This gallery contains photo's of the class projects. All class projects are on display at Rocky Mountain Framing and Gallery as well.
Click on a photo for a larger view.
I have a quick and easy Keepsake Baby Album to share with you today!
I have been so very busy with a full time job as a counselor, being a wife and mom, a Boys and Girls Club Board Member, Graduate School and being a member of Spellbinders Inspriation Team, Tattered Angels DT and Social Media and DT Coordinator for Julianna Hudgins Positively Me.....that I often don't have any time to carve out to just create art for me. Whew, it's exhausting just reading about all my duties. lol
Most days I enjoy juggling my many hats and feel very productive in all of them. But, sometimes my plate is so full I don't know where to start. That's when I really have to make sure to take time for myself. I do something that feeds my soul.
This Keepsake Baby Album was just what I needed to create, as a gift for a co-worker, with no specific products or guidelines, and the hope and wonder of a new life as my creative mojo.
I made this Baby Album in one night. It measures about 5x7". I started with a Maya Road Board Book, which has rounded corners. I chose a variety of My Mind's Eye patterned papers that blended well together. I kept the theme focused around vintage baby and neutral colors, as my co-worker doesn't know yet if she's having a boy or a girl!
I traced an inside page onto my paper then used my paper trimmer and scissors to trim it perfectly. I kept this to use as a template for all the rest of the pages.
I left an 1/8" on each page near the book binding to allow it to close easier. I let the base of the board book show through at the binding. It gives it more of a vintage feel. I used industrial strength adhesive to adhere each page.
I cut and embossed several different Nestabilities Spellbinders Paper Arts die templates to create mats for the baby pictures. I adhered the Heidi Swapp BABY letters to the front of the album, along with a strip of ribbon. Then I signed the back of the book.
I placed the BABY Album in a gift bag and included several types of adhesive. This way the new Mom has an album all ready to go, knows exactly where to include the pictures and has a way to adhere them as well.
This is was such a fun project, that really helped me enjoy the creative process, ramp up the mojo and create just for fun.
I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed creating it.
It's that time of year again! It's time for Spellbinders to introduce a brand new season of dies, folders, and other amazing products! We're thrilled to announce the Spellbinders Explore Beyond: Sneak Peek and Giveaway!
Beginning January 2, 2013... Readers will have a chance to view product before the rest of the world AND have a chance to WIN these products before they hit the shelves!
How do you play?
Simply check the Spellbinders Community Blog every day, January 2, 2013 - January 8, 2013, to find out who our participating designers are for that day! Click the entry form link at the bottom of their amazing sneak peek tutorials and fill in the necessary contact information. You may enter once from each participating blog every day!
If you'd like to get familiar with the participating designers before the Sneak Peek... here they are!
Most importantly I need to shout out a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my sister, Diana Dellos!!! She is such a wonderful sister, mom, wife and friend. She is an incredible artist too - take a peek at her blog!
There are only a few more shopping days left until Christmas! If you're like me, and need a few more gift ideas....I have one to share with you today ~ A Jewel Flowers and Flourishes Bling Gift Card Holder!
I cut a piece of white cardstock to size, then used an M-Bossabilities to create some texture, folded back a corner, added some ribbon, the die cuts and bling, the giftcard and a decorative stick pin.
A quick and easy project that is great for those last minute gift ideas anytime of the year.
The tragedy of Newton, CT weighs heavy on my heart. Our prayers and thoughts go out to all those touched the events. Speaking of prayers and positive thoughts, I'm sending my love and prayers out to Julianna and Momma Bev today as well.
I wish you all a holiday filled with love, peace and joy.
Thanks for stopping by the blog today and for ebing a subscriber. I really appreciate it!
Spellbinders is pleased to announce the BIGGEST contest we've hosted to date!
How do you participate? It's easy!
Simply create an original project using at least two (2) Spellbinders dies. And get creative with it! Push your own creative boundaries...do something different. We'll be looking for those crafters and artists who have really taken on the challenge to truly "Explore Beyond".
Take photos of each step of your project. If chosen as a finalist... You'll be asked to submit these photos.
Submit a photo (of your finished project only!) to the appropriate Spellbinders Flickr Group.
Contest runs from November 26th, 2012 through December 26th, 2012 Midnight EST.
Spellbinders Explore Beyond Challenge: Craft to Win a $5,000 Grand Prize Package from Spellbinders and our cross promotional partners!
We'll also be choosing a 2nd place winner to receive a $1,000 prize package and a $500 3rd place prize package! Did I mention that this is the BIGGEST contest we've ever hosted!!!?!
I'm hoping you get the time to craft, create and submit your projects! I'd love to see friends participate!
Zuzu is home!!! I've had so many emails and facebook posts asking how we found her....so here is the story - a little long, so grab your glass of wine...and maybe a box of kleenex.... and kick up your feet......
Her story began on Sunday December 9th (2012) ~ Aaron and I have spent 2 1/2 hours searching for her after she left, following her tracks, calling her name. We were snowshoeing and looking for a Christmas tree and having so much fun.
Oh no.....we noticed she and Willow (our black lab puppy) were gone. Willow came right back, Zuzu did not. We drove down the mountain to get cell service and called the sheriff, police, animal control, ranger stations. It was cold - almost 20 below Zero with the windchill. Up the mountain again to search for her for another hour or more, it grew dark. We reluctantly went home and put the kids to bed. Made flyers, called everyone we could think of, posted on Facebook, sent emails, said prayers...couldn't sleep....knot in my gut.
I went back Monday searching all day, went back to the spot we last saw her...... Dumping snow all afternoon. (Probably a little dangerous for me to be up there by myself - but hey you don't know my Mom, Dad or my Grandpa Harry! lol). Getting dark, so I started back down the mountain. I talked with snowplow drivers, restaurant owners, loggers and even ran into a sheriff. He actually went up in a snowstorm looking for her Sunday night in a blizzard in the dark - what an amazing man. (I noticed his truck said "Canine Unit") Gave flyers to everyone we knew. Sent out more facebook posts and emails.
Made a plan for tomorrow, stayed up late....can't sleep....stomach really hurts. Dreampt of her all night.
Tuesday, Aaron and I went back up. He went to exact spot we lost her, trekked through the woods, called for her, marked some trees ;), he was up there for a few hours. I stayed in the low grounds looking all over, we met up and looked together, didn't find her. Today the deep sadness crept in......and wondering how she could survive the cold. We went home, sent out more emails and flyers. My girls cried themselves to sleep, heartbreaking. Decided we were going to tie some of our socks around rocks and leave a trail for her. Feeling so sad, trying not to lose hope. Happened to check Facebook - up to almost 300 shares on my post of our missing Zuzu, many people I don't even know. Oh my gosh, how can that be?...... Found some hope again.
Wednesday ~ Went to work today, the schedule changed, I didn't have any clients magically...... and my boss was an angel and said family is first, go do what you need to do.....wow - who has a boss like that?........
I drove up the mountain again, late afternoon today to the spot we started our snowshoeing.....I saw dog tracks in the fresh snow. They led into the campground we always go to and back to our snowshoe spot. I drove in further, had to put the truck in 4-wheeldrive, lots of deep snow, wondered if I might get stuck, didn't care. Got out, trekked around, marked a spot ;), called and called and called for Zuzu.
Kept looking at the tracks, got my phone out to take a photo of the tracks......the paw prints were 3 circles, close together, but really long, more like ovals.......... like Zuzu's..........caught a glimpse of something out of the corner of my eye.....and there she was! Limping down the mountain road towards me!........... skinny, exhausted........I thought she was a ghost...... or a mirage.
I called her and she trotted up to me and we fell in the snow, her licking my face and pawing me. Tears and more tears. It was like a scene from the movies. I could not believe I had actually found her! What are the odds?! (who gives a shit about the odds anyway...it's about going beyond the odds)
I can't remember the last time I cried so much.....Zuzu wanted to get to the truck...she jumped right in..... I gave her some food. She was sooo hungry. I drove like a mad woman down the mountain, let's just say waaayy over the speed limit. It was about 20 min before I had cell service. I called Aaron, he could hardly understand me. "You got her?!!" - yes I've got her!
Stopped for food in Saratoga, then took her to the vet. She no longer had on her pink fleece coat on .............and had no fur and deep abrasions under her arms. I think her coat got caught and she fought to get out.
What a brave soul. No major injuries.....She lost almost 10lbs total. Here she is snuggled beside me on the couch a few hours after she was found.
I can't imagine all that she has been through in her 3 nights out in the cold in the mountains. She is an amazing animal full of fight, strength, determination, bravery, love and spirit. She never gave up and never stopped believing.
I am absolutely certain........... that all the Facebook shares, tweets, likes, comments, prayers, positive thoughts, healing energies and love from friends, family and complete strangers, helped my family and I have this Christmas Miracle.
I cannot truly put into words how utterly grateful and amazed I am by everyone's help and kindness. There is still so much goodness in the world and miracles to be seen. Don't lose your hope, keep believing, never give up.
We rescued Zuzu from the animal shelter 3 years ago at Christmas. Every year we love to watch "It's a Wonderful Life", and so we named her Zuzu - after Zuzu's petals. As Ken said earlier - I think an Angel got it's wings tonight by bringing Zuzu home.
Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. ~ Holly
Spellbinders is pleased to announce the BIGGEST contest we've hosted to date!
Spellbinders Explore Beyond Challenge: Craft to Win a $5,000 Grand Prize Package from Spellbinders and our cross promotional partners!
We'll also be choosing a 2nd place winner to receive a $1,000 prize package and a $500 3rd place prize package! Did I mention that this is the BIGGEST contest we've ever hosted!!!?!
Simply create an original project using at least two (2) Spellbinders dies. And get creative with it! Push your own creative boundaries...do something different. We'll be looking for those crafters and artists who have really taken on the challenge to truly "Explore Beyond".
Take photos of each step of your project. If chosen as a finalist... You'll be asked to submit these photos.
Submit a photo (of your finished project only!) to the appropriate Spellbinders Flickr Group.
Contest runs from November 26th, 2012 through December 26th, 2012 Midnight EST.
