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I have been bitten by the COUPON CRAZE!!

I have been wanting to take a coupon class offered by Southern Savers for awhile and I am finally registered to go next week. I am too excited about learning how to save money on groceries. Clipped coupons last night, I saved the Sunday papers from the last 2 weeks and coupons in hand I went to Publix to buy what I had coupons for, just a few things, not a large order at all, My total before buy one get one and coupons was 20.34 and I paid 5.19. It was an awesome feeling. I am not trying to get a thousand dollars worth of stuff for $8, like the women on the shows, I just want to save 10 to 20 a week and it looks like I can be well on the way.

I know I will learn more tips and tricks next week but wanted to give it a try. I also went to CVS this morning, used coupons and got extracare bucks, more awesomeness. I bought Colgate toothpaste which was on sale for 2.79, bought 2 tubes, had a dollar off coupon for each one, then got 4.00 dollars in extra bucks,then another for 5 off 10, and yet another for 3 off 15. I also purchased Bliss chocolates for 5.99 and got extrabucks for 5.99. So for the 9.78 I spent I received 18.00 in extrabucks. Excited.

Black, Cream and Kraft with a touch of Red

I made some cards with my current favorite color combination. These are some simple,easy cards I made. I had so much fun making them, weird I know but it was just so nice to sit and play on a day off from work.

Scrapbook page

Worked on a scrapbook page today, not sure if I like it. I am stuck on tags.

Michael's visit.

Today I went to Michael's with the intention of buying the new stamps by Tim Holtz, they were 25% off and then another 25% off your purchase, including items already on sale. Of course the set that I wanted was gone and therefore my attitude was a little defeated. However they did have the Marth Stewart Hydrangea punch I wanted. I saw it used in Keisha Campbell's AWESOME blog, a bit east-coast. She is so talented. Love her stuff. Anyway decided to go home without any Tim Holtz stuff, on the way to pay for my punch I found the dollar bin. Low and behold Studio G had some new stamps. I ws so excited, the verses really put me in the mind of Ali Edwards so digging through I found many new stamps I had to have..can you say I need help...so needless to say this is what I left with and the best part of all they were 49 cents each. So happy........

Black, Kraft, and Pink

I tried a different color combo and this is what I came up with. Used Donna Downey floral stamsp and Hero arts verse, ribbon from Michael's and punched circles EK Success. Used swiss dot embossing folder.

Challenge

As I stated previously I participate in a internet group called Scraps of Color, I host a challenge every other weekend for members to make a card. The challenge for this week is to make a patriotic card, without using red, white or blue. This is my interpretation. Stamps Hero Arts, Stampin Up and Savvy Stamps. Star by Sizzix, wood button from my stash and twine Papertrey ink.

Patriotic cards

I am participating in a service project to send Christmas cards to our troops. One of my fellow Scraps of Color members(Vivian) has challenged us to make 2 cards per month up until November. I got started on mine today and really like the results. I used the new America Made line by My Mind's Eye. I also found some glitter covered stars from Hobby Lobby. I thought they made a nice addition. I also found the dove at Hobby Lobby.

Scrapbook layout

This is a scrapbook layout that I did of my Father's birthday last November(not behind a all). My younger brother Brian was not in attendance but my nephew Alex and his Dad (my brother Chris) were there with my Mom and Dad.

Tags I made for a swap.

I am a member of an internet group called Scraps of Color. There are swaps each month and one of the members (Helen) hosted a tag swap. The theme of the swap was to use Tim Holtz distress techniques to make your tags. I distressed with edges with the Making Memories distress tool and I layered my inks. I then overstamped with a grid stamp by Hero Arts and I used the new die cut of the Umbrella Man. I had some flowers that were in the grab bags I got from Donna Downey Studios, thought they added a nice touch. The was the first project I have done in a quite a while that I did not overanalyze. I just let my creative spirit flow, it has been absent for such a long time. I am so glad I am feeling it again.

Life's simple pleasures

This is a card I made today. I made a standard A-2 card, with a kraft base, shipping tag and a punch by EK Success, ribbon is from Hobby Lobby, it is really sparkly and has a lot texture, put does not show up in the photo. Stamps are by Hero Arts and Amuse rubber stamps. Flower by Prima, twine by Paper Trey ink, butterflies by Martha Stewart and ink used was Memento Cooca Brown. Rhinestones are from Hobby Lobby.

Photos from Copic Adventure

Gail and I met at Donna Downey Studios for our Copic Adventure, she and I got a chance to take photos with Donna. She was on her to Singapore and she indulged us by taking photos with us. We had a fun time at her shop and spent lots of money. Melissa, who is Donna's assistant was very helpful and nice, she was in the Copic class also. We all had lunch together at my favorite place, Panera Bread, (the bread part says it all). We met another student, Cindy, who gave us the lowdown on the stores in the area. Have to explore next time,weather was threatening so I went back to Greenville instead of hanging around to do more shopping. Also a stamping pal Kim from Greenville was in attendance as well. WE all had a great time together.

Some of my Donna Downey Loot

These are some of the goodies I got from Donna Downey Studios. Love it all. Just need to use it... I got her Unity Stamps sets and several stamps from Catslife Press rubber stamps(awesome company) and I finally got the bird on a wire border punch by Martha Stewart.

Copic Certification

I just returned from taking the Copic Certification initial course in Charlotte, NC. Colleen Schaan was the instructor, she was very thorough and I learned a lot about the illustrious Copic Markers. My friend Gail met me there and received certification also. This photo is myself and Colleen. BAD HAIR day for me (LOL)!!! Cloudy rainy days and my hair do not agree...

Our Daily Bread Designs

I recently went to a stamp show in Atlanta and I renewed my addiction to Our Daily Bread Designs. I had initially discoverd them on the internet and then saw the stamps when I went to Stampaway last year. They have wonderful religious verse sets. They also have a great design team, the card samples in the booth were beautiful. I made a card using the stamps I purchased. I used Van Dyke Brown ink but it looks green. I assume my ink has gotten old but I like the look of it. The tapestry background is by Hero Arts.

Inspired by Donna Downey

This is a small canvas that I did inspired by Donna Downey. I used Making Memories rub-ons and Golden Paints. It was quick and easy to make. I sprayed the canvas with water and then added the paint. Golden paints are joy to work with and cover well. After spraying the canvas I added the paint and blotted it to get the coverage I wanted. I used my heat gun to speed the drying. Once it was dry I added the rub-ons and then added a piece of patterned paper along the bottom of the canvas, added a sticker from 7 Gypsies and then stamped the flowers with Titanium white Golden paint. I also edged the canvas with Walnut Stain distress ink. My friend Gail was the recipient of the canvas. I always promise her I am going to send her items in the mail and it takes me forever to send it, so I had to make it up to her. She was needless to say surprised.