Life Gets in the Way

Wouldn't it be nice to be able to create whenever the urge hit? Regardless of anything else that might be going on?? In my little dreamworld, that happens, because in my reality world, it certainly hasn't.

I have barely stamped or scrapped at all lately. This pesky little thing called work seems to be getting in the way. I have a pretty flexible job (I have my own company and do administration work remotely) which is so great. But when it's busy, it means a lot of evenings and weekends and it's been busy lately.

I did sit down and scrap on Friday though. Of course, I had to spend a couple hours cleaning and organizing the disaster that I shared on Friday, but I did manage to get a scrapbook layout started. Not finished though. I was hoping to finish it this weekend, but no luck. But it's just sitting there waiting for me. Part of it is that I think it's missing something and so I'm not terribly inclined to go finish it until I can figure out what it's missing.

I do have a card to share that I made last month for my technique club.

And, yes, those are Candi in the corners. I seem to be putting those on everything lately!!

Distress Flickers Again

I am running out of time to get my post up for today, so it will be another quick post. The good news is that my sister came over today and we scrapbooked and I got another two layouts done to share with you. Yeah!!

Here is another card I did for January's Kayric Technique Club (Distressed Flickers).

Drop a drop or two of Distress Reinkers on a non-stick craft sheet and mist with water. Then dip an old toothbrush in and using your thumb to "flick" the colour on to your paper. I did this years ago with Twinkling H2Os and loved the result. I do wear gloves for this though since you will get rather stained hands. And make sure all your cool projects are away so that they don't suffer collateral damage.

And because you are using Distress Colours, you can stamp with your Distress Inks and it will all match. I love that system!

Distress Felt

Awhile ago, I did Distressed Felt as my monthly technique.

You use Cut & Dry Felt (not Foam) and create your own custom ink pad using Distress Inks. Just put some ink in a line along a small section of the felt and repeat with 2-3 coordinating colours. It's quite fascinating because the ink will spread, but it won't cross over into the next section (I learned a variation of this technique from Tim Holtz' first set of the 12 Tags of Christmas). In the end, you end up with a custom variegated ink pad. It's awesome!! I then spritzed mine with a little bit of water and used it to swipe directly across my paper to create a cool background. I have a bunch of them and I just store them in a ziplock bag.

Anyway, here is one of the cards I made using this technique.

Happy New Year

I have not been very good at blogging recently. I've had so much on the go getting ready for Christmas and working, that something had to give, and unfortunately, it always seems to be the fun stuff. Christmas is done, however and it's a New Year and I've decided to dedicate myself more to my stamping and scrapbooking.

I've been working at doing more stamping and scrapbooking and to building my business a bit which is good. I'm excited by it and I'm going to try really hard to not let stamping always fall by the wayside.

I spent some time the past few days reorganizing and cleaning and it has made me so happy. I am such a Type A person and I really like things put away and neat. I think that's part of the reason that I get into cycles of not stamping; I've left my craft room in a mess and it seems overwhelming to clean and organize it. I redid my office desk and emptied every drawer and bought organizers and I love it. I feel so much more at peace and I feel like I want to sit here and work. So, I'm going to try to apply the same logic for my craft room. I want it to invite me in to create.

So, Happy New Year. Here is a card I did while ago for my Technique Club. It's the Pearl Resist Technique.

Feeling Cocky

I have a lot on the go right now stamping and scrapbooking wise and I'm almost on top of it all. I'm feeling a bit cocky about it truth be told.

I'm teaching my Quick Cards class on Thursday and I have my four samples done. Yeah!

I have my technique figured out for December's Technique Club and I have 4 samples done.

I have two layouts done for my Paper Pack Club for December.

I'm feeling a little cocky. It's seemed to come together. I am hoping this means that I am getting back into the groove and that things will continue to go well and not that I'm due for a smackdown by the Creativity Fairy.

At any rate, I seem to be doing well now, so for today, I'll take it. And to celebrate, I'm going to share a sneak peek of one of the December Technique Club samples.

The technique is called Lumiere Crystal and it's a play on an old technique.

Distress Paint

I am behind. I think it's going to be perpetual for awhile, so I think I just need to allow myself to be OK with it.

I finally got my August & September Technique Club sheets and samples done. Here is a card from the August technique: Distress Paint.

A Sneak Peak: July Demo Night

Hello. I am having a demo night tonight and am going to show the July technique. It's kind of a mish mash of stuff that I've read and put together. I'll post the instructions later (after I've distributed the technique sheets), but for now, I just wanted to post a quick card using it.

This is the make and take project for tonight.

Distress Burst

My June Kayric Club technique is called Distress Burst. I'll post in a couple of months about how to do it, but I wanted to post a quick card.

I used the Curiosities set by Tim Holtz. It came in my last order and I wasn't quite sure about it (I ordered it on a whim). But I've used it a couple of times and I love it. It's great for guy cards.


I am hoping to have some more time soon so that I can play with it more!!

Anyway, here is the card I created using this set and the Distress Burst technique.

Sneak Peak

Here is a sneak peak for the May technique for my Kayric Club. It's a very simple technique using stuff that most of us already have. The scan does not do the shimmer justice.

I'm off to a retreat this weekend and I'm sure I will have lots of cool stuff to share when it's done. I am really looking forward to going away for a couple of days.

I'm Still Alive

It's been forever since I posted. I am still alive although some days I wonder. I have been very preoccupied this month. They are planning on building these huge powerlines near my home and I have been spending more time lately fighting them. I had to do a presentation to the Alberta Utilities Commission last week and I spent a ton of time beforehand preparing. Now we are in the middle of an election and I have been campaigning. The good news is that the bulk of stuff should be done by this time next week and I can have my hobby back.

I did have a really fun demo day last week. It was the only stamping I had done all month, so it was very nice to get back into it. Of course, as soon as it was done, I got busy again, but I stamped tonight and worked on samples for my May Kayric Club. Although it's stressful, sometimes, to come up with something, it's great that I'm forced to do it. I made 4 sample cards and so I'm happy with that.

I am going to a retreat tomorrow and I am not ready at all. I hadn't cleaned up my craft room from my demo day last weekend and then Kayla's been in there a few times so it's a real mess. I shoved everything aside to play tonight and so now it's into disaster territory. I need to get it organized so I can pack for my retreat, but that will be tomorrow.

I'm going to challenge myself to post something every day in May. I always start out great, so we'll see how it goes.

Here is another Aged Metal card. I can't remember if I ever did come back and explain how to do this technique, but if I didn't, then it's very simple. You will need a Shimmer Sheet, embossing folder and Staz On ink pad. Run your Shimmer Sheet through your embossing folder and then ink the raised edges with your Staz On. You will need to give it a few minutes to dry or heat set it. It's so simple, yet such a pretty effect.

Another Aged Metal

Just a quick post from me today as I have a really busy day. I wanted to share another card I did with the Aged Metal Technique which is the Featured Kayric Club Technique for April.

I don't have a lot of time to write, but sometimes it's nice to just look at the card and not have to read my ramblings!

A Little Tease

I've been so busy the last week. It was my oldest daughter's birthday and getting ready for that took away all my playing and posting time. I'm going to try to make up for it this week though.

It's almost the beginning of April and that means a new technique for the Kayric Club. I was busy last week playing with stuff and I found a simple technique which I loved. So, I am posting a sneak peek of a card made with it. There will be more to follow! If you are interested in joining the Kayric Club, you can email me or post here. Click here for more information.


I had my favorite Canada Post guy show up today with a big brown box full of goodies. I haven't opened it yet (I was too busy today), but tomorrow is the day and so I will have lots of stuff to post and show off this week.

Kayric Club: A Technique Club

We all love techniques, right?? I have decided to have a technique club for those people who are interested.

Sign up fee is $10/year. You may join at anytime. Members receive one new technique sheet each month. Each sheet will be 8.5x11” and will include a supply list, instructions & a sample of the technique. It may also include additional colour photos relevant to the technique.

In addition, Kayric Club members will receive 10% off any of the product used if I need to order it in. If I have it in stock, then a 5% discount will apply. This is applicable for the entire month. For example, if I use Distress Inks & Embossing Folders, then any colour of Distress Ink and any embossing folder would be subject to the discount (not just the specific colour/folder I may have used). Applicable product will be listed at the bottom of the technique sheet.

There is no obligation to buy product or attend demos. Members are welcome to pay the yearly fee and then just receive their technique sheets/samples.

Please note that I will likely showcase these techniques on my blog as well, but I will make sure that Kayric Club members have them at least a week before I publish them on my blog. I will send out an email to Club members with an advance copy of the technique and then I’ll give you your printed version with the sample when I see you next.

I will also be demonstrating these techniques at demo nights so you can see it in real life as well if you can attend. There is no obligation to attend and if you missed a demo, just ask the next time you see me and I will try to show you.

For those whom I don't see often, I am willing to mail your sheets for the cost of actual postage. Let me know how often you want your sheets sent out and I will figure out the cost.

I'm excited to write that I already have 11 people signed up as Kayric Club members!!