Big Picture Scrapbooking Classes

Announcing: Camp Scrap 2012

April 19, 2012 By mflaum 59 Comments

What does my crafting have to do with the tradition of Summer Blockbuster movies? Well… I’ve got some epic craftiness coming your way – check it out!

digital elements used in above image from www.designerdigitals.com by Katie Pertiet.

It’s time to announce that Camp Scrap is coming back in 2012!

Originally dreamed up as a 4-week online course that I taught at Big Picture Classes back in June 2010, I get requests to do it again almost every week! Yes, it was one of my most popular classes and today I’m VERY happy to announce there will be a sequel this summer. Students loved the relaxed atmosphere, the plentiful inspiration, and the pure creative FUN of Camp Scrap. I’m bringing all of that back – and more – with a few twists.

First of all, Camp Scrap is being extended to run from June 11 – July 27th – nearly double the length of the original.

Secondly, Camp Scrap is the perfect price for any budget: FREE.

That’s right, I will be posting new projects, tutorials, and videos every Monday >; Friday right here at www.mayflaum.com! You can get all of the content through your rss reader (google reader, etc), through subscribing to my blog via email, or just visiting my blog directly.

I also want to tell you that we will have some outstanding sponsors for this event – including Big Picture Classes. They are creating a gallery + message board for all participants interested – FREE.

I will share more information about that, a blinkie for Camp Scrap for those interested, and a lot more at the end of next month.

I just couldn’t keep this a secret any longer and HAD to let you know about it! Students in my Field Guide class (which is just finishing up – and such a fun group!) had the heads up – and the feedback I’m getting already is VERY exciting.

If you have questions, thoughts, or just want to shout out your excitement with me please feel free!!! I’ve got a notebook chalk full of ideas, and I’m already preparing for this epic summer event…

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If you have a etsy shop, on-line shop, company, or blog you’d like to promote, I do have a select few sponsorship opportunities available. If you are interested in being a sponsor of Camp Scrap email mflaum@comcast.net for full information.

Filed Under: Big Picture Scrapbooking Classes, Camp Scrap 2012, Craft Class

Art of Observation [give-away]

March 18, 2012 By mflaum

Big Picture & Heidi Swapp asked if I might want to give away a seat in her new class to one of my blog readers – of course I would be happy to! Read on…

The Art of Observation is an all new class in Big Picture’s “4 Expert” series and is taught by Heidi Swapp. Class begins April 5th and runs for 12 weeks.

Some class info:
We have all heard about the unexamined life and its worth… when Socrates taught his students to challenge the norm and question the world, the outcome was his death – a high price to pay! Are you ready to challenge your norm and look at your life in a new and exciting way?

Questions are the creative acts of intelligence. It is through asking questions and figuring out the answers along the way that we learn to value and cherish the life that we live. Novelist Thomas Berger said, “The art and science of asking questions is the source of all knowledge.”

Asking questions and making observations in our life and in the world around us will help us to appreciate the beauty and wonder that is our everyday. Life is CRAZY! It’s busy and full, and complicated and dramatic! It’s up and down; there are beautiful triumphant moments, and heartbreaking disappointments—somehow, all combined, they equal something wonderful and worth remembering.

If you would like the chance to win a seat in this class, please leave a comment here. I will announce a winner (using random.org to select the #) here on next Monday (March 25) , and I will share a new project + video with Heidi’s new Color Magic papers (now in stock @ scrapbook.com!) then as well. Good luck!

Filed Under: Big Picture Scrapbooking Classes Tagged With: Big Picture Classes, heidi swapp

Field Guide | what students are saying

February 13, 2012 By mflaum 3 Comments

I can talk all day long about Field Guide and how much fun I’m having, how much I’m loving class…

but as the one who made class, shouldn’t I?!

Today I have some quotes + blog links from students.

Kristeen…
I really like how free you are with your crafting. Makes me want to be less of a perfectionist. I started misting this past year and I tell people that I need to do it, because it is messy and that is good for me. I need more mess and less neatness in my creations. Watching you helps give me ideas on how to incorporate mist in regular scrapbooking pages. I had not done that previously. I think that I will get out all my stuff and start on my travel scrapbook and have the pages be made and filled with the techniques learned from this class. Will be a memory maker in more ways than one.

Barbara…
I have signed up for so many classes that I have never completed, I decided that I just was not going to sign up for anything else until I finished some other things. However, you tweeted that the class was now up and running so I just had to go look at it one more time and decided to purchase the class. After reading over the pre-class materials and reading the first week handout and viewing some of the videos I am now convinced that I made a great decision in purchasing this class. I am so inspired just in the past hour I have spent with the materials.

Siri blogs…
http://hundoghand.blogspot.com/2012/02/distress-stains-and-sticky-back-canvas.html

Dawn…
I am loving class so much!! I feel so inspired I don’t even want to get out of my PJ’s. I just want to stay in my room and work. But kiddo’s must be fed and laundry must be done =) But I am absolutely LOVING the paint with mist. I just painted a page for a layout. Can’t wait to share that.

Emily blogged here:
http://aplaceformyscraps.blogspot.com

Sarah…
I love the look of blended colors and layering, but haven’t known how to create that effect. I love that you are showing us how things work. I’m also loving seeing how you play and experiment. That is more freeing than you might know! At first, I was thinking, okay, now I need to go to the store and buy all these supplies. And, then I thought … no. I’m going to go home, see what I’ve got (I know I have paintbrushes, at least one mist, some stamps and inks, and paper) … and I’m going to use these core ideas to create something colorful … I’m confident that I know enough to be able to play. And, perhaps my own ideas and style will really start to show through!! I’m so grateful to have a guide – and such a loving and encouraging voice in my head.

Sherry blogs:
http://sherrys-crafty-corner.blogspot.com

SoapHouseMama blogs:
http://purplemailbox.blogspot.com

More student blog posts…

http://myscrapbookevolution.blogspot.com/2012/02/bringing-ju-ju-bee-home.html

http://elinjanne.com/2012/02/09/how-i-stay-inspired/

http://www.crafty-creativity.blogspot.com/

http://crystalsgarden.blogspot.com/2012/02/inspiration-explosion.html

If you’ve blogged about class please do feel free to leave a link in the comment section here!

Registration is still open until Wednesday if you would like to join in.

Filed Under: Big Picture Scrapbooking Classes

Peek at Field Guide

February 5, 2012 By mflaum 12 Comments

It’s just days until my Big Picture class starts – are you joining me? If you have questions or want to know more feel free to email me or ask here. I thought today I’d share a few peeks at some of the finished handouts!

Here’s part of the week #4 header/first page of one of THREE handouts. In fact (spoiler alert!) I threw in a handout with a few sketches that week just for fun.

Because I do love my happy crafting! Ok, so here’s another peek, this time week #2…

In week 2, we talk a lot about stamping + inks and I threw in a bunch of ideas in the start of the handout to remind you of all kinds of things you can do. In addition to my project ideas, that is!

Here’s one more peek – this is a project in progress for a later week…

I’m having so much fun with my stash, and a big part of my process of developing class is this:

I think about what works, what doesn’t, and what ways I have of making things simple, fun, and easy. I don’t get into 10hour intensive detail type projects (though that’s cool if you want to!) I stick to ideas and projects that are awesome, but that can be done in more manageable amounts of time. I also show you ideas that can be used on or off a scrapbook layout.

So if you don’t do layouts, there will be some projects for you weekly, and you can take my layout ideas off the page.

Just into pages? cool! I will have at least 1 layout per week (usually more) and most anything you see in class absolutely could be tried on a layout.

Almost every idea is highly substitute-able. You don’t have to have any one specific item to enjoy and learn in class!

The sneak you see above with the sun + ocean? that’s a mixed media canvas project I’m breaking way down into a 4-video series over several weeks. There will be a few other mixed media or altered projects (more in later weeks vs early weeks), but not so many that it takes over class.

I’m really looking forward to guiding some amazing crafters through this class – and I’ve already gotten such great emails about it – I’m excited it’s just days away.

Want to learn more or join in the fun? Check out class info here.

Happy Crafting!

note: I say “almost” all are substitutable because (for example) distress ink has specific properties other inks simply can’t copy. But in most cases you can swap something else out, and part of class is that I’m there to help you figure it out!!

Filed Under: Big Picture Scrapbooking Classes

Recommended supplies [part 2]

January 10, 2012 By mflaum 6 Comments

I already shared my “staples” suggestions that apply both in general and specifically to my upcoming class Field Guide. Now I’m back to share a “part 2″, things that I don’t think of as absolute basics/I can’t craft without it items but that I still think are 100% awesome and recommended for class (and again, in general).

Remember for class you do NOT need to buy anything. You can work within your stash, make substitutions, etc. That disclaimer given, let’s dive in!

InLinkz.com

1. Embossing Powder. Whether you choose UTEE (thick) or regular, I recommend both Ranger and American Crafts, though there are a LOT of brands. I suggest clear, metallic shades, or neutrals. I use distress ink + clear when I want a “colored” embossed look. I use Versamark ink pad or distress ink pads NOT EMBOSSING INK when I do my stuff. I have nothing against the stuff- I just minimize cost + supplies where I can, and other things can multi-task instead of having such a specific ink pad taking up space. You WILL need a heat gun for this though. NOTE: glossy accents can so take place of clear embossing powder in most cases.

2. Distress Stickles. I may do a whole post on this stuff. I *LOVE* distress stickles. I struggle to NOT put it on every project. ANY glitter (or no glitter at all) is cool – it’s just a product I LURVE A WHOLE LOT.

3. STENCILS! I adore the 6″ crafters workshop ones. ADORE! They are such fun to use with mists, texture mediums, paint, and more. You can view a video I did about them here if you’re on the fence or want to know more about them. They make 12″ ones too which are great, I just find I don’t need HUGE pattern very often.

4. molding/modeling paste is straight up fun. Add texture, mix with color mediums, create patterns and dimension… it’s simple stuff and works great with templates too. In most cases multi-medium (rec’d in my previous post) could stand in for this – especially if mixed with heavy acrylic paint.

5. Claudine Hellmuth’s sticky back canvas. I use a few (3×5, 5×7, 8×10) canvases during class, but sticky back canvas is like canvas paper. You can print on it, tear it, cut it, die cut it… oh it’s awesome. AND it’s adhesive backed and ready to party on any card, layout, or other project. This is one of those “if you like the look of it, give it a try!” suggestions, I know I use and love mine!

6. Background stamp. Whether a larger or smaller pattern, shape or text, I love background stamps. Use on letter stickers, on background paper, with versamark for faint look, to add layer to a mixed media piece… oh I LOVE them.

7. Ranger Craft Mat. While you can just use slick plastic packaging or other surfaces when you want to ink, pool up distress ink, mist, and do other messy things, this mat has been so valuable to me over the years. It’s a great tool that you can use without fear of melting with your heat tool either.

8. Ranger metal foil sheets. I just love this foil! Use paint, alcohol ink, embossing powder, emboss it, stamp on it… just a cool surface.

9. Archival Ink in jet black. Staz-On is just as good, the point is that a juicy black ink pad that will stamp on/over most surfaces is a GREAT tool. Love mine. Use them often.

10. Grunge paper. Die cut it, layer it, and terrorize it all you want. It’s not going to care – and in fact it’s just a whole lot of fun.

I realize a lot of this list is Ranger Ink brand products. I don’t (nor have I ever) worked for Ranger, I just really love their stuff. It’s a base to so many of my creations, and truly a favorite.

I use (and love) so many more things both everyday and in class. This list, like the last one I shared, is designed to talk about items that you can use with other products, on your paper projects, give you some ideas, and that help extend and customize your stash. If you have questions about my suggestions, my stash, Field Guide, or anything else don’t hesitate to email me or leave a comment here.

Again, here’s the link to part 1 (aka ‘basics’) suggested supply post.

Filed Under: Big Picture Scrapbooking Classes, Uncategorized