Friday, August 29, 2014

Planning Graduation Annoucements

Is it too early to start planning the design for Graduation Announcements?

I hope not because that is where my brain was last night.

About 4 years ago I was asked by my sister in law to make her daughters graduation announcements.  
Talk about being scared out of my mind!  

I had no idea what I was getting into or what I was doing but we learned, had a blast doing it and I earned a large bag of twizzlers as payment.  Cassandra had custom made announcements and her mom did not have to pay an arm and a leg - it also sparked my card making adventures. 

 I think I only needed to buy the embossing powder and card bases for Cassandra - all of the other supplies were on hand. Cass is very interested in music and wanted the details on the inside.



During the process of researching how in the world to do this for Kaela I found a card a couple of years back and pinned it.

I love this card!

I pinned it and I printed it and stuck it the the drawer that we have for 12th grade for safe keeping.  I think this card woke me up at 3am this morning to do some thinking.  It would be very easy to mass produce with the cricut and for the most part light weight.  Kaela has already told me that I am making her announcements so there is not chance to chicken out.  

I am going to slip her senior photos in with the card so I think I might use photos corners to hold the photo.  My brain is in overdrive but I can not get started because we do not know where or what day graduation is this year.

Where is my planner & list when I need it?

Sunday, August 24, 2014

What Happened To The Crop Area?

Did something explode?



This is "thinking" in progress...

Why do I have luggage in the crop room? 
 Because I am going to a 2-day CTMH event in Boise, ID and this is me trying to fit all of the creative supplies and personal items into my carry on luggage.  The little pink case has 11 stamp pads in it along with smaller items.  My paper trimmer is foam wrapped and the paper is in the original package. Thank goodness I will only need two changes of clothes and some jammies.

I am on the fence on if I need to check my luggage, ship a package to the hotel or try and lug it all around the airport.  I have a tight, less than 30 minute layover in Phoenix so I am scared my luggage will not make it to the event but I have also heard stories about shipped boxes on making it on time too.  My worry and OCD buttons are working overtime on this one.


This "other mess" is an idea that Kaela and I are working around in our little brains.  I want a chalk board with the monthly schedule listed to put on the wall and a display "case" next to it.  Kaela is willing to change the information on the board each month for me with her little artist flair so now we just have to get the chalk board mounted into the frame.  

I think it will be cute when we are done and a great way for you to see what will be showcased for the next month.  

Creative Mojo Is Back

I love summer - I really do but I have the worst time being creative in the summer.  This year seemed to be the worst, it was almost like I had a creative block.  I have barely touched Kaela's 10 grade album and the one layout I did is still sitting there being mulled over because I am not sure I like it.  
But....
A little project was shown to me Friday and I went to the consultant side of the Close To My Heart website to learn more.  I have totally missed this teaching video for some reason but I am so happy that my sister consultant Dorothy was working on this during our monthly Consultant crop on Friday because she really got my butt moving and my brain thinking again. 

Stamping Technique Flip Chart






I only took photos of a couple of pages but there is one technique one each page.  I still have room to add more when I think of them.

I will have this little flip chart out during crops and workshops for reference and I plan on taking with me to craft fairs.

Once I started working on it I got into a grove. I was shocked when my brother called me this morning while I was still working and I noticed that the sun was up.  I finally went to sleep at 9am.  

It was a wonderful way to spend the night playing.

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Aunt's Card Workshop - Review

Last crop night (8-9-2014) my Aunt's drove in from Florida to spend a few days with my mother.  When Aunt Jackie found out that they were going to be here on Crop Night  she wanted to know if I would make a card class for her and her gal pal's.  

These three ladies have no scrapbooking or card making experience so I wanted to keep it fun for them.  My upline posted her card class for this month so that we can see what she is up too and I loved it so much that I modified it to work for the class.  

They came in later than they expected because of the Dallas area traffic but really wanted to play so we started around 9:00 pm and had a ton of fun.  I pre-cut all of the card parts so they were just stamping and adhering the paper in the right spots.  SPARKLES... they went crazy for the sparkles!  

I am so happy Amy was there to take photos for me - here are just a few that she captured from that crazy night.






I was only able to spend a few hours with these special ladies because Mike and I were flying to Wisconsin in the wee hours the next morning but I am so glad they came. 

After the "Aunt's" went to bed and the fire department left (see previous posts) Amy and I scrapped until 3am!  I never went to bed just played until time to go to the airport - I am not sure what time Amy woke up on Sunday.

Who needs sleep anyway?

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Travels and Crop Night Re-Cap

What a busy couple of days!  I am at "That Conference" with Mike in Wisconsin and this morning is the first morning I have had a chance to just sit and have a cup of coffee and catch up on the news.  It is the last day of the conference and we have to be at the airport at 4:00 am tomorrow so I am getting some packing done and just general organization so we are not rushing around in the wee  hours.

 Mike has been having a blast.  He is speaking this year so he is super excited.  I have watched him practice his talks for years but have never watched him speak until Monday. I was so proud of him that I was having trouble not bursting my buttons while watching.  Years of hard work are paying off for him and it is hard not to be excited for him.   I have a photo but for some reason it will not save correctly so as soon as Mike gets back to the room I will ask him what I am doing wrong.  

BTW if you ever get a chance to come to Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin DO IT!  It is so pretty here and there are a ton of trees.  At home it is about 102 degrees and in Wisconsin right now it is 63 degrees.   I did not bring a sweater because of the hot flashes that are starting to begin (not fun) and I have needed a sweater.  Mike just laughs - he thinks it is cute.

Crop night was the night before we left for this trip - no I did not get any sleep before we left but that is nothing new.  I was so keyed up and ready to get moving that I just stated awake.  My Aunt's were in town from Florida to visit with us and stay with my mother for a couple of days and they wanted to do a card workshop.  I planned a beginner workshop because these ladies have never scrapped.  Oh my did we have fun!  I am so happy Amy took photos and as soon as she sends them to me I will post a couple.  Amy was working on her projects and taking photos while I ran the workshop with my three Aunt's.  There were so many giggles and I think a hand in the ink pad but they loved it.  They were in love with the sparkles.  I think I know what I have getting them for Christmas (tons o sparkles).  

Amy caught her 2nd creative wind around 11:00 so we did not close shop until 3:00am but only after we had to call the fire department at 1:00 am.  Our smoke detectors alarms were set off 3 times and it scared the baloney out of all of us.  We could not find the source so I called to see if the fire department would come out just to make sure everything was ok.  I hated calling but I also know that they have gauges that can find hot spots and gas leaks.  The Allen Fire Department from the 911 operator to the Fire Fighters were all gracious and did not mind coming out just to make sure all was well.  It also calmed us all down.   I know these guys from working at the local hospital so I will catch some playful ribbing next time I see them at the grocery store.  I hated pulling them out of bed but they were a huge help.

Saturday was one of the best crop nights we have had.   

Do not forget that August 21, 2014 is the scrapbook workshop.  If you have not pre-ordered your kit do not delay you will need time for it to be shipped to you.   Here are the details:




August 21, 2014
7pm to 9pm
1504 High Country Lane
Allen, Texas 75002
RSVP:  Email: jperry@myscraproom.net


Products To Pre-Order:
Workshops on the Go: Chalk It Up Scrapbooking Kit
G1081  $29.95

Chalk It Up Compliments
X7184C  $4.95

Other supplies that are needed:
Basic Kit (your personal supplies)
Paper Trimmer
Scissors
Adhesive 
3-D foam tape
My Acrylix Blocks (if you have them)
Piercing Tool


    

Sunday, August 3, 2014

Up & Coming Travels

I will be joining Mike next week at a conference in Wisconsin.  He is speaking at "That Conference" with a bunch of his local co-workers.  He wanted Kaela and I to join him him last year but I was still working at the hospital and Kaela has always had the beginning of school meetings and such.  This year I can go!  Mom is here and she is going to stay with Kaela so it is a win for everyone.

Let me just say that I HATE air travel but since it appears that I will be traveling a bit this year I decided to get on Pinterest to see if I could make the process of flying easier for me.  
What a wealth of information!

Our normal suitcases were on their last legs so I did some research and found out about carry on packing.  This sounds like something I can do.  I purchased two 20 inch spinner carry on soft-side cases (red for me and black for Mike).  Then I went shopping for clothes.... I can not stay in scrubs for the rest of my life.  I took Kaela with me and we stuck to a theme.  Black bottoms and easy to wear / pack dressy-ish tops.  These are Mikes work peeps and I need to look somewhat put together.  I am going to wear my normal black Dansko shoes in the airport because they look nice with everything I am going to pack but also because they are super comfortable and slip on's for the TSA.  I also found on Pinterest  these funky little shoes called "Toms".  I was not sure I would be able to wear them but since Kaela and I have the same size feet I went ahead and ordered a pair of black canvas.  


They are very cute in person and so light weight!  I can also walk in them.  With the Cerebral Palsy I tend to walk out of any shoe that does not have a strap to hold them on my feet but I think I found the perfect causal shoe and they are very comfortable.

So I have the clothes taken care of and yes they will all fit in a carry on size suite case so no checked bags for me and yes I can lift the case over my head to get into the bins.

But what about all of the extras (laptop, cords ect)

You would not believe what I found to use as my "personal item" on the plane.


Product in Inches (L x W x H): 16 x 13 x 15
$20



Yes you are correct... it is a diaper bag!
It holds all of the important stuff you need while in the air that will not fit in with your clothes.

Main Compartment
Travel Documents
Laptop
Camera
Cord bag / Chargers
Medicines
small first aid (I am a klutz)
Tea bags and Granola bars
Water Bottle (will fill after security)

Large Front Zip Pocket
iPod & Earbuds
Small case with gum, nail file, Burt's Bees

Left Front Pocket
Wallet
(my travel purse will be empty & in my suite-case )

Right Front Pocket
Sunglasses 
Umbrella

I never travel with very much in a purse so I am all set there. This bag will also work great as a day trip bag while there.  I was going to take out the "changing pad" but found that it adds a little cushion around my laptop without adding weight so I am going to keep it in unless it starts to bug me.  I have the bag completely packed and it is still very light and easy to carry around.

Oh wait... you are wondering where my liquid bag is?  TSA needs to see it right?
I do not have one!

I never have had a huge make-up bag but I hate having to take everything out for others to see - but I found a solution.

Lush.com



Lush makes a line of solid products for air travel. The products that I bought in solid form are the shampoo, conditioner,  face moisturizer, body scrub, and tooth paste.  
 I am so glad I went over to the physical store in the Willow Bend shopping center because the products that I wanted did not smell good to me so I went around finding the ones that I like and bought those. All of the reviews I read were fantastic so why not give them a try.  It was not cheap but these items should last me for about a year's worth of travel. My make-up bag is all packed and with no liquids therefore no reason to pull it out at security.   Between Mike's travel and CTMH travel I will be on the road a bit this year.

Never fear we are having Crop Night next Saturday. 
 We do not leave until Sunday morning and if you know me then you know that I will be all packed and ready to go way ahead of time so I will still be able to enjoy crop night with no stress. 

Truth time:  I am really sitting on my hands trying not to pack today.

See you Saturday!





Saturday, August 2, 2014

August Workshop: Chalk It Up




August 21, 2014
7pm to 9pm
1504 High Country Lane
Allen, Texas 75002
RSVP:  Email: jperry@myscraproom.net


Products To Pre-Order:
Workshops on the Go: Chalk It Up Scrapbooking Kit
G1081  $29.95

Chalk It Up Compliments
X7184C  $4.95

Other supplies that are needed:
Basic Kit (your personal supplies)
Paper Trimmer
Scissors
Adhesive 
3-D foam tape
My Acrylix Blocks (if you have them)
Piercing Tool



Be prepared for those back to school photos and get your layout done early and stress free.

The new 2014 / 2015 catalog is now live.  Do not forget to place your order for your workshop supplies.

Friday, August 1, 2014

My Acrylix® Spritz & Scrubber

Cut Above™ kits

Workshops on the Go™

Score Board

Picture My Life™ scrapbooking programs

Punches & Corner Rounder

Adhesives

VersatMat and All-Purpose Mat

Cricut® Artfully Sent

Picture Perfection In August


During the month of August, when you purchase any of the 13 available Picture 
My Life™ scrapbooking programs featured in the Annual Inspirations idea 
book at their full retail price of $24.95 USD/$27.50 CAD, you are eligible to 
add your choice of 1 of 8 qualifying Memory Protectors™ 10-packs for just 
$3 
(USD & CAD)!

 Each Picture My Life scrapbooking program already includes a 
coordinating 10-pack of Memory Protectors, so when you add your additional 
10-pack for only $3 you will be well on your way to your own picture-perfect 
pocket scrapbooking adventure!

*Offer valid August 1–31, 2014 while supplies last. 

No tax will be charged on the free item(s).Shipping/ handling is calculated based on the full retail price of the free item(s) ($9.95 USD/$10.95 CAD). 

Qualifying Memory Protectors include: 
Design 1, Design 2, Design 3, Design 4, Design 5, Top Load, 
Side Load, and Variety Pack

Embossing Tools

Sponge and Sponge Dauber

5 New Cardstock Colors!

Can we talk cardstock for just a moment?  

Because I am super excited about the FIVE new cardstock colors that have been revealed with the new 2014-2015 CTMH Annual Inspirations Catalog today. 

Would you like to see all FIVE new colors?  

Product Description: Single color 24 sheets per package for $14.50 each

12"x 12" Thistle Cardstock  X5769


12" x 12" Glacier Cardstock  X5770


12" x 12" Flaxen Cardstock  X 5771

 

 12" x 12" Canary Cardstock  X5772


12" x 12" Pixie Cardstock  X5773

 

Do you know what the best part is? 

 TODAY is the day that you can start ordering from the new 2014 - 2015 CTMH Annual Inspirations Catalog.

What are you waiting for?

The faster you place your order the faster you will have the new catalog in your hands along with all kinds of new products to play with.

I love them and I know you will too.