Debby Schuh Classes

In Bloom Altered Book

I’ve always wanted to make a memory book in an actual book, using both scrapbook techniques and art journal techniques... a cool place for a little bit of everything from special photos, page protectors, stamping, painting, pockets, sewing, and so much more – this class will offer a wide variety of mixed media techniques in my own “Debby-style” that can be used over and over again in your mixed media, scrapbook, and card-making projects. It's going to be a fun class to play and try new things!

Using one of the Puffin in Bloom children’s classic books, with cover illustrations by Anna Bond of Rifle Paper, and products from Crate Paper and other companies, you’ll learn and play and create a one-of-a-kind memory book. Your kit will be packed with product to use – you’ll even get your own stamp set to use in the book. I’m going to use my book for pictures of happy memories of adventures with my “sisters” – women that have impacted my life from childhood to today with friendship and love! Can you guess which title I’ll be using!

You will have a choice of one of the four titles in the Puffin in Bloom series: Little Women, Anne of Green Gables, Heidi, or A Little Princess. The books are approximately 5” x 7”, and they are all about 1” thick, except Little Women, which is 2” thick. Please specify which book you would like to work in when you sign up. The book is included with your class kit. You can see pictures of the books at Rifle Books.com in order to choose a title. When you sign up, please specify which title you would like to have. If you already have a book that you would like to use for the class, you can still sign up and specify that you will bring your own book, and your class will be discounted by $10.

Student supply list: Please bring the following items to class… 12” paper trimmer, scissors, ruler, pencil, scoring tool, stapler, glue stick, strong tape adhesive (1/4” is perfect), distressing ink (I use a pretty dry Vintage Photo Distress Ink pad), ink-blending tool, non-stick craft mat, Faber Castell Gelato – Guava color, white acrylic paint, a brush, and a variety of things you might want to color with such as watercolor paints, colored pencils, markers, etc, and a favorite washi tape that matches the colors of the book ( for example: pale pink, periwinkle blue, black print, gold, sage green), acrylic block for stamping, black stamp pad (preferably a permanent ink like Ranger Archival Ink or StazOn.), corner rounder, an old gift card or hotel key to paint with, water cup. Optional: Craftsmart acrylic paints in Pink Chiffon, Robin's Egg Blue, Pale Blue, and Ivory (pale yellow)

This class will be taught at select stores beginning at Whim So Doodle in March.

Collecting Happy Moments Portfolio

As I was designing my new classes, I had an idea for an album that would be both a book and a portfolio, but nothing like that existed, so I decided to create my own! The result is a super cool album with pages and “flips” and the fun interactive elements that I love in a book. Once you create this original album, you’ll be able to fill it with happy moments and recreate it in different sizes and for different purposes. When opened, this portfolio album is about 24" across!

Using pretty pieces from Crate Paper's new Craft Market and Confetti collections, we’ll create our books step by step together, featuring the darling vintage embroidery image on the cover. As always, your class kit will contain lots of paper options to use for the cover to make it your own. The little wood embroidery hoop finishes it off perfectly!

Student supply list: Please bring the following items to class… 12” paper trimmer, scissors, pencil, ruler, scoring tool, strong tape adhesive (¼”, or ½” and wide tape, if you have it), regular tape runner adhesive, Crop a Dile (or 1/16” and 1/4” We R MemoryKeepers Power Punches), Distress Ink (I use a dry-ish Vintage Photo Distress Ink pad by Ranger), ink blending tool, non-stick craft mat, sanding tool, stapler, foam squares, corner rounder punch, a special button to sew on the front cover (I will have some with me to chose from) and a needle. Optional: We R MemoryKeepers Cinch binding machine

This class will be taught at each store on my schedule starting at Whim So Doodle.

The "Debby-dori" Anything/Everything Bookmaking Workshop

For years I’ve wished for a journal/planner that could hold all the different notebooks and information for my daily life in one place – after searching and searching and not finding just the right thing, I decided to create my own from a vintage book. Using the binding system of the hugely popular M   idori Traveler’s Notebook, I created a book that is exactly what I’ve always wanted. From there my mind started whirling with the possibilities for using this idea to make books for anything and everything! I took a small book and made a notebook for my purse; I plan to take a large book about France and make a scrapbook for my Paris photos and memorabilia and stories; I want to make a book filled with a variety of papers for sketching, watercolor, and mixed media… the possibilities are endless once you learn the techniques to make this book.

For this workshop, you will need to bring your own book – it can either be a book with a cover that you love or not – you can always paint and decorate over a less appealing cover. Your hardcover book will need to have a cloth spine like the books in the photo of my samples that is in fairly good condition, attached to the front and back cover – the inside pages will all be removed, so they do not need to be in good condition. For the supplies you will receive in your class kit, your book needs to be at least 5” x 8.25” (my Being a Friend book in the workshop photo is 6” x 9”) so that we can use a Moleskine large Cahier notebook in it. The binding should be at least ½” wide. When you make more of these books (and you won’t be able to stop yourself!) you can use ANY size book that you want!) Old readers, novels, and children’s books are perfect for this. I have found my books at Goodwill, but ebay and thrift shops are great places to look also. Please feel free to bring more than one book to class in any size to transform into your own "dori".

Your workshop kit will contain papers to make pages and pockets and a “dashboard” along with fun accessories and the all the supplies to bind your “Debby-dori.”

Student supply list: please bring the following items to the workshop… 12” paper trimmer, scissors, ruler, scoring tool, craft knife, liquid “tacky” style white glue, strong tape adhesive about ¼” width, Crop a Dile punch, the book you will use to make your journal - don't worry if you can't find the exact book that you want - bring any book and learn the techniques and when you find just the right thing, you will know how to make it.

Optional supplies: Japanese screw punch, a variety of 12x12” scrapbook papers that match the style that you like in case you don’t want to use the papers I provide, a white Uniball Signo pen, sketchbook, watercolor, or other papers that you might want to include in your book – they will need to be at least about 8.25 x10”, if you want them to match the size of the Moleskine large notebook, Moleskine softcover large notebooks or planner, Midori Traveler’s Notebook accessories like the #004 card/note holder, #006 large sticker, #007 card holder, #008 clear zipper pocket, #015 black pen holder, #016 brown pen holder, the traveler’s notebook repair kit, if you want your book to have the little Midori clasp on the outside of the book. Many of the optional supplies are available on Amazon.com, at Baum-kuchen.net, and at the Goulet Pen Company online. Whim Do Doodle in St. Petersburg, Florida, carries Moleskine notebooks and accessories and will ship.

This class will be taught at each location on my schedule in the US.

Chicago/Illinois Keepsake Album

Debby has designed an exclusive, one time class, just for our store, and for all your special Chicago and/or Illinois memories! In class you will either be able to create a beautiful Chicago Keepsake album or an Illinois Keepsake album that is perfect for all your photos and memorabilia of the Windy City and the Land of Lincoln. Using a fabulous screen-printed and embroidered Chicago tea towel or an Illinois tea towel to make the cover, we’ll make a 10 x 10” album full of pockets and pages and textures that will house all your favorite photos and memories of our great city and state. Your kit will be filled (to overflowing!!) with products and choices for you to use as you assemble your album in class. New products from My Mind’s Eye and custom Chicago and Illinois papers and Chicago stickers will make your album a one of a kind keepsake. This unique album makes a wonderful gift for yourself or someone special.
This is a limited edition class – Debby is making only twenty-four kits, so be sure to not miss out. There is a possibility that the Chicago towels for the covers of your book will not make it in time for class due to the ongoing strike at the Port of Los Angeles. The Illinois towel will be available in class for sure. If you want a Chicago towel, it will be sent to you when it comes in. You will learn in class how to make the cover and have printed directions to follow. If you want an Illinois towel, you will able to make your cover in class. If you cannot attend class that day, the kit will contain the directions with color photos to follow to do the kit on your own (be sure to specify whether you want a Chicago or Illinois towel.) If you are attending class, you can decide that day.

Student supply list: Please bring the following items to class… 12” paper trimmer, pencil, ruler, scoring tool, scissors to cut fabric and paper, strong tape adhesive, regular tape runner adhesive, Crop a Dile. 

This class will be taught at CraftFancy.

Open Book Journal

The possibilities are endless for this one-of-a-kind journal/scrapbook that we will create using the parts of a pre-made journal kit along with papers and embellishments from the gorgeous new Maggie Holmes Open Book collection and lots of other fun bits of this and that. Each journal can be unique as you choose your cover design and the assembly of your book to reflect your style and your needs (or do it just like Debby’s!)

This versatile 5 ½” x 8” book would be perfect as a travel journal that you could take on a trip with you to add to as you go; it would be a lovely garden or home journal; it could be a daily journal to record your thoughts and plans; you could use it as a gratitude or prayer journal; it could be a place to reflect on your life stories… You can make it whatever you want it to be! My journal has 104 pages! The lined pages that are scattered throughout the book give you a place to tell the stories and to include photos and mementos that you collect.

Student supply list:

Please bring the following items to class… 12” paper trimmer, pencil, ruler, scoring tool, scissors, strong tape adhesive (1/8”, ¼”, or ½”), regular tape runner adhesive, Crop a Dile (or 1/4” We R MemoryKeepers Power Punch), Distress Ink (I use Vintage Photo Distress Ink by Ranger), ink blending tool, non-stick craft mat, sanding tool, stapler or Tiny Attacher, foam squares, corner rounder punch, scallop-edge scissors. Optional: We R MemoryKeepers Tab Punch, baby powder to make stickers un-sticky, We R MemoryKeepers Cinch binding machine

This class will be taught at Whim So Doodle and Memories Live On in 2014, and then in stores continuing in 2015.

Candy Cane Christmas Album 2014

The seasons are changing, the stores are getting their holiday products in, and that means it’s time to make our annual Christmas album. This year we will be making an album filled with papers and embellishments from one of my favorite Christmas collections ever – the new Bo Bunny Candy Cane Lane collection. From a jolly vintage Santa to the nostalgic Shiny Brite box, this collection is a whimsical array of darling images that will be perfect for all your holiday photos.

We will be making our album from a shopping bag with lots of techniques for including all your memories – whether on a daily basis for the month of December or for the whole season. Even if you have made this type of album with me before, you’ll have new things to learn and will love filling this book with your Christmas memories, photos, and cards. The mix of page protector sizes and the things we'll add into our book makes the twenty-plus pages interactive and fun!

If you have a chance to get the small size shopping bag from an Anthropologie store, it would be so helpful. I will have some for those who are not able to get a bag (if you can get more than one to share, I’ll be forever grateful!) I’m not able to get the large quantities I used to get but will have one for everyone who needs one. The album-making techniques can be used with any shopping bag – you’re mind will be full of the possibilities!

Student supply list: 

Please bring the following items to class… 12” paper trimmer, pencil, ruler, scoring tool, scissors, strong tape adhesive (1/8”, ¼”, or ½”, and also a wider tape, if possible), regular tape runner adhesive, Crop a Dile and/or 1/4” We R MemoryKeepers Power Punch, Distress Ink (I use Vintage Photo Distress Ink by Ranger), ink blending tool, non-stick craft mat, sanding tool, stapler or Tiny Attacher, two pieces of lightweight chipboard at least 7 ¾” x 8 ½” – it can even be a cereal box cardboard – that’s what I used, scallop-edge scissors, small size Anthropologie bag (8 ¾” x 10 ½”).

This will be taught at each of the stores on my schedule for the rest of 2014 and at Paper Tales in 2015.

StoryTeller Book

(Click on a photo to see it larger.)

Don’t you love it when someone says, “Tell me about the time…” - who doesn’t love a good story! You have stories that only you can tell, and this album is just the place to write those stories down. Just like a good book that you would get from the library to read over and over again, your StoryTeller book will be a treasure-trove of your “tell me about” stories.

Using the whimsical new Public Library collection from October Afternoon mixed with the nostalgic new Open Road collection from American Crafts, we will make a storybook filled with lots of places to tuck your stories and include your photos. The new Heidi Swapp 8” x 6” binder album with three different styles of horizontal page projectors will be the base of our book  - we will alter some of them and make your book an interactive scrapbook for writing, photos, and mementos.

You’ll have several papers to choose from for your book cover and, of course, can use your book for anything you want – it would make a great place to record your favorite books or to use as a school album or even a travel album. Your kit includes thirteen sheets of 12x12 papers, 4 stickers sheets, stitched borders, Miscellany die cuts and buttons and ribbons and the album with color directions – it’s huge!

Student supply list: Please bring the following items to class… 12” paper trimmer, pencil, ruler, scoring tool, scissors, strong tape adhesive (1/8” and ½”, if possible), regular tape runner adhesive, foam adhesive, Crop a Dile (or 1/4” We R MemoryKeepers Power Punch), Distress Ink (I use Vintage Photo Distress Ink by Ranger), ink blending tool, non-stick craft mat, sanding tool, stapler or Tiny Attacher, corner rounder punch. Optional: Tim Holtz two hole punch and powder to use make stickers “unsticky”.

This class will be taught at each of the stores on the rest of my schedule throughout 2014. If you would like to purchase a kit, please contact one of those stores and they will send it to you after the class is taught at that store. Thank you!

#bigideas #smallbooks album

Using the new We R MemoryKeepers 4x4” Instagram album, Debby will guide you in making an encyclopedia of ideas for expanding the room for photos in the small books that are so popular now. The folds and cuts and extensions and add-ins and more will supply a wealth of ideas that can be adapted for any of your paper-crafting projects.

The darling new Styleboard collection by Maggie Holmes from Crate Paper will fill our books with nostalgic charm and be the foundation for the sweet little pages that we’ll make for our favorite photos. The page protectors that come in your album will be perfect for 4x4” or 2x2” Instagram photos or you can crop your photos to fit the pages. We’ll add ribbons and tags and pockets and other little embellishments to make our books the cutest things ever!

 Student supply list: Please bring the following items to class… 12” paper trimmer, pencil, ruler, scoring tool, scissors, strong tape adhesive (1/8” and ½”, if possible), regular tape runner adhesive, Crop a Dile (or 1/16” and 1/4” We R MemoryKeepers Power Punches, Distress Ink (I use Vintage Photo Distress Ink by Ranger), ink blending tool, non-stick craft mat, sanding tool, stapler or Tiny Attacher, corner rounder punch, scallop-edge scissors, foam squares. Optional: Tim Holtz two hole punch.

This class will be taught at all stores on my schedule beginning the weekend of March 7.

Little Golden Seashore Album

Some of my happiest memories are of days spent at the seashore – whether it’s in Florida or Texas or California or somewhere else across the world – most of us have pictures and memorabilia from these special times that need a home.

In this class we will be making a darling album using the classic Little Golden book, “A Day at the Seashore” as the foundation of our project. We’ll take the book apart and then refashion it with the beautiful new collection “By the Sea” from Graphic 45, and mix it with goodies from American Crafts, October Afternoon, 7gypsies, and more, along with gorgeous ribbon from May Arts. We’ll be making interactive pages with fold-outs and pockets and page protectors and all the techniques that Debby is known for – you’ll love the possibilities that this book presents to include lots and lots of photos and techniques that you can apply to your other paper crafts projects.

 Student supply list: Please bring the following items to class… 12” paper trimmer, pencil, ruler, scoring tool, scissors, strong tape adhesive (1/8” and ½”, if possible), regular tape runner adhesive, Crop a Dile (or 1/16” and 1/4” We R MemoryKeepers Power Punches, Distress Ink (I use Vintage Photo Distress Ink by Ranger), ink blending tool, non-stick craft mat, sanding tool, stapler or Tiny Attacher, Glossy Accents (or other liquid glue or glue dots), corner rounder punch, scallop-edge scissors. Optional: We R MemoryKeepers Tab Punch, Tim Holtz two hole punch, craft knife, cutting mat, flat nose wire cutters.

This class will be taught at all the stores on my  spring and summer schedule.

Celebrate Every Day

In Debby’s newest class, we will be creating a very special little book - doing what she loves best: combining clever techniques and unexpected materials with an inspirational subject to make a sweet journal that is full of techniques for your scrapbooking, book-making, and other paper-crafting projects.

In class we’ll make a canvas bound 9” x 6” x 1 1/4" book from scratch using an everyday dry erase board and filling it with darling pastel papers and embellishments from the brand new Dear Lizzy’s Polka Dot Party collection. There will be lots of pages for journaling - for recording both the things you can celebrate every day AND the everyday things you can celebrate! It is a perfect place to record a glimpse of your everyday life today.

Student supply list: Please bring the following items to class… 12” paper trimmer, pencil, ruler, scoring tool, scissors, tape runner adhesive, Crop a Dile, sanding block, Glossy Accents or glue dots, scallop scissors, stapler or Tiny Attacher. Optional: 1/4” WeR MemoryKeepers Power Punch or Tim Holtz Ideology 2 hole punch, WeR MemoryKeepers Corner Chomper.

This class will be taught at The Crafty Scrapper in Waxahachie, Texas, Memories Live On in Cupertino, California, and at Version Scrap in Paris, France. If you'd like purchase a class kit, you can contact one of the stores in the US or purchase a kit at the event in Paris.