Get ready, Get set...

So finally! We got the C.O. on our new place which lets us into the building and grants use of the elevator (doesn't that sound elegant?!?!?!) However, we are still awaiting the CO on moving in....but we can PAINT!! My craft room gets painted first this weekend...priorities, you know!!! LOL Anyway, I am sooo happy to be able to get back in the swing of things...its going to be like Christmas, since I haven't seen my things since July 2011! WOW....that is so long ago...We were supposed to be in our new home by October and then it got delayed continuously month by month. So just get ready ladies, when I have my craft room set up, we will be back in business!! YIPPEE! You have no idea how I missed my stamping and my stampin buddies. Did you miss my creations????

This is a photo of building 1 in the Presidential Place. CAN NOT WAIT TO MOVE!! Even though we have moved 3 times already since 7-14-11 just waiting for our place to be done. This fourth move will so be worth the wait though, wait until you see my other pictures. Thanks for stopping by!!

wedding

My baby girl got married on October 1st. We celebrated for several days; I am so tired and it was so entirely worth it!! So that's what I have been up to (other than having sold our home in 4 weeks and moving twice within 5 weeks....I ahve no idea where most of my stuff is...but I knew where my things were for the wedding!!) Enjoy our day...

Stephanie and I at the end of the night

Joyce and I lighting the Unity candle prior to cake cutting!!





The new Mr. and Mrs. Kirk

My children.... Tanya was Matron of Honor and the boys (Brian, Bob Jr and Dave were groomsmen)

Two tired princesses after the cake cutting...which was their cue to go home...

My grand-daughters (twins) were Jr. Bridesmaids

Just married and in the back of the HUGE limo!

Walking down the aisle with Dad and then partying with her hubby!

Sitting at the sweetheart table, in front of the windows in Ridgecrest, one of the many

beautiful venues at Stroudsmoor Country Inn in Stroudsburg, PA

Bob and I in the bubbles after the ceremony; and me and my BFF Heidi

(no - its not Sarah Palin! LOL)

Birthday Party Services!

OK...so you've done all the other trendy birthday parties....WHAT NOW? I know!!! You can do a scrap attack birthday party!!! The set up for the birthday party I did in my craft room was for 8 young girls and we all made a little scrap book. I took a picture of the party group and printed out 8, one of each! They used that picture on the front cover of their book, and they loved it! I provided the basic book, decorative scissors, punches, all kinds of die cuts, ribbon, buttons, designer paper, sticky stuff and card stock (plus a bit more!!) Now I can no longer offer the parties in my studio as my husband and I are moving, but my daughter will still be in the Lehigh Valley, so we can bring the party to you in NJ or in PA. Call me for a fun and inexpensive way to celebrate!

(we put the cake on this table in the last picture)

Now this idea can actually be done for anyone celebrating any kind of milestone. Recipients LOVE getting a gift that shares remembrances of you all. So consider having this get together either with your loved one or with friends to prepare a wonderful gift. Anniversaries, special number birthdays, weddings, retirements, you name it - it can be documented and shared!! I have a ton of ideas, just call!!!

An April Stamp-a-Stack Card

Here is a sample of one of the April Stamp-a-Stack cards from the April Girls' Night Out in my craft studio. We had so much fun...as always! I CASE-d from someone whose name is not attached to the file I saved, so if its you -let me know so I can give you credit. One of the many, many, many benefits of being a demonstrator is the ability to view card samples on our Stampin' Up! Demonstrator website. My sisters in stamping are very talented, and I thank them for sharing such beautiful work! Enjoy!

St. Luke's Craft Show 2010

So this is Stephanie at our booth at the St. Luke's Craft Show last fall. I sold more than anyone, however, it wasn't very busy since the show was in many diffeent classrooms, rather than a large area. So it was difficult to see everyone and get around. I think the parking may have been difficult, but I don't know for sure. We had fun getting ready...my girlfriends came out to help finsih up projects and then to set up. Stephanie and I had a fun time regardless! I think I 'll look for some other craft shows...especially now that Bob is retired...hahaha!

Rest in Peace, Little Mother...

On May 31st my mother, Regina Forsythe, nee Cowie, known to everyone as Jeannie, lost her long and arduous battel with Alzheimer's. I was with her when she passed, thank the good Lord. I miss her. She was my greatest fan, no matter what I ever did. She was creative, kind, and always smiling. Everyone loved her....

This picture was when Stephanie, now 25, was about 4 years old, and my mother, Jeannie, was just 60. Stef and I were in the musical Oklahoma.

Isn't this great??? No I didn't make it...

I love it when I teach the family about different card styles and then they run with it....This gem was created this past fall by my soon to be son-in-law. Stephanie will let him know if they need special cards and if they both can't get to the craft room...Ryan will do it. He is fab and we love him! So enjoy his creation!!

It's all Stampin' Up! with the exception of the lil leaves which were punched out with a random punch I have from somewhere!

What to do this year?

Needs to be howling good after this one.....hehehe


This was a previous father's day card for my Dad...WMC Wolfpack football...what IS next?

You KNOW how hard it is to critique?!?!?!

Just a little look at my boy! He is VERY involved with Stampin' Up! He is my most severe critic! But who wouldn't want attention from him??? LOL

Yum....S'mores...or S'Maur Stamping!!!

This was such a fun card to make for Ryan's birthday. He and Stephanie met when they were little while camping, so camping is a great thing at our house! And it is also a great theme for cards as well! Unfortunately the colors didn't come out true to life but you get the gist of the card. I love making pop-ups...and really they are easier than you'd think. Try one!!!

Rock on with your own bad self!

So here is a creation from my future son-in-law. I have a feeling he CASE'd from the catty but I love how it came out. We watch TV in the craft room and make cards. Very cool. Enjoy!

WHOOOO????

I know, I know...corny!! But I love this little owl punch! This card is the other twin's birthday card. I always make them similar, yet different. I used some favorite retired DSP, since I love the colors. Quick and easy! Gotta love those punches man! Enjoy!

The Owl and the Cupcake

Now, WHOOOO doesn't like a cupcake? LOL I know...sick humor, but had to do it!!! This is a card I made for one of my granddaughters last year for her October birthday. I love this punch and I love the cupcake set. Will post more details later, but wanted to share this creation with you. Fun, fun, fun! And very simple and easy to make. Give it a try!

My Exile Is Over!

So sorry about the HUGE stop-out in posting...Life has just had too many things and something had to go...and since I still stamped, the blogging was it. Besides, do you ever realize that you are on the internet and all of a sudden hours have passed? It's like magic!! Yikes! I knew that I could not get lost on the computer with so much of the work I brought home. And I am thankful for that work!!! However, I have thought often of all of you blogger buddies and so I hope all is well with everyone. So- a short update here- more on the "about us" page in a few...but I am working as a college administrator in New Jersey...a short 1.5 hour jaunt from my Bethlehem PA home, however I really really love what I do, and it is at an institution I worked at before as a mid-level manager. I love the people, and all those who remember me have welcomed me back with open arms. Its actually pretty awesome. I have actually been taking pretty good care of myself, and so I am on a new exercise kick - and that is ZUMBA. If you have never done it - I would highly recommend it. Fun, great music and its dancing - whether you can dance or not its fun! My family is all doing well, and my Bob is well (thank you God) and planning on retiring this May, and so he is very very happy. Scruffy is well - gonna be 15 in May (OMG!) - my little furry boy! And crafting is the release and relief that it always is.

So here is a sample of a complete Reen creation - it was Bob's birthday card:

I water colored the images on Stampin' Up! watercolor paper, and the clouds were made with a large scallop circle with sponging. I was very pleased with it....so much so, I let Bob hold the card for a few minutes before I took it back!! LOL (don't tell me you don't take back your handmade cards that "live" in your home!!!??!!) Enjoy!

REEN'S GREAT RIBBON SHARE

Let's face it; ribbon is one of those embellishments that make the card. And - Stampin' Up!'s ribbons are fabulous...but with all this new product, what is a person to do? Let me give you a few choices on how to obtain all those LOVELY ribbons...And once you try them out, if you fall in love with a particular ribbon, later on you can order yourself a spool!

1. INDIVIDUAL GROUPS/PACKS OF RIBBON

Choose the ribbon type you wish to purchase to get a selection of all the delicious new ribbons in all the offered colors that match the Stampin’ Up! colors in Ink, Cardstock and Designer Series Paper. Check out the current catalog pages 190 and 191 to see the different types of ribbon and the colors available. Pick one group of Ribbon Types or as many as you would like...

OR

You can get a sampling of all the ribbons for one set price. The cost for you to buy all the available spools of ribbon would be over $700….but now you don’t have to break the bank!!! Check it out!

2. GOTTA HAVE IT ALL

Get TWO YARDS each of all the above mentioned ribbons, PLUS

2 yards each of the specialty Crochet Trim Ribbon (Chantilly ½” and Victoria 5/8”) AND

2 yards of 3/8 Twill Tape AND

2 yards of the 5/8” Whisper White 5/8” Organza ribbon

FOR $110 (value at $122.50 with tax & S&H)

OR

Want it all but want to tone it down a tad? Then you can get the …

3. TASTE OF RIBBON SET

Where you can get ONE YARD each from the GOTTA HAVE IT ALL set for $60

Shoot me an email to let me know what you would like!! A confirmation e-mail will be sent upon receipt of your order, and your ribbon should be here within two weeks, barring any weird shipping issues, and then packaged for you. Please remember that these prices are not offered by Stampin’ Up!, the company, so you may not place the order through my website with my online order service. This offer is only valid through me, Maureen Stivala, as an Independent Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator.

Prices are for local delivery or pickup only. If you are far away from me, I can mail the ribbons through the US postal service for an additional $2 first class mail or $5 priority shipping. Shipping can only be in the United States. If you order several different ribbon types, I will combine them for only one shipping fee per order. Just let me know if I need to mail your order. Payment can be made with cash, check, money order …OR… I can send you a PayPal invoice where you can use a credit card or PayPal balance. Shipment will occur when funds are cleared. Simple, Easy, Secure…

PS…If none of these 3 choices works for you, please contact me through email and let’s see if I can’t help you….because I LOVE WHAT I DO!!!

I will take orders through and up to September 30th. I may re-offer at that time, but stay tuned! This post will stay at the top of the blog until 9-30-10.