Gifts from your heart and your hands

As the holiday season rushes towards us like a runaway train, it is easy to fall into the Stress Trap. You know- the constant worry about gifts and costs that can rob us of the joys of the season. We deny ourselves the soothing pleasure of crafting so we have more time to shop and wrap and spend and worry. Well, it's time to break that ugly circle.

Handmade gifts are the answer! Everyone loves (and admires) gifts made by hand. They are so much more thoughtful and meaningful than a store-bought item. Usually hand-made gifts are less expensive and the time spent crafting them is pleasant and therapeutic. So, get out your gift list and spend a little happy time on Pinterest gathering great ideas.  Bring back the joy and meaning of the season (and lower your stress level at the same time). 

Here's a thought to inspire you. I never attend a holiday party without bring a hostess gift. I generally bring wine which I "wrap" in a store-bought wine gift bag. This year, I have decided to skip the bag and  try something different. Using Viva Decor and Art Anthology paints, I altered this bottle of wine as a hostess gift. Tip- using a sponge to "pounce" dimensional paint onto the bottle gives it a cool rough surface. I glued on snowflake gems, and used my Craft-Dee-Bowz to make a glamorous bow. It was quick, it was easy, it was fun...and it is sure to make a splash at the holiday party next week! 

Now take a moment to think.....what could YOU being doing instead of fighting crowds at the mall! Please share your tips and ideas here, so we can all have more enjoyment of the season!

Holiday Round Robin Lineup

Last chance for signups for Saturday's annual Holiday Round Robin! Here is the project lineup:

Donna's designs-

A gorgeous elegant holiday tag with a lovely sentiment

A clever snow-flake covered luminary

A sweet treat mini holiday tote with a goodie inside

Chris' designs-

A Steampunky ornament

A textured gift box with flower embellishment

A holiday wall decoration

You will be doing all 6 projects in a fast, fun Round Robin event. This is also a great opportunity to test drive a quilting die from Art Gone Wild, some dimensional paints from Art Anthology and the brand new  Rose quartet mold from Wow. 

The instructors need prep time for materials, so sign up soon!

Round Robin- another peek!

Well, this picture does not do it justice! This is another clever creation from Donna. There are goodies in the middle of this cute little tote. Just another great project that will be in the annual Holiday Round Robin! 

Hope to see you there!

Heart Canvas

Hey! Who's going to the heart canvas class on Wednesday night? Can't wait- looks gorgeous. Anyway, does anyone know if there is a supply-tool list of stuff to bring???

Thanks,

Chris

Holiday Round Robin- Check this out!

Using the Art a Gone Wild quilting die, our gal Donna has created this gorgeous luminary! This will be one of the 6 Shabby-Chic holiday projects at the upcoming Round a Robin class. If you missed last year's RR, you can't miss this one! Donnas and Chris have created 6 fast holiday projects. You will jump from station to station, making 6 items suitable for gifting to neighbors, coworkers, babysitters.... It will be loud and energetic and fun. This is a no-miss event.

Stay tuned for more sneak peeks!

Mini Class Festival is Sunday!

Mini Class Festival – Ornaments

Date: Sunday, November 17th from 12-4PM

Sign up today for our next Mini Class Festival – Ornaments!

Our Mini Class Festival will be Sunday, November 17th from 12-4PM.
Your options are a la carte or bundled.
Take each class for $8 or all 5 for $30!
Your choice!
But the more classes you take, the more options you have to win!!

What’s a Mini Class Festival?
This event is designed to guide you through a card, technique or project in 15-20 minutes. You’ll have access to five of our fabulous teachers and designers. They will give you one on one attention while you create!
Several of our Mini Class samples are ready for you to look at. You’ll have the option to take a mini class with Donna, Chris, Susan, Maria and/or Nicole!

There will be raffles, prizes and refreshments!
We might even have a clown or two in the student body, you just never know!

Sign up for the Mini Class Festival today!

Mixed Media Madness Retreat Announcement

Catherine Scanlon Designs and Kept Creations, LLC is proud to announce their first weekend retreat.... Mixed Media Madness!

Are you ready to learn new techniques?  
Create beautiful art? 
Laugh, smile and get messy?
Have fun? 

We are thrilled to bring you a one-of-a kind art retreat in beautiful and historic, Plymouth, Massachusetts. 

Want to know more?  Well, get ready to immerse yourself for an entire weekend in the Mixed Media Madness!

Mixed Media Madness Retreat Dates:

Friday, March 21st through Sunday, March 23rd

Mixed Media Madness Retreat Location:  
  John Carver Inn, Plymouth, MA 

Click here for more details about hotel accommodations.

Mixed Media Madness Retreat Details:

Get ready for a total immersion in art, techniques and classes!  Two fabulous artsy classes with published artist Catherine Scanlon, one assemblage class with Mandy Fariello and a fantastically messy class with Chris Dindy!  Each attendee will get their own space in the community room for creative alone time;  a place to work in your art journals, to finish up some projects you might have or just for some company and laughs.  We'll have raffles, goodie bags, trunk show, food, fun and art!  What more could you want from a mixed media weekend?

Pricing:

$350 for retreat weekend.  

Hotel accommodations need to be made separately.  

We have a block of rooms for $127 plus tax, per night

We are offering Payment plan options.

A deposit of $100 will hold your place for registration.  All payments must be finalized by February 22nd. If you have not paid in full by February 22nd, we will have to cancel your reservation.  You will receive no refunds if not fully paid by February 22nd.  We have outlined a payment plan for those that would like one below:
November 22nd, 2013 - $100 deposit
December 22nd, 2013 - $100 payment
January 22nd, 2014 - $100 payment
February 22nd, 2014 - $50 payment - this would be your final payment for the retreat fees.

  

See below for Paypal payments or pay by cash, check or charge in the store.

Here are the details of the weekend:

Friday:

• Arrive on Friday night, check into the hotel and grab one of your goodie bags at the registration desk.
• Drop off your crafty things in the community room - everyone gets their own seat to be able to work on your own projects whenever you'd like!
• Head over to the make and take table and work on your first project with the guidance of one off our talented instructors.  
• Greet your fellow crafters in the community room while enjoying some delicious hors'deurves.
• Part one of Mandy's class will start at 8pm.  This class will need overnight drying time, you'll finish it up on Saturday!  
• Enjoy some free time in either the community room, at the indoor pool, enjoy your reserved time at the spa or head to the tavern for some drinks and company.  All this without leaving the hotel!

 Saturday:

• On Saturday, wake up to a warm and hearty breakfast buffet.  
• Catherine starts part one of her first class (you'll need some drying time for her project too!)
• Enjoy about an hour of free creative time, work on your projects, take a swim or enjoy some company!
• A beautiful lunch buffet will be served.  
• Later in the afternoon we will tackle part 2 of Mandy's class!
• Chris will step in after that and you should plan to have fun and get messy!
• That evening, enjoy some time at the Spa (book your time early!), enjoy dinner at the tavern or out on the town.  There are plenty of great restaurants within walking distance of the hotel.  Relax with friends and or work in the community room.
• After dinner, plan to come back to finish up your morning class with Catherine.  
• We'll also enjoy some evening snacks and coffee.
• Once you have completed Catherine's project, you'll have a few hours of free time to get creative in the community room or visit with your friends and others attending the retreat.

Sunday:

• On Sunday, plan on another hearty and yummy breakfast buffet.  
• Don't think we are done yet!  Catherine still has another class up her sleeve! 
• You will have some more free time before you need to pack up and head for home.  

This weekend is going to be intense, fun, inspirational and creative!

What can you expect for the weekend:

• 2 Two-part classes.  Each of these classes will give you approximately 4-5 hours of instructor time.
• 2 additional classes with approximately 2 hours of instructor time.
• 3 make and takes with approximately 20-30 minutes of instructor time each.
• Goodie bag of mixed media goodies valued at about $100.
• Raffles with prizes.
• Trunk show.
• Opportunity to take advantage of the hotels pool, fitness room, spa, full service restaurant, tavern and business center.  The hotel does have free wifi.
• Friday night Hors d'ourves, Saturday breakfast buffet, lunch buffet and evening snacks, and Sunday breakfast buffet.
• And that's not all!  We are still working on some fun things for you to do during your mixed media madness weekend.  

It's going to be madness!  

Don't miss out on the fun!  Sign up today, in store or here online.  This is a very limited event and we expect it to sell out quickly.  

If you have any questions, please contact Kim at keptcreations@gmail.com or call 781-447-4010.  We also accept payment/s via credit card at the store location... Kept Creations 15 South Ave, Whitman, MA  02382


Click here for more information and to sign up via Paypal.

Watch for it!

I know it's almost a month away, but you really need to sign up for this class.  It will fill fast!  This may look complicated, but when I tell you a 10 year old can do it… well, just saying!  On December 18th I'll be doing this last-minute give idea project.  I call it the Cascading Box project.  Here's a peek

Completed project...

Close-up of box top…

Cascading box opened up...

I'll be looking for you!

Donna

Beautiful!!!! Holiday Round Robin

Do you LOVE this??? This is one of Donna's projects for the upcoming Holiday Round Robin. The HRR will feature 6 fast easy holiday-themed projects, perfect for neighbor, coworker, babysitter gifts.

Holiday Round Robin

Here is another sneak peek at a project from the upcoming Holiday around Robin with Donna and Chris! This Steampunky ornament was made with an Art Gone Wild quilting die, and lots of embellishments! ( bet you can guess which one of use made this!)

Free Make and Take this Saturday!

Stop in this Saturday, November 9th for a Free Autumn inspired Make and Take!


 

It's one of my favorite times of year and I just love creating with browns, oranges and hues of creams.  Stop on in Kept Creations this Saturday and pull a seat up to the bar, we'll be making an Autumn inspired Make and Take with some stencils, inks and more!

Looking for some time to make those Holiday cards?  Bring your supplies and use our tables!  Open table space is available Saturday from 10AM - 4PM.  Space is free but limited!  Just let us know you are coming so we don't run out of space!  781-447-4010

Round Robin!!!

It's coming, it's coming!!! Kept Creations 2nd annual Round Robin gift class. Think...mental! SentiMENTAL, ornaMENTAL, compartMENTAL! Yup, Donna and Chris are going mental!!! There will be 6 fun easy projects to complete, with a holiday flare! 

Here's a sneak preview of one.....