Candice Carpenter

Happy New Year!

I love a fresh start. At some point today i want to make a list of things i'd like to achieve and/or do better in 2008. There's ALWAYS room for improvement. I'm just afraid my list will be a mile long. I tend to set the bar high...but i will try to be as realistic as i can be.

I have a head start on one of my goals. I have been wanting to get my office more organized. I have always shared my studio space with the living room/dining room area...well not anymore!! Now it's still a work in progress...but...i have my very own STUDIO! yay! We re-organized our humble home and i now have a room all to myself...and it's pink...very pink. :-) I just have a few photos to share...a corner here and there to show how it's coming along. Gotta love that vintage pin-up girl calendar! I'm getting especially organized for a little business venture...which i will be sharing more info on later! Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes!

Oh...i finally added the valentine banner kits to the Polka Dot Parlor! I was having some internet/computer issues this weekend...got them quickly resolved this morning and the item is now listed!

I wish everyone a SAFE and HAPPY NEW YEAR! Please don't go out drinking...stay home and enjoy your family and pets...i get so nervous around holidays like this...drunk driving is one thing that i will never understand. Be safe...scrapbook! lol!

This is Christmas to me.

Every year at my mom's we all sit around a small folding table and work on an outrageous puzzle...one we obviously can't finish in a day...1000 or more pieces...but that's usually not the point. We sip champagne and talk about life...what we've got going now...what we plan o have going soon, you know...shoot the shit. It's so fun. I LOVE puzzles. My grandfather says he's not particularly good at puzzles so he just flips over pieces and i tell him which colors i'm looking for. And he definitely adds to the conversation...all those witty jokes. I think we all miss my grandmother so much when we sit around and do puzzles. I brought up how much i wanted her to be doing a puzzle with us this year and my grandfather said, "No one knows how much i miss her". I just about melted.

Anyways, i hope you all had a wonderful holiday! My husband and i are meeting his parents and sister for dinner tonight...then a trip to Knotts Berry Farm tomorrow! Should be a blast...if it doesn't rain. :-)

Oh, and i hope to add my Vintage Valentine's Day Banner kit in the Polka Dot Parlor for pre-orders. They will ship on Jan. 22nd. But i need to figure out how many to make...so check in tomorrow if you're interested in getting a kit! I will only be teaching the banner at Melrose Vintage in Arizona on 1/19. I can't wait for that night!!! It's going to be quite the party!

Also...i have some very fun news to share with you blog readers soon...ch-ch-ch-ch-changes! Fabulous changes in fact!

New Creativity Inc. Website!

Need inspiration? Go check out the new Creativity Inc website...that's right...all of your favorite Autumn Leaves designers have bios and fun little tips...along with beautiful layouts. The site will continue to grow...and i can't wit to see it's new features. I did this layout a loooonng time ago and i'm so excited to get to share it now! The baby girl is my mommy. Isn't she adorable!

Rory and i are just lounging around today...he works for the school district so he's officially on Christmas break! Yay! Since he'll be home...i'll be getting nothing productive done. And i guess that's ok. ;-)

Melrose Vintage Valentines Class!!

I have been wanting to shout this info from the rooftops...but we had to get organized...dot all our i's and cross all our t's. I can now give you the date and time along with a little peek of the project!!

Announcing my first ever class at Melrose Vintage!!

When: Saturday, January 19, 2008

Time: 6:30 pm is when the party starts

Where: Pheonix, Arizona

To sign up, please call 602-636-0300. They will be closed until the first week of January but you can leave them a message if you'd like to join us. They will be checking voice mail.

So, as you can see...i am just plain in love with those My Minds Eye Monogram alphas! And this vintage valentines day project wouldn't be complete without the violet ones. I am waiting for my vintage glass glitter to arrive and then i can finish this beauty up. For now...picture red glass glitter hearts...adorning a "J'taime" banner...complete with Bethany Lowe old fashioned tissue garland and Daisy D's vintage valentine images...all tied together with some fab ribbon purchased from Paris to the Moon! I know you vintage lovers will dig it! Along with the banner will be a bonus project...which is my secret for now. :-)

This is sure to be a good time. I will be bringing some inspiration...goodies to serve our sweet tooth and loads of fun prizes. Diane at MV has already told me, "when we have a class here we make sure it's a party every time". Sounds like my kind of lady. :-) I can't wait to meet new people...and shop at the famous Melrose Vintage!! Remeber, you can see a video of MV on Scrapinstyle.com. It's video #43.

I will be filling in more info as i know it...until then, take care and feel free to email me if you have questions!

New items in the Polka Dot Parlor!

I am excited to announce that i have updated the Polka Dot Parlor with a fun Winter project kit and some other goodies...more ballerinas...lots of ribbon...i have waaayy too much! I will be taking a break for Christmas and New Years...so all items purchased 12/20-1/3 will ship on 1/4/08. Please email me if you have questions regarding anything you see in the shop.

Also...i will be back later today with a special preview and dates for a very special vintage valentines day class...more to come. :-)

Are you sick of seeing pictures of frosted cupcakes?

I'm not. And here are some delicious cupcakes...all part of the most wonderful Sunday...spent with the loveliest of ladies and hosted by the fabulous Kim Caldwell!! This past Sunday i taught my holiday classes to a group of creative women...all of this coordinated by Kim and i must say...her home, her style and her attitude...all divine. Her house smelled of warm apple cider...a large pot brewing in the kitchen...a scrumptious salad for lunch...personalized M&Ms that said "Got Candice?"...she was just the hostess with the mostess, that's for sure. Ok Kim, if you are reading this...i want you to know that i am up for hanging with you anytime!! Take a look at our day...

Label Tulip December Kit!

The kit's are up...go check out the inspiration here!!

Life is CRAZY!

I owe so many people emails...and i have many projects going...but i just had to pause and share that today is the day to get your Label Tulup December kit! And i have some inspiration to share with you...but not until 6pm. Here's a little tease...

Oh yesterday...

...what can i say about yesterday? It was the most flattering, amazing, fabulous day of classes!! I made some new friends...reunited with old friends and enjoyed myself way too much. Melody, Amy...you are awesome!! And Lisa...you were missed but we made sure you were there in spirit. :-) Thank you so SO so SSOOOOO much IATS for being so inviting and welcoming me like you did. I just LOVE my sign!

We painted...we sanded...we embellished...we trimmed...we tied...and we glittered our little hearts out!! Here's a peek at the good stuff, cupcakes, pretty faces and all. I ABSOLUTELY will be back teaching at IATS in 2008...we already have a tentative date set...right Melody?!! Seriously...what a great day of classes!!!

To all my friends who traveled to Murrieta for the classes...THANK YOU so much! It was so great to see your shining faces! And to those of you who are regulars at IATS...i am so glad we had the opportunity to meet and giggle together. Merry Christmas to each and every one of you!!!!

I've got some more things to share...but i will save it for tomorrow. :-)

Today was SO SO Fun!!!

...my feetsies are sooo tired. Here's a delicious peek at our day...more to come tomorrow. Off to bed i go!