OK, this is just NOT how it's 'sposed to be!

I'm having creative block. Again. And it's really frustrating me.

I must have spent 6 hours at the stamp table Friday and yesterday and what do I have to show for it? Nothing. Nada. Zero. Zip. I'd like to blame it on the fact that every idea I came up with needed a stamp set I don't own. That would be the easy way out. Unfortunately, I think it all boils down to the fact that my creative faucet just isn't flowing (or even dripping) right now. Although I did come up with something fun and cool, but I can't share because I want to submit it the next time SCS is looking for VSN Hostesses..... Unfortunately, I did not come up with ideas for Convention Swap cards which is what I desperately need to be starting on. Ugh.

We did just spend 2 hours cleaning out Russ's dresser and getting all the clothes he isn't keeping together with the pile I already had and got it all into the back of my car so I can take it to charity tomorrow. That was good. And I just finished BBQing some hot dogs. Yummy.....

Maybe I'll go take another try at the stamp table......

I forget how small 6x6 is.....

I got my sample pack of the new background papers from Stampin' Up tonight.... I forgot how small 6x6 was! LOL! They really are pretty and are so much more vivid in real life than they looked on the flyer or on the internet. I'd love to tell you I was going to make something pretty and post it here, but I'm planning on using it for Convention Swaps so, I'll be keeping them all to myself for now.

The retired list comes out in just 100 hours (give or take a few minutes) and I am already getting my order ready so once I know if the stamps I want are staying, I can get them ordered. I SOOOOOO wanted to use Bodacious Bouquet for one of my convention designs, but I had a thought this morning..... We should probably be doing convention swaps using stuff that would be in the Fall/Winter Catalog and not so much from the Spring/Summer Collection, right? Guess I need to start another thread over on Splitcoast.... Hmmmm..

I did finally get the new Hero Arts Doodle Flower stamp today.... I'm looking forward to playing with that.... Julee Tilman has done some GORGEOUS stuff with it.... You can check it out in her blog, Poetic Artistry, to see all the drop-dead-gorgeous work she does!

It was a good day......

Russ got the job. He starts tomorrow in their Folsom office and then will be reporting to the jobsite at Travis AFB in Fairfield. I think this is the third job he has been on at Travis. It's about a 45-60 minute drive each way, but not a ton of traffic except in spots (like around UC Davis).

The glass guy was able to fix the chunk in my windshield and it looks pretty darned good!

I placed a Stampin' Up! order this afternoon and had a tracking number in about FIVE HOURS! Wow... can we say FAST SHIPPING?????? Jeez. So I will have samples of the new double sided designer papers coming out in the 2007 Fall Winter Catalog on Thursday or Friday evening. WOO HOO!

I got another big pot for the back yard yesterday to put my carnation plant and herbs in. Today I got everything planted in there. I have a medium pink (think Regal Rose, you SU stampers) mini carnation in the center and then I planted a sage and thyme plant that I got today and a bunch of seedlings I started indoors about a month ago (Basil, Garlic Chives and curled Parsley) along the edge around the carnation. It looks nice.

We are having typical mid-Spring weather... in the low to mid 80's. They say we might get close to 90 this weekend. A little too warm too soon for my taste, but I think it happens every year.... sigh..... My roses are blooming like I have never seen them bloom. I'm talking DOZENS and DOZENS of flowers on the bushes out front and from the 3 I planted just last year, I have 8 to 12 flowers on each one and one of them has the LARGEST blooms I have ever seen. I keep meaning to try and get some photos. I think it's the Princess Diana rose... I need to check its tag. I'm not kidding... they are the size of teacups!

So, it was a pretty good day!

Sorry to leave y'all hanging.....

Tuesday we decided to see if the cabin on the coast was available for the rest of the week (it was) and if the WAG Pet Hotel had room for Taz (they did) so we spent the rest of the week up at the cabin. Ahhhhhhh..... the bliss of peace and quiet. The weather was nice, but windy on Wednesday, Thursday we had rain off and on, Friday was GORGEOUS, Saturday it rained ALL DAY and Sunday was a mix of sun and rain. A nice trip. I stamped some swap cards and got some cardstock cut for some swaps I'm going to do for Convention in July.



I also got to take some pictures on the bluffs Friday. Apparently, I just missed seeing a mother and baby whale go by, but I did see some seals playing in the water. Didn't get any decent shots of them, but my flower pics came out nicely and I've been trying to get a decent shot of this little building with the lilies in bloom for years:



Russ had a job interview today which he thinks went well. Hopefully I will have good news to report on that soon.

Coming home from running errands today I had a rock hit my windshield on the freeway. Didn't see it and it wasn't unusually loud, but the chip (more like a CHUNK!) it left looks like a freakin gunshot! AAA is sending the Safelite Auto Glass guy out tomorrow to see if it can be repaired (filled) or if the windshield will need to be replaced. Problem is, it's RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE, so it's very distracting. Hopefully, if they fill it, it will be less noticeable cuz I REALLY don't want to have to fork over a $500 deductible right now! Although a new, pretty, chip-free windshield would be nice..... We'll see.... I'll have to take a picture of it before they fill it.... I've had rocks hit before, but never leave a mark like this one!

That's all for now!!!!

Well, I guess he isn't going to be traveling any time soon.....

Russ just got laid off.....

It's a BIG day tomorrow!

Tomorrow, Stampin' Up! will post the information about CONVENTION!!!! SO EXCITING!!!! I do know that I will be going to first session July 25th- 28th and that it's in Denver. Tomorrow I am guessing they will post the theme and the class information. Registration opens on May 9th, leaving us time to organize our groups and pick classes and colors and all that fun stuff.

With any luck we will also find out tomorrow what the company has in mind for Russ. Hawaii? Washington? Novato (SF Bay Area, where he will be tomorrow)? Should be interesting.......

Stop the ride, I wanna get off!

OK... so NOW he's NOT going to Washington! Someone pass me a barf bag...... I'm getting dizzy! (Yes, dizzier than normal - just HUSH!)

Where is he going next? When is he going? WE HAVE NO CLUE. There is chatter of Hawaii (not getting my hopes up this time - OK, yes I am). He is working from the house the rest of this week (alert - MAN UNDERFOOT!). After that, WHO KNOWS!

He couldn't go to WA because his certification with the Army Corps of Engineers has lapsed. I spent some QUALITY TIME downtown Friday getting him registered for the next course/test (Friday was the deadline to register). He will take the course on May 2nd and 3rd, so at least I know he will be home those 2 days!

On to happier things.....So here are the two cute little tins I'm still working on for my sis-in-law:



Still working on the little scrapbooks too, but apparently there is going to be a second shower, so I might wait with those.....

Cha-cha-cha-CHANGES!!!!!

My apologies to David Bowie.... he he he....

GUESS WHO'S GOING BACK UP TO WASHINGTON?????

I have started calling Russ "Duncan" (as in the human yo-yo). He he he.... We don't know exactly when or for how long yet. This afternoon they said he would go back to Mt. Rainier, but it looks like he will be going to Bangor Naval base. Welcome to my world of revolving change.....

I spent most of today in the stamp room working on shower gifts for my sis-in-law. Her (twins) baby shower is next Saturday and today I pulled out some old CTMH 6x6 scrapbooks I had from a special 3 or 4 years ago and made 12 pages for each book. They have chosen not to know the sex of the babies, so everything has to be done in gender-neutral themes. The little scrapbooks were yellow, so they worked well. She doesn't scrap, so I made them really simple so she can just put a pic and a little note on each page. I figure if they aren't her "thing", she can always put photos in them and give them to relatives. I'm also doing 2 altered lunch-box tins. I got the paper on them, but that's it so far. When I'm done, I'll post a picture or two......