What's She Up To NOW??

Happy Sunday!

Not gunna lie ... been sitting here for 10 minutes trying to figure out what to post.  I've got nuthin! ... as in no new projects to share!  Why?  What have I been up to?  WELL!  I'm thrilled to be able to say lots of stuff (like cleaning and purging) and lots of nothing (like reading and printing out photos)!  I think I'm finally ... after 6 weeks of very little "business" ... FINALLY starting to quieten my mind, relax and live at a much slower pace than usual.

When did life get so crazy?  When did it all get so fast-paced and stressful?  When did sleeping for more than 6 hours straight become a rarity, a treat and something to be celebrated and shared on Facebook?  When did guilt take over if I wasn't doing 3 things at a time?  When did enjoying doing nothing for an entire weekend die?

Ever since the kids were born the pace of life has gotten faster and faster.  Every year I take on more and more, I sleep less and less and I cause ridiculous amounts of stress for myself.  For what?

That I don't know.

What I DO know is that I am on some sort of spiritual journey.  It started about two and a half years ago - January 2017.  Things have really ramped up in that department over the last year.  I can't really explain it but I am trusting "the Universe" more.  I'm putting faith in my abilities and that "everything always works out" ... somehow.  I believe that I have at least one Guardian Angel and that he/she is watching over me and guiding me.

The Universe has been nudging me for the last two years ... but had been shoving me a little harder over the last 6 months.  It's telling me to slow down, get my priorities straight and pay attention to what truly matters.  What truly matters?  My health, my family and my friends ... THEN everything else .. and that includes my business.  I was determined to take most of the summer "off" working, at least working the way TAMARA does ... at full tilt ... all the time;  my mind always churning over what classes and promotions to hold, how my team is doing, what my numbers are and how close (or far) away I am from earning the next reward.  I am doing pretty well so far at taking my foot off the gas ... and it IS getting easier the more I practice it.  The world hasn't spun off its axis and my business hasn't come to a grinding halt.  Go figure!

Post-Greece I have been spending more time with the girls.  I have been systematically purging my entire house.  I have been visiting my parents a few times a week.  I have been visiting CRAIG's parents.  I have been meeting friends for coffees, lunches and dinners.  I read a book.

This morning I woke up at 3:33 am.  I often wake at 3:33 am.  I researched the meaning of that.  I DO believe in signs from above and all the articles I read do indicate that 3:33 is a sign.  A sign that my Angel is watching and guiding and that I am on the right path.

No, I don't have a new project to share with you today ... but that's ok.  I'm doing what I need to be doing.  I'll have one for you next week.  Until then have a stampy day doing what YOU need to be doing.  I'll be over here relaxing and being present with my family.

Thanks for popping in :)


Tam

Stampin' Up! 2019 Incentive Trip ... Wow. Just Wow!

Well hello and Happy Sunday!

It feels like YEARS since I've posted!  I had every intention of scheduling a few posts for while I was away but ... well ... ya.  Didn't happen.  My "yay-list" was a mile long and, at the end of the day I just didn't *lol*.

Gosh - where do I even START???

Rome.  Greece.  2019 Incentive Trip.  Was it everything I dreamed it would be?  Oh yes.  Was it as amazing as everyone said it would be?  Definitely.  Did I enjoy every minute?  Absolutely ... well, I really could have done without the 30-36 degree sweat-fest and the never ending soggy clothes and damp face but I would do it again in a heartbeat, given half a chance.

It was worth the 18 months of planning, prepping and stamping.  My face hurt from all the smiling.  My heart was SO full with all the friendships that were made and/or strengthened.  It really was the trip of a lifetime and achieving my goal of earning this trip is in the top 3 life-time achievements for me.  Truly.  Words just can't adequately describe my emotions surrounding this.  It has been a 13 year journey of experimentation, dreaming, self discovery, growing ... it is so much more than "I worked hard to earn a trip".   Anyone who has earned one of these trips will understand.  It has changed me in ways I can't describe.

Well!  Enough about THAT, let's see some card projects, right??  (If you want to see pictures from my trip hop over to facebook and find me - my fave pics are there.

Wanna see what I was working on for so long BEFORE my trip??  ... the SWAPS I made?  I was involved in five batches of different swaps.  Each project needed to be different and had different "rules".  Although it was a LOT of work to product 98 projects (five different designs) but I really did enjoy doing it.  I actually LIKE mass producing.  Once I have my design I can sit in front of the telly and crack the off while chipping away at my dozens of recorded Coronation Streets!

The first two are swaps I made for the swap I did with my Canadian "sisters".  The rules for this one were "anything from the current catalogue", had to have at least one layer and one embellishment.

Being pressed for time I headed for my "go-to" layout and made this Christmas card I LOVE with the new stamp set "Rustic Retreat" -

I just couldn't resist the images in this one, although they are smaller than I like.  That is what I love about my "go-to" layout - it allows me to USE smaller images in a way that still put the focus ON the image.

This is a great set for masculine cards as well as Christmas.  Only $33 CDN (plus s/h/gst) - item code 150285.

You can see in this picture that I used the Woodgrain embossing folder to add texture to my banner.

I stamped the cabin and sentiment in Early Espresso ink, and colored the cabin with my blends ... Crumb Cake and Old Olive and added some of our self adhesive backed sequins and some white bakers twine for some added interest.  I love how it turned out.

My second swap uses the Butterfly Wishes stamp set ...

Item code 149346 for $31.00 CDN plus s/h/gst

I stamped the imaged in Blackberry Bliss ... and colored the flowers with my Purple Posy Blend markers.  I stamped the butterfly and fussy cut her twice - once for the entire body and once just the top wings.  I used my rectangle and stitched shapes dies for the layers and sentiment layer.

I would have loved to use my Purple Posy ink pad alas, the quality issues have not yet been resolved.  An ink pad would make life a little easier but I always still have the option of using my marker and/or blends.  Always more than one way to colour/stamp an image, right??

Next up is from the swap I did with Genevieve Ko and other amazing Canadian demonstrators.  This one needed at least TWO layers, an embellishment and couldn't be made with a stamp set that was available in the new catalogue PREORDER (ie anything BUT preorder products).  I chose the Very Versailles set - $31 CDN plus s/h/gst, item 149275.

You'll notice the layout is the same as the Butterfly Wishes card above ... and I once again used Purple Posy as my layer colour, and Smoky Slate as another layer.  The sentiments are stamped in Smoky Slate and Basic Gray ... and used some of the Purple Posy scalloped ribbon under the sentiment.

The last two were for the cruise.  For both, "anything goes", but products had to be current.

Recognize the layout?  Yup - my "go-to" . Free as a bird is STILL in my top fave sets this year, despite using it a LOT and seeing SO many projects with it.  It's just that great!!  Item code 149468 and $30 CDN.  The paper is the Bird Ballad DSP, $15.75, item code 149592

My last project was also for the cruise ... one of the 3-D swaps.  I LOVE this one!  It's a little notecards and envelope holder - it holds 4 notecards and envelopes ...

 These are the notecards inside.

I used the Magnolia Lane Suite of products for everything - the stamp set, paper, ribbon ... all coordinate together - love that!

I'll be doing a live video in the near future on how to make this little holder.  I CASEd the layout from Patty Bennett.  I am starting a new "Check It Out Tuesday" live FB event ... ever Tuesday night at 7:00 pm Mountain Time.  Search Facebook for "Tamara's Paper Trail VIPs" and I'll add you to the group so you can "Check It Out".  I'll be making this project either this Tuesday or next ... we'll see how my time goes!  Its a fun, QUICK project and I'm pretty sure once you make one you'll make LOTS - they're kind of addicting!

 Petal Pink Organdy Ribbon - item 149411 - $11 CDN

 Magnolia Land DSP - Item 149484 - $15.75 CDN

Good Morning Magnolia Bundle - item 151087 - $87.25

So those are my projects for today (only took me 2 hours to finish this post, due to "using a new laptop" technical difficulties - ugh I have a love/hate relationship with getting new technology!).  So I'll leave it there for now!

If you live in Canada and would like to purchase and of the items shown ... or any other current catalogue items I would LOVE to be your demonstrator of choice.  You can shop my store and place your order here.  Orders under $200 that use the hostess code JGYA6YYA before July 30th will receive a thank you in the mail from me.

I'll leave you with my favourite picture from my trip.  This was in Oia, Santorini.  I just adore it ...

Thanks for popping in, I hope you having a FAB summer so far and have yourself a super stampy day!


Tam