A New Project

So, here's a peek at my next project (and my messy desk!). My gingerbread house from a few years ago has been on my mind lately, so I decided to make a spring version. Well, maybe not a spring version of a gingerbread house, but a cute little spring-themed house. Just for fun! It doesn't look like much yet, but it'll be spectacular when I'm done! Check back soon to see my progress!

NOTE: I made the template for this house by adapting one found on the Bubbly Scrumptious website.

My year-long hiatus...

Wow! Can you believe it's been a year since I posted? A lot has changed in the past year, but I'm none the worse for wear and looking forward to 2012!! I've re-discovered my old love...paper quilling! Here's a pic of a really simple Christmas card I made recently. I've FINALLY mastered holly leaves! lol

Check back soon for pics of the miniature Santa and miniature angel I also made recently. They're pretty cute!!

Advanced Copics Class at Bizzy B's

Here's a sneak peek at one of the images (Penny Black) we'll colour at my Advanced Copics class on December 7 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Space is limited, so call Bizzy B's today and sign up!

Copic Sample - Enhanced

Hi! So, after my last post I spent a few minutes enhancing the elephant image I coloured. I didn't do much, but I think it makes a big difference. Here's my original elephant, coloured using B21, B24, and B28 (blues) and RV23, RV25, and RV29.

To enhance the image, I added just a little bit of shading with B60, pretending that the sun was shining from the upper left. It's pretty light in the scanned image, but it is there. Then I used E31, E33, and the blender marker to create some earth for the elephant to stand on. And to finish it off, I used G24 and G28 to add a few little clumps of grass around his feet. They came out a little thicker than I wanted them to, but you get the idea.

That's it for today! To learn how to colour with Copics, check out my class at Bizzy B's Stamp & Scrap on September 28 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. It's sure to be fun!!

Lazy Long Weekend . . .

Well, summer is officially over and somehow I haven't blogged since May. I've had a wonderful summer, but I've been looking forward to Labour Day weekend for a few weeks now. Time to settle in for fall and start thinking about Christmas!!

Back in June I got my Copic certification, and I'm so excited to have planned my first official Copics class at Bizzy B's Stamp & Scrap in Toronto. You'll find a class calendar on our website. Space is limited, though, so don't delay if you'd like to take the class. I'll also be demo'ing Copics this Sunday at BB's birthday celebration.

The Copics class is for beginners or for anyone who wants to learn some tips and tricks. In class, we'll start by colouring on a practice sheet of circles and simple shapes. The focus of the class is on learning about and using the markers, not about colouring detailed images and making cards. We'll definitely colour some images, but I want everyone to walk away feeling confident about the basics of colouring. Detail will come later. Above and below are some images that I coloured in preparation for my Copics class this month.

You've likely noticed that all three images are pink and blue. I thought long and hard about how to structure this class, as some people will have no markers, some will have a few, and some will have many, and I wanted to keep the price down while providing good value. It's tempting to choose a range of colours, say blue, pink, green, yellow, and orange, but with Copics it's actually more important to have several shades in each family in order to blend properly. So, I looked at my markers, bought a few more, and then decided to use three pinks (RV23, RV25, RV29) and three blues (B21, B24, B28). You have to have the markers to take the class, and we're offering them super cheap as part of the class. It's a great way to start or expand your collection! If you already have the colours, you have to bring them to class and we'll allow you to trade the kit colours for ones you don't have yet.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to email me. And be sure to watch the class calendar for more Copics classes (plus others) this fall. Happy colouring!!

Crazy for Cards -- May

Last night's Crazy for Cards class at BB's was great--seven people came down to play with all kinds of goodies and learn some new techniques. It's not a new technique, but glitter lace has my attention these days! Barb asked me to demo it at ScrapFest, and now it's my new favourite thing (along with Glimmer Mist and making backgrounds with Stamp-It's Sponging Blocks).

My first card for May's Crazy for Cards class includes all three things, plus one of the new Tim Holtz distress inks (victorian velvet). For this card I used the following products:

- Tim Holtz distress inks

- Sparkle N Sprinkle glitters

- Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist

- Tsukineko Glue Pad

- Prima flowers

- The Robin's Nest Dew Drops

This month's Crazy for Cards class will take place at Bizzy B's on Thursday, May 27, from 7:00 to 9:00. Call today and sign up!

Mother's Day Gift

Spring is here, and life seems to get busier every day! For a while, I think I forgot that I even have a blog. I had a great time at ScrapFest in Kitchener last weekend, and I'm looking forward to this fall's ScrapFest in Oshawa. Combined with Thanksgiving, my birthday, the Creativ Festival, and gearing up for Christmas, October is going to be one crazy month!

It's a long way off for the moment, though, and I'm excited to have completed samples for my May classes at Bizzy B's. Just in time for Mother's Day, I'll be teaching a class on how to decorate a wooden picture frame with supplies from your scrap stash. We'll make a matching card, so your entire gift will be ready in one evening. And I'll even provide an assortment of patterned papers to choose from, as not everyone will fancy the same one!

The class is scheduled for May 6 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Bizzy B's Stamp & Scrap. It'll be lots of fun. Hope to see you there!