1. I did indeed join the editorial advisory board for Legacy Magazine (soon to be Somerset Memories). I just love what they do. Thanks for the congrats.
2. I am trying to get caught up with my emails (so, if I owe you one, expect it today).
3. Yes, I will be designing a new class kit using my CHA Winter release. In fact, my goal is to design two - one that should be ready April 1st (I've already designed the projects for this one and think their pretty dang cool, if I do say so myself) and another that should be ready in May or June.
4. I haven't shared the digital editing process of my photos on my blog because I really feel like I stink at photo editing and have a ton to learn (and so I don't want to steer anyone in the wrong direction). That said (don't say I didn't warn you), I usually just use a few actions from ittybittyactions (I'm still learning the whole process of "actions", but basically, they are a set of steps that you take to edit your photos - all you do is download the actions, open your photo and then press the "play" button in the actions section of your photo editing program and it does the editing for you). Sometimes I still decide to do a little bit with "levels" after the actions (in Photoshop: select "image", "adjustments" and "levels" - there are much more advanced ways of doing this that I haven't mastered). I also end up doing this little photo sharpening trick on a lot of my photos when I want the eyes to be sharper (this may not make sense, but once I have the sharpened "layer", I usually erase the entire layer with the eraser tool, except for the eyes). That's about all I do (because that's about all I know how to do)!
5. I'm planning on updating my class schedule here soon. Just waiting to firm up a few more dates and then I've got lots of great stuff to add (it's in the right hand column of my blog). Lot's of classes coming up in the next two weekends (all in Oregon). I think the closest I will be to Portland in the next few weeks is St. Helens (about 25 miles north of Portland) at Small Town Memories (used to be my hometown store and I LOVE going back there).
6. The Honeydew and Wildberry collections from my CHA Winter release are due to start shipping in March and the Antique Cream collection is due to start shipping in April.
7. CHA was a super-quick trip for me - hardly even got any time to see anything, but the highlights of my trip were finally meeting Maria Grace and some of the cool new stuff from Fancy Pants, Maya Road and Delish Designs.
8. Also wanted to share this antique window frame I worked on a couple months back. I worked on it as a sample project for my Scrapbooking Outside the Box class and now it's hanging on my living room wall. I picked up the window at an antique store. I liked that it was old and that the paint was peeling, so I didn’t do anything to the window other than clean the glass. I printed my photos to 8x12’s and 4x6’s (at Scrapbookpicture.com) and sprayed a light mist of spray adhesive directly to the photo and then attached it to the back side of the glass. The spray adhesive didn’t work as well as I had hoped, so to keep the photos in place, I also used mini glue dots hidden in places where you couldn't see them (under embellishments and rub-ons). I decorated the glass with rub-ons (rub-ons don’t seem to go onto glass very easily and some brands won’t go on at all - Basic Grey and Autumn Leaves rub-ons went on the easiest). I also attached buttons, metal bookplates, decorative tape and photo corners to the glass. The letter “F” is a Making Memories chipboard letter that I decorated with patterned paper and rub-ons to signify the word “Family”. I attached patterned paper to the frame using Matte Medium (which you can find at most craft stores - it's the same thing as Modge Podge). I sanded the paper a bit and then applied a thin layer of cream colored acrylic paint over the top of it. I found the ornate wooden scrolls and corners at a home improvement store (Lowe’s).
9. And my best friend Jill made this really cool window (she got the idea from Rebecca Sower).
Karen -- I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your window. I may be my favorite thing that you've done to date. Thanks for sharing!
Becky :)
Posted by: Becky | February 02, 2007 at 07:46 AM
congrats on the magazine...that is just stinkin' awesome!! Good for you!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE your window idea....yours turned out absolutely gorgeous (of course!!) what a beautiful piece of art girlie! Have a great day!!! :) T
Posted by: Tanya Webster | February 02, 2007 at 08:14 AM
Hey Karen...I'm so GLAD you are coming to Scrap Book Attack in May...FYI it's IN Portland...Your #5 entry said the nearest to Portland you would be is St. Helens...Can't wait to take one of your classes at Scrap Book Attack...it's a GREAT store!!! ~ Kathy
Posted by: Kathy C. | February 02, 2007 at 08:53 AM
Oh, I'm drooling over that window. I'm really excited in the next year or so, my grandparents are moving out of their really old farmhouse and there is an 18 or 24 paned window that they are leaving for me when the house gets demolished. She already dibbed it out when I told her I'm in love with old windows. Isn't that grand? Thanks for sharing yours, it looks so peaceful, must be those great photos and the blue walls.
Posted by: Tiffany | February 02, 2007 at 09:03 AM
Oh, I'm drooling over that window. I'm really excited in the next year or so, my grandparents are moving out of their really old farmhouse and there is an 18 or 24 paned window that they are leaving for me when the house gets demolished. She already dibbed it out when I told her I'm in love with old windows. Isn't that grand? Thanks for sharing yours, it looks so peaceful, must be those great photos and the blue walls.
Posted by: Tiffany | February 02, 2007 at 09:04 AM
Love that window...it looks great against the pale blue wall. Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Melissa Villalobos | February 02, 2007 at 10:11 AM
wow. that window is amazing! And congrats on legacy! :) That is just awesome!! :) I will love seeing more of you in there!!
Posted by: courtney | February 02, 2007 at 11:39 AM
your window is impressive!
Posted by: christinew | February 02, 2007 at 01:53 PM
I have seen this personally..........pretty AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Misti | February 02, 2007 at 03:05 PM
Yay! Congrats on Legacy. I have a few things published and I've written an article . . . great bunch of people and what a perfect fit. I'm so excited for you. Yay!
Posted by: Cheryl | February 02, 2007 at 03:50 PM
Beautiful window!
Posted by: Joanna | February 02, 2007 at 04:29 PM
this is reminding me to go and pick one of these up I have at a friends house!
this is gorgeous!
as always, you do some fantastic work ms Russell!
Posted by: Elizabeth b | February 02, 2007 at 05:46 PM
Karen, Thanks for posting about the photo editing. Unfortunately I only have ps elements, but this looks really cool. I also LOVE your window. Your stuff is so inspiring!
Posted by: Ashley Schultz | February 03, 2007 at 10:01 AM
OH! wow! love that project what a beautiful creation!!!
Bety.
Posted by: iralamija | February 03, 2007 at 11:22 AM
Hey Girl, totally love the window and your take on it. I am going to have to check out the actions. I am getting CS2 next week, an upgrade from PS6 :) Really excited about playing with it!
YIPEE for us 2 new classes!!
Posted by: Brooke | February 03, 2007 at 11:47 AM
Hey Karen!
Just catching up on your blog and wanted to say Hi! It's been a long time! I loved all your CHA winter releases and just wish I could have been there to see them in person! Can't believe that Annie has gotten so big! Where does the time go?!?! Anyway, just wanted to send you a quick hello!
Take Care...Beth
Posted by: Beth Hooper | February 04, 2007 at 07:49 AM
Congrats you your new role with Legacy! Sounds exciting! Love the new project. :)
Posted by: Diane DiTullio | February 04, 2007 at 02:01 PM
Hey Karen...so glad to hear about your joining the team at Somerset Memories! woo-hoo. Say, before you left for CHA you displayed some of your make and takes. I asked if you would offer them as kits. I was wondering if you had given anymore thought to that? thanks....cb
Posted by: Carolynn Blair | February 05, 2007 at 02:36 AM
I can't wait to see your new classes you come up with?
Posted by: Carrie Beaird | February 05, 2007 at 08:22 AM
great window!! I've made several of these in the past years and still treasure them!
Posted by: teresa mcfayden | February 05, 2007 at 09:31 AM
Love, love, love this project! So cool! I've had a couple old windows in the shed for a little while now with the idea to do something like this (got them for free on the side of the road!). Now I'm totally inspired!
Congratulations on the Legacy job! Very cool!
Posted by: Michelle Gauthier | February 06, 2007 at 06:16 AM
Chance to read your blog, I really like your blog, let me learn a lot! I will focus on your blog, refuels!
Posted by: Jordan Flipsyde | July 07, 2010 at 01:18 AM