Friday Randomness…

23 Friday Mar 2012

Tags

7 Gypsies, Simple Stories, Year Long Album

Anyone have exciting weekend plans?

Big, long weekend for me. Tomorrow I’m doing an Emergency Child First Aid course, which starts at 8:30. 😦 And goes all, I mean *all* day. I know I need to do it but I can think of a zillion other ways I’d rather spend my Saturday. Like being at gymnastics with the kiddies, and picking up my groceries, and some actual fun stuff too! Oh well, it’s just one day, right?

Sunday is more fun – it’s the Year Long Album class at The Paperie! We’re going to be doing March and April this time, to get ahead of the game. Hopefully next month we’ll get the covers done and then it’s easy, laid back classes for the rest of the year (I can hear some class members laughing at me now!)

Finally, I’m working away at the revamped Artist Printer Tray class – here’s a sneak of it:

Sneak Peek!

The Paperie should have a different sneak peek up on their blog sometime today too if you want a bit more eye candy! Remember, we still have some space available so contact The Paperie to sign up – this is a fun project, and a great keeper or gift!

Hope you all have a great weekend, and that it’s more fun than parts of mine will be!

Things on Thursday…

22 Thursday Mar 2012

Posted by Sara in Classes, ScrapBook, Things on Thursday...

≈ 18 Comments

Tags

7 Gypsies, Artist Printer's Tray, Creative Chemistry 101, Kiddies, kids, Northridge Publishing, Online Card Classes, The Paperie

1. I’M BEING PUBLISHED!!!!!! Yes, that was me screaming and yelling and doing a happy dance! It’s not out until August and don’t worry, I’ll be sure to remind you all! Thank you, Northridge Publishing, for liking my work! (Insert blushing smiley face here!)

2. One little downside to the publishing thing – though since I get to play with paper some more it’s not really a downside – I have to remake the class I’m teaching next week. That’s right, any of you who have signed up for my Artist Printer Tray class at The Paperie, you’re doing a soon to be published project, that will now be a bit different! We’re still using the same papers, but I have to change up the design for you all a bit. Side note: We still have space available for that class, so sign up, it’s a great home decor piece (I can say it’s great now, because someone else loves it too!) and it would make an awesome Mother’s Day present!

3. We have a multitude of couches, tons of chairs, and several beds in this house. And this is where G chooses to read:

Boys.

4. M & P have taken to colouring in the same book at the same time. They sit at the corner of the table so they can turn the book just so and colour away. They’re getting really good too, even though M says she doesn’t like colouring!

5. I know I mentioned this class in passing but I am *loving* the Tim Holtz Creative Chemistry Class through Online Card Classes! Brilliant videos, awesome, easy to understand information, great PDF’s for reference. Anyone who works with ink should do this course, especially scrapbooking or craft store owners and instructors. I can guarantee this class will help you better understand inks, their properties, how to use them, and in return, how to sell them better and make yourself more money!

I’m doing the interactive class, which means I’m doing it live, as it’s posted, but you can sign up anytime and do the course at your own pace. The only difference is that the forums are closed. You can still read everything (and Tim answers any question people have) but you can’t comment yourself.

6. Did I mention I was getting published? 🙂

Monday Blahs

12 Monday Mar 2012

Posted by Sara in Classes

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

7 Gypsies, Daily Dozen, Simple Stories

Anyone else have these?

It was a busy weekend, fun, but busy, and with the time change and the non stop action, I feel like I haven’t had a break. Yawning this morning.

That being said, I’m looking forward to joining Krista (and many others!) in this today – I already have a pic or two of Miss M and so far it looks like it will be fun! I’ll post my 12 pictures tomorrow.

The Inspiration Showcase Canvas Class yesterday was a hit and went smoothly, although it’s been proved that I can’t count stars very well! 🙂

I have another class coming up later this month, and so more die cutting is in my future. I should really plan these things better….

And finally, check out Colleen’s blog today. I think her mantra philosophy works for most occasions, not just running!

Sara

Classes and some stamp tips…

09 Friday Mar 2012

Posted by Sara in Classes

≈ 9 Comments

Tags

7 Gypsies, Artist Printer's Tray, Classes, Cruising Through Life, Lawn Fawn, Simple Stories, The Paperie, Year.o.graphy

A little while ago, I taught a class where we made a LO and a card using the Lawn Fawn Cruising Through Life stamp set. The best part? Everyone got a stamp set to take home!

This is a seriously cute set – a bicycle, pinwheels, flowers. Really, what’s not to like?

For the life of me, I can’t find the card, but here’s the LO:

Cruising Through Life

There’s some extreme paper piecing happening here – every individual flower, the bike basket, the clouds, all the bike parts: handles, pedal, frame. I don’t think I was very popular at first but luckily, everyone loved the results! 🙂

It’s one of those LO’s that at first glance looks easier than it really is. It’s the final details that make it pop, like the glossy accents over the bike frame, the popped up basket and clouds, the button sun.

Here’s a little stamp tip – make the stamps do what you want, not what you think they were meant to do. For example, I made the butterflies from the heart and exclamation point that are in the set and I cut the sentiment in half so it fit the space I had.

All in all, worth the time, I think!

I also have another new class coming up at The Paperie at the end of the month – a 7 Gypsies Artist Printer’s Tray filled with Simple Stories Year.o.graphy paper:

Lots of die cuts and stickles on this one – a great Spring piece to display!

Looking forward to the Canvas class on Sunday – only 1 or 2 spots left in that one. I also have another few class ideas up my sleeves, unfortunately, more ideas than time!

Have a great weekend and hopefully, you get a chance to be creative in whatever way you prefer!

Busy!

05 Monday Mar 2012

Posted by Sara in Classes

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

stuff

Sorry no post earlier today, I have a big class this Sunday and the prep for it is crazy! I spent my day die cutting, die cutting, and die cutting some more.

And in between that, I played with kiddies – no time for posting here!

I did have time for lunch though:

Grilled Tomato, Avocado, and Cheese

It was yummy!

Still hoping to get time to do a technique for tomorrow but no promises! Wish me luck!

Thank You and a New Class

29 Wednesday Feb 2012

Posted by Sara in Cards, Classes, ScrapBook, Uncategorized, Yearlong Album

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

BirthdayCake, cards, Gelly Roll, Lawn Fawn, Sakura, Simple Stories, Stardust, Year Long Album

First off, this is for all of you:

thanks!

Thanks so much for the wonderful birthday greetings and love for the stitched tag tutorial – it’s ones of my faves now and I know I’ll be using that technique a lot. And it was so nice to get happy messages in my comments all day! Also, Lawn Fawn stamps and Sakura pens? Perfect pairing!

Second, let’s talk about Sunday and the first 2012 Yearlong Album Class at The Paperie!

(As an aside, I believe – but I could be wrong – there are a few slightly modified Yearlong Album kits if you want to join in but can’t make the time commitment or live too far away or just want the paper and album to play with! Just contact Meghan at The Paperie if you’re interested and we’ll see what we can do.)

We were an almost full house – 20 people are registered for the 11 classes and 18 were able to make it on Sunday. It was a tight fit but we all got cozy with each other – I know some new friends were made pretty quickly in those close quarters!

Close Quarters!

We got a lot done – the cover page,

Cover Page

the January spread,

January

and the February spread.

February

It was fun and productive though I’m sure for a couple of the newbies it was a bit overwhelming – these classes can get loud and they’re pretty fast paced! Everyone got through it though, and we got a start on all of the calendar pages too – I call that a successful class!

Working away...

Finally, I got a couple of surprise birthday cakes near the end – my friend Lori and my mom both had the same idea and brought in the chocolate, which was definitely well received by all!

Chocolate Cake!

I hope you all have a wonderful Leap Day!

Friday…

24 Friday Feb 2012

Posted by Sara in Classes, Family, ScrapBook

≈ 11 Comments

Tags

Kiddies, kids, Simple Stories, Year Long Album

Oh yes, it’s Friday….

Thank goodness!

I’m sleepy today, up until about 2am working on a little something:

Then M had kinderstart this morning. And when I say she’s like cold molasses in the morning, I mean she’s like it’s frozen – she ain’t movin’!

Then lunch took forever, so it was late…

Should I continue?

Here’s hoping this evening is less…. Just less.

Sunday is the first 2012 Yearlong Class! The paper is a.maz.ing. Really. And the kit is chock full. And it has a great surprise! I left a hint about what it is somewhere today, can anyone guess? 😉

Things on Thursday

23 Thursday Feb 2012

Posted by Sara in Classes, Family, ScrapBook, Things on Thursday...

≈ 11 Comments

Tags

365project, Cats, College of the North Atlantic, Kiddies, kids, Kiwanis, Photography, Year Long Album

1. D was just approved to teach a course at College of the North Atlantic in Studio Photography Techniques Level 1 – very excited with and for him, especially since he developed the class himself! If you’re in and around St. John’s, it runs Monday nights from May 7 – June 18, with a break May 21 for the long weekend, and it will be in a full photography studio. If I knew anything about f-stops and apertures, I’d probably be doing it myself… 🙂

2. It’s finally a nice winter’s day! No wind, fairly warm (for winter!), enough snow but not too much… Perfect! Which means cabin fever has been relieved and the kiddies enjoyed a good time in the backyard going down the slide (yeah, never got around to putting it away in the fall!), shovelling with the sand shovels (ditto), and throwing snow in each others faces.

3. My nephew placed third in his Kiwanis Music Competition for piano! Way to go N! We’re so proud of you!

4. Is there any need? I know we don’t let them outdoors, but you’d swear they were mistreated prisoners willing to do anything to escape.

Rosie - escape artist wannabe

5. I’ve decided to do Project 365 (well, that would be Project 366 this year!) I know you’re thinking, “Little late to the game, sister!” but, although I have pics for almost every day so far this year, I’m going to start on my birthday at the end of the month. I figured that since I take all these pics anyway, I might as well look organized and committed to a project, right?

6. I have one more set of instructions to write for the new Yearlong Album Class on Sunday – and I have to head into The Paperie tonight to get them all kitted up. We were worried that a special addition to the kit was going to be late, but it arrived just in time – yay!

Hope you’re all enjoying your day, wherever that may be! And if it’s a warm place, please invite me to visit – I’ll beg if necessary! 🙂

Card Day – A Step by Step Photo Show!

10 Friday Feb 2012

Posted by Sara in Classes, ScrapBook, Techniques

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

Adirondack, Craft, Distress Stain, Fiskars, Hero Arts, Ink, Non Stick Craft Sheet, Papertrey Ink, Perfect Pearls Mist, Ranger, Smooch, Stamp Press, Stamps, Unity Stamp Co.

I normally don’t consider myself a great cardmaker – I have trouble with the smaller canvas and working space, I guess – but it’s a great size for trying new things. And I like how this one turned out!

We have a birthday party tomorrow so a card was necessary. This morning, I bit the bullet and went for it, taking pics of the progress for you along the way. This is going to be really photo heavy, sorry!

Supplies

Used lots of stuff here – Papertrey Ink and Unity Stamps, Fiskars Stamp Press (go right now and buy one if you don’t have it!) and Cloud Punch, Hero Arts Long Notecards, My Minds Eye Twine, Papertrey Ink Button Twine, Ranger Archival Ink, Distress Stain, Paint Dabber, and Perfect Pearls Mist, and Clearsnap Smooch.

First, I rubbed my Distress Stains over my Non Stick Craft Sheet and sprayed lightly with Heirloom Gold Perfect Pearls Mist.

Stain and Mist

Then I dragged a piece of ivory cardstock through the colour.

Swiped through the goodness!

Now I’ve done this before and always gotten a bit of shimmer with the mist, which is what I was going for this time. But I got this instead…

Loads of Heirloom Gold!

See all that gold? Awesome! I can only figure it was because I used Stain this time instead of Ink and the consistency was different. Whatever, it looks fab, if I do say so myself!

Anyway, moving along… 🙂

I cut the card stock down to size to fit the front of the notecard, then stamped some balloon strings…

Balloon Strings

…and a sentiment from Papertey Ink.

sentiment strip

I stamped that on a bit of leftover cardstock for some more interest – and it looks cool (pat on the back)!

I then punched a couple of small holes in the balloon strings so I could tie some twine around them.

Lime Twist bow

I threaded the buttons with Rustic Button Twine, then decided to stamp a “3” and use that as a balloon instead.

Smooched "3"

And while I had the Unity stamps and the smooch out, I did the inside of the card too!

inside...

Finally, I punched some clouds and dabbed them with Pearl Paint Dabber…

Pearl coated clouds

…and adhered everything to the card!

All done!

The best thing? I still have this left over to make another one!

extra stuff!

Are you all pictured out yet? 🙂

We have the birthday party this weekend, and a fun cupcake/Valentine making event at the Paperie, and I’m teaching the Groovy Glassine Class Sunday – we’re full (for the class and the weekend)! Hope you all have a great one!

Things on Thursday

09 Thursday Feb 2012

Posted by Sara in Classes, Family, ScrapBook, Techniques, Things on Thursday...

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

Alcohol ink, Cats, cork paper, Distress Stain, Embossing, Family, kids, Kraft Glassine, Paperie, pencils, Perfect Pearls, Pinterest, Ranger, Sticky Back Canvas

1. Said good-bye to a friend yesterday. St. Thomas Church (it’s a big one) was standing room only. I think that says it all. You’re already missed, Dan.

2. So I pinned these the other day on Pinterest, wishing I could have them in my life again and, lo and behold, as I was at the dollar store the other night, guess what I found? Score! I them have in my hands again, though not the sparkly barreled ones I remember having as a kid. Oh well, I guess these will do! 🙂

80's Pencils

3. We have royalty in the house today!

Princess Rapunzel

P, M’s bestie, brought all her princess gear to share today. M insisted that red sparkly shoes were needed to complete the look (along with her PJ bottoms!) The patch, as you can see, is still on and (knock wood) going better than expected.

4. This cat is my favourite today…

my favourite - today, anyway!

The other one (who is not as innocent as she looks) has escaped into the snow 3 times and forced me to go get her, in the cold and the snow, 3 times. Not her biggest fan right now.

5. My baby, who is also not as innocent as he looks (even my dad said he was evil!), loves his cars right now. And not napping. Sigh.

G and the little cars

Look at the tongue poking out – love that! ❤

6. Going to the Paperie to kit up the Groovy Glassine class tonight. I think there might be a spot or two still available, if you’re interested. This class is jam packed with technique, focusing on Kraft Glassine but also using acetate, Sticky Back Canvas, Cork paper, dry embossing, Perfect Pearls, Distress Stains, alcohol inks, AccuCut Dies, and more! And at the end, you’ll have a seasonal mini album to fill. If you’re going to be around St. John’s, NL on February 12, it’s worth going to – I promise!