A Stamping Space Makeover ?

I spent the day organizing my Stamping Studio. I know it doesn't look very clean but if you saw the piles of paper stacked everywhere before I started you would understand. I am waiting for my new copy of Creating Keepsakes Creative Spaces to arrive, maybe I can get some ideas on how to work with this space! I think it's surely in need of a makeover don't you?

Graduation Gift

I have been itching to make one of these bottles since I saw this one!

It was just perfect to hold a printed copy of Mary Schmich's speech titled Everybody's Free

Congrats to all the graduates this weekend!

Enjoy

Tea Set

Isn't this tea set the cutest? I can't wait to teach this class - we'll be making a Tea Bag Holder using the Paisley Petals Designer Paper from Stampin' Up! That is available this month only for $9.95 with your $20 order or free with a $350 workshop! It will not be available again until the new Idea Book and Catalog is released in July! Just a few folds, a paper trimmer and some glue is all you need to create this beauty!

We'll also be completing this Tea Cup Card and Treat Bag with Topper to match. All this is just in time for Mother's Day. The class is taking place on May 1st at 1:00. Call or email me for details!

Don't you just love this flower on top of the box??
TTFN and have a Happy Easter!

Paper Mache Eggs

Still getting ready for the upcoming visit from the little guy with the big Hop! Here are some paper mache eggs I've been working on. They were cased from other eggs I have seen around, including the eggs that Shelli posted on her blog here. If you have never been to Shelli's blog, it's worth a visit - she shares some amazing projects and has a great style.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Recycled Bunnies

A few weeks back Emma and I decided to use some of our cardstock scraps to make bunnies for Easter. We recycled the cardstock by tearing it into tiny bits, then adding it to the food processor with a big of water and blending it all together to make one mushed up mess! After squeezing all the extra water out of the mush, we smooshed it into chocolate lollipop molds to create these 3-Dimensional bunnies. It was fun putting them all together, and a great way to recycle some of our left-over papers!

The Art of Illumination

Yesterday I attended a class on Illumination that I had really been looking forward to. Illumination is the lavish artwork that was produced during the Medieval Period-first by Monks to illustrate manuscripts. The process was very involved, and usually included a parchment maker, a scribe, and one or more artists or illuminators.

The class was based in spirituality and attendees were encouraged to pick a favorite bible verse or spiritual quote, write it down, and then decorate it by hand using a variety of mediums. Some of the pictures people came up with were amazing - I wish I had taken pictures! - and many were intended as gifts. That morning when I re-read the class description I noticed that attendees were invited to use the mediums supplied or bring their own. Well that was all I needed to know, and I promptly packed my crop bag. I did try to limit myself by picking out a color palette ahead of time, and I packed a few stamp sets though I was pretty sure I was going to try and stick with the Fabulous Florets coming out in Stampin' Up's new Summer Mini-Catalog. The other set I brought along was Nature Walk - one that proved quite popular as other artists borrowed the flowers and butterfly to embellish their garden themed projects.

Having an abundance of Poppy Parade card stock - I have had a hard time warming up to this one - I knew I was probably going to be using it with the Poppy type flower included in this set. At the last minute I also grabbed my bag of Smooch and Shimmer Paints - though I had no idea that the word Illumination is also thought to refer to the Gold Leaf that was part of this art form. Here is what I came up with:





On the card fronts I used a combination of Stayz On ink, Poppy Parade, Blushing Bride, Peach Parfait and Pear Pizzazz Stamp n Write Markers, my Aqua Painter, Log Cabin Smooch (in the center of the poppies) applied with a paint brush, Vanilla Shimmer Mist, and Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint.

On the insides I used the Leaf Stem stamp with Poppy Parade that I misted with Vanilla Shimmer before stamping. The pictures really do not do these cards justice - the shimmer is beautiful!

Anyway the idea was that whatever was created during this class comes from inside, and though I did not necessarily follow the directions by picking a verse from one of the many wonderful books provided I did create something beautiful that came from within. And that is how I like to share my art with the world!

A Blog Award!

I was given this Blogger Award by Jennifer Campbell. THANKS JENN!!! This was a surprise - and fun to meet all the "criteria"!

When you win a Stylish Blogger Award there are 4 things you must do:


1. Thank the person that gave you the award and link back to their blog (above). Thanks Jenn
What a surprise this was!

2. Share (8) things about yourself:
1 - I love being a Mom, it leads to other great and amazing things, like being a grammy!
2 - Being a grammy is equally as great as being a mommy!
3 - I really love spending time with my husband both with our family and alone - he's a pretty fun guy to hang around with!
4 - I really enjoy my job as a Preschool Director, and the variety of things I get to do though out the day, from working with the kids and teaching my afternoon class, to helping and supporting the teachers, children and families I work with, to event planning!
5 - I find pleasure in doing things that make other people smile!
6 - When I am stamping in my studio (ahem - closet!) I love creating 3-D items and figuring out how to put things together.
7 - What I love the most about Stamping and Paper Crafting is the process of putting things together and completing projects at my own pace.
8 - I really enjoy sitting by a fire in the back yard, and roasting marshmallows with Emma.
9 - I think that people watching from Leffingwell's Martini Bar is quite fun!
10 - I am one of the most unorganized people I know - but I'm always trying to improve on that!

3. Pass this award on to (8) other Stylish Bloggers:
1. Gail I love visiting Gail's blog to see what she's been up to. The first time I met her she told me I was her "idol" lol that's pretty neat and I don't think I'll ever forget that comment! Gail and I belong to the same Stampin' Up! Group - Love at First Stamp
2. Cindy Schuster Cindy always has some neat things on her blog. Lately she's been working on MDS videos, it seems!
3. Susan Susan belongs to Love at First Stamp also!
4. Kim I love checking in to see what Kim has been working on lately - I saw a really neat scrapbook she made yesterday!
5. Ingvild Bolme Ingvild creates some pretty amazing things - I love to look at her blog for inspiration - I recently did a class inspired by her art!
6. Patti Lee Patti Lee often posts tutorials on her blog, sharing her techniques with everyone. I have seen so many people case her great ideas!
7. Shannon Hebert Shannon makes all kinds of things - and shares great projects on her blog!
8. Alison from Nice People Stamp - I stumbled across her blog one day and had to save it in my favorites, probably just because of the title, but I am never disappointed when viewing her blog!

4. Leave a comment on their blogs so they know your passing it on to them. Congratulations All!

So I'm off! Not sure I'll get to all of them, it was a VERY early morning...thanks for visiting everyone!!

Sneak Peek!

I have a sneak peek for you!



Stampin' Up! is offering this great promotion for April! You can purchase this with your purchase, or get it for FREE with a qualifying workshop during the Month of April. Order yours quick because these fun new items won't be available again until July!

Customer order option

* Orders may be placed on any order type (customer, demonstrator, workshop, or online).
* Customers must spend $20 to be eligible to purchase the Four Frames stamp set and/or Paisley Prints Designer Series Paper from the upcoming 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog.
* Both items can be purchased once the $20 minimum is met; there is a limit of five per product once the $20 minimum is met. Ordering another $20 of Stampin' Up! products resets the limit and allows the customer to purchase another five Designer Series Papers and/or stamp sets.

Hostess option

* Orders must be placed on a workshop, customer, or demonstrator order to qualify. Online orders are not eligible for this part of the promotion.
* Customers will receive the Four Frames and Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper FREE if they host a $350 workshop (net sales before tax and shipping).
* You must use the special bundle item numbers above when ordering the Four Frames Set and Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper as a reward for hosting a qualifying workshop.
* There is a limit of one Four Frames Set and Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper per workshop.
* Workshop must meet $350 minimum to be eligible for sneak peek products. Reward is for reaching the $350 level and is not incremental.
* Hostess may choose either the wood-mount or clear-mount set. Clear blocks are not included in the clear mount set.

Easter Baskets 2011

This class is chock full of fun Easter baskets and containers for the adults in your life. Class will be held this coming Sunday at 1:00. The cost of the class is $15, and includes all the items pictured here, plus an additional card. There are still spots left so contact me if you are interested in attending!

~Katherine

Summer Mini - Sneak Peek!

Yesterday I was a lucky winner of this Fabulous Florets stamp set from the upcoming Summer Mini-Catalog. I had to make at least one card to share, but have to pack the stamps away for a couple of weeks while I wrap up a couple of work-related projects I have been involved in.f you follow my blog I will be taking a couple of weeks off. I have some projects to finish up - and if I don't pack away the temptation they will never get done!

Here are my scheduled classes for the next month:

April 3rd - Easter Printers Tray Encore Class
April 11th - Monday Madness - Summer Product Preview
April 21st - Christmas Card Club

Call me for more information on any of these. Have a great week!

Banner Recreated

The banner project at the Regional yesterday was so over the top, I had to come home and make one for a friend!

Hartford Regionals

Many members of our Love At First Stamp group met up at the Regional and spent the day stamping together. I came back with lots of new ideas and techniques I can't wait to work into my classes!

Smooch Spritz Gets Reinked

I love having Mondays off! Today I got together with some friends and scrapped and stamped. My good friend Kimmie K. - a past demonstrator (I am on a mission to get her back! teehee) helped me to distress the backgrounds for some of these cards, but I wanted at least one to show off the Re-inked Smooch Spritz I made using my reinkers and a bottle of Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz.

I am also in love with the Cupcake Punch and coordinating Create a Cupcake stamp set. They are so darn cute! I have seen some wonderful cards created with this set, but for some reason whenever I make a cupcake card they always have to be in my favorite color combination of Pretty In Pink, Pink Pirouette, Chocolate Chip and Early Espresso. I can't share how thrilled I was when Stampin' Up! brought my Pink Pirouette back out of retirement!!

Well I am off to finish my group swaps for the Stampin' Up! Regional in Hartford next weekend!

If you aren't too busy this week, please join me for my Holiday Card Club being held this coming Thursday at 6:30! I'll post pictures later this week!

Desk Top Box Set

How cute is this box? This set can be viewed in person at Life's Memories and More, where I will be holding the class in May. The class will consist of the Desk Top Box, complete with 6 cards inside, and a note pad (not shown). We will be using some distressing techniques and Smooch Sprays to give your project a Vintage appearance, but if Vintage is not your style it is easily adaptable. Attendees will also get to take home a Tutorial written by me with Colored Pictures illustrating how to recreate this baby again on your own. Don't you just love the crinkly seam binding ribbons? I know I absolutely love this stuff!!

Easter Printer Tray Class

Join me on Saturday March 5th @ 10:30 to make this Printer's Tray with an Easter Theme. We will be using the Easter Blooms Stamp Set from the current Mini Catalog - one of my personal favorite items in the book! I will show you how to make those adorable Sweet Pea flowers in the upper corner - originally designed by Jennifer Campbell.

Choose your color scheme of Marina Mist/Pear Pizzazz, or Rose Red/Pear Pizzazz!


Space is limited to 6 people for this class, so save your space soon!

Water Color Techniques

I am working on planning a series of classes I will be offering through Top Floor Learning on Rubber Stamping. My first class will feature water color techniques. It's going to be hard to step away from using the ink pads and aqua painters to talk about other mediums to get a similar look when I am getting this effect:



Even Emma is inspired to try some new techniques: