Basket ful of Surprises....

Did that get your attention? The only surprises are: 1.) I've posted 2 days in a row and 2.) I started and finished a project within a couple days of this post. I got this tutorial from Splitcoaststampers. They provide full color, printable instructions for this fun project.

It is made from one sheet of 12 X 12 paper, brads, ribbon and glue stick. However, I think when I try it again, I think I will just use sticky tape. I am too impatient to wait for glue to dry. I want to keep on working. I love the fact that it looks like a Longaberger Button Basket.

For a first try, I think I did OK. I need to be a bit more careful with my measurement and recommend have paper clips on hand to keep the strips steady when you first start to weave. Typically, I am pretty fussy about showing my work after the first try. This time...I am pretty pleased. By the way, the bunny is optional! :)

Enjoy!!

PS Yes, it is easy enough for me to show you how to make it if the directions are overwhelming.

Outside my comfort zone...

This Christmas (I know right before Easter.), I wanted to make something very special for my mother-in-law. She is such a special lady. She's such a family oriented person and has welcomed me into her family with open arms. I should mention she is not Tyler's mother. His father passed away many years ago. Liz has ensured that Tyler and his siblings continue to be family. We are so lucky to have her in our lives.

I love my punches and my Cuttlebug. So, I created a wintery theme just using those punches surrounding and Acrostic poem I wrote for her. Liz loves wintertime. So, I know this will be prominent in her house. It was so fun and easy to make. But, this was a challenge as this was my first attempt as creating with just punches.

So, take a chance and do something out of your comfort zone. You might find you like it.

Going Bye Bye...

So, today is a big day. My oldest niece Taylor and I are off to North Conway for girl time. There is a Hampton Inn with an indoor waterpark and plenty of SHOPPING. Our original plan was NYC, but decided it might be better when the weather is less unpredictable (i.e. SNOW). I have to say, this 12 year old girl is easy to please. When I told her about plan B, her response, "YEAH, we are going shopping!!" She's been brainwashed since birth.

I am truly excited to spend this time with her. She's at an age where she still loves Tantie, but spending time with her friends is more important. I understand that as I am sure I was exactly the same way at her age.

I am off to pack, but wanted to keep up my momentum with the 'blog thing'. Have a great day!

Blog Banner

These images are courtesy of A*Muse Art Stamps 2008. I am working on the cropping of this photo as it is intended. I am doing my best during my vacation to be diligent about keeping up with this blog. Maybe learn how to use Photoshop and create a watermark. (Between "us", I've been ridiculously addicted to Facebook, but that's an entry for another day.)

Anywho, I have a modified creation in the works. Must check with the originator before I can post...it is in prototype phase. Driving me nuts actually. Still, changing the blog banner makes me feel like I have something checked off the list.

Hang in there, I WILL be back.

I'm back....I think...

Like many of my friends in the creative world, I lost my mojo awhile back. Partially due to ill health and the other getting my feet back into education. I've been substitute teaching for the past few months. I love every minute of it. Somewhere down the road, I will student teach and FINALLY become certified even though subbing does have its perks.

Hopefully, in the next couple of days I will have a post of my Christmas cards. In the meantime please allow a moment to share a conversation I had with my 12 year old niece, Taylor. We were catching up the other day on the phone. Randomly, mentioned her school needed baked goods. I asked for what and when. In typical pre-teen fashion, she says "Oh I don't know some Cookie Walk thing." I told her if I knew when she needed the cookies; I'd make the family favorite, Oatmeal M&M cookies. To which she replied, "What? What about the fundraiser for "Taylor's Tummy"? That made me laugh so hard....I explained that the batch made so much I would set some aside for her. She said, "Thank you for making the goal for Taylor's Tummy! Now it won't be (uh) so empty." Well, she's a dancer and can afford the cookies.

What warms my heart so much is the special relationship I have with each of my nieces and nephews. They are all so different, but so much fun!

Do you have a "Kids Say the Darndest Things" story?

Happy Birthday Nina!!!

This is a quick and very simple card I made for my brother's mother-in-law. Nina celebrated her 70th birthday yesterday. We play Hold 'Em with her once a month. Tyler and Nina surely like to flirt and bet big (bragging rights really). I've been pounding my head for a few days as far as layers etc...and nothing came to me that I would be happy with on the fly. You know me....last minute.

The stamp is from Inkadinkado, ribbon from Michael's and some Stickles. Fast, simple, fun...my kind of card. Enjoy!!

3:52 PM: Images Inkadinkadoo 2008

ZOINKS!!!! I really DO need to spend time with my camera. Sorry about the poor quality of the photo.

PRICED TO SELL!!!

ITEMS ARE PRICED TO SELL!!! SOLD ITEMS REMOVED 9/3/08!!!

General Information:

• Most of the stamps are gently used. They may have ink stains on the wood or rubber, but this does not affect the quality of the stamped image. They are stored in a smoke free and pet free home.
  
• A few of these items are brand-new and unopened (stamp sets un-mounted), and these are marked "NEW".

To order: Email me with your selections, preferred shipping method, and preferred method of payment. I will total everything, calculate shipping cost, and reply to you with your total. FREE GIFT WITH PURCHASE FOR ALL ORDERS.

Payment Methods:

• I accept Visa, MasterCard, eCheck, or PayPal (all processed through PayPal and fees are responsibility of the buyer factored into total). Orders will ship once your payment is deposited into my PayPal account.
• I will also accept personal checks from any customer that I have dealt with personally in the past, and your order would then ship once the check clears.
• Money orders also accepted. Items shipped upon receipt of payment. This is highly recommended to avoid additional fees with PayPal.
  

Shipping Options:

• Choose USPS Priority Mail, or USPS Parcel Post. I will automatically add insurance if your order is worth $25 or more. You pay the full cost of shipping, including insurance ($25 or less), but I do NOT charge a handling fee.
• Consider Flat Rate Priority Shipping and opting out of having stamps shipped in original case or combining cases as I will be able to fit more into the box. This tends to be cheaper than shipping Parcel Post in most instances.
  
• Local customers may also choose to pick up their order from my home in Manchester, NH or arrange a reasonable meeting place.

NEW SETS (Unmounted marked-UM)

A is for Adorable $8 (UM )
Classic Numbers $3
Delight in Life $3
The Fine Print $5
Painted Posies $5
Springtime Stems (UM) $5

Gently Used

Alphabits $3
Alpha Shadows $3
Best Blossoms $4
Bold Invitation $3
Little Shapes $3
Stippled Stencils $3
Sunflower (not sure of name...small set DD) $3
Tags and More $6
Watercolor Minis $5

Accessories

Grograin Chocolate Ribbon (like SU!, but not SU!...about 30 available) 5yds for $1
Grograin Coral Ribbon (same as above) 5 yds for $1
Grograin Grey Ribbon (same as above) 5yds for $1



HAPPY SHOPPING!!!

Retired Stamp SALE!!!

Hello All,

With new the Stampin' Up! year approaching....comes an overhaul of my stamp room!! Not to mention my A*Muse Art Stamp ADDICTION is beginning to take up some space. (Sorry, I won't be letting go of any of those!) Look for my list of retired sets coming up the week of July 21st (newly retiring August 10th not included).

My upline Elissa Moise has some on sale as well. She has a really neat offer for her stamps. Basically, each set is priced $1 per stamp in the set. So, if the set has 6 stamps (regardless of value) she is selling it for $6. I am going to follow her plan with one tweek. Since I HOARD anything and everything, I have a LOT of unmounted stamps. THOSE will be priced a smidge higher than the others...possibly $2 per stamp OR 50% off. ( I will kick in a thank you with your purchase as well.) You might want to check out her $10 Gift Certificate BLOG CANDY that ends TODAY at 10pm.

Also, Fashion Flips is hot here in NH and expanding. If you are in the area, I will be at the Pittsfield Old Home Days in Pittsfield, NH, Saturday July 19th. The theme is a Mexican Fiesta. The festivities begin around 10am and end around 4pm. I will have some in stock reversible bags available $24-$60. FREE gift with every purchase. Custom orders are taking 4-6 weeks for delivery. Sign up on my mailing list for a chance at my FREE raffle ($50 value). Book a home boutique event receive a special gift in addition to typical Hostess benefits with qualifying sales. Fall fabrics are coming SOON!!!

Have a great weekend!!!

Lazy Days of Lynn...

Yup....that's me. Lazy Lynn void of creativity since APRIL! AHHH!!! Well, it's only part true. I have had a creative slump, but I've been preoccupied with other things as well. I have taken on a part-time job at Target close to home. The hours are ideal and the pay is OK for what I am doing. Basically, I am responsible for setting sections of the store for new goods that seem to arrive DAILY. Pretty much what I did when I worked for Gap, Inc. back in the day just not responsible for the team. My days of retail management are pleasantly behind me.

Except of course with my Fashion Flips and Stampin' Up gigs, I am a one woman show. So, I am a fashion designer, stamping enthusiast and educator in both realms. I've been told that being a jack of all trades and master of none is a good thing. I try to remember that when Lazy Lynn peaks her head out now and then.

Actually, I had a VERY creative weekend. BUT, I am not posting here. My dear friend Elissa is posting 2 cards I created this weekend. Also, she has some really neat samples she made for the workshop I attended at her home this weekend. She is so much better at staying in the game than I am. Her blog is www.stampwithelissa.typepad.com .

Hope you are all having a wonderful summer!

Lookie...I made something....

how long has it been???? Too long...I know. Some generous soul on SCS sent me a gift certificate to All That Scraps. So, I bought a Copic Air Brushing System. It is a whole lot of fun, but dangerously expensive for the first run. (Yeah, I've used a whole can just messing around.)

Each of these boxes are filled w/embellishments and other surprises for a Secret Friend SWAP. I think I like the box on the left the best. The bold colors just fit together so well. The most unlikely color combination really just does something for me. The box on the right...did not come out the way I had hoped. The air brushing dries a bit "tacky". So, my finger prints got all over the top. Hence, the card attached to the top. I loved using my Love and Happiness Rub-Ons for the final touch. They saved me a lot of time figuring out what stamps to use.

Been cleaning out the craft room...AGAIN....what can I say...I'm fussy. The sun motivates my creative flow. Since, it shines more each day...there's more fun things on the "horizon". What a lovely metaphor!!!

Images Copyright Stampin' Up 2008

Opening Day 2008

Dear Friends,

It's been quite a while since my last post. Things have been crazy between that nasty bug infecting my family, hoping that Spring is here to stay, Fashion Flips taking off and the 2007 World Series Champion Boston Red Sox kicking off their season opener at Fenway Park...there's been little time for correspondence. Tyler and his brother, John decided to celebrate Opening Day at Game On right in Fenway Park while I watched the festivities on NESN. As most of you know, we are sports fans to the very core.

Personally, I think more women need to embrace sports. Baseball, football, basketball, hockey, soccer and even NASCAR continue to flourish in our culture. This is evident among New England fans. We are loyal to our home teams through thick and thin. Jimmy Fallon, star of Fever Pitch, truly captured the essence of a true Red Sox fan. Honestly, that movie was not exaggerated. We ARE that passionate about our teams.

As I watched from home, I wept as select "Champions of Boston" walked onto the field with their respective trophies from years past. Naturally, I am talking about legends from the Boston Bruins, Boston Celtics and my New England Patriots. Modern technology allowed me to share my moment with Tyler via text message. It went a little something like this...
"I'm crying right now. My Patriots are there."
Silence for 15 minutes, the Sox receive their rings, then Johnny Pesky a true Red Sox legend for 67 years raises the 2007 banner...I get this message.
"Now I'm crying."-Tyler
"Aww...babe...Johnny Pesky got to you didn't he?"
"Yup."-Tyler

So, my tough husband became a sentimental fool over baseball...even better...the Boston Red Sox. It doesn't stop there. My nephew Andy, age 10, calls me to tell me about his Social Studies project on 2 states. He lives in Florida. He picked NH and MA. The teacher wants to know how the state got its name, the state capital and important places. So, I quizzed him..."Quick.. name an important place in Boston." Without hesitation, he replies, "Fenway Park". And the love is passed down once again. (Which reminds me...he should include Gillette Stadium.)

PLAY BALL!!!

Happy Easter!

Many blessings to your family this Easter. Hope the Bunny was good to you too!!
Love,
Lynn and Tyler

TAG...I'm IT!!!

Although I am not one for chain letters/e-mails, my friend Heather, Ink On My Ear, is a good egg. How can I not contribute to this blogging madness? It's good filler in between projects too.

I am supposed to tell you seven interesting things about me that someone might not know. I can't say I've had the most thrilling life, but I can sure make something sound like I have.

Seven interesting things about me...

1. High School Varsity Boy's Basketball manager...basically, I kept stats and score book. I am not skilled in any sport, but managing the team helped me get my varsity letter.
2. I've been crafting it seems since birth. Love it, love it, love it.
3. I got to slap a guy in high school on purpose without getting in trouble. I played the lead female role in All My Sons .....by Arthur Miller. The guy played my husband and he was naughty. I totally was in character and smacked him GOOD. Apparently, my performance was viewed by future classes as a model for the director's drama students.
4. I met my husband at a Bible Study group just 6 short months after a disastrous relationship. The Red Sox won their first World Series in 86 years that season.
5. I never met a strawberry I didn't like.
6. Had a belly button ring before it became as common as getting your ears pierced. YES, it HURT!! Only time I nearly passed out b/c I was in such pain.
7. I would love to go on Carsen Kressley's show "How to Look Good Naked" simply for a good bra fitting and new skivvies. (HA HA!)

Who's next? As the "rules" state...I must "tag" 7 more someone's and so on!

WAStamper, Bucky Girl, Sally N., MommyMonk, Cathy L., Manda_Dex, Kelli Jo "HO"

BLOG CANDY TO THOSE WHO POST A LIST!!! It does not have to be as detailed as mine.

Good luck!

Lyndsey's Angels

This is Lyndsey. She is 3 years old. She is a happy go lucky little girl. She lives in Tewksbury, MA with her Mom (Jeanie), Dad (Keith) and big sister Lauren. While bathing Lyndsey, Mom noticed small blood blisters on her neck. She took her to the doctor’s the next day. Within 48 hours, her family received devastating news that little Lyndsey has Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). She is receiving treatment at Children’s Hospital in Boston, MA. Her prognosis is good as this is the most curable form of Leukemia.

However, with the diagnosis comes not only emotional and
physical strain, but financial burden too. Insurance will not cover all expenses. It seems unjust for such a hard working family. Her Auntie Michelle, a dear family friend, Gramma Yvonne and others are working hard raising funds for the family and Children’s Hospital.

My commitment to Lyndsey’s Angels through Fashion Flips…

• $1 donations accepted w/ every purchase
• I will donate $3 with The Stephanie Collection purchase.
• $5 donated for boutique events scheduled and held in April, May or June.
• These offers are only available through Lynn Monk-Treadway. Online inquries should be filtered to me directly.
  

My commitment through Just Monkin’ Round (coming soon)…

• Special Edition Lyndsey’s Angels handmade note cards in a decorative box available for $15.00… 100% profits goes directly to Lyndsey’s Angels. Images courtesy of Elzybells NA © A*Muse Art Stamps 2008.
• Any donated items graciously accepted for future fund raising events (silent auction/raffle items). I hoping my creative sisters out there can lend a hand.

Thank you for your support!

Sincerely,

Lynn Monk-Treadway

Fashion Flips

www.fashionflips2.com

LynnMTreadwayfashionflips@gmail.com

I am still here...

trying to finish 150 of those tiny nugget purses. It's been slow going to say the very least. I hope to be up and running by next week. Thanks for your patience...or not...could be "talking" to air right now!! Ha, Ha...it's all good.

Grand opening success...

I made it through my first Fashion Flips event yesterday. I was so busy...I didn't get really great pictures of my displays. I made my cost of my product kit plus some extra to spend on STAMPS!! WOO HOO! You'll notice on one picture (barely) tiny little purses made out of paper w/Hershey nuggets. I got the idea from SCS, but I am not sure who gets the credit. I am going to do a follow up post tomorrow w/ the fabrics from the bag selection and the purses I made out of paper that compliment them. They really are darling and easy to make. My niece Taylor made me a bunch the night before. I can't believe how easy they were...I sort of fumble with paper so small.

I have a HUGE event coming up in March with a bunch of scrappin' ladies. The display will rock the house. Oh, there will be loads of pictures then.

Be well my friends!!

For my Valentine...

Tyler leaves for a week on business. So, we are celebrating Valentine's Day tomorrow. I decided to make him a small photo keepsake with a wedding photo and our wedding song (I Could Not Ask for More by Edwin McCain) printed on the back. It's a little bigger than a wallet size, but small enough for him to travel with it. The laminator is heating up as I type. I love my A*Muse Art Stamps so much. Aren't they just adorable? Not a whole lot of embellishing needed...could have been a little steadier w/the Exacto knife, but I think the card is just darling. Where is my hubby right now...at the mall buying my card!!??!! He really is the best. I am a lucky lady.

Artwork A*Muse Art Stamps 2008

Are they not the cutest???

While searching through wedding photos sent by various family members, I found this picture of my bridal party plus one ring bearer who was happy as can be hanging with the ladies. Are they not precious? I mean... how could Tantie get married and only choose one or two of these little darlings? I could just squeeze them.

The ring bearer is my oldest and dearest friend's little boy. (His big sister is the third girl in from the right.) He preferred hanging with the ladies rather than the big boys. He's 3 1/2 in the picture. Yesterday, he celebrated his 5th birthday. His birthday request??? "Ingin (Ninja) Turtles and bad guys...I like bad guys." So, I got him a couple TMNT's w/bad guys. And he's such a sweet boy...just so long he's playing and using his imagination for the greater good...nothing wrong with being the good guy defeating the bad guys.

$1 Treasures

don't you love it when you find a deal that you have to shout it from the rooftops? Or in this case, you find it "Just Monkin' Round". I hit the jackpot at my local DOLLAR TREE. The cards come 3 in a package for $1. The adhesive ribbon come in 3 color combinations for $1. For $1, you get what you pay for as the sticky shows through. So, I just used some flowers and Martha Stewart $1 ric-rac I found on clearance at Mike's. The patterned paper came from the Dollar Tree. Just a package of 4x6 sheets w/ 5 patterns and 5 sheets each for...yup... A DOLLAR. Last but certainly not least, the stamps are courtesy of the $1 Studio G Easter and Valentine's Day series. Oh, one more thing, the Dollar Tree had super cute mini-albums w/cute covers and not so cute covers, but with a little thought, a great alterable item!! What $1 treasures have you found?

Congratulations....

to the New York Giants to a game well played. They definitely out played my Patriots. Yes, I am very somber, but I am slowly gaining my momentum again. I think I am more upset that football season is over. So, here's to basketball season, NASCAR, hockey and baseball. Giants fans you have lots to celebrate...enjoy...until NEXT year.