosen randomly from all correct entries using a very scientific method: names in a hat! ;)
Cindy, please email me your snail addy so I can get your things out to you!

A Wreath of Celebration


Yay! With today's SCS Inspiration Challenge, I was able to get some stamping time in today and make my first card in over a week! So that is celebration in itself, but I am also celebrating things getting back to normal. Thank you for all the prayers and lovely encouraging comments!

What a beautiful suncatcher for today's inspiration piece. I made my wreath with my peg stamps from Rubber Stamp Tapestry. They are tiny little stamps! The two background papers are really shimmery and pick up the Encore Gold in the wreath (doesn't really show in this photo). The scalloped edge is a subtle green striped DP.

Stamps: Garden of Bee Balm set by Rubber Stamp Tapestry, So Many Sayings by Stampin' Up!
Paper: Bazzill Shimmery Pink and White, Whisper White, slab DP (pink and green striped)
Ink: Elegant Eggplant, Purely Pomegranate, Wild Wasabi, Pretty in Pink, Rose Romance (retired), Encore Gold
Accessories: pink brads by CTMH, pink grosgrain and celery organdy ribbon, slit punch, ticket corner punch, large and small oval punches

Thanks for coming by! I am off to take a picture of my Blog Candy and post the winner soon!

Friday, May 9, 2008

Disappearing Act!

Hopefully I haven't lost all my readers this week by being MIA. Sometimes life gets in the way of stamping! What is up with that? :)

The last week hasn't exactly been what I expected. I fully expected to post my blog candy in a picture, and also post the winner on Tuesday. But unforeseen events have kept me hopping this week and trying to catch up!

Last Saturday we had a big party here. It's an annual event, and one that is so easy to do, as we have been doing it for 16 years. My husband teaches Philosophy at the University here, and each spring, we have a cookout picnic for the students in the department. All the wives of the professors make something (we do the same thing every year so we don't even call to see who brings what anymore!), one professor provides the meat, another all the drinks, another the paper goods, and another the lawn chairs! It is a great system and we have it down pat. We always pray for good weather as 40-60 people gets a little crowded inside! But we have done it a couple of years when it has rained. We had perfect picnic weather this past Saturday, despite a Friday of cold, high winds and rain! Saturday brought sunshine and calm, and my crabapple trees cooperated and kept their beautiful blossoms for the day (they are now in the leaf stage - no more pink!).

The party started at 6 p.m. and was winding up around 10:30, with the last couple walking to their car around 10:40. Before they had even pulled out, I had my DH in our van and on the way to the ER. Just as the last couple was leaving he began having classic heart attack symptoms: pain in his chest, tingling and pain in his left arm, shortness of breath and a gray face! He had felt great all evening. My husband is one of the healthiest people I know -- he is almost the same weight as in high school, exercises every day, has low cholesterol, and the stamina and strength of an ox! But I didn't even hesitate for 2 seconds. We live less than 2 minutes from the hospital and I knew that if he could walk to the van, I could get him there quicker than calling an ambulance.

To make a REALLY long story shorter (or longer??) -- we got into the ER right away, they shot nitro under his tongue and he began to feel better right away. He thought he would be going home then (typical male patient.....lol) but I knew that would not be the case, as it was midnight and they would want to know what was causing the pain. Next day brought a heart cath, an EKG, a CAT scan and numerous blood tests. His cardiologist (whom I loved) came to see me in the waiting room after the heart cath and said he wished he had arteries that looked as good as DH's! So we knew there was no blockage, and I really didn't expect any, although you never know. So with all of the tests coming back clean as a whistle, they determined that he had pericarditis, which simulates heart attack symptoms, as it is the inflammation of the lining around the heart. It is caused by a virus - the same one that produces pleurisy in the lungs (which I have had twice and it hurts!) -- no known reason for getting the virus -- lots of possibilities. It can be very serious, and even life threatening if not caught quickly. After one day of antibiotics, he was back to normal - tired, but raring to go! He was discharged Monday night and Tuesday was back at work. I was trying to do catch up (and still am) for those days, but I am so thankful that it was something easily fixable and not cardiac intervention.

So -- I didn't get around to posting anything much during that time, and today is the first chance I have had to explain my disappearing act. I was able to post the last clue as I knew many were waiting for it, but it was a quick one!

This morning I find out that a tornado swept through my son's college town (kind of odd for NC, I think!) last night, so am waiting to hear from him. I am sure he is okay - he called last night to tell me he was outside watching..... BOYS AND MEN!!! SHEESH!

So thank you again to all who played in the Hunt. I will post a picture and the winner later today. And I hope to be able to stamp something, as it has been over a week! Thank you especially to those that sent emails, and were checking up on me! I so appreciated that, even though I haven't yet responded.

I hope you have an UNEVENTFUL day!! :)

Sunday, May 4, 2008

Last Scavenger Hunt Clue

Thank you to all who have helped make my one year anniversary so fun by playing along in the Scavenger Hunt! You can email me at lidaroseroz@gmail.com and send your answers to the questions to be entered in the drawing! Here is the last clue:
Question # 7: Why did I get cards with pink robes on them from some of my stamping friends?

Thanks for playing! Please email your answers by Monday noon CST (5/5/08). I will choose the winner first thing Tuesday morning!

Friday, May 2, 2008

Scavenger Hunt Clue # 6 ~

Sorry this is so late today -- lots of stuff going on at work and in my little town - which I will write more about tomorrow (some good and not so good things)! Tomorrow is my one year anniversary, and it will be the last clue for this hunt! This is a harder question, and you will have to do some digging and reading back over old posts (try putting some keywords in the search bar at the top lefthand corner!).

Question # 6: Where does my son go to college?

Post a comment here after you have found the answer, and tell me what one of your most prized possessions is (family and pets excluded, of course, because that is obvious!). Thanks for playing - I appreciate each one of my visitors, whether you are in the hunt or not!

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Inspired by Crabapple Blossoms ~


I just love looking outside my windows in the back of my house -- my whole view is filled with those pink flowers. And as you all probably know, my favorite color is pink! So with today's SCS Ways To Use It Challenge, I was inspired by my pink flowers (see the post from earlier today for pictures) to make this card:

We were to use pleats or ruffles in our creations, and I pleated a paper rosette inspired by my crabapple tree blossoms. I also heated my organdy ribbon to create a ruffled look there. I hope you like it!

Stamps: Happy Harmony
Paper: Whisper White, Pink Striped DP by Crafts, Etc., Lovely Lilac POP DP
Ink: Lovely Lilac
Accessories: Prima, white brad by The Paper Studio, lavender organdy ribbon, dimensionals, heat gun, Swiss Dots CB EF

Thanks for coming by!

Happy May Day and Happy Birthday to my Puppy! And a Clue to Boot!

Yes, another birthday in our house today! My lab/basset is three today! Don't worry Scavenger Hunters, no need to change yesterday's answer....

"Lucy" definitely knows it's her birthday -- she has been prancing around the house all morning. I think she would like some of my mom's leftover birthday cake!

Happy May Day! And oh my! Yesterday was 78 (but of course the forecast for today is only for 60) and my crabapple trees opened up in one day!! Take a look:

And a close-up:
I have three trees and they are all so pretty right now!!And now for Scavenger hunt Question # 5: How long have I been a Stampin' Up! demonstrator? When you find the answer, post a comment here and tell me what kind of adhesive is your favorite for your cards (I am always running out!). Thanks so much for stopping by today! I appreciate each one of you! I hope you are having fun with the game!