CHRITMAS CARD WORKSHOP

It's never too early to start on those Christmas cards!  I will be holding my Christmas Card Workshop on three different days in October.  The workshop will consist of making two of each of the five cards shown in the photo.  If you want to create the box, there will be an extra charge.

So here's the information:
Cost of the workshop is $20 for all of the paper products to complete 10 cards.  In addition, each participant will need to purchase the following embellishments to finish the cards the way they are shown:

Z1752 - Clear Sparkles - $2.95

Z1263 - Bitty Sparkles - $2.95

Z2012 - Gold Sequins - $2.95

Z3090 - Red Enamel Gems - $3.95

If want to create the card box, there will be an additional $3 charge for the materials to cover and decorate the box, and you will need to purchase

Z1953 - Journaling Card Box - $5.95

Dates for the Christmas Card Workshop are:

Tuesday, October 20

Thursday, October 22

Saturday, October 24

All workshops begin at 9:30 a.m. in my home craft studio in Prescott Valley, Arizona

Embellishments will need to be ordered at least 2 weeks before the workshop to ensure delivery before we meet.  Let me know when you register whether you want me to order the items for you or if you will place your own order.

If you are unable to attend the event once you confirm your registration, you will receive a kit with photo instructions.  If you are out of the area and wish to purchase a kit, a mailing charge will be added. 

Email me at scrappingailaz@gmail.com to register

Once you confirm your registration, you are committed to attend or purchase the kit.

SEPTEMBER STAMP CLUB IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER!

September's Stamp Club is coming up quickly.  Here are samples of the 

four cards we will be making.  Several new techniques in this class - 

the Bokeh technique on several cards, the windowpane card, and adding some shine with foil! 
More information about each card can be found by 
heading over to the Stamp Club page of this blog.

 Cost is $20 to make 4 cards.  Dates are:

Tuesday, September 8  —  Thursday, September 10

Saturday, September 12 — Monday, September 14

Monday class is nearly full,

but plenty of room left on the other days.

Email me at scrappingailaz@gmail.com

JUST US GIRLS CHALLENGE #308 with a BOKEH TECHNIQUE!

I have seen so many cards using pigment ink to create Bokeh technique cards.  I also found that you can use your regular dye inks and the end of a pencil (the eraser) to get the Bokeh effect (thanks to the tutorial at splitcoaststampers.com).   I used the sketch from the Just Us Girls Challenge Blog for this card.   

CTMH also just came out with a new embossing folder - Confetti - that coordinates so well with the Bokeh effect on this card.  (I prefer to call the folder "cascading dots", so have to be sure I share with you the real name!)

Here's a list of the materials I used to create this card.  All are from Close to My Heart.  If you are interested in any of the product I used, check out my CTMH website.
Stamps:
D1627 - Your Own Kind of Wonderful - butterfly
CC1040 - Hello Life - Scrapbooking - sentiment (special for National Stamping Month)
Inks and Papers:
Z2640 - Thistle ink
Z2117 - Crystal Blue ink
X5769 - Thistle cardstock
1292 - Crystal Blue cardstock
1385 - White Daisy cardstock
Balloon Ride patterned paper (retired)
Other:   
Z3118 - Confetti 5X7 Embossing Folder
Z2060 - Thin 3-D Foam Tape
Z1912 - Corner Rounder
pencil

Be sure to check out the Just Us Girls blog to see other great cards using this sketch. 

Thanks for taking a look!

BETWEEN THE FOLDS CHALLENGE #5 - Add "SHINE"

There's a new challenge blog that focuses on CTMH products.  Since there are so many new products that are available starting today, I thought I'd showcase several of them and enter into this week's challenge.  While the challenge says to add bling, sparkle, or shine, I've just added some shine.  And it comes in the form of the new FOIL TAPE!  I love this stuff.  It is so easy to apply - and it lifts up easily if you don't get it placed exactly where you want it to be, and you know how often that happens :).  I've used the silver, but it also comes in gold.

Once I had the silver foil tape down, I wanted to use more shiny silver, but didn't have any foil paper.  BUT, I did have foil!  So I cut my cardstock to the size I wanted to mat my large flower, then wrapped the foil around it, taping it on the back side.  The foil wrap gave some extra dimension to this piece, so I just taped it onto the card base, then popped up my double-mounted smaller floral image.  By the way, the images are from the September Stamp of the Month - Paper Garden - yours for only $5 with a qualifying purchase. 


Here's a list of what I used on the card (everything - except the kitchen foil - is from CTMH):
STAMPS:
S1509 - Paper Garden September Stamp of the Month - floral images
C1632 - Say It All - Hostess Rewards Stamp Set - sentiment
INKS & PAPERS:
Z2641 - Glacier blue ink
Z2640 - Thistle ink
X5769 - Thistle cardstock
X5770 - Glacier blue cardstock
1385 - White Daisy cardstock
OTHER: 
Z3130 - Silver Foil Tape
Z2060 - Thin 3-D Foam Tape
kitchen foil

Check out the Between the Folds Challenge Blog for other shiny, sparkly projects this week!  And if you are interested in any of these products, pop over to my CTMH website and see what we have to offer.

Thanks for stopping by.

August Stamp Club - FUN! - and a Sneak Peak at new CTMH Products

We will have FUN in August as we work on these four cards.  More information and detailed photos can be found on the Stamping Club page of this blog.

Stamp Club will meet on four different days in August:

Tuesday, August 4

Thursday, August 6

Saturday, August 8

Monday, August 10

Cost is $20 to make all 4 projects shown

Email me to register

scrappingailaz@gmail.com

The paper used to make the sunburst card shown above is one of several items that are available for purchase in August as a "sneak peak" into the new CTMH Annual Inspirations Idea Book, out on September 1. I have a whole list of what is included in this sneak peak on the CTMH page of this blog.  Pop over and take a look!

Crazy 4 Challenge 297 - HAPPY!

I've wanted to make a sunburst card for quite some time, but never took the time to investigate the process.  I'm so glad I finally did!  I wanted to showcase all 6 patterns of the new Zoe paper pack from CTMH, and this design was perfect (check out the CTMH page of this blog for more info on Zoe).  This week over at Crazy 4 Challenges, they are celebrating "Admit You're Happy Month".  Who knew such a month even existed?  But the "Happy" in the Happy Birthday sentiment qualifies it for the challenge, so I'm in.

Speaking of that sentiment, the label and the sentiment are both from the August Stamp of the Month - FRAMED.  There are a number of sentiments and frames on this great set - mix and match as you please.  You can see more about it if you head over to my CTMH website.

There's one more new product on this card - the coral shimmer trim.  It is perfect with the colors from Zoe.  I also used coral and sweet leaf inks as well as coral, sweet leaf and white daisy cardstock.  I put the sweet leaf strip through the dots embossing folder.  I  wanted to bring some texture to the bottom part of the card.


This card will be a part of my August Stamp Club classes.  There's still room, so check out the information in the post on my home page or see all the card photos on the Stamp Club page of this blog! 

Pop over to the Crazy 4 Challenge blog and see what other people are creating for Happy Month!  Thanks for taking time to check out my site. 

Seize the Birthday Challenge

I'm getting back into the crafting "groove" after my trips far and wide!  It's fun to back in the craft room again - and about time, since I have a class in just a little over a week! 

The inspiration for the card I made is from Pinterest (of course!).  I love the "Botanical Backgrounds" stamp set from CTMH (D1645).  Coloring everything on the white background seemed a bit daunting, so just coloring in a few of the images worked well. 

The front flower (from "Happy Birds" C1600) is also colored, using the Golden Yellow ShinHan Touch Twin Marker (CTMH #Z2452).  The leaves are stamped with Honey ink and are from the "Have a Happy Day" set (D1616).  It's fun finding images from many different stamp sets that work together. 

The sentiments are all from the "Happy Everything" Operation Smile stamp set (D1653).  Operation Smile is the CTMH charity, and $3 from every stamp set sold goes straight to Operation Smile.  But this set will only be around for a little while.  It is retiring on August 31. So pop over to my CTMH website if you are interested in it (or any of the other sets featured here). 

I'm entering this card in the Seize the Birthday Anything Goes challenge this week.  Check out their blog for other great birthday cards.

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope that you have a one-of-a-kind, fabulous day!

Scrapbook Workshop - Blossom and Jackson papers

These two paper packs are in the Summer Seasonal Expressions catalog.  They will be available until the end of August, or while supplies last.  So guess we'd better get busy making our layouts with these beautiful papers!

This paper is so fun!  I used the Blossom Complements as well as the Coral Reef Sequins and Bitty Pearls on this layout for embellishing.  While the pearls are retired, the Bitty Sparkles are the same size and would work perfectly.  There is also another set of sequins - Oceanside - that could be used instead.  I've listed that information below.

It was fun to group the smaller stickers on top of some of the label shapes in the set.  Gave it a larger feel.  Then adding the sequins and pearls randomly on the pages helped to fill in the empty spaces.  Don't get me wrong - I like the empty spaces, but it just needed a little something and these little embellishments were perfect!

This is the sketch I used for the layout.  You can see the variety of photo sizes you can use - and I even switched that up and added a 4X4.  You could add more photos in those empty spaces if you have more photos you want to showcase.  It was fun to use the 3X4 size of photos - I cut them all from regular 4X6 pictures, but didn't feel the need to have all of the background.

Jackson is a great outdoor themed paper pack.  But you will notice in the layout sketch below that you can flip each of these pieces over and use the reverse side - and it doesn't have that outdoor feel.  You could use this layout for any theme you want!

This layout has only one more photo on it than the Blossom layout does, but because they are full-size photos, it fills up more of the space.  I wanted to keep the outdoor pictures large in order to see all of the beauty.  I cut the 4X8 from an 8X10 photo, but you could substitute several smaller photos in the same area.


The cost of the workshop is $20 and includes all of the cardstock and patterned paper to complete the layout as shown and a page protector for each layout.  If you wish to add the complements or the sequins and sparkles, you will need to purchase those separately.  Here's the information for those.  Click on the product number to go to my online shopping site if you would like to order them.  If you are on hand for the workshop, you can purchase coordinating cardstock to stamp images for journaling, titles and decorations if you do not want to purchase the accessories.

Blossom Complements - X7196C  - $4.95

Bitty Sparkles (top left) - Z1263 - $2.95

Coral Reef Sequins (top right) - Z3042 - $3.95

Oceanside Sequins (bottom left) - Z3041 - $3.95

Blossom Assortment - enamel shapes - (bottom right) - Z3072—$5.95

 Jackson Complements - X7195C - $4.95

Jackson Assortment (enamel shapes) - Z3071 - $5.95

 Workshop dates are:

Saturday, July 25

Tuesday, July 28

Both groups will meet at 9:30 in my home craft studio in Prescott Valley, AZ.  If you are interested in this project by cannot attend, I can make a kit available for you.  Contact me if you would like this option.
Please email me at scrappingailaz@gmail.com to register or if you have questions.

Update from CTMH Convention

I'm having a great time at the Close to My Heart Convention at Disneyland!  I participated in the Consultant Creativity Showcase on Thursday night, displaying many of the projects we made in classes and workshops during the past year.

We now know that there will be two new catalogs to share with everyone at the beginning of September - our Annual Inspirations Catalog with product available for 12 full months, and a Holiday Expressions book, with products specific to fall, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and winter.  These products will only be available to order from September through the end of December.  There will be a Spring Seasonal Expressions catalog available from January through April, and a Summer Seasonal Expressions catalog from May through August.

I will be holding my annual Open House on Friday and Saturday, August 28 and 29.  At that time, you can receive a copy of each of the new catalogs as well as see samples of the new products and projects that we will be doing in the coming months.  So mark that date on your calendar.  If you are not on my regular email list but would like to receive more information, please contact me at scrappingailaz@gmail.com.

One more exciting bit of news.  There will be one paper pack from the new catalog that will be available for you to purchase in August - a month ahead of the release of the rest of the product.  The Zoe papers are just so cute - and very versatile.  A smaller pattern on all the papers that make them work well for a variety of projects - not just a single theme.  Also, the new Cricut cartridge - Artistry - will be available for you in August as well.  I will see samples of what it is all about tomorrow, but my understanding is that it is a "back to basics" kind of cartridge along the lines of Art Philosophy - with updated images.  I'll have more information on both of these new products as August approaches.

Our European Adventure

I’ve been absent from “blogland” for a spell because I was on a wonderful adventure through Europe with my husband and two grown sons.  What a wonderful time we had in five different countries over five weeks.  I’m posting a few photos from each locale to give you a   summary of the trip.

I thought I would start with the “high” points of the trip – literally!  The boys and I climbed to the top of every tower, spire or hill we could find for the best vantage point of the cities we visited.  This photo is from the top of the Old Town Hall Astronomical Clock Tower in Prague, dating from 1364.  While not our favorite climb (it actually consisted of ramps instead of stairs and ladders), it still provided amazing views of the city.   

Our favorite was the climb to the top of the spire on the Church of Our Savior in Copenhagen, which was completed in 1752.  We took 400 steps (some of which were nearly vertical ladders) to the very top of the 90m tower.  There were 343 steps to the Tower Keepers' Room at St. Stephens Cathedral in Vienna, and we were 61m above the street atop the Old Town Hall Tower in Rothenberg, Germany.  

No climbing, but we did ride the London Eye 135m into the sky to see incredible views over the Thames.

Denmark was the starting point of the trip – complete with the boys crewing on a replica of a Viking ship and a visit to the Little Mermaid.   

We saw some lovely palaces and castles, but really enjoyed Kronborg Castle on the Baltic Sea, famous as the setting of Shakespeare’s Hamlet.

Next we were in the Czech Republic.  That is Prague Castle on the hill behind Rick and me, and because we missed the bus to reach it, we walked up the “hill”.  Felt more like a mountain while we were climbing!   

My great-grandparents came from the small Czech village of Sadska, and we took a day trip to visit.  It was amazing how similar it was to the small town they settled in back in Nebraska!

Vienna was the next stop – and I finally was able to ride in a horse drawn carriage around the grounds of Schönbrunn Palace!   How fun.  

We visited museums and took advantage of the music culture throughout the trip.  We attended a symphony concert in Vienna, sitting on stage behind the orchestra and had standing room tickets for the Vienna State Opera.  While in Prague, we had attended a bassoon, harpsichord and cello recital held in an 800-year old monastery, and saw a stage production of Agatha Christie’s Mouse Trap in London.

We finally had hot weather in Munich, where we rented bikes and rode 13 miles around town.  Of course the beer garden was a nice treat after that!

On to the Alps where the boys went swimming in an Alpine lake, while Rick and I enjoyed the restful picnic time.  As a family, we climbed to the ruins of Ehrenberg Castle, built in 1296.  The boys climbed to the top of one of the mountains near our apartment, and at the top, they rented scooters and had an easier way down!

Back in Germany, we visited the medieval town of Rothenberg, founded in 1250.  We walked along the town wall, where some family members found themselves a little cramped!

We took the ferry from Calais, France to Dover, England and enjoyed the views of the white cliffs.

Our final stop was Great Britain.  Amazing museums, great pub food, and history abounding.

We finished in the British countryside in the Cotswolds, and enjoyed a quaint Bed & Breakfast with a short walk into town to our favorite pub for dinner.  A great ending to a fabulous trip!