Good Bye 2009

Stamps: Birthday Morris by Motivet; unknown alphabet
Paper: Basic Grey Lime Rickey; Other: Star punch; Nestabilities; cuttlebug embossing folder; Navy grosgrain; Blue Moon "Laugh Often" charm; Silver cord;
Card Measures 5.75" sq


Hello!!! Thanks for coming by today!! I hope that you had a wonderful Christmas! I, for one, am pooped! My house is a disaster. :( But the kids are happy. Orla was surprised and excited to have gotten her ipod. Maeve didn't doubt that Santa would bring her camera...but we stuck it behind everything else so that it would be her last gift...and every other gift she opened she exclaimed "My Camera!" followed by an "oooh". I guess we are kind of mean to tease a 3 year old like that! LOL! But when her camera appeared she was so happy! Declan's favorite gift was not from Santa...but came from Nana (my mom) in the form of a Sponge Bob Squarepants comforter. Who knew?! Not I or my mother! Best of all we had several days that we spent with family and good friends. Presents are nice, but being with my mom, sisters and some of our family friends are priceless. We have some pretty special people in our lives and we are grateful for them. My kids are doted on and loved by so many. And particularly they have great relationships with my mom and sisters. I never had such relationships with my parent's parents or their siblings. Orla spends a lot of time with my mom. Orla sleeps over her house at least twice a month. She REALLY enjoys being with her Nana. I love that they have such a close relationship, especially since I did not have this kind of relationship with my grandparents. Tomorrow we visit with Pat's sister and brother and his family.

Anyhoooo, as the 2009 goes and 2010 comes we should celebrate. Celebrate the good memories of the past year. Celebrate the hopes of the coming year.

2009 has been interesting. As luck would have it, Pat and I started off the year taking advantage of the poor economy and being able to purchase a second home on Cape Cod to spend vacations at. We rented it out for several weeks, and did enjoy a wonderful vacation there! As the year is winding up we have now become a victim of the economy with Pat being laid off from his job. Now to have a bit of security, we are sadly giving up our dream of a vacation home and renting it out on a year's lease. But we figure this is better than selling it. As when the economy pick ups we will never be able to afford a house on Cape Cod again. But we have to do what we have to do. Now, I just hope that Pat will not spend too much of 2010 unemployed.

My Stamping Journey of 2009
This time last year I had applied for about 15 (+/-) stamping design teams. Turned down by all. In mid January I was asked by the LOVELY Kelly to join her team for a store she had just started up. How honored was I?!!? Thank You Kelly!!! Later that same week, Debbie had passed on my name to Jackie from Inky Antics. She contacted me about making cards for them. Inky Antics?! WOW! Thank you to Debbie and Jackie!!!!
In March, Diana Crick asked me to join the Magnolia-licious Design Team. I had been doing handstands and backflips for months trying to get Diana to notice me. It paid off!! Now I was going to be working with THE Diana Crick of Scor Pal fame! Unfortunately, due to a conflict of interest I had to step down from Kelly's store team. This was hard, as Kelly is the first one that gave me a chance.
Then (once again) later that week I was asked to join the Hanna Stamps Design team! Whoa! When it rains it pours!!! Hanna Stamps is a totally different style than Tildas...lol...but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to work with some FANTASTIC ladies that were on that DT! I was hangin' out with Rock Stars now! LOL! Thank you to dear Vicki for giving me that opportunity. Unfortunately my time with with Hanna Stamps had an unexpected ending.
Because my card making time is limited I felt that 2 full time teams (Inky Antics is on an "as needed" basis) was enough for me. Then at the the end of September I saw a DT call for Pink Cat Studio Digi store. Oooooh...I do love those Pink Cat Studio images... I couldn't pass up the opportunity to try. So I applied for that team. And was SO excited to have been accepted! This was the first time that I had applied for a team and had been accepted! The other teams I was asked...which is definitely a nice way to be noticed as well! LOL! Melissa is another wonderful person to work with. And her creativity and talent just blows me away! After all, I can't even draw a good stick person! LOL!
Meanwhile, Hanna Stamps had sold the Riley Moose line. I was bummed. I really liked those Riley's. Well Tanya, the new Riley owner, invited the Hanna girls to be on the Riley and company team. I immediately said yes! Then thought about it....I am really starting to stretch myself. So I told Tanya that I had to change my mind. Well, Tanya was not accepting that answer. LOL! Let's just say that persistence and flattery worked. LOL! I am so easily swayed! LOL! And it's hard to resist such a CUTE MOOSE!
Then at the start of December I received a comment on my blog from someone named Stephanie asking how to get in touch with me. Out of absolutely NO WHERE, Stephanie the owner of Motivet Stamps asked me to join her team. hmmm...let me think about that: YES! LOL! I will just have to give up those 45 minutes of sleep that I was getting each night.

I am SO GRATEFUL for the opportunities that I have been given this past year to work with wonderful stamps, companies and people. Most especially the people. The company owners...the other dt members...the stamp fans that come to my blog are just all so wonderful! Seriously, I mean that. I can't deny that I enjoy getting free stamps as well. (hey? who doesn't?! LOL!) But the friendships I have made...the inspiration that I have gained are invaluable!

Thank you to my readers who make it worth it. If it weren't for your encouragement I would not be a blogger. I would not push myself to be more creative. To try new things. To reach much further than I thought I could. You have given me a greater confidence in myself. I appreciate it. Thank you.
Hugs,