What's Your Poison?

I am so technically challenged some days. I made this card almost two weeks ago but couldn't figure out where it was in my files after I downloaded it off my camera. Luckily my daughter, Sarah, came home and helped her mom out. I love this stamp set, Poison Pieces, out of the Holiday Mini. The DSP is out of the catalog. I sponged everything with black ink and thought the Cherry Cobbler paper was blood curdling here!!! Well maybe if you use your imagination!

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Don't Faint!

Can you believe it? Two cards posted in less than a week! I'm on a roll!!!! I really am just avoiding other things that I should be doing. I just heard this new DSP, Spice Cake, from the Holiday Mini, calling my name. So I took the paper out of the package and looked through it all. I chose this pattern and used half of the front and half of the back to coordinate together with the colors, Soft Suede, Pool Party, Pear Pizazz, and a little of More Mustard. Then I pulled out some of my stamp sets to look for something with a similar pattern in it. I came up with Days of Gratitude and the words are from Creative Elements. So now I guess I'll go clean some windows. Yuk.

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Whew! I've Been Busy.

Today I sat down for the first time in a few weeks to stamp. I have all these new stamp sets and Designer papers and I was a little bit overwhelmed as to what I was going to play with first. I chose my paper first and selected the Pocket Full of Posies (ashes, ashes, we all fall down!) and cut up a sheet of each into 5 1/4 x 4 inch pieces. Then I pulled out all the colors that were suggested by Stampin Up and played around with them. I decided to use one of the new sets out of the catalog, Creative Elements. I tore my paper and sponged it with Early Espresso and added brads and ribbon for finishing touches along with a pearl on the butterfly.

So where have I been for the past week or so? In California! I flew out there with my 80 year old mom to surprise her baby brother for his 70th birthday. My uncle Richard was so surprised to see not only my mom but his older brother Dino as well! We all flew in from the east coast and so he was so overwhelmed with happiness. It was fun listening to the three of them talk about their childhood and their parents. And then if you have ever been around Italians when they get excited, you know you will need earplugs! OMG. They would get so loud and then the rest of us would have to quiet them down. Too funny. While I was there, my uncle took us down to Hollywood and Beverly Hills. I can honestly say, I wasn't too impressed but it was fun and a day out with the gang. What I really didn't like was riding on the interstate. Just give me a blindfold and let me know when we reach our destination! Yikes. So back home now, it took me a few days to get back to "normal". Traveling back and forth with time changes was hard but I hope I can get some time in to stamp a little more before I go back to work next week. So hope to see you back here soon!

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I've Got To Crow.

I just love this new Designer Series Paper called Beau Chateau. It reminds me of old time wallpaper. I saw this sheet with the chicken wire image on a Pink Pirouette background and immediately thought of the chicken from the stamp set"Countryside" Doesn't it go perfect with this paper? Anyway the rooster print with the Pink Pirouette and Marina Mist flower pattern is on the back of the chicken wire paper. So I took a piece and ripped it diagonally and then sponged the edges with Soft Suede. I wasn't really sure where I wanted to put the vintage ribbon or antique brad so I kind of just closed my eyes like Pin the Tail on the Donkey and well here you go! Not sure if I like it there or not but it's staying put. The whole time I was working on this card, I thought of my stamping friend in Arizona, Di Gibbs, who is an awesome stamper and who has several chicks that she is always talking about. So this one is for you Di! Hope you like it.

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Tart and Tangy Leaving Us Too Soon!

I mean, look at these two stamp images, the apple and lime from Tart and Tangy. They go perfect with the Berry Blossoms Designer Specialty Paper that is new this year. On the top one I used the new Just Thank You stamp that I am in love with. I love the crispness of the font and I stamped it in Early Espresso.
On this second card I used Lucky Limeade in the ink and cardstock. Just saying Lucky Limeade makes me pucker. I love limeades in the summer. My husband and I, when we were dating, use to ride our bikes down to the beach to an old drugstore that still had a soda fountain and get fresh squeezed limeades. They were the best. Okay back to this card. I used the scallop punch to add another layer of Lucky Limeade to the strip of Whisper White and Berry Blossoms DSP. Then I took my white gel pen and dotted all the scallops. Isn't it something how certain stamp sets get used at first and then pushed to the back, never to been used again until they retire. I hope I'm not pushed to the back when I retire!!! I hope I can be better about using older stamps this year that are in the current catalog. I get so hung up on the minis sometimes that I forget about the catalog stamps. Do you do that as well? I think if I could cram a few more hours into the day I could use them more. Anybody buying that one? Well going to go work on my Open House projects today. I hope you all have a great Sunday.

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Convention Blues

I missed Convention this year because of it being scheduled earlier and because my dad turned 80 this week and I wanted to see him and celebrate this milestone with him. My mom and dad are now both 80 and although Dad moves a little slower these days and is hard of hearing (even though he says he's not) they still get around pretty well.

So sometimes you just can't do it all right? And with that being said, I am still sorry I missed convention. If you have never been, let me tell you, it is so much fun. You laugh and meet new friends. You get free stuff, learn new stamping techniques, and get to see sneak previews. There are a lot more perks but the friendships are the best. So to ease my little convention depression, I stamped and stamped and stamped these last couple days. I just love the new designer papers. The ideas just run through my head and then of course most of them I can't remember when I sit down to create!!!! Any of you out there know what I mean? I bet there are a few of you.

Anyway today I made cards with the Berry Blossoms DSP (Designer Series Paper). It incorporates the new In colors this year and I just love them. This first card uses Calypso Coral and Early Espresso card stock, as well as inks in the same colors. I used a piece of the the new Scallop Dots Ribbon in Chocolate Chip and for my stamped image, I used one of the stamps from the new Hostess set in the catalog called Posey Punch. What I like about this set and a lot of SU's stamps is that they can be used with punches so you don't have to do all that cutting out! Unless you are like my friend, Tracey Old in New Zealand, who loves to cut and does a great job. (Oh did I mention she's a hairdresser by day?) Ha! Go figure.

This next card uses Wisteria Wonder Card stock and ink as well. I used my Sissix Fun Flowers Die with the Big Shot and then sponged the edges with some more Wisteria Wonder Ink and assembled and put a Early Espresso Designer Button in the middle of it. The sentiment comes from a new set called Petite Pairs. I didn't take a picture of the inside of the card but it completes the outside saying "so many smiles" with "begin with you" stamped on the inside.

I hope you like the cards today. If you have never stamped and are interested in trying it, give me a call or email me. Click on the daisy up in the right side of this blog. It will take you to my Stampin Up website with my contact info as well as a link to order anything you have seen here today. I will be happy to help you in any way possible.

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Welcome To The Zoo

I have finally had some time to sit and play with my stamps and try some of the challenges out there. They really do help get your juices flowing! Today I tried the Stampin' On Tuesday and Just Add Ink challenges. I was able to do both with this card. The zebra is from the new set "Zoo Review". I took some twine and made a tail out of it.

This was my first card for Stampin On Tuesday which really didn't excite me too much but I figured I'd put it up here since I haven't posted in awhile.

Finally I want to say Happy 80th Birthday to my dad. I traveled 650 miles on Friday to surprise him with my daughter, Katie, and came home Monday. Such a quick trip but so worth it.

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Happy 4th of July

I remembered seeing this bird in the "In Wilderness" set and thought he would make a great 4th of July card. He looks so proud and regal. Then I got to thinking (there I go again) and wondered if this bird was an eagle or a falcon or what. Not sure but I'm going with the eagle!!! I watercolored him with Soft Suede and a little Chocolate Chip ink. More Mustard for his beak. Matted him on Cherry Cobbler and Night of Navy card stock with punched stars. I hope whatever you are doing today is fun but safe and remember our service men and women overseas. Proud to be an American!!!!

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Beach Day

So this morning my husband and I got up and took our bikes down to the beach and rode the boardwalk at 7 am. It was a beautiful morning, a cool breeze, the sun on the horizon coming up, and pretty much an empty beach. I got a chance to try out my new road bike that my son, Matt, fixed me up with. It's a Raleigh women's road bike and it rides like a dream. Very smooth!!! Good for me to get some exercise and work the old knees. Then we stopped and had breakfast at Doc Taylor's. It's an old house that serves breakfast and lunch. They serve a mean Bloody Mary! After breakfast we rode for a while longer and then headed home. By the time we left the beach, it was packed with people for the Sand Soccer Tournament.

So I made these two cards a while ago using the Summer Splash set out of the Summer Mini, just messing around and thought I would share them today. Not exactly what I had in mind but a quick card to make if you are in a hurry.

I have two classes coming up this next two weeks and so I am headed up to the stamp room to put some of the cards together. I hope you have a great Sunday.

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Dad's Day Will Be Here Soon

I was on a roll the other day with the Blueberry Crisp DSP and so here is another piece with Cherry Cobbler using the "Sailing Away" stamp from the Summer Mini and some of the new twine sold there as well.

I have been so busy trying to finish up another school year. Packing away supplies in the clinic this year because they are going to paint and so everything that I usually leave out needs to be packed. UGH is all I can say. Oh well. Only eight more days!

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It's June First!

It's the first of many things today, including the first day of the month, my sister's birthday, and the first day to pre-order some of the new products from the new 2011-2012 Stampin Up Idea Book and Catalog! Woo Hoo!!! I am so excited and can't wait to get started making some new projects to share with you. In the mean time, I made a few cards the other day with the "Sail Away" stamp that is in the Summer Mini. This stamp is so much fun to use. It's a great stamp to use to demo with your customers as well. I combined the image with some Newsprint DSP and Not Quite Navy card stock. I used Not Quite Navy brads and a blender pen to highlight with Not Quite Navy ink to complete this card.

Knowing that we will have new DSP in the new catalog, I want to use as much of the DSP that I have left as possible. Check out "Blueberry Crisp" DSP for these cards. It worked perfectly for me. I made a few more but will save them for another day. So being a demo can give you lots of advantages and one of them is being able to see the new catalog before anyone else, get great discounts on stamps and incentives for all your hard work. I would love for you to experience all these wonderful perks as well so if you are interested in becoming a demonstrator email me! I'd love to talk to you. And if you are interested in any of these products then just click on the daisy to your right and it will take you to my SU website where you can order whatever you like!!!

Hope and Strength

I love this set. The butterfly is so easy to cut out which is a plus in my book since I am not a fan of cutting things out. I think I'm getting better though. This tri-fold card is so easy to make and offers a lot of potential for decorating it. I'm not sure about the buttons. I just felt like the card needed a little extra oomphf. Then I put a pearl in the center of each one to match the pearls in the butterfly's antennae. I hope you had a great Saturday.

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An Easter Card From A Friend

I was so surprised and touched when I received this lovely card in the mail from a good friend and a stamping friend as well, Lisa Dudley. Of course this picture doesn't do it justice but it is beautiful! Thanks so much Lisa. It meant so much to me. I don't get hand stamped cards for me that often so when one of my friends or fellow stampers send me one it is so special and touches my heart. So just think about that when you need a card for an occasion or just want to tell someone how much they mean to you or you want to thank them for that special gift. I have had so many people tell me that they never throw one of my cards away. That they hang on to them because they are a GIFT!!! And that comment is such a gift to me. Handmade cards mean so much more to people than a store bought card or an email or a comment on Facebook. It say that you thought enough about someone or they were worth the time and effort it took you to make a card for them. I know we all have busy lives and don't always have the time to make a card but if you do, then you would know that it is such fun as well as a relaxing and stress releasing hobby. If you ever want to ask me any questions about stamping, I will be glad to answer them for you. I have been doing this for almost 20 years and never tire of it. With that said I will get off my little soapbox for the night. Hope you had a great day.

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Flip Flops

Can you believe I am posting two cards in one day? The first part of this week is going to be pretty hectic so I thought I would get ahead of the game. I hate when I'm on a roll and then I have to stop and go to bed cuz I need my beauty sleep and lots of it!!!! I read on Becky Robert's blog that she thought these prints were too bright for her so the challenge was on and this is what I came up with. Living on the Atlantic coast and seeing the flowers in the flip flops (Sunny Fun) and surfboards (Summer Splash) stamp images found in the new Summer Mini Catalog made me think that I could put them with some of the new DSP, Beyond The Garden, also found in the Summer Mini. I put it with Wild Wasabi and Melon Mambo cardstock.

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Hello Blossoms

I just love this little stamp and you can order it starting today from the Stampin Up Summer Mini Catalog. Just click on the Daisy to the right and get started. There are a lot of cute summer stamps in there as well as a new line of nautical stamps and a few for Father's day. I have been trying to focus on the "In Colors" from Stampin Up and here I have used Peach Parfait. This year SU will introduce six more new "In Colors" and we will have a total of 12. I wonder what they will be? Can't wait for the new idea and catalog book to come out. I am saving my pennies!!! Ha! More like dollars!!!!

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Our State Bird - The Cardinal- and ............

This fat guy is enjoying the bird seed daily. My hubby is filling up all the feeders almost every other day. It is so worth it to see the beautiful colors of these birds and the little yellow finches. I'm still trying to get a picture of a blue jay and blue bird. They just don't stick around long enough for me to grab my camera. One day about a month ago I happened to look out and saw the most odd looking bird eating out of the tray.

Yep. It's a squirrel bird!!! I couldn't believe it. I tried to scare him by tapping on the window but he wouldn't budge. Then I ran downstairs and out to the deck. The squirrel ran across the railing up the side of the house and perched himself on the roof looking down at me as if to say, Ha ha, can't catch me! Needless to say he has been back a few times that I know of.

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Summer Splash Peek

Here is a new stamp image from the Summer mini catalog that you will be able to order starting May 1st. It is from the set "Summer Splash" and I used it with the Ice Cream Parlor DSP and some Pacific Point card stock. I added some buttons and Peach Parfait Ribbon. Can you tell that I am trying to use up some of my Sale a Bration paper? I am having a blast just creating and playing around with different images to put with this paper. It was so good of you to stop by!

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Playing Around

I know it's been a long time since I have posted anything. I'm beginning to sound like a broken record. Do kids today know what that is? Ha ha. I am not going to give reasons why or make excuses for my absence but I finally got a chance to sit down for a couple of hours today and play with some of my old and some of my new stamp stuff and I had a blast. I just love this "Sweet Summer" set and the "Ice Cream Parlor" paper and buttons that I got free from Stampin Up during their Sale a Bration event. The "enjoy" is from Fabulous Phrases. I used Pacific Point and Old Olive card stock. I made several cards with this DSP and will post them over the next few days. Thanks for looking.

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Timeless Treasures

I was one of the happiest stampers when they brought Baja Breeze back as a color for Stampin Up. I used it on this card with DSP, Elegant Soiree. I love old and vintage and thought this paper was perfect with Very Vanilla and the stamp set, "Timeless Treasures". I ran the Baja Breeze through the Big Shot with the embossing folder, Vintage Wallpaper. I finished it off with Victorian ribbon and a vintage brad.

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So Cute and So Simple

I was asked to do a class for Easter and I don't have a lot of stamps for this holiday. So I was looking through what I had and found this cute little bunny in "The Nicest Things" set. I have had this idea for the background in my head for awhile. I took the lattice embossing folder and ran it through the Big Shot with Whisper White Card Stock. Then I took Certain Celery, So Saffron, Bashful Blue, and Pink Pirouette ink pads and sponges and dabbed ink so that it almost looks like Easter eggs in the background. The "Happy Easter" is from the Occasions Mini set, "Easter Blooms." I am hoppy with the way it turned out. Quick and simple but cute.

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Lap of Luxury

So I am watching American Idol tonight and thinking that these young ladies are so confident to get up on that stage in front of millions and sing their hearts out. I don't recognize all the songs which makes it hard for me to always judge the song since I don't know the tune and how it should be. Does that make sense? I am getting ready to teach several card classes and some are with ladies I have known for awhile and I feel very comfortable with them. And then some of the classes are with ladies I have never met and there is always a degree of apprehension when I am teaching strangers. I worry that they might not like the choices I have picked to teach them but it is so hard to please everyone. I can only hope that I make the classes enjoyable for them. So after watching these ladies tonight on Idol, I'm thinking I should not be nervous being in front of six or seven people. It could have been millions! Ha! This is one of the cards that my ladies will be making Saturday morning. I am loving the In Color, Concord Crush. Hope you like it too.

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Fifth Avenue Floral Goes Embossed!

Well I am really pushing the envelope tonight. I sat down and made these three cards for an embossing class I am teaching in a few weeks. I had to dust off the old heat gun. It's been so long since I have used it! I don't know why that is because I love the look of embossed images. The "Fifth Avenue Floral" stamp set (113734) also needed a little dusting off. You know when the mini catalogs come out, it seems like I just concentrate on those stamps so much and forget about all the awesome stamp sets in the regular catalog. I am trying to do better about giving all my stamp sets some much needed attention. Kind of like your kids! Ha!!!

I really liked the way this card turned out. I layered three of the pieces of "Lap of Luxury" DSP (120436) and then placed the embossed rose with dimensionals over the words.

So this is the last card I made tonight. I used Concord Crush ink with the Versamark pad and then embossed the flowers and cut them out. Then I added the "thanks" and mounted it with some hardware I had left over and placed it over some Concord Ribbon. I had so much fun and hope you like what I have done.

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I'm Soooo Embarassed!

So I can't believe it's already been a month since I have posted and here I said I would do better and then I didn't follow through with my intentions which really were good. Trying to work full time, teach stamp classes, and maintain a blog is very time consuming. Not to mention cleaning the house, taking care of the dogs, and the husband, shopping, laundry, etc., etc., etc. And all I really want to do is stamp, stamp, stamp. I finally sat down the other night and made this card. The stamped images are from the Clearly For You Set (121976 clear). The designer paper which looks distressed is Botanical Gazette(121783). The Swirly (113456) was made on the Big Shot and I tied a little Victorian Ribbon on it. You can order any of these products by just clicking on the Daisy to the left.

So I had Michelle Zindorf at my house last weekend. She taught two classes on Saturday and two on Sunday. If you have never seen her work then you should go to her website. She is a wizard with the brayer, post it notes, and sponges. Her cards are pieces of art and by the end of her classes you will have made such cards yourself. This is a picture of the two of us at Panera's for dinner her last night in town. Do we look tired? Michelle was getting up at 3am and driving 11 hours back home the next day!!!

Well I made some more cards today and will post them in the next few days. I don't want to put you in shock! Ha! Hope you had a good weekend!

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New Blog Header

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Hi Everyone! I have been wanting to change my blog header for quite sometime and so these past few days I have been playing around with it on My Digital Studio. Patty Bennett has a few tutorials and even one on You Tube that are excellent. So I decided even though it is still "Under Construction", that I would go ahead and post the new header and then change it when I have a few minutes to work on it. If you haven't tried the MDS from Stampin Up, you are missing out on a whole lot of fun. You can add and resize and put lace and bows and stamp images where you choose. You can change the color or reverse the image which is what I did to the branch. You can tilt images which I did to some of the words so they would kind of sit on the branch. The best advice I can give you right now about this program is to just jump in there and get your hands dirty. Don't be afraid. It's the only way to learn and to become comfortable with your creativity. The possibilities are endless. And if you are into scrapbooking, then this has your name on it!!! If you are interested in the MDS or have any questions then email me! I would love to hear from you!

Leadership News Continued

So here is a picture of inside the Gaylord. Yep, it is inside even though it looks like it might be outside. I didn't leave the Gaylord for three days, yet it seemed like I was outside every time I walked through the gardens. There was a water canal with a boat that you could ride in like a little tour. Not sure what the tour guide was telling the people in the boat ........and over here is Room 1o1!!!!! But seriously the grounds were gorgeous and the plants and flowers were amazing. A lot of the Christmas decorations were up still and they were just starting to take some of them down on Friday.

So here is another of my swaps that I made. It was made with the Nature's Walk Set. Love, love this set. For the ribbon, I just twisted it twice. Used the oval Sissix die and sponged the edges of it with Early Expresso. The background was made with the "Sanded" stamp. I hope you like it!

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Going Home

Well it has been a fun and busy two days here in Nashville but I am exhausted from all the information I received from the awesome classes I attended here at Leadership Conference. And did I mention all the amazing gifts Stampin Up gave us? Stamp sets, paper, purses, necklaces, glitter, material. Oh my gosh! It was just too much fun! It sure does get your "I want to get home and stamp and recruit everyone to this wonderful business of stamping. I met so many wonderful people and connected with a lot of old friends as well. If you think you might be interested in joining my team give me a call or send me an email. I would love to have you.

So this little box I have pictured here is a gift I made for some of the special people I have met through SU. It has a bottle cap choker on the front which I punched a 1" piece of the new DSP, "Botanical Garden's" and stamped "friends" from Tiny Tags on it and adhered it with a little rhinestone. I also cut out a piece of the same paper for the box. And inside I put a little tin of Burt's Bees Lip Balm for them. It has a bee on the top of the container. Well it is time to pack and get this lady home to Virginia Beach. It's been fun but I miss my family and of course Mr. Darcy!!!

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Leadership Swap

So here is one of the cards I made for a swap at Leadership. I will swap them out tomorrow because right now I am whipped. It's been a long day but a good day. Flew into Nashville with snow on the ground and a few flurries. Arrived at the Gaylord Hotel with my mouth opened. It is enormous and is like a little city within a building. There are all kinds of restaurants and shops. Plants and trees and some of their Christmas decorations are still up and tonight when I went down for dinner it was like a street at night with stars above. They have waterfalls and water spouts that are synchronized with music. Very cool. Well I am off to sleep. Up early tomorrow for my classes and catching up with other SU demos. Till tomorrow this is me signing off................

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Nashville!

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Today I am leaving for Stampin Up's Leadership Conference in Nashville, Tennessee. Did you know there are several Nashville's in the United States? I didn't know that until I was checking the weather and several Nashville's came up. It's funny how you only think of there being one Nashville or one Richmond or one Washington! Anyway, I was going to try to sleep in this morning but am too excited. My plane leaves at 12:15 so I have some time to get ready but I thought I would just sit and have a cup of coffee, watch the news for awhile and write this to you. I made swaps for this conference but not as many as I wanted to. I made two different cards and I will post them later today or tomorrow. One of the classes I am taking is the My Digital Studio and I hope to become more familiar with it afterward. Can't wait to see so many of the wonderful friends I have made through Stampin Up. We have all been wondering if we were even going to make it to Nashville with all the snow and ice but I think that things are much better at the airports so it should be clear sailing or clear flying I should say!!! Have a great day.