A peek inside... & some treats!

Hi friends,
So, the new school year is underway for me. The first week went well & I'm very excited about the new school year. 
Today, I'd thought I'd give you a peek inside my classroom & how I set up for the beginning of the year.

As you walk in, this is what you see towards the right. My seating arrangement is in rows that face one side of the room towards the other. This way, it allows for space in the middle of the room so I can get to the back of the room quickly & easily. It also makes it easy for students to work with a partner or form groups. I cut out the "Bienvevidos" (Welcome) letters with my Cricut.

This shot gives you a peek at the far left side of the room. At the far left is my desk area. I have two long banners of papel picado that hang across the room.

This is a shot of the far right side of the room. 

This is a shot from the back of the room looking towards the front. The little table in the middle is where I have my projector & laptop. 

 You may see the influence of my elementary teaching days in my classroom. Most HS classrooms are pretty plain, but I like my class to look colorful, inviting & fun!

And here's my desk. I had to take a pic of this because it won't look this for long! *Ü*

 Did you notice some of the boxes I created in the past for Teacher Gifts? I still have mine & use them everyday! And if you make one for your fave teacher she'll be enjoying them for a long time to come, just as I have *Ü* Check out the "Teacher Appreciation" label on the sidebar of my blog for tutorials & ideas.

Speaking of teacher gifts...
Here are the gifts I made for the teachers in my department.

I found these cute little buckets that had a chalkboard label on them in the dollar bin at Target. I wrote their names on it with a Sharpie paint pen. I added stitch marks around it then added a little apple sticker & ribbon strips to the handles. Cute & so simple *Ü*

Then I filled them with some treats.

Here's a closer peek at it.

The first day of school is such a busy day, we may not even have a chance to eat lunch until after school. So having a few treats to munch on during the day, helps hold us over until we can sit down to eat!

Thanks so much for peeking!

 ¡Adios!

Tags of 2013- July

Hi friends,
Well, the good life is over. It's time to trade in the bikini for the books- back to school time for me!
Yes, already! I can't complain because I had a great summer & I feel like the batteries are recharged.

I'm just in the nick of time for July's tag.
Here's T!m's:

 Here's mine:

To be honest, I wasn't moved by this month's technique (which is why I waited so long). But I have done all of the other tags this year so I felt like I was letting myself down by not completing it. I did the technique of brayering in the background & the distress crackle paint with stain technique. I really don't know why, at this point it time, I doubt the creative genius that is Tim. Seriously, he has never disappointed and he didn't disappoint with this month's technique. If only I got a good pic of the leaves! They look absolutely amazing!!! I only wish more of the reds & greens would have shown through :(  Sorry, for doubting you once again Tim! Bad Karli :(

Well, it will be a bit quiet around the blog home until I'm settled in to my new school year. I am teaching my favorite class again- Spanish 1 *Ü* yay! and my not so favorite class- AP prep :( ah well, I hope this is a great year nonetheless. I do look forward to a new batch of nearly 200 kiddos!

Thanks for stopping by today!
Until the next time crafty friends!

More Homework

Hi friends,
Today I have a bit of homework to catch up on from Card Camp. I needed some thank you cards so that's what I have to share.

Day 5 Assignment: Choose one of the color combos & make a card with it.
I chose this color combo:

 and Sketch # 3 to create this card:

I took inspiration from the cross stitch design on the pattern paper to create the elements on the card.

Card #2 is homework for Week 2 Day 1.
New color combo & sketches.
Here's my card for sketch #2:

 I went for a masculine card this time. I found 3 different "Thank" stamps & heat embossed them in white. I die cut the letters in "you"& popped them on to the pattern paper circles.

Card #3: Week 2 Day 2: Assignment: Multi-color embossing ombré

I used a blue, light green, & med green embossing powders to emboss the feather & the sentiment to create an ombré effect. The end result is beautiful, but it was time consuming & a bit tedious to sprinkle the different colors of embossing powder on both. I used sketch #3 (loosely) for this card.

That's it for homework today.
Thanks so much for popping in!
Tootles!

10 Minute Card Homework video

Hi friends,
Today I have a card that's the homework for Day 4 at Card Camp. The assignment is to create a 10 minute card which I have become smitten to pieces to do! This is the definition of a card challenge, but it's loads of fun too!
Here's my card:

 I used 4 required colors: pink, orange, green, gray.
I have been having fun making videos lately because once school starts, I know I won't have time for it :(

Did I make the 10 minute challenge???

You betcha!

Here's the video proof:

Or watch it on You Tube---> HERE

I created the butterfly pattern on my Gypsy in 4 different sizes. I have shared the file before but here it is just in case you'd like it.

Download GYPSY file---> HERE.
Download PDF file---> HERE.

Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by & take a peek at my cooky videos!
Tootles!

Enveloboxes & a Tute!

Hi ya friends,
This week's challenge at PTI's Make it Monday is to dress up an envelope. One of the questions I get asked most is how I make my enveloboxes for dimensional cards. So I thought I would combine the challenge at MIM & create a video tute to show you how I make them. What is an envelobox? It's an envelope & a box in one!---> an envelobox! I have used the Crafter's Companion board to make them for a long time, but once I got the Martha Stewart Score board, I started using that instead. So this tute is for creating enveloboxes in 2 sizes- A2 (4 1/4" x 5 1/2") and 6" x 6" on the MS score board.
Here's the envelope & the card that matches it:

Here's the envelobox:

 I used the same stamp that's on the card, but didn't color it in.

Here's a couple peeks of how I embellish them:

I used a border punch to adhere a border of pansies along the edge. You can also punch directly on the edge of the envelope.

The video shows measurements for 1/2" depth. I also make enveloboxes up to 1 inch in depth for those everything-but-the-kitchen-sink cards I like to make. *Ü*

QUESTION: Can you mail these?
Yes, but you can't add layers to the envelope & it can't interfere with postal imprints. You'll be paying more to ship it too, so I reserve these for hand-delivering. If I want to mail a dimensional card, I put it in a mailer box or padded envelope.

Here's the video: Hope you enjoy!

You can watch it on You Tube---> HERE

Thanks for peeking!
I'm off to see T!m Holtz at the stamp show this weekend.  *Ü* Maybe he'll sign my last tag????
Have a great weekend!

Summer Camp Homework Cont.

Hi friends,
I have my homework for both Day 2 & 3 to share today.

For Day 2, I used the technique Jennifer McGuire shared of Multi-Inking with Masking to create this card:

 I used the colors for this week in both the pattern paper & the stamping.  It was a bit time consuming to do this technique but I did like the end result. The paper is Hope Chest from Anna Griffin. I also used the instaframe dienamics from MFT embossed with the woodgrain impression plate. The image is from my fave set Birthday Sentiments (MFT) stamped in Raspberry Fizz, Hawaiian Shores, Simply Chartruese, and Orange Soda. The flower is the Mini-Hybrid Heirloom Rose (MFT) and the flourish is from Cheery Lynn.

Here's another peek at it:

My card for Day 3 focuses on one of the sketches (Sketch #1) & the color combo together.
Here's the card:

 I wanted to make a really CAS card (more simple than clean.) I took a piece of pattern paper, cut the banner, adhered the happy die cut, stamped the sentiment, added a stitched line, and a flossy bow. Easy peasy. The color combo happened to be the perfect color palette for the challenge *Ü*

I used this week's MFT sketch for card #1

Thanks so much for peeking!
Tootles!

The 411 
Card #1: Best Year Ever 
Stamps: birthday sentiments-MFT
Paper: Hope Chest- Anna Griffin, Hawaain Shores, Simply Charteuse, Raspberry Fizz, Neenah White cs, vellum cs
Ink: Raspberry Fizz, Hawaiian Shores, Simply Chartruese, and Orange Soda 
Accessories: Instaframe, Mini-hybrid heirloon Rose Dienamics- MFT, Woodgrain Impressions plate, Fanciful Flourish- Cheery Lynn

Card #2: Happy for You
Stamps: Happy- Simon Says Stamp
Paper: Hope Chest-Anna Griffin, Neenah White 
Ink: charcoal 
Accessories: floss, happy die- SSS

Summer Camp Day 1

Hi friends,

 I decided that since it's going to be a staycation this summer, I'd treat myself to the deluxe accommodations at Online Card Classes *Ü* I really enjoyed the previous classes I took from Kristina Werner & Jennifer McGuire, so this will be the last of my play days before I'm back to school.

So, here's my homework for Day 1: Sketches & Color challenge

Since we can't post class content, I can't show you the sketches, but you know I'm pretty literal when it comes to sketches, so I'm sure you can picture the sketch by looking at my cards. *Ü*

Here's my card for sketch #1

I love the color combo of yellow, gray, & white so that's what I used on this card. I used the Ikat stamp set by Avery Elle to create the background on the banner. I used my Copic marker Y35 to color in the centers. The paper bow is from the Dainty Bows Dienamics from MFT. The bitty sentiment "Happy Day" comes from the Notched Tag stamp set- MFT. Faux stitching around the edges completes this card for the first sketch.

Card from Sketch #2:

I used my Inktense pencil in Fuchsia to do a gradient watercolor wash over the sentiment. I divided each of the "never" into separate bands per the sketch. The sentiment is from the Words of Inspiration stamp set by Inspired by Stamping & it's heat embossed in white. The butterflies are from Cheery Lynn called Exotic Butterflies. Do you see the little pink ribbon that makes up the body?
Here's another peek at them:

 The sentiment reads,"Never, never, never, never give up" which I think anyone who's had to go up against breast cancer knows all too well...

 Card from Sketch #3:

 For this card, I wanted to make something fun! I haven't used this stamp set in ages so I dusted it off & played with it. I stamped the bike so that it looked like it was popping a wheelie! *Ü* I had these cute buttons in my stash that ended up looking so whimsy on the bike. I colored the outside of the buttons with my black Copic marker for the tire tread. The bike is from the Everyday Button Bits stamp set from PTI. I colored it with metallic silver Prisma pencil & the seat in blue.

That's it for day 1's homework! I didn't have to use all 3 sketches, but you know I luuuv sketches & I like 3... 3 is a good number *Ü*

Thanks so much for stopping by today!
Tootles!

The 411
Card #1 Happy Day
Stamps: Ikat- Avery Elle. Notched Tags_ MFT
Ink: Soft Granite- Hero Arts
Paper: Basic Gray, So Saffron- SU, Neenah White
Accs: Dainty Bows Dienamics- MFT, Back to Basics Tags- Spellbinders, twine, Viva Decor Pen, white gel pen, Design Ruler- TH

Card #2 Never Give Up
Stamps: Words of inspiration- IBS, 
Ink: Versamark- heat embossed in detail white
Paper: Pink Pirouette- SU, Strathmore watercolor paper, Think pink- Making Memories
Accs: Inktense Pencils, Exotic butterflies- Cheery Lynn, Stickles, Viva Decor pen, white gel pen, Design Ruler- TH
pink ribbon stick pin

Card #3 Enjoy the Ride
Stamps: Everyday Button Bits- PTI
Ink: Gray Flannel-Memento, Bashful Blue-SU
Paper: Blue cs, green cs- Bazzill, Clouds, white shimmer, Basic Gray-SU
Accs: Fishtail flag, Snow Drifts dienamics, Prisma pencils, gold signo pen, cloud die- PTI, buttons-Joleen's, Plaid EF- CB