WELCOME to my blog! This is the place to see what class offerings I have. I am also a consultant for Close to my Heart, a company that offers stamping and scrapbooking supplies. Take a look at the products and specials they are currently offering.

I hope you find something of interest to you.

Friday, January 31, 2014

THE PAPER PLAYERS CHALLENGE #180



I wanted to give a gift card to someone and include it in a card.  This week's challenge with The Paper Players was perfect!!  I hadn't played with the new Balloon Ride paper pack, so chose that along with stamps from the Ivy Lane Cardmaking Workshop on the Go (all CTMH).  I embossed the phrase on the shape to make it stand out more, and just love the way the flower is used instead of the letter "O".   Every card needs a little bling, and I used the Brown & Tan Sparkles Assortment - using all three colors in the set. 

Check out the other cards made with this sketch at the Paper Players Challenge Blog.
Thanks for taking a look!

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

FEBRUARY STAMP CLUB - BIRTHDAY EXTRAVAGANZA

It's time for the yearly Birthday Extravaganza for Stamp Club in February.  We will be making eight birhday cards in class - that should get you stocked up for a bit.  Most of these cards have their own posts just below, but I'll be posting more information on the Stamp Club page soon.

Dates for Stamp Club are:
Tuesday, February 4
Thursday, February 6
Saturday, February 8
Monday, February 10

Class begins at 9:30 in the craft classroom in my home in Prescott Valley.  Cost of the class is $20 and includes everything to make all 8 of the cards shown.  Please email me to reserve your spot!

LESS IS MORE and TIMELESS TUESDAY CHALLENGES



I fell in love with this stamp set the moment I saw it in the new CTMH Spring/Summer Idea Book.  It is one of the hostess reward sets - and the 2-step stamping is so easy.  The sketch from Less is More worked very well for this card.  The greeting is from "Joyful Birthday" (B1419), and the paper is from the new Ariana collection.  The new items will be available when the new Idea Book releases on February 1.



Of course, the lilacs had to be purple (I used Gypsy ink, using a second generation technique for the background color and stamping over that with the top image full strength).  I happened to pop over to the Timeless Tuesday blog and saw that purple was the focus of their challenge this week - how fun!  The greeting on the inside of the card is from Card Chatter - Birthday, which is retiring at the end of this month. 



Take a look at the other cards for these challenges - Less is More and Timeless Tuesday.
Thanks for dropping in!

RETROSKETCHES CHALLENGE #99 & HEART 2 HEART In the Spotlight


The sketch at RetroSketches this week intrigued me.  It was a fun sketch to work with, and the new "My Hero" (B1448) hostess reward stamp set from CTMH worked very well with the opening in the design. In addition, Heart 2 Heart is having a Spotlight challenge this week, and nothing says spotlight like your image inside of a circle - even if it is only a partial circle! 

The pilot theme is carried over to the inside of the card, with a greeting from Hero Arts.  The background paper used is the retiring Huntington.  I'll miss that lovely paper pack - luckily I still have quite a bit in my stash!

Hop over to the RetroSketches Blog to see other cards made with this sketch, and don't forget to check out Heart 2 Heart to see other spotlight projects.
I appreciate you taking a look.

SUNDAY STAMPS SKETCH CHALLENGE & HEART 2 HEART CHALLENGE


 
 The new Skylark paper from CTMH is just beautiful - and this sketch from Sunday Stamps allowed me to showcase both sides of one of the sheets.  The bird image is from the "Believe in Yourself" stamp set (C1574).  The paper has so many different colors in it, but I choose to highlight the lagoon for the backing of the tag and the bird itself.  The sentiment is from an old Stamp of the Month (Life is Tweet S1206), but I thought it was perfect for this card.  The images on the inside of the card are from the Skylark Scrapbooking Workshop on the Go.  All of these new items will be available when the new Spring/Summer Idea Book releases on February 1.
This card also works for the two-faced Heart 2 Heart Challenge, where we were encouraged to use both sides of a sheet of background paper!
This card is one that I am using in February's Birthday Extravaganza class for my Stamp Club groups.  One of the goals for this class was to show how a single design could be adjusted and you can make multiple cards that don't look like carbon copies of each other.  So here's the second card I made.  While the orientation of the sketch remains the same, the papers are quite different.  And instead of adding the sentiment on the tag as the sketch suggested, I added it to the bottom of the card to bring another focal point.
The paper is from the new Lollydoodle collection, and the stamp set is "Belated Birthday" (B1442).  I love the way the little belated wish can be inserted into the greeting image if the wishes are being sent late.  The inside sentiment is from the same set, but the balloon image is another new single stamp "Balloons" (M1037).  Just the right thing to finish off the card!

You can see other cards made with this sketch at the Sunday Stamps Blog, and check out the Heart 2 Heart Challenge Blog for the 2-sided projects!
Thanks for stopping by!

Monday, January 27, 2014

Timeless Tuesday #255 ~ In with the NEW!

 

The Timeless Tuesday Challenge this week was In With the New.  We had three weddings this month, and although I'm a little late getting the cards done for the happy couples, at least they are going to get them!

I love this wedding set from CTMH - appropriately named "The Happy Couple." (D1539)   Since all of the cards are traveling a distance to get to the newlyweds, gift cards were the best option.  The small paper pouches that I found on the While Supplies Last listing from CTMH fit the cards perfectly - and make sure that the gift card doesn't slip away when the card is opened.
Check out the other ways to celebrate something new at the Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge Blog.
Thanks for stopping by - and I hope you are enjoying this new year!

Friday, January 24, 2014

MOJO MONDAY and HEART 2 HEART CHALLENGES

Still working on the birthday card extravaganza - and love working with the new papers from Close to my Heart.  This card uses the sketch from Mojo Monday this week, and also is "two-faced".  That means I'm using both sides of the same paper, and thus it works for the Heart 2 Heart Challenge this week!

The paper is the new Ivy Lane - it will be available for everyone with the start of the new Idea Book on February 1st.  I loved the stamped phrase, and so used the number overlay from the CTMH Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge for my focal image. 

All products used are from Close to my Heart:
* indicates this will be available on February 1
Stamps
Just a Number (D1514) - all sentiments
Inspiration Flourishes (C15810) * - inside flourish
Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge (Z1686)
Ivy Lane background paper (X7178B) *
Pansy Purple (retired) and Blush cardstock
Blush and Black inks
Scallop border punch (Z1851)
Embossing folder (not CTMH, but we have one in the new Idea Book similar to this one!)

Check out the other projects with this sketch at the Mojo Monday blog, or hop over to Heart 2 Heart and see what others have done with double-sided papers!
Thanks for stopping by to take a look.

CRAZY 4 CHALLENGES 219



My Birthday Extravaganza classes are fast approaching, and I'm working to complete the projects.  One of the goals for this class is to show how one sketch can be interpreted several ways.  These two cards do just that.  The card above definitely looks like the sketch from Crazy 4 Challenges blog.  For the card below, I rotated the sketch, changed the shape, and moved the banner - but it's still the same sketch.  As a result, I have both a female and a male birthday card created with only one set of measurements! 


Both of the cards use new stamp sets and new papers from Close to my Heart.  These will be available to everyone in the new Idea Book starting February 1.  Here's what I used:
All products are from CTMH - * indicates available Feb 1
Female card:
Stamp sets 
Mother's Day (C1577) * - woman with cake
Hello Wonderful (B1443) * - doily
Holiday Tags (D1560) - Happy Birthday
Inks and paper
Jubilee background paper (X7181B) *
White Daisy, Honey, Buttercup and Cranberry cardstock
Black and Cranberry inks
Other
Doily from my stash
Male card:
Stamp sets
You're the Best (C1571) * - tools
Joyful Birthday (B1419) - Happy Birthday
Inks and paper
Timberline background paper (X7182B) *
Kraft, Whisper, Bamboo and Twilight cardstock
Cashmere and Twilight inks
Other
ProPlayer assortment 
Pewter brads (retired)

Be sure to stop by the Crazy 4 Challenges Blog to see other great cards made with this sketch!
Thanks for stopping by.

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

SCRAPBOOK WORKSHOP WITH FLIP FLAPS

I introduced flip flaps to everyone at the Photo Overload Workshop.  Now you get to learn how to work with them on the scrapbook page.  In this workshop, you will create two 2-page layouts, each using a different style of flip flaps.

 The Christmas layout uses the Sparkle & Shine paper with an 8 X 12 flip flap.  Here is the basic layout, adapted from a layout in the Magic book.

Below you can see what it looks like with actual pictures inserted, and below that, you can see the
8 X 12 flip flap opened to reveal more space for your photos.

The second layout will use the Huntington paper pack and two 4 X 6 flip flaps.  The colors are those of fall, but you can use this layout for any theme you wish.  The layout again was adapted from one in the Magic book.  I chose a Thanksgiving through the years theme for my pages, but with the Cricut available during the workshop, we can cut any title that you wish.  You can see the flip flaps opened in the second photo below.

More information about the photos needed and modifications that can be made to the design of these pages on the Project Workshops page of this blog.
But if you are interested in this workshop, please let me know.
Workshop dates are:
Thursday, January 23
or
Saturday, January 25
Cost is $20 and includes all of the materials needed to complete both layouts.
If you are unable to attend, kits will be available.
Additional fee will be added if the kit needs to be mailed.
We will begin at 9:30 a.m. and work until you are finished with your projects.  
This is a workshop where you bring your photos and get them onto the page.  
I will send you details of what you need to bring when you register.
Contact me to register:

Monday, January 13, 2014

CELEBRATING NEW BEGINNINGS

 

Heart 2 Heart and Papertake Weekly both had challenges this week to "Celebrate New Beginnings."  What better new beginning than a young couple buying their first house.  We were able to visit them for the first time last weekend, and this is the housewarming present I made.  My son had visited them several weeks ago, so I had him "scout" the decor for the colors that would work on the project - and everything fit right in!

 


Products used (all Close to my Heart):
5 X 7 hinged display tray (Z1838)
Huntington paper pack (X7174B)
Home Sweet Home stamp set (retired)
Chairs to You stamp set (retired)
Artisan Durable Studs (Z1816)
Mocha Pearls (retired)
Brocade Assortment (retired)
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge (Z1686)
Black embossing powder (retired)

Check out the other projects celebrating new beginnings at these blogs:
Papertake Weekly Challenge Blog
Heart 2 Heart Challenge Blog

Thanks for stopping by - and Happy New Year to all of you!