Happy Thanksgiving!

Or Happy Columbus Day on Monday October 11th, depending on where you live.  In celebration of our Canadian Thanksgiving and for those of you who will be celebrating Thanksgiving in November, I wanted to share a gift set perfect for that special hostess.
It is created with decorative paper napkins, decoupage medium of your choice, acrylic paint, wooden box, and chipboard or wood squares.  Simply paint the box and coasters with acrylic paint, add suede paper to the back of coasters and inside the box.  Working with only one ply of the paper napkin,  apply decoupage medium to the surface of the box/coaster, apply paper napkin.  Follow manufacturer's instructions for the particular product you are using.  For a finishing touch, edge the coasters with a gold leafing pen or gold acrylic paint.
I will be counting my blessings this Thanksgiving and look forward to sharing good food and special moments with my family. (yes and catching up on some of my creative deadlines as well)  All the best to you and yours!
Creatively Yours,
Sharon

Cover projects

I am so pleased - I recently found out about a new special interest publication from CardMaker Magazine called Fun Folds.  Two of my projects are on the cover.  The magazine is full of many wonderful projects by a variety of talented designers.  I have seen it for sale at Michaels and it is also available through Annie's Attic.
If you haven't signed up for the free newsletter from CardMaker magazine head over now and sign up.  The next issue goes live on Monday September 20, 2010.  In this issue you can learn all about Iris Folding.  Kimber and I are co-editors for the newsletter, hope you enjoy it.
Hope to add some creative inspiration within the next couple weeks.
I have been asked recently if I will be involved with the Creatively Yours event this year and unfortunately due to other commitments I will not be involved with this event - wishing all the participants a great weekend!

Creative Inspiration

If you are looking for some creative inspiration check out the latest issue of CardMaker Magazine.  My article 'Spotlight on Card Making' covers different variations on the spotlight technique, there are also four supporting projects following the article - hope you enjoy it! 
Just finalized my latest CardMaker newsletter, its a free e-letter that comes right to your inbox.  Check out my last newsletter on thread wrapping techniques. Kimber McGray and myself are the co-editors of this newsletter so be sure to check out the archives for all the issues.  My latest issue will go live on August 9th, so go on over and sign up now. 
Creative regards,
Sharon

Christmas in July



Just a peek of some of the cards.

 Ho, Ho, Ho Merry Christmas! No I really haven't lost it - at least not yet. I have been getting into the Christmas Spirit teaching at two different Christmas in July events. The first was on the 14th at Paper Pastimes in the south and then this morning at Scrapbook Pantry in the north. It was a great group of ladies in both of the classes! Hope you all had a good time, were creatively inspired and possibly learned something new that you will be able to use in your own creative adventures.

The four cards we created at Paper Pastimes included stamping, tea bag folding, embossing with folders, using nestabities and we also used shimmer sheets with the embossing folders.

It looks like my next classes will be in September - will give you a heads up once they are designed. Until then check out the CardMaker Magazine free newsletters for more creative inspiration - my next one is set to go out on August 9th, its in the works now. Check out my last one That's a Wrap - thread wrappping techniques for your cards.

Creatively yours,

Sharon

May Flowers

April Showers bring May Flowers - that was the topic of my recent e-letter for CardMaker Magazine, it was all about flower creations for card crafting. If you haven't seen it check it out and sign up to get the newsletter - its free.

Thought I would share one of my recent creations for a class I did at Scrapbook Pantry. The spiral rose shown at the bottom right was created using the spiral rose technique, which I also share in the newsletter.

Just a quick post today with a bit of creative for you.

Creatively Yours,

Sharon

Just when you thought I was gone...

I'm back. Life just doesn't slow down now does it. I remember when I was a teen and wanted things to speed up, now I wish it would slow down a bit. There's that saying, be careful what you wish for.


Anyway, I have been busy working on my first e-newsletter for CardMaker magazine, I am one of the editors along with Kimber McGray. It is a free newsletter, all you have to do is sign up for it at CardMaker magazine. My first issue goes out April 5th, hope you join us.

I partnered with Crystal Mann of Scrapbook Pantry to organize the first annual Creatively Yours & More - papercrafting weekend held in March. It was a wonderful weekend full of creativity, sharing, prizes, friendship, and yummy food. Watch for our next event coming to you in October.

Watch for my upcoming classes at Paper Pastimes March 27th and Scrapbook Pantry April 22nd.
I will be sure to include some creative inspiration in my next post.
Till then may you live the inspired life!

Creatively yours,
Sharon

CHA 2010 Anaheim

Well, here it is the end of January almost and I think I have already slipped on my resolutions - posting more often. Well, I do have a bit of an excuse. Preparation for CHA - one of the most if not the most exciting, creative fun trade shows on earth. I am back and can say that yes I am a CHA 2010 survivor. What a creative feast!!

Over the next few posts I will endeavour to relay some of the wonderful things and moments that I shared at CHA 2010.

I had not experienced the Super Show as I was not in attendance at Summer Show so this year I decided to fly in to see what it was all about. There were some wonderful products and demonstrations at the Super Show. Friday seemed a little quiet but then on Saturday, wow, there was a line up through the lobby and out the front doors of the Convention Center. It was good to see. I watched a demo by Cheryl from Ten Second Studios on metal embossing - wonderful work and a great person. Of course I had to make a few purchases here.

I also had the opportunity to meet Michael Strong http://www.strongstamps.com/ and see his demo and his great line of stamps - excellent quality and designs. Of course, there were some purchases here as well. His images are versatile, deeply etched red rubber and the designs are truly inspirational. His pre-embossed paper is a beautiful quality.

That was just a tidbit from the SuperShow - we haven't even got to the Trade Show yet. Keep watching.

Creatively Yours,

Sharon

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

Well, I truly hope everyone had a Christmas Day filled with warm wonderful moments shared with family and friends. I cannot believe it is already December 29th, 2009 - where oh where does the time go? December was a whirlwind month with travel and different celebrations for birthdays and the holidays. I managed to get some creative activities into the mix but not as much as I had hoped to do. Oh well, maybe next year I will start in July. In the real world Christmas has passed and we are looking to a new year. In the world of publications I am truly blessed as some are now working on Christmas 2010 so I actually get a second chance at Christmas crafting. In the craft world many of us are also gearing up for the winter CHA show in Anaheim. Looks like I might have the opportunity to do a book signing for my newest book "Iris Folding for Christmas" quite exciting for me! Talking about books here is another book, a multi author book in which I have 10 projects in (I guess according to the new blogging rules I am supposed divulge if compensation was received if I am recommending something, and yes it was, however this is a multi author book and there are many great projects in it completed by other designers as well. Check it out. Available through Annie's Attic or try Scrapbook Pantry or Paper Pastimes in Calgary, Alberta. Check out the cover above.

Well time to wish you a Happy New Year may 2010 be filled with good health and happiness and of course creativity! One of my resolutions is to bring you more creative inspiration and learn more about blogging. All the best!

Creatively Yours,

Sharon

So sorry, it has been awhile for me. Have been teaching classes, designing for Cardmaker Magazine and you know how it goes - there is always something to be done. That's what makes life so interesting.

Taught a class recently at Scrapbook Pantry and the inspiration came from my new book 'Iris Folding for Christmas'. The ladies did three projects and they relayed that they enjoyed it and felt comfortable after completing the projects in using the techniques at home. It was nice as it was a process that allowed the ladies to have some conversation and relaxation.

Some have asked about my first book. Which the cover is pictured here. It is presently out of print however I do have a few copies available for sale. the techniques in this book used rubber stamps and a technique I call free style fibre or thread bead technique in which you use double sided tape sheets, metal thread, micro beads and embossing powder.

Also, check out the latest issue of Cardmaker Magazine I have three Christmas theme projects in the issue. Greeting Card, Gift Card Holder and a Bottle Tag. Well that's it for this one - hope to get some creative inspiration up for you this week. Have a great one!

Creatively Yours,
Sharon

Lots of Creativity

This past Friday and Saturday the Scrapbook Carnival was held at the Roundup Centre during the Creative Stitches and Crafting Alive show in Calgary. The building was a buzz of creativity and wonderfully talented people. Vendors displayed their wares from quilting to scrapbooking and paper crafts. There were classes, demonstrations, make and take its and prizes. I was doing make and takes (miti) on Friday and Saturday for the Scrapbook Pantry. Had a great time with many who stopped by the booth to create. Met Ted from Crafter's Workshop who was up from New York demonstratinghow to use their templates - they have a wonderful line. Long story short - it was a wonderful show with wonderful people.

In my last post I gave you a link for my new book. Here is a photo of the cover. I will be teaching classes that include a copy of the book in the class fee. Presently one is scheduled at the Scrapbook Pantry for in November - check out their web site http://www.scrapbookpantry.ca/ or give them a call to register (403) 455-1558.

Until next time ...

Creatively yours,

Sharon

Life has been on High Speed

Here I am trying to get my blog up and running and also post regularly. Well as you can see I have been MIA since February. Thats the bad news. The good news is I have been busy creating. A new book called Iris Folding for Christmas (of which I was asked to design the projects) has just been released. I received my copy today and I am very pleased with how it all came together - the team at DRG/Annie's Attic did a wonderful job!

I have also been creating articles with supporting projects for Cardmaker Magazine - my most recent being in the current issue called Five Times The Fun. The article is about multipurposing your supplies to get more mileage from them. Hope you like it.

Created several designs for a membership club/magazine in the States - Today's Creative Home Arts. Not sure which issues they will be in, some will probably also be online. Will let you know as it happens.

As well I have been designing and teaching classes at Scrapbook Pantry in Calgary. Most recently I had fun with the ladies in the Christmas in August class and this past week I had the opportunity to teach designs based on my designs in the Fabulous Folds book put out by DRG.

Couple those items with my youngest daughters wedding in which I did the invitations, favours and flowers and it has truly been a creative adventure these past months.

Here is the link to a shot of the cover for Iris Folding for Christmas:

http://www.drgwholesale.com/detail.html?code=8795541

Think Spring?

My apologies, its been awhile since my last post and my blog isn't fully up yet either. Oh where or where - does the time go?

With the weather here today looking more like the start of winter rather than the end I think its time we all started to Think Spring - maybe that will help. I know, it really still is winter but we can try can't we.

Here is a photo of a card that I am teaching at the Scrapbook Pantry on March 26. The class is easter themed and maybe these 'spring like' thoughts and cards will cause a chain reaction with mother nature. Hope you enjoy. This card uses thread, embossing powders and alcohol inks - see if you can figure out where we are using the alcohol inks?

Until next time, hope all your adventures are creative.

Creatively yours,

Sharon

Valentine's Theme

I had a great class with the ladies at Scrapbook Pantry (a store that I design displays, classes and teach for) on February 5th. We created three cards with a Valentine's theme that would work perfectly for Valentines, Wedding, and Heartfelt thanks. In two of the cards the scallop hearts from Spellbinders - Nestabilities were used. They work perfect for wrapping threads as well. The metallic threads are Wonderfil threads that are carried at Scrapbook Pantry in array of colors. Here is one of the cards and the card that I demonstrated on TV as well.

My next class is scheduled for March 26th at Scrapbook Pantry and it will be based on an Easter theme. Now some catching up to do with projects that were booked at CHA for a magazine club called Today's Creative Home Arts and Cardmaker Magazine.

The other exciting news is that City TV - Breakfast TV used the Scrapbook Pantry for their Live on Location shoot on February 9th from 6 am to 10 am. The theme of the day - Valentine's. The location shoot was arranged through Allison Orthner in conjunction with her regular monthly scrapbooking feature on BT. Thanks Allison! There were several demonstrations throughout the morning that included myself, Nancy & Krista from Scrapbook Pantry, Allison Orthner and Kristy from Monday Night Class. Jill was our host and Rob our camera man (AV expert). Thanks Jill & Rob you made it all go very smoothly for us.

Creatively yours,
Sharon

CHA

Well its about time. Its about time that I had a blog - thats what everyone is telling me. So here is the start. I will endeavour to post at least once a week. I am sure things will be somewhat under construction for a bit. Wish me luck!

Recently, returned from CHA our big Craft & Hobby trade show and education session held in Anaheim. This is a huge show for manufacturer's and buyers. As expected the show floor seemed a little quieter than in past years but there was still plenty of creative inspiration. I hope that all involved had a successful show - a great deal of work and money goes into producing this show, exhibiting and/or attending this show. Applause to all of you at CHA and the many volunteers!

Along with Creative Inspiration there were also celebrities such as Paris Hilton, Jane Seymour, Vanna White and Debra Norville. Jane Seymour stopped by the booth that I was conducting a make and take at (Daily Window a line of beautiful bags with windows to slip art work of any medium into) unfortunately it was the day I wasn't there instead I was doing a webisode for When Creativity Knocks and Cardmaker magazine. I will be sure to post when it will be released we were doing a card from the March issue. I was told that it went well - so we will see.

More CHA tidbits on my next post. Have to pace myself you know. Have a great day.
Creatively yours,
Sharon