More Coaster Examples:

New Catalog

I have finished the first edition of my tile coaster catalog! YAY!

I am so excited! In fact, I went to the post office yesterday to ship 2 coasters, and mail out a copy of my new catalog. I had to laugh at what happened next…. Good ol’ Law of Attraction at work again:

“What’s in the box?” - The postal employee behind the counter

“Custom tile coasters, it’s fragile, but I packed it really well.” – me

“Coasters? What do you mean?” - postal employee

“Here, take a look” – me (as I pull a catalog out of my purse)

“Wow, these are great! How do you do this? Could you make me some with…..?” - postal employee

“Absolutely!” – me

And so on the conversation went. ALL the postal employees behind the counter ended up coming over and were flipping through my catalog, asking questions, and so on. How much fun is that?!

If you would like a copy of my catalog, please let me know. I can mail one out immediately! I am really jazzed to be able to offer these to people, and any help you could give in spreading the word, I would appreciate!

Peace & Blessings!

There are no words for this:

Spices? Nope, Something Better!

Check out what Michele got for me! It’s technically a spice rack. But the coolest part is: it’s magnetic! I am going to fill it with stamping accessories like brads, ribbon, buttons, eyelets, etc. As you can see Michele gave me some flowers to start with. She’s so good to me!

I am always on the lookout for new, innovative storage solutions when it comes to my stamping room. It’s only so big, and as time passes I seem to have collected more and more down there.

My issue with storage is I wish everything went up, instead of out. Or, storage on the wall instead of taking up space on the counter. The spice rack was a genius idea Michele! Thank you; you are such a blessing in my life.

Peace & Blessings

JOY

I am back in my stamping room! Oh the JOY! After the ice storm we had so much clean up to do, I have not done anything crafty in over a week. I was starting to go into withdrawal!

I made this card with some of my new TAC stamps and my new tag maker. I love tools, especially stamping tools! The tag maker is so much fun!

“Men are disturbed not by things that happen, but by their opinion of the things that happen.” – Epictetus

That quote is appropriate for me these days. After the ice storm we had a lot of cleaning up to do. My attitude: it was fantastic! We cleaned, we got rid of things that no longer serve us, we organized, and our *stuff* is now in plastic bins: nice & tidy.

I am excited to see what is going to come into my life. You know how the Universe abhors a vacuum? Or when you clean out closets, wonderful new things come into your life? Well, I’ve cleaned out! I’ve created the vacuum. I’m ready for the Universe to fill the vacuum with goodies! I’ll keep you updated as to what comes into my life. I just know it’s going to be fantastic!

By the way, Oprah is doing a show on The Secret soon.

Peace & Blessings!

Deer

These photos are from last October. They have been sitting in my camera. I forgot all about them until I got the pictures developed today.

I stood on the deck, just above the Jacuzzi and took photos of deer in the back yard. They didn’t even notice. (You can see my square foot gardens – the cage was most effective in keeping the deer and rabbits out of my green beans last summer! Check it out at www.squarefootgardening.com )

Peace & Blessings

Ice Storm

I haven’t posted in about a week because we had a major ice storm! I haven’t been able to spend any time in my stamping room because of the clean up after the storm. Hopefully I’ll be able to post some creations this weekend…..

Our birch trees.... I do hope that when the ice melts they come back to life!




This is the long grass in the field next to our house.





More tree tops touching the ground.




I really like this photo!





more ice.


a few remaining leaves.....

Peace & Blessings

Flaming Twinkie!

When Adam turned 2 years old, instead of a cake, he got a single Twinkie with 2 candles. The photos are really very sweet.

Today, my brilliant, handsome hubby turned 31.

After work, I hit the grocery store in search of a Twinkie. Of course you can’t just buy one; you have to buy a whole box. Armed with my Twinkies and birthday candles I set off for home. I was going to just put in a few candles; after all, Twinkies are not that big.

As you can see from the photo – I managed to get 31 candles into a single Twinkie. The candles that are sticking out sideways are my favorites. Anyways, Adam got home, I ran into the bathroom to light these candles so it would be a surprise. Do you know just how long it takes to light 31 candles? By the time I was done, it had turned into the Great Flaming Twinkie!

I came out of the bathroom, with black smoke trailing, chirping “Adam, Adam, come here and blow out your candles! Happy Birthday To You….” He turned around, and just laughed and laughed. Ran over, blew out his candles, we looked at each other, and just lost our minds with laughter!

I didn’t have time to snap a photo of Adam in front of his Flaming Twinkie, but I think you get the idea.

Happy Birthday Adam!

Peace & Blessings

Come on in, the water is warm….

Yesterday I took the plunge – I signed up with The Angel Company – as a demonstrator. What does this mean you ask? It means that in the near future I’m going to start having card making parties at my house, scrapbooking parties, creativity parties, themed parties, parties, parties, parties… let’s face it - craft / stamping parties are a GREAT excuse for “The Girls” to get together!

I chose The Angel Company over other rubber stamping companies because of their “Angel Policy”. Angel policies are the rules a company sets forth regarding the sale of creations made from their copyrighted images (ie. Stamps). With some companies you can sell at craft fairs, but not to retail stores; others you can’t sell what you make at all, it depends on the company – what a headache to try and sort it all out!

My tile coasters have been taking off like wildfire, so I now have a need to find stamps that had a full angel policy – meaning I need to be able to make and sell my *stuff* whenever and wherever I choose. That’s how I found The Angel Company! They have a full angel policy – PERFECT!

I am eagerly awaiting the blessed visit from my UPS man; which will most likely be Monday. When he arrives with my starter kit (more stamps for me) I will be sub terrain in my cave (ie. Stamping room) for days, playing! That said, my goal this weekend is to clean my house. I need to make space for my new arrivals! I’m also going to work on getting all my household loose ends tied, this way I will have the time, space, and focus for my new toys with nothing hanging over my head.

One of the first projects – that I’ve already started – with being a new demonstrator is to hold a Life Coaching / Stamping / Scrapbooking workshop (Title in progress) for my coaching clients as well as non-clients. I’m thinking in the morning we could do the life assessment stuff (really fun quizzes & assessments, and I have a great life’s purpose exercise…) break for a yummy lunch, and then in the afternoon we could scrapbook / stamp a Life Album! Think vision board – only better!

A good friend of mine last night asked me how all of this fits into MY life’s purpose. Great question! Thank you Jen! I am in my JOY when I am creating. I am also in my JOY when I am working with my coaching clients. So – let’s marry the two, and what do I get, DOUBLE THE JOY! YAY! Also, my calling card with my voice over work is my hand stamped promotional stuff. See it all is coming together – I love that my passions in life have coalesced! YIPPIE!

The possibilities ahead of me are simply astounding…..

Peace & Blessings

Paperclips - Who knew?

See – I needed colored paperclips! I must give credit where credit is due. I got the idea for the sun behind the flamingo from Michele, and the idea for the paperclip holding the ribbon from The Angel Company’s idea book & catalog.

Paperclips could turn into my embellishment du jour. I go through cycles with stamping techniques. I learn something new, and every card I make for about a month simply MUST include that technique. Then, invariably, I learn something new… and on and on the cycle goes.

Please…. Send me your ideas! I’d love to hear from you!

Peace & Blessings

Camera – Wireless Weather Station – Jacuzzi Swimming

I love the Law of Attraction!

Adam and I have wanted to invest in a digital camera for a couple of months (invest being the operative word). We decided we would buy one this month, and with my blog up and running; all the more reason to do so. We have been FOCUSING on getting a digital camera, and we’ve been looking for a deal….. and now for the Law of Attraction at work:

On Thursday, I received a catalog in the mail from an office supply store. I checked out their website because I needed some colored paperclips (you’ll see why on another post). When I entered my zip code a pop screen came up with something like: for your delivery area, digital camera $9.99. WHAT?!?!?!!

I ordered it. My feelings were, it’s only $10; so if it doesn’t work, no harm no foul. But…. If it takes decent photos, if I can upload them to my computer, then SWEET; digital camera for $10!

Ladies and gentlemen: I have a digital camera. It does take decent photos; they upload to my computer automatically; and… I only spent $10! YAHOO!

On another note: have I ever told you that my Mom rocks? Well, she does! I swear, in another life she was a meteorologist because she just knows the weather. Every time I’ve been on the phone with her, she’d ask me how the weather was here, in upstate New York, (she’s in southern Maine). I always responded with what it was like, but I could never tell her the temperature, because I was without an outdoor thermometer.

Today, I had a blessed visit from the mail man. He brought me a package from Mom. And inside; as if you couldn’t guess…. And indoor/outdoor thermometer; one of those fantastic wireless weather stations. I’m so excited!

As for the weather today: 65°

The photos above are of:

My dad’s blaze orange hat I finished last night. He’s a hunter.

Apollo is checking out my work. I’ve started the bottom of my bag that I am knitting with the knifty knitter. It’s simple, really. Just weave the bottom with a standard, heavy duty yarn – one strand only - then knit as usual with whatever yarn you choose for the bag. You can add a draw string for the top, and shoulder straps.

That’s the news fit to print for this gorgeous, balmy January 6^th day! (We’ve spent half of it swimming in the Jacuzzi soaking up the sun – not often we can do that in JANUARY!)

Peace & Blessings!

Fun!

Last night I was blessed with a couple hours in my stamping room. YAY! I made a handful of new cards, with my NEW STAMP SETS! I tried to take photos with the palm pilot, but the lighting wasn’t good. Lime green ended up looking like hunter green – not cool.

Today I took the cards outside on the deck for some natural lighting, and tried again with the palm pilot. I got a halfway decent photo of the frog card.

I also took a photo of the first hat I knit myself. My friend, Michele, taught me how to use the knifty knitter, and now I’m a knitting maniac! It’s just so easy!

Michele ROCKS! She got me into stamping; she taught me how to knit: both on needles and on the knifty knitter; basically every time I see her she teaches me new and fabulous crafty projects! I can’t even say just how many new stamping techniques she’s shared with me – all I know is: all of it is just too much fun!

Peace & Blessings!

Laughter - Attraction - Projection - OH MY!

“If laughter is the best medicine, then you’re over-medicated!”

That’s what Adam said to me last night as I was laughing about something. This statement, of course, set me off into another fit of laughter. Don’t you just love it when you laugh so hard, tears are streaming and breathing is not an option? I do! I just love to laugh; in fact I try to find any excuse imaginable to have a really good laugh every day.

You know how when you resolve to do something, the Universe tests your resolve? I’ve been consciously working with the Law of Attraction since approximately 1999; and I read The Dark Side of the Light Chasers by Debbie Ford around 2002. (That book is one of the many books that changed my life). Anyways, in the book Debbie talks about how we project ourselves onto others; and basically we are mirrors for each other. So when someone curses you, praises you, judges you, or whatever it may be: what said person is really doing is pointing out what they either like or dislike in their own self that you are mirroring back to them. Literally, the phrase “it’s not about you” really, truly applies – all the time.

Ok (this is turning out to be longer than I originally expected), so what I’ve resolved to do lately is instead of seeing things in others that I dislike – and then attracting more of that onto myself; I’ve been consciously noticing things about others that I really love! Qualities I choose to have more of in my life. Sunny outlook on life, joy, happiness, fun: the good stuff!

And now, for the test of my resolve: Yesterday, I went to the craft store to pick up yarn, when standing in line at the checkout counter turned into an exercise in projection and attraction. I was waiting, patiently, in a happy state of being; noticing the “stuff” that usually accompanies any self respecting “I have a captive audience” checkout line, when the bomb dropped.

An older gentleman was whistling and singing as he was walking around. A joy filled person. I giggled a little, loving the fact that he was enjoying himself; when a woman in the next line lost her mind. “Can you pleeeeeeeeeeeease (insert sarcasm & anger) open another checkout line… this is unacceptable… my time is valuable and I don’t need to be waiting for you….” And on and on she went to the checkout lady. (there was 1 person in front of her)

So there I was, struck with the fact that I was enjoying the older gentleman’s fun energy; when this lady exploded into a tirade. I had a thought: “Right now, I have a choice. I can choose to continue to project my own joy and happiness onto the older gentleman – therefore attracting to myself more joy and happiness… or…. I can focus on this lady that is flipping out; being rude and disrespectful – therefore attracting to myself more rude and disrespectful people into my life.” Oh, the conundrum I was in. *giggle*

The choice I made was to erase the thoughts of “how dare she, can’t she see that the checkout ladies are working as fast as they can, how would she feel if someone flipped out on her in the same situation…..” and I changed my thoughts to “wow, she really must be stressed out today. You know, I’ve had those days, and even though it’s no excuse for that kind of behavior, I understand what she’s going through”.

Seriously, at that moment, she looked up, we locked eyes, I smiled at her and she flushed. She turned to the checkout lady and said “I’m sorry; I’m just in a hurry today”.

OK – SO IF THAT’S NOT A PERFECT EXAMPLE of what I’ve been focusing on lately – I don’t know what is! I just have to laugh – Law of Attraction and Projection at it again!

Thanks for reading…. Another insight into the world of Alison….

I’m off to knit…..

Peace & Blessings!

Intuitive Stamping

My family is sooooo good to me. For Christmas this year, the majority of my gifts were: STAMPS! YAY!

Last night I played around with a couple of my new stamp sets. This card was fun because it evolved. What I had envisioned in my mind was something completely different than how this turned out. I love when I allow myself to follow my intuition when making cards instead of trying to hold fast to my original idea. Don’t get me wrong, focusing on my goals and visualizing my intentions are practices that I do on a daily basis; however I think that when I’m in the creative flow it’s best to allow the card to happen, rather than force it.

Anyways, it’s kind of hard to tell in the photo; but I did the flower with watercolor, and then did the fabulous “2 step stamping” with the black overlay. The purple background has speckles, and I left the yellow plain. The fun part was punching the letters out with a regular hole punch! New toy – stamp sets with the letters that are small enough to punch with a hole punch! Love it!

I’m looking forward to purchasing a digital camera. I’ve learned a knitting technique that I want to share. I’ve made myself a hat & scarf, Adam a hat, and have started 2 hats for my Dad and a friend. I tried to take pictures with the palm pilot today, but they just didn’t come out well. So, something to look forward to!

Peace & Blessings!