Sadness

Some of you will remember me talking about Katie Renz's blog at our last crop. I began reading it about a month or so ago - right around the time they had the "Swimming for Katie" fundraiser. Needless to say, I began to go back and read older posts and felt like I got to know her, well, as much as you can in a month. It seemed like a big part of the paper crafting world got to know her and love her as well.

So, despite the fact it was more than likely inevitable, it was still sad to learn Katie Renz lost her hard-fought battle with stomach cancer on Monday, 11/07. She left behind her husband, Kevin, and sons, Hunter, Nate, and Will. I am positive they miss her tremendously as do many other family and friends.

From reading blogs of those who were far closer to Katie than me, I have learned her husband and sons all have birthdays within the next few weeks. These celebrations will be difficult, I am certain, as they will be the first since her passing. I know I have some great friends out there that this will also touch their heart. If you would like to send cards to the family, you may do so at the following address:

The Renz Family
PO Box 5913
Bellingham, WA 98227-5913

Please note Katie's funeral is scheduled for Monday, 11/14. Her huband's birthday (Kevin) is on 11/17. Her twin sons'(Nate and Will) birthdays are on 11/19. They will turn 6 this year. Her oldest son (Hunter) has his birthday on 12/01 and he will turn 12.

I am grateful for the short time I was able to "know" Katie through her blog. Her courage was amazing, but her devotion to her family was truly inspiring.

52 Weeks of Mail - 2nd Week - Going Strong!

Let me repeat, I think 52 Weeks of Mail is a great idea and I am committed to seeing it through. Here is one reason it is a good thing to do.

I told you last week I was mailing a card to our neighbor, Ms. Bartlett. I was home over the weekend and she saw my car. She made a specific point of calling and asking to speak with me. She then told me she had received my card and how much she appreciated it. Ms. Bartlett went on to say she was so glad I had "chosen" her to receive mail and how much it meant to her. She added she was looking forward to getting her next card!

SO - see how easy it is to make someone happy! Mailing two more cards this week!!

Back to work

for me! I enjoyed my time off. As usual, I did not accomplish all I ever want to do, but really, when is your house ever totally clean and organized? On a more serious note, I had three things I wanted to accomplish and I managed to get two done - so that was good progress. The really going through and cleaning out all through your house just takes more time than I had. However, I managed to craft some, visited Grandaddy, visited Mom and Dad, went to fall arts and craft show with Mom, rode in Dad's new four-wheeler (that was fun), and just relaxed. Now, back to the daily grind once again!! My 52 Weeks of Mail cards will be going out tomorrow! I have a cute story to share about that project.

Have a great Monday!!

Sneak Peek for our Halloween Crop

I have a group of friends that I crop with on a fairly regular basis and we have done so for several years. We are having a crop next weekend that has been deemed our "Halloween" party. We have never had a crop dedicated to Halloween. . . . .and I am ALL over this!!! I am not a huge fan of Halloween, but I LOVE making crafts assoicated with this holiday.

This is a little sneak peek of one of the goodies I am making for everyone. I am going to have to do some trim work, I see. Of what I have shared, I used a|muse studio slate woodgrain and heather cardstock - so far and that you can see. Of course, there is more to show, but I will have to share it with you later. I can't ruin the surprise!!!

I hope everyone has a great Friday. I am off to do some errands and such.

52 Weeks of Mail - Week 1

If you are looking for the Studio Stampers blog hop, please go HERE.



As I mentioned in this post, I have decided to participate in the 52 Weeks of Mail challenge. I think it is a wonderful idea and a great way to provide someone with a little happiness each week. This week I am mailing two cards. I made both of them a couple of years ago when I regularly attended a card class put on by a Stampin' Up demonstrator. We met once a month and made at least four cards each time. I am just now beginning to get low on my card stash. I would love to tell you what stamps we used or more about the cards, but I can't. I just made what was put in front of me.

This week I am mailing cards to my Grandaddy and to our family friend, Ms. Bartlett.

This first card will go to Ms. Bartlett. She is elderly, but still lives at home. In fact, she lives across the road from my parents. I am not sure of her age. I know she used to do my Grandma's hair and she had her "salon" in the back of her home. I know she will appreciate getting some mail this week. I think she will like this card.



This second card will go to my Grandaddy. He was moved into a nursing home last week and I know it has been an adjustment for him. It is somewhat difficult to watch him age. When I was little, I was so scared of him. He was huge to me and he always said a prayer at dinner in German (I think). I also knew when he told me to do something, he MEANT it. When my Grandma passed, he and I became VERY close. I thought, and still think, my Grandmother hung the moon - she was everything I wanted to be and all of those great things Grandmas are. However, Grandaddy has moved pretty high up too since that time!! He and I really do lean on on another for support. I believe he will like this card. I also thought it looked more masculine. I know though, without any doubt, he will LOVE getting some mail.



I am going to do my best to mail a card to at least one person for the entirety of this challenge. I am going to strive for handmade cards each week, but have given myself permission to mail store-bought cards in order to be able to stick to the challenge. Wish me luck!!! Why don't you take up the challenge too?

Studio Stampers October Blog Hop

Welcome to the Studio Stampers October Blog Hop!!! If you are participating in the hop, you should have arrived from Kathy's blog. If you are just joining us, why not start at the beginning with Karen's blog and work your way back to me.

I am still in the Halloween spirit - maybe because the group I crop with is having its first Halloween crop in a couple of weeks. I am really looking forward to this crop and have been having a lot of fun coming up with my goodies to give way. I will post pictures of those later - I can't give up that secret right now!!

I think Halloween is just fun irregardless and I really enjoy making things for this holiday for some unknown reason. This is not a super scary card, but rather a very simple and cute card that I will probably mail to my Grandaddy. The card recipe will be listed at the end of my post.



Next on the hop is Kristen's blog. If you get lost along your way or if there is a problem with a link somewhere, the complete listing for our blog hop is as follows:

Karen Crisp
Angie Schellenberg
Kathy Hatzke
=====>You are HERE!
Kristen Watson
Veronica Zalis

My card is made with products available from a|muse studio unless otherwise noted. Please feel free to shop at my store anytime!!

Cardstock: slate woodgrain, sleepy hollow, sugar, wasabi, pumpkin
Ink: french roast, lemon whip, papaya, memento tuxedo black
Stamp sets: Too Cute to Spook, Owl's Well
Other supplies: paper trimmer, circle punch, my grandmother's old pinking shears, adhesive

What GREAT ideas!!

I have taken to reading this blog, Simplicity, as part of my required daily computer readings. She does beautiful cards! I also find her very inspirational. When I saw this first post, I definitely agreed with her ideas on gratitude. I do believe we, both as individuals and as a society, tend to focus on the negative and forget how much a simple "thank you" or other showing of gratitude can mean to someone. I have yet to make a gratitude card yet, but there are plans in the works for one this weekend!! Here is more information about her challenge:

"Thanksgiving here in the United States gets lost between Halloween and Christmas. It's become just another day to over-eat and watch football. Sadly, its original purpose--to celebrate and give thanks for the blessings of a plentiful harvest--has been lost. The Gratitude Challenge asks you to make cards and send them to people for whom you are grateful, to those who have contributed to the plentiful harvest of your own life.

Thanksgiving is a good time for Americans and Canadians to do this, but really, shouldn't we ALL express our gratitude for those people in our lives who have made a difference through their love, friendship, kindness, and generosity? You don't have to be in a particular country or faith to do this. Show those whom you love how grateful you are to have them in your life by sending cards. It's easy, and we're making them anyway, right? "

Seriously, what a great idea, right? As soon as I get my first gratitude card made, I will be sure to post it.

Then this morning, I find she has this new post:

She heard about it from another blogger and, in essence, this is a challenge to send at least one card a week for a year beginning October 9th (this Sunday). It's sponsored by Etsy Greetings Team. Here's the FB Info blurb from their page:

"52 Weeks of Mail, brought to you by Etsy Greetings Team, is designed to encourage people to be more intentional about relationships and keeping in touch with friends and family by sending out a card or letter each week, for the next year. I don't know about you, but I LOVE getting a personal, hand-written card or letter in the mail.

"Throughout 52 Weeks of Mail, we are asking everyone to commit ...to sending just ONE card or letter each week. You can send more than one, of course! 52 Weeks of Mail BEGINS on October 9th, 2011, and ends on October 7th, 2012. Please feel free to blog about this event, or share it on your Facebook page. Share it on Twitter, or any other social networking site too!"

Again, what a wonderful idea! For those of you that don't know, I still have a grandparent living. He turned 96 this past September and has recently had some health issues. I am committed to sending him a card a week without a doubt. Then, I remembered an elderly lady who lives across the road from my Mom and Dad. I am going to add her to my weekly mailings. My mind kept on going and I am also contemplating "adopting" a nursing home or a similiar type facility and sending them mail each week. I am going to ponder my third idea a little more, but my main goal is to make a complete stranger happy.

Doesn't this sound wonderful? If you would like to purchase handmade cards or to encourage non-cardmaking friends to do so, here is the link to Etsy. I don't have many cards in my shop, but this will spur me to add some more. I also have a very talented friend who has her own handmade cards for sale on Etsy and you can find her here: Debbie's store.

But I also assume several of you will also make your own cards too. I would also challenge you to use this to inspire you to use those stamps that have never seen ink. You know WE ALL have them!!!