Here are a couple of cards we made at the card class I had at a scrapbooking crop at Lesa's church last Friday. Thanks Lesa for having me! Many people have a hard time with bows on their cards. I'm hoping to have a video on this blog in the future...if I can figure out how to upload it :-)...on how to easily tie bows. But on this first card, I just wrapped a 6" piece of gold string around the designer paper layer and taped it down on the back. Then, I tied a bow with an 8" piece of gold string and attached it with a glue dot on the top of the tag. I cut the tag out with my Cuttlebug [love this tool!] but you could use any punch or good 'ole scissors to do it as well. The snowman was colored with Prismacolor Watercolor Pencils and a blender pen.

The 2nd card is an easy card to duplicate using minimal stamps. I used several different sizes of snowflakes stamped in 3 different colors of ink [I used Palette Ink's Prussian Blue, Stampin Up's Bashful Blue, and Brilliance Starlite Silver]. But, you could easily use only 1 snowflake stamp and get the same effect. Play around with different color schemes for a different look. I finished the card with Stickles glitter glue on the snowflakes to add shimmer although the picture doesn't really reflect it. I need Barry to take my pictures since he's the photographer of the family :-)

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

Private classes

In addition to classes in my home, I also offer personalized classes where you can have your own private class with your friends where we make cards, gifts or anything you can think of...in your home or mine. The class fee for the participants will vary depending on the type of items completed in class. Your class fee will be FREE for holding the event. This is a fun night for a "Girls Night Out", a Mommy and Me class, for Girl Scout groups, Book Clubs or just an excuse to get together with friends. Contact me and we can work out the details of the event.

Last Monday, I held a private class with Cassie and her friends and their moms. I think the girls really enjoyed themselves. Many of them put their own creative spin on the cards and they turned out so pretty. I wish I took a picture of the cards that they made. But, I always think of that after the fact, unfortunately.

Here are the 2 cards of the 3 cards we made that night:




The picture doesn't really reflect very well the glitter on the ornaments and swirls on the 2nd card. I made the ornaments by punching out circles on a piece of cardstock. I layed this "template" over my white card layer and sponged ink in the cut out circles. While the template is still on the card layer, I stamped the smaller swirl image inside the circles. Once you remove the template, the ornaments remain. The card is then finished by drawing a hanger on the ornament and stamping the larger swirls in light blue. I used Stickles glitter glue to add glitter all over the card.

Where has the time gone? I'm sorry that I haven't posted anything since my Christmas card class the first week in November. I am so happy that I've started my classes back up again. It was so much fun. I had 18 ladies over the 2 nights. It was great to get a head start on Christmas cards. And some ladies turned them into thank you cards. So, they'll be ready to go after the Holidays. The Christmas cards we made are below. Since some of you have asked, if you weren't able to make it to the class, you can purchase a class kit of these cards. Just email me at the link on the left and I can give you details.

My next class is Monday, December 7th from 6:30-9:00 at my house with all new card designs. Spaces are filling up fast so let me know soon if you'd like to come. With every friend you bring who is new to my classes, you'll receive a $5 discount. And, your friend will receive a free gift from me. Just let me know they'll be coming so I can reserve their spot. If you've never been to a class or even if you've never stamped before, come and join us [and also get a free gift from me]. I'd like all RSVPs [with payment] by Monday, November 30th, so I can get all of the supplies ready.

Busy week getting ready for my classes next Monday and Tuesday. I haven't finished cutting all of the cardstock yet so if you'd still like to attend either day's sessions, just let me know. Just click on the "email me" button to the left.

Trick or treat for my boys is tomorrow. They are thrilled knowing that soon they'll have an abundance of candy. Now if only I can try and avoid the candy bowls. We carved our pumpkins last night...always the dreaded task. But the kids helped figure out their designs and get the pumpkin ready this year. So, it didn't turn out too bad. The boys loved their skeleton and "firey" pumpkins. But, my hubby and I made our pumpkins more serious with the cancer ribbon and Ryan's initials. Ryan and the dreaded disease are never far from our minds.



Happy Beggar's Night tomorrow. If you have little ones that still go out, may they be treated with your favorite candies :-)

Fun stamping weekend

I spent 3 days last weekend at a Stamp Camp down at Camp Kirkwood organized by the Stampin Up demonstrator that got me hooked on stamping 7 years ago. She did a great job with the whole event. And, I loved stamping all weekend. I was able to make the majority of my Christmas cards. After Stamp Camp and with the cards I'll be making at my Christmas Card classes, I'll be so relieved to get all of my Christmas cards done way ahead of the Holidays. I typically wait until the last minute to start and finish them in mid-December. I also stamped a bunch of birthday cards to give out for upcoming birthdays. I have spent way too much money at Target this past year buying cards. My goal is to look ahead and get the cards made a month before the actual dates. We'll see how that goes. Fun weekend planned. My son's last football game of the season is this weekend. And, we're celebrating my niece's 4th birthday. Amazing how quickly they grow up!

Look how beautiful it was at Camp Kirkwood! What a gorgeous place. And, besides the awesome scenery, the food was amazing throughout the weekend.



And, do you see all of the plastic containers inside the black crates along the windows? These are all of the stamps that Anita brought for the group to use. Can you say that I was in heaven?!?!?!



Here's the card I made for my niece. Very simple design and fun with the glittery frosting.


Have a great weekend!

Back again

Well, talk about taking a hiatus. It's been quite awhile since I've been on my blog. I thought maybe I'd start it up again. Who knows how long I'll stick with it. But, I'd really like to keep up with it. So here goes...

First of all, I wanted to say thank you to all of my friends that supported our family during my nephew, Ryan's, battle with cancer. We were so appreciative of the prayers and cards that we received as our family grieved his passing in May. His journey reinforced even more the priorities in my life. He will forever be missed. I started back stamping a few months ago and have enjoyed the mental release it gave me. Stamping a card or project for someone else made me happy. And, I've missed holding my stamping classes with everyone. So, I'm starting them up again in November. I'm so excited to be doing them again.

Happy New Year!

I'd like to wish everyone a Happy New Year. As I'm sure you noticed, I pretty much took 2008 off of stamping due to various reasons. My nephew, Ryan Salmons (19), was diagnosed with Stage 4 Aveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma in April of 2008. My mind was not really into stamping and really wasn't able to be creative in designing cards and organizing stamp classes. It has been, and continues to be, a long journey for Ryan. I would definitely covet any prayers you could send his way. But, I have found these last couple of months that stamping and scrapbooking provided a good escape for my mind. So, I'm going to try and get back into it and have stamp classes in my home again. I am working on getting a schedule together and will inform you when my first class will be. I'm shooting for one at the end of January or beginning of February.

I also haven't been as active with The Angel Company because of my focus being elsewhere. However, they just started a promotion today that is incredible and I couldn't not pass it on.