Month: September 2011

please, do excuse me.

Please excuse me as I type out my thoughts and generally give myself some blog-therapy…

I was having a great conversation with a friend about how our very best pages are those that we don’t over-think, analyze, and generally KILL with too much brain activity. This is for some reason very true. However the opposite is true when it comes to my classes. Brainstorming and thought and considering all options is a GOOD thing in my classes.

I share this because I’m currently spending a lot of time + energy on my True Scrap class (link) all about stitching, penwork, and other ways to add oomph and cool to your pages without a lot of cost. SO FUN! I do love the projects and how they’re turning out – so awesome. The problem is this: I keep having more ideas. Thinking of ways my class could be better. Thinking up ideas to add in.

In other words, I’m over-doing it just a touch.

So what’s a girl to do?! For now, I need to stop tearing up my video (seriously. I can’t keep re-doing it all!!!!) and take a deep breath. I need to write down my notes for what I want, and make sure I include those best parts in my class. I need to not worry about what other people might do or if I’m doing enough.

It’s time to let the funk flow, and just be me.

So excuse me, if you need me I’ll be back in the studio rocking out the three… err.. 5… heck maybe a full half dozen projects for this class. AND??? I’m giving students a PDF file with images + notes as well.

[and yes, above those are peeks of one of the projects!!]

Because I’ve got to turn all my ideas + projects into a finished class asap! I’ve got a crop to plan (Scrapbook Island San Jose 10/2) and some class samples to make (Elk Grove – Stamper’s Corner in November!!) ASAP. Oh! and my BPC class starts next week so….

yeah.

If you see me and I look wild eyed and twitchy you now know why. I’m over thinking and that slows productivity down! Need to focus one task at a time and chillax….

wish me luck.

some peeks at Double Take…

I was looking over the PDF files for Double Take (my new class with Nic Howard), and wow. Ok, so I always LOVE seeing my raw materials turned into the formatted/edited look of the Big Picture files and such… but this time was DOUBLE as cool because I got to see more images of all Nic’s layouts, read her notes, and wow… I hope you’re joining us for class because this is going to be 32 layouts worth of fun…

Above is the opening page of our week #1 PDF file. Inside each week’s handout you’ll find 4 sketches, 8 layouts (2 for each sketch), Q&A about common double page questions, tips, hints, notes on how we utilized the other person’s sketch, and more. I REALLY love this class format. Seeing how Nic used my sketches is so inspiring – seeing how she made them her own, what twists she added – love it.

I also loved putting my mark on Nic’s sketches! Above is a peek at one of my layouts from class based on a Nic sketch. She tends to have bigger journaling blocks + more layers of paper than me. Yet with each sketch I made sure to keep it “me” and put my own twist on them. So fun. The layout above you can see I broke my journaling up into sentences (vs one big block) that lets it keep the same look but in my own way.

Here’s more peeks! This is another layout based on a Nic sketch. This one took me forever – I had major brain block. But I worked through it (and I share my “how” in class!) and I made some super fun layered embellishments and such for this page. It’s one of my favorites of the whole class!! Especially the colors. Kraft + orange + blue. LOVING that combo!

To read more about class + register check it all out here: http://www.bigpictureclasses.com/doubletake.php

I hope to see you in class! if you have questions or anything feel free to ask here or email me.

on this day…

I think about all those we lost on this day 10 years ago, how this day changed the country for everyone in some way and how that day still deeply affects me.

My heart is such a jumble of emotion. I am proud to know, love, and support those who put their lives at risk for their communities and country. Reading the various accounts of people, how the events of that day ten years ago changed their lives breaks my heart. Mourning the loss of all the people we lost that day – and the lives that have been lost since then due to the events that day.

Most of all, I find myself recommitted with a passion to appreciate every gift in my life. To soak up the goodness that is in each day, each experience and try to not get hung up on the bad. A truly bad day, I have seen. I remember. I will never forget. I will do all I can to have a positive outlook and be thankful for everything I have now. For those who help make it possible. For those who sacrifice. To honor those who are no longer with us.

Spooky Configurations: Part 2 [of 2]

If you missed “part 1” where I began this project and want to see the start + first video you can see it here.

Did you know the Tim Holtz Hobgoblin tissue tape is no longer available? What I mean is – they’re not still making it. It’s true! So if you see it, snatch some up! Simon Says Stamp has it in stock still – That’s where I got mine and I needed my order to arrive before I could continue with my spooky configurations box! Once it got here, I can tell you this box came right together. I love how it turned out.

Today I’m sharing photos of my finished spooky decor project with you, and if you want to see the “how-to” video then check it out below. Without further ado, here’s part 2 (of 2):


These projects are addictive. I LOVED making this!!

The tissue tape absolutely MADE this project. Seriously wouldn’t be the same without the webs and labels and such.

The skulls, headstones, and skeleton mariachi band are all from Michael’s. I found them in the section where those little decor houses are kept. My bet? Go to a hobby store, place where you can find doll house supplies, model trains, etc. and you’ll find lots of miniature goodness. Me? I’m watching all places that have those little holiday house/village set ups people love and collecting stuff for my Christmas box!

I got the idea for using these little battery operated faux tea light candles from Tim’s class. LOVE the lights in there at night, and how much that adds as they flicker in the evening. You can find them – gosh – EVERYWHERE. I believe people use these a lot instead of real candles in pumpkins now. I found some at CVS drugstore – I’ve seen them at Target, craft store, walmart, even the grocery store!

I also really like the subtle touches my seasonal salvage stickers gave to this project. I LOVE that sticker sheet! With sheets for so many holidays, I pull it out all the time – I’m on my second book of these babies!.

So that’s the final piece. LOVE it. I’ve added links + images (below) to some of the main product I used on this project. If you have any questions or I didn’t cover something in the video feel free to ask me! I’m off to dream up more spook-i-fied Halloween creations…

           

               

The links in this post will take you to simon says stamp – it’s my go to on-line scrapbook store especially for all things inky/rubber stamp related. If you’re looking on-line I strongly recommend them for fair shipping and great service. Especially since  Simon Says Stamp carries all things Tim Holtz!

Happy configurations crafting!