Saturday, July 31, 2010

Exploding Envelopes Part 2..

We are doing the exploding envelopes box this morning on Ustream with faux-made envelopes...come join us! We are starting at 9:30 am Pacific time. CLICK HERE to go directly to my channel!

Laura

Friday, July 30, 2010

Exploding Envelopes Class Tonight!

I rescheduled the Life's a Picnic Class to next weekend so this morning I came up with a new project for class tonight...my take on the classic exploding box...made with envelopes!!







Here's what you will need:

(8) #10 envelopes (the standard long ones) in either one or two colors
(4) smaller envelopes such as coin envelopes
12" x 12" coordinating card stock for box construction
Patterned paper to cover envelopes (5-6 sheets of 12 x 12 or equivalent)
Coordinating card stock for tags



Class will start at 7pm Pacific Time. CLICK HERE to go directly to my Ustream channel

See you tonight!

Laura

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Fun Day! Sunny Day!

It's been a gorgeous day here in the Northwest!! We spent the afternoon on a nearby lake catching some sunshine and water fun! Everyone got a little sunburned!!



That's Mount Rainier in the background



Trev and Sarah on the 'tube!

I've also got the Life's a Picnic Mini Album kits up. They will be ready to ship on Monday. The patterns are also up for PRE-ORDER. They will ship via email on Tuesday, the 27th.



CLICK HERE to go directly to my Etsy store.

Enjoy your week!!!

Laura

Friday, July 23, 2010

Watch Me Grow! Ustream class tonight...

Join me on Ustream at 7 pm Pacific time (see sidebar for the time in your area) for the Watch Me Grow! class. CLICK HERE to go directly to my channel. We will get started with the project tonight and finish up in the morning at 9:30 am Pacific time. Can't make it for the LIVE show?...both parts will be recorded so you can watch at your convenience.



The patterns with dimensions and directions are available at my Etsy shop: http://followthepapertrail.etsy.com Order before 6pm Pacific time for delivery before class.

See you tonight!

Laura

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

What's Up Wednesday! 7/22/10: Grunge Paper Neck Pouch!



This is a fun and USEFUL pouch that I have made out of quilted fabric for years...now I've "updated" it into Tim Holtz Grunge Paper! This is a perfect way to carry your ID, a little cash or credit/debit cards at a crop, retreat or scrapping convention! Add color and decorate to suit your style.



Here are the dimensions to cut your Grunge Paper:



Have an awesome week!!

Laura

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

The "Gift" that keeps on giving.....

Well, she struck again! Yeah...the lady that stole my wallet...this time she stole $2200 from our checking account on Friday! GASP! About had heart failure! With a withdrawal slip, a stolen check (from another victim I assume), my ID and a drive up teller, she withdrew $1000 and cashed the $1200 stolen check (which had a stop payment on it so we know it was stolen). So, long story short, I got to spend the day yesterday at the credit union getting that all straightened out. How fun....NOT! There may be a break however. While I was at the credit union, she had the NERVE to try again!!! Only this time there were security FLAGS all over our account and the astute teller stalled while they tried to alert authorities. She must have realized that they were on to her cuz it was taking so long, and she drove off. They do have my ID back, (hopefully with finger prints) and they have the make and model and license plate number of the car! Cross your fingers!!! We have a "3 strikes you're out" law here in Washington. Here's hoping that she has two convictions!!! I'll keep you posted...

I am still working on the flower and Duet album instructions. The weekend was a bust work-wise. I was somewhat flattened with my allergies. I felt like someone was trying to pull my eyes out through me ears. I had to take the big guns medicine which helps some, but also make me feel as if my brain is about 3" to the right of the rest of my head. Not really conducive to feeling creative!!!

Today, I will get back on track and try to make up for lost time! THE social event of the summer is also fast approaching....Sarah's 10th BIRTHDAY is on August 4th. Oh my! My baby is turning DOUBLE DIGETS! Where does the time go!!!!! Fortunately, she likes small, intimate parties over huge groups of screaming giggling girls....the volume will be loud enough with just 6!! She is going with an ICE CREAM theme this year...should be fun! We are planning an Ice Cream Sundae bar, and Ice Cream Cake, and Ice Cream cone shaped pinita and of course a bit of swimming and TONS of giggles!. Load um up with sugar and send um home!!!

Off to work...lots to do...
See you tomorrow for What's Up Wednesday's fun project. I've been making these for YEARS out of fabric. Now for some grunge paper....


Laura

Friday, July 16, 2010

Flower Power!



Wow, Ustream was giving us fits tonight!!! I am sorry that so many of you had problems getting booted out or seeing but not hearing, or hearing but not seeing....I wish I was more technically oriented so I knew if there was a way to "fix" it!! The video seems to be working fine..I checked from my computer and from my husbands. I will be putting together a written tutorial with photo's...hopefully by Monday. Thank you all for your support and patience!!

Laura

Flower Power Ustream Tonight!

We are creating a garden's worth of flowers tonight! Bring your scraps, flower punches and flower dies! I will show you at least a dozen simple to make flowers from easy to find materials.
CLICK HERE to go directly to my Ustream Channel. We'll get started at 7pm Pacific time (see the side bar for an idea of the start time in your area)

For those of you having a hard time viewing the What's Up Wednesday Youtube video, here's the direct link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0i89AWd5Oo
Since Sarah did the demo this week, I disabled the embedding option. My videos get embedded in about a squillion sites I know nothing about, so when one of my kids is featured, I disable that feature. Sorry for any inconvenience it causes!

The "Watch Me Grow" Wall Mini Album patterns and kits are up on my Etsy (see the sidebar for the link). We will be making that one next Friday night and Saturday morning on Ustream.

Laura

Friday, July 9, 2010

Cruise, anyone?

I just spent a delightful two hours on the phone with Cathy, one of my Ustream friends. We were discussing the possibility of a cruise or retreat sometime next year...this subject has come up the last couple of weeks on Ustream. She has gathered some preliminary info and we need some feedback in order to move forward. We are not sure of destinations for the cruise yet or even a location for the retreat. We just need some feedback to start putting some of that info, as well as costs, together. I have added a poll in the sidebar for you to vote. Feel free to give us some feedback here on the blog as well.
I'm still of the mindset of "Really?!...a cruise?...with me?!!" LOL!!
Let us know what you think....

Laura

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Here is a sample of the Mosaic Journal technique that I am doing on Ustream tomorrow night.



It fun fast and easy... great for kids, too! It's kind of like the broken ceramic tile and grout mosaics I used to make at camp as a kid... only it's with paper! So grab your scraps and these supplies and join us for a easy summer evening/night!

Here's what you need:

Scraps of patterned or solid paper...choose colors you like
Spray adhesive (I know, it's messy but it works great for this)
Mod Podge or Clear Gel Medium
Chip board, paper and a way to bind your journal, any size (the chipboard shows so you may want to paint it neutral or black before class)
OR
A pre-bound journal available in the art supply section of craft stores

We will get started at 7pm Pacific time (see the listing on my side bar for your time at the time zone or city nearest you)
CLICK HERE to go directly to my Ustream channel

See you then!

Laura

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

From one extreme....

...to another! It is now HOT here in the Seattle area. Three days ago we were hoping to break 60 degrees. Today we were over 90! Wasn't there a happy medium available??!! Yesterday, I went out and bought an air conditioner for my studio so that I could work. Very few homes in this area have AC so it is a real treat for me! After the week I have been having, I needed a treat...more on that in a few...

Here's my What's Up Wednesday project for July 7, 2010. I almost didn't have a project today but these popped into my brain at about 4:30 this afternoon and I had to try them!



PAPER FUCHSIA'S! I love Fuchsia's... can't keep them alive... but I LOVE them. Paper ones are just my speed! Here's the video I posted on Youtube:



...and a Layout I made with the flowers from the video.



The photo is my Mom at age 2, my Grandmother, and my only aunt. This was taken in 1933 in Chicago. I LOVE my Mom's bonnet!! My Aunt Jessie had the most beautiful green eyes. Even in this B & W photo you can see her lovely eyes!

I have a few things I want to clarify regarding giving, taking and copyrights...this subject has been heavy on my mind this week due to a situation that I have been dealing with since Sunday.
A couple of weeks ago, at the end of one of my Ustream shows we had a discussion about copyrights. Instead of making things clearer....I think I just muddied the water for many of you watching. I feel this to be the case because of some of the questions that have come my way. I don't profess to be an expert or a lawyer on this subject, but I have done a bunch of research over the years in having to defend my copyright on some of my quilted purse patterns.

I LOVE to share my creative ideas...
I LOVE to see others get inspiration for their own work from my ideas...
I LOVE when someone tries something new by duplicating something I have taught either through a tutorial, class, or pattern.
I GIVE these ideas freely...

It perfectly acceptable to borrow or copy an idea that you see on Youtube, on a blog, or in a book or magazine...as long as it is for personal use. "Personal Use" means you are making something that you will use or give within your family and your circle of friends and aquaintences. You can make a video and share what you did with the world. You don't HAVE to give design/inspiration credit but it is the right thing to do. It crosses the line into copyright infringement when you move it into a commercial realm.

Copyright infringement is when you TAKE the idea and use it for your own means.
When you copy and distribute a design, tutorial, or pattern without permission (whether it is for profit or not), you are TAKING. For example, you can't copy something out of a book or magazine and give it out to everyone at a crop.
When you teach a class from something you found on the internet or book/magazine/pattern without the permission of the author/designer (even if it's a free class), you are TAKING.
When you use someone's design, tweek or change a few things, call it your own and sell either the finished product or the design without the permission of the author/designer, you are TAKING. A modification of a design is called a derivative and is covered under the original designer's copyright. For example, you can't take one of my patterns, change a couple of items for the inside, call it you own, write up a pattern, and sell the pattern on your blog. You are TAKING.

Sorry this post is so long...this subject had weighed heavily on me this week as I have been dealing with a couple of these situations. I also wanted to make a few clarifications. As I have noted, I am not an expert and these are just my opinions.
For some great info, here are two great links about copyrights and copyright myths. They are written in east to understand terms not legalese!
CLICK HERE for copyright info
CLICK HERE for copyright myths

When I GIVE an idea...I am energized...it is an incredible feeling!
When an idea is TAKEN, it infuses me with negativity. I feel awful when I have to pursue defending my rights to my OWN work. When someone TAKES from me, they TAKE a little piece of me....
I had many comments on how positively I handled my wallet being stolen. That situation, while difficult and stressful, wasn't personal. The women didn't know me or vice versa.
When an idea or design is TAKEN from me... it is personal...it is a tiny piece of me and who I am that I can never restore to what it was. I am changed.

Though asked frequently, I don't KNOW where my ideas and designs come from...they just ARE...they just BECOME a PART OF ME...


Laura

Saturday, July 3, 2010

Faux Paper Bag Mini Pattern is up and Ustream Class today!

The pattern for the Faux Paper Bag Mini Album is up at my Etsy shop! CLICK HERE to go directly to my shop.



I will be doing a BONUS Ustream class to day at 9:30 am Pacific time TODAY on how to make this easy album with the look of a Paper Bag album without the paper bags. CLICK HERE to go directly to my Ustream channel.

If you can't join us for the class, have a great holiday weekend for those here in the US!

Laura

Thursday, July 1, 2010

What's Up Wednesday!...okay so what if it's Thursday....

The kids and I had a blast at the Seattle Aquarium and the downtown Seattle waterfront yesterday.














I got working on a few necessities like LAUNDRY after we got home. In other words I took a "MOM" day! Sooooo..... WUW is a day late but hopefully not a dollar short! This is a fun page style for a mini that I designed a few weeks ago and hadn't decided what to do with it.



I am going to throw in a BONUS Ustream class on this Faux Paper Bag Mini on Saturday morning at 9:30 Pacific Time (an extra half hour for those Hawaiians and Alaskans to sleep!) to show you how to make these pages into an album. I will also put together written instructions for those who want them on my Etsy before Saturday....hopefully!

Friday's Ustream class on the Sunburst Album is at 7pm Pacific Time. The pattern is up on Etsy (CLICK HERE to go to my Etsy shop) and will ship out via email to those who order it later day.



To go directly to my Ustream Channel CLICK HERE

Have a great rest of your week and I'll "see" you tomorrow night!

Laura