Look What JUDY Did!!!!!1

Isn't this just GORGEOUS?!?!?!?!? She finished up her class project from Saturday with her Copic pen in Sepia. Added her own butterfly and the trim bow is wonderful!!!!

Great job, Judy! And thanks for sharing. Check out her blog here.

Snow, Snow and more Snow here....and it's freezing. Glad I had the class before all this hit!!!

Stay warm and Create ART!

Linda

A Vintage Piece

First I have to show you what I came up with using the new 8x8 papers from Graphic 45 Le Romantique Collection. Isn't she a beautiful lady?

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The buckle is from Vintaj. The Stickles don't show up well on the hat, and flowers. I added color to the flowers with a TomBow pen...made them richer, and the Butterfly, too. The black ribbon I got at Terri's shop Prairie Art Stamps after class. It comes in a terrific collection cut into yards and tied together.

Next are some pictures of the class using Ten Seconds Studio Metal.......

it was VERY intense at times!!!!!

Some had to get out the RUBBER GLOVES!!!

We kept our heads down and our noses to the grindstone!!!!

Some even faked a smile now and then.....

One girl traveled 92 miles to get there...not Annette!

But in the end, they all got a fine finished piece of Embossed Metal and a new addiction to take home!!!! And they were all sooooo different. Fantastic work!

It was great! Thanks to Terri and her girls. We had a wonderfully Creative Day at the shop....see you again soon.

Emma

If you follow my blog, you remember we had Emma for a few days while mom and dad went to Galena skiing and shopping.

The girls love to go out in the snow with Poppie. So I stayed inside and just took pictures!!!! My sacrifice!!!

This is my 1st layout for Creative Imaginations that was put up on the blog to introduce Tanisha and myself to the group. And I must say,they are a truly talented and warm group.

Tonight we found out the members, from all over the world, that will be designing in conjunction for Petaloo....they're the Petals...HA....that's what I call them.

Lori Gentile...California

Tanisha Long....New Jersey

Linda Cain....Illinois

Christine Ousley....Alabama

Jen Davis....Wisconsin

Emma Trout....UK

Mireille Divjak...Netherlands

Zarah...Sweden

Tara Orr....Canada

Evana Willis....Australia

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And our Fearless Leader....Cheryl Mezzetti....Massachusetts

So congrats to all and go check out the January Sketch Winner up tonight.

Looks like we may get a bit more of the white stuff tonight and tomorrow....yuck!

Another Header Idea

Since I never put up the entire piece I made as the header, I thought I would try posting it for "a few whiles" as my daughter used to say! This was the other one, but it got lost in the words....so I changed it again!

The Row Houses are actually hanging in my sunroom. They're in a 36"frame. I did this after my mom's death to get me up and doing "something." As we all know, loosing someone leaves a large hole in our hearts and our day that is hard to fill.

But, it was the start of my Row Houses and a class developed! Probably my favorite class ever.

There are vintage pics of me(I'm in the trenchcoat and beret and the cowgirl hat on my grandpa's tractor), my husband (the kid in the overalls) and my BIL with his siblings (under the embossed metal roof with a K) in it. And there are other vintage images from Collections and Tim's Distressables.

Still love it, so back up it goes.................until another day, I guess.

Just In....and an Updated Headed

Got an email from Judy....and there's only 2 seats left at Prairie Art Stamps for Saturday's class. Come and join us!

NO, it's not going to snow!!!! It's a just a bad rumor!!!!

Tomorrow I think we might have a new post of a Creative Imaginations project. Cross you fingers.....we'll see.

Linda

Updated the blog header...like or dislike?

New Classes! Coming to Davenport Scrapaganza

Still getting back to normal sleep patterns here. But Friday we went to the old stomping grounds....The Quads! Had to deliver a 35mm camera to "the girl" in collage taking Photography class. Good luck, Brit! You take FANTASTIC pix!!!

The off to see the girls at Scrapaganza!!!! Yeah!!!! Beth and Kelli are soooooo sweet. We chatted and came to the conclusion that we should have 4 classes for next year.....YES 4!!!!!

We'll start with 2 April 17th and after we get the new Tim Dies from Sizzix, we'll have 2 MORE!!!!

April will be Metal and Grunge......We will emboss and make the Tool Caddy in one class then the GrungeBoard Wallets in another. Don't know when sign up will start, but don't miss this. You will have a BLAST!!! The wallets are sooooo fun. And the designs amaze me every time.

More details to follow......off to Prairie Art Stamps in Springfield Saturday....the Pink Ladies there are over the top WONDERFUL!!!

Be there....or we'll really, really miss you!

OK Girls and Boys....Here We Go!!!

I took 100 pix, yes that many, but I'm very picky, so many bit the dust. And some of them are just not interesting to most of you, I'm sure.

This is the Make-N-take from Tim. His new Sizzix Dies are OUT OF THIS WORLD cool!!!!! And the bee is from Vintaj. I thought it looked pretty nice on my jean jacket with the brass studs.


Here is a poor shot of the beautiful work at Creative Imaginations. The flowers are from Petaloo....which by the way, I've been asked to work on their Design Team!!!!! YEAH!!!!

I had to show a better close-up of Tim's piece here.

And this, ladies and gentlemen, is the new Sizzix Machine by Mr. Holtz!!! Extremely Cool! Yes it's designed like a suitcase!!!

My man Mario!!!! LOVE this guy!!!!

And here is the Master!!!! Tim himself......signing the new dies he gave away.

This was the Melissa Frances class. She really started the vintage papers in my opinion.....I could be wrong, since I'm late to this game. We learned to make the flowers from scratch from crepe paper!

And another piece using the new Tim Holtz Sizzix Dies.

This is a Petaloo flower all prettied up with Luminarte and a button with the new line Iron Orchid from Creative Imaginations. Gorgeous papers!!!!!!!

This is using the new Die from Tim for the paper. The Button is Idea-ology...OMG....sooooooo cool. The Vintage Tape is Tim's and the punched grungepaper flower has paper glued on top.

Here is another 3 pieces cut using the one die....GrungeBoard, and paper, just layered up. I LOVE this thing!!!!!!

We stamped, embossed, punched, and inked this little piece of Vintaj metal. Very fun Make-N-Take.

And last, but not least, you have to order this FABULOUS new book from Lisa M. Pace. It is beautiful beyond belief. She is truly the queen of glitter, but much, much more. You will LOVE it!!!!! I promise.

Got to get my class ready for next Saturday at Prairie Art Stamps now. We're gonna play with Graphic 45 paper, stamps, and of course, Ten Seconds Studio metal.

Be There!

Home Again, Home Again....

....you know the rhyme. I actually slept until 10:30am...that would have only been 8:30 Cali time, but still. It really felt good!

The sun is shining and it's only 12 degrees out. BUT, at least it looks nice. The flight home was perfect, just a little deicing at Chicago, and we were on out last leg of the journey.

I REALLY am wondering WHY I didn't take more pictures at the show. I didn't even get a shot of new BFF Deb and me. Sat right next to many other old friends and didn't even think to get a shot.

But in Chicago, I WILL get more pictures. I so wish I had taken a shot of Terri, Judy, and Gail sprawled on the floor outside the classroom doors with their maps out circling all the booths they wanted to hit. Dressed of course in their cute pink shirts. LOVE those gals.

But I can tell you where to find great pix. Go to Suze's blog. She takes THE BEST pictures of EVERYTHING! What a Woman! You won't be sorry...I promise.

So, we're back to reality today.....hope you're still having a great time DEB...soak up all that sunshine and warmth you can....cause it's freezing here!

Create ART!

Packing it up and ready to GO HOME!

WHEW! What a fast paced last few days....gone in a flash!!!! All the classes and extra product are crammed into my bag and ready to go.

I am ready to veg....or I've BECOME a veg....but jammies and some cookies sound very good right now.

This is the Fabulous gift from Lin Brown and L.B. Crafts!!!!! Isn't it amazing????? The picture doesn't even come close to giving it justice.

Didn't really take any more pics. Just talked and talked and talked today to "ole Ranger U" buds......Sondra, Lori, and then the girls at Vintaj, and CI, and Ranger. But most of all, the great time I had with my new BFF, Deb Smith.

Deb is a wonder, drives like a pro, knows all the best eating places and can get people to just give her anything without even asking. What a gal. She's the BEST. Couldn't have done this trip without her.....thanks a Million, Deb!!!!

So for tonight, I'm tired, full, and...... it's a wrap!

More Pics from CHA!

A few shots of the Graphic 45 booth.....love, love, love it!!!

Sooooo much fun to go through the treasures here.

Beautiful stuff....

Ya gotta love this line.

My good friend Melissa Kennedy at KaiserCraft.

The findings and charms from Vintaj.

Amy and Tim walking the booth during the interview....what a trip!

It's been a really long day. Class with Lisa Pace at 7AM.....and I'm NOT, repeat NOT a morning person!!!! BUT, the class was wonderful...the very, very best from Lisa. And her new book was a FREE GIFT!!!! OUT STANDING. It is truly a beautiful, beautiful book packed with wonderful projects and tips. It's a MUST have for anyone who loves to create paper arts....buy it now.

The rest of the day was spent walking the floor and watching Amy Coon's Live interviews with Lisa and Tim. She is remarkable. Such a talented young gal...check her out at the Paper Life.

Had lunch and chatted with Lin Brown from L.B Crafts in the UK...and she gave me the most wonderful gift....I WILL photograph it and post it later on in the week. She is a gem and soooooo super talented. Thank you, thank you, Lin for my fab gift!

Met up with Lori Bunda from Calgary and the owner of Scrap Yard and Ranger U BFF Sondra from Eureka, Calif. a couple of times. They are both a hoot. That crazy Canadian is a tough act to follow. TOO FUNNY!!!!

So, we're off to bed, and another early class tomorrow.

TIM"S New Stuff!!!

Here are all the Designer's Challenge projects for the Ranger group. I'm working on my notebook so I don't know if you'll be able to see any of them well enough. Really some GREAT pieces here...Tim's is the one with the Popcorn. Amazing how he did that!!!

The names are underneath them. I LOVE Michael Putman's and Lin Brown's!!!!!!!! VERY COOL!





These are some of the new Petaloo flowers. A little announcement coming about that group....for me......sounds like fun!!!!

This was Tim's class...Deb and Margaret got in, I did not! BUT isn't this a cool project!!!! The frame and the flowers are wonderfully decorated with some of his new elements.

Great display here of Tim's stuff.

And this display was fantastic!!!!!! The picture does not do it justice, but I'm trying to let you see how wonderful everything was. This show was phenomenal!!!! Deb is in 7th Heaven with the classes and Make-N-Takes!

Tomorrow, lunch with Lin Brown and hope to meet up with some of my BFF's from Ranger U. I've seen Cindy from Australia, Sondra from Eureka, Calif. and Ann from Canada. We had a BLAST there.

7AM class tomorrow....gotta get some sleep. Night All!

Ranger's Designer's Challenge

Now that the show is open, I can show you the piece I have in the Ranger booth for the Melt ART is a Hot Ticket Challenge.

This was REALLY fun, and challenging all at the same time.

I LOVE Beeswax, but had done little with the UTEE. Of course you know I love to work with the metal. So here is a combination of all those, plus the Vintage look.

I knew it would be a real treat trying to mail this thing in such extremely cold weather, but hopefully it stays together at least until it gets to California.

More photos of the other fabulous pieces here to come...Suze's, Michael Putman's, Donna Downey's, Lin Brown's....to name just a few, they are WONDERFUL!!!!

Newport Beach Condo

Deb and I are finally unpacked and in our jammies at the condo. We only had a few minutes to take pics today and head for our classes. The room wasn't ready yet, so we opted for coffee and a sandwich.

After a trip to the market, and dinner, we watched the SAG awards and vegetated on the sofa. LONG day. But a fun day!!!! Took Claudine's class and Melissa Frances class....Deb and Margaret got into Tim's class....they were lucky girls.

Tomorrow maybe some shots of our projects. We were too tired and hungry tonight!

And CHA starts tomorrow so hopefully some pictures of the floor. New products are going to be great...of course you've been keeping up with on Tim's blog, right? OMG!!!!! And the girls got his new BOOK in his class...I'm sooooooo jealous.

Pictures tomorrow...but for now, the beautiful scenery of our condo on the ocean! Oh, it's fabulous!

Night.....

We're Here!!!!!

No pics today, just a hello from rainy California. There are palm trees, but it is cold and damp. The rain stopped and we took a walk around to get dinner.

Deb, my traveling companion for CHA, and I made it through the freeway craziness and to the hotel. It's still better than the snow on the ground we left. The Begonias are still blooming here.

So, gonna get some sleep, read my book and get ready for class tomorrow. Should be fun!!!

More later.....

Create ART!

One More Sleep...then CHA!

First of all, I made a case to carry my jewelry when I travel a few years ago. It was actually a brushed metal case that a wallet came in for my husband.

I made it very early on in my days of Metal, and it needed to be updated. So, after looking to pack it, and thinking...YUCK! I ripped it apart and started over.

This is the PLUM metal from Ten Seconds Studio. LOVE the way it comes out after you use the steel brush tool on it. 15 Minutes, I'm not kidding, that's all this took. And YES, when I get back we'll be doing a smaller one with embellies for a class.

SECOND....go check out Tim's blog, like you haven't already!!! PAPERS!!! OMG, PAPERS!!! And I LOVE them ALL!!!!!!

TOO COOL....like I always say....BRILLIANT!!!!! The man is Brilliant!!!

Tomorrow...Up, Up, and Away! (hopefully) Will do my best to upload a few pictures! Otherwise...talk to you when I get back.

Create ART!

OMG!!! Tim's NEW Stuff!!!!

Well, Mr. Holtz has done it again. You will NOT believe all his new and wonderful creations!!!

I have my list ready and the plastic is melting in my pocket. Can't wait to get all these "over the top" stamps and Sixxix dies to use for classes.


AND Tim will be showing a new machine at CHA...hold onto your hats!!!! or whatever...


I'm rarely at a loss for words...but I just think this year is gonna be a GREAT year for CREATING ART...

so what are you waiting for......GO!

Beautiful Work from Cheryl

If you guys want to see some FABULOUSLY beautiful papers in a terrific layout, jump over to the Creative Imaginations Blog!!!! I LOVE the colors here from the girls at Iron Orchids Designs. Right up my alley!

Cheryl Mezzetti has created a real treat for the eyes! This new line is over the top wonderful and you won't be sorry you took the time to drool!!! And if you want to see some of the new Petaloo flowers....jump to Cheryl's blog.

They've outdone themselves there...love the roses!!!

Have a great day.....CHA is on the way....shortly.

Ha!

Cleaning out and finding treasures

I've been busy making projects for Creative Imaginations for several days. So I can't show you what I've done.

But, I was cleaning out my studio and found some old watercolors from a few years ago. The Watercolor Chicks and I used to enter the local Art Festival Contest every year. Now you see why I don't paint much any more!!! HA!

This is one I had made into cards and prints. It's a view from our Marriott hotel on the Intercoastal Waterway in Ft. Lauderdale. We used to go every February to get away from the Midwest cold.

We saw MANY very interesting sites here. Some I can't write about on a family blog..... The Yacht Races, HUGE ships from around the world, one owned by a Prince on his way to the Riviera. Beautiful and enormously expensive.

Then from the balcony we could see the Cruise ships in port on the other side of the bridge.

So, for today, I will show you a piece of my history in ART. Many of the things I learned from the Masters in the Watercolor field can be applied to the use of layering Distress Inks.

Just goes to show how you can learn techniques from many sources and apply it to your favorite medium at the time.

Less than a week until we take off for CHA!!!! Can't wait!!! must take an umbrella it looks like.....

Projects and Classses

Finally got my Christmas CD's loaded to my iPod and computer.....sensory overload!!!!

Glee........need I say more. But I wish it had a few of the songs that aren't on the disc. Mr. Celophane....one of my favorites.

Anyway, working on projects and upcoming classes....and this just came together for both. Different completely in the two cases, but don't cha love it when they mesh???? "You can't always get what you want....but if try sometimes, you get what you need."

Like when you almost throw something away, but don't, and then you NEED it a couple of days later. KARMA perhaps.

CHA is just around the corner. I'll have my Notebook, so if my brain works and I can accomplish it, I'll try to upload some shots. Cross your fingers.

Create ART!!!!

Linda

Embossing Metal And Perfect Pearls Class

I always like to teach a technique in a class. Have fun. Make something cool. Have fun. And learn to use a tool you might not be real familiar with so you feel more comfortable. And Have Fun!!!

So, that having been said, I think this class is going to be really inspirational. You did ask for it after seeing my tool caddy/gift box at my last class, and it is combining Grungepaper, Ten Seconds Studio Metal, and Perfect Pearls.

This project is done in Brr-Blue, a dark metallic metal, but it could be done in any color. I hope to have the new colors from Cheryl to show you in class.

We will be working with molds from TSS, but I'll also show you a quick and easy way to work with this fabulous metal as well. So if you have an embossing machine...Cuttlebug or such, bring it along. You'll be amazed!!!!

Right now it's scheduled for Feb. 6th at Prairie Art Stamps. A slightly different version is on the back burner for Scrapbook Friend'z. Stay tuned!!!!

Hope to see you there....

SNOW and more SNOW!!!!!

Think this kid has fun in the snow??????

Just a note....the sneak peeks are trickling in for Creative Imaginations. Take the leap over to the blog and see what's in store....ya gotta do it. Post your work in the Gallery there and you could be featured on Inspiration Monday.

AND, for those of you who would like to be a Guest Designer....enter a layout using the Sketch of the Month, and you can have a chance to be on the blog AND win some prizes...MAGIC WORDS....free prizes!!!!!!!!!

The Design Team will be uploading layouts, too. You've got to go see Jen's layout on the blog right now. Wish I was on a nice sunny beach right now!!!

Hi, everyone!!!!! Lots of water, or ice, has gone under the bridge since I last blogged.

Lori Hassler won a great prize from Tim...go and look at her blog. She's been in my class with her sister. What a pair. We had a BLAST. And their table was a real treat!!!! VERY talented group, the lot of them!!!!!

Brittany, the granddaughter, is in her 1st year of college. So, we, Poppie and I, have given her a little incentive to do well by sending a bit of moolah for books!

MAN are they expensive!!!!!!!!

Brit has been known to throw herself, literally, on the floor, sobbing, because a card came from me with a BAR CODE!!!! (meaning it was store bought and not handmade...) Can you believe she's an Art and Drama person?????? She was going for affect, not reality.

So, today, not wanting her to cry on the kitchen floor, I made her a HANDMADE card. And enclosed behind the little box handle, a little check.

She is such a talented photographer and artist. You know how they can be????

The papers here were Creative Imaginations, with a touch of Basic Grey. Rhinestones from Prima, Stamper's Anonymous Stamps from Tim Holtz and Studio 490, and a fold out card from Lasting Impressions.

Enjoy!

The Finger Is Healed

I never showed you what I was working on when I sewed through my fingertip, did I?

It was definitely one of the most "Oh, %#*@!" moments of my life.

Anyhoo, it finally grew out. And it really never hurt too much. So today, after Emma was reunited with mom, dad, puppie and her own room, I broke out the wine, the chocolates the kids brought me, and took down the Grungeboard I had been sewing that day.

Here's a peek at the patchwork I had put together along with a Ten Seconds Studio flower cut with the Spellbinders flowers and added Dimensional Pearls and PP. Then the secret ingredient...UTEE!!!!

The GB has been run through the Cuttlebug, Distress Inked, and sprayed with the Mini Misters and Perfect Pearls. Then I cut it into pieces and sewed like a patchwork quilt and zig-zagged with smoke colored nylon thread.

It definitely was fun.....until the blood started to flow!!!!!!!!! Ha!

More snow here tonight, can't wait for Anaheim and warmer weather at CHA!

P.S. I hear from a little birdie that TSS has some FABULOUS new colors coming out soon......stay tuned!

Emma- in the snow and in the studio!

We've had Emma for the last couple of days. Never a dull moment, never a pause in the conversation. She could be singing, or babbling, or asking a question, or just making nonsense noise.... but there is never a break in her voice. Seriously.

If she's quiet, she's either asleep or into something!!!! See the shorter hair over her right ear? That's a result of her giving herself a haircut....but not on my watch!

She played in the snow with Poppie. And she made metal Butterflies with me in the Studio.Her very own design of course.

Good times, good kid.....need a good nights sleep!!!!

Night everyone...............

Snow....Snow.....and more Snow!

Christmas has come and gone.....the leftovers are dwindling down in the fridge, the snow has fallen and been blown away several times....and I'm trying to reorganize my studio. Lots of stuff for the Girl Scouts!!!!

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I had to play a bit to break up the day. This is Graphic 45 papers, lots of layers of Distress Inks, some stamping, and a Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paint over the whole lid of a box. Very Vintage looking!!!!

My son and his wife. Parents of the 2 youngest grandkids. Finally got a good picture of them. Got one last year of my daughter and her husband. You can't have everything all the time.

My oldest Michelle got an BumpIt for Christmas as a gag gift. Erin has one in her hair and is preparing her Aunt Michelle's hair for another one. Fun!!! You should have seen the end results.....Michelle would kill me!!!!!!!

Working on the February Metal class with the wooden box. Should be fun.

Stay warm, and if you have 60 degree weather (Lisa), I envy you...a LOT!!!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!! UPDATE

UPDATE: Yes, Penny there is a Santa Claus....a tutorial for this card is on the Creative Imaginations Blog....jump over there and enjoy!!!!!

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas. Today will be filled with wrapping paper, children, adults ACTING like children, and wine. Several glasses of wine. Ha!

Love them all and can't wait to get started. Bill has been busy making cookies...his favorite and specialty are Turtle Cookies. They go very fast.

Michelle's birthday cake was soooooo good. German Chocolate and Peppermint Ice Cream on the side. Bill did a great job there, too!

So be well everyone and this is my Christmas Card to all of you...using some Creative Imaginations Papers, Tim Holtz Stamps and Distress Inks, a Creative Cafe card, Embossing Powder and lots and lots of pen marks!!!!

A few Rhinestones were added as a last ditch effort to save the card! Ha! Thanks Linda B for the critique. VERY good point, I must say.

Think I'll go have some more cake............

Have You Been Naughty or Nice?????

The sneak peeks are arriving daily on the internet.

Lots of things to tease us with. So for a Christmas Eve tidbit, I'll add mine to the list.

This is a peek at a piece for CHA.

Wax, Metal with UTEE, stamps, Distress Inks, mini canvases, and a vintage picture from my collection. The baby is a boy. My brother-in-laws father.

The day of rest is here today, but tomorrow we begin again!!

Be Well Everyone!

TIM HOLTZ DOES IT AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I

Most everybody who comes to my blog has already been to Tim's, but just in case you haven't...............

GO THERE NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think his new Sizzix Dies are out of this world COOL. And I'm sure you all will, too.

So go look, have fun......and enjoy dreaming tonight of all the things you can do with these.

Have a Great Holiday....my kids are here, and we've been shopping and playing games, eating and such until we can't keep our eyes open any longer.

Be back soon....................

Linda

My Exciting Announcement!!!!!!!!!

Well, here it is, only 4 days until Christmas, and I got an early present the other night from Massachusetts!

Cheryl Mezzetti called me and asked if would be interested in becoming a member of their Design Team for Creative Imaginations!!!! Can you believe it???? I met Cheryl when we both were teaching in St. Louis and she is an absolute Sweetheart.

This is going to be soooooo exciting!!!!!

I spent a bit of time with the fabulous CI group at CHA in Florida, and I can tell you, they are some of the most wonderfully talented, fun, and down to earth people you will ever meet. Loved them!

They have just gotten so many new products added to their line. OMG!!!!! Too exciting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Luminarte is just one......can you imagine??????? I can't wait to get my hands on some more of these things!!!!!!

And of course you who have taken my classes know how I feel about their Super Seal...I mean it is truly amazing for saving all the projects you put you time and heart into.

So, let's get crackin'! Bring it on.....we are ready to ROCK with CI!!!!

Hot....REALLY HOT!

Beeswax and UTEE are a hot item in my Studio right now. The UTEE makes the metal butterflies very sturdy and they stay bent where you put them. Good for collage. Hot, very hot!!!!

This is a little snippet of what I've been working on for CHA. Many, many trials and lots of rejects. But a learning experience along the way. WAY out of my box, but terrifically educational.


Pushing to new limits. Always good. This is from one of my very favorite cabinet cards....the child looks soooooo happy..no?

We've been backup babysitting again for a couple of days. Didn't even get much done in the way of cards before the kids hit, but we DID have a great time.

Ann did a poster for a baby who needs a heart transplant in her unit. She did a fantastic job on this for Judah.

We walked the new puppy while dad was up in Chicago so he didn't create a mess for mom when she got home from her 12 hour shift...don't know how nurses do that!!!!

And maybe, just maybe some excitement in the works!!!!I'll let you know in the next few days!!

Bought a new car for Bill today. VERY cool car...love it. A Buick Enclave. Ssstttttttt....hot, very hot!

Be well.....stay warm...and here comes the SNOW!

What do you get when you combine metal and UTEE?

That's a question I've been working on. This is just a sampling of the pile of experiments that have come from the studio lately.

I think I love using the Cuttlebug to cut out, emboss and then dip papers and metal into UTEE! Here is a flower cut with a Spellbinders set. Then used UTEE and Dimensional Pearls in the center.

Mailed off packages this morning for the kits! WOW! Did you know today is the busiest day for mailing stuff????? I didn't. The TV camera crews were there.

Take care....off to shop and pick out some new frames for glasses.

CREATE ART!

Good Times...Home Again

These little birds were so stinkin' cute, I had to have them.

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We're home again!!! Had great weather, good food, fantastic shows where I laughed till the tears were rolling down my face, and some sucessful shopping! What more could one ask for????

The RiverWalk was a good place to try out the speed on my new camera. Not too bad. Love those big deer down there with the Christmas wreaths around their necks. The water fountain is always beautiful. And the gardens were still beautiful.

New shoes, jeans, a top, and a wonderful Santa to sit on the mantle with the others in my collection.

~

A couple of Honors came to the "kids" in the family this weekend......

Jeff, our son the HS Band Director was named to the 50 Music Directors That Make a Difference in the US...he represents Illinois in the SBO magazine. We're quite proud of him, and all his kids and his staff. Remarkable people one and all.

Then Alex, our only grandson, and his partner got 2nd in the finals at the Speech competition at Rochelle this weekend. His first year with this.

And Erin, had a great soccer game tonight....they won 6-0, and she followed in her dad's footsteps with a shutout period as goalie! Good job, ERIN!

Way to go kids!!!!!

Life is good.

My Christmas Tag Tutorial to YOU!

I know you guys have been following Tim's 12 Days of Christmas...right??? And who wouldn't???

Although I've been drooling like the rest of you, I haven't taken the time to make one yet.

Sooooooo, after working a week with Beeswax, and UTEE, and dabbing the fingers with toothpaste (thank you Suze) and Foille (a miracle drug), I think I've figured out how to keep all ten out of the band-aid box!!! Fun stuff everyone!!!

You have GOT to try it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway, after looking at Tim's latest, I remembered a strip of film tape I had glued little faces on when I first got it. BONUS!!!! It was already donewith little faces from Paper Imagery Designs. But I never figured out what to DO with it. And a Christmas tag was just the place for it after seeing Tim's tag today.

So I thought I'd share the process with you as my Christmas Gift to my bloggers.

Here ya go!!!

1. I started with the ususal tag and added Old Paper Distress Ink all around the whole tag. Added Aged Mahogany to all but the center, some Brushed Corduroy and then heat set. Must heat set or EP will stick everywhere!!!

2. Then I used Tim's edge stamp from the Rockstar set to ink with embossing ink, and add Lettuce Adirondack embossing powder. Before using heat tool, brush off around the tag edges for a random tattered edge...it looks a bit more vintage that way. I LOVE this stamp done with the green EP!!!!!

3. Using Sepia Archival ink and the Fabulous Flourish, stamp the entire tag even over the EP. Lightly heat set again and it's good to go. The sepia ink is so cool over the lettuce EP. (Open center is for Christmas Carols stamp.)

4. Distress the edge and add my personal favorite, Black Soot Distress ink. Could not live without this ink!!!! Makes all the colors POP!

5. From the Mini Holidays I stamped the Christmas Carols and Pine Bough around the edge in Black Archival ink.

6. I used Tombow markers to add red and grey shadows to the stamped images.

7. The Film Strip is glued to chipboard and then glued to the tag. 3 glittery star brads go down the side...hard to see the sparkle here.

8. The little bulbs are tied together with red embroidery floss and the gold wire ribbon is tied and scrunched for a vintage look. The floral embellishment is cut from a larger piece I found at Jeffrey Alan's. I liked the snow on them. Glue in place. If the leaf sticks, it's all good!

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And there you have it. Thanks to everyone who stops by, especially those who leave a comment. It's no fun talking to yourself!!!!

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We're off for a few days vacation where it's a bit warmer....good food, some shows, and no snow.

Be Well.

Linda

UPDATE 2 !!! Just a note!

After a trip to the local friendly PO, I found I could ship the kits for 1/2 the price I thought! I should have told those who couldn't comment to email me at cain81@mtco.com. Sorry about that.


Good News, eh? (Got an email from my Canadian friend Lori and it reminded me of her wonderful inflection! A meetup is on for CHA!)



So in the U.S. they can go for $49.95. I sound like a commercial. This, too, can be yours for the low, low, price of ONLY $49.95. Ha!


Each kit has a full sheet of instructions, a G45 tags sheet (you only use 14 of the 36, so plenty of extras), a color picture of each section of the collage, everything you see to make the wall hanging, and a few little extra pieces thrown in.


Over 75 pieces in all!!!


And thank you, thank you to all the girls who ordered them. They will go out this week!



Linda

UPDATE: OK! I had to make up some more kits, so there are plenty again. And made a trip to the PO for more boxes. They are so good to me there.

I'm just sayin'........email me at cain81@mtco.com and we'll get you set up.

Scrapbook Friend'z Class

We had a great time and made some wonderful Christmas Memories to hang on the wall. They were all terrific, and I remembered to use my camera this time.
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Sorry gals on the other side of the classroom....I must have gotten distracted and didn't get your pictures...

And some were the Friend'z gals..DUH!

Fabulous job!

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Linda Broom and Kathy sharing a moment. Cheryl and Sheila hard at work. (We also had a tiny visitor in class....with 4 legs, quiet as a mouse!!!)

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Margaret REALLY did a great job, and plans to make more...good for her!

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We sanded more than a bunch of carpenters on our papers. But after the hard work was done, the rest came together a little easier.

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Thanks to everyone who came to the class. And those with the kits, just let me know if you have any questions.....I'm a visual person myself, and the written word sometimes needs a little clarification!!!!

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There are only 3 kits left. Let me know if you want one.

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Decided to go to CHA-W....gotta see all the new things. Might be something special there! Should be a great show. Tim's classes are full, imagine that.

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I know lots of people who are going to this one.

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Let me know if you're going!!!!

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Hope to see you there!!!!!

Leftovers..and not from Thanksgiving!

Graphic 45 leftovers!!!! And a TUTORIAL!!!!

Just got an email from Lori who was in my Christmas Wall Hanging class. She used some of the many leftovers from the class to make this adorable little tree!

(I snagged her photo from her blog.) AND there's a tutorial on just how to do it!!! BONUS!

Absolutely Stunning! I LOVE it!!!! You must go take a look at her blog here.

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On another note, we went to Springfield yesterday with friends to see the Lincoln Museum. It's the Bicentennial year of Lincoln's birth. If you ever get in the neighborhood it is really wonderful. I have been to a lot of museums, but this one is elegant.

The shot above is of the Lincoln family with John Wilkes Booth leaning on the pillar to the left. You enter and see the White House as it was in Lincoln's time.

You visit the kitchen as well as the Cabinet Room. There are wax figues as well as real people in period dress. It's hard to tell the difference. This is where Lincoln announced his Emancipation Proclamation to his cabinet.

And right now it is dressed up for Christmas.

The wax figures are remarkable. This is the one of Mary Todd Lincoln as you see her from the entrance to the White House that is 95% of the true measurements as it sits in the round museum.

Take the time to go. You won't be disappointed.

Enjoy....and go visit Lori's blog!

P.S. LOVE, love, LOVE, my new camera!!!

Tim Holtz Christmas Tonight at Midnight! UPDATE!

Talked to Scrapbook Friend'z, there are only a couple of seats left for the Christmas Wall Hanging class on Sat......be there. This class is the most fun yet. This is only 2 of the 5 sections we make. PAS girls loved their works of ART.

I gotta admit. Lots of extras in the kit for more Christmas magic and door prizes to add to that list!!!!

Don't forget to go to Tim's blog and see his first Christmas Tag tonight!!! The 1st of 12 Days of Christmas.

I'm sure it will have all kinds of goodies and give-aways going on there. He is a Santa in and of himself.

So click on and go over.....after midnight, probably Arizona time.

And this is a tiny canvas that I practiced my Beeswax art on yesterday. The picture is my mother and I took it with my NEW CAMERA!!!! YEAH!

Remember, it's taken THROUGH the wax, so it is a bit cloudy. But the rest of the picture is very clear.

Soooooo cool! Love my new Canon Power ShotSX200 IS...and it's METALLIC PLUM in color. That was what really sold me, along with the 12.1 mega pixels and the 12X zoom.

That and the fact that I think I can "figure the thing out."

MAN does it take GOOD pictures. Love it, love it, love it!!!!!!!!!!!! My Anniversary Present....thanks Bill.

So, tune in later at Tim's Place. I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

Wax on - Wax off...

The kids are gone....the left-overs almost gone, too. Do you hear that?????

Yes, I love them, but the silence is back!!!!

Got out the Bees Wax, and the Alcohol Inks, Tim Holtz stamps, Perfect Pearls, some vintage pictures and plain old found items.

I had a fun afternoon!!!!!

This is a picture of my dad, the boy, and his parents on the left. No clue who the other man is in the picture.

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But I have fallen in LOVE with Jack and Cat's Curio blog, and Lisa...a lucky friend in Arizona, took their class recently, and her work was phenomenal!!!!! Michael is a great teacher.

You MUST go see Lisa's work here!!!!!

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Here is my latest attempt at beeswax collage. Fun, to say the least. I haven't done BW for about 4 years, and some things change and some things just stay the same.

The Clover tack iron still remains unmastered here, and I realise, as I always tell my students in class.....PRACTICE REALLY IS THE KEY!

SOOOOOO much easier to "do as I say, and not as I do." I guess my grandad used that phrase a lot.

Enjoy the day!~

And Create ART when you can.

Creative Grandkids or WHAT!? And Dolly's bracelets

Have I told you how talented my GKs are?????? And we have so much fun when they are here.

Brit made this headband, but she wouldn't let me take a full picture of her, bad hair after hours of shopping! See the TSS metal butterflies on the Basic Grey ribbon? TOO COOL! Her design!

Alex's bracelet is the Black and White one with the lace ties, Erin's has the spinner, Brit made the tin with Ten Second Studio metal and Alcohol Inks, and the other bracelets for friends are hers, too.

I show you the backs of the bracelets because we had to enlarge them for boys, and we used a strip of GP in a loop on one, and a hinge of GB on the other.

Then this email arrived from mattmars showing 3 bracelets done with great texture!!! Thanks Dolly!

I made up three of the grunge board bracelets in different colors for my nieces and my nephew....I have to fix the red one...thought I had caught the grunge enough to get away with it but I guess not LOL That's okay...more playing with ink :)Thought I would send you a peek.

Don't you LOVE them???

I had a fun day Wednesday......decided to try sewing some more Grungepaper. That was fun until I pushed too hard and ended up with the needle in the end of my fingernail!!!!

Yes, you know how you react when someone hits something with their car and they say they "hit the gas instead of the brake somehow?" And you say, "yeah, right, who does that?"

I'm here to tell you, you panic. I thought the way to get the needle out of my finger was to hit the footfeed. Guess what? It wasn't all the way DOWN yet.

Therefore......it went even deeper. Amazingly, it was fine. Really, it bled, but no pain after a few times on the ice.

And the funny thing, I had sooooo much blue and red ink on my fingers that I thought I had put the needle all the way through. There was red ink on the bottom in a blotchy pattern.

So I was just relieved to know I didn't put it all the way through.....

Such a blessing.

Be well, and hope you all had a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving.

We did. Pretty much!

A Day with Emma

We have been backup babysitters for Em and Erin the month of November. Today is her last day. Starting in December she'll be going back to Sara's.

We've had some fun this afternoon. We made a snowman out of fun foam to give to her friend.

Now we're going to get the Christmas decorations out.

But before she came back from preschool, I got to play with some Grungepaper and inks, plus the Cuttlebug.....

Here's a peek at what I am working on....

Be well and enjoy the last nice day in the Midwest of sunshine for awhile. We MAY get snow for Thanksgiving.

I could pass on that.......

Nana and Emma

The Lovely Ladies of Prairie Art Stamps!

The Christmas Wall Hanging class at Prairie Art Stamps has come and gone. The day was full of ink, and glue and papers, and stuff....."does anybody see my Blue Angel Tag.....?" (it's an inside joke)

It was a great day with great people. Terri, you are a treasure. We all love what you do for us!


Let the pictures tell the story. I took them DURING class so I would remember. But they did get their projects done.

Annette coming in to supervise and enjoy the fun.


I hope these 2 made it home in time for the Theater tonight...going to the Fox.
What can you say about Judy....see her glued piece...what a hoot!

Talented and award winning group. They won Best of Show at the Festival of Trees!!! WHOO HOO!!!

They came from near and afar....great gals.

Creative Friends share so much.

Sisters having a fun day and a long drive home.

She found her Angel and got her project all done...beautiful.

Words cannot describe the fun.....we bonded, laughed, ate, shopped, and oh yes, Created ART!

Hope to see you all again soon!

Sunshine in the Neighborhood and Thank YOU!

Hi Everyone!!!!!

The sun is shining, my kits for tomorrow and beyond (sound like Buzz Lightyear) are DONE!!! YEAH!

I even got some Christmas shopping done for "the Watercolor Chicks." BONUS!

And I want to thank everyone who's ordered the GrungeBoard Wallet kits from the bottom of my heart!!!! You guys are the best. And Busy Betty, it was all because of you.

As I've said before "Friends in ART" are THE BEST...don't cha know?

Soooooooo, tomorrow is Judy and Annette and Terri and all the other wonderful people at Prairie Art Stamps. It's really gonna be fun. This kit has a billion (well maybe just 60) pieces in it!!! And TONS of left overs to make other things. I LOVE it!

And thanks to Mickie (Michelle Ann) my daughter, we got the biggest part of it done when they came down on Sabbatical. Love you, Mick!

Gonna retire to the sunroom with a Chai Tea and some Raspberry cookies...what's a girl to do????

Be Well.

And don't forget to send me pics of the Bracelets you make from the tutorial yesterday and your wallets. I'd love to see them!

UPDATE!!! Wanda's Request

Hey, bloggers!

Busy day here.....shopping, planning, putting down carpeting in the sunroom for winter, kitting, etc, etc, etc.

And Wanda H. my dear friend from Iowa, who writes a great blog with WONDERFUL projects, (check it out) wants to know how to make the Grungeboard Bracelets!!!
I thought they were pretty easy and the GKs could make them when they come down for Thanksgiving.

Anybody else want to know how to do them????.....if so, maybe I can get to that tonight or tomorrow after I have time to sit down!!!

Check out your GB supplies, run and get some if you don't have some and pick up some Hitch Fasteners from Idea-ology. That and your inks are about all you will need!

Oh, I also used Tim's long brads and the washers...just to let you know. And a spray fixative to seal.

Back later with the scoop!

L
Here we go......

This is just a strip of Grungeboard for the base about 1" wide.The length is up to the wrist size plus about an inch to overlap at closure.

Then take a strip about an 3/4" wide: cut lengthwise into 3 strips leaving about 1/2 an inch at the end uncut.

Distress ink and stamp. Make sure to get the sides inked. Then braid. Hold the one cut end together with a brad. Finish cutting the other end and braid this end. Hold with a brad.

Now you add this to the bracelet using the existing brads, and Tim's washers on the back to stabilize. Make sure you BEND the bracelet as you go or it will buckle. Add more brads starting in the middle and work your way out.

Clip the ends of base bracelet with a Zutter 1/2"corner rounder, punch a large hole on one end and clip at 3, 6, and 9 so the hole won't tear and use a small hole on the other end to add a hitch fastener.

Spray with a sealer of your choice. I used Super Seal by Creative Imaginations.

That's it in a nutshell....it took more instructions than I thought it would.....any ?, just email me.

Have Fun...Create ART