SU! Convention - Day 3 (Wednesday)

When DH and I entered Salt Palace, we were greeted by the hollow sounds of the wind chimes in the entryway. From there we went to the information booth where I picked up my bag of goodies (compliments of SU!) which included two stamp sets (I chose the clear mounts), a wheel, and a wood mount stamp... and the really bright, orange-colored bag (see photo below). The bag also included another complimentary copy of the 2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalog and the Holiday Mini Catalog.



After getting my bag, DH and I headed downstairs to Memento Hall. After seeing the crowd, all I could say was "WOW" as I got into the longest line I've ever had occasion to get in. There were demonstrators everywhere... wall-to-wall, in line to enter Memento Hall as they made swaps. DH stayed in line with me and snapped a few pictures of the crowd for me.


When DH and I finally got into Memento Hall, I purchased a Laptop bag, a tote (for scrapbooking supplies), two SU! rulers, Saltwater Taffy, a 'Share What You Love' wood mount stamp set, 8 Recyclable bags (4 of two designs), a collapsible bag, a set of SU! pens, and a tee-shirt (not pictured).

SU! Convention - Day 2 (Tuesday)

Convention - Day 2... Still not there yet. DH and I started our day visiting the Family History Library. I have already done a ton of research on my family so I was not able to find anything to add to what I already have. Still, the visit was well worth it. That library is out-of-this-world! DH and I spent a good amount of time there. We went over a lot of family history with the Missionary who was assisting us.

We decided to walk to Gateway Mall from the Family History Library. Just slightly to the side of the FHL was a small Pioneer Log House built by Pioneers. NEAT! We snapped tons of pictures. What I thought was really neat was all the Holly Hocks (flowers) planted around this Log House. The flowers fit right into the scheme of things.

The walk to Gateway Mall was a bit more extensive than we were lead to believe but we didn't give up. It was pretty scenic on the way. The landscaping everywhere was fabulous. The landscaping in front of the Devereau Mansion was really nice so I decided to snap pictures of some of the landscape and the Mansion itself.

We were starving by the time we arrived at the Mall. The Missionary who assisted us earlier at the FHL suggested we eat at the Thaifoon Restaurant and we did. We both ordered the "Firecracker Chicken and Broccoli on a bed of rice. It was HOT! HOT! Hot! But Delish! I also had a glass of freshly squeezed Limeade (not Lemonade) and it was sooo good and sooo refreshing. Our server, Kunthana, was excellent.
Our afternoon quest was to visit the shops at the Gateway Mall, then find a grocery store to purchase fruit and bottled water. One of the shops I went in had some really nice summer purses that had been reduced to $9.99. I purchased one and I love it. Now to find that grocery store. We were told that "Smith's Market" was the name of it.

Convention Swaps

I'm in Salt Lake City for the SU! Convention. I wanted to make a few cards to swap so I decided to do a 2-for-1... swap cards and the SCS July Christmas Card Challenge. I was pressed for time because I started at the last minute so I used "My Digital Studio" for all images. Quick as a breeze. I am really loving MDS. If you don't have it, you should consider getting it. It's well worth the investment.

SU! Convention - Day 1 (Monday)

Day 1 of the SU! Convention... Not really. DH and I arrived early so that we could take in some of the sights of the city. SLC has more than met my expectations. It's hot here but not as hot as home. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the Family History Center is practically next door to the Plaza. We couldn't go today because it closes early on Mondays. I'll be there bright and early tomorrow.Our room is quite nice. We snapped a few pictures of it before leaving to explore the area.


We strolled around Historic Temple Square which is the heart of the worldwide Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons). According to the brochure in our room, it is Salt Lake City's #1 tourist attraction and the 5th most visited tourist attraction in the USA. This place is awesome and it is totally free! There was so much to take in but not enough time in which to do it. I am going to try to go back on Thursday night so that I can see and hear the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in rehearsal. According to the information center, they rehearse most Thursdays from 8:00 - 9:30 p.m.




We ended our tour early because we wanted to get a bite to eat. JB's RESTAURANT was right next to the Plaza and the food was really good. Tonight's special was the "Chilli-Cheese Burger with all-you-can-eat-fries, soup, and all-you-can-eat fruit and salad bar. Today's soups were Chicken Noodle and Baked Potato with Bacon. After eating my soup and salad, I was too full to eat my burger and fries. I only had room left to eat ONE strawberry and it was delish! That's DH's plate on the left with the onions... mine is on the right and I had to get a to-go tray for it.



Now to find that exercise room downstairs...

Nap Time

Flight of the Butterflies

Soft Rose; Zentangle Rose

More challenges from SCS. I've seen the word 'Zentangle' quite often lately but never really took the time to explore the technique until this challenge was posted on Splitcoaststampers. I must admit, it was very relaxing. I made the 'Soft Roses' card first (SC281) and, after looking at the rose in the 'Fifth Avenue Floral' stamp set out, I realized it would be great to use in WT271 SCS Challenge.

********************
My SCS Gallery: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=84546

Sunday's Best

This is 'Featured Stamper' Day over at SCS. The FS has an amazing gallery and this is the card I chose to case: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ga...;ppuser=156733.

My SCS Gallery: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=84546

Celebrate!

I used one of my favorite stamp sets to make this card, yet, for some reason, I don't use it often enough. I made this card for our daughter and son-in-law in celebration of their 2-year wedding anniversary. I combined three of the challenges from SCS: SC276, TLC266, and F4A8.

My SCS Gallery: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=84546

Thinking of You

Another large card for a friend who lost a loved one. This card is 8 1/2" x 11", scored at 5 1/2" and decorated.

April Christmas Card Challenge

Here are my cards for the April Christmas Card Challenge from SCS. Last year when I saw this card, I was so in awe of it... I thought it was simply stunning (http://thewritestuff.justwritedesigns.com/?p=2654). I really wanted to CASE it but did not have the stamps used. Earlier this year I went to an Heirloom's Rubber Stamps and Paper Arts Festival in Duluth, GA, and was elated to find the JustRite stamp set I needed to make the card.

After letting this stamp set sit un-inked on my shelf for the past few months, I finally decided to tackle this card but made a few changes along the way. Her card is so elegant but mine looked plain when I finished the first one using white card stock. I decided to add a little more color to mine by adding ribbon and cutting the pendant and fleur de lis out of SU! Rich Razzleberry card stock rather than white. I also stamped my images using SU! RichRazzleberry ink rather than Violet and I changed the size of the card from a square to an A2.

Birthday Card

This is a birthday card for my SIL

Thank You

There are three ladies who helped to make my mother's 90th birthday a success. Here are the 'Thank You' cards I made for them. I wanted to make something really nice for them so I decided to browse Sharon Johnson's blog, "No Time to Stamp?" and saw a card that I fell in love with and decided to case. Here is a link to Sharon's card: http://notimetostamp.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/2008/07/24/dare-to-get-dirty-by-stamping-simply/. These cards also fall in the SCC "Inside Out" category.

Recipe: All supplies are from Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Bloomin' Beautiful; Sidekick Sayings
Card Stock: Pink Pirouette, Whisper White, Going Gray
Embossing Folder: CB Swiss Dots
Ribbon: Pretty in Pink
Inks: Pretty in Pink; Old Olive, Certainly Celery; Jet Black (Archival Ink)
Dies: Stampin' Up! Embosslits Beautiful Winds; Spellbinders
Self Adhesive Gemstones from the Paper Studio

Inside Out

Monday's Technique Challenge at Splitcoaststampers was 'Inside Out'... decorating the inside of your card. Tuesday's Color Challenge was to use Bermuda Bay, Basic Gray, So Saffron and a neutral of choice. I decided to incorporate both challenges into this card.

Recipe:

All Supplies are Stampin' Up!
Card Stock: Bermuda Bay, Going Gray, So Saffron, Bermuda Bay DSP
Ink: Basic Gray, Bermuda Bay
Ribbon: Bermuda Bay
Punches: Scallop, Photo Corners, Modern Label
Dies: Movers & Shakers Modern Label

Trim the Tree

Here are the rest of my cards for the March Christmas Card Challenge over at Splitcoaststampers. I am also participating in today's Technique Challenge, "Inside Out". I decided to open the first card and display the other 8 in the background. I made a total of 9 of these cards because I had already made a totally different card earlier this month.

Stamps: Stampin' Up!: Tiny Tiny Wishes; Sidekick Sayings
Ink: Stampin' Up!: Cranberry Crisp
Ribbon: Generic from one of the craft stores
DSP: Provo Craft's Holly Argyle
Accessories: Stampin' Up! Punches
Dies: Sizzix; Spellbinder

Thanks

My Mother turned 90 on March 19th and we celebrated her birthday big time on March 20th. We rented a really nice venue, had a really nice program centering around her and the love she has exemplified to each of us, her children, grands, great-grands, great-great grands, and the spouses of all her off-springs. My nephew was so instrumental in getting so many things done that I really wanted to make him a nice 'Thank You' card to show my appreciation.

I decided to use SC105 from Splitcoaststampers to build my card.

Card Recipe: All Paper Supplies are Stampin' Up!
Card Stock: Elegant Eggplant, Old Olive
DSP: Brocade Background (Retired)
Accessories: SU! Hodgepodge Hardware; SU! Big Shot Machine
Dies: QuicKutz and Spellbinder

Joy

I decided to try two challenges in one over at SCS... the weekly sketch challenge (SCS273) and the monthly Christmas Card Challenge.


The DSP is Cloud 9 Design's "Sparke Trim the Tree". the other card stock is from Stampin' Up! I also used the Stampin' Up! Ornament punch and Real Red Ink.

Blue Bird of Happiness

I decided to try my hand at the FS161 on SCS. This is the card I cased: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/1088683?&cat=500&ppuser=5417. It's either really early or really late depending on your point of view. Now that I have done this card, I'm going to go to bed. I'll upload details later today or tonight.

Creative Mood

I was in a creative mood today and made the mistake of browsing through the SCS gallery before starting to create. I came across a really nice card in the gallery posted by Tangerine Dream and decided to CASE now, create later. Here is a link to Tangerine Dream's card (http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/1441829?&cat=14665).

Christmas Cards

I bought a new Sizzix Die from A. C. Moore in Charlotte, NC, the day after Thanksgiving and it is great! I am using it to make my 10 Christmas cards for the SCS February Christmas Card Challenge. I'm hoping to complete them early rather than last minute since I was down to the wire on my January cards. I am determined to complete this challenge this year. Stay tuned.

By the way, we don't live in Charlotte, we have family there and I was elated when I saw the A. C. Moore store there. It's good to shop somewhere other than Michael's, HL & JA's.

SCS CCC10 - January Christmas Card Challenge

I signed up for the 2010 Christmas Card Challenge at SCS and I barely got these in under the wire. I'm resolve not to wait until the last minute to complete the February cards.

Friends

I am trying to get back into the swing of things. I joined the SCS 2010 Christmas Card Challenge and I really should be working on my January cards. I wanted to participate in the SCS Monday Technique Challenge (Side Step Card) and below is my submission. Now I can get back to my Christmas Cards. Check back in a couple of days to check out my January Christmas Cards. TFL.

Stamps: SU! Vintage Vogue, Garden Whimsey, Serene Spring; Art Impressions
Paper: SU! Bermuda Bay CS and DSP, Glossy White CS
Ink: SU! Bermuda Bay, Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa, Archival Black
SU! Beautiful Wings Embosslits

Holy Family

Trying to get into the Christmas Spirit. Less than two weeks until Christmas and I still need to make Christmas cards, do my Christmas shopping, and put up the tree. I am so late with everything.