A Pinterest Christmas!

Anyone else inspired by Pinterest these days? I've been pinning tons of ideas, especially for one of my favorite things at Christmas, wrapping gifts. I really like finding unconventional ways to wrap and decorate gifts. I consider the ways gifts are wrapped as part of my Christmas decorations, and a part that can change every year. I saw this idea and thought it was very cool, so I used it.


I don't buy much wrapping paper. I usually have a roll of brown shipping paper and maybe one other roll, usually just red & white. I figure the tree is green, so I don't want any green in my paper. There are touches of green in some of the ribbons. I buy wire edged ribbon which I use over & over.


The idea is to use monograms rather than "TO & FROM" tags. I just printed these from my computer, had copies made and then cut them out and glued to the front of the gifts. Its easy to tell who they're to, and pretty easy to tell who they're from, too!!

I think they're pretty cute and a fun & easy way to make your tree pretty.




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Newest 6 in 60

Here's the latest 6 in 60 set. These cards use a Kaisercraft 12 x 12 paper that make up into 6 lovely feminine cards. We'll be making these in class this morning at Rocky Mountain Memories. Very pretty!



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Look messy? It was. It was a fabulously messy day as Ronda taught us to use paints & sprays with Crafter's Workshop templates.


Each student had their own pallet of Liquitex paints they applied on their tags with makeup sponges. The colors are so vibrant and easy to work with.


Ronda brought a ton of stencils for students to experiment with and we also used common household items to apply color such as bubble wrap and plastic doilies.


Gorgeous variety of colors, patterns and textures on these tags. We can't wait to have Ronda back to teach again. Warning: wear your grubbies!!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Day Two with Ronda

Day One with Ronda Palazzari

SO much ink was flowing at Rocky Mountain Memories Friday afternoon! The class made an adorable mini album, except it wasn't really mini! Lots of pages, tons of techniques and loaded with embellishments. The fun continues today with a mini tag booklet this morning and and a technique free for all in the afternoon.


These girls are having a blast. The amount of fun had is directly proportional to the height of supplies on the table. That's a mathematical fact.






- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:140 Moraine Avenue, Estes Park, CO

October Birthday Cards

Here's this month's cards for our Birthday Card class. Our ladies card uses an Impression Obsession bird, part of a beautiful collection of birds with flourishes, flowers & music details. Embellished with battenburg lace and an embroidered rose. The men's card could be for anybody. Featuring a Memory Box die, Tim Holtz On the Edge die, Tim Holtz Falling Leaves and Maya Road embellishments, it's ideal for a fall birthday or note card.


These full classes will happen today; if you'd like to attend future classes, we do this every other month on the second Tuesday of the month. (December, February, April, June, August, October) These classes fill quickly and I've added an afternoon group, so we can accommodate double the numbers!! Some people sign up for the whole year. Call 970.577.1415 or email if you'd like to join us!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Rocky Mountain Memories

Ronda is Guest Artist with Basic Grey!!

Ronda Palazzari

One more week and Ronda will be here teaching at Rocky Mountain Memories.  You can see her work as she featured on the websites of some of our favorite companies.  She just posted on her blog this morning that she's the guest artist for Basic Grey!  

 Here she has a featured project on the Ranger website.  She attended Ranger U this past session and learned the latest from Tim Holtz, Dyan Reavley& Claudine Hellmuth.  Ronda has LOTS of pins on Pinterest; just do a search of her name and you'll catch all kinds of fancy Palazzari goodness.

There is still room in the Saturday classes, so call 970.577.1415 or email me.  You can see the project and supply lists on our website.  Hope to see you next weekend!!

Birthday Card Club

I should know by now that when I feel stuck and the creative juices seem to have turned to molasses, when the breakthough comes (and it always does), the result is something I really like. Overcoming problem elements with ink is the best!!
Birthday Card Club is happening Tuesday, October 9 at 10 am and at 1 pm. There are 2 spots open in the morning and lots of space in the afternoon. Call me if you'd like to sign up at 970.577.1415 or email me. Hope to see you there!!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Birthday Card Club

Good morning, big guy!

So I'm just cleaning up after breakfast this morning and I look up and see this guy hanging out. It's very cool this time of year with the elk everywhere. It seems like there are larger numbers than usual this year. Autumn in Estes Park is exciting!


Double click on these pictures to see a full size image.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Cherokee Dr,Estes Park,United States

Hep Me, Ronda!!

No, that's not a typo, that's how Texans say "Hep me!!"

Maybe you need Ronda to hep you spur on your creative juices with this sweet little mini album. I am....... what? How do you see yourself? Like others see you? I am a wife, a mother, a store owner, maybe more.

Or maybe a verb goes there. I am..... thankful. Hopeful. Anxious. Trying not be be anxious.

Join us for a fun and, maybe, provocative time October 13! Saturday morning still has a few spaces left, but they're filling up so call the shop if you'd like to be here. 970.577.1415

I am.....done with this blog.




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Moraine Ave,Estes Park,United States

ipad 3

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:29th St,Boulder,United States

Fall Seasonal Distress Inks

Did you get Fall Seasonal Distress Inks last year?  Well, they aren't available again, but it might be a good idea to snag some reinkers.  These are truly limited edition; when they're gone, they're gone.  Ranger sent me a message this week saying they "have no plans to rerelease Seasonal Distress Ink Pads."  So, just sayin'........

Memory Box!!

We've got lotso Memory Box & Poppystamps dies and expecting more. Which are your favorites?




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

B Line @ RMM

We had an awesome time with Beverly Seymour this past weekend at Rocky Mountain Memories!  She was so generous with her demo time and we had lots of people come in to watch her create.  Her creative use of B Line Stamps with Distress Inks and Stains resulted in some great sample tags you can still see at the shop.  I'll be blogging some of the techniques she taught on this blog later this week.

Some of Beverly's biggest fans stopped by the shop to see her and a few came in who had no idea she would be here.  It was such fun when they got to meet her in person and see her demonstrations.

 Beverly's Ladies Reflections book was a big hit!  We all agreed it was quite an ambitious project for Saturday afternoon, but the students did an awesome job of understanding and completing the construction of their books.  Everybody's work was substantially finished with additional inking and embellishing to be done on their own.

 We're already dreaming about next year and another visit from Beverly.  The trunk show gave us a great opportunity to choose from huge variety of stamps and see how Beverly used them.  Our Grand Prize basket was won by Ben Englehardt of Estes Park.  Congratulations Ben!

An added note, the elk are REALLY putting on a show in Estes Park right now.  We took this pic near our house on the way to the shop Saturday morning.  We keep seeing him around the neighborhood with all his girlfriends.  He's very protective, sort of obsessive, really.  We give him and all the bull elk a wide berth this time of year!!

Beverly Seymour @ RMM

Beverly Seymour will be at Rocky Mountain Memories next week teaching classes and demonstrating technique and her special B Line flair!  I'll blog pictures I've received, giving you more depth & detail of the projects she'll be teaching.

On Thursday Beverly is teaching her popular card B Line Blitz class, combining B Line stamps and Graphic 45 papers.  They go together beautifully!

 On Saturday, Beverly will bring her BeAuTiFuL Ladies Reflections book.  You'll learn lots of techniques and go home with an amazing 33 page book.  You art journal fans will love this one!  Here are pictures of the cover and some of the interior pages. 

 

Friday's class is a Trifold Shadow Box card.  You'll make two of these, one predesigned and an additional one, up to you to bring your creativity to your project.  Here's the cover and an inside shot.

 If you're close enough, stop by the shop in the next few days and you can see the projects and examine them for yourself.  Still just a few spaces left; call us 970.577.1415 or email to sign up!

Tin Birthday Card

Check out this adorable birthday card that's hardly a card!  Constructed using a tin container and embellished with Prima papers, this is a card that's really a gift. 

Inside is a removable booklet, ready for your journaling and photos, pockets, tags, and a collage inside a super mega bottle cap.  How fun!!

A close up shot of the bottle cap.  These make really fun little frames to include an extra little bundle of details.  I'm teaching this class Saturday at 10 a.m. and there's still space, so call the shop 970.577.1415 or email if you'd like to join in.  $25, please bring your RMM basic kit.

Studio 490

I LOVE Wendy Vecchi new Studio 490 releases this summer.  Stamps sets filled with wildflowers & bugs (how could you not love that??), and Art Parts to match, also Studio 490 Stencils with Wendy's familiar flair.

I've been using Studio 490 in my notebooks and love the result.  This Art Girl works as my paper doll to add glasses, glossy lips, hats, whatever strikes your fancy!

Here's my personal daily planner I created to catch my life, my way.  Covered in Sticky Back Canvas, sprayed with Dylusions Ink Sprays and adorned with Studio 490 stamps, Art Parts, and Blossom Bucket embellishments.  Keeps all my notes & lists contained!  Yay!

Surviving July

Whew!  Very warm weather (which I personally LOVE) and super busy month!  Lots of people coming from all over the country and the world to enjoy the cool air in the Rocky Mountains.  I haven't blogged this month so I'll be catching you up on several things over the next few days.  I have been working away in the studio and teaching classes AND planning events for the fall.  SUPER excited!  I'll give you a sneak peak at the end of this blog.

Our neighbors next door at Colorado Hats asked me if I'd make a card they could use to tuck in a CD of photos and give to a friend.  No words or sentiments.  This is what I came up with for them to share.  Its sort of a varied version of a project we're doing today and tomorrow at Metallic Flowers and Ranger Nation.  I'll share those designs tomorrow.  I rather like the way it turned out!

So here's your sneak peak:

Martha Vaughan teaching a class in July and who walks in?  Ronda Palazzari!  Everyone was so happy to see her, but Martha did backflips.  Not really, but sort of.  ;-)  So did I.

Ronda is going to be at Rocky Mountain Memories in October to teach her awesome techniques featured in her book "Art of Layers". 

Ronda is one of the nicest people I've met and you'll love taking her classes.  Mark October 12 and 13 on your calendar and plan a fabulous weekend of scrapbooking, journaling and technique classes.

Check out Ronda's blog at Help Me Ronda.