Thursday, August 29, 2013

Butterflies Take Flight

Today is the last of my August classes at Kathy Davis Studios. We'll be making a Close To My Heart Mini Album.

It's an ambitious project for sure -- perhaps I'll show you pictures tomorrow of the album and the class in action. 

The card I made (at left) uses Kathy Davis Studios papers, manufactured and distributed by GCD Studios. They're available exclusively at Joann Stores, with the greatest selection online at www.Joann.com
 
KDS has invited me back for as many classes as I can handle this Autumn, plus they're adding more instructors to their schedule. I'm so looking forward to taking classes, too!  Watch this space for my announcement on Labor Day of the upcoming schedule. Enrollment will be limited, so be sure to register as soon as you see the course list.


DeFiaNtLy DiFfeReNt & CreAtiVeLy Yours,

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Lovely Fancy Fold Card with Class!

"Raindrops on roses, and whiskers on kittens ...
these are a few of my favorite things." 
Remember the song, from The Sound of Music?

One of my favorite things is crafting with excellent paper such as that which I used on this "fancy fold" card that I've made using Kathy Davis's "Journeys" paper by GCD Studios.  This paper is available at Joann Stores, both in-store and online (www.Joann.com). 

You can also find this beautiful paper at Kathy Davis Gallery (303 Horsham Road, Suite G, Horsham, PA), where you'll also find me this evening, teaching students to make this card along with four or five others. Truth be told, I love this paper so much, I just keep creating so up until I leave for class, that number might go up.

Our classes are intentionally intimate. They're held in the Gallery (the retail space) itself, where many of us crafters derive tremendous inspiration. So our craft tables dislocate the retail displays temporarily and the shop is held open for up to 8 crafters at a time. Today's class (6-8:30 p.m.) is the third of the August Thursdays where I've taught.

Now next Thursday, our last in the August series was to have been mini-albums. There was just one enrollee as of yesterday, and frankly, I don't know if it's the topic or the timing that has made it our least popular class. I've asked Bill (KDS's fantastic and enthusiastic VP!) to postpone it until after the upcoming Labor Day holiday.  In the meantime, we'll be knocking heads (and his is hard -- and bald, LOL!) to come up with a schedule for my classes this autumn. And the FABULOUS news is that there will be other instructors brought in this autumn too ... It's especially fabulous for me, because I want to TAKE the classes, not just teach them!! 

The retail space is adjacent to the actual Gallery where Kathy Davis Studio artists display their immense talent for a month in personal shows. The new shows go up on the last Friday of every month. What talent! And many of these exhibitors (KDS staffers, all) will be the instructors!

I encourage you to let me know if you'd like to be on an Art or Craft Class e-mail list at Kathy Davis Studios.  I just can't wait to let you know what we're cooking up for the fall!


Thursday, August 15, 2013

Camping: Where the Fun Never Stops!

Ahhh, summertime!  Can you hear the cicadas chirping, screaming!, in your backyard trees?  That's how I know it's August. That, and the humidity for sure. 

Some are packing up their families into trailers and campers and heading off for cooler, scenic climates. Me? Well, let's just say roughing it is not my style. I came >>>this close<<< to going camping once when I was a Girl Scout leader, but successfully avoided it. Phew!





But the theme this month over at Jillibean Soup's Card Kitchen card club is travel and specifically camping, and features these cute, cute papers and die cuts. I ramped up the card >>CardMonkey Style<&lt by adding some chevron-printed turquoise and green ribbon.

Whatever the rest of your summer brings, make it fun, will you?

Sunnyside up,

Saturday, August 10, 2013

Be Inspired!

What great fun I had teaching the first in my series of Craft Classes at Kathy Davis Studios! The class was held in the KDS retail store (303 Horsham Avenue, Suite F, Horsham, PA) last Thursday evening, for 2.5 hours of crafting camaraderie.  
 Thank you, Kathy, for inviting me into your Studio
to teach these classes. You are an inspiration!
 
I designed six cards for the students to make. The cards feature KDS's "Ambrosia 1" line of paper which is available in the US via Joann Stores online site. I also incorporated some of my most beloved stamps from Close To My Heart, as well as some paper cuts using the brand new Cricut/CTMH "Artbooking" cartridge. 



I prepared kits for the students to use in the class ... and the good news for CardMonkey fans is that I have SIX kits leftover, and I'm making them available for sale to the first six who express interest. 


The price for the prepared kit is $20 which includes shipping in the US. (I will ship internationally for payment of the difference in shipping cost.)  For that, you will receive an instruction guide which includes color pictures and step-by-step instructions on how to make the cards. You will receive the 9 sheets of 8x8" cardstock for you to cut; any specialized cuts using the Cricut cartridge will be done ahead of time. You'll also receive 6 card blanks for you to build your card. The embellishments are provided too, including the IKEA red/white bakers twine, Stampin' Up white baker's twine, double faced red satin ribbon and sparkle gems. While you will have to provide your preferred adhesives, I do provide a sheet of foam adhesive dots.

There is no club to join at this time -- which means no long term commitment -- as these kits will only be made available if I have remainders after my Craft Classes. So far, I have SIX kits available (and I'll update this blog post as more are sold) -- first come, first served. Please send an e-mail to me at cardmonkey@comcast.net if you are interested in purchasing a kit; I'll accept both PayPal payments and checks. Details will be provided in your confirmation e-mail back. 

Sound like fun?  C'mon, give these a try!  You'll see how much fun they are to make -- and be hooked on papercrafting just like me ... oh nooooo!  :)

Yours in the jungle, 

Thursday, August 8, 2013

Follow Your Dreams

This card is a bit on the masculine side, I think -- and I didn't want to "feminize" it with classic, satin ribbon.

Instead, I used a bit of mesh fabric that I colored navy blue. To me, the mesh looks like a nautical fishing net to me, so I dug into my stash for this card.

The other embellishments and stamps are from the Close To My Heart "Tommy" line of paper and Workshop On The Go stamps. (The WOTG stamps are now retired, but the paper is still available.)  The hemp is also from CTMH.  

... and speaking of "Follow Your Dreams" as this card directs, tonight starts the first of the four classes I'm teaching at Kathy Davis Studios. I'm ready for 10 cardmakers and we're using KDS Ambrosia 1 paper. I'll take pictures of this bit of my dream, launched! 


Sunday, August 4, 2013

My first KDS Card Class is This Week!

I have had a joyous summer dreaming up classes and cards to teach at the invitation of Kathy Davis Studios in Horsham. Now, those classes are reality ... the first of the series of four begins this week, on Thursday, August 8 from 6 to 8:30 p.m.


The first of the classes features the basics of card making. We'll be using Kathy's beautiful "Ambrosia" line of papers to get a jump on our Christmas cards, including those shown here. 

And of course -- why wait until Christmas to send a few of these?  The "love" and "beauty" cards can be sent the whole year through.


Thank you to Kathy Davis Studios
for taking these pretty pictures of the cards I've made for the class.

To enroll in the class, you may contact me via my blog (comment below) or via e-mail to cardmonkey@comcast.net.   Or, go right to Kathy Davis Studios' website (click HERE) for the Registration Form and for more information. I hope to see you there!

Upcoming Classes:

Thursday, August 15 - 6 to 8:30 p.m.
FABRIC FLOWER NECKLACES using Kathy Davis textiles


Thursday, August 22 - 6 to 8:30 p.m.
Getting Fancy with Flips and Folds (Card Making)



Thursday, August 29 - 6 to 8:30 p.m.Maximize your Memories with Mini-Albums

 

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Sweet New Baby Card




I made 26 of this same card for a swap I am in, with other Close To My Heart consultants.

For this sweet card, I used the sweet "In The Bath" image from Mo's Digital Pencil that I colored with Copic markers and highlighted with a white gel pen and Close To My Heart Stardust Glitz. I then mounted the colored image onto CTMH cardstock in Cotton Candy, and added a sweet "Gently Wash" tag made using CTMH's upcoming Stamp of the Month (for December 2013), called "Special Care".  Atop of the tag, I tied a pink bow, and topped it with a sweet mini-clothespin from CTMH. 

The Stamp of the Month is featured on page 15 in the brand new Close To My Heart Idea Book, which was released today! Shop my CTMH site to view the wonderful new products -- or if you're like me and would like your own paper copy of the Idea Book to dog-ear and save for -- well, IDEAS! -- just leave a comment here (with your e-mail address, please), or send me your name, address, city, state, zip via e-mail to cardmonkey@comcast.net.  I can only ship/sell within the United States, but if you're in Canada or Australia, just let me know and I can connect you with a CTMH Consultant in your area. 


DeFiaNtLy DiFfeReNt & CreAtiVeLy Yours,