words

welcoming summer

not the season...no matter how much i wish for it...winter seems to be here for a bit longer!! so instead we are welcoming summer...our new pup...okay not so much a pup...she's 3...but she's adorable!!! she's a weimaraner and we stole her from my sister :D ( with her consent of course, lol!!).

oakley and her are fab friends already and the rest of the family...well, we love her!!!

she thinks she's a lap dog...she's not big...but not lap dog size that's for sure, lol!!

also...i have a new blog, the inked barn, dedicated to my classes so make sure you bookmark it ;)!!!

off to get some errands done!
have a fabulous day!

love...

my first online class is a fun little way to spread and celebrate a little love!!! i created a little wall hanging using some of my current favourite product and it's become an adorable little wall decor piece in my home! and while valentines was my inspiration for this project...it's an easily adaptable project to be done anytime of the year as a way to celebrate someone you love and kept or given away as a gift!

so the details!!!
this is an online class and the cost is $10.00 CAD...taken at your own leisure in the comfort of your own home!!! this class is designed to share an idea, some techniques and fun use of product! if you are interested in taking part in this class please email me (email link under my profile photo on top left side of my blog) and i will send you an invoice for payment and the link to register in the online classroom.

as a fun way to launch my first class...i will have some giveaways and a bonus project offered to the first 12 people who register!!!

have a fabulous weekend!!

class things...

so some of you are wondering what is going on with my classroom. *sigh*. i was forced to give up the idea of turning our guest house (and by guest house i mean once car garage that was built never to be a garage but a rental unit by the previous owners) into a classroom. i got as far as having the floors ripped up...and while jay was to deal with the construction part...i was off picking out paint and things to make it all pretty...when, alas...i get the sad information that the building structure isn't worth the amount of reno's it would require to turn it into a classroom. the building was built poorly ( the walls were a mess and QUITE crooked)...the electrical was a nightmare...and the bathroom had to ripped out and redone...so short version...it was more efficient to tear it down and build it new....*sigh*

so why? if you are going to build something...would you not go doing so in the correct way?? and the fact that prior to our purchasing the house...someone was living there!!!! so needless to say, plans are in effect to tear it down this spring and add to our garden space and build a new, smaller structure to serve as a shop/garden shed.bye-bye classroom!

but i am not giving up on teaching completely independantly...while i enjoy teaching at the LSS...i am looking for more freedom with what and how i teach...i am limited in what i can teach by product they carry and they don't carry some of my favourite manufacturers as well as not being able to use vintage product and i am limited by their procedures.

so i have a few ideas...online classes or find a space that suits teaching classes out of or BOTH :D!!!

i was asked about online classes, but wasn't sure how to go about it...but i have found a great way to set up an online classroom.

i am checking into some local spaces that i could rent and will have to weigh out all the logistics of that.

either way...i have not given up...yet, lol!!! and will keep you posted about how things progress! keep your fingers crossed and wish me luck!!!

to do.

ap so to do....finish my home is where the heart is accordian album class project, finish delainey's halloween costume...she's a fairy princess this year, finish paperwork for accordian album class, make cupckaes for a halloween party the kids are going to this weekend, find a pirate-y looking shirt for dakota, finishing touches on haillee's cat costume,teach a class tonight, hit micheal's to get candy melts for above cupcake project, go to halloween party, OLW CT decisions ( dude that's going to be tough!!), and i have some letter writing to do....wow!!

home is where the heart is accordian album project (november 21st at scrapbooker's paradise)

nearing the end of delainey's fairy princess costume...need to stitch the trim on and do my hem...

old fashioned christmas project class (december 6th at scrapbooker's paradise)...there is a christmas banner to go with this class too...but i have misplaced my photo for it, lol... so off to get cracking on the rest of that list!!!

teaching

i love it!! and i am so happy to be doing it again!! tomrorow, friday, i am teaching this cute class at scrapbooker's paradise...

i am excited about it...my first class in months!! and i got a couple more for the holiday season!!! those i am extremely excited about!!! (and sorry about the not very creative photo of my project, lol...i had one... but it was lost with all my other photo's that i lost...and i had to take this at the store yesterday...lol). this was such a fun project to make...came across the idea in scrapbook and cards...and so had to make my own!!!

just quickly

the inked barn has been updated!!!

guess what??

i did it!!! i finally did it!!! i have my first class scheduled!!! finishing touches to the classroom are in the works, i have put in my first wholesale order, and my class is up on the inked barn with all information!!!

here's a sneak...wanna see the rest....go here!!!

no...

i am not really back...just wanted to let my faithful, local blog ( and not so local!!!!) readers know that the inked barn blog has been updated with some exciting news!!!

WORD UP!!!!

so it's wednesday and you know what every other wednesday brings don't you??? you got it...a new word over at OLW!!! our sponsor this week is extremely unique...papier valise...man, Janice's stuff is fabulous...all vintage!!! on top of using her product i also finally got a chance to dip into one of my scarlet lime kits!!! the  november scarlet lime kit has this fabulous wrapping paper in it with fairies...i love anything whimsical!!so here is my take on this weeks word!!

delainey is going to be 2 in a couple of weeks so it was nice to finally scrap her first birthday!!

and in other news...our housewarming was a smash!!! it was so fun!!! do you think i remembered to take my camera out?? nope...too busy hostessing (is that word??? it totally is now, LOL!!) so i am at the mercy of waiting on other people to send me photos...janine?? trisha?? yup, that's your very blatent hint, lol!! the picture above is my one and lonely picture of my housewarming...i took it before the party started...had to..i made the wine charms...aren't they cute?? they each have a different inspiration word on it!!

okay..teaching stuff!!! i taught a class the other night...my little book of friends paper bag album. i promised the ladies i would it up on my blog yesterday...but, alas...i didn't have a chance!! i have to take pictures of all the inside pages...so you will have to forgive me...but it will be a couple of days yet...the book is still at the LSS as i am teaching a second class on it!!

wanna hear some other good news regarding my teaching?? well i just found out yesterday that my application for my business license was approved by the board...so they have put an add in the local paper stating my intent and a public notice sign goes up in my yard this week...and about a week and a half to 2 weeks i should know if they will let me open my doors to...The Inked Barn; where scrapbooking meets art!!! I am so excited...i am almost through the motions and as soon as i get the okay i can plan out my classes get my product and open my classroom to all my local gals!!! keep your fingers crossed and stayed tuned!!! i will be setting up a separate blog for my classroom...somewhere you can go to check a calendar for what is up and coming!!

tids and bits

so friday is here...wow!!! i can't believe how quickly christmas is creeping up...and yes I said the word!!! christmas!!! do ya'll have a defining moment in the year where it starts the very fast downhill slide to christmas day?? for us this year it starts with our housewarming party next weekend!!! than we go into jay's and mine un-20th birthdays...yup, both of us are turning 30 this year...actually the same weekend as our housewarming....LOL!!

my mom and i are getting together the last week of november to do a bake day...we are going to be making cookies and squares and what nots by the dozens to stick in the freezer and pull out as needed through out the christmas season!!

jay's christmas party is the first weekend of december followed by dakota and delainey's birthdays, and somewhere in all that I have a couple of classes to teach at the LSS. and ya'll know what goes on in between that right?? homemade christmas cards, christmas shopping, visiting, decorating...it is endless!!! my nephew is coming down to spend christmas with us this year...so he gets to participate in our yearly traditions...skating on the ponds, scoping out christmas lights, and this year we have booked a horse drawn wagon ride...so you see endless...and before you know christmas day is here!!! my absolute favourite time of the year!!! crazy, chaotic, beautiful, magical, and full of love and family and friends!!!

so with today brings another sketch challenge at Lotus Paperie...challenge #46...and this sketch made me instantly think of a cover for a mini album...so that is what i used it for!! I used this weeks sketch for inspiration and created a mini album that documented one day in our life...it was fun...so go check it out...and don't forget about my RAK!!! you have until sunday to complete last week's challenge. for the rest of the details go here.
now here is how my mini turned out...

and if you want to see the pages inside...you will have to go and check out lotus paperie!! i know...evil...it's okay...you can say it out loud...i fully embrace the darker side inside!!! LOL!!!

and last little bit for the day...i taught my cookie sheet advent calendar last night...the class was so much fun!!! i love the ladies who take my class....regulars and newbies!!! we always have so much fun!! one lady in particular i love!!! she is always so supportive of what i do...she is also probably my biggest form of advertisement and i thank you muchly for that!!! so i promised the ladies i would post a picture and make sure it is in my gallery to use as a reference.

a quick recap of the instructions...just cuz i love ya!!!
(i believe this is a 10.5 by 17 size cookie sheet...if you are using a smaller or larger one you will have to adapt the measurements)

*drill 2 holes at the top of the cookie sheet on the lip to tie ribbon through to hang it.
*cut one sheet of pattern paper to 10.5x6 and on both halves tear one long edge. ink the torn edges if you like. on both pieces, using a large corner rounder, round the 4 corners opposite the torn edge
*cut a second sheet of pattern paper to 12x10.5
* randomly stamp along the side edges of all the papers (optional)
*adhere the 10.5x12 sheet of paper to the middle of the backside of the cookie sheet
*adhere one of the 10.5x6 pieces torn side to the middle to the top of the cookie sheet, it will overlap the first piece already adhered
*adhere the other 10.5x6 piece to the bottom of the cookie sheet torn edge to the middle
*to create your month banner cut another pattern paper to a 9.5x2.5 size adhere to somewhere in the top area of your cookie sheet.
*cut a 9x2 piece of cardstock, stamp your month on it and stamp around the edges randomly. using pop dots adhere this to your already adhered matte.
*on cardstock stamp out your days of the week with small letter stamps and cut out by hand in small rectangles. adhere to the cookie sheet below the month banner using pop dots
* out of a varying mix of pattern papers cut your days of the month, making each square 1.5x1.25. i adhered these to a sheet of adhesive backed magnet and than cut them out. this makes the calendar perpetual every december as you can arrange the days to fit the year. if you adhere your month to a sheet of magnet you can also make the entire calendar perpetual, you just have to make the rest of the months!!
*if you like you can paint the edges of the cookie sheet
*apply alcohol ink randomly to the surface and edges of the calendar to age it
*embellish as desired
*by using the backside of the sheet you can use the front (where you would bake the cookies) to store the extra days and months if you make it perpetual...or like me...store the days here and each day one of my children will add a day to the calendar to count down for christmas.

you can find more ideas on making one these here

okay...i am done with this long novel of a post...hope you enjoyed and if you make a calendar...let  me see it!!!O wait!!! just letting you know...i submitted my application to the town for opening my classroom...i should know in about 2 weeks if they will give me a business license!!! so keep your fingers crossed and hopefully soon i will be opening the doors to the Inked Barn!!!

have a fabulous night....ciao!!!