Diamonds are a girls best friend....

No, I didn't get any diamonds for Valentines day, but I did get some nice chocolates and a beautiful Aquamarine Ring I had been coveting... my Sweetie is so good to me!

Now I did discover some really cool diamonds... for scrapbooking!  Have you seen these?  They are new from Robin's Nest, the brilliant and wonderful people who make all those fantastic DEW DROPS! There are so many colours now it's Crazy, and you just WANT them allll.. (well, I do anyways) and even though I have a good collection it's just NOT enough.. okay, wait, back to the diamonds.. they made DIAMOND SHAPED DEW DROPS!  How cool is that?   and the colours are fantastic! they make me smile.....

Of course they make paper, fantastic glitter paper, I have a stash of that too.... Going to pull some out tonight to work on a cut Easter Card... and yes, I know it's only February, but I love the paper and Easter... so I may as well PLAY.

If you're coming to my class at Scrapfest, you'll be thrilled to learn that they are sponsoring our class...so get prepared to have some FUN!    I only have FOUR spots left, so head on over and register now if you want a spot!

I have other sponsors in the works, the kit (which is currently all over my studio) is looking fantastic, and you will have a chance to enter a contest to.....a Dimple? Don't know what a Dimple is? Wait and see.... I'll let you know tomorrow.

LaraB

First Day of Fall....

It's the First Day of Fall, and I'm home with a sick kid. Jacob has a terrible head cold and cough and no appetite. Poor boy! For me it meant a day of crafting though.... so it could be worse.

It's my blog day over on myStampBox so I started my Thanksgiving Decor early and posted over there.. Go check out my Invitation and cute pillow box place cards.

While the kids were at school and I had some quiet time, I've also been working on some of the designs for my upcoming Holiday Card Classes. I'll be teaching at the Creative Festival in Toronto Oct 16 & 17th and I'll be in the Canandian Scrapbooker Booth too for the run of that event.

I'm really thrilled to add a new Cardmaking for Christmas Class up in Brampton... November 15th. I'm heading over to Old Tyme Country Crafts and I'd love to see you. Time are still TBA, but we're making 6 really cute cards, using lot's of techniques including: Watercolour with Tombow, Colouring with Copics, Chalking with Dove Blender, Using Die Cuts in your designs and more..... You don't want to miss out! Call Sandy now to book your spot. 905-452-1271 Suitable for all levels of crafters, bring a friend and have some fun! Samples will be on-line shortly.

And last but not least, I've been in the mood for soups lately (must be the cooler weather). I made this great Clam Chowder last night. The kids added corn to theirs, which they loved. Everyone liked the soup part, and the pototoes and the bacon..... they all left the clams in the bottom of the bowl! Oh well, the grown ups all liked it.


Clam Chowder Beauregard

6 slices lean bacon -- diced
2 large onions -- diced
3/4 cup butter
7 whole potatoes -- peeled and diced
2 Tablespoons parsley -- minced
1/8 teaspoon pepper
8 oz. clam juice
1 can baby clams
1 quart half and half
1/4 teaspoon Thyme leaves

Brown bacon. Add onion and cook until translucent. Add half the butter, potatoes, parsley and pepper. Add water. Drain juice form clams and blend in potato mixture. Simmer until potatoes are soft. Add clams. Stir until heated. Add half and half and remaining butter and heat slowly until very hot. Do not boil. Serve at once.

Clearly Cool Albums!

Acrylic Album Workshop

One of the workshops I'm featuring this year is this Acrylic Album... they are so much fun to work with, but people are scared of them. They are definitely more difficult than your standard chipboard book, but with some pre-planning and a little practice they look fantastic. I've chosen to work with the Build A Book series designed by
Fire & Ice Designs for Prima Marketing. Tricia Ladouceur is a fellow Canadian, and I love the flexibility of the products she has developed with her partner Michelle Van Etten. Their blog isn't updated often, but there are some amazing samples of what can be done with these albums.

I used papers from Prima and Kaiser Craft, lots of bling, and flowers. Since it's for a workshop, we've got paint, rub ons, stamping, stickles, ribbons, rhinestones, and acrylic flowers... I wanted to show the many many ways you can decorate these albums.


I'll be teaching this in St. Thomas on February 28th and the Cut 'n Paste - you can call to book your spot. 519-631-6707 . It's only $40.00+ taxes and includes everything you need to complete the projecy AND have leftovers. It's a nice kit!

I'm also teaching a working with Acetate class that day, and in the middle somewhere, we're going to sign some of the NEW Canadian Scrapbooker Basics Books and Spring Issue of the mags... don't miss out, call and pre-order! I'll post some samples of the actate class tomorrow or the next day....

I've got a class tomorrow night at Bizzy B's Stamp & Scrap - Fast & Fabulous Cards... there are still a few spots if you want to join us. 416-203-0433 to reserve. This month has birthday cards, Valentine Day Cards, and more. Next month's class is going to have some EASTER cards, Thank You crads, and Just Sayin' Hi!

The class is fast paced and lots of fun. Hope to see you there.

I'm also teaching the Acrylic Album at my home workshop in Mississauga on Sunday March 22 12:30-3:30pm. Just drop me a line if you want to book a spot. Limited to 6 people, so reserve early. Email me at lara.brooks@gmail.com Cost: $40.00 includes all supplies.

What's New?

CHA Winter 2009

It's the biggest show for the Craft and Hobby industry, and it's on NOW! in Anaheim, California.

This is the first year in five that I haven't gone... so thank goodness for Sneak Peeks and You Tube - it's ALMOST like being there!

Basic Grey is always a favourite for me (and many others), and this year I'm not disappointed. I really liked Bittersweet that released in December and I LOVE Lme Rickey - great for scrappin' boys! They came out with a card kit too using this line, which I think is really smart.

Click on the pic and you'll be taken over to the Basic Grey Website for a closer look.


Next up? The Ranger booth is always busy, and Tim Holtz is of course the main attraction. He is certainly an incredibly talented designer! Hop on over to You Tube to see what new products he's released this year.

I also really like quite a few of the lines from Bo Bunny. The It's my party is particularly attractive for putting together a quick but really nice Birthday Book using the add on embellishments that they do so well. It would would look great on the Bo Bunny Chipboard Word or Acrylic Albums.

Speaking of Acrylic, I'm working on a couple of workshops featuring this trendy product. One class focuses on Acetate, and how to make your own embellishments, frames, etc, and the other is a completely embellished Acrylic Album. Look back in a day or so for some new class listings.


I am almost done a layout, that I am pretty happy with.... I may even post it later today!

Hanna Card

Hi Hanna!

I've really liked Hannah Stamps for quite a while now but I haven't had much time to play with them. I did make this card for my Fast & Fabulous cards class and I was pretty happy with how it turned out. I even paper pieced her dress!

Card Recipe:
1 piece card stock for card base, & scrap for matting Hanna
1 piece Cosmo Cricket Patterned Paper
1 piece Basic Grey paper
Hanna Stamps
Hi stamp - Hampton $$ stamps
Imaginisce Brad
Tombow Watercolour markers
Stazon Black Ink & Stampin Up Green Galore



1. Cut cardstock to 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 and score in the middle at 4 1/2 to make a card.
2. Cut patterned paper to 4 x 5 1/2 and adhere to card front
3. Cut second piece of patterned paper to fit under Hanna
4. Stamp Hanna using Stazon black ink twice. Once on white cardstock and once on patterned
paper. Cut out dress from patterned paper and set aside.
5. Colour in Hanna image stamped on white, cut to size and mat with complitmentary card
stock.
6. Adhere patterned dress pieces to stamped image (I recommend using a glue pen).
7. Adhere completed Hanna in place as desired.
8. Stamp "Hi" sentiment onto white cardstock using Stampin Up Green Galore. Cut out = yes,
FREEHAND!
9. Poke brad though the dot part of the "i" split back and then adhere in place.

Amazingly I didn't use any stickles or ribbon on this card. I had intended to sew on it, but my Singer started sewing upside down! Never mind.. it's a long story.

Ribbon Flowers!

I'm off to do some work on my Fast & Fabulous Card class for this Friday, but wanted to post before the whole week got away from me. The class by the way still has a few spots if you want to join us. Join us on Friday Jan 16th from 7:30-9:30 at Bizzy B's Stamp & Scrap in Toronto. 416-203-0433 We're making 6 cards and 2 tags in 2 hours!!

Okay, now check out this cool ribbon flower I made... the original design came from here.
I didn't change much except I prefer to use glue to all those staples, and the cropodile is fantastic at going through all those layers... really I just wanted to try out this "make a slide thingy" on the blog!




You can make them yourself, in any colour and they go together quite quickly too. I uploaded some photo's and made a mini tutorial... it's my first time trying this! I hope you like it.

Happy Holly Days

Another card from my card classes at Bizzy B's Stamp & Scrap, this one is always popular! I love this Holly Stamp, it can be coloured in so many different ways. I have another class running at the end of this month if you want to join in... 24 cards in 6 hours!



Card Recipe:
Black Stazon
Dove Blender
Ranger Red Embossing Powder
Versamark Ink

Craf T chalks
Stickles - Golden Rod & Red

Holly Stamp 1405 - Artful Stamper

Happy Holly Days Stamp
CHR013C - Stamp Barn




Want to sign up? Call Bizzy B's Stamp & Scrap at 416-203-0433 to reserve your spot.

Santa Baby! Card Camp - Santa Baby!

Card Camp 2008

Sunday was my first Card Camp of the season.. yep, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas at our house! It was a marathon of fun at Bizzy B's Stamp & Scrap - Five hours, 24 cards and LOTS of stickles! There is another session scheduled for November 30, 2008 Noon-5pm. I highly recommend you bring something to snack on.... to keep your energy up!

This one was one of the favourites yesterday - I'll eventually post them all with instructions, but I'm on a deadline for something else and the kids are home on a PD Day, so this one will have to do for today!

Santa Baby Card Recipe:
Prism Card Stock

KI Memories PP
Inky Antics Stamp

Cotton Candy Stickles
Copic Gold Spica At You Pen
Tombow Watercolour Markers
Black Stazon Ink
Marvy Scalloped Square Punch

The Party of the year....

We finally got it done.. Jonathan had his 5th birthday party yesterday and it was a huge hit. When the boys turn FIVE we invite ALL their friends... it's a tradition James started... long story! Anyways, for Jonathan we had a Carnival sort of theme.. a rented Bouncy Castle, a cotton candy machine and a popcorn machine... yum! Add to that the duck fishing game, the decorate a cupcake station, face painting, and hmmm oh yes, prizes - it was a fun day for all....

I made the lion cake, and am happy to report, it may be my best one yet....

I've been trying to post that since Monday... so I will continue on with Tuesday... we are getting ready to leave for Paris on Sunday - it's quite the trip and we are all incredibly excited. Of course there is a ton of organizing to do, both at home and work before I go... so I spend a few hours today putting up some of my upcoming classes at Bizzy B's for October and November.

I even managed to include some photo's - I think that the Card Organizer is one of my favourites so far this season... and so easy! I had someone take the class a few weeks ago, and she's been back in to make FOUR more.. so I guess it was a success. Here is a photo... not the best shot, and I've made some changes to the actual design, BUT, you get the idea.

There is another class that goes really nicely with this one... we make 12 different cards. For the holidays it's mostly Christmas and Winter but the rest of the time we do an assortment, with Birthday, Thank You , Get Well, and that sort of thing. Great to give as a gift, equally
great to KEEP!! You'll always have handmade cards and you'll even be able to find them when you need them!

Want the calendar template? Just DOWNLOAD the pdf here.