What a Wonderful Life

Happy New Year!

Isn't it funny how reflective we become when the new year roles around??? I am truly grateful for all that I have. I have a loving husband (of 11 years in February), loving family ~ my parents, my sisters, their husbands and children. I have a job that I love 98% of the time and friends who round out my life.

I never gave it a thought when I became a Stampin' Up! demo how enriched my life would become with new "stampin friends" I would make. From my upline, Shari Dudek, to my downline Sandy Webb, to all the demo's I have meet at differnt events. The creativity, support and fun I have had with these woman.....( I wish I could say men too! BUT I have not had a man stamp with me............yet!)

I think the best has been all the new friends/woman who have come into my life has enriched me beyond my wildest dreams. This makes for my demoing so much more fun!

I promised you I would post some of the homemade cards I received this Holiday. These ladies did such wonderful jobs......even with the Sock Monkey!!!

Stampin Up! 1990-2009

This card came from Kim M. Now in my group of stamping I have 3 ~Kim M's. Isn't that too funny! Anyhow, I meet Kim at a Daycare center I worked at for a short time. We became "distant" friends, until after I left the center. Our paths crossed when a friend of hers and mine, invited me to one of Kim's crops. We became quick friends then.

Kim has been a stamper much longer than I. I have learned many tricks of the trade from her! She is also an awesome scrapbooker whom I have enjoyed scrapbooking with! She always tries new techniques and is always willing to help those who are stump!

This card came to me from Emily. I meet Emily through a Girl Scout Buddy, Sheila. Sheila and Emily's husband have been friends through the school years. Emily is so energetic and fun to be around. She makes us all laugh and always has a good time where ever she goes. She has such a great outlook on life!

Emily has been card maker for sometime now. She also is an avid scrapbooker too. On top of it all, she now had a beautiful daughter of 1 who adds joy to her life!


Copyright Stampin' Up! 1990-2009
This card came from Shelia. Shelia and I meet many moons ago through Girl Scouts. She was friends with a friend of mine, Laura. Laura and Sheila "sucked" oops I mean "requested" my help in the International Friendship weekend for the younger girls. We lost track of each other over the years, and she found me on a Yahoo Group! She found out I was a Stampin' Up! Demo and booked a workshop. She has introduced me to many new friends. Her thinking is "always" out of the box and comes up with really fun and exciting cards. She surprised everyone by making her Rehearsal Invites......oh they were so very cute! She is also a Creative Memories Demo and her creativity overflows into her scrapbooking. Once again her books are clean and crisp.....always thinking outside the box!

Copyright Stampin' Up! 1990-2009

Susan, Sheila mom's sent this beautiful card. She was a novice stamper and always afraid her stuff wasn't great.....well I am here to tell you, that they always have been and continue to get better and better with every new card! She even ventured out and used water color crayons on this card. Way to go Sue!

Copyright Stampin' Up! 1990-2009
This Card comes from my friend and neighbor, Carol. Carol was one of my original "groupies". A group of my friends were worried about me going to homes of people I didn't know, so they would come along to the workshop, and be a "groupie". Carol was one of those people. She was a great co-pilot and map reader when we drove out to God's county for a demo (1hr 30 minutes away!) She is also one who helps fuel my need for more scrapbooking stuff! Besides all the animals she has fostered that have found their way over to my house and became part if my family!

Carol made this card at a 12 card class I held. I was not too particular in the design....just wasn't cuttin it for me (and me a birds......not so much.......). Carol loved it and asked if I was OK with her making that card. I was honored that she wanted to us one of my designs.

Amy sent this card. She only made a few, because like the rest of us, she had the candle burning at both ends! Amy and I became friends through Valerie. Amy is a "true" person. She gives so much of her self! She is always bringing me something homemade. She is such fun to be with!!! She is the one who enlightened me to the "Copic Makers". HOLEY MOLEY! and she can find the deals!!

This card was made by Valerie. Now here's a few things about Valerie.....she is the NICEST PERSON I have meet thus far in life. She is always happy and has the best, and I mean BEST outlook on life. She always has a smile and I have yet, in the 5 years I have known her, she her in a bad mood. I meet Amy at a workshop, of 4 woman and she is the only one out of that group that stamps with me!!!! She loves to try new stuff and always has a creative thought in that head of hers! Valerie even got me hooked on the book "The Secret". Watching her live her life as she does, I know that a positive way of life leads to a positive life!

She embossed with a cuttlebug new embossing folder~ Swiss dots. I love the look!

Copyright Stampin' Up! 1990-2009
Lois sent me this card, all the way from Florida. I meet Lois through Sheila....at Girl Scout camp. Lois too was a novice. But as you can see by her card, she has come such along! She too enjoys new techniques and used watercolor crayons this time around!
Lois tells me all the time that she misses stamping with us. I hope that when she comes up for a visit in June that we will get a little stamping time in!

Copyright Stampin' Up! 1990-2009

This card came from my upline Shari. As I had said before, Shari was the 1st Stampin' Up! Demo that I went to. She had me hook line and sinker! Her presentation, made you want to stamp. She is also a fun friend to travel with (how many people do you know, would to Louisville, KY for a Stampin Regional ~ from Michigan~ for an overnight stay and come back home the next day?)

She also knows all the words to Queen songs, how many people (besides me) can say that? She is also is a HUGE Captain Jack Sparrow and Van Halen fan. One day when your paths cross, ask her about the bracelet she made and gave to a Van Halen member!

Oh Yeah, and she takes a mean High School Photo too! (Salt Lake City Convention!)

Last but not least...........

Copyright Stamin' Up! 1990-2009

THE SOCK MONKEY!!! This card came from Stacee. Stacee was introduced to me, through Valerie and Amy. Stacee and Amy are partners in crime.......they always like to "surprise" me with goodies and homemade stuff. Stacee even made me a "Mr. Crabby Pants" bookmark. She too, has a love for that Sock Monkey and vows that one day I will too!

I am glad that am able to share with you the holiday cards I got from these outstanding woman!

Have a great rest of the evening........I am off to stamp!