Thank you, Lord, for giving us Fridays!

I thought I'd share a fun picture of our (sometimes) stubborn "furboy"...

This is our dog Oreo refusing to get out of the van when we returned home from a quick weekend at the cottage last Sunday.  It took a good 10 minutes until he realized that we really were staying home (he loves it up at Mackinaw as much as we do!)

 I've had some changes to my calendar lately and it has caused me to think about my priorities...about how God only gives us 24 hrs at a time.  We really can't control tomorrow and we certainly can't go back and change yesterday.  That's how He designed it.  It is part of His plan. I want to be wise and obedient with the use of those hours.  I  want to be open the needs of family and friends, (I tend to get captured by the "tyranny of the urgent" way too often!!)  And, I'll admit, in my mind I'm still in my early 40's (reality check here...that was at least 15 years ago!) but of course, I think I should have the same amount of energy now as I did then. Maybe His plan for this summer (in which I didn't get a fraction of what I had hoped to accomplish, accomplished) was to stretch my trust in Him and test my flexibility...I am a planner!  This summer I think He just smiled, shook His head and said "not today Shirley!  I've got something else in store for you!"  Sooo many things to be thankful for, please do not think I'm complaining, cuz I'm not...I'm a firm believer in the sovereignty of God and that each day He places us where He wants us...and I am thankful for that.  (I'm just wishing He'd give me more of a "heads up!" sometimes)

  Last night I had the opportunity to "putz" in my craftroom (is "putz" really a word or did my mother just make that up?  She used it all the time,  I use it all the time...and it's comforting)  I decided it was time to follow the advice of a  friend who reminded me that it's not good to hoard pretty paper...waiting for just "the right time" to use it, that we need to "bless other people with it's prettiness...and use it!"  I had no agenda and no set layout but I knew I needed several thank you notes to send out and so I came up with this:

I used Stampin' Up!'s Tea Party set (#129138 in clear mount) and Strawberry Slush (#131178) and Old Olive (#126953) inks.  I like how it turned out, especially because the inside is side #2 of the double sided paper.  Sooo pretty!  I'm excited to get them in the mail!  I'm going to be using my Designer Series Paper much more often now!  This was super quick and easy!!!

***REMINDER~  this Monday, August 12th is the last day to register for our Celebrating the Holiday Catalog event on Monday , August 26th!  For more information see my previous post!  We will have such a fun time and the things you will make to take home are darling!!  You can register by emailing me at slharburn@gmail.com or go to my website (where you can also shop 24/7) www.specialteastamping.stampinup.net

Have a GREAT weekend!!!!

Remember I told you that I liked "pretty" things?

Well, these new thinlits from Stampin' Up! are pretty sweet!

Can you imagine the fun we can have with these?!!!  I cannot wait to get mine to play with!  If you would like your own set too, just go to my Stampin' Up! store at www.specialteastamping.stampinup.net where you can order 24/7 and have them shipped directly to your house!  No waiting! Mine are getting ordered today! 

As soon as I get them I'll be sure to  post my creations!

It's Already August!!!

Hope you were able to enjoy your July this year.  Ours was jam-packed and just blew by!  We had 3 weddings, some out of town traveling, our son-in-law got a new job in Grand Rapids...which means I lose my Administrative Assistant  (our daughter) at Todd's office (my face is happy for them, sad for me~cuz I'm back in the office full time)...changes...exciting and a little frightening at the same time...but in and through it all we are so grateful for God's guidance and wisdom and comfort in knowing He has the road map...our job is to just get on the road and follow.

Thank goodness I have my stamping studio!  It is my "sanctuary", my "feel good room"...when life gets stressful, I just head down there and a sense of calm and peace set in.  I just love it!  I'll have to share some pictures of it with you soon.

In the meantime I thought I'd share some cute cards I made recently.  I made this super simple but elegant card for our most recent wedding:

I just love how Stampin' Up!'s stamps and framelits coordinate...you have to check out the bundles in the catalog (15% savings!)...they are soooo easy to use and make the final product look so gorgeous!

I also did these:

 

This was fun because I just took heavy duty alumninum foil, folded it a few times and ran it through my Big Shot with an embossing folder!  I love the look!  I'll definitely be playing with this technique for Christmas cards!

I also wanted to be sure to let you know about some exciting events I have coming up:

We're having a Party!!! 

Monday, August 26^th…is my Celebrate the Holiday Catalog Event!!!

Theme:  Welcoming in the Holidays (Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas)

Time:  6:30-9:30 p.m. at my home.  You must RSVP by August 12^th.  We will be making 4 super cute items!  Cost is $10 or free with a $25 order placed that night.  You will NOT WANT TO MISS THIS EVENT!  It’s definitely going to be a party!  If you bring a friend who has not stamped with me before you will both receive a gift from me!!! 

This next new event  is going to be happening every month...super fun and will definitely get those creative juices flowing...

Second Monday of the Month Club…Monthly Card/Scrapbook class … September 9^th from 6:30-9:30 p.m.….  Come make 3 cards (duplicates of each) or 2~2 page 12x12 scrapbook layouts.  We will be having a Mystery Hostess for this event…the cost of the class is a minimum order of $25 (before tax and shipping) placed that night.  For each $25 purchased, a raffle ticket with your name on it will go into a drawing.  At the end of the evening we will pull a raffle ticket and that person will win the hostess benefits for that evenings’ order (total order must reach a minimum of $150 to earn hostess benefits). When you RSVP by Friday, August 23^rd just let me know if you will be wanting to make the cards or the scrapbook layouts…a minimum order of $25 for each will let you do both!!! 

Did you come to the Christmas in July event?  Did you miss it?  Well, here's your chance at "round 2".....

CHRISTMAS STAMP A STACK #2!!!...two time choices…Friday, Sept. 20^th from 6 p.m.-10 p.m. or Sunday, Sept. 22^nd from 2-6 p.m. Cost:  $30 which includes surprise free product to take home.  Place a minimum $25 order that night (before tax and shipping) and you will receive a $5 coupon off the cost of the class to be used toward your order!!!  Prepayment and RSVP: Sept 5^th. You will make 4 different cards~4 of each including decorated envelopes and special insides ~ for a total of 16 complete cards ready to be addressed and mailed come December 1^st!      (My Christmas cards are not typically “quick and simple”…I try to go for the “Oh my goodness!  They are soooo pretty!”)  I’ve discovered that a lot of people keep the handmade cards they receive from year to year and I figure that I better make it “worthy of being saved”…and I really do love pretty things! 

This is also a class that I will do on a private reservation basis.  You invite a minimum of 3 friends to join you and you all can come to my stamping “studio” for a private party!  You bring the guests and the party is all ready for you!  Call me for available dates!!!

MOM AND ME PUNCH CLASS…Monday, September 30^th from 6-8 p.m.  Cost: $25 (for both adult and child) which includes the adorable Owl Builder punch for you to take home ($16.95 value).  Place a minimum order of $25 (before tax and shipping) that night and receive a $5 coupon off the cost of the class to be used toward your order!!! Prepayment and RSVP by Monday, Sept. 16^th.  I have wanted to do one of these classes for a long time.  There are so many fun animals, etc. that we can make with the fabulous punches from Stampin’ Up!   So bring your child, grandchild, niece, nephew, special neighbor child (they have to be at least 6 years old) and come share creative time with your special little (or not so little) someone.  We’ll be making some fun Halloween treats too!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!   Remember, if you don't have a Stampin' Up! big catalog or the Holiday catalog...let me know and I'll get one out to you right away,  (they are also available online through my SU website, but I know that I like to bend page corners and plaster on the sticky notes...so I like the "real thing"!!)  You can also order 24/7 from my online catalog at www.specialteastamping.stampinup.net

Don't forget to register for the events that you want...they tend to fill up fast!

Hope to see you soon!