Copic Markers

Nothing's as mean as giving a little child
something useful for Christmas.
~ Kin Hubbard

This new Jellypark digital stamp makes me think of my very gracious brother with a giggle. His birthday falls right around Christmas, so for years and years I bought him a shirt for his birthday and a coordinating sweater for Christmas. Poor guy must have felt like he was getting socks every year. He never complained, but, I mean, really, can you imagine anything worse than wearing clothes picked out by your kid sister?

Hee Hee! I know how I can make it up to him. Maybe this year I'll get my bro a Christmas sweater with embroidered cats on it. I know he likes cats.

To avoid any family discord, I should tell you that was NOT a picture of my brother. Can you imagine? He's so much more handsome, but, you know, he might just be crazy enough to wear a sweater like that on a dare.

Okay, besides just wanting to humiliate my brother (you're welcome, Greg), I made this card for this week's Jellypark Friends Friday Challenge. The fun ladies over there invited me to hang out with them this month, and I'm having such a blast! This week we're making cards to say thank you. And, you know, who wouldn't want to write a thank you card for such a lovely gift.

Here are all the toys I played with to make this tribute to my brother's sweater marathons.

InLinkz.com

I'd love to hear your crazy Christmas gift stories. What's the worst present you either gave or received? Oh, I know there are some good chuckles out there.

Thank you everyone who has already voted for Catered Crop to be the next Blog Guidebook, Top Blog 2011. You Rock! I think I'm falling behind, but that's okay, I love that you all have my back. If you haven't voted, oh, do go vote. But hurry! Voting closes Friday, November 18th. Go here to cast your vote. While you're there, the Blog Guidebook is a great resource for bloggers and fabulous blog hopping.

November 17, 2011 | Filed Under: Card Gallery, Christmas, Claire Keay, Copic Markers, October Afternoon Tagged With: Christmas, Claire Keay, Copic Markers, Jellypark | 13 Comments

Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race.
~ H.G. Wells, novelist

Did I ever tell you how Mr. Catered Crop and I met? It's quite romantic, really.

Back in the early 1980s Mr. Catered Crop was managing a bicycle shop and I was secretary of the local bicycle club. He was sitting under a tree with his plate of food at one of our big club sponsored picnics/rides when some mutual friends introduced us. He gave me a polite smile, we made small talk and then we just went our separate ways to join the rest of the riders.

About mid-way through the ride I got a flat tire and found myself stranded at the bottom of a big hill. Mr. Catered Crop pedaled by and gallantly fixed my tire with very impressive finesse. I was immediately touched by how sweet and unassuming he was – one of those "still waters run deep" kind of guys. And, I'm telling you, not many guys look good in bicycle shorts, but honeys, he did.

I was wishing I'd paid more attention back at the tree.

Flat tire fixed, we got back on our bikes, climbed the hill and chatted some more. I tried to keep up with him, but he could ride a lot faster than I could, and he disappeared again over the next hill.

After that I found more occasions to come into the bicycle shop, usually under the guise of soliciting advertising for the bicycle club newsletter. Mr "still water runs deep" seemed unaffected by my blatant flirting.

Finally, one day, I dressed in high heels and a great pencil-shape skirt with a slit up to here. If small talk didn't do the trick, maybe my long legs would. Of course, I couldn't walk in heels then any more than I can now, and I tripped as I crossed the road into the shop. I hobbled on in, hoping he wasn't watching and didn't noticed my skinned knee.

Finally, he asked me out.

Mr. Catered Crop says he wanted to ask me out all along but he was too shy.

I say slow and steady wins the race.

Catered Crop Follow the Recipe

Once again, you guys are knockin' my socks off with your entries for our Catered Crop FTR24 party. There's still time to enter, and you definitely want to because Lawn Fawn is in the house! I followed Cheryl's FTR24 recipe with a banner, the color pink, markers, polka dots, kraft paper, sewing, circle punches, and glitter.

I've been saving this stamp set from Lawn Fawn for four months waiting for this week. The Lawn Fawn blog has a fantastic video, here, to show all the fun things you can do with this set – it's an amazingly versatile set.

InLinkz.com

Almost thirty years later I'm still cruising with the sweet, unassuming, "still waters run deep" guy. He's not so shy anymore.

November 5, 2011 | Filed Under: Card Gallery, Copic Markers, Lawn Fawn, October Afternoon, Summer Tagged With: Copic Markers, FTR24, October Afternoon | 9 Comments

We need hope. We need change. We need experience. We need pens.
~ Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin) on 30 Rock

Catered Crop Top Chef Design Team

Oh my goodness gracious gravy with pumpkin pie and Halloween candy! You guys are rockin' the FTR23 challenge already. I'm just pickin' my jaw off the floor every time someone uploads a new project. If you need any more inspiration . . . here's what our Catered Crop Top Chefs and Guest Chefs have cooked up for you to help you spice things up even more.

Our inspiration and recipe is provided by the very talented Kristi S and Jane Wetzel.

Playing with us at the Catered Crop "Follow-the-Recipe" linking party is easy as stealing Halloween candy from a baby. Here's how it works:

Use any of the ingredients (themes, colors, techniques, etc.) in Jane's and Kristi's projects. You don't have to use all the ingredients or the same brands. Just pick a few ingredients and then add your own spices to cook up something uniquely yours.
Add your project using the InLinkz (froggy) button below and join the party.
Be sure to list your recipe or tell us what ingredient you used from the sample recipe.
Don't forget to link back to this post or include the "I Followed the Recipe" button on your blog (see the side bar to the right).

Here's your FTR23 recipe.

Colors – Fall colors
Papers – Pattern paper, polka dots, crepe paper (fun!)
Stamps – Men, senior citizens, leaves and, okay, I'm gonna say it, bare bottoms
Color Mediums – Copic markers, Glimmer Mist
Embellishments – lace, thread, buttons, tags, pearls, ribbon, seam binding, twine
Techniques – paper piecing, sewing, layer your buttons, make a bow bouquet (a bow with lots of layers and elements)
Tools – Die cuts, punches
Themes –masculine, Autumn/Fall and make us laugh!

Yes! Copic Markers is sponsoring the Catered Crop party!! As always, the winning entry gets an "I Baked it Best" button to put on their blog, will be the inspiration for the next challenge and can be a guest Chef for our QuickFire. And . . . one incredibly lucky, randomly picked player will win a prize package from Copic Markers: X-Press It Blending Card, High Tack Double Sided tape samples, a 2011 Color Swatch Book, and a four-piece Sketch Marker gift set.

Oh man, I wish I weren't ineligible – I would totally grab this package! That X-Press It Blending Card is magic with Copic markers. The whole package is amazing!

Without further delay here's what our fabulous Top Chefs and Guest Chefs have dished up with the recipe. Just click on the pictures to go to the Chef's blog and get all the details.

Guest Chef Kristi S.

Guest Chef Jane Wetzel

Top Chef Dorcas Designs

Top Chef Renee Van Stralen

Top Chef Linda McClain

Please remember that winners of the random drawing must claim their prize by the end of the next challenge. The more you enter, the more your chances are of winning.

Just click on the link below to join the Catered Crop party. You have until Thursday, October 27, 8:00 PM EST to join the party. We're really cooking with gas now!

October 23, 2011 | Filed Under: Copic Markers, Dorcas Designs, Renee Van Stralen Tagged With: Copic Markers, Dorcas Designs, Follow the Recipe, FTR23, Renee Van Stralen | 3 Comments