11.7 Trek

I haven't taken a lot of crafting classes lately. Mostly because of guitar. That doesn't mean my paper crafting has taken a back seat, well not really...maybe just a little...but I've chosen to spend my ducats on lessons instead of crafting. Besides, I pretty much know most the techniques and have all the supplies for crafting.

I've known Debby Schuh since 2006. She lives in New York and tries to come to the Bay Area a few times a year. I missed her this spring and summer, but finally caught up with her this Saturday. Doris and I had dinner with her before her evening class.

She taught a beautiful travel album, which I'm hoping to use next year if we go on another road trip.

11.1 Gratitude Month

My favorite scrapbook store in the bay area has had a lot of guest teachers and designers from around the globe come to teach and demonstrate lately. Tonight, Teresa Collins, a popular designer and artist in the industry, came and taught a 3 1/2 hour project. Fittingly, she showed us her Gratitude Journal and gave us all the materials to create one of our own.

Once again, as I try to do every November, I'll post every day, keeping with the topic of gratitude. Thankful for what may have happened during the day, recognition for what may have happened in the past, grateful for whatever the future may bring. I've enjoyed doing this little tradition in the past, it helps me focus on the positive and ultimately shines a brighter light for the next day to come.

Saturday Crafting

Saturday morning, Doris and I went to our local scrapbook store in Berkeley to take a fun class with Amy Tangerine, a popular scrapbook artist from Los Angeles.

We made this cute little album.

I had to finish adding all the photos when I got home since I didn't bring photos to class with me.

And So It Begins! {December Daily 1}

Ah...another daily challenge...this one I'm sure I will stick to. I've done this a few years in the past and it's a good way for me to keep track of what's happening during this month of holiday madness.

This is the album I'll be collecting each of my daily momentos and blatherings. Debby Schuh showed us how to make this album in November. I love when she comes to town in the fall and shares a Christmas album. It's like having a friend come to visit and share her creativity. It's hard to believe that I've known her for over 5 years already.

Every other Thursday, I have appointments in the south bay. Today, I also spent some time crafting with my friend Julie. She worked on her Christmas cards and I worked on a rag edged quilt. It's almost done, just need to rag the edges and toss it in the washer and dryer. I'm glad I worked on this at Julie's because I haven't made one in 2 years so she helped me remember how to put it all together.

I also dropped off some cards I made for a card exchange I participate in at the local scrapbook store in San Jose. I made 7 of these for the exchange and I'll get 7 different ones back.

Lastly, a fun and silly photo: Probably the cheapest gas I've gotten this year!

11.5.11 Scrapbooking at the Island

Class with Debby Schuh at Scrapbook Island this weekend.

hoping to commit to posting a photo a day for the rest of the month.

On The Table 4

Today was a good day. I've been sick. Again. For more than a week. But today was the 1st day that I finally felt, oh...maybe 95%.

I felt well enough to get together with my crafty friends. Actually, I've been out and about since Thursday. Perhaps I really shouldn't have been. But I had 3 full at home resting days and I just couldn't let life pass me by any longer. Ok, I have to admit that I think I got one of my close friends sick (sorry Doris!) and Jimmy's now sick, also. Haven't heard from Elizabeth yet, but I hope she's ok because I gave it to her the last time. I warned her this time, but she said she wasn't worried about it.

Anyhoo, that's why I missed my San Francisco Friday post. Just wasn't feeling up to it. Even though I still went out and crafted. With Doris. Thus her not feeling quite right today.

Let's get back to the topic, shall we?

On the Table!
Tonight, Sharon showed us how to make a cute accordion origami folded mini album. This is my finished album. The 1st photo is her sample.

Untie the ribbon and it opens up into this cute 3"x3" accordion album. Cool reflection on the marble counter top, huh?

Here's another view of it kind of from above without the distracting reflection.

Wanna make one, too? Sharon got her inspiration from here.

Crafty Christmas Friends {December Daily 6}

a small group of crafting friends got together tonight to celebrate the holidays, eat some good food and do a small gift exchange. Another fun Christmas tradition that I've been blessed with for at least 10 years.

I also had a little bit of time today to add some photos to my December Daily album...

Day 2: My crazy day where every hour was filled

Day 3: 1st day with John and Roni visiting from Alaska

Day 4: 2nd day with John and Roni...pic of the brothers at the GG Bridge.

Day 5: Yuen's Christmas Cookie Party

The Countdown Begins {December Daily 1}

It's that time of the year again! 25 more days till Christmas and you know that the time will go by way too fast. And many days, if not most of them, will be filled more with frustration rather than joy. As much as we love celebrating the spirit of Christmas, we all too often find ourselves kinda grinchy because of all the pressure we put on ourselves. So it's time to step back from the chaos and take a few moments to document these days. Sounds like more pressure, yes? But I have so much fun looking back on my December Daily minibook from last year that in the end, it truly was worth it.

In October, I took a class from Debby Schuh and we made this album. I decided to use it as my album to document my days of December. I'll add pages as I go and embellish the ones that we created in class.

In the class, we made this pocket as a place to store our Christmas Wish List. I decided to change it and make it my 1st day of December pocket of goodness. LOL.

I added a bit of journaling about the day and 3 photos I took while I was out.

They just slip right into the pocket.

All I had to do to finish this page was print the 3 photos then write and print out my journaling.
Tah-dah! December 1st finished and documented!

Also, I have to include this song. While I was in Macy's today it came on and it made me smile and think of a dear bloggy friend. It was a part of my day that made me happy.
¿Donde Esta Santa Claus?

Pocket Portfolio

This is a little project I taught at stamp club a few months ago.

When you slide off the band, it opens the tri-folded portfolio.

It reveals 3 pockets (created out of 3 business-sized envelopes trimmed and decorated) that swing open like pages in a book.

Each pocket has a tabbed card that pulls out. You can put photos, recipes, love notes or journaling in each pocket.

I got the idea online here. She gives great step by step directions.

SD30: Team Alice

Didja know that today was the premier of the 3rd installment of the Twilight movies?

I was late to jump on the Twilight bandwagon and truthfully I'm pretty sure I fell when I tried jumping on. I've read the first 2 books and saw the first 2 movies. But I s.t.r.u.g.g.l.e.d with both books and only finished them just get some kind of closure to the stories.

I watched the movies and they were entertaining enough because they were only 2 hours each rather than the 2 months it took me to read the 2 books. But after finishing the 2nd book, I realized that I was curious enough to watch the movies, but not dedicated enough to spend that much time reading them.

And I was patient enough to wait till the movie came out on video...
Or so I thought!
When Kristin asked if I wanted to see the movie on opening day, I couldn't say no. I mean, really, the draw of the wolf vs the vampire was too strong.

All kidding aside, I had a lot of fun. We joked around about Team Edward vs Team Jacob but I finally decided that I was gonna jump on the Team Alice bandwagon.

I know, most of you have no idea what the heck I'm talking about. So I'll start to wrap it up, lol.

As it turns out, I thought it was the better of the 3 movies. It was entertaining and fun hanging out with a friend.

Afterwards, I took a class at one of the local scrapbook stores that created a minibook album dedicated to the movie.
The original minibook was filled with photos of Bella, Edward and Jacob - or to my non-twilight reading friends: the human, the vampire and the wolf.

I like the style of the album but I'll just do my own theme and add my own photos and embellishments.

It was a fun day completely full of twilight goodness. Enough to last me till the next movie comes out next year!

SD26: twenty four hours

In the past 24 hours, I've

-driven nearly 3 hours back to the bay area.
-left Jimmy at the cabin without a car.
-made & ate popcorn.
-slept just under 5 hours.
-took a 4-hour class from friend Erin.
-scarfed a quick kinda healthy lunch.
-packed the car.
-volunteered at the San Mateo Buddhist Temple Bazaar.
-watched friends Deanna and Sharon perform Taiko.
-served 100 bowls of udon.
-scarfed a quick not so healthy dinner.
-drove nearly 3 hours back to the hideaway.
-used every bit of willpower to not stop and get Cold Stone ice cream on the way.
-enjoyed an 80cal jamba juice frozen yogurt bar as soon as I got to hideway
-and 3 or 4 apricots yummy apricots from friend Doris.

Summer Daily 11: Razzle Dazzle Shabby Flowers

I'm still on a crafting high after an evening at Elizabeth's making this supah kute album.
The shabby flower is definitely the focus of the album...
but the inside pages are pretty darn cute, also.

Thanks Elizabeth for a fun evening and the yummy treats, too!

Summer Daily 9: Beautiful Girls

Doris and I took a class with Suzy West in San Carlos tonight. I've missed Suzy so it was great seeing her and taking a fun and as always, energetic class with her.
We made this cute little mixed-media minibook using canvas, chipboard and acrylic pages.

Here are a few of my favorites parts:

Using a mini-baking cupcake type liner as a flower.
Learning how to make french knots.

Altered and distressed roses.

Fun paper pleating.
_

Calendar, check. Cards, check. {Daily December 19}

It's 11:45pm and I never even left the house today. Didn't even check the mail. I suppose I should and will as soon as I'm finished here. But I'm feeling much relief because all of the calendars are printed and bound and all my Christmas cards are signed, sealed and stamped, ready to be mailed on Monday, which hopefully means they'll get to their destinations by the 24th. I'm not sure I've ever mailed my cards this late. I still need to wrap presents, but I'm not even worried about those because i can always wrap them right before Santa comes down the chimney. Can you believe I went this whole holiday season without ever going to the mall? Yay me!
_

I see the light {Daily December 18}

I think I finally see a light at the end of the tunnel. I finished the yearly family calendar at 5pm tonight. Now we just need to print and bind 13 copies before Sunday night. I wanted to get my Christmas cards in the mail today, but that didn't happen. I'm working on them now and watching Elf. Elf will bring me back in the Christmas spirit. I'm counting on it.

Maybe now I'll be able to sleep.
_