TOUR OF MY STUDIO AND WORKSHOP: Deck the Halls Scrapbook Tin

Workshops = Clean Studio

One of the things that I like about having workshops other than getting together with the girls is it gives me a reason to get off my ^&*%$ and tidy up. I must admit I don't put things away but one thing I am learning from my absolutely wonderful neighbour is that it takes a second to put it away after using but hours to clean up the big mess after. So for the month of December I am making my own challenge of putting things away once I am done and going through all those boxes that I have thrown things into cause I was to lazy to put away.

So here is the tour of my studio, enjoy and if you have any questions let me know.

All nice and clean set-up for my workshop Deck the Halls Scrapbook Tin yesterday what a great afternoon with the girls.

I have the best windows allow natural light in, and the shelves are great to display my work and collection of my favorite things, like birdhouses, lanterns, and vases all things that I like to use in my photo shoots. I also have three magnet boards that allow me to change things up on a whim right now it is all about holidays! I also have my chef cart, yes I have a food cart in my studio that I roll around, its great to hold things I use all the time, like my ink pads, etc. Do you see all those Zip lock bags hanging off the cart? This is something I started to do when I found them at Walmart, I thing Marlyn told me about them. I use those for every project I am working on, I have about 8 of them and then hold everything that I need to work on that project, this way if I get bored with one project I can easily work on another one and it keeps me nice and neat. And those metal carts I love them, I bought those years ago at Costco, I love the wheels they are so cool and industrial like my chef cart!

I am everything about Paris, even though when I went there years ago I didn't have a very good impression of romance and history, but the 80's were another time and things have changed since then. This is where I print things and is a continuation of the the above picture again allowing me to display samples, a picture of my husband in Scotland, I love metal wire objects, such as birdcages, dress forms, lanterns and of course the Eiffel tower, why even my pillow is displayed more as a decor. All of my furniture is from IKEA, except for the work station, I love the module feel, clean lines and the metal feel about them.

Just a close-up showing my collection of things on the shelf most of these items have been used in one of my photo shoots at least once.

This is where I do my computer work, I do all my fun creative things at my work table which is in the middle of my studio. I need lost of room, mostly because I don't clean-up after myself but this is going to be my New Years resolution. I must clean up every time I leave my studio. It will be a challenge, maybe I should do a pool as to how long it will take for me to go back to my bad habits?

Come to one of my workshops and I reward you with my Chocolate, Chocolate, with more Chocolate, extra moist bunt cake. I swear the girls were working even faster know that this was yet to come! LOL, trust me you haven't tasted cake until you try this one, recipe to come.

And here are Lisa, Kim (though I wanted to call her Jennifer) and Donna with there wonderful projects complete. They did a fantastic job! Just look at those smiles! I will be offering this workshop again in December classes are small so it is more personal maximum spots available is 4.

REMINDER: Deck the Halls Scrapbook Tin - Workshop Sunday November 28, 2010

Hey Ladies Just 2 spaces Left for my Deck the Halls Scrapbook Tin - Workshop Sunday November 28, 2010

Every wonder what to do with old DVD containers or even new ones? Well what about a DVD scrapbook, yes you read it right a DVD scrapbook.

I don't know if you do this but every time I am out shopping I look for things that I can make other things out of. I bought these awhile ago from an online company but also found them here in the city and could not resist. You could use a plastic one, clear or like me for this project I used a metal DVD's tins. 

For this workshop I will be using Deck the Halls (DS) from the Mini Catalog and like my picture frame I posted the other day, I went with the same style on the outside and on the inside I used one side for photos and the reverse side I designed it for journaling.

Front of Tin

Open the cover, and you have a lovely message along with a tab and ribbon to open the entire project.

"In the eyes of children we find the

Joy of Christmas

In their hearts we feel the meaning"

The following are the interior pages 1 - 2

Pages 3 - 4

Close-up of page 4

Pages 5 - 6

Pages 1 - 4 open showing how it folds out

Opened tin showing photo side of scrapbook

Opened tin showing the opposite side back for journaling

Sample of Journal pages and back of tin

This will make an absolutely one of a kind gift, for anyone and is so simple to make just add photos.

The 45$ fee includes all the supplies necessary (except for your adhesive) to make one Scrapbook Tin. Please bring your own favorite adhesive all others will be supplied. Spend $50 CAN before taxes and get the class for $25.

When: Sunday November 28, 2010
Time: 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Location: 144 Patterson Cres. Carleton Place, Ontario


Space is limited so register today. Simply click on the Buy Now button to register today.


NOTE: Only those who have paid in advance for the event through the PayPal button will be registered. You don't need a PayPal account to register; simply click on the button below and follow the instructions.


Cancellations: 48-hours notice is required for ALL cancellations a refund in the form of a credit for a future class will be given. No refund will be given after this 48-hours notice and no re-schedule will be allowed.

Number of Guests

Guest 1 $45.00 Guest 2 $90.00 Guest 3 $135.00

Elements of Style - For the Two of You - Thank You!

Thank You, XIEXIE, SPASIBO, GRACIAS.Grazie, Mahalo, Merci, Danke, Arigato, Dhanyawaad, Asante 

Over the past 8 months we have learned a lot of things. The biggest being that "Life can be a matter of moments". Holding grudges, being mad and not saying what has to be said is a waste, a waste of moments. Same can be said for thanking someone who has done or even said something special.

People just don't say thank you anymore, have you noticed this? I mean a real one, one where you sit down and writing how someones kindness made your day. How even just the little things make someone smile. How hard is it to do this?

My theory is we have lost this with the introduction of the Internet, texting and even more so with our fast past lives. I find that even the simplest things have gone to the wayside, reading a good book, taking a long bath with candles, sitting and having a good glass of wine. What has happened that we can't take a little time and do these things anymore.

In the good old days "wink, wink" this simple task of sending a thank you "note" was a tradition for sending messages of fortune and goodwill on slips of papyrus. These were the first known greetings exchanged in Chinese and Egyptian culture. In the 1400s, Europeans practiced exchanging notes as a new way of social expression, writing on paper and hand delivering greeting cards locally. Today, well there are e-card, emotionless greeting cards that someone else created. But then I guess that's better than nothing...

This week I would like to challenge you with making a thank you card. Then mail it (remember that red box or if your in the US a blue one at the end of the street corner, that is called a mailbox) to someone who has made you smile, made you think, or made you feel better.

But remember to take a picture and share it with me here, I would love to see what you created.

Just a Quick Post Today

Happy Friday,

Sorry I haven't posted much this week, work has been very busy and I haven't had much "creative home time". This weekend though I am going to a 12 hour crop in the county of Beckwith. This will be the second 12 hour crop I have attended but funny unlike most I never make it to 12 hours. LOL!

Anyway this weekend I am working on a few projects that I plan on getting into the "can" basically finished so I can post next week. Look for some great 3D WOW projects that I hope you will simple love, cards and possibly a Simply Adorned designs to get you in the gift giving mood.

For those of you who know me moving to this house has been the best things next to my wonderful husband, but with this move came our wonderful neighbours Lee-Anne and Gary. Such kindred spirits, I truly feel we were meant to meet. Lee-Anne I like to say is my addictive twin, there is so much we both like that sometimes it is very scary how similar we are.

Today's post is an Anniversary card I did for them to help celebrated their 20th Anniversary, yes twenty, hard to believe. The love that they share is something very rare and this card says it all for me about them.

Happy Anniversary Lee-Anne and Gary you are such a wonderful couple!

Two cups of hot tea, shared on a bench two people in love...

JOY Christmas Wall Canvas - Workshop

Enough of Deck the Hall's

OK I can hear you now, "enough with the Deck the Halls Designer Series paper", but I really can't help myself. So be patient with me as I continue on my journey of having fun with Deck the Halls. Next week I promise after the next project (and your going to love it) I will promise to do something else using different paper etc.

For this workshop using you guessed it Deck the Hall Designer Series paper create a 8" x 8" canvas art. Like the Picture Frame see here and the Scrap booking Tin see here continue to enjoy the vintage look and feel using canvas.

For this design I tried a few different techniques the first is embossing on twill tape ribbon, not the easiest but I do like the effect. Next time I will try using satin ribbon and see how that works.

The second is designing using vellum letters. I cut out letters using vellum cardstock then I used the Big Shot and a embossing folder and passed it through getting a very cool embossed look. Then I took those letters and a sponge dauber and with Early Espresso I coloured each letter rubbing lighter to change the colour and harder on the embossed part to get darker effect.

I will try this again later using larger letters or shapes to see what I get, but so far I love the look. What do you think?

This canvas art is perfect for anyone in your family, so simple and fun to create you will want to make more than one. You can either hang it on a wall or sit on a table or even a easel.

The 45$ fee includes all the supplies necessary (except for your adhesive) to make one canvas art. Spend $50 CAN before taxes and get the class for $25.

When: Saturday November 27, 2010
Time: 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Location: 144 Patterson Cres. Carleton Place, Ontario

Space is limited so register today. Simply click on the Buy Now button to register today.

NOTE: Only those who have paid in advance for the event through the PayPal button will be registered. You don't need a PayPal account to register; simply click on the button below and follow the instructions.

Cancellations: 48-hours notice is required for ALL cancellations a refund in the form of a credit for a future class will be given. No refund will be given after this 48-hours notice and no re-schedule will be allowed.

Number of Guests

Guest 1 $45.00 Guest 2 $90.00 Guest 3 $135.00

Tin of Tags - Workshop

Want to do something quick and simple, why not join me for my Tin of Tags workshop where you will make 15 tags (5 fan tags, 5 envelopes with tags and 5 long tags) plus this gorgeous tin.

Tin with sleeve removed showing sample of fan tag.

Tin with sleeve removed showing sample of fan tag and long tags.



The $20 fee includes all the supplies necessary (except for your adhesive) to make one Tin of Tags. Please bring your own favorite adhesive all others will be supplied. Spend $50 CAN before taxes and get the class for $10.

When: Wednesday November 24, 2010
Time: 6 - 9 p.m.
Location: 144 Patterson Cres. Carleton Place, Ontario

Space is limited so register today. Simply click on the Buy Now button to register today.

NOTE: Only those who have paid in advance for the event through the PayPal button will be registered. You don't need a PayPal account to register; simply click on the button below and follow the instructions.

Cancellations: 48-hours notice is required for ALL cancellations a refund in the form of a credit for a future class will be given. No refund will be given after this 48-hours notice and no re-schedule will be allowed.

Number of Guests

Guest 1 $20.00 Guest 2 $40.00 Guest 3 $60.00

Deck the Halls Picture Frame - Workshop

When the Stampin' Up Holiday Mini Catalogue came out I didn't really like the Deck the Halls Designer Series Paper (DS) nor was I interested in the Bells and Boughs stamp set or Christmas Collage. It was nice but I couldn't see beyond it until I went to the Creative Escape Weekend Retreat - Oct 1 – 3, 2010 Le Viceroy Auberge Stamp; Spa see here and I found myself loving it all, as usual.

Deck the Halls Picture Frame - Workshop

This picture frame is perfect for anyone in your family, so simple and fun to create you will want to make more than one.


The 45$ fee includes all the supplies necessary (except for your adhesive) to make one picture frame, includes key. Optional Simple Adorned Bauble of your choice can be purchased. Please bring your own favorite adhesive all others will be supplied. Spend $50 CAN before taxes and get the class for $25.


When: Sunday November 21, 2010
Time: 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Location: 144 Patterson Cres. Carleton Place, Ontario


Space is limited so register today. Simply click on the Buy Now button to register today.

NOTE: Only those who have paid in advance for the event through the PayPal button will be registered. You don't need a PayPal account to register; simply click on the button below and follow the instructions.

Cancellations: 48-hours notice is required for ALL cancellations a refund in the form of a credit for a future class will be given. No refund will be given after this 48-hours notice and no re-schedule will be allowed.

Frame

Frame Only $45.00 with 121012 Clear Crystal 5/8" $50.00 with 121013 Pink Crystal 5/8" $50.00 with 121014 Vanilla Pearl 1/2" $50.00 with 121011 Black Crystal 5/8" $50.00

Happy Halloween - Happy Birthday Dad!

Hard to believe that this is our second yes second  Halloween in our new house. It's funny I am finally feeling like it is home. I know it probably sounds funny but everything happened so quickly when we bought this place, it just felt odd for such a long time. But with the renovations done and another Halloween down I am feeling like we are home.

What I love most about  Halloween is the kids, in our old neighbourhood we watch the kids grow from little toddlers to school age to preteen and it was fun seeing them change from those cute little costumes to what was the rage at the time to something gross (we had a lot of boys in our neighbourhood. Today we don't get many kids maybe a couple of dozen, you would think living so close to the primary school that we would have more but alas we don't. But this doesn't stop us from celebrating this tradition why we even got our furry little guys into it.

Holly being the DIVA she is!

Gadget as always so not into this, kind of disgusted with us...

JC showing off his talents, yes that is snow on the ground.

Waving HI to the neighbours!

Another masterpiece from the pro...

 Our last dinner guests, they just didn't want to leave...

Happy 77th Birthday Dad

Below is the card that I made for my Dad's 77th Birthday. Its hard to believe that he is 77 he looks so great and has really bounced back from his surgery.

He is feeling fantastic, looks fantastic and pretty much all of his hair has returned. I am so proud of him. His outlook regarding the brain tumour and everything is amazing. I hope that I can be as strong, as positive as he is.

Its funny as an adult if you asked me could I still learn from my parents I would have to say, YES! I have learned so much more about my father and what I have learned is this. A positive attitude will get you further, if you have faith whether it be god or something else and you believe in that faith and lean on it you will be safe. You will be strong and able to deal with what ever is put in front of you. I am always in awe of my father and his faith. He is the one I look up to, the one I look to for a positive attitude. Thank you dad for teaching me something new. Happy Birthday Dad!