In with the new – OUT with the old! It’s our Rubber Stamps/Scrapbooking garage sale event! We do this every year – and have so much fun (even with the rain.) We have about 12 sellers this year – and lots of great deals! I’m trying to remember to get rid of stuff and not buy more. So this is how I’m spending today and tomorrow (8-noon if you’re in the Lexington, Ky area and want to stop by!) 
Enjoy! Hugs, Fran
Category: Conversations
A Special Share
I want to share with you some beautiful things that I’ve received from some other creative people recently. The first is a wine bag made by Mary Davis using the Big Shot Scallop Square die. Mary doesn’t have a blog so we need to give her some love here!
Cute, cute! I love how she did the seams! And she included a card using the Simply Said set.
I am spoiled! And here’s another darling card that Valerie sent me for my b’day – 
Don’t you love the ribbon on the car? Thank you both for sharing your creative talents with me! Enjoy! Hugs, Fran
Stylish Blogger Award
Thanks to Connie Collins for passing the “Stylish Blogger” award along to me.
Part of the award is to do the following:
1) thank the person who gave this award to me and link it back to their blog
2) share 8 things about myself
3) pass this award to 8 other individuals that I have recently discovered
4) leave a comment so that they can pass along the recognition:
Okay – here are 8 things about myself
1. I started scrapbooking 14 years ago. Some of those early albums are a hoot to see – but full of precious memories.
2. I’ve just started my 9th year as a Stampin’ UP! demo.
3. I have 3 children – Katie (26), Alex (21) and Samantha (17).
4. We have a dog (Murray), a cat (Max) and a bunny (Penelope).
5. I love to read. About 2 years ago I discovered audiobooks for my IPhone and I’ve been hooked ever since.
6. I’m currently involved in a project called “Throw Out 50 Things” with a group of friends.
7. Though originally from Ohio, I’ve lived in Lexington for more years than I’m going to admit here!
8. We have a family farm here that has been in our family for almost 225 years.
Enough about me! Here are some other lovely blogs run by some “Stylish Bloggers!”
Kim Assaly at River Front Stampin
Kat Menk at Kat Menk Stamps
Shelley Hopps at Mocha Memories
Lisa Tedder at Stampin with Lisa Tedder
Shelly Bohan at Sweet Pea Stamped Art
Angie Tieman at Schwooo!
Rose Anne Reynolds at Paper Delightz
Dannie Graves at Dannie’s Designs
And last, but not least, here’s a pic of the tissue paper flowers that Samantha and I made for my Stamp Out Winter Doldrums 10-10-20 last week. The picture was hard to take because of the light fixture – but I hope it puts a bit of spring in your day! 
Hugs, Fran
Semi Annual clean up
I try not to change things up too much in my craft room because then I can’t find anything – but it was time to go through, toss out, re-organize and do a general cleaning. So I thought I’d share the results with you!
This is my main area – it’s where you will usually find me! (But usually the counter can’t be seen!)
Current stamp sets – alphabetized in three categories – Christmas/Halloween, Sentiments, Stamps!
Old style punches – (You do NOT get to see in the closet!)
Loose stamps, paperwork, embellishments, stuff, stuff, stuff……..
Scrappin’, sewin’……
Designer Series Paper and Big Shot area.
And last but not least – PAPER!
Thanks for walking around my room with me! It’s already a mess again, sigh! Hugs, Fran
Open House Valentine Bundle Winner
The winner of today’s Valentine Bundle is Maggie! Congrats Maggie and thanks to all who came to stamp!
Convention 2009
Convention opened it’s doors today! Take a look at the crowd for Momento Mall!
The line snakes way, way back – about 2 1/2 – 3 hours long! I picked up my bag and am waiting a bit before braving this line!
So while you wait for me to shop – here’s a look at a very special display board!
Enjoy! Hugs, Fran
2009 Artisan Award Winner and Lots of Bots
It’s true! I am one of the 2009 Artisan Award Winners! Let me just say that I am very honored and very humbled to be a part of this group – it’s a little mind boggling!
I’m going to convention – Track 4 – and my projects will be on display there. Very exciting!
And for something new – here’s a sneak peek of a stamp set coming out in the new Idea Book and Catalog on July 1. It’s called Lots of Bots. 
It’s a simple little card in Basic Gray, Basic Black and Whisper White. Those that know me will tell you that I’m always getting cards sent out late! So I turned this “I’m sorry” card into a belated birthday card.
This one will go to my nephew. I’m not even going to tell you how long ago he had a birthday! Bad aunt! But I think he’ll like the robot. Enjoy! Hugs, Fran
Birthday Special Winner!
The winner of the $50 gift certificate is
Sharon Mc
My birthday is on Halloween – I always loved dressing in costume and going Trick or Treating with my little goblins. The youngest is 18 now, so I haven’t been for awhile.
I LOVE your dress!!
Thanks to everyone for playing and for all the birthday wishes! Hugs, Fran
The Best Feeling in the World!
I’m back from Convention – and it was wonderful! We had so much fun and saw so many great ideas – my head is still spinning!
But I have to share with you what made it extra special for me! Here goes!!!
Yep! They’re all mine! I was super thrilled! Thanks for looking and sharing the fun with me! My kids are running when they see me with my computer now! Enjoy! Hugs, Fran
Tags and Scraps
Yes, he actually did it and I scrapped it to prove it! This is this week’s scrap club layout and my sample uses Real Red (12 x 12) and Basic Black (8 1/2 x 11) card stock (did I tell you that these are the school colors for both of my children, even though they went to different schools?) The stamp sets are Great Grad and the star wheel. The red DSP is from the hostess pack – the chipboard stars are covered with the same DSP. The little tassels is something I had around here and have no idea where it came from – I had 10 of them, so I must have ordered them from somewhere. This layout also uses the Photo corner punch and the round tab punch.
And the “Tag” part is that Nancy at ISTAMPhas tagged me. Here’s how it goes – 
So here’s my random facts (and they will be random!)
1. I love to read historical fiction or biographies. My favorite things are the Civil War and anything taking place during the Tudor reign. (I’m a nerd)
2. I love to play word games (told you I was a nerd). Any form of Scrabble thrills me.
3. My favorites colors to wear are pink, black and white – though you wouldn’t know it from all my red and black posts.
4. I have 3 kids but only 2 of them have attended the same school at the same time – and that was just for one year.
5. All of my kids have/are involved in theater and I usually volunteer backstage. Props and Microphones have become my forte. (see, I AM a nerd!)
6. I drink tons of coffee – love Starbucks – and even check out the locations of Starbucks before I travel.
7. I prefer quiet and am a morning person. Though my youngest has gotten me hooked on my IPod – that’s pretty fun! I can walk around with ear phones in my ears and not listen to what my kids are complaining about! Ha!
So now I’m tagging some new gals!
Shir
Rhonda
Michelle
Lisa
Shannon
Amy
Debbie
Enjoy! Hugs, Fran