Weekend Scrapbooking Retreat Report

What a wonderful weekend! Lots of great time for scrapbooking, excellent food and most important, being surrounded by terrifically talented and awesome people. Gosh I love these weekends. Tons and tons of time to scrap, late night after late night, chick flick after chick flick, great food and fabulous fellowship.

I admit, my first few pages were very subpar...but it's been a long time since I've actually scrapped a page. So, I'm chaulking those up to "warm-up"... Once I finally got some mojo flowing, I was pretty happy with the end results. Although, my stack of completed work was far minimal compared to some of these gals who scrapped circles around me.

Thanks Mom....You rock in my book. I so appreciate all your hard work and dedication to pulling this together. I love and adore you.

(By the way girls...first to post! hahahaha)

Paper anyone?

With all the jewelry play I've been experimenting with, I realized how long it's been since I've worked with paper....my true medium of choice.

So, last weekend I had the chance to go play a little at Heather's house and although we didn't pull an all-nighter like we thought we would, we did have a chance to play and make some fun cards. I haven't done anything creative with paper in a long long time, so it seemed a little rough. But it has reawaken my desire to scrap and make cards.

With the scrapbook weekend retreat at mom's fast approaching, I think my goal this weekend will be to clean up my scrap space, put away some of the jewelry stuff for now and bring out the paper. I even had a few good photo's of Haley that are screaming to be scrapped.

Here's hoping the inspiration flows.....

Two weeks in...and loving it

I haven't posted about the new job because I keep meaning to go take some photos of the office / firehouse and post them. Well, so far that hasn't happened. Maybe I could just add ....

But that wouldn't be right now would it?

Here's a synopsis of my new job.... I am working for the Boulder County Sherrif's office. The small town of Superior sub contracts with the Boulder County Sherrif's office to provide a police force for their small community. I work with that force. I am the administrative person for the small sub-station.

Now, some might ask what does that have to do with fireman? Well, our small sub-station has a small three-room office in the firehouse. So, not only do I get to work with all the deputies, but I get to see and work around all the firemen as well. Now, what girl would not like that job? That's right ladies....eat your heart out!

More on the job later....

Fun stuff - Friendly Plastic w/ Rub-on's

So, while Linda Peterson was here she taught me this fun technique. She was taking white friendly plastic, using rub-ons on top and then using alcohol inks to add color to the piece. I loved the look (and by-the-way, got a wonderful prototype piece from her...), but tried it with a metalic silver piece of Friendly Plastic instead of the white. Here are some samples of the pendants I've made using this technique.

The metalic underneath the alcohol inks gives it almost a satin-like finish under the rub-ons. In fact, some of the pieces have a very Asian-silk-print-material-look to them. The photo's don't really do them justice.

I'm really liking the way these are turning out and looking for more innovative ways to use this fun medium.

Friends+Chocolate+Laughter=A Good Time

This was definitely a recipe for a wonderful night. It was filled with lots of giggles, laughter and admiration. I always enjoy my time with Kathy, Susan, Jen and Linda...but it was also a great night to make new friends, Tina and Peg. Add some chocolate fondue, a little spirits and it was definitely an evening to cheerish.

Another creative day

It's funny that I spent the better part of my day creating with Jen and Linda again today, but still don't have any finished projects to show for it. I'm not doing anything but playing and learning. But dang that's the fun of it.
So, Linda is working on the darndest, cutest dang thing I've very seen done with Friendly Plastic. I've only give you some teasers here...don't want to spoil her fun and give it away. You'll have to check out her blog, or the FP blog for the finished project. But take my word for it, you'll be amazed!

I ended up with several "in the works" projects. I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do to finish them off. The butterflies look like they would be a terrific embelly on a card or journal. So, they might fly that way.

I've got a bracelet or two going as well. But haven't finished it.

And this piece? I'm loving the way it's turning out, but not quite sure what I'll do with it once I finish it. Any suggestions?


Last night I couldn't wait to play...So, I headed off to my local hobby store and bought up some strips of plastic. Here's what I did just playing for an hour or two with some strips and some alcohol inks. Not bad for my first attempts, but I have a lot to learn.

In the presence of greatness

What do you get when you put two amazing, creative minds together in one well-stocked studio?

You get innovative pieces of beautiful

artwork, ideas bouncing off of the walls, giggles, yawns, stories and a lot of mess.

I just wanted to stay and soak it all up.

I don't have any innovative ideas, I don't have the expertise in the product and I haven't had the time to sit and play for hours. So, I just go to soak it all up. Feel the creative juices flowing, learn and be inspired.

Linda said "No head shots" - so I didn't get any photos of her tonight...but I snapped a few of Jen. She's just lucky the butt photos stayed out of this blog entry.

I get to play play play with them on Sunday. I am so excited to have a day to enjoy, create, learn and soak it up.

Thanks Linda and Jen - I'm am in awe when in your presence.