EMBELLISH SOMETHING - AND A FEEL GOOD STORY!

Happy, Happy Friday all -I am soooo glad this week is over!!! Actually, I am glad that last TWO are over, not very fun at all!!! But, I am back in the positive mode, and am determined to stay there! Thanks again for all the nice emails, you guys are the best!!!! And yes, I had a fabulous time in Monterey and will share some pics of my trip probably tomorrow! Meanwhile, it's time to Stamp Something and today's challenge is Embellish Something - anything you want!!! So, I decided that a card would do - and I will tell you, I CASEd the layout of this card from one I spotted some time ago in the SCS gallery and wish I could give her credit, but don't remember her name so if you know, let me know and I will do right by her! I loved her layout and decided I wanted to use some of my new yummy Hawaii Papaya DSP - love, love, love this!!! It is totally my new favorite, lol!! And, if you like this one, go and check out what the rest of the DT did for this - they are all WOWs, I am tellin' ya!! And, we would love to see what you come up with, so if you play along, make sure to upload to the Stamp Something site so we can all check it out! Here are the deets!

Card Recipe:

Paper - Old Olive, Really Rust, Naturals Ivory card stock, Hawaii Papaya Designer Series Paper

Inks - Kiwi Kiss, Tangerine Tango, Chocolate Chip classic stampin' inks

Stamps - Fresh Cuts

Accessories - Felt Fusion, Vintage Brads, Old Olive brads, Ticket Corner Punch, Chocolate Chip wide grosgrain ribbon, stampin' dimensionals, Styled Vanilla hodgepodge hardware, Designer label punch, mini glue dots

So, are you ready for my feel-good story?? Remember all those packages you all were so generous to mail to me for a friend in need? Well, check this out! This is what one whole side of my craft room looked like until last night when I sorted through everything - isn't it amazing!!!! No, YOU all are amazing - what a fabulously wonderful and generous group you are, I am privileged and humbled that I am surrounded by people like you! My daughter and son helped me last night by breaking down boxes, writing everyone's name down (I put them all in a card with your home state but no addresses), and sorting by type. The kids were in awe and really got into the whole spirit, and want to help me go through my own stuff (again). It was nice to see! So, after it was all sorted, and put into four HUGE boxes AND one of my laundry baskets (lol), I drove it to the store today and gave it all to Tracy! I asked her if I could take some pics to share and she was thrilled to do so - so here they are! She was absolutely amazed at how much paper and albums she received and was really quite overwhelmed (but in a good way) by everything! She just could not stop smiling, which really did my heart good! She just kept going through it, and oohing and aaahing - and I did find out she has never stamped before but loved all the stamps and now wants to learn which is really fun - I am going to meet with her and show her the basics on how to get started because it CAN be a little intimidating when you have never played - but she will love it, I am sure! She was emptying out the laundry basket (so I could have that back!) and discovered all the wonderful embellishments and this for some reason made her tear up - she just could not believe all the ribbon and brads there were (have I told you guys how much you totally ROCK??!!!) The card with everyone's name in it and their home state is proudly displayed on her counter and she was just amazed at how many states were represented (I told her that we stampers are EVERYWHERE, lol!) I had to run next door to the Starbucks and meet a gal about a workshop (sounds like a song!) but she asked me to stop back by when I was done so I did and this is what I found!!

Tracy was on the floor of her store, had everything all sorted, proudly told me that she got to "touch everything" and had her husband on his way over to pick it all up and take it to their temporary home! Doesn't that smile just do it for you - I am thrilled how this turned out - what a good feeling to know that in a small way, we were able to make a difference for someone who really needed it! And, she asked me what she could do in return, and I told her (because I knew you would agree!) that someday when she meets someone who needs a little help, just to pay it forward!! She also asked me to pass this on to you: "I cannot believe there is this much kindness out there from people who don't know me at all!! Thanks from the bottom of my heart, I am so amazed and touched by what you all did, I will never forget it!" So, there you have it!!! Big hugs and smooches to all of you ladies from me too - how nice to pull together and make someone like this happen!! It made my whole weekend - and I will never forget that smile! Have a fabulous Friday and I will be back tomorrow!