I am getting ready for family gatherings - are you ready?

Each summer there are times that I am in settings where family and friends ask "How is everyone in your family?"  Every year I have tried a different album so that I can share photos and the story of the year in a relatively short time.  This year I made the little booklet from Artiste on page 60.  I cut 24 pages and decorated them on both sides.  It turned out quite nice and I will make a second one for my husband as we sometimes are not in the same place at the same time with the same people at these events.

I also posted the link to the YouTube from Close To My Heart of some of the other mini albums you can choose from.  Think ahead and get ready to find a way to share your story.  

My Creations™ Mini Mix Album and Mini Folio

The winners are........

Here are the 3 cards I am going to make - at this time - for convention in July.  Thanks for all who voted and sent in suggestions.  I will mail cards to those who sent info in.  I have slightly altered my samples after I looked for paper that I had at home.

Looking for help

This July I am going to the Close To My Heart Convention in California.  One of the things that consultant do is swaps.  You make cards and swap with other consultant.  This way you get ideas and samples that you can show to your people.  The cards need to be with more flair and perfection.  I have been trying to see what I would like to do.  I just keep making cards and making cards.  I need a little help to either stop or keep going on making cards. 

Those people that respond in person, by email or on this blog will be put in a drawing for the cards shown here.  I need to pick out 2 or 3 and make 40 - 50 of each.  What do you think?  Did a design work but the colors didn't?  Do you like a certain card or cards?  Let me know if I can stop and order supplies or if I should keep going for more designs.  Thanks 

Technique this week - Journaling

I treasure the books that my father signed.  His handwriting reminds me of so many things.  Your handwriting will also remind people of you.  It isn't just the words - although it is important to do as you will forget many of the details.  The words can share the stories and what was happening around the photos that you didn't capture.  You can use flip flaps and hide the journaling.  You can use sleeve cards and hide the journaling.  You can even write lots of stuff and put it in between the pages in your scrapbook.

You can use your your journaling incorporated into your pages with dramatic affect. 

Technique of the Week - Alcohol Markers

Some stamps are more solid.   Some stamps are outlines.  The stamps with the outlines can be colored in.  There are water base markers.  There are pencils - regular color pencils and water color pencils. There are blender pens that you can put water or alcohol in to do the blending of the colors.  There are Alcohol Markers.

Close to My Heart has ShinHanart Touch Twin Markers.  Alcohol markers like water color pencils can be blended.  Unil pencils, you can go over the alcohol markers and make them darkers.  There is also a marker that will take some of the color off.  The Close to My Heart paper is strong enough to go over several times leaving just the desired color that you want.  The Touch Win Marker has a small side and then a chisel side which is about 1/4 of an inch of marker to help with the larger parts that you color.

You can use them as background to make the stamp look like  there are shadows.  Try and see what you can do!

Upcoming Events

May 9th I will have an Open House from 1 - 3 pm.

June 6th will be an Open Crop.  It will be from 9am - 3pm.  For $20 you will make 2 cards, 2 pages, have a light lunch and have time to work on your projects.  Bring a snack to share and bring all liquids in closed containers.  These will be birthday pages.  The cards can have any saying on the inside that you would like.

July 18th will be another Open Crop.  It will be from 9 am - 3pm.  For $20 you will make 2 cards, 2 pages and have a light lunch.  There will be time for you to work on your own projects and you can use the machines that are at my house.  Bring a snack to share and bring all liquids in closed containers.  These will also be birthday pages.  The cards again can have the sayings on the inside that you choose.

I am also offering 2 workshops.  You can make 6 cards in 2 hours.  You can make 6 pages in 3 hours.  the 6 cards are all the ones pictures here.  The pages are also all pictured.  This paper is the  National Scrapbook month special paper.  You can order your own packet of 12 sheets - 2 each of 6 designs.  It is $8.95 plus shipping and handling.  There is also a special stamp that matches the paper.  This is only available the month of May.