Tonight's Class at Memories Galore

I just got back from teaching my Terrific Techniques: Distress Inks class at Memories Galore in the West End. It was a lot of fun playing with the inks and exploring different techniques - I know as the teacher I shouldn't admit this but I even learned a few new ones just from playing around. Oh and I'm pretty sure my hands are going to be covered in ink for a couple of days. Thanks again to the ladies who came out tonight (and thanks for letting me take pictures!!)

Finished Project

I spent a little more time on that wall hanging I was working on yesterday. I took the globby stickled title off and replacedit, glossy accented some stuff, stickled some stuff, added some flowers and TA DA! Finished!

A Quick Project

Just a quick post to show you what I have been making. I have a couple unfinished projects laying all over the apartment (what else is new right?) I have a Donna Downey Fabric album that is painted yellow and white and then abandoned and a frame that I painted and gave up on and a couple other things. But here is something I finished:

The stickles turned out a bit globby... but I'm going to fix that. I might end up donating this too for the raffle that starts Monday!

Causes to support this month at Memories Galore

The month of October is dedicated to Breast Cancer and Domestic Violence Awareness. In support of these causes the store I work for, Memories Galore, has come up with special events throughout the month to raise donations and build awareness.

From October 11th-24th, they are holding a raffle in which you have a chance to win projects created by the store's teachers and employees. The tickets will be purple (domestic violence awareness) or pink (breast cancer awareness) and will be available for $1 each with all raffle monies being donated to their respective causes (a local domesic violence shelter and the Susan G Komen foundation). For the raffle I have created a vintage inspired Christmas mini book made out of gorgeous graphic 45 papers:

In addition to the raffle here are the other things Memories Galore has going on this month:

- Starting the first week of October they are distributing mini chipboard books for volunteers to decorate. At the end of October we'll meet to add the ring and ribbons to the decorated books which will be donated to the St. Francis Cancer Center as a gift to patients.

- They are inviting you to bring in pictures or other sentiments to be added to our tribute wall at each store. This wall will memorialize those whom we loved who did not survive their cancer battle. Please bring in pictures or scrapbook pages to place on the wall for the month. Remember to put you name on the back so we may return them after the month is over.~ The final week will feature layout design contests about the women in your life for Breast Cancer Awareness or overcoming great obstacles for Domestic Violence Awareness.

- Throughout the month they are collecting food for the Central Virginia Food Bank, and hats, mittens and scarves for families in need who have been displaced as a result of domestic violence.

If you are in the Richmond area I hope you will stop by our stores this month. The Brandermill Memories Galore is located at 4800 Market Square Ln in Midlothian VA and the West End location is at 3991 Deep Rock Rd in Richmond VA. The raffle items will be located at the Brandermill location.

Also if you are in the Richmond area and have a blog or facebook account I would greatly appreciate you linking to my blog to get the word out about the great events we have going on this month. Thank you!!!

An Old Layout and a Sneak Peek

Remember this layout from a couple months ago:

Well I finally got around to finishing it:And here is a sneak peek at a vintage inspired Christmas minibook I made. Check back tomorrow for a full post with lots of pictures! And if you live in the Richmond area check back tomorrow to find out how it can be yours!

The week in review

This past wednesday I taught a minibook class at the Memories Galore in the West End. It went really well and there were a bunch of great ladies who were super patient with my unstructured way of teaching/scrapbooking. (I'm bad with measurements - I typically just start chopping until I think it looks ok)

Here are the books we made in the class:
Also Tammy brought this book she made using mini canvases to show everyone. Very cute! I might have to play around with that idea
Then yesterday Melissa and I made the 2 hour drive up to the Handcraft House in Madison because it was closing and we wanted to see what deals we could get. Well everything was 40% which in retrospect wasn't that great of a deal.... but we did buy a lot. In other news: we are continuing to house hunt. We found two houses we love and three other houses we would be happy in. So it looks like things are moving in the right direction. Other than that not much new around here. We have a full tivo from the 5 days we were in Rhode Island so we are spending our Saturday lounging around watching tv:

Wizard of Oz ATC Swap

I have been participating (and coming up with the themes for) Memories Galore's monthly ATC swap. ATCs are Artist Trading Cards... minature works of art the size of baseball cards (2.5 x 3.5). September's theme was Wizard of Oz. I put together my submission a little last minute but I think they turned out sort of cute. I'm excited to see what everyone else did.
Kathi, the manager at the store, has organized a bunch of activities next month around Breast Cancer and Domestic Violence Awareness. Next month's swap will be on the themes of hope, strength, courage, love, and self esteem. If you are in the Richmond area and would like to participate in the swap CLICK HERE for more information on the swap and how to sign up!