Stampin' Up! Deal of the Week

Deal of the Week: Heart to Heart Punch
You're going to LOVE our Heart to Heart punch, especially July 27-31 when it's just $10.99—that's more than 30% off the regular price of $15.95!

Throughout July, be sure to check my Stampin' Up! web site (always accessible through the 2 Chicks blog) every Monday at 10 AM (MT) for the week's new deal.

To order or check out any other Stampin' Up! specials, just 'click' on the My Stampin' Up! website button icon on the left hand side of my blog. Then just click on the tab marked "Promotions" and there will be a place to click and "SHOP NOW". The deal of the week along with a picture will be listed -- click and add it to your shopping cart. Any problems, just let me know.

Spend the Summer with New Products

Stampin' Up!'s 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalog and Definitely Decorative brochures are here, and they're filled with all-new stamps, accessories, and home décor products. Contact me to schedule your new catalog workshop or to purchase your own copy. Just 'click' on the Stampin' Up icon in the list on the left.

New Birthday Toy!

Received an early birthday present from my daughter -- a CUTTLEBUG -- I've absolutely been wanting one of these forever -- how fun -- already practicing with different embossing folders. How awesome to have a daughter who loves crafting as much as me!!

Fun Workshop

Had another fun workshop here at the house this morning -- so glad Katie (aka Chick 2) could be here for a total of 6. We each made a set of 4 cards / envelopes with coordinating card folders -- love these and they're so easy to make. Probably starting in September, I will begin scheduling 2 workshops per month -- one specifically for cards (various holidays / themes / etc) and also one for scrapbook layouts and/or gift-type items made with paper crafting, so stay tuned. It should be a fun Fall season coming up. Most all of the ladies have been newbies coming to the workshops and they have really enjoyed themselves. It has been nice having fellow paper crafters with us as well sharing their wealth of knowledge too. Have another workshop scheduled for next Saturday morning, 8/1, at my mom's house in Granbury -- will be fun! Life is good!

Mojo Monday #96

Time for another Mojo Monday (#96) challenge. Love the design -- let's see what the 2 Chicks can come up with.

Ok -- here's what Vickie (aka Chick 1) came up with. Seems we are needing a lot of 'thoughts & prayers' cards right now for various people and I thought this design was thoughtful and cheerful at the same time. Photo quality isn't all that great -- already dark outside and seems rather dark inside even with the lights on.

K Werner Color Inspiration #56 & Mojo Monday Challenge #95

Here is my first entry that I have created for two challenges.

Katie's 1st Card Challenges!!

I'm finally getting around to posting on our blog!! I'm enjoying a couple of weeks off from work and school and am getting some much needed R&R! Been spending the week with mom and dad in Ballinger and it's been nice. Because of my down time I have finally been able to get my creative juices flowing again. I made a card from Kristina Werner's Color Challenge, along with the Mojo Monday Color challenge. I've also been working on some wall art for my new apartment by creating an altered canvas with various scrapbooking papers. As I'm slowly preparing to get back in the school mindset, I'm also beginning to work on some handmade projects for my sorority Sigma Phi Lambda (Sisters for the Lord). I look forward to seeing all of my sisters again very soon!! Hope you enjoy the pictures!!! ~Chick 2

Happy Birthday Mimi on the 8th

Katie & I spent the week with mom in San Marcos and actually spent last Saturday in San Antonio at the beautiful Riverwalk. If you ever have the opportunity -- GO -- it's awesome -- even while extremely hot outside there are lots of little shaded areas to relax and cool-off as shown in the picture of Katie & Mom. So glad to spend your birthday with you Mom. We love you.

Miss and love you Taz

Our precious schnauzer Taz died a few nights ago. I'm away with my mom & daughter and we received word from my husband. Taz was nearly 14 years old and for the past month or so, he was barely eating and just not his usual perky self -- Joe took him to the vet and got some meds but the vet felt like it was just a matter of time (a very short amount of time as it ended up). He was such a good and loving dog and we will all miss him so much. Our grandson Tripp (he's 27 months old) always asks about Taz and our little pomeranian Stitches (or as he says 'itchey'). How in the world do you explain this loss to a 2-year-old except to say that Taz was very sick and has gone to heaven. Our little Stitches is going to miss his buddy so much!

Happy July 4

Had a wonderful July 4 holiday celebration with family and friends -- first we enjoyed the Annual Granbury parade -- lots of floats, bands, sport cars, fire engines, horses, etc. It started around 10:45 Saturday morning but it was already up to around 104 degrees!! Needless to say, we dropped some cash on water -- Joe & I were there and Brittany & Tripp also showed up. Everyone really had a good time. Then, it was off to visit friends and spend the day in the pool, eating lots of yummy stuff, and visiting. Because Joe still had to preach the next morning, we still had to head back home that evening -- made it in around 12:30 a.m. - so tired, but what a great day!!

Hidden journaling & beaded embellishments

These pictures are from a 2007 vacation Joe & I took out west. These were taken at the Petrified Forest in Arizona. Such a beautiful place! In order to get more pictures onto the page, I added a hidden journaling box -- just lift up the ribbon attached to the card (see middle picture) and enter your journaling on another piece of paper, etc. If you store your scrapbooks in protective pages like I do, just very carefully cut a slit using an Exacto-knife around the sides and bottom of the plastic so that you can raise picture up to reveal journaling. I use this technique a lot. Also, I drew from the colors in the trees themselves to decorate with embellishments -- the colors are almost jewel-like so I took some multi-colored beads and sewed them onto the pages -- these beads and the other inked designs match well with the ancient Indian motif.