I'm back!

Merry Christmas to all!

Yes I am still alive, just very busy with life!  Lots going on and I am just trying to deal with it.  I will share with you all at a later time, as I'm still processing it myself.  I am hoping to get back into sharing cards & projects soon!


I just had to get on here today and spread the word about an AWESOME give away!!!  I know that most - wait ALL of you would LOVE to be the winner of this one!  Just go to - http://keepsakesbymelissa.blogspot.com/2011/12/my-annual-end-of-year-christmas.html  all the details are there and you could be the WINNER!!!

I also have another chance to win a GREAT prize that I decided I needed to jump back on here & let you know about-  http://craftomaniac.blogspot.com/ Jen has a SUPER - DUPER package of FUN creating stuff to give a WINNER!!  She also has six chances for you to win!  WOW - that's all I can say!!

One of the chances was to say - "MERRY-JOLLY-HO-HO-CHRISTMAS JOY!"
I figured that it went perfectly with my post for today!

I wish you all a wonderful & blessed Christmas.  ENJOY the time with your family and friends!
Hugs
MaGoooooo/maria

It's rainy up north - AGAIN!

Hello!

I really do believe that we are going to sail right through our fall without seeing any of that Indian Summer - not really happy about that one!  Oh well what can I do?!  Not a thing!

We headed to the lake again for the weekend last Friday!  It was very chilly - in fact we had to use the heater in the camper!  Thank goodness it worked!  We were talking about when was the last time we used it????  Hmmm DH figures probably about 7 or 8 years ago.  OMW!!  We did start a fire out side - had lots of scrap wood from clearing to burn off and then I of course needed that fire for roasting SMORES!  I did do LOTS of reading all bundled up with my blanket and Muffy on my lap too.  We stayed nice & warm as DH walked the property to see if he could find all the property markers - YEP he did - YEAH!!!!  Now we will be able to really start the process of building the pole barn up there & after that, we will save - save - save our $$$$ & some day build our little house in the woods!!!  LOL  Until then, we will live in the pole barn!!

Oh I did do some stampin toooooo!!!  I'm even getting some of the others up there thinking about joining in on this FUN art!!! 

So we stamped up treat bags for the local VFW kids party - a donation from a few of us to the kidos!  Plus I needed to get something Spooky in my booth at Sweet Peas!!! 

Then I also needed to work on a couple of Sympathy cards, as we received sad news before we left.  I really need to learn to have them ready, as they are not fun to make!! 

I hope you are ENJOYING some sunshine where you are!
Hugs,
MaGoooooo/maria

Thursday!

WOW - have I surprised you all???  Two post soooooo close together!!

When I was purging things from my stampin room, I found a box that had a TON of ooooooold Stampin' Success Magazines.  Of course I could never get rid of them!  I might NEED one of them!!  LOL  I did learn that what I need to do, is tear out the info I am interested in & PITCH the remainder of the magazine!  So as I was sitting on the floor, going through the TON of them (Hey I've been a Demo for 12 years - YIKES!!)  I started saying not interested in this - tear it out - pitch in the TOSS pile & before I knew it, I had a pile of TOSS!!  YIPPEE!!  Yes that is very good, but I then realized - - - Hmmmmmm  I have hung onto this crap for how long & not interested in it - WHAT?????  So I started a new pile, which I would like to say is much smaller & will be punched with the three ring punch & placed into a 3 ring binder of  "IDEAS I LIKE"!  WOW will DH ever be SURPRISED!!!  Every now & then he states - - - "thinking of trying out for that Hoarder show?"  Mr. Smart A$$!!!!!  Yet if I went & visited his MAN CAVE I would probably be able to say the same thing!!  LOL  Hard to change old habits!!  I am trying & I personally feel that is what matters most!

Now that I've got off the whole subject of my POST - - - I found this idea in an old Stampin ' Success mag!!  ENJOY!!

Hugs,
MaGoooooo/maria

Monday!

It's another nice & warm Monday at that!  I am so ready for fall!!!  Not just the pretty changing colors of the leaves, but the falling temps!!  I know I really should not complain, as there are many that have had it much worse then me!  BUT - - - - I am so tired of having the windows closed up & the AC on!  Oh not to mention how I cry when that electric bill comes!!  YIKES!!! 


DH says that as of today it should be the last of the summer heat!!!!  He is crying, as he enjoys that.  Yep don't ask me how, but he would much rather it be 99+ on a day in the sunshine, then a cool - breezy - crisp fall day!  I personally think he's crazy for that, but I am just READY for fall!!  I don't just enjoy the cooler temps, but along with it the pretty leaves on the trees as I take my walks in the woods!

Here is a card I CASED from my Dear Sweet friend Mishie!!  https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeiHx2Sa8KiY0HJ3XjmbIZ5R1aXNaXuDv1R2ZqNKq3PMO7XmEHfguaMDDgo1RmDQvow9FWnAeSBkUt9o8ZsgDwy6-ruXFqzav9JRUBsQV6SHV-yHp660PhKhtnnKds87hC-8fFbo761Oo/s1600/IMG_2197.jpg
I had to use what I had, cause you know that has been my MOTTO!!  So I used the Sunflower stamp set from SU.  It's very - very old.  I think it's one of the first stamps that I purchased.  I just had to have it & every time I go through my bazzillion stamp sets to purge them (LOL) I can't part with this one!!!  I think this was exactly why I never had!!!  I really - really like how it turned out!!

Hope you are having a GREAT start to your week!
Hugs
MaGoooooo/maria

It's a rainy Saturday again!

How does this happen???  I say I'm gonna stay on top of this & before I know it time just seems to get away!  YIKES this time it really got away!!  I have been getting to play with my stamps a little, but also been going & going constantly!  Seems like someone needs me some place but HOME!!!  We were going to head to the lake for the long weekend, but seeing as we have been doing so much running, we decided to stay PUT!  This is fine, as we have sooo much to get done around here!

Seeing as I haven't shared anything in like FOREVER - LOL  I will share a couple different projects today!

 

Birthday card for a dear friend - Happy Birthday Bob!!!

Sorry about the glare from the light!  Should have taken the pic before I put it in the envelope!!  ERRRR!!!!  This one I made for a dear friend whose son & DIL are having a little boy!!!  I used my NEW SU Pennant Parade stamp set & the punch to go with it!  I LOVE that SU is making sure they have punches that go along with their stamp sets!

I have really fell in LOVE with this SU stampset!!  Aviary has a TON of possibilities!!!  Watch & see what I come up with!!

Then I have been working on a little project that I am actually getting paid for!!!  YES  - can you believe that???  A customer/friend has a DD getting married this early fall & she was looking for something different - unique & not too fancy.  That would be Kayla!!  LOL  Really!  She is a FUN - unique & not fancy type of person!  LOTS of FUN to camp with!!!

I am having LOTS of FUN making these up for wedding favors!!  You can't tell, but there is a fun size bag of M&M inside this gift wrap!!!  I got this idea from Angie Kennedy Juda's blog:  http://chicnscratch.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341d73f053ef015390c4a097970b-popup

PLEASE stop & visit Angie's blog!!!  She is one talented lady & you will need more then a minute to spend there!  Just letting you know!!

Have a WONDERFUL weekend!!

Inky Hugs

MaGoooooo/maria

Another Saturday!

Yep it's another Saturday, but this one is SUNNY!!!  It's just GORGEOUS out there!   Was about 70 and sunny with a little breeze.  In my words that is just PERFECT!!

I made sure to spend some of the day outside ENJOYING it!  Took a nice Muffy walk & then pulled weeds, oh wait I don't have weeds in my gardens - LOL  That is like the one thing that I do not enjoy about the gardening life!  Oh well I guess they need some place to grow.

So here is a quick card I did up this past week.  I saw the technique on someone's blog, but I'm sorry I cannot remember who's it was.  I just thought it was very cleaver, seeing as we are all going to the NEW clear blocks!

You use the clear mounting block to make the blob image in a light ink, then you stamp over that in either black or a darker shade of the color ink you used.  I used Certainly Celery for my blob & then black for the flower, which is a NEW SU stamp - "Flower Fest".


Hope you ENJOY it!!
Hugs
MaGoooooo/maria

A rainy Saturday!

Yep it is a rainy Saturday - which means one thing - I GET TO STAY INSIDE & STAMP!!!!  LOL

Good thing the weather wasn't like this while we were up at the lake.  It woulda been the pits!!!

Also a good thing we didn't have much on our plate for today either.  Now tomorrow that's another story!  We will see.  There is a big Kayak Fest going on - on the BIG lake (Superior).  It actually started today, poor people out there trying to compete in this weather.  We didn't plan on going there today though, tomorrow we will go and watch the little ones having FUN playing around & goofing off!

So that brings me to my share for today.  I worked on these little note holders when I was up at the lake.  I LOVE this Penny Black stamp, it's gotta be one of my FAV!!

Hugs,
MaGoooooo/maria

Yep I'm back again - LOL

We ran away & ENJOY it!!  No computer - No internet - just txting, as service is kinda sketchy @ the lake - just PEACE & QUITE!!

Well that was after the MAN work was over!!  LOL  We went to the lake to start on a bit more of the work that needed to be done there.

 

This is what it started off looking like in the very beginning -  years ago

Then we made a little dent a while back - so that we had a place to put the CAMPER - OFF the road! Yes when we first started camping at the lake, we parked on the road - OMW!!  Thank goodness for being waaaaay outta the way & that no one really cared about us parking it on the road.  -   "MINNESOTA NICE!!!"

It was just fine though, as it was a get away & PEACE & QUITE - Shhhhhh!  You know it's heaven when your kids always look forward to going to the lake & they are really only going camping.  LOL

So as you can see there is no more cramming things in on a tiny piece of the property - there's ROOM for lots & lots of FUN times like - - - -

The girls & the tents!

goofing off on the RZR & bringing back the found firewood - LOL

Even the little ones ENJOY being "UP NORTH" - treats help ya know

The two Military guys home!  Dan (one in the red) was home on leave from the Navy.  He will be deploying again in the end of November for 12 months.  So his only request was to go to the lake & RELAX!  That is exactly what we made sure he got!  Tyler (the other one) is in the MN Army Reserves and has been told for the fifth time he will be deploying in October.  We will see and as far as this Mom is concerned, if he doesn't deploy again - that's just fine with  me!  I so worry about these two, though I am very PROUD of them both!

 

I just received this Tim Holtz stamp right before we left & I knew it had to come along with me!  This is one of my FAV stamps right now!!  Works GREAT for all card themes!

 

I have a couple of baby showers to attend in a few weeks and so I also worked on cards for those too.

This is a card that I CASED from http://sharonstampsalot2.blogspot.com  Sharon is one very talented Stamper!!


I'm back home for a bit & hope to be able to share LOTS!!
Have a wonderful Evening!
Hugs,
MaGoooooo/maria

           But it was cozy & it worked well for a get way!!  Everyone & anyone who came to visit always said "PEACE & QUITE!"  Pure ENJOYMENT!!

Tuesday - Tuesday

The week is off to a running start up north!  At least we are able to enjoy a bit cooler temps them they are down in the cities.  I chatted with my little Sis & she said that if you walk out the door, the sweat just starts running off of ya.  Glad I'm not down there!!  I'd be inside and not going any where!!  LOL

Here is a project that I came up with for a couple of friends kids who have teens and like to journal.  I just LOVE those big old Comp notebooks!  I stocked up on them a while ago and every time I use a few I don't even seem to place a dent in my stash.  Good thing I've dug them out again!!

 

I love this saying by Oscar Wilde!  I think it's perfect for a teenager - they just that reminder every now and then ya know.

Stay cool & ENJOY your Tuesday!
Hugs
MaGOOOOOO/maria

Sunny & Warm Sunday

Hello!
I hope you are all enjoying your weekend!  It was Herritage Days up north here in Two Harbors, MN.  We had friends and family who came to visit and take in some of the festivities.  Lots of laughs & storying telling, that was for sure!  Now I'm looking forward to a relaxing week ahead!  Also hoping the temps cool down a bit, as the heat waves we have been dealing with are ENOUGH for me!

So my surprise that I didn't get posted on Friday was - - - -

If you take all these ingredients, mix them together add a pie shell - homemade of course - LOL you end up with the a SURPRISE of which you have one HAPPY HUBBY!!  Yep Butterfinger & him are good friends.  I must say it was yummmy!!

I also worked on some card projects as July seems to be a busy - busy month for us with BIRTHDAY wishes to be sent off.

I had FUN working on my July Birthday cards, as I decided to put to use some of my Sixxiz Dies - oh & buttons!!

Have a GREAT evening!

Hugs

MaGoooooo/maria

Thrilling Thursday!

Yep it is that up north!  A very muggy one, but it has been thrilling!  I just closed up the windows & turned on that knob!  I'm stayin put & enjoying the coolness of the indoors today!  That is after I finished up with my grocery shopping (hadn't gone for a while, so that was a FUN adventure!)  I am loving that all the FRESH produce is coming into the stores now!!  We had taken some fresh corn on the cob with us last weekend and I don't think there is like anything better then fresh roasted/grilled corn over a fire and TONS of dripping butter.  Yep said in my bestest "Paula Deen" voice.  LOVE that woman!!  So back to my share for the day -

 

Do you ever have one of those stamp sets that has been retired for like EVER - but you just know that you could never part with it????  Baby's First is one of those for me!  To be honest with you - I did cave and get rid of it, when I would listen to what others would give in advice.  I am so thankful that I found one & was able to get my hands on it again!  I LOVE - LOVE this set!  Did I tell you I LOVE this set???  LOL  It is like the perfect set to use for any type of "BABY" theme!  I have been making these little journal books for "Baby's First" and the stamp set goes along perfectly.  So I of course have come to a point in my life now again where I am in need of baby gifts.  Yep you guessed it, my kids friends are at the age where they are having their babies & I can never let a chance to go by to WISH well wishes for a NEW LITTLE ONE!!  I use some of my stash of glassine bags, which I purchased eons ago.  I am so bad about making sure that I waaaaay over purchase and then am afraid to use them.  I might not have ENOUGH!  Yeah right!  This is changing in my stampin' room!!  I used them in this mini album and adhered them to the cardstock page.  Inside the little bag I placed a piece of cardstock, which they could place a picture on, or do some journaling.  That's what an album is all about - right?!

I suppose I should head onto my next adventure of my THRILLING Thursday!  I will return tomorrow and share!  I'm makin someone very - very HAPPY!  Doin a Happy Dance I'm sure!

Hugs

MaGoooooo/maria

I'm BACK!

I have been MIA for a bit, as that NASTY MS acted up and got to me again!  Dog-gone it!  Hoping we have things calmed down & that life will calm down in it's self!  I now have use of both my hands again, which is very good!  Had a wonderful visit with Dan the Airman while he was home on leave for 7 days.  Now we've delivered him back to his base in California safe & sound and he's already preparing for his next deployment.  Thank goodness for all our Guys & Gals who are staying strong and keeping us & OUR COUNTRY SAFE!!

I did get a few new treats from SU and have been playing with them!  That brings me to my share for today.  I used the Hello Blossoms stamp set from the SU summer mini and had lots of FUN with it!!  I am glad I had the time to just sit and ponder on how to use this one stamp.  I hope you ENJOY your "Hello" from me!

It is hard to tell from the picture, but I used my markers and colored the stamp and the "HUFFING" technique to color.  I then took and stamped the flowers with the letters in brown and punched the letters out to use as the centers.  I popped them up with some foam mounting tape and so the "HELLO" really does POP!

Return and see what I have to share tomorrow.

Hugs

MaGoooooo/maria

How can it be Monday already????

That is how I feel!  LOL  I just do not understand where all my time goes!  We had a busy week last week, just planning things for Dan coming home on leave & heading to the lake.  That was his only request - what a kid!  So I of course have been busying baking & freezing.  Don't want to have to do it all at once and go into over load!  Making the menu plan is always the hardest when you have a large group & know that more will show up.  That is what makes going to the lake so much FUN though!  I of course am trying to figure out what to pack in my tub.  Yep that's all I get to bring with me is 1 tub.  Can you believe they would be that MEAN to me??  LOL  Just means I need to get to figuring out exactly what project(s) I wanna bring with me.  Dan will be flying into Minneapolis airport late on Wed (6/15) evening and we will be there to give him a GIANT HUG!!  I can hardly wait to see him!!!!!!  Then we will head right up to the lake and just hang out there, till he has to be returned to the airport & fly back to California, to base.  I am so excited to hear all the stories that he will have to tell & the many experiences he has had also.  Just so happy & thankful that he has been SAFE!

Now onto my share for today - - - -

I'm still addicted to the Subway ART!!  I just love how all the words you want to use to describe someone or something is used!  Then I found these little do dads (the metal cog) and knew that I had to get those when I found them!  So I did and none too soon!  I think it fits perfectly with this card!  Hope you enjoy it & remember Father's Day is just a couple weeks away!  YIKES!!


Off to plan some more things for when my Airman returns home!  Hope you ENJOY your Monday!
Hugs -
MaGoooooo/maria

Wild Wednesday!

It is a wild one!  But you won't find me complaining bout it!!!!  The sun is shinning & there's a nice breeze coming through the windows that get to be open!!  Just doing that HAPPY DANCE that we don't live down in the big city!!  Yesterday the temps in Minneapolis were 103 - They set records & the weather man said it hasn't been that warm (at this time of the year) for 23 years.  Thankfully things have changed in time & we now have AC in our home!  It doesn't seem to be used much living up north though!  LOL  We hit a whopping 68 yesterday, which was just fine with me!

We had a wonderful time at the lake and I have not loaded pics yet.  I will share those in a bit.  But I am sharing a pic of a few cards I worked on there.  LOVE being able to stamp & have the peace & tranquility all around.  Something about feeling like you are in the BIG WOODS!  I am using a stamp that I took as a SAB - remember a few months ago when SU was holding their Sell-a-bration special?  I took the single stamp "on the green", figured that I would put it to good use at some point.  I know just a few Golfers!

I think it makes a pretty nice b-day or Father's Day card!

ENJOY your day!
Hugs
MaGoooooo/maria

Heading to the lake

I don't have much time, but I wanted to make sure and share with you some FUN news go to Our Craft Lounge and check out their blog hop going on this weekend!!!!  http://www.blog2.ourcraftlounge.com  FUN - AWESOME samples!  Great bunch of gals & AWESOME designs!!

Have a GREAT weekend!  Hubbys yelling that he's pulling out with or without me.  Gotta go!
Hugs
MaGoooooo/maria

I'm BACK!

Sorry I've been MIA for a while.  Life just seems to consume a lot of our time and stress along with it. 

I figured the best way to get outta this slump & bring some happiness into life is to pull out the stamps and PLAY!!  Along about this time the sun shine has decided it's time to peak out once again too.  It is amazing to me how just a little of that bright color up there in the sky can make a GIANT difference on our out look!  It is so nice out there today that I just returned from a nice long "Muffy" walk and it's warm enough I can actually leave the windows open and bring in some of that wonderful clean air smell!!!!

I hope that you all ENJOYED your Memorial Day weekend.  I hope that you were able to take a moment to remember all of our guys & gals in the Military.  Past & Present!  One of mine will be state side soon - YIPPEEE!!  My Sailor Airman Dan!!  He will be returning from his first deployment on June 15th to San Diego.  So we will not be able to run and greet him, but he will be getting on a plane and flying back home & spending his 7 days of leave with us!!!!  All he asked for was time at the lake, with his immediate family!  I can hardly wait to see him, give him a tight hug & kiss!!!  Then I'm gonna stuff him full of the foods that he has missed & just let him drink the beer he wants and BS with us!!  Even Tyler is coming home from Colorado to be with us all.  What a GREAT group of kids I have!!

So today I am sharing one of the graduation cards that I made for one of the many open houses we have to attend this spring.  I'm so happy every time I make a Grad card for a special friend!  I smile the whole time I'm working on it, thinking of what that special kid went through to get to this place in their life.  Wishing them well as they take the next step in their life journey.  Okay I'm done with all my sloppy - soupy story.  LOL  Now I don't know if you have noticed that over the past year it seems that the Subway Art is taking over!!  I, personally LOVE it!!!  Any how Janet over at http://todaysfabulousfinds.blogspot.com had a contest back in March & I WON!!!  She created the COOOOOOOLEST family subway art work!!  It is hanging very proudly I would like to say right smack dab next to our front door.  Go check out her blog, I know you will also fall in love with it!!  She has sooooo many AWESOME ideas there and she is so very gracious with her sharing!  So that takes me to my share for today.  I hope you enjoy it and will also check out Janet's blog.  Just make sure it's when you have time!!!

I will be trying to stay on top of things better now!  Though remember I'm heading to the lake and we have to internet there.  That's fine, I can just play!!

Hugs
MaGoooooo/maria