Creative Jumpstart 2021

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

Thursday, February 17

Sign of Spring

My friend gave these pretty crocuses to me for Valentine's Day. She forced them last fall, leaving them in her refrigerator all winter -- waiting for Valentine's Day.

They are making me happy today, sitting on my windowsill, blooming and spreading their cheer. Not to mention that the sun is out and the temps are reaching 44 so far, yahoo!

Thanks Kelley, they are beautiful!! Have a great day everyone, thanks for stopping by!

In case you are wondering, I'll be announcing the winner of the One World One Heart giveaway later on when my assistant is home to help draw a name!

Monday, February 14

Happy Valentine's Day

Just a quick drive by post today to wish you all a sweet and lovely Valentine's Day. My son is home on the couch with 2 fractured toes, urgh. I've got so much work to do.......

I made all these different truffles (Coconut Lime, Coconut Lemon, Peppermint and Coffee) for my family and friends this year. I looked high and low for cute boxes and packaging for them - I really had a hard time finding anything to put them in. I was disappointed that Joann's, Michael's and AC Moore just didn't have anything sweet this year.

At the last minute I remembered I had bought this kit last year from House of 3 and never used it for a shadowbox. It was the perfect size and height for truffles for my brother's family. I still have one to make into a shadowbox sometime.

I had a great time making the truffles, and they all tasted GREAT. I'm just glad they are out of the house now so I don't have to be tempted every time I walk by.

Thanks for stopping by, have a LOVELY Valentine's Day!

Wednesday, February 9

Treats for my Sweet Valentine's

Another Expert Blog post this week, this one about making Valentine Tags and Homemade chocolates.

Get instructions and a supply list for the tags here!

Read all about it on the Spotted Canary blog here!!

Get a recipe for AWESOME Chocolate Truffles here!!

What are you making for your sweeties for Valentine's Day?? Thanks for stopping by, have a GREAT day!

Monday, February 7

Resolution 2011: Art Journal Day 6

I find myself thinking about my Art Journal all the time. Thinking about projects and pages and quotes and things I want to do in it.

I'm so happy I made this resolution. It's the only time I'm really taking to create for myself these days. Creating with no expectations, no deadlines, no pressure. Just playing, using scraps -- using up old stuff. Total heaven.

Since I'm dreaming a lot about what I'm going to plant in my garden (and spring and much warmer weather) this is a fitting page. I'm not sure if you can tell, but the focal point of the page is a bunch of red onions, the image transfer didn't turn out as I expected, but that's ok because I made it work....and I know what is is so that's all that matters anyway.

I'd love to know what your Resolution for 2011 is/was and if you're sticking with it. It's hard, but you can do it, especially if I can. I'm the worst at filling up art journals and sticking with commitments like this, but I'm doing it - at my own pace and in my own time! It feels great.

Well, thanks for stopping by, hope your week is going as great as mine is!

Resolution 2011: Art Journal Day 5

what a great weekend!!

I finally got on my cross country skii's and spent some time on the trails behind my house....both days I spent about an hour and a half in the back 40. It was AWESOME, it might have helped that it was warmer than it's been for a while around here (almost 40 today) and I didn't have to put on 30 layers to stay warm.

If only the whole winter would be like that - with snow but the temps not below 10 -- it would be perfect and I would be out there all the time. This year when the cold and snow came I wanted to hibernate to Florida or something because I wasn't ready to enjoy it. Well, I guess I am ready for winter now that I've gotten out and spent some time out there, phew - it's only taken 2 months!

Today after I spent my 85 minutes skiing I came in totally inspired to get a page done in my art journal. I wanted to work a few things out for a lesson I have to work on this week. Since my little guy was at his friend's house and my big guy was taking a nap, and the pot roast was roasting away in the crockpot it was the perfect time.

I love, love, love how it came out. I can't wait to get started on the lesson I'm going to do based on this page, but it's going to have to wait until Tuesday morning. It's going to be AWESOME!

Here's a close-up. Those butterfly stamps are from K & Company. I bought them over a year ago and am just NOW using them, what was I waiting for anyway?

The color isn't so great on this photo, it's from the Hipstamatic App on my iPhone and I tried to adjust it in Elements but didn't do that great of a job. Did I mention yesterday that I love that App?

Well, hope you had a great weekend and didn't have to get tortured by the Super Bowl last night. Thanks for stopping by.

Saturday, February 5

Check out my Spring Courses at My Creative Classroom

It was a busy week here, so I'm glad it's finally the weekend. We had lots of snow mid-week with a day home from school, lots of errands to run today and GROCERIES to buy now that my military ID has been renewed. Last night we watched a few movies from Red Box and today we've got to clean the snow off the roofs....there's more dang snow coming. Hopefully tomorrow we'll have nothing to do but craft, LOL. Yeah, like my husband crafts. Both of these pictures were taken on Tuesday BEFORE we got 12 more inches of snow. PS. I used the Hipstamatic App on my iPhone. LOVE these!

Urgh, I am so beyond ready for spring -- but a little get away to somewhere warm and sunny would be a nice respit. Hey, a girl can dream can't she??

I apologize that I don't have any crafty pictures to share today, but I did take a minute to make a nice list of the courses I'll be teaching over at My Creative Classroom over the next few months.

Let me know if you have any questions...thanks for stopping by -- enjoy your weekend!

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Image transfer Workshop

Image Transfer Workshop will teach you this popular technique that can be found in many mixed media, collage and paper arts galleries everywhere. You will learn 8 transfer techniques during the class - and you’ll complete a new project each week.

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Get Creative with Punches

Alpha, Border, Corner, Shapes...yes, I'm talking about paper punches, of course! There's so many available for your paper crafting projects and they're experiencing a comeback in popularity right now. Come join me in this 4 week class as we take a look at these great crafting tools in a new way. Learn punch maintenance and how to extend the life of your punches. Learn about the different types of punches available.

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Die-Cutting with Spellbinders™ 102

We will start Die-Cutting with Spellbinders™ 102 with a tutorial on Spellbinders™ Dies for students needing a refresher course for working with Spellbinders™ dies. This lesson will include basic information on several different types of die cutting machines that you can use your Spellbinders™ Nestabilities® with. We will also discuss the different types of dies offered by the Spellbinders™ Company and dies manufactured by other companies that are similar to Spellbinders™.

Each lesson will offer a lesson demonstrating a new technique and follow up with a unique project or card that utilizes the technique.

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Mixed Media Workshop

(Still working out the details for this course, stay tuned for more info! I'm pretty sure you won't be disappointed though! )

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Spellbinders™ Card Workshop

This class is designed for the card maker...whether you are a total beginner or a seasoned pro. In this 4 week course the focus will be on making all types of cards. Each week Catherine will provide a detailed presentation and hand-out with high quality photographs, instructing you how to create the card for the week. Oh, but you won’t stop there – not with just one card.

The lesson each week will provide detailed instructions showing you how to make 3 cards – a total of 12 gorgeous cards during the length of the class – all using the same dies and papers each week. Each lesson we will start with an easy card, then move to intermediate and finish up each lesson with an advanced, over-the-top card.

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All my courses at My Creative Classroom include high quality slideshow presentations with pdf handouts available for download. A detailed supply list will be provided each week as well as sample projects, step by step instructions, free graphics and options for technique variations and supply substitutions.

Friday, February 4

Semi-Homemade

I wanted to share a piece of fun and exciting news -- just a little something I've added to my workload for EK Success Brands, I'm the new "Expert Blogger" on the Spotted Canary website. I'll be sharing my tips, tricks and projects with you 2 times a month.

I've never been much of a journal keeper (hence, Resolution 2011) but I have managed to keep my blog going for several years. I guess that's my version of a journal. So, I was pretty excited that the powers that be asked me to carry on that tradition for them at the Spotted Canary Expert Blog.

I just published my first post over on the Expert Blog, so I hope you'll take a minute to check it out! Here's a sneak peak of the projectI shared this month:

I call it "Semi-Homemade".

Well, thanks for stopping by, I hope to see you over on the Spotted Canary blog! Enjoy the weekend and all that snow we got -- don't hurt your back shoveling out all that snow!

Thursday, February 3

Resolution 2011: Art Journal Day 4

I haven't worked in my Art Journal for a few weeks, but I don't feel guilty about it. I've been thinking about it just haven't felt like it.

Yesterday afternoon was a little crummy - spent not getting along with my child. So when his father got home from work, they went out on the snowmobile and I went to my studio and created this page in my journal -- afterward I did feel much better.

I had saved this round piece of cardboard from the inside of a roll of tape wanting to use it for something in my crafts - and this is how it ended up making its entrance!

First I created an underpainting on the watercolor paper with watercolor and acrylic paints. When I was satisified with that I covered it with a piece of tissue paper and gel medium to protect it.

Then I started gluing and painting and sticking things on. I got the title "art saves" from Jenni Doh, but it was pretty fitting since I was in a crummy mood when I started and a not so crummy mood when I finished. I like the little rub-on I added underneath the title "100% guarenteed".

Loving the no pressure attitude I have to my art journal. It sits quietly on the corner of my work table, patiently waiting for the moment when it will get some attention. I set aside scraps, supplies etc. on top of it that I think will be fun to work with when I get a little block of time to devote. I'm very happy with the results of this Resolution 2011 so far!

THANKS for stopping by, see you again SOON!

Tuesday, February 1

Valentine's Day is RIGHT around the corner!!

It feels like we just finished up with the hubbub of the holidays and now Valentine's Day is in a few weeks, urgh! Not to worry though -- I made these beautiful cards a while back for Inkadinkado, click on each photo to go to their website for a complete supply list and instructions!

Photo Credit for both photos: EK Success Brands

These cards are easy to make, so I hope you'll check them out!

In other Valentine's Day plans I'll be making truffles next Monday to give out to myfavorite family and friends, I've come up with 5 different recipes, all a spin on a recipe I found from The Poineer Woman. I'll be sure to post pictures of the completed candies and their packaging and let you know how they taste!

Well, thanks for stopping by, have a great day, stay warm and out of the path of the BIG STorm on it's way across the country!