Our First Class - The Sophisticated Crayon

Cathy and I are pleased to announce our first Chicks With Ink Pads class! Our focus is on "The Sophisticated Crayon". You will make these cards using watercolour crayons with various other products and techniques for unique watercolour effects. You will be amazed at the simple elegance of these cards and you will become a watercolouring pro in minutes! Be sure to mark your calendar for Sunday, April 5, 2009. The class starts at 1:00 p.m. Cost is $25.00 per person. We will limit the class to 8 participants so be sure to register early! Please email either Cathy (inkycathy@gmail.com) or me (smacdonald3@cogeco.ca) to secure your space. Pre-payment is required, please. We will advise you of the class location (in Oakville) via email.

Hostess Picture frame gift

So, I wanted to give the hostess of a recent workshop something a little special. At a Mega Meeting I attended in January, there was a demo who showed us a few picture frames made using the Long Board Chipboard and the Top Note die for the Big Shot. I decided to do something similar and used the Bella Bleu DSP that I just received. Since the hostess is getting married this year, I wanted to make something that would show off a wedding photo as well as the embellishments. The LOVE letters were stamped with the retired Headline Alphabets set using Silver Encore ink. Cathy and I embellished them with pearls from the Pretties Kit, silver eyelets, some clear beads and silver brads. We adhered them on with dimensionals onto ribbon (I hate to admit this was purchased at the Dollar store). I edged the chipboard with Brilliance Starlite Silver pigment ink. We were pretty happy with the way this turned out.

Sale-A-Bration Workshop Card

This was another card I made for a recent workshop. I used the Botanical Blooms set. My colour combo was Close to Cocoa, Pink Pirouette and Kiwi Kiss. I used a little Bella Rose DSP on the Cocoa base and used the small and large oval punches as well as the Designer Label punch. This is a pretty basic card, but I think it is a good one for beginners. What do you think?

SCS- Sketch Challenge 217

This is my submission for the Sketch Challenge 217 on Splitcoast this week. I also used this for a workshop card. This was my second favourite card that I showed. I wasn't totally thrilled with the offerings in the SAB catalogue, but this DSP wasn't too bad. Pocket Silhouettes is one of my favourite stamp sets, so this challenge wasn't too difficult, once I took a look at it. I used Whisper White, So Saffron and Chocolate Chip on this card. I used brads with the Word Window punch to secure my sentiment. I cut the white squares at 1 1/8" and then used the 1 3/4" punch with So Saffron. I think there are lots of stamp sets you can use with this sketch (just look at the SCS gallery and you'll agree!).

Workshop card - lovin' it!

I made this card for a workshop the other night. I absolutely love the Fifth Avenue Floral stamp set. I stamped the biggest flower with Kiwi Kiss slightly off the top right-hand corner of the Whisper White paper. I cut out one of the other flowers and used my blender pens to add some baja breeze and kiwi kiss colour to some of the petals and the centre of the flower. I cut this out and added it with dimensionals to the Kiwi Kiss panel. I got this idea from the Idea Book & Catalogue (page 9). I cut some Urban Garden DSP & added it to the bottom of the page. I also cut a strip of Kiwi Kiss and stamped the sentiment from the set on it in Basic Black. I used the Horizontal slot punch and fed some baja breeze grosgrain ribbon through it. I used some dimensionals on the whole panel before adhering it to the Baja Breeze card base. I REALLY liked how this card turned out. I might make a bunch of these for card sets that I'll give to family & friends as gifts. I guess I should stock up on these awesome papers before they retire!

Mojo Monday 76

This is my submission for today's Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge and contest. I'm loving these layouts and I really have fun stretching my imagination (the little I have) with these challenges. I used Gina K. 120 lb. paper - this holds up so well - as well as Stampin' Up! Designer Series Paper (Bella Rose). My main image is from the new catalogue & it's called Thoughts and Prayers. I will be making another sympathy card later today using this set for my husband's aunt's family. His aunt passed away last Friday. It's so sad to see family members leave us. We've had a lot of that this year and it's pretty depressing. I'm so thankful for my family, friends and neighbours. The sentiment comes from the All Holidays set, which has so many uses. I finished the card off with some prima flowers I've had for ages as well as retired S-U organdy white ribbon and used the Mat Pak to add little element by the sentiment.

A New Chapter...

Sorry I haven't been posting much over the last week - I got hit with the flu and spent a few days in bed trying to sleep my way through it! I'm up and about again, so I will get back to work now, coming up new creations to post for you all!

As a quick note to those of you who have gotten to know me through my work at local stamping and scrapbooking stores... Most of you will not be too surprised to learn that the store I have been working at recently has closed its doors. Although I am ready to pursue new challenges, I will be sad not to have the same daily contact with the customers I have grown to love.

You will always be able to keep up with me and reach me through this blog - there is a link to my email address if you click on my name on the top right sidebar. I am already busy at work designing local workshops with my blogging buddy, Donna and you will see announcements on this blog shortly with details of our upcoming events.

So. Some big changes for me personally this month - but I'm up for the challenge!