It's the Small Things

A Twist on Snow Day

Today was my turn to blog for Crate Paper.  I used the wonderful new Snow Day Collection to make a camping layout and I explained my thought process in creating it. If you are interested, you can read about it here.

 

Have a wonderful day!

Lori

 

Breathless Heart Book Class

The super sweet and lovely Marah Johnson created this gorgeous paper collection for Creative Imaginations called "Breathless". Believe me, when you see it, you will feel breathless. It's stunning! She was inspired by Twilight. Nothing says love these days like vampires, yes? :) Well, her collection with it's stunning reds and blacks made me want to make a book dedicated to my love. 

The book will hold up to ten 2" x 3" or Wallet sized photos, uses my favorite May Arts Ribbon and tons of embellishments. We'll be making a ribbon flower, and using Luminarte and alcohol inks. It's packed with fun techniques and has a ton of texture. 

You can dedicate this book to your love, your kids, a wedding, a prom, a graduation, your favorite collections, or anything you love and want to record. You'll cherish this book and not want to give it away! 

If you are interested in taking this class with me, the details are below:

Memories Live On - 408-446-9901
Sunday, September 19th
10:00-1:00 p.m.   

$35

Supplies Needed:

• Scissors
• Crop-a-dile
• Strong Wet Glue (I recommend Helmar 450 Quick Dry)
• X-acto Knife
• Rub-on tool (popsicle stick or bone folder)
• Favorite adhesive 
• Black Pen (I use ultra fine Sharpies)

I hope to see you in class!   

Back to School it is!

D started 1st Grade last week. He was really excited and nervous. He loves it. He loves seeing old friends. He made a new friend and he loves his new teacher. I'm glad for him. He let me take a bunch of pictures, but refused to smile. The best one I got was him smirking at me. I fear I'm in for these types of photo sessions from here on out with him. 

   

I took some time away from scrapbooking. Sometimes, it's time to step back and reevaluate. I did this and it was needed. I didn't really miss it. I just woke up last week and realized I wanted to create again. And that I did. I used the new Crate Paper School Spirit Collection for this layout. 

 

I felt the school collection was perfect for my super swimmer. For the last two years, my little guy has wanted nothing to do with the water, at all. Nothing. He would stand at the edge and stare at everyone else playing in the water, but he would freak if anyone tried to take him in. This year, he let me know he was ready. I signed him up for private swim lessons. The first two weeks of the three weeks, he refused to go in the water. The last week, he went in. I signed him up for three more weeks and he ended the summer with 4 weeks of lessons and a LOVE of the water. So, yep, when they say "I'm a Super Swimmer!" at the end of each lesson, it really applied to my little guy and his new found love. 

  

Lily Bee Design

Lily Bee released three wonderful new collections at the show. I love each one because of it's versatility. I love the deep, rich colors in the Fall and Christmas collections and the vintage whimsy in the Domestic Bliss collection. It's going to be really fun getting to work with these over the next several months.

 

 

Have a wonderful day!

Lori

Crate Paper Restoration

Now that the show is over I am able to share most of my show work. I say most because one team hasn't given the ok, yet. :) It's hard to not share work. That sounds funny, but it's true.

My assignment for the Crate Paper booth was to use the new Restoration Collection. YUMMY! I adore every bit, piece and paper in this collection. I wanted to do a girly layout for the booth because I rarely get to do them. My friend's daughter, Zoe, is such a beauty and Michelle graciously allowed me to use a photo of her for this layout. The photo is by Michelle Riddle Photography, my sweet friend who, also, happens to be a fab photographer!

Next week Crate Paper will be debuting tutorials from the CP Girls. If you have some opinions about what you'd like to see be sure to leave them on the blog. We're really excited about the tutorials! I can't wait to see what everyone else is up to and to learn from them. I personally love tutorials of all kinds, since I'm so visual.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Lori

Creative Therapy

I made this layout for Creative Therapy Catalyst 117 How would you like to be remembered?

I really just want people to be filled with love when they think of me. I don’t think how they label me is as important as the feelings my memory evokes inside.

I used a bunch of October Afternoon for this layout. It's been sitting in my room begging to be used and it felt great to make something with it.

Have a wonderful Thursday!

Lori

Upcoming Classes

Things are getting back to normal around here. My ankle is almost 100%, thankfully. This means that I am able to start doing all those fun summery things I'd planned for the kiddos. We have one month before school starts for both boys and I'm not ready. I hope to pack as much fun as possible into these next few weeks. 

My assignments for CHA show work ended the week before last and last week I took some much needed time off to get caught up on my real life, spending time with my family and working on organizing a school fund raiser event that happens this Fall. Tons of work, that second one. Tons! But, it's really, really, important and I don't regret it, despite the hard work and stress. 

The other wonderful thing about my ankle being healed is that I can start teaching, again. The ankle really threw me off my game, but I think it was someone telling me to slow down, so I'm choosing to see it as a blessing for the rest. At least, I'm trying really hard to view it that way. :) 

I have added my class schedule to the right sidebar. I didn't realize how booked I am until I put it there. Ideally, I plan to teach one class a month after I'm caught up from canceling and rescheduling due to said ankle fun. 

This Saturday, I'm teaching By the Beautiful Sea. 

 

Scrapbook Island - 408-978-8900
Saturday, August 14th

10:00-1:00 p.m.

$33

The kit is packed full of product. You will definitely be bringing home extra goodies for any other creations you can think up. I tried really hard to keep the price low, yet fill the kit. I think I was able to accomplish that. :)

What you will need to bring (please call the store for any items you may need):

1. Black Pen
2. White Pen (I love the ranger white pen)
3. Strong Tape Runner
4. Clear, fast-drying, strong wet glue (I highly recommend Helmar Quick Dry 450 Adhesive) This is really important for doing the ribbon work on the spine.
5. Dark blue and teal ink pads (I use colorbox cats eye chalk inks because they dry fast and do not smear)
6. Personal Trimmer
7. Scissors
8. Your favorite border punch - I used EK Success' Upper Crest punch and will bring mine.
9. Circle Cutter or Xlarge Circle punch (2.5 - 3"). I will bring mine.
10. Tweezers (If you have a hard time with little rhinestones)
11. Photos - I layer on top of and underneath my photos, so you will want to bring these to class. You will need six photos total. If you can print from home the size is 4.5" x 3" horizontal. If you purchase your photos, please bring 4" x 6" vertical photos and I'll show you how to convert the page to fit your photos. 
12. Journaling - I used stickers for my journaling, but you may want to do more, so print your journaling onto 8.5" x 11" white cardstock with a space in between each line and we can cut them into strips.

Loolah Card Planner

 

I made this for myself because I'm terrible about getting cards in the mail on time. The pockets in the front hold cards and a book of stamps. A pen can be hung on the spiral spine. Inside is a monthly break down of anniversaries, birthdays, etc. And behind each monthly list are the addresses for those special people. Everything is here when I need it to send out cards. 

As a bonus for the kit, I made 4 cards and included cards and envelopes. I personally, however, do not make cards. My book will be filled with store bought cards. So, if you are not a card maker, this is still a great book to create. I have included over 20 of my favorite photographs in this planner. I put my favorites in there because it's mine and I love getting to see them each month. 

We will be working with canvas, luminarte, gel bead medium, gesso, micro beads and more. I went technique heavy this time around. The book features the brand new Creative Imaginations IOD Loolah collection, shipping to stores soon, Christine Adolph Chipboard and Creative Cafe! We will, also, get to play with some of the gorgeous new bloomers ribbon from Webster's Pages. 

Here are the class details:

Memories Live On - 408-446-9901
Saturday, August 14th
1:00-4:00 p.m.

$45

• Supplies needed:
• Fabric Glue – Helmar 450 Quick Dry
• Personal Trimmer
• Tape runner
• Foam dots or squares
• Scissors
• Favorite Border Punch – I used Martha Stewart “Double Scallop”
• Red ink – Colorbox fluid chalk ink catseye “warm red” because it doesn't smear and dries quickly.
• 2 Foam brushes
• Ranger Glossy Accents
• Skinny paintbrush (about ¼ inch)
• Black Sharpie extra/ultra fine pen
• White paint
• Sand paper or nail file
• Photos - twelve 4"x6" horizontal and nine 3"x5" horizontal or vertical. 

With Love, Mom & Dad (or in the case of this sample, Grandma)

Scrapbook Island - 408-978-8900
Saturday, September 11th
10:00-1:00 p.m.

This class is a paper bag class and you will be able to choose a girl or boy theme. The colors of the kit are pink, orange, green and blue and I will have samples of both in the store, as well as on my blog. Here is my explanation of the book: 

In 2004, Vanessa Reyes won the Chatterbox Make it Meaningful contest with her "If For Any Reason" album. When I saw her album, I cried. I knew I needed to make an album like this for my son. The album consists of letters to a child for all of the major moments in life, first house, first pregnancy, first love, first heartache, wedding day, feeling lonely, etc. Both Vanessa and her husband wrote letters to their daughter with words about these moments and tucked them lovingly into the album. The purpose of the book is that if for any reason one of them were to no longer be in their daughter's life, she would still have their words to read and cherish.  

Each of the paper bags is turned into an envelop to contain the letters. This book can be for anyone you wish to leave letters to. It doesn't have to be for children. 

I'll have more details and images soon. 

By the way, I have been asked a few times to see how Vanessa did her paper bag book. Her original album was not a paper bag book. It was a book she made out of Chipboard (before there were even chipboard scrapbooks for sale) and her letters were held on the pages by vellum envelopes she'd crafted.

Have a great weekend! 

Lori