still me

happy OCTOBER everyone!!!

this morning...

we are back from a whirlwind weekend to AZ:

*taught classes at 3 awesome stores: Mad Scrappers, Paper Vineyard and Making Memories Unforgettable.
*eric celebrated his 20th anniversary of graduating from Mountain View High School and we went to the reunion at the beautiful Tempe Center for the Arts
*we all celebrated our mom/grammy's birthday with a big breakfast *almost* everyone there (missed you Kody!) and i think that was the best gift we could give was being together!
*kids got to play w/ cousins and friends, and stay up late, and eat cookies!

whew... driving in this morning about 2am, it felt almost like it was all a dream. i get the bad scrapbooker of the year award-didn't take a single photo.
no photos of all the kits. no photos of all the classes. no photos of all the grandkids with their grammy. no photos of the reunion. i am fired. so mad at myself. i think that is what happens when i go into overload. i think that i might have been in overload this weekend... sigh. if any one took photos... please share them with me!!

i have added a couple new dates and places for INSPIRATION SESSIONS on the left side of my blog...

OCT 23, 24 I'll be in Great Falls, Montana! i have never been there before! and i'm SO excited...
NOVEMBER 13,14 i'll be in Florida at a brand new store: 'She Scrapbooks'...
i'll be sharing more details very soon on both of these locations- class info, times etc... so check those out!

scrapbook REWARDS program!

This summer has been one of change, and reflection.  During our moves-packing and unpacking- I have had the chance to look back through my old albums, photos and projects- and  realized how overwhelmingly grateful I am for every minute I have spent scrapbooking and documenting our life.  I will be the first to admit that I am a little over-the-top when it comes to scrapbooking, but as I have looked through the many memories…every dollar, every late night, every mess on the countertop is worth it!

It’s caused me to think about it a lot: the Rewards of scrapbooking vs. the RISK of not scrapbooking!  

This year at Creative Escape, I got the opportunity to talk about this a little, and I created a presentation about it.  I have taken these thoughts, and this message and expanded it into an hour-long inspirational (hopefully) class. In this hour, I’ll talk about WHY scrapbooking is WORTH the effort, the time and the energy.  I’ll talk about the things that I am grateful I remembered and documented. I am going to share some of my strategies, ideas and methods for getting the most important parts, the most meaningful and cherished memories captured. I have the opportunity to share this presentation on Friday night (9/25) in Chandler, AZ at a store called Paper Vineyard.

If you scrapbook, or you USED to scrapbook, or you WISH you’d scrapbook… or you have a friend/mom/sister/coworker that falls into this category- COME and listen! It’s only $15 for you and a friend to come! I will be sharing some of my old, even very earliest pages… along w/ some of my favorite pages. All you have to do is sit and laugh (and maybe cry) and remember. Remember WHY you scrapbook!! And be INSPIRED to capture your life in scrapbooks!  (if you live in Rigby ID, Dallas, Houston, Great Falls, Watertown SD I’ll be sharing the same presentation near you!)   I will also be teaching 2 other classes at Paper Vineyard friday- hands on projects… 1. The Celebration Countdown project which is a wall hanging that counts down 2 weeks before something (anything)! It’s a fab gift, or even just something to use to countdown to a vacation, holiday or birthday! The original was made to give my mom for her 60^th birthday earlier this summer.  2. The Halloween book… this is SUCH a FUN project, and SO much fun to teach. We are alcohol inking and heat embossing on the cover- and then we’ll be playing with SMOOCH paints too

… and THIS Halloween kit from House of 3. There are still some spots available… come and play all day! you’ll leave with tons of ideas, new techniques and inspiration!  …

inspirational inspiration!

I have a few minutes here in the SLC airport as I head to AZ again!...

The real reason I will be in AZ this weekend, is that it’s Eric’s ‘20^th High School Reunion’. I think that I thought I would feel a lot older when we were attending these types of things! But nope… we feel super young still (wink)…

It’s been a flurry of activity this morning, but I did finish this project.. this one is just for me. I have given all the other hearts I filled away! But I made this for my room… I made it so that I could change and update the messages as time goes.  This is a collection of 3 hearts hanging from a rack in my studio- I spray painted the boxes w/ glossy black spray paint left over from painting the hand-me-down bunk beds for Capri and Connor. I only painted the tops. I then printed up a few things… for 2 of the hearts, I printed the message on to inkjet transparency, and used the enclosed heart window as a template to cut the new window to fit. I used Ranger archival black ink to stamp a little texture images onto the transparency as well.

 I then printed a favorite scripture on a piece of Scenic Route ledger paper, and also used the heart shaped window as a template for the inside of the box.

Not too long ago, I was at Forever 21, and started specifically looking for clearance or broken jewelry that I could use on my projects. They’ll usually give a little extra discount off the already super cheap prices if it’s damaged. – I kinda pieced it together and draped it on the inside of the shadow box under the printed words.

I added some of the necklace to the dangle chandelier

I really love how this turned out… I love the colors, and the vibe, and the reminders!

you can grab a heart box kit HERE from www.houseof3.com.
THIS kit is brand new to House of 3 ... it's a totally printable kit to make a Halloween album. It's a fun mixture of several awesome kits and Hof3 product... I am working on an actual CLASS that will be available as well on Hof3...  seriously, i could use more hours in the day!
***i needed something QUICK and easy to have on hand to make thank yous for people at the school, so i took the contents of the Hello Teacher kit, and just made it simple to buy, print and tie onto a bag of candy, or chocolate bar or starbucks gift card or whatever... i like to cut the little faces out and put a pop-dot under the face on the tag. -it would even be nice to buy it and print it out and give it away to a teacher so they can create a quick thank you too! everyone LOVES to be thanked, and so many people give so much of their time, energy and talents to make a school work...

don't you wish...

you lived near Rigby, ID?? well... if you do!! (or you want to drive over for a fabulous fall excursion...) this is what we'll be doing there on Oct. 3rd:

the classes will be held at "heidi's fudge'... ( how does that sound for perfect?!) i have never been there, so i am looking FORWARD!! we are seriously PACKING in a TON of stuff for the day... do not miss it if you are near by... there are still a few spots available! COME PLAY! (you deserve it!!) check HERE for more details and contact information!

i made this today to share with someone that doesn't love MONDAY as much as i do!! (wink)

if you need to 'share some love'... click HERE

new week!

woke up this morning to a gorgeous 50 degree-blue skied day! i went to bed last night at 10pm, so i felt rested when the alarm woke me up, and wow... i should do that more often! i felt like my cold had subsided a bit, and i just felt overall happy to be alive. it's a good feeling. that happens on monday! when i feel like i have a WHOLE WEEK at my disposal! i love mondays...there is a lot going on this week- good stuff, so i have been making lists, and gearing up... trying to get myself organized to get it all done.
i want to share an experience i had yesterday... was having a good day; i was tired from my quick trip to AZ for the Scrap Happy Birthday party (SO fun), but everything was good...i had a meeting with one of my church leaders-someone that i don't know that well, but had occasion to meet with him. he took a minute to ask me how things were going in my life and in our family- he knew we'd just had a couple of moves and that i had 5 kids etc... and obviously could tell i was battling my cold.  i told him that things were coming together, and how i was finally settled..kids liked school and etc. etc. etc.  overall, i try to think positive and not complain, cause it doesn't really help- and i hadn't said anything negative...other than it was challenging juggling all my responsibilities... i was so touched as he took a moment to acknowledge all i was doing, and that it wasn't easy!  he then asked if we could say a prayer, and he proceeded to pray for me. and it was truly the most compassionate thing. he asked the Lord to bless me in all kinds of areas...things that i hadn't even mentioned, and ways that i was astonished he knew i needed extra help in. his prayer was simple, and included my children, and our family.  The reason i am sharing this quite personal and very spiritual experience here on my very public blog... is to  maybe extend a reminder that each and every one of us in this world, no matter our circumstance or our age... we NEED compassion. and when that compassion is offered with love and genuine concern... it strengthen, and lifts and gives an added measure of capacity to face all the things that life has to offer. all of us are dealing with things that challenge us on our own level.. from potty training to spelling words, ---which may not even compare to cancer or loss of loved ones... but still to that person, the compassion offered works the same.
Compassion = understanding, listening, acknowledging and caring.
just something to think about today... i do feel an added measure of hope, and endurance today, which i am sure is a blessing from that good man that took the time to care, pray and encourage... for me.
and for that, i am SO thankful. so thankful.

WINNER!!

it's late sat. night, and i have had a FULL and very FUN day today teaching at Scrap Happy Sisters! and as the name implies, it's a very 'happy' place. the store is very well stocked- TONS of stuff to spark the creativity! all the ladies in my classes were SO happy! we had so much fun. i loved hearing their stories, and sharing 'favorite summer memories'... i felt like i made so many new friends... that is the part i love about teaching! it was the first time i was teaching the heart box project and the halloween book w/ the alcohol inks and embossing... the projects all turned out great, and i loved being able to share ideas, and techniques that people were trying for the first time!   i want to thank Kit and Kris for inviting me to be a part of their birthday party! being there made ME happY! so awesome.

SO, as promised...i am giving away this cute heart box with the fab CE charm necklace!!

CONGRATS TO:

ashley...please email me your info here so i can send you this fun gift!

in case....

you were wondering the size and needing to see the House of 3 heart kit a little more, here is a little video that i filmed today to show you the hear box and it's goodies IRL!!

More heart box inspiration! (be warned, it's long)

Look at what Janet just posted on the House inspiration blog for another version of a Halloween candy box!! (there are a lot of candy corn fans!) I love this… so quick: print a spooky tree on transparency, and spray paint the box black! SO FUN! I love it…

I was needing to wrap a gift that needs to get in the mail tomorrow, and I was looking for a box to send it in, and when I saw Janet’s spray painted box…immediately I realized how perfect the CE Zebra Pj’s would be peeking through the heart box!!

What a perfect gift for any scrapbook friend, wife, sister, daughter etc. etc. (this one is going to a friend that didn’t make it to CE this year)…the ultimate gift giving season is upon us, and here are some PERFECT solutions for those girls that have EVERYTHING:  go and check out the online CE shop… stuff from all 4 years is available there for purchase: idea books, bags, project kits and t-shirts, even the GOODIE BAG that was given on Friday night is available!! Any girl would love even that exclusive ‘eat dessert first’ cookbook! (only $6.99)

I also wrapped up one of the fab CE charm necklaces, and put it in the cutie House of 3 Heart box…

how CUTE does this look!? And when wrapped in the Heart kit, it’s an extra bonus because your creative BFF will be able to create something fabulous with all those goodies!! This charm necklace was quite a hit at CE! It’s 30” long, and super cute…$24.99. 

 

 

I have a bunch of teaching announcements!!

I will get more details out over the weekend…

 

**adding Halloween spookyness and heart box goodness  to my weekend at Scrapalicious, call Alicia for more info and details!

**set a couple dates to teach here in SLC!! (yay)…I’ll be at Heartfelt Creations in Sandy in both October and November… more details coming!

**I’ll fill you in on my visit to Mountains of Memories in Montana in October (406)-452-2559 to get more info

**and this little detail: My friend and partner at House of 3 Janet Hopkins and I have arranged for a “day to Play” in Dallas, TX. OCT 17th… and again, I will be dishing on all the particulars… but it’s all day long- 2 classes (3hrs w/ me, and 3hrs w/ Janet) and then I will be giving a special presentation/keynote to end the day!  if you are in the DFW area, PLEASE COME AND PLAY!! You can sign up here, space is pretty limited, but we’ll get as many people in as we can!

 

Ok, seriously, I promise more info on all these things, as well as my November schedule…so  much going on! And it’s coming up so fast!

I would like to give this cute package with the heart box and the CE charm necklace inside to one of YOU, my blog friends… so leave me a comment if you would like to win this... and I will select a winner on Saturday!  GOOD LUCK!

(woa, long blog post... )

oh my heck.. i almost forgot to mention:

tomorrow we are giving $5 off any purchase of $9.99 or more at www.houseof3.com. All you have to do to score a free $5dollar bill in house of 3 land... is type in this code (exactly like this): 5dollarfriday

lower case, no spaces!! ENJOY... spoil yourself!!

public service message

you have to check out this little video that i did for Scrapbook.com for a MUST SEE tip on using the distress ink and blending tools!! if you LOVE to use DISTRESS, but you have some issues w/ the velcro on the blending tool... WATCH THIS to see what i do to make my life (and your life) easier! - we all need that!!
The video is pretty basic dealing w/ using the distress inks and blending tool- so hang to the end for that 'public service tip'...LOL