Skylark Workshop

Close To My Heart's new Spring/Summer Idea Book will launch online in two days! You are going to love all of the new paper packs, stamp sets and embellishments. And, I'm super excited about the new Picture My Life Scrapbooking Program. But, more on that later. 

Today, I'm going to give you a sneak peek of the Skylark Workshop I'm teaching in February.

Pattern from the WOTG

Reflections: Front & Center -In the Middle and -Focal (pp. 71 and 76)

Make It From Your Heart Volume 2, Pattern 11 (pp. 26-27)

To complete these layouts, you'll need:

Skylark Paper Pack, X7177B

Skylark Complements, X7177C

Slate Striped Twist Ties, Z1864

Additional Cardstock: Whisper (2), Chocolate (2), Desert Sand (1), Colonial White (2) and White Daisy (1)

Additional Supplies Used:

Sanding Kit, Z1294

3-D Foam Tape, Z1151

Will you join me? I have spots open on February 18th from 7-9:30 pm. Drinks and light snacks will be served, along with lots of laughs! RSVP by February 6th, please.

Later Sk8r

If you have a son (or a couple of them), you HAVE to do this workshop with me!  This Later Sk8r paper packet rocks and it was so fun putting these three layouts together.  And, they're great for beginners because we'll use the My Stickease (cardstock thick stickers) and all adhesive backed embellishments.

 

Join me May 15th or 21st from either 9am-noon or 7-10 pm for this workshop.  The $29 fee includes: a full Later Sk8r Paper Packet, Later Sk8r My Stickease, Later Sk8r Assortment, Blue and Green Epoxy Bubbles, two flip flaps and additional cardstock necessary to complete the layouts.  RSVP by May 2nd for the 15th or May 8th for the 21st.

 

Don't forget to add on the Dream Pop paper packet for just $10 when your order totals $35 or more (not including shipping and taxes, so you need to add $10 to the Later Sk8r workshop)!

Chantilly Workshop

Chantilly...the paper packet everyone is talking about!  You are going to love this workshop that features not two, not three, but FOUR layouts!

Here's what you'll create when you come to my house on April 25th:

Layout 1

Layout 2

Layout 3

Layout 4

The first two layouts are directly from the Workshop on the Go and feature the cutest stamp set with adorable phrases (Every Day is a Play Day and Live a Happy Life among others) and that great "pie" set to make interesting circles.

Kit options and pricing (all prices include tax and shipping)

Basic Kit, $24, complete Layout 1 and Layout 2, includes:
Chantilly Paper Packet, X7163B
Chantilly Assortment, Z1814
Pink Glitter Gems, Z1807
Pre-cut circles and extra cardstock

Workshop on the Go, $34, complete Layout 1 and Layout 2, includes:
All of the above, plus:
Chantilly WOTG Stamp Set (retail value of $13.95 but only available with the WOTG)
Instructional Brochure

Four for $34, complete all four Layouts but don't get the stamp set or brochure
Everything in the Basic Kit, plus:
Chantilly Complements Dimensional Elements, X7163C
Seven sheets of additional cardstock (in Twilight, Buttercup, Champagne and White Daisy)

Deluxe Kit, $44, complete all four layouts, as shown above!  Includes:
All of the above
Chantilly Complements Dimensional Elements, X7163C
Seven sheets of additional cardstock (in Twilight, Buttercup, Champagne and White Daisy)

Email me to let me know which time you're coming (9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. or 7-10 p.m.) and which kit you want.  You are going to love these layouts!!!

Dakota, It's Not Just Country

I have two boys but am not even a little bit country, despite living in Virginia.  So, while I was thrilled with the  colors and some patterns in Dakota, I was a little unsure how to make it work for my typical photos.

Sorry there are no photos on these layouts, but I'm excited for this week's workshop featuring Dakota.  Thanks to my good friend, Scrapi Traci, for the layout designs.  Again, I created grid cutting guides to complete all the paper trimming before layout assembly.

What would I do without my Artiste Cricut Cartridge from Close To My Heart?  The flower images, shapes and letters are so quick and easy to cut out.  They give my layouts such a finished look for just the price of a bit of paper.  Do you have yours yet?  What are your favorite images to cut out?

La Belle Vie

The Beautiful Life...isn't that a great name for a paper pack?  Especially when it's in fancy French!  I'm teaching two workshops this week with La Belle Vie scrapbook layouts...six layouts altogether.  (Note:  I actually taught these last week, but wasn't able to finish this post because Explorer wasn't playing nicely with Blogger..a big shout out now to Google Chrome!).  What do you think?

I created a cutting guideline so we cut everything out first, each cut piece of cardstock or B&T Duo was placed on top of the base it would be adhered to.  So, all six layouts were completed in about three hours.  I was thrilled with the results!

Christmas Advent Calendar

There are just nine short weeks until Christmas Eve.  Nine week from TODAY.  I'm not saying that to stress anyone out, this is my favorite time of year.  I'm letting you know because this is the time to start working on your Christmas decorations and gifts.  And, I'd love to help you with them!

For starters, check out this beautiful Advent Calendar from Close To My Heart:

After Career Day at my sons' elementary school last week, I got emails, phone calls and facebook messages from moms whose children LOVED this Advent Calendar.  It's so easy to make! Everything is pre-cut for you; just stamp, embellish and assemble to complete your gorgeous Advent Calendar in about three hours.  I currently have workshops scheduled for November 2nd at 9 AM and November 7th at 7 PM.  Need another date?  Contact me today to check my availability!

And, if just one Advent Calendar isn't enough, add the one below for just $40 (includes shipping and tax).  This one is exclusive to my customers and can only be purchased through yours truly!

Still in the Halloween spirit?  That's okay, there are still nine days to like my facebook page to win this adorable mini Halloween album!

Heartfelt Thanks

Can I just say how much I love teaching Workshops on the Go (WOTG)?  I get to hang out with a wonderful group of women while chatting and creating two gorgous layouts.  I try to have everyone's favorite beverages on hand (for Jenny it's Sugar Free Red Bull, Audrey likes my pina colada slushies, Betsy usually sticks to water or juice and my Skype CA friend, Jenn, pours a glass of red wine) and some roasted almonds or M&Ms.

I guide everyone through the layouts using the WOTG guide, CTMH how-to books and the pages I've already completed.  It's easy, fun and we end the night having accomplished something!  How many times can you say you've done all of that in an evening?

I've really grown close to these women, too.  As a thanks, I always make a card (or find one in my stash) to give them.  Here's the one I created for Wednesday's Wonderland WOTG.  Inside the card, I stamped the sentiment "Heartfelt Thanks" from the My Acrylix stamp set that comes with the WOTG.

If you'd like to join me for a future WOTG, leave me a comment below!

Skype Me!

Technology and I are often adversaries.  That's partly my fault and partly Technology's fault.  See, we just don't think alike.  Technology is so precise; you have to do things "just so" to make him work right.  I want to do things my way and have Technology read my mind and figure out how to make it happen.  Code? Please, give me intuition!  That's what I expect from the men in my life (right, Jeff?).

One of my good friends and customers, Jenn Rau, moved out to California a few months ago.  After she bought her new house, she said, "We'll have to do workshops via Skype."  To which I cheerily replied, "Absolutely, that would be so much fun!"  But, really I was thinking, "I'm never gonna see this girl's face again."  Technology and I just don't see eye to eye and I thought Jenn and I weren't going to anymore either. 

Installing Skype was actually incredibly easy.  Technology prompted me with all of these questions and I answered yes to all of them, whether I knew what he was talking about or not.  I even took a photo of myself to go next to my account name and tested the audio.  Technology and I were sympatico, finally understanding each other for the first time.  Or, was he just leading me on, making me think I could actually use him?  I figured there'd be some kind of glitch when I actually tried to make him work at last night's Typeset Workshop.  Four of my "regulars" were over, including Jenn's sister, Audrey, so at least I was in supportive company for when this whole thing flopped in my face.

Imagine my pleasant surprise when I dialed Jenn's number and she actually appeared!  Jenn gave us a tour of her gorgeous new home.  A home which did not look like it was newly moved into...paintings hung, everything decorated and Jenn caught up in all of her scrapbooking, I don't know where the woman gets the energy.  Anyhow, I digress, we were able to converse, crop and even hear a concert performed by her youngest with the help of a new Dora guitar.  All this made possible by Mr. Wonderful-Technology.

Here's a photo of the girls cropping...with Jenn on Skype!

Mayberry Workshop

Last month, I got together with a few of my favorite CTMH "workshop girls" to lead them in a Level 2 Workshop with the adorable Mayberry paper.  In a Level 2 Workshop, we use coordinating My Stickease to complete two layouts quickly (well, quickly for us).  My workshops tend to focus on the fun and friendship as much as the creative scrapbooking! 

One of my favorite things about CTMH's My Stickease is that they have layout suggestions on the back.  The layouts are based on our how-to books, Magic, Imagine and Cherish.  Each book is full of professionally designed patterns, simple cutting guides and easy-to-follow instructions.  At only $21.95 each ($29.95 for Magic) they are the first product I made sure I bought!

Magic: Performance

Magic: Shuffled Deck

I added Canvas Badge Buttons to add dimension to the pages.  These amazing buttons can be stamped directly on the canvas and are adhesive backed...brilliant!

CTMH Supplies Used:

Mayberry Level 2 Paper Packet, X7136B

Mayberry Level 2 My Sickease Assortment, X7136C

Magic, 9034

Canvas Badge Buttons, Z1397

Smoothie Ink, Z2196

Cocoa Ink, Z2114

My Acrylix Heartfelt Treasures Stamp Set, C1456

My Acrylix One of a Kind Stamp Set, D1410