Creative Jumpstart 2021

Creative Jumpstart 2021
Join me for the 10th Anniversary of CJS2021

Thursday, August 19

Guest Blogger at This Art that Makes me Happy

My dear friend Vic asked me to be a Guest Blogger over on her blog, This Art that Makes Me Happy today; here's the post that I've posted over there - but I highly recommend that you drop by and check out some of the lovely creations she makes for Crafty Secrets, AccuCut, Fancy Pants, Tattered Angels - and I'm sure there are more. Im so happy and honored to be a Guest Blogger today for Vic. Shes such a talented and wonderful friend love her! Vic and I met while we were both on the ScrapMuse Design Team eons ago. We both ended up leaving the Muse for other opportunities, but have managed to stay in touch over the years I even went out to visit her in Nebraska a couple years ago. We had a wonderful time junking in all her favorite spots a little crafting too - shes one of the most talented, creative and lovely ladies Im honored to call a friend.

A little about me, Im currently on the Creative Team for EK Success Brands and have written two books, I hope youll take a minute to check out my blog Art from the Heart please make sure to say hello if you do stop by! Ill admit Ive been a bad blogger the last few weeks, my fall classes at My Creative Classroom are starting in September and Ive been busy getting my new classes ready!

Anyway, when Vic asked me to be a guest blogger for her I knew exactly what I wanted to do! I had picked up a fun pack of Christmas Die Cuts at Jo Anns that very day only because they were 40% off and I didnt get this particular set in my monthly goodie box when it was released. (Urgh, yes I did say Christmas in August but its never too early to start on those special cards you send out every year ;-) The die cuts are from K & company and were designed by Brenda Walton they are divine some are clear and the rest are cardstock. Very vintage and very lovely.

Heres a quick shot of the group of cards I made, they were fun to make and I loved combining them with Spellbinders dies and pretty papers too.

Even though they look detailed, they really didnt take a lot of time to make!

For this card I die cut a blue label from pretty blue flocked paper and because I wanted a red mat for it ended up hand cutting one because I had used the largest die for the blue flocked paper. I also cut two small ovals and a corrugated cardboard tag and I added them to the card along with patterned paper, the die cuts and some gold German trims. Of course, I added some sewing to the mix and this card was complete. Easy. and FAST!

Its a toss-up which card is my favorite I think its this sweet one! For this one I die cut 4 of the same size tags and layered them over the German scraps and vellum tape on patterned paper and added the die cut poinsettia and stitched around the edges. I added the corrugated cardboard tag and made the tag with a rub on. A little ink and the pretty girl die cut and this card was DONE! Easy peazy lemon squeezy! ;-) See, this Christmas card thing in August is moving right along.its better than December 21st like I usually manage and its not a Christmas card but a New Year card ;-)

This last card was a little more difficult, I die cut two windows one in the patterned paper and one in the card base and sandwiched a piece of vellum in between the two die cuts. When I was at JoAnns I picked up some embossing folders for Metal (Walnut Hollow) for $1.97 hoping theyd work with my Big Shot and they DID yahoo for me. So, I embossed the red paper strip and attached it to the patterned paper then added some Gold German scraps and the Santa die cut. Before adding the tag, I stitched around the window and Santa then added the corrugated cardboard tag with red velvet ribbon and stitched around the edge of the card. Some velvet leaves (Making Memories) and a clear tag and the letter stickers (October Afternoon) and this card was DONE, all three before I ate breakfast, LOL. Dont ask what time I ate.

I hope you enjoyed my Christmas in August tags and also take a minute to check out Vic's blog, This art that makes me Happy - I'm sure it will become a destination you'll want to visit a lot! Enjoy the rest of your week!

XoX, Catherine

Wednesday, August 18

Sneak Peak Die Cutting with Spellbinders 101

I've got a TON of things going on today but wanted to share a quick sneak peak of a project from my Die Cutting with Spellbinders 101 class over at My Creative Classroom. This is a beginner class that starts September 10 and lasts for 4 weeks.

Be sure to post if you have any questions about the class!

New Classes at My Creative Classroom

As promised, just a couple days late - here are the courses I've got planned for the Fall Semester at My Creative Classroom. Just click on the logo (and isn't it pretty, it's new and so spiffy) to follow the link to see all the new classes available:

Here's the list of NEW classes I have starting this fall....September 10th to be exact.

Die Cutting with Spellbinders 101

Spellbinders™ is on the cutting edge in cutting and embossing dies - and they are compatible with a wide range of manual die cutters; one of which you may already own. The Spellbinders™ tag line is, “Beautiful details inspiring creativity”, in this 4 week class we'll use Spellbinders beautifully detailed dies to inspire our creativity to create a new project each week. We'll start with the basics of Spellbinders™ dies, machine compatibility, and learn how to combine different dies to create beautiful cards in a snap. We'll also learn the secrets of embossing; layering, stenciling and using a magnetic mat and other beginner techniques. Each lesson will demonstrate a new technique and follow up with a project that demonstrates that technique in a project.

More details on this Spellbinders Class at My Creative Classroom!

Die Cutting with Spellbinders 201

Join the masses of crafters using Spellbinders™ Nestabilities® Dies to enhance their beautifully crafted projects in this intermediate 4 week class: Die-Cutting with Spellbinders™ 201. Join Catherine Scanlon in the second of three Spellbinders™ classes as she demonstrates how to make partial cuts; double-emboss; and cut windows to create unique cards. If you love the age old letterpress technique that typically used old printing presses and metal dies then you’ll love the letterpress technique using Impressabilities dies. You’ll also create projects that incorporate stenciling and learn how to combine stamps from other companies with similar dies to create pretty, creative projects. Each lesson will demonstrate a new technique and follow up with a project that demonstrates that technique in a project.

More Details on this class at My Creative Classroom!

Die Cutting with Spellbinders Projects

The holidays are fast approaching and Catherine down to business using Spellbinders™ Nestabilities® Dies to create bright and creative holiday and party décor, gifts and tags in this third class of her Spellbinders™ series. In this 4 week course we’ll decorate a holiday table, make coordinating cards to give as a hostess gift, create beautiful treat packaging and pretty tags to make your holiday gifts memorable.

More Details on this Spellbinders Class at My Creative Classroom

Repeat Classes:

Other Classes

  • Guest spot in Kylie Hopkins Design It Scrapbooking Course: This course has 14 creative challenges, 20 resource PDF files, and at least 9 step by step projects to complete. You will learn about design principles, using sketches, balancing your page, white space and SO much more!

Coming for the winter semester!

Ins and Outs of ATS’s, details to follow!

Be sure to post any questions (include your email address for a speedy response) you may have about any of these classes, or about My Creative Classroom and I'll email you back.

THANKS for stopping by, hope you have an enjoyable day!

Tuesday, August 17

Happy Birthday Pops!

Here's another another quick card I made yesterday for my Father's birthday today. I started it Friday night about 10pm and finished it yesterday morning before finishing up some assignments with some NEW, BEAUTIFUL and LOVELY K & Company papers and embellishments.

One of the best things about making your own cards is you can:

  • make them while still in your pj's
  • make them any time of the day
  • make your card as manly, girly, or frilly and manly as you want - LOL
  • Make it from scraps and save yourself $5.00 for a decent Hallmark card

Back to the card. Can you tell I love the Spellbinders Labels Five Die - it's the same one I used for the wedding card I posted on Friday. I love that I can make my own cards at home - and have them come out so much nicer - and so much more substantial - and so much MORE than what I can buy at the store.

I had a little flub up on inking though and got a big blob of ink on the text - thankfully my Dad didn't notice at all!

I used the scrap corrugated cardboard from the mat on the front cover to make the pocket for the gift card we gave him. Have I mentioned lately that I love my Spellbinders?

My Dad did notice that it was a handmade card, and that really made the effort of making it for him worth it. To be honest, I think he liked the gift card to Home Depot the best!

Here's a few quick shots of the new pool and deck area in the back yard, and my husband relaxing on the deck after working on his little shed in the background. I sure can't wait for him to get THAT done ;-) Don't you just love the red umbrella? It was on clearance at Home Depot. The boy and I have enjoyed many an afternoon on the deck - eating our lunch while reading and enjoying the shade of the umbrella.

The deck is 2 tiered- with a little bench for additional seating. It was originaly going to be a planter but I decided that I didn't want the responsibility of having to remember to water the plants that I might or might not grow in it everyday. Since that area of the deck pretty much gets full sun all afternoon it would need watering everyday. I can barely remember to water my other garden. The chaise lounge in the background is also another favorite feature of the deck - MY chaise lounge. I need to find a cushion to match the umbrella, they are in pretty short supply these days. I'm thinking I may just get some foam and pretty fabric from JoAnn's and make my own, then I can make it zippered with piping and it will be completely washable.

Well, thanks for stopping by. Hope you had a GREAT weekend!

Thursday, August 12

Love is, above all, the gift of oneself...

I was looking at a magazine recently about making cards and different crafting styles - and it led me to wonder about my own style. I decided to do an experiment - to see what happened when I changed just a few elements on a card.

This particular card I made to send out as a wedding card. I really love the cream on cream of this card - it's very elegant and lovely - much like the young lady that I made it for. I had so much fun with this card - and by the way - I do think it's one of the prettiest cards I've ever made!

Here are a few close ups of the butterfly card, sorry about the grid pattern on the first close up, I was holding it in front of the screen door and the shadow from the screen transferred to the picture. OOoooops, LOL.

I used Spellbinders dies, cream cardstock from PaperTrey Ink, butterfly punches from EK Success and vintage ribbon.

I decided to see what would happen to the way the card looks if I changed just 3 things - I swapped one cream cardstock mat to patterned paper, the ribbon color from cream to green, and the punches from butterflies to flowers. Oh, and I ran out of pearls so I used green crystals on the flowers instead of the pearls. The overall design stayed the same.

What a nice change! I love the second card almost as much as the first! I don't think it's as elegant - but it's as pretty, just a little casual. Like - the first one would be given to a couple having a really elegant - black tie wedding - and the second could be given to a couple having a little bit of a casual affar - maybe a garden wedding?

Still haven't figured out my style - I think I'll call it My Own style. Thanks for stopping by and sticking with me during this busy time...enjoy your weekend.

Art Is in the Cards: Fly With Spirit

It's been a long time since my last post - life has been so CRAZY busy that blogging has been the last thing on my mind. We've had birthdays, anniversaries, a pool installed - and a deck built - and played in said pool - seems like I had a ton of projects to be worked on, and quarts and quarts of pickles and jams to be made - and I finally designed and ordered a new studio - and so much more. I'm hoping said new studio will be installed in a couple weeks. When I placed the order for the cabinets they told me 3 weeks - and that was a couple weeks ago. I need to decide on and order the counter top now.

I'm also knee deep in designing and working on my new classes starting for the fall semester over at My Creative Classroom - but I'll do a post about all that tomorrow.

One of the fun things I've been working on are my ATC's for this month's swap at Art is in the Cards. The theme was Sew, What's bugging you?

Hope you are enjoying your summer - as we certainly are enjoying lovely weather here in Maine! Thanks for stopping by - I'll try and post much more often!