Giving Back

Hi Everyone!

Hope everyone had an enjoyable summer! I worked a whole lot, but found some time for fun too. Each fall when the local kids go back to school, I find myself wanting to get back to scrapping and stamping. I have to push myself for inspiration though. I always want to jump right to Halloween, with all the fun colorful designs and papers available...I just love it!

A few of the blogs I follow had made mention of some opportunities for card drives to some really deserving folks, and also a scrapbooking/card making charity, That I wanted to share:

http://www.sendlovetoday.com/ Send Love Today is a nonprofit organization that provides emotional support to brain tumor patients and their families in the form of cards and small gifts. Our inspiration is derived from the life of Stacy L. Thomas, whose courageous journey with brain cancer ended in January 2004. His fighting spirit and unending bravery inspired family and friends alike. Stacy taught us all the true meaning of life, and his lifetime motto was “Never Give Up”.

One of the blogs I follow the girl said that she keeps a priority mail box- large size on hand and when she comes across something in her stash that she will not use, or wants to donate, she fills the box up and mails it to: Send Love Today
PO Box 528
Berea, Ohio 44017
This organization takes the items she sends and creates cards and gifts for the brain tumor patients mentioned above. I know we all have a box or two to share...I am starting to follow this lead.

Another great organization is: http://operationwritehome.org/index.html also known as Cards for Heros. They just had a birthday, and are collecting hand made cards of all types to send to our troops. They do have some things they would like you to exclude, like excessive glitter and they have size requirements, so please consult the web page prior to submission.

One of my favorite artists is Jennifer Maguire, and she is involved with Cards for Heros and currently is holding a card drive for Cards for Kate.

http://www.jennifermcguireink.com/ Stop by Jennifer's website and read Kate's story, and send a card or two. Jennifer is so generous she is even giving prizes...some from Tim Holtz. The story and cause is very moving, and participating is the prize itself.

I hope these few links have given you some inspiration for creating.

Have a wonderful week!

Old Friends

Hi Everyone!

I don't have anything scrapping or stamping related to post today, but I did want to share a little about old friends...

I am really fortunate to have several friends in my life both old and new. This past week I was able to visit with an old classmate from 6th grade! We have been friends for 30 years this year, and she came out to the Jersey Shore with her three beautiful children. Even though I had to work, we managed a lot of fun while she was here. We visited the old neighborhood where we grew up, we took a drive through the Brigantine Wildlife preserve, had lunch, and dinner, went to the Ocean City boardwalk for some rides and hit Longport beach for an afternoon...

It was a great time, and I am so lucky to have had a chance to see her. Elizabeth lives in Kentucky, and it was approximately 8 years ago that we saw each other last. Now it is hard to believe her oldest child is 15! We are making plans to go to Kentucky for Katie's graduation in two years.

If you have an old friend, that you have'nt spoken to, I strongly suggest you pick up the phone, and re-connect, life is too short!

Above is a picture of Elizabeth and I fresh off the beach...which is why we look a little straggly...but our smiles are genuine!

Take Care Everyone!

Blogoversary and Hit Counts

Hi Everyone!

I was just doing some updates and realized that my one year anniversary of this blog is in 27 days! Wow, it went pretty quick! I also noticed that I am hovering around 1500 hits, so I was thinking...how cool would it be to make 2000 hits by my anniversary?

I really appreciate my followers, so if you would like to leave a comment...I would like to reward a few of my followers with a little blog candy...

Leave a comment letting me know what you are working on, and I will come up with some prize packs to award on my blogoversary on Sept 1st!

Make sure I have your e-mail address so I can get in touch.

Wow, I can't believe I have stuck with it for a year..... I will have to plan a day of surprises...

Thanks for reading!

Wedding Favors and Quick Cards

Hi Everyone!

Sorry to have been out of the blogosphere lately, but it is so very busy at work, with it being our prime season. Like they say, you have to make hay when the sun shines!

I was pretty lucky today, I had the help of my good friend Lisa in helping me put together some wedding faors for an upcoming wedding in September. I had all of the pieces cut, scored, and embossed, or made, and she helped me tape some of the favors together.

The theme of the wedding is chocolate and vanilla, and these top note boxes will adorn the plates filled with chocolates at a wedding I am designing in September for my good friends Tricia and Joe. I think they came out pretty nice. Only 60 more to go...

I have been getting into making favors for weddings and parties of many types. If you have a need, or know of someone who does, drop me a comment, or give me a call.

I ran out of glue dots, and as luck would have it they were on sale buy 2 get one free at AC Moore today. So I also used my birthday gift card for some clear stamps on sale for $5 each! Most are by Inkadinkadoo or Craft Studio.

The materials used in the cards I show are Bashful Blue cardstock, Chocolate Chip Cardstock, Very Vanilla cardstock all by Stampin Up!, Club Scrap ribbon from thier Academy collection, Stampin Up! Ink in various colors and blender pen. Also used the Swiss Dots Embossing folder by Cuttlebug on my Big Kick for the background and a Hero Arts flourish stamp stamped with Versamark for a Watermark background effect.

Hope you enjoy, and are having a great summer!

Thinking Inking Class

Hi Everyone!

I wanted to let you know about a great series of FREE classes going on over at twopeasinabucket.com , given by Jennifer Maguire. Thinking Inking can be found on the Designer Garden Education Board and it is a 9 week series, three videos per week. You can link to it here.


A lot of great techniques. This video shows some completed projects that I created using the tutuorials Jennifer goes over in the class videos, and a little twist for supplies. I am really enjoying the course, so much so, I am incorporating it into my techniques class tomorrow.

Supplies used are:

Tim Holtz Distress Inks by Ranger
Stampin Up! Dye Inks
Mini Mister by Ranger
Versamark
Clear embossing powder
Heat gun
Non-stick craft sheet
Stamps by Stampin Up!, and Stamper's Anonymous Tim Holtz collection
Perfect Pearls by Ranger
Prima Flowers
Cork adhesive sheets
Various papers and punches
Alcohol Inks by Ranger
Pearls and Rhinestones
Office Tags

Hope you enjoy!

New Catalog and Techniques Class

Hi Everyone!

Sorry to have not been a good blog updater, but I have been busy creating....

My shipment of the new catalogs arrived yesterday, and it seems like perfect timing that my Technique class is this Sunday at 1pm at my house. E-mail me if you need a new catalog, or I will be sure to get you one at an upcoming class... I really like all of the new things in the catalog, lots of new stamps, papers...just yummy!

I also am really excitied about this weekend's class, we are sure to have inky fingers! Also, this series has been so enjoyable I am thinking of running it again...if you are interested in building a technique book, and getting together once a month, e-mail me at ldeviney@comcast.net. Each class is $20 and we cover 3-5 techniques based on content each session. The new classes will have different techniques than last session, and require the monthly commitment , this series will run July- Dec.

I am also scheduling additional classes for the month of July... check back this weekend for the full schedule.

Have a creative week!

Copic Club Anyone?

Copic Markers are all the rage in my local area, with a lot of us just recently jumping on the bandwagon, (what were we waiting for?). In an effort to get our selection of colors stocked in our stash, and keep costs down, I am proposing a Copic Club....what is a Copic Club you say....well it is an opportunity for stampers to come together and make a monthly purchase, for a set price. It does require a commitment, of 6 months to achieve a full set of 36 markers, but you do get to pay as you go. For example: The first club will be to complete a full set of Copic Original Markers-36. For $30 a month, you will receive 6 markers including shipping for 6 months. Additionally, with your first shipment, you will receive a Colorless blender pen, as my Thank you gift for enrolling in the club. Your last shipment, you will receive the box for your set. These markers are refillable.

So this post, is to gauge interest in forming the club. Anyone can join, as I will post a Paypal link for monthly payments, and I can ship anywhere. * International shipping may require additional postage surcharge.

If you would be interested, please leave a comment on this blog entry, or e-mail me privately at ldeviney@comcast.net, with questions. Club to begin in July and run through December.