Page 1

In my last entry, I mentioned that I was taking a class with Cathy Zielske. Big Picture Scrapbooking has given permission for me to post my creations, provided I give them and Cathy the appropriate credit. So, without further ado, here is page one:
We are using a Kraft paper base for the 12 x 12 projects in the scrapbook. Cathy asked us to create a 9 x 9 grid on a page that expresses who we are at this moment. In her sample, she gave us various examples. Hers was a lot less "busy" than mine, but, let's face it, "busy" represents me pretty well. Since I am such a crazy lover of order, I used two different colors of the same DSP from the Stampin' Up! Prints line (River Rock and Blue Bayou). I also used some brown Thickers and some hardware. Mainly, I doodled. Words are so much a part of me that leaving out words was not an option.

I can't wait to see what we do next. She has us using various page protector sizes in a 12 x 12 scrapbook. Who knew? I'm such a creature of habit that I never even thought to mix it up. Very cool.

Does a bigger geek exist on the planet?

I am pretty pumped to be starting a twelve-week online class. No, silly, not for my CAREER or anything. It's a class with Cathy Zielske, scrapbook design goddess, called Design Your Life. You might remember a card challenge long ago (on National Scrapbooking Day), for which I used a layout of Cathy's. She has been a longtime idol. I believe she has been an idol of Karen's for even longer. It was Karen who reminded me that the class was starting this week, and Karen who's probably shaking her head wondering, "What have I created?" I've become a bit... fanatical...?... about getting ready. I am just soooo excited.

My biggest source of excitement is that Cathy is really a designer... my career choice in my parallel universe. The class will focus on using the basics of graphic design as you develop your own scrapbook style. I call mine "ordered chaos." Yes, an oxymoron.

Anyway, I am going to look back in my info to see what I can and cannot post of my work, since the class has a fee and such. She's worth every penny (and it's really a steal).

I have already created my first page. I have e-mailed Big Picture Scrapbooking to see if I can post it or if that would violate Terms of Use. We shall see! Stay tuned.

Christmas Time Is Here

You cannot make a Snoopy Christmas card without humming that song. So, for an added treat, here's a link to some samplings from the "A Charlie Brown Christmas" soundtrack. Just in case your humming is as off-key as mine.

I completed the Limited Supply challenge earlier today, but my Snoopy stamps kept beckoning me. This one is one of the first stamps I purchased. I knew that year I wanted to stamp Christmas cards, but, honestly, I had little idea how to mas produce them. My stamping was also hit or miss. This stamp takes some skill to get a complete image.

At first I just had it stamped on a piece of white. The white just seemed to overshadow the image's impact, so I decided to paper piece the tree for some depth. Well, that turned into paper piecing the tree and Snoopy onto DSP. The largest circle punch I have is 2 inches, so it was time to break out the Cricut. I love that machine, I tell ya.

I had this GREAT brass frame for the sentiment, when I realized that we are asked to limit our embellishments to ribbon only. However, imagine "Merry & Bright" in an antique brass frame, will you? Nice, yes? I inked it instead. Still a nice effect.

After photographing two cards on my mantel today, I decided that I might use cards in more of a decorative manner on my mantel. For example, here comes Halloween. It would look great with some Halloween images here and there. Christmas cards would be especially festive. So, a great idea that I have little time to accomplish. No sweat. My kind of pressure.

Size: 4.25 x 5.5 inches

Paper: SU! Always Artichoke, Old Olive, and Holiday Thyme DSP, PTI white

Stamps: Stampabilities Snoopy's Tree, SU! To You & Yours

Ink: SU! Almost Artichoke and Basic Black

Ribbon: Bobbin Ribbon

Punches: 2 inch circle punch, scallop punch, Cricut

Birdie Christmas

Ah. I have taken a personal day. I have been working just about four weeks straight, and I decided to tend to myself a little today. That's the only way I can be there for my students, or so I have learned the hard way. Plus, I get to spend some time with my husband, which is a special treat.

Of course, I had to take a peek at today's Limited Supply Challenge. We were asked to create a Christmas card using an animal. The limited supply was that we could only embellish with ribbon. I finally got to use the cute Elzybells stamp I bought during Stamp-a-palooza, A winter song. I really would make this my Christmas card, however, when you make about 70 cards, the last thing you want to do is paper piece. I couldn't resist on this one, though! I was pretty shocked that I avoided the "colors of the season," yet still stayed seasonal. Put me in a little panic at how close we are to Christmas. That passed quickly.

Size: 4.25 x 5.5 inches

Paper: SU! Baja Breeze, Close to Cocoa, and Machchester DSP; PTI white

Stamps: SU! Snow Globe; Elzybells A winter song

Ribbon: Hobby Lobby

Ink: SU! Basic Black, Copic Skin White, Flesh, and Brick Beige

"Gorgeous"

My son, Max, is a parrot. This is good and bad simultaneously. The bad part is, well, my husband and I have issues with our language. The good part is, I have an extensive vocabulary that he picks up in a heart beat. Recently, he has taken to finding the moon in the sky. One night, I said, "It's GORgeous!" Since then, "gorgeous" is his favorite word. I get to brush his "gorgeous" teeth. I get to wash his "gorgeous" toes. It's all just gorgeous.

What does this have to do with today's card? I thought the color combination was "gorgeous!" I have to admit, the Kiwi Kiss gave me a bit of a headache. But Very Vanilla and Baja Breeze... oooh, gorgeous.

There's another story to this card. Recently, my book club is reading a book entitled, Anybody Out There? by Marian Keyes. In it, the main character, Anna, is coping with, among other things, the sudden death of her husband. Just today, I was relating to Karen how now, when I hang up the phone, I wonder if that's the last time I will talk to Scott (we had a tiff today... some hanging up on my part... some crankiness on his part). Not to be morbid, but none of us is guaranteed the next second of life.

So, I chose my sentiment quite intentionally. I chose the spotlight technique because I think we can find color in the seemingly colorless... happy in the seemingly unhappy... interest in the seemingly boring... We just need to put forth a conscious effort each day.

Size: 4.25 x 5.5 inches

Paper: SU! Very Vanilla, Baja Breeze, and Manchester DSP

Stamps: SU! Best Kind of Friend and Refuge and Strength

Ink: SU! Bliss Bue, Old Olive, and River Rock

Marker: Spica clear

Accents: Sheer white ribbon; Cloud Nine Rain Drops

Featured Stamper 85

Well, I'll be darned. Another card from me! I literally forced myself to do a card tonight. No offense to the technique challenge, but I just couldn't feel the vibe. So, I checked out the Featured Stamper, E3stamper, and found some inspiration. She had this very cute thank-you card that pulled me in, and off I went. There was a whole lot of CASEing going on. I changed the patterned paper and the color scheme. I did faux stitching... I think hers might be the real deal. I added a scalloped bottom to my image, and included the sentiment with my image panel.

I was pleased to find that my Big Pieces and Little Pieces sets had an image that matched the flower image in the SU! Maine Blueberry DSP. I used the Spring Solitude "thank you" for the panel. I did some stamping off with Blue Bayou, Old Olive, and Certainly Celery when stamping the images. I "daubed" with Blue Bayou. I used Night of Navy for my faux stitching as well as for the first layer of cardstock. The whole card is mounted on Old Olive. The ribbon is a cute little spool of Bobbin Ribbon from Hobby Lobby. I popped up the main panel with Dimensionals.

Now, off to grade!

Time for Inspiration

How appropriate is this sentiment? So very appropriate for me right now.

This card was made with some help from the SCS Inspiration Challenge. We were to use some decorative plates from Mondo Dishes as inspiration for a card. Well, the minute I saw the brown and white textile-design plate, photographed around a light blue and white plate, I knew what I wanted my basic scheme to be.

I started by inking my Textile Texture Cuttlebug embossing folder with SU! Close to Cocoa. I then had to decide whether I wanted to incorporate some blue or not. I tinkered with colors and ribbons. I decided on SU! Soft Sky as a layer, but that was it. Any other place that I put the blue, it really detracted from the design impact. I also layered with textured Chocolate Chip.

I have been chomping at the bit to use my new Office Accents Pockets & Pieces (p. 166 in the new catalog), but I just couldn't find the right place. I decided this was the place. I used a small polka dotted tag, coupled with some brown large brads from Spare Parts. I made my John Lennon stamp from the SU! Full of Life set a two-step stamp, using my Chocolate Chip marker. I used three brads for balance.

I enjoy this card. I know people who would also enjoy it, but I may just frame it for my craft space. It's so simple, yet such a powerful reminder to keep perspective.