Monday, Monday....

*Sigh*  Some Monday's are just tough.  Like ones where you have to go to the doctor.  Like today.  So I decided that I'd make it better by posting about my very first project for the Fav Things design team.  I really had a good time actually creating a layout again.

And this one was especially fun to do because there weren't any restrictions or mandatory items that had to be used.  Just totally do what I wanted.  Surprised myself by starting with a pink base from Basic Grey.  Then started piling on some goodies that I've held onto for a very long time - like the Prima vine and sewing on the sequins - I've wanted to do that for a while now.

I had Mel pick out a photo to go on it and he felt like this one did a good job of showing some of my personality.  :)  Bret took this picture in October 2010.  We did it to send to Mel while he was in Korea to show him the new car - sadly, cut out or covered over in this version.  The ROCK shirt pretty much sums it up for me and the hang loose pose with a beer - before I really got into beer with taste obviously since it's a Bud Light :) - also just kinda show a little bit of what I'm about.  Contrast that with the flowers, glittery bits and ribbon on the layout and you get a sense of some of my diversity.

I can't wait to see what the other ladies have come up with.  And I hope that some of you'll join the challenge & create something highlighting your favorite feature.

Thank You!!

Sometimes the very best gifts are the ones that are simplest.  That's definitely the case with something I was given last night.

I found out in the morning that the wrestling banquet was at 6:30 that evening.  There went my day gloriously filled with not very much.  But I was ok with it since it meant I could spoil my boys one last time.  And the fact that I'd been told by at least 3 parents that they loved my mac & cheese at the recent Pack Invitational made it a certainty that I had to make it again.

A quick dash to the 99 Cent store and Safeway for all the stuff and I was back and boiling noodles by 2 pm.  It's not to early if you figure I was boiling 3 lbs of mac noodles at a time.  And had 9 lbs total that I was making.  Each aluminum pan got about 2/3rds of a 2 lb bag of medium cheddar, mozzarella & colby jack cheese a little milk and butter and some time in the oven.

Hannah took me & the cheesy goodness up to the school to help me bring it in.  Greetings & salutations to my wrestlers, coaches and a few parents.  When asked why I wasn't going to stay I simply said I preferred to be anonymous & just liked being able to do what I do and wasn't interested in public acknowledgment.  

When Hannah & I got home I started our pan of mac & cheese (much smaller than the others) and opened the card Coach Burgess gave me.  The note saying I'd helped make the season easier was wonderful.  But flipping over the other thing in the card sent me squealing and jumping up and down.

How cool is this??!!!!!  I love that I can see their pillows and it almost looks like it does around here when they finally settle down to go to sleep.  I love that they're all smiling and I love the cool, on the spot craftiness of the individual letter signs.  And I can't wait to have them again next year!!

Aunt Krista can scrap with that!

That's been heard around my house and from my nieces for years.  And it's often followed by eye rolls from Mel & me squirreling away what ever odd or end has been saved from the trash in my scrap room.  This wasn't saved so much as it was forgotten.

Even though I was asleep in bed when it happened, I can totally see how it went.  Mel changed out of his everyday boot to the driving boot.  Grabbed his keys, wallet (line badge) & coat and headed out the door.  Totally forgetting the boot he's supposed to wear all day.  I'm thinking Davis and I may have to see about surprising him for lunch.  :)

Copic airbrushing system used with R46, YR18 & YR15 

I'm Back!!!

Whew!  It's been a long time (song reference) since I've had a chance to post anything or even read the blogs I follow.  Been super busy, which is a good thing, but now I'm pretty much house bound for the next 6-8 weeks.  Here's why.

 

I picked Davis up this morning after her surgery - this time her right rear leg.  The TPLO in dogs is roughly the equivalent of torn ACL surgery in people.  The cast can come off with in the next 5 days but she's got to stay penned up for 6-8 weeks.  *sigh*  She's such a total rock star about the whole thing though so that helps.

Lots of other news to share so I'll get right to it.

The first Copic Inspirations class at Scrapbook Barn was awesome!!  I'm so very excited about this class series and hope to really see it grow.  Each month, on the 2nd Saturday from 1-3, I'll be featuring Copic markers and highlighting all the things that can be done with them.  I'll have the class samples for the March class in the store no later than Feb 25 if you'd like to see them in person and they'll be added to the Class Projects tab here on the blog as soon as they're done.  

I've added a die cut class to my teaching calendar.  The 3rd Thursday of the month at Creative Quest with a class available in the afternoon and another in the evening so no matter what your schedule is you'll be able to join me!  This class will highlight Spellbinders dies and the HUGE variety of techniques you can do with them.  Projects will be in the store as soon as possible and also posted on the Class Projects page.  

I just got to go look at Old Town Get Away in old town Peoria this morning.  Talk about a totally adorable place!!  Vicki has lots of ideas for this little gem and I can't wait to see some of them start happening.  I'll be adding this spot to my teaching schedule as well.  :)

Planning will be getting underway for the 2011 Stamp, Paper, Scissors Event.  Link is for the Facebook page.  If you haven't "liked" it yet be sure to do so to get all the latest updates on the event!  Will be working on a website as well.  This was a ton of fun last year and I'm planning even bigger and better things this year.

I'm also working on bring some big name guest instructors to area stores.  Donna Salazar will be at Paper Vineyard for 2 classes on Feb 27.  She'll be doing a free make & take at Scrapbook Barn on the 26th.   Jennie Black will be back for 5 amazing classes in Tucson the same weekend.  And you'll be able to find her in the Valley mid April for a certification class as well as in stores - that schedule isn't finalized yet, I'll let you know when it is.  :)  Donna Downey will be in the Valley the end of August - I'll get that schedule posted once it's been finalized as well.  And there are a few others that I'm in talks with to come out here. 

I'm looking forward to creating and posting my first Fav Things challenge layout at the end of the month.  I know what I'm going to scrap about but haven't figured out yet how to approach the creation process.  I'm letting it percolate just a little bit longer.  If you haven't checked out Fav Things, I highly recommend it.  I've always been amazed by the creations that the design team has shared.   And am so happy to now be a part of the group.  

And I'm hoping to be able to participate in a few of the Make It Monday challenges over at Papertrey Ink.  I loved the first one but just wasn't able to play along. 

For now,  I'm going to go find something for lunch and get caught up on my blog reading and commenting.  Have a fabu day!

If you're South of Phoenix this weekend - DO NOT miss this!

For anyone that's in Tucson or can get there this weekend you don't want to miss this!!  I got a chance to take one of Donna's class last year and can't even tell you how much I enjoyed myself.  The finished project is hands down one of my absolute favorites!  You can check out my completed project in my project gallery over to the right - if you click on the link to see my complete gallery you want to look for the one titled Fabric Scrapbooking.  Swoon!

Donna Downey is coming to     for a weekend of 4 fabulous creative workshops! Friday, February 11 - Saturday, February 13 Donna Downey is a bestselling author, instructor and all-around creative force in the crafting  industry. As a craft-media artist, Donna is a born experimenter, blending and transforming both traditional and unexpected items into meaningful pieces of self expression. Don't miss this  opportunity to learn from Donna. See photo samples and required supplies to bring on our website. 1. Life's Artistry Workshop:    Fri. Feb. 11th 6:30-9:30 pm, then, stay and scrap until Midnight!! In this workshop you will learn techniques and tips for creating an eight page 8 x 10 mixed media scrapbook. The book is comprised of multi-surface and textured pages that may surprise you. The use of color, fabrics, papers,moments captured and artistic style art journaling make it unique and truly individualized to each  student.  Cost: $75 2. A Life Inspired: Sat. Feb. 12/10-11:30 am Learn the basics of color washing, alter fabric flowers and dimensional layering techniques as you learn to  transform literally a blank canvas into a unique mixed media scrapbooking layout that will showcase your  heartfelt sentiments,and the creativity of your artist within.  Cost: $40 3. Fabric Scrapbooking:  Sat. Feb. 12/12:30-6:00 pm - 1 hour lunch break                                                                              In this 5 1/2 hr. workshop, you will learn the art of layering colors to create depth and dimension to your art.  The afternoon will be filled with tons of product knowledge as well new products to inspire your creativity  and possibly challenge you to dream bigger about your creative possibilities!  Cost: $100   Check out her blog at: http://donnadowney.typepad.com/ to see  all her creative inspiration.

My Favorite PTI card from 2010

I'm just popping in to share my favorite card from 2010 featuring Papertrey Ink products.  February is their birthday month and like all good parties, they've got gifts.  I'd probably faint if I was fortunate enough to win the prize for this particular contest.  But even if I don't, getting a chance to see everyone else's favorite creations will be a gift in itself!  Since this is my first PTI birthday month I'm excited to see what else they've got in store.  I'll be back with a regular blog post soon.  Still trying to catch my breath from the Craft & Hobby Show in LA and the Bead Show in Tucson this past week.

Why this is my favorite PTI creation:  Michelle's Friendship Jar & Friendship Jar Fillers (both with matching dies!) have to be my favorite sets from PTI this past year.  I wouldn't in a million years consider myself to be country, shabby or particularly domestic diva-ish - all of which describe Mish - but I am SO drawn to her creations.  Click on the link to go to her blog and see if you don't agree with me!

I knew as soon as I saw this set I had to have it.  Mish's post about coloring the bloomers & creating realistic looking water cinched it!  I stamped a number of bloomers and started coloring just the way she said.  Once I had it down I did the same kind of thing with other color combination's.  And loved every one of them.  This one is my favorite because of the LACK of coloring I did.  Leaving white space is super HARD for me but learning to do so is greatly improving my coloring.  So being successful at not coloring every bit of an image and seeing how it can really pop when you layer other colors around your image was kind of like an epiphany.   And for the layered colors on the background I used my air compressor and airbrushed it.  Another first and an instant favorite.  I also inked the edges of the stamped & airbrushed piece which I really think adds that shabby, vintage-y Mish style I love.