Vintage Christmas Class

Another quickie post, I should be drying my hair and preparing for my long day at the other Art Show I'm in today... but instead I chose to share this little ditty with you!! This is from my class on December 19th, Vintage Christmas.

Vintage Christmas Are you running ragged this holiday season and need a break to make something pretty for yourself? Join Catherine on December (whenever) for a fun class of miniature canvas'. We'll make two 4 x 6 hanging canvas' to decorate that little spot (or give to the hostess of your family Christmas Party, teacher or special friend) using pretty papers, stamps, crackle paint, vintage music sheets, watercolor paints and wire. Please bring your standard tool kit. Cost: $20.00

Card Class

Just a quick post about a class I am teaching at Scrapbooks & Beyond in December:

Card Technique Class: It seems like everywhere we look people are talking about recycling and being green....if you are interested in our environment AND love making cards then this class is for you. Join Catherine on 'December 15th from 10am to 1pm to make three cards using recycled materials, some beautiful Christine Adolph papers (and four different stamps to choose from) just in, cardstock and watercolor paints. Not only are you making a beautiful card to send to that special someone - but they can frame it for a pretty reminder of you. We will also learn how to make custom sized envelopes using a standard sized envelope template.... Cost: $20.00 Please bring your standard tool kit.

Postcard Swap

A while back I shared some projects that were made by a lovely lady from Texas, Barb. Well, we've continued our talks - and they've ended up in a lovely swap. This weekend I received her lovely fall post card (Barb, I hope you don't mind I'm sharing it here....). She did such a lovely job with her stitching and stamping, I just love this postcard so much I'm going to find a frame and hang it on the wall in my studio! THANKS BARB, LOVE it.

I mailed your post card out today, but not before I took a picture of it. I just love these stamps, they make me so very happy!! I stamped them with black StazOn then watercolored and other various things and stitched and cut and layered and added a vintage measureing tape, and VOILA - a pretty card to send back to Barb. I hope you get it soon!!

I'll be sharing the images for my two December classes at SBB later - and maybe even tomorrow. Right now I've got to kiss the Little V goodnight! So, nighty night folks. I've got a favorite tv show on tonight so I'm going to park myself in front of the tube with my watercolor palette and some more stamps to paint up for cards and what not......later taters!!

Many Hands Holiday Open House

I am participating in the 2nd Annual Many Hands Holiday Open House on Friday, November 30th. I hope some of you will find a moment or two in your day to stop by and check out all the great hand-crafted items that will be there! Please feel free to forward this to any of your friends in the area that would enjoy stopping by or print this out and add to the bulletin board where you work. I am hoping to have copies of my second book, Art from the Heart available for purchase.

In other news, well - the same news really....I've been busy in my studio making pretty little things for this show and one from this past weekend, so sorry for those of you that are sick of looking at the water stain on my floor. The Contractor did send a man out to come fix it - but we haven't had any heavy rain since so I am not sure if he actually did a good job or not.

I am also happy to announce that my entry "Remember this Moment" in the Prima Paintables contest came in first. That was a great accomplishment for me - THANK you to all of you who cheered me on.

Also, I've got two classes coming up at Scrapbooks & Beyond next month. The dates still need to be locked down, but here are the descriptions. (I am pretty sure they will be morning classes because that's what many people are looking for)

Card Technique Class: It seems like everywhere we look people are talking about recycling and being green....if you are interested in our environment AND love making cards then this class is for you. Join Catherine on (whatever morning we choose from 10am to 1pm) to make three cards using recycled materials, some beautiful Christine Adolph papers (and stamps) just in, cardstock and watercolor paints. Not only are you making a beautiful card to send to that special someone - but they can frame it for a pretty reminder of you. We will also learn how to make custom sized envelopes using a standard sized envelope template.... Cost: $20.00 Please bring your standard tool kit. Vintage Christmas: Are you running ragged this holiday season and need a break to make something pretty for yourself? Join Catherine on December (whenever) for a fun class of miniature canvas'. We'll make two 4 x 6 hanging canvas' to decorate that little spot (or give to the hostess of your family Christmas Party, teacher or special friend) using pretty papers, stamps, crackle paint, vintage music sheets, watercolor paints and wire. Please bring your standard tool kit. Cost: $20.00

Well, ta ta for now...off to the flea market for baby doll parts and vintage music sheets...

They WERE supposed to fix this...

A couple of weeks ago I noticed some black stuff on the molding behind our side door when I was cleaning. I made a mental note (which flew out as soon as I asked the Big V to look at it) and I completely forgot all about the black stuff.

Now I know exactly what that crap is. It's mold. BLACK mold growing on the wall - from the water that is seeping in when it rains. The people that built our house were supposed to fix the door, because it was installed incorrectly. Looks like they didn't do such a hot job. And, now that I've pulled the linoleum back to let the floor dry I can't get it back in there flat....They said they'd have someone "contact me right away) to get it fixed. That was first thing yesterday morning. It rained and was windy all day today....and I've not gotten a phone call from anyone. It's so frustrating I tell ya! Do people have pride in their work anymore?

In happy news, I've been making stuff like crazy for two trunk shows I have coming at the end of the month. My coffee table has been turned into my evening work table - so I can work AND watch my favorite shows. I'll try to take some pictures tomorrow to share. It was so dark (almost like dusk) at 2 this afternoon that I decided to wait until tomorrow!! Well, ttfn. Hope it's dry where you are!!

Scrapbooks & Beyond this Friday Night!

Just a quick post this morning while I wake up and get ready for the day. I'll be teaching this little recipe book this Friday Night at SBB, I hope you'll join me. We'll have lots of fun, and you'll make a lovely little book to give as a gift to that favorite cook in your life...or for your self to keep all your favorite recipe cards close at hand!

Join Catherine to make a beautiful holiday gift. In this class, you’ll transform a chipboard album into a lovely recipe book perfect for storing 4x6 recipe cards. The album comes with 10 page protectors & refills are available for purchase. To cover the album, we’ll use Basic Grey’s newest holiday papers, a little of Ranger’s new Crackle Paint and some other lovely items. . . the perfect gift to stuff the stocking of your favorite cook! Please bring basic tool kit, small paint brush, and a cutting mat & knife if you have them.

Remnants of Noel

are here....and the wind is howling outside. It's cold, about 39 when we got back from town - raining - and windy. That makes for a very cold yucky afternoon. Luckily we've still got power and a nice warm cup of Hot Chocolate did the trick to warm us up. I've got things ready in case we loose power - candles, flashlights, water (for coffee) laundry done, dishes done - and we'll just have to go to bed early if we do loose power....a little extra rest never hurt any one!

In other news, I'm working hard on the sample for my class this Friday Night at Scrapbooks & Beyond. It's going to be darling - trust me. A little album to hold those recipe cards you use so often, and if you don't want it to be that - you can swap the ribbon and make a brag book - or a quote book - or a whatever you want book. It's a ring bound album - and we'll make it pretty with basic grey, a fancy shape, some ribbon....and some crackle paint from Ranger. The class is a steal - only $20.00 so sign up while there's still room. I'll be posting a picture soon, once I line the inside front cover and add the shape to the front. I promise, you won't be disappointed! SIGN up now.

In the health department - the little V has an ear infection AND bacterial conjunctivitis...GREAT.

Do you remember this page I posted awhile back?? Well, I won a prize package from Rusty Pickle for it. (I think I was the only one to play along, but who cares - I can't wait for my prize pack to come....)

Well, I think I'll publish this post before we loose cable and power......TTFN. Hunker down everyone!

Barb from Texas

About a month or so ago I got a really sweet email from Barb in Texas asking for some tips on her sewing machine and any other tips I might be able to give her for Sewing on Paper. She'd taken my book, Scrapbooking Techniques: Sewing on Paper out from her local library and wanted to ask me about the tension on her sewing machine. I am happy to report that Barb emailed me a couple of pictures of her successfull projects, thanks for sharing Barb....keep sewing on paper!!

I just wanted to say, that if you have questions about any of the techniques I have used in my books or articles I've written or projects you've seen that I made for EK Success, ScrapMuse or WHEREVER you've seen my stuff - please don't hesitate to email me and I'll get right back to you as soon as I can.

Have a happy Friday. TGIF and all that too!

Computer funk..

do you ever get into a funk where you want nothing to do with the computer - even the basics of checking email and the normal day to day blogging? That's me the last couple of days. Just kinda tired of it. What I've been doing instead is having fun making stuff. Saturday I went to North Attleboro with Kelley to take a book binding class from Tena Sprenger. Wow, I am totally into that! It was so much easier than I thought it would be. Having her there to get us out of trouble when we needed was awesome. She was a great instructor, and I am seriously thinking of signing up for her Big Picture Scrapbooking Series of book binding classes. I was so loving this skill that I learned that I started making some art journals from watercolor paper I've got hanging around. I've got a ton of watercolor blocks so I took them apart, cut them down and got them folded and the signatures ready for hole punching and binding. I need to find some cheap book board and make the covers and then they'll be done. I've also been working on another Prima Paintables project! I love this little girl that Sandy from Crafty Secrets sent me a while back - and every time I go into my images folder I see her looking at me - and so I did something with her. Anyway, a discovery while working on this - and RANGER look out. I've nearly got my own recipe worked out for crackle paint....yes. I have discovered exactly how to make my own custom colors of this lovely (and expensive) product. This accidental discovery totally made my day. Look out Ranger ;-) Anyway, on this canvas I used: Prima Paintables, vintage book papers, hand stitching, watercolor paints, Catherine's Crackle ;-), Sheer Heaven, Heidi Swapp bling and letters, vintage tape measure, and Creative Imagionations shapes covered with two colors of glitter. Oh, and those MME fancy cards that I love!

Anyway, I justed noticed I use anyway a lot.... he he he. Have a great day everyone!! I think I might send this one to Prima too....

Smile...

My friend Vic gave me this "You Make me Smile" Award...thanks Vic...and right back at you, I love reading your blog and seeing all the very cool and beautiful things you post every day!!! Well, I'll keep this short and sweet and only post the top 5 from my list of bloggers that make me smile:

Shawn at BonoRama Mama. Her little pookie and projects make me smile every time I visit....she makes the nicest cards and is very sweet...xox.

Nat: my ScrapMuse Design Team sister...she's so very thoughtful and sweet - though she lives to dang far way in Germany....I love her out of the box creativity and techniques...very talented !

Lana: another ScrapMuse DT chickie - extremely talented - so very funny and gotta love her sense of humor...and thoughtful ness - and realness...xox.

Rebecca Sower: so very thoughtful and kind. and talented. I love reading her blog!

I'll also add Kelley from Scrapbooks and Beyond....she's my LSS...and she makes me smile when I go in an visit and eat all her candy ;-) xox Kell.

Playtime with Prima Paintables !!

Say that 3x fast... he he he ! I recently decided I need to spend more time making things that make me happy...creating projects that I really like working on - not the forced creation that I often find myself doing for whatever reason. Not that I don't enjoy the forced creation, honestly I do love making just about anything, but playing. I need to spend more time on playing with no deadline, no prethought idea or anything - just play play play. I need to pulling those creative what if's out of my head and into something tangible...because often times they just stay up there and I never do anything with them.

I've been thinking about this canvas now for weeks - maybe longer - probably since I started stalking every single store and on-line store for these papers. Since watercolor painting is really where it all began for me, this just seemed to fit. When I watercolored all the time I worked on a block, so my paper was always taught and never curled. {I really dislike curled paintings....} One of my worries about this beautiful paper by Prima was that it would curl.

When my pretty papers came with my ScrapMuse stuff I had this thought ....what if I mounted the w/c paper onto a canvas and then it would be the same as painting on a block...and dang it I just love it when my plan works. My only issue was that I didn't babysit it - to wipe out the wrinkles and there are a few wrinkles under old Eva.... (don't know who she is but her name really is Eva, it's written in pencil on the original !! ) but you wouldn't know IRL because she's hiding them. Anywho, there's more to this playtime project than paint and paper - and I do love the way it turned out. I entered it into the Prima Paintables contest, I hope they like it.

Fall Foliage, boy it's YUMMY!

Yesterday we went on a hike with the Scouts to Bradbury Mountain State Park. It was so pretty, the leaves in perfect color. At the beginning of the trail it seemed pretty steep, and I was quickly regretting my 50 minutes of running on the treadmill. My butt hurt - my hamstrings hurt - it was tough. And steeep. And rocky. And oh my gosh my butt hurt so bad. When we got to the top - I will say all the pain in my backside was worth it - because the view was gorgeous. Absolutely gorgeous.

I took a video to show the peacefullness of it - but well - imagine a small rocky mountain top with 10+scouts, their famileis and a bazillion other people enjoying the sun and foliage - and well, the movie just isn't peacefull at all!

I've been busy today, but need to get busier. I've had this project on my mind with the Prima Paintables - and since I thought I had missed the deadline for their contest I put it in the back of my head....but found out this morning that the deadline is 10/31....so I've been working on that as well as some things for Natalie over at Creative TECHniques Magazine.

For now, it's a batch of applesauce and supper for the little Scout....so TTFN and happy Fall....or should I say Indian Summer?

Busy busy = BAD Blogger!

Friday night I took my Mom to a card making class. She's been wanting to learn how to make cards for a long time - kind of a disgruntled card purchaser! The cost of buying a pre-made card is so expensive that she wants to make her own. So I signed her up and we went. We had a good time, though not as many laughs as normal. I think she was concentrating on her cards...

Anyway, yesterday was a computer-free day for the most part. Little V went down and had breakfast with Gram and let me sleep until 8:30 (oooh, how sweet - I think he was just hungry for her waffles...ha!) and then we decided to tackle Big V's office that hasn't been touched to unpack any box since we moved in. I decided it was going to be our own While You Were Out!! I had some things to return at Home Depot - got a credit - and purchased a shelving system. Then my DAd helped me put up the rails. Though, I picked up the wrong arm things and have to go back and exchange them today - I am hoping the Big V will be happy.

He doesn's like to clean or organize - and the room was such a mess that he didn't know where to start. So, with shelves I can organize all the books and boxes and what not...and maybe he'll get started in his Fly Tying Fiber business that he's needs to get going on. I hope so anyway.

Well, TTFN. Gotta get the treadmill done, then it's off to pick some apples and hike Bradbury Mountain with the Scouts. Busy busy day.

October ScrapMuse Kit

I made this 14 x 14 canvas with the October kit from ScrapMuse for my very good friend Chris. We have been friends for over 8 years - I first met her when I was pregnant with the Little V - she was my doula. She is such a wonderful friend - though we have had our ups and downs...we're not anymore. Chris is the mother to 5 children - of which she homeschools. Her hubby is in the Marine Corps. and they just moved back from abroad.... Chris is battling cancer, for the second time. The first time she came to the states and everything was fixed - but her tumor has returned. So, I made this canvas to send her. To let her know that even though we don't talk everyday - I think of her ALL the time and send my prayers and good thoughts her way. I think butterflies are beautiful, and to me signify how delicate life can be at times...they are beautiful and delicate creatures that God put on this earth for us ....which I think she is too! Anyway, If I could choose who my family would be - well I'd choose her as my sister....love you girl!

More Rusty Pickle!!

I forgot that one of my page assignments from my LSS was using this super cute pirate paper and cardstock embellishments from Rusty Pickle - due soon - very soon - on the 20th...and I am thankful that I put all my other assignments in the Fed X box to their new home - Clifton, New Jersey - and can do something fun. I took these pictures of Little V and Gram in 2005 - during a blizzard or something when everyone had ants in their pants. She is such an awesome Gram (and Mother too) she will do just about anything the kids want her too. On this particular day Little V. wanted to play pirates with a hat made of newspaper and his Lego pirates....these are really cute pictures, however - Gramster is going to shoot me ;-) Well. looks like blogger is not happy - so I'll have to upload the picture later....it'll keep you in suspense and coming back for more....more....more...

Rusty Pickle Challenge!

This is (was) my entry for the Rusty Pickle challenge....though I am not sure if I sent my entry and posted this comment in time. The deadline was noon on October 15th, and I think that Utah is 3 hours behind us, so that would make it only 11:30 am there....but - I am not sure that they are 3 hours....could be 2 hours. But, it is noon somewhere, right? Anyway, the papers and chipboard letters are RP, all I could find for RP products around here that matched. It was fun to make it, cross your fingers that I emailed it to them in time........

Halloween Place Card Holder

I made this little wooden block last year for a class I was going to teach....but had to cancel it because my Uncle passed away.... anyway. My dad cut the wooden block for me out of some old junky pine he had and I fancied it up. The pumpkin is a fancy place card holder that you would put on the table like at Thanksgiving or something. I plan on adding this to my Etsy shop (when I can breath again...) but if you are interested shoot me an email and we'll figure something out.

I Love you Mom!

This is our Guinness singing her treat song! Have a great day!

Busy FUN Weekend!

It was a long weekend, no school on Friday and Columbus Day today and we had a ton of things planned and did most all of them. Thought I'd share this little photo collage I made of the little V at Subway on Saturday before we ventured off to Michael's in BeanTown for a little Martha Stewart Market Research. He ordered his own sandwich (a melt with pickles, banana peppers, cheese, meat of some kind, tomotoes, lettuce, mayo....on some kinda fancy bread...all his own choice...including the two jalapeno peppers he requested!)

Oh my gosh we laughed so hard, I think the pepper was a bit hotter than he thought it was going to be. His eyes watered. Face got red. And he drank all of his water. He was so great about it. I also picked up a lovely writing table at a yard sale for 25 bucks on Saturday. I've dreamed of a desk like this for so long, now I have it....and I love it!! It's to be my new sewing machine table....for my new machine! ;-)

Little V and I also made a little video for Vic's 29th birthday...I can't for the life of me figure out how to put it here so you can see it over at her blog....I think she's smarter than I am, he he. I'm also not smart enough to flip the movie so you don't get a crick in your neck...but next time I promise to hold the camera properly. I think I'll make a video of my little girl singing for her treats....lol.

HAPPY Birthday Vic!!

My friend Vicki Chrisman is a whopping 29 years old today. Not only is she a great friend, but as you'll see by looking at her blog, she's a fantastic artist and designer! We're both on the ScrapMuse Design Team!! Anyway Vic, happy 29th girlfriend!!