Sunflowers and butterflies

I decided to go with a simple die cut design for the image panel on the final card for class. This sunflower paper is fabulous (on both sides) but it's a very busy pattern and everything else I tried was getting lost in the background. I realized after I uploaded this photo that I didn't ink any of the edges ( I can here your shocked gasp from here...lol) I also may add another element on the lower right corner of the green paper OR a matching diamond shaped panel on the inside which will sit directly under the butterfly panel (if I glue it down straight....) Z fold cards make great gift card holders if you make a pocket behind the front panel. All you need is some narrow scor tape..... bring some to class and I'll show you how! You'll also need your white gel pen, bone folder and dimensionals (foam dots) If you have a brown distress ink and applicator, bring it along too.

E-Z fold cards (as in easy!)

I made a Z fold card for my friend's birthday last week and I really liked the way it turned out so I decided to go with the flow and make all three class cards using a Z- fold pattern. All three cards show off both sides of the beautiful patterned paper, which is a bonus as I always hate gluing a pretty pattern face down don't you? I'm still working on number 3, but I have the base done so here's a sneak peek and I'll upload the finished piece later tomorrow.

Fabulous Penny Black card samples

While I was at CHA in July, I ordered a Penny Black Christmas board set and it just arrived today. I chose this display because of the non traditional colours and because several of the stamps and stamp sets included could be used for other occasions. If you are anything like me, you find it hard to resist buying Christmas stamps, but feel like you can only use them so many times for friends and family cards. The stamps that arrived today, (some of which were used on these samples) are a bit more versatile than many other Christmas sets and I'm so inspired by these samples, that I can hardly wait to try them out. I only ordered  a few of each so far, so be sure to stop in soon and see if you can resist snapping up these beauties. Don't worry if they are gone before you get here...I can order more, and there are still ALMOST 19 weeks until Christmas! Yikes!

A new video from Tim Holtz

Pour yourself a nice beverage and enjoy all the great ideas Tim shares in his latest video. If I don't currently have the products he uses here, they are on order. Let me know if you're interested!

So proud!

Just a quick post to share a few photos of my nephew Michael's commissioning at Sandhurst last Friday. The top picture was taken at the parade, the centre one is (L to R ) my brother-in-law Roy, Michael's fiance Charlotte (also commissioned as an officer that day), yours truly, second lieutenant Michael James Pennington, and his sister, my niece Charlotte (yes...two Charlottes just to add to the general confusion...LOL. The last one of Michael and Charlotte was taken just before the ball. they had to wear their "mess kits" for the ball....doesn't look too messy to me!

It was a wonderful celebration and I'm so grateful to have been with them on such a special occasion. I know my sister Joan was smiling down with pride throughout the day and she had the best view possible.

Now to get back to reality...it may take a few days so bear with me folks!

Karen to the rescue!

I was so happy to see Karen walk into the store this morning. She's been on vacation and not only have  I missed her smiling face and sense of humour, but I needed to ask her if she would teach a card class when I get back from England. I knew I wouldn't get around to doing samples this week and I was right! I didn't even upload a photo of the third card from the last class!!!! If there was an Olympic event in procrastination I'd definitely walk away with a gold medal...LOL! Anyway,  Karen said yes (insert happy dance:)) and the samples shown here are all her designs, but we will probably tweak them a bit...changing colours, patterned paper, sentiments etc. for the class.

I will be flying out on Sunday and returning on Tuesday August 14th. The store will be closed other than Saturday the 11th, when Danielle will be here. If you would like to call on that day to book your class, please call her between 10 and 4 pm, or if you already know when you would like to attend give me a call today or tomorrow. Thanks and have a wonderful week:)