It's no secret that...

I want to paint a rainbow in the shape of a heart.

I want to paint the stars as they are seen by the Chandra X-ray Observatory & the Hubble telescope with all their x-rays and gamma rays and ultraviolet light showing.

I want to tell a story with a line and a splatter.

I want to write out all the words in my heart. One at a time.

I want to share all of this with as many people as I possible can...
 

I will be teaching a basic watercolour class at Treasured Memories at 6:30 pm on Thursday, August 21. I am really in love with how these turned out, and I can't wait to share this excitement with my students! Won't you join me...?

xo Lis

Like Riding A Bicycle

I will admit that I was strangely nervous going in to my class on Thursday night, and I can't quite explain why. Perhaps it was just energy and excitement! It has been quite some time since I taught my last class at Treasured Memories, and I was glad of the friendly faces.

We were painting houses...

 

It's serious business. Just kidding! My classes are so laid back, I think sometimes the students forget there's a teacher...

My teaching style can best be described as "go with the flow" and "loosey-goosey". I want to inspire you and give you the confidence and basic tools to DO SOMETHING WITH ART! That's all. No pressure, and no expectations.

This was a fabulous group of ladies. I am so grateful for their kind words and compliments! And while they say I have inspired them, I think the reverse is also very true.

I only have one more class scheduled, but I have loads of ideas for more! If you want more info, click the link below or call Treasured Memories (780.414.1540)

Live It Out - Basic Watercolours

Thanks for stopping by!

-Lisa

This post has been brought to you by: My Summer Manifesto

Today. Teaching.

This class.

And guess what!?

No one signed up.

So I guess I won't be teaching anything.

I am trying not to be sad about it.

later loves

Inking Workshop

In case you haven't noticed, I rely heavily on my inks and stains and mist and sprays when scrapbooking. I love pulling out my tools and creating a special background before I even lay a piece of paper or photo down on the page. A lot of people comment on this "rare gift" of mine...taking a bunch of random colours and making something to write home about!

So I think, why keep this "gift" of mine locked away? Why not share my skills with the world! Or at least with the scrappers of Edmonton and the surrounding areas!?!?

And so I present to you a special "inking workshop" to take place at Treasured Memories in November. I'm thinking of a couple of hours of playing with stencils, stains, inks and sprays! We will be making as many "backgrounds" as you can handle!

I've got a lot of techniques up my sleeves: layering, making your own stencils and stamps out of everyday objects, and how to get great splatters every time.

I like my "messy" workshops to be as laid back as possible, and are based around practice and experimentation in a relaxed and pressure-free environment! Come and play with my toys and see if you like them enough to take some of your own home with you. Or maybe you already own all this stuff, but have no idea what to do with it!

This is what I'm here for my friends...

You can check out the TM Classes Blog for more examples of techniques we'll be covering.

Workshop Deets:

Saturday, November 5th
11:00am to 2:00pm
OR
Thursday, November 17th

6:00 to 9:00pm
Please choose the date that works best for your schedule. We're covering the same techniques in each.

$44 (+gst)
TM Member's Discount applies

You can call TM to sign up: (780) 414-1540.

Creating

New things! It's been fun. This change of seasons is very inspiring to me. The colours and tone of the trees and the sky, the chill in the air that has nothing to do with the wind, and that fact that all the darn fruit flies that have been making a home out of my home are outta here!

I've finished a couple of layouts, a tag and one-point-five canvases. I even opened up my Smash Journal last night, which hasn't seen the light of day since my Studio Calico arrived...it's been hiding under the box!

So, without further ado...

This first one features the new stencils from Julie Balzer and Crafter's Workshop. Can I just say that I am in lurve with them!? I bought most of the small ones that Julie designed, and Chan put one of the large ones (see below) in my "challenge kit" for the month. I'm making it my mission this month to sell that wall!

I used Distress Stains in three colours to ink the ferns, before stitching their stems (with the machine). The small fractured flower is made up of paper that I traced and cut to match the stencil. It took an hour or so to get it right, but I think it looks so cool! It would be much easier with the larger one...maybe next time!

Stencils-Crafter's Workshop small Fern and small Fractured Flower. Paper-American Crafts, Hambly,
Crate, October Afternoon, Webster's Pages,
Letters & Cloud Rub On-Studio Calico. Distress Ink-Wild Honey, Scattered Straw, Peeled Paint.

This one is a completely different colour scheme, but I used the same stencil pattern. All of these stencils come in a large and small size, depending on what you want to use them for. I think I will do a post dedicated to these 'bad boys' because there are just so many cool things you can do with them. I also feel a Make & Take coming on...

This time I filled in the stencil with two colours of Distress Stain. I was surprise at how little this bled, as the stains are 100% liquid. But it only bled at the top there, and the rest of the watermarks I made on purpose later. To add more texture to the stains, I went over them with a red ink, blending foam, and the Chevron stencil. You can really see it in the areas that are the lighter honey colour.

Stencil-Fragmented Flower & Small Chevron. Distress Stains-Wild Honey, Barn Door.
Paper-Crate, Webster's Pages. Letters-Studio Calico & Glitz. Twine-My Mind's Eye. Ribbon-?
Washi Tape-Hambly. Mist-Studio Calico. Stamps-Technique Tuesday.

Funny thing Lucas said: He was wondering where my body is in those pictures I have of my feet. And I told him that I like taking feet pictures, and that I got a photo of him at Auntie & Uncle's as well. He asked if his body was in it, or just his feet!

I also made this tag last night while I was sitting in my studio thinking of other things I should be doing. I whipped this up, then went to finish those other things. Very satisfying.

 It's pretty much all leftovers from my table, with some Distress Stains on the back for good measure. I think it will make it's merry way on to a layout today.

And I've also been working on a second canvas to accompany my Lovely Lady Mixed Media class. This one will be purple + its colour wheel contrast (does anybody know which colour that might be?) I forgot to bring the stencil home to finish the lady part of it on Monday, so it's very unfinished! Here you can see the stencils in all their paint-filled glory!

That's all for now. I am off to the store today to finish this canvas, and the second October TNT class. I've also got some work-blogging to do, and groceries to buy. My list is long and varied! But I have all day to get it done...have I mentioned it's weird being a stay-at-home Mom with no kid around? I need a hobby...oh wait...never mind!

listening to Peter Bjorn & John...super energy to get me through the day!

p.s. TAKE MY CLASS!!

I'm a teacher

I may not have a piece of paper hidden in my house to tell me so, but I am a teacher...and I love it!! Join me on October 1st for a couple of super fun, "artsy-fartsy" classes at TM...

Lovely Lady Mixed Media Canvas. I'm using the new stencils from Julie-Fei-Fan Balzer and Crafter's Workshop to make painting faces so much "easier"...and fun too! This one is great for all skill levels.

This is for my Trends & Techniques Layout class, which runs in the morning. $20 gets you two single page layouts made with the latest and greatest products, and I teach you a couple of fun techniques as well. Especially good for beginners, but always fun for more "advanced" scrappers as well!

 

Questions? Want to sign up? Call TM: (780) 414-1540.

TM update...

Most of you are probably already up on all the Treasured Memories news, but I thought I would do my Blogger duty and give you the low down here as well.

#1. We have recently started up an online store! Excitement! It's actually kind of cool that I can now go shopping at my favourite store from the comfort of my own home. And I can choose "pick up" and avoid the shipping! Eek!! My lazy self is cheering right now!

Another plus about the online store is that it still has stock left of products that have been long gone from the brick-and-mortar store!! So if you're looking for something "hard to find", check out the TM Online Store!

#2. We are hosting a crop to benefit the Slave Lake Fire victims. It runs this Saturday from 10am to midnight. The crop costs $50, and thanks to some generous breakfast and lunch donations, we are hoping to add to the $5 per crop fee going toward the fund! I am donating some raffle prizes again (a patchwork bag and apron), and I'm sure fun times will be had!

#3. We have lots of great classes coming up in the next month, but the big news is our Show and Tell nights! Essentially, you get to make a fun project for free and get a discount if you want to buy any of the products featured! We're re-vamping it for the summer and I've already got some cute demos that hopefully I'll get to teach! These happen every second Tuesday night, and you can participate on a "first-come first-served" basis.

That's my TM update for now...and that's Thursday!

Lazy Lisa Strikes Again!

So I managed to sort of get some stuff done last night before Russ suckered me into some TV watching...but I was too tired to put up much of a fight. Ever so slowly, the stitching got ignored for a tasty raisin snack and some How I Met Your Mother and SNL. (K. for any of you watching HIMYM, did you cheer when he said "and that's how I met your mother"? and then get depressed again when he said "just kidding". I just want him to get it over with dangit! And who do you think Barney marries? Robin or Nora??)

K. Enough TV gossip for now.

I have a couple of things to post this morning, before taking some photos and posting again this afternoon!

Actually, I thought I had more to post this morning, but apparently not! So it will have to be this and only this...

I am teaching this cute mini in June! I'm posting all of the details on the Classes Blog today, so if you're in town on June 25th, you'll have to stop in! And yes, you actually get to sew your own cover! Gasp! I have made sure to open up more spots for this class, seeing as my last mini "sold out" (I will never get tired of saying that!)

For any of you interested, I still have some spots open in my layout class tomorrow...the focus is on rub ons, and the layouts are pretty fab, if I do say so myself!

 (please ignore the dates printed on these photos! I should now better than to put a date on something like this, as it is a pain in the arse to cover up later if, say, you have to change the date of your class because someone else monopolizes the classroom...)

The class runs tomorrow (that's Saturday, the 28th) from 10am to noon, and you can email me or call the store to sign up. I think I have 2 spots left!? But don't quote me on that!

I guess that's it for now. I'll be back later with a shop update and a Friday Fashion DIY! Hazaa...they're back!

Let's Play Catch Up

Wow! What a break! This was mostly a happy accident on my part, but much needed! For you regular bloggers out there, don't you just sometimes find that you need a day or two off. To step away from this online world and recharge your batteries, get out in the sun, and all that good stuff!

So that's just what I did!


And I'll share some of it today, and then I'll tell you who won the giveaway!

On Saturday, Lucas, Russ and I went Orienteering for the first time this season! There's a great rec area east of Sherwood Park, that's a bit of a drive for us, but well worth it. The Orienteering Club (I think it was Edmonton's) put on a "day camp" so you could try out different maps, get some tips and pointers from the "experts" and just hang out. Barb showed Lucas the "thumb and fold" method, or whatever it was called, and he raced her from flag to flag! Then the three of us went on a shorter course...this was our first practice to get back into the swing of things before the city events start up again.

Unfortunately it was so windy on Saturday, and the course was mostly in a hilly, weedy, mosquito filled old cattle field. Lucas went into his standard Orienteering-Complain-Mode (weeds, wind, itchy legs, sore legs, tired, hungry, alternating too cold and too warm, etc. etc.) but we made it through all of the easier controls, and we got to climb under a wire fence. ADVENTURE!

And he got two cookies, so not too shabby a day for him!

OOH! Fun food note!! Ready for it...THERE IS A FIVE GUYS BURGERS AND FRIES IN SHERWOOD PARK! Russ and I did a little whoo-hoo in the Wendy's when we saw it across the street (after which I exclaimed "then what are we doing here!?") For those of you not "in the know", Five Guys is this super awesome burger joint! Like, amazing! We went to one in Portland, and it was so cool...best midnight snack evah! Sweet fries, huge burgers, choose your own toppings, that sort of thing.

Which sort of leads me to my next point...I've been counting calories lately (gasp!) which means if I go to Five Guys and have a burger and shake I don't get to eat for the rest of the day! HA! No, seriously...I've been using the My Fitness Pal app on the new gadget and so far so good (it's only been three days, which is a long time for me to follow through with anything!). I'll write more on that later.

What else...??

I scrapbooked! One little layout...after I cleaned off my desk. No word of a lie, I actually did a little tidy after I finished a mini the other day and sort of made myself a more organized workspace. I say "sort of" because there are still many many piles, but now they are organized piles. And here's the layout...

and a detail shot...

I'm trying to branch out and not just do the same layout over and over again, although this one bears a similarity to others I've been doing recently. I think I'm in a rut. If all else fails, I'll just start sticking pics in regular photo pages and ramp up the mini action!

Speaking of minis, I finished "30 Some Things"...and it is so thick and hefty in my hands so I am in love. I haven't taken photos yet, but those will come.

Okay...I know this is what you've all been waiting for...the winner of the Starbucks Re-fillable Coffee cup is...

And since I am feeling so generous today, I have chosen a runner up as well...

Actually, they chose themselves in my wondrous number drawing system. They both wanted so bad to win, their paper numbers kept fluttering on to Lucas' pajamas every time I dropped them. (Yes, that's how I choose winners. I put numbers or names on pieces of paper and drop them from the air onto an object of my choosing. The number that lands on the object, in this case Lucas' pajamas he left on the LR floor this morning, is the winner!)

So I will be contacting Nadine and Kristie to get them their mugs this week! Thanks to everybody else who stopped by to say Hi! Your comments are all so sweet! I never knew Starbucks had a "Mocha Valencia" (sounds yummy), I have no idea what a "Misto" is, but I do love those tea lattes! My "usual" Starbucks fare is an Americano. That's some espresso and hot water. And I take it black. Boring, but so perfect for me! When I tell people I like coffee, I mean I like coffee...not really coffee-based-beverages. They make me feel icky! Besides, plain coffee has way less calories (and fat, and sugar, and dairy) than all those other things! And I drink far too much coffee for any of those drinks to be sensible! Lots of exclamation points!

Gosh, babble much!? Gots to go sweets! Later...

P.S. Am teaching a class tonight at TM, with a less than stellar reception. Must push through. But I am guaranteed to have some fun with two fabulous ladies, and will blog about the outcome tomorrow! It's the School Memories Receipt Tray thingy...and it's never too late to sign up!!

It's Official!

I am presenting my first "Lime Door" class at TM next month! Eek! I am so excited, and nervous! I think I'll be calling Chan everyday, asking for updates on enrollment. Gosh.

Read the full post below, check out the Classes Blog, then call the darn store to sign up!

**********

I love displaying my son's school pictures around the house! It always amazes me to see how much he changes throughout the school year, and as he passes into the next grade. I also love looking back through my old school photos and memorabilia, and images from my parents and grandparents school days.

Join Lisa and create this beautiful and nostalgic Receipt Tray to showcase your favourite school memories. The clips allow you to switch out photos and memorabilia as the new school begins, and the neutral colours allow the focus to stay on your photos!

The class is only $45 (+gst), which includes the 7Gypsies Receipt Tray, as well as all the fun little embellishments to go with. All you need to add when you get home are the memories!

Please bring:

-  Adhesive (paper-to-paper and liquid, or glue dots)

- Distress Ink in Wild Honey, Walnut Stain, and Stormy Sky (or similar colours)

- Ink blending tool and foam

- Glossy (or Crackle) Accents 

Optional supplies:

- Needle nose pliers

- Photos or other school memorabilia to add to your tray (if we have time)

After the class, kits will be available through Treasured Memories as well as the Lime Door online store. Please call Treasured Memories to sign up for the class, or if you have any questions. There are only six spots available in this class, so sign up today!

***************

I am still in the planning stages of what comes next for Lime Door. I have been working harder on this in the past week than I have in the past couple of months! Something put a fire under my bum, and I don't want it going out!

You'll get the news here first, so keep tuning in!

What...I never blogged these?

Well, let's fix that.

Ages ago I taught a simple mixed media class at TM, a triptych. I always complete a project alongside my students, so I can show them how to do some of the techniques as we go, and so I can show them a different ending to the project. I'm all about letting people make something they love, instead of copying my demo.

These are my finished boards...

I especially love the single panel...it looks like a rose to me, with some water droplets on it! All I did was cover the board with gesso, add some "orange" paint to my brush and apply it in big circles over the wet gesso. I splattered some water drops on it, then after the paint had dried around them, I wiped the water off. The turquoise is a paint wash that I applied once the background had dried completely, then wiped the excess off.

I Teach...

I love to teach scrapbooking and art-making classes. Lurve. But I don't always find success in these endeavors. Meaning, I don't get the student response I am hoping for when I create the demos and the projects.

And every month I say I'm going to stop, and then eat my words when I design another class or two. You can kick me when I'm down, but I'm just going to keep getting up, brushing the dirt off, and trying again.

My last class for March is on Saturday...and it is one I really love...my Caged Bird Triptych!

And next month I am taking a break from teaching, as I am going to be super busy taking a class from the City.

And then in May I am back with at least two more classes...one album class and one layout class. Below are photos from the layout class. Thanks to Jill for staging the first one for me...she's big into how the presentation of items effects the sale of said items. I think she is just what I need right now!

I am proud of them all! I love the colours and content, and techniques and materials. I love how I incorporate the Treasured Memories vibe into all of them, using products we stock, highlighting products we love! Also, they run no matter what...even if I only have one student enrolled!

Here is the link to the classes blog if any of you have a free Saturday coming up and want to join me for some fun times...TM Classes.

Sometimes I get down on myself when I don't get the response I think the classes deserve. So this week I'm going to take this photo and this sentiment to heart. Thanks Nadine for the reminder...

source...the beautiful ordinary

later skater alligator

Teaching - Earn It

One of my goals for the year is to teach what I love. Sometimes I find that I create classes based on what I think people might like. And sometimes I just create what I love and hope that someone might want to learn to love it to.

Which kind of class do you think does better?

Would it surprise you to know that it's the latter of the two choices?

My classes at TM are usually hit-or-miss, with an emphasis on "miss." I joke that it doesn't count as a class if only TM family members were registered...using this rule of thumb, a lot of my classes don't count! HA!

So this year, I want to focus on teaching classes that I would love to take; projects that I love to complete and layouts that I would be proud to call my own. And I'm going to hope and pray and cross my fingers and stick a needle in my eye and do all those things to make them the best darn classes ever to rule the wild west.

There are some projects and ideas I have that don't transition seamlessly (or even at all) into a class-structure, but I'm trying to figure out if I can work those ones in somehow as well.

I am taking inspiration from sources that I might not have looked to in the past. I am keeping an open mind and an open heart.

I am taking a giant leap out in to the unknown. It might not be a giant leap for mankind, but it's a giant leap for me and I have to start somewhere, y'know.

Ladies out there who teach know how hard it is to create a product that you are proud of, but is teachable and reaches its intended audience. A very successful blogger and digi-element-creator recently stopped running a set of blogging workshops she was offering because of low enrollment! And she knows what she's talking about!!

I'm trying not to think "if she can't do it, what hope in hell do I have" and instead think of all the positives that could come out of this. All the relationships, and connections, and learning and growing experiences that come from making mistakes and moving forward.

And that keeps me going.

photos...all mine, from an Art Journaling class I'm scheduled to teach at TM in February.
listening to...joanna newsom
reading...Mark Frauenfelder (lots more to come from this "best Christmas present")


later skater alligator

painting...but not the art kind

My project this week while Lucas is away is to finish painting my main floor (minus kitchen and bathroom). Today I got three walls done...I'm over halfway there. The rest is going to be difficult...lots of obstacles.

So this is the only post you are going to get from me today...#1. because my hands are sore, #2. because I'm busy being non-creative.

I am posting a new class up on the classes blog later...check that out will ya!? it's painty and colourful and messy...surprise surprise!

here's a sneak...

happy sunday!

later skater alligator

Friday DIY

so, you'll never believe this, but I actually pulled out my sewing machine and did some sewing today! wow! my first project in...well...it's been at least since before Lucas was born. oh wow.

I made some goodie bags for Lucas' party coming up...and they turned out so fine!

Super simple, but just the thing to get me back into sewing. And I had lots of fun at the fabric store. Dangerous fun...I bought a membership. Yikes!

and now I feel very motivated to pull out that fabric I bought months ago and get my pillows done. It's about darn time.

so, do you want a step-by-step or what?
The first thing I did was make these awesome badges out of felt to sew on the bags. This is Lucas' birthday "logo"...fun, I know! Using a large embroidery hoop, I stitched the badge on to the fabric after cutting the basic shape of the bag, but before sewing anything else together.

Next thing was to sew a little "pocket" for the drawstring I added. The drawstring ended up being made of some extra ribbon I had laying around. I bought these fabulous drawstring things at Fabricland that work perfect. I made it a little easier for myself by leaving a fold at the bottom of the fabric, so I would only have to sew two sides!!

So much easier than a pillow, and the finished product is something I am really proud of. I have already stuffed the bags full with goodies and can't wait for the kids to open them at the party! This is a great keepsake that will also serve a purpose after the party...for carrying art supplies or toys or whatever.

(there is one girl coming to the party, so she gets the pink lightning bolt!!)

I also pre-made little thank you albums for the kids. I'm going to put some photos in them of the party, and then send them out afterwards. I used my tried-and-true card and envelope album technique. You can see the cover of Samantha's in the photo below. I'll post more photos of them next week.

you can tell when I've got a lot of things on my mind...my DR table looks like this! Actually, my DR table looks like this 90% of the time...hmmm.

mostly this week I've just been catching up on Doctor Who and SYTYCD (go Lauren!), and re-reading some books (for the upteenth time). I really really need to get that library card.

I'm teaching a class tomorrow at TM: something most lovely. it's a little kid's board book that's been all dressed up with paint and other messy-Lisa stuff. So in preparation for the class, I have been trying to master one of the transfer techniques I am supposed to be demonstrating. But I just can't seem to get it right. And for once, the internet is no help. Where's all the troubleshooting? It's all roses, and perfect outcomes...just like real life...ha. Oh well. It will still be fun. I've got two "pros" in my class, so I think it will just be a fun day to play.

Lucas and I had sushi for lunch...his choice. And then we stopped at Starbucks for a treat. He sure was cranky today. But we managed to have some fun with play doh, practiced drawing, did some sewing (he really liked helping me with that), and had a nap (boy...did he ever need it). Another late night for him, but he gets to sleep in with Dad tomorrow, so I don't feel too bad for him!

Note...if you haven't noticed, I have totally been slacking on the Trends and Techniques blog as of late. I am just not feeling the love over there, so-to-speak. So I am taking a little break until things clear up a bit. Playschool looks like it's taking its last breath, so I won't be busy with that for much longer, but I am taking an accounting class this fall (what the crack!?!) if it hasn't filled up already. Can an online class fill up? Hmm. Guess I should call them next week.

later skater alligator