Trip-Grand Turk 12/22/04-12/29/04

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On December 26, 2003 I experienced a life changing event that pretty much devastated me and changed me in so many ways. It also made me realize that life was too short to continue living it the way I had been; suffocated and repressed. So I vowed that I would never be in the United States ever again on December 25. And, that I would travel to some place beautiful and tropical over the week of the holidays. So my first trip was to the island of Grand Turk which is part of Turks and Caicos Islands, 500 miles South East of Miami. Some place I'd longed to go since I was 17. I planned to make a dream come true after all those years. Actually, I planned to make many dreams come true with regard to seeing this huge, beautiful world. So I sent a broadcast email to my girlfriends and let them know what I'd planned and if anyone wanted to go they could, if not, I was going alone. I'd reserved my flight and a bed and breakfast, ocean front room in April 2004. No one took me up on the offer. Until I met Katie in May of 2004. I'd been talking about my trip and she inquired about it and told me to send her some information about it. So I did. And, I think in July she made her reservations to go too. It was without a doubt an awesome vacation and she and I have travelled each year over the holidays to some fabulous places. This year is our 4th trip; we're going to Costa Rica. Of course, now she and I each have puppies and it's hard to leave them, but I have someone who stays at my house with them the whole time and she will too this year, so it's a little easier. Actually Brian will be with the babies until he will join us on the 29th. Then my pet sitter will be there with them day and night for the last 4 nights, so that's not too bad. So these are a few pictures from the Grand Turk trip.

Is it Knot?

This is sort of an inside post. But I had to take a picture of this and post it with hopes that a certain person will see it. This person and another friend went along with Brian and me in October to Old Town Alexandria for the day. When we got to the marina, he proceeded to tie the ropes in this fashion. Which Brian and I thought was really neat. So when Brian and I went the day before Thanksgiving to Old Town on his boat, I thought I'd try my hand at what our friend did on the earlier trip. And, I got it on the first try. Brian said he was impressed and even he doesn't know how to do it. I guess you could say I was a little proud of my attempt too. And, I've got a feeling Brian will want me to tie his ropes like that on future boat trips with friends.

And, another Holiday Card.

All the items used to make this card are from Stampin Up except the designer paper which I bought last year at Michael's.

Bowling with Friends!

Make a slide show, scrapbook, or ecard A fun night of bowling with the greatest friends!

Make a slide show, scrapbook, or ecard First of all, when opened this says from the Jones, which of course is not correct. I had it saying from the Gal Stamper, but don't know what happened. Anyway... Here are a few pictures of me with my family over the Thanksgiving Holiday. Of course it all started Wednesday when Brian and I took a wonderful boat ride to Old Town Alexandria, Virginia via the Potomac River. We had a nice intimate lunch at Wharf Restaurant. Thursday evening we had a nice time with Ming, Ray, Emily and Ming's sister and husband eating Ray's homemade apple pie, cappuccino and watching a very funny movie. Friday night Brian and I had dinner with my mom, her husband, my sister, her boyfriend and my niece; which was so nice. Afterwards we met friends downtown for a cocktail. Saturday evening we met up with friends for some great bowling. All in all, I could not have asked for a better holiday.

Seeing Red!

This card is more or less a different variation of the card in the previous post. But I truly love the stamp. So everything is mostly the same except I used SU Real Red Paper.

Holiday Serenity!

I recently joined the Rubber Mania (DRS Designs)Monthly stamp program and I'm loving what I've ordered and received so far. This card was made using silver ink and silver embossing powder and winter wonderland embossing powder. The only brand paper I used was the SU Whisper White. The rest is just a mix I had laying around. And, of course the ribbon is from Michael's. I also used my SU Signo pen to put some white dots between the big snowflakes which came from my SU Cold Play set.

Let it Snow!

I actually made this card way before Halloween and really didn't think it was all that great. But a few folks have said they actually like it a fair amount. When I asked why they said because the colors were different than what they usually see and it caught their eye. In other words, it wasn't a traditional holiday card. Gee, and I thought folks were more apt to like the traditional versus one like this. So, I decided to take a picture of it and post it here. I had already put in on Splitcoast Stampers in my gallery and not here. So here it is! Everything is from SU except for the PaperTrey Ink White paper, the ribbon and the eyelets.

Fall at the Office!

I'm not sure how this picture will look to most of you, but the other night leaving the office I took more notice of this tree. Although, I must say I'm really noticing all the trees in our area are especially spectacular right now. It just makes me want to stop the car and take tons of pictures of them. But the parking lot light had come on and seemed to illuminate this one even more. So I thought I'd take a picture of it and post it.

I hope to get lots of cards made this weekend as I got some new stamps in yesterday, but I must say my time is going to be limited to a degree. The first day of hunting with shot guns is tomorrow which is followed by a gathering of folks and good food, I have got to get some furniture moved around and very dear friends are coming in for a visit from Spain tonight. They just temporarily moved there from Richmond a few months back and are here getting a visa straightened out. They plan to be in Spain for about 2 years and then who knows where. I plan to visit them in the Spring of next year for sure and maybe in the Summer as well. Which brings to mind traveling. I think next week I'll start my travel posts. The first one will be on Grand Turk where Katie and I went in December 2004. An awesome place for sure! And, one where I will definitely re-visit; maybe a Thanksgiving trip.

Chilly Penguins!

I bought this stamp from Michael's just before Halloween. I like penguins a lot and like the chilly blue of winter that most usually associate with them. The cardstock is PaperTrey Ink white, and a DP slab I got from Michael's as well. The deep blue is left over from old stationary from work that we no longer use. The ribbon is new from Michael's as well. The brad I got from Queen and Company and the sentiment is a sticker from a UK stockist. And, I used my SU Ticket Corner Punch. Oh, and the color on the penguins is from a case of gel pens that I have had for a while and it has an awesome assortment of glitter pens. ** So it looks like I may need to edit the card some. When I made it I could not recall the color of a penguins beak. Apparently they are supposed to be black as are their heads I think. But I think I'll leave them (head) white on the card.

Noel!

I've never been more excited about holiday cards as I have been this year. And, I must say I was doing them in October as a result. Probably because I have such a nice assortment to pick from and SU being one of my favorites. The card above was made using the SU Wondrous Gift and Many Merry Messages sets. I used my PaperTrey Ink white card stock, SU Handsome Hunter CS and the SU Handsome Hunter and Gold Metallic Ink. I also used the SU gold embossing powder for the stars and the sentiment. The red round stickers I got from Michael's. I like them SO much as they really save time over using glue and SU Red Dazzling Diamonds. Not that I don't like that, I really do, but I'm all about efficiency. And, last but not least; the ribbon!! Love it and I got it at Michael's the other night at 50% off.

Happy Birthday Terry!

Tuesday, the 13th, is my dear friend Terry's birthday! I bought this stamp from Whipper Snapper Designs this summer and with her in mind. Because she absolutely is crazy about pigs and has many in various forms in her house. So I knew I had to purchase it! I used SU Purely Pomegranate and Green Galore CS as well as the PP coordinating ink for the sentiment. The coloring on the pigs was used with my various Copic Markers. The brads and eyelet are from Michael's as is the ribbon. I'm hoping she won't see this until later this evening as I haven't given it to her yet. Happy Birthday Terry!! I love you dearly!

Good Job Jess!

My dear friend Terry asked me Saturday if I'd make Jess (her ex-husbands daughter) a card because she got all A's on her report card. And, she's in advanced math as well. She turned 11 on July 31 and is without a doubt the smartest 11 year old I've ever known. So the above card is what I quickly made. I made it keeping in mind that a child would receive it, so it's a bit bizzy! :D I used my Big Shot and die cut letters to make the sentiment. And, I used SU Doodle This stamp set and Green Galore , Close to Cocoa, Purely Pomegranate, Pretty in Pink CS. I also used SU Chocolate Chip Ink and the Signo Gel Pen for the white dots. The ribbon is May Arts from Ben Franklin and the flower brads are from Michael's. Oh, and the paper flowers I made using my flower die cut and snipped to make the petals. The DP I ordered online some time ago.

Traditional Red/Green Christmas!

I don't know why this card has me somewhat excited, but I think it's because I learned a new technique with one of my SU punches. The Round Tab punch is what made the circle in the white card stock that I stamped with my Background Basics Holly stamp using SU Handsome Hunter Ink. I colored the berries with my red Copic Marker. Other paper is SU White, Handsome Hunter, and Real Red. The red ribbon is also from SU. The brads are from Queen and Company. The other circle items are a variety of circle punches to include SU Circle Scallop. The sentiment was taken from my SU Party Punch set. The DP is from a slab I got from Michael's.

Ornament Cover!

Some time ago my dear friend Myna gave me the gift noted in the above picture. Well, she made the cover for the holiday ball. It is without a doubt one of the most beautiful ornaments I have for my tree. I just love it. I've got the pattern to make my own, but have never found the time to finish it. She says it takes on average 8 hours to make one. This summer she had some surgery and was out for quite a few weeks from work recovering and she made I think over twenty something of them. Who knows I may get a wild hair and try to finish the one I started quite some time ago.

Cake for Beulah!

Wednesday, the 7th is my dearest friend Beulah's birthday. She is such a special person to me and we used to work together for quite a number of years before I left the bank 5 years ago. I'm remiss that we don't get to see each other or talk all that often, but she's always in my heart. And, when we do talk we just carry on for the longest kind of time. Last year I made her a birthday card and am not sure I can top that one. But I've tried with the one above. I used my Paper Trey Ink Eat Cake stamp set. Love that set. And, some retired SU Designer Paper. The ink is current of SU though; Chocolate Chip. As is the Chocolate Chip and Very Vanilla CS. The pink is Color Box Pixie Pink from Michael's along with the brads. Oh, and, the ribbon and Dazzling Diamonds sparkle is from SU as well. I also used my Spellbinders Nestabilities for the scalloped rectangles. The sentiment oval I made with my Big Shot and Ellison die cut. The Close to Cocoa outer oval was done by hand, which you can probably determine. I hope she'll like it. Happy Birthday Beulah honey!! Mmmmmwwwuuuaahhhhhh!! I love you dearly!

Holiday Bella!

It's been a full weekend. Brian and I and several friends went to the Urbanna Oyster Festival for a great part of Saturday and then some errands afterwards. Today, I got up early and did some much needed cleaning and because I wanted to make sure it was ready for company I was having at 1:00 p.m. Oh, and I was expecting my electrician at 9; but he wasn't able to arrive until 2. But the good news is that he fixed the satellite connection to my studio and now I've got all the Dish channels in my studio. Of course, it will most likely stay on HGTV; love that channel. After my dear friend Myna left, I went to Ming's house to visit for a bit. I really thought I'd have to give up hope on getting a card made this weekend, but because of the time change I was still able to get one made. And, using one of my favorite brand of stamps; Stamping Bellas. This one had never been inked and I'd been longing to do so. I used my Fiskars Snowflake Embossing plate on the white cardstock.

Items used:

SU Real Red, Ticket Corner Punch, Slit Punch, Chocolate Chip Ink and Dazzling Diamonds.

She and the tree were colored using Copic Markers. The white paper is from PaperTrey Ink. The DP and ribbon came from Michael's. The brads are from Queen & Company. Oh, and I used my rectangle Nestabilities from Spellbinders.

U2 Cover Band @ Taod's Place Halloween 2007!

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Halloween Night, Brian and I decided to head downtown to Toad's Place to listen to a U2 cover band. In the last minute I was able to get 7 friends together to go and hear them play. And, OMG, did they ever exceed our expectations. They were great! We all had such a great time! Didn't even get home until 1:00 a.m. I'll post pictures of my friends that went on another post. In the meantime, I'm tired and am ready to hit the hay! Enjoy!