Well, what can I say? It was great! I don't think I'll be able to provide as thorough a breakdown as Lisa Kettell, but I will try. The classroom was lovely. Two very long tables perpendicular to a raised dais. The instructors sat on the dais behind a kitchen height counter with a video camera pointed at their hands. Two large monitors (one on each side of the room) showed the techniques up close and personal. And the walls of the classroom were decorated with black display boards that showed the Ranger products in use. On the first day, we... Read more →

Can you tell that I'm burning the candle at both ends? Haven't posted all week long. Working, working, working like crazy! But I adore being busy. I just wish that I didn't have to sleep all the time! It really gets in the way of my creative pursuits! You know what I mean? 1. Label Tulip Got my October kit in the mail and it is a beauty! Fellow design team member Charity Hassel has some sneak peeks on her blog. I'm looking forward to sitting down and playing with the kit myself. In case you didn't know, Label Tulip... Read more →

Well, here it is, the last day of Portrait Bug week. Today, I thought I would share an article I wrote for the Portrait Bug blog entitled "Use it or Lose it." It appeared on that blog a week or two ago. I will confess, I am a supply hoarder. Sometimes, I feel like shopping is a scrapbooking activity all unto itself. Organizing certainly is. And here I am, surrounded by all this gorgeous stuff and I don't want to use it! I have paper that is "too pretty" to cut into and ribbon that I'm hoarding for a "special... Read more →

Four for you today: Portrait Bug tutorial Around the Block giveaway! Toot! Ranger U., baby! 1. Portrait Bug tutorial This is, perhaps, one of my absolute most favorite albums ever. Supplies: Patterned Paper (Dream Street, Kaiser); Rhinestone Frame (Kaiser); Journaling Cards (Jenni Bowlin Die-Cut Mini Label Papers); Letter Stickers (Jenni Bowlin, Adornit Carolee’s Creations); Pens (Sakura Pigma Micron, Uniball Signo); Rub-ons (Jenni Bowlin); Embroidery Floss (DMC) I'm going to be teaching this book as a class at Portrait Bug. Nevertheless, I'm going to teach you how I sewed the binding on this book. Press play to watch the video. 2.... Read more →

Friday is here and we are dying tags with Glimmer Mist and watercolors. Woo Hoo! Supplies: Cardstock (Bazzill); Paint (Winsor&Newton watercolors, gesso by Golden); Glimmer Mist (Tattered Angels); Rub-ons (Jenni Bowlin); Pen (Sakura Pigma Micron); Alphabet Stickers (Making Memories); Tags (Avery) I love making my own embellishments. Here's a quick primer on how to dye your own delicious tags (plus some tips on using Glimmer Mist)! Just press play. On Tuesday, I sent my "Rock of Love" ATCs off to the swap hostess. Here they are: I can't wait to see what I get back! And I've got TWO *enormous*... Read more →

I'm off to Ranger U. today! And I'm inappropriately excited! I'm beyond over the moon! I thought it would be appropriate to use a Tim Holtz product because I'm going to play with them all weekend... Supplies: Cardstock (Bazzill); Pens (Sakura Pigma Micron, Zig Writer, Uniball Signo); Bling (Kaiser); Fragments (Tim Holtz - adhered with Glossy Accents by Ranger); Alcohol Inks (Ranger); Thickers (American Crafts); Journaling Card (Making Memories). I'm in love with the Fragments. I'm sure that I'm going to learn a million more ways to use them this weekend at Ranger U. but here's a video showing you... Read more →

Day three of Portrait Bug week and I'm sharing a great home decor project! This banner was made from a chipboard album. Supplies: Album (Kaiser); Stickers (Adornit Carolee’s Creations); Patterned Paper (Dream Street, Basic Grey, Kaiser); Ink (Ranger Distress Ink); Cardstock (Bazzill); Miscellaneous: ribbon At Saturday's crop, someone asked me how to neatly adhere patterned paper to chipboard. So, I thought I'd share the method I used on this banner! Just press play! Thanks for stopping by! Read more →