C9 Summer Camp

Concord & 9th, a stamp and die company, just held their first large online class event. They called it C9 Summer Camp. Six well-known paper crafters served as camp counselors to registered members. The camp counselors were Kristna Werner and Lydia Fiedler teaching watercolor techniques; Laura Bassen and Cathy Zileske teaching Turnabout (a Concord & 9th patented stamp method); and Caly Person and Becky Roberts teaching 3-D papercrafts. Greg Cottrell of Concord & 9th acted as the camp counselor and host. All of the cardstock, stamps, dies, inks, and watercolors used in the items that follow were included in the kits sent to registered campers.

Watercolor classes were taught Friday evening. These two cards used the same stamp and colors, but the techniques were quite different. This class was Kristinia Werner's. I haven't added a sentiment to the first card yet as I am undecided. 

Lydia Fiedler showed us how to make gray paint from the shades of yellow, blue, and red used in the florals above. Amazing! The gray clouds and lake scene isn't finished because I haven't decided whether to add the intended canoe (a separate painted die cut) or so something else. Creating the clouds by daubing the still-wet paint with paper toweling was a great thing to learn. So was using a wet into wet technique to creat rust on the VW van. 

This morning's classes featured Turnabout stamps. Check this website here for Turnabout stamps, what is available and how they are used. Laura Bassen taught these cards. The second one isn't a Turnabout, but if you know Laura, you know she loves rainbow color arrays. 

Following Laura was Cathy Zielski who used the same stamp and dies in both cards but achieved a different feel. 

After a lunch break for me (there were campers from all over the world so it wasn't the same meal break for everyone), we had arts and crafts, beginning with Caly person and these cards that had the same card base but featured different settings. I haven't added sentiments here yet either. These do fold flat to fit into an envelope for mailing, but for the time being, they are decorating shelves in my house.

Last, but certainly not least, was this floral wreath, taught by Becky Roberts who is known for making 3D flowers. The wooden wreath frame is 6.5" in diameter. 

I thoroughly enjoyed each class and each of the instructors, both professionally and in the "campfire" moments when they shared a bit about themselves. 

Once upon a time, I enjoyed traveling to classes held a good way from my home, even far enough away that I flew to classes and spent nights in a hotel. Those days are over for a variety of reasons that are my choices. Being able to take classes from home these past two days was absolutely great! I would love to have met these women in person but I know how meeting them actually goes when you are face to face. It isn't just you and them, it is you and anywhere from 49-199 other people with the same goal of talking to them! 

I will definitely do this again if Concord & 9th offers another event, and am already looking at two other events that feature other instructors whose videos and blogs I've been following.