Wedding Swap Card

I meant to get back yesterday with a couple of cards but still have that nagging headache:( Just don't feel like doing anything, especially if it involves thinking or bending over! With all the rain we have had you wouldn't think allergies would be a problem right now but mine seem to be worse than ever:( I do hope to sneak out to my craft space to get a few cards made today but will see what happens!

Today I want to show you the beautiful card my friend, Barb, gave me as her swap card this month. Some of my Happy Stampers and some of one of my downline's stampers started a monthly swap a several months ago. It has been sooo much fun to see another person's work up close and personal. The theme for this month was Wedding/Anniversary and I think Barb nailed it with her simply elegant card. The silver Glimmer Paper really adds to the card! She used the Labels Framelits and the Mr. & Mrs. stamp from Stampin' Up! Check out the two little hearts with the Basic Rhinestones in the middle! Oh.so.cute!

Thanks, Barb!

Kat

The Look of Spring

I love this time of year when the weather is warming up and things are starting to bloom and grow! One of my favorites, although short-lived, are the peonies. We have three varieties--this dark pink one being my favorite!

The raspberry bushes are loaded! Hubby ate three yesterday! Can't wait to have enough for Raspberry Lemonade!

Calendula makes a bright spot in the flower bed! 

Yummy figs are coming on; ready to ripen:)

And my lavender plants are doing oh, so well! I would like to plant a couple of other varieties of lavender this year. 

With Spring also comes allergies which aren't so much fun. Yesterday and today I had a bad sinus headache even after taking allergy medicine. Oh well, this too shall pass!

Later, I will be back with a card or two! See you then!

Kat

Cheat Grass and Ticks

Very sleepy puppy!

Ticks have been really bad this year as we didn't have much of a winter to freeze them out. Rocky, our very adventurous English Bulldog, walks all over our 20 acres and we generally get at least two ticks off of him every day. Yuck!

Yesterday I noticed Rocky had a lump between two of his toes which usually means Cheat Grass and a trip to the Vet:( My son Scott took him to the Vet this afternoon and he had cheat grass absesses in three of his four paws! Can you believe it?!!! Well, the Vet fixed him up and Scott brought him home but he is still pretty groggy! I couldn't resist this photo opportunity of him sacked out in the doorway:) Dogs and kids are sooo cute when they're asleep!

I'm hoping we don't have to do this too many more times this summer but the way he wanders, who knows!

Kat

Sunday Night Chit-Chat

Well, it's time again for the Sunday Night Chit-Chat! Is it just me or did this last week go really fast?!!! I think this month has gone really, really fast! Maybe it was just a busy month!

My picture for tonight is of the Sumpter Valley Railroad Company train engine. It is a narrow gauge steam train that ferries tourists from Sumpter and McEwen, Oregon. 

Now for my Chit-Chat! I am...

• Reading...Still reading Charmed by Nora Roberts--not my normal read and not sure I will be able to finish it. Next book on my list is The Knitting Circle by Ann Hood (a new author for me).
• Listening to...a Bill Moyer interview on TV
• Watching...a Bill Moyer interview on TV
• Cooking/Baking...No baking or cooking today--was gone all day! Tomorrow I will be baking bread and cookies!
• Happy you accomplished this week...I got some cards mailed; am almost finished with the baby boy afghan; kept up with laundry and dishes:)
• Looking forward to next week...finishing up swap cards and getting them in the mail! Hoping to get them in the mail on Wednesday!
• Thankful for today...A wonderful day with my son. We went to Sumpter, OR (a 3 hour trip one way) for the Memorial Weekend Flea Market. This is an annual event for us but this year we rode the Sumpter Valley Railroad train round trip from Sumpter to McEwen. 
• *Bonus Question* What chore around the house do I dislike doing most...That would be cleaning the refrigerator!

Well, I am exhausted so will call it a night! 

Kat

Delicate Doilies in MDS

Oh my! I can't believe I did it!!! If you remember, awhile back I took a class on how to use Stampin' Up!'s My Digital Studio but haven't had much time to practice since. Well, the Challenge for this week on VC Rocks is to use at least four of these colors (I used them ALL):

• Not Quite Navy
• Garden Green
• Elegant Eggplant
• Cajun Craze 
• More Mustard

Not wanting to dig around in my stash to see what I had for this project, I decided to try My Digital Studio! Oh.how.fun!!!

This card was made using:

• Delicate Doilies
• Punch Shapes: Circle, Square, Scalloped Oval, Oval
• Other: Basic Rhinestones and Dahlia

I have a little more work to do on this card before it's perfect but wanted to show it off anyway:)

Have a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend!

Kat

Paper Pumpkin for May

I get so excited each month when my Paper Pumpkin package arrives from Stampin' Up! I don't know what it is until I open the package...

I am a sucker for tissue paper! Oooo, what did they send this month?!!!

The first two months it was cards to make; this month it is a photo album to put together and decorate! 

The kit includes everything to put the photo album together except adhesive. But when you sign up for Paper Pumpkin, I send you a Tombow Mono Adhesive as my thank you!

Do you want Paper Pumpkin to make a visit to your mailbox? Just go to My Paper Pumpkin to sign up for your subscription. Then the Paper Pumpkin box will come to your mailbox every month! The cost is just $19.95 which includes shipping. 

I am already looking forward to next month's Paper Pumpkin package!

Kat

Strawberry Slush Spinner Card

Before I show off my card for today, I want to say that this month my blog hit 20,000 blog visits and 500 posts! I really wowed myself with those stats! Thank you to all of you who regularly visit and to my 83 Followers! I am so thankful for each and every one of you!

You might remember the Spinner Card I showed on April 9! I enjoyed it so much I had my Happy Stampers make one last week! The inspiration for this card came from Dawn Olchefske at DO Stamping with Dawn. 

For this card I used the following Stampin' Up! supplies:

• Card stock: Strawberry Slush (new InColor), Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White and Lucky Limeade (retiring)
• Sentiment from retired Birthday stamp set
• Sunshine and Sprinkles Designer Series Paper
• Punches: Large Tag, Small Tag, Word Window
• Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder
• Other: Two pennies; Dimensionals (lots); brad (retired)

I am thinking this will be my granddaughter's birthday card next month! 

See you soon!

Kat

Happy Stampers Swap Card for May

I love the way this Swap Card turned out! I totally CASed it from Dawn Griffith at Dawn's Stamping Thoughts! I love the way the embossed background is sponged. It really sets the whole card off. 

Closeup of grouping on the card

For this card I used the following Stampin' Up! supplies:

• Very Vanilla card stock
• Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pad
• Artisan Embellishments Kit (Spring Catalog--you can order thru May 31)
• Other: Glue Dots, Basic Pearls

Have a great day!

Kat

Happy Mail Times Two

When I picked up the mail last weekend I was pleasantly surprised to have not one, but two pieces of Happy Mail! I signed up with VC Rocks which is active from May 1 through August. So far I have received 3 RAK cards and have enjoyed the challenges. I am also taking part in a Fancy Fold Card Swap. I am looking forward to a fun summer with the VC Rockers:) 

The card above was made by Samantha Ovitt from Vermont. Her blog is Samie's Sentiments. I love the way she used flags of designer series paper to make her card front! The Marina Mist 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon really sets it off! Wow! Super easy and fun!

This second card was made by Gloria Washek from Oregon. She used the Mixed Bunch stamp set with the Blossom Punch. For the sentiment she used the Loving Thoughts stamp set. Gloria embossed the flowers and card front with the Square Lattice Embossing Folder.

Thank you Samantha and Gloria for these great cards!

Kat

Happy Homemaker Monday

Happy Homemaker Monday to you! Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom hosts this little bit of fun each week! Be sure to check out her blog to see what she's up to this week!

Weather...Our weather today was glorious! It was 78 degrees, sunny, light breeze--perfect! I hear it is going to get cold again a little later in the week:( but enjoying the great weather while it's here.

Right now I am...admiring my new vacuum cleaner. Hubby just got it put together and vacuumed the living room! Wonderful!

On my reading pile...Charmed & Enchanted by Nora Roberts and The Knitting Circle by Ann Hood. Read alouds: Sackett by Louis L'Amour and Thunder Dog by Michael Hingson

On the TV...Call the Midwife--love that show!

What I found while surfing the net...My friend, Joan, started a blog to share her faith. She is 82 years young and this is her first blog! How amazing is that?!!! Check her out at Vital Concerns! 

On the menu for this week...

I haven't been very organized with meals lately. Today we had roasted asparagus with onions, mushrooms and garlic--yummy! We had it yesterday too but it was good enough for a return performance!

On my "to do" list...

• Make cards for my Fancy Fold Swap (due June 4)
• Make Thank You cards for my Stampin' Up! customers
• Vacuum with my new vacuum
• Finish laundry

In the craft basket...

• Still working on the baby boy afghan
• Making lots of cards
• Want to get started making hexagons

Looking forward to this week...Just looking forward to having a nice, quiet week.

Looking around the house...Dogs and dog toys everywhere! They have had a busy day:)

From the camera...Nothing this week!

On my prayer list...

• My brother...the one year anniversary of his wife's death is coming up.
• My sister...needs hip surgery.
• My friend, Joan as she share with people through her blog.
• The people in Moore, OK

Bible verse; Devotional...

"I have shown thee, O Man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God."

Micah 6:8

Sunday Night Chit-Chat

Welcome to the Sunday Night Chit-Chat! We are hosted each week by the talented Carla at My 1/2 Dozen Daily who is now the proud owner of a new Janome sewing machine!!! She does sooo much sewing and this new machine is going to make her "job" sew much easier and more fun!!

I found the quote at the top on Pinterest, of course! I had to laugh when I saw it because I am always telling people NOT to rain on my parade! Now I will just poke them in the eye with my umbrella! LOL Does anyone ever rain on your parade? I sure hope not!

So for the Sunday Night Chit-Chat...

I am...

Reading...I am between books at the moment but am planning to start a new book I just received from my daughter--Charmed & Enchanted by Nora Roberts. This will be my first book by Nora Roberts.

Listening to...My husband and my son working outside! 

Watching...Nothing at the moment but Call the Midwife is on tonight:)

Cooking/Baking...Tonight for the first time I roasted asparagus, mushrooms and onions in the oven--yummy! We will be doing this again!

Happy I accomplished this week...Stamping Club over for another month; several cards made (including my swap card for the month); family fed and house cleaned:)

Looking forward to next week...I am hoping to get the asparagus patch weeded; some cards made and sent; work on a card swap (I need 11 fancy fold cards all the same)

Thankful for today...I am so thankful for our new Zen water purifier that makes our water taste sweet and good! We thought water from the tap tasted good but this is sooo much better and supposedly better for us:)

*Bonus Question* Do I like my name? Would I change it if I could?
For many years I didn't really like my name and it was sooo common when I was growing up--Kathy! In one of my classes in high school we were seated alphabetically and there were 4 of us named Kathy B. Can you believe that?!!! However, as I have "matured" I feel I have grown into my name and now wouldn't dream of changing it! It's still very common in women my age but not with younger people. When was the last time you heard a baby named Kathy or Kathryn?!!!

Well, that's it for my Chit-Chat tonight! I hope you enjoy the weekly Chit-Chat as much as I do! Tomorrow I am hoping to get in on Sandra's Happy Homemaker Monday plus have some cards to share! See you then!!!

Kat

Happy Birthday, Barb...Yesterday!

Here's a shout-out to my good friend, Barb on her birthday...yesterday! I meant to post this yesterday but we ended up with company (which was wonderful) but I just didn't get around to posting!

This is the birthday card I made for my friend, Barb! She loves flowers and the Tea for Two Designer Series Paper seemed to be just perfect!

For this card I used the following Stampin' Up! supplies:

• Card Stock: Very Vanilla, Lucky Limeade, So Saffron
• Tea for Two Designer Series Paper (retiring the end of May)
• Stamp Sets: A Round Array; Happiest Birthday Wishes (retired Hostess set)
• Classic Stampin' Pads: Crumb Cake (for sponging), Early Espresso and Lucky Limeade
• Punches: 1 3/4" Scallop Circle, 1 3/8" Circle, 7/8" Scallop Circle
• Other: Dimensionals (of course!), Basic Pearls, 5/8" Crochet Trim

Super fun and super cute card! My thanks go to the very talented Chat Wszelaki at Me, My Stamps and I for the inspiration for this card! Visit her blog and you will get a lot of great inspiration too!

I will be back for the Sunday Night Chit-Chat. Tomorrow I have some more Happy Mail cards to show you:)

I hope you are having a great Sunday!

Kat

Happy Mail

Wednesday, when I picked up the mail, there was a bit of Happy Mail in the box! One of the VC Rockers, Linda Sparks sent me a nice note!  I am really looking forward to my summer with VC Rocks!

For this card Linda used the Triple Time Stamping technique that I learned from Dawn Olchefske. She used the Triple Treat Flower stamp (retired) that is one of my favorites:) Check out the adorable flower she attached!

Thank you Linda! I am sending a card your way:)

Have a wonderful weekend!

Kat

Lovely as a Tree Father's Day Card

Oh my! You have no idea how talented I felt when I completed this card. This was another of our Happy Stampers' Club projects from last Wednesday! I learned this technique by watching a YouTube video by Dawn Olchefske. 

I was excited to be able to use my new Morning Post Alphabet that I earned for sales during Sale-a-bration! I had been wanting it for almost a year now so was thrilled to make it mine:)

For this card I used the following Stampin' Up! supplies:

• Card stock: Whisper White, Early Espresso, Old Olive, Baja Breeze
• Stamp sets: Lovely as a Tree, Morning Post Alphabet
• Classic Stampin' Pads: Early Espresso, Old Olive, Baja Breeze
• Square Lattice Embossing Folder
• Ticket Punch (retired)
• Other: Window Sheet; Dimensionals; Daubers

I have one more card for you today sooo, stay tuned!

Kat

Happy Stampers Swallowtail Butterfly

It seems that life just kind of overwhelmed me this week:( I have a goal of blogging six times a week but some weeks it just can't happen without me losing my mind! I hope you forgive me! 

 My Happy Stampers made this super cute card on Wednesday night! I learned this card style from my upline Linda Gutierrez! She calls it an Open Surprise card!

When you open it up the inside piece unfolds into a a beautiful "surprise"! Linda has a YouTube video that will walk you through the instructions to make this card.

What the card looks like before you open it.

For this card I used the following Stampin' Up! supplies:

• Cardstock: Coastal Cabana (new InColor), Calypso Coral and Whisper White; printer paper (not SU!)
• Stamp sets: Swallowtail Butterfly, A Round Array, Feel Goods
• Classic Stampin' Pads: Calypso Coral and Coastal Cabana
• 7/8" Scallop Circle Punch
• Delicate Designs Embossing Folder
• Other: Retired Pool Party ribbon; Dimensionals

I really like this card in black too! Something about black and white is sooo stunning! This butterfly stamp wasn't one I had planned to get until I saw this card and then I had to have it!

Tomorrow, another card! Plus I am hoping to scoot out to my craft space to put together a project for the VC Rocks Blog Hop for this weekend. 

Kat

Black and White Hexagon

I fell in love with a card made by Catherine Pooler! Black and white cards have a lot of pizzazz and when you add just a touch of color and it's even better! I made 10 of these cards and yes, I cut out all of the hexagons by hand. My hubby thought I was crazy but I did it while we were watching TV so it gave my hands something to do. The cards went together really quick after the hexagons were cut out!

For this card I used the following Stampin' Up! products:

• Card stock: Basic Black, Whisper White, Lucky Limeade, Bashful Blue and Raspberry Ripple
• Basic Black Classic Stampin' Pad
• Perfectly Penned stamp set
• Honeycomb Embossing Folder; Labels Framelits
• Flower Punch from the Itty Bitty Punch Pack
• Dimensionals; Basic Rhinestones

With the new Stampin' Up! catalog in my hot little hands, I have been dreaming about all the cards I want to make! And I do mean dreaming! I wake up in the morning with card ideas in my head!!! The new catalog doesn't start till May 31 and I haven't purchased any sneak peek items yet but I will have several cards for you this week:)

Happy Stamping!

Kat

Kat

Posted with Blogsy

Sunday Night Chit-Chat

Welcome to this week's edition of the Sunday Night Chit-Chat hosted by the super talented and oh so busy Carla at My 1/2 Dozen Daily!

A rose my hubby picked from one of our bushes yesterday.

So on to the Chit-Chat!

I am...

• Reading? Spring Fever by Mary Kay Andrews
• Listening to? Rocky, our English Bulldog snoring beside me after his bath and the wind blowing hard outside!
• Watching? We watched Mr. Popper's Penguins--funny, funny movie!
• Cooking/Baking? Nothing today...it's Mother's Day!
• Happy you accomplished this week? I got a lot of thank you cards in the mail; got Mother's Day cards out and to recipients on time; and made a card for the VC Rocks Challenge of the week!
• Looking forward to next week? It's time for our Happy Stampers to meet again this week (Wednesday)! Love those ladies!!!
• Thankful for today? Two lengthy phone calls--one with my daughter and one with my mother.
• *Bonus Question* Do you ever gamble, play the lottery, BINGO, sweepstakes, etc... No, I really like my money and don't like to lose it! If I were to lose it I would be thinking of all the things I could have bought with it! I know people who gamble and take say $20 to play with and when it's gone, they're done. The fun for them isn't so much in the winning as in the playing. I'm just not tempted to play.

Well, that's it for me this fine Sunday evening! I hope you have had a great day! For me, the rest of the evening will be spent relaxing with my wonderful husband!

Kat

Betsy's Blossoms and the 4 Bs

Happy Mother's Day to all those mothers out there! And I want to wish a Happy Mother's Day to those who never had children but mother us just the same:) I received a call from my darling daughter this morning then I called my mother for a lengthy conversation! I was able to read my book some this morning and make a few cards (hoping to do a few more before the day is over)!

The card I made today is for a friend's birthday plus I am entering it in the VC Rocks 4 Bs Challenge! I was include 4 things that start with B on the card.

My four Bs are:

• Betsy's Blossoms stamp set
• Bashful Blue Classic Stampin' Pad (for flowers)
• Button with Baker's Twine (technically that's two)
• Bling--I know they are rhinestones but I always call them bling!

I love, love, love this card! First of all, Betsy's Blossoms is one of my favorite stamp sets (of many I might add) and I love the way the card is cut out along the edge! This is the first card I have made like this and I think next time I might cut away a little more along the edge  but was being just a little cautious this first time.

Close up of the cutaway edge

For this card I used the following Stampin' Up! products:

• Whisper White card stock
• Polka Dot Parade Designer Series Paper
• Classic Stampin' Pads: Daffodil Delight, Read Red, Bashful Blue, Gumball Green
• Other: Vintage Faceted Designer Button, Lucky Limeade Baker's Twine, Basic Rhinestones, Dimensionals and Mini Glue Dot

Well, that's it for now! I will be back later for the Sunday Night Chit-Chat!

Have a nice Mother's Day!

Kat

Thankful Thursday

It's time for Thankful Thursday! What are you thankful for today?

I am thankful for...

1. Our new water purifier came today. We were using a PUR pitcher and seemed to be filling it ALL the time but the new one holds 6 gallons! We can just fill it in the evening and it will be ready for the next day:)
2. The beautiful weather we are having! Sunshine and a little heat--love it!
3. Our first peony just bloomed out! I love peonies!
4. I got the thank you cards made for my customers and the ones for hubby's clients--whew!
5. My kids! Both of them are wonderful people and are so good to me! I love them so much!

Thank you for visiting today. I will be back tomorrow with another card!

Kat

Beautiful Wings Birthday

This card was inspired by Jennifer Brum at Ladybug Designs! I saw her card on Pinterest and had to try making it myself! 

For this card I used the following Stampin' Up! products:

• Card stock: Island Indigo, Pool Party, Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, and Real Red
• Sentiment--retired
• Beautiful Wings Embosslit
• Basic Rhinestones and Mini Glue Dots

I would have used my Square Punches but didn't have them with me so just cut the pieces with my Paper Trimmer.

What a fun card!

I hope you have a chance to do some crafting today!

Kat

May Thank You Cards

My customer Thank You cards for this month were CASed from Jennifer Brum at Ladybug Designs! I wanted to use the Quint-Essential Flower stamp before it retired! I didn't have the ribbon Jennifer used so I cut a strip of Daffodil Delight card stock to use instead.

For this card I used the following Stampin' Up! products:

• Card stock: Island Indigo, Whisper White, Daffodil Delight
• Polka Dot Parade Designer Series Paper
• Stamps: Quint-Essential Flower; A Round Array
• Punches: 2 3/8" Scallop Circle; 1 3/4" Scallop Circle; 1 1/4" Scallop Circle; 7/8" Scallop Circle
• Other: Dimensionals

Thank you for visiting today!

Kat

Happy Homemaker Monday

Good Morning and welcome to Happy Homemaker Monday! We are hosted each week by the talented and very busy Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. Hop on over to see what she's been up to!

The weather...Sunny and warm:) It should be in the 80s today!!! I am loving it!

Right now I am...Sitting in my chair working on this blog post.

Thinking...About all the things I need to get done today!

On my reading pile...Boring! I am still reading The Last Time They Met by Anita Shreve and Baby Blessed by Debbie Macomber. For our read alouds we are reading Lando by Louis L'Amour (part of the Sackett series) and Thunder Dog by Michael Hingson with Susy Flory.

On my TV...Other than Call the Midwife, I'm not really interested in anything right now. I need to find a Hallmark movie or two so I can finish the baby afghan I'm working on.

What I found while surfing the net...While participating in the A to Z Blog Challenge, I ran across a blog by Sandy called Flat Stanley and Friends. If you haven't read the Flat Stanley books, you need to and if you have, you will love this blog! 

On the menu this week...Oh my! Was I supposed to be thinking about a menu this week? Not sure what the family is up to this week so don't have any menu plans:( What I do know is that we will have a big green salad with homemade salad dressing every day! I need to share a recipe for Honey Mustard Vinaigrette I found on Pinterest! Super yummy!

On my to do list...

• Laundry, as usual
• Make cards--isn't that always on my list
• Start an organizing project

In the craft basket...

• Blue and Yellow Baby Afghan
• Hexagon project
• Cards...lots of cards

Looking forward to this week...Delivering the new Stampin' Up! Catalogs to my customers!!! To you it may seem like a little thing but to me, it's HUGE! I know how much my customers enjoy receiving, looking at and ordering from the new catalog every year so I really look forward to delivering it:)

Looking around the house...The dishes are done, the bed is made; the dogs haven't got all their toys out yet so the living room looks pretty good! The kitchen floor needs swept but with 3 dogs, the kitchen floor always needs swept.

From the camera...

Our fruit trees are really looking good. So far we have escaped frost so that means lots of fruit!
I think I got this picture before hubby did the weed eating.

On my prayer list...

• Friends and family who are traveling
• Sister-in-law's family after the death of her mom
• The continued healing of my hubby's back
• Friend trying to sell her house
• Daughter of a friend starting a new job

Bible verse; Devotional...

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." Isaiah 26:3

I hope you enjoyed Happy Homemaker Monday! Tomorrow I will have another card for you. I am also entering another challenge at VC Rocks so will see what I can come up with!

Kat

Sunday Night Chit-Chat

It's time again for the Sunday Night Chit-Chat initiated each week by the very talented Carla at My 1/2 Dozen Daily.

Our fig tree is leafing out!

So, let's get started!

I am...

Reading...Still whittling away at The Last Time They Met by Anita Shreve! It's a good book but haven't spent a lot of time reading. I am also still reading Baby Blessed by Debbie Macomber. Should be able to finish one of the books this week:)

Listening to...Hubby using the weed eater outside and Call the Midwife (which I am watching)

Watching...Call the Midwife; We watched Pursuit of Happiness earlier.

Cooking/Baking...We had Mizidra for dinner today! I am sure you all think we eat Mizidra ALL the time but truly we haven't had it for a month!

Happy I accomplished this week...I helped a friend with her blog this week; I made several cards; did some weeding; put two cards in the VC Rocks Blog Hop:)

Looking forward to next week...Delivering the first batch of new Stampin' Up! catalogs to my customers! This is always a fun time each year:)

Thankful for today...Hubby really is feeling better now! He was better then got worse again but finally on Wednesday he got better again and it stuck:) We don't know what was wrong with his back but it seems to be better!

*Bonus Question* What are the *top 3 things* on my "to do" list for next week?

• Deliver stamping orders and new catalogs
• Mail Mother's Day cards
• Finish cards for stamping customers

Well, that's it for this week's Chit-Chat! Thank you for visiting!

Kat

Reflections on the A to Z Challenge

No! No! No! The A to Z Challenge is really over but again it's not over till it's over...right?!!! We were asked to do a "reflections" post to tell what we liked and didn't like about the challenge.

First of all, I am proud of myself and slightly amazed that I was able to complete the challenge! I am looking forward to next year's challenge with a few changes. 

This year I wrote my posts day to day and literally flew by the seat of my pants. I visited maybe 50 out of the over 1800 bloggers and I was very faithful in visiting those who visited me! Next year I would like to have a theme and write most of my posts ahead so I can spend time visiting more of the other blogs.

This challenge stretched me as a blogger and a writer. I love to write but most of the time I write about what I want to write about. Sometimes it wasn't possible to fit the "letter of the day" with something I really wanted to write about. The reason I joined the challenge was to stretch myself so...mission accomplished! 

There wasn't really anything I didn't like about the Challenge except that I wanted in the worst way to give up about half way through. It got hard and I wasn't sure I wanted to do hard! But I got past it and was glad I did! I learned some amazing things from the other bloggers--there are some super talented writers out there!!! It was a little frustrating that everyone didn't have the verification turned off for commenting. Next year I just won't leave a comment if it's on. And some of the blogs I would looks through 5 or 6 posts to realize they weren't doing the Challenge.

I am looking forward to next year's Blogging from A to Z April Challenge and I hope you are too!

I will be back tonight for the Sunday Night Chit-Chat!

Kat