I adore Saturday mornings!

Yep it's true, Saturday mornings are the best!  I am a morning person.  It worked out perfectly when my boys were little, but as they grew I tried to stay up a little later with them and then sleep late in the morning.  Unfortunately, I just don't have it in me.  At about 6:30 every morning I just start to come alive.  How do I fill my quiet Saturday mornings?  One creative blog after another, of course!  Many of you have heard me say, "I subscribe to way to many blogs."  But for me the truth is I really can't get enough.  I have my email server set up to file all of my blog subscriptions as well as ads from stores like Michael's and Hobby Lobby into one folder.  Then on Saturday mornings I get up, fix myself a cup of coffee and read, read, read!  I usually copy and paste photos of my favorite projects into a word document and print them out to put in my art journals.  Last week after a click or two into one of my favorite blogs I found this quote...

"It seems to be one of the paradoxes of creativity that in order to think originally, we must familiarize ourselves with the ideas of others."  George Kneller

Honestly, I don't know who George Kneller is, but that explains exactly why I spend my Saturdays doing what I do!  It inspires me to be creative in my own way.
So when I found my latest journal full, I decided to use the quote on the cover of my new journal, here it is!

I can't wait to print all of my lovely finds from this morning and add them to the pages of this journal. 

Now I'm off to spend a little of this beautiful day in the yard with Jack and Joe.  Hopefully add a little color to these painfully white arms and legs I have acquired over the last few months!  Enjoy your weekend!

jamie

Don't forget to register for the February workshop!

Hi everyone!  Just a little reminder that Friday, Feb. 18th is the registration deadline for our workshop this month.  I know it's a little early, but I am ordering some of the products on line and so it requires a shipping period.  If you want to attend please let me know via comment here or email at jjjjmc@msn.com .  Thanks to everyone I have already heard from.

j

Happy Valentine's Day!

Hi everyone! 

I hope you have a little something special planned for you and your honey today.  Bodine and I exchanged gifts yesterday.  I'm not really a candy and flowers kind of girl and my boy knows it.  I was so excited to find two beading magazines and a really pretty pen in my gift bag!  Yeah!  I thought I would show you Bodine's wrapped rock (paper weight) and coordinating card and envie!

This is the decoupage rock I did for him a while back.  I started with a clear pillow box from www.clearbags.com .  I love to make my own packing papers by running printed papers through my crimper and then cutting them into strips.  Just a little added attention to detail -which I might add he doesn't notice, but that's fine with me.  He loved the rock.  Jacob even went on and on about how cool it was.  I may have to make him one for his dorm room, although the last time I was there it was such a wreck that I don't know if he would know what to do with it. :)

Here is the card I made with the same papers I used on rock. The ribbon is that crinkly seam binding - I love that stuff.  Below is a photo of the inside.  I have decided no more leaving the inside of cards blank.  It's not as hard as the outside of a card, just simple details that make a card or gift special.

And finally I stamped a little something on the outside of the envelope.  I really liked how it turned out, but wouldn't you know...my big puffy bow wouldn't fit in it!  Yikes!  I ended up using a clear envie which was kind of cool because the box I used was clear too.  Adapt, Adapt, Adapt - that's what being a preschool teacher for the last 15 years has taught me!

Enjoy your day!

jamie

Tag your it!

Our February workshop will be this cute little

tag and key chain set. 

This darling tag measures approximately 4" X 2 1/2", the key chain is 5" long including the ring.  The tag is made so that the key chain can be attached and given as a gift together, or keep the key chain for yourself and use the tag on another gift.

This is a great class if you are interested in learning some basic beading techniques.  For the beading portion you will learn about wire guards and how they protect your project and keep it neat and clean looking.  We will also have a quick lesson on crimping beads.  The bead design is all yours!  I will have a variety of beads and findings for you to choose from to make you key chain.

Workshop Details -

When: Friday, February 25th

Time: 7:00 - 9:00 pm

Where:  Jazzercise!  The Denton outlet mall at the intersection of I35 and loop 288.

Tools:  Basic paper crafting tool kit.  For the beading portion of the project it would be helpful for you to bring the following if you have them...needle nose pliers, round nose pliers, crimping tool, wire cutter.  (my needle nose pliers have a wire cutter built in)  I will have tools there for you to borrow if you are not sure you want to purchase them just yet.  If you are interested in purchasing them, Michael's carries a good set that includes them all and I would be happy to pass on a 40% off coupon to anyone who needs one.

Cost:  $13.00: Checks or cash can be brought or mailed to the house.  If you would prefer to use a credit card I can send you a paypal invoice.  Your payment holds your reservation.

RSVP/Payment Deadline: Friday, February 18th.

I am sooooo excited to teach a class combining two of my latest favorite techniques.

Queen Of Hearts!

I have tried many times during my life to change little (unchangeable) things about myself.  For instance,  I would love to be quiet and sweet  and every once in a while hold my tongue, but hard as I try, I find I am a loud, opinionated girl who likes to speak her mind.  Much like this cute little queen of hearts I purchased on etsy this past week.  Diane Duda has a great collection ACEO cards that work perfectly for embellishing cards and journals like this one.  Her work and other great artwork can be found at http://www.etsy.com/

The caption reads, "Never mind all that, just get

to the part where I loose my temper!"

Isn't she the cutest!  I guess it's okay to be a little bossy sometimes.  Especially if you get to wear red shoes and have a magic wand.  (Both of which I have and use almost daily)  I decided to save this little journal for all of my wonderful valentine ideas, clippings, favorite cards and photos. 

February workshop photos and information will be posted soon!  For now save the date...2/25/11.

Have a great night and thanks for stopping by,
jamie

SNOW DAY!

This has been the very best day ever!  Even though I was startled awake this morning at 4:00 am by the sound of sleet pounding on my house. I was warmed by the thought that school had already been canceled for the day and I could go right back to sleep.  When I finally did get up I thought to myself, "Well, this is an unexpected extra day at home...I could catch up on the laundry."  Then, when I stopped laughing I whipped out my stamping stuff and went crazy.  I had been wanting to make a valentine box with the new Sophia papers that the ups man brought last week, so that was my first order of business.  This box started out as a cardboard ribbon roll.  I pulled the top and bottom off and replaced them with a scalloped circle I cut on my "big kick".  Then I covered every inch of it with paper and embellished!  I am in love with this box.

close up of the top

box with the lid on top

I cut a smaller scalloped circle and used pop dots to attach if to the bottom of the lid.  Sorry no photo.  But it sticks out just far enough to keep the lid in place.  Just imagine if this little cutie was filled with Valentine M&Ms!

Now that brings me to another reason today has been so fabulous.  As many of you know, I follow the Weight Watchers Points program.  It has been so helpful to keep me eating right and at a weight I can live with.  But on snow days I have a no points policy.  It's nice to have a day to totally indulge on yummy treats.  It was so cold here today and I wanted something warm and sweet.  Blueberry Crisp was the answer.  By 2:00 this afternoon this was all Bodine and I had left behind.

And by 5:30 it was empty!  It was so good, but I'm glad it's gone!  The recipe is below and if I made it believe me you can too! This recipe serves 10-12.  I cut it in half for just the two of us.

4 or 5 cups of blueberries
1 Cup brown sugar
3/4 cup of flour
3/4 cup oats, uncooked
1/2 cup melted butter.

Spread washed blueberries in the bottom of a 2 quart pan (this stumped me a little, but I just used my loaf pan).  Mix dry ingredients and stir in melted butter.  Spread over berries. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.  YUM!

Stay warm,
Jamie