It's August...

...well, almost!

I'll be out-of-town the next few days and away from a computer and internet access, so I thought I better do my "beginning of the month" post a day early.

The theme for this month is: thank you or thinking of you.

Celebrating birthdays this month are: Alison on the 7th and Wyonne on the 26th. Happy birthday to you!

Have a great month!

July Cards: Anything Goes!

Spotlight of the week: Wyonne T

In Wyonne’s words:

My name is Wyonne (pronounced y-on) and I live in TITLETOWN, USA! otherwise known as Valdosta, GA. We were just recognized by national vote on ESPN. I am a retired secondary mathematics teacher, currently teaching part-time at Valdosta State University. I love scrapbooking and stamping! My daughter (Stacey R) really got me into this hobby when we spent one weekend in a motel in Montgomery, AL doing a hurried family album for my father. I have been married to the same man for 39 years next month. We have 2 grown children and 4 intelligent, beautiful, wonderful grandchildren, it's okay to be just a little prejudiced. Family photos are the main subjects of my scrapping. Some would say that I am more of a collector and hoarder than a real project completer. Being one of the older members of the swap and retired, I spend quite a bit of time in my scrapbook/computer/sewing room. I have met 5 of the members of this swap at a scrapbook retreat last year in Wichita, KS. Thanks, Mikey, for inviting me to be a member of this group.

Spotlight of the week: Michelle M

Michelle lives in McKinney, Texas with her husband of five years, Octavio, and her three step-children (Valentina age 18, Georgia age 15, and Yuri age 13). McKinney is located about 30 miles north of Dallas. Michelle is originally from Omaha, Nebraska and spent most of the 1990s in New York City. Michelle and her family were tired of the cold weather and snow in the MidWest, so they are really enjoy living in the Dallas area. Michelle recently changed jobs and is now the marketing director for a sales training company. She also works as a freelance graphic designer and web designer. It’s amazing that she still has time for stamping! Michelle has a degree in fine art, so making cards and creating craft projects is her creative outlet. Her favorite color is green! She also enjoys playing tennis, yoga and pilates (but doesn’t have as much time for those activities as she would like). We are glad you share your creativity and talent with us, Michelle!

Tip of the Week: Scallop Border using a Corner Punch

My new favorite technique is to make a scallop border with a corner rounder punch. I'm sure it's not a "new technique" to the scrapbooking/card making world, but it's new to me. I discovered this technique on a blog:

http://beate.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/2007/02/26/quick-tutorial-on-scallop-border/

Instead of posting the instructions and photos, I thought it would be just as easy to post the link where you can view Beate's tutorial.

Once I figured out how to make the border, I became obsessed with the technique! (I think I've even used it on my card this month!)

Give it a try...it's super easy!

Spotlight of the week: Heather K

Heather currently lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado with her Army husband and their 2 children--Mark who's 8 1/2 and Kieran who is 5 1/2. Since they are military, they've lived in many different places. Heather’s favorite 3 year tour was in Vicenza, Italy (she would love to go back). They plan on staying in Colorado for awhile--especially since her husband is retiring from the military next year. Heather will be teaching Special Ed. in a middle school (6th grade) this fall and taking classes through the Teach Now program at Western State (she will have her Colorado teaching license in May '09). Heather first started making cards in approximately 1995. She was introduced to stamping at a Stampin' Up! party. She first started scrapbooking in 1997 and was introduced to it at a Creative Memories party. She really got into scrapbooking, however, when her son was born in 1999. Heather says, “I LOVE everything about stamping/scrapping.” She got her twin sister, Heidi, into both and is excited that they can share something they both love together (she wishes they lived in the same city so they could get together and create!) Some of Heather’s other hobbies are: reading, running, knitting, spending family time on their boat, and traveling. Heather and twin sister Heidi (also a “card chick”) are celebrating their birthdays this week! Happy birthday, ladies!

Win a prize: This is a test!

The first five (5) "card chicks" to post a comment on this posting will win a prize! I'm not sure yet what the prize will be, but it will be a scrapbooking related item! This is not a joke!!!

The reason why I'm doing this test is to see who is actually reading our blog! It seems like I get feedback from the same people (don't get me wrong, I really appreciate you ladies who regularly leave comments, so you will probably be the ones who are rewarded anyway)! There are several ladies in our group that don't leave any feedback, so I'm beginning to wonder if they even read the blog!

I guess the bottom line is...I love feedback! I really appreciate those of you who are making comments on the blog, volunteering to post things, submitting your card scans or just e-mailing me with general concerns! Keep up the great work!

Spotlight of the week: Michelle C

Michelle has been doing paper crafts since just after she was married- 14 years ago. She saw a flyer for a valentine scrapbooking class, signed up with her mom and was hooked. She did mostly scrapbooking until she had her second child (2001). Since then, it’s been mostly cards because of her limited time. The thing she loves most about paper crafting is that it forces her to let the housework go for a few hours, shut herself away and “check out” for a while. Michelle considers it her “therapy” and comments that she should do it more often! Michelle has four ACTIVE kids: Tristan (9), Jolie (7), Gavin (3 ½), Mia (6 months). Michelle has a degree in Political Science and French. She was an exchange student in France for a summer during college. She worked full time in civil rights until she was expecting her second child. She took some web design classes in 2001 and 2002 and has been able to do that off and on (part time) out of her home. Michelle says that “Being a stay-at-home-mom is very overwhelming and exhausting, but I feel it’s the most important thing I could be doing at this stage of my life. It’s such a blessing to be home with my sweet kids. I love them dearly.” Michelle’s other interests are: photography (with her Cannon Rebel XT), blogging (be sure to check-out her blog using the link to the left), cooking (she’s an amazing cook), reading and walking/exercise. And, on occasion, she also enjoys quilting, snow skiing, traveling and all things French. Michelle and Dan (her husband) are working on a huge landscaping renovation this summer so they don’t have plans to go very far from their home in Fruit Heights, Utah. Michelle is planning a family trip to Hawaii next summer, however!

June Cards: Masculine

It's July!

The theme for the month is: ANYTHING GOES!

Celebrating a birthday this month are "the twins", Heather K & Heidi Q on the 16th! Happy birthday, ladies!

Please be sure to mail your cards by the 15th of the month. Don't forget to send your card scan to me before the end of the month!