Pictures of Tickled Pink Kit

Tickled Pink CTMH Scrapbooking kit are available on my new blog.

http://burstofcreativity.blogspot.com/



~K

A tale of two blogs

I'm torn between two blogs.

This one and one that looks almost exactly like it but with a different name.

When I created this blog I thought using my name as part of the title would be a fine idea...... This is after all my little scrap room in cyber space. Only problem is, on a google search my blog also comes up when the name of a certain "adult" site is searched for and through my stats tracker I've noticed quite a bit of traffic from people who sure aren't interested in scrapbooking.

I did a little work a couple days ago and created a new blog, transfered the archives over and it's almost a direct copy of this one.

Where I'm torn is that even with the exact same content, the new blog does not come up in google searches at all. Not ever. I don't completely understand the reason why but am I really willing to give up being top bill on some searches in an effort to avoid those other search results.

I think I'm going to give it a try and hope that with time the search engines start showing An Occasional Burst of Creativity - my new blog, instead of this one.

So.......go check it out www.burstofcreativity.blogspot.com bookmark it, tell your scrapping friends about it and head over to that one for your scrapping fix for now and we'll see how it goes. Sorry for the inconvenience but I think I would just feel better if I didn't attract the attention of adult site searchers.

Tomorrow's TGIF - Weekend Challenge will be posted over there instead of here and I'll leave this one sit un-updated for a little while and see what happens.


~K

Are You Ready To Be TICKLED PINK ?

The National Scrapbooking Month CTMH Campaign details have been released. Are you ready? Here it is!

You’re gonna love our Tickled Pink scrapbooking kit designed exclusively for National Scrapbooking Month in May.

PUT A LITTLE MORE “YOU” IN YOUR SCRAPBOOKS AND YOU’LL BE
Tickled Pink this spring! Our newest scrapbooking kit puts you front and center—with everything you need to create two beautiful two-page layouts all about the things that you love and that make you shine. And speaking of shine, you’ll also be tickled by the kiss of glitter on these fabulous papers!

To get your very own Tickled Pink scrapbooking kit:
• Place a minimum order of $75 in stamp sets (excluding K-size and Stamp of the Month) between April 15-May 31 to receive a Tickled Pink scrapbooking kit FREE! (limit one free kit per order.)
• Purchase the Tickled Pink kit at just $43.50—well below retail value!
•Sign up as a new Consultant between May 1-May 31 and receive a kit
FREE.
• Host a Home Gathering between April 15-May 31 with minimum sales of $500 and receive a kit FREE.

Celebrate spring, bling, and everything you love—you’ll be so happy,
you’ll be Tickled Pink! *Tax and shipping/handling may apply. Available for a limited time while supplies last.

This kit features the colours Blush, Crystal Blue, Twilight, Hollyhock, Sweet Leaf and includes a D-size stamp set called I Am, 4 sheets of B&T Duos papers (2 of them with glitter), 6 sheets of Textured Cardstock (1Blush, 1Crystal Blue, 4 White Daisy), 1 sheet of White Daisy Textured Cardstock die-cuts, 1 foam tool, 1 White Daisy Mini-Medley Collection and an instruction brochure to create 2 double page layouts with this fabulous set. **pictures available on my new blog http://www.burstofcreativity.blogspot.com/ . A PDF file will be included with the next newsletter. If you are not on my newsletter email list and would like to be, leave a message in the comment section.

I will be placing an order on April 15th for anyone that would like to receive this kit in time for the NSD Celebration Crop in May. That date is firm to allow for shipping time so please place your order prior to that date.

If you would like to host a gathering during this campaign, contact me soon for open dates. This is a time sensitive, while supplies last offer so the earlier the better.

A Blogger Puzzle

I'm puzzled. Blogger has me flusterated.

Why is it that sometimes when I upload photos they become clickable links that open up in larger formats but othertimes (like the 3 pages I posted Sunday night and the card Saturday morning) they do not become clickable links to bigger pictures. WTH! I'm not doing anything different each time I post pictures (aside from the amount of grumbling I do when my dial-up is being particularly finicky).

Grrrrr

Any thoughts from experienced 'Bloggers'? Please leave a comment if you know what the heck the deal is with this.


~K

Crop Highlights

While there weren't a lot of us at crop on Saturday we sure had a lot of fun. Yummy food - and tons of baking. Lots of chatting. Many pots of coffee. NO visiters - usually someone stops in for coffee. Oh wait. Heather stopped in TWICE. I think she wished she hadn't been curling and could have come to play with us. We played many rounds of 'when was this picture taken' and quite a few of 'what was happening here'. I'm embarassed to admit I actually asked who the pictures were in one page my mother in law was working on. Turns out it was my youngest SON! Boy did he need a haircut!


Speaking of my mother-in-law....you should see her idea book. WOW! She has a 3ring binder notebook (actually it's an old Reflections Program binder) and it is FULL of inspiration. She has of course a set each of Reflections and Originals pages but also sheets of paper that she has sketched ideas from magazines that have inspired her. She's also cut out images from all her old catalogues of her favorite cards and layouts and examples of various uses for different materials such as buttons, ribbon, safetypins, flowers etc. It's the most amazing thing. I'll have to take pictures of it and post them.


I got out-scrapped by everyone and did NOT come anywhere near getting 8 (or more) pages done like some people but I did manage to complete* three. And by complete I mean, for the most part they are done and if I'm lucky I'll get some journalling onto a couple of them. Journalling is not what I do best some days.

This first one was from Weekend Challenge #2 and the inspiration came from that $20 platter I loved and the sketch I posted. It turned out better than I expected and I think I did a pretty good job of getting what was 'in my head' translated out onto paper. My sister-in-law gets credit for the beautiful photo of my youngest daughter.



All supplies are ctmh unless otherwise stated: Sunkissed Yellow Textured CS; Sweet Leaf CS; Dutch Blue Textured CS; Bubble Gum CS; Chocolate Ink; the square is the back side of a stamp from the Solo E set; Just Blooms - White Daisies & Summer Posies; Bubblegum brads and White Daisy Bigger Brads, the leaves are wired silk leaves - source unknown; EK Success Corner rounder with the guard removed to make the scalloped border & a regular office hole punch for the holes.



The second layout of the day was inspired by the Weekend Challenge #3 (this weekends) to make a monochromatic layout with 3 rows - title, picture, journalling. Of course the journalling hasn't been done yet and I added an extra picture into the 'journalling row' plus you will notice that one of the 4 pictures on the left side is on there twice. That's because I didn't have a wallet sized school picture of my oldest daughter (lots of 8x10s though) so I either need to find the disk that came with her photos and hopefully print a wallet sized picture or I'm just going to removed the top photo, draw an outline where the picture would be and add the words 'photo not available' in it and depending on which way this goes will determine what the journalling says.





All supplies ctmh unless otherwise stated: Autumn Terracotta Textured CS - the back side for the background and the front for the photo & journalling mats; Parchment CS; Autumn Terracotta Ink Pad & Fine Tip Pen; Classic Caps & Classic Numbers Stamp Sets (both discontinued); Ribbon from Autumn Terracotta Collection (also discontinued); and the safety pin was part of an accent package from a special a couple years ago.

My last page of the day is for my mom's album. She has a collection of photos of my nephew on her fridge and some of them are starting to discolour so I figured I'd better get them into albums. No pre-conceived inspiration for this one. I just picked out a piece of b&t paper and the wavey stitched lines provided all the inspiration I needed - that plus the huge grin on my nephews face.

All supplies are CTMH unless otherwise stated: Dutch Blue Textured CS (the reverse side...I LOVE that it has different colours on each side!) and the B&T is from last January's Heart Of Winter Special; Cranberry CS; Outdoor Denim Ink; the alpha stamp was a hostess/customer special from last year - I don't even know if the set has a name. DE Chipboard hearts were part of the DieCut special last fall - one is backed with Cranberry CS the other stamped with Holiday Red Ink and Spot On Background; Sparkles. The photoclip & brad are Queen & Co brand.

So those are the highlights from March Crop Day. Small group but Big Fun!

The next crop isn't until the BIG National Scrapbook Celebration Weekend Crop on May 1st, 2nd & 3rd. There is still plenty of room and registration is still open. I'll be booking upcoming dates in the coming weeks so if there are any requests for a particular weekend get them to me asap. I also have an order going in early this week if anyone needs anything.

~K

You Rock

I'm heading out for a day of scrapping at Minerva Hall but wanted to share a little something something with you before I left.

Here's a card I started as a '10-minute technique' post that my 8yr old daughter tried to confiscate to use as a base for birthday card for a birthday party this weekend. I told her I would finish it up just for her friend and she could have it.

The base is Bubblegum Textured Cardstock and a little bit of B&T paper from a Sweet Harmony L2 paper pack. The White Daisy cs is randomly 'smooshed' with Blush & Petal ink using crumpled up pieces of stretch/cling wrap (saran wrap). You could use any thin plastic for this.

The sentiment and the guitar are from D1346 - You Rock. The guitar is stamped in Blush and then I used a sponge dauber to add Petal ink in places, matted with Petal Textured CS and 3 Bubblegum brads. It is attached to the base using Foam Squares for dimention. The sentiment is stamped in Petal and then I ran tape runner over top and added Prisma Glitter ---- because what 9yr old girl doesn't like glitter, and matted on Petal Textured CS.

~K

TGIF - Weekend Challenge #3

I'm still working on last weekend's challenge. It looks great....at least the picture of it in my head does. I'm still struggling with how to get the stuff in my head OUT and onto paper.



I was digging through a file of old layouts I have scanned onto my computer. I'd been talking to my niece last week about my experience with babies & sign language and I was looking for a layout I did quite a few years ago, in 2003, about Emily's signs. I absolutely LOVE this layout. It's so clean and simple with it's three rows - a title, a panoramic photo and a narrow block of journalling plus a few simple accent pieces for balance. I'm also a big fan of monochromatic layouts (using a single colour in various shades such as the pink/red used in this layout)


Use this layout as your inspiration for this weekend's challenge. Three rows - a title, a photo or series of photos and journalling and also try a monochromatic colour scheme.


Happy Scrapping Everyone!

Have a great weekend.


~K

Thursday already?

It amazes me how a week can be gone.....just like that.

I've been torn between playing with paper - the good kind...the scrapping/cardmaking kind, and the not so good kind - accounting and finances. Neither is winning though because well.... laundry and dishes speak louder than paper. Especially when there are 5 other people in the house who think that clean items of either are much more important. I don't know why. They are just going to make them all dirty again.

I'm also finding it difficult to think - which is necessary for both scrapping paper use and accounting paper use and this is because I have a knot between my shoulder blades that goes straight up my neck. It's a recurring issue which thankfully hasn't been so 'recurring' lately but yesterday it necessitated the taking of a prescription muscle-relaxer that I adore for it's ability to eventually make me mobile. Unfortunately it makes me less than productive on all levels be it creativity, financial planning or manual labour. In my looped state last night I actually thought....hey, I could work on last weekends challenge. My better judgement overruled that idea. Friends don't let friends play with ink and stamps and sharp scissors and whatnot while under the influence. I'm certain the results would have looked nothing like what I've been sketching and planning for days.....but I bet it would have been interesting.

Tomorrow is Friday - Time for another challenge. I'll be sure to have it posted bright and early in the morning. Hope you will have a chance to participate at some point this weekend (or next week....or whenever the mood strikes).

Also here's a reminder: We are scrapping the day away on Saturday at Minerva Hall if anyone wants to come out and play - even for just a few hours. I only have a few people confirmed to attend so there is plenty of room.

A couple reminders

This coming Saturday - March 21st is Crop Day at Minerva Hall 10am till 10pm for $10.

AND

There are only 7 weeks until the National Scrapbook Weekend Crop the first weekend in May.

TGIF - Weekend Challenge #2

You ready for this weekend's challenge?

I'd planned to have this posted much earlier today but I ran into a snag. I've been wracking my brain trying to think of something fun for this and I wanted something that said "spring" because quite frankly, all that snow - and it's fresh, clean beauty....I'm so over it.

What says "spring" to you? Is it puddles and rain boots? Flowers and green grass? Open toes shoes (with no sock...oh i so can't wait!) and pretty painted toes?



I found this really sweet serving tray yesterday while shopping that shouted "spring" at me. It inspired me with it's brown and green checker board pattern and big white daisy flowers and bright yellow, blue and pink colours. I went back today thining I'd buy that sweet bit of inspiration but I couldn't bring myself to pay $20 for it. I just couldn't do it. Only thing is, I'm stuck on that serving tray now. It's all I can think about and can't seem to come up with any other bits of inspiration. See - it happens to all of us - this creative block.



I popped around the net a bit and came up with a sketch from http://www.pagemaps.com/



This is one of their March 09 sketches.






Use it as your inspiration to be creative this weekend......and if you already have spring where you are - send me some because I'm done with winter.




Happy Scrappin Weekend





Oh.....wait, before you go. I know this is last minute but I forgot to mention it earlier in the week - there is an online crop going this weekend. It startes tonight, Friday - March 13th at 7pm cst. Check out my friend Kat's blog for details and a link to the festivities. Kat's the events coordinator for an online scrapping site & I'm sure she's got some sweet challenges lined up for us tonight. For those who've never heard of an online crop, it's held in an online forum and there are challenges posted, often there are games, chances of winning a prize or two and lots of chatting back and forth between the online participants. Check it out if you have a chance. It will be a lot of fun!

~K

Key To My Heart Contest - Winning Artwork

Back in December / January the CTMH special was in celebration of National Papercrafting Month (January) and along with the amazing paperpack/stamp set, CTMH also hosted a contest.

I had a project in mind. I am way creative --- in my mind --- but entering things into contests that are only figments of my imagination doesn't work well and I just couldn't get it successfully out of my mind and translated into a reality in time.

Many people were able to do this though and the winners have been announced.

Pop on over to Jeanette Lynton's blog and check out the amazing creations of the 15 semi-finalists.


~K

Weekend Challenge Artwork

Yipee! I'm so happy. My sweet sis out in Hamilton (hi Yo....miss you!!!!) emailed me Friday night with a scrapbook page she completed from this challenge. I've almost forgiven her for rubbing it in that she was out in her garden in short sleeves while we were getting dumped with snow. Here's her page. Isn't it awesome!


I was really worried that I wouldn't get a chance to even participate in my own challenge this weekend, but I managed to find a peaceful hour Sunday afternoon - while watching the Princess Diaries 2 and everyone else was out of the house (blissful). This layout is absolutely nothing like what I had in mind when I posted the challenge but this is what evolved once I found this picture of my son. CTMH : White Daisy Textured & Plain Cardstock; Grey Wool Cardstock & Ink; Sweet Leaf Cardstock & Ink; Priceless Love Word Puzzle Stamp Set; Black Marker.

TGIF - it's Challenge Time!

My world is looking a whole lot WHITE today. I cannot believe all the snow that fell from the sky yesterday afternoon. It actually looks kinda pretty. I wanted to go outside and take pictures as it was falling but I had such a huge migraine and it was way too bright out there. I could not wait for the sun to go down (which I noticed is getting to be quite late these days......and on that note don't forget it's daylight-saving-time. Turn your clock ahead an hour on Saturday night/Sunday morning)



This morning I went for a walk in the yard (brrrr...it got cold overnight) and took a few pics of all the heavy, wet snow on the trees down by the creek. My yard looks so nice covered in snow. If it weren't for it being ....well....snow....I'd wish it would stay like this all year around. What's underneath all that pretty is anything but pretty.






After a long, stressful week I know I could use a little bit of time to relax. I wish I could take my coffee outside and sit in my chair but look at all the snow piled on it. I think I'll have to stay inside and play with paper instead.



But doesn't all that white snow looks so fresh and clean and beautiful? Using that as inspiration, I'm putting forth a little challenge to get you in a creative mood and encourage you to have some fun this weekend. Set aside a little scrapping time and make a layout.....or a card.......


Keep it fresh and clean and simple - just a few bits of colour against a white blanket of snow...um I mean paper. Use:

• white cardstock as the background
• one neutral/earthy colour (ie: black, brown, cream, beige)
• one other colour - something bright and cheerful to give your layout or card a small bit of *pop*

Are you up for this challenge?

Even if you just take 20minutes - give it a try.



Post a comment to let me know how you did. I'd love to see your work too - if you are able to share.




Happy Scrappin Weekend!





~K

March '09 Newsletter

National Scrapbooking Weekend

3-Day Crop

May 1st, 2nd & 3rd 2009

Friday: 5pm to Midnight

Saturday: 9am to 2am

Sunday: 9am to 5pm

Early Registration Deadline is March 7th.

That's only a few days away!

Contact me for more information.

**********

March Specials:

• A small selection of stamp sets have been added to the discounted section of my shopping cart with a savings of 40% off regular retail price. What a deal! a. Wisdom (B1199)b. Groovy Celebration (C1232)c. Love of My Life (C1258)d. Card Sentiments (D1111)e. Memories (D1127)f. Follow Your Dreams (D1152)g. Steep and Deep (D1175)h. My One & Only (D1197)i. Friendship's Garden (D1202)j. My Farm (D1219).
• CTMH is offering new consultants a signing bonus during the month of March. New consultants will receive 50% off the retail price of up to two select organizational products (Rolling Tote, Inks Organizer etc). If you are interested being a CTMH consultant, contact me for more information and full details of this signing bonus.
• Stamp of the Month - Butterfly Wings is available until March 31st

Crop Day - Saturday March 21st

• Minerva Hall --- 10am to 10pm
• cost $10 potluck supper ( I'm making veggie soup)
• includes coffee and a few snacks, scrapping goodies, use of stamps/tools etc.
• this month's product demo: extreme makeover-chipboard edition

RSVP via email or phone by at least the Wednesday before each crop day. (contact info is on my website if you do not have it). If I do not have a minimum number of attendees, crop day will be cancelled.

Each month, anyone that places an order during crop is entered into a draw to receive Mystery Hostess Rewards. (number of entries/amount of rewards/number of hostesses depends on total sales) Who will earn free product this month? If you cannot attend crop but would like to place an order (through myself or online) please contact me to be eligible for the Mystery Hostess draw.

Happy Scrapping! Hope to see you at crop day this month. Remember registration is due soon for National Scrapbook Month - 3 Day Crop.

~K

And now for some artwork......

Everyone was busy or out of town for February's crop and even my mother-in-law bailed on me but I spent the whole day scrapping - in my dining room. I had a great time. I didn't get much more done that I usually do during crop at the hall but I did manage to finish up a few layouts that I'd started recently plus a couple more. I love the way these turned out!


First - a couple layouts of Carrie's son, Linden. I'd taken my camera to her place and spent some time rolling around on the floor with the newly mobile little guy (who's now way mobile only a couple months later).

*That's How I Roll* The title is a spin-off of something that's said at his mom's work. I thought it made a perfect title for these pictures. I just noticed I forgot to use my new calendar stamp - the Jan'09 SOTM to put the date in the bottom right corner of this layout.




all items are CTMH: It's a Guy Thing Level 2 PaperPack; Textured Cardstock-New England Ivy; Dimensional Elements Fresh Shapes; Ink: White Daisy Pigment, Desert Sand, Cocoa & Garden Green; Classic Caps stamp set (discontinued) & DE Classic Alphabet (discontinued); Coluzzle Circle & knife (also used a large dinner plate as a circle template for the larger circles); Clear Inspirations - buttons; white hemp;
cutting knife; liquid glass - as adhesive for the chipboard elements and button...very impressed with it's holding power.



*Big Boy*

















* CTMH items: It's a Guy Thing Level 2 PaperPack; liquid glass
*other: scrap chipboard from coasters


I'd taken my camera to the bowling centre to do a photo-shoot of Aarica to be used for a Special Olympics Bowling article in the local paper (don't think the article was ever published). I was still in the process of getting to know my camera and this photo was one of the better pictures in the bunch.

Love the quote: Write on your heart that every day is the best day in the year. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

















CTMH items: Evensong Level 2 PaperPack; Heart Throb (dec'08sotm); Sparkles; Tulip Ink.
CM: vellum quote

Some of the pictures I had printed last month included shots from the kids first day of school in September '07. This was Owen's very first - first day of school.


*Kindergarden* September 5, 2007 Owen is ready for Ms Lewis' kindergarden class.

















ctmh items: NEW Stardust Level2 PaperPack, Stickease & Flexi Labels; The Works alphabet stamp set; White Daisy Pigment Ink; sanding block from distressing kit.
other: sparkle gel pen unknown brand...from my girls' stash.


My girls even got in on the action on Sunday for a little while and had fun playing in my stash of Level 1 Kits. Here are a couple of each of their pages. The kits are oldies but goodies.

Emily's pages are on the 1st and 3rd and Aarica's are the 2nd and 4th (darn formating is being difficult so i hope that's the correct order). Em is learning how to properly mat a photo and is getting more creative in her titles. She did her pages with only a little guidance from me. She then helped her sister with her pages.










~K

Scrapping Goals '09......update

Goal making is not for the faint of heart.....or the scatterbrained.

While I wouldn't say I'm a total failure since any result at all from making goals is a good thing, I wouldn't exactly say I'm having great success with achieving my goals either.

1) taking daily pictures - so not happening BUT I am making a more conscious effort to use my camera and I have been taking pictures (including one of the shipping label on my latest CTMH parcel....and Carrie called me a freak for taking it - whatever! I was excited...and it IS a picture from my daily life) Anyway, some of my recent pictures are pretty cool. I've been spending some time getting to know some of the more advanced features of my new camera and the results rock. I'd post a picture or two but my camera has been loaned out to a camera-less Carrie so she can take pics of that cute kid of hers while her own camera is touring worlds down-under for a month. My latest experiments are still on my camera but I'm hoping to have it back in a few days to retrieve them.

2) one layout a week - hahaha. Oh I make myself laugh. I've managed to start 4 layouts this year (not counting the one I "started" for the January demo). Started as in, they aren't quite finished - they either need journalling done, or I messed up an accent and need to redo it, or I didn't have something I wanted to use with me at the crop Carrie and I went to last week. I did manage to finish a layout I started 4 years ago though. Does that count? Anyway, scrapping at home just isn't happening lately. I blame massive doses of cold medication, plague-carrying children, a teen drama queen hell bent on making me into a raving lunatic and a stack of accounting paperwork I need to do for the government before they lock me up for reasons other than insanity. Oh and planning for the May Crop has been high on my priority list too so sitting down to scrap hasn't been.

3) printing pictures once a month ---- oh oh oh! I did this one! I had about 50 pictures printed this month! Awesome pictures - some recent, some from a couple years ago. So excited to have new material to help inspire me to scrap.

4) and I am having a scrapping good year so far. Even if I'm not getting actual pages done, I've been sketching and journalling and planning future pages.....and shopping. Heehee. How can all that not make for a good scrapping year.

Anyone else make any goals this year? How are you doing on them?

Celebrate Good Times!!!

Celebrating CTMH's 25th Anniversary with a gift for YOU!

Receive the Good Times stamp set Free with the minimum purchase of $31.25 in stamp sets until February 28th.

Doing the Happy Dance!

I'm celebrating today!

I used to wait anxiously for a new box of CTMH goodies that was enroute with so much excitement but the past 9months it's been a different kind of anxious because there have been issues with lost, missing, misdirected or just plain forgotten about packages traveling through the system. Seriously, I still don't understand why it took 5 business days for that last package to get here from Winnipeg -45mins away! I know a few of you had to wait extra long for orders lately and it frusterated me that I could do nothing to improve the situation except repeatedly call UPS and CloseToMyHeart and stay on top of where packages were at all times.

Well, today I'm doing a Happy Dance! The order I submitted last week was put on a trial run of a new shipping method and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the feedback CTMH receives on this trial from other consultants is as good as what I had to say about it. With this new shipping method, the order took one week to get here from the time I submitted it to CTMH. A week! 2days to pack and ship out and then only 4 sweet little business days for it to get through customs and arrive HERE....in town....and be IN MY HANDS! Now that is amazing! I'm going to think positive and hope like crazy that this is the new norm. After this, I don't think I could go back to waiting 7-8 business days.....and especially not 15+days!

We missed you on the 31st

Crop Day at Minerva Hall on January 31st was tons of fun! Everyone (except moi) got so much done although I'm sure my SIL Heather would argue that point - she worked on one 2page layout almost all day...but it was SO worth it.

Thank you to everyone for your "January" orders. This month...well last month actually, 5 lucky people received rewards in one form or another. Congratulations Heather, Christine, Anita, Leanne and Judi. How this worked was for each $25 spent, I added one ticket into the draw and the number of tickets drawn out was determined by total sales for the day. I am going to continue on with this format for a few months and see how it goes. I am also accumulating all tickets each month into another draw and at the end of the year someone will win a super prize basket of goodies.

A post with artwork and the product demos/instructions from January's crop day are coming. Last week was another week of sick kiddos & tempermental computers around here but I am working on that post.

ANNOUNCEMENT!!!

Here's the news you've been waiting for. Details for the upcoming crop weekend are now available. Here is the *reader's digest version* Leave a comment on this post if you did not receive the email with attached registration form and would like to receive one.


National Scrapbooking Weekend
3-Day Crop

May 1st, 2nd & 3rd 2009


The first Saturday in May is officially “National Scrapbooking Day” and to celebrate this fabulous event, join us for a weekend of pure scrapping fun with games, prizes, challenges and classes galore at Minerva Hall – 1 mile south of Gimli on Hwy 8.

Friday: 5pm to Midnight
Saturday: 9am to 2am
Sunday: 9am to 5pm

The hall has great lighting and plenty of space. Tables will be grouped together and will seat 5 scrappers with ample floor space around the tables for your crop totes etc.

Get a head start on the weekend with Friday night’s crop complete with an early-bird door prize and an evening snack. Saturday / Sunday registration includes a Welcome Pack, door prize entry, make ‘n’ take classes and snacks through out the day. Early Registration Deadline -- March 7th. Prices after March 7th are listed in brackets. Final Registration Deadline -- April 4th

3-day crop -- Friday, Saturday & Sunday
$55 ($65 after March 7th) *includes Welcome Pack,
snacks, 3 classes & door prize entries.

An optional meal package is available for
Saturday & Sunday $10/day

Can't get away for the entire weekend?
Join us for a little while

Friday ONLY 5pm to Midnight
$10 *includes evening snack &
early-bird door prize entry

Saturday ONLY 9am to 2am
$35 ( $45 after March 7th) * includes Welcome Pack,
snacks 2 classes & door prize entry

Sunday ONLY 9am to 5pm
$25 ($35 after March 7th) *includes Welcome Pack,
snacks, 1 class & door prize entry


So.......who's coming to the May Crop???? More details on contests, activities and fun fun fun will be posted here in the coming weeks. Let the count-down continue.........12 weeks!!!

February '09 Newsletter

I can't believe it's almost the end of January already! Wow this year is flying by faster than imaginable.

I've been busy busy busy making plans and lists and brainstorming ideas for the upcoming

National Scrapbook Weekend
Crop Around The Clock
May 2nd & 3rd, 2009.

That's only 14 short weeks away! I'll be sending out registration forms this weekend. If you would like one sent to you leave a comment on this post and I will forward one to you when they are available.

*** Put on your thinking cap too ..... I'm still brainstorming ideas and the more input I get the better! ***


My website http://www.kdann.myctmh.com/ has been 'new and improved' and now has some new and improved technical issues and my 2009 calendar pages have been wiped clean. I've entered upcoming crop dates numerous times but they don't want to stay put so for now please don't refer to the calendar on my website for crop info. Below is the information on upcoming crops.


Upcoming Dates to Remember

Crop: Saturday January 31st **that's THIS weekend! 10am to 10pm

Cost: $10 includes a few scrapping goodies, use of my stamps/inks/tools and a quick product demo and stamping technique class featuring a few of my favorite things including one of my new fav tools that I don't know how I ever lived without.

As usual, coffee & snacks are provided. (I'm hoping to have some yummy leftovers from my Epicure party the night before to bring along. Mmmmmm ) Bring your own lunch/supper - there is a full kitchen available.

Who will be this month's Mystery Hostess? All orders placed on or before the day of crop will be entered to receive the hostess rewards for the day. *If you cannot attend but would like to place an order, please contact me by Friday afternoon to be eligible to be the Mystery Hostess.

Can't make it to crop? Be sure to check out my blog next week for an online version of the class.


Mark your calendars for crop dates on:

February 21st - Class info: Scallops are a hot new trend lately and I'll show you some products and tips and tricks for making and using scallops on your layouts and cards.

March 21st - Class info: Extreme Makeover - Chipboard Edition. Come check out what you can do with a few products and tools to make your chipboard alphabets and accents POP!

*Please contact me to let me know you will be attending crops. It makes setting up easier when I know how many people to expect and so I have enough product on hand for everyone.
January Crop Attendance: Christine, Marlene, Hazel, Heather D, Judi, Anita, Heather C, Anne,
(if you aren't on the list and will be joining us please let me know )

Sales, Specials and Other News


Key To My Heart (click to view National Papercrafting Month/Key to My Heart info)

There are just a few days left of National Papercrafting Month. January 31st is your last chance to get the Key To My Heart special. My set arrived a couple days ago and I have to say.....WOW!!!!!
The paper is even more delicious in person and the stamp set leaves me speechless.
More details are also posted here on my blog and I'll be posting some artwork today as well.


Stamp of The Month (click to view past/present/future stamp of the month sets and artwork)

Don't forget the time-limited January Stamp of the Month set available until the 31st This calendar stamp set has limitless potential. What an original way to 'date' the event featured in a layout with a calendar image and the date circled.

February Stamp of the Month (available from Feb 1-28) features Easter egg shapes in a huge variety of patterns and designs. Again the potential of this set is limited only by your imagination.


Celebrate Good Times

Starting February 3rd (which just happens to be my birthday) until the 28th, everyone who purchases MyAcrylics stamp sets totaling $31.25 or more (K-size customized, Stamp of the Month, and any discounted retired sets excluded), will receive a totally cool, custom-designed B-size stamp set, appropriately titled "Good Times." It's a celebration-themed set, with a variety of fun party icons and sentiments like "let's party" and "hip hip hooray" that are oh, so versatile. The reason we are celebrating is that 2009 marks 25 years of business for Jeanette Lynton, founder and CEO of Close To My Heart and that is definitely something to celebrate.

Discontinued Items at a Discount

Any remaining stock of items that were discontinued on December 31st have now been added to my website. You can find these remaining items in the DISCOUNTED section of the shopping cart and are available while supplies last. You will notice there are NO stamp sets listed on this discounted section. Due to the fact that the Good Times special features stamp sets, in order to avoid any confusion, discontinued stamp sets left in stock will not go into the discounted section until after the end of February when the Good times special has ended.



~ Kirsten

Welcome 2009

Wishing you all a Happy New Year!

I've never really gotten into making a list of resolutions for the New Year but for some reason I feel like setting a few scrapping related 'goals' for 2009. For the last couple years I've felt less than productive when it comes to my scrapbooking and I've been trying to think of reasons why. In the past I've participated in challenges with some sort of goal-oriented end result and they really forced me to sit down and get to it rather than just think about it.

While reading my latest issue of Creating Keepsakes, I came across an article that really interested me. The idea surrounds the concept of taking at least ONE picture EVERY DAY for the entire year and then scrapping them. The album pages are broken down by week so that at the end of the year you would have 52 pages and a record of the day to day happenings of your life. I've fallen in love with this idea. I may not actually go so far as do make the weekly pages with what happened each day of the week etc but I'm totally into the taking the every-day pictures part. I tend to forget about taking pictures unless there is a specific event going on (and even then I forget too).

There was a time that I used to scrap almost daily even if it was only for 15mins at a time. It was my 'me-time', my time to relax and unwind. To re-spark my creativity and get myself scrapping I'm going to set a goal to make at least one layout (either one or two pages) each week this year - aside from any pages I may make specifically for demonstration purposes and/or pages completed at crop days.

While I'm setting goals for this year, I just thought of another one. PRINTING pictures. Since going digital a few years ago, my computer has filled up with beautiful photos but I rarely take the time to get them printed. I'm making it a goal to have photos printed at least once a month this year. I figure if I'm making at least one scrapbook page a week this year the photo albums I store my pictues in will empty out quickly so I'll need to replace those scrapped photos with a whole new batch of memories waiting to be scrapped.

So, there they are. My 3 scrapping related goals for 2009:

1. Take at least one daily-life picture every day.
2. Make the time to scrap at least one layout each week.
3. Have a batch of pictures printed each month.
and all of those add up to a 4th goal........
4. Have a scrapping good year!

What are your scrapping goals for 2009 ?