Join me for Friday night fun!!

If you're looking for something fun to do Friday night, join me up at Tailgaters anytime after 7 pm.  We're hosting a poker tourney to help raise funds to send the Tent City Terrors to upcoming tournaments.  If poker isn't your thing there'll be karaoke.  And plenty of derby silliness.

So much seems to have happened in such a short period of time!!

Since I last blogged, I've officially begun helping out with the Phoenix Derby Brats.  Talk about awesome and inspiring and humbling all at once!!  Skating with 20 somethings was tough enough but now I'm skating with teenagers and pre-teens!!  But I love it.  Those girls keep me on my toes, literally.  And I can't stop trying and working around them.  If you'd like to watch these fierce skaters put August 11 on your calendar. We'll be hosting the Las Cruces team for a rematch on our home turf.  I'll post all the details closer to the date.

I also had to order new skates unexpectedly.  I took my skates in to see about replacing a $2 part.  Or so I thought.  When I had them up on the counter I noticed that the rivets holding the plate to the heel was loose. But worse was that the boot was coming away from the heel.  Needless to say, skating on them could be dangerous.  And since that was the right skate, I'd just as soon not break the other ankle.  3 more weeks til my red with silver striped skates come in.  :)  I'm sure you'll see pics as soon as I have them in hand but until then this is a computer rendering

I've been re-evaluating my classes and working to revamp them.  So far the changes have gotten a positive response so I'm rolling them out to all of my coloring classes.  Each class will now have 4 cards or projects.  With all of the markers, embellishments and items needed to create each card in a separate "box" the boxes will be passed around among class participants.  This has allowed more of a "color at your own pace" style that gives everyone as much time as they need.  This will also allow me to work with each person as needed.  I'd love any feedback regarding these changes.

I've actually been creating layouts lately.  Something I've gotten away from the last few years unintentionally. But thankfully my new Scrapbooking with Sketches class is helping with that.  I'm delighted to have made at least 2 layouts about our renewal ceremony from 2001!  I've got some neat things in the works and planned for this concept.   I hope you'll join me for one of these classes - I'm teaching it at Paper Vineyard and now at Paper & Metal Scrappers.  Each class will send you home with not only completed layouts but also pages to create your own "sketch" book of ideas.  You can see the next set of layouts on the Class Projects tab.

And one thing I'm especially excited about is the upcoming Open House/Meet the Teachers event at Phoenix Scrap Cottage.  You'll find me there from 1-5 this Saturday.  Because the Cottage doesn't publish their address - to ensure privacy for any of the groups that reserve the retreat - please email me to get the address.  You'll be able to see my Fill in the Blanks journal project as well as meet the other teachers & see their projects for upcoming classes.  Stop by and check out the cottage and chat with all of us.

Classes have been updated & more

I was delighted to spend yesterday at Paper Vineyard creating with a group of funny and inspiring ladies.  After putting the finishing touches on my PV class projects I started working on a mini album sample for the store - wait til you see it!!!  It's brand new Authentique.  Swoon. Sigh. Adore. Here's a little peek at it:

I've updated the Class Projects tab with the latest projects.  Go check 'em out.

And add this date to your calendar - June 16 1:00 - 5:00 pm.  I'll be at Phx Scrapbook Cottage for their open house and showcasing my Fill In The Blanks album.  If you're not signed up for my newsletter, please do.  I'll send out the address for the Cottage next week.

Fill In The Blanks

I'm so very, very happy to have found the perfect venue to offer this class in.  Centrally located and adorable as all get out, Phoenix Scrap Cottage will be a fabulous home to meet at monthly!

Sometimes I feel a little like Goldilocks when I'm trying to create something about me.  Smash Book is to unstructured.  Project Life is to daunting and time consuming.  December Daily Album isn't long enough.  I keep looking for the "life journaling" project that is JUST RIGHT.

Well, I've finally found it.  Creating something for me, about me, in a slightly structured framework that gives me plenty of creative options without investing a ton of time.  I can include as much or as little as I want.  

  What is it??

I call it Fill In The Blanks.  52 pages of "fill in the blanks" style journal pages for you to document both the silly & serious, mundane and out of the ordinary as well as your wishes, dreams & everyday experiences.  Places to write about the past, present and future.  All in about 20 minutes each week!!  How's that for awesome??  Not to mention totally do-able!

The concept is simple - create something about ourselves (after all, we're important too!) that doesn't take a ton of time (who's got lots of extra time??) but gives us a way to share ourselves (this is important not only for US but for those we leave our creations to).

Because this is an ongoing project, the "classes" are going to be different than we've all become accustomed to. Change is good!  I promise.  An added bonus is that you can jump in at ANY time with this project!!  Not able to come to the first group meeting?  Sign up for the second or third or twenty fifth.  It won't matter!

We'll gather together monthly.  Our first group meeting will focus on embellishing our binders and first month's pages. Each monthly gathering after will have the first 20 minutes (or so) dedicated to a small project that can be added to your journal or used elsewhere.  This will feature a new technique or product, just something to get our creativity flowing.

The rest of our group time will be spent doing two things - 
1) creating next month's pages (so all you'll need to do is "fill in the blanks" each week) 
2) sharing our previous month's filled pages.  Seeing and reading them once all those blanks have been filled in is going to be half the fun!  

You owe it not only to yourself, but to your loved ones to spend 20 minutes a week and a few short hours a month documenting YOU!

Please click on the link  to see a few of my completed pages.  I'll be adding more as I can get them photographed    Fill In The Blanks

Group meetings will be held at Phoenix Scrapbook Cottage so that they are easily assessable from all over the Valley. Please contact me to sign up or with any questions or comments - I gladly accept PayPal, cash, check and credit cards.

Bare Bones Journal - $35

This will include the soft cover binder, all printed pages and 6 various page protectors.

Bare Bones Journal & First Group Meeting - $45

You get everything in the Bare Bones kit + the project featured for the meeting + full use of all the scraps/embellishments/tools I'll bring in addition to the ones available at the Cottage

Monthly Meeting Fee - $15 - a minimum of 4 people per meeting will be required

Meetings will begin at 6 pm.  We will have use of the Cottage for 4 hours!!  Much better than a "regular" class where we only have 2 hours.  $15 isn't much for 4 hours of YOU time each month!!

The monthly meeting fee includes the featured project for that month + access to all the scraps/embellishments/tools I'll have available.  Did I tell you I used to be a scrappy sales rep??  I've got TONS of goodies to bring for us to play with.

Meetings will be the first Tuesday of each month beginning July 3.  I am willing & open to adjusting this based on the groups needs so please let me know which day is best for you!  

Pre-pay for 5 months and receive a 5% discount - 

BBJ & first meeting + 5 months = $128.25

Pre-pay for the year and receive a 10% discount - 

BBJ & first meeting + 11 months = $189

Papertrey Ink: MIM #65 & PTPH Make An IMpression

It's been ages since I've been able to play along with any challenges.  But I was able to create a couple of cards this afternoon and did so with a couple of challenges in mind.

Here's my creation for Papertrey Ink's Make It Monday Challenge #65

We were to create a background with paper scraps.  This is actually something I do a good bit of so it was right up my alley.  What I don't do often is shabby chic a la Melissa Phillips.  That's who I was thinking of when I was making this.  Don't think I came anywhere close to her gorgeous shabby-ness but I do see things that remind me of her.  The fabric flower with multi layers, the inking, the tiny little hearts from her Tiny Tags dies and the pins.  I'll leave the sentiment off until I decide what to use it for.

This is for Papertrey Playhouse's latest challenge - Make An Impression

Mary challenged us to use a PTI Impression Plate on our card.  I chose to deboss rather than emboss my card front.  No particular reason other than it was the opposite of what everyone else was likely to do.  :)   I stayed with the Just the Ticket product line and used the ticket die and stamps as well.  And to add a little more color and tie in with the stars in the oval I Die cut Spellbinders stars to tuck around the tickets.   I may just hold onto this for Mel's birthday in a few weeks.

If you're stopping by from the MIM blog hop, consider participating in the Playhouse's challenge too.

Have a great day!!

June class samples....

I'm a little bit afraid.  I have several of June's class samples already done!!  And they're posted on the Class Projects tab!  Just scroll down to see them since all items are posted in date order.

Here are a few teasers!

And Happy Mother's Day to all of us!

New Class Concept....

Some time ago I blogged about a new kind of class I wanted to do.  Something fun, creative, with a little structure but not to much and most importantly, about ME.  Very few of the pages or projects I do each month are about me.  My stories.  My perspective.  My past.  My future.  So often if I try to do something about me I feel uncomfortable and abandon the project after a few stilted tries.

I've finally found something that's working.  And I want to share it with others.  But the challenge has been getting enough participants in any one area to make it feasible.  Well, sometimes the solution to a problem comes when you're not looking.  I got an email from Bonnie at Phoenix Scrap Cottage asking about teaching there.  After thinking about it for a little while I realized this could be the PERFECT solution for this concept.

I plan on meeting up with Bonnie and working out details and a schedule.  I'll update here once that's all been taken care of.

Hopefully I've peaked your interest in this project.  Here are samples of a few of my pages if you'd like to find out a little more.  You can also sign up for my monthly newsletter to get the latest.  Just relpy here (or email me) with your email addy and I'll get you on the list.  No worries, you can opt out whenever you like.

Have a great weekend!