CHA 2014, Day 1

Greetings! I'm in Anaheim, CA with my pal Diane, at the big CHA (Craft & Hobby Association) Mega-Show. Yesterday was a day of classes and workshops, and today was the first day that the show floor was open. We went through the first few rows of booths, meeting lots of nice people and seeing some inspiring new products and beautifully decorated displays. Now we're back in our hotel after doing a little shopping, resting up for another big day tomorrow. Here are a few photos of some of my favorite sights of day number one. More to follow. Good night! 

 "Art is the voice of the heart."  —unknown

"Watch with glittering eyes."  —Roald Dalh

"Surround yourself with the dreamers and the doers, the believers and the thinkers..."  —unknown

2014... What?

Well. Welcome world to a brand-new year! The year just passed was, honestly, a difficult one for me on a personal level. I lost both of my grandmothers, my husband lost his job of 18 years (and was unemployed for over six months), Our son moved away, our daughter had some challenges, and there were some other things that just seemed to complicate everything else and make life, well, HARD! But here we are at a new beginning of sorts. My husband has a new job, I have some new opportunities, our children are doing well, and we are looking forward with anticipation of what life will bring us in 2014 and beyond.

This is an exciting time in that it's "new release" time over at Impression Obsession. I have lots of new stamp designs that I am thrilled for the world to see! And our design team has been doing some amazing things with them that make me so happy! Pictured here are just a couple samples of their work. First card is by Jeanne Streiff, and the second card is by Vicki Garrett.

This is also an exciting time because later this week I'm heading down to Anaheim, CA for the big, huge, awesome CHA (Craft & Hobby Association) Mega-Show & Convention. I cannot wait to get there and see all the new exciting products, ideas and techniques to be had in the paper crafting and rubber stamping industries! Yay! I'll be taking lots of photos and will post some here later.

All right now, it's time for me to run. Lots to do! Let's all go be good to one another, and make the new year wonderful!

"Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come..."  —Alfred Tennyson

Thankful...

Well, this year has gotten away from me. Life is just a blur these days! I just can't get it all done, and that's why this poor blog has been on the back burner for so long. 

Anyway, I wanted to pop in today because next week is Thanksgiving and it's my absolute favorite time of year. And I needed to share this card by the talented Jeanne Streiff, that uses two of the stamps from one of my newer sets from Impression Obsession, CL405 - I am Thankful. Isn't this the cutest card? Love-love-love it. And there are several other word stamps in the set that are also very appropriate for this wonderful time of year. Get yours today! :-)

Tomorrow happens to be my birthday, and last night a few of my amazing gal-friends threw me a surprise party, wherein was served several kinds of pie. They sent me home with some and I had some of my friend Diane's amazing apple pie for breakfast this morning. What can I say, it's a wonderful life!

Okay, it's time for me to run. Remember to be thankful today!

"If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, 'thank you,' that would suffice."  —Meister Eckhart

New Halloween Stamps!

Hey there! I'm just popping in to share some of my brand new stamps, available now for pre-order from Impression Obsession. Summer is quickly winding down and the Holiday Season will soon be upon us, so I thought today I'd feature my three new Halloween Clear Sets. These were SO FUN to create, and the design team has done some great things with them so far! This card, from IO design team member Jeanne Strieff, uses my spider and my "poisonous potions" images on a spooky and splotchy Halloween- green background. I love it! The three new Halloween sets are CL488 "Have Broom Will Travel" (which includes the "poisonous potions" stamp), CL489 "Lose Your Head," and CL490 "Tangled Web" (which includes the spider stamp). And as always, in addition to the clear sets, all of these stamps are also available from Impression Obsession as individual rubber cling or wood-mounted stamps. Order yours today, and let the holiday stamping begin! :)

Okay, time for me to run, as the hubs and I are headed out tomorrow for a week of R&R. Yay! Hope you all are enjoying the last of Summer. Take care, friends.

"From ghoulies and ghosties and long-leggedy beasties and things that go bump in the night, Good Lord, deliver us!"
                       —Scottish Saying

CHA Sneak Peek

Hi All - It's been a while. I'm not yet quite ready to get back to blogging regularly, but I wanted to pop in today and post a fun sneak peek. The big CHA semi-annual convention is coming up in a couple weeks in Las Vegas, and with that comes the big new Summer releases of NEW STAMPS, including the new Fall & Winter holiday stamps! I have lots of sweet new designs coming out from Impression Obsession and I can't wait for you to see them. Here's a photo of one of them - it's an A2-size background stamp called "Christmas Words." Mitra from IO just sent me this sample photo and it really got me in the Christmas mood, here in my house in Northern California, where the temperature outside today is predicted to rise over 110 degrees! Not very Christmas-y out there, but I am sure feeling Christmas here inside. Anyhoo, there will be lots of new, fun, creative and inspiring stamps of all kinds coming out real soon and I'll share them as I can. In the meantime, I hope you all are enjoying your summer. Later, dudes! 

"Summertime is always the best of what might be."  —Charles Bowden

"Ah, Summer, what power you have to make us suffer and like it!"  —Russell Baker

Break Time...

Having some life stuff happen that I need to focus on, so it's time for another blogging break. Be back soon...


Go be happy!

My Stamps in the Archivers Store!

While in Utah this past week I wandered into an Archiver's store and saw some of my clear stamp sets for sale! I've seen my stamps in stores before but it never fails to give me a thrill. The Archiver's company made a large buy of some of my stamp sets from Impression Obsession earlier this year and it's actually a pretty big deal, so it was of course exciting to see them in the store with my own eyes! Here are a few photos for your enjoyment. FYI, the sets they're selling are some fun word sets. Here's a list with links so you can have a closer look and maybe get some for your very own!

You are Amazing (CL424)
Family Reunion (CL440)
Going Postal (CL438)
Oz Collection II (CL432)
You are Beautiful (CL423)
Thank You (CL427)
Life is Good (CL436)
Love Never Fails (CL434) 


We just got home from our Utah trip late last night, so today is rest, laundry, hug my kids, etc. day. Have I mentioned before that the drive (11 hours) between here at Salt Lake City is not so fun? The Sierra Nevada mountains in California are beautiful, but I have to say that Interstate 80 across Nevada is boooor-ing! Good thing I had my sweet hubby to keep me company. We had a nice time visiting friends and family (Julie & Mike, you are the best hosts ever and always make us feel so welcome!), but of course it's oh-so-nice to be home! Okay, time to run. Go do something today that makes you happy!

"Believe in yourself! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy."  —Norman Vincent Peale