Brayer Workshop

Tomorrow I'm off to Savannah, Ga. to attend Michelle Zindorf's advanced brayer workshop.  I attended a beginner workshop in Jacksonville, Fl a few months ago.  I'm very excited!  If you aren't acquainted with Michelle's work you should check her out.  She does beautiful work and it's different from many cards you see.  She uses the brayer to create magic.  I did this card last February for my daughter's birthday using one of her tutorials.  That was before the workshop, so all I could do was sponge.  I tried the brayer but couldn't make it look right.  I love the card anyway and so did my daughter.

This is one of the cards from her workshop...and I used the brayer.  I just love it.  Anyway here's her blog.  Be prepared to fall in love.  There are so many talented people.

Cute Idea for a Desk Calandar

In the small town I live in, we have a handful of wonderful women.  It's our stamp club and our Stampin' Up! lady has some things to make.  The last meeting we made a calendar.  When my uncle came to visit, I sent his wife and daughter one.  It's a simple and easy thing to make and a nice little gift.  The came from Nancy Morgan's blog and Michelle Tech's blog.  The calendar strips can be found here:  http://www.2stampis2b.com/2009/01/four-seasons-calendar.html.  You will have to reduce the size.  I have a Mac so I found the instructions for shrinking didn't work for me.  The base is 5.5 x 8.5, scored at 4.25.  I used basic brown CS and DP from Memory Box for the first quarter.  I put my elements on one half of the CS.  I used Nature's Silhouettes, a Hero Arts stamp set I've had forever.  I'm not sure if they even have this stamp set anymore, but it worked perfectly for this project.

Then the other side of the paper is decorated.  I used "Laundry Line" DP by My Mind's Eye (I just love these papers).  I found it at Hobby Lobby.

On the inside, one side is decorated for July, Aug, Sept.  This DP is from Basic Grey.  I was using up some scraps so I don't know what group of papers this one is from.

And this is the last side.  The DP here is from Club Scrap (I'm not sure if they still have this paper.)  The ribbon is inserted into two holes at the bottom.  This ties it together (wraps it up...haha).  The top photo shows the ribbon tied to make a pretty package.  When June is finished, you turn the calendar around and your ready for the rest of the year.  I used Distress inks:  Victorian Velvet, Stormy Sky, Bundled Sage, and Wild Honey.  Fun!  Fun!  Fun!  The circles are my family's birthdays.  I'm ready for 2011.

Taylored Expressions

Videos from Taylored Expressions that you should check out.

A little Christmas

It seems a little early for Christmas, but I got these new stamps from JustRite Stamps Vintage Christmas 3-1/4...and we just have to play, don't we?  I was inspired by a card by Lauraly, Just Give Me Stamps.   It's good to get the cards ready and not have to scurry when Christmas comes.  I somehow seem to make all different cards.  I enjoy doing this.  The papers are papers I had left from another year and I'm not sure what they are.  I used copics to color the ornaments.  I cut them out and put them on dimensionals.  I also used Crystal effects on the ornaments, nesties circle and scallop,  ribbon (I think Martha Stewart), and faux stitches.  I really like the colors.  Hope you've had a nice weekend.