A good time was had by all - Post 88

Celebrating World Card Making Day

Twelve women gathered at the home of one of my friends at 1 p.m. Saturday to make handmade greeting cards. By 5 p.m., we had created 287 cards (one card got "mis-stamped and had to be scuttled; we'll add another one so as to make an even number.) We created thirty six each of three 'thank you' cards, four Christmas cards, and one 'birthday' card. As I mentioned in my previous post, these will be divided equally between Ronald McDonald House and Cards for the Troops.

A Basket full of Greeting Cards - and a curious cat
(images copyright Stampin' Up!)

Let me hasten to say that I don't bear the entire burden of putting together a stamping project such as this. However, my half was enough to keep me busy for several days (I didn't even participate in any of my normal theme posts this past week, but I will try to get around and visit those who did.) My stamping partner Elaine and I design the cards, provide all the stamps, ink, card stock, specialty papers, ribbons, adhesive, etc., for making the cards. We cut all the card stock and papers, score and fold the base cards, cut any specialty papers to the precise dimensions required by the design, cut and pre-tie the ribbon embellishments and get everything ready for assembling the cards. The actual putting together of the cards is just fun; all the 'work' has already occurred.

Anytime we ladies get together for stamping, there is always something good to eat, and this was no exception. Our good friends Jane and her husband, David, operate a part-time catering business, and love to feed us. They prepared a table full of good things for us to eat, all at least semi-homemade: chicken salad, a wonderful cheese ball, delicious brownies, Carrot-Zucchini-Raisin Muffins (Jane's recipe follows below, along with a photo), and crispy crackers, along with soft drinks and really good coffee. You may well ask how we got 287 cards made with all those yummy things calling to us from the kitchen -- but we did!

Carrot-Zucchini-Raisin Muffins

1 package Duncan Hines Decadent Carrot Cake, mixed as directed
1 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup crushed pineapple
1 cup grated zucchini
1 T. vanilla

Bake at 350 degrees in a bundt pan or cupcake tins. Can also be baked in loaf pans.
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Now... it's time for me to be thinking of Hallowe'en cards, Thanksgiving cards, and Christmas cards, along with a few between-now-and-year-end other occasion cards. No rest for the weary!

Forgotten, but Not Gone - Post 87

To my Dear and Faithful Readers: I have not abandoned my blogging, but other than to participate in the recurring theme posts (Sky Watch, Today's Flowers, Camera Critters), I haven't been doing general blogging (or visiting many blogs) lately because I'm up to my eyeballs in making cards -- again. The "Stamper" part of my blog name is getting a real work out!

A couple of weeks ago, in a period of about 6 working days, I put together two hundred fifty (250) handmade cards of various types (thank you, birthday, thinking of you, Christmas, all-occasion) for the Cards for the Troops project in which one of my stamping clubs is involved. All told, our club created 695 cards (photo below). One other member exceeded my contribution -- she brought 276 cards! Our club participates in this most worthwhile project with stamping groups around the country. We send our cards to a stamp club in Oregon, the O.R.C.A.S. The Oregon folks actually do the packaging and distribution of the cards. To date, they have gathered and sent out over 72,000 cards.

Cards gathered at Stamp Club meeting

The cards are sent to U.S. military bases all over the world, but are not to individual service men or women, but rather for them. The cards are blank inside so that they can use them to send their own messages to their loved ones. As we understand the situation, greeting cards are not easy to obtain in many areas, and this is one little thing we can do to help.

That particular effort was wrapped up on Wednesday of this past week, and I immediately started planning for the next major card-making effort (and I haven't even begun to think about my personal Christmas cards, yet.). My chief stamping partner and I have designed and are putting together materials (paper, ink, embellishments, envelopes) for 288 cards (36 each of 8 designs) for World Card Making Day, this coming Saturday, October 4. Twelve to fifteen ladies will gather at the home of another stamping friend (she has a large home) to make cards -- all of which will be donated; one-half to the local Ronald McDonald House, and the other half for our own Cards for the Troops efforts. The latter will go to the 39th Arkansas National Guard units which are currently serving in Iraq.

So... if you haven't heard much from me lately, please don't think I'm ignoring you. This particular episode of card-making fever will be over by late Saturday afternoon; perhaps I can get my blogging life back on track after that. Maybe I'll even have some pictures to share.