New Blog Look

With the changing of the seasons (now that it's truly feeling like some fall sweater weather) comes a change with my blog colors and header. Now I need to get downstairs and finish up my samples for the Fall themed Embossed Expressions Card class. Enjoy this beautiful day!!!

October Update

Here are some changes to my October Schedule due to not getting the needed product in on time to prepare one of my October samples as well as the upcoming holidays. My Picture Perfect Pages class that was supposed to be held on Thursday, October 28th will be held on Thursday, November 11th.
Also, with the upcoming holidays for the months of November and December, my Picture Perfect Pages layout classes at Wiggles and Giggles will be held on the 2nd Thursday vs. the 4th.
Next week I am heading to Chicago!!! Additional COPIC training in hopes of learning some new tips and techniques that I will share with you. I am really excited.
Last weekend I completed my first half marathon (13.1 miles). I was so excited that I exceeded my goal by almost 5 minutes!!! The last couple of miles were really tough but now I know I would train more faithfully the next time. Yes, I will do it again!
Tomorrow night I get to play and hang out with a dear friend. Doesn't get better than that!!!
Happy Creating!

Upcoming October Happenings

It is hard to believe that tomorrow is October. Time sure has flown by this year. I do love this time of year…you know “sweater weather”. Speaking of sweater weather, I recently purchased two sets of clear Penny Black Winter/Christmas themed stamps and there is one that has a cat in a big oversized sweater and another where the cat has holly around his head. They are the most adorable stamps. I am looking forward to using my COPIC markers on these stamp sets…they are SO CUTE! I will try to get some pictures up to show you soon.

 

Speaking of COPICS…I am going to Chicago to take the Intermediate Certification Class. This is the first Intermediate Certification that they are offering. I am really looking forward to learning new things and being able to share some new techniques in my classes.

 This is a busy month of classes and/or events. Here is the rundown…

•  10/3 (Sunday): Scrapbook Store Bus Tour – If you haven’t signed up yet, do so. I hear it’s lots of fun.  I am always there but working not shopping.
• 10/6 (Wednesday): Scrap More Layout & Card @ The Inspiration Station
• 10/14 (Thursday): Fall “Autumn Harvest “ Album @ Wiggles & Giggles
• 10/22 (Friday): COPIC Intermediate Certification Training.
• 10/28 (Thursday): Picture Perfect Pages @ Wiggles & Giggles – Sample coming soon…still waiting for new product to arrive.
• 10/30 (Saturday): COPIC 101 & 102 classes as well as Embossed Expressions cards using a pumpkin brass stencil

 Enjoy your days and I hope that you are finding time to create!

 

September 2010 Class Sample Pictures

I loved putting together and journaling about Jake in my "in loving MEMORY" Picture Perfect Pages layout.  While I cannot say there weren't any tears throughout the process, it brought back a lot of wonderful memories about him.  I also had forgotten about a stamp that was just perfect for this layout.  I had bought it a while ago (over a year) and never used it before.  Yikes, that seems to be normal for me.  I am trying to be better about that.  My scrapbook room is bursting at the seams right now.  Maybe that is just because when I am creating it ends up being "messy" as my husband would say, I choose to call it "creative chaous".  Thankfully, I am in a cleaning mood today so I am organizing and weeding out things.  While I should be outside enjoying this gorgeous cool day, the windows are open and I am enjoying the breeze indoor.  Tonight will be a great night on our patio for a fire, staying warm with a nice big sweatshirt,  roasting the perfect brown marshmallow (no burnt ones for me!).  I love fall weather.  Hope you all enjoy the long weekend!

Here are some pictures of some of my upcoming classes:
Cards done Just Rite - Saturday 9/11/10 @ 10:30am (Wiggles & Giggles)

Picture Perfect Pages - Thursday 9/23/10 @ 6pm (Wiggles & Giggles)

Picture Perfect Pages - Thursday 9/23/10 @ 6pm (Wiggles & Giggles)

Family Nest Accordion Album - Wednesday 9/29/10 @ 6pm (The Inspiration Station)

 

September 2010 Classes

I cannot believe it is the first day of September already!  This is the time of year with kids heading back to school and getting all the new school supplies...I love new supplies!  Maybe you feel like taking a class as well.  Here is a listing of my September classes:

• 9/9: COPIC 101
  6pm @ Wiggles & Giggles
  Only ONE spot left!  Learn the necessary basic information needed for COPIC markers. Begin practicing and learning about blending techniques. Get three markers to use during class and take home with you (over $19 value)
• 9/11: Cards done JUST RITE
  10:30am @ Wiggles & Giggles
  Make three detailed cards with many layers of paper, various Just Rite stamps and Spellbinders dies. During class you will use your own colored pencils or your own Copic markers to add color to these stamped images. Various techniques will include Copic airbrushing, adding dimension to your images and masking.
• 9/11: COPIC 102
  1:30pm @ Wiggles & Giggles
  Be sure to sign up soon!  Learn more blending techniques and well as colorless blender techniques. Get three markers(*) to use during class and take home with you (over $19 value). Bring your other 3 markers from the COPIC 101 Class. COPIC 101 is required prior to taking COPIC 102. (* = different marker colors from will be used in 101 & 102 classes)
• 9/23: Picture Perfect Pages
  6pm  @ Wiggles & Giggles
  Make two 12x12 layouts and 1 card during class. This class will focus on making your own pattern papers using cardstock. Various techniques will be used. The title of this layout is "in loving MEMORY of", but can easily be changed to be a layout of any memory that you would like to scrapbook.
• 9/26: Simple Sentiments
  11:30am @ Wiggles & Giggles
  Create 8 easy cards for different occasions using Lasting Impressions papers, preprinted sentiments and embossing folders.
• 9/29: Family Nest Accordion Album
  6pm @ The Inspiration Station
  Create an accordion album that is just perfect for capturing family memories.  With the holidays coming fast upon us, this would be a great gift.

Other upcoming classes to be announced soon:  Fall themed album, Fall embossed cards, Christmas Clipboard, Christmas Albums, Winter themed cards.  Check back for more information.

Saying Goodbye...

On August 18th, I had to say goodbye to one of my fur-babies, Jake.  After 11 years of cuddling, playing and forever being my shadow, it was time to say goodbye.  He was a definite mama's boy and I loved every moment.  He was the most beautiful husky I have ever seen.  His blue eyes made me melt.  He was so soft, especially after being groomed...oh I will miss that smell.  While my heart aches that he is gone, I know he is in a better place and back playing with my golden retriever, Jesse that I lost in 2001.

In the past week and a half I have realized how much of my time was actually being spent caring for Jake, especially when things started getting worse (approximately 3-4 months ago).  It was taking me 1.5 - 2 hours a day just walking him outside on a leash multiple times a day because he had lost his sight and would have injured himself if left to roam our yard (even with the Invisible Fence).  I never thought twice while I was doing it because I would do anything to have him here with me today if the circumstances could have been different.  However, I now understand why I felt so frazzled and wondering where my free-time went on a daily basis.

I want to thank three places that also took care of Jake.

1. Dr. Gayle Block at Town & Country Veterinary Associates in Vernon, CT for being such a kind and understanding person.  Thank you for helping me through my second really difficult time with my dogs.
2. 1st Command Dog Grooming in Manchester, CT for being able to trim Jake's pads (he had VERY ticklish back feet) and always making him smell so good.  However, we could almost always guarantee it would rain on his grooming days as well (sort of like my Picture Perfect Pages layout class at Wiggles & Giggles). 
3. Baywood Kennels in Willington, CT for being Jake's home away from home when we were away.

I had to postpone a couple of classes or there had been a delay in typing up instructions for people that couldn't make it to class but it has been due to caring for my fur-baby in addition to other day to day life things.  I am sorry for the delays, but I hope that you understand.

Jake will be featured in my Picture Perfect Pages Layout Class at Wiggles & Giggles on September 23rd.  While my title will be "in loving MEMORY of" it can easily be changed to be a page about one of your favorite memories.  I just got my pictures so the layout will be completed soon!

COPIC Fun

Just thought I would share some of the things that I did this past weekend.  I had so much fun coloring with my Copic markers using some of my Stampavie stamps that have been just sitting there, waiting to be opened.  Coloring is so relaxing for me...exactly what I needed.  Have fun creating!

August / September 2010 Class Updates

Class samples have been completed (yeah!) and will be in the stores this week.  Here is a list of my upcoming classes. Check out the pictures under the Upcoming Classes section of my blog. 

• 08/12/10 @ 6pm: Altered Collage Frame at Wiggles & Giggles (Rescheduled Date)
• 08/26/10 @ 6pm: Picture Perfect Pages at Wiggles & Giggles
• 09/01/10 @ 6pm: Scrap More Layout at The Inspiration Station
• 09/09/10 @ 6pm: COPIC 101 at Wiggles & Giggles
• 09/11/10 @ 10am: Cards done JUST RITE
• 09/11/10 @ 1:30pm: COPIC 102 @ Wiggles & Giggles
• 09/29/10 @ 6pm: Family Nest Accordion Album at The Inspiration Station

  I have just begun going though my stash of goodies and I have come to the conclusion that I need to simplify (in other words I have way too much stuff!), so as I go through my ENTIRE stash, deciding what I should keep and what should go...I will eventually have a personal tag sale with LOTS of scrapbooking paper, embellishments, stamps, tools and more.  I will keep you posted as I go through my things and make progress to where I feel comfortable in setting a date.

Hope you are all enjoying your summer and looking forward to seeing you soon!

Busy, Busy, Busy

As you can tell from my last post almost a month ago, it's been crazy again.  Between my full time job, COPIC classes, a great Idaho vacation where my husband completed his first Ironman Triathlon, trying to clean and reorganize my scrapbook room to help get the creative juices flowing to create more class samples, my furr baby requiring a lot of attention, visits to the vet and some medical procedures of my own I am trying to get back on track again.
I love it when I have time to create, but sometimes there just aren't enough hours in the day to get in everything that I want to do when there is so much that I need to do.  Speaking of that, I have been meaning to do a project of a day, week or month of my everyday life.I think it's important to remember what our everyday lives were like...so keep an eye out for that. 
My next layout class at The Inspiration Station will be held on Wednesday, September 1st using Mellisa Frances papers and creating paper flowers (great techniques).
I found my Christmas papers for upcoming projects for classes in both stores so I am excited about that...it's crazy how fast it will be here.
COPIC classes have been going really well at Wiggles & Giggles.  I used my birthday money that I received to add an additional 20 markers to my collection.  I now have one space let in my 72 marker case...looks like I will need to buy another case real soon!
Happy Creating to all!

July / August 2010 Class Photos

Here are some photos of my upcoming classes being offered in July and August. The description of the classes can be found in my June 4th - Summertime Schedule post below.  I am just waiting for the right colored cardstock to come in to create my class sample for the Scrap More layout class at The Inspiration Station on August 4th.

Picture Perfect Pages

Date: Thursday - 7/22

Time: 6-7:30pm

Location: Wiggles & Giggles

Embossed Expressions

Date: Sunday - 7/25

Time: 1-3:30pm

Location: Wiggles & Giggles

 

Altered Collage Frame

Date: Sunday - 7/25

Time: 11am-12:30pm

Location: Wiggles & Giggles

Family Nest Accordion Album

Date: Wednesday - 8/11

Time: 6-8pm

Location: The Inspiration Station