Ir-resist-able Art Backgrounds

The Paper Inspired Retreat is coming up quickly. One of the classes that I will be teaching at that retreat is Ir-resist-able Art Backgrounds. In that class we will be using Ranger Color Wash along with lots of other great stuff including(but not limited to) Leafing Pens, Heidi Swapp Masks, the Palette Gluepad, and Perfect Pearls. So today I got out my Ranger Color Wash dyes to play around with. As soon as I got this background piece finished I knew exactly which stamp set I wanted to use with it. Stampin' Cat Studio loaned me a new stamp set from Kodomo Inc. to try out, and the designs are just beautiful. After cutting up my background piece to make this card, I still have lots of beautiful paper left to make more projects. I love how the stamp that I decided to use matches their beautiful ribbon that I just happened to have. Clearly I love that particular design.

The Paper Inspired Retreat 2008

Flyers are made, information is being entered into the computer, we are on our way. I'm so excited about how the details of The Paper Inspired Retreat are being pulled together. The website should be ready for registrations to begin very soon. We have a great set of classes, and I can't wait to see who will be joining us for this awesome event. Mark your calendar, and check back to get all the details soon. I will let you know when the registration page is up and running. The only hard part for me is that I will not get to attend any of the other classes, since I will be teaching the whole time. We have some great vendors lined up, and a great team of instructors. I am privileged to be a part of this.
Yesterday was a really fun day. I have a group of friends that have been getting together regularly for a girls night out. The daddys take care of the kids, and we get to just go out and spend time together. Yesterday we went to see 27 Dresses. Somewhat cliche but a very cute movie...nice relaxing entertainment. Then we went out for dinner. It's just always so fun to spend time with these friends...completely unpretentious, you can just be yourself, say whatever you want to say without wondering if they are reading anything into it. I hope all of you are blessed enough to have friends like that. They are a real blessing in my life.

I took a little break in all of my planning and scheduling today to PLAY a little. I have been wanting to play around with some background techniques. I have a little more tweaking to do before I am completely happy with this, but I had lots of fun playing. I used Ranger Color Wash, Heidi Swapp Masks, Leafing Pens, the Palette Stamp and Stick Gluepad, Gold Leafing, adhesive mesh, Perfect Pearls, and Mini Misters. With that selection, it's hard to go wrong. When I finished creating my background, I immediately thought of a flower I made a couple years ago that I've been needing a great background for...and it matched beautifully. If only I had time to play all day.

It has been so cold lately, I've been waiting for some snow, but so far nothing. My in-laws had snow at their house in Albany (just an hour and a half away). My husband thinks it will snow on Sunday when he is playing in a sand volleyball league...brrr.

Well, I received the email yesterday that I made the cut, and will get to be a part of the Stampin' Cat Studio design team. It should be lots of fun. I can't wait to get my hands on some fun products and start creating. Stampin' Cat Studio is a great store, and I love Lisa (the owner). In fact, a couple weeks ago I declared my own "celebrate Lisa" day. She has done so much to help me gain confidence teaching classes, and has given me great opportunities. And although I have SO much more to learn, I have already learned a lot from her about the industry in general, and various companies. I am excited that Stampin' Cat Studio will be one of the store sponsors for our The Paper Inspired Retreat coming up in May. So Lisa, here's to you...you're amazing...don't let it go to your head (teasing).

By the way, if you haven't seen it yet, Tim Holtz just put some really neat new videos on his blog. The new videos highlight his new Fragments, Design Ruler, and Texture Hammer. To visit his blog, you can click on the link down to the left. As usual great videos, and even better products. In fact, maybe tommorrow I'll make something with the Texture Hammer and put it on here. To many cool tools...to little time to play. I'll have to remedy that (and I don't mean by getting rid of tools).

Ok everyone, as we speak, ok, as I write, my husband is out in the garage making more mini mister holders. Some of them will be going to Stampin' Cat Studio, but there may be a couple left. If you are interested, just leave me a comment with your email address, or email me personally (valonda1@juno.com).

The Paper Inspired Retreat

I am so excited...I couldn't hold back anymore. Plans are in the works for a really fun event, and I get to be a part of it! Mother's Day Weekend, May 8-10, Drift Creek Camp in Lincoln City, OR will be hosting an awesome retreat. I can't give all the details yet, but there will be classes, time to relax, create, and learn...and all in a beautiful atmosphere. I wish I could give you more of the details now because I'm bursting with excitement, but as things are put into place I will give you details. I'll just mention the name, Brenda Broadbent...a very talented lady, who will be there. Ok...that's it for now, more to come later.

Have you ever painted with Alcohol Inks? The image to the right was painted on vellum with Alcohol Inks, and mounted on mirrored cardstock to add a luminous background.


This is a really random, scattered post, but so goes my life I guess. I am currently reading an amazing book, by an amazing man. The book, To Small to Ignore, is by Dr. Wes Stafford, the president and CEO of Compassion International. I am only a little way into it, but I think it is a very special and powerful book. I encourage you to check it out sometime. Ok that's enough of my random ramblings for now.

May your day be blessed!