Little Switzerland!

The fam at Linville Falls

Last week our family went to Little Switzerland, NC and had an amazing time! We hiked to four different waterfalls and all were so different and amazing!

On the river near Chimney Rock

The first day we went to Chimney Rock. We had a great time hiking and seeing the sights!

The Girls

The Boys

The Kids

Chimney Rock Falls

Lacie and Maddie at Chimney Rock Falls

Only some of us hiked to the waterfall at Chimney Rock. It's a huge drop off with a good amount of water.

That evening we went to Young's Mountain Music. It was a hoot! You get the best of North Carolina's Mountain music in a hall that changes bands about every 10 min. It also offers dancing to anyone who'd like to get up and strut their stuff. The average age of attendees is about 80. We had a ball!

Lacie and Me

Carston and Maddie

The next day we went to Linville Falls. We had a great time hiking above and down to the bottom of the falls.

Linville Falls

The kids @ Linville Falls

The Fam. @ Linville Falls

On Monday we went to an apple orchard, gem mining and we hiked to Roaring Fork Falls. This day I used my video camera to take pictures and I am still learning how to upload those so no pictures for that day.

On Tuesday we hiked Crabtree Falls, about a 3 mile hike with a beautiful waterfall in between.

Crabtree Falls

Bryson, Me, Carston and Lacie @ Crabtree Falls

I don't know if I could say which waterfall was the best, they were all so unique and beautiful! If you ever think of taking a waterfall trip, I highly recommend the book "North Carolina Waterfalls" by Kevin Adams. It's very detailed and was a great resource. Thanks to my friend Sarah for loaning it to us!

Laura's cake

A friend had a birthday a couple of days ago so I made her this candy bar cake. It's such a pain to cut the styrofoam in a circle that I stick the candy bars to, so I came up with a new idea. I stuck them to a can of chicken! It was the perfect size! I'm sure the recipient will think it's a little strange so next time I'll probably empty the can and remove the label, but it works either way!

Supplies

Stamps: Eat Cake, Ginormous Flowers, Looks Like Spring

Paper: Loves Me DSP, Choc. Chip, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose

Ink: Choc. Chip, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose

Accessories: Cupcake die, 5 petal flower punch

Sally's box

I made this box for my friend who is battling cancer and filled it with cards for her to give away. I'm happy with the way it turned out!

9 Weeks Until Christmas

How am I going to decide which Christmas card to send out? Here is another one I love!

Supplies

Stamps: Four the Holidays

Paper: Real Red, Black, White

Ink: Black

Accessories: Bead Duo, Pretties flower, Ribbon

Yummy, Yum, Yum!

Love the new treat cups! Okay, what don't I love? But really, aren't they so cute! This card has a slider tab so you can get the candy out without ruining the card. Love it!

Supplies

Stamps: Petal Pizzazz, Sock Monkey

Paper: Pink Passion, Choc. Chip, White

Ink: Versamark, Choc. Chip

Accessories: White EP and treat cups

10 Weeks Until Christmas

Can you believe it??? Only 10 weeks until Christmas! That sounds REALLY close! Well, I've decided to do a countdown to Christmas with some sort of project that is Christmas related each week. If anyone wants the challenge as well, make a comment and add a link so we can all get ideas!

For my first week I've decided to make a card with the Patterned Pines set. I love this stamp set! (I'm sure you'll be seeing quite a few cards with this set in the next few weeks!)

Supplies

Stamps: Patterned Pines

Paper: Riding Hood Red, Christmas Cocoa DSP, Old Olive, White

Ink: Riding Hood Red, Old Olive

Accessories: Ribbon

Happy Birthday

What a great birthday! Lori sent me this adorable cupcake die and Lacie went right away and made me a birthday card with it! Isn't that the cutest! Thanks Lori!!!

Lacie bought me a Baby Ruth candy bar and gave me $5! Sooooo sweet! She also made me dinner and lemon bars. Grateful to have a girl!

Mark is embracing my new desire to learn tennis and is getting me a new racquet + accessories along with lessons (I need them.)

Beth brought me the cutest cupcake basket of lotions and a plate full of cupcakes.

Mom and Dad gave me $$! Yea!

Lots of sweet birthday wishes from family and friends. Thanks everyone!

Bad News

We learned a couple of weeks ago that two dear friends are battling very serious health issues. One has a brain tumor and the other has breast cancer. It's amazing how attitude affects everything! They both have been such a great example to me as to how to deal with a stress like this. I wanted to express my support and the hope I feel, so I made this card for them.

This card is just a little different. (It really makes a difference when I'm able to take my pictures outside during the day!)

Supplies

Stamps: Hope Happens

Paper: Rich Razzleberry, Certainly Celery, Orchid Opulence, White

Ink: Rich Razzleberry

Accessories: Nestabilities, Beautiful Butterflies die, Texturz plates, ribbon

My Sick Sense of Humor

I love the Sock Monkey stamp set. Ever since I purchased it I've had this idea in my head and I finally did it. I love it. Poor monkey lost his head to the pumpkin.

Supplies

Stamps: Sock Monkey and Accessories

Paper: Pumpkin Pie, White

Ink: Basic Brown, Wild Wasabi, Pumpkin Pie, Close to Cocoa, Certainly Celery, Regal Rose

Thanksgiving place setting

I made this place setting with the Falling Leaves stamp set. I love the new striped grosgrain ribbon! It's so soft and easy to work with!

Supplies

Stamps: Falling Leaves

Paper: Choc. Chip, Really Rust, Very Vanilla

Ink: Choc. Chip, Really Rust, More Mustard

Accessories: Choc. Chip striped grosgrain ribbon, Top Note die, Fancy Favor die

Christmas Crisscross card

Here's the tutorial for the crisscross card we made at stamp club. Start with a 12x12 piece of cardstock. Cut it to 4x12. (You will get 3 cards out of one 12x12) I started this tutorial with white paper so you could see the lines better.

Score it at 1" and 6 1/2." Place your cardstock on your paper cutter diagonally between the 1" and 6 1/2" score lines. Cut. You now have two pieces that look like this.

Add adhesive to the 1" piece and adhere it to the front side of the back of the card. (Does that make sense?)

Add sticky strip to the bottom of the center piece.

Fold over one side of the triangle.

Cut a piece of white cardstock and patterned paper to 3 3/4"x5." Cut in half diagonally.

Stamp on white triangle and adhere to card. Attach patterned paper to the other side. Make sure you decide which side the patterned paper fits on before stamping and adhering the other piece.

Add adhesive to the other triangle, snail adhesive will do. Fold over.

Cut a piece of white cardstock to 5 1/4" x 3 1/2." Punch a tab out of patterned paper with the rounded tab punch. Stick it to the top of the white card.

Cut one piece of black cardstock 1" x 12." Stamp sentiment with Versamark and emboss with white embossing powder.

Wrap black strip around base of card and stick together in the back. You're done!

Sept. Stamp Club

We had a great time this month at stamp club. A few new faces joined us and we loved having them! We made 2 cards and a cute favor with the new Fancy Favor die.

It seems silly to be making Christmas cards already but I think Christmas will be here before we know it. Hence, we made this Christmas card. I'm working on a tutorial and I'll post it as soon as I'm done.

Supplies

Stamps: Baroque Motifs, Four the Holidays

Paper: Black (12x12), White, Christmas Cocoa DSP

Ink: Versamark, Real Red

Accessories: White ep

I love fall! And, I love the new Falling Leaves stamp set.

Supplies

Stamps: Falling Leaves

Paper: More Mustard, Really Rust, Bermuda Bay, Choc. Chip, Very Vanilla

Ink: More Mustard, Really Rust, Bermuda Bay, Choc. Chip

Accessories: Choc. Chip striped grosgrain ribbon, button, linen thread

I also love the new fancy favor die! It makes me want to give little treats to everyone I know!