Life Lessons

Life is funny.  I realize you all probably have already grasped the concept of irony but I'm a little slow sometimes.  See, I've been thinking that I need to get busy working on my blog.  In fact, I went to all the trouble of Big Shot-ing all the letters to make my back window on my car have all my blog info so that I could advertise every day.  (Much to the chagrin of my wonderful, doting husband, who swears that I made the Charger drive slower by turning it into a "mom-car." lol)  Anyway, it looks great!

I did all this work in August... Before my surgery, with the full intention of building my online business; and I really would like to do that.  Unfortunately, since September 1st, I have done very little work if any and paid very little attention to my blog; A habit I very much intend to change.

But, I digress...  I actually have a really great story to tell everyone...

Last week I took the kiddo to see Breaking Dawn.  On the way, we're laughing, listening to the soundtrack, having a big ol' time when I look up and there he is... A cop car.  Naturally I immediately check my speed... huh, only 45 this time.  Yay, me! When he pulled out behind me I started to panic but he didn't turn on his lights so, hey, I must be in the clear.  The Girlie and I continue our serenade to all things Edward and Bella.  And then it happened. There's the lights I dread.  Ugh.  I'm busted.

So, while the officer got out and walked up to my window, I started digging for my license and insur... UGH! I changed bags before I left, my insurance card was in the front pocket of the wallet I usually carry. Nice.
 
"Ma'am, do you not pay any attention at all?? You were going 44 in a 30."
"Yes, sir.  I'm really sorry.  Um, I don't have my insurance card..."
"That's fine; I can look it up."

After the longest 5 minutes ever, he walked back up to my window, "Ma'am, what is this on the back of your car here... What's the Rubber Room?"
Well, of course I had to give him a catalog! Imagine my relief when, after I gave him my full 3 minute Stampin' Up! spiel, he only gave me a warning!  He even asked about classes and asked to keep the catalog!  What are the chances?!?!

So, THANK YOU, Officer J. Smith!  An outing that could have been miserable turned into a funny story to post on my blog! :-)  And to express my full gratitude, I have a very special discount just for you! If, in fact, you actually do read this, I would like to offer you a 30% discount on your first order!

And to my downline, the moral of the story here... Ask EVERYONE! And always keep cattys with you.  You never know when you'll be glad you did!

New Technique!

Well, maybe it's not new to everyone, but I learned a new amazing technique at the Stamptherapists group meeting this weekend and I couldn't wait to share it with everyone.  I'm not sure what it's called, (maybe somebody can let me know if you recognize it!)
This is the sample we made at the meeting.  Notice the background has been run through the Sizzix Big Shot with an emboss folder. 

First, we inked up the brayer in Not Quite Navy ink. Then, transferred the ink directly onto one side of the Vintage Wallpaper emboss folder. We ran through Baja Breeze card stock and this is the result.  The flat surfaces took the ink while the raised, embossed places remain uninked! So cool!

So I started looking at my emboss folders and came up with this... So much fun!

Isn't she pretty? She's our little sunflower. =-)  Oh, back to the technique... yes... <clears throat> ... So here's what you get when you add a little Early Espresso ink to the Perfect Polka Dots folder and run through some Daffodil Delight card stock. It's like magic! Only better, because I understand it and I can do it again and again.
Here's a close up of the flower centers...

Leadership 2011

Leadership really was so much fun this year.  Nashville, Tennessee!  Home of the Tennessee Titans, The Grand Ole Opry, and, (according to the city's website,) music, itself! Nashville was beautiful! We were there during an unusual coldspell so we had snow flurries for most of our trip.  Not that we would notice much since we hardly left the hotel! We did go downtown to see the sights for the first day we were there.  Appropriately, we had a quick lunch at Tootsie's before we visited Ryman Auditorium.

Tootsie's is the bar where Toby Keith wrote, "I Love This Bar."  It is the popular hang out where many performers stop in before going on stage across the alley at the Ryman!

This is me and my friend, Trisha enjoying the live music at Tootsie's!

We had a blast seeing all the sights.  Jennifer and I took a moment to pose at The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum before rushing off so that she could get back for the Manager's Reception.

Of the 5 in our group, the 2 of us Sr. Supervisors were the only ones unable to attend Manager's Reception.  We decided to have our own "Sr. Supervisor's Reception."

We let our Manager friends join us.  It was a lot of fun hanging out at Findley's in the hotel.



(L-R) April, Me, Alejandra and Trisha... (And Jennifer was taking the picture!)



Still working on sorting through all my swaps but I'll be working on photographing and posting my favorites in the next couple of days.

Leadership 2012 will find us in San Antonio!  I'm hoping that means more of our group will be able to go.  Bob has agreed to go, which is huge.  I can't wait for him to see what I get so excited about twice a year.  Stampin' Up! trips are the best. 

I did it! I'm a blogger now!!

Wow! After much anguish and gnashing of teeth, I have finally conquered blogspot.com.  Okay, probably not "conquered," but managed to do some basic editing and posting.  Which for me, is quite epic. 

I'm hoping to use my blog to post the goings on of my Rubber Room.  Now, before you get too excited, let me explain that this will not be an ode to prophylactics, but rather the celebration of rubber STAMPING and all things crafty. 
When my dear husband helped me to turn our unused garage into a crafting studio for teaching and generally hanging out I had the urge to come up with a clever name for the room.  After surveying friends, colleagues, and customers I decided on The Rubber Room, (Thank you, Amy Stewart!)  While I realize the name conjures images of straight jackets and electroshock therapies, it was only mildly suppose to imply that a crazy person lives here.  I don't deny that my sanity has come into question on multiple occasions, but that is a story for another time.  For now, we'll focus on how cute the name is because I do sell RUBBER STAMPS and supplies related to such, as well as teaching classes and techniques in, you guessed it, The Rubber Room! 

So, welcome to my world.  I hope to have lots of fun here.  If it gets a little nuts sometimes, forgive me.  That's just how I roll.  I do enjoy my scrapbooking, card making and crafting, which seems to be the best therapy.  And I always get it in THE RUBBER ROOM!  =^D