Tuesday, March 2, 2010

March Coming in Like a Lamb?

Okay, this is going to be short, but as I keep saying, I'm going to post things more often.

I t looks so far, like March is going to come in like a lamb. I have to say I'm glad March is here, February seemed to drag on forever! The snow needs to go bye-bye too. I'm ready to set out in the backyard, watch the birds, enjoy the flowers and read while Jenna and George are at work/school. I need a field trip. Anyway, I have been keeping myself busy, as I have a brithday card class to design for and I'm currently teaching myself to us Painter 11. LOVE that program. I could just sit there and doodle all day, but that doesn't really get anything done now does it? It's so fun to be able to go from watercolor, to markers to acrylics and not worry about washing about brushes, wasting paint on something you aren't happy with  and just generally making a big mess. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for messes in my studio space, but sometimes when it gets all tidy, I would love it to stay that way, but that's not what happens. When I get something worth looking at done, I'll post it here and maybe on the facebook page. We'll see.

Until then, enjoy the melting snow!
Jodi

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Happy Valentine's Day

Okay, I have to admit, Valentine's Day isn't one of my favorite holidays. It just kind of comes and goes, however, I do like designing cards for it. These cute little guys were designed for Scrap 'N Friends card kit of the month, now available. You get everything you need (including bling of course!) to create these 2 for $3.
Designing these card kits every month has become quite fun. Keeps me busy and out of trouble. And we all know I need to stay out of trouble. LOL
Now, you may be thinking, "Isn't she working on anything else?" Well, yes I am. I just finished several page layouts I'm rather proud of and I have a few new art pieces I'm working on as well. Again, staying busy and out of trouble. I plan on getting all the works up as soon as I can.
I'm getting ready to work on the March cards, and I'm looking for suggestions. I could do St. Patrick's cards, but I'd like to know what sort of cards you'd like to see in the future. You know handy little cards to write notes to teachers, "Thinking of You" or "Just Because" cards. Let me know what ya think.
All right, enough rambling!
Jodi

Friday, January 22, 2010

Thank You, Thank You

I'm so excited that I've been given the opportunity to teach and design at the scrapbook store - Scrap 'N Friends. My first class was last week and I designed some "thank you" cards using a heat embossing reisit technique. A bit messy, but a lot of fun and heat embossing is one of my most favorite things, next to chipboard. The resist is clear emboss on white cardstock and then rubbed over with colored ink. When you get it as intense as you want it, you wipe off the embossed bits and it looks like a slightly tinted white. You can also leave the ink on so it looks like a dark watermark. I also did a bit of "double dipping". That's inking your stamp with versamark, then you ink it in whatever color you want. Stamp it and put clear detail embossing powder on it and heat it up. The color ready pops.
You can see these and the cards for February in person at the store, which seems to be my second home LOL. Stop in an say hi sometime!

Monday, January 4, 2010

New Year

Okay, yes, I realize I haven't written a thing since September. That should tell you something. LOL However, I have decided that I'm going to do a bit better about getting on here as well as working on more art. Really, I have no excuse. Jenna's in school, George is at work, and I only work 2 days a week at the scrapbook store, so sitting around doing nothing is no longer acceptable.


So what has been going on you ask? Well, not a bunch. I've been helping out at school doing the mom thing with the PTO, and as I mentioned earlier, I work at Scrap 'N Friends in Brookville Tuesdays and Thursdays while Jenna's in school. I'll be teaching my first real class this coming Thursday. This should be interesting. I like the cards I designed and I think the technique is really cool, but sometimes I go a little crazy with trying to squeeze too many ideas into a small timeframe. I hope I haven't made things too complicated. We'll see. I enjoy working up there - especially since I have most of my supplies etc. up there (My home away from home)and I can't seem to get any pages done unless I would haul all my stuff up there in bags that weigh more than a hockey bag with the skates in it every week. Makes more sense to just keep it there. So if you have any scrappin' questions or need help with a project that's where you'll find me in the afternoons.




Speaking of cards, I was pretty happy with this year's Christmas card artwork. I really need to go back to working on them sooner like I used to, no more leaving it until after Thanksgiving. It was all "painted" in Photoshop Elements. (Still waiting for Painter 11 - hint, hint to my hubby) It worked out pretty decent. The colors stay nice and bright when I do it that way. I do like to work bigger, and I would like to get back into the watercolors, but I just don't have much luck getting my colors to scrream like they do on the computer. I'm not one for subtle. I'll just have to experinent some more, I know there's a way to do it. If anyone has suggestions, I'd love to hear them.

Well, I better get the munchkin something to eat. I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! TTFN!