Coupons!

Sorry, I am late with the coupons this week! 


AC MOORE
40% off this week, plus 50% off on July 2nd coupon here!

ARCHIVER 

Latest ad is here and the coupon here which is only good until tomorrow. Not so good since I'm going to Archivers the day after tomorrow!

HOBBY LOBBY
This week's coupon is 50% off 3-D embellishments and is good till the 3rd. Click here to see what else is on sale.

BTW, is anyone using these? Should  I continue posting them? Just asking!

Teaching Classes

Hi all, well it is official, I will be teaching classes again.  Yeah!  I've missed it, alot! I'm busy preparing two classes for Scrap, Paper Scissors in Loveland, OH and one for C-Shore Creations, Inc in Bellevue, KY.  Here is a short video showing the mini-book we will be doing at C-Shore.  I'm hoping to put kits for that minibook up on my Etsy store early next week.

Hope you Like it! You can order your kit on my Etsy shop now for delivery within three weeks! Or, you can order it already made!

The Wedding Album

Well here it is, the wedding mini-album I made for Pat that will be seen at CHA! As mentionned yesterday, the paper is by Best Creations, there are flowers by Prima and Petaloo and embelishments from Jolee's, MAMBI, and lots of items cut out with my cricut, some using the I Thee Wed and Bloom cartridges.  The wedding card on the front page is not by me, Pat had that made by one of her daughters I think.  The flowers and butterfly and the flowers on the bride's bouquet are additions that I made.  I hope that Pat likes it when I bring it to her tomorrow!

Hope you like it! I also named the mini-album for the class that I posted yesterday, "A Time for Sharing". Tomorrow in addition to seeing Pat to deliver the album, I'm also going to see about teaching at a couple of stores!  I also be opening a new etsy shop, please check back for an announcement about that in the next few days!

Has it Been Five Days?

Oh my! I looked at my blog and have five days really gone by since my last post?  Of course I updated last week's coupon post since then, but still, where has the time gone?  For one thing, I've been battling another nasty bug, and am on round two of antibiotics, this time, Cypro!  Anyone remember that one from the anthrax scare in 2001? What is it with these resistant Kentucky bugs I seem to be catching?  But enough about being sick!

I've been working on a wedding mini book that I was commissionned to do.  All the papers I used are from the Best Creations line of papers!  BC is known for their beautiful glitter paper! The album is finished, yeah! I'm hoping that Pat will both really love it and give me permission to share it with you! She plans on bringing it to CHA so that we can show it to Richard the owner of Best Creations!  How awesome is that?

Friday, I created a mini-album to offer as a class and I must say I love the project and I've already got one taker for the class! I used the Girls' Paperie - Paper Girl Collection to make it! I still need to add the title and I'm debating whether people should also make their own bigger rose for the front of the book, not sure they'll have the time! Maybe we can do that in the next class! I spent a bunch of time today using different punches, die-cuts and techniques trying to come up with an easy to teach flower, both big and small!  Getting there, I think!

As part of the e-course I've been taking, I've been reading blogs, lots of blogs, but I've got to say that the one that has captivated me this week is Monica's White Bench Blog and particularly her post about her creative space!  I just have to share that with all of you, her space literally makes me drool, not because it is big, but because it is so absolutely beautiful!  Way to go Monica! What's more, Monica, like me, loves to make teddy bears, though like me too, she hasn't made one in a long time!  Have I ever shared my favorite bear? Well here he is, meet Loam. I took that picture of him today, just beautiful out there, isn't it?

Lastly, I've been spending time looking for pictures, any pictures of my Hilltop Friends' week long visit to SLC and all things scrapbooking and well they all love to eat too.  So between classes, including one by my friend Sue Neil, and visits to various scrapbook manufacturers, they've been visiting diners featured on the Food Network's Diner's Drive-ins and Dives show. They've been having so much fun on such a fun packed schedule, that I'm thinking that I'll have to wait till they get home to read and see more! Lucky them!

Oh My!

I feel like I am drinking from the fountain of creativity!  My e-course Flying Lessons is one heck of a fast pace class and there is almost as much to be gleaned from the comments as from the class material itself!  Given that each post gets something like 200 or more comments and that I was not at my most clear headed over the past week, it has been a challenge.  I'm afraid that I've read, but not posted much myself, which is probably a missed opportunity!

If you know me, you know that when I decide to do something, not knowing how, is not an allowable limitation!  I really wanted to learn how to make a button to support charity crops and by extension the "Charity Scrapbook Buddies" group that I created on Facebook a while back. You'll remember that Papercraft Magazine gave us a boost by featuring us on their Facebook fan page not that long ago. So I played with the code until I got it right.  And if you look at the left hand of the blog, you will see that I even figured out how to make the actual code available for you guys to pick up easily! The link brings you directly do the Facebook group, sweet!

For the record, you do not have to be a scrapbooker to support these charity efforts since the causes include Alheizmers, Breast Cancer, Organ donation and so forth! Also, while they were started as scrapbooking get -togethers, I don't think anyone will be upset if you bring your knitting, crochet, cardmaking or other portable art form to a crop! If you're not sure, ask beofre registering, but I can almost guarantee you will be welcome with open arms!

Your art may also be something that you are willing to donate to a crop, where it will do much good in a silent auction, get you free publicity and of course, a receipt for tax purposes. So if you "flew in here" do  take a moment to grab the button, join the Charity Scrapbook Buddies Facebook group and when the time is right, help some good causes!

Coupon Time!

As you know I add them when I get them and then upgrade the weekly post with any new ones that come in later!  So here goes!



AC MOORE
AC Moore coupons are here.  They cover two weeks.  40% off this week (13-19 June) and 50% off next week (20-26 June)!

ARCHIVER (updated 06/15/2010)
Latest ad (06/15/2010) is here and there are 3 new coupons here good until the 23rd! One coupon is good for 30% off any item, one for 5 free prints and one for buy one color copy get one free!

JOANN's
Don't seem to get anything via email. I've checked my setting with them to make sure they have me right!  I guess I'm only getting things via mail and those I don't think I can share!

HOBBY LOBBY
This week's coupon is for 30% off wood handle rubber stamps and sets.  Click here for the coupon. You'll find the complete ad for this week here.  Here are "some" of the items that are on sale without a coupon that caught my eye! 30% off the entire stock of Cricut cartridges and accessories, and 30% off all 3D stickers and rub-ons! Plastic storage containers are also 30% off.

MICHAEL's
New ad here and go print your 40% off one regular price item and 60% off framing coupons here. Coupons good until June 19th.

Some Good Stuff

There is so much going on!  If you remember, one of my dreams was to go to CHA in Chicago this summer.  This is one dream that I'm going to achieve and for less than $300, all inclusive!  I was able to combine this trip with another and minimize the difference in airfare for the sidetrip to Chicago to only $90 more.  Thanks to my buddy Pat Davenport, Cricut teacher extraordinaire, I have access to the show floor and 2 roomates, one of them of course is Pat. The convention center is near Chicago O'Hare airport, so the shuttle will be free to and from the hotel, bonus! And the hotel is across the street from the convention center! Yeah!!! I will of course be reporting from CHA again, which if memory serves, is how this blog got started in the first place! Anyone else going to CHA that I can meet up with?

Those of you who follow me on Facebook know that I've been battling a very nasty bug which unfortunately forced me to abort a visit to Ramona's Store in Bellevue.  Ramona created my dream store while I wasn't looking and has expanded from just stamping, for which she is very well known in the area, to also providing scrapbooking and multi-media classes.  Ramona is a wonderful, warm, talented lady that I first met when she came to a Scrapbook Buddies Meetup! I'm going to teach scrapbooking at her store as soon as we can get together that is! Although she only opened her doors a very few months ago, her store has already expanded once. In addition, it and all the wonderful artsy stores in Bellevue, KY were recently featured in Cincinnati Magazine! I'm looking forward to feeling better, meeting Ramona and teaching again!

COUPON POST

Time for the coupon blog post...



AC MOORE
Click here for their latest ad.

ARCHIVERS
Click here to see Archivers latest ad.  No new coupon yet.  The one here is only good until the 9th.

HOBBY LOBBY
Click here to see Hobby Lobby's latest ad and here for their current online and in store coupons.

MICHAELS
I still haven't received anything new from Michaels.

Do let me know if you are using the coupons and saving money!

It's Time

It's time!  Time to give my creativity an outlet.  Time to give my soul the space it needs to be!  I'll probably struggle with who I am and what I'm supposed to be when I grow up for a long time, but for now, I'm taking steps to be... well, to be me! It's been a year since I moved up here to the beautiful rolling hills and blue grass of Kentucky! It has been a difficult, sad, painful, wonderful year! Wonderful for the new friends I've made, the old friends I rediscovered, and the friends, back in all the places I've lived that have remained friends despite the distance. Difficult and sad, because I moved away from some extraordinay people that I was very attached to. Painful physically because of the shoulder injury and surgery and painful emotionally because I had to leave my son, a grown man with his own life, behind in Florida! Sometimes my arms just ache to hold and hug him.

I'm taking an e-course called Flying Lessons, given by Kelly Rae Roberts. Kelly is teaching us how to market our art, and how to believe that we can!

Sometimes I feel like Price Charming in front of all those feet of thorny bushes, knowing what something wonderful awaits me on the other side. I just need to build up the courage to make it through the bramble! I just need to figure out how to get through all that mess with minimum fuss and as little blood letting as possible. But get through, I will!"

The course must be working!  I sold this card today!

But that is just the tip of the iceburg!  More about what else

happened tomorrow!

 Life is certainly a journey filled with twists and turns and in my case many moves!  To think that as a young adult I passed on a number of opportunities, including moving to Belgium to work for NATO for 2-3 years! All because I didn't want to move! Fate is definitely a funny lady, or is that funny guy! And so this time in my life is about embracing my creative self and saying to it, go ahead, it's OK to be you, in all your quirkiness!

Coupons and a Cricut Gypsy Update

ARCHIVER's: has a new ad, but no new coupon!  Maybe next week?

MICHAEL's: I didn't get anything new from Michael's this week.  If you did, let me know!

AC MOORE: You might have missed their Memorial Day sale, but they also sent out coupons for the next two weeks here. There is a 40% off any regular item good from Tuesday June 1st to Saturday June 5th and a 50% off coupon from June 6th till the June 12th!

HOBBY LOBBY:
Online Store: Use code FS559 to get free shipping and $5 off any online order of at least $59. Click here to see their ad.
In Store: Here is the link to their weekly ad. Of interest, 50% off some stamps (Paper Studio and Stampabilities) and a 25% off any regular priced item coupon.

IN OTHER NEWS

CRICUT GYPSY UPDATE

Provo Craft just announced (May 28th, 2010) another update for the Cricut Gypsy, that wonderful little handheld computer that allows you to upload all your Cricut cartridges into it! Here is the link to their announcement and the list of what they updated, debugged and added! So if you haven't already, register your Gypsy and get the updates!

CKC CINCINNATI
I live in the outskirts of Cincinnati and didn't know that they were planning a CKC here!  Just found out when I got an email last week!  The planning begins! Anyone going? Check here for a list of all the CKC conventions!  Unfortunately, the Nashville one had to be cancelled, probably because of all the flood damage! I'm not sure about the Cincinnati show, so far it doesn't have a whole lot of Exhibitors!  I'm thinking of getting a booth with a friend and exhibiting there myself! It would be a shame if the Cincinnati show failed, because I know that they can get a 200 person turnout at Charity crops around here!  So there ARE a lot of scrapbookers in the area! I'm thinking that this was a late addition and that the exhibitors had already made other plans!  I hope CK will give this show another chance in 2011 even if 2010 isn't a bang up success!

Charity Scrapbook Buddies gets a boost from Papercrafts Magazine!

Today Papercrafts Magazine was featuring Charity Scrapbooking on their blog. If you know me, you know how important I think Charity Crops are to the charities and people that they support! So I left a comment about the Charity Scrapbook Buddies group I started on Facebook and guess what, their editor, Kelly Smith posted a link to and promoted the Charity Scrapbook on their Facebook fan page! Awesome!

I believe that organizing, volunteering at, or attending a charity crop are life changing events! It makes you a better person, it gives you a different perspective on someone elses struggle, and it allows you to feel good about yourself! None of those are bad things, right? I know that helping with the Miracle for Savannah crop (visit Savannah's COTA site) a few years ago, touched my life and my heart in ways I couldn't even have imagined!  With all the economic problems out there, it stands to reason that if charity crops were important a few years ago, they are critical now when charitable donations have gone down.  Donations from businesses and coprporations are also down from a couple of years ago.

All that to say, if you haven't already, join the Charity Scrapbook Buddies and support all the charity crops that you can! Oh and sign your organ donor cards. After all you can't take your organs to heaven, but gifting them can save up to 17 lives that would otherwise be lost!

Cri...Cri... Cricut!!!

A while ago I got a Cricut...for the second time! Yup I had an original in 2006, and sold it a few weeks after getting it, but I won't bore you with the details.

There are times when I think it pays to take a formal class and for some reason, I believed that if I took a class, I'd be less likely to have the Cricut sit idle next to the Silhouette (I need to sell that) and the Slice which I actually do use from time to time! I wanted a good class with a really good teacher. I 'm really hoping to get very, very good at using it and that eventually share that knowledge with other people!  I love to teach, whether it is a large financial software package like Oracle Financials, how to make a cute mini scrapbook album to 4 year olds, or anything in between! Luckily, we have one of the very best Cricut teachers in North America right here in the area, Pat Davenport. I finally got to take the class I wanted, with her! 

This is the lovely Jann B who shared a table with me.

What a nice lady!

There were a few chalenges in the class along the way, mainly because I have a Cricut Create and the 5 other students had Cricut Expressions. While the Create is closer in functionality to the Expression than the original, there are significant differences other than the obvious differences in their size, mainly the difference in how to do certain functions, which the Expression has dedicated buttons for and the Create requires a number of steps to do.

From left to right: Lori S, Lori B, Kim H,

Mary L, and standing, our teacher, Pat Davenport

Despite the challenges of that first class, Pat and I recognized that we could do some good together and so I'm spending time helping her fine tune the Create portion of the Cricut 101 class, which allows me to use my somewhat rusty skills as a software functional analyst and of technical writer! I think going forward, Pat and I will be friends and possibly co-operate on some projects.I'm also benefitting from Pat's unbelievable knowledge when it comes to using the Cricut, which makes me a very happy Cricuter! I can't wait to dig into Design Studio, the Gypsy and Make the Cut!

Ouuu Coupons Week of May 24 to 30

ARCHIVERS
Still no new coupons from Archivers, but the ones you got mailed are still good till the end of the month! Here is the link to their latest ad.

AC MOORE
AC Moore has completely revamped their paper crafting area.  Here is a link to their latest ad.  The coupons seem to be imbedded in the ad this time!

HOBBY LOBBY
HL has a 40% off any regular price item coupon for this week. Click here to go to their coupon print page.

MICHAEL's
Michael's is having a coupon bonanza this week.  Click here to go and pick and print your coupons! This week there is a 60% off (from the MSRP) on Cricut cartridges costing $69.99 that are in stock.  Wonder if they have any left!!!(they didn't at the Michael's that I went to)

Have fun shopping and do post and let us all know if you got anything this week using the coupons!

Win One or More May Giveaway Entries!

I think that charity scrapbook events are the bees knees! (whatever that means, lol) I attend them whenever I can, I gift things for their goody bags and door prizes, I try to encourage others to attend via my blog, websites, postings and through the Charity Scrapbook Buddies blog on Facebook!

With that in mind, I promised that I'd give you all another chance to win an additional entry into the May giveaway. With only a few days left to the June 1st drawing, here is what you need to do to add one or more entries. In addition to following the basic steps to enter the May giveaway of the Independence Cricut cartridge, which you can find here, if you haven't already done so, please join the Charity Scrapbook Buddies group on FB for an additional entry into the draw. Once you have joined, or if you are already a member, please post back here that you are a member. Get someone else to join and get them to post here that you refered them, and I'll give you another entry! In addition, if a Charity Scrapbook buddy is the winner of May giveaway random drawing, I'll add a little something to their prize!