Two weeks ago, my friend and I went to Buffalo for the CKC Convention. Aside from taking a lot of photos of the layouts in the Studio Calico booth, I totally forgot to take pictures. Mary and I both took three classes. All of hers were card-making classes (and she loved them). I took one scrapbook class with Technique Tuesday and made two 2-page layouts using papers designed by Ali Edwards. I love both layouts, but haven’t chosen the photos for them yet.
They use a color combination I love and I liked the papers so much I bought a pack of them, even though I had a few left from the class. The class moved right along, but it wasn’t had to keep up.
The next class I took was a copic airbrushing class. I have a small airbrush set-up using the air cans, but I’ve always been a bit afraid to give it a try. We used the expensive air compressors in the class, but they demonstrated the can set-up so I’m sure I’ll not have any trouble with it. The class was taught by instructors from Clear and Simple Stamps and we made three cards while practicing the airbrushing techniques.
For the card on the left, we airbrushed over a doily and then lifted it up to create the background. For the middle card, we airbrushed the ribbon tags, and for the last card we airbrushed with a glitter pen. Here’s a close-up of that.
The last class I took was called Terrific Trends by Studio Calico, and it focused primarily on using the Mr. Huey mists. We created a title for a layout by putting down letter stickers, misting and then removing the letters. I liked the technique, but the papers and embellishments they used for the layout did not fit the photos I had taken, (This is frequently the case, and I’ve learned over time, to simply take the papers home with me so I can create a layout of my own.) Here’s the layout I finished this morning.
Matt’s ADD has always made it hard for him to read without taking his medication. He did really well in college, but when he’s working he needs the meds in order to focus on the job. One of the side effects of the medication is being unable to sleep, so he hesitates to use any after noontime. Thus the amount of reading he’s done since he graduated has been limited to newspapers and crossword puzzles. When we were in Denver we went to one of my favorite independent bookstores, The Tattered Cover. While we were browsing, Matt picked up this book, started to read, and started to chuckle. We bought the book and in just a day he had read nearly a third of it. It was too big a moment not to capture!
I used a Papertrey Ink die and some stamps from All Booked Up, a Jolee sticker and button from my stash, and some patterned papers I picked up at the convention from Simple Stories called Elementary.
In both the Copic Airbrushing class as well as Terrific Trends, we got a chance to color some embellishments. The ones on the left were airbrushed with Copic markers and the Wood Veneer stars from Studio Calico were sprayed with Mr. Huey mists. I know I’ll find a great use for all of them before long.
All in all, it was a great convention. The vendor faire was a bit better this year and I got some lovely embellishment at the Melissa Francis booth, and picked up a few papers that were on my wish list. Another benefit of the classes is I came home with three new stamp sets as well as quite a few papers and embellishments from both Technique Tuesday and Studio Calico.
Certainly sounds like the convention was fun and you’ve got some great creations here to show for it.
I actually vended for Top Line Creations at CKC Buffalo once – that Convention Center is in a scaaaary neighborhood! I haven’t been to CKC Valley Forge in ages. Won’t be able to afford it this year… maybe next year? It’s usually here in July.
The area must have cleaned up quite a bit, as it doesn’t seem to be too bad right now. I’ve never been uncomfortable in the parking lot or walking to the convention center.
I’m always in awe when I see people make layouts that photos need adding to later….I find that so impossible….my photos are always the starting point.
Would love to have a go with a Copic airbrush….they are sooooo expensive over here….but look great fun.
I feel quite similarly to Jacky, I do usually start with my photo even if the story is what I want to record more than having the photo to match. It looks as though you learnt some very handy techniques and the photo and layout of Matt is just wonderful!
I almost always start with the photos, too, but I think I’ll eventually find some that will work with these layouts. It will just take some time. They gave us the dimensions for the photos which will help when the time comes.
I love the two layouts, and I actually find it very easy to fill in with pictures. What a great layout you made about matt, too.
Rinda
That sounds like a cool convention, Karen. I wish we had some of those here. The cards and layout you made are beautiful. You seem to be addicted to kraft like me at the moment, lol. Ooh and copic airbrushing – that sounds so cool. Excited to see what you make!
That was certainly a wonderful moment to record on a page.
It must be lovely to attend something like this and get the chance to learn new techniques. It sounds like a lot of fun
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