Crystal

    Modern Memory Keeper + New Projects

    Wednesday, June 25, 2008, 12:08 PM EST [*Scrapbooking Stuff!*]

    So I realized that I never mentioned that the lovely Ronee Parsons new book, Modern Memory Keeper, was available.  It is probably because my copy hasn't arrived and I haven't seen it page by page.  I always need visual cues for my memory to kick in, lol.

    Anyway, if you plan on attacking that stack of heritage photos you have and making a scrapbook this book is a great place to start.  It is all about heritage scrapbooking but it encourages you to have a fresh take on it and this includes the colors you use (no browns here!) to the stories you pick to tell.  I had the wonderful opportunity to contribute some art to this book and I definitely learned a few things along the way.  First, I learn that I actually like to scrapbook heritage photos.  I know, weird, but I never had an urge to do it before.  I got some stories down that I would never have tackled before.  Second, I learned how to "mend" a photo.  I had a very old photo that had some damage and was torn in half but I learned how to "fix" it digitally and you know what?  It wasn't nearly as hard as I imagined it would be.  Shockingly not hard.  I was able to mend the photo and reprint it for family members and they couldn't believe it was the same photo.  It still had all its heritage charm but the tear was gone!  There were other things I loved but those were the most important things I took away from working on this book.  I cannot wait to get the book so I can learn some of the other things that are included.

    This is one of the stories I would have never got down if I hadn't worked on the book.

    It is filled with funny stories about how all our Grandparents got their nicknames.  It seems nobody in our family is content with calling them Grandma and Grandpa!

    I made the ablum completely from scratch using cardboard, patterned paper (mostly A2Z and Bo Bunny) , transparencies (handcut and edges painted) and zipper ties for bindings.

    This is also another page I created for the book which uses memoribilia.

    I copied a love letter from my Grandfather to my Grandmother and included it on the page.  I needed to scan it and print it because the letter now belongs to my Aunt but she lent it to me so I could copy it.  I stapled the copied letter at the top so you can lift it and read all the pages.  It is kind of nice to have this personal item in my scrapbooks now.

    I can't wait to see the whole book. :)  Congrats Ronee!

    And guess what?  My missing luggage has arrived!  So I thought I might show you what I am up to today (fingers crossed).

    Remember I told you I went on the shopping floor at the GASC this past weekend?  Well this is one of the things I got in my mad dash.  These albums are by Melissa Frances and measure I would guess about 8-9" high.  The half shapes fold out to a full shape which looks really great as a finished album.  The best part?  They were 3 for $5!  Yup, I had to ask again 'cause I couldn't believe it.  They had tiny ones too but I went right for the biggies!  In my mind I planned the star for a "Magnus" album and the flower for a "Harper" album.  I thought we could fill them together over this summer break (last day tomorrow!).  The third album - no plans yet but something will come to me. :)  So today I plan to get the albums started - you can see I have already started to pull papers (under the albums) for the covers.  I can't wait to get scrappy!

    I also picked up this from the same Melissa Frances booth.  Made of wood and painted cream, about 12" long. 

     

    Not my usual thing but as soon as I saw it I thought - jewellry box.  I am going to cover it in bits of papers and maybe some photos and use it as a jewellry box.  It was on sale for $9 which was a steal I think but they knocked it down to $5 because one of the latches was broken.  Woohoo!  I love deals! 

    Especially deals that I don't have to search for!  I mean, it took me all of 5 seconds to find this super deal.  Can't wait for the next GASC to see what I will find there! Grand Rapids here I come!

    0 (0 Ratings)

    Great American Scrapbook Convention - Day 2 (Sat)

    Tuesday, June 24, 2008, 09:44 AM EST [GASC]

    First, I have recovered from this.

    My loooong day/night at the airport and the tiredness.  I think I probably waited all of 5 minutes (out of politeness of course) after my husband got home from work yesterday before I went for a nap.  I told Austin to wake me in an hour and well, he tried but apparently I wouldn't wake.  3 hours later I finally dragged myself from bed.  Slept through dinner, slept through everything.  2 hours later I was back in bed after tucking in the kidlets and slept for another 12 hours. Definitely feeling better this morning!

    So back to the GASC.

    On Saturday my schedule was this...

    Book signing in the middle of all that.  All the advance copies of Cut Loose sold out but will be available soon online and at local stores soon. 

    But this schedule might also account for some of the tiredness!  I had a crazy schedule but it was my own choice.  I love to teach scrapbooking so I jam my days with as many classes as possible.  I never feel the tiredness until after the show.  Looking at this photo I realize I was listed as a 2008 MMM on my class sign - guess I must have graduated ;) a year later, lol.

    So the day was great.  Lots of really full classes, full of really wonderful scrappers.

    A few highlights...

    There were these three....

    Trouble, with a capitol "T" I tell ya!  Trouble!  These lovelies were in a few of my classes and were having a great time and I loved laughing with them.  I was pretty sure I was going to have to call security ;) to kick them out they were having "too much" fun, lol.  Just kidding of course.  I love to seeing people at these events just really enjoying themselves with friends and enjoying the hobby they love.  Plus the woman on the left...she was being converted to scrapping by the other two.  Being brought over to the scrappy side!  And she rocked the craft knife like a pro I tell ya.  I would have never know she was a "newbie".

    And of course on Saturday I had my Cut Loose class which is modelled after my new book.  There were lots of ladies cutting loose that day!  Might have frightened a few ;) but we took a deep breath and dove right in. :)

    The above two ladies were the sweetest things.  And when they asked to take a photo of us all together this is what they got....

    Yup, had a really great time!

    Oh and I did get to do about 5 seconds of shopping on the show floor.  Bought some amazing deals but of course they are in my missing luggage. :(  Good thing I didn't have lots of time to shop cause I might have had to buy a second suitcase (which I am sure would have gone missing too...!) 

    Hopefully it will arrive today and I can start getting scrappy with them.  Of course my paper cutter and all my basic tools are in the missing luggage so kind of hard to scrap without them. :)

    Hope everyone is having a great day out there, where ever you are!

    0 (0 Ratings)

    Not My Day

    Monday, June 23, 2008, 09:32 AM EST [GASC]

    It was so NOT my day yesterday!  What was supposed to be a quick 1.5 hour commuter flight home from the GASC turned into over a 13 hour travel nightmare.  See all the yellow on the above sign?  Those were delayed flights.  (I was not the ONLY one have a bad travel day!)  Storms elsewhere in the country caused airplanes to be late arriving to get us weary travellers and take us to our destinations. 

    Let's just say I know the inside of that airport like the back of my hand now!

    OH and I must mention that apparently I have invisible metal somewhere on my body that set off the metal detectors when I went through security. Who knew? Apparently it was so invisible that I didn't even know it existed, lol. Lets just say I had to let a security officer get mightly personal with me!  That was a first.  Apparently this invisible metal has never decided to make trouble for me before and if I ever find it on me I am going to give it some trouble, lol! 

    OH and the lighting storm we flew through made me fear flying just a little - had a bit of a queasy stomach after all the air "bumps". 

    And to top it all off after I finally was on my home turf - no luggage.  Yup, in the very wee hours of last night (or technically very early this morning)  I had the wonderful surpise of having no luggage arrive.  To be honest, at that point I didn't care and just wanted to be home and snoring away! :) 

    So I am zonked today and doing my best to stay slightly moving around so as to not fall asleep.  I don't think Magnus would care for a snoring Momma today as he is full of his usual spunk and energy.

    No worries though, I don't feel sorry for myself.  You sometimes got to just roll with life and take what comes and try to smile. :) :) :)  Afterall it makes a great travel story. ;)

    Will try to answer all the emails you have been sending but might be a bit slow getting caught up with those.  You know I love y'all but sleep might win out right now. :)

    0 (0 Ratings)

    TIRED but having oh so much FUN!

    Saturday, June 21, 2008, 07:09 AM EST [GASC]

    This is the reason for being tired...

    Lots and lots of classes I am teaching but I am having so much FUN because of this...

     

     

    ...the PEOPLE!  I love getting a chance to connect with fellow scrapbookers and seeing them learning and trying new things.  Classes have been great and I am loving it all. 

    AND if I could have an award for student of the day it would be this woman...

    She had never attended a class before and she signed up for three of my classes yesterday - all in a row!  I mean she was a trooper!  She was willing to try and experiment and learn and dive right in.  She is fairly new to scrapbooking but she got loads of inspiration at this show.  I've got to love this. 

    This is why I love to teach. The people.

    Now I am off again for another full day of teaching and hopefully (fingers crossed) some shopping on the show floor!  I mean, I know I don't NEED any scrap supplies but who can resist a floor full of goodies just waiting there calling my name.... :)

    0 (0 Ratings)

    A Great TV Commercial Quote

    Friday, June 20, 2008, 06:58 AM EST [General]

    A Great TV Commercial Quote

     

    When watching TV last night I heard this quote - loved it so much I wrote it down.

    (Got to love staying in a hotel 'cause nice little note pads are everywhere!)

    I am off to start my day at the Great American Scrapbook Convention - can't wait to meet everyone and catch up with some familiar faces. :)

    0 (0 Ratings)