The Love Swaps

The swap theme for our January demonstrator meeting was "Love or Valentine". What a great selection of cards that generated!

In addition, I've remade some of my favorite treat packages in new DSP, so you'll be seeing a selection of these up close and personal in the coming days. If you see one you like, better make multiples ASAP - Valentine's Day will be here before you know it!! -Kathy

Scrap Book Page with Edgelits

Some years ago my girls just blew through a roll of film for fun, and I've been enjoying the results ever since!

Did you notice that the card from Monday's post is incorporated as an element on this page? I added two more blocks, one for narration and one as a photo frame, then tied them all together with SU! paper daisies and leaves from the bird builder punch. The Baroque Borders wheel provides some background texture and further ties the individual elements together.

I'm going to have to work on my photography technique for 12x12 pages. It's not nearly as simple as you might think!! -Kathy

The "Stinkin' Cute" Award

I just had to include one "catch-up post" from before Christmas when I disappeared from sight with a most unpleasant infection... Monique and I have a standard for projects that just make you say, "Awwww...!" We call them "stinkin' cute". This swap of Deloris' (demonstrator from Topeka) certainly meets the criteria! The stamp set is Sweets for the Sweet and she's used a bit of designer paper. Wouldn't this be darling tweaked for Valentine's Day or birthday?

To make the candy "tails", she's taken a scallop circle punch (1 3/4") of DSP and scored it like a pie. Cut this in half, then fold - beginning with a "mountain" fold. Secure under candy body with Tombow Multipurpose glue.

Way to go, Deloris! Thanks for sharing your creativity with us. -Kathy

Stamp Club Olathe - January 2012

We covered so much ground in both clubs this month! For these gals, I designed a card that featured one of the new edgelits dies and coordinating embossing folders, and we threw in a little two-tone stamping technique plus a few accent lines on the Stampin' Score! They echo the embossed lines from the folder nicely. I think this scheme of Basic Gray, Pink Pirouette and Wisteria Wonder is a nice alternative to the usual Valentine combo, don't you? The floral image is from a Sale-a-bration stamp set called Fresh Vintage, and you'll find the sentiment in Delightful Dozen.

But wait, there's more! In the next post I'll show you how we took this single element and used it on a scrap book page... -Kathy

Big Shot: Beyond Basics Class

Here's one of the projects I'll be teaching in the Big Shot class next Saturday. (Haven't signed up yet? There's still time, but don't delay!)

It all began with hammering out my resolutions for this year. I find that I like to give them form, to work with them and make them my own. For the class, I wanted to demonstrate some different ways to use the new Edgelits and Framelits dies. When I saw a similar project on another blog, I knew our materials would provide the perfect upgrade! So I made up a few of these little cards, thinking what an adventure it would be to give some away... but the project also modifies beautifully into an invitation, a birthday greeting with gift pocket, a photo holder with note... and with the Big Shot they go together double-quick.

I've got lots more up my sleeve for you, so don't miss out. Even if you don't own a Big Shot yet, you can use these tips and techniques here in the studio on work nights! -Kathy

A Gift for the New Year

I'm always bragging on the group of demonstrators I get together with each month, and here's another reason why! Not only are they talented, they're so very generous. Here's a gift I received last month from Lisa, who convenes the group. A little calendar pad is attached at the bottom - I'll just tear off each one as the year flies by and it will be just the right size for reference in the studio.

Practical, yes - but the beauty of little gifts is simply how special someone feels when they receive "a little something" made just for them, for no particular reason! -Kathy

Stamp Club Lawrence - January 2012

One of the scrumptious new products in the Occasions Mini Catalog is a pack of laser cut cards in two designs (the other is a heart). They come with Blushing Bride envelopes. After seeing a sample on Mary Brown's blog (her banner featured four letters, requiring the sacrifice of an additional card!) I came up with this modification, which I taught at the Lawrence club this month. Let's see: JOY, HUG, LUV, YOU, the recipients MONOGRAM... think of any other appropriate 3-letter words that might work?!

We also used the tip from Patty Bennett about coloring your basic pearls or rhinestones with Sharpies to make them any color you want!

I can hardly wait for February, when I'll be using the heart version of the Designer Cuts cards with the Olathe ladies. -Kathy

2012 Event Schedule

Idyllwilde Studios

2012 Event Schedule

I love to meet new people. Bring along someone new to stamping and receive a coupon for $3 off your next class!

Big Shot: Beyond Basics ($20) Saturday, January 28, 9-noon. A great tool has many uses. Learn how to make shaped cards, a matching butterfly cupcake stand, work with unexpected materials and master “drop-out embossing” (class fee includes device). Who’d have thought?!

Love You Truly ($12) Saturday, February 11, 2-4pm. Wedding, anniversary, Valentine’s Day, and “just because”: 2 each of 4 card designs will equip you to say it often and well!

Asia Inspired VIII ($18) Saturday, March 10, 1-4pm. Subtle elegance. Exotic materials. Touchable artifacts. Unexpected projects. More than a class, it’s a travel opportunity. Don’t miss it!

“SAB for Free” (FREE event) Sunday, April 15, 3-5pm. Did you place a qualifying order ($50) during Sale-a-bration? (January 24–March 31) If so, you received a certificate in your order bag entitling you to attend this class as a gesture of appreciation from me! I’ll provide all the materials for 3-4 cards and you can bet there will be some new tips and tricks in the mix – including how to make the fabric flower on p.12! Please RSVP so I can prepare materials!

Silhouette Stamps II ($15*) Saturday, May 5, 9:00-11:30. Yes, there’s more! Learn how to think about using these distinctive images in a variety of ways. We’ll learn background techniques and a new heat embossing approach. You need not have taken SSI to participate. 2 each of 4 projects.

*Special offer: Pay $30 and receive both the class and clearmount Baby Prints stamp set (Occasions Mini p.38) which will be used for one of the class projects.

Retirement Stamp-a-Stack (still just $1 per card!) Saturday, June 9,10am-2pm. Every year at this time, it’s “goodbye” to many favorites from the current catalog. We’ll use some of these stamps/ accessories on cards for you to recreate - in about 10 minutes each. Make as many or as few of each design as you wish. Materials cut and prepped for you – what a luxury!

Christmas in July ($18) Saturday, July 21, 9:00am-noon. Like the idea of a less hectic, less commercial holiday? Start now to make it happen. Two card designs (with table setting place card option), some tag magic, a gift card holder and small gift – you’ll be all set!

Please note date change. I will be taking a class on July 14 (original class date) to learn new things to share with you!

Holiday Open House (FREE event) Saturday, October 6, drop in between10am-2pm. Save the date!

Register in advance (two weeks if possible!) via phone or e-mail – but it’s your payment that reserves your spot!

Prefer a different date for a past or present class? Gather five or more participants – I’ll teach it again.

e-mail me at catalina_los_ojos@hotmail.com or call 785.841.9211

Note: We reserve the right to cancel a class if less than five persons register. In this event, a certificate for alternate class attendance will be issued to those who have pre-paid.

The Pleasure of Small Gifts

I wanted to give you a peep at some very beautiful packaging on a gift I received just before Christmas, and the thank you note and envelope I created to acknowledge it. Don't the colors just make you think of spring?? I was challenged by a comment of Mary Fish's that we actually need to USE the beautiful collections of papers we have, so these cards feature part of my stash from last year paired with images from a new stamp set in this year's catalog called Nature's Pace.

And YES, I am so proud, I actually got the note written and into the mail, the final step after "good intentions" and "design idea"! -Kathy