Christmas Designing Begins!

"School's out -- FOR SUMMER!" --- Luv that song, don't you? I guess I'm showing my age a bit -- heeheehee. But nonetheless, my spring class load took me for a spin! Any stamping that got done was done in my monthly club, and I didn't do much of the designing! My two wonderful downline stamping friends share the monthly club with me. We each take one month each quarter. It sure makes it more manageable -- with all of our resources and our joint efforts in building the club, we are up to about 11 stampers each month (when I'm not demonstrating, I am one of those 11 stampers). It is a lot of fun, and it sure makes it possible for me to be able to continue a club during the crazy teaching months like I had these last three months!

Now that my summer is beginning, and all my grades are turned in, I was able to design two cards this weekend! I am participating in a long-distance swap. These cards that I made this weekend will be mailed out next week. I will then receive about 25 cards in the mail around the middle of June. Each one will be made using the NEW products that we are about to receive with the 2012 Stampin' Up Catalog! (I love love love our new catalog!)

Today I will show you Card #1, my very first Christmas card design for this year.  For fun I thought I would try making a hinged card! I was going for a Christmas Ornament --

NOTE: We will be making this card during my June Girls' Night Out Event -- 

see my Events Calendar for more details! 

The base of the card is on Natural White (a nice heavy card stock). The top scallop circle is Garden Green. The doily is made with Very Vanilla, and the rosette was made with a sheet from the new Be of Good Cheer DSP that will be available come June 1. The rosette is then covered with a stamped image from a set (Chock-Full of Cheer) -- and the sentiment inside -- that will also be available June 1. And if you cannot already tell, I used my handy-dandy Big Shot by Sizzix to cut out those scalloped circles, doily and rosette. It made this card so easy to prepare -- although I have to admit, I'm not so sure about the rosette die. I'm still struggling with keeping my cuts straight.

I'm so looking forward to placing my first order in June! There are SO many new products that I am looking forward to playing with! Yippee!!

Thanks for stopping in today! Hopefully I will be posting a bit more regularly over the summer!

~Lisa

Digital Artwork

I decided to start working with the My Digital Studio software.

My goal was to create a shabby chic print for framing. 

We saw some similar prints when we were in Solvang, CA last week.

 

Once I figure out what I am doing with this software I will schedule a couple of classes.

This is amazing software! Quite versatile.

Thanks for stopping in today!

~Lisa

Happy New Year from SoCal

Nothing screams Happy New Year like a Southern California day at the beach in 75 degree weather! What a gorgeous week we have had!

My husband has taken up painting -- he used to be a painter of  houses (interior and exterior). Now he is painting landscapes. He is teaching himself by watching a wonderful show by Jerry Yarnell. It cracks me up; if you knew my husband you would know why. He is the "man's-man" if there ever was one! He is very traditional, very hard working, very mechanical and very logical. Yet he has discovered a love for painting. It relaxes him, and he really needed this outlet. So we have decided to take one day-trip a month with the sole purpose of taking photographs of places or things that he might want to paint. He gets to find wonderful subject matter; I get to enjoy a wonderful day visiting some place new. It is a win-win as far as I am concerned.

I was in charge of the camera today. This close up of the water was my favorite. I ended up taking 35 photos. I wonder which will be chosen for the canvas? I will keep you posted! If he lets me, I'll post one of his completed paintings. He really is getting very good.

Since I spent time in the sunshine today, I didn't stamp. Everyone goes back to work and school tomorrow, but I have a couple additional days off. I'll get some stamping done tomorrow. I have that calendar to plan!

Happy New Year everyone. I hope the 2012 brings you much happiness and love.
~Lisa