Is today Tuesday?

Wow - could the week go any slower? 

I went to a crop 5 hours late this past Sunday. It was hosted by a bubbly girl named Amanda (also a CTMH rep) whom I met at Kristina's crop. I would have been "less late" had my manbeast given me proper directions...no wait, I would have been "less late" had I NOT LISTENED to my manbeast give me crap directions and just gone the way I knew.
Regardless, I attended, met another new friend (Kristina said I would ;) and have now joined a "card exchange"...at least I think I have joined. Not entirely sure if I will forge ahead with it or perhaps start a group of our own. 
I also got quick directions to make an "easel" card and got to see a few of the girls buzzing away with creativity. 
I didn't take my crop bag in as there were only a couple hours left of the crop - but lesson learned. Next time, go on time, go the way you know - or bring my GPS!!

Last night, the girlkid was over while the manchild went to his "guys wing night" and she and I watched numerous YouTube card tutorials and got down to business. She made her first tri-fold card while I made my first easel card. 
We then made the "real deal" after mastering the card instructions on our crap cardstock. She has a bit to go...lots of detail. I got tired and took the lazy approach but did finish. 
I always love making cards - quick gratification, but somehow feel betrayal to my scrapbooks. That could only make sense to another papercrafting geek I'm sure. However, I'm committing myself to try to get at least 3 layouts done per month during the fall and winter months. I think that's a fair way of attempting to get caught up while easing the "empty nest" syndrome that I am already starting to ache with.

I'm thinking perhaps I should issue a challenge to other scrappers/cardmakers...that would be one way to get motivated.
Gonna think on that one tonight and get back to you...unless of course you'd like to issue a challenge to me...and then I say...bring it!!

Is it STILL Tuesday?? OMG.

Gearing up!

So, I've been spending time dog-earring the brand new Fall/Winter Close to my Heart Idea Book/catalog.
OMG - we're going to have some fun goodies to work with in the monthly club.

I'm loving the various sizes of "flip-flaps" on page 122. Fabulous for additional photos and hiding your journalling! Definitely on my next order.
Also, each and every "kit" is calling my name, but Avonlea is going to be the showstopper I think!

I've also been spending enormous amounts of time on Pinterest and the CTMH consultant site learning various methods of making new folds for fun, unique cards. I've been sharing quite a few of my creations on my Paperlushus Facebook page but still have a few tricks up my sleeve that I will save til club starts.

I've had a couple of visitors to the "cave" lately, so have been busy creating/teaching/playing there as well.

Now, it's time to get my 19 year old manchild ready for college....I'll miss him horribly. So, after my "empty nest" breakdown - I'll get back on track with all things paper.

Beat the Heat Crop!!

Another First!

Today I went to my first real "crop". I've heard the term scrap crop for years now and it had always conjured up images of papercrafters in one communal area sharing ideas, inspiration, and papercrafting tools. Seemed like heaven on earth to me...well, maybe not quite as good as chocolate, but I think you get what I'm trying to say.

So, today, I went to one and I'm thankful for the day! It was hosted by a new friend of mine "Kristina Wallace". She lives in Durham, ON and I actually met her after I had posted a scrapbook paper punch for sale on the Owen Sound Super Swap (via Facebook). We physically met for about 5 minutes when she picked up the punch at my workplace but we had a good "scrappers vibe" between us so we "friended" one another on FB...which eventually led to us both being on Pinterest and pinning one anothers favorites regularly.

Over time, it has become obvious that we both like a lot of the same things and although we really don't know each other, she invited me to her "Beat the Heat" crop in Durham. I instantly accepted the invite and was pretty sure that I could find someone to go with me. However, no one locally was able to go on such a gorgeous day....well that certainly weeds out the not so die-hard scrappers huh?

I had no idea what to pack....I started to pack last night but just couldn't do it. The manbeast thought I should sleep on it. Would have been a great idea except I got next to no sleep. I like to be prepared for my day the night before as I am absolutely NOT a morning person. Anyhow, I laid awake for hours, playing on Pinterest and googling "what to take to a crop".

With not much more insight, I finally went to sleep.

The crop was to start in Durham (about 45 minutes away) at 9am. I awoke at 830 with no bags packed and needing a shower....

Jumped in the shower - still thinking what to pack. Raced to the cave and threw everything to do with farming that I could find in the bag (thinking I would work on the annual tractor show pages that I am 3 years behind on. 

Dilemma #1 - where are the photos of 2009, 2010 and last year??  Found them all except 2010 which didn't get printed and are on the PC that is in limbo (crashed).  

Added a bunch of stamps, punches, adhesive and paper to my bag. 

Dilemma # 2 - how much is too much? - well when the bag is full and too heavy to lift sillygirl!

Manbeast had made a pasta salad for me to take....so here comes bag #2. 

Jump in the Jeep and remember that I needed ribbon, buttons, embellishments, scoreboard, and on and on...here comes bag #3.

Made it to Durham in just over half an hour - walked in unsure if I'd recognize Kristina but we caught eyes - it wasn't crowded , six or seven other women. I found my spot and got at it. 

What a fabulous vibe. Kristina was sharing her Creative Memories tools and also had brought a huge inventory to purchase from. Others would look at your work as it evolved...

Kristina had a morning "door prize" which I won because I was able to produce the photo of "someone wearing sunglasses" almost instantly. I won an awesome Creative Memories accordian file for holding 4x6 photos or stickers. Yayyy me!!

Suddenly it was lunch and we all sat together (somewhat in the quiet due to not knowing one another :) and shared a delicious potluck lunch before getting back at it. 

The afternoon flew by and suddenly we were packing up. One woman got 17 pages done!! Yes, I said SEVENTEEN. I think the average was probably 4-6. 

I um, got 2 done. Yes, I said TWO!! However, they were on the theme from which I packed everything and they were overdue to be done since 2009 - so tres accomplishment!! 

I met another new friend named Amanda who is also a CTMH rep. She taught me how to make two cards in less than ten minutes! Yayyy for Amanda as I need things one step at a time....

So what did I pack?

• cutting mat for under my work (used non-stop)
• papertrimmer (used non-stop)
• ICE cold water (yayy me)
• 4 different kinds of adhesive - gluepen, pop dots, Fabric-Tac liquid glue, and glue dots. Used them all but not the refills that I also packed.
• Lots n lots of cardstock in solid neutral tones (used 4 sheets total)
• My entire collection of "farm" embellies, stickers and paper. (used a lot of it and would have used it all if I had done more than 2 pages - haha)
• Hemp twine (used about 32")
• CTMH inks (12 colors) - used 4 
• CTMH stamp sets (took 3) but only wound up using the pennant alphas because I didn't do cards
• Ongoing theme 12x12 album to colour match (brought home finished pages in it)
• Photo mounts (used a tonne)
• Sponge to ink edges (wouldn't go anywhere without it)
• Baby wipes (hands get mucky - used a half dozen)
• My entire "tool caddy" which holds my Cropodile (not used), scissors (used), paperpiercer (used) and all my glue and ruler (used).
• A few random punches - only really used  and didn't need them because the hostess had a table full!

Overkill? Maybe considering the lack of productivity, however, you just never know what you're gonna need!!

So what did I learn?

• That I adore ppl that papercraft
• That I need not stress about what to pack 
• That I need not stress about the "vibe" - scrappers are fabulous folk!
• Share ideas - you come home motivated to keep working.
• Be open to all styles - some ppl don't stamp and that's cool. Some ppl don't mat their photos and that's cool too. 
• GO TO SLEEP the night before so you can get there on time!!

I'll post a photo later of what I managed to get done...or you can go to my FB fan page "PaperLushus" and see it there later tonight!

Til the next time...

Happy Sunday!
I'm on semi-holidays from my "real job" - semi because I still have to go to the office to check msgs and fax paper.
Regardless, I'm enjoying my time at home. We've got water in the pool, ice cream in the freezer and a nice breeze so life is beautiful at the Smithshack.
In the evenings, I've been in the scrapcave attempting to "copy" a couple of the scrapbook layouts in the Summer 2012 Idea Book from CTMH (www.karensmith.ctmh.com) using the beautiful vintagy "Florentine" paper and the fun retro "Stella" paper.
Today, I worked on a resume for a different job (Yayyy me!) and emailed it away. After that, I've been concentrating on how to make various styles of cards - pop-ups, step cards, and window cards! Fun if you're a scrapper, boring and annoying You Tube videos if you're the manbeast!!
I realized today that I DESPISE all my glue guns/tape runners. I've heard fantastic things about the pink Scotch ATG (adhesive tape glider) but I can't find one locally. I found the best price on Amazon, but am wondering if anyone locally knows where to find one? Also would love feedback if any of you have one...
This is the gem ".http://www.amazon.com/Scotch-85-4-Inch-Advanced-Glider/dp/B00409NNYM I'm talking about!

Our monthly club has room for 2 more papercrafters...planning to start sometime in August. Feel free to email, call or yell if you're interested. I understand if you can't physically attend each gathering but we can discuss how you can still be very much involved!

Cheers to a beautiful Sunday!! xo

Monday, Monday - blah! I'd much rather be in the cave crafting away! I didn't get much done over the weekend but I did take the time to photograph some of the things I've been working on! Will get the pictures up later today!

Gearing up with the "Monthly Club" - still have about 4 spots left and would love to have "YOU" join us!! Details are listed under the "monthly club" tab.

Close To My Heart's June promo "Stampaganza" wraps up this Saturday. If you haven't already taken a peek - http://www.karensmith.ctmh.com/. Stamps are buy two get one free!! Yippee!! I know I've certainly taken advantage of it as have several of my customers. Feel free to email me with your order and I'll add it on to the last one of the month, going in this Thursday!

The PaperLushus facebook fan page has FIFTY "likes" now!! So I guess that means I've almost figured out what I'm doing there. Although I didn't really see the need for a "fanpage", all the great "how to run a blog" smartiepants articles encourage it.

My son and his g'friend celebrated their one year anniversary yesterday. She dressed to the nines (even wore make up and heels) but he certainly did not go over the top! What's the deal with boys/men in that sense? Anyhow, she and I will be scrapping the occasion soon and will share with you.

Finally...

For quite awhile now, I have wanted to start a blog as a place for likeminded crafters to share tips, swaps, photos and giggles...and today was the day. Well actually, this week was the week. It took me ages to come up with a blog name that "fit". Then came all the tutorials on how to create a ablog. I nearly gave up because of couse, creating a blog was cutting into my crafty cave time. However, with abit of perserverance and patience (something I usually lack) I've come up with an extremely basic blog (for now).

With all that said, please share!! Leave comments and let me know you were here..let me know what you want to see, learn, swap and create.

I recently started with a direct sales company "Close To My Heart". I started selling their products because I adore them and use them myself. You can click on the link on the right side of my webpage and it will take you (on another tab) directly to my Close To My Heart" catalogue where you can browse and even order if you'd like, however, I may be able to guide you to ways to save money on your order if you contact me directly before purchasing.

Very soon, I will be putting out a call for those of you interested in papercrafting as a group. I will be starting a club  of 10 women who would like to get together and papercraft. Each month I will share tools, tips, and teach you a technique or perhaps help you build a scrapbook page, card, bookmark. small gift items, etc..
Check out the "monthly club" link above for more information! I hope you'll join us!!

Check back frequently as I add photos, information and great tips. I'll also be hostessing supply swaps in the near future....makes "cents" right?

Over and Out,
K