MAKING FRIENDS

On our family trip to New England, we drove to Boston and stayed two nights there. We spent one whole afternoon at the Science Museum where I was able to make friends with this Lily the Bear look-alike. What a great museum for kids! (and grandparents, of course...)

For more photos of our trip to Boston and Mystic Seaport, check out my Fox Mtn. blog HERE.

(For more on Lily the bear, check this out.)

VBS Fun

The men in our church all seem to have a great sense of humor. One of our "greeters" in the parking lot adorns his hat with a different animal each day to start everyone off with a chuckle. With over 200 children in attendance (plus 65 teachers and helpers) we really are blessed to have so many men willing and able to help.










After the initial gathering inside the church, crafts are held one class at a time under the pavilion outside. The theme this year is "rain forest," reflected by the gecko clothes pin project we did yesterday.

Since thunder storms are forecast for tomorrow, the theme may become all the more relevant!

VBS STARTS TOMORROW!

In case you're wondering why I haven't posted in so long, it's because every available minute has been spent getting all the crafts ready for this week (except for a brief vacation.) We start tomorrow, and I'm so glad the heat wave broke this afternoon. With 200 kids coming, it would have been less fun in 90 degree heat. A line of showers came through today, pushing out the hot muggy air, reducing the temps by 10-15 degrees. Yay!!

Meanwhile, in spite of the oppressive heat and humidity in Boston last week, we had a great time sightseeing with our son and his family on our 4-day trip there. Hopefully, I can post some pictures one afternoon when I get home from VBS.

Hope you're getting some relief from the heat where you are too!

SILVER STAMPERS

There's a group of us called "Silver Stampers" because we are over 50 (silver) and stampaholics (stampers) from all over the country. Should any of you be interested in joining, you can contact our present leader at her email address below.

The dues are very low and entitle you to our latest mailing list, newsletter and email updates throughout the year. Whether a beginner or more advanced stamper, all card makers are welcome to join in the fun of exchanging birthday and/or holiday cards at your own pace. I joined in 2002 and have loved corresponding with other stampers, just like when we were kids writing to pen pals! (only better...)

If this sounds like fun, contact our president via email at silverstamperbiz@att.net and tell her I sent you!

I'M BACK!

This past week at my sister's with my grandkids was a blast! The temps were hovering near 100 under clear skies every day, which made her pool and household a/c very refreshing. The heat was so oppressive Tues. and Wed., we had to take an a/c break inside between 12 and 3 pm. We watched a movie, "Racing Stripes", and played Mexican Train dominoes until it was time to go back in the pool. My sister and I, when we weren't in the water playing volleyball with the kids, did NY Times Sunday crosswords together on the deck under her shady umbrellas.

Rick, meanwhile, spent most of his week in our a/c with the cats. Even they didn't want to stay out more than 15 minutes at a time in the heat!

We were all having such a good time in the pool and on the deck, I didn't even get stamping withdrawal!

FELINE SMILES

Sometimes I could swear my cat is smiling at me, just like this one!

Basic Grey's "Max and Whiskers" paper is just right for all my cat stamps. This pad has a wonderful selection of images and coordinating designs in beautiful colors--an outstanding collection! Some of the patterns (plaids, stripes, polka dots, solids, etc.) can be used for other themes, such as florals. So versatile, I may just pick up another pad before they're gone.

The cat stamp is from a foam stamp collection by All Night Media. The twine is actually heavy embroidery floss which I tried for the first time and like it enough to buy in a few more colors.

This card would be great for lifting someone's spirits, don't you think?

(This post is pre-scheduled to appear while I'm at my sister's on Long Island for a few days of pool fun with the grandkids in 95-degree heat! "See" you when I get back on the 16th!)

CAT DREAM

What do cats dream of? Catching mice, perhaps? Or would it be catnip pouches? or a sunny spot to nap in? or how wonderful their owners are?

The main image is just one of the cats from this Basic Grey designer paper mounted on black cardstock and popped out with a dimensional. The mouse was stamped on a cloud diecut which I stressed with my fingernail for some texture.

The metallic "dream" eyelet has been in my stash for years. I padded the top with a few layers of scrap papers to protect it from the pressure as I attached it to a piece of black cardstock with my Crop-a-dile. Then I trimmed off the black edges and mounted it to the card with double-stick tape.

Inside this card, I have a stamp that says "May all your stamp dreams come true"--just the thing for a stamper's birthday!