Top 10 Reasons to take classes at Michaels

TOP TEN REASONS TO TAKE CLASSES AT MICHAELS 

1. There are four components to paper craft classes at Michaels - lots to choose from: Spotted Canary School (includes 4 2hr sessions for $25), Martha Stewart Crafts Studio™ Classes, Michaels $5 Crop, and paper-ED™ classes. 
2. paper-ED™ is a series of exclusive paper craft classes at Michaels that you can’t find anywhere else. 
3. No matter which class you take, you leave with completed projects and new skills and techniques to apply on all your other paper crafting projects. 
4. Every customer who registers gets a class syllabus with a 10% off ERPP coupon! 
5. paper-ED™ class projects include page layouts, cards, paper parties and home décor items. 
6. It’s easy to sign up for a class! Registration forms and the syllabus are located at the cash register in our Scrapbooking Binder; just tell the cashier what class you want to take and she/he will do the rest!
7. Students are not required to purchase the exact papers or embellishments featured in the syllabus - we want them to express their style. You are not required to purchase anything at all – feel free to bring your tools and supplies from home! 
8. Our instructors are all Certified Scrapbook Instructors (CSIs). 
9. Associates can take classes for free as long as someone signs up! Just bring or buy your own supplies, invite and tell people about the classes. 
10. It’s FUN!

CLASSES WE OFFER

• Altered Canvas
• Card Tricks
• Card Tricks in a Flash
• Classic Holiday Card Tricks  (New for September 2012)
• Card Tricks Punched
• Countdown to the Holidays
• Cricut Card Tricks: A Quilted Christmas (New for September 2012)
• Cricut Card Tricks: Sophisticated
• Cricut E2 Test Drive
• Cricut Expression Test Drive
• Cricut Expression Test Drive Handout
• Cricut Off the Page: A Quilted Christmas  (New for September 2012)
• Martha Stewart – Crafter's Clay Techniques
• Martha Stewart – Glittering Techniques
• Martha Stewart – Punch around the Page
• Flower WOW!
• Paper Bag Mini Album
• Paper Crafted Gift Frame
• Paper Crowns
• Paper Party: Happy Birthday America
• Pink Party
• Sketched Out
• Sketched Out 2
• Sizzix Test Drive
• Smashed: A Class for SMASH
• Texture WOW
• tINKer Time: Distress and Shimmer
• Very Merry Card Tricks  (New for September 2012)
• Vintage Holiday Card Tricks  (New for September 2012)

If you don't see one of these classes on our current schedule, feel free to request a class. We are always happy to try to meet your needs.

A Dose of Inspiration

This morning my husband woke me up early so we could take our daughter's cat to the vet to get neutered. The cat was scared to death in the vet - first time he had gone anywhere outside of our house since we first got him as a small kitten. I remember feeling that way when I first started making scrapbook pages and cards... I was afraid to cut my paper for fear that I would make something not so great. When I got home, I read a post on the paper-ED Instructor Resource Group on Facebook that really inspired me and I wanted to share it with you. The post was made by a fellow Michael's instructor - Denise S. Kavakli. She wrote:

This is a quote by Ira Glass that was posted on a blog that I follow. He's talking about writing but it really applies to crafting too. It's an idea I'm going to be sharing with my students when they are disappointed with their craft (it's a long one but I think it's worth it):
“What nobody tells people who are beginners — and I really wish someone had told this to me . . . is that all of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, and it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not.

But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you. A lot of people never get past this phase. They quit. Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this. We know our work doesn’t have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know it’s normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work. Put yourself on a deadline so that every week you will finish one story.
It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions. And I took longer to figure out how to do this than anyone I’ve ever met. It’s gonna take awhile. It’s normal to take awhile. You’ve just gotta fight your way through.”

This makes so much sense. It’s normal to be afraid to take a step forward…just don’t give up. Looking at the cards I made when I first started crafting versus where I am now makes such a huge difference for me. I really think one should keep a journal of work so they can look back and see where they came from. That was part of the reason for starting my blog. It really helps to encourage me to look back at my beginnings and then look at where I am at. Keeping track of what I have learned along the way helps to keep me motivated…

My advice to you, as a new crafter, track your progress through a card journal, or even a scrapbook of progress.

I have today off and have plans to get my craft space cleaned up some so I can work on my Michael's samples for our September Open House which by the way is September 8th from 11 am to 3pm. We have several new Holiday Card Classes that will be available in September.  I am also keeping an ear out for info on our Christmas Card collection for the troops. Last year we had a crop dedicated to collecting the cards - I haven't heard if we will be doing that this year. Once I know I will let my readers know.

This open house, I am bringing a scrapbook of all the classes I will be offering...stop by and take a look!

July & August Classes

Below is a list of my current class offerings at Michael's in Columbia MO. Please note, I got my August schedule in late so the online store calendar WILL not reflect the August classes, just ask for them to check the book at the register.

July Classes 

• Tuesday, July 24 - tINKer time: Distress and Shimmer - 12:30 - 2:30 - $25
  Use Tim Holtz Distress Inks and Ranger Perfect Pearls to create altered tags to use as page embellishments, on cards or an art display. Students will leave with an understanding of Distress Ink properties and the versatility of Perfect Pearls. 

August Classes

• Thursday, August 2 - Cricut Test Drive - 12:30 - 1:30 - $10
  Hear about the ins and outs of Cricut machines and learn how to use one - either before or after you buy! SEPARATE EXPRESSION V1 classes from E2 (I teach E2 classes only)
• Tuesday, August 7 - Martha Stewart Punch Around the Page - 12:30 - 2:30 - $10
  Learn the techniques to use Martha's Punches to create lovely embellishments for your cards and pages.
• Thursday, August 16 - Cricut Card Tricks: Sophisticated - 12:30 - 2:30 - $25
  Make 3 gorgeous cards with the Sophisticated Cartridge. Must bring your own mat. 
• Tuesday, August 21 - Martha Stewart Glitter Techniques - 12:30 - 2:30 - $10
  Learn glittering techniques using a various types of glitter. Students take home 4 lovely cards.

Also, I am pleased to announce that we have 4 new holiday themed card classes coming in September and they are on my September calendar that I will post in August. Also, I will be hosting my first ever SDU classes starting in September on Friday's at 10:30 am - these classes are specific to those of you who are new to scrap booking - you will get 4- 2hour sessions for only $25. 

If you want to attend, bring a friend - we MUST have 4 students to hold the class.

Thank you for visiting my blog! Hope to see you in class!

June News

Hey there!

June is almost over - life has been keeping me thoroughly busy! My classes at Michael's haven't yet taken off too well but that is mostly because of my full-time job demands. During the months of May and June I have been working over-time and extra hours. We had an employee leave and have had to hire and train a new employee. The first one didn't work out so well but the second is a winner (so far - knock on wood!).  I have only been able to give one day a week to my part-time job at Michael's though I did keep 2 classes per month on the schedule. July classes are not yet posted on Michael's site but I can tell you that I only have two planned thus far as I wasn't sure our new employee at the Trib would work out. I am hoping that my store manager will allow me to add a few more but I will have to wait and see.

Today though, I got to host the Modge Podge Make and Take event at Michael's. It was great fun. We used Modge Podge, of course, and some really cool Acrylic Shapers as well as Podgeable Papers. Though you can use regular scrapbook paper as well - which I did. Below are photos of the Acrylic Shapers I created as well as a couple that two sweet girls made. If your interested in this project - Acrylic Shapers and Podgeable Papers should be found near the Modge Podge in your Michael's store - if not, be sure to ask a salesperson and they can locate it for you.

The white hue you see in several of these is wet Modge Podge - when dried it will be clear. Modge Podge takes about 3 hours to fully dry. The event lasted from noon to 3pm - which is why several of these are still wet. If you decide to try this at home, be sure to cover your surface with something disposable like newspaper or a paper bag. Modge Podge is really sticky but tons of fun! They also make a dimensional Modge Podge with glitter in it that is really cool to use too!

I do hope I have at least one or two readers and maybe if you get the chance, stop in and see me at Michael's in Columbia, Missouri - or if you aren't near Columbia, MO, just stop in and see what your local instructors are up to. Crafting is good for the soul! Thanks for stopping by!

Till next time,