Stampin Addicts Blog Contest!

Notice to "Big Shot" lovers -- Stampin Addicts is having a killer contest where you can win the awesome "Big Shot" accessories shown above!

Stampin Addicts has tons of ideas using the Stampin’ Up! Big Shot and is giving away a Big Shot Die Pack as part of the Stampin’ Up! summer celebration. To enter, all you have to do is write about it. This is my entry. Now give me my dies.

Summer Fun

It's finally summer here in Connecticut. I think that means we are supposed to do fun things, like go to the beach, have a barbecue, and wear flip flops. I am good with the flip flops, but not good at any other summer activities, except, of course, watching baseball. I am a "baseball mom," and also a baseball fan. I love to go to a live game, and watch it on tv. Of course, at my house we are Mets fans, and that's not an easy thing to be. The Mets are woeful at best. They never win, and they only have one star player that is not injured. You just can't watch the Mets these days, which leaves me plenty of time to watch Soap Net. I am almost embarrassed to say that I am on top of the story line of almost every major soap opera. I really need to get a life! Anyone care to invite me to a barbecue?

No Stamps "Quilt" Card

This card was easy to make, and didn't involve stamping. The sentiment is a rub-on, and the "quilt" patches are made using punches. It didn't take long to put together, and can be made in stages in your spare time. I am already planning similar versions of this card in all types of color combinations.

Here's the recipe:

Card Base and first layer: Textured paper -- Kiwi Kiss layered with Pink Pirouette (paper piercing on the pink)

"Patches" - Scallop Square Punch, 1" Circle Punch, Large and Small flowers from the Boho Bossoms Punch, Single hole paper punch (center of the flower)

The patches were adhered to the card with dimensionals

The sentiment is from the "Bright Delights" rub-ons set

Simple and Easy!

You can buy the great Stampin' Up! products used to make this card from my friend, Jacki, here!

Cute & Easy Birthday Card

This card is so easy to make! For all of you new to card-making, I am a Stampin' Up! fan and representative. I love making cards so much, I decided to join the company! You too, can make these great cards, with the fabulous products made by Stampin' Up! You can buy the products directly through my friend Jacki's authorized Stampin' Up! website -- Tell her "Lisa" sent you!

For this card I used my "Big Shot" machine. A must for all card making. I embossed the swiss dots with a "texturz" plate, and I made the cupcake using the "sizzlits Big Bold Cupcakes" die. The cupcake is made with a couple of pieces of "Patterns Pack Designer Series Paper," which I received as a hostess gift.

The base of the card is bashful blue card stock, and the dots are embossed on whisper white.

The sentiment is from the "Sincere Salutations" stamp set. It's such a great set and I recommend it be one of your first purchases!

Back at Work...

It's funny about me and work -- I went back to work today, and I had a much better day than I have had during the past two days of being home. I have no idea what to do when I am home. I clean my house and get frustrated, I fight with my husband and get frustrated, I sit around and do nothing and get frustrated. I guess staying home is a "frustrating" experience LOL! It's probably because I am not "in" with the stay at home moms, and they didn't invite me to play tennis or go out for lunch. I don't think I'd find a tennis game or a nice lunch out frustrating! :o)

What's interesting though is that I don't experience that same type of frustration at work. It's not that everything goes my way or is easy. As a matter of fact, it's almost never easy. I think that I am just more comfortable there. I am in my element, doing my thing, having people respect my opinion and needing and wanting my assistance. I guess work makes me feel purposeful, if that's a word.

BIG NOTE: Card-making makes me feel purposeful too, and tomorrow I am going to introduce you to Stampin' Up! I think I'll have you hooked on card-making in no time!

Revelation of a Working Mom

I am a working mom. Sorta good career, sole supporter of my family kind of working mom. I work "like a man." I've always been proud to be a working mom -- figuring people look at me and say "hey, look at her -- she works, takes care of her house, raises her son, and is a very independepent woman -- bravo!"

However, today I did not work. I took a day off to go to my son's 8th grade graduation ceremony, and I ran into lots of moms that I never see -- because I am working. Here's what I think I realized -- I think the stay at home moms have FUN while I am working. Apparently they play tennis, go shopping, go out for lunch, go to the gym, and now that it's summer, they can sit by the pool and go to the beach. So perhaps what people really say about me is -- "look at her -- big sucker, working her ass off to pay the bills while the smart moms go out and play." Is that what they are really saying? Have I been kidding myself all of these years?

Note to the stay at home moms -- good for you! You are clearly smarter and having more fun than I am -- I am jealous! I don't think I am better because I work. I think maybe I could have been good at tennis and going out for lunch, but, sadly, I will never know.

I have one more day off before I head back to work on Wednesday, and truth be told, I really do like to work. I'll be happy to get back to work, to commute and sit in traffic, and have my regular day where I try to fit 36 hours worth of work and chores into a 24 hour day. But from now on when I sit through a meeting, I think my mind just might wander to the thoughts of a long relaxing lunch and a game of tennis...

Another Shot at Blogging

I've been trying to establish a blog, on and off, for several years. I am so fascinated with blogging, and yearn to have a bevy of readers who hang on my every word. Of course, I can't write all that well, and I don't have all that much to write about -- my life, frankly, is a bit dull. I am pretty sure that there isn't one reader out there who "hangs on my every word." So, how about if I settle for a few loyal readers who pop by occasionally when they are having a really slow day? And, those few readers should only should spread the word about my blog if I do a good job. By "good job" I mean that I write something that makes you laugh, makes you cry or makes you think -- and you realize that you are glad you hopped by my blog and read it. So that's my challenge to me...come up with something worth reading, and I bet the great readers out there in "blog land" will read it!