Frugal Scrappin' Sneak Peek:)

One of the things I did notice at CHA was alot of flowers that LOOKED homemade...well you know me, why buy one already made when you CAN make it yourself?

With that in mind, shown above is just ONE of the cards we will make in the Febrary Frugal Scrappin' class that will held on Thursday, February 24th from 6:30 - 8:30 at Ever After Scrapbooks.

Now, if you're really perceptive, you may notice a cute little birdie stamp in the lower right corner...well, fellow frugal crafters, we WILL be making this awesome stamp in class, so you will be able to take one home with you!  Whoo hoo!  This is an idea I've been thinking about for a while, but my AWESOMELY talented co-instructor actually made this one for me as a gift.  THANKS, KAREN...you ROCK, girlfriend!

Since I'd been thinking about this anyway, and I do have the diecut to make this bird, I thought I'd just use this design for our class.  It's really cute and will help us start thinking about Spring which is right around the corner...well actually for us in Southern Cali, it's just Spring and Fall all year, but I'm sure you get the drift.

We will make 4 cards in class, some in a different shape (5 x 5) and we will also be using some other FRUGAL products to use with our cards...I just need to feel better so my creative mind can start workin' again:)

enJOY, and check back for more sneak peeks at the rest of the cards...as I design them, they will be posted...and as always, they WILL be AWESOME and will be FILLED with new TECHNIQUES to try:)

Today she becomes...

Happy New Year everyone out in blogland!

It's been a while since I've had time to create, so today is the first day of the NEW YEAR that I've been able to just chill 'n create:)

I've been meaning to start a scrapbook for Dan and Steph (my son and daugher-in-law), but just wasn't able to find the time to sit and get it started...then I saw a great SKETCH CHALLENGE over at the NEW CropStop Challenge Blog.  I'm VERY excited for them.  They have created an AMAZINGLY creative blog that I think is just BEAUTIFUL!

The first challenge on their new blog is a sketch challenge.  I had printed a kind of artistic picture from the wedding and was looking for the PERFECT opportunity to use it in a layout.  Well, the CropStop sketch definitely SPOKE to ME.  Of course, my finished projects always end up being very LOOSELY based on the sketch, since once I get started, my creativity just takes on a mind of it's own...

Let's start with the sketch:

My good friend, Gloria designed this sketch and I love the simplicity...it's not overdone and allows you to run with it and make it your own...GREAT JOB, Gloria:)

Here's my take on it:

I had seen this "artistic" take on a photo a while back and really liked it.  I was so happy to be able to use this frugal foto in my layout for this challenge...in fact I think this is the first actual layout I've done in months!

I used some of my Basic Grey Capella paper pack along with some of the diecut shapes from the same line.  I added some bling from Prima and some ribbon and lace from my stash.  Of course, I had to add a bit of "grunge" so I used some bubble wrap and my Espresso paint dabber to add some texture.  I also outlined the photo and all of the paper mats with the same paint dabber....oh, and the blue paper????  from one of my Tim Holtz paper packs:)

enJOY:)

Lori, FSE:)

Frugal Scrappin' Announcements and fun pics of November class!

As I try to get caught up on my creating this weekend, I can see that I will be posting multiple messages today, so thanks for stopping by:)

ANNOUNCEMENT:

For the month December, Frugal Scrappin' will be moving up a few weeks to December 9th.  The class will still be held from 6:30-8:30 and as always will include some AWESOME projects so come one, come all and have a scrappingly great time!

Karen, my ever so talented sidekick will be leading the December class and has designed an AMAZING project!  In true Frugal Scrappin' style, this class will be filled with fun techniques using lots of T!m's products.

Here are the samples of what will be completed in our December class...you will NOT be choosing between these two lovely projects...you get to do BOTH!  Talk about a FRUGAL bargain!...AND still for the Frugal price of just $15!

These two projects are just BEAUTIFUL!  Karen will be showing you how to use some of her favorite T!m dies to create these amazing projects!  You'll be inkin' and sticklin' and creatin' and will leave with BOTH of these projects!

Don't miss out!  These classes sell out almost EVERY month, so sign up now by calling Ever After Scrapbooks at 760-630-CROP (2767).  Class size limit is 15 students (so we can give you the time and attention you deserve:).

NOVEMBER CLASS RECAP!

We completed our 3 month series where we created a BEAUTIFUL canvas project using various techniques, all using T!m's products.

Since Gloria and Jacquie dressed for the occasion (matching my display board), they agreed to be the models for this photo.  Thanks Gloria and Jacquie!

 Here we have Holly working on her project.  Everyone had such a great time, and came up with their own twist on each ATC.  I just LOVE it when my students take their creativity to a level beyond the sample.  Kudos to you all!

 Here we have our very own Chris who beyond being hooked on Tim's classes, is an employee and T!m expert at Ever After.  Chris loves working with T!m's products so much that she brought a friend to class:)

 Kelly and niece Kel-An (in background) also had a great time in class.  Way to go with those projects, girls...you all ROCK!

A good time was had by all AND this Frugal Scrapper Extraordinaire (that would be me) was humbled by all of the talent in this class.

I hope to see you all in the next Frugal Scrappin' class!

enJOY:)

Lori, FSE:)

The Grand Finale:)

I'm so excited to FINALLY share the GRAND FINALE with all of you!  My 12 "Tags" of Christmas canvas is finally FINISHED!  Can you give me a WHOO HOO!

I just LOVE this project.  It has given me such JOY to work on this project...and what an AWESOME way to get into the HOLIDAY SPIRIT so early in the SEASON!  I started working on this project WAY BACK in August!  WOW!!!!  This has been a LONG TIME coming!

Here it is~~~

Feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions about how any of the mini projects were completed.

enJOY!

Today's gonna be a GREAT day, so here's a sneek peek & StudioL3 Post:)

Whoo hoo!!!!!  Today's gonna be a GREAT day!  For those of you who live in "sunny" southern California, you know that the coast has not been so "sunny" this year!  While my hubby and I feel VERY fortunate to be living along the coast in Northern San Diego County, summer has eluded us most of this year:(

Well, that has changed today!!!!  I think May Grey, June Gloom AND July Cry has moved on out (at least for today), and the sun is comin' up over the mountains!  Whoo Hoo!!!!

I took this picture right off of my deck this morning...at 6:30 a.m.....Ahhhhhhhh, this is WHY I moved HERE!

Hey, are those actually SHADOWS I see there?  Wow, it's gonna be hard to go to work today...

I've been workin' on my newest canvas project that I will teach at Ever After Scrapbooks...It will have a Holiday theme and will be modeled after T!m's 12 tags of Christmas...with a frugal scrappin' twist, of course!  This will be part of my monthly Frugal Scrappin' monthly class, and will be a series...we will complete this canvas over 3 months in Sept, Oct, and Nov...in plenty of time for gift giving or Holiday decorating.  More details to follow...

I've already started incorporating some recycled materials into this project...think soda cans, heehee...add a little paint, a little punchin' (hey, this will help sharpen your punches, too...a frugal BONUS), and a few of my other favorite T!m things..

Now I know this project is NO WHERE near FINISHED, but I couldn't help sharin' a SNEEK PEEK, especially since I could take it on a much eluded SUNNY southern California morning!  Whoo hoo!

I think I will also use this pic as my "project" for the Studio L3 CCC#9 challenge...I'm a day late (and probably a dollar short, lol), but hey it gave me the inspiration to used my crackle paint on my new project!

EnJOY!

As always, I love comments, suggestions, and just plain ole..."hey, how ya doin'?" posts...

Have a very BLESSED and sunny DAY!

You favorite Frugal Scrapper Extraordinaire:)

Studio L3 Challenge:)

I went to the Carson Stamp Show yesterday with my dear friend, Karen and we met some great ladies that are members of a yahoo group called "All Things Tim".  Actually, I believe one of the ladies created the group.  They were very sweet and told me to e-mail them for an invitation to join the group....Thank you, Ladies...I've sent my e-mail and am anxiouxly awaiting your reply:)

Anyway, while I was cruisin' around, I also found this site called Studio L3 where there is an ongoing challenge to use T!m's new "A Compendium of Curiosities" book to complete challenges.  Today's challenge is to use T!m's shabby chic technique...one of OH SO MANY awesome techniques found in his book.

I decided to play along and have completed my project for this challenge:

For detailed instructions on how to do the technique, check out page 49 of the book.  I chose to use the following:

Plain grungeboard for the "bird cage".  I used an espresso paint dabber, then T!m's notepaper stamp with embossing ink.  I used terra cotta embossing powder and once dry went back over with a pool paint dabber.  Then I ran it through my big shot, using T!m's scallop alterations die.  You know me....being the frugal scrapper and all, I just HAD to use the negative cut from the die for the bottom of my "cage".

I covered my grunge page with a snow cap paint dabber, used some of my favorite T!m stamps (frame and floral) with some embossing ink and clear embossing powder.  Over top, I used my citrus paint dabber (and a little pool here and there).

I used sepia archival ink on the bird and branch.  I added one of T!m's mettal keyholes and scraps from my "bird cage" roof to close in the sides.  Once this was done, I spritzed my "new" favorite mist (a mix of water and "pearl" perfect pearls) which gave my cage a nice shiny appearance (hard to see in the picture).

Again, in my typical fashion, I used the key sample from my newly opened hardware findings die, first covering it with my pool paint dabber, then pressing it randomly into embossing ink.  I then added some terra cotta embossing powder to make the key look rusted.

I added a couple of buttons from my stash and a stamped phrase...it's all perspective...is the bird really in the cage or are we?

I had fun playing along...now to go post to the challenge:)

EnJOY:)

Lori McCausland, FSE

I'm just a girl in a mixed media world...

Father and Son...ahhhh...and a Little TH...

So far this has been an AMAZINGLY creative weekend for ME:)  And boy does it FEEL GOOD!!  When I visited one of my favorite inspirational sites, I found an AMAZING scrapbook page created for week 9 of Thinking Inking with Jennifer McGuire, link here.  Jennifer is just AMAZING...she does such a WONDERFUL job with VIDEO TUTORIALS.  Jennifer, you ROCK!

So anyway, as the FRUGAL Scrapper Extraordinaire:), I decided to use a minimum of products to sort of replicate Jennifer's project so I could teach it Frugal Scrappin' style:)  I had ALMOST everything I initially wanted to use...so in TRUE Frugal Scrappin' mode, I did have to make a few "2nd choices" so I could truly consider this a Frugal Scrappin' project.

Once I finished, I decided to affectionately call this project "Frugal Scrappin' on Steroids"...there is so much goin' on here that I'm not sure I"ll be able to fit this into a mere 2 hr class...with that in mind, I plan to do it as a 3 hr "Frugal Scrappin +" class, lol...

I'm just SOOOOOOO happy with the outcome!  With each separate "block" of space, a different technique is done...all using a few of my FAVORITE T!m products.  I've used:

• Distress Inks in Spiced Marmalade, Broken China and just a little Tea Dye
• Adirondack Pain Dabbers in Sunset Orange and Sailboat Blue
• Just a little Stickles in icicles

I made these like the common scrapbook page, but will mount them on a 12 x 12 canvas so they can just be hung on the wall.  This one turned out JUST GORGEOUS!  My frugal techniques were:

• Using some old chipboard alpha letters, pulling off the top layer (the color layer) and painting with the paint dabbers.
• Using a page out of an old AAA travel book (adhered to a think piece of cardstock for strength)
• Using a strip of material I've had FOREVER, I painted it over with a paint dabber, pulled a strip of white paper through my Xyron X, and adhered the material (in a "pleated" style) to add texture.  I also frayed the edges to grunge it up a bit.

EnJOY!

Now off to see if EA has any class slots availble to teach this "bad boy, lol".

Frugal Scrappin' for LOVE:)

LOVE is in the air and there is VINTAGE everywhere:)

Now, I know, I know...it's not even 2010 yet, and I'm already pushin' Valentine's Day:)  Well, bloggers this Christmas Holiday season has filled my heart with so much joy that I just want to roll it right into the next holiday where we think of those we love...what better way to get started then to make some warm, vintage, Valentine's cards....FRUGAL SCRAPPER STYLE, of course:)

These cards are the samples for my Frugal Scrappin' class that will be held on Thursday, January 28, 2010 from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. at Ever After Scrapbooks in Vista, Ca.  These classes have been EXTREMELY popular since I started running them in June, 2009.  Initially, I bounced them around from month to month...sometimes at the beginning of the month, and sometimes at the end....even the day of the week changed each month.

I'm very happy to say that the FRUGAL SCRAPPER (that would be me, lol) has finally settled on a specific day each month.  Starting in 2010, my monthly Frugal Scrappin' classes will be held on the 4th Thursday of every month.  Settling on the 4th Thursday does have some major advantages...you can now PLAN your schedule AROUND the frugal scrappin' classes:)  Since we have many students who attend EVERY MONTH, it will be so much easier to plan your schedule this way.  Also, by having the class at the end of the month, there is PLENTY of time for Ever After to advertise (of course, as long as I get the samples in on time, lol).

O.k.....now what HASN'T CHANGED, you ask????  The Frugal price of $15!  Whoo hoo!!!!  In addition, these classes will continue to be FILLED with awesome TECHNIQUES geared toward teaching you ways to USE your STASH...and of course, all those AWESOME scrapbooking TOOLS out there in the marketplace.

Since these pic's are samples for my upcoming class, I do not post specific instructions...HOWEVER...if you do not live in the southern California area and cannot attend the Frugal Scrappin' class, feel free to e-mail me with any questions you have about how to make these cards and I'll be happy to answer them:)

Happy NEW YEAR!!!

Lori McCausland, Frugal Scrapper Extraordinaire:)

Lori's Frugal Scrappin' Tags of Christmas

As you can tell, I've been creating T!m Holtz style again:)

I've made these tags for my upcoming Frugal Scrappin' class at Ever After. The class will be held on Thursday, December 10th from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

If you haven't been to one of my FruGaL ScRapPin' classes yet, you need to TRY ONE OUT:)

These classes are fast paced, technique heavy, and LOADS of fun! They are also VERY frugally priced at only $15! Each tag is made with distress inks, with each tag using a different technique. Some tags also include paint dabbers, stickles, acrylic, and some other fun embellies. Stamps are a variety from my stash and most are done using Ranger's Archival Ink. (Staz on ink was used on the acrylic).

Any questions about these tags? Feel free to leave a comment:)

Enjoy and THANKS for visiting!

Remember to...create like no one is watching...

LoRi, the FruGaL ScRapPer ExTraOrdiNaiRe.

T!m's Back on the Top of My List:)

O.k. bloggers...so I go to what they call the original STAMPING show (or something like that) in Carson, CA yesterday with my very good friend, Gloria. We knew T!m would be there, and were definitely NOT disappointed!!!!

T!m was doing some fun demos and it didn't take long for me to get my creative juices flowing. I had some decorative grungeboard pieces that I wanted to use for a class, so I whipped up this cute wall hanging.I started by STAMPING on the GRUNGEboard, using one of my FLOURISH stamps and a PAINT dabber. I then applied some PINE needles and BRICK red distress ink around the EDGES.

I made a vintage "CARD" using another stamp I bought and distressed it with SCATTERED straw distress ink as I curled up the edges. Before adhering it to my project, I STAMPED some MUSIC notes down the left side of the project.

I then added a decorative metalic corner (think cardboard, aluminum foil, cuttlebug embossing folder and some JUNIPER alcohol INK).

To finish, I added some flowers, a little bling, a snowflake and a hinge clip. To finish it off, I just added some wire to hang it up...oh yes, I did add some "stitching" with a green sharpie marker.

Enjoy:)

.

100% All Boy Grungeboard/Acrylic Mini Album

So I've finally done it....I've designed an entire album JUST FOR BOYS...whoo hoo!!!! Now I just have to add photos of those three awesome little boys...Dominic, Shane, and Alexander. These are 3 of my grandchildren and they are DEFINITELY all boy!!! (Have I told you that I LOVE having grandsons)?

Being a tomboy myself when I was younger, I just love watching the rough and tumble playtimes! I hope to take new pics of them this week and cannot wait to add them to this new mini album. In the mean time, I am happy to share this album with you all.

I started with a grungeboard 5 x 7 tabbed album (I used only half of it). I then added 5 x 7 acrylic covers and two additional 5 x 7 cardboard pages.

I added some awesome new My Mind's Eye pp, some matching cardstock, embellishments from my stash, a little ink and viola, an awesome mini album to share:)

I hope to teach this as a class at EA in October...and since I AM the Frugal Scrapper, I will add a little twist...I will supply the "naked" album, mod podge, ink pads, and lots of inspiration while the students get to choose their own paper, embellishments, ribbons, etc (from a detailed supply list, of course) so they can make this awesome album in any color scheme they want!

I will encourage them to consider paper and ribbon from EA so they can work with the newest supplies available, but will also encourage them to match them up with embellishments from their stash...how cool is that!!!!

Each book will have it's own personality AND the class will be reasonably prices since each student will bring their own supplies (except for the "naked" book, mod podge and inks that will be supplied).

For a peek at the rest of the album, visit here.

Enjoy:)

Just another creative day in Frugal Scrapper Land...as I whistle while I work, hee hee...

Thanks for stopping by:)

Lori McCausland
Frugal Scrapper Extraordinaire:)

Gettin' Messy with Paints:)

I am so happy to share my most recent Frugal Scrappin' Project with you all:) As some of you know, I have been teaching Frugal Scrappin' classes at a LLS in Vista, CA. You also probably know that I love EVERYTHING T!m Holtz:)

I have already taught several classes emphasizing all the ways Alchohol Inks and Distress Inks can be used to alter all of your paper crafting projects.

With my current project, the emphasis is on Acrylic Paint Dabbers.

I had a blast creating this mini album and took the first picture before I had totally decided what to "name" the project.

While I was reading the Summer issue of "Scrapbooks and Cards Today" magazine, I saw an idea about documenting "25 Random facts about me". Now we've all seen those "chain" e-mails where you answer predetermined questions about yourself and pass it along to "at least 10 of your favorite people"...I have a confession to make...I normally delete them because I just don't like "chain" e-mails...

The twist to the "25 Random facts about me" is that you get to document ANY facts you want to. What I think is really cool is that the only rule is to not "over think" your list of 25 facts. You are supposed to just jot down anything that comes to mind. I think it's a great way for people to get to know me, not only because of the facts I disclose...but also because of the facts I disclose...because you will most likely disclose the things that mean the most to you in the process (as opposed to answering questions that someone else has decided should be answered).

I'm sure you know where this is going by now...Yes, I've decided to title this mini album "25 Random Facts about ME" as you can see from the close-up of the new and improved front page.











The last thing I wanted to do is give you a little "sneak peak" into one of the "frugal" embellishments we will add to the book in the class. My dear hubby was "tossing" an old pair of dockers shorts when I said...HEY, wait a minute, I can use those for a crafting project:) You may have noticed the "curtain topper" on the cover, well I've also made "flowers", too, as shown below.



More to follow later:)

Thanks for visiting and have a GREAT week!

Frugally yours,

Lori McCausland, Frugal Scrapper Extraordinaire:)