Alter This

Surprised??!!

So I know what you're all thinking -

"OMG she's finally updating her blog!".

Sorry to dissapoint you all but this is not Cheryl - it's her friend, Dawn. I am hijacking her blog! 

Some of you may know me, I help Cheryl in her classes (usually getting thrown under the bus for something missing from a kit!) (;  

Cheryl and I have known each other for several years. We have alot of laughs together. We come from similar backgrounds and share several things in common: Chocolate, papercrafting, chocolat, Blue Moon, el chocolate, photography, la cioccolata, shopping, schokolade (are you sensing a pattern here?)

We have also shared many adventures. I like to compare us to:

Lucy & Ethel

   

Laverne & Shirley

and

Thelma & Louise

For those who know Cheryl, let's have a little fun! Leave a comment on who you think represents Cheryl the best in each pair. 

I will share some of our adventures as the weeks go by (unless Cheryl changes her password and locks me out!).

I am also going to help her get more kits up on her blog so you can create some of her beautiful projects at home. If you are lucky enough to have Cheryl coming to a store near you, make sure you take a class. If your even luckier and she is teaching close to home then you will get to be entertained by both of us!

In true Cheryl tradition,  I end this post with a quote:

"A best friend is a sister that destiny forgot to give you!"   

Is this thing on?

I know, I know, I am sooo bad at updating my blog ....geesh. Everytime i post i vow to keep up with this little olde blog of mine and then my life gets all crazy and well i don't blog. I have to be honest though finding time to post a quick hello, or where i am teaching, or the "assistants" photos are sooo much quicker on Facebook. So if you want more frequent updates visit me there!  Updating to Facebook is so easy - most days I do it from my phone! 

Now onto some updating - shall we?

Lots of emails asking where i am and where i am going (concerns over my lack of blogging)?I have been home since Christmas {well other than two weeks in California in Jan/Feb}.  I have enjoyed my relaxing time with my family and friends!  The "assistants" are getting soo  big!   They love to watch Toy Story and Monsters, Inc, laughing when i recite a line or two {watched these way too many times}  In fact, they love Toy Story so much i bought them both a talking Woody - which they take to bed on their sleepover nights!  

Here are a few photos from this past weekend!

 

Braeden and Brody....

Serious Brody

Silly Braeden

These two are so fun to be with - they are still not talking much but they do sign to us...and i love that!  They have a whole life ahead to be chatty so i am fine with their twin language until then!

My time home is about to come to an end...i leave Easter night {after moving my oldest son to his new apt} for California for a few days.  I will be bouncing around between 7 states over the next few weeks - coming home for a few days at a time. 

Here are a few of the classes i will be teaching:

Birdhouse altered book is one of my newest dies from Accucut Craft!

I am using the new BG Curio collection with new Petaloo Flowers, May Arts Ribbons and Luminarte paints!

Butterfly Album is another die from Accucut Craft!

This time i am using the new Mable Collection from My Minds Eye, Petaloo flowers,and Luminarte!

Altered Inspired Butterfly Canvas Album uses the new Petaloo flowers, Memory Box stamps, IOD Devotion and Luminarte paints!  A really fun class with lots of techniques!

And the gorgeous new IOD Beach Cottage is the base of this Envelope book!

You can find me here

Cat's Creations - April 27- May 1st {texas}

She Scrapbooks - May 6 & 7th {Florida}

Whole Lotta Scrap - May 12-18 {Oklahoma}

Scrapbook N Such - May 19-21 {texas}

Okay signing off I have a concert to attend - one of my favorites {perhaps you have heard him on my blog?} James Blunt {swoon}at the House of Blues!! And if that is not enough Christina Perri will be prior to him!

Til then keep creating those memories!

Blessings

Cheryl

 

Honey....

As most of you know, ever since the assistants were infants, we have kept them overnight a couple of days a week.  Even with my hectic travel, we still try to maintain this schedule with them. 

Yesterday they arrived for their Thursday sleepover {Tuesday this week as Thursday is their birthday}. After changing them and giving them breakfast, Braeden hugged me and finally called me "Honey" {a name for grammy}. 

Melt.my.heart! 

 

Assistants at the Zoo with Stef!

Last day of August!

It is hard to imagine my life without these two adorable boys.  It is even more difficult knowing they will be turning two in only 9 days, where has the time gone?

I am so focused on remembering everything about their first two years with hundreds, okay thousands of photos of every milestone! This past Summer has been wonderful with my new camera and these two moving so fast I have managed to take nearly 10,000 photos. Yikes!

Here are a few favorites over the past couple of weeks!

 

bye bye!

 

Braeden

Brody

New haircuts!!! Brody looking adorable!

Playing at the beach this past weekend - perfect weather!

These two love the water

 

Grampy making sandcastles...:)


A quiet moment.

And those quiet moments will be getting shorter - these two are starting to talk. Some words this past weekend, brother, momma, boat, ball, thank you, Braeden. 

I am grateful to have enjoyed most of the Summer with these two with only a few weeks of travel.  That being said, my travel schedule is about to take off, so for now i am going to treasure all these great moments over the past few weeks and keep them close while i am away.

I have received quite a few emails to purchase kits -- thank you for your support.  I will be adding some more later today -- be sure to check out my sidebar.  I am also updating all the stores that i will be visiting - thank you for all the requests to teach I am honored!

Have a blessed day!

It is that time of the year!

Love this time of year when all the new scrapbooking products start being released! All the excitement to see each collection and new tools! I am looking forward to the CHA show, so if you are at the show make sure you drop by and say hello - i will be  working for Creative Imaginations demoing in our booth!

I have been busy creating with some of the new products for both Creative Imaginations and Petaloo! And in my spare time {ahem} i have managed to create 3 new dies for Accucut!

The first two are my new Album builder dies and are truly one of a kind! Layer on the shapes for an amazing 3-D effect.

 

This album can be fall or Halloween just by switching out the front layering piece.

 

My second 3-D layering die ~ Snowflake Album!

The album building die series allows you to purchase only the front covers as the inside die {shown below} remains consistent for each of the books. 

And my new "family" tree die that is 3-D as well! The die allows you to layer the top of the tree add little birds! This sample i used Creative Imagination's new wood veneer and ran it through the Tim Holtz bark embossing folder for an even more realistic trunk! I added our new cinnamon brown Luminarte dauber to color the wood and bring out the dimension!

 

 

I can't wait to head off to Chicago and the excitement at the show! 

Marah Johnson and myself will be co-teaching a class using my flower album die and lots and lots of IOD loolah,Christine Adolph Boho Girl, Petaloo's beautiful flowers and the gorgeous luminarte product!

 

The details for this class and others can be seen here.

And I can't leave you without posting some favorite photos of the assistants..

 

Fascinated with the ants....kept them busy for awhile.

 

Brody...:)

Lookout!!

Braeden waving goodbye to Brody!

 

Have a blessed day!

 

July already?

Time is certainly flying by....June went by way too quick.  I love everything about Summer, warm weather, days spent at the beach, spending time with family and friends and cookouts!  In my opinion our Summer Season is far too short, I find myself wanting the days to slow down a bit! 

I am happy to have the ability to enjoy the Summer with my family until the end of the month when my teaching/traveling schedule starts back up!  I always loved reading during the Summer and just finished the book "Prayers for Sale" - loved it and highly recommend it for your Summer read.  Right now I am enjoying "Three Cups of Tea" [was recommended by a friend].  I am a fast reader and was thinking of dusting off that library card of mine and head over to what used to be a favorite hang out for me! snicker...  What are some of your favorite books you are reading this Summer? 

Summer also means that CHA is just around the corner.  I have been creating with some of the beautiful new products that Creative Imaginations will be releasing at the show - look for the sneak peeks on the Creative Imaginations blog later this week! And look for a big announcement and link to our new Petaloo blog! 

Lot of great things planned with some fun challenges, giveaways and sneak peeks of their amazing new products!!

This fourth of July was incredible, we were lucky to have really warm temperatures, and lots and lots of sun!  I love to look over photos from the previous year and came acorss this photo from last fourth of July  - can't believe how much the boys have changed.  They are going to be two this September and have lost their 'baby' look. 

 

July 4, 2009

 

July 4, 2010

More favorites from this past weekend!

 

Braeden telling a tale to Brody {in twin language}

 

The cutest face.....

 

Braeden pointing {which means i am going to take off on you}

 

Brody giving himself a "mudd facial"...

 

Brody has his eye on Samuele's ice tea...

Beach bums!

QOTD:  "I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way - Things I had no words for". ~ Georgia O'Keefe

Check back soon for some sneak peeks...

Until then, have a blessed day!

I am back!

I am not even going to start this blog post and mention my inability to update my blog...i am just going to move on and write about what makes me happy, hmmmfph!  Those of you that have sent me emails letting me know the # of days since my last post...you crack me up! 

Since March i have traveled quite a bit, Florida, minnesota, texas, oklahoma to name a few.  I enjoy this part of my job so much - creating and meeting fabulous ladies who share the same love of papercrafting! A huge thank you to everyone for their support of my classes.

I am home now until mid July enjoying my family, the beautiful Summer days, my two adorable "assistants" and lots of creating!  CHA is just around the corner so I am working with Creative Imaginations new releases which by the way are FABULOUS!  Last week I sent over some drawings for some new dies with Accucut! Very excited about this release - I just wish i could share some sneak peeks - unfortunately it will have to wait a few weeks as I have been sworn to secrecy!

This weekend I am teaching at Right at home Scrapbooking for their summer retreat getaway! It is hard to believe it has been nearly a year since i have taught at RAH!  I am looking forward to spending some time scrapbooking with friends, demoing our new Luminarte paints, and teaching two classes!  The first class, Inspired traveler uses the new Art Warehouse collection and some fun techniques!

 

My second class, All Things Grow with Love, starts with my new accucut petal flower die, Brand New IOD Loolah Collection and Petaloo's gorgeous flowers!  

 

If you have not visited the Creative Imaginations blog lately then you are certainly missing out! Each month we are offering two prize packages for 2 winners. What do you have to do you ask? Just create either a layout or card {or both} using our card and/or layout sketch using at least 80% CI product and post it in either our June card gallery or our June layout gallery! 

And of course a post is not a post without my two assistants! I received a new camera for my birthday {a beautiful new Canon SLR}, so i have been spending some time learning all the new settings.  Here are a few favorites from Father's Day!

 

One of my favorites from the day.....Brody {left}

 

Braeden taking advantage of his brother ...it backfired a bit. :)

 

3 balls and they have to wrestle for one.

Braeden and his silly faces.

Mirror image?  Love this photo
 

Sweet Brody.....

Have a blessed day!

QOTD:  "Focusing on what we already have and are grateful for right now is one of the most powerful things we can do to alter our life in a positive way." ~ Mike Robbins

Spring is in the Air!

After nearly 10" of rain this past weekend, I am very happy to see some sunshine and warm weather to dry up some of the big puddles...errr small ponds that we have left in New England! 
With 60 degree weather, It feels like Spring and looks like Spring, but I have lived here long enough to know tomorrow can bring 2 ft of snow around here...*sigh*. 

The past few days I have been busy creating some classes for my very full teaching schedule.  With Spring here {unofficially}, Summer is only around the corner.  I couldn't resist creating a new class using Christine Adolph's new Oceana and our new wood veneer.  "Under the Sea" is a fun beach house {about 8-1/2" high} that incorporates all the beautiful blues, corals and greens and a wood roof!! The base of this book was created using the arrow die from accucut as well as several other new accucut releases including waves from my beach pail die!

I will be teaching "Under the Sea" at the following stores, Everything Scrapbook & Stamps in Lake Worth Florida April 9 or 10th {call the store for times} and Scrappy Boutique  in Orlando, Sunday, April 11th.  I will be posting sneak peeks of the others  classes later this week! 

Yesterday was an Accucut shipment day! And guess what was included? My new flower die!

 

 

Just a reminder i will be teaching two classes during the Tim Collins Spring Show in Framingham on Friday, March 26th {open to retailers only}. Here is a sneak peek of the Birthday class below.  I used the CI Studio Basics Birthday Line, new wood veneers and beautiful Petaloo flowers!

 

I will also be teaching for Colorful Creations on Saturday, March 27 - two classes! Classes are getting pretty full....check with the store directly for availability!

Okay off to create...but of course i must post a few photos of the "assistants".

 

Happy Spring everyone!

QOTD:  " A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing." ~ George Bernard Shaw

Signs of Spring!

I admit it, i really dislike the cold and although i love that I live in an area that has four Seasons, i get sick of Winter really fast. I would like to live somewhere that has only 3 Seasons...:) 

The last couple of days I woke up to a bright and sunny day --- i could even hear a few birds chirping, a sure sign that Spring is around the corner! And for this gal, Spring can not come soon enough!

All this sunny weather makes this girl create and that is exactly what i have been up to! Lots of new classes being designed with Creative Imaginations new collections and of course our gorgeous new Luminarte and wood veneer!  If you have not heard, Creative Imaginations bought luminarte and reformulated the product and the results are even more amazing!  Paperclipping video taped our wood demo at the show...you can check it out here.  And see some fabulous sample cards made with our wood by Jessica Witty here.

Speaking of new products I was asked to create a one-of-a-kind project for a Breast Cancer crop at Gigi's Scrapbookin in Foley Alabama! I used all the leftover pieces from my CHA projects from the new Art Warehouse "Inspired Traveler" collection to alter a wooden travel box.  Each of the patterned papers were sewn onto a sheet of thin paper and glued to the wooden travel case.  I was very happy with how the project turned out and hope the winner bidder was also!  Being a cancer survivor, I was thrilled to help Gigi raise money at her event -- I hope in my lifetime that a cure for this horrible disease is found. 

 

I am working on my upcoming classes but wanted to post a couple of places that I will be for the next few weeks. 

Saturday, February 20th I will be teaching one class at A Time for Memories in Grafton Mass - i am looking forward to my first class evah at their store! My class starts at 11 and I will be demoing a bit after the class using our new Wood Veneer! 

Friday and Saturday, February 26&27th I will be teaching two classes at Croptopia Getaways in Mystic Connecticut! It is not too late to sign up for to attend Mystic Croptopia Weekend or check out one of her other upcoming events including two cruise - Cruise to Bermuda, October 9-14th and Cruise to Carribean, October 17-24th!

I am so excited to be headed to Pictures in Time  March 4-6th!  Janet and her staff are so warm and welcoming {hoping the warm part carries over to their weather} ! I am teaching three classes while I am there and also demoing some fabulous products!  Sign up quick...classes are filling up.

Colorful Creations Crop on the Cape! Thursday, March 25-Sunday, March 28th!  I excited to be coming back to each for my second year with Colorful Creations for their "Crop on the Cape".  This is their 11th annual Crop on the Cape at the Resort and Conference Center in Hyannis! The Resort & Conference Center is an luxurious four-season resort located in the picturesque village of Hyannis.  The resort is only minutes away from Colorful Creations!  I am teaching two classes - you can sign up for all classes here.

And I am super excited to teach with Marah Johnson in Italy in July!  The art retreat will be held at a 1,000 year old monastery.  You can see all the information here!  Want to join us? We are going to have so much fun!  

And you have to check out the Creative Imaginations blog - our new February sketch is up and we are looking for you to post your work! Just use 80% CI products and follow the sketch and you could win nice prize package! Upload your projects in our Sketch Gallery.  This month's sketch ends February 28th.

And a few photos from the uncooperative assistants{tried desperately to get some good shots for valentines day...}Had a talk about being good photo subjects, obviously it went out the window....these are the best ones of the bunch!

 

QOTD:  "We can't all be heroes because somebody has to sit on the curb and clap as they go by." ~ Will Rogers

"Smooth Seas do not make skillful sailors" ~ anonymous

and "Happy are those who dream dreams and are ready to pay the price to make them come true" ~ Leon J. Suenes

 

How not to blog....

Over a month ...that is how long it has been since i blogged...arrgh! I honestly think that it is so much easier to just update on facebook with a quick comment!  I am so busy right now {love being busy}so I am going to post a quick update and then work on updating regularly {i know, i know i always say that}.  Keeping this quote on my monitor to remind myself it is okay to be a blog loser “There is no failure except in no longer trying. "~ Elbert Hubbard {Elbert my hero}

This time of the year is always pretty crazy! Lots of work preparing for CHA Winter. We are posting some really great sneak peeks over on the Creative Imaginations blog.  In addition to lots of great collections releasing from Marah Johnson, Christine Adolph, Art Warehouse, Creative Cafe, we are introducing some fun products to highlight these great collections. Wood Veneer, Cutables, and Luminarte to name a few - and a surprise new product to be show in our booth!

In addition to CHA sneak peeks on the CI blog, we have started some new weekly and monthly challenges and want to have you participate!  Monday inspiration is a weekly event that is an opportunity to show your work on our blog! If you have used CI products and want to see yourself and your work shown on an upcoming Monday why not upload your work into our gallery.  Right now we are looking for your work using the January sketch , just use CI products and follow the sketch and you could be our guest designer and win our giveaway of products!

My CHA class shown here will be Friday, 1:00-3:00, you can sign up here.  I am so excited to share our new products during this class, lots of techniques!  Creative Imaginations has lots of make and takes scheduled during the consumer show {in local booths} with some of our Artists as well as the retail show.   Come by the All American Crafts booth #820 on friday 4:30-6:00 and make this Creative Cafe tag make and take! 

 

Personally this month has been full of excitement and surprises! In addition to working with Creative Imaginations as their design team coordinator {i love this company} I will also be taking on the same position with Petaloo! The combination of these two companies is perfect and I am looking forward to 2010!  I am working with Petaloo to establish a design team, build a blog and create a gallery over the next several weeks! Stay tuned for more on Petaloo and their gorgeous flowers, jewels and die-cutable papers.  In the meantime, you can view a couple of projects using our new releases and Petaloo flowers on the layout below and on the CI blog.

 
Christine Adolph's new Oceana Collection {the photo is my friend, Susan's daughters}.

And I am sooo excited to release another die with Accucut! My new flower book is a fun and interactive altered book that will be perfect for the Spring and Summer! This is a sneak peek and the book is not on the site yet, you can however, see the rest of my dies that are available here.   

This year has been filled {so far} with so much joy and blessing for me, I have been asked to teach and have teamed up with Marah Johnson in Italy at a 1,000 year old monastery in the Chianti Hills in Sienna! The event will be July 11th and I would LOVE to have you come with us! It will be held at the Tuscan Retreat Center , I will be posting more details soon.

And of course, an update on the two assistants!  They are getting so big, and are getting into everything...lol

Here are a couple shots from the past month.

 

  

Okay off to pack and get ready for California - remember to come by the CI booth {#1834 and 1835) and say hello!

Some Quotes that I am keeping close to me for 2010

"The past is gone so it cannot be undone; all we can do is learn from it to help for a better future which is yet to come. A New Year is another new beginning and new directions to follow where you are destined to be."

and "I am what I am.  Not what you like to think I am.  Not what you want me to be. I am me."

and finally I am so sad over the devastation in Haiti "What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal." ~ Albert Pike

Go help Haiti with a donation...every penny counts.