ZUMBA!

Happy Monday, Blogging Buddies!

I am a fan of Zumba. As one who loves to dance and hates to exercise, it is just perfect for me. I can become exhausted and work up a huge sweat without realizing it because I am having so much fun. If you have never tried it, I recommend it.

Why am I telling you this? This week's Share Handmade Kindness Challenge at Jennifer McGuire's blog is "Community" and we are to share with someone who works/serves in our community.

I decided to give a special thank you to our sweet Zumba instructor, Summer. I made a card inspired by one I did months ago in a class at the Paper Garden Boutique in Sacramento taught by the amazing Julie Ebersole. I especially like it because we are celebrating some terrific and much-needed rain here in northern California.

I used a Memory Box die to cut some watercolor paper that I had painted with my Gansai Tambi paints and textured with a Tim Holtz stencil. I die cut (Essentials by Ellen) some stars and attached them with some twine. All good.

Even better is that I used the other portion of the paper to create another card which I can give to a special lady who works the desk at our gym!

Think about someone who is in your life who could use a little handmade kindness and get busy!

Have a great week, thanks for the visit and Zumba on!

Giving Thanks

Hello, Bloggin' Buddies!

It is that time of year when we celebrate giving thanks. My Mom taught me early to be grateful and to express it. Hubby and I thank each other several times a day. It is important to let others know how much you appreciate them.

This week's Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog is all about thanks. I have already made all of my Thanksgiving cards, so I made this watercolored all-purpose thanks card using a Hero Arts background stamp (Harlequin Pattern) and a Lawn Fawn sentiment (Scripty Thanks) in some wonderful gold paper I got at my LSS (Paper Garden boutique, Sacramento CA).

I am thankful for your visit and I hope you are having a great week.

Paper Smooches

Good Monday morning, Bloggin' Buddies!

Hope ya'll had a great weekend! I was lucky enough to take an all-day card-making class at the Paper Garden Boutique in Sacramento taught by the AMAZING Julie Ebersole! Wowzer! What a true joy and inspiration she is.

I am starting the week off thinking about the upcoming holidays (not my favorite time of year). However, it is kind of fun to unearth my holiday stamps (I keep them packed away all year) and see all the goodness that has been hidden away.

I made this card (actually, several of them) using Paper Smooches "Falling For You" stamp set and the"Notebook Basic" die on a watercolor panel.

I found these vintage fall doilies at an estate sale and wanted to incorporate them.

Now that I look at the photograph I wish I would have balanced the elements a bit differently. Guess that happens with rushing to produce several cards....

Ah well. This is headed for the current paper Smooches SPARKS challenge, "Anything Goes". Have a great week and thanks for the sweet visit!

A fun day!

Hello, friends!
 
Sunday was the day to which I had been looking forward - card classes at the Paper Garden Boutique in Sacramento by the amazing Julie Ebersole! And it was glorious. I knew there was a reason we moved here. I came home with a stack of beautiful cards, lots of new tricks, and (of course) having shared lots of those famous Julie giggles. A great day. I can't wait for March, when she will return.

I have photographed some of my most favorites, but I am still having difficulty getting good photos at our new home. If you want to see better pictures, go to Julie's blog.

Now, I did take some liberties (to make up for mistakes!) with some of the cards so they aren't all exactly as she designed. But there are really no mistakes in crafting - it's all good, right?

Take good care and thanks for the visit. I sure hope you are having a great week.

Pinch Me! Pinch Me!

Hello friends!

As you know, I am without computer hook-up until we get our office/studio set up (should be up and running by early May), and I don't type well on my phone, but I had to make a trip to the library to share this news!

I had a day of classes taught by none other than that super-talented, high-energy, always inspiring, Paper Trufflez, Hello Monday, gal with the contagious laugh, favorite of mine - Julie Ebersole! I was so excited that I couldn't sleep the night before. It was like Christmas Eve, my 16th birthday and the Fourth of July all rolled into one! Yes, she is even MORE amazing in person.

Her classes were taught in the over-top-perfect paper store in nearby (about 30 minutes) Sacramento called The Paper Garden. Too cute - not just great stamps, wonderful paper, inspiring samples, but also really unique little gifts (the hand-made soaps look good enough to eat!). The owner, Stephanie, is so sweet - she gave me such a warm welcome. Her customers love her and she gives excelent personal service. I am so happy to have found her and her lovely store.

I took 2 two-hour classes from Julie. One was called "Die-Namite Designs" with some great die-cutting techniques. Some were much more tricky than others, but they were all super-neat and new to me. The second class was "All A Sparkle" (doesn't that just sound like Julie?) with some great glittery and glistening gems. I didn't even wear home as much glitter as I usually do. And, there was a bonus card! We made a total of 15 cards during this knock-out day!

It was so special, so fun and so inspiring. The other ladies in the class were super-nice and friendly. I plan to return to the store for more classes and supplies. In the meantime, here a few shots of some of my favorite cards (sorry, I haven't found the ideal photo spot in the new house).

Thanks, Julie and Stephanie! You inspired me and made me feel so welcome. Now I'm not home-sick any more!