Last week was an AMAZING WEEK! I was in Tulsa all week for Broadway Bootcamp with Ginny and we rolled back into town last night. More about that later but first, how about a MAKE IT MONDAY project?
My friend Tami saved the day for me since I wasn’t able to make a card for today. She created this card and it was just too beautiful not to share. I don’t have the Tranquil Tulip Host stamp set yet and I was so pleased that she let me share her card here.
You may not have noticed this stamp set. It’s an exclusive set available only with Stampin’ Rewards. I HAVE TO HAVE THIS SET! It’s just gorgeous!!!
You can get this stamp set for only $10 Stampin’ Rewards. How do you earn Stampin’ Rewards? When you place an order for $150 or more, you qualify for Stampin’ Rewards. Rewards start at $15 in free product and this beauty of a stamp set is only $10!
Now it’s YOUR turn to create! Want to work off your mobile device? Just take it to your stamp space and work from here. Click the picture to make it larger!
Would you rather save the document to your computer?
Download the free TRANQUIL TULIP CARD tutorial HERE
Can I make a recommendation? Create a file in your “Documents” on your computer and call it MAKE IT MONDAY so you can always find the downloads whenever you need them. Or, you can always search the Categories (left side bar) and click on Make It Monday. You will see all of them in one place.
Here’s what you’ll need to create the TRANQUIL TULIP CARD. Use what you have, order what you need. Just click a pic!
Warning…. today’s Dear Diary entry is long. Skip down to the bottom if you’d like. 🙂
WHAT a wonderful week this was and I thought I would share some highlights with you.
Friday night, Kristin Chenoweth held a concert showcasing what the kids learned AND treated us to some fabulous celebrity talent as well.
The kids began the show with, what else, “Oklahoma”. We all sprang to our feet as soon as it started. It’s just an Okie thing. We are proud of where we live and when that song is sung, EVERYONE sings. The kids have such powerful voices. 43 kids and it was flawless.
I hope to be able to share actual videos from the show but we may have to wait for them to get put up on Kristin’s Facebook page. I hope to share Ginny knocking it out of the park with her solo in “Seasons of Love”.
In-between performances by the students we were treated to performances by the staff, most of them Tony award-winning or nominated.
My favorite of the night was John Tartaglia who sang, “If I Only had a Brain” from “Wizard of Oz”. John is one of my favorite Broadway stars EVER. After the show, I had the pleasure of meeting him and wouldn’t you know it, he was just about the NICEST guy ever (next to Mr. Awesome, of course). We talked for about 10 minutes or so about the arts in public school and he shared how much this week meant to him. We took this selfie. Okay, can we just stop for a second and talk about this ridiculous goofy smile on my face? I am DYING here, absolutely star-struck! Just typing this and looking at his sweet face makes me giddy! Oh, but I digress…. we are talking about the kids, right?
Throughout the night, there were 20 Kristi Awards handed out, for all sorts of different categories – some serious, some just fun. Each winner got to give a short speech (just like winning a Tony Award).
The third award of the night went to Ginny! We are SO proud of her!! She was the only student to win in 2 categories – first, Sassiest Dresser. This is so accurate because she was known around camp as the “girl with the pink glasses” and her 1950’s style. Here she is with Richard Jay-Alexander, who chose her for this award and presented it to her. Oh, what an influence he had on these kids this past week! He was Kristin’s right hand man. Ginny ADORES him!
Her other award was the “Humanitarian Award”. Proud Mom Alert! On the first day of camp the kids were to introduce themselves and share something unique about themselves. Ginny shared how she is starting a new program at her school in the fall working with special needs kids on stage. Ginny has a HUGE heart for her special friends and wants these kids to have that same feeling of family and accomplishment that the theatre gives her.
The basic concept is for the Show Choir students to perform a condensed production of a musical but their special friends will be shadowing them. When they begin to feel comfortable in the role, the show choir kids will move away and their friends will take over but they are there to back them up and help them if they struggle. Their first musical will be “Elf the Musical Junior” in December.
Kristin spoke about Ginny during the educator’s luncheon and Ginny’s choir teacher, Mrs. Herbal, was so proud to say “That’s my student!” I’m proud to say, “That’s my kid!”
I want to close with this. Theatre is about family. 6 days together and these kids became one big family. They all sobbed as they said good-bye on Friday night. It’s their love of the stage, of singing, dancing, and acting that brought them together. These kids don’t need drugs and alcohol…. they have the stage to give them a ‘high’. And to think…. they are trying to pull the Arts out of our public schools. What a mistake that will be and I hope that something will change soon. The arts, ALL ARTS, have a place in our schools. It molds their lives and taking it away will mean that they will look for fulfillment in other places. I don’t even want to think about the dark places they will look. Off my soapbox now. I LOVE being a Theatre Mom!
Thanks for being here today! Sorry today’s post was so long. My blog is 95% stamping and the other 5% is my diary. Blogging allows me to journal my memories and I just want to say THANK YOU for allowing me to do that here.
Well, I am HOME and ready to get some stamping done!!! See you all back here tomorrow for a 2-Minute Tuesday Tip video!
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What a wonderful experience for Ginny and your family. It always warms my heart to see “kids” doing creative things and being able to share with others. Never make excuses for sharing these exciting times with us, your fellow stampers!!!!
I’m glad you enjoy it Carla!
I’m with you on the arts program in school. What are they thinking? Oh, don’t get me started. So glad your girls bring you so much joy, and it’s always fun reading about them and seeing pictures. Now start stamping, woman!
Thank you so much Sharon!
Great card … gave me an idea to play with later in the day!! Thanks! Thanks, too, for sharing Ginny’s “Bootcamp” experience with us!! I immediately went to the website, copied the link and sent it to my daughter – I have two granddaughters who would LOVE to be a part of the experience!!
I hope they can be a part of it Kris, it’s amazing!
Great card and I do want that set. We are the Tulip City complete with a humongous Tulip Festival. Thanks for sharing the bootcamp experience etc. It had to be amazing. I have a cousin who lives in Silver Arrow I think it is outside Tulsa.
I love it Chris! Thank you so much!
Love reading about your family and all that they accomplish. I too have a son in the arts. He is an opera singer at a college and sings at a local church. All kids need the arts.
That’s awesome Kathy! Thank you so much!
I love hearing about your family. It makes me feel we are all “real” people and share love of other things beside our love for stamping. You and your family are the best!
I’m glad you like Lorena, thank you!
Thank you for sharing your life’s experiences with us, it brought tears to my eyes reading it today. You are a great mother encouraging your children to get out there and go for their dreams. I am a firm believer in the Arts in our schools. Sports is fine too, but our children need culture too. I am a old lady now but I remember in my high school days I did sports plus 4 years of dramatics in high school. I loved it.
Also I love your card making videos too.
Thank you so much Gloria you are so sweet!
Reading your blog always makes me feel we are friends having a chat. Since meeting you & feeling your darkness makes it even more so. I love hearing about your stage experiences & your girls also. I do theater in Jr high & assisted wuth stage production in high school. Fun times & memories. CONGRATULATIONS to your daughter on her success with the camp.
I’m so glad you enjoy it Dianne!
I agre with Lorena, it’s the family stories and pet stories that you and others share along with the stamping that makes you real to us and like friends. Keep it up. Happy for you to have shared this experience with your daughter.
I’m so glad you guys enjoy them, thanks Beki!
Beautiful card, Connie. I love tulips. Congrats to your daughter on her awards. What a fabulous program for her this summer. I agree completely about keeping arts in the schools. My son, who is a stand up comedian in NYC, said that he would have never graduated from high school had it not been for drama and band. He majored in theatre arts in college and has been a comedian for 20 years. I always enjoy hearing about what you and your family are doing. Keep the diary going! Have a great Monday.
It really is so beneficial to our kids HJ, thank you!
Thank you Connie for sharing this special part of your life. Go Ginny! Congrats and GOD BLESS her for wanting to help special kiddos too!
We’re so proud of her Judy! Thank you so much
Love the card! But I loved reading about Ginny more. It warms the heart when you read about todays kids caring and wanting to help others. It’s ok to brag and be proud of your kids! It shows they have amazing parents.
She really has such a wonderful heart! Thanks Wanda
Love to hear about your Family. So great that Ginny is going to help special people. Have a granddaughter that does the same. What a great week you guys had. So special
I really am so proud of her! Thanks Charlsie
Connie
I have and love this set. I love the card so much that I keep seeing it in a lot of places just a little differently and until this morning when I checked back, I thought Tami “borrowed” your design, huh read it another time and saw that she let you use hers…..so great I can wait to use at a make and take
Lynn
Yep, that is correct. I have a little group of demonstrators that I share projects with. It’s wonderful to work together to create and share our art. 🙂