Houston Aquarium

Thursday night Stampin' Up demonstrators who have reached the title of manager and above were treated to an evening at the Houston Aquarium. Stampin' Up always says they will have "light hors d'oeuvres" at the manager's reception.  That is an understatement for sure! There were several different types of hors d'oeuvres being passed on trays by roaming wait staff including smoked salmon wrapped around vertical forks. There were many different stations of food. One that was loaded with fruits, cheeses, and raw veggies, another with turkey and beef being carved, one with desserts, and a buffet line with oysters on the half shell, sushi, an ice sculpture filled with shrimp, barbeque beef and chicken, roasted veggies, sweet potatoes, and mashed potatoes. The mashed potatoes were done to order with an assortment of toppings that were mixed into the potatoes on a huge, flat cooking surface. I'm sure I'm forgetting some of the different foods. Needless to say, Stampin' Up's definition of light hors d'oeuvres is very different from most.

food collage

Part of the attractions were outside and some were inside. These two entertainers were strolling throughout the aquarium all night long.

Aquarium

We were able to feed the stingrays and I must say it was more fun. There mouths are on the underside and they would come up and grab the little fish out of your hand. It looked like they were eating your hand. Their skin was extremely soft.

stingrays

This diver was inside a water tank full of fish. See what his sign says? Be a Big Fish Manager's Reception.

Diver

The aquarium also has other animals. The most interesting were the white Bengal tigers.

Sleeping tigers

Tiger

So much fun with my friends Catherine Harwood and Barbara Lash

A special thank you to my stamping customers who have helped me reach Manager level and qualify to attend this fantastic evening.

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CD Calendar: April – June

Here are the next 3 months of this years CD Calendar:

April

May

June

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Thursday was the first day of Stampin' Up! Leadership. As always, it's great fun connecting with demonstrators from all over, seeing friends made from previous events.  And of course today was filled with some really good presentations, a new free stamp set, and new product announcements. Let me just say alcohol markers! Woo hoo. More on that later.

Cat & I Leadership

Catherine and I

CD Calendar January – March

January

I posted a picture some time back of the January page of my annual CD Calendar so I thought I would share some more of the monthly pages while I am away in Houston at Stampin' Up Leadership.

Feb

March

You can check back tomorrow for more of the calendar.

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What Does the Fox Say?

I think the animals in this stamp set are so cute and the fox immediately reminded me of that song that is so popular.

IMG_0910

I used the masking technique to make it appear the fox is standing in front of the trees. To do this you stamp the fox on a sticky note and cut it out. Stamp the fox on your cardstock and then overlay the sticky note. With the sticky note in place, stamp the trees. The part of the trees that would have stamped on top of the fox ends up on the sticky note.

Stamps: Life in the Forrest, Just Sayin'

Ink: Old Olive, Cajun Craze, Chocolate Chip, Black StazOn

Paper: White, Cajun Craze

Misc: Fringe Scissors, Blender Pen, Word Bubbles Framelit Dies, 1/8" Old Olive Taffeta Ribbon, Burlap Trim Ribbon, Dimensionals

 

So What does the fox say?

Ring-ding-ding-ding-dingeringeding!
Gering-ding-ding-ding-dingeringeding!
Gering-ding-ding-ding-dingeringeding!

But that's just a little bit of it … If you have never heard the song click on the video below.

Thanks for stopping by,

BethDanielsSignature2

Valentine Gum Wrapper

Valentine Gum Treats
This altered package of gum is my swap for Stampin' Up! Leadership this week in Houston. I will be swapping them for other 3D items that are all treat packaging so I should come home with some great new ideas. I made the flower from the new Spiral Die. I did cut it down a bit so that it was more in proportion with the gum pack. That and the heart stamps are in the new Occasions Catalog. The little hearts on each of the gum blisters were punched using the Owl Builder Punch.

Stamps: Language of Love

Ink: Real Red

Paper: Real Red, Vanilla, Black, Modern Medley DSP

Misc: Large and Small Heart Punches, Owl Punch, Rhinestones, Mini Glue Dots, Vanilla Seam Binding, Crochet trim, Red 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Tombo Glue

You can see the Language of Love Stamp Set and details in the previous post.

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Are you a Downton Abby fan? I didn't start watching this series until last year so I went to an online source to watch it from the beginning and was immediately hooked! The new season begins tonight. I'll be watching.

Thanks for visiting,

BethDanielsSignature2

A New Year and a New Catalog – Occasions 2014

20140103_Occasions_en-US

Click on Catalog Image above to open up a PDF file.

If you are like me you put your stamping on hold during the holidays. But with that over, a new year ahead of us, and a brand new Stampin' Up! catalog full of great new products I am excited to get back to stamping and paper crafting. If you have not received a copy of the new catalog let me know. I would be happy to get one to you. Here are my top 10 favorites from the catalog:

watercolor stamp         Happy Watercolor      

   Clear, #133191 – $21.95          Wood, #1333188 – $29.95  

 

BundleClear, #133203 – $18.95       Just Sayin' Stamp Set       Wood, #133200 – $26.95

Word Bubbles Framelits Dies    #132968 – $24.95

 Clear, #134820 – $37.25      Bundle and Save 15%       Wood, #134819 – $43.95

 

Language of LoveLanguage of Love

Clear, #133077 – $12.95            Wood, #133074 – $16.95

Coordinates with various punches and dies

 

Life in the ForestLife in the Forest 

Clear, #133851 – $15.95         Wood. #133848 – $20.95

This immediately made me think of the song "What Does the Fox Say".  Wouldn't this little fox be br great with the Just Sayin' Stamp Set!

 

Petite PetalsPetite Petals

Clear, #133155 – $11.95               Wood, #133152 – $15.95

 

Petite Petals Punch

Petite Petals Punch        #133322 – $12.95

 Bundle – Save 15% – Clear, #134822 – 21.25   Wood, #134821 – $24.50

 

Burlap & Blooms Wreath KitBurlap & Blooms Simply Created Wreath Kit

#133333 – $17.95

Be on the watch for a special class to make this wreath

 

Spiral Flower DieSpiral Flower Originals Die     

  #129379 – $17.95

 

Scalloped Tag Topper PunchScalloped Tag Topper Punch     

#133324 – $22.95

 

Fringe Scissors     Fringe Scissors    

#133325 – $9.95

If there is something you missed out on ordering from the Holiday Catalog be sure to check out the new Occasions Catalog. There are several products that have been carried over. And don't forget to check out the Weekly Deals posted a few days ago.

Thanks for visiting,

BethDanielsSignature2

 

 

 

Happy 2014! and a Little This & That

Happy New Year to you all. This is a card we made several weeks ago in one of my  classes. I wanted to make a card using the die cut numbers with the red glimmer paper and I love the combination of black/red/and vanilla. The stamp is a retired stamp, one which I have always liked, so I keep finding new ways to use it.

New Years card

And I have one more Christmas card share:

Linda's card

These folded paper trees are so easy to make and I had never made one until Linda showed me how. Thanks Linda for the instruction.

Wk. Deals

Are you loving the Weekly Deals Stampin' Up! keeps having? I sure am. I don't know if they will continue this into the coming year but I sure hope so. I use so much of the glimmer paper so I am super excited to see it on sale again.

Weekly Deals

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I always write my blog posts the night before I publish them so it's actually New Year's Eve as I write this and I am hearing the pop pop of firecrackers off in the distance from someone in the neighborhood. I don't really like to go out and celebrate. I would just as soon be home, safe and warm and off the roads that tend to be traveled by people who just don't think that drinking and driving thing pertains to them.  I did hear that AAA will give anyone a free ride home between the hours of 6PM and 6AM which is super cool of them to do that. So my New Year's Eve celebration was this afternoon. I play Mahjong with a group of friends and this afternoon we played at my house. It's great fun and no, it's nothing like the game you play on the computer. I snapped a couple of pictures of the food but nothing of the game. Everyone brings a snack and we had a table full of yummy things and a champagne toast for a healthy, happy new year.

MJ1

MJ2

And of course since it's New Years Eve as I write this I can't help but think of the song Auld Lang Syne. I looked it up on the internet because I had no idea how to spell it and what does it really mean anyway. It was a Scottish song written in the 1700's and not intended to be a holiday song. The title translates to "times gone by" and remembering friends. So my wish for 2014 is that you surround yourself with the love of family and of good friends. I think I'll leave you with Harry and Sally ….

Thanks for stopping by,

BethDanielsSignature2