Studio Calico

more happy little moments

Life is full of happy little moments that we often don't scrapbook. Join Maggie Holmes and Marcy Penner and capture those memories in a one of a kind altered book with our More Happy Little Moments class.

Your teachers will be walking you through the process of putting together a unique album filled with peek-a-boo windows, envelope pages and all of the moments that make you smile.

Maggie and Marcy have each curated a class kit that they'll be working with in their books. Those kits are available for purchase here. If you purchase both kits at the same time, you can use the code SCHLM to get a free set of 4x3in veneer journaling cards.

Our teachers are joined by contributor Lisa Truesdell, who will be sharing tips to adapt Maggie and Marcy's ideas into a Studio Calico Handbook format.

More Happy Little Moments students will also have access to a variety of digital files - printables by Hello Forever and Bananafish Studio, hand drawn die cut files by Maggie Holmes and icon, tag and tab die cut files by Hello Forever.

This is a self-paced class - all class information will be posted on June 1st. To help keep you on track to complete your book, Maggie and Marcy will be posting a journaling prompt and technique challenge on the classroom message board each week.

You can find a complete syllabus on the More Happy Little Moments registration page. Enrollment is open now through May 31st, and class starts June 1st. We hope to see you in class!

Pop off the Page sneaks

Last year's Pop Off the Page class was one of our most popular, and we are thrilled to have Jen Jockisch back in the classroom and teaching a sequel!

The bonus class kit of layering essentials is still available and will ship free no matter where you are. Here's a peek of the B-sides of the exclusive journaling cards : 

Excitement is building as we count down to May 1st and the start of class, and today we want to give you a little peek of what Jen and her contributors have in store for you!

from Jen : 

from Debee Campos : 

From Stephanie Dagan : 

From Marcy Penner : 

from Sasha Farina : 

from Shanna Noel : 

from Jill Sprott : 

From Lilith Eeckels :

Registration for Pop Off the Page ends on April 30th - we hope to see you in the classroom!

Pop Off the Page with Jen Jockisch

Feeling a little flat? Join layering expert Jen Jockisch for this sequel to last year’s popular class and learn how to layer your paper and embellishments to add detail, dimension and visual interest to any project. We’ll be kicking off the class with a refresher PDF to discuss ideas shared in the first class, and will follow that up with four PDFs discussing even more concepts in layering. In the end, you’ll have access to 5 PDFs filled with 28 new projects, 2 videos (one from Jen and one from Celine) and oodles of Pop Off The Page tips and tricks. For more information about the syllabus and to register for this class, please click here. 

Jen is joined by a talented group of contributors - they have a diverse range of styles, but they all know how to rock the layers. Becky Novacek, Celine Navarro, Dawn McVey, Debee Campos, Emily Branch, Jill Sprott, Kim Stewart, Lilith Eeckels, Lisa Spangler, Marcy Penner, Patricia Roebuck, Sasha Farina, Shanna Noel, Stephanie Bryan and Stephanie Dagan will each be sharing a project and their own personal layering tips.

While supplies last, students will receive an embellishment kit of layering essentials, including an exclusive stamp set. This kit will ship free to you, no matter where you are!

The class also comes with exclusive downloads - printables from In A Creative Bubble and Blinks of Life and die cut files in .svg, .png and .studio from Kinsey Wilson.

Registration for Pop Off the Page closes on April 30th, and class begins May 1st. We hope to see you in the classroom!

this is me sneaks

Registration for This is Me with Lexi Bridges closes on 3.31.2013, and class begins 4.1. Lexi and each of her contributors have all tacked the task of recording themselves, and each album does a wonderful job reflecting it's creator, both in content and in style.

Lexi's handbook is bright and eclectic. She's put together 12 spreads, ranging from lighthearted likes and hopes to deeper and more reflective topics. Every page in this book captures something that is intrinsically her, and her tips and tricks will help you do the same for yourself. 

We wanted to give you even more ideas to bring into your own album, so Lexi has been joined by an amazing group of contributors.

Rachel Denbow's background as a craft enthusiast comes into play in her album - she's even included a weaving tutorial : 

Laura Kurz's classic style translates to an album she's planning to add to in the coming months : 

Nicole Harper's brilliant journaling skills come through as she pours her heart into her layered mini album : 

Leena Loh's colorful and graphic style is represented in her handbook - her attention to detail is amazing and you'll love her clever embellishing ideas : 

In addition to the class content and videos, you'll also have access to a private class messageboard where Lexi will keep you challenged and on track as you complete your album. There are also digital stamps, printables and diecut files for the class - you can see all of those here. 

This is a class you won't want to miss - sign up NOW and we'll see you in the classroom on Monday!

This is Me with Lexi Bridges

Tell your story. Join Lexi Bridges for This Is Me, a self paced class that will give you the push you need to complete a Handbook or mini album that captures your personality, your quirks, your favorites, and everything that makes you YOU. Lexi Bridges has tackled this topic in her fresh and modern style, and she’ll be sharing an in depth look at how her Handbook based album came together. She’ll be joined by an amazing line up of contributors who are all telling their story in their own style. Jennifer Pebbles, Laura Kurz and Leena Loh will all be working with Handbooks, and Nicole Harper and Rachel Denbow will be making minibooks. You can find more information about This Is Me and register here. 

Registration for This is Me closes on March 31st. On April 1st, you'll have access to all of the class content, including an in depth look at Lexi's album, a bonus PDF of journaling tips and prompts from Laura Kurz, a peek into how each of our contributors tells their story and two technique videos from Lexi Bridges. Join us on the class message board all month long for challenges and inspiration. 

While supplies last, students will receive a bonus class kit containing journaling cards, wood veneer word accents, a stamp set, two triangle shaped clips, a badge and washi tape. This kit will ship worldwide for no additional fee. We will update thie classroom shop page when the kit is no longer available.

All students will be able to download the classroom digital files on April 1st.

Printable journaling cards & accents from Studio Pebbles : 

Printable journaling cards, accents and labels from Hello Forever : 

Brush files available in .png & .abr : 

Die cut files sized to fit in the 3x4,4x6 & 6x8in Handbook page protectors from Kinsey Wilson - available in .studio, .abr and .png : 

We hope to see you in the classroom!

you've got mail sneaks

You've Got Mail! Join Lisa Spangler and her talented contributors for a month of cardmaking tips, techniques and inspiration. Lisa has been teaching and sharing her love of cardmaking for years, and we're thrilled to have her enthusiasm in the Calico Classroom. She's joined by a cardmaking dream team of contributors - Jennifer McGuire, Maile Belles, Shari Carroll, Teri Anderson, Robyn Werlich, Kelly Rasmussen, Dawn McVey, Tami Hartley, Kandis Smith, Julie Ebersole, Dani Flanders & Betsy Veldman. Whether you're ready to try making your first card or a frequent crafter of handmade greetings, You've Got Mail will give you tips and tricks that you can turn to over and over. Here are a few sneaks from the class projects - to see more, click here.







While supplies last, students will receive a 4x6in clear stamp set - the stamps will ship free to you, no matter where you are.



Students will also receive printable accents and labels from Hello Forever, a digital brush set of the class stamps, and window card, tag and accent cuts from Kinsey Wilson. These will be available in the classroom on March 1st.




For a complete syllabus and to register for You've Got Mail, visit the classroom page at Studio Calico. Registration for You've Got Mail closes on 2.28 and class begins on 3.1.2013. See you in the classroom!

Bright Ideas preview

Registration for Bright Ideas ends tomorrow night at midnight EST! We wanted to take a moment to give you a little peek into the class. Each PDF (and there will be twenty!) will have a think outside the box challenge, process pics + detail from Nic or her contributors on how their page came together, MORE bright ideas for the challenge and a sketch.

In addition, Nicole will be sharing a video each Wednesday sharing even more bright ideas from her pages - and YOURS! =) we can't to see what goes into the classroom gallery!

Sneaks from Nicole Samuels :

Sneak from Amy Tan :

Sneak from Tina Aszmus :

And here's a peek at some of the  printables and cuts for the class :

For more information and to sign up for Bright Ideas, click here. See you in the classroom!

bright ideas sneaks

Do you need a little creative push? Join Nicole Samuels for an inspiration filled February in the Bright Ideas classroom! Nicole's challenges will help you find new ways to use your supplies in fun and surprising ways.

Each weekday in February we'll introduce a new PDF with a challenge and bright ideas from Nicole, a new and inspiring layout, and a sketch. These twenty PDFs will be filled with the sort of tips and tricks you can turn to whenever your mojo is running low. Nicole will also be sharing 4 videos filled with even more bright ideas taken from her work as well as the classroom gallery. On top of all of that, you'll have a chance to pick Nicole's creative brain on the Bright Ideas class message board.

Want a peek at the layouts for this class? Nicole's challenges are pushing both her and her contributors to do some really amazing things! You can find more information on Bright Ideas here - remember that registration ends on January 31st and class begins February 1st.

(Nicole Samuels)



(Jen Jockisch)

(Gillian Nelson)

(Nicole Samuels)

(Adrienne Alvis)

(Lexi Bridges)

(Nicole Samuels)

(Shannon Tidwell)

(Laura Kurz)

(Nicole Samuels)

(Paige Evans)

bright ideas with nicole samuels

In a creative slump? Find your way out with these BRIGHT IDEAS! Nicole Samuels will be guiding you through 20 creative challenges designed to make you look at paper and glue in a whole new light. We’ve brought together an awesome group of contributors – Adrienne Alvis, Amy Tan, Gillian Nelson, Jen Jockisch, Laura Kurz,  Lexi Bridges, Lisa Truesdell, Paige Evans, Shannon Tidwell and Tina Aszmus – to help bring her challenges to life and give you even more ways to play with your supplies. Nicole and her contributors have a wide range of styles – from simple to detailed – and all have a way of looking outside the box when using their supplies.


A new PDF will be posted each weekday in February – you can work at your own pace, or challenge yourself to tackle one each day! Each PDF will contain a challenge designed to stretch your creativity, a new layout from Nicole or one of her contributors, a sketch, and extra ideas and inspiration from Nicole. In addition, Nicole will be posting a video each Wednesday sharing more bright ideas pulled from her own layouts or layouts in the class gallery.  Students will also receive printables from Hello Forever and In A Creative Bubble and diecut files (.studio, .png and .svg) from Nicole and Kinsey Wilson.




Registration for Bright Ideas will be open until January 31st, 2013 and class will begin on February 1st. For more information and to register, click here. We hope to see you in the classroom!

day by day giveaway

Our all new Project Life Creative Team has been busy behind the scenes working on our January class, Day By Day. Now that the team is revealed, we can give you a little more information about what they'll be sharing in the class. Here's a line up of the videos and tutorials :

video : favorite Project Life spreads of years past (Ali Edwards)
video : adding type to photos in PSE (Catherine Davis)
video : Project Life evolution (MaryAnn Perry)
tips & tricks : getting photos from your phone to your computer + printing photos (PS/PSE, Lightroom, Picasa, phone apps) (Kelly Noel)
tips & tricks : ideas for memorabilia (Allison Waken)
tips & tricks : PL product organization (Marcy Penner)
tips & tricks : stacked text cards in Silhouette Studio (Leena Loh)
tips & tricks : making your own journaling cards with stamp brushes (Geralyn Sy)
tips & tricks : pre-stamped journaling cards (Natalia Bun)
tips & tricks : ideas for title / week cards (Nicole Reaves)
tips & tricks : precutting Silhoutte shapes and storage (Shanna Noel)
tips & tricks : doodling and coloring (Suzy Plantamura)
cover pages : samples from the Project Life Creative Team (Amanda Caves, April Foster, Deb Duty, Kinsey Wilson, Laura Kurz, Lisa Truesdell, Maggie Holmes, Nicole Harper)

On top of that, each and every Monday we'll be sharing 5 new spreads from the PL team - these PDFs will contain new PL spreads, as well as 5-7 in process photos and a description of how they work on a week. Think of it as getting to peek over their shoulders as they work on their album! Our Creative Team members will also be sharing their top tips for Project Life.

While supplies last, our Day by Day students will recieve this stamp set with their registration - and it ships free no matter where you live! We've also put together a fun collection of printables and digital diecuts - you can see those all here.

We want to give one of our fabulous blog readers a seat in the class (stamp set included)!! Just leave a comment here telling us what you're most excited about for Project Life in 2013. Please include your Studio Calico username so we can get a hold of you!! If you've already registered, we can refund your class fee or pass your spot to a friend.We'll announce a winner next Thursday!

If you don't win, there's still time to sign up! Registration ends on 12.31, and class begins on 1.1.2013. You can enroll right here. We hope to see you in the classroom!