I took the first day of a quilting class today at Elaine’s Quilting Block here in Salt Lake. Yes, a new beginning for me to really learn the techniques of quilting correctly. I quilted with my mother as a girl, but wasn’t feeling very confident on making one on my own. So I bought new supplies and with my old college sewing machine am cutting, pressing, and sewing away. I figure if I am going to design quilting fabric, I might as well learn how to quilt correctly!

Speaking of, Coquette is currently on sale  from Northcott, and I just found out that Love Nest will be on sale in August and hit quilting stores January 2011. I hope to be posting samples of that line soon enough.

I also wanted to let you know that tomorrow’s $1 item at Design House Digital is going to be from me:). Check out these birdie brushes:

Can I also report that it is the loveliest thing to be home with my kids? Siri and I went on her field trip to the Clark Planetarium on Friday with her kindergarten class. The girls and I have made a lot of craft projects and I’m just feeling a lot less stressed out about things in general. And I’ve been able to work on several designs that were only half way finished! That has been a real joy.

If you haven’t checked out the $1 Sale going at DHD, you are missing out! There are some fabulous things that are only $1 for the month of February. They will all go off sale to their original prices on March 1st. My very cool, super neutral Grungy Grid Papers are over there for $1 (normally $3.99). I’ll also have several things coming out a couple times a week so check it out (here’s the link to all the $1 items).

It’s also release day and I’ve got a new goodie to make my life easier: The Ultimate Album. It’s currently sold in two colors (blue and mocha) and have matching mask sets. I’m a mom who knows something about crazy busy and I made for myself some super simple layouts to reach for to scrap with when things are just too busy. For me, I’d rather get those photos into books (I can see myself doing a lot of back tracking with these albums…like all of 2008 and 2009!) so I have them then continue to leave them on the computer where no one can see them.

Today, I’m going to be finishing up decluttering my house and making cards for my upcoming Annual Chinese New Year Party. Oh, and hopefully get that red chandelier hung in my studio (the photo is of my office desk that I painted to turquoise and distressed over the weekend). The studio also got a rearrangement so that my kids can now easily scooter into the studio without hitting anything from the hall.

If you haven’t heard about it yet, I thought I’d better tell you about it! Design House Digital is having $1 Days for the entire month of February. That means new products everyday that premier for $1. All of the products will go back to regular price on March 1st. So go check it out!

Bear with me as I take a moment to get a little personal. Today something wonderful happened to me. Something I have been waiting to happen for a long time. Today, I went into my day job as an Communications and Event Director and walked out as a freelance designer. I have been transitioning for the last several months in the job so I could design full-time from home.

And now, I can concentrate on other work: being a mommy, being a wife, and being a designer. I have managed to stretch myself too far these last few months, and now I have a chance to concentrate on the people and work I love the most.

What does this mean? More designs and projects from me, of course! I’ve been loving my new digital home with Jen Allyson at Design House Digital. Things are rocking along for my two new fabric lines, Coquette and Love Nest. I’ve got a lot of fun sewing projects waiting for me to get going on. We’ll also be opening a Carina Gardner™ Shop sometime this summer with limited supplies of the new fabric lines. I’m also planning some new classes for Jessica Sprague’s site. It’s a new year, and an exciting new time! I hope you join me as things get swinging around here! Check back for more giveaways, more releases, and well, just a whole lot more!

(BTW, the photos are from a modge podge project I did at a church activity with my Love Nest Glitter papers. I picked up the hearts from the Wood Connection in Salt Lake City. )

I’m going to spend my weekend getting my studio cleaned up, hanging that chandelier (I hope…this one’s on you, Josh), and painting. A perfect way to get things underway for my new life.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Color Kit 2 Giveaway! It was such short notice and I loved seeing what you all liked from the new fabric line and from DHD. I will certainly be giving away more kits in the future and some fabric once I get orders in! So check back for that!

OKay, the winner is:

Donna says:

I found you, and DHD purely by accident and had the Color Kit #1 in by Kaboodle for so long. Everytime I thought I had some spare change, I’d go back to it and contemplate buying it, but then would decide to wait and save a few more pennies. Well, I kept pulling up the page over and over again – the colors and simplicity just drew me in. I have in and purchased it and have not looked back. I’m in love with it! Now, I eagerly await every one of your editions to the Color Kit stuff. I got through 2009 365 about 75% before I ran out of steam. Here’s to 2010 – my 365 is going to rock your stuff!

Congrats Donna! I’ll be emailing you a link today for your downloading pleasure!

Thanks again to everyone who participated and I’m going to post pics a little later of my project with my Valentine’s Glitter Book Love Nest!

I haven’t had a giveaway for a while so here’s one that only lasts a day! It starts NOW and ends Thursday morning at 9am Mountain Standard Time. It’s from my popular Design 365 Color Kit Series (yum, yum!) and is normally $9.99 in the store (but will be 30% off this Thursday only). I’m giving away Design 365 Color Kit #2 (see to the right) to someone who makes a comment on this post on their favorite fabric from my Coquette fabric line, which is will hit quilting stores this June OR their favorite digital kit of mine from Design House Digital.

I just started making layouts from this kit tonight and I’m pretty happy with how versatile it is. Here’s a layout made with only products from this kit I made of my daughter Flissa.

So just make a comment in this thread and I’ll do a happy random dance to tell you all the winner on Thursday morning.

Happy Scrapping! XOXOXO

I’m a sucker for Valentine’s Day. And while we are still three weeks away, I’ve got some great little projects put together for this very pink holiday. If you haven’t picked it up yet, the Love Nest glitter book is available at Hobby Lobby, and I’ll be doing a few projects with those papers and my new Affectionate papers at Design House Digital.

First up, getting my daughter’s Valentine’s Day Cards together. And you can download them too! These sweet little cards ar 3″ x 4″ and I’ve even already assembled them onto a 8.5″ x 11″ sizes paper for you. So all you have to do is print! I’ve made the boxes “chubby” for my kindergartner’s fat letters. We’ll cut them out and let her write on them in advanced.

You can also check out my Valentine’s Day Kiddie cards from 2009 (also a free download!) if you want lots of different cards (and birdies:). Those cards are also set up on a 8.5″ x 11″ paper so all you have to do is cut! Easy-peasy!

Just wanted to give you a quick peek at the new Valentine’s Day line at DHD! It will 30% off tomorrow only. There are 5 packs and one mega pack. I’m just dreaming up all the neat hbrid projects I plan on doing with these papers and accessories (can anyone say Valentine’s Day Cards?).

The “How to” Blog I’m speaking of it Design House Digital’s Blog and Classroom. Everytime I click on one of those links I’m amazed by all the inspiration and cool ideas (like this cool art cut out by Deena Rutter). Articles get uploaded to this blog everyday and there’s no shortage of video tutorials, hybrid projects, and digital tricks for all you crafty folks. I like it because all of the Digital Designers, DH Decorators, and the “Experts” Panel are involved in this blog to make it this very spectacular treat!

Peek over there when you have a second! I’m working tirelessly on my new Valentine Collection, which will hit DHD on Thursday (30% off that day!). I’ll be sure and post it when I have them ready.

I’ve also just (finally) have final proofs for the Love Nest line that will hit fabric this coming year, which means more sewing for me!

Happy Crafting!

Yes, my daughter wanted me to make her an octopus costume for her birthday. So how could I refuse? I kept it simple by buying a t-shirt (with the gems already on it) and women’s long socks. Add some filling, a t-shirt transfer kit and my sewing machine and I was set. The only problem? Once I made one for my oldest daughter, I had to make a second one for my youngest daughter. Thankfully, it’s project that can be done in a couple of hours.

Here’s the basic idea. Take a t-shirt and iron-on one of my adorable octopus stickers. Or skip this step entirely. Then stuff 6 women’s socks with filling and sew them to the ends of the t-shirt. Grab a beanie hat (add a flower for fun) and put on a pair of shorts and a final pair of socks (so there are 8 legs in all). Instant octopus!

Want the full instructions and photos? Just download this pdf with my instructions for creating this easy craft project!