My Journaling Journey

I'm doing an online journaling workshop everyday this month with Big Picture Scrapbooking.com. LOVING IT! Journaling is something I've always struggled with. I've kept gratitude journals and "daily dialogue" journals on and off for 10 years as writing has helped me through painful & lonely times and through the changes in my life. I recently read through my old journals and was encouraged at how far I'd come in those 10 years, and yet in other ways, how SO very far I have to go. I could tell when I was having a bad day as the only things I could be grateful for were my baby's smile, our health and good weather. Not that those things aren't important, because I'm still extremely grateful for each of those things. Although now....I LOVE wet, cold miserable winter days that keep me inside a warm, comfortable house.

I've been given so many opportunities to see the beauty and the horrors in this world. I have some photographs to assist in the memories, but most of the stories are stuck inside my mind as I don't feel I can do the stories justice on paper. Hence my decision to do the journaling workshop! I receive journaling prompts each day, which I write about, while learning about excerpt journaling and vignette journaling. Its only the first week and I can't wait to receive my email about my next writing assignment. Todays journalling prompt was "the back door". Lots to write about there!

As demonstrators, we are regularly given stamping ideas from the head office in Sydney and in America. Its a valuable tool in helping us get ideas of what we can show our customers and in planning our workshops. The above card is one of those cards they gave us and its using Circle of Friendship stamp set, which I don't have. The style and simplicity of this card grabbed me though. I just thought I'd share what I came up with using this as a template, and several of my stamp sets. (stamp sets are Priceless, Seeing Spots, Boho Backgrounds and Big Bold Birthday)

Away with the Birds

This is the bird I mentioned in my newsletter below. It's part of the Always stamp set in the Spring Mini. Pretty isn't it?! Well....this bird just said "emboss me", so thats what I did in a few different ways. The green bird in the middle/top is first inked in old olive, then rock-n-rolled in taken with teal and stamped on whisper white. I then stamped over the top, using the stamp-a-ma-jig with Versamark and heat set it with clear embossing powder. The 2 other white birds sitting in the middle were just stamped with Versamark and embossed with white embossing powder. The last bird on the lower right was first stamped in soft sky, then again with Versamark and heat embossed with several layers of clear embossing powder. I liked the way they all turned out. I'll have to play some more and show you pictures of the finished card.

August Classes and The Spring Mini Has Arrived!

I've got some winter cheer to share with you. Check out Stampin'Up!'s new Spring Mini Catalogue! It's full of new & beautiful stamps, paper, ribbon and accessories. I have so many favourites in this mini (the Always set with a gorgeous bird and beautiful heart and the Celebrate Everyday set has the cutest Owl!) so choosing what I REALLYwanted was difficult. A bonus with all the stamp sets in this mini is that they are all die cut, which means there is no cutting needed. You just pop them out, stick them to the correct wooden blocks and apply the sticker.....too easy!! Check it out for yourself when you click on the link above or send me an email with your address and I'll pop the mini in the mail to you.

I've got a class to offer you and this time its more of a Stamp-a-Stack (SAS) rather than concentrating on a new technique (although I'm sure you'll learn something with these cards). With Christmas sneaking up on us, I've put together a class using 2 NEW Christmas stamp sets (as well as some of the new Designer Series Paper, Holiday Harmony) from the above mentioned Spring Mini Catalogue. As I'm quite booked up with workshops on weekends, and due to the numbers interested in getting started on Christmas cards, I'm offering this class on 2 different evenings, Thursday August 14th and Thursday August 28th. Both classes will start at 7:30 PM. In this class you'll make 10 cards, 5 of each design. The cost is $20 and that includes all materials used and envelopes. If you're interested in attending either night, email or call me to book your place ASAP.
(Update 6/8/08: both classes are now full. Will post on here if any spaces become available, so please check back or let me know if you're interested in attending)

The Stampin' Up! Promotion this month is the New Demonstrator Starter Kit price being reduced to $299, but only until August 15th. Remember, you can customise this starter kit to suit your style. Click the link for more details and please call me if you're interested in joining my lovely team of ladies who love stamping as much as you do!

Looking ahead: There will be another 2 Christmas card classes in September, with 2 new cards to make, just to keep your card supply growing. There will also be 6x6 scrapbook page classes coming in October and November. This will replace the previous years Calendar class, as you can make the 6x6 scrapbook pages and attach them to a calendar yourself and give as a Christmas present, or keep them for you to enjoy.

If you're interested in hosting your own Christmas workshop and jump starting you and your friends into the crazy season, then contact me soon as dates are filling up fast!!