random pics. I'm done!!!

So I have to put this on my blog, Jeffrey, the event control coordintor. No idea what to call him. He just made sure things happened and that they flowed smoothly! He thought he'd particiapte in some of the scrapbook fun. Here is what he made. We gave this guy a hard time all weekend, so Jeffrey thanks for helping us out lot's! A pic of us at supper. Fun!

one of the scrapbooking crop rooms!~

a quick Marketplace shot!

Okay, so I never did find the scrapbook page that Cathie Allan made for me, but when I do, I'll post. It is cool. So all in al , scrapfest was a blast and now I cannot wait to scrap at West Ed! CSC4K is going to be a blast. Hey, if anyone I know is going, give me a shout out. I'd love to see ya! Also since I only had 3 people respond to my contest I'm going to give you ALL a prize. Jenn, I'll give yours tonight, Jody call me & Cheryl Leuschen, email me your address! Congrats girls. I love giving stuff away!

So have a great weekend everyone. I am so pumped for splurge I can barely wait!

Scrapfest 401 & Cards for the Troops

Sorry I'm posting so late today. My cousins needed me to haul tables to their house for their garage sale, then I had banking to do for our business, then we visited Shane & Andrea at their new house, then the boys and I jumped in with Jim to have some family time in the truck. The boys were in their glory "working" with daddy. Especially when we got to go to a new quarry and load. These boys are probably the youngest kids ever to know exactly what the machines are called. Just a quick story. Riley was 2 and Jager just a baby, and a semi passed us carrying a bobcat and a tractor. Riley said "mom look at the pay loader", I said no Riley it's a bobcat. This went back n forth, me trying to correct him. Then Jim phoned, I asked him what the heck a payloader was, and yes...my 2 year old was absolutely correct. He was talking about the tractor on the semi as I was pointing out the bobcat. I took a beating on that one, having now had my Class 1A for now 8 years, not knowing the different machines. So now if my kids say a back hoe, yes I assume they are right. LOL

• So we had a small intimate gathering to make cards last night. But it was fun & efficient. We made 44 cards for the troops. Hooray! The best part for me was getting the time to just hang with fabulous friends and work for a cause. I look at my grandparents & parents. Anytime someone needs help, or there is a cause to support, they step up immediately. It just doesn't seem to be the case very often with my generation. My gramma Elliott makes crocheted blankets for needy kids and the preemies. My Gramma Elian makes quilts to be sent over seas for the needy and also she knits booties & hats for the newborns. My mom is the first person to volunteer in any situation someone needs a hand. I think we need more of that. I can remember when we had a huge garden & orchard(like acres for real!!!! I know cause I had to weed it!) at the farm. We always took what we could eat, then gave to all our relatives & friends and then we always took huge boxes in for the Friendship Inn. It just was so automatic in our thinking. It is really important to me that this art of helping isn't lost , I want my kids to think it is natural to help others. So I went to bed absolutely happy. I hope our troops are safe and enjoy a little home made touch! Also Jo-Ann, you have left a huge impact on me!, I loved meeting you at Scrapfest, and having a great talk. I hope that your husband receives one of our cards! I'll be thinking of you & him this season. I will pray for his safety! I saw that you checked me out. Julie Cortens is a link on the right hand side of my blog. She has powerful military layouts of her son Mark. They are a must to check out. She is an outstanding lady that I used to work with, whose site is always interesting as you can see that she shares her passion for her family, her religion and her art in such beautiful ways. Here is a link to her site: http://www.cortens.blogspot.com/

(Yes Julie, I needed your business cards this weekend. I met so many fabulous military wives and I kept telling them that they HAD to check out your site. Hope you don't mind!) So this is my little burst of happiness this week. I am absolutely lucky to have married such a great guy who spoils me with flowers. He has done it so often that now I find it my little instant smile in the day. Now I want flowers around me at all times.(He's created a monster!) I love the colours, the fun, the smell. So I thought I'd share this little burst of sunshine with you.

Especially my little off balance sunflower. LOVE it!

Okay back to Scrapfest. So my passion for this new company STIX 2, all started by sitting down at the ever so fabulous Anam Stubbington's make n take. She is a designer for them and she was having us create our own doodles to play with. It is a Canadian company and I was privileged to have had the entire weekend to hang out with Allesandra (very beautiful woman!, with a great passion for her company) & Colette. I think that their booth was my second home that weekend. They just kept letting me try all their new stuff, and showing me their products that release soon. They create the whole line of amazing adhesives, for great prices for us. But, they have this one product...

that allowed me to create this fun page...

check out the detail...

(Even the "Pirate Party" is done with foils.)

and here it is! STIX 2 PVA glue. But not your ordinary PVA glue. This one stays tacky after it dries. When it is wet you can stick down micro beads, sparkles, really anything. But when it dries than you can break out the foil and have a fun party. Allesandra gave me a huge kit, and I've almost used up all my foils!

It takes about 15 min. to dry, then you just press the foil onto the glue and it is awesome. Here is what Allison did on her transparency.

Here is my transparency. So I came home and used the star and journal box on a layout already! I loved the result.

This is what the package of foils looks like. And CHEAP! I will never go without this again. I love the little bling it adds.

So 4 times a year you can get this magazine, Scrapbook & Cards Today for FREE! at Yesterday's Memories. All you have to do is a minimum purchase and then its yours. Each store only gets 100 copies and then its GONE! Its totally jam-packed with new products, great layouts, clean pages. I love this magazine. And I'm proud that it is made in Canada. They have a real concept that the art of scrapbooking is brought to us in scrapbook stores where we can see amazing products, learn from great instructors and be able to create friendships with other scrapbookers. They want us to enjoy, no LOVE our scrapbook stores. Their point is yes Walmart & Dollarama do carry supplies for cheaper, but that's it! There is no relationship that grows in our art, no learning that takes place in these places. Isn't that unique, a magazine that wants us to have solid relationships with our local stores, to be able to start friendships with other scrapbookers , to be able to share our art. I definitely think they have something going. So when the seasons change, you know their issues will be coming out.

Here are the girls behind this beautiful magazine. Kerry McRorie & Catherine Tachdigan. Totally cool girls too. Funny, down to earth and really awesome. Kerry taught some classes at Scrapfest and the buzz was they were GREAT! I saw the projects and totally wished that I could've snuck in on some of them! Next time!

So our booth was like the hang out booth, I think because we had nothing to sell. Only an adventure to discuss. So we had lot's of fun talking about the cruise, our sponsors, meeting great people and seeing people's portfolios. There are so many people that want to be an instructor next year. It was awesome to see everyone's uniqueness. If it was up to me I think I'd have more instructors than attendees. Good thing I'm not the person making the call. So it was really cool spending this weekend with Allison Orthner. It was cool to see this photographer/TV host in action. We both were on City TV and it was so much fun but scary. I knew I was on a specific segment so I was prepared for that, but Katharina Doyle (Canadian Scrapbooker Magazine) pulled me into the opening segment. Freaked me out! I didn't even get a chance to pee first! Talk about nervous! It was fun though. My cousin taped the segment on VHS but I have no idea how to get it onto the computer to show you guys. Jim & I had a good time watching it.I waited to watch it with him so that was even more scary wondering what it looked like. We had a good laugh. Allison of course looked flawless. Maybe somehow I'll find a way to show you guys.

• Allison took this awesome pic of Vicki & Anam. totally fun girls! Us fooling around with the Canadian Scrapbooker girls. They totally ROCK! our Crop & Cruise booth

Allison & I doing a make n take. We had a blast! Talk about unprepared. We were told to go and take part in this, mingle with the attendees. So do you want to know how much you get razzed when you show up at all the different make 'n take tables with NO scissors, adhesives, or trimmers? LOT's! But it was still fun!

I only wished that Heather, Jill, Rae & Christine could've been there to get rowdy in our Crop & Cruise booth. Next time!

• Okay, so was it fun seeing some of the cool events that took place at Scrapfest? I really enjoy meeting all of the fantastic scrapbookers out there! Everyone has such stories to tell, amazing layouts, unique ideas. For me these events just ignite the fire in me to create more, to try new things.
• I have a few more fun random pics, I'll post a few more tomorrow.Then that's it! I'm so excited for splurge tomorrow. We have such a great group of ladies. It is going to be a blast!

Scrapfest 301

Okay, have a few minutes before I wake the kids for school...First off ,Thank you to Sasha & Allison who had a crack at that photo of Janine. You guys both made the photo much better, and now I will enjoy scrapbooking it! Sasha, you are right, it is the story that is fun! Janine was really spunky & neat, that is what I will remember.

• So my big news I can finally reveal...
• I have been asked to be an instructor at
• Canada's Scrapbooking Crop for Kids in Edmonton.
• This takes place Oct.12-14th this year!
• So I will be teaching 2 classes, a Family Calendar Canvas & a 5x5 Canvas accordion book. Both of my classes are sponsored by Canvas Concepts & Sassafras Lass and I am so excited.

• I would love to tell you a bit about this crop. It is taking place all across Canada to raise money for children's hospitals. It is the first of its kind and is only taking place this year. They are trying to get into the Guinness Book of records for having the most people scrapbooking together on one day for one cause. So are you in?
• This is probably going to be one of the most sponsored events in the world. Everyone thinks this is a major cause and the big wigs have come out!!!! Talk about prizes to give. If you want to check out some of the sponsors click here. Now, if you want to see some of the most amazing teachers click here. I'll be up today maybe (I had a little problems getting my pic to her.) But if you want to see the classes click here. The best part about this event is you don't have to register for all 3 days, you can go to 1, or 2, or all 3 days. So why not take your family up for the weekend, stay at the hotel and then when the kids go to bed you go down and scrapbook! I guess I forgot to mention that this takes place at West Edmonton Mall. Picture it now. Dad & kids go to Fantasyland, you to Crop for Kids.

Here was the crop for Kids booth. It was a very entertaining booth. It had some of the most amazing women in there. The coolest projects, the neatest kits to sell. You'll have to come to the event to believe me!

The head girl for Crop for Kids is on the left "Trisha Ladouceur" she is standing with Catherine Tachdjian (editor of Scrapbook & Cards Today)

Okay, so my favourite little green truck. Could you imagine having this as your scrapbook room? She drives all over for crops, a husband can buy a gift certificate from her and then to surprise you, she parks on your driveway and you get a prepaid for shopping spree. Hello? Exciting or what?

My brother Steven came to see me at this event. I took him to see this truck, asked him what Jim would think of it as my new vehicle to get around, since we are buying a new vehicle. I think this is right up my alley.tee hee. Well Steven just laughed. Men hey? You know every scrapbooker out there wants her own personal, shop anytime, having the latest greatest at your fingertips.

Okay, well time to get boys dressed for school so I will show you my favourite product later this afternoon. Sorry but preschool calls.

Scrapfest 201

So I realized that Cathie Allan had made me a scrapbook page so I will find that in my bags and take a pic to show you,(maybe tomorrow). Anyways, so I was privileged to meet the woman that created Fontwerks. Kah-Mei (pronounced Ki-May). She has a brilliant way of designing products and then working with him. Her booth was so much fun, I only regret I didn't have my camera on when I explored it. (picture is borrowed from Scrapfest site) She taught some cool classes and did make n takes at her booth. It was fun. I even got totally busted by allison! I was supposed to be working & I paused to shop (no surprise) and Allison heard me, ripped open the curtains and yelled your busted! So we all had a big laugh about that.

So here are a few of my new stamps I got while being busted!

Do you blame me? I came home and I used the little western like title one already. LOVED it, then revamped it with my new FAVOURITE product, that I will reveal tomorrow!

So when you open up the Canadian Scrapbooker Magazine, we often see articles written by Mylene English. This would be the fantastic lady that is standing in the following picture. Yes she is patriotic, and they won the table competition. That is one of the cool events at Scrapfest, as a collaborative, each table can come up with a theme and then they try for a chance to win 1st,2nd,3rd. It is a blast. The tables were great. One table sang even. But anyways, Mylene's table totally went Canadian. Fun. She is such a down home, emotional person that has a big heart. It was lovely to chat with her. Cannot wait to see you again, and now when I read your articles it will be a pleasure to know the person behind these thoughts.

Roxanne Jegodtka- a woman who is making a big name for herself in the scrap world. She is Canadian. She is a mother of 5. She home schools. She has been published numerous times. She made it far in Making Memories Idol, she designs for Scenic Route Paper Co, Urban Lily (Australian Company) Urban Scrapbook a super cool store in Edmonton (they are one of my sponsors too!), Creating Inspirations. She also did the cover layout for Canadian Scrapbooker Spring 2007. In one word....ACCOMPLISHED! It was fun just chatting with her. I cannot wait to work with her next month. I mean for real, this woman is level headed, steady, friendly, beautiful in and out... how does she keep balance in her life. I cannot wait to talk to her more.

Jessie Lute- One of the creative minds working for"One Little Word". An amazing designer and so super cool in person. I loved hearing her camping story, unfortunately she probably does not ever want to go camping again. But it was cool listening to the fact that we aren't the only ones that experience dramatic experiences. She is also going to be at Canada's Scrapbooking Crop for Kids. You must go and say hi! (pic is off One little word's site, unfortunately I didn't get one of her!)

Janine Wahl- This girl is hilarious, she makes me laugh! She is a paper & digital scrapbooker. She is an instructor at Canada's Scrapbooking Crop 4 Kids, a designer with Memory Makers Book Division, has a layout in CK this month, and 5 layouts in Memory Makers 601 Great Page Ideas. Check her out!!!! Plus she is just a hoot.

I am so sad that I moved while taking this. I started to laugh. I actually was outside the classroom and seriously far away from her, just using my telephoto lens. But I moved. She started striking all of these Vanna poses, changing them like she was on Vogue. Slowly some of the classmates started to wonder what she was doing. They couldn't see me since I was far away. So it was super funny! Is there anyone out there that can help me make this pic better? I love it and so want to scrap it!

Well, the event was full of amazing people, fun things to do, great shopping, see why I am stretching this over the week? Way too much to cover in one day! See you tomorrow! Card Making Crop for the Troops is tomorrow! Please make sure you let me know if you are coming. I will have many different cardstocks & patterned paper available to use. Please bring paper trimmer, adhesive, and any thing else you might want. Otherwise, come for the social aspect, the food, and most importantly the CAUSE! Supporting our troops is important, and it would be a fantastic dream to know that our cards have lifted their spirits for a moment.

Scrapfest 101

Thursday was the day that we started to set up our booth, meet our neighbors, do the tour, get ready for the TV segments, and more. There is always so many exciting things happening during set up. It is the air of anticipation. One of the main events that took place was that people could enter a layout into a contest, the winner would be published in the next issue of Canadian Scrapbooker Magazine. So it was very awesome to see all the different submissions. Allison & I were asked to judge them. Seriously difficult task. They were awesome, enough to fill a magazine , so how do we choose 1? It was the first time that it was put in perspective how hard Jackie & Katharina's (Canadian Scrapbooker Magazine editors) jobs are. Katharina Doyle & Jackie Ludlage were both there on hand for you to sign up for a subscription, ask them questions, talk with them on how to submit and more. These girls are truly fantastic, always cheerful, and supportive of everyone. They would love to publish everyone. They root hard for Canadian talent. I have only to say that it has been one of the milestones in my scrapbooking career having met these ladies now on multiple occasions, and have enjoyed that our meetings have turned into friendships. Embarrassingly, I didn't realize until I got home that I didn't get any pics with either of them. Yes, a sad mistake for a die hard scrapbooker. So I borrowed this one of Jackie off of http://www.csc4k.com/ and I will have to find one of Katharina.

So as a little bonus, I have decided to have a contest. All the answers must be received ON MY BLOG, I will not accept emails or phone calls. sorry (I just am no where near getting caught up on them yet) Write the page #'s in the magazine that you see me or my work featured in the Fall 2007 issue. I will give away a prize to the person who answered correctly. I will randomly draw from all right answers on Friday.

So one of my absolute highlights of the weekend was to meet Vicki Boutin! I am absolutely a fan of her work, her style, her hair. It's a long list. She was absolutely a riot! Funny, down to earth, crazy fun. We both have a boy named Riley, cool hey? It was great! This accomplished lady works for Scenic Route Paper Co (yes only one of my super favourite companies; I did do 16 layouts using the same paper line. Now how often does that happen with me???Exactly!) As well as she now works for Sassafrass Lass. (I get to teach a class in Edmonton, completely sponsored by them so I am super excited, I'll tell you more about that on Thursday) But now she has signed an exclusive contract for a year with Better Homes & Gardens mag. Scrapbooks etc. So if you want to see her work that is where you will have to go.

She is totally known to break out in song & dance. It was fun!

Jen Starr- Now this girl just oozes talent. Sit with her 2 minutes and you are hooked. She is inviting, funny, great accent... She has created her own line of products with Zsiage, is a Ranger Ink Design Team Coordinator, deisgner & teacher for them as well as the head designer for Canvas Concepts (who I also have sponsoring a class of mine in Edmonton, that I will tell you more about on Thursday) I did a make n take with her but I haven't unpacked everything yet, so when I do I'll post it. It is a beautiful 6x6 for my mini album. I have to say that what this girl does with colour washing, & inking will blow you away. If you ever get the chance to take a class from her. You will NOT regret it!

Anam Stubbington- the girl that should go on Jeopardy. She is a walking source of knowledge...and so interesting. Amazing talent, such a creativeness that separates her from others. She is on many design teams, such as Pencil Lines, Altered Pencil Lines, Inked Scrapbooking, I think that she is one of the first people in this industry that talks straight, tells it like it is, and doesn't worry about anything. She has the most beautiful tattoos ever. She recently was told by a U.S. mag that they would never publish any of her layouts with tattoos showing. I saw a few of the layouts in person. Absolutely gorgeous. Enviable. would love to look at them all day long. So instead of letting this affect her, she went to a big tattoo magazine to show her art and now she is doing a major like 16 page (I hope I got this correct, please correct me if wrong) spread on tattoos and scrapbooking. I think that will probably be the first time ever that I buy a tattoo magazine. I love them, but yes, sadly so I am a wimp! I do think that some people have made them an extension of their personalities and life. It is an art. Absolutely look forward to seeing Anam again next month. We will have the priviledge of working together again.

I have to go get Riley from preschool, so I will finish talking about Cathie Allan & Kah Mei later today or tomorrow.

ScrapFest 2007

SCRAPFEST ROCKED!!!!

• All I have to say is NEW OWNERS! NEW OWNERS! NEW OWNERS! I say this because last year's Scrapfest left behind a bit of a disappointment among the attendees. It was not ran very well and there were problems. But the light at the end of the tunnel is here! Lisa & Deb are AMAZING, entertaining, fun, cheerful, hardworkers, this list just keeps going on and on. And no I am not paid to say this. So what is SCRAPFEST? It is a large event that takes place all over Canada. It is set up so there is a large crop room, many classes by the most fantastic instructors out there, and a huge marketplace where you can SHOP, SHOP & SHOP. Sponsors that gave away prizes, prizes, prizes. There is a night to make an incredible mini album, lot's of make n takes. I cannot even begin to tell you how much fun I had. It is definitely on my must do list for next year!

These are the power house ladies behind this most successful event!

I do want to give a shout out to their behind the scenes team, I didn't get to meet everyone, but Lindsay, Sandra & Jeffrey (he definitely made Allison & I laugh)were very helpful and helped made the event run smooth! So today I have an enormous list to complete so here's a view of what I'll show this week...

• Tuesday:
• Canadian Scrapbooker Magazine
• Vicki Boutin
• Jenn Starr
• Anam Stubbington
• Cathie Allan
• Kah Mei (Fontwerks)

• Wednesday:
• Janine Wahl
• Jessie Lute
• Mylene English
• Roxanne Jegodtka

• Thursday:
• Canada's Scrapbooking Crop 4 Kids- Edmonton
• my new favourite scrapbook product (I think I'll make this a secret until Thursday, then I can do up a few more examples to show you how wonderful this product is)
• Kelly Falardeau- Memories in Motion (the coolest little truck that I LOVE)

• Friday:
• Scrapbook & Cards Today Magazine- so much stuff to tell you about these people!
• Crop & Cruise
• Allison Orthner
• some of the amazing products donated: Tilano Fresco Tiles, Urban Lily,etc...
• anything else I might have missed...
• If you met me this weekend and are here, please say hi. I met so many unbelievable scrapbookers that I am excited to hear from.
• And don't forget, if you are coming to my house to make cards for the troops Sept.13 6pm-10pm, please let me know, as I have to set up tables so I want to make sure there is comfortable room for everyone. See you tomorrow with pics, pics, pics. I have to go and dump all my cards. Have a great week!

I'm back!!!!

So here's the truth, I'm home, I'm exhausted, I'm still grinning ear to ear from the most amazing weekend a person could have. This week I am dedicating a bit to SCRAPFEST 2007! It was the BEST!!!! So make sure to check in everyday because I will share pics & stories and tell you all the fun that a scrapbooker could have at one of these shows. There are so many people I want to tell you about, Canadian magazines that just have it going on and my latest, greatest, reasonably priced scrapbook item that I can no longer live with out, my tv appearances, and so much more.... but right now I have to spend time with my beautiful family who I missed!!!!! See you tomorrow!

• Don't forget that this week I am having my Card making for the troops get together at my house this week. So please let me know if you can make it so I know how many appetizers to make. Thanks!