Time to SALE-A-BRATE!!

I know.  You're probably wondering where I've been.  Well, Thanksgiving, Christmas, flu....  Needless to say, I've been out of it for a while, but I'm back in action and ready to go!  With that said, you're probably now wondering where the pictures of my latest projects are.  Well, got a new camera....haven't had time to figure it out yet.  Sad, isn't it?  But that's my goal for tomorrow. 

But until I can get my projects posted, I wanted to let you know about some exciting new things going on.  First, I finally cut my hair.  Yes, it's been growing for a couple of years now and I decided it was time for a drastic change.  I donated what I could to "Locks of Love", and the rest just went away.  I feel so liberated!  I am no longer a slave to scrunchies, clips and hours of waiting for my hair to dry.  Or waking up in the middle of the night being strangled by my own hair!  (Seriously, that happened twice.) 

But more importantly, this time of year is uber-exciting because Stampin' Up!'s new Occasions mini came out a few weeks ago and yesterday kicked off my favorite time of the year - Sale-A-Bration!  Customer, hostesses, and new demonstrators (and even me!) earn FREE products.  It's so easy!  Check out the new mini catalog and the Sale-A-Bration catalog by clicking here.

I am also offering some great new classes on Saturday, February 19th.  Times are 10-12 am, 1-3 pm and 4-6 pm.  Make 3 great projects for only $10.00!!!!   Reservations are a must and your prepaid registration reserves your spot.  Mail a check, drop off some cash or use PayPal.  Registration deadline is February 14th. 
Come back later and I will have some pictures posted.  But for now, thanks for visiting my blog and have a great day!

Creatively yours,
Sandy

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Class time

10:00 -12:00 am 1:00-3:00 pm 4:00-6:00 pm

Day of Gratitude

This time of year always reminds me of falling leaves of beautiful reds, golds, and oranges.  One of the things I miss living in Florida.  So I made this card using a technique called Joseph's Coat.  I'm sharing it with my library groups this month.  The stamp set for the leaves is called Autumn Splendor and the saying is from a new set called Day of Gratitude. 

As I looked at the other stamps in the Day of Gratitude set, I thought they would work perfectly for a stained glass technique.  Paired with the Autumn Spice Designer Series Paper (I L-O-V-E this paper!!), I made a cute little tea light for my Thanksgiving table.  This one is just my prototype because I wanted to see how it worked before I made a bunch of them.  What do you think?  Maybe I'll use one of our border punches to finish the top.  OR, I could make it upside down and place them over a string of white lights and then I have no need for the candles!  Yeah! 

Apple Cinnamon Biscuit-Muffins

I just couldn't resist sharing these delectable treats with you.  It was so nice and cool out this morning...perfect weather for making Apple Cinnamon Biscuit-Muffins.  They're called that because I use canned biscuits to make them.  Granny Smith apples, golden raisins, cinnamon, sugar, butter and Honey Butter Grands biscuits.  I would like them with walnuts, but my guys don't like nuts.    Want the  recipe?   Send me your email address and I will be happy to share it with you. 

I wonder why they call it "One Sheet Wonder"?

It's been a while since I taught a class using this pattern, but I really enjoyed making the projects to show.  I made a few modifications from the original style of this technique.  I used to pre-stamp an entire sheet of 8 1/2 X 11 cardstock, then cut it apart, but this time, I cut first, then stamped each piece.  I think I like this way better.  It took me about 2 hours to completely create and assemble all 15 projects, but I had so much fun.  I shared this technique with my library group, giving each attendee a printed pattern and some ideas for completing the individual projects. 

My second One Sheet Wonder project uses a different color scheme and stamp set, but basically, the same pieces.  To the 8 1/2 X 11 sheet of cardstock, I added 2 sheets of 12x12 textured cardstock, a few embellishments and a lot of fun. 

I made this little baby card for my friend, Lisa.  She just became a grandmother for the first time.  Always an exciting event.  It's a blend of old and new:  a retired wheel was used to make the laundry line of clothes and the texture of the card front was made using the Square Lattice embossing folder and Big Shot.  Over the "laundry", I glued a 'previously utilized' dryer sheet for a baby-soft effect.  A trick I learned from a gal in my downline.  Thanks, Dottie!   Congrats to the parents and family of little E.J.  Babies are always such a blessing.....

And speaking of babies, here are two of my adorable grandchildren, 5 year old Noah and 1 year old Kailey.  They went to a country pumpkin patch with Mommy and Daddy who shared some wonderful photos of the whole experience.  Look at those faces.  Aren't they just the sweetest? 

How does my garden grow???

So, I've been asked about my garden.  I posted details a couple of weeks ago about how I purchased an AeroGarden and planted some herbs.  After 2 weeks almost all of the herbs have sprouted and are growing well, except the purple basil. 

The Italian Basil is doing extremely well.  A few more days and I can harvest some of the larger leaves.  Just in time for sauce on Sunday?

The chives are getting taller and since I took this picture, one of the seed pods finally fell off.   They are also nearly ready to begin the first 'harvest' or trimming.  Baked potatoes with sour cream and chives!

The dill is going wild!  As you can see, it tried to attack the camera during shooting.  Baked fish with butter and dill? 

The mint is lovely.  Also beginning to get fragrant.  I don't like mint juleps, so perhaps some mint tea. 

The thyme was the first to sprout and is growing very well.  This is ready to pick now.  I need to take off some of the top leaves to allow the smaller ones to get some light.  Thyme is good in so many things.

....and then there's the purple basil.  I took the dome off for a peek inside.  I don't see anything in there but mud.  Don't think this one is going to be productive.  But I will be patient. 

So that's my 2 week update.  It's really fun to watch the progress each morning.  Check back later to see how my garden is growing.  Who knows?  I may have a green thumb after all.  Thanks for visiting my blog.  Have a great day! 

Sandy.

Happy Birthday to all our October babies...and a few in late September

This is the card I sent to my sister, Linda.  I won't tell you how old she is, but she's 2 1/2 years younger than me.  Needless to say, we spent a lot of time together growing up.  Oh, the stories we could tell you.  Happy Birthday, Little Sis.

Not a birthday card, but I sent this card to all my friends and relatives who have fought breast cancer.  All very strong women, so the verse inside is a quote from Eleanor Roosevelt, "A woman is like a tea bag.  You never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water."  Breast cancer is some pretty hot water, but kudos for all of those who have fought and survived! 

My sweet niece, Rebecca loves coming to Florida and visiting the beach, so I couldn't resist sending this cute little "gel" card.  Yes, that's a little bag filled with blue hair gel in front of the starfish to give it that "watery" look.  The sand on the front is from our local beach.  I ran down to the beach one morning, scooped up a little container of sand which also had all those tiny shells and pieces of shells in it.  "Snappy Birthday, Becca!" 

I host a library group each month and it's fun to come up with new projects.  However, at my group, I teach them a new technique each month and they have to design their own projects.  Recently, I subbed for a friend who has a group at another library.  She designs the projects and provides EVERYTHING for them to make all the projects.  Anyway, these are the 3 projects I did for her group.  They all seemed to like the variety of techniques and projects.   I had fun and hope to visit with them again soon.   Thanks to the ladies at the Palm Bay library!  By the way, some of us did eat some of that candy corn.  Who could resist??  I love that stuff and it's healthy....made from honey.  :-)

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My new garden....

Last weekend I went to Sears with my grandson, TJ.  We picked out an awesome new mattress/box spring set for him.  After concluding our purchase, we were browsing through the store and I found an AeroGarden on the clearance rack.  Well, while I was visiting Denver a couple of years ago, one of the restaurants had all these wonderful herbs and greens growing in AeroGardens in the window.  I was amazed and in awe.  See, I do not have a green thumb.  Every plant I bring home, my husband just calls the "next victim".  Seriously, I even killed the silk plants! 
But I saw this AeroGarden with it's little box of herb seeds and it said all I had to do was add water.  How hard can it be, right?  So I bought my AeroGarden and carted it home with visions of lush green vegetation growing in it within a matter of weeks. I was so excited!  So much so that I couldn't sleep.  On Sunday morning, I got up around 4:00 a.m., read the instructions as I assembled the AeroGarden and 'planted' my herbs of basil, thyme, dill, parsley, purple basil, mint and chives.  I added the correct amount of water and nutrients just like it said in the booklet, I popped in the little pots of seeds and covered them with their tiny little bio-domes and I wait. 

On day 3, I see the tiniest little sprouts of Thyme!  I am absolutely thrilled beyond belief.  Something is actually growing in there!!!  Ecstasy! 

On day 4, there is a basil plant emerging!  I jump for joy!  Basil!!!  I quickly texted my husband.  His smartass reply:  "It's time to make sauce!" 

Today is day 5.  The Thyme is now officially peeking out over the top of the little container.  There are several little seedlings now, all clamoring for freedom.  The Basil plant has a pair of leaves and has nearly reached the top of the pot.  Maybe by bedtime tonight.  Close examination has revealed a Chive plant has sprung from it's little seed and is trying to make it's way up toward the light.  There are also little tiny green specks (could they be little leaves) showing in the soil of the Mint pot.    And maybe the dill is starting to sprout!!  I will keep you posted as they grow.  Now I know how Jack felt when that beanstalk sprouted!