My Pink Stamper - Cricut Expression Giveaway!

Wow! I'm way behind on blogging .. and projects too .. but this is something too awesome to let pass by!

My Pink Stamper http://www.mypinkstamper.com/ is giving away a Cricut Expression! The generosity of both Pink Stamper and Custom Crops http://www.customcrops.com/ is just amazing! ~ Both of these sites have lots and lots of information and ideas, challenges, and even followers ~ it's fun to just visit and absorb!

Follow the link:


and see for yourself! Aren't they awesome?

Card Making At Beautiful Impressions/Magenta Stamps

A whirlwind trip, I almost missed the plane out of St Louis - seems the elderly shuttle bus driver was running slow .. and after scrambling and checking in, the airline crew said .. well, your baggage might not make the same plane .. my response: I don't care!

LOL ~ get me on that plane! I had signed up for a card making/technique class at Beautiful Impressions in Westbrook CT and was determined to get there! Quick trip directly to the airport, snatch Laurie from her doorstep, and off we went for a class with Nathalie from Magenta (Canada) ..

The first card ~ initially I was so mixed up ~ not used to doublesided paper! After realizing the double sides are to coordinate .. I was still confused but then had to try to put things together straight .. lol .. not happenin' .. along with this card, we made a small insert type mini note too ~ and even with limited village idiot know-how had a ball!

As we assembled this card, we had some of the 'pieces' pre-cut and prestamped (thank goodness) and then came the 'coloring' part. Uh oh .. we didn't have a clue how to use the 'paints' .. kind of like a shimmering watercolor looking palette .. with magical potential! We had a paint brush each .. and our imagination .. now what? Dip the paint brush in clear water .. smoosh around a little bit in the color of choise .. and voila .. when applied to the stamped image it shimmered! Awesome! The 'paint' dried very quickly .. we added in a little bling and on to the next card.
I really liked doing this card .. simple to put together (pre-cut/prestamped) and learned how to color using Prismacolor pencils. I'm still amazed at the results we were able to achieve having never played with these pencils before! Another 'tool' we used were "cat's eye" pigment inks .. the actual stamped image was on a light brown background piece of cardstock .. and we were able to take the "cat's eye" dauber type containers and lightly adjust the background to personal taste .. not damaging the stamped image at all .. ;o)

Once the background was done, the coloring began .. each person had a totally different card in the end and I'm sure none of us could duplicate it if we had to .. unique and very fun to do!

On to the third card .. detailed, layered, and gorgeous when finished .. of course in my humble opinion (LOL)If only I was expert at picture taking - obviously I'm not .. this card is so pretty! Multi-layered using different doublesided coordinating paper, we also used white cardstock stamping an image with kind of a dark red ink for background on one layer, elegant snowflake stickers, and I finished mine off with Stickles on the little angel. None of the cards have any type sentiment on the outside / inside so can be used for any occasion.

All in all I had a great time! Learned how to do different things, enjoyed spending the afternoon 'playing' and would love to take more classes at Beautiful Impressions! The store was so busy that day I didn't even get to shop around much, but did go back a couple days later and get into trouble adventuring! I'm sure Terri (terri@beautiful-impressions.com)has MUCH more detailed information on the products we used and direct access to them as well. Hope to visit again soon ~ and probably spend more money ~sigh ~ such is life ~ LOL

If you're ever in Connecticut .. stop by and browse this store .. plan to spend a good part of the day .. it's jam packed with neat ideas and the best part is having somebody there that actually knows how to do things with all the different gadgets, gizmos, paper, punches, stamps, glitter, nestabilities .. etc. etc. etc .. yeehah!

Blog Hop: The Ring Bearer gets Diverted!

A gorgeous fall day, family and friends all gathered for a much anticipated wedding - my youngest son, Doug .. bride is Heather and the wedding party includes my oldest son, Chris .. as best man .. and his son Hunter, as ring bearer.



The wedding was awesome .. the kids were great ~ little Neveah had a ball strewing out the flowers everywhere .. her Dad was in the wedding party .. and afterwards there was a lot of picture taking, and the kids .. Hunter in particular .. were very motivated to clean up quick so we could get to the reception.

As Grandma, of course I had to help and do Grandma things with Hunter .. and that usually means walk, tell stories, and be sure my little guy is safe and sound. We were in a huge tented area .. and he was being a great helper .. in his tux .. when we heard a shout .. HEY GRANDMA!! OOPS, that would be me! He was on his way to throw away a can for somebody .. and I'm quite sure this critter jumped right out at him and needed to be included in the hoopla! He ran over and posed very nicely ..
We all had a wonderful time .. the fuzzy wuzzy had to stay at the waterfall area as we all gravitated toward the reception .. and my Hunter man was the escort of the evening as he danced away with his Grandma ..
We missed many people who were not able to attend .. particularly the other munchkins .. and their Mom, Jen.

Somebody knows me - and my ice cream!

LOL ~ a 'secret' arrived in the mail today ~ and just happened to have a triple decker ICE CREAM cone on the inside!!

I have no idea how anybody would know that I like ice cream .. and surely not 3 scoops .. has Heather been telling on me? Laurie? Marlene? Hmmm!




Thank you Melissa, Owen, Bella, and the 'unborn'!

Blog Hopping Adventure!

Blog Hopping Tuesday!

What a fun idea! I have a great time poking around on different blogs and this got me motivated to join in the fun! Now gotta see if I can do it right!

Three things you don't know about me is the theme of this blog hop so . . . how far back can I go with mystery things nobody would know about .. hmmmm


1. I flew on an airplane for the first time when I was 10 ~ all by myself ~ leaving Hartford and going to Ft. Ligonier PA to see my best childhood friend, Deneb. Had a great time there - first time in my life I'd ever stayed at a mansion with a huge pool, a pond, guesthouse, dumb waiter and maid. I learned to ride a horse that summer, Tatters .. a gentle critter that didn't mind a scared kid up on his back and he took me all over the place ~ a very memorable summer.

2. I learned to snow ski at Mt Sunapee NH in 9th grade (or thereabouts) with my parents, brother and youngest sister. We had a ball .. lessons consisted of learning the 'snow plow' stop and then we graduated to riding up the mountain (hill) on the J Bar .. what a hoot! Didn't know I was just supposed to stand there and let it just gently slide me up the hill .. nope .. thought we were supposed to sit on it .. yeah .. I had to go first .. I was the guinea pig .. thunk .. down I went! When we finally got all of us to the top .. we were ready .. doing great .. yep .. ready, set, GO ... then Dad slid across the back of my skis and down we tumbled .. took several tries but we got it!

3. I won $1000.00 at a casino in Las Vegas due to a (yuk) cockroach! Had no idea how to play video poker but it looked like all I had to do was match colors or suits or something so why not .. til a nasty old roach crawled across the screen .. forget that! Moved to another machine .. put my token in .. matched the colors .. all is good .. Then I went to put another token in and nothing .. I was not a happy camper. All of a sudden this lady came over with lights blinking etc .. LOL .. the reason it wouldn't take my token was I'd won $1000.00! Yeehah!

LOL! I had a hard time trying to think of three things that nobody would know .. and even now don't know if I managed to do it! Can't tell secrets!! Not that I have any .. nope, not me!

So posting this and going to see what happens next ..

Beautiful Impressions ~ Rubber Stamp Store ~ Westbrook CT

Beautiful Impressions ~ Awesome Store!!

This store is a fun place to visit! Meandering around the small towns in Conn. we were trying to find a Cricut location ~ which we did ~ but naturally it was closed on the one day we had the chance to explore. So, as we were pulling away from the curb .. a couple doors down .. we hit the jackpot! No Cricut, but rubber stamping heaven!!

Link to actual storefront: http://beautiful-impressions.com

This store not only has all the different goodies I see people chatting about online, but there are actual samples of so many different cards and ideas there it just boggles my simple mind! I wish I'd asked for permission to take pictures .. but didn't .. however I'm sure there are some on their website .. and I'd just love to try them all.

We got lucky ~ we met Terri W., the owner. We had a ball chatting with her, and if I'd been able to spend more time there we probably would have known many people in common .. small towns .. but the best part of all .. Terri knows all the ins and outs of stamping! What a wealth of information and so refreshing to have the luckiness (is that a word) of meeting the owner AND she's knowledgeable on all her products!

Tons of activities here ~ and I'm pretty sure there are online classes .. I sure hope so cause I don't get back there often and would love to do the classes! If you can't get there .. visit online .. can't wait to get back there to see all the goodies again!

As a side note, anybody that knows me .. well, ice cream is kind of an addiction .. and there is an ice cream shoppe co-located here! I didn't get to try it .. but sure will next time!

Thanks Terri ~ if I didn't have to figure a way to get 'stuff' back to Illinois I would have collected quite a few new toys!

On to Essex - and Remembrance on the 4th to Mom, Dad, & Mr. Tower

Hometown USA ~ Essex CT! It's a ritual from childhood .. in order to go 'home' a trip down Main Street and around the docks is nearly mandatory ~ the car just goes there automatically! And yep, those same ducks I fed as a child are still there swimmin' around looking for a bite of bread! Next stop after ensuring all is the same downtown the car drifts to the cemetery .. beautiful resting place and gotta tell Mom and Dad all the troubles I've gotten in to since last visit, pull weeds, and make sure all is intact. It was a gorgeous day ~

Next .. the scary part .. going to the house .. and wondering exactly 'who' my 'squatters' are and what kind of mess I'll have to deal with. Walked around the back yard, the back lots, got some pictures .. and wandering back toward the house when a uniformed man quickly approached asking me if "I was a daughter" . . yep, that's me .. a daughter .. and yes, I belong there as the introductions are made with a neighbor I've never met .. and who happens to be a CT State Corrections Officer .. yippee skippy! As he was catching me up on Maple Ave events (another story in itself) ANOTHER man comes around the corner of the garage .. holy smokes .. who is that? Too much excitement! Chuck Tower stopped by on his way home from work - I don't even remember if I had the keys at this point .. but did have a nice long visit with neighbors and then off to Saybrook to see Laurie! ( And of course Thena and Casey ) Finally went through the house and it just gags me what people (strangers?) will do to an empty house .. aside from breaking in .. argh!

Laurie and I had a 'plan' of course .. too bad I had no communication at all! Cell phone .. no service and of all the flippin' times .. the house phone, internet, and tv all were out! Ok, so camping adventure for me! Errands on Wed that had to be done .. then we got to get up front and personal with a 'bucket truck' .. gheesh I wanted to go up in that darn bucket to see what it was like but that didn't work out! As we sat and laughed (too much) over a really nice lunch .. we all realized how the years have gotten away from us. I think we might be 'old' .. but not quite antique!

As the day went by I knew somebody would come looking for me .. no computer and no cell .. unheard of! We just pulled into the driveway .. Laurie was heading home .. and a car pulled up .. fist waving in the air .. busted .. it was Lovey and Sara! We all chatted in the yard .. when a big truck pulled up .. uh oh .. 4 females saying 'who is that' .. oops .. Chuck! What a mistake that was .. talk about a honey do gaggle .. can you fix the tv .. can you fix the computer .. the toilet is leaking .. oh yeah .. the phone doesn't work either!

We all went in the house and had a really nice visit ~ thanks you guys! Thursday was an awesome day ~ I got to do all that I wanted to do ~ then go to Class Night .. Friday .. graduation .. Saturday the movies (The Proposal) and riding around to all our 'haunts' from high school .. seeing the changes .. chatting as we strolled memory lane .. the do you remember's .. topped off with ice cream!

I've been home many, many times .. this was a very special trip. Nobody was sick, no trauma to deal with .. plenty of incredible drama .. and seeing / meeting so many people that I've wondered about over the years .. Kim, Barbara, Dan, .. always great to see Laurie .. and Lovey, Tim, Sara, Timmy, Julie .. Mrs. Cook .. and yep, Chuck .. a special thanks to a very special man for all you've already done and helping me with so many things (you have no idea the trouble you are in for) coming up!

Thoughts and prayers are with Mom, Dad, and Mr. Tower for their efforts in past wars/conflicts that protected us from our enemies and guaranteed our independence!