Tracy Weinzapfel Studios

Halloween Photo Session

2009-11-03T06:58:32-08:00

I had the cutest little man over my house on Halloween. Although him and I don't know one another real well that did not stop me from chasing him around for a good 20 minutes with a big black camera in front of my face. I don't think he will want to return soon but oh the pictures were so worth it.......who could resist those blue eyes!

Isn't he just the cutest Superman you ever did see? Now once he gets over the trauma and night sweats of the big scary lady dressed as a hot dog chasing him around (someone should have gotten a picture of that!) I am sure he will want to come back. Gee, I hope he does not grow up now with some sort of hot dog phobia. Is there such a thing.......Meat By-Product Phobia. Ok, so this got me thinking and I had to Google it and sure enough I may have given Connor Fear of Hot Dogs. Oh good Lord.........now along with my own kids I have to put money in his theapy jar.

Thanks Dave and Tracy for bringing him over on Halloween! See ya next year Connor when you put those nightmares behind you!

Halloween Traditions - Part III-V (The Rest of It)

2009-11-01T22:56:07-08:00

I don't know how to summarize the last couple of days other than Halloween Mayhem. And I loved just about every minute of it. My last 48 hours has included......

Two Halloween 2nd grade Parties
School Halloween Parade
1.5 hours Trick or Treating in our town
Dinner at Souplantation with 6 kids!
Pumpkin Carving until 10 pm
Decorate house and make Chili for Halloween Gathering
Party 18 people.......including me serving said Chili (which I have proof was eaten down to the last drop!)
More Trick or treating for 2 hours
After party-party at my house
Clean up

I guess the only way to really say it is with pictures..........

So here is our motley crew............

And here is the little clan adorned in our costumes. See I told you my costume was ridiculous but how could I resist dressing up with the boys. There is nothing more sexy than a hot dog....(ok, I know there are tons of jokes here and trust me I heard them all)

Sunday......................Day of rest. Is it any wonder I needed to take it easy today! Thanks everyone who came over and celebrated my most favorite holiday with us!

This concludes my Halloween Adventures........stay tuned for Thanksgiving "Tracy-Style" where I will share cooking recipes, turkey tips and how to make lace doilies. Oh goodness now that should be entertaining! That is one holiday that revolves around being in the kitchen and cooking. That Halloween chili has just done me in for a year! I don't want my friends to know that I will actually start bringing entree's to events. I still want to be known as the "Chips & Salsa" girl.

Halloween Traditions - Part II (Pumpkin Patch)

2009-10-30T23:38:44-07:00

Wednesday we finally made out way to the Pumpkin Patch. It was a nice Fall day but was very windy. Windy in our town equals dust that blows everywhere but I will not complain as it is not 18" of snow.

I am one of those frugal moms who takes her kids to the pumpkin patch to do everything but buy a pumpkin. We did the corn maze.....

and what is the corn maze without your big brother scaring you and running away. I love a good corn field maze tamper tantrum from two rows over.

petting zoo......how on Earth do I have a child who loves things with fur and four legs?

Then of course my girl took some time for mom.

After that we made our pilgramage to the lcoal grocery store where I paid $.17/lb for bigger pumpkins. I know bah hum bug but this year we got 4 pumpkins to carve.

Stay tune for Part III of our Halloween Traditions.......the craziness is just warming up.

Halloween Traditions - Part I (Candy Bags)

2009-10-29T22:01:37-07:00

I LOVE Halloween. I try to fit absolutely every Halloween tradition in that I can and this week was no different. There is still tons to be done in just two days! The first tradition I love even though I grumble a bit through it.......I love to make candy treat bags for the kid's classes. I am down to only being able to do this for 2 kids now. I have come to terms that my 7th Grader may get his butt kicked if he brings in hand crafted treat bags. Hmmmmmm......I could threaten him with that one day. I think the fact that his mom has the most embarrassing costume this year may cut it.

This year I had to go simple because I had 50 of them to make.....

I created these with scrap cardstock and the following materials:

Helmar Liquid Scrap Dots (to 3-dimension the spider)
Inkadinkado Stamps
Ink & Embossing Powder

These were fast and easy and even easier when you toss down about 20 Almond Joys as you do them. The chocolate high alone kept me going until 2 am last night. The problem was I was back at the store today buying more candy that I shorted myself. That also explains why I had to drag my ever-expanding rear up the mountain this morning. I figure with all that coconut they are good for me.

And I know that as each 7 year old tears apart those tags to get to the candy they will study and appreciate my artistic effort. Just standing there and taking in their appreciation for my art will be enough. So who cares if those boys tear them in half and leave remnants on the floor. This dear sweet mom will just chase them down and give them a lesson in art appreciation.

Stay tuned for more of my Halloween craziness.

More Fall Fun...

2009-10-28T23:00:00-07:00

The kids and I decided to take in one more apple orchard for some Fall picking. This is our local orchard and we just love heading down the road, picking these big delicious apples and hanging out. This day marked the 2 year anniversary from the start of the Witch Creek fires. Two years ago we were in this same exact orchard on the day the fires started. We had no clue picking those apples what the coming weeks would bring. In fact, the house of the orchard owner was burned down and two years later a brand new house was there. The kids and I took a moment to reflect on that time which I blogged about HERE.

But on this day the winds were still and we enjoyed our time together.

Of course being the Susy Homemaker I am I immediately came home to put on my apron, come up with some wonderful apple recipes, and fill the home with the loving sounds of kids frolicking and me happy in my kitchen....Now if you believe that than you are reading the wrong blog. To set the record straight, I do not own an apron, I don't have any wonderful recipes to share, the house never sounds of kids frolicking and I basically am not happy in the kitchen unless I am walking out of it. However, I did give birth to someone who should own a apron, loves new recipes and enjoys being in the kitchen (he is not much of a frolicker though). He made two yummy apple pies and then apple/pumpkin muffins (and I wonder why my rear is expanding!)

P.S. If anyone needs apples please let me know. We have far too many and truth be told if I did not have to see another apple again for a bit I would be happy with that.

My Photo Made the Cover!

2009-10-27T14:44:24-07:00

I have dreams of getting my photos on the cover of a magazine and that dream was fulfilled this week. I am an officially published photographer in Art Materials Retailer. Here is the cover this month...

Now this is another one of those instances that I may need to enlarge my cover photo to highlight my photographic genius........

Now I know I caught those Helmar Adhesive Runners in a very impressive pose with the perfect light. Maybe I should drop photographing people and concentrate on products. They also featured my photo and description here....

I am telling you this has been one busy month of dreams being fulfilled. I have also had dreams of being a centerfold model with the staple in my belly. Hmmmmmmmmmm. I better stop why I am ahead. Keep on dreaming people! They are what sustain me.

Winner, Winner!

2009-10-26T22:26:51-07:00

Wow, thanks everyone for the comments and support of the CK Blog last week. I had so much fun reading through all the comments. Our lucky, random winner for the GIVEAWAY is.........

"I have been really enjoying doing small projects lately. I posted a fun ATC on my blog yesterday and I did a tag I was rather happy with a short time ago. I'm just loving the smaller canvas to work on!"

Posted by: Jingle| Wednesday, October 21, 2009 at 09:11 AM

Thank you Ms. Jingle! Please EMAIL me your address so I can ship your goodies. If you did not win there is still time to comment at the HELMAR BLOG (closes November 2nd!).

Fall Findings

2009-10-25T21:21:05-07:00

When you grow up in the Midwest and move out West one thing you miss is the fall colors (the other thing you miss is your family and friends!). When I lived in Michigan and went to Michigan State my favorite place to walk (while strumming along to my Walkman listening to 80's hits) was along the Red Cedar River in Fall. Now keep in mind sometimes that time of year could be brief and the cold of Michigan would hit. That that same scenery would not be as great as I was freezing my giblets off. But in the Fall there was nothing prettier than the fall leaves and the sound of the river.

Now a transplant in Southern California there is no where the same effect. Palm trees don't change colors nor do they lose their fronds. I know again, you are all feeling sorry for me. So in Fall we have to travel to find the fall foliage. In this case Julian, California provides the perfect place this time of year.......

Now I know what you are thinking by me breaking the law to capture these images........that girl has turned into a rebel once she moved to California. I can assure you I may be a rebel but I am not a tree hugger yet (despite what my dad thinks). A girl has to do what a girl has to do.

Putting it out In the Universe

2009-10-24T11:05:22-07:00

Many know that I have one specific thing on my Life List that has been more of a challenge than a goal......"Get published in Creating Keepsakes Magazine". This week that goal came closer when I was asked to be a Guest Blogger on CK's Blog.

Then today by total surprise a friend emailed me and said I was on page 117 of CK's November Issue! What! ME! I ran to the office and turned to page 117 scouring the page for my work............

Nada...........but I had a look closer and lo and behold lookie here.........

I am proud to say I have been in just about every other publication in print (even CK's partner magazines!) and online but CK has yet to see my creative brilliance (I know a bit of a stretch on that use of the word). Long ago it was a validation of my work but now the meaning has changed as I give myself my own validation of my art. Today it is a personal challenge and a quest to have my work in their magazine so I am putting it out into the universe and appealing to the Creative Gods and CK (or basically anyone that will listen to this rant)..........publish my work in your magazine.....Please! Now I do appreciate the honorable mention but now I am clarifying my request.

Remember Ellen's quest to be on the cover of Oprah (see the mock-up she made) and David Letterman's quest to have Oprah on his show. So today I am putting it out there.............

I want my work to be published in Creating Keepsakes Magazine
and while I am putting it out there.......I want to be on Oprah too.

I am still searching for my Oprah accomplishment but I know it is in me. So watch out day time TV. Gee, I went from one magazine to national television. Just putting it out there. If Ellen can be on the cover of O Magazine which she will in December than I certainly can be in Creating Keepsakes Magazine.

So listen up Creative Gods and work with me here. I am putting it out to you!

Creating Keepsakes Guest Blogger!!

2009-10-23T08:02:38-07:00

I am the Guest Blogger on Creative Keepsakes Magazine Today. Click to see it HERE........Don't forget my GIVEAWAY to celebreate my appearance on their blog.............Have Great Weekend everyone!

Special Guest Blogger: Tracy Weinzapfel of Helmar USA

10/23/2009 at 4:00 am | In guest blogger | 34 Comments
Tags: adhesives week, blog candy, Creating Keepsakes, Free Font Friday, guest blogger, Halloween, Helmar, mini-album, Scrapbooking, Tracy Weinzapfel

Hi, my name is Tracy Weinzapfel and I am thrilled to be a guest blogger on the Creating Keepsakes blog this week in celebration of Adhesives Week. Personally, I think this should be made an international holiday, complete with a day off of work to craft. What do you say? Are you with me on this?

I suppose it makes sense that I react to Adhesives Week in this way, as I’m the President of Helmar USA, an international adhesives company. Yes, I have a lifetime supply of glue, and I even glue for a living, which is a pretty great gig. Sometimes I want to pinch myself because I can incorporate my business management and creative skills in one dream job.

With this experience, I’m delighted to celebrate the fall season and show off some of our awesome adhesives today with a fun Halloween mini album. This is a fast and easy way to showcase those fun Halloween photos.

Trick or Treat Mini Album by Tracy Weinzapfel. Supplies Chipboard album and patterned paper: Nikki Silvils; Die cut tags and stickers: Best Creation Inc.; Ink and stamp: Inkadinkado; Buttons: Buttons Galore & More; Trim: Creative Impressions; Tools: We R Memory Keepers (hole punch) and Helmar (Glue Spreader); Adhesive: Helmar (450 Quick Dry, Acid Free Glue, Liquid Scrap Dots and Permanent Adhesive Runner).

Step By Step Instructions

1. Cover chipboard album with Acid Free Glue and spread evenly with Glue Spreader.

2. Adhere patterned paper and trim excess with a craft knife.

3. Sand all edges with sanding block and distress with black ink.

4. Punch hole in upper left side of album.

6. Print ten wallet-size (2″ X 3″) photos with black border (or mount photos on black cardstock).

7. Adhere each photo to your album with permanent adhesive.

8. Adhere ribbon and buttons to pages with 450 Quick Dry, which will not bleed through even the sheerest of ribbons and fabrics!

9. Cut out ghost and pumpkins from the patterned paper and adhere with Liquid Scrap Dots, which will allow your embellishments to pop off the page.

10. Stamp “Trick or Treat” on patterned paper and apply to cover with Liquid Scrap Dots.

11. Assemble album with a jump ring, and tie ribbon and tag to ring to complete the look.

Helmar USA carries a complete line of adhesives to meet your every gluing need. Make sure to visit our new website and check out our design team blog for more creative ideas using our products. Our creative team regularly shares project ideas that amaze me.

Giveaway
In honor of Adhesives Week, I want to share some of our great products with 10 lucky CK blog readers. Please leave a comment for a chance to win a variety of Helmar products.

Thank you. I hope you’ve enjoyed all that this week has had to offer. Adhesives Week may not be an internationally recognized holiday yet, but I still think we should all take the day off to craft.

Happy gluing!
Tracy Weinzapfel

Note: Winners for this and all Adhesives Week blog posts will be listed under our “Giveaway” tab at the top of the blog on Tuesday, Oct. 27, so please be sure to check back to see if you were selected. You have between now and Sunday, Oct. 25 to qualify. Simply leave a comment on any of our Adhesives Week entries. Thanks!

We love Free Font Friday, don’t you? This week, our free font is CK Buzz. Click here