Busy, Busy, Busy

Wow, time sure does fly when you're having fun!!  We've been on a weeklong motorcycle ride to the Texas coast, a FABULOUS trip to the Great Yosemite Stamp Escape sponsored by the Cat's Meow (http://www.catsmeowstamps.com/index.htm ) with my sweet sister, spending time with the kids and grankids for Mother's Day, trying somewhat (haha) to catch up on laundry and house cleaning and getting ready for an upcoming trip to Maine, with my sister and some friends plus lately kind of dodging and dancing with all the tornadoes that recently smashed our area.  Prayers go out for all the people who have been so adversely affected by the weather and other recent events in the news.  Everyday when I wake up, I find some marvelous reason to realize how blessed I am, even if it's something as simple as waking up to see a hummingbird zipping by for a drink on the feeders outside. 

We did some wonderful things at the GYSE and I have GOT to take pictures to share.  Before I zip off to my grankids dance recital I will leave a picture of my best friend, my sister Joy, at the Cat's Meow Scrapbook store.  We are already making plans to attend the Escape next year!

Great Contest

I have been so busy and gone for awhile...  But I'm chiming in to let you know about a TOTALLY FABULOUS giveaway on a blog favorite... Obsessed with Scrapbooking at http://www.obsessedwithscrapbooking.com/ .  I have been entering contests for years and years and I think this is probably the best EVER.  Go check it out and GOOD LUCK!!

The Apron Chronicles

After doing my post about Susan, I noticed on the Sizzix website that she had a blog about baking/sewing/crafting at http://mymothersapronstrings.blogspot.com/ . I read a few of her posts and was so reminded of a really wonderful outing for Mother's Day 2006. There was an exhibit at the Dallas Women's Museum called The Apron Chronicles http://chronicles.apronmemories.com/ and we decided to have a Mother's Day Outing for lunch and to see this exhibit. It was such a good day... my Mother had Chronic Lymphocetic Leukemia, which she battled for over 23 years. She passed away just a year after this outing and since it was such a good day for her, it is one of my most precious memories.

This first picture shows sister Jean, Mom, sister Joy and daughter Sharon at the Old Mill Restaurant on the State Fair grounds which was by the museum. We had a wonderful lunch with Elvis!

We put on aprons when we went through the exhibit and everybody loved it!  We got stopped and asked about our aprons and it was just such a fun time.  Afterwards we went outside and took pictures.  We were all laughing so much...I thought Mom would fall over laughing.  I still love the memory of her laughter.....

My daughter, Sharon, took this last picture and we decided to "flash" her by raising up our aprons.  By this time, Mom was laughing so hard, she was crying.  What were we laughing about so much?  I don't have a clue.  All I remember is the laughing.

 

Flowers with Susan Tierney-Cockburn

Here I am at CHA with another one of the Rock Stars of my crafting world, Susan Tierney-Cockburn http://www.sizzix.com/shop/susan-tierney-cockburn  .  She is a total phenom with fowers and can turn paper into the most beautiful creations.  They look so real, not at all like my clumsy attempts.  Everything she does is so exquisite and REAL looking.  Not only is she talented but she is encouraging and so very nice.  She took time out of her very busy schedule to talk to us..not just business but to actually TALK.  She is a true gem and if you ever get a chance to meet her, you will be amazed at her kindness and talent.

Here's one of her creations...a FABulous wreath.  EDIT:  after going through many of Susan's blogposts, I found this one on this wreath with closeups:  http://mymothersapronstrings.blogspot.com/2013/01/a-touch-of-spring.html?showComment=1364324857177#c3669722531435856127

Here's my daffodil...which by the way, my little grangirl absconded with once she saw it

Here's the box and flower we made in the class.  We also got a kit with the rose and wheelbarrow cuts to do but I am so slow that I didn't get around to doing it in the class.  But it's on my desk, ready for me to finish.  Also, Sizzix and Susan were TOTALLY generous hosts....as they gave us....for free....the Susan's Garden Tool kit (amazing!), the Flower Seed Pots and the Seed Packet Envelopes.  WAHOOO!!!!  We were also given a container of a wonderful glue for these flowers called Crafter's Pick-The Ultimate.  This was such a fun, fun class and Susan has inspired me to try more 3-D flowers.

Easter card

Here's a card I made for Easter using a stamp set by Inky Antics called Swirly Easter Clear Set .  The scrapbook store I go to (PS Scrapbooks in Allen) had sample cards done with their stamps so I copied the one they had and tried to do the same type of coloring technique.  I had fun doing it and will be doing more with Inky stamps.   I made my own gathered ribbon by putting a swipe of double sided adhesive on the back and just pleating it.  I love how the sentiment jiggles on an action wobble.  I used Prismacolor pencils and a gelly roll clear star pen on the flowers and for some jiggles in the grass.

More Rock Stars from the Crafting World

Here is a picture taken at CHA in Anaheim, California in January.  These are some of my favorite Rock Stars of the crafting world.   Left to Right:  Melissa Cash ( http://inkclinations.blogspot.com/ ), Me, Vickie Dutcher ( http://allidoisstamp.blogspot.com/ ), Joy Hadden ( http://piecesofjoyhadden.blogspot.com/ ) and front: Sharon Fitzgerald, owner of The Cat's Meow ( http://www.catsmeowstamps.com/ )

Water painting card using Watercolor pencils

I recently took a card class at Scrapbook Expo in Grapevine, Texas that was given by Melissa Frances Designs...she did not give the class but her very capable assistant did, and it was fun!  My watercolor technique definitely needs some work but it was so much fun and something I will be trying in the future.  My sister and I have met Melissa Frances at CHA and numerous crafting shows...she is so very sweet and such a talent and we spent a lot of time at her booth, talking to her and looking at her wonderful products (and yes, buying some!!).  That is only one perk of being able to attend the scrapbook/cardmaking shows...getting to personally meet the "Rock Stars" of my crafting world!  The darling little girl images are from the Melissa Frances line called "Pearl"

 

Anniversary card using file by Susan Blue Robot

This is a card I made for my husband awhile back using a cut file from the very talented Susan at http://susanbluerobot.blogspot.com/2008/01/love-love-love-love-is-all-you-need.html .  This wonderful cut file uses only the George cart which shows how versatile this cart is in the hands of a talented designer like Susan.  The graphic in the middle is a calendar page from a daily calendar by Mary Engelbreit  (forget which year but it's similar to this one http://www.calendars.com/Mary-Engelbreit/Mary-Engelbreit-2013-Desk-Calendar/prod201300000416/?categoryId=cat200020&seoCatId=cat200020  I am showing this link as her company website no longer has the day to day calendar listed)

Christmas Present

Well, Christmas this year was a little strange.  Relatives cancelled their visit just two days before their planned arrival times, daughter and her family had the flu and pneumonia raging in their household.  So our planned family Christmas for 25 turned out to be just 6 people.  It was a sad time for me but at the same time, a happy time in that nothing disastrous caused family absences and especially because it was time to rejoice the birth of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

One highlight of the season was this great recipe book my scrappin' friend Sandy gave me.  She knows I adore anything Susan Branch and that I have been petitioning ProvoCraft for awhile now to have a Susan Branch cartridge made.  I can't wait to get to work on it!! It's full of stickers and recipe cards and decorated pages, dividers...everything needed to make a GREAT recipe book.   In case you aren't familiar with Susan, here is her website:  http://www.susanbranch.com/ 

Shape Card for Fantabulous Cricut

I am submitting this shape card for the latest challenge at Fantabulous Cricut ( http://fantabulouscricut.blogspot.com/2012/12/challenge-me-monday-142-shaped-card.html ) and the challenge is to do a shape card.  This isn't a Christmas card but I always need get well or cheer up cards so this one will do well.  The image is from Cricut From My Kitchen Cartridge.  I just did the shadow twice in Design Studio, flipped one and welded.  I'm thinking this would be great for a Starbucks gift card!