A Bit East-coast

multi-tasker or distracted?

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I am not sure which I am-so lets just say both with a hint of being all over the place. I am still working on the Halloween mini album, but I saw an idea in Matthew Mead's new Halloween magazine I had to replicate. He had this large glass case with faux spiders in it-this is my take on that idea. I bought one of those unfinished glass boxes from JoAnn's and painted it black-I added some glittered spiders & moss-viola!

I also was flipping through a BHG Halloween issue and saw a Scupley ad-which then lead me to wanting to make my own mini pumpkins & a witch's hat. Forgive me-this is my first time playing with clay in YEARS!! I wanted to make white pumpkins and had to go with black since they were out of the white. This was a learning experiment for me(not the greatest, but not too bad for my first try)...and I am now eager to try making more this weekend...

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First day of school TODAY!! Mikiela started 4th grade and Amira is a sophomore...it was nice to have the house stay clean for most of the day!! Not looking forward to when they come home, lol.

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Heaven said:

Oh wow!! I love love LOVE this!! I simply adore mini albums. Have you ever considered doing a video of "start to finish" type of project? I'd like to watch how you come up with these sleek, clean albums/layouts.. :)

Reply | Edit | View | 5 days ago on things mini.

Heaven, my friend!! I think about this A LOT. I want to and I am super scared of the idea. I *think* a few other blog vistors would enjoy it if I did some videos-I just need to figure out how to do it myself. I love joining in on classes taught by others-because they do the hard work of putting the classes together. The easy part for me is making the project-the other stuff is what scares me. But I might surprise you one day!!

 

 

Elena Chamberlain said:

I am absolutely blown away by this mini album. Your designs on the pages are absolutely beautiful. Not over-done...it makes me think of all the people I would love to make one for. I am so GLAD I found your site. I've only been following you a couple of weeks and I love your work.

Welcome Elena, I am always thrilled to have a new visitor/follower. Thank you so much

 

 

 

Angela M said:

Keisha...I am getting excited for the fast approaching Autums season and this project makes me even more excited. Love it! Thanks for sharing!

Reply | Edit | View | 2 days ago on teaser: halloween m…

Angela, I have been stalking stores watching all the new *stuff* come out and planning on what to get!! I am so ready to decorate for Halloween NOW.

 

teaser: halloween mini.

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My next project that I am now working on is a Halloween mini-I get so excited when the Halloween decorations are out(even though seeing it in July is WAY too early). Not sure how long it will take me to finish-especially with school starting Monday, woohoo! I am also going to use the black box to store the mini in...

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things mini.

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A little mini about stuff that I love...

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Khastie1 said:

I just wanted to say that your work is lovely and I love your photos...esp. of your beautiful dog. She looks so much like my own that I had to tell you that I think she has Rhodesian Ridgeback in her. I know she was a rescue dog and you don't know her bloodlines, but I would bet money on it. She is gorgeous!! Kim

Reply | Edit | View | 4 days ago on teaser: new mini.

Wow, Khastie...she does look just like that breed. We would love to find out what she is-one day soon. Thanks for pointing that out to me...you've got me totally wondering now!! They are a beautiful breed.

teaser: new mini.

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I have been in my studio for that past few days working on a new little mini album-in shades of grey, yellow, and black papers(that I LOVE). Here is just a sneak peek for now...I am trying to have this finished and photographed so I can post it this weekend.

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Lets try this again-I tried to answer these questions in my last post and my internet went down for most of the day, argh!

Dorothy C. said:

This is one of the most beautiful handcrafted gifts I have seen.The outside is gorgeous - the inside even better. The jewelry inside is pretty too. How did you adhere the capiz shell to the cardstock?

Reply | Edit | View | Aug 9, 2012 on presentation. sets …

Dorothy...I used my glue gun!! You can also use 3D Zots.

 

Mary Hennigan said:

Lovely, I have decided to start making cards again and really looking forward to checking out your site for inspiration. Working on my Paris album before I dive into card making. I was just thinking the other day that they would make a bundle of cards would make a nice gift for my friends. It is so hard to buy for my friends as we all seem to buy what we want when we want it but we rarely have a card when we need it. Looking forward to a crafty Fall and seeing all the inspiration you will have for me. Have a great evening and again your work is lovely.

Reply | Edit | View | Aug 8, 2012 on gold flower cards.

Mary, I hope that you have fun getting back into card making! I love having cards on hand for last minute bday gifts. Last month Mira had 2 bday parties to go to and she raided my card stash-and my gift boxes!

Everyday0467.wordpress.com said:

All of your projects are so breathtaking! It seems like you love butterfly. So do I! Would you let me know where I can buy those butterfly punches you're using? In this project, you're using two sizes of butterflies and they're so lovely!

Reply | Edit | View | Aug 9, 2012 on presentation. sets …

I use these three Martha Stewart punches for the layered butterflies...

quick diy: pincushion

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Since I had a couple of emails asking about the first pincushion I made I thought I would do a quick diy on how I made it. It is a really easy project that needs just a few supplies...

pincusion

fabric(i used burlap)

some string

glue gun

kraft box (i buy mine from JoAnn's or Michaels for a $1)

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1. wrap the pincushion with the fabric and tie with string.

2. add glue along the inside rim of the box and stuff the pincushion inside the box.

You can decorate the box before or after-I like to add ribbon around mine after. Super simple, right?!

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teresa collins 2012 cha.

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These are the last of the project that I did for Teresa Collins' cha booth using her new Tell Your Story & Vintage Finds lines

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presentation. sets the tone.

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Should the box be just as pretty as the gift? Yes. It should. At least that's what I think!! Maybe it's just an excuse for me to continue to obsess over these kraft boxes. I do love to wrap them with a bit of ribbon and top them with a flower-I like keeping them pretty simple because I enjoy the kraft color with the items I embellish them with.

My new love-on the round white card-is a piece of a capiz shell. I really like how imperfect it is with chipped ends. I had been admiring them for a while; I just had no clue what I could do with them. I already have a wind chime made from them that hangs in my bathroom window. I think the idea of putting them on cards is completely beautiful, I hope that you do as well!!

 

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gold flower cards.

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Here are a couple of card I did for the TCDesigns dt blog-I simply used TCD's flower stamp with some gold embossing powder(of course;-D) on white cardstock. I love a simple chic card-with a touch of glitz...

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kris said:

Just Beautiful!!!! May i ask where you purchased your stick pins?

Reply | Edit | View | 5 days ago on pin cushion + organ…

Hi Kris....Oh my, they are a mix of companies-Making memories, Maya Road, Jenni Bowlin. I have had them for YEARS!!!! So many of them might not be around-you might have the best luck finding the Maya Road & Jenni Bowlin.

Heaven said:

This is so awesome! Love the way you organized everything. Where oh where did you find those fab dividers?? Love them, they are the perfect fit!!

Reply | Edit | View | 5 days ago on pin cushion + organ…

Heaven-I am always stalking stores for the perfect organizers...I often by things thinking it would be perfect for one thing and it ends up working better for something else, lol-the wood bins are from Bed bath & Beyond...and the white/clear bins are from Target. 

Simplywilkinson said:

i've been cleaning up and organizing my studio the last few weeks. of course, mine isn't looking quite as lovely as your's..but i like to think i am slowly but surely getting there. :) thanks for always being SO inspiring. i love the eye candy.

Reply | Edit | View | Yesterday on pin cushion + organ…

Lol, Simply...I swear i go through my things at least once-even twice a year. Especially when I am on the verge of a deadline for a project...the pressure makes me want to REorganize stuff! Or when I can't think/or lack mojo(like today, right now) I start looking around my studio or going through a favorite mag...and I see something that makes me want to change my stuff around. Then when I change how I have organized something-it's like "why didn't I do it that way at first, duh". 

pincushion + organized.

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I have been wanting to make myself a pincushion for some of my favorite straight pins-last week I did!

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In my Lab(closet)-I have been purging and reorganizing my drawers. The biggest change I have done is adding the drawer of cling stamps/embossing powders and adding the wood drawer organizers to the jet max drawers. The cling stamp/embossing drawer makes it so much easier for me to stamp & clean up after. I also prefer to keep my most used stamps on the blocks so I don't have to keep switching-and I can just stick them in the bin when done.

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i just finished this.

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Register now for Pop Off the Page- a month long class that begins on September 1st. Space is extremely limited so register now to guarantee your seat in the Calico Classroom.  Registration will close once class reaches capacity.  Class kit ships free and is included in cost of class.

 

Perk Alert: Subscribers automatically save 10% off all classes and Rewards Members save 25%!

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Jen has brought together an amazing group of contributors - Wilna Furstenburg, Kim Jackson, Rahel Menig, Christine Middlecamp, Stephanie Dagan, Kinsey Wilson, Keisha Campbell, Sophie Crespy, Sasha Farina, Danielle Flanders. Their styles vary from clean to detailed to artsy, but they all have one thing in common - they have a way with layers. By the end of these lessons, so will you.

 

All students will receive an embellishment kit of layering essentials, including an exclusive stamp set. This kit will ship free to you, no matter where you are! 

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