wow it's been a whole month...

...since I made a blog post! How embarrassing !!  Well I got sick for a week, then we went fishing in Concunully, and we are almost recovered from having Emily's tonsil's taken out. Then we realized we were about a month behind on our yard work and had to deal it before it really got out of hand. 

So I guess life got in the way of blogging, so sad, but it happens. 

I can't believe it's time for the new catalog to come out--whoosh, talk about a fast year. I am always full of mixed emotions when I get the  new copy of the Stampin Up catalog. I am sad to see some things retire, but so excited to see new stuff too. It happens every year and after 13 years I truly should be used to it by now.  I have been busy this morning cleaning out my shelves of retired merchandise: cardstock, ink, punches, stamps. I still need to go through my ribbon (oy what a mess that drawer has become!!). I have also gone through my embellishments. They are cute, but my pet peeve is grabbing something to do a class and realizing it's not available anymore. It is just easier to sell it and use the $$ to buy new, updated bling. 

Here is a look at where I started today:

It is so easy to let things pile up, but my new room set up makes for a pretty quick clean up.

And then I took all morning sorting and when I got done I really have some empty spaces to fill:

I am excited for the new refreshed colors. 

Watch for more updates later this week.....I promise!!!  

Dressy!

I have so  fallen in love with the dress form framelit from the Occasions Mini Catalog recently! I am keeping my fingers crossed that it makes it to the new catalog.

My friend Patty Snyder had a few of us over one night last week to share her dress framelit. It is so cute and the possibilities are endless. The one thing we all noticed is that it made the boring paper scraps look better. You know the pieces that you never use and aren't that inspiring?! Check out the samples we made:

Anna Nofsinger made two for each of us. 

She always amazes me with how she is always so organized and prepared

This was the sample I made--I had wanted to use newsprint for the curvy background piece behind the dress, but I forgot. I am not as prepared and organized as Anna :-)  But I do love the red/white combo!

This over the top card was designed by Christina Thornton--she always amazes me with her attention to detail. Oooh la!la!

Patty premade her sample for us--gotta get me some of these paper doilies. What a great detail! The dsp is from SAB, but I got extra as I loved it so much!!

ooooh love the boxes

Oh baby--so excited to see this announcement on the website this morning...Stampin' Up! is coming out with the coolest wood-mount cases in the new catalog. Many other uses, too.  Check out this video and don't miss the first stamp set. It must be a sneak peek from the new annual catalog. New annual catalog starts May 31.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHa28HcVSJU  This SHORT video shows a few of the things you can do with them. So excited as they will look so cool on my new shelves in my stamp room!!


Straight off the SU! website:

Introducing our new wood-mount stamp set packaging! These new cases are similar to our clear-mount boxes and fit perfectly on the shelf right next to them. They also have the images and stamp set name on the spine to make your search for the right set even easier.

Starting May 31 all wood-mount sets will come in this new packaging. Empty cases will be available with the launch of the new catalog. That means you can transfer all your old sets to these new boxes! There will even be a template for you to create your own label for your old stamp sets (available May 31). A pack of four half-size cases (3-3/4" x 5-1/2") will sell for $4.95 and a pack of four full-size cases (7-1/2" x 5-1/2") will be $6.95.

Get ready for all the exciting new products in the catalog--especially the new wood-mount boxes!

A few more of the stamp room changes

A lot of tweeking yet to do, but it is coming together. I added a short 4 ft. table at the end of my long 8 foot table, it gives me a bit more work space. I am going to leave my cutters on this new end so they are always within reach. 

 I want to do something with photographs above the couch, just not sure what yet. I am also planning to figure out how to cut vinyl with my cricut, so I can add a quote or something in this area too.

Hoping to get some scrapbooking done next weekend, so this area will get some much needed organizing. I am pretty new to the scrapbooking, but definitely getting into it. The last time I was at PDL I scrapbooked almost the entire time. Yeah!!  

My sewing area needs help!

My little helper got tired tonight waiting for me to finish. I have a new cozy spot for her to use, but it got too cozy and she fell asleep. 

Stamp room updates

We are getting some new custom kitchen cabinets installed soon.  They are just in addition to what we already have. I had a bit of counter top envy when I was down at my SIL's house after she remodeled her kitchen. Oh the counter space she has, it's just awesome!!  It got me to wondering if there would be any way to make more counter space in our kitchen. It is a galley style--counters on either side, open in the middle. I will post more on this project when the cabinets are actually installed in about a month. They are in my garage awaiting paint.

On to how this affects my stamp room--I had a vintage hutch in my kitchen, now it's in my stamp room. This is how it looked in my kitchen at Christmas:

This is how it looks in my stamp room:

Stamp Club--first meeting

I have had a Stamp Club since I began my SU! career about 13 years ago. At one point, I even had two groups. Some people have stayed, some have moved on, some have gone and then come back again. It's more of a social night of catching up and comparing creative notes. For some of us, this is the only time we see each other. We meet every other month and try to keep the time to a bit more than an hour. I don't know how I would've been able to stay a demonstrator if not for my clubs. So to the old and the new--THANK YOU!!!  I appreciate ever order, big or small.

My newest group starts tonight and so I thought I would show a preview of what we will be making.

I thought this was a fun masculine birthday card along with a special treat for my club girls. I got truffles from Trader Joe's last week as well as some salted caramels from Hurd's Mercantile. Yum!

Here is a card that was inspired from attending a SU! regional training event over in Seattle a few months ago. I'd forgotten about it, but came across my notes when I was cleaning this last weekend. I  heat embossed and water-colored these two cards. 

first day of Spring

Still catching up from being out of town for four days over last weekend. We had so much fun in Anacortes, Bow, Arlington and Everett visiting friends and family.

Thanks to Merry Cellars for giving us a great reason to make the trip.

Today the weather is out of control--so fitting for the first day of spring. I just texted the hubby to turn on the heat in my stamp room as I have a LOT of stuff to work on tonight. Gonna be a late one. . .

Here is a link to inspire your spring decor from the SU blog:

It looked to be very easy with just a few supplies. 

Hoping I don't get sidetracked tonight and make one for myself.