Holiday Party

Good Morning Everyone!!

     We had our Love at First Stamp holiday party yesterday & I think a good time was had by all!

Carol & Jenn enjoying some appetizers 

Mabel, Erin & Kristin - catching up in the Kitchen

Lot's of food

Yummy Desserts

Here is the gift that I made & Erin was the recipient..

Jenn with her gift from Kim

Make & Take - thank you Stampin' Up

And last but not least - the gift I got from Erin...isn't it awesome!!!

Thank you Erin - it's beautiful!!

Again, thanks to everyone for a wonderful celebration!!!  Everyone worked together to make it such a special occasion & I can't thank you enough!!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year....





Open House Holiday Shopping/ SU Starter Kit special

This is the left side of my table.

These corner bookmarks were the hottest item of the day. Add them to a great book and it makes a nice gift for that person on your list that loves to read.

Stamped on candles are always a great seller. I also made some paper flowers and added to candles.

Caramels for your apples, make a great teacher gift.

These snowmen are Jiffy pop popcorn attached to a bottle of soda. Add a gift card to Blockbuster or one your choice and it makes a wonderful family gift for a family movie night at home. Perfect for the cold winter nights ahead.

Rudolph's spares.... cute is all I have to say.

Here is the whole display. I had a great time on Sunday at Dawn's house. I spent about 2 weeks straight creating all my crafts to sell. If you missed it, I will be doing another Shopping event on December 4th in Nazareth. Let me know if you need the details.

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Vendor Fair, Open House, Christmas gifts... oh my

Here is a sneak peak of one the projects I've been working on. These will make great gifts for co-workers, bus driver, teachers, babysitters, etc. Cute little poem with a tea bag. I made these using the Garden Gala DSP and coordinating card stocks. I also used the new thin Marina Mist ribbon and topped the flowers off with some crystal effects and glass beads. Enjoy. I haven't posted in a long time, but keep an eye out for some more updates of my craft fair goodies.

Snow Man Soup.... I got this idea from someone's blog and I apologize I didn't write it down, but I LOVED this idea. I used our new SU! Fabric - Candy Cane Lane to cover the lid of a Starbucks Frappecino bottle and tied it with a scrap of fabric and made the little tag with the matching Designer Series Paper and stamped and colored the little snowman and then I used our SU circle and scallop circle punches to cut it out and attached it to complete my cute little gift. I hope you like them. Let me know your feedback. Are they going to be good sellers at my upcoming events?

My Digital Studio

What a beautiful Sunday morning....
Yesterday John and I went out to watch Kayla cheer at Millersville's first home football game. It was such a gorgeous day! After the game we went back to her House. It was so much better then cramming into a small little dorm. We took Kayla grocery shopping. Bought some mums and a cute little flag to put in their front yard. They wanted me to post the pictures I took right away so I ended up making a scrapbook page while I was at it. 141 Pickwick Place is where they live that is where I came up with the title. I love to scrapbook, but if you don't have much time or don't want to go through all of the cutting and embellishing you might want to try the My Digital Studios from Stampin' Up! It is SOOOO easy. You can purchase different stamp downloads (just like the ones in the catalog. And all you do is click and drag. I made this page in like 10 minutes.

So I couldn't do a page of Kayla and her friends without a page of the boys and their friends. These pictures were taken of one the many times hanging out on the deck. My dad was here for a few days looking for an apartment to move into. We found one, as a matter of fact John is leaving tomorrow to go to Florida to drive him, Bob and all of their belongings up to PA. He will be living within 5 minutes of me. YEAH!!!!!!

If you'd like to learn more about My digital studion go to my website http://www.buffyallen.stampinup.net/ I'd love to teach you and help you with anything you need.

busy stamping

I am getting a jump start on my swaps for Regionals and a Supervisor and above meeting at my upline Pennie's. I have taken advantage of the kids being back in school. I've gotten so much done! I think I'm back in my groove. First my downline meeting, now swaps and stamp time! I love it. I am off for the next 4 days and I'm gonna stamp, stamp, stamp. I have a christmas card stamp a stack to prepare for. Enjoy the holiday weekend.
Here are some of the things I've been working on. I have gotten my inspiration from some other cards and if one of these looks familiar and it's yours thanks for the great inspiration!

 Here is my swaps for Pennie's meeting.

Here is one that I made for Regionals in Baltimore in October. I made 25 of these. I am also going to use this one in my Stamp a Stack.

This is another Regional Swap. Don't you just love these cards?

Well, I have to get back to creating!

Happy Sunday!

Wow... I had my first downline meeting in months. We have all been goining to my upline's meetings for the past year or so and I decided that I would start holdong my own again. I am glad we are back to our small group again. It was a lot of fun this morning. I gave them some tips and some tools to go out to  meet new people and promote what they do. If you loved what you do wouldn't you? Let the world know. I love to teach people how to be creative and make projects. Most people say oh I'm not creative... well that's what I love.. to be able to show them EVERYONE is creative and can do what I do. Here are the swaps that I recieved today.

This is from Eileen, love this embossing technique

Here is Jen's. This stamp reminds me of the Campbell Soup Kids.. LOVE IT!

Here is Donna's... Do you believe this is the Ornament punch?? How stinkin' cute?

I could remember a day that all of these ladies were saying they weren't as creative as me? hmm... I think I taught them well. We also have a lot of resources as Demonstrators. If you'd like to learn about that contact me today. Stampin' Up! has an AWESOME special starting September 1st for new Demonstrators that sign up:

We are excited to announce September's recruiting promotion, where new Stampin' Up! demonstrators will receive a FREE Greenhouse Gala Craft Tote (a $39.95 value) with their Starter Kit!

Wouldn't you just love to have this? I'd love to have you join my team!

Pocono Scrapbook Getaway (LONG POST)

Every 3 months I get together with some friends that I met at the Palmer Community Center Crop. This past weekend was our quaterly get together at Diane's beautiful home in the Poconos. Which I must say is a great time. We all live our seperate lives but when we get together on these weekends it is so nice to catch up and vent. This time we had a lot of emotions going on. First off it was my mom's birthday which was already an emotional day for me. Then right before I was leaving to head up to Diane's house, they called me to tell me they (3 of the girls already there) were going with Diane to put her dog (Basket) down. Don't you love the dog's name? Guess where the name basket comes from? Yep... a girl after my own heart.... Diane LOVES Longaberger and she used to be a consultant, hence naming her dog Basket. Anyway, I am so glad everyone was there for Diane. It is a sad time and she lost her best friend, but all of her other friends were there for her to support her. I have a little story about my trip up there. So the procrastinator that I am.... first off I wasn't even packed and ready to go, because I have been trying to spend as much time as I can with one of my bestest friends before she moves all the way to South Carolina. I had to run home to pack up my supplies so I got a late start. As I go to leave I'm trying to put Diane's Address in my GPS and my battery is dying. I knew the exit I had to get off, so I figured I'd save my battery for when I got to that point. well, I had a little over a 1/4 tank of gas, aww heck I can make it to the exit and get gas. So I'm driving and like 4 miles to go to the ext.... DEAD STOP traffic, well I start panicking. No phone, no gas.... now what? I was really talking to my mom and she was watching over me and I got to the next exit in a lot of traffic I go out of my way to get gas and get back on the road. Ok one obstacle down. Now I'm not getting back on that highway in traffic, but I have no GPS. SO I wing it. 2 hours later I made it to Dianes. WHEWWWWW.... Thank goodness they had a glass of wine for me. What an experience that was. Now to scrapbooking. We ate dinner and I got on to my creating and here are some the pages I created.

I finally got around to scrapping Jonathan's Jr Prom pictures. I stamped with the Awash Flowers 2-step stamping Stamp Set in Rose Red, Pumpkin Pie and Marina Mist and used the Bold Brights Assorted DSP.

Here I used one the girls machines to make my title, I can't wait to get an alphabet set for my Big Shot. These 4 boys have been going to school together since 1st grade. I can't believe they are entering their Senior year of High School in 3 weeks. I am so proud of all of them. It was so nice to have them all together to take these pictures, we just had to do a mom shot too.

I mentioned before about a group of demonstrators in my group going to Connecticut to stamp. Well Mabel showed us a really cute scrapbook page using the Friends Never Fade stamp set. I don't have a picture of it, but I changed the stamp set and made my own. My hostess wanted to make a Summer Scrapbook page so I thought this would be perfect. Thanks for the inspiration Mabel! I used the Boho punch, Old Olive Satan Ribbon, Crop-a-dile for the little circles in the center of the flowers, Tropical Party stamp set and matching DSP. I had a blast this weekend with some great girls! I can't wait for November's get together!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is my mom's birthday. I don't have much to say, but I will be thinking about her all day. I found this poem and I just want to share it. I will post the card I made for her later.

© Victoria M. Hodgson

As each passing day goes by
A tear falls from my eye
With each day passing me
A memory comes to mind
Without you by my side
Tears and memories compile
Until we meet again
My memories will form a mountain
A mountain unclimbable
My tears will form an ocean
An ocean uncrossable
You are my angel
You are my light
Guiding me through my days
And protecting my nights
You may be gone
But you’re not forgotten
You’re my angel now
But my Mommy you'll be
Until we meet again
I cry these tears
I release these memories
I shall climb my mountain
I will cross my ocean
One day soon
I will be at your side
I will be in your arms
I shall be safe once more

Happy Birthday Mommy
Love will be on the wings of my angel!!


Have a great day!

Last of the graduation parties

Well, I thought I'd have it easy on the graduation parties this year since we don't have a graduating child. (Kayla graduated in 2008, Tyler graduated in 2009 and Jonathan will be in 2011) It seems like EVERYONE else graduated in 2010. We were invited to 9 graduation parties this year. You do the math.... It's almost like paying for another party. Oh well, I'm so proud of all these young people that we have in our lives. This Saturday we will be attending the last 2! One is a very, very good friend I felt like I watched her grow up. Kayla and Aly met on an All-Star cheering team and Aly was only in 4th grade at the time. She will be attending Shenandoah University in the Fall. I am so proud of her. The other is my cousins daughter. So I wanted to make a special card for them. They both graduated from the same High School, so I decided to make the same for both of them. Their school colors are Red, White and Black. Stampin' Up! coordinating colors - Real Red, Whisper White and Basic Black worked perfect. I also used the Big Shot for the Embossed Wings Butterfly sizzlet and the *NEW* Embossing Folder (don't have the name right here). I am loving the new Friends never Fade Stamp Set. I also used MDS to print out the Graduation Sentiment. I think this card is so pretty. I was inspired by a card I saw on Stampin' Connection (Stampin' Up! Demo only) You can get access too, if you're interested in finding out how, let me know.

I showed 2 different views here. I think I need to invest in a new camera. My cell phone just isn't cutting it for uploaded all of my projects. I don't get very good lighting.

Don't forget... I'm still booking workshops for August, so book yours now to get EXTRA bonus dollars to spend!!!

Open House gift

I was trying to figure out something to give to everyone that came to my Open House. This is what I came up with. (along with a few other things.) Since it was held on the Hottest day of the summer so far. As each of my guests left they got to take this tag that I attached to a bottle of water to keep them refreshed as they set out on their next adventure of the day. They were a lot of fun to make. I got the idea from another demonstrator and I do apologize I do not remember her name, so I can not take full credit for coming up with this idea. I sure do thank her though for giving me the inspiration. I had a great time visiting with everyone that came. I also sold a bit of my RETIRED Stampin' Up! supplies. I still have some left so if you are interested, by sure to contact me soon. I am scheduled to do a few Vendor/Craft Fairs coming up and I will be showcasing all of my sale things at those times. I will be updating my blog and SU! website with my dates shortly. I would love for you to stop and see me. Enjoy....

My new addiction

Cindy Rae showed us to make these darling bags. This my 4th one I've made and I love them. They are quick and easy. I will never buy another gift bag. When she showed us how to make them, we used 2-12x12 sheets of Designer Series Paper. I made one for my upline to put her going away gift in and I didn't want it to be that big so I cut it down to 10x10. So there you go you can make them any size you want. Ohh.... I'm having a blast with these. Thanks so much Cindy!!! This is the bag I made for my friend Sarah's little boy... Roman with our new Celebrations DSP. I also stamped on tissue paper with the Fox and friends stamp set in coordinating colors. This is why I LOVE what I do. You can make such great gifts and personalize them with our AWESOME coordinating colors. If you want to learn more about these bags, contact me.

EXTRA...EXTRA!!!!!

Book your workshop now!!! Stampin' Up! Has just announced a Hostess special going on. Now is your time to get your friends together and you get the benefits. With a $350 workshop, you can get $25.00 EXTRA hostess dollars to spend in addition to all of the other benefits. I am booking now... so let me know what date you'd like to fill on my calendar!!!

Altered empty Button container

I always wanted to make these flowers and I just never sat down to try. This past weekend while a few of us got together and went to Connecticut to have a Stamp Getaway, Kim shared a card with us on how to make them. I just LOVE them. So I came across a bunch of empty SU! containers as I was cleaning and organizing for my Open House this weekend. I thought these little flowers would be perfect for the tops of them. I am going to fill them with some little suprises and give them to the people who bring a friend on Saturday. I think the picture is a little dark, I don't have very good lighting at midnight. :) to take pictures, but I wanted to share them. I used 2 new DSP - Greenhouse Gala (absolutely LOVE!!) and Newsprint. Let me know what you think. If you'd like to recieve one, bring a friend to my Open House - this Saturday 9AM-12PM.

WOW

It has been a long time.. I am sorry. I think I am now back on track. Especially since my fellow Love at First Stampers are really using the blog network. I'm excited to be back on track and posting new ideas and projects. Come back soon to see what I have in store. Right now I am busy preparing for my New Catalog Open House which is this Saturday at my home from 9AM-12PM. I have lots of retired items for sale. Plus I will have all of the new colors to touch and see up close and you will even get to make a little something to take home! I hope to see you there! Check back on my blog often. Have a great day!

Scrap That Poetry Challenge

Here is my first entry to the Scrap the Poetry blog. I scrapped my easter pictures, so I figured I may as well enter the contest since it is about Easter. Good luck to all! Go check out their blog: http://www.scrapthatpoetry.blogspot.com/

I Could Not Ask For More

I haven't done a challenge in a LONG time, but when I saw this was the song over at Scrap the Music, I had just the picture in mind. I hope you like it. Here are the lyrics to this song.

I Could Not Ask For More Lyrics

by Sara Evans
Written by Diane Warren

Lying here with you
listenin' to the rain
smilin just to see
the smile upon your face

These are the moments
I thank god that I'm alive
These are the moments I remember all my life
I've found all I've waited for
And I could not ask for more

Looking in your eyes
seeing all I need
Everything you are
Is everything to me

These are the moments
I know heaven must exist
These are the moments
I know all I need is this
I've found all I've waited for
And I could not ask for more

I could not ask for more than this time together
Could not ask for more than this time with you
And Every prayer has been answered,
Every dream I've had's come true
I've found all I've waited for,
And I could not ask for more.

Stampin' Up! Demonstrator

Stampin' Up! Demonstrator

Happy HEART Day!

I enjoyed the day in my pj's with my husband watching the Daytona 500 and cooking a yummy steak dinner out on the grill. Yep, he shoveled what was left of the 16 inches on the deck so we could get to the grill. This is what I made for him with Stampin' Up!'s little tins that have been on clearance. I saw this idea on Stampin' Connection (group for demonstrators only) I apologize I forgot who it was, but I loved this idea and so did my husband. He is putting it on his desk at work

Here is the roses that he had for me on the table when I came downstairs this morning. I am so lucky to be married to my sweetheart. We sure have been through a lot, but it has paid off to fight through all of the troubles to be where we are today.  

I hope you enjoyed your Valentine's Day!

Back to Work :(

I knew it was going to be slow today so I brought some things with me to work on. What do yuo think? i started these at my Scrapbook getaway last weekend. I finished at total of 15 of the darling little pins. There are 2 ways you can get one. 1. Buy one for $15.00 and $10.00 of the proceeds goes to my groups Relay for Life team. 2. If you don't have one booked yet, book a workshop with me from now until the end of March and you can get one for FREE!!!!

This one my upline Kim had already cut out and asked me to assemble it to sell for our Relay team. I just love these colors. They look great pinned to your jacket or dress up a plain sweater.

I think this one is so cute and bright for Easter.

I did a few of these in different colors. My daughter's College Cheerleading team uses the Zebra print as an accent to her school colors of Black and Yellow. So I made one for her coach. I also made them in Red for a local All-Star Cheerleading team that I am doing a Scrapbook Workshop for next weekend. I'm sure they are going to love them!

this is an Extra Special one! This is my Love At First Stamp pin. My upline made this to match my purse below. All of these projects were made with the Stampin' Up! Big Shot and dies. The purse below is made with a Stampin' Up! exclusive die. (that means you can only get it from me :) ) Aren't these just the cutest things? If you are interested and would like to learn more contact me today.

Sorry this picture has a bad glare. I don't have my camera with me at work so I took them with me cell phone and sent them to myself. Not bad for a camera phone? Ok I have to get back to work. I hope you enjoyed my projects today.

Happy Valentine's Day! These are some cookies I made for Kayla to send out to her for Valentine's Day. She has over 40 inches of snow and I am not going to make it out to see her this weekend, so I'm sending her some goodies! Enjoy.....

Got Snow?

We did. It has been so long since I've seen snow like this. I am home for the second day in a row. The highways were actually shut down. I don't have anyone to go out and play with in it. Jonathan and Tyler are at a friends house and John had to go to work. I guess I will just have to go out to my stamp room and get creative. Here are some pictures of us out shoveling yesterday.

I asked him he wanted help and he said no.

This is the park across the street from my house. I think I will have to recruit someone to go sledding with today. It looks like it would be so much fun.

This was at like 3:00 in the afternoon and I think we got like 5 more inches before the snow stopped around 10PM

My BFF walked over to see me. I did bundle up and went out to help John shovel.

I'll have to go take some pictures of what it looks like today.