On our way to CHA! (Forgot to post this!!)

Today's the day! We're leaving for Anaheim this morning so we can arrive in time for a make-n-take extravaganza tonight. Tomorrow we are taking workshops all day. And then the actual show starts early Saturday. We'll be power walking the floor in order to see all the new products and samples, watch demos, and maybe even make some little goodies to bring home.

Here we are last year taking a fun break.

 This is certainly a working "vacation" but how better to spend a few days than with your bestie girlfriends and a huge room full of crafty stuff!

New class projects

Lots of new class projects for the new year are now on display at the Little Blue House in Keller and on the LBH blog here.  

These are two projects I created. First is a 5"x7" "HUGS" chipboard mini album with a unique binding. Do you like the kiss on the cover?

There are 7 pages in this little book and room for at least 14 photos!

I love this little heart banner.

Pockets and tags for even more photos.

The second project is a mixed media canvas.  These have been very popular since I introduced the first canvas about this time last year.  I just love mixed media - you can use anything and everything! 

This close-up shows the title - Love Lives Here - on the flower stems.

More close-ups.

Hope you'll join us for class in the next few weeks!

CHA here we come!

Only three more days until we leave for the Craft and Hobby Association trade show in Anaheim, CA. Can't wait! This is my fourth year going and it's like going to crafting heaven. Just about any craft is represented and the convention space is huge!  There are make-and-takes, lots of samples to drool over and sometimes free giveaways. So much to see and do and so little time!

We will be concentrating on papers, embellishments, ribbons, surfaces and "lotions and potions".  One of my favorite paper companies, Graphic 45, has shown some sneak peeks of their new paper lines. Check out French Country and Secret Garden - aren't they beautiful? Can't wait to see the lines in real life.

We'll be attending some workshops and lectures all day Friday and then the show opens Saturday. I hope to share some of our experiences with you here during the show.

Happy New Year!

I wish you everything wonderful in this coming year. May all your artistic wishes come true! Have you made any artistic resolutions yet?  I hope to create more personal art this year and try new techniques.

Our family had a wonderful time together in Ft. Myers Beach, Florida, over Christmas. The two grandbabies loved all the attention from their aunties and uncle and Grams and Pops.  And they loved the beach and pool. I think we have two little water babies!  Here are a few highlights of the week.

 Hope to be back soon to share some new projects I'm working on.

Merry Christmas - early

Merry Christmas to you and your families! We are traveling today to Florida to meet our five grown children, two sons-in-law and two grandsons for a wonderful week together on the beach. I'm looking forward to a relaxing time enjoying my family and the babies.  

Thank you all for your continued support of my blog. I love to read your comments and knowing some of you out there are actually reading my posts helps me to keep posting! I hope to be more active next year - time just seems to slip away...

Again, enjoy your holiday! I'll be back next year!

Name Collage

I've been wanting to make a word collage of my daughter and son-in-law's last name for their new house.  You may have seen sites online for all kinds of photographs of typography but I didn't want to print them myself.  Several weeks ago I was browsing through Hobby Lobby and in the framing department they had these 4x6 postcards (in both black and white and full color) for each letter of the alphabet.  I picked up four to spell their name (Motz) but then spent weeks searching for the right size frame, to no avail. I finally found a funky, girly canvas on sale for half-price - white with colorful flowers and butterflies all over. (Wish I'd taken a "before" photo!) 

It was the perfect size so I painted it black and then decoupaged the postcards on the canvas with Mod Podge.  After it was dry, I added another coat of Mod Podge over the entire canvas, including the postcards.  I wasn't sure if the inks would run, but they didn't and my canvas turned out awesome! Can't wait to give it to them.

Send a Card to a Recovering Soldier

I've been using up some of my scraps leftover from Christmas projects for some simple Christmas cards.  I won't be using them this year since I plan on sending photo cards after our family vacation in Florida.  But I just heard about this wonderful idea to send cards to recovering soldiers so these will be sent off tomorrow.

Are you making, sending or writing out your Christmas cards now? Take the time to send a few extras to a recovering soldier.  Include a greeting and a thank you.  Send to:

A Recovering Soldier

c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center

6900 Georgia Ave. SW

Washington, DC 20307-5001

It will only take a few minutes of your time and a stamp to make someone's day.

Merry Christmas!