polka dot chicks

Pure {BLISS}

that describes my weekend in 2 words.  I know I said I was planning on working on our 12 Squared class...but I got side tracked, and boy am I glad I did!  I was able to play and create in colors of black, white, cream and gray.  The results?  A book titled, "LucKy 13" and a class that I have to get Julie at SB Etc to squeeze in for me.  It will be fifty bucks for the four hour workshop and I am hoping students will leave with it completed...that's the goal.  :) 

It is kinda funny, Amy posted recently about "where she began" and somehow, I felt that this project took me back to "where I began".  While creating, I was thinking of Pat F., Carolyn G., Jamie E., Dania K., Pam S., Suzanne (Pam's sister), Marrisa V., Violet R., Ethleen R., Jill Davis, Jenny Packard, Eva Flake, and Pam Black and Amy Totty...when these chicks were students...before they became awesome teachers and the late Val Jones.  This project is something I would have created back when I was making all the mini books and teaching a class called "eclectic". 

So many fond memories..."eclectic" was where Amy and I met.  She was a student that used to call the day of, or the day before class and if the class was full she would ask if there was a way she could get in.  Leslie Spafford would always be the chick relaying the message and how could I say no?  An eager student with similar likes and passion as mine..."of course she can come" I remember telling Leslie on more than one occassion.

You might say that this project brings me full circle; it re-energizes me and reminds me that I am still passionate about creating, teaching, sharing, learning and connecting with so many wonderful people.   

It insn't bound yet, because I still have to add photos, but here is a peek...

These pages have pockets in between the embellished area to hold some cute little stamped tags that have been adorned with ribbon and what-not. 

I combined fabric, Bazzill cardstock and printed paper to create these round flowers.  All circles are cut by hand and I will be sharing a tip in class on how to make them round, but not perfect when cutting them freehand.  It is a great little technique that made the process super simple. 

Of course the book is made with plenty of ribbon.  It is also sprinkled with antique buttons, rhinestones, vintage embroidery floss, a few one-of-a-kind goodies and sequins.  The Tim Holtz edge distresser and blender tools were used to create the "eclectic" look that many of us still loVe. 

And with this color combo...honestly, any photos go! 

We will be using lots of my stamps that were buried and tucked away...you got any you haven't used in a while?

The album has a "vintage" flair to it. 

Amy has been collecting and giving me vintage inspiration for the last month or so and I can definitely see where it has influenced this creation. 

Here is a good shot of one of the pockets that each page has.  The French Vanilla Bazzill Cardstock is the pocket lining.  Lining the pocket gives it a bit more finished look.

Here are a few of the tags (there are a total of 9 all together).  These slip down into the pockets and while they are embellished on the front side, the back side is reserved for journaling...you guessed it...IN YOUR OWN HANDWRITING!  That way you can personalize it without taking away from the finished pieces.

The tag bases were created in Microsoft Word and will be available via email to anyone who takes the class, so that they can be printed and used again without having to do the design work. 

And while creating this project...I have found a new best friend.  I have LOTS of adhesives, but this is definitely my new fav.  If you haven't used it...you gotta try it.  You won't be disappointed.  It works great to adhere rhinestones and gives the printed paper and Bazzill cardstock flowers a nice sheen.

It is a multi-medium with a matte finish by Claudine Hellmuth and a little goes a long ways.

I had only 12 vintage clock numbers that were used as embellishments, so the class with be limited to tweleve students.  

Here's to another hectic jam packed week.  Find time to relax and create...it does a body {and soul} good! 

Kelli  :)

Happy 4th of July!

Hope everyone is enjoying family, friends and freedom today! 

I have been on the internet way too much lately.  Looking for ideas and inspiration for some work related stuff.  But it paid off.  In addition to providing me the idea for a binder cover for us to create and submit our recycling grant request paperwork in, I found some fun stuff to share. 

Work related: I found an idea of taking lots of different paperboard boxes (pop tarts, crackers, cereal, etc) and cutting them into squares to create a patchwork type cover.  It was quick, colorful, and gets across the "reuse" message.  The real test will be to see how the peeps at work like it.  :)

This morning I came across this and thought it was clever.  It is a card template to print out and then add buttons, flowers, brads or whatever to create a quick n easy card.  It beats the heck out of designing it yourself and aligning it so that you get 2 cards per sheet or stamping it (more than once) to get 2 crisp images.  We like quick n easy! 

http://www.jessicajonesdesign.com/downloads/button_card.pdf

Amy is down in Sierra Vista with her family for their annual celebration and I am back in Mesa taking it easy with Bob as Jenaye is house-sitting.  I am planning on working on some pages for our upcoming 12 Squared class that is about a month away.  Gotta get a jump on it cuz it will be here before you know it.

Have a fun, safe and creative 4th!

As Independence Days Nears

K...I know it is like too hot to give chocolate to my peeps at work...but I am doing it anyways.  I used some little pleated drinking cups and transformed them into 4th of July treats.  They were quick and easy to create.  And I simply filled them with tiny silver, red and blue wrapped chocolates...kisses, york peppermint patties, hershey nuggets and 3 musketeers. 

They hold only 4 small pieces of candy, so even dieters will be able to indulge.  :)

I created a simple little tag; punched three holes in the cups; and a hole in the tag so that the cute star ribbon I found while traveling last year, could secure the tag to the cup; cut the silver pipe cleaners in half; punched a small star out of the cute new printed paper by Piggy Tales and punched a hole in the star to slide onto the pipe cleaner before creating the pipe cleaner handle.  It doesn't get much simplier than that chicks!

Sorry for the blurry shots but my flash is broken on my camera and the lighting was bad...and yea, I could have shook the camera slightly. 

For those of you that haven't created your holiday treats yet, thought I would include the little tags to save you some time...and you could just print em out.

Let's all remember those who have served and continue to serve in the military so that each of us can enjoy many freedoms.  Kevin, you rock! 

HAPPY 4th OF JULY!

Download Happy 4th

Opened New LP Class!!!

I was able to open up a morning class on July 7th for the LP book I posted earlier. I just called and checked the store and there are 7 spots left. So if you were interested in the class...call fast.

Back where I started!

I am so excited. I want to shout it from the roof tops...Ok let me start from the beginning

Six years ago I walked into a scrapbook store (Scrapbooks Etc. of course) looking for some paper to make some cards for a card group I had joined.  I instantly feel in love with everything paper. I looked around and thought  "WOW, I don't even know where to begin"  Several hundred dollars later I waked out of Etc. with a mini book in mind for a family trip we had taken.

And as they say the rest is history...I was hooked. I started to take some classes [from my fellow chickie here] then was blessed to be asked if I wanted to teach at ETc. So, my love for teaching and book making was mixed into one and my life hasn't been the same since.  I have a *SoUl* sister, friend and a killer job doing what I love.

Now some of you might say "I didn't know you did mini-books?" Which is really where this story is going...sorry there is no short version.

So, I taught mini books for about 3 years and got burned out on them. My mantra used to always be " I don't scrapbook, I make books out of scraps!" At the time I think I had only made 2-3 12 x12 layouts. But, since I was burned out I decided to try something new and started to teach a layout class. Love it, still love it and will always love it.

So, I was cleaning out my garage a couple of months ago and came across boxes full of mini books I had made.,was distracted from cleaning and spent the next hour just thumbing through them. I had forgotten how much I LOveD making books.  And here comes the whole point to my long winded story........I am teaching mini books AgAin!!!!!!!  I am so excited about this new/rewind part of my creative life.

here is my latest book I am teaching

I had so much fun designing this book. Yes ladies,it is made out of old LP records, well the front and back cover are.

I am right now trying to finish up my August book that is using the new October Afternoon paper and FaBric!!!!{ a really old passion of mine, maybe some day I will tell the sewing story}

I will take some pics of the inside pages this week so you can get a better feel for the look of it. But, I must say...it turned out STinKin' cute.

I am also working on an album book just like this one for my father for father's day. The covers and pages are going to be Neil Diamond albums and filled with childhood memories for him. I will post that one too! 

Thanks for tolerating my long windedness....create something today!

Amy

It's GONE!

A BIG thanks to you chicks who were interested in the "stash".  I am happy to report that the LOT has just been picked up, so it is off the market. 

I must continue purging until the room isn't so overwhelming!  And then the buyer will return to cart off the remaining boxes that will lead to my sanity and organization!  "Wee" you will be proud! 

It will be on to the ribbon closets next and the 6 of you that emailed me about the "LOT" will be emailed before it hits the BLOG so that you get first dibs.  Ribbon and trim will be 25 cents a yard as well as priced by the spool/bolt.  Chicks purchasing bolts n spools will have priority over those wanting yardage.  :)

THANKS again for your willingness to relieve me of the "excess" that I have accumulated over the last 10 or 15 years! 

Off to continue the "purge"!

Kelli  :)

It's Gotta Go!

OK...AMy and I are both in the same boat...2 much "stuff" and not enough space.  I am starting to feel the "hoarding" effect.  SO here is the deal...I am gutting my scrap room.  Paper, Bazzill Cardstock, flowers, brads, rub-ons, stickers, yarn, rubber stamps, ribbon...you name it I own it.  Some slightly used and LOTS unopened!  I even have lots of completed projects that I need to part with!  I am actually embarrassed as to how much there is!

Rather than price all the items individually, I would like to sell it as a package deal for $300.  It would be a great investment for any level of scrapbooker, or for a group of scrapbookers to go in on and divide it up.

Email me at scrapy101@cox.net with any questions.

Make it a creative weekend!
Kelli

:)

The Rescuer in Me

OK...a few of you been asking, rescuer?  Yep it is true...thrift shops LOVE me.  Here is what I rescued recently.

  My thought is to bake a cupcake and present it on one of these cute little saucers to the Birthday Boy or Girl!  Many saucers are mismatched odds n ends that nobody wants, but this idea would allow you to use them in a unique way! 

Will try to take another photo tomorrow...my camera is acting up at the moment.

Like the cute owls that I ended up with for a couple of bucks?  I am on an owl addiction at the moment!

Creations

OKAY, I have come to realize that I am a collector and a rescuer!  It is hard for me to pass up things that catch my eye.  Guess that is why I live a more cluttered life.  :/  I think that is one reason Amy and I enjoy each other's company so much...we are very alike in this regard.

A few months ago, I stumbled across a BLOG that i immediately fell in love with.  Beth Holcombe has a unique way of rescuing things from the past (and maybe even the landfill) and working them into her masterpieces.  Check out her BLOG at elizabethholcombe.typepad.com.   While she is a pin cushion master, I am a pin cushion novice. 

Jenaye and I have been creating with fabric, felt, wool felt, beads and vintage jewelry and buttons.  While Naye is busy creating hair bows and headbands that she sells at Scrapbooks, etc., I am creating flowers and pin cushions.  Here are a few of my recent creations.

I created a few fabric flowers and glued one onto a vintage jar and another on top of a small Mason jar.  The two pin cushions are glued to die cut felt flowers.  While hard to see in these photos...a small fabric flower adorns the top of one pin cushion while another one features a piece of vintage jewelery. 

Such cute fabric that I found at Joanne's where I usually do not shop because the store closest to my house in a complete mess!

The cute little heart pins were also a Joanne's find.  I thought they would be great to display in these super simple pin cushions.

I have a strange feeling that these flowers are going to make their way onto my paper crafting projects.  How cute would these little adornaments look on the tops of jars holding your buttons, ribbon and trims or rhinestones in your craft room or studio?

Word has it Amy has been busily creating as well...check back early this week to see what she has been up to.  :)

Stinkin' Cute!

Thanks to our friend Tena Sprenger, we found some irresistable stuff!  Check it out. http://www.tapeswell.com/