It's been a while

I apologize for not adding to my blog in such a long time. However, report cards are now finished, shopping is complete and I can post a couple of pictures showing our family Christmas card and our baking day. I hope 2011 allows me more time add the projects I'm doing to this blog. My goal for 2011 is to organize the stamping room and hope that my husband finishes my studio. I plan to be more consistent in updating the blog with fun projects. Wish me luck! What are your wishes for the coming year?

I'm so creative this weekend!

It must be the fall weather that has put me in the mood for creating. I've made two cards for my workshop next weekend and I'm pretty pleased with the outcome. One card is a based on a card by Barb Mann. She used the paint chip samplers from a home improvement store and I really wanted to try this. Her cards were so beautiful! She used Upsy Daisy on her cards. I just knew I had that stamp set but for the life of me I couldn't find it so I improvised and used Lovely as a Tree. I wasn't very sure if I would like the white trees but I think it turned out really well.

The other card was all mine. My customer wanted a Christmas card so at some point, this card just came to me. I wanted to showcase the Big Shot at her workshop and I went from there.

I also finished a set of cards made from a Simply Scrappin' kit. My sister always uses these for her cards but she likes it when I make the cards first, then she copies them--sisters! LOL

A friend asked me to make about 50 gift card holders for a craft show she's holding. I used a tutorial from Dawn Griffith to make this cute holder and it was so easy! Here's the link to her tutorial if you want to know how to do it. http://dawnsstampingthoughts.typepad.com/dawns_stampin_studio/2009/09/christmas-gift-card-video-.html


Now I'm working on two 6x6 scrapbooks for a colleague whose sons were both married last year. Let's see how far I get on those this afternoon.

Thanks for stopping by and Happy Stampin'!

My newest creations

I've made two cards for some friends to make tomorrow afternoon for fun. As I watch other blogs and what others are doing, I realize that my cards aren't very elaborate or even very ornate in most cases. I envy those with the time to do the elaborate cards and save them on Stampin' Connection so that when I have a few extra hours I can make some really great cards. However, as a full time teacher, I have to be able to make a card quickly and so do my friends. I've never had complaints about the cards I offer so I hope you like them as well.

The pumpkin card uses the masking technique and turned out very pretty. The Build A Bear card uses the Web embossing folder instead of layers. I love this folder--I can imagine some really cute scrapbook pages with this folder. Maybe that will be my task over track out in a couple of weeks. Let me know what you think!

Christmas Class

I'm excited to announce that I'm working on a Christmas class. We will be making the Advent calendar in the new mini catalog. The cost for the class will be $25. I will be placing the order on October 15 so sign up now! I got the photo from Terry Ransom on Stampin' Connection. She did this beautiful display and gave me a great opportunity to try it myself. Thanks, Terry!

The details are:

Advent Calendar Class
Saturday, Nov 13 1:00-4:00
My house
You must pre-register to attend

You can respond to this blog or email me directly at melindagoodwin@embarqmail.com

Hope to see a lot of you there!

While I use Stampin' Up! exclusively when I have workshops and when I make my cards for family and friends. However, I have a Cricut that I love and use it when I scrapbook. I wanted to share these cards because Audrey, my nine year old, helped me make these for a friend who volunteers for Make A Wish. They have a client headed to Disney World in a few weeks and they wanted to send her something to increase her excitement. Audrey and I spent Saturday night making these cards for a little girl who needs a smile. The truth is, they made me smile as Audrey and I laughed and picked out characters and colors. I wouldn't trade those hours for anything.
As a side note, everything is SU! except for the characters that were cut with the Cricut. Hope you can share a smile with someone special today, tomorrow and in the future!
Have a great week!
Melinda :)

Christmas Card Swap

Here is the card I made for a card swap with my friend, Amy. It's very simple but very easy to make. I'm planning on using this set for my Christmas cards--maybe this will be the card! Hope you enjoy it.

A workshop this weekend

I have a workshop scheduled this weekend for a friend of mine. She's a former teacher and now stay at home mom. She's having some friends over for an afternoon of fun. These are the cards we're making. Hope they like them!

I CASEd the cards from excellent demonstrators on Stampin' Connection. Thanks to Kathryn E Gallant for the Crazy for Cupcakes card. I changed the colors but couldn't resist the layout! Thanks also to Jennie Maier for the punch card. I wanted to use the Tiny Tags set but for the life of me couldn't create a thing! This card was perfect and hopefully a good upselling point at Lisa's party on Sunday afternoon. :)
Let me know what you think!

PS For those of you following me, I'm trying to get through the list. I'll get there eventually, please be patient with me.