SUNDAY INSPIRATION

What a wonderful, inspirational day we had Saturday cropping and raising money to build houses in Kenya.

Ann Laughlin's daughter, Debbie Hornsby, explained to us all exactly how "Heart" works.  I think it inspired all of us even more to make sure we built lots of homes for these women and their children.

Sharon brought a house to Ann containing a check for $500 (enough to build a house) from a local business.

Ann brought this cool frame for us to have our picture taken in.  Morgan Hendershott showed us how it's done!

Darlene and Christy prepared a delicious and beautiful lunch spread for us.

It was as delicious as it was beautiful!

We also celebrated Sharon's birthday.

Everyone enjoyed purchasing items - Mary Ragland stopped by and purchased some jewelry and this cool bag made by the ladies in Kenya.

It was Jeanie Lobsinger's lucky night - she won these two bags from the raffle!

Kim Stine was pleased with her raffle winnings.

Valerie won a bag full of goodies.

Cat modeled the scarfs that Kittie France won.  We had several people who phoned in raffle ticket purchases and two of them were winners.  Kittie was one of the lucky ones!

Sandy Trefger was all smiles with her winning bag!

Shaunery was VERY excited to win the big basket of goodies from "The Celler".

Jeanie Lobsinger was beaming as she won her third prize from the raffle.  It couldn't have happened to a nicer person.

At the end of the day with some money still coming in we had collected just under 

$2500!!! 

This will build 

5 houses with concrete floors 

for women and their children in Kenya! 

How awesome is that? 

Thank you all so much for being a part of this great day.

CROPPING TO BUILD A HOUSE

The day is finally here!  We are going to spend the day cropping and raising money to build houses in Kenya.  

Before the crop has even begun, 

we have already raised enough money to build 

TWO houses!  

Since Cat is donating the crop fee, there is no telling how many houses we will build after people have bought tickets for the raffle/auction.  

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE 

PRESENT TO WIN.

While you are at the store shopping, you can purchase tickets for the raffle/auction items.  So...while making plans for the day, include time to shop at Cat's and support this worthy cause.

  Brazos Market Bistro donated this basket of goodies ($50 value) from their shop to be raffled/auctioned off.  Lots of yumminess in this basket!

The Cellar donated this basket of wine goodness ($100 value) for our raffle/auction.  There may be a Cat fight over this one!

What would a benefit at Cat's be without some fabulous bags of scrapping goodies for us to bid on with our raffle tickets?  I know I'm looking forward to trying for these.

Ann brought some of the jewelry she brought back from Kenya to sell for the benefit.  Some has already been purchased.  There are also beads for your wine/water bottle.

Ann is bringing special house cookies for us. Cat has tested them out and they are YUMMY!  These will be enjoyed by all while we are cropping away.

The store is ready for us.

AND, in case you were wondering why we are doing this:

To build a home for children and

S 

their families in Kenya.

PLEASE JOIN US.

FRIDAY FUN

It's finally Friday and tomorrow is the big day:  Our "Build a House" Crop.  28 women will spend the day cropping together and raising money to build houses in Kenya.  We are so excited about this event and hope to raise lots of money.  Since Cat is donating the entire crop fee, we will definitely raise quite a lot.  In addition, there will be silent auctions to also raise money.

It is hard to believe, but Monday is the first day of July!  Time does fly when you are having fun!  Cat has lots of things planned for the month.  The first Saturday crop is on July 6th and I hope you can join in on the fun and craziness that goes on at our crops. 

This cute little pocket album using the Poppy collection by Little Yellow Bicycle will be taught by Sandy Trefger from 10-12:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 13th.

At 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 13th, Nanci will teach our monthly tag class.  Call ahead to reserve your spot in these technique driven classes.

The following Saturday, July 20th, is the third Saturday crop.  Call and reserve a spot for a day full of fun.

July 27th, Sandy Trefger will teach the bare bones class for her hidden hinge album from 1:00 - 5:00 p.m.  The class will follow the Eclips Class that morning taught by Kourtneigh Foster from 10:00 - 12:30 p.m.

In the middle of all of this creativity is the CHA show in Las Vegas.  You know what that means:  Lots of great new products!  Cat will be ordering things before and during the show.

July is a very busy month and I hope you will spend part of it with us creating some of these great projects.

THANKFUL THURSDAY

Today is Thursday and we are so very thankful for our wonderful customers.  You know, without customers we wouldn't be here.  So, every Thursday we like to show our appreciation to you by having a sale for our faithful blog followers.  By showing this blog post, today only you will receive:

15% off of your

TOTAL PURCHASE

We are also thankful that we have such talented customers:

Karen Williams shared these completed pages from her hidden hinge album that she made during the class Saturday.

If you were like me and couldn't make the class on Saturday, there will be an encore "Bare Bones" class on on July 27 at 1:00 pm. You will assemble your book, including covering the outside with papers of your choice. You will be on your own to Pimp It Up with purchases or your stash materials. I shared photos of Cat's album  (just click on this link) for ideas & inspiration. Fee is $30.

Teryia Sims shared this precious girl album that she made and

this adorable boy album she made.  She rocked these!

Don't forget to come by the store and show this blog post to receive 15% off of your entire purchase!

WEDNESDAY WOWS

Have you played along with us on WOW Wednesday?  We have several participants and would love for even more to link up their work.  Cassandra linked up to Pinterest, so that is another way to participate if you don't have a blog.  If you don't have a project to link up, just comment on the projects that are linked up.  You could still be a winner!

WOW...the benefit crop is this Saturday.  We have been looking forward to this for quite some time and we have had a wonderful response.  We are "standing room only" and actually have some bringing their own chairs since we don't have enough at the store.  I think everyone is excited about "Building a House" in Kenya.

This is a photo of Ann and the girls visiting the slums.

Some of the sweet ladies in Kenya and

one of the reasons we want to build houses.  We want these children and their moms to have a better place to live.  We are so glad that there has been such an outpouring of support for this very worthy cause.

Ann and Cat have been working on the items that will be in the silent auction during the "Build a House" crop.  I can't wait to bid on these!

Ann is providing lunch for us on Saturday.  You are "on your own" for dinner.  

Just two more days until the crop.  We are counting the minutes!

TUESDAY TEMPTATIONS

Cat finished her hidden hinge album from Sandy's class this past Saturday.  She used the Webster's Pages Citrus Squeeze collection to make her album.  

 This is the cover of her album.  She used some of the new colored burlap that we have from Canvas Corp.

Inside cover and first page, showing how the photo tags fit inside the pockets.

The next page with all of its fold-outs and flaps gave her lots of room for photos of her grandkids.

 More pockets for photos to fit in and

there is even more room inside the envelope!

Pockets everywhere for photos to hide!

Another page with all kids of flaps and pockets.

More places for photos to hide!

Another page and envelope to hold even more photos.

On top of all of these places, each page forms a pocket and will hold more photos!

 Malenda Pugh finished embellishing the cover of her album and shared this photo.  We are all in love with the way she used the burlap flower and bicycle on the cover.  Beautiful job, Malenda!

 If you were like me and unable to take the class for the hidden hinge album, Sandy is teaching another class for a pocket album using the Poppy collection by Little Yellow Bicycle.  The class will be from 10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. on Saturday July 13th and the cost is $22.

This is the inside cover and first page of the album  As you can see, it has some really cute pockets and places for you to put your photos. Sandy will take you through the making of the album in the Bare Bones mode then you are on your own for Pimping It Up with your choice of purchases of Tchotzkies and/or stuff from your stash.

Nanci's tag class begins at 1:00 p.m. immediately following this class, so you could sign up for both and make a day of it.  The tag classes are a great way to learn new techniques, so learn how to use all of those great products you have purchased.  I can't think of a better way to spend the day!