Happy New Year!

I can't believe another year has gone by. It was a good year despite the economic news! My New Year's Resolution for 2009 is to be completely POSITIVE about EVERYTHING in my life! Now that I have my hormone imbalance issues under control, I am feeling more like my usual self. I almost said "old" self but decided I am not going to think that way anymore. Positive thoughts all the way. I hope that in the next year, I get the chance to rub off some positive vibes, teach you some new things and just basically be inspiring to you. I love what I do!

Teddy Bear Vintage Stamp from TAC

I just got this and am playing around with it. I colored this first one in with chalk pencils and regular colored pencils. This stamp is just too cute! It's only available until the end of November so if you want one, let me know and we'll get it on one of my funshops this week. :)

Sydney Free For Fall

www.theangelcompany.net

Halloween is such a photo fest

I love it! I am already thinking about a mini album to make with my 5 year old daughter, Faith. I made her one for our new kitten and she really enjoyed decorating it and adding in the photos. This mini album is made with just one sheet of 12x12 paper. I may have to make it a little class during Christmas vacation for mothers and daughter to come do together. I will post a picture of our Halloween one when we get it done. Have a happy and safe Halloween!

Double Dips Continuing through Dec 3rd!

I am so excited that TAC has extended this awesome promotion. Double hostess benefits: That means when you host a party or share the inspiration book/catalog with some friends and get at the very least $100 in sales, then you get to choose 2 Level A stamp sets and any 2 items for 1/2 price. Everyone is looking for a sale especially in this economy. This is a great sale. 50% off TWO of those items you have been wanting to get but don't want to pay full price for. My latest host and good friend, Mary selected the newest version of the bind-it-all machine. It's now a light shade of pink and can cut through thicker materials and has an extension so you can bind longer, larger projects. Mary will have fun with her new tool and her new stamps. You can too! Call or email if you have any interest! 719-266-0246 or janine@coloradorobertsons.com

Perfect Pearls and more

It was so wonderful at the Christmas card stamp camp yesterday. I think I've finally got the organization of it down right. I even had all my guests rate the card designs so I would have a better feel of the popular and the "needs something" category. I have already readjusted a couple of the cards that didn't go over so well so hopefully they will go over at the next Christmas card camp on November 17th. A couple of the cards had the perfect pearls that I just purchased from TAC. I am really excited by them and so too are you, it seems. They make such a great effect without the heat gun and whatnot, plus the can mix into other mediums which I will be exploring here in the near future.
I just whipped up some Fall cards for my networking group. I have used a technique I created that I call strip quilting. I basically use about 5-6 different patterned papers that coordinate, cut them into varying strips from 1", 1.25", 1.5", 2". Then I start by making a large "X" with two of the patterned paper strips and glue them down to a card face. Then, you add strips to the bottom going both ways and then the top going both ways and you keep criss-crossing until the whole card face is covered using a different patterned paper each time. I would be happy to show you how to do this in person or maybe I will make up a tutorial when I have the time. There is probably more you could do to it but just this as the basics is pretty neat looking. Gotta run. Kids are about to get home! Yipes how the time flies!

I am a Christmas card designing machine

I have been working diligently on new designs for the stamp camp coming up. Check out the slideshow of all the design choices. Christmas cards are just so inspiring...

Preparing your new TAC stamps

I love my TAC stamps and so will you but first we've got to get them ready for you to use. They have come in a regular bulky plactic case. There is the rubber sheet with the images and a sheet of Creative Cling to match.
First off, we index our stamps. This means you will be putting the image on the cling side of the Creative Cling. Lay the sheet of rubber with images on a flat surface. Use black ink(I prefer StazOn ink because of the super fast drying time, other black inks will need about an hour to dry on the Creative Cling surface). Ink up the image. Peel off the white paper on the cling side which is the smooth side. Each rubber sheet has a 4 digit number in one of the corners. Use this corner as your guide. Lay the Creative Cling smooth side down on top of the inked up rubber sheet using the numbered corner as your starting point. Pull off the Creative Cling, clean rubber sheet.
Secondly, you will attach the Creative Cling to your rubber sheet. Use the numbered corner to match up the rubber sheet image with the stamped image on the Creative Cling.
And finally you are ready to cut the rubber sheet. Cut with the rubber image facing up so you won't accidently cut into the rubber image. Cut with straight lines as close to image as possible. Do not undercut the Creative Cling which means you are angling your scissors under the rubber image! Keep your scissors straight up and down or angled outward.
You can store them in notebooks or CD cases. Please do not store on Acetate sheets!!!
I personally use the CD cases. You must buy the regular size CD cases and take out the inserts, then label. I have over 50 stamp sets on ONE shelf! If you have any questions regarding getting your stamps ready, please don't hestitate to drop me an email or call me. I want you to be able to use The Angel Company's wonderful stamps and enjoy them like I do!

Technique Camp starting this SAT!

I am starting a technique camp that will be held the first Saturday of every month. We will be learning 3 new techniques and do 3 cards with these techniques. The directions will go on the back of your cards. I am going to be putting all my technique cards into a 4x6 chipboard album The Angel Company sells for $4.95. I can order one for anyone that would like or you can find your own option to store your tech cards. The cost for each camp is $7 and you are welcome to bring a lunch item to share with the group since it will be over the lunch hours from 10am-1pm. This will be a great way to learn some more challenging techniques that produce beautiful results. These kinds of techniques I do not do in any of my general stamp camps or funshops as they are more advanced and intimidating. So for anyone that wants to see what other fun things you can do with inks, colorants, papers, etc. this is the camp to come to. The first three techniques for October are: Split Negative, Crinkled Paper and Fossil techniques. The photos on the right will show each one of them. Call or email me to RSVP for this event!

Teacher Gift in the midst of scary search by cops

Wow, it has been one of those days you won't easily forget, if ever. We were awakend early this morning with a reverse 9-1-1 call about a man who had kidnapped a women in New Mexico drove north and ran out of gas at the Gleneagle Exit in COS. That's my exit! We were watchful this morning getting the kids off to school but didn't hear much else except that the kidnapped lady had gotten away and the man was still out there somewhere. He apparently broke into someone's house at about 7:30am and assaulted a women and took some jewelry and went out the back door. Another lady on the street behind us reported she saw a man in her backyard this morning at 9:30. She lives on the street right behind us. So, as I casually go out this morning at 10:30am to drop some mail into the mailbox. I see police 2 doors down at the stop sign. They see me and yell at me to get back into the house. I RAN! Slamed the door, set the alarm and looked out my back window to see the swat team with dogs in the backyard behind us. I called me hubbie and he came home to stay with me. I had to call everyone in crop club to tell them not to come. Found out later that the schools my kids are in are locked down. The swat team and dogs eventually came over and sweeped our backyard. I was a bit leary about being down in my basement studio where I felt the most vulnerable in the whole house but once the swat team went through our yard I made my way down here to start and finish a teacher gift card/bookmark pocket card that I will teach at the Crop-a-Latte in Castle Rock on Sept 27th. I am feeling a little spent. They still haven't found the bad guy and I am waiting to hear how we are going to get our kids? So, I have been crafting away keeping my mind away from the horrible possibilities that could happen. I think I am going to just go and veg for a while now in front of the TV.

All Occasion Card Camp on Sept 14th!

It's coming up! Here are a couple of cards we will be making. I am having so much fun just thinking up designs and prepping these cards. I could do this forever!

Stamping and Scrapbooking Expo

Wow, so I got the opportunity to work in Terri Ott's booth for Eyelets Etc. It really was my only way to get some TAC info out to people other then handing out flyers which they would not have liked. It wasn't easy because I really was there to work for her but whenever I had the opportunity to bring up theangelcompany then I would. I got a couple of leads and a possible recruit that I meet with tomorrow so it was a productive 2 days.
I am still struggling with the hormone imbalance issue so my Friday and my funshop Friday night weren't the greatest. Thankfully, the rest of the weekend I felt good. It's one of those things that the doc said is a process to figure out what I need to feel right and good. It's definitely improved but still needs tweeking to avoid the headaches and now naseau. Yuck. It's like being pregnant without being pregnant. No fun!!!
My bat mitvah invitation order is just about complete so I am looking for more work. Need some cards, invites or scrapbooks made? Point people my way, please!
My good friend, Michelle, is having her funshop with me on Thursday. I am really enjoying doin the funshops for people. It's great to show people about TAC and stamping and scrapbooking. I have the knowledge and skills so it would be a shame to keep it all to myself. Besides, we always have fun. Gotta a couple of new classes lined up for Sept and Oct that I will be offering so make sure to check out my website for details. www.janinerobertson.com Off to clean the basement...

Funshop Fun

I love designing cards. I tend to go by the seat of my pants but will ocassionally follow a design sketch from a magazine or the TAC catalog. Anyways, my very good friend, Michelle is going to have a funshop coming up here at the end of August. She requested a birthday card and a Christmas card for the make-n-takes. These two are fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants card designs. Enjoy!

Crop-a-Latte event

I am follow-up mode after the Crop-a-Latte event back on the 19th. It was a lot of fun and I think I talked more that day then I do in an entire week. There were lots and lots of nice ladies and I am looking forward to the couple of funshops that were booked and to just building up a relationship with all this wonderful women. I took my camera to take a few pictures but alas when I went to take some my batteries were dead. Ugh. Note to self: must check batteries in camera before events.
I am currently working on an order for 100 Bat Mitvah invitations and just planning for future events. Have to make this a quick one. So, I will be back....

Natalee Accordion Album Kit from TAC

Here's a couple of pictures of my finished Natalee Accordion Album. I used the coordinating cardstock, ribbon and the new embellishment jar, Audrey to complete the album. I was going to give it to my mom for Christmas but I may have to keep this one and make another one for her.
I will be doing a class on this kit at the Crop-a-Latte in Black Forest on July 19th for $15. Check out their website for more information on this all-day crop. It's so worth the money!
www.crop-a-latte.com

All Occasion Card Camp Coming Up!

I am preparing the cards for the all occasion card camp coming up on the 17th or the 20th. I love doing these camps as it really motivates me to look into new techniques, new designs and other possiblities. Don't wait to register as I have only 12 spots available between the 2 dates. In other words, I am only prepping the cards for 12 people. I just made a "Congratulaions" card for the wedding we are leaving for today. It has a fun advanced technique that veteran cards makers will like.

Stamp & Scrap Party Packages have arrived!

I have been working on putting together party packages for birthdays, bridal showers, baby showers, etc. I finally have a few of them put together and have the samples made. I already have thoughts for some other projects that will eventually put together as well. The projects have all come out super cute. You can check out the packages and pricing on my website at www.janinerobertson.com I have my first birthday party in July so off I go...

Father's Day Card

I was trying this technique I read in a magazine but it wasn't working like it said. I had to improvise because I seem to have misplaced my brayer so I used a sponge instead and sponged on the ink. That may be the reason why it didn't work. In any case, what came out was looking pretty good anyways. I am pleased with it and will guide those that come to my Father's Day card camp on June 1st how to make it.

Playing around

I have been playing around with new techniques when I have time which has been really overloaded lately with end of school stuff. I made this card with the baby wipe stamping technique. It came out fabulous. This technique is so easy and you can use so many different combinations of ink colors with your stamps. I am going to continue to have a little more fun with this technique.

Father's Day is coming!

Mother's Day is almost upon us. Time to get those cards sent! I have been working on Father's Day cards and the coaster album. The project came out really cute! It was really very simple. I will have to remember to bind the book first before adding any pictures or embellishments. It was the first time using the bind it all machine. It's really very easy! But like I said you may want to bind before you design each page just in case. One of my pages is a little cockeyed. Oh well. Live and learn. That's why I do it first and teach others what not to do. LOL!

Stamp Camp a learning experience!

My first stamp camp was on Sunday. I think I did a good job organizing and prepping everything but when your in the midst of it with 11 totally different people you find that there are lots of things that could be better. First off, 25 cards was too many for them to do in the 3 hour time span. I don't think any of my guests were suprised that they wouldn't get it done. Some even stayed up to 2 1/2 hours longer and still didn't get them all done. I did feel bad about it since that was what I advertised for the price. Some of them I think took home the makings for some of the ones they couldn't get to and I started making some to just give to people before they left. Everyone had fun and learned some new things. They were all great about ideas on what could be done next time. There are definitely different levels of experience you have to take into consideration so next time will be a beginner, intermediate and advanced level card designs/techniques. For the next stamp camp I will have everyone choose their level and then I will design 3 cards for them to make 5 times for a total of 15 cards. Then at the end everyone can swap their cards and take home 15 unique cards. This give intermediate and advanced stampers a chance to learn some new stuff and gives the beginner stamper just the basics so they aren't overwhelmed and leave with a poor self-esteem because they couldn't get it right.
Baby wipes are a definite must to wipe up hands and another stamp cleaner pad. For the most part, I learned what to do better in the future and like I said everyone still had lots of fun.
I am working on a Father's Day coaster ablum for my next stamp camp coming up the first of June. So, I will post later about that with a picture.

Bandana Technique

Got this bandana technique idea from the Paperwings gallery where all the Angels post. It's really easy and it looks so darn authentic. I have used the Spring Dream stamp set with black Palette ink and a white gel pen for the highlights. I will be showing my crop club this tomorrow!

Still gearing up for my birthday card stamp camp. I am excited and a little bit stressed on how it will all come together but I think I have prepared enough so... I will let you know next week how it all turned out.

I am also having my first ever mystery hostess funshop. We will be making Mother's Day cards with the new bandana technique and the chalk tracing technique. One last funshop before the double hostess benefits is gone. I hope they bring it back again soon!

Habits are hard to create!

Well, I had intended to keep up with this blog thing but I have been AWOL! Actually, I have just been busy creating, being a mom and suffering with my shoulder injury from the indoor skydiving thing I did with my hubbie for our anniversary. I am just about caught up on my creating. I got an order for 2 first year baby books and an 8x8 wedding book along with another 8x8 baby's birth book. It was really fun to do the baby books since my kiddos are getting way beyond babyhood. One of my friends and a crop club member shared with me the crystal laquer she had recently purchased from me for TAC crop club. Yes, even I still learn new things and find new products to use. This stuff was way cool. I die cut some vehicle shapes for the boy baby book from the Cricut, painted them with acrylic paint and then put this crystal laquer stuff over them. Wow, they looked awesome. Who needs to buy pre-made embellishment when you can create your own unique stuff that totally works with your album layouts.
Well, now I just have to finish my mom's scrapbook. It's been a long haul with this one as I ended up having to scan in a lot of pictures and try to restore them as they are old and have lots of damage. It was a learning process since I just got Adobe Photoshop Elements for my birthday back in November. Thankfully, I am on the last leg doing embellishments and final touches. She will be out here in April so I still have plenty of time. Next up will be doing a heritage album for my late grandparents. Gotta start going through the pictures and doing some scanning again!
January has come and gone but in that time, I worked on my goal setting. I am working on trying to get to doing up to 4 albums per month in any size. January's goal was easily met but February isn't going to be so good. My goal is acutally to work up to doing 4 per month by the end of the year so I still have work to do and can give myself a little break. It will mostly come in spurts anyways.
Part of my goals is to have a planner and plan and prepare better. I will have to put blogging in my planner so I make a point of getting to it. Habits are hard to create but they can be so useful in the end.
Until the next time, whenever that will be...