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!