Saturday, October 31, 2015

First Ever Consultant Retreat 2015

So you guys know that I have a group of consultant ladies that I have a crop with once a month.  We work on future projects to teach, personal projects that we might want to teach and of course eat all day. 

 I love these ladies.

We came up with the idea to have an overnight crop session at a local retreat (Magnolia Escape in Plano) for some much needed girl time before the hustle and bustle of the holidays begins.  

Most of our group could not make it because of Halloween but Dorothy, Sylvia and I had a blast staying up until 3am working on personal layouts and having a great time just laughing at each other. 



I did not take any photos during the night because as any good retreat goes - the jammies played a major part in the night.  I was working on my 2010 family album and boy did I make some good progress and will take photos of the layouts as soon as I can.  



I am leaving this week to go to Salt Lake City for the CTMH Album Retreat!!!!  

With the local retreat and the SLC retreat I should have some great work to post soon.  

Embellishing 101: Complements, Assortments, and Stamping

Collection Connection: Sangria

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Elderly Pugs & Late Night Card Making

Pugs can be the funniest of dogs.  
They can be the most loyal of dogs. 
 Radar has been all of these and more.




From the very first moment that I started scrapbooking he parked his butt in my room to be my companion during the wee hours of the night for the last 12 years.  He is 15 this year and that is very old for a pug.  

I need to remind myself ... what a good (great) dog he has been so that I do not get upset with him during these later years.  Yesterday he started going potty in the house.  I have spent the last couple of days chasing him with the spot bot and steam cleaner trying to clean up the mess before it has a chance to make my house smell well like a toilet.  He will "go" outside and then come in and "go" again.  I think it is just am age thing  I do not think he realizes that he is going at the time.  

He is a very happy dog otherwise and shows no sign of failing except for the potty problem - oh and the blindness and he is hard of hearing but other than that he is a happy little dog.  He does not act like he is ready to throw in the towel just yet so until then I will just have to run around the house all day looking for potty spots.  

So why am I awake and scrapbooking / cardmaking at 0300 when I have been doing really well sleeping lately?

Because I steam cleaned the downstairs carpets today - then took a two hour nap - so that means I am awake again on the wrong side of the clock.

I am listening to: 


While getting a jump on my Christmas cards.  I have so many from years past that I have made that I am getting organized early this year and getting them ready to mail.   They are all designs that have been sitting in the card racks ready to sell for the last couple of years - and they have not sold so I am going to use them myself.   Why not get going on the holiday "small stuff" early so that I can enjoy the "big stuff" stress free.

If I could I would be wrapping the gifts right now, but I am not finished shopping for them.   I like to be done with the shopping no later than Thanksgiving so I can give myself two weeks to get them wrapped. That means that the two weeks leading up to Christmas is just for cooking fabulous food and baking yummy cookies! 

Watch ... this year because I am being Uber organized I will forget to even mail out the cards!

So I guess the moral of the story tonight is?

If it seems like the blog is not getting much use, please bear with me while I become one with the steam cleaner.   I am not sure how much time Radar has left with the family and if that means I have to clean my carpet everyday just to make him more comfortable then that is what I will do.

Thank you for your understanding.

Monday, October 19, 2015

Picture My Life™ Pocket Scrapbooking

Embossing Folders and Diffusers 101

State Stamps

State Stamps

Who Knew? 


You know those cute little State Stamps that are on page 103?
 with more states online......

Want to know a cute use for them? Well besides cards?



Stamp the back or the front corner of snail mail that you are sending for a little hometown love.  When I given this tip I about flipped my lid - Happy girl over here!!!

Not only did I stamp the envelopes that I use to send letters to Kaela but I am also going to stamp the back of all of my Christmas cards.  

These little stamps are only $2.95 each so it is affordable to buy every stamp in the nation or just the states that you have lived in.

BUT

What ever you do ... do not do what I did!!!


I accidentally grabbed my Archival Black Stamp pad and now my stamp is forever stained black. 

 It will not hurt the stamp, in fact now if I drop it on the carpet I will be able to find it again - but it will never again be clear.  

I think I will keep this little stamp in my letter writing box.


This box has my address book, envelopes, my return address stamp, some washi tape, pens, and notebook paper, and stickers.  I type out and print Kaela's letters 90% of the time but if we go camping I can just grab this box and take it with us.  That way I can mail letters from the road.  I have mini version of this box in my travel bag that goes with me when I fly. 

Speaking of letter to Kaela, I guess I should go and get one put in the mail.

Happy Scrapping! 

Sunday, October 18, 2015

OMG - My photo is online!!!!!

I am jumping up and down with excitement... 
MY photo is on the front page of the convention website on the CTMH consultant website!!!!! 

 I am internet famous!!!!


I put the little green circle around me so you can find me in the crowd!  

Ok all joking aside I am kinda excited that I saw this photo and realized that I was sitting in the back of the room trying to work on layouts.  The last night of the convention was a dance party / crop so there were ladies having a crazy time on and off the dance floor.

Those off the dance floor were having a bit of a time because the DJ kept having the lights turned out - until he was told that we were back there working. 

What was I working on - in the semi dark?

(Urban)


(Georgie)


The word was trying to work but I kept getting distracted watching all of the ladies dance.  I can not dance, not even a little but I love to watch others.  I had a great time and the dance crop but decided that I needed to finish the layouts at home.

Convention was in July and I just finished them during crop last night.
Now I just have to find the perfect photos to go on these pages. 

Just because I am retired from the hospital does not mean that I am caught up on my scrapping - and that is OK.

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend.
Be safe this week.

Monday, October 12, 2015

Happy Monday

Where has this month gone?  
It is just flying by!

I saw this meme on facebook this morning and it made me giggle so I thought I would pass it on. 


While I am far from being bored it does remind me to take time for my own personal scrapbooking.  This morning I woke up early to work on meal plans for the week and decided that since I was already awake I would get some scrapbooking done.  I am working on a couple of layouts but they will not be on the blog until later this year.  I am trying to match artwork with the paper packs that we will be using in the Workshops each month.

Some of you know that I went on a road trip with my mother in law last week.  The original plan was to go up to Branson, Mo because there is an Amish Store (Amish Country Store) that we love shopping at.  They have a french onion soup mix that Kaela adores. 

 Since we each has about a week to play we decided to turn our shopping trip into a "Amish Country Store Tour". We found a list of stores in the area and some by word of mouth from the other shop keepers and off we went. 

The Garmin in the Suburban thought we went nuts but that was ok.  My pantry is now full of all kinds of soup starters and baking mixes just in time for the holiday season.  I loved stopping into all of the different family run stores and seeing what they had to offer, I also bought something in almost all of the stores we stopped in.

When Mike and I made a quick overnight trip to Tulsa week before last we also found a small Amish Store just on the other side of the TX / OK border, I think it is across Hwy 75 from the casino.  This one is only about 1 12/ hours from my house so I think it will be a good little store to stock up on the jar items.  They do not have the baking and soup starters but they do have fabulous cheeses and FUDGE!!!!  Do not even get me started on all of the yummy stuff in jars...

I will have to make another trip to the OK store  just before Christmas because I had a couple of ideas for gifts while I was there. 

As you can guess Barbara's suburban was filled to the brim when we crossed the state line again with not only the grocery items that we intended on buying but also quilts and furniture.  We made time for a little antiquing too.  I found a little cookware and Barbara found artwork. 

As soon as I work with the few photos we took (they are still on the laptop) I will post a couple.  
*********************************************************
Do not forget that this Saturday is CROP NIGHT!

I can not wait to see you there!

Saturday, October 3, 2015

CTMH Making Connections - Dallas 2015

I had a wonderful time last night catching up with friends and getting a little CTMH training.  CTMH loves to have little three hour regional events to help keep all of our friendships connected not only with each other but also with the corporate office.  

The local team that I am a member of wanted to get together a bit early have dinner so we made our way to Bucks Prime - Dallas.   It is a hop, skip and a jump from the Hilton Anatole and the hamburgers are worth the drive!  "Dinner" was at 2:30 and registration started at 5:00 so we had plenty of time to talk, eat and laugh together.

  I learn so much when I am with these ladies.






Then it was time for the session to begin.   We always find time for catching up with old friends, laughing and even a little creating.









This is a photo of our local team


Do not forget the occasional selfies!




After the event I was riding back to Plano / Allen with my car buddy Dorothy and realized that I was HUNGRY!  So we stopped off at Sal's Pizza - the original Dallas location, for a couple of slices of said pizza and garlic bread.  

These ladies are just ONE of the reasons I have been a CTMH consultant for 10 years.

I love this company!

Thursday, October 1, 2015

Steampunk Halloween

Happy 1st day of October!


October is a favorite month in the Perry house - well the  for two out of three that live here.  Mike and Kaela love to have scary movie nights and decorate the house with all things that go bump in the night.  

Me?  I hate scary movies so I get a ton of scrapbooking done while they have quality Dad / Daughter Time.  Think that since Kaela is off to college that they will not have time to watch movies together?  Nope they will Skype and watch the same movie at the same time.  

Speaking of getting some scrapbooking done - well card making, I made a cute little halloween card using 

 
Steampunk Scoundrels
B 1503
$9.95

Tasty Terrors
D1669
$17.95


Talk about super simple to make. Just some stamping and shimmer trim to make it sparkle.  I added the hand stitching because that is my flare but on your card you can leave it out if stitching is not your thing.  It looks great without it too. 

I was going to put these in the card racks to sell at the craft fair I am working later this month but they are so cute that I think I am going to send them to friends and family.

Off to make more cards
Oh Happy Day! 

October Stamp of the Month: Twinkle




Do not forget to add this stamp set to your orders this month.  Oh the possibilities that can be created with these cute images. 

Twinkle SET OF 15 $17.95 USD S1510

Each month you can purchase a new D-size stamp set, available for one month only, for just $5—that’s over 70% off retail! 

When you place an order of $50 or more in Close To My Heart products, you qualify for this special Stamp of the Month pricing.

RECOMMENDED BLOCKS: 1" × 1" (Y1000), 1" × 31⁄2" (Y1002), 2" × 2" (Y1003), 2" × 31⁄2" (Y1009), 2" × 61⁄2" (Y1010)



$5 Available only October 1, 2015–October 31, 2015 

October EVENING Workshop: Nevermore

October 22, 2015
7 pm to 9 pm
1504 High Country Lane

Allen, Texas 75002

Please send me a quick email to let me know which class you would like to attend so I know how to prepare for each class 
If you have any questions please email me at: jperry@myscraproom.net

We are not using a pre-set "Workshop kit" this month so the supply list is a little different.  

Products to Pre-Order 
Nevermore Paper Pack
X7198B   $9.95
Black Shimmer Trim
Z1809  $4.95
Grey Enamel Gems
Z3089  $3.95
3-D Foam Tape
Z1151  $5.95

Cardstock Needed(See Note) 
Pear Cardstock
X5764  $14.50 
Saffron Cardstock 
X5778  $14.50
(Since only 1 sheet of these are needed you can purchase 
the 1 sheet from me for .25 during the workshop) 

We will be stamping - I will have a one stamp set to be used during the workshop but if you really like the layout and would like to purchase your own set of the stamps that are used here they are:

Stamps
 (if you want to purchase your own set) 

My Acrylix Marquee Uppercase
E1029  $29.95
My Acrylix Little Monsters
C1630  $13.95
  
Other supplies that are needed:
Basic Kit
(your personal supplies)
Paper Trimmer
Scissors 
Adhesive 
My Acrylix Blocks (if you have them) 
(2x2 block this month)
Piercing Tool


October DAY Workshop: Nevermore



October 13, 2015
10 am to 12 pm
1504 High Country Lane

Allen, Texas 75002

Please send me a quick email to let me know which class you would like to attend so I know how to prepare for each class 
If you have any questions please email me at: jperry@myscraproom.net

We are not using a pre-set "Workshop kit" this month so the supply list is a little different.  

Products to Pre-Order 
Nevermore Paper Pack
X7198B   $9.95
Black Shimmer Trim
Z1809  $4.95
Grey Enamel Gems
Z3089  $3.95
3-D Foam Tape
Z1151  $5.95

Cardstock Needed: (See Note) 
Pear Cardstock
X5764  $14.50 
Saffron Cardstock 
X5778  $14.50
(Since only 1 sheet of these are needed you can purchase 
the 1 sheet from me for .25 during the workshop) 

We will be stamping - I will have a one stamp set to be used during the workshop but if you really like the layout and would like to purchase your own set of the stamps that are used here they are:

Stamps
 (if you want to purchase your own set) 

My Acrylix Marquee Uppercase
E1029  $29.95
My Acrylix Little Monsters
C1630  $13.95
  
Other supplies that are needed:
Basic Kit
(your personal supplies)
Paper Trimmer
Scissors 
Adhesive 
My Acrylix Blocks (if you have them) 
(2x2 block this month)
Piercing Tool