means it is a perfect day to work in the scraproom and what better products to play with then Jenni Bowlin and Maya Road. I have to say I am in love with Jenni’s new paints ( have not tried the inks yet but I am certain I will love them as well) the colors match exactly with all her inspiring products. I still need a few more colors of her paints and ink which I will be purchasing soon. I gotta have them all. Once I finish this mini album it will be filled with cute photos of Ansley and her friends.

As you can see I started out with a Maya Road 4″ binder album, painted it with Jenni’s new paints (Chili Powder “inside”, Lemon Drops and Malted Milk “outside”) and plan to alter the cover using her new Family Tree Mini Papers, Family Tree Journaling Cards, Yellow Butterfly Stickers, Butterfly Plain Chipboard Elements as well as her Vintage Style Sew On Buttons. I really love this color palette a lot.

So what are you all working on today?

Registration for my new online workshop “It’s All About The Dress” is now open. The cost for this workshop is $24.95. You will have instant access to the supply list once registration has been completed. The first workshop project will be posted to the private blog June 28th. You will have access to the private blog for 30 days starting the day of your registration.

Click the Badge to Enroll

In this online class you will alter a Maya Road Dress Form album using several different techniques. I will show you how to create delicate ruffles and rosettes from crepe paper an adorable boa created with flowers made from old book pages and beautiful cabbage roses created from felt. You will accent the dress forms with pearls, rhinestones, stick pins, scalloped trim, tulle and seam binding. Three dress forms will be covered with a scanned image of either ledger paper, sheet music or an old book page from my favorite supplies of vintage papers. Once completed you can place each altered dress form inside a shadow box to create a gorgeous framed trio or attach them to ribbon to create a banner. If you have any girls who recently attended their Prom you can attach a photo on the back of each dress form page to create a very unique keepsake album to document this special occasion.

You will also alter two pages from the Maya Road Dress Form album with a faux Italian Stucco texture that is perfect to apply to lots of different projects such as album covers, tags and chipboard embellishments. You will learn how to recreate beautiful roses using Grungepaper, Paint, Distress Stickles and Glitter. This project is all about paint and ink so make sure you wear an apron or something you will not mind getting dirty. Enroll Now

Here are some flowers I created using paper flowers from the Prima Flowers Wildflower Pillar Pack in White. I made these the same way I created these.  Once I finished creating the flowers I misted them using Maya Road Maya Mist Lime Green Metallic, Turquoise Metallic and Plum Metallic. I think these are perfect accents for any summer layout or project.

The Crafty Scrapper has all of the products I used if you need to order online. Just send Carolyn an email telling her I sent you her way and she will get you all fixed up.

Have a great weekend.

I have been playing around with a new style that is so funky and whimsical and I am really loving it. Painting seems to be less stressful on my shoulder so I am working in this medium for a bit. You will notice I still included my favorites… vintage ledger paper and sheet music as well as a beautiful vintage rhinestone button. It has been fun venturing outside of my comfort zone.

The paints I used  are by Claudine Hellmuth and I think they are awesome. The colors are wonderful and the consistency of each bottle  is perfect. Her paints are super creamy.

I used the end of my paintbrush to make the polka dots, a coffee mug to create the white circles, an old stencil I had for the numbers. A charcoal pencil was used to outline the scallops  created using a 1″ circle punch and old book pages and of course a few Maya Road chipboard hearts and Diamond Stickles.

and some silver German glass glitter. The “Americana” online workshop I did last year is now on sale for those interested in creating items for July 4th.

The cost for this workshop is only $14.95. You will get six weeks of access to the private blog starting the day you sign up.  When I look at the projects created for this workshop I think of dripping Popsicles, family picnics and the anticipation of waiting to watch a night filled sky full of fireworks. In this Americana Workshop you will create 12 projects using the very striking red, white and blue color scheme. All 12 tutorials include color photos, step by step directions, supply lists and tools needed. Below are a few sneak peeks of projects you will create.

I was lucky to get Trisha Conlon to come to my house for a private soldering lesson this past Wednesday. She is so talented and has so many wonderful ideas. Trisha and I started brainstorming and came up with a super cool class idea that we are going to teach  together at The Crafty Scrapper. It will be down the road because first we have to get the idea out of our heads and to the table. All I can say is it will be an all day class that will incorporate both our styles and yes I have to say it again…. it is so super cool!

Okay so on to what she taught me…. I love the shadow box type pendants and wanted to learn how to make them so badly. Well let me just say they are so fun to create and if Trisha does a shadow box class you have got to take it… hint, hint Trisha.

I filled my shadow box with some small and medium sized pearls, a rhinestone button and a resin flower. The back of the inside is part of an old button card. The back of the shadow box is altered using clip art Trisha brought me. I decided not to polish the pendant because I like the old tarnished look… kinda looks like something you would have found in your grandmothers vanity. Also, I did not burnish the tape really well on a few spots around the side so it lifted just a tad but honestly I like the look. I know it is not what you want but I think I am going to always have a slight lifted area on all of mine as I really do love how it looks… looking old and beat up =’s perfect to me.

So after the shadow box tutorial she told me how to make this adorable flower. Oh my… you need to take this class. I am going to turn mine into a pin. On some areas of a few petals the solder would not stick even after fluxing the thing (will have to ask Trisha about this) but again I like the beat up look. This flower looks like it has been sitting outside in a garden for several years. I love it and will certainly be wearing this pin proudly. Trisha mentioned another flower that she is trying to create and let me tell you I will be the first one in her class when she figures it out. You will want to be there too… promise!

well it is day 3 of resting the shoulder well honestly semi resting the shoulder and I am starting to feel some improvement. So I guess I really did need to rest the darn thing and since I have been only working on CHA samples I thought I would share some more of my favorite projects in my book.

Oh but first… those of you on the waiting list for my “Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend” technique class that I will be teaching at The Crafty Scrapper next month we have added another day. Here is the schedule for Friday, June 11th Noon “Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend” 6:00 “Tuscany and Roses” then Saturday, June 12th Noon “Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend” (Sold Out) So if you are on the waiting list and the new class time works for you give Carolyn a call 972.923.3151

This little snowman box was so much fun to make. I think it is a super cute way to store a mini album of winter photos. I have mine filled with photos of the girls out in the snow. Sadly I do believe Maya Road has discontinued this box and mini album… total bummer!

This is a little keepsake box for a special baby girl. You can store a little locket of her hair, her first lost tooth, baby bracelet etc. I created this using the Tim Holtz Fragment pieces, lots of Melissa Frances rubons and that wonderful resin crown. The box and buttons are by Maya Road.

This is one of my favorite altered projects. I think my Mom and Dad look so cute in this photo. Lots of German glass glitter and crepe paper rosettes.

This is what the frame looked like before I altered it… just a slight difference. Well I am off to do a little bit of laundry and some painting. I cannot wait for CHA sneak peeks. I think you all are going to be very surprised when you see one of my projects. It is so funky and whimsical… I just love it and cannot wait to share.  Oh and I had a GREAT private soldering lesson from Trisha Conlon yesterday. She teaches at The Crafty Scrapper. I am so excited to finally know how to make shadow boxes and her incredible flowers. I will take some photos and post them tomorrow. If you have the change to take a class from her you really need to do so.

This is one of my favorite photos of my Mom and her Mother. I am guessing this photo was taken around 1944. I think photo booth photos are the best. So wanting to be able to see this photo more often I decided to create a little heritage style pennant. Now I can display it however I wish.

Tips, Techniques and Tutorials

I had a super fun Saturday at The Crafty Scrapper. I took two soldering classes 101 and 201. Trisha is a great teacher. If you ever have a chance to take a class from her I suggest you do. You will be so happy you did. I will show you some of the charms I made later in the week.

Have a great day. I’m off to send Carolyn the info needed for my Tuscany and Roses Technique Class. I will be teaching it Friday evening June 11th during the crop. So if you are interested in taking this one give Carolyn a call.972.923.3151

In my Tuscany and Roses technique class you will alter two pages from a Maya Road Dress Form album. I will teach you how to reproduce a faux Italian Stucco texture that is perfect to apply to lots of different projects such as album covers, tags and chipboard embellishments. You will also learn how to recreate beautiful roses using Grungepaper, Paint, Distress Stickles and Glitter. This class is all about paint and ink so make sure you bring an apron or wear something you will not mind getting dirty.

Class Length: 4 Hours         Skill: All Levels

Additional Supplies Needed: (Not Included in Kit)
ColorBox Fluid Chalk Ink: Creamy Brown, Chestnut Roan
1 Package Cream Self Adhesive Pearls 5mm
Distress Stickles: Scattered Straw, Worn Lipstick
Diamond Stickles
Platinum Stickles

Basic Tools & Supplies Needed: Glue Stick, Strong Liquid Adhesive (Aleene’s Tacky Glue), Hot Glue Gun, Fabri-Tac, Sanding Block, Craft knife, Craft Mat, EK Success Whale of a Punch Flower and Retro Flower Punches (Highly Recommend), Straight Edge Scissors, Paintbrush, Foam Applicator or Sponge for applying Ink

Right now I feel a strong need to do some antique shopping. I want to find some more spools and add to my vintage paper stash. I love vintage papers of any kind.

Not much going on here today… just laundry. My goodness I have let it pile up pretty high. But before I could even think about starting that boring task I wanted to create this little project that came to mind just before I fell off to sleep last night. I love the simplicity of it. So cute and certainly does remind me of simpler times.

Tips, Techniques and Tutorials

I could create an entire village out of this old fashioned putz style house. Really, there are so many wonderful ways to decorate this sweet little house. I have other patterns in my head to create as well but I wanted something simple this go around. I like the simplicity of the black paint against the old book page. Also the accented star… it’s a Texas thing in gold German glass glitter really adds a nice pop of color to the front. Oh and don’t forget the crystal coarse glitter, it adds the perfect amount of sparkle.

Tips, Techniques and Tutorials

I have been super busy creating some new technique classes to teach at The Crafty Scrapper in Waxahachie. My “Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend” Technique Class will be taught June 12th at noon. If you are interested in taking this workshop give Carolyn a call at 972-923-3151.

In this class you will alter six pages from a Maya Road Dress Form album using several different techniques I will share. I will show you how to create delicate ruffles and rosettes from crepe paper an adorable boa created with flowers made from old book pages and beautiful cabbage roses created from felt. You will accent the dress forms using pearls, rhinestones, stick pins, scalloped trim, tulle and seam binding. Each dress form will be covered with a scanned image of either ledger paper, sheet music or an old book page from my favorite supplies of vintage papers. Once completed you can place each altered dress form inside a shadow box to create a gorgeous framed trio or attach them to ribbon to create a banner. If you have any girls who recently attended their Prom you can attach a photo on the back of each dress form page to create a very unique keepsake album to document this special occasion.

Each class kit includes step-by-step instructions with color photos for those that like to recreate projects exactly as shown. But please do not feel locked in to my design as I always encourage my students to make it their own.

Class Length: 3-4 Hours   Skill: All Skill Levels   Cost: $45.00

Additional Supplies Needed: (Not Included in Kit)
1 Package Small Black Foam Dots
1 Package Each – Cream Self Adhesive Pearls 2mm & 5mm
Platinum Stickles

Basic Tools & Supplies Needed: Glue Stick, Glossy Accents, Strong Liquid Adhesive (Aleene’s Tacky Glue), Fabri-Tac, Sanding Block, Craft knife, Craft Mat, Paper Trimmer or 1” Square Punch, Scissors, Sewing Needle, Pinking Shears/Zig Zag or decorative scissors of your choice, Straight Edge Scissors

My second technique class “Tuscany and Roses” will be scheduled in the near future at the store too. I will let you know as soon as Carolyn and I schedule the class date and time.