Summer 2010 Classes

As always Class Kickoff was fantastic! I am excited to show you the classes I have coming up for the next quarter. And if you didn't make it to kick off be sure to stop by either of the stores to see class samples! All classes are being taught at Memories Galore in Richmond and Midlothian VA. To sign up and reserve your spot call either the Brandermill store at 804-744-6500 or the West End store at 804-565-2000

A Year of ATCs $20

with Melissa Thiesse

Come, learn the art of creating ATCs (Artist Trading Cards) in the continuation of this year-long series! Each month you’ll create four ATCs focusing on a variety of techniques. At the end of the year, you’ll have a collection of unique ATCs reflecting the different seasons and holidays. This class is perfect for ATC creators of all skill levels. Each class is individually priced and themed as follows:

~ July: Vacation by the Sea – Working with acrylic, using crackle paint, distress ink, stamps and punches.

~ August: The Great Outdoors – Using canvas, image transfers and working with distress ink.

~ September: Back to School – Working with distress ink, Stickles, pens and creating embellishments with paper.

• Brandermill: Tuesdays July 13th, Aug. 17th, and Sept. 7th

from 6:30-8:30pm

• West End: Wednesdays July 14th, Aug. 11th and Sept. 8th

from 6:30-8:30pm

Colors of Summer Mini Book $24

with Melissa Thiesse

Join Melissa to create an interactive mini book to document all those memories of summers past, present and future! This unique mini book is made from The Girl’s Paperie papers and has different pockets and places for hidden journaling and photos. Learn creative folding techniques, stamping, embellishing with stickers, using distress ink and more!

• Brandermill: Wednesday, July 21st from 6:30-8:30pm

• West End: Thursday, July 8th from 6:30-8:30pm

Grandma’s Attic Layout $24

with Melissa Thiesse

Remember being fascinated by grandma’s jewelry, hatboxes and delicate photos? Capturing the essence of grandma’s attic, this timeless double-page layout features vintage-style papers and embellishments that come together for a reminiscent of a trip down memory lane with your grandma. Melissa’s instruction includes numerous techniques from fringe edging to paper layering, lacing to unique folding styles. Learn distressing techniques, working with border punches and distress ink.

• Brandermill: Tuesday, Aug. 31st from 6:30-8:30pm

• West End: Thursday, Aug. 26th from 6:30-8:30pm

Measurable Moments Mini Book & Tin $28

with Melissa Thiesse

For all those memories that measure up, create this unique mini album complete with an adorable tin for safekeeping. Melissa’s instruction includes how to use paper to decorate your tin, create the mini album and more. You’ll work with Grungeboard, paint and learn to make embellishments that are beyond measure!

• Brandermill: Tuesday, Sept. 28th from 6:00-8:30pm

• West End: Thursday, Sept. 30th from 6:00-8:30pm

Moments in Time Tabletop Memories $28

with Melissa Thiesse

Join Melissa to create an altered photo frame perfect for those special memories you want to display in your home. Learn distress ink techniques including watercolor effects, stamping, crackle paint and embellishing with stickers. This is the perfect way to display those memories that have meant the most.

• Brandermill: Thursday, Sept. 9th from 6:30-8:30pm

• West End: Tuesday, Sept. 14th from 6:30-8:30pm

Sweet Summertime! Layout $24

with Melissa Thiesse

Oh, how we love these lazy days of summer! Celebrate the season with a bright and whimsical double-page layout perfect for those happy summer memories. Using fun patterned papers from Echo Park, learn techniques like paper layering, working with stickers, using Stickles and creating your own embellishments. This class is filled with papercrafting techniques you’ll use over and over again!

• Brandermill: Thursday, July 22nd from 6:30-8:30pm

• West End: Tuesday, July 27th from 6:30-8:30pm

And if you didn't know I have a "fan page" on facebook. I post a lot more often on that than this blog so if you want to be updated on store happenings and see projects I am working on then check out my page here.

What Matters Most

Lately I feel like all I have been doing is working at the store, teaching classes, or coming up with ideas for new classes. I haven't had any time to work on anything for myself (though I keep buying new stuff at an alarming rate!!). That's why I am so glad I signed up for the What Matters Most Series at Memories Galore. Last month's layout was supposed to be "Everyday Moments". Bethany came up with this great idea to have the title be "What Matters Most" since it was the first layout in the book. I loved the idea so I scraplifted it! The layouts each month are predesigned, however any time I'm in a class I have to switch it up and change the project slightly (I encourage this in my students too!). So here's the layout. I unfortunately missed this month's class so I have the kit. I will post that layout when I have time to do it!

I am really trying to get back into the blogging thing. It has been difficult lately. However I now have a Facebook Fan Page so if you are interested in seeing more posts and work from me follow me there! Click here to follow me on facebook. I have a feeling that will be easier for me to keep up with!

Spring Classes

Class kickoff went great today! I'm super excited to be taking Melissa S's Altered Book (it's gorgeous!) and Angela's What Matters Most. If you weren't able to make it out to class kickoff you need to stop by the Brandermill store and check out the class samples. I have a lot of classes that I am excited to be teaching this quarter. I hope you will be able to join me!



A Year of ATCs $20

Come learn the art of creating ATCs (Artist Trading Cards) in this year-long ATC series! Each month you’ll create four ATCs focusing on a variety of techniques. At the end of the year, you’ll have a collection of unique ATCs reflecting the different seasons and holidays. This class is perfect for ATC creators of all skill levels. Each class is priced individually and themed as follows:

~ April/Spring Fever – Working with canvas, water color effects with distress inks, making paper embellishments.

~May/Scrapbooking – Working with real wood paper and distress inks, utilizing with punches to create embellishments.

~ June/Summer Fun – Using crackle paint, making paper embellishments, distressing techniques.

Brandermill: Wednesdays April 21st, May 19th and June 16th from 6:30-8:30pm

West End: Wednesdays April 14th, May 12th and June 9th from 6:30-8:30pm

Family First Folio $30

Join Melissa to create an interactive portfolio to document what is most important in life—family! This unique portfolio album made from October Afternoon papers and stickers, has different pockets and spots for hidden journaling. The portfolio is the perfect place to capture the pictures and memories that make your family special. Learn diecutting, embellishing with stickers and ribbon techniques. This mini album would be a great gift for Mother’s or Father’s Day.

Brandermill: Mon., April 12th from 6:30-8:30pm

West End: Thur., April 8th from 6:30-8:30pm

Rock, Paper, Scissors! $20

In this class, you’ll create a fun spring double-page layout using the one tool that we all have in our scrap tote, but often overlook: our scissors! Learn to create your own embellishments and borders out of patterned paper; and add a hint of bling to your pages for that extra sparkle! You’ll never look at your scissors and paper the same way again!

Brandermill: Thur., March 25th from 6:30-8:30pm

West End: Tues., March 30th from 6:30-8:30pm

Seaside Chic ATC Matchbox $28

Artist Trading Cards… You love to collect them but what do you do with them now? Learn how to create this adorable vintage inspired matchbox just the right size to hold your ATCs. You’ll create four ATCs with Graphic 45’s beautiful On the Boardwalk collection and learn distressing, embellishing, inking, and paper layering techniques. How fun is the orange pom-pom ribbon in contrast with the bling?! ATCs never had it so good!

Brandermill: Tues., May 11th from 6-8:30pm

West End: Tues., May 25th from 6-8:30pm

Terrific Techniques: Distress Inks $20

Join Melissa for a new technique-focused layout class. In this class, you’ll create a layout making the most out of your distress inks. This class will expose you to a variety of techniques including inking patterned paper, water color effects, using masks and stencils, and more.

Brandermill: Tue., May 4th from 6:30-8:30pm

West End: Thur., May 6th from 6:30-8:30pm

All classes are taught at Memories Galore at the Brandermill, Midlothian Virginia and West End, Richmond Virginia locations. For more information or to reserve your spot please call the store at 804-744-6500 (Brandermill) or 804-565-2000 (West End). Please visit http://www.memoriesgalore.com/ for information on lots of other wonderful classes!

Happy

I did something today I almost never do: I spent a TON of money on scrapbook supplies. Wait. I do that almost daily... BUT what I don't usually do is USE those supplies! Especially not immediately. I loved this new We R Memory Keepers collection so much though that I did just that - went home and scrapbooked!

Look what I found!

At my favorite local antique store: Isn't it fantastic? The cover is in great shape so I plan on making that the cover of a mini book. Hopefully I'll actually do something with it. Unlike the album I picked up at the same store a couple months ago that is still sitting in my craft room. (but at least I'm displaying it right??)

Renaissance Album Workshop Saturday

This Saturday is my last class of the quarter at Memories Galore. There are still spots available, I hope you will be able to join me!Renaissance Album Workshop - $42: What do the Mona Lisa, Stickles and the Making Memories Slice all have in common? They come together to create this one of a kind Renaissance inspired album. You’ll use beautiful Graphic 45 papers, chipboard, ribbon and distressing techniques to create this beautiful seven-page mini book—perfect for preserving your timeless memories!

This Saturday February 13th 1-5pm at the Brandermill, Midlothian VA store. To sign up call the Brandermill store at 804-744-6500.

My not so creative creative process...

First I start with an idea and some paper... sometimes the idea comes first..sometimes the paper. Sometimes the idea is completely my own and sometimes it's inspired by a layout I've seen on the internet or in a magazine. In this case I "scraplifted" the idea from a layout I remembered seeing that was part of the Basic Grey "All About Me Series" (a year long class at our store). I just remembered the layout using the Basic Grey Eerie collection (a halloween collection) and breaking it down into parts to use it as a fall layout. I really liked the idea that I could still buy the Halloween papers (because I HAVE to have all the new papers) but that I could have a use for it (because I usually do nothing on Halloween). So with bits of that idea still in my head after seeing the layout 3 months ago I came up with a rough idea. I laid out the photos and papers how I want them to look:
And then I do everything I can to make sure the end product looks nothing like that. First off I start with my two favorite products (that I use on EVERYTHING I make now). Tim Holtz paper distresser and walnut distress ink:
I distress and ink a bunch of edges:
Then I decide I don't like the left side of my layout so I lose 2 photos, add a couple mats, and break out my slice to create a giant leaf pile:
And in the end I'm left with this:
And then I get bored and move on... yes I know it still needs journaling and maybe a title...and maybe an embellishment or two... but I can't think of anything... so I'm going to leave it with the other projects I have left to finish. Like that mini book I started and that layout I still haven't come back to.