Christmas Tags, Tim Holtz and Toy Envy

Tim Holtz  started his 12 tags of Christmas this week. He is creating and sharing some

wonderful treasures over at his blog. 

While Tim is just getting started on his tags, I have been teaching my tags the last few weeks at

Scrapbook Barn.  Tim will be making 12 tags (hence the name "12 tags of Christmas") 

I designed and have been teaching 3 tags. 

Tim has always been an over achiever...but I do envy all those wonderful 

toys he has to create with.

These tags are fun to design, they can be used to decorate a tree or a grape vine wreath,

tie them onto a ribbon to create a banner, add one to a package or a gift bag, trade in a “tag swap”, 

mail a tag instead of  a Christmas Card 

or you can design these tags for yourself... just collect and enjoy them.

I will be teaching 2 more  tag classes at Scrapbook Barn, 

December 5th, 5-6:30 pm and December 6th, 1:30-3 pm. 

BUSY...BUSY...BUSY

I'm sure I have annoyed many friends and family members lately...they say they check my blog every day to see if I have posted something new and wonderful..only to find the same thing as the day before. I'm not trying to disappoint them...but I just don't have that exciting of a life to blog about!For the most part, when I blog about the garden, flowers or the cat...it is a sure bet I can't come up with anything more interesting. Please refer back to the posts about how busy I have been...you think I make this stuff up?!?! I haven't had time for exciting or interesting. This past weekend I taught back to back classes at Scrapbook Barn...the Heritage Workshop and a new class, Beginning Scrapbooking...these classes don't just plan themselves! These I want to make interesting and exciting. To make it more of an adventure...my wonderful Canon printer stopped printing the color "BLACK"...I didn't know printers did that! As far as making Mother's Day cards...I don't have a glimmer of an idea...I may have to go buy some. And speaking of Mother's Day...and we were...I've been asked to design at a Flower shop for the holiday. Like I said...BUSY!

Oh by the way...When you order flowers for your mom for Mother's Day...don't order them on the internet...please call a local florist !

Spring Break Adventure

With only a few days left of Spring Break...I took the grand kids on an adventure to the park. The first stop was the huge "climbing" boulders...to see who was bravest.

Of course every adventure has to have some wild animals...I think this bird was just trying to get warm...
Some of the trees were just starting to sprout...check out the dark clouds...looks like it might rain.

Good thing we brought a sack of bread to feed the ducks...

it looks like they haven't eaten in hours!

What is that hiding in the reeds?

A duck preening his self, after his morning snack.

A photo op at the waterfall...

and here comes the rain...

nice weather for ducks!

Oh by the way...
Last Friday I taught my first Heritage Scrapbooking Class for Scrapbook Barn. The ladies were wonderful...good class participation, great comments and questions. This Friday is the Heritage Scrapbooking Workshop 4:30 to 6:30...bring a Heritage project and join us...you can sign up by calling Scrapbook Barn.

A Short Busy Month

Yes, yes, I know I haven't blogged in over a week...and I have heard the complaints! For a short month February was very busy. I did some holiday designing for a local flower shop. Valentines is such a big flower holiday, shops call in "holiday help". I had never worked with the other designers...but we all knew some of the same people...so that was fun. As soon as Valentines was over I brought out the box marked "tax stuff"...must get all that organized...not fun.
Mom stopped by and spent the night on her way back from Tucson to Flagstaff...and all that snow! The grand kids spent the night...that's always an adventure. And Tucson Sister (and my niece) came up for an afternoon.
The exciting part of the whole month was starting my new job at Scrapbook Barn.

All the ladies there have been great help breaking in the "newbie"...
Each day has been different from the other...which makes it fun and interesting. I started just after CHA, so I get to see...and put out, all the wonderful new scrapbook products...I want it all!
I will start teaching my Heritage Scrapbooking Class in March. The first class will be Friday the 12th of March 4:30 to 6:30. This is the class with all the information you need to get your ancestors out of the shoe box and into a Heritage Album. You can call Scrapbook Barn to sign up. Friday the 26th of March 4:30 to 6:30 is the Heritage Scrapbook Workshop. Bring the project you are working on ...learn a technique, and receive some coaching to help move your project along.
March is already looking like it will be another busy month.

Great Grandma taught the ABCs

Aren't these lithograph printed paper on wooden blocks cool? They belong to
my Great-Grandmother when she taught at rural one room school house.
My grandfather played with them as a child. Mom says she remembers playing
with the blocks at the old family farm, when she was a little kid.
That is a lot of family history. Last year an appraiser from Antique Road Show came through Flagstaff to the "Home Show". Mom took the blocks down to have them dated...1870 to 1880!


My Heritage Scrapbooking Workshop is on Saturday the 10th of October.
Bring a project to work on and we will meet you in the downstairs class room
at Mystic Paper at 4:30 to 6:30...Give Mystic a call to sign up.

Sometimes you just need to play!

Last night at the Heritage Scrapbooking Workshop, Mary asked if I would like her to take pictures of the class...That would have been nice, but I forgot my camera! The nights I do remember the camera...I forget to take pictures. I really must get my act together. All the ladies are working on different types of Heritage projects and are encouraging each other along the way. Ann has amazing family stories, ephemera and photos which she is using to design some impressive layouts. Mary is working on a book honoring her mother-in-law, who was a poet. It is fun to see the wonderful pages they have created. We were joined by Cynthia, whose mother made a marvelous scrapbook back in the 1950s. It has been well loved and the cover is coming apart, so Cynthia is "remaking" the book.
During the class I taught different ways on how to use "Transparencies". I had a photo left over from the demo I designed for the class. With the extra photo I decided to play!
I printed a photo of Grandma Mabel at age 3 on clear adhesive film (transparency with an adhesive back), I love this stuff! You don't have to worry about how you are going to adhere the image to your project. Where do I get it you ask...Mystic Paper of course! I placed the transparency on a patterned paper that looked like an old letter. At that point I pulled out all my boxes of lace and fabric. Most of them got a "bath" in tea to give them an aged look. When they dried, I started layering.

From there I dumped out the jar of old jewelery and I found some pieces that if you squint...might look vintage. For a pop of color I added a few posies.

It turned out kind of cool...I will have to play more often!

OBTW:

If you feel like you missed out on all the fun last night...I have another Heritage Workshop this Friday the 25 of September- 4:30 to 6:30. You can sign up for the class by calling Mystic Paper.

Another OBTW:
Congratulations to the Mystic Paper new Design Team. Holly, Jenna and Surina. All very talented ladies. You can see their 12x12 entries on the Mystic blog site. Every team needs a captain...and Mystic Paper has asked me to be the Design Team captain. I'm looking forward to working with the new team. I have some very big shoes to fill...Sheri was an awesome DTC.

A Taste Asia

I must have been in the mood for Lo Mein and Spring Rolls. This is another birthday card with a bit of an Asian look. The background is a dark chocolate brown cardstock with a wide red ribbon running along the left side. I used a credit card (the kind that comes in junk mail) and covered it with this gorgeous red Asian print. I have had this paper forever...it came from Memory Lane, which hasn't existed for a while. The ladies have moved on to other creative endeavors. The "Happy Birthday" is a strip of vellum run through a label maker, then matted with gold tissue paper.
I still have a few more birthday cards to create, I'll keep you posted.

Another OBLW:
I will be teaching a Heritage Scrapbook Workshop this Saturday the 19th of September - 3:30 to 5:30. Bring a project to work on and join us downstairs at Mystic Paper. You say you can't make it that day, but you really want to join in the fun...no problem...There will be another Workshop Friday the 25th of September -
4:30 to 6:30. Give Mystic Paper a call and sign up.

We Salute You!

This is the second of the set of three "man" cards I made. It was mailed off last week to my nephew graduating from college. On the inside was the message...
"We Salute You"...to congratulate him on his big day. I wanted something bright and festive for this card. The stripe patterned paper had great colors, teal blue, a fun "not quite" red and a deep maroon. I pulled more of the teal and maroon out with the harlequin paper. A gray blue ribbon tied in a knot...and grandfather in his WWI uniform, giving a big SALUTE! Nothing is more manly than a man in uniform.

OBTW...
This Wednesday the 19th of August is my Heritage Scrapbook Workshop
runs 3:30 to 5:30, you can come and play with us by giving Mystic Paper a call and signing up.

Hot Hot Hot Garden

Not everything in the garden is brown this time of year. With temperatures over 100 (last week over 110!) your would expect every flower in the backyard to be a burnt to a crispy brown. These beautiful Rain Lilies have been blooming despite the heat.
On the other side of the yard we have hot pink Lantana. Now this is a flower that does well in the Arizona heat...as long as it gets watered!

When it gets this hot in the Valley of the Sun we stay inside during the day with the Air Conditioning and admire the flowers in the early morning.

OBTW-

I'm gathering all my "toys" together for my Heritage Scrapbook Class this Saturday August the 15th at Mystic Paper. If you have been waiting for "someday" to get all those old family photos in a scrapbook, but aren't quite sure where to start, this is the class for you. We will talk about how get organized, copy photos, what kind of patterned paper to choose... all this and much more. You will leave with a note book full of information to get you started.

It's not too late to call Mystic Paper and sign up.

Friday Night Post

Looking at this picture you would think the ladies at the Wednesday night Heritage Scrapbook Workshop didn't get much accomplished...actually I forgot to take photos until they were all cleaning up. They have all accomplished a lot with their projects. Lisa has posted some of the pages from the recipe book she designed on her blog...House of Hullabaloo. Ann has great old photos and family stories and her layouts are wonderful. Mary is working on a book with a few photos and a lot of poems written by her mother-in-law. I'm impressed with each book these ladies are designing.

If you are ready to get all your old family photos out of a box and into a scrapbook and aren't quite sure were to begin, call Mystic Paper and sign up for the Heritage Scrapbook class on Saturday the 15th of August. This class will break it all down for you and help you get started.

Did you notice something was missing from my blog? There is no Design Team project for this month. It has been a year since I joined Mystic Paper Design Team and our term is now up. Mystic has a call out for a new design team.
I have had so much fun with each and every project that Fearless Leader...Design Team Captain Sheri pick out. I got a chance to play with all the fun toys at Mystic and the opportunity to met some very talented designers while hanging out there.
Earlier this year Kim and Jennifer asked if I would be interested in teaching classes at Mystic. I have appreciated the offer and it has a great experience to be able to share thoughts and ideas with so many people.

Way too much fun!

We had way too much fun yesterday afternoon downstairs in the classroom of Mystic Paper

at my Heritage Scrapbooking Workshop. Everybody had a project that they were working on. Mary has some great poems written by her mother-in-law that she is designing layouts around. Ann had been busy since the last workshop creating beautiful heritage pages using her old family photos. Kristy worked on a page with a great color combination using a family picture. Lisa's book has family recipes, photos and marvelous family stories. Sandy assembled a layout for a family picture by layering patterned paper from Basic Gray's Periphery line.

There was a lot of "ooh-ing and ahh-ing" going on around that big design table.

You want to join in the fun...the next Heritage Scrapbooking class is Saturday August 15th. Call Mystic Paper to sign up!

Thank you Kim for the class photo!

Christmas in July

I was surprised how easily the Mystic Paper Christmas in July Design Team
project went together. I'm not sure it was so much the theme, as it was the Basic Gray patterned paper...hey it's no secret, I am a Basic Gray girl!
With names like "Winterberry", "Merry Happy", "Brandy Butter" and "Spruce" how can you not create wonderful Christmas layouts. Basic Gray knew what they were doing when they created the "Wassail" line...this paper would be great for non holiday pages too. I really did have a good time with the Element stickers. I mounted a few of them on chipboard to give the layout some dimension. The journaling was printed on white vellum.I haven't played with that in a while.
The Vellum Glue Dots make it much easier to apply the vellum to layouts. If you are not using vellum because it's to annoying to figure out how to make it stick to you page, try the Vellum Glue Dots... they are great.
Not sure where to find the dots...Mystic has them!
Of course I added"Old Paper" distress ink and some "Star Dust" Sitckels.

My new favorite paper is the "Brandy Butter". This is a lovely shade of yellow with hints of red distressing. The Element Sticker page had some fantastic borders that I layered. The distress ink on this layout was "Tattered Rose".

What to do with the Daisy Ds Picture Hanger?

I wanted something unexpected...but couldn't come up with any ideas. Sometimes you need a little bit of creative help... I scrap-swiped this idea from the Internet. I can't remember were, so thank you to who ever came up with such a fun idea!

With the last little bit of paper and stickers I designed a Christmas card. After all what is Christmas with out Christmas cards?

I'm going to click over to see what Sheri, Lindsey and Yasu designed with their Christmas in July kits...want to come with me...just click!

Another "Oh by the way"...

Wednesday night I had great Heritage Scrapbooking class at Mystic. Lots of information and ideas to get the ladies started with all their old family photos, letters and memorabilia. If you are still wondering what to do with all your family treasures, call Mystic and sign up for the next class. It will be Saturday the 15th of August. Don't you think it's time to get your grandma out of a box and into a Heritage Scrapbook album?

168 Days till Christmas

It is difficult to even think about Christmas when the temperature here is above 100f and getting hotter every day. But that is just what the Mystic Paper Design Team is doing for their July projects. My first thought when I opened my DT kit and saw all the wonderful Basic Gray pattered paper was Hooray...I haven't had my all time favorite paper in a while.

Then I took a second look...it was the Christmas line "Wassail". Was there some mistake? Did DT Captain Sheri really intend to give me Christmas paper? Seeing the confused look on my face, Kim told me it was for Christmas in July. With a tear in my eye at the very thought that "yes...soon...too soon, it will be that time again"

I pulled the rest of the Christmas goodies out of my bag.

Besides all the wonderful paper there was a page of Basic Gray Elements stickers, they are always a great addition to any layout, a yard of holiday green striped ribbon and some Daisy Ds picture hangers.

So to get me in the holiday mood I have set my Air Conditioning very low, and have Bing Crosby singing "White Christmas" from the CD player...I am designing Christmas in July. You would think with this much warning I would start designing my Christmas Cards...naaaa, I'll wait until December!

I wonder what Lindsey, Yasu and Sheri got in their kits?

Oh by the way!

I had a great class last night at Mystic Paper. It was a workshop for Heritage Scrapbooking. Lisa and Ann came with all their treasures and wonderful ideas. They both have photos, ephemera and fantastic stories for the albums that they are working on. Want to join in the fun? I am teaching the Heritage Scrapbooking Class again next week at Mystic on Wednesday the 15th of July from 3:30 to 5:30. This class is full of information to get you started and will prepare you to join Lisa, Ann and I the following Wednesday on July 22nd from 3:30 to 5:30 for the continuing Heritage Scrapbooking workshops. All you have to do is call Mystic Paper and sign up.

How to get Grandma out of the box

It is no secret that I have a fondness for old photos, family history, and genealogy. It is a wonderful journey to take vintage family photos, ephemera , stories and design an album that can be passed on to your children and grand children. Heritage albums can take on many different themes. Albums using faded family recipes, or long ago written poetry and pictures of the loved ones who wrote them. An album from a recent trip to where your family came from along with old photos of the ancestors that lived there. These are albums to be cherished for generations. If you have wondered what to do with all those old family photos and other bits and pieces that are still sitting in a box since the day you got them,
now is the time to get started. I am teaching a Heritage Scrapbook class at Mystic Paper.
We will start with a class on how to get organized, copying photos, what to do with ephemera and many more questions you may have. In the first class we will cover all your question. You will receive a note book full of information to get you started. This first class will be June 24th 3:30 to 5:30. You can sign up by calling Mystic Paper, or if you are in the neighborhood...drop by.
There will be follow-up workshops with coaching and advice to help you to move your Heritage album along. We will focus on building upon your ideas to draw out your creative genius. The first follow up class will be July 8th 3:30 to 5:30. Your can sign up for this class by contacting Mystic Paper. Get those photos out of the box and into an album you can show off to your family. Your album can be big or small, a whole family or just one person...haven't they lived in the box long enough?