Exciting Saturday Evening

I spent Saturday afternoon shopping to alleviate my disappointment about my upcoming World Card Making Day event. I advertised 3 days in the local paper and I even had a short spoof in the Business section. NOONE CALLED OR EMAILED to register to attend. My own mother isn't even coming.
SO, as I said, I spent the whole afternoon in Retail Therapy. I found some cool rub-ons at Big Lots (Making Memories) and some heidi grace designs "Pocket Scraps" cardstock stickers. I went to a couple thrift stores and also to Super Wal-Mart. I had lunch by myself at Fazoli's, on the phone with my hubby who was visiting his dad in the hospital. (Nothing major, just a small infection)
After Wal-Mart, it was about 5:30ish and I decided to head for home. BUT, I had to make a stop at Starbuck's first and then start my way. Oh how I love Starbuck's Caramel Frapp's with chocolate chips added....MMMMMM......

As I got onto the highway and headed south, I saw a sight that I had no idea I would be seeing this evening. A farm truck, loaded with soybeans, overturned on the road in front of me. Dust was rising into the air. I slowed down and pulled over to the side. I jumped out of my car and ran up to the truck, laying on it's side. As I am running, I am thinking, "I can't believe I'm doing this." But something made me get out of the car. I know CPR and First Aid. We have to take the class every year for work. Maybe that was the reason. I couldn't just sit there and not attempt to help.

Maybe it was a way of getting me out of my funk and realize there are more important things than being disappointed about a silly cardmaking event. Helping others who may need me is more important. Life is important. Being a compassionate person is important.

As I got to the truck, I saw a young boy sitting on the top, outside of the cab. The father was getting out of the truck through the passenger side window and grandpa was in the driver's seat, unable to get out. I repeatedly asked if everyone was OK. Luckily, noone was hurt, but grandpa sat in the cab behind the wheel, and was looking out through the unbroken windshield at me. He was moving and talking. Other people ran up to the truck and someone called 911. The dad and son got down from the truck and I took the son over to the side of the road and sat on the guard rail with him. He was as white as a ghost. All this went on in about 2 minutes.

There was a nurse who ran up and asked if everyone was OK. She sat down with Mitchell and I. We both asked him questions to make sure he was alert. The fire department pulled up and they started examining. Dad was on the phone, grandpa was still doing OK in the truck. The ambulances pulled up. Police pulled up. The fire department busted out the front windshield and used the "Jaws of Life" to open up the cab of the truck and get grandpa out. Everyone was busily working and examining. (It's amazing how everyone knows exactly what to do and in what order.) Organized chaos, I guess.
Dad's BP was elevated and was advised to go to the hospital, along with Mitchell. His shoulder was sore from Dad landing on him during the accident. Mom arrived and took them to the hospital. The extrication was complete and grandpa was free. He walked, assisted by the paramedics to the stretcher. He was wheeled to the ambulance and driven to the hospital.

All this took about an hour. Maybe longer. It seemed like an instant.

Thank God everyone was going to be OK.

Thank God for putting things in perspective.



Wishing you inspiration (in many ways),

Lori

Goofy Names and Schedule

I saw this on a few blogs and I thought it would be fun to see what my names would be:


1. YOUR ROCKSTAR NAME (first pet, current car): Tinkerbell Jeep

2. YOUR GANGSTA NAME (favorite ice cream, favorite cookie): Chocolate Chip Chocolate Chip

3. YOUR FLY "GUY/GIRL" NAME (first initial first name, first 3 letters last name): LWIL

4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME (favorite color, favorite animal): Pink Dog

5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME (middle name, city where you were born): Jane Jasper

6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME (first 3 letters last name, first 2 letters first name): WILLO

7. YOUR SUPERHERO NAME (2nd favorite color, favorite drink, & add "the"):
The Lime Green Tea

8. YOUR NASCAR NAME (first names of your Grandfathers): Leo Louis

9. YOUR STRIPPER NAME (favorite perfume, favorite candy): Love Spell Chocolate

10. YOUR WITNESS PROTECTION NAME (Mother's & Father's middle names): Louise John


Today I will be working on a couple of Thinking of You cards that a coworker wanted me to make and also I will be trying to come up with some card designs for my Stamp-a-Stack event I'm having on October 6th--World Card Making Day.
I will post what I got done later today or tomorrow. (Not sure what else is in store for me today) I may be having dinner with a coworker friend this evening, depending on how her schedule works out.

Have a GREAT Saturday friends !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wishing you inspiration,
Lori

Punched Out and an ATC

I have seen this posted in a few places and thought I would share with you. (to whoever put this together--thank you for sharing!)

Stamps Sets for Punches

Scallop Circle Punch: In the Spotlight, Glorious Garlands, Punch Pals, Double-Line Doodles, Wanted, Priceless, Big Flowers, Big Deal Alphabet, Looks Like Spring, Fabulous Flowers, Ginormous Flowers, Sweet Shapes, Illuminations, It’s Your Birthday, Warm Words, Pictograms, Short and Sweet, Sincere Salutations, All Holidays, Jumbo Alphabet, All About Occasions, Brocade Basics, Baroque Motifs, Sparkling Sayings, So Much, Fun & Fast Notes, On Board Blossoms and Basics

Tag Punches: Perfect Presentation, All About Occasions, Flakey Friends, Punch Pals, Be Happy, Tagger’s Dozen, Bundled in Love, Business Boosters

Designer Label Punch: Party Punch, Labelicious

Round Tab Punch: Party Punch, Office Accoutrement, Totally Tabs

1” Circle Punch: Sending Happy Thoughts kit, Perfect Presentation, Glorious Garlands, The Snowflake Spot, Perennial Favorites, Holiday Blitz, Double-Line Doodles, Polka Dots & Petals, Create a Coupon, Genuine Articles, Business Boosters, Calendar Cues, On Board Blossoms and Basics

1 ¼” and/or 1 3/8” Circle Punch: Simple Delights Simply Sent kit, Perfect Presentation, Batty For You, Holiday Tag Team, Sparkling Sayings, Be Happy, Figures of Speech, Double-Line Doodles, Polka Dots & Petals, Big Flowers, Stamp of Authenticity, Carte Postale, Think Happy Thoughts, Big Pieces, Seeing Spots, So Happy, Dots Are Hot, Brocade Basics, Labelicious, Genuine Articles, Circle of Friendship, It’s All Good, Sporting

½” and/or ¾” Circle Punch: In the Spotlight, Holiday Tag Team, Glorious Garlands, Cold Play, Snow Flurries, Merry Merry, Punch Pals, Forever in My Heart, Holiday Blitz, Double-Line Doodles, Sweet Thing, Wanted, Star Struck, Little Flowers, Little Pieces, Please Come, Dot Spot background, Alphabits, Art by Design

1 ¼” and/or 1 3/8” Square Punch: Simple Delights Simply Sent kit, Perfect Presentation, Forever in My Heart, Sealed With a Kiss, Be Happy, Figures of Speech, Tagger’s Dozen, Sweet Thing, Office Accoutrement, Stamp of Authenticity, Carte Postale, Glad Tidings, It’s All Good, Art by Design, Sporting, Business Boosters, It’s a Date

¾” Square Punch: Punch Pals, Calendar Cues

Large Oval Punch: I Did It, several of the word sets

Star Punch: Wanted, Starstruck, Sporting, Wild West Alphabet, On Board Blossoms and Basics

5-Petal Flower Punch: In the Spotlight, Be Happy, Priceless, Simply Said, Looks Like Spring, Heartfelt Thanks, Ginormous Flowers, Office Accoutrement, Big Pieces, Cutie Pie Double Sided Paper, On Board Blossoms and Basics

Snow Blossom Punch: In the Spotlight, Simple Snowman, Wondrous Gift, Snowflake Spot, Merry Merry, Snow Flurries, Punch Pals, Snowfall, Be Happy

Spring Flower Bouquet Punch: Looks Like Spring

Three for You Punch: Three Thoughts Simply Sent kit, Punch Pals, Take Three, Three for You punch box

Word Window Punch: So Many Sayings, Block Party, Boatloads of Love, Fun & Fast Notes, Take Three, Everything Baby, Short & Sweet, Happy Everything, Wonderful Favorites, Warm Words, All Holidays, Everyday Flexible Phrases, Amazing to Zany, Fundamental Phrases

I was in a Christmassy kind of mood, so I decided to make an ATC to commemorate my mood. I used Doodlebug Designs paper, So Much stamp set, red gingham ribbon, assorted sequins and a 4 of hearts card. Ü

SU Louisville Regional !!

OH MY GOODNESS !! I had so much fun at regionals with my friends Judy and Becky ! We laughed and talked and shared ideas. We arrived in Louisville and found the Archiver's. Who knew it would be IN Oxmoor Mall????????? Heeheee It was Becky's first time in an Archiver's and I think she liked it. I would bet it won't be her last. (I think she secretly wanted a pic of herself in front of the store, but declined when I asked if I could take her pic.) Judy and I were old pro's so we knew what we were in for. Gotta love Archiver's !

When we got to the convention center on Saturday we swapped our card fronts like crazy. Most of the ladies had swaps made to share. I heard there were somewhere in the neighborhood of 500+ gals there. I made 60 swaps and got them all swapped before the doors opened for us to go in and get our seats. If I knew it would be that much fun to swap, I definitely would have made more! We sat with some great gals and had lots of fun with them. (HI Ashley, Erica, Janet and Melanye!!!)

SU had TONS of ideas for us to see (and do). We made a 12X12 scrapbook page, a 6X6 scrapbook page, 3 "different opening" cards and one "regular opening" card.

The buzz word they kept using was GINORMOUS, pronounced ji-normous. I guess it's a cross between gigantic and enormous. It was funny to hear them say it throughout their demonstrations. My favorite "celeb" was Jaron. He made some VERY cute cards and decorations. I especially liked his Liberace Santa with all the Dazzling Diamonds. Ü I took lots of notes and made lots of sketches in the notebook that was in our pack. We also got a free stamp set (So Much), a lanyard for our nametags, an SU pen and the make-n-takes.

Would you believe I have a list of supplies I NEED now? LOL

I think I got my money's worth from it. I don't know that I will go to another one if it is near and/or I'm still a demo, but this was was definitely FUN and INSPIRING !!!!!

The group pic is from left to right starting in the front row: Becky, me (with my "see into the future glasses"), Janet....second row: Judy, Ashley, Erica and Melanye. The pic with the 3 gals are Judy, Becky and I.

Today I worked on some cute little composition books I got at the Family Dollar. I CASEd the idea from AnnMarie http://annmariesstampingadventures.blogspot.com/. Basically you just Mod Podge papers to the front and back cover and seal it with Mod Podge. I attached ribbon to the cover and cut it long enough so you can keep your place inside the notebook. I also stamped each gal's initial and added it to the cover. The one with the "K" is for my mom. Hers is made with retired SU designer paper. I just LOVE that set of papers. The other two are for the gals I'm going to the Louisville Regional with-one is for my upline and one is for my sideline. Those two are made with the Creepy Crawly designer paper. I don't think they know my blog yet. (I hope) I also made matching pens to go with the notebooks. I didn't get a pic of the pens, but they were made with the RSVP brand pens.

I STILL have a bunch of card fronts I NEED to make for next weekend's Regional. I have 30 made already, but I wanted to use a different layout idea for the others. I'm not sure about how many of the other ones I should make. At these Regionals, gals make bunches of card fronts and swap with other gals. This way, you have TONS of different ideas and stamp sets to show at your workshops.

Enjoy the rest of your Labor Day weekend !

Wishing you inspiration,

Lori

Fun Mail and Busy Gal

This has kept me busy most of the evening. I have been pairing up 79 gals who would like to get more than bills in the mail. I'm calling it our "Stampin Pals" group. It's much like Pen Pals (remember those when we were young?) where you get to know that other person you've been paired up with. Only this way we already have one thing in common: STAMPING !!!!!! I CASED this idea from a post I saw on Splitcoast Stampers and thought it would be fun to be paired up with someone who enjoys stamping as much as you do. So I opened my big mouth on the demonstrator's side of SCS and I got this wave of gals who would like to get FUN mail ! 79 of us so far!!! I am just amazed at the response I got. Anita aka "greetingstoinvites" (on SCS) offered to help me get everyone's info on an Excel spreadsheet. She did a WONDERFUL job! KUDOS TO YOU ANITA !!!!!!!!! So tonight I paired up everyone and posted the pairs. We will be either PM'ing or emailing everyone's info SOON! I can't wait to see pics of what has been created !

Speaking of creating something, I got this RAK in the mail today. It was from "istamp31". It is SO pretty!!! I just love the quote, " Within your heart keep one, still, secret spot where dreams may go." ~Louise Driscoll I love that quote. I wonder where she got the stamp?????? Here is a pic of what she created.

Enjoy your evening!

Wishing you inspiration,

Lori

What Inspires You ?

I'll have to admit, sometimes there are LONG periods of time where I don't feel the least bit creative. LOOOOOONG periods. So usually to remedy this I visit a few new blogs that I haven't seen before. I may check out someone's blogroll with names I've never seen before. This week I've discovered there are cool ways to jump start your creativity by using a deck of cards. WHAT?!?! Yeah, there are challenges on websites where people are given a word a day and have to use a card from the deck (to collage onto) and express their "take" on that word. Amazing! You can buy a brand new deck of cards at the dollar store, sometimes 2 per pack for a buck! Check out this gal's blog: http://eliseblaha.typepad.com/cardart/

Here's a quote from another card sight I found: "A simple deck of cards, turned into art, one day at a time. A visual diary of 52 days of my life. A reason to do something creative every single day."

I think I may try this. They save theirs in those baseball card binders. KWIM?

So what is your main source of inspiration? Blogs? Challenges? An idea just pops in your head and you hurry to sketch it so you don't forget it?

Thanks for reading.

Wishing you inspiration,
Lori