Notebooks

I've been reading (and rereading!) a book called One Thousand Gifts: a Dare to Live Fully by Ann Voskamp.  I'm captured by the book.  Its very well written and its message is important.  The author begins to actively look for gifts from God and, when she looks, she finds them.  She records her findings in a journal she keeps on her kitchen counter.

This is the inspiration for these notebooks.  I've used Tim's ring binders and BoBunny's Gabrielle collection of papers to complete these notebooks.  I WILL be making more.  They turn out beautifully and are sized nicely to tuck away in your purse or tote bag.

Eucharisteo.  This word is with me.  Its where we get our expression "eucharist" from.  The Bible says that Jesus took the bread and broke it and eucharisteo; gave thanks.  This is a gratitude journal.

Here's another notebook I made just for notekeeping.  I used Tim's Kraft Resist paper pad (aMAZing) and his printer's blocks (equally aMAZing!). 

I'm doing a notebook class on Saturday.  You can learn to construct your own notebook with any paper you like, embellishing the cover as you please.  (Class materials include the notebook and pre-selected paper; you get to go crazy with paper & embellishments when you make your own at home!)

Call the shop (970.577.1415) or email (cheryl@RMMemories.com) to sign up.

Hope to see you Saturday!

Random Stuff.....

Its been a few days since I've blogged because I've been busy teaching and creating!!  So here are some things from the studio.  Hope you enjoy.

The minute I saw this hat stamp I thought of the Red Hat ladies.  I had it on my desk and one day recently just sat down and played with it.  I set the hat on my favorite Paper Bag Studios lady with some Stickles and a red rose.  She's a woman full of joy, living life to the full.  Her laughter comes easily and the years are a song for her.  Don't you want to be her?

I really love incorporating nature and simple things into my work.  I've got this ENORMOUS roll of screen in my studio that I bought at Home Depot.  I love it with birds, butterflies and nature things.  I put a bit on the front of this card over a couple of butterflies, but one got away!  Flying free.  Fly away, little butterfly!!

Newest and coolest thing.  Truly.  I just am having the most fun with Distress Stains.  WAY lots of times, I'm picking up a piece, pondering what to do with it and the answer is Distress Stains.  This stuff is going to change the look of your art.  Write down today's date. Six months from now, look back at your work before and after that date.  I think you'll see a difference.  Distress Stains.  Why wait?  You can get very intense color with very light shades.  Its weird.  And fabulous.

This is a chipboard (yes, chipboard!!) flower pot that sat on my desk and, sigh, I just never had time for the poor little thing.  I was going to have to paint it, but it was so big and it was going to take some time and quite a bit of paint to get the coverage I wanted and then I thought, "Distress Stain.  That would do it."  I picked it up and, boom, it was done in just a few minutes, no clean up.  Stop being mean to yourself.  Get some Distress Stains in your studio now. 

And come to Rocky Mountain Memories to learn to use them.  :-)

Ranger Ink....on Celebrity Apprentice???

So we're watching Celebrity Apprentice Sunday night and a very brief shot made me do a double take.  Was that really Adirondack ink, or am I just still woozy from Ranger U?

Ranger's blog spotlighted the clip.  You can see their blog here.  How sweet is that?? 

Mother's Day Card

Happy Mother's Day to all of you who are mothers and who have mothers!  This is the card I made for my mother this year.  The irony is that, having a business of scrapbooking and paper arts, I have to force myself to find time to make cards for ME to send!  But this was a priority this week, of course.  I used Bo Bunny's Gabrielle paper, Tim Holtz Elegant Flourish and Tattered Flowers dies and grungeboard Alphabet Soup letters painted with Snow Cap Adirondack paint.  I'm learning to love those little dabbers!

Inside the card I attached a photograph of sisters and myself when we were little girls.

I'll blog Ranger U day three early next week.  That was a jam packed day, full of technique which I can't wait to share with you!  In the meantime, don't forget to hug a mom!

Ranger U - Day 2

Our morning session was with lovely Claudine.  What a sweetie.  I just love her talent, her heart and her art.  We did some very cool things with Sticky Back Canvas, a favorite product for me, which I'll be bringing to RMM.  We worked with the transfer technique I had been using for "luggage tags" and more ideas were sparked for that one.  More later.....

Tim was back in the afternoon and it was Distress Ink.  Bliss.  It was just awesome to feel in familiar territory and yet learning so much new.  I'll be very busy the next few days planning on a schedule to bring classes to you with new techniques, new looks, new ways to use what you already own.

Last, but by no means least, were the relationships formed during this incredible weekend.  I expected to make friends, but not like this.  Tears upon parting, emails since we arrived home.  We couldn't bear to leave each other.  Love is a good thing.

I'll post on Day Three tomorrow.  Off to the shop!!