January Class - highlighting Stampendous

Earlier in the week I blogged about the changes coming to my card class at Scrapbook Barn with the New Year.  As promised I'm revealing the images that will be featured the first three months of the year.

The first company we'll be highlighting is Stampendous.  With a wide range of styles and images plus stamps that are wood mounted, cling mount or clear there's a stamp style and material for everyone.  Stampendous also has a variety of other products, including embossing powders, in their catalog.  These catalogs will be available in the store and during class for you to look thru and place any special orders.  Orders will be compiled and submitted once the manufacturer minimum has been reached.  Prepayment is necessary to place any special orders.

This is a Jumbo Cling set.  The Jumbo Cling Sets have been some of my favorite to color and include in class this past year.  And this one is sure to get a lot of stamping!  I've got so many ideas for this!

 

This image excited me for all the color possibilities it has - the bird, the flowers, the nest.  But after I got to looking at it, there's plenty of inspiration beyond just coloring.  Texture possibilities and product possibilities.  It'll be hard to confine myself to just 3 ways to use this one.

 I've said before I'm not into frogs.  That also applies to toads.  But for some reason these two (separate stamps but I'll be using them together) spoke to me.  I'm not sure if it's the old fashioned Beatrix Potter style of them or the "Jeremiah Was A Bullfrog" that started playing in my head when I saw them but I knew I wanted to play with them and see what they could do.

 Masculine cards are ALWAYS the hardest to create.  This set seemed like it offered plenty of opportunities to create in multiple styles.  I'm anxious to get my hands on it and try out some of the ideas I've got for it!

Don't forget the class naming contest I've got going on.  This new class concept deserves a new name that encompasses all it's about - 4 images, 3 months, 1 company, multiple techniques.  If I choose your name suggestion you will receive either a free class or 5 card kits from my basket, your choice.  I'll leave the contest open until Dec 26 and will announce the new name by Dec 28.

December Projects & a little contest....

Here are the projects for class this weekend.  And an update about the card class going forward at Scrapbook Barn.  I'm excited about it and hope you will be too.

First December's projects.

I've had this adorable little trailer from Impression Obsession for a little while and have just been waiting for the right inspiration to strike.

Summer Camper

When I saw this quote on Pinterest I knew I'd found it

               
Here's the result.  I've left the inside blank but will be including a copy of the inspiration piece with the coloring directions so you have the quote if you'd like.

You can find the other three projects on the Class Projects tab complete with all the colors used for them.

And now, the biggest news.  I'm changing up this card class at Scrapbook Barn.  Rather than featuring 4 different images each month and only coloring them, as of January 2013 I will feature the same four images for 3 months.  This will allow the time and creativity to play with each image a little more thoroughly.  We'll color them for one of the classes and the other two will feature the same images but crafted using different techniques, products or methods.

It's my hope that by focusing on fewer images and using them multiple ways we can get more from our supplies.  And because we'll be highlighting one company for a 3 month period you'll be able to place special orders from the catalogs.  They'll be available in class and in the store for you to look thru anytime.  Manufacture minimums will need to be reached before orders will be submitted.

I've already chosen the first images.  They're from Stampendous.  I'll have them posted Friday for you to look at.  With the changes to the class it seems like a new name is needed.  Send me your suggestions and if I chose your class name you'll win either a free class or choose 5 cards from my card kit basket, whichever you prefer.  So remember - 4 images, 3 months, 1 company, coloring and other methods will be used.  Can't wait to hear your suggestions.

November Class Projects

I have to say I'm really delighted with these cards. I know. I know.  I ALWAYS say that.  But it's always true!!

The Patchwork Santa, shared by Jackie Smith, has been mounted on his card base home.  Because this image was so detailed and took so long to color I really wanted to make sure the focus stayed completely on the image.  Here's the finished look

I've added the other 3 projects to the Class Projects tab.

It's Hip to be Square!!

I was asked to participate in a "Hip to be Square" blog event hosted by Lisa Swift, Remember The Good Times.  I was so delighted by this because it gave me just the push I needed to create a layout using my "handmade/stitched" paper.  All the details of my "handmade/stitched" paper can be found here.

Here's the layout.  I'll share some details about it after the photos.

Because my background paper was so busy I wanted to make sure my photo was large enough to not be overwhelmed.  I also tried to keep the embellishments to a minimum so the focus stayed with the photo.  This is a favorite of mine from the Friday night, casual get together we had.  Julie, on the left, Kelly, on the right, and I were like the three musketeers in high school.  Constantly at each other's house, wearing each other's clothes and just generally having a good time together.  This picture reminds me of that.

I created a tag to put my journaling on.  I hadn't quite decided what I wanted to say yet so it's still blank.  The tag slides in behind the photo to the backside of the layout.  This is for several reasons: 1) I didn't decide I wanted to add a tag until after I'd already adhered the photo down and 2) it was the only place or way left to add a tag after I'd adhered the photo.

Here's how I did it:  - lick and close my envelope
- measured the width of the envelope on the front of the layout and used a craft knife to cut a slit just a little bit larger
- trim off a portion of the envelope so it was as long as I wanted
- adhere the envelope on back of layout so the open end lines up with the slit in the layout
- to make sure there was additional strength as well as to make sure there wouldn't be any issues when taking out & inserting my tag I also added some scotch tape near the slit and on the sides.
- I also made my tag out of chipboard for extra sturdiness

If you'd like to see more "handmade/stitched paper" check out my blog post on Oct 16.

Supplies: Crate Paper 6x6 Paper Heart Collection pad, Core'dinations cardstock, Making Memories rub ons, Heidi Grace designs/Fiskars paper flower W/ brad, 7 Gypsies chipboard letters, Spellbinders dies for labels, washi tape unknown, Ranger TH Distress Ink

More Handmade Paper

After creating my own paper in July it took me awhile to finally make some more.  Paste Eaters was a perfect chance to play.  I went crazy with patterns and colors and my scraps.  I ended up creating 8 more papers!  I can't decide which one I like best!  What do you think??

 I can't decide if I like this one better horizontally or vertical!

 Fun color combo - could be perfect for a Kaytey layout.

 The gingham square wasn't necessary but I liked how it looked.  I also stitched around the butterfly top panel with silver thread.

 Rich colors with dots & stripes.  What's not to love?!

 I'll have to find a fall photo to use on this.  It just screams fall to me.

 More stripes and dots but in a different configuration.

 Pink & red.  Maybe a layout with me & Kaytey since these are our favorite colors.

This one was the most time consuming as each piece was needed to create the full 12x12.  I enjoyed playing with the blue, green, orange with a little bit of yellow color palett.

Choices....

I found 3 different cornucopia images to see about coloring for the November coloring class but after coloring each of them, I'm not sure which one to use.  So I figured I'd post them here and see what kind of feedback I get.  So here you go.

There are still a few spots I need to touch up or add color to and none of them are grounded.  I was just trying to get a feel for how time consuming each image would be.  The Patchwork Santa is going to take a good bit of time so I want to make sure the remaining images are a little simpler.

And please ignore the poor little tea pot in the center.  I didn't have a mask and was to lazy to cut one out and so I ruined it when I airbrushed around it.  That image and the drinks will be featured in December.

So what do you think? Image 1 in the upper left corner, image 2 in the upper right corner or image 3 in the lower left corner?

Where do you go??

I'm looking for new places to visit.  Online at least.  Since I've reduced the number of classes I teach each month I hope to be able to participate in challenges and get inspiration from new places.

So if you've got a favorite site for creative inspiration or great challenge sites please post a comment and let me know where to go.  In a nice way of course.  ;)