LMac's Catered Crops

Woodrow was only half right

Woodrow Wilson said "We grow great by dreams." Well, who could argue with that? But, for me, that's only half the story. What helps me grow are all my wonderful friends and family, including you dear folks who come visit me at my blog. 

Last month, I got to meet Diane Tritz at the Stampin' Up! convention in Utah - Wisconsin meets Texas. Words just can't express how honored I was to meet her. She hunted me down from a hoard of 6,000 Stampin' Up! demonstrators to say hi and to give me this. I was so touched that she would go to so much trouble to find me - honestly. Forget all the new product announcements, make-n-takes, swaps, free stamp sets - this was my very favorite highlight of the convention.

Check out the inside!

Diane put so much beautiful detail into this little mini album. Each page has a pocket with a little pull-out for a photo and some journaling, and each page highlights a different image from the Bella Rose designer paper collection. But, the best part is the way she bound the pages.

I've never seen that before, and it's such an elegant touch. So, I e-mailed Diane when I got home to get the instructions. (Yeah, like she hasn't already done enough for me, now I'm bugging her to tell me how she did it.) Here's what she told me.

The inside pages are from 8-1/2 inch square sheets of white cardstock. Fold the cardstock in half each way and then cut the corners off of two sides making a point in the center.  When refolded, that will create the pockets on the pages. The little green trim in the center was done by scoring and folding half-inch mountain and valley folds (an accordion fold). She used the Zutter Bind-it-All to bind the book.

Here's another peak at the inside from the back.

So, Woodrow, Dreams are great, but I'm already living my dream. It's having friends like Diane and getting to enjoy her beautiful creations that inspire me. Thank you, Diane!

Rock On Sis!

Fifty years ago today my sister was born. As my mother used to tell it, when she was born, the doctor said, "She's too small, there must be another." And that's how Mom met me - she said she fainted. Dad was at Army reserve camp so we got to meet him a few weeks later.

People used to ask me what it was like to have a twin sister. I never knew how to answer because I never knew any other way. And that's the best part about having a twin sister - I always have had her, and I always will!

I have this philosphy that God never gives me more than I can handle, but He decided pretty early on that I probably needed a little help - so he gave me an angel of a sister to escort me through my life. She's the sweetest, most precious sister in the world - so I figure I got a pretty good escort! Can't nothin' touch me!

We don't look fifty, do we?! Yeah, well, we don't act it either.

Look what my sister sent me this week. Yep, racing Grannies! And that's just how I imagine us some day - causing all kinds of ruckus in the nursing home! Sharon said this present was about our "future."

 

For the "past," she sent me this.

You probably can't make it out, but it's a photo album full of postcards that were sent to and by my Grandma Heaton - my Mom's Mom. They go as far back as 1911. Oh . . . I love this for so many reasons. I love the old postcards, I love that my sister took the time to write the occasion and the dates in the album's sleeves, and I love that it captured my Grandma's handwriting.

Grandma was so proud that she made it to the 3rd grade so she could learn cursive writing - her penmanship was gorgeous. And the album includes a few precious cards from the 1950's.

 

Fifty - Dang! I just can't get my head around it. It doesn't feel any different than 49, or 39 for that matter, but it sure does sound different. Well, my sister's been through it all with me. And, thankfully, we'll turn 50 together.

Ging loves you, Doopie! and always will! Sis - We're going to rock 50!!!

Sight Seeing in Salt Lake City

I know, it's been almost a month since the Stampin' Up! convention in Utah, but I'm still basking in that incredible experience - and, yes, still getting all the great memories up to this blog. My sister had never been to Salt Lake City, so I wanted to make sure she got to see the Mormon Temple grounds.

 

You can Google the Salt Lake Temple and learn all kinds of fascinating things about it and its tradition. What amazed me most was that it was dedicated in 1893 after 40 years of construction. Since only the believers who commit to a chaste life are allowed inside (definitely excludes me), the Temple is both beautiful and mystical.

Sunday morning we got to see and hear this, 350 singers with a full orchestra and all those organ pipes.

Even though we were Methodists, not Mormons, I grew up listening to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Mom was a music teacher, and she loved listening to them. So, of course, when we learned they were having a live taping of their weekly radio and television broadcast, sis and I were there. It was the most beautiful music heaven would allow, and I just closed my eyes and let their singing take me to Mom.

On a more recent note . . . congradulations to Marie - she's the newest member of our Stampin' Up! family and my new downline. I don't know many people more passionate about stamping and making cards, and she's a blast to hang with. We're going to have so much fun people may start talking.

GORP Purse

Oh, no time to chat, but just want to share with you the little party gift I made for the folks coming to the open house on Saturday. It's adorable and appetizing, if I do so say myself.

If one makes you hungry . . . how about a dozen.

The recipe includes the retired Afternoon Tea, Groovy Guava, Wild Wasabi and Soft Sky papers, stitched ribbon; and scallop, five-petal and boho blossom punches. Oh, and the recipe includes our medium-size cello bags . . . which I won in Velta's generous blog candy! I used the second and third largest ovals in the colluzle kit and embellished it all with our natural buttons and linen thread. And I used Mom's sewing machine to sew some brown thread into the circles.

Sorry this is so brief and rushed. Hope I see you on Saturday.

Deets on our New Catalog Open House

This has been an amazing year for me with Stampin' Up! I had so much fun meeting new people and playing with all of you. So, as a thank you for supporting my stamping habit (and keeping me out of therapy), you're all invited to be my guest at our semi-annual New Catalog revealing open house. 

Here are the details:

• Date: Saturday, August 23 Time: 10:00 am to 12:30 pm (come and go as you please)
• Location: Dave Schara State Farm Insurance, 12001 W Parmer Lane (Between Avery Ranch Boulevard and 1431), Cedar Park, TX 78613. Park in the back and use the rear entrance
• Cost: FREE!
• If you RSVP,  you'll receive all the materials for a free make-and-take, a techniques book and a small gift.

Feel free to bring a friend, but be sure to include them when you RSVP.

Here's what you don't want to miss:

• Make-and-take using new colors, the new square scallop punch and the "Say it with Scallops" stamp set (all proceeds from the sale of this set benefit the Ronald McDonald house)
• On-site demonstrations of the newest products
• Door prizes every 15 minutes
• Grand door prize valued at $75
• Refreshments (there are rumors that Crispy Cream will be in the house).

I'm working on your RSVP gifts and they're adorable (if I do say so myself), and refreshing. Hmmm. Hopefully tomorrow I'll post some pictures. (It's past my bedtime tonight.)

So . . . RSVP me now by e-mailing me at [email protected], or call me at 512-297-8361. See you Saturday!

A Kind Word

"A kind word is like a spring day." So, okay, that might be an odd card for a bring summer day, but, if you're in Texas experiencing a record number of +100 degree weather, spring is sounding pretty good.

I made this card for a Lonestar Stampers swap of new hostess sets, so, you guessed it, this is one of the Level 2 sets in the beautiful new catalog. More importantly, though, it's my prototype for one of the cards we're going to make at our Cocktails, Cards and Caring party.

As I wrote before, my precious friend, Bonnie Connor, is a Hospice Chaplain. Bonnie and I are co-hosting an event to make cards for terminally ill patients and their caregivers we're calling Cocktails, Cards and Caring. I'm bringing some card-making projects, Bonnie's bringing the cocktails, and you bring the caring spirit.

Here's the deets for anyone in the Central Texas area. It's on Saturday, September 6 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at my house in Round Rock. t's a free event. You won't take any cards home (they'll all be mailed to the patients and their families by the Hospice staff and volunteers). You're welcome to bring your own projects to make and donate, too.

If you don't live in the Central Texas area but would like to be a part of this, feel free to mail me your finished cards or card fronts and we'll add them to the contributions.

Just e-mail me at [email protected] for details. Do it soon, though, because space is limited.

Meanwhile, back to our card. Here it is with a different ribbon.

Confession time . . . when I get a new stamp set, I check out what everyone else is doing with it on Splitcoast Stampers (have you figured that out about me yet). As you can tell by my example, you don't have to be a creative genius to enjoy stamping. That said, I love the simplicity and colors Andrea used in her's here: Simply Spring. And, I loved what ArinStamps did with the twill ribbon here: Saying Hello.

Here's the recipe:

• Stamp Sets: Serene Spring, Polka Dot (background stamp)
• Paper: Stampin' Up! watercolor (luscious), Chocolate Chip, Kraft
• Ink: Staz-on Timber Brown, Versamark (for the polka dots), and watercolor crayons (Creamy Caramel, Chocolate Chip, Ruby Red, Cameo Coral, Old Olive, and Barely Banana), Signo White Gel Pen (for the center of the flowers)
• Accessories: Old Olive and Burgundy grosgrain ribbon, Kraft taffeta ribbon, twill tape, hodgepodge hardware, Cuttlebug folder, Aqua Pens.

Summer or Spring, I hope someone's load will be a little lighter when they receive this and the kind written words from the Hospice staff and their volunteers.

Swapping Business Tools

There were so many high points at the convention, and swapping projects with other demonstrators was definitely one of them. I made this booklet for an organized swap of business tool ideas.

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The cover design is inspired by a card done by Mary Jo Albright who won this year's Stampin' Up! Artisan award.

The inside looks like this and gives you a place put 1/2" square samples of all the cardstock from the color families and to inventory your ink supplies.

 

Here's the recipe to make this booklet.

Stamp sets: Stamp of Authenticity, Define Your Life, Sanded, Defining Alphabet, and Form & Function

Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Kraft, Very Vanilla, Confetti Cream, Notebook

Inks: Chocolate Chip, Sahara Sand, Soft Sky, Close to Cocoa

Accessories:5" x 5" On Board Journal,* Linen Thread, Pretties Kit Rhinestone Brads, Silver Brads, Staples. Mini Library Clip, Round Tab Punch, Spiral Punch, ½” Circle Punch, Stampin’ Sponges, Ribbon Misc.: Chipboard, Acrylic Paint, ModgePodge Font: Stampin’ Up! “Harry Paul”

*If you a Bind-it-all and want to make this yourself, cut your chipboard 5 1/4" by 5 1/4" and your paper 5" x 5".

Here's the file to for the inside pages. I'm afraid the pdf conversion is kind of sketchy, but hopefully it will give you a starting point.

Stampin' Up! Color Families - Word Document

Stampin Up! Color Families - pdf Document

One of the most fun projects I got back from my fellow swap mates was from Dale Abraham. She showed us the gifts she gives her crop participants.

Inside the bag she had some sponges for distressing projects, candy (essential for crops) and a fun clapper gizmo with a poem that said:

Stampin' & Scrapin'
is so much fun . . .
Do some Dancin' & Clappin'
when your project is done!

She also had this fun little wish-list tablet inside.

Dale wrote me that she used these clappers at a weekend crop one year and "the gals loved it . . . all day you'd here "clap clap clap clap" as a person finished a layout. The funny thing was, the following year at the same event, many of the people from the previous year still had them and used them." Can't you just imagine what a blast Dale's workshops are?

Inspired by Nature is In the Bag

Okay, I admit it, when I first saw these new "silhouette" stamps I wasn't that impressed. They're featured on the Style Watch, page 10 and 11 in the new catalog. Then I had a chance to use the Inspired by Nature set at the Convention, and it definitely has a Wow factor.

Before you dismiss them like I did, check out the Splitcoast Stampers gallery, here: Inspired by Nature, and Dawn Griffin's Envelope Note Card Holder (I gotta try this). Dawn has a fantastic video tutorial on how to apply multiple colors to this solid stamp. Here's what my hostess club got to make today.

So . . . we used this set just about every way possible. We started first by stamping the long luscious grass blades in Versamark ink on the Apricot Appeal paper. Then, we stamped the black-eyed susan flower image in craft white ink and heat set that (craft ink takes a long time to dry, but you can speed up the process by warming it with your embossing gun.) Then, we used markers and/or daubers to apply the Really Rust, Always Artichoke and Chocolate Chip ink directly onto the rubber. We spritzed it with a fine spray of water and then stamped it to get a beautiful water-color look.

The top trim is our new Bella Rose paper with a Chocolate Chip and Tangerine Tango border - oooo, using the new scallop border punch.

Honestly, it never occurred to me to use my stamps to decorate gift bags until we did it as one of our make-n-takes at Convention. Turns out, we carry these bags (page 167 of the new catalog), and how fun would it be to make a matching card? Here's my bag again with the bag we made at the Convention in the background - using just the solid image of this stamp set produces stunning results.

Save the Dates

I just added two events to my calendar today, so, if you live in the Austin area, be sure you're getting my newsletter Ink-spirations (subscribe at the sidebar) so you can get all the details.

On Saturday, August 23rd, you're invited to a free Open House to help herald in the new catalog and purchase some retired stamp sets at a bargain. There will be make-n-takes, on-site demonstrations, and, if you let me know at least a week in advance that you're coming, I'll have a little gift waiting for you at the door.

My precious friend, Bonnie Connor, is a Hospice Chaplain (could there be a more honorable profession?). She wrote us that her terminally ill patients and their caregivers love getting her homemade cards. So, Bonnie and I are co-hosting an event we're calling Cocktails, Cards and Caring on Saturday, September 6. I'm bringing some card-making projects, Bonnie's bringing the cocktails, and you bring the caring spirit. Once again, it's a free event. You won't take any cards home (they'll all be mailed to the patients and their families), but you will take home the satisfaction that you helped some families through the most difficult times of their lives. 

If you're interested in an invitation to either of these events, please e-mail me at [email protected]

The best things happen . . .

The best things happen when you're not looking and you least expect it.  My little blog made a landmark 100,000 hits today. Wow, that's just amazing to me. Thank you all so much for letting me share my little creations and my adventures with you. And, the icing on the cake was that my little cakes were featured on Tip Junkie.

Boy, how am I going to top this? Well, stay tuned. I'm working on projects for my Hostess Club meeting on Saturday, but after I get that done, I've go so much more to share with you.

Project Runway - Stampin' Style

I had so, so much fun at the Stampin' Up! convention. There were so many highlights, and for me, one of the biggest highlights was being among my kind (as my sister put it so well) . . . being with fellow stampers. I marveled in their creativity and just soaked it up.

Project Runway has nothing on these ladies - they can create the best outfits and accessories with just stamp and ink. Check it out - hats, shoes, purses, sashes, stamp-emblazened shirts, jewelry - and even the dazzling-diamond hair! Click on the picture to make it larger. These stampers�"Make It Work!" Fierce!

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