Happy New Year!

   

For attractive lips,

Speak words of kindness.

For lovely eyes,

Seek out the good in people.

For a slim figure,

Share your food with the hungry.

For beautiful hair,

Let a child run his/her fingers through it once a day.

For poise,

Walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone.

People, even more than things,

Have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed,

And redeemed; never throw out anyone.

Remember, if you ever need a helping hand,

You will find one at the end of each of your arms.

As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands;

One for helping yourself, and the other for helping others.

 

~Audrey Hepburn

 

 

New Sweet Treat Invitation Idea

How would you like a great new idea for party invitations?  Check out this video from Stampin' Up! showing you a great new way to use our Sweet Treat Cups.

Enjoy! 

Thank you made easy!

Stampin' Up! has several different SIMPLY SENT KITS that make card making quick and easy.  I used this set, SIMPLY SENT SWEET HELLO, # 118710, $11.95 yesterday to make some thank you cards for my lovely gifts at Christmas.  The set includes printed, embossed cards, ribbon embellishments, and envelopes ~ all you need to create cards in minutes.  You can use a coordinating stamp set, HELLO, YOU, #117118, $9.95 or choose one of your own.  I used the stamp set CURLY CUTE on page 149 in the catalog.  Let me know if I can help you with your crafting, stamping or scrapbooking needs!

You can find all of the Simply Sent Kits on page 182 and 183 in Stampin' Up!'s Idea Book and Catalog.

 

Kitty Hospital

We've turned the living room into a kitty hospital and this is the patient's bed.  She is doing ok, getting lots of rest and milk, water and food whenever possible.  Alan has found a new 'tool' that ejects pills down her throat (after he scrunches them with a mortar and pestle and stuffs them into an empty gel cap!).  What a good daddy!

I have to get my card sets finished today as Princess has an appointment in the morning with her cardiologist (who knew that there were kitty cardiologists ~ not us!).  I have been using Stampin' Up!'s stamp sets, C is for Cats and D is for Dogs ~ thank heaven for those cute sets!  Here are a couple of the cards that I have made for the staff at Tidewater Animal Emergency Center. 

The sun is shining!

The sun is shining this morning but last night it looked like this outside my back door.  I love the relection in the picture.  You never know what you are going to get!

Yesterday was an amazing day in southeastern Virginia.  This kind of snowfall (8 to 10 inches) is unheard of and the fact that it occured the day after Christmas was a gift.  Princess got through the day just fine.  Alan and I managed to figure out how to give her all those pills and to check off the chart I made to keep track of it all.  I think we will get better as time goes on.  We are not sure how long she will be with us so we will just make the best of having her with us as long as we can.  Thanks so much for all your comments and concern for our little kitty.

I spent part of my day yesterday making sets of cards to give to the staff at Tidewater Animal Emergency & Referral Center on Independence.  That's where Princess spent last week and I was very impressed with their professional approach and medical expertise.  I would definitely recommend them.

I'll post my cards tomorrow ~ they are all cat and dog cards, of course.  Time for meds!  Hugs, se

A Christmas Wish

This is a magical morning for us.  There is a blizzard outside our windows, we are cozy and warm and our kitty came home last night.  She has been in intensive card all week at the Pet Hospital in Virginia Beach.  We visited her on Christmas morning and the doctor told us we could bring her home in the afternoon. 

We spent early morning with Alan's family at his partents near ODU, visited kitty, stopped by to see Alan's friend Ralph and then went to my brother's for Christmas with my family.  On the way home we picked up the Baby Cat to bring her home with us.

We have a long list of medications and protocol so it will take a while to get our routine established.  But, this morning she ate for the first time since last Monday.  She is drinking her milk, another good sign.  She has lost control of her back legs because of a blood clot so we all have to figure out the best way to allow her freedom and assure comfort at the same time.  It will work out.  And, Alan got his Christmas wish ~ they are asleep together on the couch ~ so peaceful and so thankful for a little more time with her. 

Thanks for reading my snowy morning notes.  Hugs, Susan Elise

Madi's Card

Madison Sherman came to my MOMMY AND ME CLASS this month.  This week I got a thank you card that Madi made and sent to me.  I wanted to show you what a nice job she did!

Madi, thank you so much for such a nice card.  I appreciate your thoughtfulness.  This is a good lesson that we can all take to heart as we open our presents tomorrow morning.  Don't forget how much a thank you will mean to the person who spent their time and effort to give you something special. 

Alan and I are having a difficult Christmas as our beloved kitty had been in intensive care since Tuesday.  It is hard for us to deal with.  I will keep you informed but right now all we can do is pray for the angels to watch over her.  Hugs and Merry Christmas, Susan Elise

Friends

Abby, Claire, Janie and Gigi at the Open House.

Katie, Laurie and Katherine and their Make and Take projects.  Katie said that she hadn't realized that she was going to have to 'work' at the party!!!  But, she loved her projects ~ when she finished them, right, Katie?

Ella and Evie having Christmas cupcakes together.  I wish I would have taken more pictures ~ I think I was having too much fun!  Thanks everyone for coming ~ it was great to see you!  Susan Elise

Two Tags

This is another one of the Make and Take projects we did at the Open House on Saturday.

MAKE AND TAKE:  TWO TAGS  

Stamp set: Jolliest Time of the Year, #116584, page 41, Stampin' Up!'s Idea Book & Catalog

Ink:  Basic Black classic stamp pad

Card stock:  Bashful Blue 12’ x 12”; Whisper White

Markers:  Real Red, Garden Green, Blush Blossom

Accessories:  Two Tags Die, #115954, page 206; 1/8” Taffeta Ribbon, page 191; Clear Tinsel Trim, #120993, page 21, Holiday Mini Catalog ~ expires on January 3!

 

Hint:  To add the Tinsel, use your SNAIL across the tag and lay the tinsel on top, press down.

Penguin Gift Card Holder

At the STAMP CLUB OPEN HOUSE last weekend we had three MAKE AND TAKES.  This cute little penguin was one of them.  It is a gift card holder and I will be making some this week for  my nephews, Mark and Micheal, and my niece, Katherine.  It is quick and easy ~ here are the Stampin' Up! 'ingredients" ~

Cut:   1.   Basic Black card stock ~ 4” x 4” square, corners rounded plus

                   2 large ovals

          2.  Whisper White ~ 4.25” X 5.5” cut with Top Note Die

          3.  Tangerine Tango ~ punch one Curly Label and cut in half plus

                   1 large oval for the beak

          4.  12” Real Red Grosgrain Ribbon, tie and cut on side

          5.  Rose Red ~ ½ Top Note Die to hold the gift card

          6.  Pear Pizzazz card stock ~ 4.25” x 11”, scored and folded

 

Punches:  Curly Label Punch, #119851;1 ¾” x 7/8” Oval Punch, #119855,

          Page 202 – 205; 3/16” Corner Small, #119871

Ribbon:  Real Red 5/8” Grosgrain, #109052, page 191

Die:  Top Note Die, #113463, page 207

Accessories:  Sticky Strip, #104294’ Dimensionals, #104430, page 197;

          Bone Folder, #102300, page 198; Goggle Eyes ~ craft store

 

Hint:  To adhere the inside card holder, use small pieces of Sticky Strip on 3 sides.