New Born Baby Mini Book

The Cover

Those who know me know that I usually have a PlayDay once a week at my home.  The "girls" who come to play delve into a variety of mixed media art including jewelry making, scrapbooking, kumihimo etc. - whatever sparks our imagination that week.

Yes, it keeps opening

One of the players in our regular group (Magda Cortez) creates amazing mini photo albums.  In her previous life she was an engineer.  We watch her create theses structures right before our very eyes.

Both sides opened

She had just come back from a cruise to Alaska and was showing us her latest.  I loved it.  She had also brought me the pad of Graphic 45 Baby paper that I wanted to use for my up coming grand baby. 

Right Side opened further

Before I knew it Magda had made the base for this book and left me her travel book as a sample.  At first I was overwhelmed with the paper and the realization that I had to put the paper together myself. My dear playday friend, Kat Baker, reassured me that I could do this and insisted that I get started right away and I did.  She reassured I couldn't go wrong with paper selections since Graphic 45 had already made sure everything worked together.  How right Kat was.

Little tag is what Michelle Hurtt made for all of us when we took Debby Anderson's Jewelry Class at Michelle's new studio.  I just added a ribbon and a bird.

Bottom Middle opened once

Magda has been gone for a couple of weeks and has not see my finished product.  Even with her sample in front of me, there is so much going on with her books that I really had to get my brain working and to remember to measure twice and cut once. . .

Bottom opened again to display an accordion wallet

I can't wait to have photos to put into the book once the baby is born.  Very exciting time for the family.  I love to make projects that have a purpose.  I seem unable to do art just because I want to play.  Very project oriented.  Hope you like the finish work of love.

Suzy West at The Making Place - Escondido

I can't believe that I haven't blogged since last August.  I have been to Spellbound at the Langham in Pasadena in November, 2013 and in January went with Kat to Prima's amazing event in Anaheim.  I am so far behind.

This is only a part of Karl's new huge backyard.
This is the unlandscaped part.

But, I have been sooooo busy and there is just "stuff" going on.  You don't need to hear about all of this.  So, when I saw my favorite scrapbook teacher was teaching once again in my area, I signed up immediately.  Added bonus was that it was at a new scrapbook store in Escondido that just opened before Christmas, 2013.  They don't have a website yet but you can find them through FB - The Making Place. The owner is a fabulous altered artist in her own right and her daughter was so nice and the owner and her granddaughter took the class with us.  Wonderful family and an Eye Candy store - every where you look.

The original 3 pages were very girlie and so I contacted Suzy and asked if she could help me make them a little more masculine for my only - just turned 2 - grandson, Karl.  She had suggestions and I went with them.

Every Tuesday Karl comes to play.
Here Grandpa is letting Karl look at his hand
with a magnifying glass.

We used a new product by Teresa Collins called Essential Modeling Paste.  I have always used Golden's products but purchased this if only to support an artist with a line of products.  There were stencils which we also just used with our ink pads and a sponge dabbing on color. 

There were cookies and bottled water available for we students.  The store is packed with supplies.  Fun place just to visit and get ideas.  The Making Place is just off the 15 freeway at the first entrance to Escondido so not that far.  They have a monthly evening group called "Mixed Media Art Club from 6-8 pm. Cost $22.  I thought the sample was fabulous.  I certainly will return.

You can find both Suzy West and The Making Place on FaceBook.

My own creation after taking Suzy's class
Guess I better straighten "GIRLS". . .

Just a simple page with very old paper.
Karl on his first hike with dad and aunt.
Mom home resting. . .

Ok. After seeing my blog, I went back to the hiking photos and really ruffed them up  and the hiking page looks so much better now.  

In person, so much better revisited.

Kat Baker, Elena and Ice Resin

Copied Kat's Project She Made in Ice Resin Class

I was unable to go to CHA this year and gave my ticket to my friend, Robin Sanchez.  (Check Robin out on Pinterest - Wow!)  I was able to view Elena's live broadcast from CHA and support her charity - Charity Wings.

I purchased raffle tickets and I won three of the prizes to my surprise.  I have already blogged about my win at CHA in my March 17, 2013 Blog.

Well, the product I won that I needed help with was the Ice Resin and embossing powders.  At one of my weekly "playdays", Kat showed up with a bracelet and a necklace she had made in an Ice Resin class she took at Elena's new facility in San Marcos.

We all loved her results, but I was the only one who already had the supplies - just didn't know what to do with them.  Kat and I scheduled a playday at her home.  It took the better part of the day to get everything ready and decide what I was going to do.

We broke for lunch and I treated Kat for her birthday to lunch at Panera's and then followed it up with some art supply shopping at Aaron Brother's where I purchased PanPastels at 50% off!

The Ice Resin product takes a couple of days to really dry properly and so the following week, Kat brought my pieces to my house for my weekly playday and we did some jewelry stuff.  I now have two bracelets and some pieces to use in my art in the future.

It was fun and I am so glad Kat shared her knowledge and skills with me.  Thank you Kat and Happy Birthday again.

(My photos of my results do not do the product justice.  Truly they look amazing in person!)

Scrapbooking Just Became So Much More Fun with Suzi West!

Title Cut with Pazzles Inspiration Revisited

On July 13, 2013, I took a scrapbooking class from a new teacher (well, new to me!) Her name is Suzi West.  The class was at Stamping Details in Poway and I had seen her sample pages and canvases displayed at the store and immediately loved her style.

What was different?  She took gesso, paints, pens, stencils, gel pen and altered the scrapbook paper. Plus, we embossed on our scrapbook painted page with WOW embossing powder!

I LOVE altered art and I truly want to continue to be the person who puts all my grandson and our family's photos and memories into albums, just like I did for my children.  But, I was getting so bored and had so much paper that I didn't exactly love anymore.  Not to worry!

From 9:30 am to 1 pm we completed three pages.  Below are the photos of the pages I completed.  The photos were added at home.

Gesso, Craft Paint and Stephanie Barnard Sprays

12x12 Transparency

Brick Stencil Embossed

Then the next day, so inspired, I took a photo taken a couple of weeks before when we were celebrating my son's birthday and did a one page layout, using what Suzi West had taught me and using just my way of doing altered art.  Loved the page that is below.

My Son's Birthday

Then, two weeks later, I made a two page layout of going with my son and his family for the first time to a pumpkin patch in Fallbrook.  I had never been to one and had never taken my kids to one when they were growing up.  I got out some really old paper stickers that I had for a while to embellish my creating.  The sunflowers are a paper napkin I got from my dear friend Georgia Lichon.

Title Cut with Pazzles Inspiration Revisited

Grandson was never in the wheel barrow
nor standing where I put him.

Two Page Layout

Plus, a week ago, I got back to using my Pazzles Inspriation after talking to Klo Oxford online and updated my software, watched an entire morning of fundamental video's in the Pazzel's Craft Room (which I joined and is so inexpensive and worth every penny) and I'm back in the grove.  I made the titles on my Pazzles.

Also, I was at Aaron Bros. with my dear friend, Kat Baker, and ended up with a super deal on two PanPastel sets after watching Kat play with hers.  Then off to Donna Downey's website to watch the instructional videos.  Couldn't believe my luck that Donna was using her PanPastel's in her weekly "Inspirational Wednesday" post plus video.  Check it out!

At Gee Gee's in Carlsbad, where Gail and her husband are going to retire at the end of September, I added to my PanPastel "pots".  Got a deal there also by popping an 18% off balloon in their store.  Sure will miss them (the owners).

Hope someone purchases their store and keeps north San Diego County in scrapbook and stamps, etc. Best store in North County as far as I am concerned.

Hopefully, I will now get caught up with my scrapbooking because I can combine the two things I love to do in one project!  It has been a win, win!

Sally Jean's Jackalope Journal Book

or "How to Mount your Rabbit".

March 13, 2013 I once again set off for Cheryl Simpson's beautiful home and Sally Jean's Jackalope Journal Book.  My car was packed the night before 'cause I was ready!

Sally Jean always remarks how her students trust her so much and know they will learn new things.  Once again, when we signed up for the class, we had no idea exactly what the project would look like.  We are always happily surprised when we arrive and see the finish project waiting for us.  This was no exception.  We all were thrilled to see what we would be creating this day.

Sally Jean's Jackalope Book

We learned some really kool techniques which I don't share with you on my blog.  That is what we take Sally Jean's classes for and all her students are very protective of Sally's creative ideas that no other teacher seems to come up with (I know, don't end a sentence with a preposition. . .)

Pam with her book

Close up of Pam's Book

We were only told to bring little books about 6 inches tall and our soldering gear along with our cookie sheet.  Sally Jean had our little kits ready for us and they were little but all we needed.  She supplies wire, flux, a torch (which we used for the first time with a new technique) and the Cordless Dremel 8200 and anything else specific to this project that we might need like wire, tape, etc.

Rita Reade brought a book that she chose to cover with paper first and then work with that theme.  So you don't need a vintage book to have fun!

Lovely Rita Reade of Vintage Market Place
Rainbow Springs

Rita's Book up close

There were a lot of demonstrations this time around and once again Sally Jean went over making soldering balls.  (By the time I finished with my balls I was getting pretty good).  This only proved that we really should practice some of these techniques before applying them to our final project.

Michelle Hurtt of Glitter Fest fame

Gathered around the teacher

Oops, didn't get her name. . .

Unknown Artist from above's work in progress

Here are more of the gals who gathered at Cheryl's for Sally Jean's class and their Jackalope Journals in progress.

Karle holding her Jackalope

Not everyone had a 6" book to work with

Lou Ann at her work station

Tiffany Smith with her blue Jackalope

Lunch was in Cheryl's beautiful backyard where we got to reacquaint ourselves with old friends and learn about new friends and their interests.  When we arrived there was fresh fruit cut up for us and an apple coffee cake.  After lunch for our afternoon pick me up there was Cheryl's "Next Best Thing To Robert Redford" (at least that is what it was called in the 70's!). 

Earrings purchased from Cheryl

I also purchased one of Cheryl's earrings she had made and a wonderful little vintage photo   album that, of course, I have no idea what I will do with. . .

4" x 5" Vintage Photo Album

Interior of Vintage Photo Album

Like always, I am disappointed with myself that I didn't also sign up for Sally Jean's two day Bug Class that my good friend Robin took.  I am hoping that she will post photos of her project and Sally's on her website.

My work in progress

I had this great book to use - just the right size.  I don't know if you can see my "balls" around my jackalope. By the time I finished with them, I was getting good at them.  Still a lot more "balls" to add to my bustier that holds my jackalope.  Plus, I have to complete my collage work for the top piece of glass and re-tape my bottom two pieces of glass and then attach the glass with this great method Sally Jean taught us!

Can't wait for Sally Jean to return and see what new ideas she has in store for us.  Great Class and Great Artists!

Sally Jean looks great and I am just plain tired!

The top banner on my book says, "Whisper" and then under that it says, "Who are you?"  The next straight banner asks, "What it's name".  And the last straight banner states, "Delighted to see you sir."

Silly Sally's Jackalope Book

Silly Sally's Jackalope
out of it's bustier

I now see a big mistake I made. . .  Oh, well.  Next book.  Once again not being carefully enough.  When will I learn?!

Score with Charity Wings Raffle at CHA and Ice Resin

This year I was unable to go to CHA 2013.  I registered but when the time came, I had other commitments and was very sad to miss this event and being with my friends.

But, I did participate from afar through Elena Lai Etcheverry and her Charity Wings three day event at CHA. I purchased raffle tickets to support her charity and "yea" once again won three great prizes for three of her vendors supporting her cause.  

One of the vendors was Flora Crafts and a huge box came filled with decorative  and wire, styrofoam, mesh and straw wreaths.  A bundle of stuff.

Floral Craft Burlap Ribbon

Floral Craft Colorful Mesh Runners

I also got some great small stamps from a company called Fun Stampers Journey.  Plus, they included some delicious greeting cards they had already made.

Fun Stampers Journey Stamps

Fun Stampers Journey Valentine Cards

But, the best raffle prize was from Ice Resin and Jen Cushman and Susan Lenart Kazmer and their products.  They did a huge demo at Elena's both which I saw.

EXPLORE, CREATE, Resinate by Jen Chushman

Last week the first of the products arrived.  There was Jen's book "Explore, Create, Resinate", and Susan Lenart Kazmer's book "Making Connections".  Plus, there was a heart that was made at Elena's booth along with a chain ready to wear. 

Making Connections by Susan Lenart Kazmer

 In and of its self that would have been enough.  But, "NO" Susan and Jen went overboard.  A couple of days later another small box arrived containing the products pictured below including:

Ice Resin - the products

Iced Enamels Relique.  Colors - Ivory, Chartreuse and Rasberry

5 packages of Susan's ART MECHANIQUE Silhoettes 

4 packages of Susan's ART MECHANIQUE Bezels, large and small

WOW.  Jen's book tells me how to use the Ice Resin Product that is listed under Susan Lenart Lazmer's name.  I can't wait for my weekly "playday" to show all my artist friends theses products and for us to play.  

Thank you Ice Resin, Flora Crafts and Fun Stampers Journey for my prizes and "Thank You" Elena for theses wonderful raffle prizes.