My first 1/2 Marathon!! I did it!!

April already?? Where to begin?? Had taken a bit of a break again from my Stampin' Up! business~ life gets crazy and hectic you know?? To pick up where I left off...my last Stamp Camp was a great success thanks to the help of my good friend Beth!! Beth is also in my downline and instead of stamping the projects I had created...she was a little busy body grabbing supplies from one end of the table and showing everyone what/how to make the projects. A HUGE help and I am SO grateful!!

I made this card as a thank-you (hope she doesn't see it!!) I am finally getting around to sending it out!!

Inside:

Supplies
Stamp Set: Horse Frontier (132019 W, 126347 C), From My Heart (132007 W, 126557 C), Hardwood Background stamp (133032 W)
Card Stock: Very Vanilla, Basic Black, Soft Suede, Sahara Sand
Ink: Basic Black, Whisper White, Versamark
Access: black gingham ribbon (retired), heat tool (129053), pewter embossing powder (124114), dimensionals (104430), Blender Pens (102845), pastels (retired)

Okay..other BIG news from my previous post~ I DID IT!!! I successfully ran my first 1/2 Marathon!! Whoop Whoop!! I had a goal to complete it by 2 hours and 27 minutes (because that's my birthday lol). But actually it was a realistic goal since during my training I was running between a 10-11 minute mile...I also had NO idea as to what to expect!! It was an amazing feeling..it was the weekend of March 14th in Virginia Beach. We had beautiful weather and the course was flat (great for beginners). My husband joined me and he actually decided that morning to run it to. He's CRAZY!! I had trained by myself...he injured his hip several weeks prior and thought he was done...I honestly don't think he wanted me to gloat in his face...so he ran it...limping/running the last few miles. He was in some serious pain the rest of the day (needless to say..I drove home!) But it's all good...I still beat him!! I even beat my goal!! I finished at 2:21!! I think that was part of the reason I wasn't dedicated to stamping as much...distance training takes a lot of time, dedication and it's hard to fit that into an already crazy family life!!

I can honestly say though...it has been the most amazing thing I have ever done for myself. I learned a lot...about myself. I grew...in so many ways. I have officially been bitten by the bug...I consider myself a true runner...I love it. I hope I will always be able to get out there (or on the treadmill) even if it's only for a mile or two...to enjoy the sounds of nothing else but my footsteps,beating heart and steady breathing. It is so rewarding and I now know why they refer to it as a 'runner's high'.

Okay...onward~ are you yawning yet?? Hee hee!

Here is another card I made using one of my latest favorite stamp sets. It's called Happy Watercolor (133191 C). It's on pg. 22 of the current Occasions Catalog.
Inside:

Supplies
Stamp Set: Happy Watercolor (133188 W, 133191 C), Dictionary Background stamp (130348)
Card Stock: Whisper White, Vellum, Raspberry Ripple
Ink: Versamark, Raspberry Ripple
Access: heat tool (129053), pewter embossing powder (124114), Antique Brads (117273), Tea Lace  Paper Doilies (129399), Silver Baker's Twine (132976)


Leave a comment if you have any questions, or if you want to place an order please visit my store!! Remember the current Occasions Catalog is valid until June 1, 2014.

Have a fabulous day!! More BIG news to announce for tomorrow!! See you then!!

Erin

Brrr......what happened to global warming?

This weather is crazy!! First of all...I have a quick update on my running...Monday's are my BIG ones...and last Monday I ran 8 miles...a personal best~ it was crazy but better than the 7! I must be making progress!! During quick moments I would stop and take a drink of water or stop to get a rock out of my shoe I would feel my muscles tighten up...it was better to just keep going~ I heard over and over in my head "Run, Forrest, Run!" I wonder now if I could have kept going!! My husband actually passed me on the road in his truck, rolled down the window to cheer me on...asked how I was doing and he could see in my face "not good" but I assured him I would make it....and that is such an incredible feeling!!

It feels so good to be able to get outside! I am feeling "meh" about winter...the snow is pretty and we haven't had too much of it~ but the kids were home from school ALL week (due to the colder temps and bad roads). It's making me crazy!!
Yesterday and today I ran indoors...had to~ with the windchill I think my face would have broken into little bits of porcelain!
Today I am looking forward to meeting up with some girlies and perhaps we'll craft away to stay warm!! What do you do when you are stuck inside and trying to keep warm??

So...as promised...last post I mentioned that I would share my 'revised' moose~ I had hoped to post it sooner but things have been CRAZY!!
Here he/she is...besides the 'obvious' how can you tell?? (hee hee)

I like this one better...and this will be the one that we will be making at next Friday's Stamp Camp (1/31). I changed it a wee bit~ I think however I may lose the vellum piece~ what do you think?

Now...here is the 3-D gift holder that we will be making:

I am IN LOVE with the new Spiral Flower die (129379)...this is a MUST!! I followed Patty Bennett's tutorial using only one sheet of CS.
Supplies
Stamp Set: Perfect Pennants (133230 C), Happy Watercolor (133191 C)

Card Stock: Soho Subway DSP (130140), Very Vanilla, Soft Suede Core'dinations (from the Neutrals pack 129956)
Ink: Baked Brown Sugar, Summer Starfruit
Access: Big Shot (113439), Magnetic platform (130658), Banners Framelits Dies (132173), Spiral Flower die (129379)

Here was the first one I made for my girlfriend Anne (this is the Sweater Weather DSP) from the last Holiday Catalog.

Inspired by these. Cute!! I will also have treats to put inside. These babies are addicting!!

Well...that's it for me today~ I hope that you all are safe, warm and ready for Sale-A-Bration!! (Starts Jan.28th!)

BIG hugs,
Erin