christytomlinson

One Week Only! Handmade Custom Cuffs and Vintage Earrings!

Hello sweet friends! Happy Tuesday!   I am excited to let you know about a one week Etsy Sale that my daughter, Allie,and I are having in her Etsy Shop... for just ONE week!   As many of you know earlier this spring, she opened an etsy shop featuring handmade vintage glass earrings! She was earning money to go to a church camp and you were all SOO wonderful and jumped on board and pretty much bought out her entire store! (you all ROCK!)  She has now restocked her store and added TONS of new designs for those of you that missed out.. or want more!   AND to go with it, I will be offering  for ONE week only, my handmade hand-stamped CUSTOM cuff bracelets!  If you follow me on Instagram and Facebook you KNOW my current obsession with making these beautiful cuffs out of belts! I have had so many of you request to purchase them and have your own one little word or phrases stamped on them, I have decided to offer them for one week only along with Allie's vintage earrings in  HER etsy Shop!      https://www.etsy.com/shop/AllieBellesStudio   We will only be offering these handmade custom goodies for sale, until August 1st. As after that time, she will be starting school and I will have my fall online workshops and retreats that will be keeping me super busy!      All items are made custom just for you. For earrings you choose the glass and the earring style. For cuffs, you choose the leather style, the metal style and the words you want on the bracelet!  These make beautiful gifts for friends and family.. and especially for yourself!     If you would like to purchase or see what we have to offer! you can visit ALLIE's Etsy store below!   https://www.etsy.com/shop/AllieBellesStudio   Keep in mind these are only available IN HER etsy shop.. (not mine) and for only one week!     thanks for your wonderful support.. of both her and I!   we love you! xoxo Christy & Allie

join me in Cali for some Artsy goodness and sunshine!

Hey friends! in just a week and half, I will be heading to Santa Ana, California to teach at the beautfiul, Jenny Doh's studio! I can't wait!

These classes are just small intimate classes which allow me tons of time with each student.. which I LOVE.

 

 

I will be teaching two different girls during this workshop. Both are something recent I have been loving lately..

the first is my quilt dress girls..

it's a really fun process that ends up with different results each time! They are whimsical and fun and I just have so much fun creating them!

 

The second is my flower girls (i call them that because we start with and focus on the pretty things in their hair). This process is SOO different than any other girl I have taught. It's kinda fun because its challenging and really stretches your creativity! BUt the end result is a gorgeous she art girl on canvas.

 

Both of these girls will be created on canvas..

AND the best part about this workshop is ALL your supplies are ALL INCLUSIVE! which means you don't need to bring a single thing! NOTHING! Just yourself! I will be providing you with all the supplies you need.. even paintbrushes. I just want you to come and enjoy yourself and relax and not have to worry about packing or buying a bunch of supplies. You will also go home with lots of presents and goodies that I can't WAIT to share with you! She matters goodies.. of course.. plus fun supplies that you get to take home and use later in your creative endeavors.

I am ALSO excited because two of my trues will be going with me and helping in class! Margie Romney-Aslett and Chrissy Gardner! Who I KNOW you will love (um hello thats just fun right there lol.. they will keep you laughing for sure!)

 

 We have just a few spots left in this class and I WOULD LOVE to have you join us! It's 2 days of fun.. and who doesn't love the california sun! The good part is the beach is SO close.. if you are flying in.. or driving from a far.. spend an extra day hanging out at the beach and just sketching or painting.. it's so worth the extra day for sure!

If you would like more info on this workshop.. or to sign up! You can do so on Jenny Doh's website! She is the one hosting the class, so all registration will be going through her..

 Click HERE to read more and SIGN UP!

I truly hope you join me! ANd "we"  (me, margie and chrissy).. can't wait to meet you all!

happy monday!

xoxo

 

Radiant Faces.. BIG BIG NEWS!.. COME JOIN ME!

Hello Lovelies! Happy Wednesday! I have some BIG BIG news to share with you!!!

So.. you see a few familar faces above? want to know more about it?

(oh i promise you will!)

Click here to view more details

 Ooh the suspense! I know!

xoxo

christy

 

New Online Belt Bracelet Workshop! Registration starts today! Class starts Tuesday!

hello friends! I am excited to be bringing you a fun summer mini workshop PERFECT to make for yourself, friends, sisters, etc..  but also great to make WITH others in artsy crafty gatherings, family activies, reunions, camps, etc! 

Introducing my new mini summer workshop..

 

Lately I have been obsessed with making hand-stamped belt bracelets! 

About a year or so ago, my friend, Chrissy and I started finding adorable vintage belts at thrift store, with the purpose of making them into bracelets! We both love to wear cuffs and bracelets and stack them on our arms. Well every time I visited a thrift store, I would gather more.. but never created with them! I knew I needed more tools and just didn't put the effort into getting them or sourcing them until a couple of months ago. 

This past may a bunch of my dear friends gathered at my house for an artsy girlfriend weekend. We were blessed to have our friend Liz Eaton there, who is a leather and metal jewelry artist.. and brought most of the tools, I didn't have, that we needed to be able to do it!  SO we got out our old belts we had been collecting and went to town making unique bracelets with hand-stamped words and sayings on them. AND pretty much since then I have become addicted!

IF you follow me on instagram or facebook you know I have been making them constantly, for friends, family, myself and doing custom orders for those of you that have been interested!

Well SO many of you have been requesting that I do a workshop showing YOU all how to make them, I decided to do a fun mini workshop for you all!

 

The Belt Bracelet Workshop, will walk you step by step, in video, how to turn any belt.. old or new.. into a gorgeous piece of art you can wear on your arm!

we will go from gathering belts,

(besides thrift stores, I will give you links to ALL the stores both online and  brick and mortar, where I find awesome deals on adorable belts! ALL kinds of belts! Embroidered, embossed, stamped, painted, tooled, you name it!)

 

 

To turning those belts, using snaps, grommets and rivets.. into beautiful bracelets!

 

 

 

The belts can be beautiful just on their own as bracelets, but I like to take it one step further and hand-stamp words or sayings onto metal and then attach the metal to the new made belt bracelets!

 

 

I will show you step by step how I prepare, cut, sand, and even age the metal.. and then stamp on it.. and finally show you SEVERAL ways to attach it to the bracelet! I will show you both how to set rivets and grommets, to attach them with!

I will also share with you ALL of my sources of where I purchase my metal. Both in sheets and also pre-cut, ready to stamp. I will share with you my sources for snaps, grommets, rivets, and ALL the tools you need to make these beautiful treasures!

I have spent the last month and half doing a lot of online research finding the best places to purchase good quality supplies, but with reasonable prices AND great shipping.  So I will also be sharing ALL of this with you in class!

Besides turning cool decorative belts into unique bracelets.. I will also share with you how to take plain jane.. boring leather belts..

 

and by using stamps, ink, stencils, decoupage etc...

 

turning them into beautiful unique and custom works of art!

I am really excited about this mini workshop!  I will also be hosting a facebook group page for this workshop where you can share your work, ideas, and even sources of fun cute belts!  So a fun community aspect as well!

This is something that, with the right tools, supplies and the right resources, can be a GREAT activity with your girlfriends, with your kids, youth groups.

It truly is so fun and the finished product is beautiful and unique!

This workshop has now begun and you can join it ANYTIME and have access instantly to everything!

 

OF COURSE as with all my online classes you can view the pre-recorded videos ANYTIME, ANYWHERE.. and you will have access for 3 Full Years from the time you start!!

So you can come back to it again and again!

The cost of this mini course is $19.95,

I would love to have you join me! I can't wait have you in class!

To sign up simply click on the link below!

 

 

Note: you will be sent an email confirmation from paypal for your payment receipt. Since this workshop has begun, it may take up to 72 bussiness hours to receive your log-in as my assistant Jen does them and she works monday, wednesdays and saturday mornings.

Happy thursday!

xoxo

 

life updates.. new art.. belt bracelets and more..

Hello beautiful friends! Why are blogs so hard to keep updated? I tell you?? I think the introduction of facebook and instagram.. it's almost as if there isn't a need.. but yet I still feel drawn to a blog and love every now and then (and should be MORE often) to post about life! Of course its also a great landing place for me to host all the information about upcoming retreats, classes, happenings, etc..

I just feel bad I don't post on here more! I always think I will, and then I don't. I feel almost "redundant" when I do, because I post so often on instagram and facebook, it's almost as if I am posting the same thing and you all are just bored with it already lol.

BUT in any case I wanted to come and give you an update on life and what's up! Ben and I just celebrated our 20 year anniversary of marriage!

(I made us those bracelets out of one of my belts and YES he is the one wearing pink swim trunks lol).

Can you believe it? He wanted to do something super special for this one.. and he took me on a week long adventure to a tiny little island in Belize called Caye Calker!

It was such an AMAZING time.. the island was SO small! only about a mile long and maybe a 1/4 mile wide? No cars.. only bikes, your feet and the occasional golf cart. Dirt roads everywhere.. and just the quietest little place you've ever seen! We had to take a boat to the island (and hour ride)... and it was just heaven. I hope TRULY someday to go back there!  Of course we brought our paints..

we swam everyday. We painted, I read books while ben golfed. We went to their little outdoor movie theatre.. twice! lol.

We ate really really good island food.

we walked around barefoot (as all the locals do). We just had an amazing quiet time. NOthing fancy to do on the island and that was exactly what I think the PERFECT vacation is!

I ended up getting some kind of flu bug and got sick the day we started traveling home. Unfortunately we got stuck in Denver.. which probably was a good thing at that point, because I had puked so much on the plane rides to denver, I don't think I could have handled one more ride that day! ha! But i ended up being severely sick the entire last week.. and FINALLY had enough sense to go to the doctor friday, and get started on antibiotics. By sunday I was feeling pretty good and today I am feeling pretty much a 100%! But loosing a week in bed.. is NOT fun. SO here I am.. a week behind in life and have decided.. ITS Okay! lol. Lets just start fresh from today!

So what's new? Well this week debuted our June Art Society club! and this month I did TWO projects! featuring two canvases, and making our own, handmade printed watercolor paper.. using sprays, chalk inks, stencils and stamps. Pretty darn fun!

(you can purchase this video club for june, as a one time purchase HERE at Scarlet lime)

Also shipping and kitting June's Kit Club kits this week as well! So nice having kids home to help! wahoo!

Ive been having fun making bracelets out of belts this last month and half..

and have started making bracelets for the girls coming to Idaho for She Matters Retreats this fall! SO FUN!

what else? I am toying with the idea of doing a summer online class! I am excited to be participating in a couple of fall classes with others and am going to do a BIG online class this fall featuring my quilt skirt girls.. AND my flower girls I have been making a lot latley! (all mixed media).

But keep thinking it would be fun to do some sort of summer class too! and maybe some fun summer tutorials for the blog as well! I am trying to keep my summer pretty clear, so I can spend time with my kiddos. I have realized lately how FAST they grow up and leave the house and summer is pretty much my only "quality" time I get to spend with them. During the School year, they are gone of course all day and then after school they have homework, friends, school activities. Summers I feel like are MINE hahah. I am sure they would rather be playing with friends all summer.. but they get to play with mom too. aren't they lucky :).

Anyhow.. hope your summer is WONDERFUL! what are YOU guys doing this summer? anything fun?
happy tuesday!
xoxo

Christy

 

 

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New She Matters Class, HUGE sale, New Products, Graduation and more!

Hello friends! holy cow it's been a LONG time since I posted here! things have been crazy busy around here with friend and family in town, bradens graduation, re-organizing our warehouse, end of school year awards, programs and concerts. CRAZY! I have been sharing all of this process on my facebook and instagram.. so hopefully you are following me there!  

But now "Summer" is officially here for my kids.. wahoo! and I feel like life can slow down a little bit!

Excited to announce with you my She Matters 2 Day Workshop in july at Studio Crescendoh in Santa Ana California, with Jenny Doh!

 

I taught last year at her studio and FELL IN LOVE with her space, the format and just getting to know the students! Her studio sits right downtown old Santa Ana where they have the funnest shops, art galleries, art studios, ma and pa food shops. AMAZING experience! and seriously it's just minutes from the beach! perfect summer getaway for a little sun and creating at the same time. 

This year I will be teaching two new projects, TWO full days of teaching!  Plus I will be providing you with ALL of the materials needed for BOTH days! SO no need to bring ANY Supplies! AND of course no class is complete without a bunch of She Matters Goodies! You will go home with a bunch of wonderfrul She matters presents..  so it's going to be a TON of fun! Just come and relax and no need to have to stress to pack anything!

This is one of only two times this year I will be traveling in the united states to teach.. so hope you will join me! 

For more details and how to register.. visit Jenny's website HERE.

SUPER excited!!!

Also guess what? Ben has been working hard in the warehouse for our Scarlet Lime Online Store,  creating space and moving things around.. for over 100 new products in our store! SO excited about it!
This week we are having a sale on EVERYTHING in the store.. EVERYTHING.. 20% off!

That includes all the new, all your old favorites and all newly listed clearance items! wahoo!!

Simply use code: newproduct14

at checkout!

(this code can't be combined with any other offer or on previous purchases).

We have TONS of new fun things to share.. New heavy Body Acrylics from Dina Wakley, including her new stamps and stencils! 

(thanks Dina for the picture! xoxo )

 

New Stencils packs from Heidi Swapp, new stencils from Julie Balzer, Prima and Crafters Workshop! New Watercolor goodies, new rubons, new paperpads, new embellishments, new chalk tapes, new project kits..

and my most favorite new things.. NEW Color Bloom Sprays from Prima!

These are awesome beautiful sprays perfect for splatters or all over coverage on mixed media, cards, watercolor and scrapbooking projects. AND the cool thing is you can refill them twice with water and still have potent color! Crazy awesome! 

Keep in eye out in the next few days for a new blog post with videos from both Dina and Prima on how to use these! SO excited!

and for those of you who are taking the Boot Series workshop.. we have finally got in the Tim Holtz ink Pallets for your watercolors!

Wahoo! you can find those here!

So hop on over to Scarlet Lime.. to check out all the new items! Sale is good until Friday at midnight!

AND sure hope you join me at Studio Crescendoh! You will love the atmosphere and the lifelong friends you will meet there.. can't wait to spend time with you!!

happy tuesday!

xoxo

Christy

 

International friends! Registration for Canada and Australia now live!

 

woah! That was fast! I thought it might be a week or two until I had this information but guess what?  Signs up for my classes in Australia and in Canada are now UP!  I have posted them below!

Canada Friends!

I will be teaching in Edmonton, AB Canada.. August 6th at the Scrap Addicts store!  these girls are just so much fun and I can't wait to be in their store!!

Details are on their website HERE, ( if you scroll down on their main page you will see the details!). And you have to call the store to register which is listed on that same page!  .. or you can call the store directly at  587-523-1713 ! I know there are only a few spots left! So check it out now if you are interested!

 

Australia Friends!

I am so excited to be able to come teach at my dear friend.. and the very talented Jane Davenport's
Studio! She is located in Byron Bay... outside of Brisbane!  I will be teaching 2 different classes at her "Nest". A one day class  September 27th, and a two day class, October 3rd & 4th! . (two day class we will be creating two projects).  All the details are on her Website! Again.. I think she is already half full.. so don't hesitate! I would SO love to meet you!  Details are HERE on her website!

 

I will be posting details about my July Class in California in the next couple of weeks.. AND details about our Mexico Retreat as well!  If you want to keep up to date on all of my classes.. you can by clicking on the link in the header at the top of my blog that says "retreats". It has all the information listed for any places I will be teaching at including dates and links!

well I hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday! I am excited this weekend because a bunch of my good friends are coming to see me for the weekend! I can't wait! it's going to be a girls party all the way.. late nights, lots of laughing, good food (not prepared by me lol).. and just much needed relax time. Can't wait!

happy wednesday!

xoxo

Christy

It's HERE! Fall 2014 She Matters Retreats!

 

First off.. Friends.. can I just say WOW!! and THANK YOU!!! from the bottom of my heart and Allie's heart!!!

THANK You so much for your sweet generous purchases of her Vintage Earrings in her Etsy shop!

Because of YOU, she was able to raise MORE than enough to go to camp.. in-fact enough that she is going to use the rest of it, to pay for her cousin to go to camp with her!  SO HUGE HUGE THANK YOU!!  YOU not only helped her raise money for just one person to go to a life changing youth camp.. but TWO!

you guys seriously.. truly rock! thank you so much!

by the way.. the response to her shop was INSANE and she ended up with way more orders than she expected, so they may be a few days later than expected. She has to handmade each one (they aren't pre-made, so you can choose the style of the earring back).  So she has been working hard all weekend, but still has a lot to do before she can ship!  so thank you again..

SO what else is new? We have finally released our 2014 Fall She Matters Dates! Many of you have been waiting since February for us to list them, and a few weeks ago I did a blog post about why we hadn't yet asWe had been waiting for our son Braden,  to get his 2 year LDS mission call! You can read more about that in that blog post (and what his 2 year mission will entail).   Missionaries don't get to pick the day they leave for their mission, and because of that, I DIDN'T"T want him to get his call and find out he was leaving the week before, the week of, or the week after the retreat! 

That would be an emotional wreck of HUGE sorts for everyone.. but especially me! lol

  He actually kept telling me to just announce the dates, because ALL of his friends had gotten their calls and they were all leaving in early to mid summer. Our First retreat date was set for the Week of September 10th.. and he was SURE there was no way he was leaving that far away..

well.. guess what?? lol. HE IS! he is leaving SEPTEMBER 10th!!! I am SO glad I waited!! lol.. oh that would have been a BIG old mess to reschedule! lol.  He got hismission call during our last retreat and he is going to ........ (watch the video!!)

 

 

We are all so excited for SO many reason.. one of which that is the ONE place he requested we go as a family this summer before his mission, because there are many church history sites there.. very significant to the church.. including the Sacred Grove and Hill Camorah, which is an amazing experience to visit.  So when he read he was going to this mission.. we all just screamed for joy! he also felt strongly he would be going to New York State.. which is just simply crazy.. so it was an emotional day for us!

So Proud of him and his decision to go! it was just a REALLY neat night.. having all of the retreat girls there.. and all of Braden's friends and our family.. just way cool

 So NOW onto our Fall She Matters Retreats!!

as I mentioned.. because of Braden's date of entering the mission,  we had to do some moving and figuring out.. so our two fall retreats will be in October and November of this year! Just 3 weeks within each other. Going to be FUN!

Besides our She Matters Fall retreats here in our home, I will also be teaching three other classes this summer/fall (not retreats.. just one and two day classes).. one in Australia, one in Edmonton,Canada, and one in California. I will be posting in the next little while when they are officially announced.  We will also have our Mexico Retreat announced sometime in the next few months as well! that will be in Feb of 2015.

 

Before I list the links to the fall retreats..  please know that I have already sent these out to those on a wait-list from previous retreats and those who emailed to be put on the list. So we only have a few spots left!

We currently only have ONE spot left in our October Retreat (updated.. SOLD OUT)

.. and 4 spots left in the November retreat (updated.. Sold out!)

*if you would like to be put on the waitlist for either retreats, please email me at [email protected]

 We would LOVE to have you join us in the last few spots!

Here is the link!

She Matters Fall Retreats

 Thanks again truly for all your support of me and my family. So many of you commented and were so happy for braden when I posted his video on Instagram and youtube. IT REALLY meant a lot to him! Also SO grateful for you support allie in her fundraising efforts as well! AND ben and I!! In our SHe Matters retreats! THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts!

xoxo

Help ALLIE go to Camp! Handcrafted Vintage Jewelry for sale.. for a good cause!

Hello friends! wow it's been a while since my last post.. you know what the means.. ben and I were frantically getting ready for our latest She Matters retreat.. and hosting it all week long last week!

Can I just say.. It was AMAZING! I posted daily pics of the retreat.. including the girls, all the fun details we put into the house, the presents, the food.. the project in the art studio.. all on instagram and facebook!

But if you missed it.. I will be posting some of them here next week! AND  our SON got his mission call LAST week during the retreat.. (can't wait to share that as well).. so we will be announcing our fall dates for our retreat soon! (if you are on the waitlist, your email is going out later today)

BUT today I need your help with a great cause!

I talk a lot about my daughter Allie on Facebook and instagram. She is my only girl out of five boys..and 14 years old going on 20 (sound familiar?).. She is SO sweet, kind, funny and just a beautiful soul inside and out. I couldn't be more proud.

Most of you know she loves creating jewelry as she did an online jewelry class with me a couple of summers ago! (Artsy Bangles Workshop.. which is still available online).

She is also the one who helps me create the beautiful handmade jewelry (necklaces, earrings, etc) that we give to the girls at our She Matters Retreats.

Allie has decided, this summer, she wants to go a Church Youth Camp in Calgary, Canada..  Called EFY, Especially for Youth! (you can read more about it here) Our church holds these camps during the summer for youth 14-18 all over the US and Canada, and is a LIFE changing experience. I know because not only did I attend as a teenager, but I also had the opportunity to apply to be a counselor for it one summer while in college.

When allie came to me with the idea to go to EFY with this year, I was ecstatic because I know how much this will help build her relationship with her Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I knew she would grow leaps and bounds in her testimony of them, as well as develop life skills, and friendships that will last a lifetime. HOWEVER for some reason (i am sure she gets it from her mamma lol).. she picked Calgary, Canada because she thought it would be neat to travel and meet other members of the church outside of the United States.

I told her I would support her going, but she would need to earn at least half of the money to attend. Basically her plane ticket and part of the EFY camp fee. She Agreed.

  Lately her and I have been obsessed with making earrings from vintage glass and findings,

and so the thought came to her, she could make and sell these to friends and family as well as online, in an  Etsy Store.. to help raise money for Calgary!

she would LOVE your support in her cause! All the earrings are one price $12.95 (no matter the amount of stones or glass used),

but if you spend $60 or more and use the code THANKYOU at checkout (IN ETSY), you will receive 15% off your entire purchase

(which makes them about $10 each!)

They are beatiful handcrafted earrings, put together with time and love and beautiful vintage gems, glass and stones! They make PERFECT gifts for mothers day (she will be shipping them this thursday & friday, so they should arrive by mothers day weekend).. OR great for friends, daughters, and just a little present to give to yourself!

You can find the link to her Etsy Shop HERE

(or copy and paste the link below)

https://www.etsy.com/shop/AllieBellesStudio

 

thanks again for your awesome support! She and i are BOTH so grateful!

happy wednesday!

xoxo

Christy

 

Art Society Club and other things!

Hello and happy tuesday friends!

Wow.. so we are recovering from a house of the flu.. and let me tell you it completely knocked us all out! Including ben.. which is SO unlike him. I have only seen him sick in bed twice out of 20 years of marriage! poor guys was in bed for 2 days. NOT good. FYI.. for those of you who placed an order during our sale last week..he is the guy who pulls your orders and ships them.. and so unfortunately those are a little behind. he did start processing them yesterday!

As for me.. today is the first day since last weekend I feel somewhat normal! I am busy getting ready for our SHe matters Art Retreat next week! making lots of fun presents and goodies for the girls. Transforming the house.. you know.. just the fun little things that come along with that!

I wanted to come on here and let you know our April Art Society Video is now available for One time PUrchase!

 

 

You can purchase any of our past monthly club videos HERE..

 

but APril is officially live!

for all of you who are current ARt Society members.. your link went out this morning!

This month's project is SO fun because we use a MIX of fun techniques.. including integrating watercolors mediums into our mixed media project! I can't wait to show you!

anyhow.. thought you might enjoy a peak of this months project! Would love to have you join us in our monthly video club.. subscriptions for April are closed.. but you can join again May 8th!

Happy Tuesday!

xoxo