Long Time, No Blog

So, its been a while.  My camera has come up missing, so I've had challenges getting pictures for the blog.  So I'm learning to use my iPhone as my camera.  I hadn't had good luck with that before, but I'm using a new app now, so we'll see how it goes.

Here's a little project I worked on recently.  I've got these little birdhouse ornaments I've been decorating and I did one as a butterfly house.  I don't know if butterflies like to live in houses, but it doesn't really seem fair that birds get all the houses.

And here's another shot I took this afternoon when Rick and I took a drive in the National Park after this mornings snow.  The elk have broken out of their mating season herds, with the bulls and the cows collecting up separately.  These two have their noses buried deep in the snow, getting their food.  So interesting to live so close to the rhythm of nature!

Here's shot of the larger herd, tho only a few of them.

Thanks for letting me test things out!  I hope this works well and I'll be able to put up some project I'm working on for the new year!

Merry Christmas to you and your families and every wish for a blessed New Year!

Rick, Cheryl & Cody

They are here!

Check this out. The newest seasonal Winter Distress Inks are at Rocky Mountain Memories! I can't wait to break open a set for some Christmas projects. They're just in time!! Don't wait too long Ranger is doing a limited edition and you don't want to be disappointed!

Ranger Nation!

Ranger Nation is this Friday.  As ususal, I've gone a little overboard, but I don't care.  This may take longer than two hours, folks.  But I love these projects and love makes the world go round, right?  ;-)

Here's an adorable card using Wendy Vecchi stamps and her Studio 490 style.  You'll want to be sure and bring your details scissors and hobby knife for this one.  LOTSO layers.  Love it.

This is a straight copy of one of Tim Holtz's 12 Tags of Christmas, 2010.  Tim uses so many techniques with his tags that they are really fun to recreate.  I'm shooting for a 12 Tags tree in the shop this year, so stay tuned for that.

This is the simplest card we'll do.  We'll use the new Fall Distress set of color and my signature little B Line bird sits on the label.

Not too late to sign up for this Friday's Ranger Nation.  Bring your basic kit (especially those details scissors & craft knife!!)  Class is $20 and begins Friday morning at 10 am.  CU there!!

Blue Skies, Green Trees, White Snow

One of my favorite things about Colorado is the brilliant contrast of color after a heavy snow.  Its even more pronounced in the fall with some of the aspen gold peaking out from snow covered branches.  Its going to be a beautiful weekend and this snow won't last long. Come and enjoy while it's here!

Did you sit on this bench this summer?  It might be a little wet & chilly today.  You better come on in and have some tea and do some creating!

You'll have no problem getting here.  The path to the shop is clean and Rick & Ted maintain it very well!

Just follow the Riverwalk Connection over the river & to the shop.

A little tune just began in my head.....

The parking lot is clear and dries up quickly in the sun.

We've got classes today with the lovely Susan Mostek. 
Creatives are collecting for hot tea and paper crafting.
Hope to see YOU soon!

Here's our spunky little scarecrow, checking out her scrapbook of her scarecrow wedding. She'll be sitting on a bale of hay in front of the shop all through October.


She's got lovely photo album of her family on her cousin's wedding day. Her cousin is kind of a "pumpkin head" head, but a sweet girl.



It's going to be a beautiful, sunny weekend in Estes! Hope to see you @ RMM.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Christie Cropcraft

Timless Moments

Here's the cards we'll be doing in my Timless Moments class. We're using lots of Tim's stuff like Distress Stains & Inks, Texture Fades, Distress Powder, & Grungeboard. Lots of fall color and plenty of opportunity to play!!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Sticky Back Canvas Journal

Look at this LOVELY journal!  Made with a bought Moleskin book and covered with sticky back canvas.  Carol added stamping and color (Distress Inks, of course!!). 

Here's the back.  Such pretty details.  Sticky Back Canvas was just the answer; Carol just snipped it and fitted it around the elastic closure.  You can't see it at all.

 Here's the journal laying flat.  Carol added twill ribbon and brads.

Carol made this as a gift for her lucky daughter.  Don't you wish YOU were Carol's daughter?  ;-)  Good job, Carol.

Birthday Surprise!

I met some friends today at Susan Mostek's house for a little surprise party for Jen Lowe. She's already had her birthday, which probably made it even more of a surprise!





This is what a surprised woman looks like.





A big hug for Chari Hogslett.




Another one for Judy Hess.





Good friends. Some of my best good friendships have come from paper crafting.






Happy birthday, Jen. You are loved.




This is my birthday card for Jen. I like Sewing, but Sewing doesn't really like me. Which is not fair, cause Sewing doesn't know me that well. But Jen does all things well, so this one is for her.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Birthday Surprise!

Cards for Soldiers on Thursday, Oct 6

Come by the shop Thursday morning at 10 am and make cards for soldiers with us! We're using some fall colors for this masculine-woodsy card.

GRAND Prize Winner!

We are thrilled to announce the winner of the Rocky Mountain Memories Fall Festival is

drrrrrrr......... (drumroll)

Donna McMillin!

Donna is a great B Line fan and we are so happy for her that she won the B Line Bash prize.  She came by the shop bright and early on Tuesday to collect her prize basket, all smiles!

Congratulations, Donna!

Today at RMM Fall Festival

It has been an amazing week!  Today is our last day of Fall Festival and we have been overwhelmed and gratified with the response.  Thank you so much to all of you who have showed up for classes, demos and make & takes.  Congratulations to the winners of our door prizes! 

Clara Mae Marciniak

JoAnn Worsham

Lynn Wilseck

Connie Shafer

Karen Galloway

Fern Beson

Faith Pelhey

Donna Allen

Gaylynn Johnson

Kathleen Sigg

You've got another day of fun and another chance at prizes today!  Susan is teaching Tag Bags this morning and is teaching a repeat of the incredibly popular Accordian Booklet make & take this afternoon.  Check the website for times & details.

From 4 - 6 pm this afternoon, we'll close our Fall Festival with a wine & cheese reception to thank all of you for your support of this event.  This leads up to our final door prize drawing and the Grand Prize drawing at 6 pm.  Also from 4 -6 pm, I'll be doing demos with the NEW Fall Distress Ink set from Ranger & Tim Holtz.  I've reported about how these inks have just flown out the door, but this afternoon only you can reserve your set from the order that's on its way, with a 10% discount off the 17.99 price.  And there ain't NOBODY discounting these babies!!  So come on down and join us for a casual time to finish a great week. 

Last, but certainly not least, we'd like to say a a couple of public thank yous.  Thanks so very much to Susan Mostek.  Susan is a fabulous teacher, a wonderfully creative artist, and a woman we're proud to call our friend.  Thank you to Bob & Beverly Seymour and everyone at B Line Designs for their support of B Line Bash and the Fall Festival.  B Line is a great company, and we are proud to represent them in northwest Colorado.

Hope to see you at Rocky Mountain Memories!

Fall Distress Inks at Rocky Mountain Memories!

We've got them!  Tim Holtz did a surprise release of a limited edition bundle of seasonal Distress Inks!! Check out his video demonstraing the colors here.  These inks became ready for order at noon last Wednesday and I ordered them right away.  They sold out, RANGER sold out in 6 hours!

Ours were delivered yesterday afternoon, right in the middle of our Fall Festival (grrrreat timing!!).  We've got a few sets left.  Ranger reviewed their decision and are producing more sets and I have more on order.  Come on by and pick up your set.  Beautiful, rich, vibrant color.  Ripe Persimmon, Gathering Twigs and Seedless Preserves.

New WEBSTER'S PAGES!

Hey everybody!  Fall is in the air in Estes Park.  The elk are bugling, the leaves are changing (slowly!), and the air is definitely cooler.  Time to get out sweaters and jeans.  I'm hanging tough with my sparkly flip flops, tho.  First day I get frozen toes, I'll switch over to boots.  ;-)

I wanted to do a post to show you something just in:  a beautiful, new line of Webster's Pages!  All the papers are in the classic Webster's Pages style, double sided, great graphics.  Here's a peak...

 I'll be using this paper (above) in the Coaster Book $5 make & take next week for B Line Bash.  It makes a very pretty little mini book and works really well with some pretty red embellishments.

At first I didn't go for this line, All About Me.  I was put off by the name.  But a second look at the paper changed my mind. 

Don't forget B Line Bash next week, September 20-24.  We are busy like little beavers getting ready!  Classes on Wednesday and Saturday, taught by the lovely Susan Mostek, $5 make & takes and free demos.  AND......

dddddrrrrrrr (that's a drumroll)....

10% off all B Line stamps in stock!  What? The stamps you want aren't in the shop? Well....

ddddddrrrrrrr (yes, another drumroll)......

10% off catalog orders!  You can look through all the B Line catalogs and make your order list.  I'll place an order and get just the stamps you want.

Check the website for pictures and details of next week's events.  Its going to be so much fun, I hope all of you can join us.  Don't forget to sign up for classes!  All other events are first come, first serve.  See you next week!

Jumpstart Christmas - Day 5

The last card for the Jumpstart Christmas series.  I did the entire series without ANY red or green, so I thought I should at least add a little red tone for this last one.  I used Aged Mahogany and Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  I love how the Vintage Photo suggests dessert sands for these magi.  (Did you know the Bible doesn't ever say there are three wise men?  It mentions three gifts, but we don't know how many wise men there were.)

 The background here was a really interesting process.  I used Pickett Fence Distress Stain on black cardstock.  The result is a very chalky, gray look.  The focal points of the card don't get overpowered by the background.  I added some Shabby Fern flourishes with Queen's Gold embossing powder.

Stop in Friday, September 16 to make one.  Mention this blog and your make & take is FREE. 

Oh, and Merry Christmas!!

Jumpstart Christmas - Day 4

I really loved the way this one turned out. This is a matchbook card.  The nativity silhouette image is on acetate and layered over an alcohol ink background, with a clear embossed front.   It's tied off with blue & black ribbons that repeat the colors in the focal point.

This is the featured make & take for Thursday of next week, September 17.  Stop on by and make yours!

Jumpstart Christmas - Days 2 & 3

So, I didn't get to blog so much yesterday, so today is a two-fer.  These are the make & takes for Tuesday and Wednesday of next week.

 This is a lovely card we'll make on Tuesday, September 13.  This Peace Dove is stamped on watercolor paper and colored with Distress Ink.  We had to have a little Christmas sparkle, but its still a very simple understated design.

Wedesday's card uses a panel from ever-popular Graphic 45.  Very cool Christmas Carol paper panel on a gate-fold card.

Wednesday's card opens to reveal an image of the Baby in the manger.  Stop in anytime Wednesday, September 14 and make this one.  Mention seeing this on the blog or website and your make & take is free!

Jumpstart Christmas - Day 1

Monday, September 12, is the first day of Jumpstart Christmas.  Each day of this week I will feature a different Christmas card.   Mention this blog or our email and this is a free make & take for you.  You can come by for a free make & take and learn a technique you can incorporate for your Christmas cards this year.  You can start now and do just a few pieces every few days and still have plenty of time to finish all your list for the year.

This cards features a nativity sillhouette using a dauber resist technique.  This card reflects the simplicity and humility of Christ's birth.  The little sparkle in the star that marks His place of birth reflects His divinity and the blessing of the Father.

Come by anytime Monday, September 12 between 10 am and 6 pm.

NEW Bo Bunny paper

Bo Bunny has done it again.  I am just crazy for these new papers, the "Welcome Home" collection.

You'll want to come in and see them up close, but the idea section of my brain is just spinning.  Here's a look at what they've done.

 This is the "cut out" page.  Its just beautiful!  They all are.

Flip side of the cut out page.  I didn't include pictures of the second side of any of the other pages, but this was just to pretty not to show.  Are we working on classes and make & takes with these papers?

Yes, we are......

License Plates

Our daughter, Allison, is a hair stylist in Fort Collins.  She works at Great Clips and they display their professional license at their work station.  She asked me if I would put together a piece on which they could mount their licenses, which are about the size of a drivers license.  Each "license plate" has a placeholder for the real license. 

It was a fun project.  Here’s what I came up with…..

 I used a flash card in place of the license on this one so the glue woudn't attach and the actual license could be slipped in instead.  Do you know what 63 divided by 7 is, upside down??