Nothing like last minute shopping for a trip! Personally, I am THRILLED to be going to a warm destination where my fingers don't turn blue. I'm already tired of winter in the Midwest. Between twice-weekly physical therapy appointments and last minute shopping, I'm getting more exposure to cold weather than I care to have. I'm a cactus, I should be living in Arizona. I like warm, dry weather! Our contingent of CHA goers are busily emailing back and forth trying to determine what tools and supplies we're bringing and coordinating our last minute travel schedules. Saturday can't get here soon enough for me!
In the mean time, I am going to work a bit more on my organization project in ye old craft room, and gather my notes on all the booths I want to be sure and scope out while we're there! Then I'm going to read up on my new Canon compact camera (it's harder to use than my DSLR!) and make a few test shots of all the sleeping cats scattered about the house. Maybe even take a few more of the craft room. I moved some of my tables and now my DH is referring to my craft room as "the dance hall." OK, so it was a little crowded before. :-) Now that I have taken over the media room for more work space, I can afford to take down a table or two. heh heh heh Oooo, it doesn't get any better than this!
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
TOO MUCH HGTV
This post isn't so much about my crafting addiction as it is about my HGTV/DIY addiction, but they are both related, as you'll see in a minute.
Hi, my name is Vicki (Hi Vicki!) and I 'm addicted to HGTV. [Clapping in the background, murmurs, some head nodding and shaking, and a few slurps of coffee]
I have to confess, this addiction started over ten years ago when I moved to California for a job. I was living in San Francisco bay area by myself, working in a high tech, workaholic company. I was lonely, pining for my fiance back in MO, and as befits a lonely, single, Mac technodweeb with a bent towards art, I got caught up in something so innocent, so NORMAL, so secretly devastating, I can hardly bear to speak of it. The shame of it all. Yes, I subscribed to satellite so I could watch HGTV and DIY. [shocked murmurs, a few snobs, I mean sobs here and there] What had I DONE?!! Wasn't cable enough?
As each day turned into the next, coming home from work day after day with my head spinning full of Unix code, multiple platforms, and command line text, I finally broke. I couldn't take it any more. I HAD to watch more and more HGTV. I couldn't keep myself from it any more. Trading Spaces, Divine Design (who doesn't love Candace Olsen?), Designed to Sell (Lisa LaPorta, you ROCK), Oh Clivey, where are you? I was SMITTEN! I too, wanted to be out there redecorating America. It was my dirty little secret, my addiction to HGTV. I watched it morning, noon and night (nothing like working from the home office). Pick #2 you idiot, it has all the features you've been whining for! And what I confess to you now is downright shameful, despicable, and practically criminal.
When my fiance moved out to CA so we could get married, I (of course) had to drag him in to my secret, sordid addiction (my Mother told me it was good to share). I was hoping that since he was a bean counter, his common sense and money-twitching goatee could feel the danger and pull me up. Sadly, as it often happens, I ended up bringing him down in the mortar and mud with me. We never recovered. It wasn't long after we were married when we searched for and purchased our first house in California. Our HGTV addiction escalated. We sat for hours staring at "Designer's Challenge", "Landscaper's Challenge" and "House Hunters". We spent our spare time at Home Schelpo and Schmoes arguing over satin nickle verses brushed chrome. Were they same or different? We couldn't tell and those lingering questions hung in our minds as we were lost deeper and deeper into the abyss that is HGTV.
Unfortunately, my Lupus health issues got in the way if my 80 hour work week and it was decided that we needed to move back home closer to my family and a less stressful lifestyle. We needed to sell our house and sell it in a hurry. I was ecstatic! NOW was the time to pull out the stops and fish out my three-ring binders (yes, binders is plural) of tips gleaned from my fanatical worship of HGTV. When it came time to sell our house in Morgan Hill, it was quite evident that my HGTV addiction was going to pay off. There was hope, maybe I could actually USE what I had seen. There were s0oo many ideas, my head was spinning.
I staged our house just like Lisa and Clive advised, I mean we REALLY put on the dog, er, cat! I had the table set with china, candles burning, cookies baking, fresh flowers and I even cleared away the clutter and made a color brochure for those coming to the open house. We talked to our realtor on Wednesday to list it, had a realtor-only showing on Friday and scheduled an Open House for that Sunday. It never made it. A couple saw our sign and insisted on seeing the house on Saturday, so we scurried off to Lowes in San Jose. Who couldn't waste a day or two in there, eh? We were there about 30 minutes and my cell phone rang. The number on caller ID was OUR home phone number. Eh? It turned out to be the agent and he had an offer at our asking price written up and they wanted to know if we would sell it RIGHT NOW, while they were standing in OUR kitchen. Huh? Now? This minute? After I picked the bean counter up off the floor, we went straight home and signed the papers. It was on the market for a whole 4 days although it technically never made the MLS listing. We sold it for 40% more than we paid for it, and we only owned it for a year and a half. If THAT doesn't show you that satellite pays for itself, what does? A living testament to Do-it-Yourself living. So how does all of this relate to crafting...?
Enter Carol Duvall.
We arrived in Missouri and the house hunt was on, and so was the satellite. Again. You just can't break some habits no matter how hard you try. I just couldn't kick the addiction. While the DH hunted for a new job, we sat huddled in front of the TV. The only channels we watched were ESPN, HGTV, and DIY. My cats sat on the floor and learned how to vote for their favorite house and make Zen gardens in their litter boxes. I hang my head in shame at the thought of it.
As you know, if you have an addictive personality, it is not uncommon for addictified (my word, and I am NOT related to George Bush) people to find other useless things to become addicted to. And thus Carol Duvall entered my satellite orb. She crafted, I drooled, she talked and I was mesmerized. Horror of horrors, I felt COMPELLED to go purchase EVERY item she used. My stash was growing exponentially. What to do with all this new stuff? I already had enough computers and peripherals than most small businesses do. So much stuff and no room to put it in our rental duplex. I was getting desperate. I needed a fix-it fix, or more to the point, I needed to decorate something or I would self-destruct! House hunting became priority one. Who needs a job? Then, along came THE house. Not just any house, THE HOUSE. A house in frame, like polyclay in my hands. A house with a very large room that could be, would be [vacuum sucking noise here as I draw in my breath]...a CRAFT ROOM! My very own haven, my space to do with as I wished! Where's that Osterhouse carpenter guy when you need him? We bought it. That summer we put the "sweat" in sweat equity.
Flash forward to today. I got the itch again last fall to paint something. Specifically my craft room. It had languished in chaos crying out for organization and color! I went on a satellite binge (OK all that means is that I watched the repeats too). I watched it all, made my notes, collected my color swatches and procured my tools. I was driven. I NEEDED to have color, to mix those patterns, to pop in some bling, to light it up. I gave myself like a two-bit drunk to the task of creating order out of chaos. Here are a few peaks at the process, it's not quite done, but after reading this whole story, you deserve a picture or two. When it is finished, I'll post up the final shots. After it is all up, you can sentence me for my crimes. But whatever you do, don't separate me from HGTV! I can't take 16 hours of ESPN and the DH already took away my DIY!!
The first pic is of my closet in my craft room. It holds my wiring hub for all my CAT5 and QUAD6 cable and alarm system, all home-run as it should be, and all pulled and installed by myself and my DH. Our electrician thought I was nuts (he still pulls 2 pair in daisy chain--cringe!). Then he asked me to do a couple other houses in the same manner for him. I told him HE was nuts. :-) My canvas cubbies came from Hobby Lobby (they fold up when I don't need them). The gray racks were cast-offs from Staples. FREE!! This is a first cut at the reorg, more organizing to happen later.
The second pic is one of my light table that I rehabbed. I built the bottom half of the unit it get it to count height to make it more practical and it awaits final painting. The slat board behind it holds my inks and other supplies. I've already changed this arrangement some, so the final pics of this area will look different. I've put several of my projects up on the red shelves throughout the room. Mostly to keep them away from my cats. They really like my work. :-)
And that ends tonight's story of addiction and creativity. G'day!
Hi, my name is Vicki (Hi Vicki!) and I 'm addicted to HGTV. [Clapping in the background, murmurs, some head nodding and shaking, and a few slurps of coffee]
I have to confess, this addiction started over ten years ago when I moved to California for a job. I was living in San Francisco bay area by myself, working in a high tech, workaholic company. I was lonely, pining for my fiance back in MO, and as befits a lonely, single, Mac technodweeb with a bent towards art, I got caught up in something so innocent, so NORMAL, so secretly devastating, I can hardly bear to speak of it. The shame of it all. Yes, I subscribed to satellite so I could watch HGTV and DIY. [shocked murmurs, a few snobs, I mean sobs here and there] What had I DONE?!! Wasn't cable enough?
As each day turned into the next, coming home from work day after day with my head spinning full of Unix code, multiple platforms, and command line text, I finally broke. I couldn't take it any more. I HAD to watch more and more HGTV. I couldn't keep myself from it any more. Trading Spaces, Divine Design (who doesn't love Candace Olsen?), Designed to Sell (Lisa LaPorta, you ROCK), Oh Clivey, where are you? I was SMITTEN! I too, wanted to be out there redecorating America. It was my dirty little secret, my addiction to HGTV. I watched it morning, noon and night (nothing like working from the home office). Pick #2 you idiot, it has all the features you've been whining for! And what I confess to you now is downright shameful, despicable, and practically criminal.
When my fiance moved out to CA so we could get married, I (of course) had to drag him in to my secret, sordid addiction (my Mother told me it was good to share). I was hoping that since he was a bean counter, his common sense and money-twitching goatee could feel the danger and pull me up. Sadly, as it often happens, I ended up bringing him down in the mortar and mud with me. We never recovered. It wasn't long after we were married when we searched for and purchased our first house in California. Our HGTV addiction escalated. We sat for hours staring at "Designer's Challenge", "Landscaper's Challenge" and "House Hunters". We spent our spare time at Home Schelpo and Schmoes arguing over satin nickle verses brushed chrome. Were they same or different? We couldn't tell and those lingering questions hung in our minds as we were lost deeper and deeper into the abyss that is HGTV.
Unfortunately, my Lupus health issues got in the way if my 80 hour work week and it was decided that we needed to move back home closer to my family and a less stressful lifestyle. We needed to sell our house and sell it in a hurry. I was ecstatic! NOW was the time to pull out the stops and fish out my three-ring binders (yes, binders is plural) of tips gleaned from my fanatical worship of HGTV. When it came time to sell our house in Morgan Hill, it was quite evident that my HGTV addiction was going to pay off. There was hope, maybe I could actually USE what I had seen. There were s0oo many ideas, my head was spinning.
I staged our house just like Lisa and Clive advised, I mean we REALLY put on the dog, er, cat! I had the table set with china, candles burning, cookies baking, fresh flowers and I even cleared away the clutter and made a color brochure for those coming to the open house. We talked to our realtor on Wednesday to list it, had a realtor-only showing on Friday and scheduled an Open House for that Sunday. It never made it. A couple saw our sign and insisted on seeing the house on Saturday, so we scurried off to Lowes in San Jose. Who couldn't waste a day or two in there, eh? We were there about 30 minutes and my cell phone rang. The number on caller ID was OUR home phone number. Eh? It turned out to be the agent and he had an offer at our asking price written up and they wanted to know if we would sell it RIGHT NOW, while they were standing in OUR kitchen. Huh? Now? This minute? After I picked the bean counter up off the floor, we went straight home and signed the papers. It was on the market for a whole 4 days although it technically never made the MLS listing. We sold it for 40% more than we paid for it, and we only owned it for a year and a half. If THAT doesn't show you that satellite pays for itself, what does? A living testament to Do-it-Yourself living. So how does all of this relate to crafting...?
Enter Carol Duvall.
We arrived in Missouri and the house hunt was on, and so was the satellite. Again. You just can't break some habits no matter how hard you try. I just couldn't kick the addiction. While the DH hunted for a new job, we sat huddled in front of the TV. The only channels we watched were ESPN, HGTV, and DIY. My cats sat on the floor and learned how to vote for their favorite house and make Zen gardens in their litter boxes. I hang my head in shame at the thought of it.
As you know, if you have an addictive personality, it is not uncommon for addictified (my word, and I am NOT related to George Bush) people to find other useless things to become addicted to. And thus Carol Duvall entered my satellite orb. She crafted, I drooled, she talked and I was mesmerized. Horror of horrors, I felt COMPELLED to go purchase EVERY item she used. My stash was growing exponentially. What to do with all this new stuff? I already had enough computers and peripherals than most small businesses do. So much stuff and no room to put it in our rental duplex. I was getting desperate. I needed a fix-it fix, or more to the point, I needed to decorate something or I would self-destruct! House hunting became priority one. Who needs a job? Then, along came THE house. Not just any house, THE HOUSE. A house in frame, like polyclay in my hands. A house with a very large room that could be, would be [vacuum sucking noise here as I draw in my breath]...a CRAFT ROOM! My very own haven, my space to do with as I wished! Where's that Osterhouse carpenter guy when you need him? We bought it. That summer we put the "sweat" in sweat equity.
Flash forward to today. I got the itch again last fall to paint something. Specifically my craft room. It had languished in chaos crying out for organization and color! I went on a satellite binge (OK all that means is that I watched the repeats too). I watched it all, made my notes, collected my color swatches and procured my tools. I was driven. I NEEDED to have color, to mix those patterns, to pop in some bling, to light it up. I gave myself like a two-bit drunk to the task of creating order out of chaos. Here are a few peaks at the process, it's not quite done, but after reading this whole story, you deserve a picture or two. When it is finished, I'll post up the final shots. After it is all up, you can sentence me for my crimes. But whatever you do, don't separate me from HGTV! I can't take 16 hours of ESPN and the DH already took away my DIY!!
The first pic is of my closet in my craft room. It holds my wiring hub for all my CAT5 and QUAD6 cable and alarm system, all home-run as it should be, and all pulled and installed by myself and my DH. Our electrician thought I was nuts (he still pulls 2 pair in daisy chain--cringe!). Then he asked me to do a couple other houses in the same manner for him. I told him HE was nuts. :-) My canvas cubbies came from Hobby Lobby (they fold up when I don't need them). The gray racks were cast-offs from Staples. FREE!! This is a first cut at the reorg, more organizing to happen later.
The second pic is one of my light table that I rehabbed. I built the bottom half of the unit it get it to count height to make it more practical and it awaits final painting. The slat board behind it holds my inks and other supplies. I've already changed this arrangement some, so the final pics of this area will look different. I've put several of my projects up on the red shelves throughout the room. Mostly to keep them away from my cats. They really like my work. :-)
And that ends tonight's story of addiction and creativity. G'day!
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
ALMOST THERE
This is going to be a short post, but at least it will make it up before the new year! The reason for the shorty? I've got a full arm cast on my left arm, from the tips of my fingers to about 4 or 5" below my shoulder! There are not enough words to describe how I feel about this, this THING! Arrrgghh! OMGoodness, I can barely type, it's a one-handed effort as the left hand is stuck in the permanent "handshake" position. Great for a door greeter, not-so-much for a crafter. Evidently, according to the MRI, I have moderate to acute tendonitist and a torn muscle in my elbow, or however you might describe that. The orthopedic surgeon thought that "immobilizing" my arm would help it heal, but I am here to tell you that I'm pretty sure the only thing this cast has done is make me feel like a feral animal. The urge to gnaw this thing off is overwhelming. Grrrr.
Have you ever thought about turning an accountant into a hair dresser? It can't be done, uh-huh. He is hair dryer impaired. Not happenin'. Sigh. Only six more days to go. SURELY I can distract myself with enough Hallmark TV and sleep to get through the next six days. I tried working on my projects, as most of my Christmas was supposed to be handmade, but I gave up after I painted the table--several times, glued my Kleenex box to my leg, and then inked more of my cast than I did the project I was working on. The handshake position is not condusive to holding anything other than someone else's hand. I give up.
I did get my lengthy tutorial done on my Birthday Book (Days to Celebrate) before being "casted", so go take a look. It's on Lori's blog at clearlyistamp.typepad.com.
Cheers!
Have you ever thought about turning an accountant into a hair dresser? It can't be done, uh-huh. He is hair dryer impaired. Not happenin'. Sigh. Only six more days to go. SURELY I can distract myself with enough Hallmark TV and sleep to get through the next six days. I tried working on my projects, as most of my Christmas was supposed to be handmade, but I gave up after I painted the table--several times, glued my Kleenex box to my leg, and then inked more of my cast than I did the project I was working on. The handshake position is not condusive to holding anything other than someone else's hand. I give up.
I did get my lengthy tutorial done on my Birthday Book (Days to Celebrate) before being "casted", so go take a look. It's on Lori's blog at clearlyistamp.typepad.com.
Cheers!
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
A FINISHED DAYS TO CELEBRATE BOOK
I've been promising a picture of this project for quite some time, so enjoy the photos of this particular version. I have another one using patterned paper that I'll try to post when I finish it. I'm working on a tutorial for this project, and if you know me, you know I am nothing if not thorough when it comes to documentation! :-)
Here is a brief synopsis of some of the tools I used to complete this project.
*Zutter Bind-It-All with brass 3/4" wires
*Cricut Tags, Bags and Boxes Cartridge to cut the tags (I also trimmed 1/2" off the bottom of each tag)
*Stamps from Clear Dollar Stamps; Log It, Days to Celebrate, Colossal Title Outline and Coaster Calendar
*Ribbons are American Crafts
*Buttons, eyelet and brad from Hobby Lobby
*Inks used; Memento Tuxedo Black, Memento Lady Bug, VersaMagic Jumbo Java for aging, Versamark for clear embossing, and the Kaleidacolor Autumn Leaves for the book title
*Paper is Bazzill and Neenah Solar White
*Copic 0.35 black multiliner pen to write in Date, Name, Birth and Anniv on the tags (there are stamps included in the Days to Celebrate set that you can also use to stamp in those headers)
Finished size of the book is 4 x 6.
What I really like about the Log-It stamp set is the grid can be used for all kinds of things. I chose to use it for this project and in the right-hand columns I put the year the person was born (so I don't foget how old they are) and used the last column for anniversaries. If you put the year the person was married, you won't let their 25th wedding anniversary go by without that special gift... like I forgot my brother's 25th wedding anniversary because I did not reference my handy little book. Sigh.
Look for more hints and tips in the full project tutorial, coming soon-ish.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
CRAZY FUN!
We all had some crazy fun on Saturday! Things got rolling about 2p and then the paper was flyin'! We took on Rodney Reindeer first and learned there IS a difference using Copic markers versus regular markers like Marvey markers when it comes to coloring and blending. I wish I had the investment in Copics that Marianne has when she teaches classes! Things you don't think about until you have 15 people all wanting to use the same three or four markers! I think we succeeded in enabling some folks with Copics! If you want to learn more about these fantasic markers, check out Marianne Walkers' blog http://ilikemarkers.blogspot.com.
After Rodney, it was down to business with the Celebrate book and Advent Calendars. Everyone was busy scoring, folding and inking, and even the kids were working on magnetic notepads! For once, we got out of there before 10p after several crafters and their spouses stayed late to help clean up, what a wonderful group!
After Rodney, it was down to business with the Celebrate book and Advent Calendars. Everyone was busy scoring, folding and inking, and even the kids were working on magnetic notepads! For once, we got out of there before 10p after several crafters and their spouses stayed late to help clean up, what a wonderful group!
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
MORE ADVENT CALENDAR PICS
Here are some additional pictures of the Advent Calendar and one includes a pic of the container used to store your boxes to keep them pristine.
Here are some suggestions of the types of things you may want to put into the boxes; money, miniature ornaments for a small tree, Bible verses about Christ birth prophesy and fulfillment, beads, candy, scavenger notes, or a lump of coal. Just kidding on the last one! You could also make lists of nice things to do for someone else and have your kids do it that day, like send a card, make some cookies for the neighbor, do a chore for mom, play some Christmas music, etc., the ideas are endless!
Monday, November 10, 2008
REINDEER NUGGET/CARD and WOOD PLACE SETTING PEAK
If you would like to take a look at the Rodney Reindeer Nugget Make-n-Take, hop on over to Lori McCroskey's blog, Clearly iStamp, for her super-cool tutorial on how to make this project and a peak at what we will be doing at the event. We're going to use, by permission of course, Lori's tutorial to make a nugget and a card during our Craftaganza.
If you want to take a look at our wood block place setting Make-n-Take, surf on over to Lori's web site, Clear Dollar stamps (links to her site and her blog are in the sidebar) and check out her "Eat More Ham" stamp set. Click on "Go to Eat More Ham" and from that page click on the link for "Go to tutorial for Place Cards by Laurie Wilson". Laurie is a card and stamp designer for Clear Dollar Stamps and when you click on that link, it will take you to her blog, Clearly Delightful. This is a great blog to learn new techniques in stamping and to see some of the prettiest cards around! So after looking at her tutorial, check out the rest of her site! We will be doing a Christmas version of the placesetting. Both Make-n-Takes are free since we are doing a sample and not a complete project.
If you want to purchase any of the stamps we are using, we will have them at the event along with any accessories shown in the tutorials., or you can order direct from Lori's web site. If you look in the sidebar, you will see links to both her web site and her blog, just click and go!
If you want to take a look at our wood block place setting Make-n-Take, surf on over to Lori's web site, Clear Dollar stamps (links to her site and her blog are in the sidebar) and check out her "Eat More Ham" stamp set. Click on "Go to Eat More Ham" and from that page click on the link for "Go to tutorial for Place Cards by Laurie Wilson". Laurie is a card and stamp designer for Clear Dollar Stamps and when you click on that link, it will take you to her blog, Clearly Delightful. This is a great blog to learn new techniques in stamping and to see some of the prettiest cards around! So after looking at her tutorial, check out the rest of her site! We will be doing a Christmas version of the placesetting. Both Make-n-Takes are free since we are doing a sample and not a complete project.
If you want to purchase any of the stamps we are using, we will have them at the event along with any accessories shown in the tutorials., or you can order direct from Lori's web site. If you look in the sidebar, you will see links to both her web site and her blog, just click and go!
Sunday, November 9, 2008
ADVENT CALENDAR SNEAK PEAK
Here is a quick peak of the Advent Calendar Countdown to Christmas. This project kit includes everything but adhesive. You'll need to bring some quick drying liquid glue (I used Scotch's Quick Dry Adhesive, available at Hobby Lobby), a full tape runner with STRONG tape or something like Terrifically Tacky or Wonder Tape (red double-stick tape)—anything that is double stick, and a package of foam squares. I don't bring a lot of extra adhesive, so make sure you bring more than you think you need! The ribbon that goes on the boxes already has adhesive, we're primarily sticking paper to the canvas and the boxes. The boxes come with a separate plastic container that holds all of them for safe keeping between seasons, I'll post a picture of that later along with some additional pictures of the calendar. This project will take between three and four hours to complete. Tools you will need are a pencil, ruler, detail (small) scissors, a corner rounder, and a brayer (if you have one). Please bring a corner rounder if you have it! I only have three, the brayer is not a necessity, but it makes things go faster by flattening the papers being glued together. A folding bone would work as well. Lots of gluing...
If you want to do this project, please let me know by Wednesday if possible. There's a lot of paper cutting... and I have a limited number of box kits, so speak up early! Your background canvas can be gold, red or white, you'll need to tell me which one! Finished size is 16" x 20" and the canvas will hang on the wall or can be set in a frame holder.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
CHRISTMAS 2008!
I don't even know where to start, it has been soooo long! I could lie and say I've been really busy crafting, but it's more like busy doing everything else BUT crafting! So, to remedy this situation, we are getting ready to have a Craftaganza Event at NorthBridge Baptist Church, just north of Valley Watermill Road on North Glenstone. We did this last year here at the house for a smaller group of ladies but we've already outgrown the basement space this year and we're opening it up to anyone who would like to attend. Since the church is so close to the house, I can still fetch (or better yet, have the DH fetch) anything I didn't think to bring (as IF!!). Plus, the four-footed party crashers will be left at the house, so we'll be cat free for the evening. Since there are so many details to relay, I'll dish on the generalities of the event and then continue to post on the details, including pictures of the projects available and costs for each project.
This open event will be a great time for you to get away from the everyday and spend some time working on Christmas projects and cards with friends and church family in a Christian atmosphere. We know times are tough and finding cute, economical and personal gifts for our friends and family can be difficult, so let us make it easy! Whether you scrapbook, stamp, or work on paper projects, we'll have plenty of project ideas in all areas. We will have oodles of samples on display to inspire your homemade gift giving and card making. Several of the project display samples will be available as class kits you can purchase at the event that you can work on during the event. You can also feel free to bring your own projects to work on during the event, so don't feel like you have to purchase a class kit to participate. We will also be conducting make-n-takes of several projects and cards so you get the feel of how to do a part of a larger project or how to use a new tool or technique. Bring yourself and be prepared to have a good time visiting, playing and, of course, snacking the afternoon away.
Tentatively, we are looking at Saturday, November 15th from 2p to 8p for the first date, at NorthBridge Baptist Church, at the corner of Hwy H (3765 N. Glenstone) and StoneRidge. If we have enough response, or enough people who need an alternative date, we'll schedule an additional date and time. In traditional Baptist fashion we're asking that everyone bring a snack dish, and we'll provide the drinks (tea, coffee and water, bring your own soda if you prefer soda).
Finally, here is a list of class kits that will be available. Each project will be sold as a kit with everything you need to complete the project, including instructions. Purchase and complete your first one at the event and if you want to do more, buy a few more to do in your spare time! No time? We can do them for you for an extra fee. If you are interested in doing any of the projects below, PLEASE contact me BEFORE the event to reserve your kit. Otherwise, it will be first come, first serve! You will need to bring some basic tools and adhesives, we'll detail those with each project as we finalize them this week and post final pricing for the projects.
Tools we'll have on hand will be the Cricut Expression (12"), Cuttlebug, Crop-A-Dile, Big Bite Crop-A-Dile, Zutter Bind-It-All with supplies and whatever else I can dig up. Bring your own dies, embossing folders, and cartridges. We will have some on hand.
Advent Calendar
This is an AWESOME project and I have a very limited number of kits. This is LARGE 16 x 20 canvas with pull-down containers ready to be filled with goodies and to help your family count down the 24 days before Christmas. The containers store away in a nifty box so they don't get lost or damaged during storage. We use Basic Grey Christmas papers, glitter, Star Dust pens, lots of ribbon and paper, velcro and paint for this one. You won't see another Advent/Countdown Calendar like this anywhere in Springfield! Watch for pictures of this one!
Days To Celebrate Book
This is a wire bound book that keeps a list of birthdays and anniversaries. A great gift with limitless opportunities to stamp and embellish, or leave plain, whatever suits you and your recipient. We'll learn how to use the Zutter Bind-It-All with this project.
Monogrammed Mini Magnetic Notepad
A cute mini notepad to fit in your purse or pocket with a magnetic flap complete with your monogram or a Bible verse. A great gift for a friend or co-worker, easy to make.
Old Time Christmas Place Settings (we will have a free sample make-n-take)
This is a unique project using wood blocks as place settings for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. Make them elegant or fun, each includes a card for the name and an additional card with a Bible verse. You can even use these on a daily basis to display a picture or card. Super cute, super easy!
Rodney Reindeer Nuggets (we will have a free sample make-n-take)
This a a super cute gift to fatten up a friend! We'll be making a sample "nugget" using the Rodney Reindeer stamp from Clear Dollar Stamps and some Avery labels and Copic Markers. Once you learn how to create these super cute nuggets and see other examples on display, you won't be able to stop yourself from making them. Just don't eat all the candy first! Another Super cute, super easy idea courtesy of Clear Dollar Stamps! Of course, everything you need to make a complete gift can be purchased at the event.
We will be doing card make-n-takes throughout the event, if I get REALLY energetic, I'll post those samples, but no guarantees! We'll be using stamps from Clear Dollar Stamps for our make-n-takes, you can preview their selection at www.cleardollarstamps.com. We will have the stamps we are using for our make-n-takes available for purchase during the event, as well as some embellishments and other basic supplies.
Watch for more details and pictures of each of the projects. If you have questions or requests, email me at vconquest@conquestkeepsakes.com and don't forget to reserve your class kit, only a limited number are available. Again, we will try to have some supplies available for sale if you find yourself without, along with stamps that go with each of the projects. To reserve your seat, call 350-4569, or email me at my Conquest Keepsakes email address given above.
Hope to see you there!
This open event will be a great time for you to get away from the everyday and spend some time working on Christmas projects and cards with friends and church family in a Christian atmosphere. We know times are tough and finding cute, economical and personal gifts for our friends and family can be difficult, so let us make it easy! Whether you scrapbook, stamp, or work on paper projects, we'll have plenty of project ideas in all areas. We will have oodles of samples on display to inspire your homemade gift giving and card making. Several of the project display samples will be available as class kits you can purchase at the event that you can work on during the event. You can also feel free to bring your own projects to work on during the event, so don't feel like you have to purchase a class kit to participate. We will also be conducting make-n-takes of several projects and cards so you get the feel of how to do a part of a larger project or how to use a new tool or technique. Bring yourself and be prepared to have a good time visiting, playing and, of course, snacking the afternoon away.
Tentatively, we are looking at Saturday, November 15th from 2p to 8p for the first date, at NorthBridge Baptist Church, at the corner of Hwy H (3765 N. Glenstone) and StoneRidge. If we have enough response, or enough people who need an alternative date, we'll schedule an additional date and time. In traditional Baptist fashion we're asking that everyone bring a snack dish, and we'll provide the drinks (tea, coffee and water, bring your own soda if you prefer soda).
Finally, here is a list of class kits that will be available. Each project will be sold as a kit with everything you need to complete the project, including instructions. Purchase and complete your first one at the event and if you want to do more, buy a few more to do in your spare time! No time? We can do them for you for an extra fee. If you are interested in doing any of the projects below, PLEASE contact me BEFORE the event to reserve your kit. Otherwise, it will be first come, first serve! You will need to bring some basic tools and adhesives, we'll detail those with each project as we finalize them this week and post final pricing for the projects.
Tools we'll have on hand will be the Cricut Expression (12"), Cuttlebug, Crop-A-Dile, Big Bite Crop-A-Dile, Zutter Bind-It-All with supplies and whatever else I can dig up. Bring your own dies, embossing folders, and cartridges. We will have some on hand.
Advent Calendar
This is an AWESOME project and I have a very limited number of kits. This is LARGE 16 x 20 canvas with pull-down containers ready to be filled with goodies and to help your family count down the 24 days before Christmas. The containers store away in a nifty box so they don't get lost or damaged during storage. We use Basic Grey Christmas papers, glitter, Star Dust pens, lots of ribbon and paper, velcro and paint for this one. You won't see another Advent/Countdown Calendar like this anywhere in Springfield! Watch for pictures of this one!
Days To Celebrate Book
This is a wire bound book that keeps a list of birthdays and anniversaries. A great gift with limitless opportunities to stamp and embellish, or leave plain, whatever suits you and your recipient. We'll learn how to use the Zutter Bind-It-All with this project.
Monogrammed Mini Magnetic Notepad
A cute mini notepad to fit in your purse or pocket with a magnetic flap complete with your monogram or a Bible verse. A great gift for a friend or co-worker, easy to make.
Old Time Christmas Place Settings (we will have a free sample make-n-take)
This is a unique project using wood blocks as place settings for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. Make them elegant or fun, each includes a card for the name and an additional card with a Bible verse. You can even use these on a daily basis to display a picture or card. Super cute, super easy!
Rodney Reindeer Nuggets (we will have a free sample make-n-take)
This a a super cute gift to fatten up a friend! We'll be making a sample "nugget" using the Rodney Reindeer stamp from Clear Dollar Stamps and some Avery labels and Copic Markers. Once you learn how to create these super cute nuggets and see other examples on display, you won't be able to stop yourself from making them. Just don't eat all the candy first! Another Super cute, super easy idea courtesy of Clear Dollar Stamps! Of course, everything you need to make a complete gift can be purchased at the event.
We will be doing card make-n-takes throughout the event, if I get REALLY energetic, I'll post those samples, but no guarantees! We'll be using stamps from Clear Dollar Stamps for our make-n-takes, you can preview their selection at www.cleardollarstamps.com. We will have the stamps we are using for our make-n-takes available for purchase during the event, as well as some embellishments and other basic supplies.
Watch for more details and pictures of each of the projects. If you have questions or requests, email me at vconquest@conquestkeepsakes.com and don't forget to reserve your class kit, only a limited number are available. Again, we will try to have some supplies available for sale if you find yourself without, along with stamps that go with each of the projects. To reserve your seat, call 350-4569, or email me at my Conquest Keepsakes email address given above.
Hope to see you there!
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Here is hoping that I can post more often in 2008 than I did in 2007. OK, don't hold your breath. I'd like to say I am so busy I can't find time to post, but that would probably be a bold face lie. Possibly and exaggeration or two. I'm really too busy because I spend too much time watching my cats sleep. It's hard to be motivated when everyone around you is sleeping, and in some cases snoring and even growling in their sleep. I don't know what cats dream about, but Mr. Sniffy growls in his sleep. The rest just plain snore. Maki is the loudest, probably because of her shmushed in nose. I know that's not a word, but it fits!
So, I'm off to watch more sleeping and some HGTV. Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares is over and it would last longer if he would quit cursing all the time. The guy needs to get a vocabulary as the word he overuses isn't really a conversing type of word. I'm tired of bleeping the whole show. Oh well. I don't cook anyway! He'd have a cow in my house! Or at least tell me how to carve it...
So, I'm off to watch more sleeping and some HGTV. Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares is over and it would last longer if he would quit cursing all the time. The guy needs to get a vocabulary as the word he overuses isn't really a conversing type of word. I'm tired of bleeping the whole show. Oh well. I don't cook anyway! He'd have a cow in my house! Or at least tell me how to carve it...
Thursday, November 29, 2007
ADVENT CALENDAR PICTURES & SCHEDULE
Here are the pictures of the Advent Calendar. These pictures do not do this project justice. Right now the sample is on display at Carol Jones at 3524 Culpepper Circle Suite E. Just ask for the Hubby, Cliff. Cost is $25. Bring pop dots, Terrifically Tacky tape, a glue pen or Scotch Quick Drying Glue with the small applicator tip, a glue stick or tape runner/double stick tape and a pair of scissors to cut ribbon. A brown chalk ink pad and a brayer if you have one would be handy too.
I'll be teaching it tonight at the Carol Jones training center at 3524 Culpepper Circle, Suite B starting at 5:30p. Friday I will teach it from 1p till they run us out (3p to 4p) at Hobby Lobby south, but you HAVE to CALL to sign up. No calls and I won't be there! Friday night at my studio from 6p till we get done (again, call to register), Saturday any time, but officially I'll be at NorthBridge church from 3p to 7p doing a craft event. You can come and craft with us! Finally, Sunday afternoon from 2p to 5p at the Carol Jones training facility on south side (it's down by Cox Hospital just off of National). You have to CALL ME to come to any of these classes. I have limited number of seats. If you want to come tonight, you need to call me by 2p TODAY! Short notice but sometimes people do... The number is 350-4569 or 833-8760. Email is vconquest@conquestkeepsakes.com. I can do times next week if I have materials left and you don't mind missing a day or three...
Friday, November 23, 2007
NEW ADVENT CALENDAR CLASS
Boy, we're gonna have to get on it! I've got a week and a great project for everyone! A count-down advent calendar that is SURE to be a hit. It's a 16 x 20 canvas board with 24 boxes where you can put little goodies and notes as you count down the days to Christmas. Each day comes off the board and goes into a case for safe keeping until next year. That is, after you pull out your goodies! This project is easy and lots of fun, but I only have enough materials for 8 people! The cost for the class is going to be between $25 and $30. I'll finalize it over the weekend--I'm still making my sample!!! I'll get pictures up ASAP. I'm going to be holding the class Tuesday night 6p-8:30p, Thursday 1-3p at Hobby Lobby North and Thursday evening from 6p-8:30p. Tuesday night's class will be on the south side of town just off of National behind Carol Jones. Call me for directions. Thursday night's class will be at north side at my home studio. If none of those times work, and you really, really want to do this project, give me a call and I'll see what we can arrange! I've already got 3, possibly four seats full, so CALL ME! 350-4569!
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