Happy Birthday

Just a quick post to share a card and some sweeties I made for my Mother's birthday. Not that we need more chocolates so soon after Valentine's Day -- but both she and my Dad love these White Chocolate Coconut Lime truffles that I make...and I couldn't not MAKE her something.

BTW: Don't you love this picture?? It was taken with my Hipstamatic App. I use IT more than I use my regular camera these days.

Chocolates and a card, both hand made. I think she liked them more than the gift certificate for fancy schmancy walking shoes, not sure though. Plus, since she's going to do all that walking she can eat the chocolates, LOL. All natural -- no preservatives and no corn starch -- they are practically healthy. Yes, I keep telling myself that.

Hope you are having a great spring so far! I hope to feel like doing more blogging soon...you know how it goes. Well anyway -- thanks for stopping by, see you next time!

Mixed Media Workshop Starts this FRIDAY!!

Are you bored with your art supplies, want to stretch your creativity or just want to try new intermediate Mixed Media techniques?? Then Mixed Media Workshop with Catherine Scanlon is the course for you.

In this 4 week workshop at My Creative Classroom we will go beyond the basics of Mixed Media and explore working with beeswax, create beautiful layered backgrounds using vintage ephemera, touch on the basics of Gel Medium transfers and so MUCH more. Students will complete 4 creative projects during the length of this course, one of which will be an assemblage piece. We'll also throw some hybrid techniques into the mix in this fun course!

If you sign up for this class during March (there's still a few days left) you can qualify to earn a free seat in other fun classes at MCC. Read all about what we're doing for National Craft Month here!

Thanks for stopping by, hope you're doing great!

Happy Birthday you old Fossil!

My guys went up north this weekend -- 6 hours away -- ice fishing and snowmobiling. It was a boys weekend, (though I could have gone if I'd really wanted to) and I had a weekend to myself. It was nice. I've been feeling a little under the weather lately (yes....still) and needing some time to myself.

I really enjoyed the time by myself. Stayed up late. Slept in. Though the phone rang off the hook and that drove me nuts. I ate leftover buffalo meatloaf sandwiches 3 nights in a row, THANK God THAT'S gone, LOL. I did get a LOT (really a ton) of projects completed that are due this week -- and even managed to take the dog for a long walk and spend this afternoon at Borders looking at books and taking notes.

One of the projects I had on my list was a birthday card. It started out as a "quick" card for my brother's birthday -- and turned into an afternoon long project because nothing seemed to work. In the end, I'm happy with it -- though I wonder if I had started over if I would like it more.

I got a chuckle when I looked through my antique book of fossils and found this page header.....perfect for my older brother, LOL.

I had to stamp two clocks - because I ripped the little knob off when I was cutting around the first one. I just stamped another, cut it out and added 3D Dots to the back and it was fine.

I like the little tag. Sometimes it's the little details that make a project.

I wish I could share the other projects with you, because they did come out really cool. I'll be sure to let you know where you can see them though, when they are finally available!

Hope you had a nice weekend and got lots of things done too. I feel like I set myself up for a GREAT, stress-free week by getting lots of things on my to-do list crossed off! Now I just have to wait for approval...cross your fingers ;-)THANKS for stopping by!

It's a Girl!

I think I'm safe to post this card here today -- I made it for a baby shower that I'm going to go to in a couple weeks. I don't think she knows I blog, so it should be ok. If not, Heather -- please look away ;-)

I picked up a sweet background stamp at Joanns a few weeks ago -- on clearance for like $1.97 or some crazy small amount. I love it, it looks like vintage lace. One of my resolutions this year was -- if I buy it I have to use it....and not in like 5 years - I have to use it SOON after the purchase.

So, since I have other projects and classes that needed to be worked on today - it was the perfect time to do something OTHER than what I am supposed to be doing -- all the things on my way LONG to-do list -- and use that pretty stamp!

Here's how I made this card, in case you want to make one too:

Note: I made the decorative panel before I attaching it to the cream blank card base so most of the stitching will be hidden in between the panel and the card blank.

1. First I stamped the lace stamp on cream cardstock using ballerina pink ink and trimmed it down to remove the excess cardstock.
2. Next I stamped flowers (Papertrey Ink) using white ink on kraft cardstock and trimmed it down. I attached the two stamped backgrounds together and matted them on a piece of patterned paper (VERY OLD Basic Grey I think.)
3. Then I stamped the frame and "it's a girl" (Martha Stewart) sentiment using black StazOn Ink on cream cardstock and stamped the lace stamp with Versamark over the top and trimmed it out. I added a little pink ink to the edges.

   

4. I used my Spellbinders die (from StampMart) to diecut the patterned paper for the background. To make a diecut that was not available in the set, I traced the metal die on another piece of patterned paper and cut it out with scissors and added them to my card. This gives me a mat with a 1/8" space instead of 1/4"
5. The pink ribbon and cream twill is cut to the slightly wider than the width of the card and the ends wrapped around to the back, adhering them with double stick tape.
6. For an additional spot of color, I die-cut a Spellbinders Labels 4 from pink cardstock and cut it in half, placing each half in the center of the Labels 1 die from StampMart.
7. Now it's time to add some stitching, I used a basic straight stitch with my sewing machine and stitched around the edge of the card and the Labels 1 diecut.
8. I made a double bow using vintage seam binding tape -- attaching it to the twill.

To finish of the card:

1. Attach the sentiment block to the card with 3D Dots (or Pop Dots) to give the card a little dimension.
2. Punch some butterflies (EK Success) from cream cardstock, ink the edges and attach to the card panel. Use 3D dots to lift them off the card if you want.
3. Attach the panel to a cream cardbase and stitch around just the the edges to secure it in place, pull the thread ends to the back and tie them off to secure.
4. For an additional embellishment, I stamped "congratulations" on cream cardstock and die cut it using a tiny Spellbinders Label die, inked the edges and tied it around the bow with twine and a button to keep it secure and hide the knot.

That's it. It didn't take that long once I got right down to it. You could make the same type of card - just change the sentiment or colors to make it fit what you need a card for.

Thank for stopping by, have a great day!

Winter Doldrums

the cold ice and snow

is quickly disappearing.

will spring be here soon?

I had a fun, creative visit on a dreary winter day last week that resulted in the inspiration to start writing Haiku's. Not sure if I'm doing it right -- as I've never written them before......but it's what I've started doing when I get up the last few mornings. I enjoy a cup of hot tea and plan my day and write silly haiku's. I'm hoping it will jump start my creativity. Or lift my spirits. Anything really. I'm tired of feeling worse than crummy.

I haven't felt like doing much lately, I'm tired of winter and feeling a little under the weather. Physically I feel fine, but I thought that Vitamin D3 would be doing its thing by now.

Anyway, enough of that. I took this pretty picture at a friend's house using my Hipstamatic from her dining room. She has a beautiful view, even if it is foggy and white right now! The trees against the white and greys is really beautiful. I live just up the river and around the corner from her.

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you have a great day. Hopefully I'll have some creative things other than silly poems and pictures soon.

St. Patty's Day Card Tutorial for you

Go to the Spotted Canary Expert blog for a supply list and step by step instructions on how to make this fun card.

THANKS for stopping by, hope you have a great day!

National Craft Month at My Creative Classroom

Every year in March we say thank you to our students during National Craft Month. Last year the program grew so large (not that I am complaining) that we knew we needed to make some changes. This year we believe we have come up with a much better appreciation program.

This year if you purchase a class in March (it does not need to start in March) you will earn a free seat in an upcoming class. Purchase more than one class and you will be able to earn more free seats, with the max of four free seats.

The seats you can earn are in predetermined classes, but we worked hard to choose classes that would have broad appeal, all are valued at $25 or more.

------------------------------------------------------------ The Basics of the Program:

Here is how the program will work. Remember classes do not need to start in March you only need to pay for them in March.

• Purchase 1-3 classes in March and you get a one free seat. You get to choose the class from a list of 4 possible classes.
• Purchase 4-6 classes in March and you get two free seats. You get to choose the classes from a list of 4 possible classes.
• Purchase 7-9 classes in March and you get three free seats. You get to choose the classes from a list of 4 possible classes.
• Purchase 10+ classes in March and we will automatically enroll you into all four classes.

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Go to My Creative Classrom for the rest of the details, the fine print and all that good stuff.

Thanks for stopping by, sorry it's been such a long time since my last post....I kinda fell of the face of the earth.