Merry Christmas!

Thought I'd share a bit of the holiday cheer that folks would see if they wandered through my house during the season. I know it could be seen as overkill but I'm one of those freakish people who have to have a touch of Christmas nearly everywhere in the house. Yes, it's a pain to put up and put away. Yes, my kids love it. Yes, to me it's beatiful.

These are in my basement ...

This is my kitchen tree with snowmen and snow flakes all over it. Love the little guy under the tree.

This is a closeup of my living room tree. It's very elegant and has some unique foliage added to compensate for a rather thin tree.

A closeup of my family room tree done with birds and bird houses and these lovely copper "wish" stars.

This is my stair bannister in the foyer. There's a garland decorated like this that goes all the way up, of course.

These cute little guys greet all who enter our house. We have a tradition (now in it's 4th year) of attending The Nutcracker ballet so these are a favorite.

My living room tree.

My dining room sideboard decor. When my youngest daughter was two this was on the floor in our former house with holiday greens and some vintage books in it. One day I caught her sitting IN THE SLEIGH with one of the books in her hand. She was 18 months old. Cute photo I really must scrap someday.

My dining room centerpiece. Like the feather pick? That was a new addition this year. A funky touch but I like it.

My kitchen windowsill.

Garland over my kitchen window complete with lovely smelling cinnamon ornaments made by my daughter last year.

Another kitchen garland over my screened porch entrance. Love the cranberry vine!

My family room mantle has more of the village pieces as my basement and living room mantles. They are a favorite collection that my mother started for me years ago.

My family room tree with the birds and houses. My two girls helped decorate this one and they put all the birds on in pairs. Cute.

I hope you enjoyed this little (well, not so little) Holiday tour of my house.

Merry Christmas to everyone! Have a wonderful holiday and a Happy New Year!

Jill

Great Class!

Hey, what a fun class we had last week! Thanks to everyone who took the Countdown to Christmas Calendar class. We had so much fun. Hope you and your families all enjoy the calendars.

Keep watching the blog for upcoming classes after the New Year. Our next class is late January and at this point is planned to be a Winter Memories mini book filled with snowflakes, wintery papers, and a snowflake transparency you're going to love. Stay tuned.

For now - trim your tree, sing some carols, drink some eggnog, bake some cookies, and just do whatever puts you in the holiday spirit.

Happy Holidays to you all!
Jill

Finished at Last!!! Countdown to Christmas Calendar

It's been a little bit of a scramble these last couple of days - hubby traveling, parent-teacher conferences, unplanned doctor visit, homework, chauffering, unexpected science lesson on magnets, etc. (aka LIFE), but here it is...

Countdown to Christmas Calendar

Monday, November 24 6:30pm at St. John church
Tuesday, November 25 9:00am at my house

Class Fee: $40

NOTE: In addition to the basic class kit, you will need both Mini Glue Dots and Craft Glue Dots (the 1/2" paper thin ones). I will have a limited supply of them here for purchase just in case. They are each $3.99 per box at ACMoore or Michaels.

Call or email me to register for class. Hope to see you there.
Jill

Work in Progress

I'm feverishly working on the design for the Countdown to Christmas Calendar class for November 24 and 25. Please be patient with me while I'm working on it. It will likely be next week before it's finished and a photo gets posted. Here's a brief description of the project in case you're interested in registering for the class and would like more info:

Countdown to Christmas Calendar - Monday November 24, Tuesday November 25
Fee: $40

A 12x24" art canvas is decorated with 25 individual magnetized pieces to help you and your family count down the days of December until Christmas Day. You will be able to store the pieces in a decorated box (also part of the class) and reuse this festive piece of art year after year. Come join us!

Photo coming as soon as possible - I PROMISE!

Happy Halloween all!

Been busy, busy, busy!

I've been busy in my studio with many projects (too many, perhaps) besides those for the classes and just thought I'd share pics of them.

Birthday invitation I did for a friend's daughter.

Totally fun working on these since I got to PAINT!

A Halloween "Explosion" Album I did as a swap gift for my Pokeno group this month. This is what it looks like all closed up.

This is what it looks like when it "explodes" open! These are so fun to make and have so many great possibilities.

Now I need to get busy on the Countdown to Christmas Calendar project for next month. Am also creating my list of things to make for Christmas gifts. It typically starts out quite long (because I'm really big on generating ideas) but dwindles down to little when I run out of time to produce things (because I'm really big on procrastinating). Oh well...

Finally - October Project Photos!

Finally, here is the photo of the October 27 class, the Counting our Blessings accordian book. There are openings both for the Monday evening and Tuesday morning class.
Cost: $35
Call or email me to register.

This book is made up of 5 6x8" art canvases painted and/or covered with autumn colored patterned paper, embellished with faux leaves and flowers, metal pieces, and ribbon. It could make a lovely gift for your Thanksgiving hostess or a showpiece decoration for your own Thanksgiving table.

(Front cover view with accordian closed up.)

(Accordian open - side 2)

(Accordian open - side 1)

Join us if you can. Thanks for looking.

Jill

New Class Time Added

I've just added an alternative class time for those whose evenings are a bit full. In addition to the Monday evening classes, I will be offering a Tuesday morning option each month on the day following the night class. The morning classes will be held at my house at 68 Longfellow Road, Sudbury. Please email me (gajgreen@aol.com) for directions if you need them. When you register for a class, please indicate your preference of the night or morning class. Thanks.

So ... new schedule is as follows:

Halloween Pop-up Book
Monday 9/22 at 6:30pm
Tuesday 9/23 at 9am

Our Many Blessings Accordian Book
Monday 10/27 at 6:30pm
Tuesday 10/28 at 9am

Countdown to Christmas Calendar
Monday 11/24 6:30pm
Tuesday 11/25 9am

No classes in December. We'll resume with more great projects in January.

ALSO -- more photos will be coming soon. Be sure to check back next week. Thanks.

Jill

Coming Up Next ...

A couple of reminders:

There is still space in the Halloween Pop-Up book class on September 22. Come join us!

These are the next two classes on the roster for October and November. Mark your calendars, grab your basic supply kit, and get ready for these two great holiday projects. You won't want to miss them! Photos of these will be coming as soon as I can get the design ideas out of my head and into production.


Class #3 - "Counting our Many Blessings" Accordian Book - October 27, 2008

Autumn patterned papers, metal embellishments, flowers, gemstones, ribbons, and inspirational quotes are added to your photos to complete this book. This book would make a wonderful decoration for your Thanksgiving table. All supplies (except basic class kit) provided.
Class Fee: $35


Class #4 - Countdown to Christmas Calendar - November 24, 2008

Get ready for your household to count down the days 'til Christmas with this class. You'll make a painted and decorated art canvas embellished with holiday papers and elements to festively coundown the days to many Christmases to come. This one will be a family treasure you can't wait to display year after year. All supplies (except basic class kit) provided.
Class Fee: $40

**Basic Class Kit **
Please bring to each class this basic kit of supplies: 12" paper trimmer or ruler and scissors, glue sticks, tape runner or double-stick tape, pen, and pencil.

What do you count as a Blessing?

Ok, I need a little help here. My next project is a "Counting our Many Blessings" accordian book. I made one for myself last fall and love it but it's rather personal to my own family to do the same for a class project. I need help expanding on this question,

What do you count as a blessing in your life?

Some of the categories I used in my previous book were:

the miracle of LIFE
the comforts of HOME
the bonds of FAMILY
the happiness in MEMORIES
the art of RELAXATION
the joy of SIMPLE PLEASURES
the beauty of NATURE
the LOVE of a lifetime

Can you help me add to this list? I'm having a little trouble thinking outside of my own box.
Please post suggestions in the comments section. I'd love to see what you come up with.

Thanks,
Jill

Photos of First Two Class Projects!

Hey! I finally got photos of the first two projects posted! We've had some computer glitches lately making me unable to download photos from my camera. Back on track now though. Thanks for waiting. Here they are!

This is the project for Class #1:

School Days Paper Bag Book
Finished size is 6x6.5"
Class date - August 25
Fee - $25

School Days Paper Bag Book (cover)

School Days Paper Bag Book (inside view)

This is the project for Class #2:

Halloween Pop-up Book

The finished size is about 5x5"

Class date - September 22

Fee - $35

Halloween Pop-up Book (cover)

NOTE: Doorknob and plate are not included in class materials. Sorry.

Halloween Pop-up Book (inside view)

To register for classes, please contact me at gajgreen@aol.com. Classes are held in classrooms at St. John Lutheran Church at 16 Great Road, Sudbury, MA, 6:30-9:30pm on the dates posted. Space is limited so please register early.

Thanks for looking. There will be more to come!

- Jill

Thanks for looking. Hope to see you at one of my classes soon.

Here are photos of a couple of past projects of mine. Will upload photos of the first two class projects in the next couple of days. Thanks for looking.


This is the inside of a Teacher's accordian book I did for Teacher Appreciation week. Inside each pocket were special teacher inspirational or humorous quotes or sayings.

This is what the Teacher book looked like on the cover and with the book closed up.

This was a special book I put together for my husband for our anniversary. I assembled various photos that went along with the lyrics to the song "100 Years" by Five for Fighting.

More to come!

Upcoming Classes

Here is a brief description for the first few classes I'll be teaching soon. I hope to get photos of some of my previous work up on the blog this weekend. Photos of samples for the classes will be up as soon as I've finished them. Can't wait to share! Hope you'll find some things that spark your interest.

Class #1 - School Days Paper Bag Mini Book - August 25, 2008
Create this special mini book out of ordinary paper bags, school themed patterned papers, ribbons, and embellishments to document your child's or your own school day memories. All supplies (except basic class kit) provided.
Class Fee: $25

Class #2 - Halloween Memories Pop-Up Book - September 22, 2008
This book combines spooky pop-up images with Halloween patterned papers, embellishments, and your own little ghouls' photos (you add later) to make a spooktacular memory book of Halloween moments. All supplies (except basic class kit) provided.
Class Fee: $35

Class #3 - "Counting our Many Blessings" Accordian Book - October 27, 2008
Autumn patterned papers, metal embellishments, flowers, gemstones, ribbons, and inspirational quotes are added to your photos to complete this book. This book would make a wonderful decoration for your Thanksgiving table. All supplies (except basic class kit) provided.
Class Fee: $35

Class #4 - Countdown to Christmas Calendar - November 24, 2008
Get ready for your household to count down the days 'til Christmas with this class. You'll make a painted and decorated art canvas embellished with holiday papers and elements to festively coundown the days to many Christmases to come. This one will be a family treasure you can't wait to display year after year. All supplies (except basic class kit) provided.
Class Fee: $40


**Basic Class Kit **
Please bring to each class this basic kit of supplies: 12" paper trimmer or ruler and scissors, glue sticks, tape runner or double-stick tape, pen, and pencil.

Still learning

OK - it's been awhile. Guess I'm still trying to figure this whole blog thing out.

However, you've come to the right place for information on upcoming Paper Arts classes. More information will come (including class descriptions, sample photographs, and fees) very soon. I have some busy days ahead of me designing projects and learning how to post photos of my work here but please be patient with me and check back soon. Thanks. Looking forward to sharing a little art with you very soon.

Welcome to my blog!





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