Wednesday, June 20, 2012

I'm back!

This is the left side of my 8 x 8 layout of March for my scrapbook swap at the Stampin Up Convention in July. I decided to host the swap on Splitcoaststampers and I took the final month. Made me laugh that I got March yet again. I had the March layout in a 6 x 6 swap at Leadership in January. The leprechan was made out of Stampin Up Punch shapes. Then each shape was sponged to add dimensional prior to assembly. Still need a belt buckle on him but I am waiting for the demo preorder on July 1st to order some Gold Glimmer Paper.


This is the right side of my 8 x 8 double page layout. I used the Old Olive Chevron design paper from Summer Smoochies, the Old Olive Polka Dot Designer Paper and a stripe of the Old Olive paper from the Brights Designer Series paper stack. The letters for the word March are from the Stamp Set, Lovely Letters Alphabet. I sponged all the photo mats with Old Olive too.

This is one of my 16 different swaps I am participating in at the Stampin Up Convention on July 18-20th. I have really extended myself and am working like a dog to get my swaps done. Sis is hosting the Annual Sheffield Sleepover the week before Convention, so I need to be wrapped up as much as possible by the 7th of July.

What is the Sheffield Sleepover? Well, on our scrapbooking/cardmaking site THE CROP ROOM over at Ning.com, we get together once a year for an entire week. Folks stay at sis's house or my house if they are out of towners. And yes, we get alot of out of town buddies. Last summer I had Susan P. from Chattanooga, TN; Lois from Russell, KS; and Kathy from Loomis, CA staying at my home. Sis had Sondra from Ohio; Becky from Nevada; Janice from Mississippi staying with her. Then Sue and Mike came from Alabama but they like staying in a hotel. Plus our local buddies, Micki, Nita, Angie, Debbie, and Tanya drop in. We all take turns serving/prepping meals and fun early morning til late at night we are all in sis's Therapy Room (her scrapbook room). She has 4  tables that are 8 foot long. Folks work on cards or scrapbook pages. Some bring things to share or do mini classes with everyone. Some bring work that want to accomplish. Just alot of fun. So that runs from July 6 to July 15 (we have a few coming a bit early).

Then I fly out on Sunday morning, July 15 for Salt Lake City, Utah. I am heading there for a whole week for the Stampin Up Convention, and to see enjoy myself. I would like to get to the genealogy site there too. Want to spend some time with my friend Jackie that lives in Draper, Utah. That first night I am going to a dinner and a swap (recipe swaps this time) with a group called the Late Night Stampers.  Monday, I hope to spend some time with Jackie or doing genealogy research... Tuesday all my roommates are flying in!

I have 3 roommates - first and foremost is my dear sideline, Sandy. She is coming from Denver and is my # 1 SU roomie when I travel to these SU events. Then my downline, Gail is coming from Oregon. Plus her downline, Pat (who has been my online buddy for 10 years!) and I have yet to meet either lady in person. Am excited about that!

This is my 2nd convention. I went in 2008, but then had a relapse in August.... and eventually ended up those 6 weeks in the hospital in late 2008-early 2009. You remember, that is when they tried to get me to go to hospice. Instead, I had 4 more surgeries (God Bless sweet Dr. Gilbert) and got a new oncologist (Dr. Baltz). While I have fell out of remission again since then, I am doing good again. My last surgery was Feb 2011. Cross your fingers that my scans in August let me move out to chemo treatments every 3 weeks. Dr. Baltz kept me on every 2 weeks for the rest of the summer. :<

So much has been going on around here. Got so many things I am trying to accomplish in my time off. Seems this is the 1st summer I have been in this house that I am able to do things. I moved in July 2010. Then school started and I did not ever finish unpacking one closet full of boxes and the garage. Ugh... Then medical leave hit for the next spring/summer and was too weak to do any labor intensive work like that.

Next week I go to Sam's (like a Costco) to purchase these awesome metal shelving on rollers. Then Tanya is coming over to help me sort thru the garage boxes and make some room in my 2 car garage (sadly only 1 car can fit in it right now...). Then on Monday the 25th, I have an electrician coming to work on my lighting in the scrapbook room -- hoping we can get some track lighting above the work tables so I can do classes at night. Finally on Friday, the 29th, I have laminate floors being put in my living room. Can't wait to loose that nasty carpet. I have carpet in the 3 bedrooms, and ceramic tile everywhere else. I should of asked to have the living room carpet replaced when I purchased the house and did not. Oh well, I think I will prefer to have the laminate in there.

Okay that is enough of a catch up. I promise to be better in posting. I will try to get back every day or other day with photos of my convention swaps.

Arlene

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