First, I wish to thank you all for your prayers, kind words and condolences during this difficult time for my family. You have no idea what it has meant to myself and my family. The Paper Doodles are the BEST!!

I have had time to reflect and think about the direction and projects we have coming up in the next several months. I have so many ideas and am so excited to share those ideas that I REALLY wanted to make sure that I schedule things so we can maximize the use of our time and resources. As you know, I hate getting behind and being in reactive mode instead of proactive mode. I think I have come up with a plan to really use time wisely and create many of the types of projects you all have been asking for. I really think this system will have a little bit of everything. Maybe it will inspire you to stretch your wings and try something new, or use up a bit or your stash or allow you to fit a quick project into you over busy schedule!

With this schedule I am allowing myself some flexibility, creating a do-able sequence of projects, and revisiting an old friend for some creative play time. I will still continue my 3 -a-week Ustream schedule  and also have some projects available outside of the ustream schedule. We will have construction projects, non-construction projects, mixed media, home decor, and bit of dollmaking and jewelry as well….hopefully something for everyone!

Here is my proposed schedule:

Each month we will have a Constructed Project such as the new Once Upon a Time Series, the Maple Street Series, or other 3D projects. (Yes, the Potting Bench for the G45 CHA booth is one of the upcoming projects as is the Thumbelina House). Each month we will also a another “Other” Project. This may be an album, a Paper AppliquĂŠ project, a mixed media project, or….   With either the Constructed Project or the “Other” projects, these will take 4 to 5 Ustream classes to complete. You can check out the Schedule Tab here on the website. These classes will be held on the Friday and Sunday slots in the Ustream schedule.

WUW logo

On Wednesdays, we are going to be returning to our What’s Up Wednesday format from several years ago. I used to do this series on Youtube in my early days. While I will do these quick classes on Ustream on Wednesday’s, I will post the recorded videos on both my website and on Youtube. These quick classes will start in February and each month should include the following formats:

  • Product demos. This can be new products or older products or tools. You may have things that you don’t know how they really work or how they can do things you never thought about. There are a ton of new things coming out that we can explore the possibilities of what they do.
  • Techniques Demos. We will play with different techniques to create backgrounds, flowers, embossing, etc. the sky is the limit here. Let’s play “What if”!
  • Home Decor, Organizing your Space, Jewelry, etc. These maybe the perfect quick gifts, quick little albums, or  fun little items that you can make with minimal investment.
  • Personal Album/Art Journal pages. This is hot in the industry right now and I will show you my take on it in the style of a personal album not just a artsy journal….sort of like my “On the fly” pages in the past.

 

Turn the Page Source Book logo

 

Outside of the Ustream classes we will also be moving forward with a couple of mini album formats. My Turn the Page system has been a HUGE success!….and I am still finishing up the last few sections! (The 2014 Turn the Page system will be complete in the next week or so as I get back on track.) Soon, I will be introducing the 2015 Turn the Page version. The two versions can be used independently and they can be mingled together. You do not need to have the 2014 version to use the 2015 version and vice versa. The new 2015 version will include new pages that can be used along with the 2014 pages as well as some new larger pages for those who like a larger format. This version will not be released until I have the written tutorials done and the videos complete….playing catch up is not my idea of fun! We will continue to have kits for the Turn the Page systems and will be showing samples from the kits made by me and from the growing list of volunteers who wish to make a sample. This is intended to give you inspiration to create your own albums that are uniquely your own.

 

Must D Stash logo

 

 

If you liked my One and Done album and the format for it on my website, you will love this new series:  Must-D-Stash Albums! These will be fast and easy albums presented in a video tutorial format with an enhanced cutting guide. Like the One and Done project, the video will be available in your account after you purchase. These will be perfect for the beginning crafter and quick go-to projects for the experienced crafter. While these are designed to use up some of your stash of product that you have overflowing out of closets drawers and boxes, I will have a limited number of kits available for those who want one just like mine.

To say I am excited about what we have coming up would be an understatement! First up is catching up the remaining projects we have on the docket from the end of last year. As I noted above, I will be finishing up the Turn the Page 2014 system videos and I will be shipping out the DVD/USB’s once the videos are complete. On Ustream we will be completing the Snowman House as well as the Set Sail/Under the Sea Memory Portal project and Center Part Mini Album. The Southern Belle House will be completed via videos that will be available in my website Archives. These projects have high priority and I will be aiming to get as much completed by the end of January as possible.

For those who watch my CHA recap show live or on the video, I will be doing the drawing on Sunday evening so make sure you leave the appropriate comment to be in the drawing! Please note that there is no class on Sunday this week.

Laura

 

PS I will be ordering more of the SOLD OUT Stick It sheet on Monday. I should have them back in stock by the end of the week!