Boy Birthday Cards

Not having a little boy in the house, I rarely get a chance to make boy-themed cards. Here are two birthday cards recently made for Madison's cousins. I don't know why boy cards are so hard for me, other than I have a little girl and most everything is pink and girly. The cards were very easy to make but so hard for me to come up with the themes. The insides simply say "Happy Birthday".


Just thought I'd share with you.

17 Halloween Cards.......Class????

Listed below are my weekend creation of Halloween cards. I really had fun with this batch, trying several new techniques as well. All cards are blank inside. With working full-time now, preparing for class will have to happen on my weekends and I will need to know if you are coming as soon as I post new classes to the blog. Because preparation has always taken a lot of my time, when you RSVP please make sure it will not be a 'maybe'. I waste supplies when I have to cut and prepare enough for 8 people but then only 5 show. Eventually this waste will cause me to have to raise the prices for class and we don't want that, now do we? If you RSVP more than two times and don't show up I will have to ask that you pre-pay for your classes via Paypal. So with that said.....

What works best for you? Wednesday evenings (same as before) or Sunday afternoons? Also, let me know which cards you are interested in making (up to 6 or 8) as you won't be able to make all of them on a Wednesday evening class. (You might be able to make all the cards if it were a Sunday afternoon workshop).

The cost will be $2.00 per card, as always it includes the envelope. I am thinking a class on either Wednesday, September 19th (6:30 pm) or Sunday, September 30th (1:00 pm), hopefully, this will give me enough time to prepare for everyone. Please let me know asap, and which cards you would like to make - this will cut down on my preparation time if I know that no one wants to make a couple of the cards in this month's bunch.

Here are the names of the cards in the order they are pictured: 3 Monsters, Cauldron, Haunted House, Glitter Spider, Ghost Swirls, Priceless, Mummy, Moonlight, Boo Spider, Spooky Tree, Spider Web, Scaredy Cat, Window Mummy, Wicked Witch, 4 Pumpkins, Brayer Card, and Vintage House.

My personal favs are: Moonlight, Wicked Witch, 4 Pumpkins, and Priceless.

House Remodel (or Still No Card Classes)

Here are pictures of the various stages of our painting, tiling, furniture and fixtures remodel. As of this past weekend, we have reached the halfway point. Can I get a 'YIPEE'?!?!?! This is very grueling work and we have come across a couple of things we didn't plan on - like the huge crack that runs the length of our house which we had to WET grind! Thus causing us to have to RE-paint everything that was previously painted!! We had help on the grouting this weekend and that moved things along wonderfully otherwise we wouldn't have as much done.

Between painting during the week, running Madison to swimming lessons and such, and tiling/grouting on the weekends you can see why I haven't had a class prepared for a couple of months. Not that I don't want you to come over to see my house in shambles during a class. In fact, stop on by if you want to see what remodeling is like --- it may change your mind about any plans you may have! hahaha

Next time my 20th Anniversary comes around and I'm given the option of an Alaskan Cruise or remodeling --- I'm taking the cruise!!! hahaha

These are pictures taken this morning of the portion completed. Note: I still have painting in the kitchen above the cabinets, and painting/installation of the base boards in the family room and kitchen areas. (Notice the new chandelier over the dining room table --- lots of light for class!) If you click on the pictures you will get a larger view.



Here are two pics of the bricklayer pattern we layed on the diagonal to the room:


This was the wonderful WET GRIND SUNDAY! I followed behind with the shop vac sucking up all the sludge!! Notice how it sprayed up on the walls, the sheets covering furniture, and David's shoes - mine were worse still! We made a dam from old towels so the muck wouldn't flow everywhere but still it managed.


CRACK is never good! This was after we drilled holes every 3"to 4" (5" deep) and squirted epoxy all along the crack, then ground it down since the crack also buckled the floor. The widest part of the crack was about as wide as your pinky finger. We're hoping since the house is 10 years old that it has done all the cracking it's going to do.


This was after jackhammering all the tile and pulling the carpet up. That took two full weekends and trips to the dump. Although living on concrete is pretty carefree - you never get the dust out of your house.


(See my two new pieces of furniture in the middle picture! Wish I were able to enjoy them right now!)

As for the before, before pictures - just use your memory as I forgot to take pictures before we started the entire process!!

One bit of advice - plan out your remodel. I started by painting outside, then inside and ordering and installing new blinds and light fixtures back in March. Then ordering new furniture thinking I was about finished. Then found the tile I wanted in May (hadn't planned on removing carpet and tile) and started demolition for the tile. This is the way NOT TO DO A REMODEL. I know this, I realized I am doing this backwards and have caused myself much grief in trying to keep things clean but the end is near and David and I are still on speaking terms so all is as well as can be expected during a remodel. LOL

Wow! Long post --- absolutely nothing to do with card classes I'm sorry to say. Hopefully, classes will start back up at the end of July or the first of August. This was just to let you see I wasn't lounging by the pool all summer drinking margaritas and eating bonbons!

Now that I have stopped what I was doing to post an update, I am two hours behind painting the kitchen on Monday but isn't this typical of construction work to be behind --- so does that mean I'm ahead of schedule?!?!?!?

Easter/Spring Card Class

Amid the chaos that is our house under remodel, I was able to sit down and finish the Easter cards so we could actually have a class and get our cards in the mail BEFORE Easter. That and if I didn't get them done today it wasn't going to happen at all. It won't be a pretty site around the house, but you are welcome to come over and make as many of the above Easter cards at $2.00 each which includes the envelopes. I'll let you pick the ones you want to make. The techniques are easy, I used the Coluzzle templates for the matte shapes and kept the colors neutral rather than pastel for those who aren't into the 'pinks'. (Unfortunately, you can't really see from the picture but the row of bunnies on the bottom card actually have puffy tails as a result of using liquid applique and a heat gun.

I promise I won't ask you to pick up a screwdriver or paint brush when you come over. The class will be held on Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 6:30 pm. These are pretty easy cards even with the Coluzzle templates so we shouldn't be at it all night.

Vintage Collage Cards & Post-It Note Holder

Here are the samples for our next class. Above you will see two cards and a tag. I haven't created tags in a long time, although I have needed tags for gifts lately. The collage cards are easy to make and have been left blank inside so they will be ready for whatever occassion should arise. Besides aging the paper using ink, we will also make our own embellishments for the tag. Have you ever used a glue gun to make a button? I took an antique button and made a mould from which we will make our buttons and antique each before adding to our tag. We will also paint with Twinkling H2o's and use foam tape for added dimension. The Magnolia card above is a 5-1/2" square card and I will have envelopes to fit.

The other half of class is the cutest Post-It Note memo pad I came across during last weekend's rubber stamp convention. Pam of Morning Star stamps created the cute little holder using their "Things to Do after I have tea" stamp. Mom and I both purchased a stamp and she is planning on masking the word "tea" and replacing it with "coffee". I'm a tea drinker so the stamp is just fine the way it is.

This project works up really quick and is one of those little things to have on hand to give as a thank you gift or thinking of you. Mother's Day is coming up -- unfortunately my mother has seen this already project so back to the drawing boards for her card/gift. (Could be an early start on your 2007 Christmas projects.) The dimension of the acrylic holder is 5x7 and is perfect next your your phone or computer, and fits the 3"x3" post-its.

Class Specifics:
Date: Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Time: 6:30 pm until approx. 8:30 pm
Cost for Class: $15.00 for cards/tag, envelopes, and Post-It holder
(If you will be making either cards/tag only or Post-It holder only the cost is $8.00 each --- so you'll save a $1.00 making everything.)

RSVP: No later than Monday, February 26th, please. Besides saving your seat for class I will need to purchase the proper number of acrylic holders.

Silly Valentines

Here are the silly Valentine cards, still sticking with the same Black, White and Red theme and only solid cardstock. It actually is very liberating using only these 3 colors, as I am creating one card an idea pops up and I can hardly finish the card I'm working on before losing the idea for the next. These cards come together really fast, too. Hopefully, these will inspire you and feel free in class to change the wording to suit you.

Bookmarks

Okay, I finally had a chance to photograph and upload the pictures of the jumbo paper clip bookmark flowers. The top picture shows the difference between a regular paper clip and the jumbo used to make the bookmarks. Don't ya just love my 'planter' and my 'top soil'? Once you start making these silly little clips, the possibilities are endless on the different patterns of paper and punches or diecuts you can use to create them. I almost couldn't stop myself from making more than these. Again, I love fun, quick and easy and these are definitely easy to make. Great little gifts to include on a package or in a card. In fact, I might just have the card sample to go with one of them in class!



Here's my 'planter' only this time it's being used as a gift container for Hershey Kisses! Can you guess what its made from? (One hint: They were freebies from restaurants.) Although I won't be teaching this gift container in class, if you would like to learn how to make them, just ask me in class and I'll show you. I don't have all the supplies on hand and the Valentine cards and bookmark clips will fill up the entire evening. But, we could definitely make these at a future date as an Easter class and change out the paper and add Easter grass.

Did you guess what the container was made of?

What is Black and White and Red all over? Valentine Cards, silly!

Okay, so I couldn't resist the title on this one. Well, it has been a while since my last post. The New Year is here and January is almost over (tomorrow) and I am finally getting around to posting a class. Here are 3 cards we will be making in the Valentine Card Class. I liked the challenge of using only 3 colors and these seemed to be the perfect choice for this holiday. Trying like mad to stay away from PINK but I don't think I'll quit altogether. I have always wanted to try the Postage Stamp technique and found several easy methods and then I found the 'heart can do anything' quote and thought it was nice too. I will have several more cards in class - working on some silly Valentines as well as the jumbo paper clip/bookmark for class.

Class will most likely be a combination of cards and a clip or your choice of cards. When I finish everything I'll know the cost better but for now it looks like the usual $10-not-to-exceed-$15.

If you can make it on such short notice, class will be WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31st starting at 6:30 pm.

Alternate class will be on Wednesday, February 7th, starting the same time (by the way -- 'LOST' seasoner opener is this night.)