Friday Fill-Ins

This week my friend Michelle provided most of the questions; thank you, Michelle!

And...here we go!

1. When I'm sick I'm good for nothing.

2. When I take a walk, I think about nothing, when I take a walk I want a clear head.
3. Money can't buy happiness but it can buy great handbags.

4. Cotton makes me warm and cozy and leather makes me confident and sexy.

5. The strangest person/character I've had lewd thoughts about was ____. (no clue)

6. My favorite color these days is Kelly Green because it is named after me.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to hanging out with my husband after work, tomorrow my plans include working and Sunday, I want to sleep in but I can't because I have to work!

Pick a Petal, Any Petal

I am still trying to figure out how I am going to organize all of the swaps I got at convention, almost a month after being home! So far I have gotten as far as grouping them together by stamp set, I guess that is a step in the right direction. One of the classes I attended at convention was about investing in your business and buying stamp sets that are going to "pay you back" one of the key features to such a set is one that is versatile, I can't think of a more versatile set than "Pick A Petal" I loved all of the swaps I received at convention but these have to be my favorite. I love that you can create all of these different things with just one stamp set, how cool is that?

First you can create a dragon fly like Cheryl Parker did.
Mara Bates created a dragon fly too.
Of course you can create flowers and that is just what Jenni Hogan did Nichole Nelson made a flower too Tracy Belvens said "Thank you" with a flower

Pick a Petal is a great stamp set for all holidays, you can wish someone a Happy Mother's Day with this card created by an unknown artist Ann Leek came up with this adorable Thanksgiving card. And if you just want to say Thank you, there is always this card made by Suzanne Lawrence.

Make Something Monday

My Upline Dawn is amazing, she is always coming up with new things to keep us connected and motivated. Her latest idea is to post a creative challenge on our website weekly. Some how I was appointed to be the one running the challenge so here goes nothing.........

I want you all to “Light me Up” it doesn’t matter what you create: a card, a scrapbook page, an altered album, anything you want, as long as it “Lights me Up.”

They could contain stamps that have beams on light; it can be a birthday cake with candles that light up, what about a scrapbook layout including pictures taken around the camp fire? When all else fails, there is always bling!!

So you've been given the guidelines, you've got your supplies gathered, you're warmed up and ready to go...your assignment is simply this:
1. Be Inspired.
2. Create something you love.
3. Have fun!

There is no deadline to create this; however I will be posting new challenges every Monday!! Of course, I want to see what you come up with so be sure to post a comment with the link to your creation so I can check it out.

Hope this challenge lights your fire!

Friday Fillins

This week Amy provided the questions; thank you, Amy! And...here we go!

1. Dancing in the living room while looking into D's eyes makes me feel like the luckiest woman on the planet.

2. The last time I watched football I nearly had a heart attack (after all the Giants were in the Super Bowl).

3. When I drive I enjoy having the moon roof open.

4. I saw the almost full moon standing alone in the sky on my way home from work.

5. Give me love, give me loyalty, give me friendship.

6. Next week I am looking forward to enjoying my 1 day off.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to going to D's cousins wedding, tomorrow my plans include driving home from Rhode Island with enough time to be at work by 2pm and Sunday, I want to work on my Fantasy Football team!

To Have or To Have Not......

I was off yesterday and was lucky enough to spend the day with my friend and upline Dawn and her family. The day started with swimming lessons for 2 of her 3 kids to swimming lessons, then we grabbed lunch and went back to the pool to enjoy the sunshine. Whenever I spend time with people who have kids it amazes me how they do it, Dawn is no exception. Her oldest daughter is in 3rd grade (I think she is 8) her other two children are 5 year old twins. Talk about having your hands full.... Dawn makes it look so easy, it I had to do what she does every day I am sure I would have lost my mind by now and if not my minds, at least one of the kids. I always say days like this are really good birth control, they remind me what the life of a parent is like and why I have decided to NOT have children.

After spending the day at the pool we got to spend some time stamping and hanging out with some other people from our group. It just so happens one of the other ladies (Doris) has to go to a wedding this weekend. (so do D and I) so the first priority for Doris and I was making wedding cards. After looking through what felt like thousands of samples (Dawn has millions!!) we came up with our inspiration. We decided we wanted different colors, changed some other elements and this is what we came up with (as always it isn't the best scan but in person the card looks great if I do say so myself)
Recipe:
Stamps: Always and Wonderful Words
Card Stock: Whisper White and Brushed Silver
Accessories: Silver Embossing Powder, Stampin' Dimensionals, Retired Ribbon and Ribbons slider.
It really felt good to stamp and paper craft with friends. I need to do more of that, based on my work schedule it is hard to go to crops and other things because they are almost always on the weekends so when I get the chance to craft with other people I jump on it. After making the wedding cards we worked on some projects Dawn needed to complete, then we played around with the BigShot (can't wait to order mine, kind of impressed I haven't ordered it yet) and planned some activities for the rest of the year. All I have to say is watch out because it is going to keep getting better and better as the year goes on!!!

Playing with Paper

I am a huge blog reader. My Bloglines has about 120blogs that I try to read every day.... crazy I know. One of the blogs I read often is Anne from Canada Anne and I met because our SU! up lines are friendly. I have never met Anne because she didn't go to convention (she promises me she will go next year!!) but that hasn't stopped me from reading her blog. The other day she had this card on her blog.

I fell in love with the colors and knew when I got the change to craft I would be doing something similar. My card is a little larger than usual, not sure what the heck I will do with a 6x6 card but that is something for me to figure out later. I couldn't wait to use the new "Say it with Scallops" stamp that we got at convention from UPS and of course I wanted to use the new In Colors.
I was able to kill two birds with one stone. I used Chocolate Chip, Kiwi Kiss and Pink Pirouette paper. I stamped the sentiment with Chocolate Chip. I am thinking of adding buttons to the center of the flowers, but like I said I don't know when I am going to need to give this card to anyone so I have a little while to perfect it.

Am I missing something?

There is a new stamp set in the Stampin' Up! catalog called "Sock Monkey" everyone loves. I don't, as a matter of fact I am going on record here and now saying it freaks me out a little. It is definitely not a stamp set you will ever see on my wish list. That being said I received tons of really cute swaps made with the sock monkey that I just had to share.....(as with all of the pics I post I apologize for the clarity or lack there of of the pictures, blame it on my scanner)

Created by Barb Coblentz of Marshfield, WI

This one is from Krista Jensen of Corona, CA

Then we Megan Verhoeven of Parker, CO creation which really got attacked by my scanner. In real life the card is straight and even!

This was created by Susan Miller (not sure where Susan is from)

Jill George created this one, again I am not sure where Jill is from.

Finally I received from an unknown stamper.

I think all of these cards are adorable (obviously, I shared them with you) but I just don't see the big deal about the Sock Monkey..... oh well it must be me!

I'm Lovin' It.....

It isn't every day you get to have your picture taken with a celebrity, especially one who is world famous. I had no idea when I get on the plane for Salt Lake City I would be meeting someone was well known and reconizable as.......
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Ronald McDonald!!!! How lucky am I? I am sure you are wondering what the heck was Ronald McDonald doing at the Stampin' Up! convention? "Stampin' Up! designs an exclusive stamp set every year to help raise money for Ronald McDonald House Charities" (RMHC) Ronald was there to accept the check from Shelli and visit with demonstrators.

As if that wasn't cool enough, the last day of convention looked liked because donated this (sorry for the crappy picture, my hands were shaking with excitement while I was taking it) to every demonstrator who attended to convention. I thought I got excited when the UPS man showed up at my house, you should have seen how we all acted when he showed up at convention, it was unreal. What is even more exciting is there were about 5600 people there and since UPS purchased the stamp sets from SU to give to everyone attending convention that means RMHC received more than $11,000 from Stampin' Up! Now that is something to cheer about!!!

Janet for President

As usual Janet from Friday Fillins does a great job!

1. The last meal I had at a restaurant was if take out counts, last night when I got Chipolte, if it doesn't that would be Convention when we went to Bucca De Pepi (I know I spelt that wrong).

2. Frogs are something I intensely dislike. (actually I am afraid of them, crazy I know!)

3. The full moon always makes me think of the night I met my husband.

4. "How you Doin?" (think of Joey from Friends) is one of my favorite local expressions.

5. Sometimes it's best to keep your mouth shut!!

6. Sex and the City is the best movie I've seen so far this year!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to watching the Olympics after work, tomorrow my plans include laundry and work and Sunday, I want to hang with my husband after work!

Music to my Ears.....

My sister "Bboy" and I have a bit of a tradition. Almost every night he calls me to say goodnight. Honestly I think it is the little stinkers way of getting to stay awake for 5 more minutes, I don't care thought I love when he calls! It started with my sister doing all the talking and at the end she would say "Give Aunt Kelly a kiss" and I would hear "Muwah" (not sure how to spell the sound a kiss makes) and I would say "muwah right back at you peanut" and blow a kiss into the phone. Now that he can talk more our bedtime conversations are a little different, I usually say "BBoy what are you doing?" and he tells me "reading a book" or "singing a song" or any number of other things he says (not all of which are 100% clear to me) and of course before we get off the phone I always say "Good night peanut, I love you." The other day he said "I love you too Aunt Kelly" I swear I got tears in my eyes and goose bumps up and down my arms. It was so cute hearing his little voice say "I love you" as I sit here typing this I am looking at a blurry screen because the tears have surfaced again. It is hard for me to believe the big boy in this picture wearing "Grandpa's" glasses is the same little boy who entered the world and my heart almost 3 years ago. Damn I love that little brat!!!

DNA vs. Delete

I was listening to the radio the other day and they were talking about what to your cell phone when you break up with someone. Of course the response was just delete their name/phone number from your phone and let it rest in peace. Which is something I have done a time or two. On of the girls on the show suggested not deleting the number instead edit the name to read "DNA-name" that way if they should call you know not to answer it. Let's face it in this day and age we don't memorize numbers the way we used to adn we whouldn't want to accidently answer a call from one of those "DNA" people would we? More importantly we wouldn't want to drunk dial any of those "DNA" people. I had a couple of names in my phone that I really didn't want to have to talk to and I pray all the time they don't call so you better believe after listening to that show I went through and added "IGNORE" do their name, I chose "IGNORE" because I felt that strongly about ignoring these people (honestly it is only 1 person), they are just not worthy of my time! Anyone in your phone worthy of "DNA" or "IGNORE"

Simply Sent

I am so in love with the new Simply Sent Card Elements Kits. Using the kit I was able to make this adorable card (At least in person it is adorable, I don't think the scan did it justice, oh well) I did alter it a little. I was supposed to use a button in the middle of the flower but in true Kelly fashion, I lost the button so I used a pearl from the "pretties kit." The cool thing about the kit is you get everything you need to make 9 cards, including step by step instructions which is exactly what I need.

The card is for my DM, after a little more than 2 years working together we have been realigned and are no longer working together. She is coming to my store tomorrow to "hand over" the store, I know it is going to be an emotional day,thankfully I am not working the business so I won't scare any customers away with my "I have been crying face"

Swapping was fun.......

All of this talk and pressure around swapping at convention had me on pins and needles, I wondered was my swap good enough? would people want to swap with me? how would people know I had swaps? and tons of other things ran through my head as I entered the Salt Palace for the first time with my Ziploc bag full of swaps. It didn't take me very long to figure out how the whole swapping thing worked. Basically everyone in the building was swapping, it made waiting in line for Memento Mall seem not so bad. People were basically walking up and down the line swapping. I very quickly learned the easiest way to do it without dropping everything on the floor was to give with one hand and take with the other (remember high school graduation, you shook with the right and received your diploma with your left, same concept) I started putting all the swaps I received in the back of my very cool new bag from SU and the one I was giving stayed in the front of the back so not to mix them up. I would be lying if I said I went through all of the ones I received. Making 150+ cards was over whelming; however they were all the same design so it wasn't that bad; however, I received 150+ cards all of which are different designs, it is amazing to me the time and effort that went into alot of them. I really need to figure out a way of sorting through all of them and filing them for future use/inspiration. In addition to giving me some really great gifts (including an adorable picture of her dog "Snowball"- that is for you Judy if you are reading this) my roommate gave me several cards and card designs to use in the future. The two cards posted are from her. I am going to my cousins' birthday party tomorrow and these cards are perfect for them, they are turning 6 and 4. I am sure they are going to love them and hope you do too. I hope to post pics of the swaps I received as I sort through them, not committing to any specific time frame though, sorting through them could take awhile.

Friday Fillins Times 2!!

No wonder I can't figure out what day of the week it is, I didn't do my Friday Fillins last week. So this week I will be doing this weeks and lasts to make up for it.


1. You know you're old when you need to use the calculator to figure out how old you are (serious business I do that all the time 2008-1975 okay so I just turned 33).

2. My heart is divided between my friends and my family.

3. Money and sleep is what I need RIGHT NOW!

4. I have felt the pain, I have known the depths of love (or is it the other way around- felt the love and known the depths of pain?)

5. Gah, won't these people leave me alone.

6. Fall in love as soon as you can!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to catching the highlights from the opening ceremonies of the Olympics (since I will be working when they air the first time)tomorrow my plans include working and going to my cousin's birthday party and Sunday, I want to enjoy my day off!


And now for last week's (not filling out the weekend stuff since it will be the same as the one above)

1. If I could travel back in time, I'd go to Joannie's house before she died even though my mother told me not to!!!
2. Give me chocolate or give me space.
3. I am listening to Run DMC "It's Tricky" (thanks Kimmie).
4. Somewhere, someone is thinking what the hell am I doing?
5. I'll always be myself.
6. My idea of a good time includes friends and comfy clothes.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to _____, tomorrow my plans include _____ and Sunday, I want to _____!

It keeps getting better and better

Stampin' Up! has done it again. They are running an amzing recruiting special lstarting on Monday, I am so excited about it, I couldn't wait until then to share the news. For $99 you can sign up to be a demonstrator and get amazing discounts on every order you place. One of the things that makes this promotion so special is there are 3 different starter kits to pick from and as usual all of the kits are 100% customizable... how cool is that?



When I placed my first Stampin' Up order I never thought I would become a demonstrator but because I had an amazing demonstrator who was so motivated and passionate about what she does I became to think more and more about it. I was going to place the order anyway, why not get a discount? I have never hosted a workshop, or taught a class yet I get a great discount with EVERY order I place. I LOVE IT!! After attending convention I realized there was a lot more I could be doing with "my business" and I promised myself I would work a little harder at it than I had been. I still don't plan on hosting workshops or teaching classes and that is okay because I don't have to!

One of the things that is so inspiring about convention is watching demonstrators walk across stage for their accomplishments in various different categories. Like me, many of my "sideline sisters" signed up as hobby demonstrators after being at convention and seeing people get rewards and walk across the stage we are committed as a team to walk across the stage next year. I am so excited to be feeding off their energy and motivation I just know this is going to be an amazing year!!!

Another exciting convention announcement......

Stampin' Up! has announced a partnership with Sizzix!!! Please join me in welcoming the newest member of the SU family.........The Big Shot. How exciting!! There are so many amazing things you can create with it, I can't wait to get my hands on it.

When Shelli announced the partnership all 5500+ woman in the convention center went crazy, it was unreal. I am sure you are wondering what is the Big Shot and when/where can you get one? I have the answers to those questions and more....... The Big Shot is a sturdy manual die cutting machine used to die cut materials for use on crafts, home décor projects, and even clothing--it's a big deal! Starting September 2nd you will be able to order the Big Shot along with Exclusive Stampin' Up! Dies how cool is that? I am so excited I can barely control myself!

Convention was amazing............

If I talked about all of the great new products and announcements made at Convention I would be typing for days! It was awesome. The new catalog is amazing, be sure to contact me today for your free copy!!!

Stampin' Up! has sweetened the deal a little more by putting some of the new stamps sets on promotion.....

Never Before Seen Promotion

From August 11 through September 30, Stampin' Up! is providing never-before-seen savings on brand-new stamp sets: 15% off select new, die-cut stamp sets from the Fall-Winter 2008 Idea Book & Catalog--no additional purchase necessary. Select items are listed in the table below:

Item Code Pg. # Description Regular Price 15% off Price
111690 32 Snow Swirled $24.95 $21.21
111586 55 It's a Stretch $23.95 $20.36
111544 81 Putt Putt $24.95 $21.21
111626 91 Eastern Blooms $21.95 $18.66
111672 98 Pocket Silhouettes $18.95 $16.11
111710 101 Upsy Daisy $18.95 $16.11
111556 109 Under the Stars $29.95 $25.46
111644 145 Heard from the Heart $22.95 $19.51
111570 157 Contempo Alphabet $40.95 $34.81
109381 23 Felicidades Siempre* $17.95 $15.26

*From Celebrando Creatividad

Pictures of these stamp sets and more are int he new idea book and catalog, be sure to contact me to request your copy!