Creative Retreat Winter 2014

This month I am taking a new class with May Flaum and 9 crafty guest instructors. I've participated in a few of her Creative Retreat classes in the past, but this is the first one she has launched off of her new site  craftwithmay.com so I am even more excited. Guest host Riikka Kovasin did a tutorial on mists and fun ways to use them. I was completely moved and inspired by her video. There was such an energy to it that made me rush right up to my scrap room and get working. I have never created a page with no plan and such free abandonment. It was awesome! This is hands down the most fun layout I have ever made.

NYC Mini Album

I've been working on a mini album of a work trip to NYC for quite some time now. The goal was to have 20 pages, but I ended up with 14. This is an example of where I did not have the best pictures in the world and was still able to make them look pretty and tell the story. Here are a few examples.

 This was taken out of the backseat of my car as we navigated through the snowstorm trying to make it to the train station on time. I used a vintage train schedule paper and a transparent overlay with clocks. We ended up missing the train.

 Love Tom Colicchio. Loved Craft. So delicious.

 

Scenes from NYC

Amazing January sunsets every night.

Watermelon Birthday Party

For my daughter's baptism and first birthday I decided to throw a watermelon themed party. Watermelon is her favorite food so I thought it would be cute and the hot pink and bright green color combo is so much fun. Here are some details from the day!

                                                         Birthday banner detail pic

 

Banner hung on mantle - so bummed this is the only picture I got and the lighting is horrible.

                          Mason jar "place cards"/ adult favors filled with watermelon taffy and hard candy

                          Bucket favors for the kids including watermelon glasses and twirly straws

The most amazing birthday cake

 

Watermelon and "one" shaped sugar cookies that my mom made!

Pumpkin Birthday Banner

Every year I offer to help my friend out with decorations for her girls' birthday parties. This year her daughter who is turning two is getting a fall/pumpkin themed event. She asked if it was possible to make a banner shaped liked pumpkins. I had never done it before, so I was excited to go outside my comfort zone. I'm really happy with the way it turned out.

Thank You Card

A friend of mine who was once an avid Stampin Up girl decided it was time to downsize her inventory as she is looking to quit crafting. :(  I purchased some ink pads from her and since she knows how much I love paper, she threw in several packages of unopened SU cardstock and spools of ribbon. I still can't believe she just gave it away, but she wanted it to go to someone who would appreciate it. I took her out to dinner and made her a card from some of the supplies she gave me.

The "Magician" Card

This Amuse Magician stamp is one of my all time favorites. He has a very uncanny resemblance to a certain Hogwarts wizard. So without saying this is Harry Potter, this is Harry Potter! Made this card for a big HP fan. Coloring was done with Copic Markers.

8x8: Fishing

There is something mystical about the early morning fog on the Lake. Unfortunately, it does not mean you are going to catch anything. I snapped this picture of a hopeful fisherman pulling up a whole lot of seaweed.

The highlight of this page is the paint sample card - the first paint name reads "Quietude" which sums up this scene perfectly.