Several years ago, as a group of friends who enjoy rubber stamping and paper crafts, we started a card group. You know the ones. Once a month you make a card for everyone, exchange with each other, and everyone goes home with several different homemade cards to give away. These groups are everywhere (here in Utah at least), but Kathy made ours special. Each month she would plan two extra cards for us to assemble, and in the process, teach us new paper crafting and rubber stamping skills. Here's a few of the cards we assembled under her guidance... click on the picture to see the great details, her genius is in the details.
I know..... they're fabulous. I told you, she's a genius!
After gathering for card group every month for two years, we felt we had a sufficient stash of homemade gorgeousness, and started begging Kathy to create scrapbook layouts that we could assemble each month and then complete with our own photos. Because she is amazing and generous she accepted the challenge, and now, as the year comes to an end, we all have an incredible scrapbook that documents our whole year with style. Last night we got together and assembled our last two layouts for the year.
Here we are displaying the layout for May, which I used to document our adoption of Winnie. I wish I could show you the whole scrapbook because it's marvelous. Every page is a work of art, created by a pro and, sadly, assembled by an amateur. It's okay though, Kathy makes amateurs look good. I love flipping through my scrapbook and enjoying the memories we've made as a family in 2008, feeling grateful for Kathy with every page turn.
What I love about this group that we have going (other than the chance we get to create something beautiful) is that we have an excuse (I don't know why we need one) to get together once a month, do something we love, and enjoy each others company. We've been doing this for so long now that we've become very comfortable with each other. We have some great times. Tons of laughs, mostly thanks to Shannon and Karen, good food, thanks to everyone, and fabulous layouts and cards, thanks to Kathy. I look forward to scrapbook group every month.
Just an aside, check out these cookies Kathy brought last night. Not only do they look delicious, they taste awesome. They have cardamom in them! Even Kathy's cookies are genius. I'm so lucky she's my friend!
13 comments:
That does look like fun! I have to say Jill, you are sandbagging, though. You are amazingly talented with paper crafting as well. I joined a card group and I have gone a whopping one time. ( I joined a year ago. ) I am in need of desperate crafty help.
Cardamom AND cookies? Together? It's pretty much my dream come true. If you don't post the recipe (and I suggest you find it) post haste, I'm going to send more aliens to come live with you. I love looking at all y'all's creative juices at work. Sometimes when comment on the pretty cards you send me, I pretend that I made them.
P.S. I love the tree / friends card the most.
i agree with laura post the recipe immediately. i need it. i want it.
Your creations are beautiful. You are also amazingly talented, too, Jill. Don't even try to sell yourself short! Everyone out here knows you as my "really creative sister-in-law, Jill" from many stories of your projects. Now when I start that long description of you, I am stopped short and asked, "Oh, you mean Jill?" Hope you don't mind! I would love the recipe, too. :-)
it's true jill - your friend's stuff looks amazing, but i know you and i know what you're capable of too! the bomb.com stuff.
Jill--you know how to pick the right friends, that is for sure!
I could teach you my BEST card design. It's a 1/2 sheet of a yellow legal pad that says "Congratulations! Love, The Stauffer Family."
Sheesh - you gals are talented!! I love every single one of those cards.
Wow! The cards and scrapbook layouts look amazing. It must be great to have a time planned every month to take care of your pictures so you don't fall behind.
Ooohhh...those leafy cookies are some autumn EXCELLENCE!! I'm loving the colors, and the simplicity...yet they look like they took 10 hours. I'm going to publicly state that I will be copying that delightful idea for our Thanksgiving feast. Now, I cannot be sued for copyright infringement. (right??)
Jill, you must lead the perfect life! Your creations indicate that all is organized and wonderment. Flowers and puppies for summer, leafy cookies for fall--what could ever be amiss? Ahhh...
I would love to get that recipe. The only recipe I do with cardamon is Chaoyi's salmon. We love the flavor. It is one of our favorites. That looks like a fun group. It is nice to have a friend so talented that she designs your pages. Hey, I'm still waiting for my little book from the retreat:)
How did she get that color? That is not regular food coloring she's using. That girl must have lots of secrets.
Michelle
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