Be Creative

Vacation is over...

If you hadn't noticed my absence and inconsistent blogging, i've been on vacation. Vacations are wonderful for clearing your head and re-energizing. It was a very much needed vacation!

Now i'm back at it... blogging, making new kits, teaching classes, making projects, even practicing my drawing.

Today I'm getting started on the new August kits... I'll be at it all day the next couple of days to get them all prepared. Just FYI... the July kits sold out the first week of July so please sign up for my newsletter (over on the right sidebar) so you'll be the first to know they are available.

Aren't these little posies the cutest ever! Looking forward to revealing the finished cards at the end of the week.

Have an amazing day!

Too grown up

My girlies are growing up faster than I can believe. I'm soaking in every single moment of this summer!

See what I mean!

DIY project

Many many moons ago I found this awesome frame in the trash can at the store next door to the store where I teach classes. I brought it home and proceeded to keep it in the closet for oh, about two years. Then I decided to use it for a trade show, back in January of 2010. It got painted white. Then after the show I brought it home and put it back in the closet for another 2 years.

Fast forward to last week. I decided to paint the insert with chalk board paint. It turned out great and it now lives on a wall in my kitchen. So much better than the closet.

I've been writing messages for my girlies... little life reminders and quotes I love.

This was last weeks quote...

This photo doesn't show the frame all that well. I will be posting some before and after photos soon. I just redecorated that whole corner of my kitchen.

Lazy summer days = no blogging

Been thinking of you and feeling pretty gulity that I haven't blogged very much lately! I totally have the lazies this summer!

Just wanted to post a card from a while back... I'll be back to blogging more soon.

Kit and crafty goodies sale

As promised i'm selling my goodies online here on my blog this morning. I've weighed everything out to get shipping charges reasonable and exact :) Enjoy! I'll be posting more throughout the morning so check back.  ** Updated** 7/14/12 9:48pm

  Christmas Cards #2 - TWO sets of 5 handmade christmas cards - total 10 cards - 20$

 

Tree and heart card sets - TWO sets of 5 cards with a variety of sentiments. 10 cards total $20

 

  

Card set #1 TWO sets of 5 cards each - 10 cards total $20

 

   

 Card Set #2 TWO set of 5 cards each - 10 cards total  $20

Card Set #3 - TWO sets of 5 cards each - 10 cards total - $20

 

Card Set #4 -TWO sets of cards One with 4  note cards and one with 5 greeting cards -9 cards total -$15$

 

  

Be sure to stop by and see the sale kits listed in my shop as well. It will be a seperate transaction but, I will combine shipping and refund if necessary. You can see the sale kits HERE

New Class

This summer I am hosting my Holiday Creatables class online at My Creative Classroom. Class started today. It's self paced so you can do whenever its good for you!

A little about class...

Holiday Creatables is a course that offers a valuable resource for making holiday cards. Includes 25 printable downloads (for making cards, tags, and more), 7 videos, techniques, over 100 card ideas, articles (Getting Started, Process of design, Process of production), and 12 sketches with card samples. Give yourself the gift of a stress free holiday season, have access now an forever to print and create!

In addition to the printables, I'll also offer ideas for dressing up those store bought holiday cards. There's something for everyone in this course and I look forward to seeing you in class.

Here's what one of my students said today! It made my day! Thanks Traci :)

I am just blown away with this first lesson! My ideas are churning around inside my head....and I can't wait to go get my papers and glue out! Thank you so much for the fabulous first lesson!

You can get more details or enroll HERE

Pinterest Lately

This past week I made the most delicious taco salad that I came across on Pinterest. Here is the link to salad I followed from Pinterest.

Here's my salad... Like I said it was heavenly and so good on a summer night!

I served these on the side since one girlie doesn't like olives and one hubby is allergic to avacado and doesn't like beans...

And one girlie doesn't like lettuce so hers came to the table like this. But i'm a total mean mom so you have to eat some salad if you live here!

Served the warm chips on the side too...

Oh, and a delicious side of these...

Give it a try, I bet you'll love it too!

Solutions + being creative + wanting to

One of the biggest things we are working on in my house this summer is teaching the girlies how to solve problems and find solutions for obstacles they face. My oldest is a natural at this, but still she could use work on getting creative with finding ways to get along and tolerate her little sister (little sis is only 15 months younger, so shes really not that much littler). It's just a matter of reminding Niguel.

My younger daughter Kylah... this is where the "work" and "teaching" comes in. A quote I recently read sums it up perfectly...

" If it's important to you, you will find a way. If not you'll find an excuse"

Everything with Kylah comes down to IF she "wants" to do it. How do you teach someone that they "want" to find a solution to a problem? I'm looking for every opportunity to teach her how to solve problems. It's one of my biggest goals to send my girlies in to the world able to fix things and problems and find creative solutions in not so obvious ways.

It made me think about this particular paper i've been seeing... that I love... that I adore. It's just that I don't scrapbook much anymore and it just doesn't work for card making. Sounds like an excuse right?

Hahaha - not so quick. Time to get creative and find a solution.  A circle punch and some papers for my JULY KIT

Lay the circles down on the edge of the card and cover half of them with a piece of patterned paper.

Attach it all along with some pretty embellishments and you have a perfect scallop border!

Now, if only my daughters biggest problem in life would be to find a way to make a scrapbook paper work for a card then my work would be done and I could eat milk and cookies in the afternoon! But there is work to be done my friends... next problem please, i'm on a roll!