Gobble Gobble

November 17, 2010 by carina

Lots of little pumpkins at my house for this little place card that I plan on making for my little family’s Thanksgiving. He’s perfectly pumpkin-ie, isn’t he? He also goes up for sale as Hybrid Project 3: Turkey Placecard at Jessica Sprague for just $1 on Friday. He’s perfectly good way to add a little “gobble” to your Thanksgiving table!

And if you haven’t had a chance, make sure you check on my digital store on Mondays (new releases) and Wednesdays ($1 day!). Today you can grab an 18 paper pack and my lovely Border set from Daisy Jane for just $1. It’s a great deal that comes around only once on my products so be sure and check it out!

A Chicken Thing

November 11, 2010 by carina

I’m so sad that the weather has turned. There isn’t going to be many days left to chase the neighbor’s chickens around. Well, I should re-phrase—for my children plus cousin to chase the chickens around.

I don’t dare pick them up.

But as this shining photo shows, Siri isn’t the least bit afraid. In fact, cousin Caroline and Siri have a wonderful time torturing these poor chickens that they have named things like “Old Angel”, “Sweet Tart”, and “Mrs. Tarts”. They let the chickens out for recess and then catch them again and put them back in the “school”. Charming, huh? (just not for the chickens).

Ahh, to be young again and have that kind of amazing imagination.

Well, there won’t be much more chicken chasing, but I am excited for the holidays to be here! I broke open the hot chocolate for the first time tonight.

I can’t tell what those poor chickens are thinking? Maybe I’d rather be chicken stew? Or why is this kid hugging me?

A Quick Hello

November 7, 2010 by carina 2 Comments

Just taking a quick moment to say, “hello.” We’ve been busily switching around rooms in the house and I’ve been finishing up some great new projects (still hush-hush, I”m afraid. I’ll be sure and let you in on the news the moment I can!).

In the midst of the chaos, Josh and I managed a night out to watch Real Salt Lake play in the conference semi-finals. We bought tickets from scallopers and ended up in the supporter section. Don’t know what the supporter section is? Well, let me tell you, it’s quite the treat. Drums, crepe paper, trumpets, flags, half-naked cheerers and balloons. Josh was in heaven, and I admit that the constant cheering was contagious.

I’m going to let you in on my favorite secret pleasure: I spent most of the game scoping out the food situation. I may have made several trips to the concessions that had me toting back chicken tacos, churros, brats, root beer, icees… I’ll stop there. Ya, I know. Foodie. Total foodie.

One last thing before I get back to work: Stop by the Fat Quarterly Magazine’s blog when you get a chance to check out the interview I did for them a week ago.

Cheers! Carina

Digital Products at Jessica Sprague.com

November 1, 2010 by carina 2 Comments

Today is the debut of three happy, little things. All good things come in three right? The first is the move of all my digital products to JessicaSprague.com. Yippee! You can now grab my classes and products all at one place. Easy peasy, don’t you think?

Speaking of classes, today there is a sneak peek of my Desktop Calendar Class. I’m so excited to finally announce this class since I have been working on it in hushed tones for the past several weeks! More on this class to come! Registration begins on November 8th.

Finally, it is Coquette™’s debut to digital scrapbooking today. Yes, that’s right! That lovely fabric line can now be purchased as digital paper and embellishments.

To make things even more fun, all of my November releases on Monday will be 25% off at Jessica Sprague (Hmmm, should I have said there were four, happy little things?). I think you’ll also like my new Hybrid Project Series that will begin this coming week on Fridays (Okay, make that 5 happy, little things!). The projects go on sale for only $1 on the Friday of their release. Check out my sneak peek above. Oh ya, and it comes with a png pillowbox template so you can make it with any paper you want (although the Coquette™ pillowboxes in the photo are also included as flattened jpgs).

Happy scrapping! XO-Carina

Coquette Quilt-Free Pattern

October 28, 2010 by carina 3 Comments

It’s taken me a little longer than I wanted it to, but here it is! Instructions for putting together the Coquette™ Quilt. It’s meant for the beginner to intermediate quilter. I love this quilt because it is very forgiving for us newbie quilters. None of the seams line up and all of the blocks are nice and big.

The final patchwork is very pretty and sweet without being pink. Not that there won’t be a lot of pink in the future….

I have to admit that this is the first big quilt I’ve made. I desperately have been wanting to make a queen-sized quilt for my own bed and have been waiting for Coquette™ to come along.

What a little flirt of a quilt! The two of us snuggle very happily now as I watch Glee or Project Runway (I’m so excited about tomorrow’s finale!)

Of course, you can mix and match fabrics (especially if you are having trouble finding Coquette™ at a local quilt shop near you). It’s a very easy patchwork with fairly large blocks.

Download the instructions for this quilt below. I hope you have as much fun with it as I did!

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Love Nest Samples

October 19, 2010 by carina 6 Comments

It’s happy day when fabric arrives at my door. Today it was samples from my Love Nest™ Collection for Northcott™, which should hit quilting shops in January. You may recognize this collection from it’s Scrapbooking Glitter Pad debut at Hobby Lobby a year ago. Siri and I went through the samples trying to decide which would be for quilts, pillows, and outfits. It certainly gets me even more excited about the sewing patterns that we are developing right now (due out next spring!).

Siri and I are also figuring out fun ways to use up the scraps of Coquette™ hanging around. She’s been begging for Barbie dresses, but I like this alternative better. We got this with the kid’s meal at Burger King. I seem to remember having something like this when I was a little girl. The best part is just cutting out the square fabric swatches and letting her mix and match to her heart’s content.

BTW, if you missed the mailing for my first newsletter, just click on the newsletter here. Be sure and sign up for the newsletter here to get any future issues (BTW, this one has a digital scrapbooking freebie download! Check it out).

Coquette Gag Reel

October 17, 2010 by carina 4 Comments

Here are some silly moments from the Coquette™ Photoshoot. Enjoy!

Haunted Giveaway Announced and Freebie!

October 11, 2010 by carina

I’m hopping on tonight to announce that the winner of the Haunted™ paper set is: #24 Amber Robbins. Email me at info@carinagardner.com, and I’ll send off that set! Congrats!

Two more things before I turn in for the night. First, Good Things Utah covered my Halloween line (Click on the picture on the right). Amber Packer has some awesome ideas when it comes to working with the line! Check them out on her blog here.

The second thing is that if you sign up for the newsletter, we are adding a digital scrapbooking freebie to the first issue (which will be sent out this weekend). Be sure and sign up for it here so you can get your free copy of my Little Princess Digi Kit. If you have never digi scrapbooked before, this is a great way to see the kinds of files and goodies you get in a kit. I’m also pretty partial to this kit because of my two little princesses.

I can’t tell you how excited I am about the newsletter. It’s almost done and my cup runneth over with happiness about how cute it is!

Coquette Crazy

October 4, 2010 by carina 32 Comments

If you saw my studio, you’d know exactly what I mean. There is fabric everywhere! This morning I had a meeting with photographer Susan Haglund as we mapped out the photoshoot this weekend. Lot’s of stuff a-cookin’. This is my quick stop into my blog to say, “hello!” and let you know about a couple of things.

1- First, it’s the beginning of October and I have one more paper pack (and brads and stamps and vinyl) of Haunted™ in my studio. It’s up for grabs, just leave a comment in this post, and I’ll announce the winner next Monday.

2-We’re hyping up in the studio for our brand-spankin’-new quarterly newsletter. This isn’t your typical newsletter…I promise it won’t disappoint! Our very first one will be coming out in a couple of weeks with lots of eye candy. I’ll be sure to announce new classes coming up, new designs, and show you what we have been up to in the studio. Be sure and sign up!

3-You’ll notice that there is a new navigation bar up top! That’s because we have simplified the website in the hopes that you can find anything your heart desires very quickly. Be sure and refresh you blog page to make sure you get the most up-to-date links.

4-I’m anxiously waiting for my Coquette quilt to come back this weekend…I’ll keep you posted!

Hugs-Carina

Haunted Paper in Action

September 29, 2010 by carina 1 Comment

My neighbor Tausha does these incredible gift shows and she used my Haunted™ Paper Collection when putting together her goodies. It’s so cute, and I was totally inspired. If you are in Salt Lake, you can check out her booth at the Jenny Gochnur Autumn Art Show (At the Holladay City Building at 4580 S 2300 E), which starts tonight and goes until Friday (I believe 6pm-9pm Wed, 9am-9pm Thurs, and 9am-5pm Fri). Check out Tausha’s cute booth if you get a chance!

A Sunday Drive

September 27, 2010 by carina

After church this morning, the girls and I headed up into the mountains for a Sunday drive. Our mission was to gather a few autumn leaves for art projects. There may have been much singing of Defying Gravity on said drive up the mountain. Yes, the three-year-old can belt it thanks to a certain episode of Glee.

The leaf gathering was successful despite the lack of red and purple leaves ( I have promised a follow up trip for that). We managed to collect a lot of yellow, brown, green, orange, and “rainbow” (anything with a mix of the above colors) leaves.

The art project even went well despite the Elmer’s glue Flissa managed to spread on her legs. She was trying to glue a rock to her paper. Typically, paper beats rock. Not so in craft projects. Rock wins. No contest.

Coquette Giveaway Winner Announced

September 23, 2010 by carina

Hello all! I know you have been anticipating today’s post. I won’t delay it by telling you that I finally finish my Coquette™ quilt and was thoroughly amazed at how long it takes to get it machine quilted. So give me a few weeks and I’ll get the pattern, instruction, and photos up for you.

In the meantime, someone gets to enjoy some of this giveaway goodness. And that person is (according to random.org): Shelly Garcia

Shelly Garcia says:

September 18, 2010 at 11:35 am (Edit)

I love the Coquette fabric! I have the perfect pattern for them. Fall is probably my favorite season of the year but it can be dreary with the leaves falling off the trees and everything getting ready to sleep for the winter. I love this fabric because it will help brighten things up without looking out of place! Did I mention I love this fabric!

Congrats Shelly! email me at info@carinagardner.com and we’ll get you all set up!

Thank you to everyone that entered! There may be one more giveaway for an extra packet of Haunted™ I have lying around the office in the near future…

How to Make a LumJum Body Pillow-Free Download

September 22, 2010 by carina 5 Comments

What IS a lumjum you might ask? Growing up with a Chinese mom meant that we had some pretty weird words for some of our favorite things. However, the most loved item that my mom made each of us was a lumjum, aka a cylinder body pillow.

Growing up, this was the lovie we all took on every vacation with us (skip the pillow, bring the lumjum). My siblings can attest. You didn’t leave home without your lumjum-it would mean a bad night of sleep.

Even today, I take my lumjum with me. When I don’t I have to have 5 pillows to take it’s place (ask Deena and Jen). Ya, more information than you wanted I’m sure.

Mine is a little extra long with super easy instructions. You use ever bit of fabric, and it is fun for movie night or a cuddle. You can tell we’ve had some serious sewing time during the last couple of days. Oh yes, all these projects are made with my brand new bolts of Coquette™. The project madness has just begun…

Also wanted to give a reminder that the giveaway for my debit fabric line ends on Friday (a couple of days away) so be sure to put in your comment in the Coquette™ Fat Quarter post soon!

Click on the image below for the downloadable instructions for this easy body pillow.

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photographs in this post by Susan Haglund

Pillow Pet Party

September 18, 2010 by carina

Last night, my girls went to a pillow pet party. It was a cousin event and involved (of course) all of their pillow pets. Siri reported that they decorated cupcakes and watched a movie with popcorn. I got there this morning as they had all changed into bathing suits and headed out for some water fun. They are smart to take advantage of the nice weather while they can!

Oh, did I mention the best part about this party? I didn’t host it. (Thank you Liz and Tim!).

If you are checking out the cool filter I have on the photo to the left, it’s an App on my iPhone called Hipstamatic. I wanted to make another ABC Book for myself (as I taught the class), but I have very little time these days. So I’m taking all my pics this time around on my iPhone and scrapping it that way. So far it’s working pretty well, and I love the old-timey feeling I get from these photos.

Finally, I wanted mention that my Butterfly Chandelier Tutorial has been featured on Odeedoh! Thank you everyone for checking this out (and letting me know about it!). It’s such a privileged!

Hope you are all having a good weekend and don’t forget about the giveaway in the post below! Be sure and add your comment for a chance to win my new fabric line!