Holiday Classes

Christmas is coming before you know it, and it's time for some fun holiday classes.

Winter Foliage Class

These cards are part of the new Winter Foliage class (times/locations listed on the sidebar) featuring a wonderful collection of winter images by Penny Black.

 Winter Berries, Christmas Cheer

A Splash of Winter, Christmas Story, and Christmas Cheer

Shades of White Class

This next image is from the Shades of White Class...a whole class incorporating texture, shine, and lots of subtle details to create a wonderful whitewashed winter wonderland.
You have to see this class sample board in person.  I encourage you to head down one of the stores and check it out.  The first class is full already, but I have scheduled additional classes.

 Delicate Pattern

See you there...

Glitter Me Up Class

 Every now and then I just can't help myself.  I have to get into the glitter.  This Glitter Me Up class is a study in various kinds of glitter, and various ways to adhere that glitter to your project.  Some the the projects have a subtle sparkle to them (like this one), and some will dazzle the eyes, but all of them will leave your sparkle-loving soul sighing with satisfaction.  (Too cheesy?  I know, but I don't care.)

This card was created using a variety of stamps by Penny Black.  

Circle Pattern background

Fanciful

Free Flight

and

Gratitude

Here is a close-up so you can see the sparkle a little bit better.

The sparkle on this one comes from Tim Holtz Clear Rock Candy Dry Distress Stickles by Ranger.
You probably can't tell from this picture, but the black part of the butterfly is fuzzy black flocking.  Why?  It just makes me happy. :)

More Penny Black

The second class in the Floral Frenzy series is coming soon!  This fun card was created using the Mixed Media stamp by Penny Black, and some wonderful glitter.

Offered on 

August 7th at Stampin' Cat Studio at 2pm and at 6pm

and

August 17th at Main Street Stamp and Stationary at 10am 

Floral Frenzy Classes

Here is a little sneak peek at a project from the first class in the Floral Frenzy series, featuring floral images by Penny Black.

Penny Black has so many wonderful floral images...some that have been around for awhile, and some that are brand new...and I am sooo excited to bring this series of classes to Stampin' Cat Studio.

This card features some really wonderful stamps that I was so excited to introduce to my inkpads:
Awakening

Circle Pattern

Puzzle Parts

The sentiment is from the Sentimental Banners set by Layers of Color.

Spellbinders dies:

Labels Four

Ribbon Banners

Inks by Ranger.

New Classes

New class boards are up at Stampin' Cat now.  The 10am class on March 17th is the Distress Markers class.
Love, love, love the new Distress Markers, they are so much fun to work with.  We are going to make a wonderful technique sample book, and also make a beautiful card to take home with you.

In the 1pm spot I have the Clean and Simple Cards class.  This class is focused on learning to utilize basic design principles in cardmaking.  We will make 5 cards, and discuss many different keys to good design.

 4pm...We end the day with the With One Fabulous Stamp class.  In this class we will explore 5 different ways to use the Tapestry Script  background stamp (which was created in a collaborative effort between Basic Grey and Hero Arts).  The stamp is included in the price of the class.

And now...a picture from the Reflections stamp class held on on Leap Day.  We had so much fun with this technique, I just had to let these ladies show you their beautiful work.

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.

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

This laid back Valentine card is going to be a part of the Be My Valentine card class to be held at Scrap-a-Latte next month.

This card began with the LOVE squares in the center. These are from a stamp set by Magenta called Floral Love. I've chosen to do one of my favorite techniques for vintage style stamps, the Shabby Chic technique. I started with dark brown paper, stamped and embossed with clear ink and powder, painted with the Pebble Adirondack Paint Dabber, then wiped the paint off of the embossed areas with a damp paper towel.

The background was created with the Butterfly Bliss stamp set by Impression Obsession. I stamped the swirly pattern with VersaMark Ink then stamped the butterflies with paint.
When I had finally done that much I was stumped. I just sat there and stared at it waiting for inspiration to come. I finally ended up coming back to my favorite standby embellishments...Maya Roads Metal Blossoms and Kaisercraft pearls. With my love for classic and vintagy (is that a word???) things it seems like those embellishments show up alot.

Speaking of loving Maya Road, check out some of the new items that will be coming out soon!
www.mayaroad.typepad.com/mayaroad
Wow! Loving it...can't wait to get my hands on some of those vintage leaf pins!

Check back tomorrow for more Valentine designs.
(Yes, I'm actually going to post two days in a row.)

More fun classes

Saturday was an awesome day of full classes at Stampin' Cat Studio. Including the first ever Crafty Secrets Bird Lovers Class, which went really well, and was actually over full. If you were hoping to attend that class and couldn't make it, don't worry, we will put it on the schedule again. One of the highlights of my day was meeting the sweet lady in the red shirt in the picture above. We had already gotten part way into the class when she mentioned where she was from, and all of a sudden I realized that this was the Tanya that I had been exchanging emails with...laughter and hugs followed. I love this industry!

I'm so excited! Guess what I get to do this week? Ok, I'll tell you. I get to spend my week at a middle school camp making cards and albums with 6 - 8th graders, and teaching them how to use Distress Ink and Alcohol Ink. I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am about this. Call me crazy, but I love middle schoolers, and I love watching them experiment and try new artsy things. Middle schoolers are so willing to just try things and see how it goes. It's so fun to see what they come up with. Anyway, I'll be out in the woods enjoying nature, and of course, will be without computer access, so...have a great week everyone...until next time,

New Class Pics

This is one of 4 cards we will be making in the Hero Art Thanks Phrase CardArt class coming up in August. The stamp will be included in the class fee, and we will learn some great techniques, as well as a variety of ways to use this wonderful stamp.
AND...here are more glimpses of the fun you can have in the Ir-resist-able Art Backgrounds class. This photo shows just a small portion of a couple of papers I made using the techniques and supplies we will be using in this class. I promise to supply loads of inky, messy fun! As well as some great ideas of ways to incorporate these spectacular papers into your projects.

Well, I guess "summer" has hit. Yesterday was Hannahs last day of Kindergarten. She's ready to go buy a new backpack and start first grade. She has no real concept of "summer break". It could be a long summer. Luckily we have some excitement to break up the length of summer...harvest. The kids always love being with their grandma and grandpa on the farm during harvest time. I love it too. The smell of grass seed harvest will always bring back lots of memories for me since I grew up on a grass seed farm too. And guess what, the end of the school year brought a pleasant surprise with it...warmer weather. The next five days or so are supposed to be in the mid 70's. Just perfect!

A whole day of Alcohol Inks

Yesterday was a really fun day. A whole day of Alcohol Ink Classes, and some of these ladies were in it with me for the long haul. Some of them had never worked with Alcohol Ink before, and I must say, they did an amazing job.
This is a bookmark we made using a drip technique. I just think it's so neat how everyones end project is their own unique design, it can never be exactly duplicated, and the colors are just vibrant and beautiful. It was a really fun, inspirational bunch of ladies, and we had a great day together. So thanks ladies!

Crafty Secrets Bird Lovers Class

This is a brand new class that will be held for the first time at Stampin' Cat Studio, June 28th. This little birdhouse is made mostly with products from Crafty Secrets (thus the name of the class, LOL). Embellished with a few products from Maya Road, including my favorite metal blossoms. And of course, we will be using Ranger Industries Distress Products also. It's adorable from the outside, but the inside is where the fun really begins. The inside houses some great tags we will make, complete with interchangeable sentiments. Cute and functional, you can't get any better than that. If you live in the area, go check out the sample in person, at Stampin' Cat.

On top of making a really fun project, you get tons of great product to take home with you. Including the Bird Lovers Large Clear Stamp set, a set of Birds & Botanicals Images and Journal Notes, half a pad of the beautiful double-sided cardstock in the Earthy Paper Pad, the great Chipboard Folding House set, and a sheet of Feathered Friends Cotton Scraps. You will have TONS of product left over for future projects.

Are You Sure It's April???

So, I woke up this morning and opened the door to head to Portland and teach classes, and look what greeted me. Maybe to some of you this isn't that unusual, but in Oregon, in April...What in the world? This is crazy! Anyway, I headed to The Peddler's Pack with beautiful snow falling for a GREAT day of classes. These ladies are enjoying the Texture Tiles Sampler Class...they look very focused, don't they. You can't tell very well from the picture how big that pile of class instructions is, but in a four hour class there is alot to tell. Now this is what I LOVE to see!!! A happy, smiling face, and inky, messy fingers. Aren't they beautiful!?! Yes, I mean the faces, and the projects. What a great bunch of ladies! If you scroll up to the top of these class photos, look for the lovely lady in the red shirt...that's Michele. Bless her heart, Michele stayed between classes and helped me clean up from the first class and get things out for the next. I owe her big time. Thanks Michele, and thanks to each of you ladies, it was a joy to spend the day with you.

Today has been a beautiful, fun day. It started out with one of my favorite things...church. I got to play the keyboard and sing with our worship team today. This mornings' worship service was just one of those sweet, beautiful times that I wish would last forever.

After church I went to a friends house for lunch and to help her with a little project. Every now and then we help go through each others closets, and do kind of a "What Not to Wear" thing. Everything that doesn't fit well anymore, is worn out, or out of date, or hasn't been worn in the last year goes. It is so freeing. And sometimes we have unhealthy emotional attachments to our clothing, and just need someone else to say, "What are you thinking?" Now that both of our closets have been purged it's time for a little shopping, isn't it?

Thank you to each of you who have visited my blog in the last couple of days, especially those who have left comments. It has been fun to have some extra traffic around the blog. A special welcome to those visiting from the Ranger Ink Link and from the link on Lauren Ferguson's blog. If you have a blog too, and leave me a link in the comment section I will come visit your blog.

I had a great time with my class yesterday. It was a jam packed class, both in terms of participants, and the amount we got accomplished. We did 6 cards with various Fluid Chalk Ink techniques in our two hour class. It was a lot to fit in, but these ladies were so great. We had a really fun time.

One little change in upcoming classes. I had a Paste Embossing Class scheduled for April 5th, but I was going to be using Ranger Memory Glass Frames for one of the projects, and we are not sure that we will be able to get them in time for the class, so we will reschedule that class for a later date. We will be replacing that class with a new class, The Art of Microfine Glitter. The class will include the Wildflower Microfine Transparent Glitter set by Art Institute. We will be working with many different products and techniques. This is a really fun class, and I am thrilled to be offering it with a Microfine glitter set this time.

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.

Classes are finalized!

I have met with all of the stores that I will be working with for the first part of this year, and I am scheduled up through April now. You can see the scheduled classes in the lefthand column. Contact stores directly if you would like to sign up for one of the classes. Working with these additional stores is going to be a fun adventure, and I am looking forward to meeting lots of new people during the coming months.

The card I've included to the left includes the same stamp set that I used on my scrapbook page in the last blog entry. I just LOVE these Crillon sets by Li'l Davis. This card is included in the Relief/Resist Images Class that I have scheduled on March 15th at The Peddler's Pack in Beaverton.

I had such a great time with my daughter today. Hannah LOVES to write and draw, so today I helped her learn how to write a "report" on some of her books. She started with the title at the top, then would find each character in the book, write their name, and draw a picture of them. She has so much patience for projects like that, and I thought she did a great job.

Blessings to each of you,
Valonda

A very busy weekend is almost over. It has been the best kind of busy though. On Saturday I got to teach my Texture Tiles Class for the first time. This was the first time I've ever taught a class this long, and I think it went pretty well. I did go home and write a couple pages worth of notes for next time though. Now I can't wait to teach it again! I also had an Intro to Alcohol Ink Class, and as usual the Alcohol Ink Class was tons of fun. What a great bunch of ladies! I enjoyed having a mother/daughter combo in each class, it is so neat seeing family enjoying art together. It is SO fun watching what everyone comes up with. Every piece of art is completely individual...I just LOVE it.

Friday was my son's 2nd birthday. I can't believe he's two already. It doesn't seem like it was that long ago that we were in the hospital waiting for the doctors to tell us that Noah had grown enough to be born. He 4 lb. 5 oz., and healthy enough that he only had to stay in the Neonatal ICU for a week and a half. You would certainly never know it now. It is interesting though...you always hear about the terrible twos, and I don't believe that, but it just so happens that every day since his birthday has included a temper tantrum just as we were about to head out the door to go somewhere. This is pretty unusual for him, and I must say, I hope he gets over it quickly.
Now I get to go relax with my family and eat the ice cream my husband brought home for me...yeah!

Coming up for air (gulp)

Hi everyone,
I have been so busy lately that I have neglected to write, so it's time to take a little break.
I have been busy getting ready for an awesome new class this weekend, the Texture Tiles Sampler Class. I can't say how excited I am to get this one going. This is a 4 hour long class packed full of information and hands on fun. Of course with this being my first time teaching this class, I want to make sure everything is perfect. For me, that means lots of lists, checking and double checking my supplies, and going over the order and events of the class in my mind enough times that I think I have anticipated every (or almost every) possible glitch. This makes it sound like lots of work, but it's the kind of work that I love.
I didn't have any new photos I wanted to share today, so I am sharing a card from my Adirondack Paint Dabbers Class. I really love this card. The image is from the Chere Amie set by Rubber Stamp Concepts.
Enjoy...