There's No Place Like Home! (Blog Candy too!)

I'm home! It feels so good to be back. I got to walk in my garden this morning and pick tomatoes, corn and blackberries. I picked a pear for lunch but they aren't quite ripe enough yet. I still ate it all and can't wait till they are bigger, sweeter and juicier!

The flight home wasn't quite as eventful as the flight out to convention. For some reason I booked a late flight but it went directly from SLC to Nashville so I didn't think it would be so bad. WRONG! First of all, the plane was late getting into SLC from somewhere in CA. There was some kind of computer problem that slowed them down and had to be fixed in SLC before we could leave. The seat was comfortable and I was able to sleep some. In 2 minute segments between the dinging of the seat belt bell, announcements of various sorts and the serving of drinks. How often does that bell have to ding between 10 PM and midnight???

The best part of the trip came when I went to baggage claim. We all love standing there hoping our bag will actually make it to the airport the same time we do, don't we? I always carry everything on the plane with me to avoid the fun of baggage claim roulette. I just couldn't get it all in on the trip home this time so I got a big box (a quite large box) and filled it with convention goodies. The main thing that was freaking me out though as suitcases came and got claimed and my box never materialized what that my computer and camera cords were in that box!

After the belt stopped moving and all but 3 passengers had claimed their bags and left I went to the plane's baggage office. The girl looked at the info on her computer and said that my box was in Nashville. Easy for her to say. We went to the room next to that office where there were lots of suitcases and several boxes. Nope, none of the boxes were mine. The girl kept insisting that my box was in there but I knew none of those boxes was big enough to be mine. Just as we went back into the office the conveyor belt started going again. It had been over 15 minutes since it had stopped but still, I looked hopefully at it. Relief! There was my box! Just as it came through the opening the belt stopped. It was like magic, especially at 1AM. By the time I got home and got into bed it was 2:35. I reckon I need a nap . . .

Although it feels so good to be home I am enjoying all the memories of the Stampin' Up convention and I'm planning so many projects for upcoming classes. I'll be posting those in a few days but I bet you want to see more convention pictures, don't you?

Here are pictures from one of the shoebox swaps I did. The first one is a nice simple card on the front but has the wow factor when you open it up and see the butterflies pop up. I didn't get the name of who it was designed by but those pop up butterflies will be coming soon to a class near me :~)

Next, on the left are 2 cards. One is the card as designed. I don't know what it is but I don't like the Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze and Real Red in that paper so I turned it over and used the pretty yellow print. Maybe you like the brown but I like my sunny card!

On the right is a cute window card that has a bird cage inside. Luckily I got a picture of the card we were copying because my bird cage is leaning and creates the idea that when you open the card you will see Sylvester trying to tip it over!

The little owl card features one of my favoite new punches. This punch makes the owl punch art so easy to create but you might want to order a Tombo Multi glue along with the punch. That makes the little eye pieces so easy to attach. You will see lots more ideas with this punch. It looks so cute punched out of the patterned papers and they are using it for punch art that turns out looking nothing like an owl! The other card is a baby card made with the new Onsies wheel. That will be totally great as a border on a scrapbook page too.

The pink card has an interesting fold of the XL Fancy Flower punch. Just a few folds across and it nearly folds together by itself. You can stamp a message inside or just leave it blank.

I'm giving blog candy today, not only to celebr

ate being safely back home but because I passed 30,000 visitors to my blog about 1:00. So, you know the drill: post a comment and be sure to leave your email address so I can find you to give you the prize. I've got a set of 3 markers and a discontinued but unused stamp set called Botanical Blooms for the winner. Thanks for visiting my blog and I hope you will keep coming back to visit with me. I'll draw a name on Friday and post the winner then.

And last, more pictures from some of the sample boards. Remember to double click on the picture to make it big enough to actually see the cards.