Tuesday, October 19, 2010

SDU classes for November!


Want to make personal low cost holiday gifts? Learn to scrapbook and you can frame pages for gifts, make customized 2011 calendars, and many other personalized gifts!
Learn to scrapbook today or learn some new techniques and theories to improve your skills! Scrapbook classes also make GREAT holiday gifts!

My November class scedule is:

Hoffman Estates Michaels Wednesday 6:30-8:30 p.m.
2600 N. Sutton Rd. NEW Kids class Sunday 3:30-5:30 p.m.
847-645-9634

Schaumburg Michaels Friday 6:30-8:30 p.m.
1420 E. Golf Rd.
847-517-2622

Algonquin Michaels Sunday 11:30 a.m.-1:30 a.m.
742 S. Randall Rd.
847-854-6912

Thursday, August 5, 2010

EK Success Scrapbook Design University Classes at Michaels


I am SO excited to share my class schedule for August! I will be offering classes on two different days Friday nights and Sunday afternoons! The classes will be held at the Michaels store in Algonquin and the address for the store is 742 S. Randall Rd. and the store phone number is 847-854-6912. Just give the store a call and let them know you want to sign up for the class and they can take care of the registration for you. The class will be 2 hours long and will be a 4 week course. The course regularly costs $45.00, but there is an introductory rate of 40% OFF which makes the classes only $27.00! You will also receive a 10% discount for any supplies you buy during the 4 week course!


The dates for the Friday class are August 13, 20, September 3 and 10th. Please note there will be no class on Friday August 27 as that is Michael's FREE crop night so I hope to see you at the crop that night! Friday classes will be 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.


The dates for Sunday classes will be August 8, 15, 22 and 29th. Sunday classes will be


What are SDU classes you ask? Each week we will cover an area of scrapbooking and help you learn and/or improve your skills in this area. Week 1 will be Scrapbook Basics-you will learn how to organize yourself and how to get started as well as cover how to use several different tools. Week 2 will be Building Blocks of Design- you will learn about color theory and the building blocks of a great scrapbook page, and at the end of this class we will create our first page! Week 3 will be Power of the Pen- you will learn how to create effective titles, various ways to journal, tips to improve your handwriting and we will use various Zig pens! We will also complete another layout in class. Week 4 will be The Final Touch-learn to create dimension on your page, how to use and care for various punches, and how to enhance your layouts through the use of contrast, variety, rhythm and movement. We will apply those things to create our final page and class will conclude with "graduation" and students will receive a certificate!


If you have any questions please feel free to leave me a comment here on my blog or email me at allmyscrappin (at) rocketmail (dot) com I look forward to sharing this fun, exciting and informative class with you and anyone you think would enjoy this class too! If you are not close to this Michaels location check your nearest Michaels store for a class near you!


TFL!

Valerie

Thursday, July 15, 2010

What a day!

Yesterday was one of those weird days! You know the kind that has good and not so good moments, then just turns pretty good, and then... Well it was an up and down day with the way the boys were behaving yesterday then they just were good as gold and we were having a nice day. So good that while they napped I FINALLY was able to get into the dungeon and get a LO done! I am SOOO proud of myself because every month I say I am going to do the My Mind's Eye sketch and I never get to it or get it finished and uploaded in time! So this month I did it right away and I am happy with how quick it came together and the end result! This month the challenge was to use the sketch the word HOPE and it must be at least 80% MME products! Easy enough I have my precious stash of MME that is calling my name!
For this LO I used the So Sophie and Quite Contrary lines. And that bracket of to the side of the photo-its cut from the bottom of the piece of paper! The So Sophie line has these cute brackets that show the paper that is on the opposite side on the paper. They just beg to be used! Everything is MME except the Thickers-I really want to find the MME version of Thickers they look AWESOME!

So after dinner we finally were able to get outside (the heat and humidity is near 100 here!) and the boys were playing kick ball in the backyard and the ball was kicked under an arborvitae tree and Joseph went to get it, well there must be a yellow jacket hive in there because he started screaming that he got stung by a bee! He said he picked up the ball and the bee was on his finger! My poor baby! : ( Given how allergic everyone in my family is to bee stings I was worried! But thankfully he is doing just fine today! What a way to end our day!
Well off to do the fun household chores of cleaning bathrooms, doing dishes and folding laundry! Someday just maybe I can have a maid! LOL!!!
TFL!
Valerie

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Color Combo

Sorry I am a couple days late here-where has this week gone?! But here is the color combo for the week for Scrapmaster's Paradise Color Combo Blog.


I used the SUPER FUN new Imaginisce Birthday Paper to create this card using the color combo of:


And don't forget you don't have to use these exact Stampin' Up colors or products just use the same shades like I did! And if you are in need of some Stampin' Up supplies make sure to check out the fab deals and place your order with Samantha!

Its my FAVORITE time of the year in the scrapbooking world!! That's right CHA!!! And what's even MORE EXCITING??? Its coming right here to my hometown area!!! And the sneaky peeks are popping up ALL over the place and I am SOOO excited with what I am seeing! Have you seen the Bella Blvd peeks??? Check it out right here!

Well the natives are restless so that is my cue to find something for them to do!

TFL!

Valerie

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Some Quick Cards!

Sorry I have been having some issues with uploading my pics so I haven't posted in a LONG while!

Here are some cards for your viewing pleasure!
These are some thanks you cards I made for the boys' T-Ball coaches as a token of my appreciation for the EXCELLENT work they did! If you head on over to the MOSD blog you can see the gift that I made the head coach to coordinate with these cards. I am SOOO in LOVE with the BoBunny Block Party paper!

This is a card/gift bag combo I made for a Baptism for a friend's little baby. I used a color combo from the Scrapmaster's Paradise Color Combo blog for my color choices. And if you haven't uploaded your entry for this week's color combo you have until 6 pm EST tomorrow (Sunday) to do so! There are AWESOME prizes to be won! And be sure to check back on Monday for my debut card for the blog!

Well I am enjoying a child free weekend courtesy of my parents so I am making this post quick to spend time with the hubby and well I need to get to bed as I have to leave for work at 7:30 am!!! So much for getting to sleep in all weekend! : ( We have to reset the whole floor before the store opens, and then I have to work my regular shift!!! 8 o So I will be exhausted!!

Well TFL!

Valerie

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

EXCITING News!!!

So every Monday I get my weekly issue of the Scrapbooking.com newsletter, and in every issue they feature one of the Layouts/artists from that month's issue. So as I was reading through yesterday's issue imagine my SURPRISE when I saw it was ME in this issue!!! It is SO SUPER cool to see yourself in the newsletter and your work featured! If you haven't signed up for their newsletter you should do so today, it contains surveys for awesome prizes, great tips, product information, and they even have contests!

And next on my list of great things that happened yesterday is I have been asked to design for a new color combo challenge blog! It is a new venture for the Scrapmaster's Paradise, she has started a new forum as well as a color challenge blog in addition to the regular blog! Every Monday there will be a color combo posted and you can create a card, layout, 3D or altered item using the colors posted. Now she is a Stampin' Up demonstrator and has also started some super AWESOME Stampin' Up monthly kits that you can purchase as well, so the colors listed are Stampin' Up colors-but you do NOT have to use any Stampin' Up products at all on these challenges! So head on over here today and come play along! And if you are in the market for some great Stampin' Up products be sure to contact Samantha and she will take care of your needs! I hope to "see" everyone come join me there!

And my final piece of EXCITING news is a couple weeks ago I got an e-mail from EK Success looking for people who would like to become certified class instructors so I filled out the form thinking you never know-it can't hurt to try! Well guess what?! YUP! I was selected to become a certified class instructor for them!!! I have been assigned to a Michael's location and I am half way done with my certification! I am SOOO EXCITED!! This is going to be a 2 hour class once a week for 4 weeks, and the training I have completed so far is really packed with LOTS of great information! I CAN'T wait to finish the training and get started on my first class-the ideas are just flowing with how much fun I can make this class! And another cool thing is each week at least one EK Success tool will be highlighted and you will be taught the proper way to use it! How cool is that? How many times have you bought a new tool that has little or no directions with it and you are left scratching your head wondering how to use it? I know I have! So as soon as I have more info I will share I know you will ALL want to take this class!

Well after this weekend that felt like it was NEVER going to end I am planning on getting some LONG OVERDUE scrapping in today! So hopefully I can get my chores done quickly and get some LONG OVERDUE play time in!! : ) I can't believe I ever survived this weekend-Friday shopping and dinner with friends; Saturday T-Ball, (which got rained out in the bottom of the 1st inning) birthday party, work for me, and then I was suppose to go out for my future SIL's b-day after work, but I had to work late and was too tired then to go out (Sorry Stacey!); Sunday was a Baptism for a friend's baby, home to eat a QUICK sandwich and then to my grandparent's house for a BIG family gathering to meet a relative in from California, and then FINALLY off to my friend's house for her son's birthday party! YIKES!!! No wonder I spent the day on the couch with a BAD headache yesterday!

Well off to the rat race of today!
TFL!
Valerie

Monday, June 7, 2010

SO SAD!!!

I just have to get on my soapbox for a minute here, so please bear with me. It is SO SAD when grown adults have to act like juveniles and do EXTREMELY childish things! In an industry that you see companies/stores closing ALL the time you would think people would be supportive and NOT do things to destroy one another! I will not make any mention of who has angered me, as I think its this person's way of getting exposure for them self and I will NOT be part of that! I hate to see good HONEST people get slammed and treated the way they did! So all I have to say is I KNOW the karma train eventually catches up with people, and I hope it catches this person sooner rather than later! I hope the effected people can find a way to continue on with what they love and heal from the damages of this childish person! And now I am done!

That said I will just say Paper Posicles/Cheeky Radish is taking a break right now so I wil not have any new creations for them to show. So intead today I thought I would show you some of my favorite DT creations for them!




I'll be back later this week with soome new creations!
TFL!
Valerie

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

So today is Dippin' Dots Digital Day at Paper Popsicles, and the designers rocked out this fabulous image!


Be sure to head on over and check out what the designers did!

Next up is my EXCITING news!!! I have 3 layouts published in the June issue of Scrapbooking.com!!!! It is SO EXCITING to see your work published! And its even cooler to look at the bottom of your article and see multiple links to your past articles! I feel famous! LOL!!

OK on to other and better things! I spent this past weekend up north with my parents and Np trip up north is complete without at trip to Hannah's!!! I have been in COMPLETE Hannah's withdrawal as I have not been able to make a trip up since October! I must say my trip did not disappoint either! I used their FABULOUS 40% off My Mind's Eye coupon and got LOTS of new My Mind's Eye goodies! I picked Quite Contrary, So Sophie and lill Robots! So I CAN'T wait to get into my scrap space and just create! I also picked some of the new Jill Bean Soup paper and I FINALLY was able to get some Cosmo Cricket Garden Variety! I also found in their .99 table Studio G glitter glue so I picked up some of those as well to see how they compare to Stickles! I may need to get some more! It was SO nice to go and have such a BIG selection of papers and embellies-OH and speaking of embellies I picked up some new Prima flowers to play with as well!

Well I am off to get some errands and chores done hopefully with enough time left to play with my new toys! ; )

TFL!
Valerie

Saturday, May 29, 2010

YIKES!!!

I can't believe how QUICKLY this week flew by!! Talk about busy I guess!

The boy's had their last day of school, class picnic and graduation this week! Today we have a birthday party, and the rest of the weekend is still up for grabs with what we are going to do! But any who here are a couple pics from the school stuff!


Here is the first day of school-they look SO little!


And here is the last day of school!Here they are signing the ABC's in their closing programThe boys and Ms. LisaThe boys and Ms CharleneMy Preschool graduates!And the funny thing is Nicholas is already talking about getting his backpack for Kindergarten and hoping that they put his name up on a hook for him!



Here are my cards for Paper Popsicles last week! The first is made the the pets digital image which can be found right here! I used some of the new Basic Grey Max and Whiskers paper, Bazzill cardstock, Cosmo Cricket letters and I colored the images with my Copic markers!



Next up I got to work with the elephant shaped card. I knew I needed to use Cordinations whitewash cardstock for this guy! The cardstock just reminds me of the skin of an elephant! I used my favorite Basic Grey sanding tools to sand the edges of the BIG guy and make his toenails, and do you know where his ear came from??? Well its the pieces of paper that was cut away from under his trunk and above his leg! To finish the look I added a wiggly eye and I used the reverse side of the cardstock and cut a tusk for him as well! He was SO quick and easy to do! And you can get yours right here! I have worked with this card before, so make sure to check out this post here to get some more fun ideas for this card!Next up is my card for Paper Popsicles this week! I used this sketch and created a thank you card for the boys to give to their teachers.

Here is my card it is made with a combo of Cosmo Cricket and October Afternoon products.And here is the present I made for their teachers to coordinate with the card. I bought this cute box with a chalkboard looking top at Michaels and used Cosmo Cricket and October Afternoon papers to cover the box and then I used the October Afternoon stickers to embellish the box with. I forgot to take a picture of the inside of the box; but on the top of the cover I wrote a saying about teachers, and I filled the box with Hershey Hugs and Kisses and added a Starbucks gift certificate and a little book of inspirational sayings for teachers! I just thought it was SO cute to give a box of Hugs and Kisses! I hope they like these!
Well be sure to head on over to Paper Popsicles and play along with us, as well as check back on Wednesday for some more fun stuff! Also did you know Paper Popsicles now has a facebook page!? Be sure to find them and become a follower today!

TFL!
Valerie

Thursday, May 20, 2010

TODAY is the day!!!

It is Digi Day for Cheeky Radish on SNR Card Universe!!! The theme is Puddle jumping and there is a cute freebie on the site that you can use! Its starts at 6pm CST till 8 pm CST! So don't be late and jump on over for some fun!

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

I HATE...

THESE!!!!They make me SOOO MISERABLE this time of the year! For as pretty as they are and as much as people say they smell so good I suffer SO BAD! Monday I spent the ENTIRE day in the WORST allergy headache EVER! Yesterday I was smart and we spent the day by my mom's house! And today it is SOOO nice out and I am afraid to open the windows as I feel the pain in my head building! My house is surrounded with them! If I wasn't afraid of being hit with a HUGE bill to replace them by the homeowners association I would dig these bad boys out! So needless to say I will be suffering for a while till the pretties go bye bye! (and yes I have thought of cutting the blooms off right away, but my grandma says that will make more come back the next year!)
On to better things that don't make my allergies go into HIGH GEAR! Fake flowers! : )
This week my digi image from Cheeky Radish is this spring flowers one that can be bought here. I colored my image with Copic markers and the centers of the flowers are Prima crystals that I cut off of a larger piece, the cardstock is Bazzill and Coordinations that I embossed using my CuttleBug, and I finished it off with some Maya Road ribbon.Next up is the Paper Popsicles shaped card for this week. This is a yummy cake slice shape that I got to work with, and you can get yours right here! This week's theme is cardstock so I used white Bazzill that I embossed with the Cuttle Bug, Coordinations that I also embossed with the CuttleBug Swiss Dots, and the blue piece is also Cordinations that I embossed. I'm not sure if you can really call it carsdtock, but its close enough to me I used DoodleBug flocked cardstock for the brown frosting around the edge and then I cut some with my EK Success border punch to make the middle icing. To finish off my card I used some May Arts mini ric rac and DoodleBug letters.
So go and grab your cardstock and show us what you can do! Don't forget to link your entry right here to have a chance to win those SUPER FAB Martha Stewart glitters!
And last on my list today is my sneak peek of the Digi Day on SNR Card Universe tomorrow night!

I used the Its raining Its Poring image which you can buy right here and had fun creating this card using the sketch from Serendipity Scrapbooks. Be sure to head on over to the fun tomorrow night at SNR Card Universe!

Well I have to run and get the little monsters from school!

TFL!

Valerie

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Happy Belated Mother's Day!

Well after spending ALL of Mother's Day and part of yesterday recovering from a migraine I am back to show you the creations I have created!

First up is a card I made for a friend to give her mom for Mother's Day. It is made with the GORGEOUS BoBunny Jazmyn papers and icandy! It was SO much fun to just go to town and create this card! I used a Martha Stewart Eyelet border punch, Making memories Flutter letters as well as Bazzill and Cordination cardstock to make this.

Next up I tried my hand at making some canvas creations as gifts for my mom and grandmother. My mom's is first and it was a learning process with it as to what works and doesn't, but overall I am happy with the end result excecpt for the picture-I wish I would have "antiqued" it. To make this I sprayed the canvas with Glimmer Mist and Shimmerz Spritz to give the background a warmer feel and give it some shimmer. The pattern paper and die cut is My Mind's Eye Andrea Victoria, Thickers, Lace from Hobby Lobby, and some Prima bling!

Next is the canvas I made for my grandmother. I again sprayed hers with Glimmer Mist and Shimmerz Spritz. For this picture when I printed it at home my ink was running low and I was not happy with the quality of the black and white photo. So I decided to get creative and try something new. I grabbed my Caramel Alcohol ink and cut a piece of felt, I squirted some ink on the felt and began gently rubbing the ink over the photo. I was nervous but quickly relieved to see the results I was hoping for. My photo looked like it was a very old picture. The color of the ink worked great with the colors of the My Mind's Eye Andrea Victoria paper! I added some Prima Bling, flowers, and leaves that I sanded slightly and added some of the Caramel alcohol ink too as well to help them coordinate with the paper as well. To finish off the page I used Basic Grey chipboard letters and colored them with Butterscotch alcohol ink. I just wish I wasn't in such a hurry and took a better picture of these! I guess I will need to go over to their house and steal some better pics!


Next up are the cards for Paper Popsicles this week! The theme is flowers this week, so be sure to head on over and check out everyone's creations! And don't forget for each new creation you make during the month you will be entered into the drawing for that YUMMY Martha Stewart glitter!
For this watering can shaped card (which is the FREEBIE this week!) I used Basic Grey Kioshi paper and sanded the edges to get the white outline, Maya Road flower ribbon, Making Memories glitter letter stickers and Prima flowers which I sprayed with Shimmerz Spritz in Bubblegum. I just LOVE the shimmer that was added to the flowers!
I think this card is just so pretty and everytime I look at it I think Wedding Shower invite! Well with both of my brothers engaged I have to start planning these things in my head! I just think the postage with those flowers on it would be crazy!
Next is my digi image card. I colored the image with the good old Copic markers, the pattern paper is Pink Paislee, Maya Road flower ribbon, Zva creative crystals, and cardstock from DCWV and Cordinations.

Well I hope all the mommies had a good Mother's Day and everyone enjoyed today's eye candy! I will be back with more soon!

TFL!

Valerie

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

PROUD Mama!!!

On Tuesday night the boys had their very first T-Ball game, and I just had to share some of the special moments of the game!

Here is Joseph in the Pitcher position, and well he was doing it at his own pace and at one point that stinker picked up dirt and pitched dirt!


Here is Nicholas at the end of the game-he played right field the last inning and he was all ready to be part of the action.Well there was NO action for him! He was patient at first waiting and waiting, but eventually when the ball was hit and not coming in that direction he would pout, stomp his feet, cross his arms,"humph!", and finally turned around in disgust. Poor guy he just wanted to be in on the action!
Here he is in the second inning playing short stop and SO happy to be in on the action! It was funny he would run all over the infield to get to the ball! And when Joseph played in the field he found playing in the dirt to be more fun than paying attention to the action!
Here Joseph is posing for pictures before the game. I think he likes being the model best! LOL!
And here is Nicholas ready for the game to start!

After the game was over the coach brought all the kids in the dug out and they talked about the game and the things the kids did right during the game. The coach mention good plays that kids made and then he said that every game he is going to give a game ball to the player who hustled the hardest, paid attention and gave it his all. He then said this player was hustling hard in the field, backed up other players and had the position of last batter for the day (at this point I realized who it was and was trying to pull the camera out of my purse again) Nicholas! At this he was jumping up and down with a smile from ear to ear on his face-it was PRICELESS, and I missed getting a picture! : ( But here he is afterward with his game ball. I don't think the smile has left his face yet! His coach said that he gave the best reaction ever to receiving the game ball! My little guys are growing up SO quick! I can't believe we are playing baseball! I am SOOO happy that their coach is AWESOME! He really gives it his all and works hard with these kids to teach them the proper things as well as keep it fun and positive for them! Thanks coach Graves!

TFL!
Valerie

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

How about some more cards?

First up I have some super fun projects I made using some Prima products.

I just LOVE the way this card turned out! The cardstock is Coordinations, pattern paper My Mind's Eye, the packaging card from the Prima flowers, Prima flowers and leaves-which I used Alcohol ink on to tint with some brown, Maya Road lace and the sentimanet is from My Mind's Eye.

Next is this fun tag I made using the cardboard packaging I saved, I inked that with Distress inks to bring out the colors in the pattern paper. The pattern paper is from Prima, and I cut the edges off of another Prima package to embellish with and I used Prima flowers and a leaf. The pom pom trim is Maya Road and of course Thickers!






This last card is made with Making Memories and My Mind's Eye pattern paper, Rusty Pickle stickers, jute and Prima say it with crystals bat.Next up its all about buttons at Paper Popsicles this week so here is my card I made with the new Basic Grey Kioshi paper and Coordinations and Bazzill Blingz cardstock.And the shape card I used this week is the layer cake. I used the new Basc grey Max and whiskers pattern paper, Prima flowers which I inked with alcohol ink to pick up the colors in the paper, buttons from my stash and DoodleBug rub-ons. The Max and whiskers line is really not just for pet pages and you can see this pretty flower paper is not pet at all!


Don't forget to play along this month at Paper Popsicles as the prize this month is a Martha Stewart Glitter multi pack!!! Check it out here!
TFL!
Valerie



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