Crafting with Chloe

So my niece Chloe and I enjoy spending time together in my studio. She has a very creative side and is loving learning how to scrapbook. We're creating tags and cards and cute pieces together which I'm going to share with all of you. She is a fast learner and we're creating some really beautiful pieces. I found an old Maya Roads chipboard tin that she's using to hold all of her creations. I'm excited because I finally get to fill up my 7 Gypsies triple spinner. (Remember this....sat in the back of the store unfinished for many years). 

So with Halloween only a week away I thought we should create something to celebrate the occasion. We started with a  chipboard diecut frame (using grundgeboard and a TH diecut). She loved using Tim's diecut machine. She thought it was a suitcase! We stamped numerous different stamps with Versa Mark and added clear embossing powder and heat set it. 

We then used a TH black paint dauber to paint the entire area. Before the paint dried we used paper towel to rub off the paint to expose the embossed areas. We then scuffed the edges with sand paper. 

We then started with a white piece of paper and I dug out the chalks (yes....chalk...I can't believe it! I haven't used then in years and years). Added a grey piece of torn card stock along the bottom, stamped the image and added the moon and bats. 

We finished it off with a diecut leaf, Halloween ticket and RIP tombstone. 

We then always finish off our projects by adding the date to the back with a date stamp. 

Hope you enjoyed our creation! 

My Studio

So anyone who has ever moved their scrapbook room will understand the daunting task to setting up a new space. I found mine even harder as not only did I have everything from my studio in Medicine Hat I had so many things from the store that needed to find a home. It made unpacking interesting to say the least. Just finding the right placement for the big pieces was tough enough. I moved my larger cabinet 3 times! In the end I am completely happy with my studio....except it could be bigger! It is full....beyond full! But it's my space, my happy place! 

So my favorite wall is this one. It represents my style and my space. Cindy found this wooden shelf (trim from an old door frame) at a garage sale and thought of me. I bought the vintage wooden press with 'my studio' on it in Edmonton and I just didn't have a good space for it in my old room....it has now found the perfect home! 

So, this my desk in the center of the room. I stand behind it and look at my beautiful 'my studio' wall and at my boys in the family room. 

I created a wall of wooden boxes and crates to house all of my paints, stains, mists, button jars and stuff...lots of stuff! It is a lot to take in from the picture (cluttered chaos actually lol). But I know where everything is. 

I love my suitcases! In there are some non-essentials. (Extra string, tiny letter stamps, foam stamps- yes I still have them!) and flowers. 

This is my favorite cabinet! I found it at Cozy Cottage in Calgary. The cubbies are the perfect size for 6x6 paper pads, 12x12 paper, acrylic stamps and TH diecuts. 

The rest of my room is a collection of my finished projects, mini albums, and lots of storage for 'my stuff'! 

And then there is my closet (the furnace room). I was upset with my contractors for telling me I needed to have 2 feet around the front and side of the water tank and furnace. It made my room much smaller than I wanted. But in the end I am happy with the hidden storage space it has given me. 

Well, that's it....My Studio! My creative space! The only thing I'm missing is a space to assemble kits. That's going to have to be done at my kitchen table.....I'm going to miss Karen and Cindy when it comes time to assemble! I might have to recruit my niece Chloe to help me :)

Oh how time flies! I can’t believe that it’s been over a year since I officially announced that we were moving to Ontario, where does the time go? It has been such a hectic, stressful, tearful, sad, happy, busy, joyful, exciting year!

The last 10 months have been so incredibly busy! Just moving a family across the country and setting up a new home is enough to consume a lot of time. To add to that we have completely renovated our entire house, from top to bottom!!! (We still have a few unfinished things to complete). We’ve installed a new septic system, had our house dug up along the one side to re-tar it and put in new water drainage pipes. We have created a beautiful 24x30 flagstone patio with a pergola (hand picking the stones from a quarry and laying them ourselves). Attempted to do some landscaping (I say that loosely as we have soooo much more to do!). I’ve travelled to Phoenix for the South Hill Designs annual conference and building my business here, while supporting my ever-growing team of SHD artists. We enjoyed a wonderful week with our very good friends Mel and Lance and 2 fantastic weeks with my Mom, Trevor and my brother Dave. And in there we have also been able to enjoy the company of our family, re-connect with old friends here and bask in the beautiful amenities of where we now call home. And to top it all off, hockey is now in full swing too!

Now I know all of you are wondering “when is this girl going to start designing again?” Well, soon I hope! There are a couple changes that are happening though that I’m excited to tell you about. I will no longer be posting under Scrapbook Central. As the time has passed over the last year, I have realized that Scrapbook Central represents to me over a decade of wonderful memories created in a beautiful store environment, creating and inspiring all of you, hosting retreats and attending trade shows. It’s time to start fresh!  So, with that in mind I am excited to announce that I have created a new blog called Byrd’s Nest Paperie! This blog will be my place to share my creations with you, inspire you with ideas, techniques, feature page kits, and just share what’s happening in my life. My Page Kits and Mini Album kits will be available for purchase through my new Etsy store.

I am so excited to finally be in my studio, unpacked, set up and ready to create (as our basement was the last to be renovated).  I’m thinking with the long lapse in my creativity that it might take me a little bit to get my mojo going. Up until now all I have done is a few cards and thank-you tags for my South Hill Designs business and completed a couple kit projects that I’ve had for years!

I welcome you to follow me on Facebook personally, as Byrd’s Nest Paperie and South Hill Designs by Charlene Byrd and then my Etsy store and new blog. Here are all the links:

Personal Facebook:        https://www.facebook.com/charlene.byrd.31

Byrd’s Nest Paperie Facebook:    https://www.facebook.com/groups/548466948620579/    
        

South Hill Designs Facebook:      https://www.facebook.com/southhilldesigns.charbyrd

My Blog:              http://byrdsnestpaperie.blogspot.ca/

Etsy Store:          https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/ByrdsNestPaperie?ref=search_shop_redirect

Email address:                   jcbyrd2@gmail.com

I’m looking forward to hearing from old friends and making new ones. 

Sincerely,

Charlene