November Card Swap

[alsmouse]

I know Everyone got their October swaps in the mail on time. (Yes, even I squeeked on that, but I really had a not so great reason, the flu) I would like to start hearing of signups & suggestions for the November swap. Please respond with suggestions for the swap by October 31 & voting will be November 3. I will close the swap on November 5 (a little early since Thanksgiving is toward the end of the month) I picked a mail date of November 19 to allow for the USPS to (hopefully) get it out by Thanksgiving. I'm purposely bumping everything up for the next two months since the Holidays have priority in many lives with family time, craft faires, social events, and the like. Plus, we all know the postal services do get bogged down & we would like these items to arrive in enough time to allow them to be enjoyed. Please let me know if this is a bother for any of you since I am so new at hosting these swaps but am trying to be realistic and accomodating to life's adventures. ~C8>

[ArtKar]

I know Everyone got their October swaps in the mail on time.


:blush: :blush: :blush: um. . .i am mailing mine today :blush: :blush: :blush:
can i still play in November?

Karlene

[alsmouse]

:blush: :blush: :blush: um. . .i am mailing mine today :blush: :blush: :blush:
can i still play in November?

Karlene

Yes, you may still play in November. I'm sure you had a very good reason to drop it in the post today. I know I sure did. The "dead lines" are not in concrete & no one will hunt you down or make you feel bad if you don't make it. LIFE HAPPENS! As long as you get them out as soon as poss and/or contact your swapee to let them know what is happening in your life to delay the card. Sometimes the Muse isn't a-mused at the right time. :) ~C8>

[Inky Whiskers]

Oh, good! I'm not alone in draggin' my wagon. My card to j3annin3 is going in tomorrow's mail. :blush:

[j3annin3]

it's all good with me Inky Wiskers, anticipation is part of the fun! :laugh:

[stampin stacy]

I'm in for Nov swap. The boys in my house get as excited as me I think each month waiting to see what I get. Not that either one would admit it but when the first question asked by hubby when he gets home from work is "did you get another envelope today?" it does make one smile secretly.

[ArtKar]

I used to have a great mail carrier - really friendly. They reassigned routes and now my carrier is not friendly at all.

But when I started to put pretty outgoing envelopes in my box, and when he saw the cool decorated envys I received, he is a lot friendlier now! I even get a wave and a slight smile once in a while now!

Mail Art: not just for participants anymore.

:wave: :wave: :wave:

[joanofgos]

Since I missed out on the October swap (too much job), I want to play in the November swap. I keep thinking of food or abundance as a theme. :D

[piecesandpom]

Please count me in! If it's food, I'll have to stretch but if it's abundance and blessings not so much. . .

[Inky Whiskers]

If food is the theme, count me in!!! :D Heck, count me in even if we're not doing food. :lol:

[alsmouse]

Hey, You all decide the theme. I just tally the votes, set the time lines & name the swap partners.
SO, you all need to make suggestions, I will list the suggestions & then you all will vote on the 3ed. Leftover suggestions from October may be used too since we didn't use them so do look at the suggestions from that thread too.

Also this month are the following observences:

American Indian Heritage Month
Addiction Awareness Month
Alzheimer's Awareness Month
Child Safety and Prevention Month
Diabetes Awareness Month
Epilepsy Awareness Month
Great American Smokeout Month
Home Care/ Hospice Month
Drum Month
Peanut Butter Lover's Month
Real Jewelry Month .
Stamp Collecting Month
World Communication Month
National Novel Writing Month
America Recycles Month
International COPD Awareness Month

All Saints' Day 11/01/07
Election Day 11/06/07
Diwali, Hindu "festival of lights" (Fri., Nov. 9, 2007)
Veterans Day 11/11/07
Thanksgiving 11/22/07

Have fun & pick something. ~C8>

[stampin stacy]

If we did a fall theme that would include harvest for those that have those stamps or leaves etc... for those that wanted to do something else instead. Of course I kinda like the indian theme too, what do the rest of you think. Thanksgiving may be too specific, not everyone celebrates that holiday and we want everyone to feel free to join in.

[Inky Whiskers]

I like Stacy's idea of a general fall theme where we can go for Autumn foliage or Thanksgiving. I have images for both...:eek: I'll have to decide!!! :lol:

[j3annin3]

:) Really Inky?! Haven't you mentioned that you have a VERY limited collection of stamps....:)) a Quite modest collection...... a handfull or so at most.......

Sorry, just teasing, stamp envy, you know........;)

[piecesandpom]

My vote for the general fall theme.

[Inky Whiskers]

:) Really Inky?! Haven't you mentioned that you have a VERY limited collection of stamps....:)) a Quite modest collection...... a handfull or so at most.......

Sorry, just teasing, stamp envy, you know........;)

:)) :)) :))

[andreasscraps]

I'll play and Fall theme is good for me.

[alsmouse]

:) Really Inky?! Haven't you mentioned that you have a VERY limited collection of stamps....:)) a Quite modest collection...... a handfull or so at most.......

Sorry, just teasing, stamp envy, you know........;)

Well, Inky may have to decide which ink to use with her 5-6 stamps. What with only 3-4 colors of ink? :)) :)) It is hard to decide with such limits. Gee, Inky, You may have to go shopping since you are so limited. :)) ~C8>

[Inky Whiskers]

Gee, Inky, You may have to go shopping since you are so limited. :)) ~C8>

Do you think the little bus will take me to a stamp store where I can buy the stamps & ink I lack? Will the little bus have room for all my new toys? Will I have to choose or can I get it ALL when shopping? Inquiring minds want to know! :))

[j3annin3]

Little yellow buses have very specific routes, and a very select passenger list. I have heard there is an even smaller yellow vechicle that will take you anywhere you have money to go.....if you are not a little yellow bus riding person, you could certainly be a yellow cab riding person! :D

[alsmouse]

Do you think the little bus will take me to a stamp store where I can buy the stamps & ink I lack? Will the little bus have room for all my new toys? Will I have to choose or can I get it ALL when shopping? Inquiring minds want to know! :))

You can only ride the little yellow bus if you are wearing your foil hat & your fused plastic bag dress with the UNO playing card pockets & the thigh high lace up Birkenstocks.** And the driver must be wearing a red colander hat :)) :))~C8>




**(sorry, folks, if you missed the fused plastic bag dress thread, you missed the joke.)

[Inky Whiskers]

Maybe if I sticky tape a note to the sleeve of my blue Walmart bag dress (the one with all the smiley faces) somebody will know where I'm going and get me there? I could sticky tape my shopping list on the other sleeve so the nice lady at the stamp store will know what I want. Can I make my foil hat from blue art foil so it almost, but not quite, matches my dress? :))

[alsmouse]

I have heard there is an even smaller yellow vechicle that will take you anywhere you have money to go.....if you are not a little yellow bus riding person, you could certainly be a yellow cab riding person! :D


In our area the even smaller vechicles aren't yellow they are a lovely shade of green. Yup, that exact shade. yucky, huh? At least you'll see it on a rainy day. :D

[Inky Whiskers]

In our area the even smaller vechicles aren't yellow they are a lovely shade of green. Yup, that exact shade. yucky, huh? At least you'll see it on a rainy day. :D

GACK!!! :eek: I'm SO glad ours are still that lovely shade of orangy yellow we're all familiar with. :lol:

[alsmouse]

Yeah, considering we live in "cherry city" you'd think they would have picked a differen't color. But the color they picked is the pits. Salem is not only OR"s state capitol but is the central city for cherry growing for the state, also peppermint. ~C8>

[ArtKar]

I vote for food, too! I'm with Piecesandpom about blessings & abundance.

I have a lot of food stamps I hardly ever get to use.

Karlene

[ArtKar]

You forgot King Tut Day on November 4th!!

[ArtKar]

Sorry, Gang

I am a few days behind on the lit and am catching up.
I'll hold my vote until the appointed day.
I do think King Tut Day should have been included in the listed holidays for November. <g> Would that be a vote for golden abundance?

Karlene

[Inky Whiskers]

Yeah, considering we live in "cherry city" you'd think they would have picked a differen't color. But the color they picked is the pits. Salem is not only OR"s state capitol but is the central city for cherry growing for the state, also peppermint. ~C8>

You also have the BEST bearded iris farm in Salem. :D

[j3annin3]

I like golden abundance Karlene! It sounds like an herbal tea.
I would like to join this swap. A general fall theme works for me.


Inky, it's not how you look that detemines whether you have to ride the little yellow bus, it's how you behave when 'Authorities' are watching. Foil hat, sticky tape, pinned notes and all, you are most likely safe from that sort of restriction.

[piecesandpom]

Golden abundance, huh! Me thinks I have a background that would work quite well. . .on to investigate the stamp collection. . .

[Inky Whiskers]

Inky, it's not how you look that detemines whether you have to ride the little yellow bus, it's how you behave when 'Authorities' are watching. Foil hat, sticky tape, pinned notes and all, you are most likely safe from that sort of restriction.

Some days I'm very well behaved & others...let's say it's a good thing I stay home as much as I do. :D

[alsmouse]

You also have the BEST bearded iris farm in Salem. :D

OH, you mean Schriner's? Yup, one of my favs too. Have you come down to tour the sample garden in spring??? I had so much fun taking photos of ALL the Varities of flowers besides iris. They have a poppy that grows over 6ft tall before blooming. Pain to take a photo of but it's amazing. You need a road trip! Need to see the tulip farms & peony ranch, too. ~C8>

[alsmouse]

You forgot King Tut Day on November 4th!!

Sorry, it wasn't on my usual sources. Link me to your source please so I don't miss any more of the dynasty shaking events like that again.:)) ~C8>

[alsmouse]

"And the driver must be wearing a red colander hat."

For those following the fused plastic bag thread: I received in the mail today a small box sent by the above driver. Enclosed in 2 seperate ziploc bags were 2 large Kosher Pickles. And you wondered about the cymbal section from the drum corps? {Is that a new form of cymbalism?:)):))} Yes this is the truth~C8>

[Inky Whiskers]

OH, you mean Schriner's? Yup, one of my favs too. Have you come down to tour the sample garden in spring??? I had so much fun taking photos of ALL the Varities of flowers besides iris. They have a poppy that grows over 6ft tall before blooming. Pain to take a photo of but it's amazing. You need a road trip! Need to see the tulip farms & peony ranch, too. ~C8>

Yep, Schriner's is the place for irises! I've rode by, but never stopped. Their catalog is great eye candy & their irises do really well for me as they are raised in a similar weather environment. Irises grown in drier climes tend to rot when they get planted here in the wet. Alas, my mom only lived in the area for about year & we don't drive that way to get to Bend. (We take the Mt. Hood route as it's "straighter" than Santiam.) So my chances of getting to do the tour are slim.

If I could get over my driving phobia I'd have so much freedom! But I still get totally freaked out behind the wheel. (I'm not talking nervous, I'm talking seriously freaked out. Think of people you know who refuse to fly, go to the dentist, or melt down when they see certain bugs or rodents; that kind of freaked out. :shock: ) I may not drive, but at least I can stamp! :D

[alsmouse]

If I could get over my driving phobia I'd have so much freedom! But I still get totally freaked out behind the wheel. (I'm not talking nervous, I'm talking seriously freaked out. Think of people you know who refuse to fly, go to the dentist, or melt down when they see certain bugs or rodents; that kind of freaked out. :shock: ) I may not drive, but at least I can stamp! :D

Do you do trains?? Buses? I do understand the freak out thing. I'm not the person you want to be seated next to while flying. I'm now to the point that I only fly if another family member is with me (except Mom:eyeroll: ). I also don't do the big bridges in Portland (the city of bridges). I prefer all the lower, older WPA bridges, less height to fall from. Yup, understand completely.

[marstamper]

Maybe we could do Christmas cards for this one. We should get them back in time for us to "borrow" any ideas to make our own.

[alsmouse]

Is Midnight tonight to sign up to play in the November swap. The votes will be tallied for theme on 11/3. The cards will need to be in the post by 11/19. Everything is bumped up for the next two months to allow for the post offices to get bogged down with other holiday mail that isn't as important as our mail. After all RSC swaps are the 3ed most important piece of mail you can get, Paychecks are #1, Family mail is #2, & RSC is #3. Bills & the rest, well........You pick the placement. :))
I have the following listed as playing so far:
ArtKar
Inky Whiskers
Stampin Stacy
Joanofgos
Alsmouse
Andreascraps
Piecesandpom
J3annin3
Marstamper

Anyone else???

[Inky Whiskers]

Yup, understand completely.

I've done trains & buses, but I've become such a creature of comfort & convenience that if I want to go more than a few blocks from home I call my Crabby Cab Service. Otherwise known as "Honey, will you take me to...?". This works very well! In 2001 I got him to drive me to Portland just so I could go to the Sept stamp show there to meet inkieroo & her daughter face to face. :))

[Marie]

I would like to join in too. The fall theme would work for me.

[alsmouse]

For all playing in the November card swap, here are the suggested themes.
Done in alphabetical order:

Abundance
Autumn
Christmas
Fall
Foliage
Food
Golden
Indian
Native American
Thanksgiving
Please vote and I will tally the votes on Nov. 3 and reveal your swap partners at the same time. The cards will need to be in the mail by the 19th to allow the postal service to get it to your swap partner in a decent time.
Have fun deciding on our theme.~C8>

[andreasscraps]

Fall or foliage here...

[stampin stacy]

Autumn, Fall, Foliage here too!

[Inky Whiskers]

I'll go with the majority. :D

[j3annin3]

Fall or Autumn for me, but something else is fine too.

[alsmouse]

Announcing......The Colorful Choice for The November Card Swap is...
The Red Envelope, Please.
RRRRRIIIIIIPPPPP OOOOOOHHHHHHH
FALL
This leaves you with lots of room for interpetation of the theme, so have a good time creating.
The mailing due date will be November 19th, to allow the postal service enough time to drool over our creations before delivering them to their rightful owners.
Now to pair you up with the new owners of your creations:
Please remember these are done by a random draw by a totally unbiased assistant, Tucker. Of course, I have to rescue each piece of paper scrap before he chews the name off, going after the cheesewhizz I smear on the end of each piece. :))
Swapper----- Swapee
ArtKar----- Joanofgos
Inky Whiskers----- ArtKar
Stampin Stacy----- J3annin3
Joanofgos----- Andreascraps
Alsmouse ----- Inky Whiskers
Andreascraps----- Marstamper
Piecesandpom----- Marie
J3annin3----- Alsmouse
Marstamper----- Stampin Stacy
Marie----- Piecesandpom

I'm also going to ask each of you to think about future themes for December while you review your stamps for this swap. Please note them someplace easy to find (posties on your moniter, shaved cat parts, stapled to DH's forehead, in the cookie jar, etc...) for the call for suggestions is posted. We will be hitting time crunches then & I know if I had a head start on my ideas I would love it.
Have fun with the November swap. ~C8>

[alsmouse]

Forgot a few things;
1. Please make sure that your swapee has your address or that it is listed on your profile. It helps you get your card.:D
2. Please, if you know the names/vendors/style# of the stamps you use on your card please include on the back of the card or on a seperate postie on the back. Sometimes, someone may want that perfect stamp you used.
3. Don't forget to sign & date your art. All artist's should sigh their creations. You may sign it where ever you like but do sign it. Some day, when you are a rich & famous stamp artist, we would like to be able to say we own an original of yours. Not like we'll sell it on E-bay or anything. :))
Thank you, ~C8>

[j3annin3]

Thanks alsmouse! Fall is a nice flexible theme. This is going to be fun!

[alsmouse]

Thanks alsmouse! Fall is a nice flexible theme. This is going to be fun!

:blush: :blush: :o :o SCUFF SCUFF, Well, don't thank me, thank yourselves. You each voted on suggestions you made. I just tallied them up, posted the highest total winner.
Thank Tucker for your Swap Partner. He is seeming to enjoy the task of picking the names. I put all the names on slips of paper fold them up & smear one end with cheesewhizz. He grabs a piece of paper & licks off the cheesewhizz, I grab it before he eats the name part & match it the the list of names posted by how each of you log on to sign up to play, ie: first to say they want to play is #1, second is #2, etc.... Then as he picks the papers the first name is assigned to #1, second to #2 and so on. And on the wild chance he picks the same person I keep the can of cheese near by to recharge the paper & toss it back. So unless one of you is bribing Tucker to alter who you are getting as your swap partner, it is totally random.(if you are going to try to bribe him, it is the regular chedder cheese whizz that he likes.) Don't worry, I'm not bribing him with it any more than I have to to just do the original swap choices. I can't stand the smell of it. something about the smell of canned cheese gags me.:confusion: Who invented it anyway? Was chewing a real piece of good chedder too hard for them???
I'm glad that Fall won the vote. It really is a vast theme. I just sat down with my stamp book & flipped page after page after page after page, trying to decide on my final card. Deciding can be so hard. Have fun creating

[j3annin3]

I agree alsmouse, canned cheese stuffs are just nasty. I know several people who really really like it. I try and respect thier opinions, i try not to wince and cough while they have it; but after all that 'real cheese sauce' from various jobs, i just can't look or smell it anymore with out wanting to toss it and my cookies in the nearest trash can.
Strangely, i do like velveta......canned cheese's close cousin, go figure :confusion: (something to do with the way it melts, i think)


Deciding is difficult, maybe challenge is a better term? Creating anything comes down to a series of choices. Skill/experience has some effect, as does the original idea/vision. But finally it's the results of the series of choices that one has made that is the finished item.

It's also the fun part. The bazillion-thirteen-fourty seven ways it could go. It makes my brain giggle and bubble and light up like a christmas tree.

What's your happiest part of your creative process? I ask this as a real question for anyone to answer?

[alsmouse]

I agree alsmouse, canned cheese stuffs are just nasty. I know several people who really really like it. I try and respect thier opinions, i try not to wince and cough while they have it; but after all that 'real cheese sauce' from various jobs, i just can't look or smell it anymore with out wanting to toss it and my cookies in the nearest trash can. Especially since that "real cheese sauce" comes in a 10 can. some how a 5# runny orange volcano of chemicals isn't real cheese sauce to me. ditto to the tossing of the tossing of the cookie brigiade.
Strangely, i do like velveta......canned cheese's close cousin, go figure :confusion: (something to do with the way it melts, i think)I like the cute little plastic storage boxes it used to come in. just the right size for most paintbrushes.


Deciding is difficult, maybe challenge is a better term? Creating anything comes down to a series of choices. Skill/experience has some effect, as does the original idea/vision. But finally it's the results of the series of choices that one has made that is the finished item.

It's also the fun part. The bazillion-thirteen-fourty seven ways it could go. It makes my brain giggle and bubble and light up like a christmas tree. Are you sure that isn't just the after effects of the velveta? :)) I always love the creative process. puttering around in all the books, poking in corners, boxes & stirring up dustbunnies of ideas. In fact, that was a topic at the lunch table today. "how does your mind create & the process". A round table discussion with a metal worker, quilter, paper artist & graphic cartoon designer. It was a lively discussion as to how each comes up with ideas & the final product.

What's your happiest part of your creative process? I ask this as a real question for anyone to answer? I'll say most of the process is a happy part. occasionally when what you have in your minds eye & what is actually happening on the project is unhappy but sometimes it is a better result of the finished product. like spraying silver metallic glossy paper with 91% alcohol, gives it a neat galvanized bucket look. so add light over wash with thinned alcohol inks latte & it looks like a old used farm bucket.add a touch of lettuce & it looks like it has been sitting in the yard in the shade growing a light cover of moss. etc...
I'm still working on how to get that lovely copper green patina using alcohol inks, so if anyone has a "recipe" please let me know. I'm looking for that lovely shade of old copper rain gutter green. ~C8>

[marstamper]

What's the details for this one? Did I miss it?

[Inky Whiskers]

What's the details for this one? Did I miss it?

This one closed the same day the Christmas ATC swap did & you're assigned to send your Fall themed card to Stampin' Stacy & have it in the mail by November, 19th. HTH! :D

[j3annin3]

For some reason i thought the due date for this swap was also to have been post marked by the 17th. I'm relieved more than one would think to learn it's by the 19th. See, i was going to throw myself on your feet and beg for mercy alsmouse, but i'll now i can save the dramatics for the next time things are not working out as i had planned they would.

What does Tucker get for Thanksgiving dinner?
Inky, do you give your pride of kitties something special for TK dinner?
Anyone with pets? Do you give them table scraps as a treat?

[alsmouse]

For some reason i thought the due date for this swap was also to have been post marked by the 17th. I'm relieved more than one would think to learn it's by the 19th. I'm a reasonable mouse & plan for life to happen, so you have no need to panic, YET. just pop it in the mail by the 19th. See, i was going to throw myself on your feet and beg for mercy alsmouse, but i'll now i can save the dramatics for the next time things are not working out as i had planned they would.

What does Tucker get for Thanksgiving dinner?
Inky, do you give your pride of kitties something special for TK dinner?
Anyone with pets? Do you give them table scraps as a treat?
I usually ask for the wing tips for the rats. Lots of flavor, nibbles, soft bones & meat. They drag them all over the cage for a day or two then I take them away since by them they are too hard to chew, if there is much left for them. Since I get 2, I spread them out over a week so they have leftovers like we do for days on end. LOL Sis's dogther (my neice) is an allergy dog & can have a small amount of turkey so loves Thanksgiving since she knows that she will be getting nibbles from the leftovers all week. We usually save the tough stuff in the drumsticks & the cartilage from the breast for her to really have a chew on, plus all the knobs of the bones. She doesn't get the splintery parts of the bones but the knoby stuff she can chew up well. ~C8>

[alsmouse]

Ok, it's mid November & I'm going to ask each of you to think about themes for the December swap while you play with your stamps. I'm thinking of posting a window for players & suggestions on 11/25-30 with the voting to end 12/01. That will give us a little faster due date but with the post office getting pounded with all the mail & all the other stuff we will be doing, I thought you all might like a bit of a head start. If you have any objections, PLEASE say something. I'm thinking of a mail date of the 17th. That would give you a whole weekend to crank out your card before it was due. We will be hitting time crunches then & I know if I had a head start on my ideas I would love it. Please let me know your thoughts on this schedule, I'm attempting to plan for all of life's little surprises. ~C8>

[j3annin3]

:) You are a very reasonable mouse. But since i am sending my card to you i did want to make sure you knew i would be late and as well as oh so sorry for being late. Fortunately, i should have worked out the kinks in my design in time to have it in the mail by the 19th. I'm not at all sure what those of you who like that last minute rush see in this sort of situation.....:confused:

Sounds like Tucker has a good dinner coming, does he do smashed potaotes or gravy? Leftovers are one of the very best things about Thanksgiving! Hot food, real Dinners and Lunches for days and days!! It's a one-finger-cooks' delight! :D


My silly cat has been unwell. She is eating like there is no end to her hunger. (Not worms, vet checked, it's most likely some kind of cancer.) Today i heard a rackety bang in the kitchen and went to investigate. i was gobsmacked!

A friend's birthday is tomorrow and i am baking her a cake. Well, i had it baked, but it must have been too much of a temptation for that old snaggle puss.

There she was; having knocked the layers to the floor, sitting in and on one slightly warm round while eating the middle out of the second! :shock: She's always had a sweet tooth but she's never just taken any food that wasn't left specifically for her. She wasn't even ashamed that she did it. She looked up at me, whisked some crumbs off her sticky muzzle with a happy paw and went back to it. When i picked her up off the remains, she had clumps of cake stuck to her feet, ribbons of sticky crust stuff stuck on her belly fur and tail, a wickedly contented look in her eye; and under it all a big rumble purr of pleasure. It'd be pointless to be upset, she is ill, old, and too skinny. But really, :cry: now i have to start again and i am already rushed.
There is just no way to cover up a crater that large in the one layer; and that's avoiding the whole issue of cat mouth contamination, nor is the 'spice' of cat bum is really desirable no matter how exotic it may be. .....I'll have to hide the butter cream icing. She has on occasion been a butter licker, but now i think sweetened butter and cream, just might be a busy-pawed cat's idea of heaven.


I am happy to contemplate themes for December, but i'm not sure i understand your tenative due date? The seventeenth of December?

[Inky Whiskers]

Inky, do you give your pride of kitties something special for TK dinner?

Since we do TK day with my mom, our pride has to make do with nibbles of turkey leftovers, tho' we generall avoid giving them "human" food. Not so much because it's bad for them, but because if we give to one, ALL of them want their fair share and trying to eat with 6 cats demanding food just doesn't work very well. :lol: They have their purpetual trough of kitty kibble and bags of treats just for them. The ones that like cat treats line up like baby birds & open their mouth's so I can drop the treats in. :D

Mom's cats usually sneak up on the table after we've eaten & are watching TV, but before we've started cleaning up. Last year Matola stole a wing & retreated behind the washer with it. We didn't argue with her or try to get it back. What would be the point? Of course, her brother (Bandit) demanded that he get some turkey too once he saw that she got away with it. :lol:

[Inky Whiskers]

:) My silly cat has been unwell. She is eating like there is no end to her hunger. (Not worms, vet checked, it's most likely some kind of cancer.) Today i heard a rackety bang in the kitchen and went to investigate. i was gobsmacked!

A friend's birthday is tomorrow and i am baking her a cake. Well, i had it baked, but it must have been too much of a temptation for that old snaggle puss.

There she was; having knocked the layers to the floor, sitting in and on one slightly warm round while eating the middle out of the second! :shock: She's always had a sweet tooth but she's never just taken any food that wasn't left specifically for her. She wasn't even ashamed that she did it. She looked up at me, whisked some crumbs off her sticky muzzle with a happy paw and went back to it. When i picked her up off the remains, she had clumps of cake stuck to her feet, ribbons of sticky crust stuff stuck on her belly fur and tail, a wickedly contented look in her eye; and under it all a big rumble purr of pleasure. It'd be pointless to be upset, she is ill, old, and too skinny. But really, :cry: now i have to start again and i am already rushed.
There is just no way to cover up a crater that large in the one layer; and that's avoiding the whole issue of cat mouth contamination, nor is the 'spice' of cat bum is really desirable no matter how exotic it may be. .....I'll have to hide the butter cream icing. She has on occasion been a butter licker, but now i think sweetened butter and cream, just might be a busy-pawed cat's idea of heaven.

I'm sorry your kitty girl isn't well but obviously she still has her spunk! :))

[j3annin3]

Thank you Inky, i don't really want to think about her not being well avoiding it with great determination actually, but she is a sassy old thing and i love her.

I think a photo of you kitties lining up like birds with thier mouths open would be great! I'm not sure how/if you could get it but i'd really like to see it if you ever do.

[alsmouse]

:) You are a very reasonable mouse. But since i am sending my card to you i did want to make sure you knew i would be late and as well as oh so sorry for being late. Life Happens. It will get here when it does. It sounds like you had a very good reason to run a little behind schedule. :)

Sounds like Tucker has a good dinner coming, does he do smashed potaotes or gravy? Leftovers are one of the very best things about Thanksgiving! Hot food, real Dinners and Lunches for days and days!! It's a one-finger-cooks' delight! :D Rats eat anything! He does seem to enjoy sweet potatos just roasted so I will be making them for us. Sis's MIL makes a heartstopping creation that is canned sweets, butter, cocoanut, pecans, brown sugar & cinnamon. If you ever want to check your blood sugar, Don't do it after that one. It will send you into a sugar coma even if you aren't diabetic. Dad always does 2-3 (1C+) servings of it when they come up so I'm glad they aren't going to be here this year.


My silly cat has been unwell. She is eating like there is no end to her hunger. Sorry to hear that.:( (Not worms, vet checked, it's most likely some kind of cancer.) Today i heard a rackety bang in the kitchen and went to investigate. i was gobsmacked!

A friend's birthday is tomorrow and i am baking her a cake. Well, i had it baked, but it must have been too much of a temptation for that old snaggle puss.

There she was; having knocked the layers to the floor, sitting in and on one slightly warm round while eating the middle out of the second! :shock: She's always had a sweet tooth but she's never just taken any food that wasn't left specifically for her. She wasn't even ashamed that she did it. She looked up at me, whisked some crumbs off her sticky muzzle with a happy paw and went back to it. When i picked her up off the remains, she had clumps of cake stuck to her feet, ribbons of sticky crust stuff stuck on her belly fur and tail, a wickedly contented look in her eye; and under it all a big rumble purr of pleasure. It'd be pointless to be upset, she is ill, old, and too skinny. But really, :cry: now i have to start again and i am already rushed.
There is just no way to cover up a crater that large in the one layer; and that's avoiding the whole issue of cat mouth contamination, nor is the 'spice' of cat bum is really desirable no matter how exotic it may be. .....I'll have to hide the butter cream icing. She has on occasion been a butter licker, but now i think sweetened butter and cream, just might be a busy-pawed cat's idea of heaven.:)) :)) Please excuse me for laughing but the mental image of kitty face first in one layer & butt planted in the other has me cracking up. Were the layers still warm? maybe she was a bit chilly?? I do suggest maybe another cake for your friend. I love my friend and accept if there is some cat fur in something she makes but a whole cat is a bit much. I hope the next cake went better. A big [{HUG]}] to make it feel better.

I am happy to contemplate themes for December, but i'm not sure i understand your tenative due date? The seventeenth of December?
[COLOR="RoyalBlue"]I've suggested that to allow for the amount of extra mail that our mail will be contending with. If all of you want to still have the due date to be on the 19th, I don't mind. I just wanted every one to get their swaps received in enough time to enjoy them. This is a democracy, talk to me. ~C8>

[j3annin3]

Thanks so much almouse, my cat's unwellness is scary. She's very warm now, after we had to have the boiler replaced (:eek: .) She lays on the radiators when she is not laying on me. She looks a bit like road kill when she melts on them, her fur has a faint smell of warm metal and crimp marks from the fins on the rads.

It was funny to see her sitting on the cake. She was SO happy! She is fond of soft squishy things, i'm sure that had something to do with it. There probably were some cat hairs in the second cake, but that is somewhat expected, and my friend couldn,t really tell my cats' hairs from her cats' hairs anyway. I agree, cat bum is unacceptable.

The next cake went well. I had to go to the grocery store and get a whole nother batch of ingredients (Cocconut cream with key lime curd filling) and that took another hour. It was the lost time that was the worrisome thing.
I've been cranking out wedding and Thanksgiving favors for weeks now, but i'm still only just on the edge of being caught up.

Between the boiler, that silly cat needing a lot of cuddling, and the brides :rolleyes: wanting to add another 20 or so favors to thier mostly done orders i doubt i'll get to sleep till after Christmas! (Yikes! Christmas favors!!)

thank you for listening to me whine.

Baked sweet potatoes are delicious, Tucker has great taste for someone that will eat everything. Sometimes i just (thickly) slice up a few, mist them with olive oil, add a little S&P, and bake them till they are browned and soft. Yum! Your sister's MIL receipe sounds tasty. One of my foster mother made a casserole with alot of the same ingredients whipped into the canned yams, topped with a layer of browned marshmallows. It was more like dessert than a side dish. But she could not hardly make enough it to last for all the many times around it was requested. Your Dad's not a diabetic i take it?

Thanks for your tolerance about maybe being a little late with you card. I thought you were discussing the due date for the proposed December swap.
I definitely won't be done today. I do think i'll have novembers' done in time to get the postmark for the 19th.

[alsmouse]

Thanks so much almouse, my cat's unwellness is scary. She's very warm now, after we had to have the boiler replaced (:eek: .) She lays on the radiators when she is not laying on me. She looks a bit like road kill when she melts on them, her fur has a faint smell of warm metal and crimp marks from the fins on the rads. mmmm yummy smell.:eyeroll:

It was funny to see her sitting on the cake. She was SO happy! She is fond of soft squishy things, i'm sure that had something to do with it. There probably were some cat hairs in the second cake, but that is somewhat expected, and my friend couldn,t really tell my cats' hairs from her cats' hairs anyway. I agree, cat bum is unacceptable.

The next cake went well. I had to go to the grocery store and get a whole nother batch of ingredients (Cocconut cream with key lime curd filling) and that took another hour. It was the lost time that was the worrisome thing.
I've been cranking out wedding and Thanksgiving favors for weeks now, but i'm still only just on the edge of being caught up. I'd be worried about the lost time too what with all those orders & bridal changes. Wouldn't it be easier to automatically plan for 40+ more due to indecision? And if you have leftovers, plan for them into the budget & either sell them at a craft fair or donate them to a senior home. I know that they love getting surprises on their dinner trays. The filling for the cake, key lime curd filling, sounds yummy. I adore limes. When we lived in CA we had 2 trees & it was a regular thing to have dad's homemade margaritas. I miss having a tree now, but unless you have a greenhouse you can't grow them in OR.

Between the boiler, that silly cat needing a lot of cuddling,have you considered a backpack? and the brides :rolleyes: wanting to add another 20 or so favors to thier mostly done orders i doubt i'll get to sleep till after Christmas! (Yikes! Christmas favors!!)

thank you for listening to me whine. You're welcome. & it wasn't whining. It was venting. Either that or you would have one less cat & a few less brides. :D
Baked sweet potatoes are delicious, Tucker has great taste for someone that will eat everything. Sometimes i just (thickly) slice up a few, mist them with olive oil, add a little S&P, and bake them till they are browned and soft. Yum! Your sister's MIL receipe sounds tasty. One of my foster mother made a casserole with alot of the same ingredients whipped into the canned yams, topped with a layer of browned marshmallows. It was more like dessert than a side dish. No marshmallows on this thing. it's candies on top after baking. But she could not hardly make enough it to last for all the many times around it was requested. Your Dad's not a diabetic i take it? Nope.:)

Thanks for your tolerance about maybe being a little late with you card. I thought you were discussing the due date for the proposed December swap.
I definitely won't be done today. I do think i'll have novembers' done in time to get the postmark for the 19th.I was discussing the due date for December. I'm not moving the goal posts on November for anything, not & keep this "job".:D The "due dates" are like baby due dates, they are an aim for date but if you get it early, great. If a little late, just let your swapee know what's happening. This group seems to understand that we can't plan everything so can flex. We haven't even listed who's playing for December or picked a theme yet. I just wanted to bounce the dates off everyone to see if they would fit into schedules or if they needed to be shifted, that's all. Everyone, do those dates work for you???
~C8>

[stampin stacy]

I got my card from marstamper, thank you lot of time went into it I'm sure.

Thank you

[j3annin3]

I do plan extras for the brides and parties, it's only happened a few times that extras haven't been requested. But there is a trade off between being prepared and keeping my costs as low as i can manage, cardstock is expensive to just buy, especially in colors i only need for thier event. I do also need to allow for my own mistakes and that silly cat's 'HELP', but these 2 brides, well...speciffically the Mothers' of the Brides, just keep adding more and more.

I've used up all my planned extras and that still will leave me starting from the beginning again for about 20 more each. The one wedding started out with 60 guests but now we're up to 100 favors, the other was 110 and now are at 140. Understand, i'm grateful for the work and can use the extra money, (with out a doubt) but it's starting over again and hauling out all the stuff i just got put away that puts the kink in my slinky. :)

I do sometimes have extras, and those go to neighbors or children of neighbors, or co workers (co workers eat alot of candy!) and of course those indomnible mad chini bombers. I never have a hard time finding someone who would like a little unexpected something. Sometimes i do save up enough leftover boxes to take to the older folks home and they really enjoy them, i have to fill them with mostly approved treats, older people have picky diets. I appreciate your suggestions. these 2 mom's are also making the caterers crazy!

she won't sit in a back pack, but she will curl up under my sweatshirt, or in the kanga pocket pouch, if it's one of my older larger ones, she's very small, at her largest never over 6 pounds. Now she is less than 5, but still eating and fussing like a lion.

I agree, it's a flexible group and not likely to get upset with a minor delay or change. I've really enjoyed this swap. It's so nice to think of stamping as a thing for just fun!

My post office actually seems to get more efficient with the holiday rush. I get my mail fast and accuate and the stuff i send out seems to get there better too. I think they must have a bigger holiday staff and maybe some motivation to get stuff done. Don't know if that's true anywhere else though.


limes are excellent! lucky you, i had to buy key limes and they were a tidy sum....on the happy side my curd turned out very well, smooth, translucent and not too sweet.

[Inky Whiskers]

The "due dates" are like baby due dates, they are an aim for date but if you get it early, great. If a little late, just let your swapee know what's happening. ~C8>

Be greatful that I don't send my swaps out on my son's birth schedule...he was 2 1/2 weeks LATE! :lol: Never fear ArtKar! Your card will be in Monday's mail.

"puts the kink in my slinky" :)) :)) :)) I don't think I've ever heard that one before! I usually use "That sure funks my shui." :D

Totally unrelated, but too funny to not share:

Part 1 ~ I hear the mailman ring the door bell & head down to get the lg Priority box of rubber sheets (from My Heart Stamps 4 You) that I saw carried to the door. DH had gotten hold of it & is insisting that HIS name is on the box, therefore I can't have it! I grab him by the ponytail (swinging him into the still open door) and yell to the retreating mailman "Isn't stealling somebody's mail a federal offence?" "I think so!" he answers, so I yank the box from DH's arms & stick my tongue out at him before scampering off to gorge on fresh rubber.

Part 2 ~ The next day, I'm sitting on the porch having just opened my last 2 expected orders of rubber (Onyx Expressions & Stamp Francisco) when DH comes out saying "Those are mine! Mine! Mine! Gimme mine!"

Yeah, right! I tell him I ordered rubber and he can't have it. What does my funny man do? He steps behind me & starts massaging my shoulders! I ask him what he wants. "Who me? I'm just doing as you ordered." "Why are you sucking up to me?" "I'm not, you ordered "rub her" and I'm just doing what I'm told."

Gotta love that man! :D

[alsmouse]

I do plan extras for the brides and parties, it's only happened a few times that extras haven't been requested. But there is a trade off between being prepared and keeping my costs as low as i can manage, cardstock is expensive to just buy, especially in colors i only need for thier event. I do also need to allow for my own mistakes and that silly cat's 'HELP', but these 2 brides, well...speciffically the Mothers' of the Brides, just keep adding more and more. Sorry your having to deal with the 'Mother's of Bridezilla's'. Sis was lucky, she told me what she wanted for wedding, I did all the work, found minister, planned all, caterer, flowers, cake, music,rentals, hotels. All she had to do was find guy, dress & invites. It was in backyard. I was asked to go into wedding planner job by at least 4 of guests for their daughters & the caterer said that I was the easiest planner she had ever dealt with. And she had been doing it over 20 years.

I've used up all my planned extras and that still will leave me starting from the beginning again for about 20 more each. The one wedding started out with 60 guests but now we're up to 100 favors, the other was 110 and now are at 140. Understand, i'm grateful for the work and can use the extra money, (with out a doubt) but it's starting over again and hauling out all the stuff i just got put away that puts the kink in my slinky. :) Very funny term.:)) :)) :))

I do sometimes have extras, and those go to neighbors or children of neighbors, or co workers (co workers eat alot of candy!) and of course those indomnible mad chini bombers. I never have a hard time finding someone who would like a little unexpected something. Sometimes i do save up enough leftover boxes to take to the older folks home and they really enjoy them, i have to fill them with mostly approved treats, older people have picky diets. I appreciate your suggestions. these 2 mom's are also making the caterers crazy! I always hated having the moms come with the couple when they registered. They always ran the show & the poor couple were just dragged around & bullied by the mom. I usually got a coworker to pull the mom off to the side to "teach her about the "value" of a product & I would sneek the kids out of the mom's sight & tell them to just pick what they wanted to & that they could always edit it later when mom wasn't around to drive them nuts. They were always so happy to hear that. I also said that if thay had questions to look for the ladies that really worked in the department & not the ones were just standing still behind the counter. Happy couple!

she won't sit in a back pack, but she will curl up under my sweatshirt, or in the kanga pocket pouch, if it's one of my older larger ones, she's very small, at her largest never over 6 pounds. Now she is less than 5, but still eating and fussing like a lion.

I agree, it's a flexible group and not likely to get upset with a minor delay or change. I've really enjoyed this swap. It's so nice to think of stamping as a thing for just fun!

My post office actually seems to get more efficient with the holiday rush. I get my mail fast and accuate and the stuff i send out seems to get there better too. I think they must have a bigger holiday staff and maybe some motivation to get stuff done. Don't know if that's true anywhere else though.
I think they get better every year too. I sometimes think it justifies the price of a stamp. :D

limes are excellent! lucky you, i had to buy key limes and they were a tidy sum....on the happy side my curd turned out very well, smooth, translucent and not too sweet.
Our tree was a meyer lime. Key limes were too picky for CA. but the meyers taste just super & make a killer margarita. I just wish I could have one here in OR. :cry: I miss fresh limes ~C8>

[j3annin3]

Inky Wiskers, your husband does sound like a treasure, and fun too.

I agree alsmouse, it's the mothers that are the real tricky ones. But, since they are often the ones who actually pay me it's really just a part of my job. But sometimes they are overwhelming. I think most of them really mean well, i think they want everything to be perfect and the have a lot of ideas from when they were going through the process, but they really do seem to think the bride and groom are secondary to the event.

Your sister is a lucky woman! I have no doubts that planning her wedding for her was the nicest gift she got. Did you have a good time doing it? did you like the results? I have a lot of contacts through the local 'wedding' community and most of the caterers, and planner are great people who work hard for thier money. I wouldn't want that sort of job. I'm really not aggressive enough, or maybe i'm too aggressive, at any rate what ever it is, i'm pretty sure i don't have enough of it to do that sort of work well.

Meyer limes are very good, Meyer lemons are tasty too. Citrus is one of my favorite flavors. There is no citrus that grows here in SW Pa. We import them all. My father lives in florida and occasionaly he ships us a box of grapefruit or oranges but otherwise we have to shop for the luxury. My mother always put a tangerine in our stockings as a kid. She said that she got them in her stocking when she was a kid and it was a special treat! Maybe the only citrus she got all year. Do any of you remember getting citrus in your Christmas stockings?

I try not to even think about justifying the price of a stamp. :noway: I'm working on developing inner postal peace by chanting "It is what it is" over and over. I believe that soon i'll be able to say it without clenching my teeth.

[Inky Whiskers]

Inky Wiskers, your husband does sound like a treasure, and fun too.

Thank you! He's a keeper for sure!!! :D

[alsmouse]

Inky Wiskers, your husband does sound like a treasure, and fun too. I agree.:D

I agree alsmouse, it's the mothers that are the real tricky ones. But, since they are often the ones who actually pay me it's really just a part of my job. But sometimes they are overwhelming. I think most of them really mean well, i think they want everything to be perfect and the have a lot of ideas from when they were going through the process, but they really do seem to think the bride and groom are secondary to the event.

Your sister is a lucky woman! I have no doubts that planning her wedding for her was the nicest gift she got.That was my gift to her. That & shaving my legs for the dress. :)) Did you have a good time doing it? I had a blast. I asked Dad if there was a budget & he said no, but I'm a cheapie & was able to do the whole wedding, catered full buffet of mini french dipped sandwiches, beef, pork, turkey, a fruit & veggie buffet with dips & pates, fruit teas & champagne, white chocolate cheese cake wedding cake, bridal party flowers, dress, invites, rentals of tables, chairs, gazebo, & all the dishes & stuff, string quartet, & photographer and decorations for under $8,000 in 1992. It was a hit & Sis got lots of complements on it. She kept telling everyone that I did all the work & that's how I got so many people asking me to help with their weddings. I know that I had a lot of play with it but I also know what my sister likes & dislikes. If I had to do it for somone else I don't think I would have the same results. Familarity & all. did you like the results? I have a lot of contacts through the local 'wedding' community and most of the caterers, and planner are great people who work hard for thier money. I wouldn't want that sort of job. I'm really not aggressive enough, or maybe i'm too aggressive, at any rate what ever it is, i'm pretty sure i don't have enough of it to do that sort of work well. I worked for a caterer for a while. You really bust your hump in that job. If I go to a catered event now I try really hard to be easy on the staff since I know just how hard their job is. & I can tell that they know since I get better service than every one else at the table. TIP: No matter how busy you are talking to the person next to you, when ever someone fills your glass of water or coffee, always turn & look at the server & smile, say a genuine Thank You. Just letting them know you noticed makes their job a little more appreciated. Your service will improve.

Meyer limes are very good, Meyer lemons are tasty too. Citrus is one of my favorite flavors. There is no citrus that grows here in SW Pa. We import them all. My father lives in florida and occasionaly he ships us a box of grapefruit or oranges but otherwise we have to shop for the luxury. My mother always put a tangerine in our stockings as a kid. She said that she got them in her stocking when she was a kid and it was a special treat! Maybe the only citrus she got all year. Do any of you remember getting citrus in your Christmas stockings? When parents were kids they got an orange in the toe of their stockings. That was usually the only citrus they saw all winter until spring. They contiued the tradition & now that Sis & I do each others stockings, we do it too, though we changed to tangerines.

I try not to even think about justifying the price of a stamp. :noway: I'm working on developing inner postal peace by chanting "It is what it is" over and over. I believe that soon i'll be able to say it without clenching my teeth.
I just keep thinking "it could be worse, it could be worse. If it helps justify the price of a stamp, I worked with a lady from Brasil & she told me that she was happy if she got mail 2x a year there. If you bought a stamp there the postal person would 'glue' it to your envelope in front of you, then as he dropped it into the cart to be sorted he would peel it off & sell the same stamp to the next person in line. That's why I keep saying, even with stamp prices rising, our postal service is very good. We get our mail in a timely manner & usually in 1 piece. Not bad for 37 cents. :D ~C8>

[piecesandpom]

Marie, thanks for your terrific card! Yours is going out in the mail today. I can't tell if I picked up today's mail or Saturday's but I have to go out to the P.O. to do the Xmas ATCs anyway.

Do you need me to post yours? It's gray today so I won't take pictures today but can when the weather gods bring us sunshine again.

Thanks again!

We always got oranges in our stockings; my girls have requested that we switch to apples now that they are older. At least I tried to pass the tradition on. . .

[Marie]

Glad you got it Karen. I can't post because I don't have my scanner. Thanks in advance. I will be watching for your card. This swapping is fun!!

[Inky Whiskers]

Not bad for 37 cents. :D ~C8>

Ms. Mouse, the price of one 1st class postage stamp is 41 cents now. :lol: But you are so right about the quality of service we in the US enjoy. My mailman is the bomb! :D

[andreasscraps]

marstamper, your card went postal today! I hope you like it. :)

[j3annin3]

Oh Alsmouse! I did not get your card in the mail today. Tomorrow for sure.
Please accept my apologies for this delay.

[alsmouse]

Ms. Mouse, the price of one 1st class postage stamp is 41 cents now. :lol: But you are so right about the quality of service we in the US enjoy. My mailman is the bomb! :D

What ever the price is, it is worth it. I just ask for the newest stamps & now with the forever stamps, I'm investing heavily. OK I'm a cheapie. You buy a stamp at 41 cents & the price keeps going up, but the you only paid 41 cents for the hord you have. Inital outlay may seem expensive but long term is cheaper. Yup, I was raised by a depression era baby.:lol:

[Inky Whiskers]

Sounds like a good plan!

I still had about half a roll of 37 cent stamps when the last price hike happened & have been buying sheets of 2 cent stamps ever since. When I bought the first 2 cent sheet I bought DH a sheet of forever stamps since he uses stamps a lot less than I do & he hates having to come ask me for them. (The walk down the hall from his office to mine & back is so-o-o long, don't ya' know?) So what does he do after I hand him his new postage stamps? He hands me a mostly full roll of 37 cent stamps! I'm gonna be buying penny stamps forever!!! :))

[Inky Whiskers]

Artkar, you card is FINALLY in the mail!!! I hope you find it was worth the wait. :D

[Marie]

I received my beautiful card today Karen. Love the envie too.
Thanks. Have a great Thanksgiving.

[joanofgos]

It's Thanksgiving--and I'm thankful that I got to stamp today while the turkey is cooking. Good news for Andreascraps, that means it will go out in the mail on Friday.....almost on time!

joanofgos

[marstamper]

Andresscraps...got your nice fall swap card. Thank you. I really like the way the fall leaves turned out!

[j3annin3]

Hey alsmouse!

as you asked, i've been thinking about a theme for the December swap. Although it lacks originality or quirkyness, i am suggesting that we make it a winter holiday theme. It would be efficient to make another Christmas card since many of us will already be making cards for which ever our Winter celebration will be anyway. It's not that i don't enjoy the challenge or bending my brain to find a way to express the theme in a personal way but i'm thinking that i'll be happy to get all the stuff finished to which i am already committed.


a bit pre-occupied i think but i'm open to other ideas, what are the rest of you thinking?

[andreasscraps]

Awesome Maralee! Thanks!

[alsmouse]

J3annin3, Got my card today. Well worth the wait. Lots of cutting to keep you busy. I love the "paper doll" leaf effect and a nice selection of leaves at that. Plus one of your Mom's green wool coat buttons embellished just for me. Thank you. It will have a honored place next to my 'pooter next to the In and Out Burger magnets (a west coast thing, better than Sonic.). Thank you for both. Well worth the wait. ~C8>

[j3annin3]

I'm so glad you like it. :) Not one of my mom's green buttons, hers were much bigger and thicker, but from an old coat still and all. I apologize for the glue mess on the back.....busy paws helped with that. I didn't want to try and remove the excess for fear of melting the plastic. (Old plastic sometimes is unpredictable in how it will react to solvents, i've made melted messes before.) The leaves were drawn from some i found in my back yard. lots and lots of leaves, it's pretty when the wind blows them all up and on.

Thank you agian for your patience.

[Inky Whiskers]

I got my card from you on Wednesday, right before we left for turkey at mom's. I loved it! I showed it to both DH & Mom w/o letting them in on the "bonus" contents & the look on their faces when they read what to expect then the reality of what fell out... :))

[alsmouse]

I got my card from you on Wednesday, right before we left for turkey at mom's. I loved it! I showed it to both DH & Mom w/o letting them in on the "bonus" contents & the look on their faces when they read what to expect then the reality of what fell out... :))

I thought you might like the "rat droppings" considering the front of the card. :)) :)) :)) Please tell me you shared it with Mom's friends, they sound like they would have liked that. I really had a great time greating that card. Would you please upload when you can & include the "droppings" to complete the photo. Thanks.~C8>

[andreasscraps]

I got my card today from Joan - AWESOME! Love all the colors and accents you used. The saying inside was a good chuckle too! Thanks!

[j3annin3]

Thank you Stacy! I got your very nice card today. I am especially enjoying the nice embellishments that you used, and your color theme. :)

[stampin stacy]

Glad you liked it, was fun to do.

I was starting to get worried:shock: glad it finally arrived.

[piecesandpom]

I finally got a good picture of Marie's card for this swap. It is so gorgeous in real life. The coloring is nice, the bike is up on dimensionals and the stonewall, flowers just add so much.

Enjoy!

[Marie]

Thanks for posting my card Karen.