Registration Deadline for March workshop is Tomorrow - Wednesday

Hello everyone out there!  Just a quick note to remind you about the workshop deadline tomorrow, March 23.  It's going to be a fun one, so be sure that you get your registration in soon.

Can't post without some kind of artwork so here you go...I decided to keep all of my Christmas sketches and ideas together and wanted a Christmas journal, but not the Christmas that knocks you over with red and green.  This was the end result, nothing like the blueprint that I started with, of course.

Hope to see you at the workshop on Friday!

Have a great night,

jamie

March Workshop Project & Details

Hi everyone!  I hope your spring break has been as great as mine.  I love it when you have enough time to do the things you need to do, plus lots of time to do the fun stuff.  That's why I am a little late getting the details for our March workshop posted - I was having way too much fun this week!!  But here it is... first things first though,

Jana Baker if you are reading this before Sunday, March 20, Close this now!  It will spoil your birthday gift!!  :)

If you are not Jana, scroll down to see all the photos and details for the project.

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I have had several requests for this cute little stationary box ever since we started back to workshops in January.  There will be a couple of color choices available.   A limited number of packets with each color scheme will be available.  Arrive a little early to get the first pick. 

Above is the box with lid closed. Next is the view of the open box with cards and tags.  This box holds 2 (A2 - invitation size) cards and envelopes, 2 (3"X2") gift tags, and 2 (3"X3") enclosure cards.  In addition it has a built in book for recording birthdays and special days and holds a small book of stamps.

Close up of A2 size card and inside.

Close up of second A2 card and inside.

Close up of the 3"X3" enclosure cards, and insides.

Close up of the birthday book and postage holder.

Close up of gift tags.

Yep!  We are going to make all of this!  Can you believe it?  I hope you can join us.

Date:  Friday, March 25

Project:  Stationary box shown in this post

Place: Jazzercise of Denton (let me know if you need directions)

Cost:17.00  Please let me know if you would like me to email you a paypal invoice.

RSVP deadline:  Wednesday, March 23

Supplies needed: Basic paper crafting tool kit, a needle and about 20" of nuetral thread, your sponge dauber and distressing ink if you like to ink distress your stamping projects and the following will help you have great success with this project. 

1. Terrifically Tack Tape - That super sticky red double sided adhesive tape.  If you have non stick scissors they are really great with this product.  If not be sure that you have a pair of scissors that are for cutting this tape only.  It can get messy!

2.  Small glue dots - I used the "mini Dot n Go" glue dots.  I got them at Michael's (who also carries the super sticky red tape.)  These glue dots are perfect for adhering all of the little rhinestones in this project.

This is a super fun project - When you are finished you will have 2 (A2) cards and envelopes, 2 enclosure cards, 2 gift tags and a box to store them in that includes a birthday book and postage storage.

Have a great weekend & Thanks for checking in today!

jamie

Spring Break, imagine the possibilities!

I woke up yesterday with the wide eyed enthusiasm of a teacher with an entire week off ahead of her, to create what ever she can image.  And boy could I imagine...I planned a little do-it-yourself studio organization project and I commited to imurse myself in creativity by working my way through my list projects from my Saturday morning blog reading session.  By noon I discovered after 5 coats of black spray paint my do-it-yourslef project was going to take a little more time (brush and bucket of paint time) to finish and when I went to print my lovely list of projects collected from blogs that morning I found myself with 35, yes I said 35 pages of projects.  I don't like to be a downer, but this list would be daunting for Martha Stuart!  So I was thrilled to find a few emails requesting the pattern for the crochet glasscases in my last post.  I'm not giving up on my lists and project, but it was nice to have a distraction for a little bit.  I usually just crochet as I go and don't tend to write down patterns.  Which can be tricky when I love something I made and I want to make it again.  Ugh!  I started a new case yesterday and acctually wrote the pattern as I worked. (Clap for yourself Miss Jamie) If you are some kind of crochet expert, I am going to ask you to look away now - I have never written a pattern and this might be a little scary for those who are pros, never the less here it is.

Supplies:
1 ball of cotton yarn (I use "I love this yarn", it's super soft)
crochet hook: the one I used says USI9, 5.5MM (I have no idea what this means, it is just the hook that I had that best fit the yarn I used - see why I asked the pros to look away?  They would be in tears right now!)

Pattern:
Chain 12

Round 1: Beginning in the second chain from the end, single crochet in the next 10 stitches,  In the last stitch work 3 single crochet.  Work 1 single crochet in the back loop of the oringinal 8 chain stitches.  Work 2 single crochet in back of last chain. 

Now you should be back at the first single crochet.

The following rounds just continue in a spiral adding length to the case.

Round 2 - ? :  single crochet in each stitch until you have the case about 1" shorter that you would like the finished product to be, I usually have a pair of glasses handy so that I can measure.

Round ? - ? : Chain 2 then double crochet in each stitch all the way around.

Finish off with 2 rounds of single crochet.  Tie off and weave ends through.

I would love to know if anyone out there can follow this.

Picture for reference

I have had some requests for a basic crochet workshop - I would love to hear from you if you are interested.  If I have enough to participate I will add it to the calendar.

Enjoy your break - and learn from an expert...don't make your fun list to long!!
jamie

Nothing is certain in art, at least in my studio!

Promises, promises.  I should never end a post with next time I will... - It's not that I  don't want to follow through, it's just that for me a plan to make something never ends with that same idea.  Last week I posted the bingo get well card, I said I would be trying some girly stamping with the set and post it when finished.  Well, I sat down and started out with a plan to do just that and this is what I ended up with...
                               
Surprise!  It's not a bingo card, not even a little close.  But I love it just the same!  I crocheted this little eyeglass case to go with it and I am truly in love. 

And so it went that day of stamping, filled with button cards, bows and eyeglass cases.

Those of you who teach preschool know that we always say it is about process, not product and so now I see that is the case for me.  I love to have something in mind as I get started, but the real treat is to see the evolution from the first idea to the finished product.  How about you?  Do you start with a plan and follow it to a tee, or do you wind down a wandering path and see where it leads you?

Would love to hear about your creative process! 

Have a great weekend,
jamie

Oh What a Week!

I definitely try not to wish my life away...but I am really ready for tomorrow.  This has been the busiest week of the year by far here at the McCormick household.  Bodine has been in Destin, FL. on his annual golf trip, so with one less driver, a few very poorly planned doctor visits and the opportunity to sub on Thursday I am really glad that the weekend has arrived.  I was busy today catching up around the house after the crazy week, but wanted to share a  project with you before the glorious day of rest I have planned for tomorrow.

This little card is one I made for my son Jacob.  He is away at Tyler Jr. College right now.  I have to say the transition to college has been pretty smooth for us.  Bodine and I were just so excited for Jacob and all that his future holds that we didn't have a lot of drama surrounding his leaving.  Aside from the occasional call that goes, "I don't know what happened!  I had money in my account and then a few days later I didn't!" (which I understand is pretty common)  everything was great until last week.  Jacob called from the TJC nurses office - he's a boy so that should explain the next part - he was sick, he didn't know what he had, they gave him a prescription, for what?  He didn't know.  For me Tyler suddenly felt 100,000 miles away.  Don't get me wrong, those of you who know me know that I am not the kind of mom that lets her children lay their head in her lap while I dab it with a cool rag.   But,  I just wanted him to be sick here, in his own bed, where I could at least check in every so often.  Anyway, I made it through the first bump in the road and he did too.  He is busily planning his spring break trip and feels back to his old self.   Masculine is really not my area of expertise, but I think I like how it turned out. 

This is the inside, I wrapped the ribbon around the inside of the card so that I had a little spot to stash some cash and a gift card.

I really love this new Bingo Alphabet set from CTMH.  It comes with a ton of stamps A-Z letters, numbers 0-9, a heart, star, circle and "free" to mark the center, and the grid.  I almost forgot it comes with a cute little flourish too.  I will include a pic of the set in my next post. I plan to spend some of my day off tomorrow stamping.  I am going to use this set with some very girly papers.  I am hoping to be amazed by the versatility of this stamp set.

Toodles for now!

Jamie