It is Fun Raising Time!

 I am so excited!!! It is fund raising time!!! and it has been fun trying some new things.
That's not to say it's been all play,  we have been working our little fingers off, cutting our beautiful paper for cards and making lovely boxes. One of our Cuties,
Judy made these boxes for her Mom's home made cookies. And BTW, Ginny's cookies are delicious, she's been treating us to these scrumptious cookies every Thursday. We are using the boxes to place our cookies in to sell at the Home Maker's Holiday Bazaar.

  AND cards, YES, we will have cards ready to do in a "Make-It, Take-It" format. The cards are simple to make, an easy project of 5 or less steps ( 10 to 15 mins. tops) and you get to take it away with you all complete. Ta Da! There are over 10 designs in all. Some Birthday, some Thanks and others.  AND ...Where is this Home Maker's Holiday Bazaar--- in Greenfield, IN. at the 4-H Fair ground. Nov 5th. Check the paper for the start time.

Are you looking for a pattern? Here is one I liked for a Thanksgiving theme.
We used a 3-D turkey and placed it where the heart is. The sentiment... " Eat More Ham".

It was somewhat like the Chic-Fil-A commercial, but then, we do borrow ideas---beside, my family thought it was funny ( and that was priceless!.)

We found lots of good ideas in this month's Classic "Crafts and things" magazine. The ideas are classic.

Some of the projects are on- line and they are free instructions to help you.

When so many groups are trying to do fund raisers... its nice to have fun---while your doing those projects.

We are looking forward to folks in our area stopping by our booth and  helping us with card making. All the donations will go to help us send cards to our troops through Operation Write Home. I  hope you do pass the word along to others.
Thank you, Gloria

August, gone? On to Fall's Excitment!

 Are you ready to go to work on some new plans for fall cards? I am!
      Have your seen the new fall lines for Bo Bunny and others? I love the fall colors, the new paper lines, some exciting new combo colors for Christmas and  new embellishments. Card Makers Mag. www.CardMakerMagazine.com has a great article with some wonderful border and layering ideas for fall cards. I hope you can get your hands on a copy of their September issue.

 This summer we visited two area shops in Indiana. It was a real "shop hop" traveling from Bloomington, in the southern half of the state and up to Fort Wayne in the northern part of the state, that is, to  PaperTrix www.papertrix.com and Stamping Day and Night www.stampingdayandnight.com respectfully. Each shop has their own classes if you need new ideas.  They are wonderful people who graciously did a little tutoring with  our card makin' cuties. I urge you to go to their web sites and you'll see what talented ladies they are! It was well worth spending our summer traveling and enjoying meeting these new friends.

How do you like simplicity in your life? Isn't this simple yet,
quite a beautiful card.
It's made by Lisa Haynes.
Lisa has been a contributor to OWH, too,
and shares her work there.
Here's design sketch # 83  which she used for her card from OWH.  

   You can go directly to their link from here www.operationwritehome.com for other ideas.


And ... here is another clever inspirational idea for a fall design card and perhaps the sentiment... "Happy Birthday!"
 Just goes to show you, ideas can come from many different places. This one comes from a Flickr  photo. Take a look at this for a re-purposing idea... "fall theme-Birthday". Just use one of your cake design stamps. Give one of these old cake  stamps a new lift by adding a few punched out leaves around your stamp design .
And Ta-Da! A new fall flavored birthday card! I love it.
               Summer may be over, but our card making is never finished! Just clear off some of your summer fun stamps, because summer closing opens a whole new trip of inspiration, more new friends and fresh new projects to use in our card making arts.

                A friend once re-framed this scripture by saying:   Always remember: There is a season for everything. Some times its a new season for moving on in our lives, or a season to learning some thing new. It may be a time of making new memories and a time for letting go of our old regrets. There is a new season for everything.      
Personally speaking, I like that idea.
Have a great day and Happy Fall Carding!
Gloria J.

Getting Your Stuff Organized

Garry and friend at the grill

Whether your off having the summer bar-b-que or you're  on vacation, we all have to get some things organized to really enjoy our time. Right?

I came across several tips from an article written for Creative Keepsake Magazine/March/ 2009 issue. The article had "31 Tips For Organizing" and getting your crafting stuff organized. Among the most effective tips for me was the idea start somewhere! It doesn't make much difference where you begin, if it is a box or a drawer, just start there. Take small steps so you're not overwhelmed in the beginning.  I think this is a tip we all can use, whether we are card makers and stamper or into crafts or not, we begin to reduce stress when we start with small steps and keep moving forward. We will eventually make progress.

I noticed with our Card Makin' Cuties, we have to make a new spaces for all the card making tools. One of the tips addressing this was getting your organizing style established. Are you a visiual organized person? If so, then put all your stuff where you can see it in clear boxes and bags. Maybe you'll want your things out of sight? If so invest some cabnet or closet space for this purpose and buy baskets or decorative boxes. 

                    Another tip was label everything. Label, label, label. ( I must admit, I'm don't do very well at this and I put things away where they don't belong.) The article drew attention to labeling once a "home" or place could be established for like items or tools. Get all your things in order.   Especially, 

begin by having the things you use most frequently close at hand. When these items are placed where they are easily accessible we tend to spend less time running around        trying to find them. (A waste of a crafter's time.)

Where do you go for inspiration and creativity? 

I was on-line looking, when  I found most manufactures want to inspire us with ideas about their new products so go on their websites for a card gallery of ideas. A tip from our article was, " make a date to go to your magazines or on-line and view new ideas."

For our new assignment with Operation Write Home, www.operationwritehome.org (click this web link for summer deadlines and new ideas, too), we are starting our fall designs and a few Christmas ideas. OWH has a some ideas for their fall cards and do take note about their advice for Halloween cards. Look over this information and their instructions on their blog.

         Our July group took another field trip to Fort Wayne, Indiana, to a small shop called Stamping Day and Night, www.stampingdayandnight.com, just connect to Sarah's link and see the wonderful card samples we were treated too. (We wanted to say thanks so much for the wonderful day with you and Lana.) Sarah Kimber is the owner of SDN. She shared some new coloring techniques with colored pencils that were fabulous! We are so grateful for the "show and tell" with you Sarah. 

She pointed out that everyone can use help along the way, how to use the tools in our tool kits or help learning a new skill or art form. We can all use help in staying organized and inspired to create the new images in our stamps. 

I personally think stampers and card crafters are the nicest, most hospitable people I've ever met in all my years of crafting. You guys are great!!!

Well, until later, I'll be organizing my label's labels.

Gloria J.

Sending Out Encouragement Cards

We found sending cards of encouragement help others so much. I must admit I only think of doing so when I hear someone is ill or in some type of distress. Just recently, I was reminded  there are many people in the service- related industry that would love to have some type of tangible encouraging message, like a card,saying-- " well done," "continue your good work" or even, "You make my day!"  Cards of encouragement are great.

       Just recently I was introduced to a wonderful group who were helping any one with children of Autism. The struggle the family goes through is a "journey" all unto itself and they need our encouragement.

Hands in Autism is one resource center  available in our local area who are part of a whole resource agency-- IRAC located at www. iidc.indiana.edu/irca . This website can answer many questions about autism and it can get you started in the right direction if you think your child has this neurological disorder.

    Soooo--------Why am I talking about this our blog site? Well, it is directly related to military families and our card making for OWH .
Did you know there are approximately 8,800 children of retired military families who are not currently covered under TRICARE, which is the Department of Defense's health care program? Congressmen John Larson and Walter Jones have introduced a bipartisan legislation which is aimed at resolving this issue for children of retired militarywho have children with Autism/  Asperger'sSyndrome.
   The bill was introduced on June 22,2011 by these congressmen as the Caring for Military Kids with Autism Act. You can read more about this legislation by clicking onto:  www.autism-society.org.
I am passing this information along to you not only as awareness in their resources, but also as a way for you to encourage people you know in service-related areas. ( Autism Society/ 4340 East-West Hwy, Suite 350/Bethseda, Maryland, 20814).
     Let me pass along this sketch. Isn't it perfect for  a card of encouragement?... I think it is too.

 I'm looking forward to  other designs and sketches too. Be sure to sign up for the free newsletter to Paper Crafter newsletter. It is a great way to look at new products, give-aways and designs.
It's been great to chat with you all.Last, let me say be an encourager to others,  you have all been an encouragement to me,.... so until later.  Enjoy the summer. Leave a comment.

      

You wanted Web sites for July 4th Info

Ha---ha---or should I say ...Opps! I wrote my Fourth of July Blog late last night, and that is not the best time for me to write.  I left out some things, especially the website for our friends and some information about an up coming stamping craft cruise.
So here is what I omitted.Please read the Relax, It's Summer article first and then, come back to this blog for the other details. You will understand why-- read the blog first and come back.
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The cruise was offered in Paper Creation's ad, go on line at www.PaperCraftConnection.com ---the ad for the cruise is on-line.
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Also Cindy and Wayne Hawry at Paper Trix  has a web site and you can see their shop and look at their event schedule from there.  Go to:
 www.papertrix.com  click onto their link for more classes in the southern Indiana area.
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Remember Copic pens has a new Color Book out . It is $14.95 but it is worth it if you are a beginner in this media art for cards.
That's my corrections to the July 4th blog. I hope that helps the "dazed and confused" (and that would be me!) Thanks for reading on--the blog is worth it.

Relax, It's Summer Fun!

I know this summer is going by so quickly. Here we are celebrating the Fourth of July weekend. Yes! 

Our group of card makers is on a summer break- a fun break. We are gathering some new resources, doing some shop watching, sharing some new tools and new techniques.  We've managed to plan a few outings, maybe take in a class or two later this summer and  plan  a summer salad luncheon.

While looking for things we might do, several web sites are offering great cruises at great prices. Several of the magazines (like Card Maker) have details about the cruises and what opportunities they are offering. Check them out. 

 

Gloria and Ellen ready to travel.

By the way, we were looking Card Maker Mag. for ideas and we ran across an article about a little shop in Nashville, Indiana, called PaperTrix, owned and operated by Cindy and Wayne Hawry. We got the car gassed up and took off for southern Indiana and this little shop called Paper Trix. It was wonderful. The article explained the shop was little but mighty. Cindy was such a gracious hostess and informed us about several classes they will host for the summer months. Wayne couldn't wait to share his secrets on ink and blending. Like I said, they were so gracious, we had only met them and yet, stamping and card making brought us together as friends. We finally left the little shop and it deserves the name Paper Trix...my Oh! my, the small shop was crammed floor to ceiling with wonders and magic...real specialty items, you can't get at the box stores.

Judy made us another birthday card! We can't stop her,  she's on a roll with several paper tricks of her own.  This one was showing off a new punch design. 

While her card looks very difficult, she said its the punch that makes the card look difficult.

She added a few paper stickers, with paper flower...that's when  the WOW factor happened. Way to go, Judy.

The Cuties send everyone our greatest sentiments for a glorious holiday celebration. We hope you have a restful summer, a fun filled summer and some great fun with friends making cards. Let us know of your finds by leaving us your comments.

The Big Bang--is a Birthday Card!

It all started just six months ago. That is, our group of fabulous women, Card Makin' Cuties,  has grown every month. So we are celebrating! And why not celebrate with a new card;  we have some new punches,other new tools and, even, new graphic paper along with some new ideas. Let's go girls--- we've set our goal for OWH.

We are learning more and more about the vast variety of card makers out there. Who are you all? I've been connected with "Handmade by Julie" www.handmade byjulie.com who has been so helpful. She was part of the recent Memorial Day Blog Hop hosted by Operation Write Home. They are lots of fun. When you go onto one of the cardmakers sites, they not only give you inspiration but help with some ideas and then send you on to another site. This was my first time to blog hop with the group and I loved it. I can't wait to do it again.

This little sign wasanother way of inviting us to look  for inspiration through Penny Black and their Saturday Challenge. This is a lot of fun, especially if you think you have a dry spell and think there is nothing new to do.

OH MY! After a challenge, you feel like you can't stop making cards and more and more ideas flow. On the Penny Black site was a download on a new stamp pictured below.

Isn't that a cute little bear, sitting in a field and loving this fluttery butterfly. Now, can you put this idea to work on a design pattern for example (#68) from OWH.

 

www.operationwritehome.com. The ideas just keep coming and inspiration fills the air. 

Well, I want to thank Judy for loaning us her card design. It was the big bang we all needed to start us off with new ideas for  another 6 months.

This is so wonderful. We have found a second purpose with OWH and so have our card making skills. We are just  little pebbles in this sea of cardmakers...but Oh boy! are we enjoying the boat ride.

Check out some of these resources and stop by other websites for more ideas. If you have been inspired yourself to try something, good!...Let us be the first to encourage you to continue the good work forward. Some times, the most exciting part of the trip is the journey just getting there.  Until later, Gloria J.