Studio Calico

These colors are so fun. I love it when Studio Calico pushes me out of my creative bounds. Magenta, yellow and navy?! Helllo!!! And fun patterns and touches of gold?! So in!! I had a busy few days before this was due.

Edited: This was a really cool airbnb in Seattle. The kids thought it was creepy but it was vintage. It ended up being in the perfect location. Across the street from the ER, which later in the trip we took Chris to. He had taken some Benadryl and was not feeling right so off we went. This was before Jake’s wedding and we were supposed to shoot her wedding. Wasn’t sure he was gonna be up for it but he did in the end. All was beautiful and well. Later, Bryan came and stayed with us at an airbnb in Portland. That was cute too.

October 1, 2016 0

June

Hi there! How is it JUNE already?! That means we are halfway done with 2016?! WHAT!!! The acrylic word, the chipboard numbers, the stamp set (make a wish and the candles) I stamped onto the watercolored tabs, the washi and the acetate circles and the specialty paper. LOVE it all!!

June 1, 2016 0

My new ‘Summer of Sketches’ class!

I am so excited to announce a new class I will be teaching during the summer at Studio Calico. It’s called Summer of Sketches and is enrolling now! I have an amazing set of contributors who will be joining me and we are going to be doing something fun with the class- it’ll be a sketch class in Round Robin form! It’ll start with a sketch/layout and then we will pass it on to the next person who will then interpret that sketch to their own and pass it on! I’m so excited to see it unfold! (wow, i really ended each sentence with an exclamation point)

Check out the stamp set Tina from Life Love Paper designed for the class! (Edited: I was going to delete this but how crazy that someone designed something that’s so me)

12 start-to-finish videos from Jamie, showing how she went from sketch to finished layout. Jamie will be sharing tips and tricks for adapting layouts to fit the number and sizes of photos you have, and ideas for switching them up to keep your projects looking fresh, no matter how many times you use the same sketch.
Round robin inspiration : See how each sketch changes as it passes from one artist to another! We’ll start each week’s lesson with a sketch based on Jamie’s work, then each scrapbooker will work from a sketch of the layout created by the person before them.
36 all new layouts from Jamie and her contributors
48 sketches – 12 sketches based on Jamie’s past work, plus 36 more based on the class projects.
A printable PDF of all of the class sketches
Access to a class message board and gallery, where you can share and learn with your teacher and fellow students
Weekly challenges to inspire you to use what you’ve learned
Live chat with your teacher and fellow students

I HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US! I just came back from a trip to NYC where it was COLD and rainy and I realized, I cannot wait for the summer!

May 3, 2016 1

Art Journal Workshop with Caylee Grey

I'm loving all the art journals that I see on Instagram but never have made one! So excited to finally have a reason to dive in while taking Art Journal Workshop with Caylee Grey! Cultivate your creativity! Get an inside look at the fun and unique ways Caylee Grey uses her art journal to record her everyday thoughts and stories. You'll explore fresh techniques for expressing yourself within the pages of your own journal using paint, prompts, patterned paper, and more. Be inspired to get messy and experiment with new skills as you document life through your eyes!

It's only $10 and is enrolling through May 1! Hope you join us! I'll be getting my book prepped and ready and will share the results shortly! :)

More info here: Art Journal Workshop with Caylee Grey

April 13, 2016 0

Studio Calico April Preview

I cannot believe we are going to be in April next week! 2016 is flying by! Here's April's moodboard for FILM CLUB. I have to say, this kit had me gasping at nearly every patterned paper choice. That's a good thing!! I love them all! I mean, just look at those colors! Heart eye emoji here! Here's a few of my previews for the month. The SB main kit is so packed with fun elements. I know that I will be able to make so many more projects just from this kit. Mental note, must not hoard!! :) The heart stickers that come in the main SB kit and add on scream Mrs. Grossmans to me, take me back to my youth! A little planner peek. The water check off stickers, brilliant!! Lovely stamp set by Life Love Paper. I usually am a bit stumped at these "building" kinda sets but this one has so much potential. Definitely gonna need to play with it more. It's in the SB main kit. I'm hoping to get my hands in this kit a bit more to have more to show at Studio Calico's Reveal on the 1st! Check back then! :)

March 22, 2016 0

Studio Calico March Scrapbook Workshop

I am so excited to be teaching this month's scrapbook kit workshop at studio calico! I will be sharing three layouts, three process videos and three inspiring ideas to use when you've hit a creative block. In addition, you'll get three sketches, a free digital file, (which is sooo cute!) and a private class message board.

By subscribing to the Scrapbook Kit Workshop, you'll automatically have access to new content each month. You must be a scrapbook kit subscriber to subscribe to this workshop. I really loved the colors and patterns in this month's kit and hope that you will join me! More info here: Studio Calico's March Homespun Kit Workshop class.

March 2, 2016 0

my new hello forever studio calico planner

I received my new planner in the mail last week and I have to admit I've been a bit nervous to dive in! There's something exciting but intimidating about a blank canvas that scares me off! Well we are almost halfway done with February so I knew I needed to get in there and get some groundwork done. I chose these One Little Bird stamps to fill in my numbers. They were a little big so I had less square space for the calendar but I like them bold like that, I think I prefer that over my own handwriting for the numbers, just a little more uniform. Happy to report I only made one mistake and that was just leaving the zero off on day 20. Phew! I used this ink and had zero bleed through. Now I just need to add some more color, but wanted to show you before all that took place. 🙂

February 18, 2016 0

best version of you! I mean me!

I seem to have a few different Midori's that I'm diving into for 2016. I can count off the top of my head at least 3. There's no rhyme or reason, really and I'm just gonna go with it! This is a little faux-dori that Amy Tangerine was offering for awhile. I think she may be sold out in her shop right now. Did a spread today with the Studio Calico Arendal Documenter kits.

I've been feeling like I haven't really accomplished much this week and I used the excuse, "recovering from the holidays" as my reason. Ya, I can't do that next week. So this past week I managed to clean out a few closets, organize my desk, put things up on Craigslist and deep clean my dishwasher. Why can't that be enough and make me feel like I accomplished so much? Because I did! 🙂 I know I did, just doesn't seem like fun accomplishments. ha! I need to keep reminding myself that I'm doing a pretty good job being the best version of myself. 🙂 I'm gonna just find some inner peace about that and move on 🙂 Happy Friday and weekend! xo

Summer Midori Notebook

January 15, 2016 0

sharing

Studio Calico's September Kits are available now! This month is called Brimfield. I have to say, that the process of creating each month again has been a fun experience. There have been times where I've been stumped, where there were colors or patterns that I thought weren't 'me'. When I've designed for 2peas waaaay back in the day, there was pretty much free reign and you could create whatever you wanted. Designing for a kit club where they choose your supplies/ingredients has been surprising and a good creative stretch for me. This month felt so good though. Every paper and color were 'me'. I didn't have to overthink anything. Things just meshed. This layout took me about 5 minutes. All I did was stamp the title and glue everything else down. That's my kinda creating. Capturing our memories and recording them on pretty paper. That's my motto. :)

September 2, 2015 0

The Fringe Hours collab with Studio Calico

When I got this book a few weeks ago, I have to admit that while I was reading it, I found myself nodding and patting myself on the back as I have incorporated ME time into my weekly schedule for a few years now. Being a mother of 4, where was this book when they were all younger?! Those were the times I felt overwhelmed and this book would have shed light on what so many of us women/moms are searching for. I have 3 teenagers now and a 9 year old so I can clearly see pockets of me time, the FRINGE HOURS. It's harder to discover those Fringe Hours when you are immersed in toddlerhood. It's sometimes hard to give yourself permission to take advantage of those Fringe Hours. I know I did. Reading this book is like having coffee with Jessica, she's sitting there nodding at your same struggles but telling you it's okay. Everything will be alright. This book gives you the permission and explains WHY it is so important. I wish I had come across it years ago but thankful I've incorporated ME Fridays into my life when I did. This book just further validated my decision. I look forward to Fridays. I cherish them. My little one gets out of school early and it's my day "off" until it's time to pick her up. There's still a dishwasher to empty and regular day to day stuff. But for the most part, I give myself permission to read on the couch for a few hours, window shop, binge watch, spend more time than necessary on Pinterest and just unwind, prep mentally and emotionally before a busy weekend ahead. Before ME Fridays, I realized I wasn't putting me on the calendar. Now I do wholeheartedly. I'm a recharged me and my kids I'm sure would thank me for it. I THANK ME FOR IT. Here's my Mother's Day present. A photo of all 4 kids and me together. The reasons I celebrate ME fridays :) Be sure to check out Jessica's blog post at Studio Calico to read more about her book and be sure to download the free printable cards they've designed. I've printed mine out, ready to do something fun with them as it is ME Friday today 🙂 Enjoy xo.

May 22, 2015 0