New Winter Tags

Hey Everyone!
Are you ready for the holidays? I have been busy getting the house ready for Christmas and I can't believe it's only a week away!
I was determined to create some holiday tags and they are finally finished. I used mostly what I had in my stash and a couple of finds from Michaels. They had little packs of snowflake and deer chipboard shapes for 1.00. I believe you get 10 of each shape in the packs.
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I covered the shapes in silver glitter glass and sprayed them with Perfect Pearls Heirloom Gold spray to antique the glitter. The color combo is a little different from the traditional colors of Christmas and I think it worked great. I used Songbird papers from Prima, along with crystal swirls, Poinsettias, Splendor leaves, North Country stamps and Au Naturale flowers.  

I colored the leaves with Lettuce Adirondack colorwash by Ranger. I also colored some of the seam binding with Ranger Tattered Rose Distress stain and the doilies were colored with Antique Linen Distress stain. Cover six manila tags with coordinating papers from the Songbird line. Then add strips of the papers along the bottom of the tags or make your own banners and use punches with the scraps of paper. Here I used my scallop circle punch by Marvy. I added an Au Naturale flower to the center and then topped it with a glittered snowflake and crystal center.

I covered the deer chipboard shape I found at Michaels with Wendy Addison Emporium glass glitter. I found jars of it at Tinsel Trading Company in New York. They have a wonderful color selection for all kinds of projects. Then I mixed in peachy/pink colored Poinsettias from Prima with crystal swirls and a little stamped sentiment from the North Country stamps.

I used one of my colored doilies on the background and wrapped some seam binding around the tag with a bow on the side. I added a chipboard snowflake to the center of the Au Naturale flower and finished it with a Jenni Bowlin button. I also stuck some pretty stick pins in some of the tags-love the look!

This tag also has a doilie in the background but I placed it off to the side and added my seam binding around the tag. Then I also added an Au Naturale flower with a poinsettia and snowflake to the center. I added twine to my bow with a Genie stone and smaller holly leaves tucked in around the larger ones. 

This tag is pretty straight forward. I wrapped the seam binding around the tag, punched a circle and added different sized snowflakes to the center with a poinsettia. Then finished it with leaves, pins and a little holiday sentiment.

I created banner from a scrap piece of paper and adhered it to the background. Then I wrapped a doilie around the center of the tag, added a flower with a snowflake, poinsettias, leaves and pins with a little sentiment stamped on a tag. Finish it off with some crystal swirls and it's done! 

Hope you like the tags! And I want to say-Thanks Kristina for reminding me that I needed to post these :)

Here is a list of everything I used in case you want to create some of your own...

Ranger Colorwash-Lettuce

Distress Stains-Antique Linen, Tattered Rose

Walnut Distress Ink by Ranger

Perfect Pearls Heirloom Gold Spray

Prima Poinsettias-here

Prima Splendor Leaves-White

Prima Songbird Collection-Collage, Title It, Sunrise

Prima Au Naturale Flowers

Prima Tea Thyme Swirls

North Country Cling Stamps

Prima Genie Stones

Say It In Crystal 18pc

Snowflake and Deer Chipboard Shapes-Michaels

Holly Leaves-Michaels-Recollections

Doilies-Michaels

Decorative Pins

Seam Binding-Camel Hair

Twine

Manila Tags

German Glass Glitter-Wendy Addison-Silver

Tag Punch-EK Success

Circle Scallop Punch-Marvy (pink)

Winter Wishes Album and Video

Hey Friends!
I had a Live with Prima class last week and I made a holiday album using all kinds of goodies with techniques, ideas, etc...I didn't have enough time to finish the album during the show, so I got to work and finished it over the weekend. I love how it turned out and I have a Christmas present finished! I hope to make a couple more before I run out of time...

Also-I am attending a couple of classes at Buffalo Stamps and Stuff this weekend with the fabulous Dyan Reavely! She is an amazing Mixed Media artist and creator of the Dylusions Art Sprays with Ranger. I am so excited to be taking classes with her. I am going with one of my besties-Sherry Czarnecki, who is truly my partner in crime and we are long overdue for some girl time. Here is the information on the classes in case you are interested in attending....go to this link and scroll all the way down: Dyan's Classes

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So after the show, I made some adjustments to the book and embellished some more. I cut out some deer images from the paper, used more of the canvas resist and journal spots within the clusters. It's hard not to keep going and add more! But the idea is to use what you have, gather embellies and tuck them in wherever you like to add interest to your pages.

Here are the results and I included photos from front to back....
During the show-I had originally added the deer to the right side of the cover page, but then decided I wanted to add it to the cluster. Either way-I think it would look great, so it's just a personal preference.

I also used some Zephyr alphas for the title. I plane to use the tiny type alpha once my photos are added for dates, names and maybe little phrases. I left out the photos so you can see the pages more clearly.
Then I added a little piece of scrap lace along the bottom.

This shows the back of the cover and first page. I cut out the scalloped image from the paper in the pad and added it to the paper strip with border punch. I also tucked in a couple of snowflakes from the resist canvas pack. I colored with distress stain and dabbed them with paper towel so the color is softer.

 The Tim Holtz Ornamental die will be the perfect backdrop for my photos and I used this die cut throughout the album for a consistent look. I also added a bit of the gold paint around the edges and it really made them POP!

 I added a couple of tags to my pocket page for extra journaling or small photos. Pocket pages make me happy and I love adding them throughout my books! I cut out the deer and added him to the flowers...and on the opposite page is a resist canvas deer colored with Walnut Stain Distress Ink.

This is the last page and back cover of the album, with the stamped border. I added an image from the papers and used it as a flower center...

This album will be a gift for my Mom for the holidays...I plan to do my own photo shoot of the boys and add them to the pages. Of course, they will give me a hard time as always but if it's for Grandma, then they may not be as stubborn-LOL!

This is the product list for the project:

Prima Products:

843700-North Country 8x8 Pad

843281-Forest Notes-North Country

543136-Holiday Celebration Poinsettia

537111-Build A Book Brown

541835-Acrylic Stamp-Paintable

529567-White Flower Pillar Pack

553609-Splendor White

559175-Zephyr Alphabet

551483-SIIC

552473-North Country Avon Roses

550127-North Country Alphabet

549367-Candy Gems

551605-North Country Resist Canvas

Extra Materials:

Teal Crushed Ribbon-May Arts

Gold Paint

Paint Brush

Cuttlebug

Tim Holtz Ornamental Die

Hole Punch

Trimmer

Scissors

Fabri Tac

Lace-cream or tan

Distress Stains-Peeled Paint, Fire Brick, Broken China

Here is the show and you can see the techniques and ideas I came up with to get you started on your own book! Thanks for stopping by and I will be back soon with some more holiday projects I came up with....



Video streaming by Ustream

Where have I been?

Hey Friends!
Sorry it has been so long since I have blogged. Things have been a bit hectic in the Fennell household. And I have been getting ready to teach the next couple of weekends coming up too. And last week, I had a Live with Prima show featuring a tag set I had made for CHA summer. Baseball season wrapped up last weekend, with me working in the JD snack shack...thank goodness I know how to operate a grill and I sold many Skittles-LOL! And I think I am finally turning the corner with this cold. It seems to be lingering, making life a lot harder than it needed to be. Dare I say, it could have been the flu...I don't know. There seems to be a lot of sickness going around and I have paid my dues at this point.

So, I just wanted to post about my upcoming classes and let you know where, what, when and then some....
Oh and post about my LWP class last week....

Here are the tags I made on the show using Prima's Rondelle collection, flowers and more. I love making tags because they are quick, easy and fun. Sometimes it's nice to take a break from some of the bigger, more involved projects. And they can be just the thing I need to spark my creativity from time to time.

If you want to see the video on how I made these, then take a look right here:

Video streaming by Ustream .............................................................................


This weekend, I will be teaching four classes in Danbury Connecticut. It is actually on the border of New York, down state. I will be teaching at a crop for Lasting Memories. You can email or call them to reserve a spot. There are only a few seats left!
October 12th and 13th
Where: Danbury Crown Plaza, in Danbury Ct.
Contact: The email address is lastingm@optonline.net

Phone 914-403-1612.

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Then i am headed to Cornwall Ontario, to teach four classes at Auntie Em's Scrapbooking and Beads. I think two of the classes are sold out, but don't quote me on that! 

October 19th-21st

Call the shop and see what spaces they have available. 

Auntie Em's Scrapbooking and Beads: call 613-938-4888 

Go here for more information!

Here are some updated pics of the projects being made:

Thanks for stopping by! I hope to be posting on here more often after the dust settles from the classes...I am taking a break from teaching after this and hopefully I will have more time to create some projects I have had on the back burner for a while now. Have a great week everyone xoxo

Prima Classes in Connecticut!

Hey friends! 

How do you like the new look of my blog? The very talented, Drew Scott designed it for me and I am over the moon ecstatic about it! He did such an amazing job and I am so impressed by his talents! Thanks Drew for all your hard work and patience with me-I appreciate it so much! If you are interested in having him revamp your blog, go here for more information: Scrappy Happiness 

New classes! 

I am teaching for Lasting Memories in Danbury CT, at their crop on the weekend of October 12th-14th. Julie has been so amazing to work with and we have compiled a great list of classes for her attendees. Here are the details and I hope that some of my friends down state will join me for this fun weekend of Prima goodness! 

Classes are being held at the Danbury Crown Plaza in Danbury CT. 

October 12th -14th

Contact information for class inquiries: 

Email: lastingm@optonline.net  

Phone: 914-403-1612 

Space is limited and they are taking sign ups now!

Each class kit is packed full of Prima goodness, including brand new CHA products! I just love these projects and I know we will have so much fun creating throughout the weekend. Every project includes multiple techniques and ideas, that you are going to love. 

 Tea Thyme layout class-Friday, October 12th at 7:30pm

This beautiful paper line has a soft color palette with vintage images and old fashioned flower patterns that are perfect for heritage, wedding, baby or family photos. In this class, we will create two layouts using various embellishments such as flowers, crystals and die cuts to design the perfect backdrop for our special photos.

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Flower Pot Mini Album-Saturday, October 13th at 9:30am

This project is a one of kind mini album, bursting with color, flowers and unique design elements that you are going to love! We will color canvas, create our own pages inside and add fun details throughout each page. This project will also look great displayed in your home.

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Craftsman Layout Class-Saturday, October 13th at 2:00pm

This class is brimming with masculine appeal! We will create our layouts using the Craftsman collection by Prima along with vintage style findings, wood elements and more. We will also use a masking technique with gesso to add texture and a dimensional touch to our backgrounds. And these layouts don’t have to be just for the guys! They would also work well for themes such as New Home, Remodel or Heritage, just to name a few.

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Little House Mini Book-Saturday, October 13th at 4:30pm

Let’s take something ordinary and make it extraordinary! In this class, we will create a sweet little book made from canvas shapes, packaging, and a variety of gorgeous embellishments by Prima. We will work with Faber Castell’s gelatos on this project and I will teach you a variety of techniques using these amazing little sticks of color, throughout the class.

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So there you have it!! Four cool classes in one great place! Oh and did I mention prizes? Yes-there will be prizes...Prima prizes! Yay!

You are welcome to email me if you have any questions: cari@primamarketinginc.com

Have a great weekend everyone!

More on Internationally Inspired and Brazil!!!

Hi friends!
I just got home from a week at CHA and what a week it was! I love seeing all of my friends and co-workers from Prima...since I am not in the office everyday (I work from my home in CNY), I really look forward to spending time with all of them at the shows. I also love seeing my friends from around the world, that visit the shows-it always feels like a reunion. That makes me happy!

There were four of us from Internationally Inspired at the show-Anna, Donna and Nat plus myself....we were buzzing at how exciting it was to finally launch the video classes! And like I said before, I am humbled to be in the midst of such talented artists in this new venture. Thank you Donna for including me! The video classes were launched right when I left for CHA, so I felt that I needed to talk about it some more when I got home.

So here are the details and links regarding these video classes...
1. You get 5 video classes for one price-$65.00. Internationally Inspired Workshops here!
2. Each video is 1.5-2 hours long with techniques, ideas and creative ways to use products that you can recreate or interpret on your own.
3. Once you purchase the classes, you can download them to your computer to have forever! Or have access to them for 6 months online.
4. You have email access to all of the instructors incase you have questions regarding their videos and projects. Plus, Donna has posted information to help anyone with information on how you can access the classes, technical difficulties, and more--so tons of support regarding the event!! Q&A regarding the classes here
5. There are kits available! Donna has the kits for sale and the individual products if you want to create a book of your own! And right now-it's on sale: Internationally Inspired Kits here!



Here is the cover of the book that I created just for this event....and I have to say-it is one of my favorite projects to date! I loved getting messy, inky, painty and artsy....so FUN and I am so excited to share it with YOU! Plus-I have seen what the other girls did in their books--WOW! You will not be disappointed...I promise!

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BRAZIL-here I come! 

Sharon and I are traveling to Brazil, in August, to teach Prima classes! We created projects just for this tour (never before seen) with several creative concepts and the kits are packed with Prima goodness.. 

We met up with Tarcisio at CHA to hand over our samples and kits-so they are on their way to Brazil! I can not wait to meet everyone there and to share my ideas with all of the class attendees...we will have so much fun! Here are a couple of close-ups of what's to come!

Sorry for such a long post but I have so much to share with everyone....I will be back soon with more class announcements and projects I have created recently. I am heading down state to teach in September and then up north, back to Cornwall in October. I will post more details on that soon--very soon!

Have a great weekend everyone!

xoxo Cari

Internationally Inspired!

Hey friends! 

Well, the day has finally come and I can shout this out to the world! I have been keeping it a secret for so long and it was really really hard not to share...or hint...or anything! I was so excited (and honored) to be asked to participate in this online class adventure. Then terror soon set in....I am with an amazingly talented group of girls and I wasn't sure how I would measure up. Seriously. But this is exactly what I needed and it pushed me beyond my comfort zone and a new path to creativity was born. I am so happy with the end results and this project has to be one of my very favorites to date....it was truly FUN to create.

Please read on to see what inspired Donna to start this dynamic adventure and get some of the details on what's to come....

One of the questions I get asked most often is, “where is the best place that you have travelled to?” My answer is always the same…regardless of where in the world I am, it is the people and the relationships made that make a life long impact on me. That said, I have been blessed enough to travel the globe, meet and build relationships with other creatives like myself, see and experience cultures and be present as the common threads tied so many of these experiences together because no matter the native tongue of each country we all communicate our passion through ART.

Each country I have visited and culture brings a new and intrinsically unique spin on the creative process, impacting on not only design style but the availability of product. In the United States we are often spoiled by the immediacy in which we can acquire creative mediums and products, while other cultures are often, out of necessity, stretching their creativity by finding new inventive ways to use the products that they do have. Because I have been fortunate enough to create with and be introduced to so many amazingly talented people through my 10 years of travel, I wanted to bring these artists and a bit of their culture to a more global venue and I cannot think of anything more global than the internet.

I have asked 4 very talented artists to accompany me in this first workshop in the series. I shipped each artist a big box of my products and asked them to video record their creative process. For some this was their first time in front of the camera, for others it was old hat…their only instruction was that they had to use some part of every product in the box. With no limitations on their creative styles, additional products or finished result, the results were authentically beautifully representing each artist and showcasing their stylistic niches. I watched each artist create absolutely in awe of their creative process and how each artist transformed my products.

I have no doubt that you too will be just as blown away as I was watching them create.

this will be an experience like non other...as the world becomes just that much smaller and the talents from around the globe share with you their unique ideas as they each assemble dynamic mixed-media books step-by-step right in your own home.

each artist's video is approximately 1.5-2 hours in length and details their process from start to finish, allowing you to watch all the way through, create along side her or interpret her ideas in your own style.

registration opens JULY 15, 2012

and will be offered at an incredible price

$65

{5 workshops for the price of 1... incredible right!!!}

I am honored to introduce you to the artists in my new online workshop series Internationally INSPIRED.

anna dabrowska

warsaw, POLAND

cari fennell

new york, USA

nathalie kalbach

hamburg, GERMANY

birgit koopsen

winsum, THE NETHERLANDS

donna downey

north carolina, USA

Latest happenings.....

Hi friends!
I have some exciting news to share, plus projects from my latest LWP show! It's been such a busy month with school ending, baseball, creating new projects, tours planned and of course lots of work with CHA coming up just around the corner. So I wanted to let you know what I've been up to:

Bryan's little league team finished the season in first place and now they are in the playoffs with one more game left! It's been so exciting to watch the games and they have played like champs all season. I am so happy for him and his team! Let's hope Wednesday night brings the final win in the playoffs...

Jack finished his last final yesterday, bringing his freshman year to an end. He worked so hard all year long, including many days staying after school for study sessions and late nights working on papers, projects, etc...I am very proud of him and how hard he worked this year :)

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And now for some scrappy news....Prima has a new Education team!

We have a brand new Education team at Prima and I am so fortunate to be on this team with some amazingly talented girls! Today is the announcement on the Prima blog, so check it out when you have the chance. This year- the team is going to be creating videos, sharing some amazing projects and you will see some of these talented girls on Live with Prima in the months to come.....

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Sweet Card Set on Live with Prima with yours truly.....

This was such a fun class to teach and I just love Prima's Songbird collection-it's a great line to create cards with. I stamped, layered and embellished to my hearts content....

I also created two more cards after the show had aired. I demonstrated how to cut the base of the cards, but did not get the chance to finish them on the show....so here they are!

To create the little card base, I used a piece of the Songbird paper, my Cuttlebug and a Tim Holtz Sizzix die (Ornamental). I folded the piece in half and ran it through my machine with the fold inside the die. Tie a piece of twine around the card and create a faux ribbon with a strip of paper, notched at the ends. Then tie a piece of ribbon around the twine and decorate!

This card flips at the top, instead of the side (like the card above), with a piece of ribbon tied around the front. Add a stamped label over the ribbon and embellish! These little cards were so fun to create and this is a great idea for using leftover paper pieces......

These are the four cards I made on Live with Prima. If you would like to see how they were created, just grab a cup of coffee and watch the recording here! And be on the lookout for an exciting show schedule coming up in July! (There may be some new CHA sneak peeks....;)

I will be back shortly with some tour news! I am headed to Brazil in August and I can't wait to share more details on that....
Thanks for stopping by!
xoxo Cari

Ranger Tags!

Hey friends! 

I have more tags to share using Ranger art mediums, Tim Holtz products and of course-Prima! I was thrilled when Patti from Ranger emailed and asked me to create some projects for the Ranger booth for Winter CHA...swoon! So I thought I would share some of the tags here with you....

Not all of the projects made the cut, but they are still some of my favorites just the same...And i figured i had better blog about them before i forget how i made them :)

This first tag-I added a few layers of images for the background. I stamped the flourish a couple times using a Prima stamps and espresso paint. Then I brushed some Studio gesso over the background and stamped a bunch of little flowers using Aqua, Mountain Rose and Red Pepper acrylics. I just kept stamping the little flowers until I was happy! I applied gold acrylic paint that I washed out with some water over the entire background. Then I colored some seam binding with Distress Stains-Broken china and Crushed Olive. I added a Ranger metal frame with tissue tape inside and embellished with Gold Prima flowers. The Prima resin bird was colored with alcohol inks and coated with Rock Candy Distress crackle...

For this tag-I applied a few colors of acrylic paint-again added water to my brush and basically watercolored with Lettuce, Mountain Rose and Terra Cotta. Then I placed the Prima mask over the tag and sprayed with Espresso colorwash and added a sprtiz of water to it with the mask still on the tag so the color wasn't so dark. I cut out little clouds from book paper and colored them with Antique Linen Distress Stain. I embellished with

 Prima lace at the bottom and colored seam binding with crushed olive Distress Stain. Then added one of Tim's keys to the bow..This tag didnt make the cut, but I just love it!

 For this tag-I dry brushed a variety of Adirondack acrylics to the tag-Lettuce, Mountain Rose and Red Pepper. Then I added Silver to the center-again-dry brushing the paint onto the tag. I added a Prima Antique mirror with Aire Flowers and colored the Prima bird with Lettuce Colorwash. The Tim Holtz bookplate is painted with Mountain Rose. Then I applied Red Pepper over it and wiped of the excess, leaving the color in the crevices....one of Tim's tickets was added to the inside of the bookplate-it was colored with crushed olive Distress Stain. Then to finish it off-I added a knob to the top of the tag.

The background of this tag has many layers: First I colored it with a variety of color-washes and then added gesso over it. I used a Prima stamp with Aged Mahogany in areas, for a textured look on the background. I embellished with a Prima felt Devine and lace. Then I painted white eline flowers with Mountain Rose and Terra Cotta paints. I also painted the metal flower centers by Tim and added Prima crystals to create one of a kind flowers. 

The tags are a mix of Ranger manila and standard shipping tags. The Ranger tags are larger and give you more surface to work with. They also have Kraft and Black-very cool!

Thanks for stopping by and i hope this post inspired you to create some fabulous tags of your own!  Have a great day everyone!

xoxo Cari