Oh? Did I forget to mention....

...that I was COPIC CERTIFIED while I was away at CHA?! I know, right? Yes, I met Marianne Walker of ilikemarkers.blogspot.com fame and I took the 6 hour class with her to officially become a Copic Certified Designer. (OOOoooOOOO). I can't believe it took me this long to mention it, can you? Well, with recovering from the long trip, the computer being on vacation itself for several days and the camera going bye bye everytime my girl leaves the house, it took this long to get the dang picture on the camera, then my laptop and jump drive and now the desk computer! Who says it's all fun and games ?!

And now you are wondering what the heck one does once one is Copic certified, aren't you....well....you color, of course!! LOL!! Oh, but wait...you don't JUST color, but you color really really well! You color and you blend and you color and you blend....all for the good of mankind ;) Well, more like for the good of crafterkind. Anyhow....you may remember that my journey with Copic markers began in the post where I won a Copic Set B of 36 markers from Gina K. To be honest, that is still the only set I own...and I thought that was the only set I would ever need. HA! Now that I know more than just how to put alcohol ink to paper, I definitely NEED more Copic markers! So I think that is all I will be getting at Christmas this year. Sigh. I'm so glad God gave me talents to use Copic markers with; He is so good, isn't He?

More projects from CHA's show

Here are some more projects we made for the CHA Supershow classes sponsered by Ye Olde Outhouse. This is the alcohol ink vase we made using a clear glass lidded jar. We used three of my fav Ranger alcohol ink colors, Ginger, Red Pepper and Copper Mixative, covered the vase and added CHF's Silhouette Blooms and sentiments to the sides. In the final project, we completed it with brown gingham ribbon tied around the top of the jar. Also, although I don't have pictures of them, we made two double sided, Cricut cut, 6-layer, Cuttlebugged, sanded, textured flowers on floral sticks to add to the vase. Chock full of technique, I tell ya!!

There is always more to teach! I love techniques! The next card is an adapted card from Gina K's Stamp TV gallery. With permission from the woman who designed the Gina K card and using CHF stamps, I put together this project to teach the wood graining technique using a Scor Pal. This little guy from Cornish Heritage Farm's Kim Hughes U R A Hoot set was VERY popular with the class! Remember the post with the grad card I made using the same idea several weeks before CHA? (in my summer of pictures post!)

And finally for today, this set of projects was called County Blues. Deby and I again taught use of alcohol inks on this (originally white) candle holder and on a CASED card from an SCS'er (also with permission) used Nesties for the circles and Core'dination paper to rip layers to make a Mountain and Sea card. The "mountains" were more mountain-y on the actual class model card with a different CHF image! This heat embossed flower image is actually a retired CHF stamp. We used CHF's Nature's Silhouette II stamp set with the Boxwood and Bayleaf stamps on the actual workshop card!

See, frog faithfuls...I HAVE been BUSY!
Whew....more excitement to come....stay tuned!

Off to shop today for college stuff at Target! Stay cool!

Yes, I'm back! And yes, I've been back since Tuesday night...

...but I'm just now feeling alive again :) I wish I could share pics of the Ye Olde Outhouse booth right this minute, but the truth is they are in Betty's camera and I am waiting patiently to see them! My friend Deby, who was my faithful right hand co teacher has a few on her blog, The Sofa Lady...check it out!
I can however share the pictures of the projects that we taught in our CHA Supershow classes....they were well attended for the most part and it was a BLAST teaching the "students" techniques. All of our projects used Cornish Heritage Farm stamps, because I adore them and they worked perfectly to complement my projects to reflect Betty's arts and craft store.

This first one, Country Home, was originally a scrapbook page, then a card, then finally, CHA ok'd it as a picture on a plaque. We mounted this 8.5 x 5.5" scene onto a wooden board painted black, and put curled wire through holes on the top of both sides to hang it up. We used woodgraining, masking, Scor pal-ing, and paper tearing techniques....lots of fun!

Cornish Heritage set: Primitive Beginnings

This next card, we called the "Secret card". It was originally "rejected"....we actually made it as a second project to the vase we altered using alcohol inks. This card uses the technique I used to make this blue card in a previous post. I just love the technique and wanted to show the alcohol ink process on photo paper so I threw it into the class as a "bonus" project.

Cornish Heritage Set: Vintage Wings

This next project is a post it noteholder that I learned to make on Splitcoast Stampers. I wanted to show off the Core'dinations paper and how you can sand the core color to the surface after cuttlebugging it....it was a very popular project!

Cornish Heritage set: Vintage Wings

I'll share more tomorrow! I pray you are well and blessed! God is faithful to meet your needs today! I have missed all of you! Especially my SBS sisters! Love ya!

We made it to Orlando...outhouse and all :)

Hey all! A quick check in from CHA :) Betty and I arrived on Sunday having driven with an outhouse on the roof of the van for over 3 days and 1200 miles! I know, right. The van is packed to the gills with the store supplies and set up, all our classroom projects' parts and pieces, inks and rubber, glass, to brads, bottle caps to coasters....we are getting ready for a plethora of techniques and teaching fun. First was the COPIC certification class...good way to begin, don't you think? I know, you all thought I was going to grace Tim Holtz with another handshake, didn't you?! Sorry, but COPIC's called me away...this time.... ;)

Drumroll........Tada! I am officially COPIC certified, frog faithfuls! Wow, huh? We were in class all day, playing and learning what to do with these wonderful markers....I even learned to use the airbrush system with them....and blending lots of different ways as well as how to put a shadow under your image in the right way! Betty and I are having a great time, but we are anxious to set up the booth and begin classes for the Supershow after the trade show ends....the rest of the team will come Wednesday, so pray for travelling mercies and for it all to come together. So exciting!

I let my daughter use my camera for her vacation, so I don't think you'll see any pictures of me with Cuttlebug or Cricket this year, but I'm hoping to snap a few pictures of some of the projects using lots of the fun new techniques and tools I learn this year.....and when I get back, I'll share a paper piecing card I made for a swap with some ladies from the stamping cruise last fall. I have to wait until all of us receive our swap cards. Isn't it amazing how many friends one can make in stamping and papercrafting?! A community, i tell you!! If you haven't done so already, you may want to consider hopping over to join the Papercrafting Planet forum. Friends come in all shapes and ink colors you know! ;) Have a wonderful week!

Summer in pictures

Where have I been? What have I been doing?? Well......

There's marching..........

And rafting.......

And crafting..........

Snapping....

And riding.........

And crafting....

Celebrating and celebrating and Celebrating.....

And saying goodbye :( .....for now...... And then, more celebrating and celebrating....

And thanking God for a Blessed day for ANOTHER grad party!
And smiling with my Aunt Judy and Mom.....

And getting ready for my baby girl to go to college.......

But first...........I leave for CHA's crafting trade show and convention in Florida tomorrow!!! WOW!!

See you when I get back! :)
Lots of love!

Kim Marie aka

BUSY LADY!

I'll be back....

Hey, Frog Faithfuls! {Sorry, I couldn't resist AHNODE at the top of the post! }
I'm here, really I am....but EXTREMELY involved in all that is going in, on and under my life right now--what with adventures and graduations and such! I have a TON of pictures to share, too! Don't worry...I'll be back in a day or two to post....honestly...I haven't even really BEEN on the computer in weeks {no duh, right!?}....but I've missed you all! Don't froget me!
Trusting God is blessing each and every one of you!!!
Love ya!

Marching on

Here's our annual Memorial Day parade in town. We personally have had a part in this parade for 17 years, as scouts and scout leaders and marching band members. I always joke that if it's a beautiful, warm and sunny day, we must have the parade dates mixed up! We hate to have to wear a rain poncho over uniforms and we were blessed this year with a gorgeous day! Hurrah! It is the last year we will have a "marcher", so it was bittersweet....of course we have two more parades to go, so I'm not teary eyed yet! And aren't the band uniforms beautiful? As are the band members of course! :)

Also, here's a snapshot of our lilac tree blooming....so so pretty! I wonder at God's creations...most especially in the spring time!

Blessed Sunday!!

Keeping track :)

I told you we've been to some track meets lately. Kels has several events including a 100 meter race (lane 3 in the pic), a 4x100 meter relay, high jump and triple jump. These pictures were actually at a meet on a beautiful sunny day...one of the few meets where we were not drenched and freezing! All the kids did well, and Kelsey had her highest high jump EVER! (4' 8" I believe!)

Her triple jump at this meet was also the longest she's done this season...her personal best is 34 feet, but I think this meet was like 32 or 33 feet plus some inches, I can't remember the exact measurements....it just amazing me that they can hop, skip, jump and then land successfully! Way way beyond my skills let me tell YOU! BTW, she jumps 28 FEET before she even lands in the pit! Wow, right? Well, here we see her waiting while some kids cross the track and then she FLIES!! Her "landing" in this clip isn't quite that pretty, but the jump was GOOD!!

And finally, here is one of my recent creations sent as a thank you card to Dani dear who is coordinating a card swap this month with some ladies from the cruise I went on last fall. I had some "scraps" sitting around and I put them together to make this card. Love that Cornish Heritage Farms Vintage Butterfly Set...I used the images in quite a few of my CHA projects!