Happy Valentine's Day!

Here's a little pocket album that I made today.  For those of you Tim Holtz fans out there, he shared this project yesterday on his blog.  It's created with one little sheet of 12 x 12 scrapbook paper, has 6 pages and 3 secret pockets - amazing!  I had never seen this book before, and was really excited to try it.  Hope my sweetie likes it :)

                                               Happy Valentine's Day!

Imaginate Life - Go Ahead....DREAM

I was wandering through the plethora of emails in my inbox this morning - and came across this great website - Imaginate Life.

I think in my haste to get "through" my emails quickly in the past, I never really paid attention to this email - and for some reason today...I took the time and read it.  How many times of you done that yourself??

I was impressed and inspired with the message and information on this website and invite each of you to take some time - quiet time - and check it out.  It's got a great message and offers some fun projects, free downloadables and links to get in touch with what we want in our lives.  You can sign up for weekly and/or daily emails if you want also. I'm creating a DreamBoard myself today and it's been really fun to stop and think about MY DREAMS!

So grab a favorite drink, get comfy, relax and enjoy some YOU time!
http://imaginatelife.com/

Karen

Days 2 & 3 - 12 Days of Christmas 2010

So here we go....I've finally got back to my studio to work on my Tim tags for this year. I wasn't feeling very creative, and was feeling pressured to get these tags done - so I set the idea aside until one evening (why do all our good ideas appear at 2 am??) it came to me what I was going to do this year with Tim's tags - I'm going to make a banner out of them when they are done, so I can display them next year as a decoration! Yeah - I have a plan....I love plans....they make me happy, knowing what direction I'm going in!

I'm improvising BIG TIME this year as I don't have all of the product that Tim used in his demos - but I'm finding it easy to fill in what I have to get the same effects. And, it's forcing me to unpack more of my scrappy stuff, to get to what I want...which is a GOOD THING!

I feel more creative with this process - I'm not just copying what Tim demo-ed - I'm having to come up with my own components and tweeking his designs to fit what I have.
I'm being INSPIRED by his techniques and his samples - and love getting lost in this process. By lost, I mean, I'm totally in the ZONE of creativity - I need to be here more often. It's where I'm most authentically ME!




So here's Day 3 - I didn't have the tissue tape, so I used old sheet music and made a 2-layered scalloped circle flower and
finished it off with an antique mini glass ornament as the center.

I used an AccuCut die for the bird using old sheet music & chipboard and
cut up a gold glittered floral pick of leaves and used it for the nest.

I love the way this one turned out - my FAV so far.

Day 2 tag - Haven't added the ribbon accent yet -
I kind of like it's simplicity and antique look.


Have any of you completed more tags? Go ahead and post them - I'd love to see what you created! I'll be posting more pictures as I get more completed...I'm sure this project will take me awhile and I'm enjoying it's creative journey!
Karen

Day 1 - 12 Tags of Christmas!

I did it! I completed Day 1 of Tim's 12 Tags of Christmas!

This one wasn't easy for me because I had to create most of the pieces myself, I didn't have the house die or the fence die....so I cut them out of grungeboard/grungepaper myself using his samples online as my guide...not to shabby if you ask me. Also, I use a crumpled up brown paper bag for the tree as I didn't have the flower branches he used. My favorite part is the wreath which I made from a piece of glittered leaves that I had in my stash andcut apart and I glued 2 teeny glass ornaments that were in my stash. I love how vintage this tag turned out and I love the little Christmas ticket which I stamped, embossed, colored using distress inks and turned up at one corner to look old. The star is a piece of german scrap that I had bought last year and was also in my Christmas stash........one little footnote here. While I was sparkly fluffing the tree, the jar slipped out of my hand, rolled along the worktable down to my lap which then bounced to the floor. I had to close my eyes and imagined vacuuming up all of it, but it landed right side up, still half full! My lap was very sparkly and fluffy, Phoebe had some on her head (she was laying at my feet while I created) so I jumped into the shower and brushed it all off - I couldn't think of how else to get it off! Next person to take a shower downstairs will have glittery feet :)

Show off your version of Tim's tags and we can have fun discussing how we improvised and what we liked best about the process~
Karen

Get Inspired!

It's Dec. 3rd - and I've been been following  Tim Holtz as he reveals his 12 Tags of Christmas 2010.  It's SO inspiring!  If you haven't heard of Tim Holtz, or his "tag-a-looza" 12 Days of Christmas I encourage you to do so - no matter what style of art you play with.  It's messy and real and his demonstrational techniques are awesome - you see HOW he achieves these cool looks in his tags! 

I've had a cold these last 2 days - so I've been a little slow with starting to actually do a tag yet (I'm still unpacking my craft supplies), but today I feel inspired to at least get my work table cleaned off and supplies ready to go!  I'll be posting my pics of my tags as I catch up and I encourage you ALL to join me!  This is a great way to find a technqiue that you could use for your cards this year, or gift tags, or even make a few gifts! 

Lets all share our art! 
Karen

First Mountain Experiences........

Well....here I am.  Settling into my new mountain surroundings and residence.  My sis Sue & friend April came up to see me on Monday/Tuesday...I was exhausted by so glad to see them!  We ventured out and did some site-seeing including a visit to a local Lookout Tower near-by - just 10 mins from my house!  It was amazing seeing the surrounding area (my new stomping grounds) including the San Bernardino valley & Victorville area from this humble structure that is manned by volunteers to spot fires in the SB National Forest.

Yesterday, Robert and I purchased our first load of firewood.  We eagerly arrived, a little excited, and soon were loading his Suburban with more wood than I had really expected.  The gal at the home center was chucking these split logs like they were light as a feather filling up this box and then forked lifted this box over to the Suburban - all we needed now was to load it up.  Holy Moly - we filled that vehicle to the brim (thank goodness for it's capacity!) and off we drove home.  Now the fun part - unloading it!  I think we did pretty darn good getting it done by dark and actually finding 2 places to stack it.  My "pioneer girl" spirit surfaced and I was actually invigorated by the whole process - Bring on Winter! 

Funny little note - 3 oak logs are sitting in our fireplace as we speak.  Somehow I'm in charge of getting the fireplace going, and last night I just didn't have any luck!  I didn't want to use the gas-line, I wanted to start it on my own...and well, I'll have to get better at this - real quick!  Robert told me he expected a roaring fire going when he got home from work - gulp....might just have to use the gas-line as a helper to get these suckers going - or pine cones, kindling - going to conjure up my inner girl scout.

Have a great day everyone!
Karen

My Journey

When I was offered the opportunity to open KatScrap Studio, as I was closing the door on Karen's Hallmark, I knew immediately that I had to step through the open door and give it a shot.  I wasn't completely sure why the universe had presented me this gift, but as I designed and opened the store, I discovered that it really was not about me, but something far greater.  It was the need for the community to come together to be creative.  I would like to express my sincere gratitude to those who have stepped forward with me to help my business grow.  My design team members (Chelsea, Faby, Heather & Rosann) worked tirelessly in an effort to build fun, creative classes and other programs, like theATC and Reading Club, as well as filled the store with creative and inspirational samples.

My life journey has taken me away from the store (75+ miles to be exact) with a move up to Running Springs.  As with most opportunities in life, it was not planned, but was essential.  With this move, I can no longer continue to run KatScrap Studio store front as it exists now.  I had hoped that I could by changing the hours and increasing the use of my wonderful staff (Chelsea &Faby), but after a month of trying this, I realize it is just not possible on a number of fronts.

I really do not look at this as an end, but as a new beginning.  I know you'll be hearing from KatScrap Studio before too long - the plans are already in the works.
So, starting WEDNESDAY, Nov. 3rd, I will be selling ALL the merchandise in the store for 50% OFF.  The fixtures will also be for priced for sale ( not 50% OFF their marked price - but I'm willing to bargain!) Doors open at 11:00 am! So come on in and get GREAT deals!  This is not going to be a long, drawn out closure - if you want something, come in and get it before it's gone. 

We do have several events scheduled that we do hope you will attend before we close the doors on Sunday, Nov. 14th.  

Thank you for all of your continued support!
Karen