EARTH DAY

I can remember when Earth Day was a 'new' holiday. (Geez!  Maybe I shouldn't admit that?).  Back then it was a "hippy" movement and gawf'd at by the general public.  Now, most people see the importance of recycling and using earth-friendly products.  I am not going to try to convince you that I am an avid "Green" person, but I do try to do what is right whenever I can (or know how).

Today I thought I would share a few samples of projects made with some items from around the house.

The sample above is a card made by my husband, Michael. He found a magazine photo that reminded him of his sister, Sherry.  They both took dance when they were younger and Sherry was quite the ballerina.  He matted the photo in Chocolate Chip card stock, then used Basic Black card stock for the card base.  He wrote inside with the SU White Gel Pen - works like a dream!  He sent the off today.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHERRY!

The two photos above show the front, and two of the inside pages (there are 10 total), of a scrapbook made with brown paper lunch bags.  OK, so it's not 100% recycled - the bags were new, but quite a bit of the card stock and embellishments were 'left overs' from previous projects, negative parts from some chipboard, or the tail end of a ribbon originals set.

I hope you enjoyed these two projects!  By The Way - I do offer the Paper Bag book as a class often, watch my schedule, or email/call me to put you on a waiting list...Can't wait?  Then gather 4, or more, friends together and we will find a date just for your group!

Tomorrow I will post those samples from my Team Meeting I promised you last week.  Be sure to check back!  But right now I am off to work on more Great Lakes Mega Meet Preparation!  Hugs, Karie B.

Saving The Memories

On Saturday, April 17th, the Saving The Memories girls held another crop.  Of course you know I was there with my Free Make & Take using the Awash With Flowers stamp set, the April SU Special Sneak Peak set.  I used Yoyo Yellow card stock as the card base, Orchid Opulence as the mat, and of course, Whisper White.  The inks are Yoyo Yellow, Orchid Opulence, Always Artichoke, and Sage Shadow, which is also the color of the ribbon.  For the sentiment I had the Sincere Salutations stamp set so that everyone could pick the one they wanted on their card.  I think everyone liked it - do you?

Actually, the big hit of the crop, at my table at least, was the sampler I had of the all the Stampin' Up! colors.  I had my swatches of card stock divided by what was retiring in June, what was staying, what was coming back (previous In-Colors) and the 5 brand new colors.  It was a good chance for everyone to see what they needed to stock up on or, at the very least, what re-inkers they wanted to get before it was too late.  Many placed orders to pick up the Mega Meet in a few weeks.  (PS, I'll be in booth # 738 (far right isle as you come into the event).  I will have my sampler at this event as well if you want to see them in person!

Here's a few more photos from the Saving The Memories Crop.....

Kim & Diane (who run the crop!)

Winners:  Jackie Filker won my drawing for a 12" x 12" textured CS assortment, and Sue Thorn (shown with Kim) won the Simple Scrappin' Kit & DSP assortment that I donated to the crops drawing table.  Both winners also found coupons enclosed for a Free Class at the Stamp Sell-er (+ 1/2 off for a friend) and a Free Class for them and 5 of their friends!  

A Table For Six

Starting in the back center with me (in the green) and going clockwise; Michele Kaufmann, Carol McMann, Diana Meyer, Denni Stephenson, Michele Cawley, & Daphne Hoeft.  These girls were a blast!  They dragged over extra chairs so they could all do the M&T together early in the day.  What a great start to a fun filled day!

Shoppers reviewing my card display & Kits for sale

(The empty tables at the back are for eating only!  

How great to not have to bring food over to where you are croppin' your memories!)

The Food at this crop is always excellent, just look at the line as that appears as soon as dinner was announced.  This is only about 1/4 of it!

Don't forget - If You Need Anything that you'd 

like to pick up at the Mega Meeting 

....remember that I cannot do cash & carry on current items... 

Place Your Order ASAP

So if you need some SNAIL, Glue Sticks, etc., you can place your order now and I can deliver it there, or ship it directly to your home!  Please let me know ASAP so there is time for me to order it from Stampin' Up!  I will have my ScrapINKits (scrapbook 2-pg spreads), Sophie Scrap (hand made accessories), & retired SU items available for immediate purchase, as well the current Idea Book & Catalog and a few Event Specials.  Watch for updates on this coming soon!

Until Next Time!        Hugs, Karie B.

Daughters Of The American Revolution

This has been a hectic, but wonderful, week!  Along with my on-going preparation for the Great Lakes Mega Meeting in a few weeks, I held my Stampin' Up! team monthly meeting for the MemoryINKers, then we received a gift of a FREE CAR from some friends (more details below), and yesterday evening I was able to attend an event that left me feeling inspired and proud to be an American!

Last fall I received an invitation to speak to the Louisa St. Clair Chapter of The Daughters Of The American Revolution.  Naturally I had heard of them, but I didn't know that much about what this organization was all about. I can't do justice if I tried to explain it myself, but the link above can take you to their site.  However, let me again state that I was proud that I was born in America, very impressed with the good works of this chapter, and with the ladies I meet last night. I found them all very kind and a few even told me they were excited about my presentation.  I wish I could do a profile on each of them so you could meet them as well.

The meeting was held at The Grosse Pointe War Memorial  on the shores of Lake St. Clair.  This is a beautiful mansion that is a state and national historic sight. I had attended my niece's wedding here in October, but it was held in the 'wing' to the right of this photo past the trees and shrubbery.  This time I went through that front door!  What a beautiful place. The DAR meeting was held in the 'wing' to the left in the Artist room.

 Here I am with the Chapter Regent, Grace Smith. The second picture is of my table-mates during the meeting and dinner (which was so delicious!).  Then I snapped the 2nd & 3rd photos during my presentation to show how we tend to have photos of everything.  So what do we do with them?

This shot is about half of the ladies in attendance.

I spoke mostly about the precautions we need to take with our photos, touched on organization, and of course scrapbooking.  I think it went well, and I hope the ladies had a good time. The laughed at my jokes so that's a good sign.   Below is a photo from my very first scrapbook.  I created this book in early 1970's before there was much (if any) information on how to do it safely.  Sadly, this is just a small sample of the memories that have been damaged.

Don't let this happen to your photos too!  Sign up for one of my classes on scrapbooking, or attend one of my T.A.C.O. crops to meet with other 'crop-ers' as we save our memories safely!

P.S. Notice the little photo on the bottom right corner?  That's a picture of MY FIRST KISS with Bobby Lucier.  I wonder how he is doing.

Our "New" Car

I couldn't believe it when my husband, Michael, told me that some friends of our from church, Tyson & Darcy Scott, wanted to give us their car.  Tyson was looking for a new one and stated that, rather than try to sell it, he felt strongly that he should give it to us.  At the time he thought it was so that we could we have a second car again.  Between the time we heard about this amazing gift and Tyson's new car arriving we found out that our car was unsafe to drive and could not be repaired (frame & engine mount issues).  Had we not known about the upcoming blessing from the Scott family we would have been in high-panic mode as we tried to purchase another car.  Instead we borrowed my mother-in-law's car for a while.  Isn't it amazing how God works things out in perfect timing?

This isn't the best photo of my husband (light blue shirt) or Tyson, it was very sunny on Wednesday, but here they are with the title and the car.  It's a black Toyota Corolla. Please remember the Scott family in your prayers and ask the Lord to pour out blessing for them and their young family!  THANK YOU TYSON!!!

Oh....it is a stick shift and it has been a long time since I drove one of those.  Today I toke my first trip in the car.  I drove about 1/2 mile before I released I still had the emergency break on!  OOPS!  Happily I was able to catch on to the clutch & shift method without embarrassing myself . . . too much!

Next time I will post photos from projects made by team at team meeting.