You should have received Art 'n Soul's monthly email in your inbox today. It included the class schedule for January and I've reposted it here for your convenience.

RECYCLED RUBBER

SATURDAY, JANUARY 5, 10:00am – 4:00pm

SUNDAY, JANUARY 6, 12:00 noon – 4:00pm

ART JOURNAL CLUB

Friday, January 11, 4:00-6:00pm

It’s free and everyone is welcome!

PLAY DAY

Friday, January 18, 10:30am-5:00pm

Bring your own projects, enjoy our big tables, and chat with other artists. It’s free and everyone is welcome!

Thursday, January 17, 1:30-4:00 p.m., Debbie Gaetz

“DREAMING OF A WHITE VALENTINE” $30

Create 4 Valentine's Day cards using white and splashes of color. We'll use dies and embossing folders, heat embossing and Tombow markers. Need I say more? Supply list TBA.

Saturday, January 19, 10:30-1:00 p.m., Marj – “CRAZY ‘BOUT CIRCLES”$30

Circle 'round Art 'n Soul and join Marj for a fun class involving circles of all sorts....stamps, dies, punches, embellishments and cool papers. These cards will focus on a "friendship" theme, and you'll love the new idea Marj has for using Cover a Cards from Impression Obsession. Your friends will love receiving these cards!  Please bring basic kit, and any circle dies or punches you have. If you'd like, bring any friendship quote stamps you own, labeled with your name please. 

Monday, January 21, 1:00-4:00pm, Marj – “A NEW TWIST ON TEA BAG FOLDING” $30

Ever notice how techniques from years ago pop up again with a new twist? Marj will share some fun new approaches and products from Impression Obsession as you learn several different types of folding techniques.  We'll make three cards, and you'll learn some extra folds to take home to make more designs.  What might look like complicated origami folding is broken down into easy to do sections, so don't be intimidated by the samples. We'll even stamp some of our own special papers for these fun techniques. 

Newbies to Tea Bag Folding as well as enthusiastic fans will enjoy this class. Yes...tea will be served, and maybe even cookies. Sign up soon. Bring your basic kit, bone folder, sharp scissors, and a small paper trimmer, if possible. 

Sunday, January 27, 12:00 to 4:00 p.m., Debbie Gaetz - “BIRD SONG CALENDAR” $40

Using the beautiful papers from Graphic 45's Bird Song Collection and Graphic 45's Easel Album, please join us as we make a monthly calendar, beginning with the month of February 2013 and ending with the month of January 2014. There will be pockets to put special notes and lists, and a spot to put 'your stamp' for the month. You will need your basic class kit to include:  detail cutting scissors; various adhesives (rolling, favorite glue, redline tape, foam mount tape, zots and pop dots); ruler, paper trimmer and bone folder.

INCHIE CLUB

Wednesday, January 23, 6:00-7:00pm

We have a theme for our Inchie projects each month, and trade our tiny pieces of art. It’s free and everyone is welcome!

As a member of the "Artists-in-Residence" (aka AIRs) for Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko, I wanted to share a fellow-members' project posted on Facebook today . . . by Maureen Cronin! Even though we're past Christmas, it's a technique that can be applied to other projects.

"Welcome to my final Christmas card for Tsukineko/Imagine Crafts!

The project included highlighting the spray ink line called ‘Fireworks‘ and I’ll be honest – I go kicking and screaming into any challenge with spray inks. But the gold shimmer of the Pear Tart Fireworks really feels holiday-like.

by Maureen Cronin

This card has quite a few steps but nothing you can’t handle – here’s the rundown -

Finished card 5” x 7”

Cut 1 rectangle from ‘Jolly’ 4 7/8” x 3 ½”, edge one long side with scalloped edge punch

Cut 1 rectangle from ‘Chill’ 4 7/8” x 3 ¾”

Cut 1 white large scrap of white paper, stamp polka dot background with Bamboo Leaves Momento and then spray with Pear Tart Fireworks and let dry completely

Cut 1 scrap green Chevron paper, spray with Pear Tart Fireworks and let dry completely

Take polka dot paper and cut (4) 4 ½” narrow triangles

Take chevron paper and cut (2) 5” narrow triangles

Then take all triangles and randomly cut each into 3-4 sections varying the angle

Take all sections and punch lower edges with scalloped edge punch

Using a Fantastix coloring tool, edge each scalloped edge with Delicata Golden Glitz

Reassemble larger triangle with pieces, don’t worry if they don’t line up – you’ll trim all sides once you’ve re-built your long triangle or ‘tree’. You will not use all of the pieces.

Glue pieces together creating your trees, cut along side edges to even up and then run the edges along the Delicata inkpad to trim the straight edges.

Adhere small scraps of brown paper to bottom edge of each tree for trunk

Adhere ‘Jolly’ piece to ‘Chill’ piece and trim to make one 4 7/8” x 6 7/8” background piece, adhere to red card.

Adhere trees to card with dimensional tape

Adhere small star rhinestone to top of each tree

Cut 4 very small ½” triangles

Cut 8.5” piece of gray bakers twine

Adhere the small triangles to center of bakers twine

Adhere ends of bakers twine to 2 of the trees, leaving 2.5” to 3” on each side

Stamp ‘Merry Christmas’ with Delicata Golden Glitz to scrap of red cardstock

Cut down to size and adhere with dimensional tape

Supplies: Pear Tart Fireworks, Bamboo Leaves Momento, Delicata Golden Glitz, White cardstock, Red cardstock, Kraft cardstock, Brown paper scraps, A Muse Chevron Paper – Green, Authentique ‘Jolly’ Paper, Authentique ‘Chill’ Paper, A Muse ‘Darling Dots’ Background Stamp, Fiskars scalloped edge punch, A Muse Essential Sentiments ‘Merry Christmas’, Bakers’ string – grey, Star rhinestones, Fantastix coloring tool brush point, Dimensional tape

A very Merry Season to all!"

{Maureen}

From Penny Black's blog . . .

Rose Trellis Birthday Card

by Jennifer Avilés

by Jennifer Aviles for Penny Black

"Penny Black designer Cathy Andronicou used Gratitude 30-105, Bed of Roses 40-190 and Fern Green Mix and Match 05-002 to create this floral, feminine card. It’s very versatile, and we could see it used for birthday, anniversary, new job . . . all kinds of happy occasions!

Here’s a note from Cathy: “Flowers stamped with Memento, coloured with Copics, cut out and mounted onto Spellbinders Fancy Lattice. Sentiment stamped onto a double layer of torn vellum and embossed with black powder. Lattice was then mounted onto mix and match card with foam pads and a satin ribbon added to the top. Tip: when cutting out flowers cut off fine stalks and replace with wire.”

Thanks for stopping by today - if you’re looking for more inspiration, please visit our gallery on Flickr and at Splitcoaststampers. You can also find us on Facebook, and on Twitter, too! We’ll be back tomorrow with two takes on our new Valentine release from Jill. You won’t want to miss it! – Jenn"

January is the month for organization . . . here's a photo that was captioned "organizing cats." Wonder how many takes that photo required!