Destination Create Creations

When I made my first altered clock a loooonnng time ago, our friend Indra loved it, and I promised that I would make one for her. I created this at the DC crop a few weekends ago, and used Scenic Route and Websters Pages papers, and Maya Road, Prima and Kaiser embellies. I think Indra is going to love it! Those are her sweet grand-daughters in the photo.
Since I wasn't feeling well the entire weekend with a bad ear infection (that I STILL have - don't ask!), I just wasn't feeling up to designing pages. I had put the product for this shadow box together quite a while ago and decided to work on it. I'm quite happy with how it turned out. I love that the bingo card had a 5 on it to highlight the 5 in our family with the little heart.
Here's the cover of the Maya Road Home Reflections album I made in Caroline Lau's class at the crop. I love it! I used it to tell the story of our family's love for our current home. I'm going to photograph the inside and create a slide show of it when I get a chance. Thanks to my table mates for making it such a great crop, despite my lousy mood due to my icky ear!

Destination Create 2009

Destination Create 2009 was an awesome event that was a blast to attend. We were lucky enough to have Caronline Lau from Maya Road there to teach some classes and share some Maya Road product with us - what a treat! I took Caroline's Home Reflections class, and managed to finish this sweet mini album. Thanks, Angela, for taking this (and actually getting the album in the photo!)
The theme for Saturday night's crop party was Hawaiian Luau. Our table created quite the tiki bar (thanks, Kat for your luau decor!) and managed to win the best table decor prize. It was wonderful sharing a table with Angela, Kat, Lori and Jennifer, and despite that I had a miserable ear infection (which I STILL have!), we had some great laughs.
My friend Leanne also came to this year's DC for the first time, and her table tried to give us a run for our money in the table decor contest. Gina, Nancie, Carole and Leanne were a ton of fun to be with, too. Hostesses Patti and Elia were kind and gracious, not to mention a whole lot of laughs. We celebrated Patti's 40th birthday on Saturday night, and really surprised her.

So, for those of you who stayed home this NSD and think you want to attend a retreat next year instead, I highly recommend Destination Create. I will be posting photos of the Home Reflections album as well as the other items I created at the retreat soon, so stay tuned.

Destination Create: Part V

At the cropping table...

It was fantastic sharing a cropping table with these delightful and talented ladies at Destination Create. Pictured with me are Jen Backler, (who also taught some awesome classes), Angela, Jennifer and Lori. Not only are these gals great fun to be around, but I was so inspired by each of them and their wonderful work.

We also had fun being seated next to Kimmie, Tina, Janice, and The Nook's talented photographer/teacher/designer Deanna. The scrapping mojo, the laughter, the conversation and the snacks were all the very best. Take a moment and visit these gals' blogs and check out the unique and innovative designs they each create. You'll be inspired!

Photos of the 70's disco craziness will follow soon.

Destination Create: Part IV

This much fun really OTT to be illegal!

After planning for and being excited about Destination Create for the past year, it's hard to believe that it has now come and gone. I'm thrilled to have spend the past weekend with some of the most wonderful gals anyone could possibly know. Patti, Elia and gang put on a wonderful, fun-filled and exhausting retreat. It rocked!

Between the draws during classes, gifts from sponsors and door prizes, I was lucky enough to come away from the event with these wonderful products to add to my stash. You may notice in the back ground here an OTT light - yes, I won one of the door prizes! I can't wait to try it out. Also, I'm a huge fan of all of the sponsoring companies and was fortunate enough to come away with some great supplies, including a few from Cosmo Cricket and stamps from gelatins. Lucky me! :-)

I hope you all had as wonderful a National Scrapbook Day weekend as I did. I'll be posting more about the event over the next little while, so stay tuned!

Also coming up soon is a little peek at the layouts I've completed with my latest kit from Scrapalicious. Have a super week!

Destination Create: Part III

Happy National Scrapbook Day Weekend!

I'm so excited that this weekend is here. For those of use headed to Destination Create, we've been talking about it for a year now and it's finally going to happen! In addition to hanging out with my fantastic roommates Angela and Lori, and taking classes from the awesome Jen Backler and the amazing Vicki Boutin, this weekend of fun sponsored by The Scrapping Nook's incredible Patti, Elia and team will be the site of an incredible disco dance party. I'm totally ready to dress the part! From the tip of my sequined hat to my platform sandals, from my John Lennon sunglasses and peace sign necklace to my patchwork snakeskin pants, I'm going to dance the night away.

Here is a tiny peek at my disco outfit. When I set up to photograph it, the girls wanted to be in the picture, so I let them! Vanessa wouldn't stay still and is a bit blurry, but that's OK. I'm so hyped about Destination Create! I'll have more photos to share after the big boogie.

Have a wonderful NSD weekend. I know I will!

Destination Create: Part II

What to Pack for a Crop...

I'm not a great mobile scrapper, I'll admit it. I do most of my scrapbooking at my kitchen table after my family is in bed, so packing up my scrap tote to scrap away from home is a challenge! Being faced with what to bring along and what to leave at home, I started a list; I thought I would share it with you. Here's a bit of a peek into my rolling tote, packed and ready for Destination Create:

Papers - cardstock, patterned papers and paper collections, scrapbooking kit club kits, die cut and specialty papers, specialty cardstock
Photos - don't want to forget these! :-)
Cutting Tools - portable trimmer, cutting mat, ruler, craft knife and extra blades, circle cutter, corner rounder, border punches, shape punches
Die Cutting Tools - die cutter, fonts and shapes, embossing folders
Stamping Tools - alpha and decorative stamps, inks, paints, embossing ink and heat tool, embossing powders, stamp cleaner or wipes, stamping blocks/press, watercolour paints or pencils, paint brushes, foam brushes
Adhesives - ATG gun and refill, glue dots, foam pop-up dots, liquid adhesive, Glossy Accents clear liquid adhesive, mod podge, glue stick, skinny glue pen
Writing Tools - pencils, pens, markers
Altering Supplies - mini-albums, Heidi Swapp clock face
Distressing Tools - sandpaper, Basic Grey file kit, Making Memories distressing kit, emery board
Lettering Supplies - letter stickers and alignment template, chipboard letters, letter rub-ons, Thickers, ghost letters. Since I'm not bringing a computer or printer, I'm bringing some pre-print journaling, and LOTS of tiny letter stickers by Making Memories, in tons of colours
Embellishments - ribbons, flowers, brads, Maya Road sheer journaling spots and chipboard shapes, rhinestones, transparent overlays, Grungeboard, any other cool items you've purchased and haven't take out of the package yet! ;-)
Camera Bag - camera, extra memory card and batteries (what fun is a crop if you can't take photos to scrap later?)
Inspiration - sketches, magazines, idea books, journals or notes - whatever inspires you!

Well, I think that covers it, although I suspect once I've arrived, I'll realize I've forgotten something - hopefully not anything crucial! Feel free to use this list to bag your own scrappy tote, or leave a comment if you think of something I've forgotten. Happy cropping!

Destination Create: Part I

I'm terrifically excited right now.

You see, for National Scrapbook Day, I will be at a wonderful event called Destination Create. Hosted by the fantastic gals at The Scrapping Nook, DC is going to be a great time, with classes, cropping, shopping, visiting with online friends and trying new things! I can't wait. One of the new things I'm excited about trying isn't all that new - it's the Basic Grey Magnetic Precision mat.


This terrific tool was released quite a while ago, but to me it's still new - in fact, mine still in it's original packaging. When it arrived on the scrapping scene, this 15" square magnetic cutting mat sounded like just the thing for me - and I still think it is! My challenge is that I'm usually so pressured for time when I scrap that I don't try my innovative new purchases. Instead, I rely on my tried and true methods and tools. And I have a number of wonderful, unopened packages to prove it!

Well, I'm so convinced that BG's Precision Mat will be a tool that I love, that I have already packed it in my rolling tote for the crop. I'm determined to start using it. How will it work for me? Stay tuned; I'll let you know after Destination Create!