The first one came in an email from the editor of Scrapbooking.com. She was letting me know that she had seen a website, CraftGossip, that mentioned one of my articles and provided a link for its readers. The writer said she loved what I offered… WOO HOO!!! Major validation!

The second one came from a friend who had recently stopped into Mystic Paper, a local scrapbook store. A couple of years ago I taught a series of classes at Ink It! where the students learned a variety of techniques and then assembled the samples and written directions into a tag book. The book was bound with a snap ring so that additional technique pages could be added. Recently I brought the idea back with a new series of classes at Stamp Works in Chandler. Today I learned that one of my ATC trading partners at Stamp Works has taken the same idea to Mystic Paper and is teaching a similar technique tag book there. I’ll never know if this is a case of “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery” or just “great minds think alike” but it still feels validating to me; I’m not the only one who thought this was a good idea!

++UPDATE: I went on a little search to see if I could find a sample of the class at Mystic Paper and found this: http://myartisticside.blogspot.com/2007/03/behind-scenes.html. I think that must be the class my friend was talking about. It looks like a great class, don’t you think? I hope I can get up there soon to see it for myself.

Shortly after I got home from CHA I received an email from one of the major stamping magazines. They wanted to use one of my templates in a future article. Their plan was to have each of their designers work with it and then share the results with their readers. I thought it was a great idea and gave them my blessings. Now I’m waiting to see if it actually makes it past the planing stages and into print. I’ll let you know if it gets that far. I love to see what others have done with my templates so I’m very excited about this!

I’m also excited about the next issue of Scrapbooking.com. I had a lot of fun working on my contributions this time. One of the themes I had the most fun with was Nature/Mother Earth. While at CHA I did a Make&Take at the Artgirlz booth that got my ideas popping. I couldn’t wait to get home and purchase some of their stamps for use in a Mother Earth Shrine. It’s made and submitted so now I have to try and be patient while I wait to see if it will get picked for publication on March 1. I am really not good at this whole waiting thing.

One final note… A friend sent me an ATC chain letter. It is one of those things where you make 6 ATCs and send them to the names on a list. Then you send the letter on to six of your friends so they can do the same. If any of you would like to play please let me know. I haven’t sent my 6 letters out yet and I’m wondering who to send them to. Normally I avoid these types of things but this time I thought I’d give it a try for the sake of the friend who sent it to me. I never expect to get anything out of it but maybe I can push it along far enough for her to get a few cards.

What’s everyone working on this week? My table is clear once again and I plan to mess it up with some ATC creating.

Tomorrow morning I’m teaching a class at Stamp Works in Chandler. It’s Chapter One of a technique sampler book I’ve put together for them. Chapter One is advertised to include Underglazing, Ghost Stamping, Crinkled Chalks and Faux Linen. There are also 4 bonus techniques waiting if there is any free time left at the end.

Technique sampler classes are a lot of fun. You don’t get to go home with a lot of completed cards but you get to run through a lot of different techniques in one class. It’s great for the beginner stamper and can be a fun refresher for the more experienced stamper.

Have you ever taken a class like this? What do you like best… learning lots of techniques or going home with several completed cards?

No contest this month… I’ll be doing a lot of traveling and may not be putting up many posts. The contests will be back in February.

It’s a little late for Christmas Greetings but here is what my card looked like this year.

Chris made a library pocket with 2 Christmas tags in it. My project was a double sided pocket tag with matching recipe cards. Tie a few of these together and you have a great little recipe book to give as a gift!

Here is a second photo showing how I added several of the pocket tags together to make a holiday cookbook. They are just joined with a metal ring and embellished with a few ribbons.

Later tonight I’ll be posting details of another contest.

I’m excited… could you tell? LOL I’ve really been looking forward to this as a part of my Christmas celebrations. The good part… the giving part. Knowing that it will be even bigger and more fun for everyone has me ready to break out the Egg Nog and start Ho-Ho-Hoing!

It always disappoints me when a student tells me that in some classes they had felt less than brilliant and were afraid to ask the teacher questions. Or when they tell me that they took a class, made a wonderful sample, but could never repeat the skill on their own after class.

I’m going to tell you what I always tell my students: You pay the teacher so that she/he will teach you the skill, not just so that you can go home with a pretty sample. It’s his/her job to make sure that you learn, and your right to expect that. Please, don’t ever feel bad about asking for help. If the teacher doesn’t provide a hand out, take notes and don’t worry if you have to ask to have something repeated because you were writing it down.

And one more thing.. Always give your store owner feedback about the class and the teacher. This is how store owners know what their customers like. Believe me, they want to know what makes you a happy shopper. Your feedback will help them schedule the teachers and skills that you enjoy most. It also helps the teachers to do a better job because the store owner will tell the teacher of any problem areas or strengths.

I think I’m finally starting to get into gear thanks to some seasonal projects I’ve been working on. I did some fall and winter holiday cards for Scrapbooking.com but it is the projects I’ve got going for Mystic Paper that are really waking up my spirit.

Kim from Mystic Paper called me a few weeks ago and asked me if I’d like to be part of their “Fa La La La La Fest”. She explained that there were setting aside two weeks in late November and early December to focus on the fun of the holiday. Each night from Monday through Friday there will be a two hour Christmas theme class for only $20 and on each of the Saturdays there will be several one hour classes for an amazing price of only $10 each!

I have three classes schedules for the Fa La La La La Fest. On the Saturdays I’ll be teaching a fun little paper purse that makes a perfect “gift wrap” for a small gift and a tri-fold pocket card with tags. The project that has me singing “Fa-la-la” is a great little file box to keep all you holiday notes and plans organized. I’ve reduced the cost of the class for this special holiday event so you can take it for only $20!

I have a picture of one of the classes my friend, Chris Herrmann, will be teaching during Fa La La La La Fest. It’s a fun little bracelet that would make a perfect holiday gift. Chis has been a favorite teacher in the valley for a few years and has quite a following. If you want to take one of her classes you had better sign up fast before they fill up!

Fa La La La La Fest runs November 13 through 18 and November 27 through Dec 2. Several of their teachers have come up with special Christmas classes for you so be sure to stop by and check it out! They are on Main St. in Mesa and I have a link to their site on the right side of the page.

The second class is for an accordion fold pocket art book. The class is scheduled for Tuesday, November 7 at 10am.