Crop & Create Markham sneak peeks!

It's about a week away. Will I see you there? Crop & Create Markham is next weekend (January 13/14, 2012) and I will be teaching three classes on the 14th (Saturday). Here's some sneak peeks of the "Patchwork Album" and two card classes:

'Tis the season for a new Scrapbook & Cards Today!

The winter issue is out and it looks amazing! You can download it for free by clicking here.

Inside you will find these projects of mine:

Supplies: Core'dinations cardstock and Sand-it Gadget tool, My Mind's Eye patterned paper, Jillibean Soup corrugated letters, Stampin' Up/Sizzix snowflake dies, Fiskars border punch, Crate Paper chipboard, Lifestyle Crafts letter dies, American Crafts layering tape, Font: Mason, other: sewing machine and thread.
Supplies: Core'dinations cardstock, Jillibean Soup kraft paper and twine, My Mind's Eye patterned paper, stamps, brads, diecuts, chipboard, bling, and felt trim, We R' Memory Keepers eyelet, Sizzix embossing folder and die (star), Tsukineko ink, American Crafts ink, other: sewing machine and thread.

Supplies: Fancy Pants patterned paper, ribbon, buttons, stickers, and diecuts, 7Gypsies receipt tray, Imaginsce clear snowflakes, Helmar Quick Dry glue, DMC embroidery thread, Font: Another Typewriter.

ScrapFest done...and onward to CreativFestival!

This past weekend I got to teach at ScrapFest in Oshawa, ON - two make and takes and an entire 12-page album class. The album class will be offered again at Crop & Create in Markham, ON, on Saturday, January 14th, if you missed out. Registration begins tomorrow (October 17th) for Crop & Create!

Here are the two make and takes that I offered this weekend FOR FREE at ScrapFest and I will be offering them again this coming weekend (October 22nd) at CreativFestival in Toronto, ON.

Supplies: Core'dinations cardstock (Core Impressions, White Wash, Essentials) and Sand-It Gadget tool, Jillibean Soup kraft card and twine, Quickutz ornament and tree dies, Sizzix scalloped circle die, Spellbinders star die, Fiskars paper crimper, We R' Memory Keepers Corner Chomper, and American Crafts layering tape.

Supplies: Core'dinations cardstock (Kraft Core and Graphic 45) and Sand-It Gadget tool, Scenic Route grid paper, Tim Holtz/Sizzix border die (leaves and branches), Tsukineko inks, EK Success perforator (to add ink stitches), Pebbles Inc. rub-on and Xyron Sticker Maker adhesive.

Finally, here are a few sneak peeks of the Holiday Mini-album class that I am teaching this Saturday, October 22nd, at CreativFestival in Toronto, ON. It's not too late to sign up...there are a few spots still available!

Supplies: Core'dinations cardstock (Spotted) and Sand-It Gadget tool, Echo Park patterned paper and cardstock stickers, Scenic Route grid paper, Fiskars border punch and circle punch, EK Success circle punch, We R' Memory Keepers Crop-a-Dile, Cinch tool and coil (for binding), American Crafts layering tape. This album is based on a PageMaps sketch by Becky Fleck.

Today's the day!!!

Today's the day that registration begins for ScrapFest Oshawa 2011 at 8pm EST. I am teaching a class on the Saturday night that you don't want to miss. Here are the deets:

Patchwork Quilt Photo Album

Date: Saturday, Oct 15th, 2011

Time: 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm (2.5 hours)

Location: Campus Wellness and Recreation Centre (Durham College) in Oshawa, Ontario
Skill Level: Beginner and up
Focus: Design
Price: $49.00 + HST (This DOES NOT include your Marketplace pass!)

Class Description
Make an entire album in just two hours! Each participant receives a 12"x12" Xyron Everyday Stories brown leather album (retail for $40US). Heart warming patterned paper by Jillibean Soup (Homemade 6 Bean Soup) and crafty cardstock by Core'dinations (Kraft-Core) compliment the layout of this 6 double-page album. Create a patchwork quilt of all your favourite photos from over the years. Embossing, sanding and stitching are just the icing on top of this workshop that you don't want to miss! Only 20 spots available.

Photos for album (can be added after the class):

Mostly 4"x6" and 6"x4" but additional sizes can be used.

All the student will need to bring is their basic tool kit. All other supplies will be provided by the instructor. Students need to bring to class a basic tool kit.

Sponsors: Scrapbook & Cards Today, Xyron (Everyday Stories Album), Core'dinations, Jillibean Soup.

Xyron Creatopia meets knitting

The other day, on the Scrapbook & Cards Today blog, I posted the following card for the 3T (Tips, Tricks and Techniques) feature of the week. I am assigned the last Tuesday in each month if you want to add that to your blog-cruising calendar. My article was all about going back to your crafting roots and trying to add your crafting skills to layouts and cards. My mother and grandmother armed me with multiple crafting skills and I really want to start adding some of those skills to my future projects.

Supplies: Jillibean Soup kraft paper and patterned paper, Xyron Creatopia (fabric adhesive), Patons yarn, Font: Another Typewriter, other: sewing machine, thread, bamboo skewers.

Finally....Happy Canada Day! Happy 4th of July!

It's here! It's here!

The summer issue of Scrapbook & Cards Today is now available either on-line or at your local scrapbooking store.

I've got two layouts in there. The first one is of my beautiful and creative mother...

Supplies: Core'dinations cardstock and Sand-It Gadget tool, Jillibean Soup kraft paper, My Little Shoebox patterned paper, stamp and diecuts, Maya Road trinket pins, American Crafts buttons and layering tape, Sizzix flower dies, Quickutz letter dies, ProvoCraft embossing folder, Xyron Creatopia (fabric adhesive, Cutz, Shapez), Tsukineko ink, DMC embroidery thread, Font: Another Typewriter, other: felt, pattern paper.

My second layout is based on a PageMaps sketch by Becky Fleck and documents our last trip to Great Wolf Lodge:

Supplies: Core'dinations cardstock (WhiteWash) and Sand-It Gadget tool, Echo Park patterned paper and cardstock stickers, Jilllibean Soup patterned paper (grid), Maya Road trinket pin, American Crafts layering tape, EK Success circle punch, Font: Another Typewriter, other: sewing machine and thread.

Happy Father's Day!

In light of the fact that my dad is a sailor AND I haven't quite got around to putting away my Fiskars' Boundary Waters punch, here is my Father's Day card for my dear old dad. This year he is celebrating his 38th Father's Day.

Wanna see another project made with this same border punch and Core'dinations' ColorCore Essentials cardstock? Check it out here on the Scrapbook & Cards Today blog.

Supplies: Core'dinations cardstock (WhiteWash and Core Essentials) and Sand-It Gadget tool, Jilllibean Soup kraft card base, My Mind's Eye patterned paper, Jenni Bowlin Studios number stickers, Stampin' Up! stamp, EK Success flower punches (for clouds) and black marker, Fiskars Boundary Waters border punch, American Crafts layering tape, Tsukineko ink, sailboat colouring book image found on-line at: http://cusoon.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/sailboat.gif

Whoa. Where did May go?

May has been a blur.

I have been busy designing some things that I can't quite share just yet....but I can share this.

Here is the card that I made for my mommy for Mother's Day. She loves to sew so the pin cushion was not lost on her.

Supplies: Jillibean Soup kraft card base, My Little Shoebox patterned paper and diecut, Technique Tuesday stamp (Ali Edwards Collection), Tsukineko ink, American Crafts layering tape.

I will be back on Tuesday with a 3T's (Tips, Tricks & Techniques) project for Scrapbook & Cards Today magazine. ;0)

Happy NSD! Big news...projects and more!

Morning! Sorry I have been MIA lately but our house has been under construction for the past three weeks and we finally wrapped up last night.

First up, the new design team for Core'dinations' ColorCore Cardstock was announced this morning. Here's the line up:

Andrea Amu

April Derrick

Char Dobson

Leica Forrest

Lydia Jackson

Kim Jeffress

Brianne Nevill

Melissa Oliveira

Debbie Standard

Shaunte Wadley
Sarah Hodgkinson, DT Core’dinator
Ellen Sosnoski, Blog Core’dinator

Core Teachers:

Vicki Boutin

Cari Locken

Kimber McGray

For more exciting Core'dinations' news, be sure to follow the link above to their blog.

Next on my blogging list today is an announcement from Scrapbook & Cards Today.

Also, on the Scrapbook & Cards Today blog, you will find these two projects of mine in honour of National Scrapbooking Day...which is today.
Supplies: Core'dinations cardstock and Sand-It Gadget tool, Jillibean Soup kraft paper, My Mind's Eye patterned paper, ribbon, diecut and dimensional sticker, Maya Road chipboard butterfly and trinket pin, Stampin' Up! embossing butterflies die and binder punch, EK Success border punch, Xyron Creatopia (to adhere ribbon), Helmar layering tape, Deco Art paint, other: sewing machine and thread. This layout is based on a PageMap's sketch from by spring 2011 issue of Scrapbook & Cards Today.
Supplies: Core'dinations cardstock and Sand-It Gadget tool, Jillibean Soup kraft card base, My Mind's Eye patterned paper and ribbon, Fiskars grass border punch, Stampin' Up! binder punch, EK Success flower punches (for clouds), Maya Road chipboard and trinket pin, Helmar layering tape, Hero Arts stamp, Tsukineko ink, other: sewing machine and thread. This card is based on a sketch from the CardMaps Today issue.

Sorry for your loss...

These are always the hard cards to make.

Here's one that I recently made for a friend who lost her dog.

Supplies: Core'dinations cardstock and Sand-It Gadget tool, Jillibean Soup kraft cardstock base, My Mind's Eye patterned paper, Hero Arts stamp, Tsukineko ink (VersaFine), Fiskars heart punch and grass border punch, and Helmar layering tape.

Technique Tuesday

It's time for another 3T Tuesday with me over at the Scrapbook & Cards Today blog. If you head over there today you can check out my little trick to making these Core'dinations/WhiteWash clouds - it's my go-to method for little clouds on cards and layouts.

Supplies: Core'dinations cardstock and Sand-It Gadget tool, Jillibean Soup kraft card base and twine, My Mind's Eye patterned paper, Fiskars heart punch and grass border punch, EK Success flower punches (for clouds), Creative Impressions mini-clothes pegs, Helmar layering tape, Cricut cartridge ("New Arrival"), Melissa Frances rubon.
Supplies: Core'dinations cardstock and Sand-It Gadget tool, Jillibean Soup twine, My Mind's Eye patterned papers, Maya Road chipboard tag and wooden bingo motif, Martha Stewart butterfly and cornflower punch, Fiskars grass border punch, EK Success flower punches (for clouds), Uniball pen, Hero Arts stamp, Tsukineko ink (VersaFine).

Happy Easter!

Here's a quick card that I made this morning. I recently bought a bunch of baker's twine through The Twinery. They had an awesome 8-pack of twines in a variety of colours which of course I had to have. I discovered, while making this card, that:

• baker's twine is best "finished off" by knotting the ends in order to prevent fraying.


• to break up the spirling of colours, add a coordinating brad to the center of a bow by splitting it open and wrapping it around the core of the bow.

I hope you had a great Easter weekend with your family and friends.Supplies: Core'dinations cardstock (Core Impressions - Basic Grey Collection and Snowflake white) and Sand-it Gadget tool, Jillibean Soup kraft card base, We R' Memory Keepers patterned paper, The Twinery baker's twine, Queen & Co. brad, Fiskars layering tape, other: sewing machine and thread.

Spring?

It is currently snowing outside.

I am really starting to doubt whether or not spring has really arrived.

I made this layout which appeared on the Jillibean Soup blog last week.

Supplies: Core'dinations cardstock (Grass Greens), Jillibean Soup patterned paper, kraft paper, Journaling Sprout, corrugated shapes, Bean Blossoms (buttons with twine), twine, and ribbon, Xyron Creatopia (to apply adhesive to the ribbon and deckle cutting blade for grass), 3L kraft photo corner, Font: Mason, other: sewing machine and thread.

Jenni Bowlin card action

There is always something fun going on over at the Core'dinations' blog. Giveaways, blog hops, techniques and tons of inspiration. Last week featured Jenni Bowlin Core Impressions. There were layouts, cards and even a mini-album. Here's a card that I made. It's based on a sketch from the new CardMaps Today issue put out by Becky Fleck (PageMaps) and Scrapbook & Cards Today. Supplies: Core'dinations cardstock (Jenni Bowlin Core Impressions) and Sand-It Gadget tool, Jenni Bowlin patterned paper and rubon, Jillibean Soup kraft paper and corrugated shapes, Marvy scalloped punch, Stampin' Up! label punch, Fiskars layering tape, other: sewing machine and thread. This card is based on a sketch from CardMaps Today. If you are attending CreativFestival this weekend you can pick up a copy of the new CardMaps Today issue at the Scrapbook & Cards Today booth. Hope to see you there on Saturday when I will be offering make and takes at 10:30am, 1:30pm and 3:30pm for Scrapbook & Cards Today.

A card, a layout and a statement

Today this card went up on the Jillibean Soup blog...
Supplies: Core'dinations cardstock, Jillibean Soup patterned paper, kraft paper and diecuts, ProvoCraft/Cricut cartridge (Hoot 'n' Holler) and Cricut machine, Fiskars layering tape, other: sewing machine and thread.

Last week this layout went up on the Jillibean Soup blog... Supplies: Core'dinations cardstock (Core Impressions - Jillibean Soup Collection) and Sand-It Gadget tool, Jillibean Soup patterned paper, diecuts and kraft alpha stickers, K & Company chipboard, We R' Memory Keepers Corner Chomper, 3L kraft photo corner, other: sewing machine and thread. This layout is based on a bonus PageMaps sketch by Becky Fleck in the spring issue of Scrapbook & Cards Today.

Finally, I must say, this past weekend's ScrapFest in Kitchener, ON, was perhaps the best one yet! I have been to a lot of ScrapFests over the past years and this one proved to have the best make and takes on the VIP night and the Saturday, the best dressed booths, and an energy that was great to see after all my years of scrappin'. My class on the Saturday night from 5:30pm until 7:30pm was a delight to teach and I look forward to hearing from those that took my class with final images of their layouts once they've added their photos. Git 'er done, girls. ;0

I am really looking forward to this upcoming weekend at CreativFestival in Toronto, ON. Be sure to drop by the Scrapbook & Cards Today booth to say, "Hi!" if you are planning on going.

A quick card set

Morning!

By now most of you have figured out my news...I am now a design team member for Scrapbook & Cards Today magazine! I am extremely honoured and excited to be a part of this team as Scrapbook & Cards Today has inspired me since it showed up in my local scrapbooking store five years ago.

Next, here are two cards that I made as part of my last month with Jillibean Soup. I decided that I would not reapply for their recent design team call as I don't want too much on my plate. I will always use Jillibean Soup products in my scrapping though since Jill's creative brain is just too "bang on" for what I love...bright colours, fun designs and, above all else, kraft paper.

Supplies: Jillibean Soup patterned paper, kraft card base and kraft paper, diecuts and corrugated shape, Unity Stamp Company stamps, Tsukineko ink, Stampin' Up! border punch, Glue Dot, other: pins and thread.

Finally, if you haven't heard yet, Core'dinations ColorCore Cardstock is holding a design team call from now until Friday, April 15, 2011 (4:00pm EST). Find all the details here.

Happy birthday, Scrapbook & Cards Today!

Scrapbook & Cards Today magazine just turned 5! This past summer, when my son turned 9, we celebrated with a LEGO party and I made a little (2 1/2" x 5") mini-album to mark the occasion. Here's a little peek at the cover but you really should check out the whole album by heading over to the Scrapbook & Cards Today blog. Really. You should. Go there now. ;0) Supplies: Jillibean Soup patterned paper, cardstock stickers, diecuts, and journaling sprouts, Helmar 450 glue, Fiskars paper crimper and layering tape, We R' Memory Keepers Crop-a-Dile and Corner Chomper, Glue Dots, other: 1" binder rings, and pins.

The spring issue has sprung up!

The spring issue of Scrapbook & Cards Today went up today on-line and is also available at your local scrapbooking store. It's free and you can download a copy of it by clicking here.

Inside the issue, on page 6, you will find my version of the cover layout. It features the new Blossom Soup line by Jillibean Soup, some Core'dinations cardstock, and some painted Maya Road chipboard for the title.

Even though it's currently -8 degrees Celsius outside....Happy Spring!

Supplies: Core'dinations cardstock, Jillibean Soup patterned paper, Sugar Pick butterfly pin, and corrugated clouds, Maya Road chipboard letters, Making Memories paint, October Afternoon journaling stickers, Sizzix border strip dies, Fiskars layering tape, Font: EditorCndn, other: deckle edge scissors. Photo by Marla Kress.

Love you snow much

Today, over on the Scrapbook & Cards Today blog, I have a tutorial on how to make a God's eye out of Jillibean Soup Sugar Picks (pins) and a pleated kraft paper border, just like I made on my "Snow Day" layout below. Here's the "Love You Snow Much" card that I made to accompany these techniques:

Supplies: Core'dinations cardstock (Chocolate Box and Core Impressions - Jillibean Soup Collection) and Sand-It Gadget tool, Jillibean Soup printed kraft paper, Sugar Picks and kraft paper, Fiskars heart punches and layering tape, Quickutz letter dies, DMC embroidery thread, We R' Memory Keepers Corner Chomper, other: sewing machine and thread.

Little Miss Sunshine

Not only one of my most favourite movies of all time but also a new favourite layout of mine. This layout features my own little sunny girl, Ema. It also features the new Blossom Soup collection by Jillibean Soup AND Core'dinations cardstock.

Supplies: Core'dinations cardstock (Essentials), Jillibean Soup kraft paper, patterned paper, corrugated shapes, corrugated alphas and cardstock border and letter stickers, Stampin' Up! binder punch, ProvoCraft/Cuttlebug paper quilling dies, Glue Dots, Technique Tuesday stamps, Tsukineko ink and Fiskars layering tape. This layout is based on a sketch from the Scrapbook & Cards Today/PageMaps 2011 calendar.

The Core'dinations cardstock works perfectly with the paper flower quilling dies by ProvoCraft/Cuttlebug.
Note: These flowers are made with the "Daisy" quilling kit by ProvoCraft/Cuttlebug and some Glue Dots.