Monday, January 9, 2012

Back in Business!!!

Hi everyone,
I feel like this post has been a LONG time coming.  We have moved to Salem, are adjusting to life here, and now...my studio is unpacked, and I have classes on the schedule!!!  Very exciting!
The next couple of months classes are listed on the side, and I have a few photos of upcoming class projects to show you.

A project from the Reflections Stamp Class

Alcohol Ink Resist technique samples
One of the Alcohol Ink Resist class projects

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Card Patterns #113 and Layers of Color

This week Layers of Color is sponsoring a wonderful challenge blog called Card Patterns.  I had never heard of the Card Patterns blog until I saw it on the Layers of Color blog.  What a pleasant surprise.  They have wonderful sketches and a really great design team.  Here is the sketch for this week.


It's such a great sketch that I just had to participate in this challenge.


This is the card I made, you can click on the card to see the details a little better.  My fun little branch embellishment was created with twigs from my Nandina plant.  I added texture to some tissue paper using an embossing folder, then cut it into strips...wide ones and narrow ones.  I used the narrow ones to create the bow on top and the tiny little "flowers" on the branches, then I added a little bit of Vintage Glass Glitter to the tips of the branches for a little sparkle.  The texture on the paper in the background was created with a metal stencil.

Supplies:
White Card and Background: Ruche Cardstock - WorldWin
Wood Paper
Patterned Paper: Gabrielle 6x6 Paper Pad - BoBunny
Stamps: Acanthus Leaves and Sent With Love - Layers of Color
Ink: Pumice Stone Distress Ink - Ranger Industries
Large Damask Metal Stencil - Dreamweaver
Oriental Weave Embossing Folder - Cuttlebug
Labels Four Nestabilities Dies - Spellbinders
Cuttlebug Machine- ProvoCraft
Antique Silver Vintage Glass Glitter - Art Glitter
Lavender Tissue Paper
Gold Thread
Twigs
Nailheads

Thanks for stopping by!!!
Valonda

Monday, April 18, 2011

Schedule Change

The schedule for the April 30th classes is being changed a little.  We didn't receive the Reflections Stamp set in time to hold that class, so we will be rescheduling it for a different date.  Thanks for understanding.

However, since we had so many people sign up for the Garden Wall Stamp Class, we decided to replace the Reflections class with a second Garden Wall Stamp Class.  Good news for those of you who were put on the waiting list! :)  In honor of that class, here is a little sneak peek at one of the cards we will be making in that class.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Upcoming Classes

Hi everyone,
I know it's been a long time since I've checked in here. I've been having withdrawals from teaching classes, so I've decided to put a few on the schedule. Below you will find the info. and descriptions for each class. Looking forward to seeing you all again!
Alcohol Ink Basics Class
Date: Sat. April 30, 2011
Time: 10:00 am
Class Description: Come explore the wonderful world of Alcohol Inks. This introductory class will cover the basic techniques and information about Alcohol Ink. You will come away with a really good grasp of this product and how to get the most out of it. You will not only complete a fabulous technique tag reference tool, but will also create some fun cards and a great necklace!
Prerequisite: Beginners Workshop
Cost: $21
Garden Wall Stamp Class
featuring products by Layers of Color
Date: Sat. April 30, 2011
Time: 1:00 pm
Class Description: Celebrate spring with a collection of beautiful cards featuring the Garden Wall Frame stamp by Layers of Color, as well as other products by this wonderful company. This class will incorporate a wide variety of products and techniques, including: the new Distress Stains, Acrylic Paint, Alcohol Ink, masking and more. Each participant will receive a Garden Wall Frame stamp (included in the cost of the class).
Prerequisite: Beginners Workshop
Cost: $26
Reflections Stamp Class
featuring products by Tim Holtz
Date: Sat. April 30, 2011
Time: 4:00 pm
Class Description: This class features an awesome new stamp set from the mind of Tim Holtz...script background stamps that stamp backwards! These stamps are perfect for, well, some awesome applications, like stamp kissing, transfer techniques, and so much more. This class will be very technique driven, and we'll have a blast getting all turned around.
Prerequisite: Beginners Workshop
Cost: $25

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Hi there everyone,

I've been very neglectful of this blog and I apologize. Unfortunately that's not likely to change very soon. My husband and I are in the midst of a job change/move, so things are just a little crazy right now.

I will continue to keep this updated with any classes that I have scheduled. I will not be doing a whole lot of classes though until we get the whole moving thing figured out.

Just yesterday I finished packing up my craft room into boxes. It was a huge job, and I'm glad that part of packing is done for now. Anyway the work continues...

Blessings to each of you,
Valonda

Thursday, March 4, 2010

More Vintage Fun

I don't know what the deal is with me and the whole vintage thing right now, but I just can't help myself...Everything on this card was stamped using various colors of Adirondack Paint Dabbers. Stamps are: Wallpaper Background (Hero Arts), Cher Amie (Rubber Stamp Concepts), and Flourishes (Crafty Secrets). Just a bit of Silver Fine Vintage Glass Glitter (Art Institute) for some sparkle was all the embellishment it needed.

Vintage Cream

I've been loving vintage style designs lately. Maybe I'm feeling nostalgic...who knows? Anyway, this card was created using the current CPS sketch.
Supplies:
Cardstock - Cream Linen Weave
Stamps -
Shine On You verse (Stampendous)
Delicate Branches (Inkadinkado)
Ink-
VersaMark (Tsukineko)
The Essential Gluepad (Tsukineko)
Antique Linen Distress Ink (Ranger Industries)
Other -
Textile Texture Cuttlebug Embossing Folder (ProvoCraft)
Platinum Embossing Powder
Fawn Microfine Transparent Art Glitter (Art Institute Glitter)
Antique Linen Distress Stickles (Ranger Industries)
Flower (Prima)
Rhinestone

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Just a quick card to share...I realized I didn't have any congratulations cards in my stash right now so I figured it was time to make one.

Supplies:
Hero Arts Stamps -
Scattered Leaves Clear Stamp Set
Chinese Dolls Clear Stamp Set
Wallpaper Background
Woodgrain Pattern
Cardstock: Black, Orange, Aqua, Yellow, and Grey
VersaMark Ink
Charcoal Zing Embossing Powder (American Crafts)
Sunflower Die and Flower Bouquet Miniabilities Dies (Spellbinders)
Flower Punch (EK Success)
Everyday Greetings Die (ProvoCraft)
Black Pearls (KaiserCraft)
Matte Accents (Ranger Industries)

Wednesday, February 24, 2010


I made this card for two challenges...Hero Arts and CPS

Here is this weeks' CPS Sketch
This is my first time to participate in a CPS challenge, and I had lots of fun taking on the challenge.

Now about Hero Arts:
Hero Arts has a month-long theme challenge and this months' theme is Flowers & St. Patricks Day. I've incorporated the "flowers" theme two ways. The most obvious...the giant layered flower...lol. I stamped the background with VersaMark Ink using the Dots and Flowers background stamp by Hero Arts. I used a Willow Paint Dabber by Ranger Industries to stamp the leaf (from the Scattered Leaves set by Hero Arts).

The Scripture verse sentiment comes from one of my favorite sets of all time, Scripture Essentials 1 by Cornish Heritage Farms.

Just using this verse today has encouraged me, I hope reading it has done the same for you.
Blessings...

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Impression Obsession Challenge

The Impression Obsession Blog hosts ongoing challenges, and since the current challenge (Shades of Green) spoke to me I decided to participate. This card uses the Small Leaf Wreath and Accent Border stamps from Impression Obsessions' Alesa Baker Designs. I also added that super cute butterfly sticker from the Fabulous line by Chatter Box as well as some other stickers that I have had in my stash for quite some time. I used Bamboo Leaves Memento Ink for all of my stamping and to brayer over the piece that I used to mat the leaf wreath image.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Glittery Fun

Another project to share from my weekend away. You had to know that the glitter would make it into my weekend bag...everyone was thrilled to see it of course...
This is my favorite glitter of all, Microfine Art Glitter. This stuff is so fine and delicate that it ends up everywhere, which is not a problem for me, but not everyone likes to walk around shiny. Ok, seriously, if you have never worked with this glitter you really need to get your hands on some. I rarely use my regular ultrafine glitters anymore because every time I look through the different colors, the microfines are the ones that jump out at me...the ones that I LOVE. The colors I used on this project were: Elfin, Iris, Winter White, and Fawn. The stamp is Garden Dragonfly by Holly Berry House. I wish that all of you could see it in person, because pictures just don't do justice to the beauty of these glitters.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

First projects of the year!

Here it is...my very first project of the year! This one was dreamed up while I was driving from here to there one day, and I was just waiting for the right opportunity to give it a try. My opportunity came last weekend when I was privileged to go spend the weekend at the coast with some wonderfully talented friends. I can't even tell you how wonderful it was to have time to focus on creating some of those things that have been in my mind begging to be made...un-interrupted time...well...interrupted only by the occasional meal, snack or nap.

Anyway, for this project I stamped this Holly Berry House Medallion onto Ten Seconds Studios metal, then hand embossed portions of the design before cutting, layering it together, and sanding it to give it it's well-worn look. The background was created using a Fiskars Texture Plate and a Ten Seconds Studios mold. I have to say, I love Ten Seconds Studios more every time I use their products (and I used them a lot this weekend).

And now...my most anticipated project of the weekend. I have been planning to make a copper framed mirror for my sister for her birthday (hope she doesn't read this). So this was my chance. I antiqued the copper using Liver of Sulfer, then buffed, embossed, sanded, assembled...you get the idea. Three of the panels were embossed using Ten Seconds Studios molds, and the rest were embossed with Cuttlebug Embossing Folders. I love copper, and my sister loves it even more, so I am so excited to give this to her.

I have much more to share, but I have to re-photograph some of the items when the sun decides to shine again here in the Willamette Valley.