Well I finally finished up this card I've had "in progress" for – oh, about a week or so! Actually, all it was waiting on was the 3 minutes it took to run the background through my Big Shot and adhere the lady bear to the front, lol.

So anyway, here's my first Build-a-Bear card:

She was a ton of fun to make, btw.  Main supplies included 2 Build-a-Bear dies (for the Big Shot) – Stampin' Up! Bear and Stampin' Up! Bear Essentials (her clothes), Pawsitively Prints Designer Series Paper, and Stampin' Up! Textured Impressions (Embossing) Folder – Petals-a-Plenty.  All items from the awesome Holiday Mini Catalog.  Maybe one of these days I'll get around to working with the boy bear, too – ya think?!?

If your kids are fans of Build-a-Bear and you'd like to center a birthday party theme around these bears, let's talk!  Or perhaps a set of Build-a-Bear supplies might be in order for Christmas?  Check out our interactive catalog and shop online here.

Check back here real soon as I unveil my Santa's Gift-making Workshop Blitz for October and November! 9 fun and varied classes to choose from:  take one or take 'em all.  Here's a sample of one of 'em….. 4 glitzy & shimmery cards with coordinating envelopes, and a coordinating, reusable gift pouch….

Woo Hoo!!!! November’s session of Santa’s Gift-Making Workshop Blitz is posted, and classes are ready for signup!  You’ll notice that the grouping is quite similar to last month’s class line-up, but I’m only repeating the most popular, and have added a brand-new one, too.

PLEASE KEEP READING AND SCROLLING….. THIS POST IS CRAMMED FULL OF INFORMATION….. AND PROJECT PICTURES AND CLASS DESCRIPTIONS ARE LOCATED FARTHER DOWN.

If you’ve been stamping with me long enough to remember our Holiday Stamp Camps of years ago, you might think of this series as a “design your own Stamp Camp”…… except THIS one’s got so much going on I’ve had to schedule it over multiple days!  Here’s how it’ll work:

I will be offering these classes in a 5-day series, from Nov. 18 – Nov. 22.  Each class day will be Open House style to accomodate your personal schedule, and each day you’ll have 4 classes from which to choose.  (Take as many classes in a day as you want; you’re limited only by your ability to keep on keepin’ on!)  🙂

AND if there happen to be SEVERAL things that appeal to you during this Santa’s Gift-Making Workshop blitz, there’ll be a volume discount, too.  For every 3 (different) classes you sign up for, you’ll get your 4th one (the lowest-priced of the 4), for half-price!  (But you’ll need to register directly through me to make this happen.)  

But wait…… wait…….it gets even better!  Two more things:

1)  If you’ve got a full Great Rewards card here, you can redeem that towards your class registration(s); each full card you’ve accumulated is worth $30 towards your class (or classes).  (To redeem your Great Rewards card on a class, please contact me directly to register, instead of registering online right here.)

2)  AND finally, if you hurry, you can take advantage of my Earlybird discount – through Monday, November 16th!

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So without any further ado, here’s more of what you need to know:

Dates:  November 18 – 22

Hours:  10 am – 9 pm most days; Sunday starts at 2:00 pm (Open House style each day; come at your own convenience)

What:  6 gift-making classes of varying levels of complexity – so you’ll find something for everyone here!

Please note that some classes have limited numbers of supply kits left, so if there’s something that strikes your fancy, better get registered quick before they’re all spoken for!

AND AS ALWAYS, PLEASE BRING SNAIL ADHESIVE AND AT LEAST A COUPLE OF REFILLS TO EVERY CLASS!

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Here’s what you can choose from for your November gift-making:

This pretty “JOY” wall hanging has sure caught a lot of attention around here!  And it’s a lot of fun to make, too – especially if you enjoy cranking shapes and textures out of the awesome Big Shot!  Over 20″ long, this is another project that’s all about texture, depth, and shimmer – and as an added bonus it’s lightweight, and easy to pack and mail, too! 

You’ll make two identical wall hangings in this class – but if you’re in need of even more budget-friendly gifts, reserve some additional kits so you can treat ALL your friends to this handmade treasure they’ll enjoy for many years!

Dates:  Available every day, Wed. 11/18 thru Sun. 11/22, while supplies last

Select your pricing category:

Stampers 30 Club member $26.00 Regular Price $30.00 Sea to Sea Stampers $23.00 Additional kit (makes 2 wall-hangings) $15.50

Select your preferred date:

Wed., 11/18 Thurs., 11/19 Friday, 11/20 Sat., 11/21 Sun., 11/22

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These darling portfolios with matching pen and Jr. size paper pad will make lovely practical gifts. (Note the paper pads will not include the 3 binder holes like shown in my sample).  Closure band (embellished with ribbon and corduroy button) provides a snug home for the pen so it’s always handy. Extra pocket inside for receipts, notes, or other important bits of paper.  Portfolio is made from our sturdy file folders so it should stand up to significant use. 

Class pricing includes two complete portfolio sets; additional portfolio kits are available individually.

NOTE:  SUPPLIES ARE VERY LIMITED FOR THIS CLASS; BETTER SIGN UP QUICK!

Dates:  Available every day, Wed. 11/18 thru Sun. 11/22, while supplies last

Select your pricing category:

Stampers 30 Club member $26.00 Regular $30.00 Sea to Sea Stampers $22.00 Extra kit for 1 portfolio $7.00

Select your preferred date:

Wed., 11/18 Thurs., 11/19 Fri., 11/20 Sat., 11/21 Sun., 11/22

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 “Dashing through Christmas” is all about glitter and glitz!  While you can’t really see it in these pictures, Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder provides plenty of shimmer on all 4 of these cards, as well as their coordinating gift pouch.  (BTW, I chose to put the cards themselves inside my pouch instead of filling it with candy as shown in these pictures.)

“Dashing through Christmas” features 4 shimmering and festive cards, 4 coordinating envelopes, and a pretty coordinating pouch, too.  Package all the pieces together as a single gift, or split the cards from the pouch for twice as many gifts. The project design features our “Dasher” and “Merriment” stamps – both hailing from our budget-friendly “Under $10” collection.  And the fun and festive Designer Series Paper is Merry Moments. 

Dates:  Wed., 11/18 and Sunday, 11/22

Select your pricing category:

Stampers 30 Club member $23.50 Regular $27.00 Sea to Sea Stampers $19.50 Extra kit $10.00

Select your preferred date:

Wed., 11/18 Sun., 11/22

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Now if this charming project doesn’t make your lucky gift recipient smile, I don’t know what will!  This awesome birdhouse stands over 8″ tall, and this project is all about the TEXTURE and BLING!  (Actually, the picture shown here isn’t even a completed project, but trust me, the finished version is even more awesome!)  But see that cheerful little birdie peeking out the center hole?  That’s one of 4 coordinating cards tucked inside this birdhouse; access to the cards & envelopes is through the cleverly “tiled” roof!  (Roof construction is a “Lynda original”.)

If you love crafting and have the patience for plenty of detail work (not “hard”, mind you…. just plenty of steps), this delightful gift will cheer up ANYone’s long winter day!  Better allow 3 – 5 hours to complete this extra-special masterpiece.

Dates:  Thurs. 11/19 and Sat., 11/21

SOLD OUT

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And who wouldn’t love a scrapbook all ready to add their own pictures into?  I’ve got two sizes of “Scrapbooking in a Single Sitting” in October’s lineup….. both of which can be completed in only about 2 hours (maybe even less if you really get in the groove). 

First, this 6″ x 6″ album includes 20 page foundations, and includes extra cardstock and papers for mats and embellishments, too.  Pricing is for pages only; I recommend you either order one of our albums (which will include exactly the right number of page protectors), or at least get a set of page protectors (which will provide sufficient for TWO albums)!

The happy colors in this album are Baja Breeze, Certainly Celery, Old Olive, Barely Banana, and Whisper White.  Ribbons and self-adhesive die-cuts are included.  If photo colors don’t quite coordinate, print them in black & white for a lovely presentation!

(Um, my apologies for the less-than-stellar photography.  So we interrupt this Gift-Making discussion for an impromtu photography lesson:  Do you know what happens when you take your projects out to the north side of the house to shoot them in the daylight of a crisp fall day?  They turn blue!  Yes, even with flash!  I’d always heard that north light was “cool” light.  Well, no kidding!)

But I promise this project looks a whole lot prettier in real life than what it looks like here!

Dates:  Available each day Wed., 11/18 thru Sat., 11/21

Select your pricing category:

Stampers 30 Club member $23.00 Regular $27.00 Sea to Sea Stampers $19.00 Extra kit $12.00

Select your preferred date:

Wed., 11/18 Thurs., 11/19 Fri., 11/20 Sat., 11/21

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Everybody LOVES the stamp set “5th Avenue Floral“, and this project showcases its beauty exquisitely.  4 elegant cards and coordinating envelopes are presented in a clear-front gift box like nothing you’ve ever seen before! Look for lots of amazing special touches throughout this gorgeous project; make a set or two for someone very special! 

Dates:  Fri. 11/20 and Sun. 11/22

Select your pricing category:

Stampers 30 Club member $31.00 Regular $35.00 Sea to Sea Stampers $26.00 Extra Kit $16.00

Select your preferred date:

Fri., 11/20 Sun., 11/22

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I've just posted information about my annual Christmas Card Design Studio here.  If you'd like to make your Christmas cards by hand this year, but could use some design & technical guidance, as well as a structured work schedule (and table space, too), then my Christmas Card Design Studio is for you!  Read the details and get signed up here.

If that describes you, then my Christmas Card Design Studio is for you!  Join now and have your holiday cards all ready to mail before Thanksgiving! 

Here’s what you’ll get:

• Individual design consultation with me as we work together to create your custom card design (initial cardstock & sample supplies included)
• Assistance with determining the supplies you’ll need for your chosen design
• I’ll bulk-cut your cardstock for you – saving you mounds of time so you can get right to work
• Custom tips for art techniques as well as for efficient volume assembly of your cards
• Incidental (minor) use of some of my supplies (ask about my Big Shot use policy)
• Up to 5 “work party” sessions to work on your cards under my guidance and with the company and conversation of other stampers, too.
• Option to store your supplies here between sessions for your convenience
• And ME!  (Who just might even be willing to tie those pesky ribbons for you again!)

And you get all this for only a one-time $25 registration fee!  ($22 for Stampers 30 Club members)

Dates include 6 Tuesdays (2 sessions per day) Oct. 6 – Nov. 24.  Your first meeting will be your orientation, where we will develop the main direction of your design, and then order your supplies.  (Although you may join at any time if space is still available, I highly encourage you to attend an Oct. 6th orientation session, as that will be specifically focused on designing and creating your prototype….. and you’ll have maximum opportunity to take advantage of the subsequent work-party sessions.)

So mark your calendar for Oct. 6, 20, & 27… and Nov. 3, 17, and 24 – and get registered quick ‘cuz space is limited.

Registration type

Regular registration $25.00Stampers 30 Club Member $22.00

Your preferred session

10:00 am7:00 pm

Here are pages 1 and 2 from my first digital album - previewing Stampin' Up!'s brand-new "My Digital Studio", which will be available to order beginning October 1st!  You'll be amazed at what you'll be able to do by expanding the world of papercrafting into the digital realm!  Not only photo books, of course, but cards, calendars, letters, flyers, multi-media presentations, and probably plenty of other stuff no one's even thought of yet, lol.  I am working on my certification for this amazing program, so watch for an announcement about my introductory classes later this fall.

Just a quick post today to share the cover design for my first digital album!  I'm using the soon-to-be-released software program from Stampin' Up!, "My Digital Studio"….. and let me tell you it's AWESOME!

More pix to come, but I had to get this one up today.

Have you ever thought it might be fun to have your very own handwriting as a font on your computer?  Well I just learned of a way to do that …… kind of.  While I discovered that this particular process unfortunately won't work for script handwriting, with some patience and repeated tweaking I was able to get a fairly decent resemblance to my own printing.  I'm not immediately sure what I'll DO with this font now that I have it, but perhaps someday it'll find its way into some journaling or something.

Ok, so if you're intrigued, here's the site to work with.  (And lucky YOU, 'cuz it's even free!) The overall process is actually pretty straightforward:  you'll download and print a special PDF form (I'll call it a worksheet), and then handwrite a sampling of each letter it prompts for.  Then that completed worksheet is scanned back in, and then the scanned image is uploaded to the fontcapture.com website.  Moments later your custom font has been created and it's ready to download and install into your font folder!

If you'd like to give this a try, I recommend allowing yourself at least an hour or two to play with it.  I found that the first several attempts I made did not really look like my handwriting at all.  One sample I submitted was my handwriting in script.  NOT good; each individual letter ended up printing independently with its little serif connectors taking up space and then looking really goofy when the letters don't connect anyway.  So I gave up on that idea quickly and decided to stick to printing.  Here are a few tips I can share based on my experience:

• You'll need to use a fine-point Sharpie-type marker on your worksheet.  A regular pen will be too fine, but a regular Sharpie is too fat.
• When you download the worksheet upon which you will write your letters, go ahead and print off a half-dozen or more copies right at the outset.  You'll probably end up using at least most of them anyway, and it's a frustration to have to go print yet another sheet each time you need one.  (Plus, you lose your writing rhythm and have to practice all over again before starting again.)
• Once you've scanned in your completed worksheet, crop it close to the edge of the printed part before uploading your scanned image.  My scanner left borders of white that were too wide, so the program couldn't orient itself until I cropped in close.  I kept getting error messages before I figured out what was wrong.
• Practice writing each letter individually on scratch paper immediately before writing it on the worksheet.  I found that my letters looked too "forced" the first several times through, so I discovered that by practice-writing a letter several times first, I was able to get my hand to relax and yield a more realistic result.  
• If you include too many flourishes with your writing, your letters will be spaced too widely apart when using your font.  I found that by using Stampin' Up!'s white gel pen over the excess flourishes I could narrow each letter, which yielded better spacing and easier readability of my text. 
• Be prepared to submit several writing samples before getting one you like.   I found that each one I submitted looked a little better (a little more like my real writing) than the previous ones.
• If you get a sample that is *mostly* ok, but with only a few letters you don't like, rewrite those specific letters on those extra worksheets, cut out those specific squares and adhere exactly in place on top of the "mostly ok" worksheet.  And then re-scan it and resubmit.  I had to do this several times, but it proved the biggest key to eventual success.  This method is better than re-writing everything in the hopes of improving one or two letters.  If you attempt to rewrite everything you're likely to mess up something that was once just fine.
• Be sure you type plenty of trial samples with every letter before you consider your font complete and accept it.  If you find there seems to be a certain letter that's just got goofy spacing (esp. too wide to be appropriate within a word), look for a possible tiny stray dot on your worksheet.  I found a couple of cases where there were such almost imperceptible spots on my worksheet; my eye could barely detect them, yet the software was picking these dots up from the scan and considering them part of the formed letter, which messed up that letter's spacing in relation to other letters in a word.  To resolve that, all I had to do was mark out those stray spots with that white gel pen again and re-scan.
• There are many more letters or symbols on the worksheet than most of us will every use.  Some I'm sure I have never written in my entire life!  But I discovered that if you're sure you'll never write that particular symbol in your own handwriting you can just leave it blank on the worksheet.

So have fun creating your own custom font, and then I invite you to leave a comment here and share what you will be doing with your new font!   

What a great day to be a Stampin' Up! demonstrator!  Just had to share how excited I am about this upcoming season! 

We got some rain overnight (finally), and there's apparently more coming this weekend…… my preordered copy of "My Digital Studio" should be arriving today (yes, I stayed up waaaaay late Monday night, into Tuesday, Sept. 1st, to get it preordered and even expedited, and then continued to read all about it until after 3:30 in the morning, lol)! 

And I've heard from several of you that you're excited for Christmas Card Design Studio, I get to stamp all day today in preparation for the weekend's Stamp-a-Stacks, and most of all I finally get to see a bunch of my stampin' friends again this weekend and next week, too! With my recent goofy August schedule, that has meant no Stamp-a-Stacks, Club meetings, or even workshops for an entire month, I have REALLY missed you guys!  Sure made me appreciate how much a part of my life y'all have become.  THANK you!…… and I can't wait to see you real soon!

PS:  I can still take a few more at my Stamp-a-Stack sessions this weekend.  Call me quick, though, while I still have time to prep enough cards!

Well, much as I have to admit I never want the short summers here to end, I AM looking forward to the new opportunities September and the coming months are bringing with them!  School's about to start, and although that doesn't affect my life all that much at this point, I know of several parents who are QUITE anxious for the school bells to begin ringing again…. and I'll bet the kids might just secretly be ready to get moving in that direction themselves.

And I just stepped outside to check the mail a few minutes ago, and what was that I spotted on the car?!?  Raindrops?!?  Oh my gosh!  I hardly remember what those even ARE!  We've had such a prolonged dry stretch around here; not sure I can ever remember it being this dry for so long here in the Pacific Northwest.  But the big drops on the porch steps and on the car, accompanied by the pronounced chill in the air kind of took me by surprise.  But I'm ok with that.  Well, for now, anyway, lol. 

But enough about the weather!  It's a whole new season with Stampin' Up!®, too!  I have just posted a link in my left-hand column to the brand-new Holiday Mini Catalog, so even if you're STILL waiting for yours to show up in your mailbox you can view it online in the meantime.  Please remember there has been an unexpected delay with the Simply Adorned Jewelry line, so we'll have to wait for further word as to when those items will become available.  But I can share with you that the launch date for the oh-so-long-awaited My Digital Studio system is set for October 1!  We just learned of that yesterday!  So as a demonstrator, I just preordered mine this morning and hope to work on getting familiar with it beginning this weekend.  So far today, I've just been reading and absorbing the information Stampin' Up! has posted about it, and have already signed up for a webinar training class tomorrow afternoon.  So I'm PUMPED about this new digital design line we're introducing!  (BTW, look for an opportunity to get YOUR "My Digital Studio" at half-price during October and November; more info about that later!)

BUT - Back to this weekend, where I've still got plenty of room at all 3 sessions of my September Stamp-a-Stacks.  I realize it's the Labor Day weekend, but if you're going to be in town anyway, why not come break the long dry spell of stamplessness during August, and pump up your card supply?!?  Remember it's only $12 to make your first 5 cards, and any extras are only $1 each!

You may register here online, or email or phone me with your Stamp-a-Stack RSVP if the online registration shuts down (which it probably will on Wednesday).  Remember my contact info is at the top of my blog page.  But note:  if you're reading this from a feed, you may need to go to my blog directly to see the info to which I refer. 

So come join us at Stamp-a-Stack this weekend!  *You* bring your SNAIL adhesive and *I'll* do the prep work, and let's have some fun getting ready to greet the fall!