Design Inspiration

Are you looking for a bit of design inspiration heading into The Holidays?  If you haven't seen these beautiful cards created by Linda, stop by the shop today for a first hand look!

Two very different color combinations on these cards... but fantastic effects on both!  Ribbon, jewels, and glitter add so much charm to these festive greetings.  Full instruction sheets on how to make these beauties are available at the shop!

Christmas Fun at The Cottage

Did you know that there are only 31 days until Christmas?  The season is in full swing at The Cottage!  We hope you will stop by to see our wonderful assortment of papers, embellishments, ribbons, and design ideas.  And, if you shop with us today (Friday, 11/23) or tomorrow (Saturday, 11/24), please enjoy 20% your entire purchase.*

Here's a peak at all the fun we had at our Annual Open Christmas House this year:

We have a fantastic variety of Christmas gifts available in addition to our paper and stencil lines.

Susan, Robyn, and Linda

 Fantastic Make-N-Take Opportunities

*Discount excludes consignments, Bejeweled jewelry or Recreate.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Full of Gratitude: Thanksgiving 2012

The sunshine and mild temperatures of this week are forecasting a glorious Thanksgiving Day tomorrow.  We can almost smell the sweet aroma of pumpkin pies baking!  We asked two of our wonderful teachers to share they love about this Holiday... here are their responses:

Jan looks forward to setting a beautiful table each year for Thanksgiving.  This Fall, she decided to switch things up from her traditional decor and incorporate some handcrafted pieces using her die cutting machine as inspiration.  

Don't you just love her paper flower centerpiece and those adorable pumpkin place cards?  Jan is a master at incorporating different textures and products into her designs... like adding buttons to the middle of the napkin rings!

In addition to celebrating with her family, Candice hosts a potluck "Friendsgiving" each year.  This year, 15 people took part in this annual Turkey Day tradition... almost more than could fit around 1 table in the dining room!  She looks forward to sampling all the delicious dishes that everyone brings, as well as catching up with close friends.  In her words, "there is just something magical about gathering everyone around a beautiful table, toasting to the great moments of the year, and sharing what you are grateful for."  This year, she started a scrapbook to document the tradition and looks forward to adding a new page next Thanksgiving!

We spy our paper in the center panel, as well as a Memory Box Snowflake die cut in gold!

Thank you for the inspiration, Jan and Candice!  

Our hearts are overflowing with gratitude this year- we are so appreciative of our dear family and friends, and especially our WONDERFUL CUSTOMERS!  We are grateful for not only your business, but also your caring hearts and inspiring creativity. 

Thank you from all of us at Checkered Cottage.

Teacher Spotlight: Interview with Maggi Zesch

We are starting a new series on the blog with a focus on introducing you to our fabulous teachers. We thought it would be fun to pick their brain about paper crafting, stamping, and life in general! We invite everyone to experience their first class knowledge of crafting, as well as their fabulous personalities, by signing up for a class today!

Teacher Spotlight on Maggi Zesch

When Maggi's crafting took over her kitchen area, her darling husband built a room for her over their garage.  He totally understood the need for her to have a special place where she could escape and get creative.  Plus, it is nice not to have to clean up after every project... just close the door and leave it until later!  Her two grandsons love to go up in "Nana's room" and use all the fun supplies to draw and paint and stamp.

What inspires you?

 Color is probably my greatest inspiration, especially the colors and textures in nature.  Finding new color combinations is a great challenge.

What are some of your "go-to" supplies for crafting?

DIES, DIES DIES...  the more the merrier, and of course the Stardust gel pen.  Just enough bling without being too obvious.

What is your favorite crafting technique?

Using Copic Markers for coloring has been such a fun thing to learn.  You feel like a "real" artist when you complete a project.

How would you describe your crafting style?

Eclectic, I like traditional and also being a little funky.

How long have you been crafting?

Since I was a little girl, I have always had my hands on scissors and paper.  I remember discovering my first hole punch.  Just love the sound and smell of paper, especially when a good pair of scissors cuts through some great paper.

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Santa Barbara, California - a very creative place.

What is your favorite snack to munch on while crafting?

No munching, just a huge Diet Coke.  Of course, I have had to re-do many a project because the cup sweat leaked all over the paper and several times I dumped the entire drink on my work table.

Favorite song of the moment?

Adele, Rolling in the Deep

Are you on Pinterest?

But, of course.  I have a S'mores board with over 100 recipes  who would have thought 3 ingredients could create so many variations.

When you aren't teaching classes at Checkered Cottage, how do you spend your time?

Making cards to sell and for the Card Ministry at my church.  And, my greatest joy is helping home school my 8-yr old grandson.

What do you love most about Checkered Cottage?

 I love the creative atmosphere that the store brings out the moment you walk in! The staff is amazing.  The product selection is so good that you will always leave with a hundred ideas.

Thanks Maggi, we are happy to have you as part of the Checkered Cottage Team! 

Maggi has several fantastic classes coming up in the next several weeks.  Check our class schedule HERE to learn more about these amazing projects: Portfolio with 4 Cards, Six Festive Tags, Ornament Class, and Nativity Class.

    

Click on the name below to read past Teacher Spotlights:

Kathi Anderson, Jan Conway, Candice Meyer, Barb Ogden

Graphic 45 Papercrafting Club

Announcing the Checkered Cottage  

Graphic 45 Papercrafting Club!

Join Jan on the third Saturday morning of the month from 10am-12:30pm and enjoy papercrafting with the Graphic 45 paper line- "A Place in Time."  Here's the scoop on this exciting opportunity:

What will we do at club?

Each month, the club will complete a 2-page 12x12 scrapbook layout and another mini project or two.  Club projects are exclusively for club members and will not be on display in our shop.  Each month, club members will get a sneak peak of the next month's projects.

What is the cost?

Club membership for 2013 requires the purchase in advance of a 12x12 paper pack, an 8x8 paper pack, 3 sticker sheets, and 2 chipboard tag sheets from the "A Place in Time" paper line at a cost of $55.  Any other supplies will be included in the monthly club fee, which will be approximately $14.

How do I sign up?

Club supplies will be ordered on December 1st with your deposit of $10.  Let Jan or Susan know if you are interested by November 30 so we can order your supplies.

When is the first meeting?

The first meeting is January 19, 2013.

Teacher Spotlight: Interview with Barb Ogden

We are starting a new series on the blog with a focus on introducing you to our fabulous teachers. We thought it would be fun to pick their brain about paper crafting, stamping, and life in general! We invite everyone to experience their first class knowledge of crafting, as well as their fabulous personalities, by signing up for a class today!

Teacher Spotlight on Barb Ogden

 

Barb is a native St. Louisan and married to her high school sweetheart.  She has two great kids, Jim and Ginny, and a wonderful son-in-law, Jerry.  Since her husband likes to "antique," her passion for decorative painting and his hobby go hand-in-hand.  Barb is a member of the National Society of Decorative Painters and the local chapter, Gateway Decorative Artists.

What inspires you?

I am inspired by nature and the colors in nature.

What are some of your "go-to" supplies for crafting?

Good paint brushes!

What is your favorite crafting technique?

Here are two favorite painting techniques:

Dry brushing: uses a specific brush that is not moist to apply color in a circular motion, which allows the painter to deepen the color in a specific area.

Floating: a technique that is used to apply color that gives an object shape.

How would you describe your crafting style?

I would call myself a traditionalist.

How long have you been crafting?

I started painting in the Fall of 1978, started teaching in the Fall of 1990, and have been teaching at Checkered Cottage for 13 years.

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be?

I would like to revisit Spain.  My husband and I were married there.

What is your favorite snack to munch on while crafting?

Popcorn.

Favorite song of the moment?

I like classical music playing while I paint.

When you aren't teaching classes at Checkered Cottage, how do you spend your time?

I regularly paint pieces to sell and make samples for classes.

What do you love most about Checkered Cottage?

I love the people I work with and the new classroom area.

Thanks Barb, we are happy to have you as part of the Checkered Cottage Team! 

Barb has several inspiring classes coming up this Holiday Season including a Copic Flying Santa class, Santa and Friends Ornaments, Copic Christmas Penguin, and Rejoice! Rejoice!  To see a picture and description of these fun projects, click on the class schedule HERE.

Click on the name below to read past Teacher Spotlights:

Kathi Anderson, Jan Conway, Candice Meyer

Our teachers have been busy designing these wonderful Make-N-Takes for our 14th Annual Cottage Christmas Open House.  Hope to see you there!

Teacher Spotlight: Interview with Jan Conway

We are starting a new series on the blog with a focus on introducing you to our fabulous teachers. We thought it would be fun to pick their brain about paper crafting, stamping, and life in general! We invite everyone to experience their first class knowledge of crafting, as well as their fabulous personalities, by signing up for a class today!

Teacher Spotlight on Jan Conway

Jan teaches Spanish at Fox High School.  She has been married to Mickey for 37 years.  She is mom to Corey and Claire, mother-in-law to Rachel, Grandma to Nathan, and soon to be Grandma to Lucas (12/17/12).

What inspires you?

 I am inspired by new product.

What are some of your "go-to" supplies for crafting?

I love paper, die-cut machines, and stamps.  I also like to use unconventional items in my projects.  One example of such a product is roof flashing!

What is your favorite crafting technique?

I love finding new ways to add texture and dimension to projects.

How would you describe your crafting style?

Simple, fun, and whimsical.

How long have you been crafting?

I started sewing in Sister Lucienne's Home Economics class at Notre Dame High School in 1968.  Unfortunately, she called my project abominable and made me rip it apart and start over because she didn't like the way I put in the zipper.

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Any beach, but my favorite is La Costa Brava in Spain on the Mediterranean Sea.

What is your favorite snack to munch on while crafting?

I try not to munch, but when I do, it is usually chocolate.

Favorite song of the moment?

International Love by Pitbull

When you aren't teaching classes at Checkered Cottage, how do you spend your time?

I teach Spanish at Fox High School, spend time with my family, drink wine, and work out.

What do you love most about Checkered Cottage?

No doubt, my favorite thing about the Cottage is the people, whether it be the employees or the customers- love them all!

Thanks Jan, we are happy to have you as part of the Checkered Cottage Team! 

You can get a first hand look at Jan's beautiful crafting style this Friday at the Cottage's 14th Annual Christmas Open House.  She is hosting a make-n-take while supplies last starting at 6pm!

Click on the name below to read past Teacher Spotlights:

Kathi Anderson and Candice Meyer