UPDATES TO MY STUDIO, PART SIX

I've had so many comments on the photos of my studio I've shared.  That's been fun.  I've had several questions about where I stamp ... standing or sitting.  Although, it may seem more relaxing to sit, I usually stand.  This is because my first studio was so tiny, I'm not sure you could even call it a studio.  I had a rolling kitchen cart in the center of our former nursery and that's where I stood to stamp.  It had 3 wire baskets beneath it and a butcher block top.  It had two leaves you could pull up to extend the top.  It worked fine, but was pretty cramped for a work space.  Anyway, I got used to standing to stamp and it is still difficult for me to stamp sitting down.  I do have a stool I can pull up for a sitting break when I need it or I can move to my table where I teach classes.  I have severe arthritis and can't sit OR stand for too long a period of time, so I designed my studio so that I have to mix it up and move around a little, so I don't get too stiff.   My paper trimmer and inks are right behind me from where I stand to stamp.   It works for me and I love it.  I think everyone has to find what works best for them and use the space you have to its fullest potential.

I'll be back soon with more design inspiration, so you come on back, too. 

NEED A CATALOG?  I HAVE PLENTY HERE. CONTACT ME TO PICK ONE UP.

That's it for now.  

Thanks for stopping by my blog neighborhood.   

Have a beautiful day!

 

UPDATES TO MY STUDIO, PART FIVE

I'm really excited about sharing today's post because I just finished painting all these new goodies.  The far left storage 'cubbies' are from Stampin' Up!  The painted ones are all from Stamp N Storage.  I use the first painted unit to store Stampin' Spots (15 fit perfectly in each Taylored Expressions box.) + daubers, and the unit with the round tins (Stampin' Up!) stores odds and ends of embellishments.  This unit was designed to hold another company's punches, but the measurements work great for my tins.  I had to get one more ink pad unit, to store a variety of ink pads and then the caddy is useful for storing lots of little tools.  I spray painted the caddy after I put it together.  The Washi Tape holder is something I've had for a while (I don't remember the source.) but I recently painted it. to coordinated with all my other storage units.

I'll be back soon with more design inspiration, so you come on back, too. 

NEED A CATALOG?  I HAVE PLENTY HERE. CONTACT ME TO PICK ONE UP.

That's it for now.  

Thanks for stopping by my blog neighborhood.   

Have a beautiful day!

 

UPDATES TO MY STUDIO, PART FOUR

Today, I'd like to share the front bar in my studio.  The bar area of my studio is actually 2 parallel bars, each running 15 feet long.  Believe it or not, whenever I'm in the midst of one of my creative storms, I can fill up all 30 feet!  I end up with about 1 1/2 feet of stamping area:) Oh well, that's the price of creativity.  I wouldn't trade it for anything.  

I'll be back soon with more design inspiration, so you come on back, too. 

NEED A CATALOG?  I HAVE PLENTY HERE. CONTACT ME TO PICK ONE UP.

That's it for now.  

Thanks for stopping by my blog neighborhood.   

Have a beautiful day!

 

Fall Studio Displays

I absolutely LOVE changing out my decor with each new season, especially in my studio.  With the new vintage piece I bought this summer, it's especially fun to display decor and projects together in it.  Here's what I have, so far, for Fall.

You'll notice a few cards and gift bags from our Fall Paper Pumpkin kit.

The Copper Tea Tin is what we'll be making at our October Scraps and Prayers class.

I used one of the tags to decorate a gift basket.

I love decorating for Fall almost as much as decorating for Christmas.

I attached DSP to some artist canvas pieces, to add color to the background.  The baby shoes were actually my daughter's when she was a baby.

UP NEXT:

CHRISTMAS CARDS RETREAT / 1:00-5:00 / $35.00

Sunday, October 6

REGISTRATION CLOSED.

Fee includes snacks and all your supplies.

You'll go home with 3 each of 5 card designs, using fun new holiday products ... that's 15 beautiful cards!
My secret message...
Anyone attending my Christmas Cards Retreat may place an order (on that day only) and receive a 10% discount!  This will give you the opportunity to stock up on any supplies you may need to mak more cards and/or projects in time for Christmas.

SCRAPS AND PRAYERS / 5:30-7:30 / $18.00 

October 14 / Pay to register by October 7.

We’ll be decorating a beautiful Copper Tea Tin for the season.

We’ll also be celebrating our Scraps and Prayers 10^th Anniversary.

Expect some special surprises at this class!

PAPER PUMPKIN CLUB / FREE FOR MY LOCAL PP SUBSCRIBERS 

October 22 / 1:00-3:00 / BRING YOUR KIT.
I'll show you how to turn some of the projects into cards.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A WICKEDLY FUN TIME! 

HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE PARTY / 2:00-5:00 / RSVP REQUESTED

Sunday, November 3

Come enjoy holiday displays, inspirations, projects and more!

SCRAPS AND PRAYERS / 5:30-7:30 / $18.00 

November 11 / Pay to register by November 4

We’ll be making beautiful Christmas cards or a Christmas project.

PAPER PUMPKIN CLUB / FREE FOR MY LOCAL PP SUBSCRIBERS 

November 19 / 1:00-3:00 / BRING YOUR KIT.

SCRAPS AND PRAYERS / 5:30-7:30 / $18.00 

December 9 / Pay to register by December 2.

We’ll be making beautiful Christmas cards.

PAPER PUMPKIN CLUB / FREE FOR MY LOCAL PP SUBSCRIBERS 

December 17 / 1:00-3:00 / BRING YOUR KIT.

That's it for now.  

Thanks for stopping by my blog neighborhood.   

Have a beautiful day!

Fridge Displays In My Studio

Today's post will be brief because I'm trying to put the finishing touches on my prep for hosting my PEO group here next week.  I'll be teaching them how to make a couple of cards.  I'm really looking forward to it.
Today, I thought I'd share a couple of fridge displays I have in my studio.  Even though I have a pretty large studio, I still use every inch of space that I can find to share displays.  Being surrounded by previous cards and projects I've made helps inspire everyone when they're here and they inspire me when I'm working on new cards and projects.
These are two of my favorite projects I've made, along with some of my many spools of Baker's Twine.  I love when you can have supplies out and ready to use and are actually part of the decor:)

I love Scrabble tiles and thought I'd use a few to decorate the front of the fridge.  When I have time, I plan to add on a couple more words.  The button magnets are some of my favorite projects that I actually use every day.  Do you have any past projects that you use to decorate your home?

UP NEXT:

June 10 -- Scraps and Prayers / 5:30-7:30 / $18. 
Pay to register by June 8
We'll be making some more beautiful cards and enjoying using some fun, new products.  I'll have a couple of really fun ways to use the Stamparatus to share with you, as well as a new fun fold card design.   I hope you can join us.

SAVE THE DATES: 

June 23 --- 2:00-5:00 / Get ready for fun!  

Summer Open House / New Catalog Party

June 28-20 --- 8:00-5:00 Friday / 8:00-Noon Saturday

MY ANNUAL GARAGE SALE

I'll have lots of stamping and paper crafting products for sale.

Come and find a good bargain!

 RETIRING PRODUCTS

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE LISTS:
     Occasions Catalog Retiring Products List
     
     Annual Catalog Retiring Products List

Lots of products are already sold out so shop now if there's something you still want to try to get.  Be sure to check out the Clearance Rack, too.  You'll find lot of great bargains. 

More Good Christmas Reads and More Studio Progress

In case you'd like more book ideas ... to continue the Christmas spirit ... I have more good Christmas reads for you today, as well as an update on the continued progress I've made in my studio.  The first two books are books for children, but adults will enjoy them as well.  They're really great for the entire family.  If you don't want to read them now, tuck this idea away for next Christmas.  The art work is absolutely stunning!

The Christmas Candle tells a message about the true meaning of Christmas.  One year, for our children's worship service on Christmas Eve, my husband took a lantern (We hunted through several antique stores to find it.  How fun!) and told the entire story (from memory!) to all the children as they gathered on the steps at the front of our Sanctuary.  It was really special.

The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey tells the story of how a child warms the previously cold heart of a sad man who suffers from the loss of his wife and child and helps him find joy once again as he carves an entire Nativity set from wood.  Both of these children's books would warm the heart of any reader and both have such beautiful art work and stories that they're worth reading again and again.  I highly recommend both books.

Most readers must have read a book by Fannie Flagg somewhere along the way.  Her story of A Redbird Christmas is one of the most charming stories I've ever read.  I try to read it again most every Christmas. 

Another book, for which I did not take a photo, that I love is A Christmas Story, by Jean Shepherd.  If you've seen the movie, you should read the book, too.

Now, I'll bet you're wishing I'd show a sneak peek of my studio.  No way!  Not yet!  I'm suffering greatly from all the plaster dust clean-up and can't wait to be finished.  I've completely emptied and cleaned all the upper cabinets on the back bar, as well as the 8 drawers on the back bar.  The first drawer, the hardest one, took 2 hours to clean!  It had multiple open containers of embellishments that were covered with plaster dust.  I put them in a veggie keeper that had a plastic mesh insert and washed them like that.  I wanted to do the hardest drawer first, to get it over, knowing the rest would be easier. 
Now, to do all the lower cabinets on the back bar.  Each day, I've also cleaned part of the storage room.  It is just horrible.  I need to finish all the storage room before we can get the furnace ducts all cleaned.  Can't wait to be finished.  I've had lots of moments of discouragement and near meltdowns, but know I have to just keep plugging away.  Some day, when it's all finished, I will be so glad.  I have about 6 more boxes to take down from the upstairs (from my temporary studio in our dining room) and then all can be put away once the cabinets and drawers are cleaned out and room made for them.  Ugh!
I'll give another update soon, as well as more creative inspiration.  Be sure to check back soon.

SPECIAL NOTE:
I've been working on my 2019 schedule and have posted classes and events for January - June of 2019.  Check it out here!

Yesterday was one of my most exciting days ever!

Yesterday was special because I had lunch with one of my most special friends ever.  My daughter, Jenn, and I became good friends with her when we met her at Convention and kept running into her and enjoying long conversations.  We really cemented the friendship when Jenn and I went to a Leadership Conference in Nashville.  We kept getting lost in the huge, beautiful hotel and kept running into her everywhere we went.  We always stopped and talked some more.  It's a wonder we ever got to bed that night.

So who is my wonderful Stampin' Up! BFF?  It's Shannon West!!!  You have probably seen her on some of our Stampin' Up! videos.  She's just so much fun.  She has a sunny disposition, a beautiful smile, an absolute sparkling personality and Jenn and I just love her.  Wow!  This was so special for us.  Shannon called the previous night and said she was on her way from St. Louis to Champaign and wanted to have lunch.

Here are some photos from our time together.  She came to visit my studio!!!

Love ya to pieces, Shannon West.  Thanks for inviting us to lunch, visiting my studio and making our day so special.  You're the best!

AUGUST HOSTESS CODE:   

36XNEJK9

   Aug. Hostess Code Special ($35.+ orders)
--- Surprise Gift 
--- Free Color Coach (new/updated) !!!

AUGUST 1 -31 --- BONUS DAYS --- 
    - SEE INFO ON LEFT SIDE OF PAGE.

REMINDER:
BEGINNING SEPTEMBER, YOU MUST PAY TO REGISTER AT LEAST ONE WEEK PRIOR TO ANY CLASS. 

SEPTEMBER EVENTS: 

Sept. 10 / Scraps and Prayers / 5:30-7:30 / $15.00
       Fall Project, showcasing the gorgeous colors of nature.
       PAY TO REGISTER ONE WEEK PRIOR TO CLASS. 
Sept. 15 / BONUS Saturday Stampers / 1:00-4:00 / $20.00
       Let's make some gorgeous Fall and Christmas cards.
       PAY TO REGISTER ONE WEEK PRIOR TO CLASS. 

- Thanks for stopping by my corner of the blogging world.

- Come back often for more creative inspiration.

- Let's create something beautiful today.

The Scoop on All The Latest SU News and A Quick Look Back

I'm trying really hard to wrap my mind around it being 3 days into December already.  I thought I'd do a quick post today to make sure you're up to date on all the latest, as well as a quick look back, for fun.
THE LATEST:
- All my Christmas Retreat cards (kits) are sold out.
- We have one remaining class for 2017.
- Sign up ASAP for my Dec. 11 Scraps and Prayers.
- SU has an End of Year Sale going on right now.  Click here to check it out.
- Click on the link on the left side of my blog for the PDF.
- I'll be posting my 2018 schedule for my classes and events soon.
Keep coming back throughout December and see more cards and projects I'll be sharing.

And, looking back, here's a shot of my studio in 2014.  I think a lot has changed, but I still love this display.  I'll share my studio for 2017 soon and, I think you'll agree, there are a lot more projects on display now, as well as cards.

December 11 -- Scraps and Prayers Class:
     5:30-7:30 / $15.00 / Christmas Cards and Tags
It's going to be a party atmosphere at our last class for 2017.  I've even been working on a hand made present for you!  The class is filling up fast, so be sure to reserve your spot right away

- Thanks for stopping by my corner of the blogging world.

- Come back often for more creative inspiration.

- Let's create something beautiful today.