a little bit of me.

{Cut It Out - Studio Calico's November Class!}

Can I just tell you that I am so, SO excited about the announcement of this class!  >> I'll be teaching it over at Studio Calico next month (throughout the month of November!).

CLASS UPDATE: The kit is officially sold out - but anyone enrolling now through the rest of the month will get the Exclusive Class cuts, Exclusive Printables, and the $10 off SIlhouette Online Store Gift Card for downloads.

It's all about using your silhouette machine to enhance your pages, and vary them up, and inspire new ideas in your scrapbook.  And other than kraft cardstock (which I almost always use for journaling) & my sewing machine >>> My Silhouette machine is my other MUST HAVE for almost every scrap page I do.

And in case you've been on the fence on purchasing a Silhouette - Here is a fabulous bundle deal to get you started!

And it's PACKED with amazing stuff - including this class kit and stamp set >> the class kit is available on a limited basis - so you DEFINITELY want to be sure to sign up right away to ensure your kit along with my FAVORITE stamp set to date!

There are also a ton of EXCLUSIVE cuts for your silhouette machine that come along with the class (even more than are pictured below, including backgrounds too!).  These won't be available for purchase outside of the class - so if you want them, and TRUST ME you want them ;)) - you'll need to get them with the class!

I've been having fun all week taking the cuts on a 'test drive' while creating projects for the class - and wanted to share a few from my cut-pile with you here...

LOVE.  lovelovelovelovelove.  And I'm not going to lie >>> It's SO nice to be the teacher because I got to suggest all the fun ideas in my brain that have been floating around waiting to be put into action for something crafty and creative!

The class cuts will be provided to EVERYONE who signs up for the class - as well as the fun 'printables' (below), AND a $10 download gift certificate card to the online silhouette store.

Here's the official class description...  You can SIGN UP HERE.  Please let me know if you enroll - Along with a DREAM LIST of contributors, the class kit & stamp set I-want-to-marry-I-love-it-so-much, and the exclusive class cuts -- this class is going the be FAB... :)

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CUT IT OUT Class Description...!

It's time to CUT IT OUT. You already know that your Silhouette is a pretty amazing machine, and Susan Weinroth wants to help you put it to work on your pages and cards. In this self paced class, we'll be exploring a handful of basic techniques and fun cutting materials, but the real focus of the class is helping you make your Silhouette an integral part of your projects. Susan is joined by a talented group of contributors (Ali Edwards, Nichol Magourik, Lisa Dickinson, Jen Gallacher, Lexi Bridges, Robyn Werlich, Becky Novacek, Sasha Farina, Rebecca Trump, Shanna Noel, Julie Campbell, Lilith Eeckels, and Nicole Harper) and they will be showing you step by step just how they make using their Silhouette a part of their design process. The PDFs will contain 20 layouts, 3 cards, and a countless number of tips that will leave you inspired and ready to CUT IT OUT on your next project!

This class is sponsored by Silhouette America, and every student will receive a $10 download card to the Silhouette Online Store. We've also put together a collection of cool exclusive cuts from Studio Calico, Ali Edwards, and Kerri Bradford Studio and a printable PDF of journaling cards and accents.

**While supplies last, Cut It Out students will receive a class kit including vellum, American Crafts POW glitter paper, WRMK Washi Paper, Silhouette Sticker paper and an exclusive stamp set - this kit will ship for free beginning on 10/8/2012.**

PDF 1 : out of the box to finished layout (Susan will walk you through the process of downloading a file, installing it in Silhouette Studio and using the cut) 
PDF 2 : Accents 
PDF 3 : Titles 
PDF 4 : Backgrounds 
PDF 5 : Basic techniques from Susan (turning a stamped image into a cut, creating a print and cut, making your own cut design & using sketch pens)

:))

{9.29}

Since I had Typepad opened up on my Mac to post my 1000 Words Class blog hop winner, I figured I might as well blog a little somethin'-somethin'...

;))

Shot of Mr N from last week - he makes me laugh so many times each day!  Which is much needed considering my endless cycle of preschool/kindy drop-off > work work work > photo shoots > sleep for a few hours > and more work work work!

...and I can't believe we're on the verge of OCTOBER.

whoa.

but I have SO many fun things planned for this month - can't wait to share!

happy weekend!

:)

{SC: October's Roller Rink Revealed!}

It's almost October-time.  

My favorite, favorite month of the year >> or top three at least ;)

And so it's fitting that Studio Calico's October kit - ROLLER RINK - and it's addon friends, would rank as an all time fave, too!

This is what I made with it...

..."Love this Snap" >> My main only page this month, and a favorite shot of the boys from last month (printed as a 12x12 from Costco - i LOVE Costco!) - and I designed the "Love on an Arrow" silhouette cut that I used for my title - you can purchase it HERE.  :))

...Hello Kindergarten!  Another big print, the shot was from the little stylized back-to-school session that I did of Ev before Kindy started.  Journaling has thoughts on how the year has started (we love Kindy!).  That fabulous "Be Awesome" stamp is from Addon #4 - Toe Stop.

..."Look Momma!" >> One of my most-favorite-ever candid shots - I about died when Ev walked out of his room dressed up like this, this summer.  A layout was in order!

..."Thank You Very Much" >> This was made entirely from the main Roller Rink CARD KIT.  I LOVE that SC has this card kit now - the scaled down patterned paper (from that in the main kit) is perfection when it comes to card making.  I'm also loving that some of the main embellies are taken and re-designed for the card kit (like the 'thank you' badge here!).

...I Love You, I Really Do! >> This is also Roller Rink Main CARD Kit only.  Created for the Moxie Fab World blog - and I used my digi cut this month on the word bubble.  The Word Bubble Cut is designed to fit the word bubble stamp in the Main Card kit.

...Love U >> Another use of the love on an arrow cut.  :))

...You Make My Heart Sing >> stamp from Addon #2 - Couples Skate.

...You Are a Great Friend!

...Love Love Love >> Can you tell that I love this paper??

...Everything will be OK! >> How great is the design element of this stamp?!  From Addon #3 - Crack the Whip.

AND THAT was October.  :))  I hope you love it as much as I do!

It's going to be a great month!

{SC: 1000 Words Blog Hop}

UPDATED: Winner Info...  Julie I will email you the $$ off code!

Incredible photos, darling boys!! thank you for a chance to win $10 off!

Posted by: julie weis | September 27, 2012 at 01:15 AM

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Welcome to my stop on the Studio Calico 1000 Words Blog Hop!  I'm anxiously awaiting this class to kick-off next week with the start of October...  And there's still time to register - this is what the class is all about:

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Six amazing photographers from the Studio Calico design team are here to help you capture more of the emotion, more of the moment, and more of the story. This class is unlike other photography classes because it doesn't focus on the technical aspects of shooting. Instead, we'll be giving you a glimpse into the photographic style of each of our teachers and contributors. We'll be covering twelve different topics, ranging from everyday moments to special occasions, and helping you to look at photographing them in a more meaningful way. Becky Novacek, Kelly Noel, Maggie Holmes, Marcy Penner, Susan Weinroth and Tina Aszmus will be heading up this class - you can read more about them here.

Each lesson will contain four photos from our teachers and contributors with information on composition, using light and how the shot was set up, as well as insight into technical settings, equipment and editing. Our photographers will be sharing their thoughts on photographing the different topics, and sharing their tips and tricks towards capturing an image that's worth 1000 Words. The lessons will be wrapped up with a list of photo prompts on the topic, as well as a layout showcasing one of the images. At the end of each lesson, students will be able to submit a photo to the teacher for feedback. Students will also have access to four bonus PDFs - these will be cheat sheets with helpful hints for photographing in low light situations, capturing natural expressions, color schemes for group shots and combining actions.

Our teachers are joined by an accomplished group of contributors - some photographers by trade, some just passionate about photography. The line up includes Karen Russell, Melanie Mauer,Kristin Rogers, Andrea Jenkins, Erin Cobb, Lisa Leonard, Kelly Purkey, Maria Grace Abuzman, Rebecca Cooper, Melissa Diekema, Elise Blaha Cripe, Jen Johner, Allison Waken, Kimmi Robinson, Stephanie Dagan, Celeste Vermeend, Tami Gookstetter and Naomi Atkins. Each of these ladies has a distinct style and is ready to give you a little peek into their shooting process!

Syllabus :
week 1 : relationships, lake/pool/beach, sports
week 2 : iphone / instant camera, special circumstances (mental & physical disabilities, avoiding glare on eyeglasses), outdoors
week 3 : holidays, everyday routines, self portraits / getting into the shot
week 4 : personalities, photography for blogs, birthdays

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The first section of the class that I'll be leading myself is the Beach/Pool/Lake topic.  I'll be sharing my own beach photos of my boys (and similar to what I take of clients with my photog biz), and also discussing the way I set up the images and process them (actions, tweaks, crops, shooting angles, settings, etc).

And now I get to share a few of my own favorite recent beach snaps with you...

...Noah RUNS for the water pretty much any chance he gets - and low tide in the evening is one of my favorite times for snapping shots like this!

...Actually they both usually start off running nonstop at the beach -- its really the one place where i'm not constantly yelling at them to stop running.  ;)

...Sunset on our favorite beach - I snapped this of Ev as we were getting ready to pack up after an afternoon at the beach on Labor Day.

...Another shot from Labor Day that I just love.  :)

...And one of the boys on what has definitley become one of my favorite beach "props" this summer!

*** Make sure you leave a comment on this post for a chance to win $10 off class enrollment.  AND you can link back to the SC Blog to post there for a chance to win a free seat in the class. ***

:)

{So it's September...}

...and I'm kicking it off with a post over halfway into the month on the 17th.  ha!  ;)

>>Honestly, I've just been adjusting to our back to school schedule, and also contending with a week + of sickies at our house - where Evan missed five days of school, even Eric stayed home from work sick, and we all pretty much spent a week on the couch together watching the Toy Story trilogy on a repeat loop.  :P

We are all better - HOORAY!!!

...and this is what my "right now" looks like... >>> I'm...

LOVING: Pumpkin Spice Fraps from Starbucks.  With an extra shot of espresso, please.  AND WHIP.  :)

HEARING: at least one new word from Noah, daily.  And it's usually something repeated that Evan or I had just said.  :)  Oh, and lots of "bwess you's" (after sneezes), which is def my fave right now.  :)

READING: THIS on my beloved Kindle (and LOVING it!) -- it's the sequel to Love Unscripted, which was SO good - I first read it at the beginning of the summer, then re-read it again (which I hardly ever do) last week before starting the sequel.

EXCITED ABOUT: An upcoming disney trip with the boys & my nieces in a few weeks.  After Noah's summer of "Mickey Love" and his obsession with anything Mickey, it should be QUITE entertaining to hear him shout "MICK-EEEEEEEEE!" repeatedly throughout the park.  ;)

LAUGHING ABOUT: How Noah has decided that saying "APP-PUHL PIE!" (read: 'apple pie') is hilarious.  I think he picked it up when Eric ordered me one in the McD drive-thru last week?!  Now it's all we've heard, ALL.DAY.LONG, for the past 4 or 5 days.

WATCHING: The series finale of Weeds (last night).  BEST.FINALE.EVER.  love love LOVED it.  Sad the series is over, but I think it was time...??

THINKING: that it's going to be so nice when our weather finally COOLS here - I love the beach during our late "fall"/winter and am jealous of all the "fall-inspired" photos that keep popping up in my instagram feed from friends...  SEND me a little Fall, please!

& PROOFING: lots of snaps from recent weeks in an effort to catch up on Project Life(!)...  Here's few shots of what my Week 35 looked like...

...

...The new PL Design H 6x12 protectors are so perfect for weekly inserts - I cut mine down here:

:)