Two of my Favorite Things . . . and then one more!

What a crazy busy day - but what an awesome one!  I got to do two things that I absolutely love!  How can you go wrong there?

My day started nice and smooth.  I was up and getting things done earlier than I needed to and that makes for a happy me.  Then, due to a communication issue, I was suddenly an hour behind.  Oops!  I hate being late.  But, what I was late for was a good thing.  I was taking my oldest brother's family pictures.  I got there at about 8:40 in the morning.  And already it was hot.  I finished up all the photos in about an hour.  Really, I was doing my best to get them done before we all melted.  I haven't had a chance to look them over yet, but hopefully there are some fun ones in there.

After that I had to do my "day" job.  I work at home, so really I cannot complain.  I get to work at my own pace and schedule for the most part.  There are some parameters that I must follow, but really it's not bad.

Just before I sat down on my computer just now, I spent the past hour or so stamping.  My husband and son are outside getting some much needed yard work done and I was informed that that would make a great time to get some stamping in.  You don't have to tell me twice.  I jumped right on that.  I was feeling a little bummed because I hadn't had a chance to get to my stamp desk for a couple days.  So, it was a good day all around!

And since today was a double good day for me, the item I have chosen to share with you combines these two things - and another "thing" that I love.  I made this a few years ago and so some of the items have retired and are no longer available, but you will get the idea and hopefully be inspired nonetheless.

This used to sit on my desk. It's fun to look at. I have moved it to rest on my dry erase board for the moment, or until I can find another place for it. Don't you just love all the attitude in the last picture. He is definitely my child. I can't get mad at him for all that attitude because I know exactly where he gets it from!

Surprise

Yesterday morning started off pretty well.  It looked like I was going to have time to get some fun crafting in and then as the day starting going on and on and on and on, it started to look like that was not going to happen.  Bummer.

So, late in the afternoon, we were getting ready to go get Ryan's (my son) school supplies.  Which he was not even remotely interested.  I told him that if he didn't want to go I would be more than happy to pick out everything for him.  It would be all matching and in fun me colors.  He said that was fine.  He was not fooling me at all.  Well, just before we left, I got this text from Diana, my upline, inviting me to go to a stamp meeting that night with her up-upline Rhonda - who is also a friend of mine (Twilight buddies, a story for another day).  As far as I knew she had not yet been informed that I was once again stamping and definitely had not been told that I would be coming.  So, I worked it out with the boys - hubby and son - to be able to go.

It was such a nice surprise!  I had a really fun time.  Not only did I get to see the fun new items that Rhonda had already ordered out of the new catalog and to see the fun things that they did at convention.  But, the best part was seeing some wonderful stamping friends again.  It was a nice surprise for me and for them!

We even stamped.  I don't have it ready for posting yet, will be taking the photo later today for that.  So, instead I'm sharing my favorite card from the stamp class that I went to at Diana's house last month.  This card is so cute.  (And I understand she "borrowed" the idea from Marlene - another wonderful stamping friend).

Have a wonderful Tuesday and see you soon!

Have you ever had one of those days?

Have you ever had one of those days when you feel like you've been so busy, but you don't really know with what?  It seemed pretty non-stop for me today, but I'm not sure what got accomplished.  So, let me see if I can come up with a few.

Played Lego Star Wars with my son for a bit.  That's a good one.  We always have fun playing and it's good to spend time on activities he enjoys (even if I really do enjoy it as much as he does.)

Had a follow up doctors appointment.  That was a good one.  Had to have some surgery on my big toe about a month ago.  It was fine.  The medication they used to numb my toe had a pretty funny side effect.  Every time anyone touched my toe, I could not stop laughing uncontrollably!  My family loved it!  I did have some complications and those have officially cleared up!  Yeah, I am on the mend and can now wear shoes that do not have to accommodate a bandaged toe.  Yippee!!!

Finished reading my book!  That's a good one.  And, I did most of my reading for today waiting in the doctors office.  My son has gotten me into one of his favorite series of books.  The Chronicles of Ancient Darkness by Michelle Paver.  They are pretty good.  The second one was definitely more intense than the first one.  This also means that I can take another book off the large stack of books waiting to be read - and get going on a new one. 

I did not get to work on anything creative.  Maybe that is why it felt like a whole lot of stuff went on but nothing that really stuck out in my mind. 

On a good note, I should be receiving my starting material tomorrow.  This means more fun stamping stuff to look through and start planning some fun classes.  I have got a rough idea of the first three that I want to do.  I'm not ready to share just yet, but trust me, you will be the first to know!

This is another card from Diana's class.  It was pretty quick to make, but tons of fun.  I really love the wood background!

Feeling the Love

Thank you to everyone that has replied with such enthusiasm about my decision to get back into the stamping game.  I'm even more excited now than I was before! 

I meant to get a post in last night.  I was looking forward to stamping at my friend (and new upline) Diana's house for a masculine card stamp class, and since I got in a little later than I thought, the post is coming at you today.

I've been looking forward to the class for over a month.  Diana & I always have fun together and now we get to have fun together stamping again.  And even, better a newer friend, Kim went with me.  Which was great.  It's a bit of a drive to Diana's house and since I don't get out there as often as I used, I needed directions again.  So, printed them off on the computer and Kim was my navigator.  She knew the area pretty good and got us there in great time & with much ease (thanks Kim!).

It was especially nice to have someone to chat with on the drive as well.  As most of you know, I am a bit of a talker, so that made it nice.  Otherwise, I would have been listening to my iPod and just singing like mad, probably getting strange looks from other driver's.

Kim & I having fun stamping:

I had a great time at class and learned some new things. Nope I'm not gonna tell you what they are. You will have to watch here, or better yet join me in some upcoming classes to learn all about them!

This is one of the cards that we made in Diana's class.  I love the tire tracks and the texture - not to mention the pop of that orange motorcycle!  Beautiful. 

Stamp Set: Motorcycle, Fabulous Phrases

Paper: Basic Gray, Basic Black, Baja Breeze, Tangerine Tango, Watercolor Paper

Ink: Jetblack Stazon, Baja Breeze, Tangerine Tango, Basic Gray
Misc: Neutral brads, Square Lattice embossing folder, Word Window punch, Modern Label punch, Texture wheel

Thanks for stopping in.