Halloween Card

Another stamp set I got at the used stamp flea market last month at Cranberry Hill. It's a CAS (clean and simple) card using an old 2002 Stampin Up set, (I think I paid 3.00 for the whole set) Copic markers and scraps from my huge pile of saved paper.

Prepping for Nepal

We are having a big (and much needed) rain storm today, so I won't be able to hit the trails. I will instead be walking around the house breaking in my new back up hiking boots and making sure they fit correctly. It took me several days to find the right pair and many trips to REI. A few weeks ago I did a long hike going down hill (which is much harder on your body than going up hill) and damaged my big toe nails. I thought my toenails were cut short enough but I was wrong. Looks like I will lose them at some point. Yes, I know that sounds gross. So now I have to be extra careful in the hiking boots I get. My favorite old hiking boots and water bottle (both have been around the world with me) will be on the trip but we were advised to bring a extra pair a boots. Because of my toe situtation I had to get boots 1 1/2 sizes bigger than I would normally and extra thick socks. It will take a little time to get use to them.

Another CAS card

This was a stamp is from an old Stampin Up set I got at one of the stamping flea markets last month. I couldn't pass up the bee hives and pumpkin stamp!

I decided to make a CAS (clean and simple) card last night using this little stamp. I used the Stampin Up "Times and Seasons" 1999 set and Copic markers.

10 1/16 inch abalone

The Scrap Pink event was a huge success with everyone having a great time. The make n takes took much longer than we thought so I was there until midnight finishing up the last group of people and I had an assistant (thanks Jane) helping me! Michael Strong's classes were again great and he will be back again on January 30, 2010 for the Scrap Blue (prostate cancer) Mega Crop. I would call Memories Live On and sign up now for his classes before it fills up! While I was helping out with the crop and Michael's classes, my hubby went abalone diving. He said it was an awesome day and he came home with a trophy size abalone 10 1/16", which in the abalone world is one big sucker. The record holder for abalone is 12". The mussel shell next to the abalone is also super sized.
While Michael and his wife Carla are in town, we take them out to dinner after the last class each night. My hubby got home in time from his dive trip on Saturday to whip a simple abalone dinner for us. It was also Carla's birthday so it made it even more special. I do have to say Mike and Carla have moved into the "good friends" category since they came over for dinner without me cleaning up the house. :)

Call Me Tiger

One of the few photos were Honey Bunny is in focus. She looks like a little tiger ready to pounce. She loves to be out it in front yard chasing anything that moves included my camera. Right after this shot, she leap at the camera.

Scrap Pink

I will be at the "Scrap Pink" event Memories Live On is hosting today doing free make n takes for those who signed up to crop. My time slot in 7:30 - 10:30 pm. I will be making some peppermint patty critters and mini paper suitcases. Since I'm the last of the teachers to do the make n takes I thought I try and do some extra project for all the night owls in the group.
Michael Strong is also in town doing classes and a free demo at the crop, another great reason to sign up for the crop. He's class projects are awesome!

Cards for the troops

This was a card design I did last year and I decided to make some more for my 250 cards going off to our troop for the holidays.

A lot of stampers shy away from background stamps because they really don't know what to do with them. I've made baby shower, holiday and birthday cards using this stamp from Memory Box.

Another Halloween Card

Super easy card if you have a Cricut machine. I designed this one for my free class at the Japanese Senior Center I do once a month. The color for the back ground and the moon (white circle cut from a 3" punch) was sponged on.

Cards for the troops

I finished making 250 cards to send off to our troop last night. I wanted to get them done in plenty of time to mail off before I leave for Nepal. I made about 50 of these ornament cards. I used the Cricut machine to cut the red ornament out of glossy paper and a punch to make the snowflake. It was a fast card to make. I did add a rhinestone to the center of the snowflake, just couldn't help myself. :)

I'm off to do a 4 four hike this morning in the hills.

Getting ready for Nepal

I knew when I finally got to go to Nepal that I would have get shots and take a lot of preventative medicine. There is very little medical care in Nepal. Even I was little surprised at how many. I feel like a walking pharmacy! Here's the list:
Two flu shots and back up flu medication in case the first two shots don't work
Polio booster shot (still have a sore arm)
Malaria Suppressant
Hepatitis A & B
Typhoid (taking that now since it only last for a short time)
Tetanus
Packing Cipro for when I get a stomach bug, which everyone gets
Bug Spray with DEET.
I also have to take out traveler's medical insurance since there is no medical care in most of Nepal so if anything happened, I would have to be airlifted out to another country. Even with all this needle poking and pill popping the trip will be worth it.

National Card Making Day 2009

Today is National Card Making day. I'm teaching all day at Memories Live On and Cranberry Hill. I think both stores have make n takes planned to celebrate the holiday.
These are cards that I'm making to send off to the troops. So far I have 100 done and I'm hoping to get 250 done by the end of the week. I'm using up my stash of paper for the backgrounds and keeping the cards on the simple side. Because the cards are going to the troops (so they can mail holiday cards home) I like to keep the embellishments flat. Not sure how well a puffy card would travel coming through the military mail service.

Going to Nepal

It's official now, I'm going trekking in Nepal. This is the last of the things on my life list of "have to have good knees" things to do. I have other hiking places on my list but most don't require as much knee power as trekking in the Himalayas. I'm so excited about going and a little nervous about traveling all the way to Kathmandu by myself to meet up with the rest of the hiking group. I'm off to the travel doctor today to get all my shots and start the malaria suppressant treatment. Yes, that part is not fun but it's part of being able to travel to some cool places. One of the BFF (who reads my blog) thinks I'm crazy to go. She doesn't want to know when I leave for my trip, so I won't post any dates. I'm even going to post date some cards while I'm gone to help reduce her stress. Right now it's a marathon of hiking before I leave.