Heading into the App World

Our new app is coming to a phone near you!  That's right, I have made into the App World!!!!   During our Advanced Card Class this past Saturday, Nikki and Marsha came up with a great idea of having an App for my classes.  This way they always knew when the classes were, what we were making and what time the classes were.

Well ladies, you talked and I listened and today I created my very own app!  I was able to publish it to my blog today and the app for the Android and iPhones will be up and running in about a week.  Of course, now that I have submitted I have TONS of ideas to update the app with!  I am just giddy with glee every time I think of it!

Before it goes live, you can check out the app in action on the right hand side of my blog!

As soon as it goes live into the App World, I will let you all know where to find it!!!!

Did I mention I was super excited????

Happy Stamping!
Suzanne

Why I Stamp

A hobby is one of those wonderful little gifts that we give to ourselves; purely selfish, all about "me", makes me happy and no one can take it away endeavors.  There are many different reasons for having hobbies and let's face it, regardless of the reason a hobby is an essential part of being YOU.

For me, one of my hobbies includes stamping and making cards and I LOVE IT!  However, it wasn't a love that I actually HAD, it was one I fell into accidentally and I can't tell you how instrumental it has been in my life.  Let's face it, stamping saved my sanity!!!

Reasons for My Saved Sanity (which is still questionable!)

• I went through a BAD break up where I locked myself away from the world and I sat in my jammies all weekend long and made cards to my little hearts content!  Not that I think hiding from the world is HEALTHY, it did give me the time to really look at myself and make some much needed changes to me and my life.  PLUS, it was a lot more fun than therapy!  

How could I NOT stay in my jammies and play with a room like this?

• Stamping allows my mind to be free to really get in some serious "me" time.  To contemplate change in my life, plot ways of combating the fight with my son over homework, fantasize about far away places and listen to great music that I love. 

• Stamping is so much better than therapy!  Not that I can say it is cheaper, but it is better!  Not only is better for some alone time, but when I have the girls over for a class it is like a wonderful group therapy!  We all get to leave our "motherly" responsibilities at the door.  We have girl time and don't have to worry about cleaning the kitchen, dealing with our children's attitudes, our men's dirty socks in the middle of the floor or the worries and the frets of daily life.

• Earlier this year, I picked up and moved away from my home, from my family, from my children, from the world I know and loved most.  I got married last December and it was time for me to actually go and live with my hubby!  (A novel concept, yes?)  Thankfully, explaining to him the importance of having a stamp room was not lost to him and he THANKFULLY built me a little cottage to stamp in. I can not tell you how ESSENTIAL my cottage is to my well being!  When the emotions of feeling overwhelmed or missing my family is at its pinnacle, I can go into my cottage, get away from it all and pull myself together.  It is my sanctuary!  I absolutely HATE the place I live in, but Stephan has created my own little oasis, my own perfect paradise, my piece of heaven.  I don't think I would have been able to handle the change without having my cottage and my stamps surrounding me.

At the end of the day, stamping HAS saved my sanity.  It gives me time to think, boosts my self confidence, makes me stronger to deal with all of life's trials and tribulations, brings me closer to friends, allows me time to dream and the best part is I get to share it with other people!

Of course, I should take this time to say, "Thank you, Mom!  Thank you for buying those Stampin' Up! stamps at Tina's party 15 years ago, thank you for encouraging me, for helping me decorate my studio all of those times and for all of your holiday card orders!!!"

Happy Stamping and Happy Hobbying!  

Suzanne

Stampin' Up!

For those of you who are Stampin' Up! demonstrators, is anyone else having issues with the shipping lately??  I placed a HUGE order and they are shipping it through the USPS???????   So I don't have a tracking number AND I have a PO Box.

Help!!!

Christmas Card Class

Today is the last day that Garrett will be here before he goes back to Arizona and we have had a nice week!  I figured I would give him a break from his mom and let him zone out in front of the TV and I would get some work done.  One of which is posting my Christmas cards for our Christmas Card Class coming up!

I had a hard time getting the cards just right and totally lost my mojo last week and had to smack myself around to clear the cobwebs out of my head, but I finally have it!

Tracie Inspired 

Vicki Card

Tracie and Vicki are two of the ladies that attend my card classes and these cards were just too perfect and fitted their personalities like a glove!  Or a shoe in Vicki's case!

The classes have been a huge hit and I am now up to three different dates!!!!

If you would like to join us we have:

Saturday, November 10th - Chandler, AZ

Saturday, November 17th - Aztec, NM

Saturday, December 1st - Chandler, AZ

You can RSVP on our website!

Reason to Smile

This has such a summery feel to it and I love the simplistic style.  I haven't used Calypso Coral too often, but I think with the Daffodil Delight and the Lucky Limeade it just looks perfect!  Plus, I got rid of some more buttons!!!!  

Butterfly Dreams

I just love the soft whimsical feel of this card!  I saw another card very similar to this somewhere and I thought it was just too wonderful not to CASE.  It was fun and so simple to stamp and I just love it!

Octopus Fun

For some reason kid cards really kick my butt!  Men card are difficult, but kid cards, ugh!  I come to a complete stand still and review all the reasons why I shouldn't even bother!  But this card turned out so cute and I had a blast making it!  The Pacific Point and Lucky Limeade just look so amazing together!!

It is hard to tell in the picture, but I did some Ice Embossing Powder over the scallop circle with the octopus on it and it really adds a nifty texture.  I just love the fan embossing folder as it reminds me so much of waves and works perfectly with the ocean theme.

I think I am going to do a similar card using the turtle from the Summer Splash stamp set.  He is just too cute not too!

Triple Layer Daisy

I have been absolutely paranoid to try the triple layer cards.  It just seemed like way too much cutting and size configurations to really bother my scattered brain with.  But Lyssa at Song of My Heart Stampers is amazing and she did this incredibly easy tutorial on how to cut, stamp and create an amazing card!

So I figured I would try my hand at it!

After making a couple of the triple layer cards, I will admit I feel a little silly being so intimidated.  Now, I laugh in the face of the Triple Layer Card Monster!  =)

Happy Stamping!
Suzanne    

Busy, Busy, Busy

It has been an absolutely crazy few weeks and like most everyone else, it promises to get even more chaotic!  I have over 600 cards to make by December 1st, 3 card classes left in the year, 3 more Virtual Card Classes, my parents are moving this coming week, my son is coming to visit next week for 5 whole days!!!  I think it is safe to say no cards will be made next week with Garrett in town.  However a trip to the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory in Durango is DEFINITELY in order!

In the meantime, I have been busy whipping up cards and putting together card matrix to keep track of all the orders.  Which reminds me!  I need to put together some Christmas cards to put in the antique shop!  Ahhhhhh!   Better add that one to the list!

Here is one of the cutesy birthday cards I made last week.  It was nice to pull out the buttons and use those up!  I have really enjoyed the Reason to Smile stamp set and Melon Mambo with the Pumpkin Pie just makes such a cheery card!

Wait til you see the other cards I have made using the same stamp set!

Happy Stamping!
Suzanne