Wednesday, April 27, 2011

New Tab!

On the heels of the big changes going on in my life I've made a change or rather, addition, to the blog.  A For Sale tab.

I'll be listing class kits and other things that don't seem to fit on the Etsy site.  If you're in town I'll gladly bring your purchases to a class or ship via USPS Priority Mail.

I'll make sure to update the main page here once I get items added to it.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Class updates!

Just a quick post to update a few things.

The HOME Banner at The Creative Quest has been rescheduled to Saturday May 21 2:30-5:00 pm.
I've added a new canvas bag class at Paper Vineyard on May Saturday 21 10:00 am - 1 pm.

I'm adding classes in Payson that feature Copic markers starting in June with a new set of classes every other month.
The HOME banner will be available in Payson on July 17 11:30 - 2:30 pm
Look for a HOME banner class later in the summer at Paper Vineyard.

The HOME Banner project can be seen in this post.

One of the cards for the Copic Club at The Creative Quest on May 14.  Wait til you see the other one!  Totally excited about it!


And one other major change.  I'm no longer working as a sales rep.  The decision was not easy but was a long time coming.  I'm looking forward to more adventures and teaching a lot more.  Hope to see you in class!

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Road Trip!!!

Who doesn't love a good road trip??
I sure do!  And I decided to thank those folks who join me on my creative journeys.  

Starting in May, earn 10 miles per class you take with me.  Earn a free class kit - from on hand selection - after you've gone 100 miles.  Just make sure I sign your card during class, no exceptions.

Whatcha think??  

P.S. My current class schedule can always be found on the blog to the left and project pictures and information will be under the Class Projects tab.

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Spring Bag at Frenzy Stamper

I'm so excited to offer my first class at Frenzy Stamper.  If you've never been there, you are totally missing out!  It's a grungy, altered, mixed media, stamp heaven!!!  If you're out and about go see Debbie - she's right behind the horse fountain on 5th Ave in Scottsdale 7064 E 5th Ave - and stop by 5th & Wine across the way.  Love their name and they've got great wine and an awesome BLT sandwich!!

Find all the details on the Class Projects tab!

Saturday, April 16, 2011

What do you get.....

when you combine just about the cutest 3 yr old & sidewalk chalk one day and a water hose and wiggly dog the next??           

Besides adorable photos???  Giggles and good times!!!

We were able to pick up Kaytey Friday afternoon and have her over night.  We stopped at Mel's dad's work for the baseball themed party after picking her up.  And she promptly proved she's related to me!  She started collecting all of the baseball confetti to bring home.  :)

Then a stop at Wal-Mart.  For a cute little pink bag for her to use from now on when she comes to our house.  $50 dollars later..... she also had a purse, Cinderella cell phone, jewelry, new shoes, Little Mermaid lighted singing microphone and sidewalk chalk.  

Let me point out that I've said before that I intend to spoil her since we share a birthday.  She tried really hard to get 2 pairs of shoes as well as a matching wallet to her purse.  Gotta give her credit for trying!  Mel & I stuck to our guns, mostly, and told her to pick a purse & I'd make her a wallet.  And when she wanted pink princess sunglasses she was told she'd have to put back the microphone.  The microphone stayed.  I talked to Mel about not always spending money on her when we have her.  His response "Oh, you won't have to worry about me not spending money!"





He says it.  But he was the one that kept saying she could have the larger (more expensive) purse and said "let her have both of them"  He's such a softie!  But who wouldn't be with a cutie like this asking so sweetly??!

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

If It's Groovy No Housework Day Blog Hop!!

I'm so excited to be participating in my very first blog hop.  And how fitting that it's one that's celebrating No Housework Day.  Truely one of the greatest holidays not widely celebrated.  I, for one, hope to change that.

If you don't know about the blog hop you can check out the details and start hopping here -  If It's Groovy Follow from blog to blog and you'll find tons of inspiration, prizes, games and more along the way.  Be sure to sign up to follow If It's Groovy (hey, and me too!) and leave a comment or two.

We're celebrating the holiday by scrapping, today and into the weekend with projects that remind us of housework or getting away from it!!  Take the day off, put your feet up and hop along!







You may have found me from Andrea's Metta - if so, thanks for playing along.

I'm participating as part of the These Are a Few of My Favorite Things design team.  Julie challenged us to create a layout, card or project that features our favorite color.  If you know me, you know what that is immediately.  If you don't know me, you might be able to guess it from my blog title  :)

This is a 6x6 double page layout I did that shows how RED is present in my life.


Your next stop will be with Becky at Greets N Treats.  
I've also listed the full blog hop list for you!  Have fun hopping!  
And remember - Put Down the Broom!!

Links fixed!  Doncha just love some of these blog names??!!!


1. If It's Groovy                                                      2. Life With the Tucker & Wolek Clan
3. Leading a Craftastic Life                                     4. Scrappy Side of Me
5. Peg's Crafting Corner                                         6. All Things Crafty
7. Scrapping the Guys                                             8. Let's Get Peachy
9. Creating Sensations                                           10. Everyday Me
11. Basement Chronicles                                       12. Love to Create
13. Scrappy Go Lucky                                          14. Dragonfly Destiny
15. Andrea's Metta                                               16. Red Car Productions - You're Here!
17. Greets N Treats                                              18. Paper Universe
19. The Limitations of Thought                              20. Step Into My World
21. From The Owls Nest                                     22. Creations with Becka
23. Crafty Go Lucky                                            24. Crafty Diva Lounge
25. Just A Glimpse                                               26. Scrap It Girl
29. Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker                               30. Marci's Scrapping Spot
31. Scrapbookers Anonymous                             32. Intrepid Thread
33. Scrapbooking SOS                                        34. Flamingo Scraps
35. Scrapbook Abundance                                  36. Artful Delight
37. Mommy of 5 Kidz                                          38. Designs by Diana
39. Polka Cabana                                                 40. A Day in the Life
41. MarBare Scraps                                             42. One by One

Extra Copic Inspirations Class this month!!

I'll be doing a 2nd Copic Inspirations class at Scrapbook Barn this month.  It will feature 3 flower cards with plenty of opportunity for coloring and practice.  Here's one of them.  Check out the other 2 and the class details on the Class Projects tab.

One of the things I like about this one is the monochromatic look to it.  I'm just kind of into that suddenly.  And another thing that I think is neat is that I only used 3 colors for it.  That's got to be a record for restraint from me!!

The other 2 are pretty cool too.

You can't make this shit up!! long but funny

Not even with my overactive imagination could I have POSSIBLY dreamed his up.

Close your eyes and imagine if you will.....
Never mind, if you close your eyes you won't be able to read. 
Just picture this in your head......

Mel has worked like demon over the last week tearing down the pool table (I'm sure I'll NEVER see it put back together the same way again), repainting, pulling up carpet and generally getting ready to have tile done by the next door neighbor.  So the couch and my chaise are upended in the band room, the TV and Mel's La Z Boy are in the family room and it's kinda chaotic all around.  Don't forget the dog pen we've been using to confine Davis reconfigured as a gate between the living room and family room.  
this is the floor after the last two nights - can't wait to see it all finished!



Me being me, has to make dinner for everyone since they're working their tails off after a full day of work already.  Monday night was Chicken Penne Buca style - big hit - I've put the recipe on the blog before if you're interested in making it for yourself.  Last night was Machaca Koenig style.  The SMELL all day long was maddening!  Thankfully I was out a good bit of the afternoon with an appointment for Tricia and then taking her to a couple of places to fill out applications.  (Note: one of the best things about driving a convertible - you can get a tan while you're taking care of business!)  

Once we got back home it was nothing but dishes, laundry and other housework drudgery.  Got to make sure the house is clean before the tilers get here right??!  In my office not getting a bloody thing accomplished.  Tilers yell that UPS just dropped off a package.  I go get it knowing I've got stuff on the way.  Grab the first box and as soon as I saw that it was Copic I start chanting "oh my God! oh my God!"  Trying to open it with my nails with out much luck.  Mel hands me a pair of scissors while calling me a dork.  I start pulling out the packing material letting it fall wherever it falls.  Screamed, yes, I actually screamed with delight when I saw one of the 72 piece wallets in the box.  Those things can't be had for love or money right now and won't be available until June likely.  Then the boxes and boxes and boxes of markers!!!

By this time it's time for my Skype date with my mom & brother.  This was going to be the first time we'd tried this since I got them cameras for Christmas.  From my end, I was able to see and hear them both just fine.  But there were multiple issues on the other two ends.  No video of me, intermittent audio from me and just not good.  I was just happy to see and hear them and even if we only had audio I thought it was pretty cool.  Though the bulk of the conversation seemed to consist of "can you hear me?" and "she's circling the drain".  With no video showing from my end I was able to sort markers, put my red tape around them and just generally enjoy myself and wonder about the mental fitness of my family members.

Dinner was a smashing success.  Machaca all around except for Tricia who elected to eat Spagetteo's. 

Cleaning up, the neighbor took a plate over to her son since he wasn't able to join us.  Treats for the dogs so I can sneak Davis' medicine to her.  Damn dog.  Ate the first treat I gave her.  And then spit out the pill pocket with the pills.  Grabbing at her.  Pablo is faster.  He grabbed up the pill pocket with her medicine.  Grabbed him.  Tried to get him to spit it out.  Not fast enough.
Pablo on a better day

On the phone with the emergency vet.  Gotta call the Animal poison control.  $65 fee in case your interested.  Telling me to force him to drink hydrogen peroxide.  How the hell do you force a Chihuahua to do anything??!  And Pablo particularly??  How are we going to get liquid down his throat??  Enter the turkey/chicken injector.  Minus the needle thankfully.  Me holding Pablo, Mel trying to force his mouth open and the injector in and plunging.  Most of it on me, the counter and all over the dog.  It's really a wonder that he didn't drowned!

The neighbor comes back with her son to thank me for feeding him.  Can't talk, I'm trying to drowned the dog or make him puke.  Per the poison control since he's not vomiting walk, er drag, him for 15 minutes.  Call Animal Poison control back to find out what's the next step.  Just watch him.  Ok.  Put him on the bed with some towels in the hopes he'll yakk.  Success at last.  Times 2 as Mel said.  *sigh* Good. Have I said I don't do puke??  At all??  Even if it's a kid?  And definitly not with the animals.  I have a VERY strong gag reflex.

Need to keep watching him.  So I brought all my markers to bed with my swatch book and hand color chart and began filling in blank rectangles.  Ahhhhh.  Happiness.  So there you go.  A day in the life.

I'm almost afraid to see what will happen today.

Sunday, April 3, 2011

The Aftermath of the Whirlwind!

Every have one of those days where an idea just GRABS you and you HAVE to accomplish it or else?  Yesterday was one of those kinda days for me.  Of course, it started around 6 pm so it was kind of late but I was POSSESSED! I'd been working on my samples for the DIEnomite! class (pics and info posted in the Class Projects tab) and was thinking of how I wanted to present the class.  I wanted it to be easy, fun & versatile.

A quick trip to Goodwill - my new favorite shopping spot I think - off to the craft store for a few things & I was spray painting by 8 pm!!  Even managed to get two coats done on the frames.

Because this class will be set up station style - each card at a different table - I knew that I'd need to be jumping back and forth helping people at all different stages.  I wanted it to be easy for those folks that work faster to do so as well.  What do you think of my solution??!

The board to display the class projects
all of the dies and matching die cuts for one project

the second project dies and die cuts

the third project dies and die cuts - need to add one more die cut
 This way anyone working on each project can see exactly what needs to be cut with which die, I've added specific info regarding what needs to be embossed or have a special treatment done to it.  I've also got plans for how to organize all the bits and pieces for each table to make it simple, easy and compact.  I can't wait to try it!


Here's one of the projects for the class.  Go check out the other two on the Class Projects tab.

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Copic Club April 9

April is full of Copic fun!  I've got classes on the 9th & Jennie Black is in town the 7th - 13th.  If you haven't taken a class with her, you really should.  I learn something every single time I "assist" her.  :)

April highlights a monochromatic-ish look at The Creative Quest.  I don't consider it a full on monochromatic look as it's using just three colors and they aren't all from the same family.  But I do like the look it gives.

I've got both cards and the details posted on the Class Projects tab.