I was looking at my Blog Stats and noticed that I’m less than 25,000 hits from rolling over HALF A MILLION, baby! That is soooo cool. I’ll have to plan a good contest and prize for the big event, don’t you think?
I also noticed lots of hits on my “Troy the Locator” article below, but no one is leaving comments. Was it that bad? (You know I was kidding about the “being better than you” thing, right?) Was it too long to read through? I was thinking I should’ve broken it up into two entries. Let me know your thoughts so I can learn from my mistakes, please :) :) :)
As I talked about HERE, I was contacted by WeTV to participate in a conference call with none other than Troy Dunn from their fabulous show, “The Locator.” I’d written about the show on my blog in the past HERE and HERE because I love it so very much. I thought it was so cool that not only did Troy come and leave a comment on my blog, but his mom (you see her on the show, too) did as well. One of the coolest things is that they sent me the link to a sneak preview of the new season of The Locator that only a special, select few IN THA WORLD get to see. Well, I don’t know that for a fact, but to make my ego supersized, let’s just assume that’s true. C’mon, play along with me….
They also sent me this picture to use in my article, which is from the new season and has NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE on the face of the earth. Exclusive to ME!! Bwahahaha. Okay, I’m totally lying again. I’m apparently at an insecure mood at this point in time and have a need to feel important and much, much better than you. I promise, I’ll get over it. But cool photo, right?
Did you know that one of Troy’s sons (Treston; LOVE that name!) keeps a family blog? Why don’t you go say “hi” right here to THE DUNN FAMILY.
Anyway, the date and time to speak with him finally arrived, which was September 3rd at 8am my time. That worked out well because, even though that’s a work day for me, I start at 8:30 (and I work from home as a medical transcriber so it’s a short commute). I told the gal who was coordinating everything – Katrina from WeTV – and she allowed me to ask my questions first in case I had to cut out early.
The two other bloggers who were also on the conference call with Troy (yeah, I get to call him that, ‘cuz we TALKED, you know?) were Gina from the THE CLAN McCLEOD blog, and Jill from the OKLA-HOME blog. Go check them out…both are really great blogs.
So, back to the call…Troy came on the line and everyone said good morning and where they’re from. I was able to go first and started off by reminding Troy that I was the one who had blogged that he’s a hottie. Again, like the comment he left on that post, Troy (or, as I sometimes call my new BFF, “T.”) was very modest and we joked about things like that scoring points with his wife.
My first question was: You talked in the comment you left (on my blog) about scrapbooking and the role it plays on your show. Can you please talk about that some more?
He said that scrapbooking is very much a part of The Locator. One thing is that many times, people who participate in the show immediately scrapbook their experience. He says that by what his show does, they allow people to have another 10 or 20 years of their lives to make the memories to fill up more scrapbooks. T. also said that his family has scrapbookers and they give and receive them for gifts. On his coffee table near him while we spoke, was a scrapbook that a fan sent him, all made up to honor the show, The Locator. The person had taken photos from the show, newspaper clippings, and letters from the website. {This reminded me of the album – or is it albumSSS – made by my Scrap Pal, Gay to honor her fascination with….er, lust for….I mean, um, admiration of the acting abilities of Gerard Butler. But that’s a whole ‘nother story I can’t get into right now}. Anyway, so then Troy said, “I have nothing but love and respect for scrapbooks and if I can help people fill the pages of them, fill their lives, then I’m totally jazzed about that.” See, not only handsome, but wicked smaht.
Then he said that he keeps waiting for a scrapbooking company to contact him, that he’d love to do a whole “Locator” scrapbooking line. I joked that maybe I should put some bugs in some ears in this industry about this great idea. As it happens, I’m having lunch later this week with STACY JULIAN, KELLY GOREE, CATHY Z, and LISA BEARNSON, so I’ll probably bring it up then. Nah, you know I don’t really know those ladies. Well, unless you count years upon years of drooling over their work in magazines and stalking….erm, I mean… leaving (perfectly harmless) comments on their blogs as being friends. Because I do. I consider them my friends.
My second question was about photographs, and how important those are in our lives; his thoughts on that, maybe reactions he’d seen from people he reunited when either they were shown photos of themselves they hadn’t known existed, or the opposite, when no photos exist and how that impacts them. (Crikes, didn’t realize what a long-winded question that was til I had to type it out and got a case of carpal tunnel while doing so… Sheesh, Erika, brief much?).
This was one of my favorite parts. Troy said that one of the greatest myths about photographs is that “a picture is worth a thousand words.” He said that a picture is worth a million words. He said photos are so extraordinary because of how close they come to “bringing a real person to somebody.” He said he often gets the same reaction from showing someone a photo of their long lost loved one, as he does from showing them the actual person. I find that amazing and, yet, totally relatable and I’ve seen it many times on the show, the profound reaction people have when seeing a photo of their loved one for the first time. The other amazing thing Troy had to say about photos is they he tries to never go into a reuniting situation without one because they make great transitional objects. We talked about how, for instance, a mom who hasn’t seen her missing son since he was four months old. In her heart and head, she may largely picture her son today as still being that four-month-old little baby. What a shock it could be if she first laid eyes on him again as an adult now. So by exposing her to current photos of him beforehand, she can start transitioning herself mentally into “This is what he looks like now.” He compared it to a situation in his own life, and a daughter (one of his SEVEN children with his wife) who battled cancer. Friends that hadn’t seen her in a while would’ve been quite shocked to then see her bald, so he used photos as a kind of transition so they could wrap their brains around how she looked currently, instead of revealing a shock or a sadness upon actually laying eyes on her. As I told Troy, I’d never thought of photos as that “transitional object,” but how very true and powerful that is, don’t you think?
So, those were my two main questions. Troy next answered questions from Gina and Jill, which were great to listen to. I know Jill has blogged about her experience speaking with Troy on her blog listed above, and I hope Dena will post about her take, also.
Then we got to ask a third question, since there was still time, and I asked him a question that had been posed by one of my kids when they found out I would be talking to Troy. {The Locator is a wonderful family show and I watch it often with my kids, so they’re Troy Fans also}. The question was about all the travel he does for the show, does he like it or not? Troy’s answer was what you’d expect from the true family man that he is….that while he’d gotten to go places he’d never have gone otherwise, that nothing was better than being home with his family. Shoot, with a wife and seven kids, imagine how many events you could miss in just a few days, LOL!. He talked about the toll that reality shows seem to be taking on the families who participate in them lately, and how family must remain the priority above all else. We also learned some “show secrets” such as the getaway car, and Troy’s favorite getaway meal. You know, things Troy only tells his “good friends,” of which I am clearly one. {Ahem}.
So that was my wonderful experience talking to Troy. He said if I contacted his staff, he would send a photo to my kids and I’m still working on arranging that. Sorry this is so long, but I had to capture all the details while they were fresh in my mind ‘cuz you know I’ll be making this blog entry into the journaling for my scrapbook layout, of course. Now, if only I could find some Locator-themed scrapbooking elements to jazz up my page, I’d be in business. Lisa??? Kelly???
PS: A reminder that the new season of THE LOCATOR starts soon! Put it on your calendar or set your DVR now...This Saturday, September 12, 2009 at 9pm PST (check listings for your own time zone).
If anyone was waiting on the article I said I would post today about my phone conversation with Troy Dunn of The Locator TV show, I apologize it will NOT be posted today. Me and one of the kiddos ended up with the stomach flu so my weekend didn’t go as planned. My apologies, and I’ll get it posted as soon as possible. I still can’t believe I was blessed with speaking to him! To hold you over, I’ll post a photo. Trust me, it will help your day immensely… :)
Except I forgot to write this up Friday night, so it’s actually “The Wee Hours of Sunday Morning Scrapbook Randoms,” LOL. {It’s 4am to be exact}. The benefit of me being so tardy is that I can share THIS with you. Pair it up with that 50-percenter I already gave you, and you’re good to go.
Word on the street is that you can get a BIG BITE at Walmart for $5. HERE is the orange one on Walmart.com, which normally retails for almost $40.
I’m sure it won’t be 5 bucks at MY Walmart, because they never have whatever it is all you scrappers are bragging about until a month or two later, if at all. But, hey, go check it out. Maybe you’ll get lucky and then come back here and rub my nose in it… (Kidding! You know I took Sarcasm 101 and got an A+, right? Like, SEVERAL times. In fact, I’m teaching the class next semester…).
There’s a new blog by a Pea I wanted to share with you. Her message board name always catches my eye, cuz it’s SCRAPPIN PSYCHO. See, I figure I may be Obsessed but SHE is psycho. And her scrap room is called The Asylum. I keep trying to tell you people that I’m not the only scrapbook crazy out there, but now I have proof!
Hey, did you know the monthly crop at AMR Is next weekend? Yep, I’m totally not kidding. Here are the details, as shared by crop queen diva, MARILYN aka Melonscraps:
Start getting ready for the September Crop!! It will be Friday, September 11-Sunday, September 13!
What to expect…
The theme will be FALL.
There will be a BINGO game, but not by Michelle.
I will be posting another fun game, at least one.
There are sure to be lots of challenges, if you plan on doing one, pm me!
There will also be another ATC swap!
There will be lots of chatting and someone please bring the Margaritas!!
Feel free to join in the fun with challenges, games, etc.
Come one, come all, and have fun!!
The crop post is HERE for any updates or more info. Hope to see you there!
I will close with THIS, “Warning Signs That You Might Be a Scrapbooker.” I can definitely identify with lots of those. And, no, NOT number 22. Sheesh, give me a little bit of credit….
You can see Basic Grey ~ Indian Summer, Eerie, Eskimo Kisses, and Nook and Pantry HERE. {As of this writing, the Nook & Pantry still shows out of stock, but I’m sure we’ll have it soon}. I’ll give a taste of each by showing you the Theme Sets of paper, but we have a bunch of stuff from each line.
And here is Fancy Pants ~ Rough and Tough, Dancing Girl, Little Sprout, Trick or Treat, and Christmas Magic HERE.
Instructions on how to order are HERE. Would love to hear from you :)
O. EM. GEE! Have you seen this batty lace doily by Basic Grey?!?!?! Must. Have.
Okay, now I can’t wait to shop. I’ve been holding on to some Product Credits for a while now, waiting for all the CHA stuff to roll in. We’re still waiting on the new Doodlebug, Sassafrass, and We R Memory Keepers, but I can’t wait any longer. Now that the BG and Fancy Pants are here, I’m going to order before it’s gone. I also want this “Take Note” from the BG Eerie line, among other things:
HERE is the September Newsletter from Basic Grey, if you’d like to see some great layout ideas with these new lines and some past ones. What new CHA Summer stuff are you excited about or going to order?
This is the first week without coupons via newspaper ads (I talked about it HERE). So HERE is a link to the coupons I got via e-mail ~ they’re good ones! Hopefully they will work for you, and there’s not a limit on the number you can print. Let me know if it doesn’t work.
ETA 9-4-09: Thank you, Heidi, for leaving this comment:
Did you see the notice on the 2nd link: “We’re sorry. This coupon is no longer available because the viewing limit has been exceeded.
If you have been forwarded this coupon and would like to receive offers like this directly from Michaels, please register at Michaels.com. ” What ‘limit’???
That’s what I was afraid of. They’ve done this before, limited your ability to open and print the coupon to only once. Darn. Sorry guys. If I can find another version of the coupon to link to, I’ll post it. Or if you find one, let me know please!
ETA 9-4-09 again: Try THIS. It’s a different coupon but better! I got it from another site and it printed, no problem.
I spoke with Troy Dunn from The Locator (WeTV) on a conference call this morning with some other bloggers! LOOOOONNNNNGGGG blog post coming up, probably tonight. We dished scrapbooking and photos, and he has a proposal for scrapbooking companies. Yes, I’m a tease! You’ll have to come back and read all about it….
ETA: Well, change of plans. I ended up at a last-minute 4-H meeting tonight which took 3 hours. And this is a busy weekend, so I’ll work on the article (it’ll be a long one) and post it Tuesday after Labor Day. Hopefully, you’ll be in the mood to grab a cuppa Joe and snuggle in for a good long read.
PS: My scrap buddy JULIE from the AMR board sent me some scrap goodies for winning her challenge at our last online crop. One of the items was a desktop weekly calendar that has this saying on it (although its a retro chick instead of a retro dude):
I adore this! Truer words were never spoken. I mean, decaffeinated coffee??? What’s the point?
If you’ve been waiting for the Amber Road line from PINK PAISLEE to become available, I’ve got great news for you….I can get you summa’ that! I’m a consultant for MEMORY WORKS scrapbooking and we now carry this line. And here ’tis….
PINK PAISLEE Amber Road Theme Set $5.50
4 sheets of double-sided patterned paper
1 sheet of shaped paper
1 sheet of double-sided postcards
{This is all the papers in the line; you won’t be missing any…}
PINK PAISLEE Amber Road
Patches $3.50
(3) lightweight canvas tags
Each patch measures approximately 3.5″ x 5.5.” Patches can be applied using brads, eyelets, stitching, or any adhesive.
I can’t believe the clear stamps are only 5 bucks! And look at all the alphas you get for only $2. That “pear” looks like a very versatile color, too. My faves from this line: The shaped paper, the gorgeous brads, the clear border stickers, and all those die cut shapes. But it’s all so pretty. I like that it’s a non-traditional look at Fall and Thanksgiving scrapbooking…not your typical oranges, yellows, and browns but instead subtle reds, greens, and creams. You could even use much of this line for Christmas…the pieces that aren’t theme-specific. Cool! I LOVE double-duty! And that old-fashioned look is so appealing and different.
This is my favorite part of this line…the paper and embellies featuring this cool apple blossom tree…
So, if you’d like to place an order, click on one of the above links, which take you straight to the item on my own Memory Works WEBSITE. More instructions are HERE.
If you have any questions about placing a Memory Works order with me, please don’t hesitate to ask. We carry lots of other great products ~ not just Pink Paislee :) All the products rolling in from CHA are amazing. So far, we’ve got (click on each name to shop or browse):
BO BUNNY – Delilah, Kitchen Spice, Flutter Butter, Boo Crew, Tis the Season, and St. Nick (I blogged about all of it HERE)
COSMO CRICKET – Earth Love, The Boyfriend, and Jolly by Golly
DREAM STREET – Nature’s Poetry, Sam, and Urban Ink
JENNI BOWLIN – Town Square, Front Porch, Calendar Cards, Bingo Cards, Mini Bingo Cards, Chipboard Buttons, and Memo Books
MY MINDS EYE – Abby Road, Boo to You, Colorful Christmas
PEBBLES, INC. – Lil Buddy, Lil Miss, Skipping Along, So Tweet, Chips glittered chipboard, ribbon sets, Ribbon Iron, and Candy Dots
SCRAP WITHIN REACH – Paper Boy, Carnival Ride, Industrial Park, and Afternoon Tea
THREE BUGS in a RUG – To the Rescue, Spread Your Wings, Simple Pleasures, and Let It Snow.
If you’d like to place an order, here is my own Memory Works WEBSITE. Click on “New Customer? Start here” and register as a customer, put your item(s) in your shopping cart, and submit your order. I’ll get an e-mail right way that your order is pending, and I’ll contact you regarding your payment preference. If it’s Paypal, I’ll e-mail ya an invoice and as soon as you pay it, your order is submitted for processing. If you prefer to pay by check, once it’s received and cleared on my end, your order is submitted for processing. From there, Memory Works fills your order and mails it within 1 business day (yes, 1!). It’s shipped directly to you lickety split!
If you have questions about becoming a Memory Works Consultant, please click on I’M A MEMORY WORKS CONSULTANT here or above right, and I’ll get you whatever kinda 411 you need. You can do anything from buying things for yourself at discount to selling only to your friends to become a Mega Rock Star Consultant, hosting parties and crops to your hearts content. Me, I’m kinda between options 2 and 3, LOL!. I sell to myself, I sell to friends, and I host a crop once in a while. I earn a little extra money so I can spend on scrappy stuff without feeling guilty for impacting the family budget. And I can’t believe I’m earning money selling something I love so much….scrap stuff! It’s a win-win, baby! So, yeah, give me a shout at the e-mail listed and I’ll tell you anything you need to know.
** If you do end up signing up as a consultant, PLEEEEEZ enter another consultant’s ID number when you do. That consultant receives a $10 to 15 product credit for referring you, allowing them to invest in products for their business. I’m not saying it has to be MY consultant number…although I’d love it if it was…but seriously, enter the number of a friends or whoever helped you decide to do Memory Works. It’s a shame to let such a substantial product credit go to waste, don’t you think?
Just wanted to share this amazing layout I saw on 2peas by FlowerFlora from Athens, Greece.
I’m just stunned by this layout. The intricacy, the historical fact, the sheer artistry. Anyone who thinks it’s “just scrapbooking” should look at this piece. Personally, I think it belongs in a museum….
This amazing artist’s 2peas gallery is HERE. You can see close-ups of everything, and read all the journaling. HERE is her blog…it’s all written in Greek, which is fun to look at in itself, not to mention her body of work! Like her “Life is a Tree,” for example…
Just wanted to tell you about the crop I went to on Saturday. It was a lot of fun and I got 9 pages done in about 11 hours. That might be a record, LOL. Granted, I need to add the journaling on most of the layouts so they’re not complete quite yet. The crop was from 9 to 9 and I said I was going to get there right at 9, to take full advantage of my crop fee….cuz I’m stingy like that. However, I didn’t end up leaving the house until 9, then went to Michaels and Starbucks on the way (which were both right down the street from the crop).
At Michaels, I learned two things from the employees while I was there. 1. The beading area (at least at our store) is expanding, and 2. No more Michaels coupons via Sunday paper flyers. Yes, I’m bolding that…it’s big news!
So I was cruising the scrapbooking area, looking for something worthy of my 40% coupon, and coming up dry at that point. I went to look in the center aisle sections, desperately trying to find the load of new Sassafrass product “mah people” told me was at Mike’s these days (no luck). The next aisle from scrapbooking is beading and there were two employees resetting the aisle. I said, “Hi” and one of them asked if they could help me find anything. I meant to ask about the Sassafrass but my eyes were blinded by the dizzying array of new beads they were hanging. Like, row upon row upon row of beads! My jaw dropped and she goes, “Yeah, we’re expanding to three aisles.” I said, “I used to make beaded jewelry but stopped for scrapbooking. Maybe I’ll have to get into it again!” and we laughed. Then I said, “You know, I’d better just not look,” and she said, “Yeah, bead shopping is pretty addicting.” She paused and said, “And I hear scrapbook shopping can be pretty addicting, too. Is that right?” I said, “Oh, you don’t know the half of it!!” And we all laughed. I complimented them on all the new scrapbook stuff they’ve been getting and told them to keep it coming. {I realize they’re employees, not buyers, but it never hurts to put in a good word, right?}.
I ended up grabbing a paper pad from We R Memory Keepers with sport stuff, called “MVP,” for $12 instead of $20. I would link you the whole line on the WRMK site, but I couldn’t find it there. Gotta’ say, I’m not a big fan of their website, the way it’s organized and the lack of information. But I copied this from an online retailer.
When I was checking out, the cashier told me that Michaels would no longer have ads in the Sunday paper, and that coupons would be strictly from the mailing list/website. She gave me a cute flyer explaining how to get on the mailing list, and I told her I was already on it, so I’m good to go. I asked her why did she think they were doing that, and she assumed it was due to cost, but had not been told that. So, more things changing due to the economy, I guess. I enjoy looking through the Michaels ad on Sunday mornings, along with Target and a few others, while I drink my coffee. Then I go right to the cupboard for my scissors, cut the coupon out, and stick it in my purse. So now my routine will change and I’ll have to remember to print the coupon out from the computer, but whatevs. I’m cool with it. Can’t blame them for having to stop the ads; they must be really expensive when you imagine ALL the newspapers they’re in. Some Canadian Peas said they’re doing the same thing up there. I do wonder if it’s a good business move though, don’t you? Do you think having the ad right there in your paper entices crafters and non-crafters alike to buy when they normally wouldn’t? I mean, you and I who are computer savvy (and on this dang thing all the time) have no problem just getting on their e-mail list and checking the ad online. But what about Nancy Sue in Kalamazoo who browses her Sunday ads, sees silk trees or Christmas decor on sale at Michaels, and thinks, “Oh, that’s a good price. I should go check that place out.” KWIM? Without the ad, I could see Michaels losing a lot of business. Anyway, us Mike’s freaks can view the weekly ad and sign up to receive printable coupons via e-mail HERE.
So, I left Mike’s, grabbed my sugar-free latte from StarCrack’s….erm, I mean…Starbucks, and got to the crop by about 10. There ended up being nine of us there. The hostess gave me a goodie bag with 3 sheets of Scenic Route 12×12 paper, all of which I ended up using on a “Back to Skool” 2-pager. The hostess had some things for sale (I bought 2 packs of Thickers….finally found one pack I’d been looking for….some Daisy D rub-ons, and a few other things).
There was a Creative Memories rep there taking catalog orders and I spoke to her about getting the new crop bags that are coming out….have you seen them? OMG! So so so cute! The whole set is black and white with a subtle daisy design and the interior of all the bags are pink polka dots. I love having a light-colored interior as it’s easier to find things. I can’t find a photo online or I would show you. I’ll go on and on about these bags in another post when I can find a photo of them. But I told the CMC that I was going to ask for the large bag (like an XXL) and a couple others for Christmas from my mom and DH. The bags I have were purchased piece meal. They’re old and they don’t match…some black, some navy, some blue. I got her card and will contact her when the time comes.
There was also a crop friend there selling Memory Works. She is a really sweet lady I’d met before through the crop hostess. We got to commiserate about being Memory Works Consultants and compare notes, so it was great. She had some Scrapbook Trends magazines (well, they’re like books really) for sale for $8; I think they’re usually $15. I don’t ever buy ST because it’s so dang expensive plus ~ I guess I’m a weirdo ~ but I like the ads so an “ad free” magazine isn’t a good thing to me, LOL! But I bought this issue called, “TrendSetters” which showcases 15 top scrapbookers; it’s from 2006. I love reading profiles of scrappers and seeing their work.
I couldn’t find this issue on the SCRAPBOOK TRENDS website but an online retailer sells it for about $14 (discounted), so I did get a good deal.
So, shopping and cropping all day. Couldn’t have had a better day if I tried. Hope you got some scrappy time this weekend as well. What do you think about the disappearance of Michaels ads in the Sunday paper?
I always seem to be feeling pretty “random” by Friday night. I’ve usually seen little things throughout the week that I want to share with you, but don’t have time to do a whole post about them or whatever. So I’m going to start posting “Friday Night Scrapbook Randoms”, okay? It’ll be a big ol’ mosh pit of scrap stuff. It might be slightly dangerous and somewhat crazy, but I want you to just dive in and don’t expect perfection, yeah? Cool.
I found some cool things on SARA’s blog; she’s a Pea! I totally love the name of her blog: “Yeah, Like I Have TIme for This.” She had me at hello.
So first, check out her cool and fast solution for doing her vacation albums HERE. I’ve been meaning to do an album like that, with the 4×6 photo pages embellished with mats and things, but still haven’t gotten around to it. Her projects are wonderful inspiration, don’t you think?
Also, I stole this fun little survey from Sara HERE, and completed it for myself. Would love it if you took the survey on your blog, and shared a link with us!
FOR TODAY August 28th, 2009
Outside my window…it’s dark, hot, and still.
I am thinking…about how I should get to bed…have to get up early tomorrow..
I am thankful for…a wonderful dinner tonight, then the company of our great friends and a nice glass of wine.
From the kitchen…beer butt chicken, grilled bread, and salad.
I am wearing…my ‘jamas.
I am creating…nothing lately…but tomorrow’s another story.
I am going…to print some photos and place a Memory Works order.
I am reading…”Becoming Chloe” by Catherine Ryan Hyde.
I am hoping…that I wake up on time tomorrow.
I am hearing…all the fans running in the house. It’s 11:15 and still hot.
Around the house…there is folded laundry that needs to be put away. Where is that darn maid!?! Oh, wait, that would be me…
One of my favorite things…quiet “me time” after everyone has gone to bed. {<- Love this answer, so I just copied Sara}.
A few plans for the rest of the week…working overtime, having kids' friends over to swim Sunday, cleaning house.
“Think about it … no blisters from the constant cropping of photos, no writers cramps from all those bubble letters…”
…I thought it was pretty good. Sorry, chickie, we don’t “constantly” crop photos or handwrite our bubble letters anymore. Well, I mean, you scrappers can if you WANT. Not that there’s anything WRONG with that. But most of us use Thickers and such, LOL. Also, she wrote it as “scrap booking,” making it into two words. But she had a good point, that the blogs of today can be seen as the scrapbooks of yesterday. A way to capture all those little, day-to-day details of our lives that might otherwise be forgotten.
ETA 8-29-09: The author of the article left a comment below….Thanks for stopping by, Kristy!
Alrighty then…I’m going to an all day crop tomorrow. Whoo to the hoo and all that shizzle! It’s the first time in 2 years (that I can remember anyway) that I’ve gone to a crop that I wasn’t either hosting or selling at. From 9am to 9pm, I’m just plain cropping, baby! Speaking of crops, HERE is my post about crops from 2peas today, and HERE is another one asking what do you do at a long crop?
So, was that all random enough for ya? What are your weekend scrappy plans?
Absolutely nothing except that they both have upcoming shows I’m excited about!
Okay, LISA BEARNSON…Nope, unfortunately she’s not on QVC SCRAPBOOKING anymore :( Btw, I REALLY miss her on that show, don’t you? The other hosts try really hard but they just don’t have Lisa’s superior knowledge of scrapbooking products and how to use them. Plus, I miss her playfulness with David Venable.
Here she is with one of her daughters showing their seat belt burns from an accident they were in recently ~ thank goodness they were okay! Something tells me that without those seat belts, they wouldn’t have been….
Anyhow, I found THIS show that she’s going to be on (September 2 and 9, 2009), if you happen to get BYU-TV. You may not think you do, but look through ALLLLLL your cable or satellite channel listings and you might find it. On my Dish Network, it’s on Channel 9403….yeah, it’s way down there. It’s the same channel where I watch SCRAPBOOK MEMORIES, which has some new 2009 episodes. I haven’t watched in a while because I kept getting reruns of older shows but today I checked and am recording an upcoming episode that says 2009. Yippee skip! Love that show…
Okay, back to Lisa. The show is called “Latter Day Profiles” and the info says, “The co-founder and editor of Creating Keepsakes scrapbooking magazine, Lisa Bearnson.” Info also tells me this show originally aired on 6-24-09, so it’s fairly recent. Let’s check it out and then come back and compare notes, okay?
While searching around for shows to record, I also found something for fans of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE. On Wednesday, 9-2-09, Fox is showing a special episode with “fan fave routines from previous seasons.” The only bad thing is it’s a mere 1-hour long. WTH? I can’t wait to see it and hope they show some different routines than what were on the SYTYCD finale. There are SO many past routines I love. I could watch them over and over. Then the following Wednesday, September 9th, the new season of SYTYCD premieres, followed by the long-awaited second episode of GLEE! This is a show that won me over the first episode when they performed “Don’t Stop Believin’,” by Journey, my all time favorite band. {If you see me on the scrapbook message boards, I’m always “journey fan.”} Check out a Glee preview HERE; the Journey song starts around 2:45.
So, ya gonna try and catch Lisa B. and/or the SYTYCD episode?
I’m so happy that Michaels is turning over their stock much more quickly than they used to. Just about every time I go into Mike’s, there is something new. Here are some photos of things that were new ~ to me at least. These photos were taken on my last few visits to Mike’s.
Making Memories alpha stickers
They had several colors. The font is cute and I love that there’s an little crystal on each letter.
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A bunch of new bling…
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Journaling tablet stickers by Die Cuts with a View. There were 5 different themes, like Travel, Love, and Family.
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Your eyes are not deceiving you…Those are Thickers @ Mike’s!! The choices are kind of slim so I hope they offer more style and colors in the future. Check out those red, yellow, and blue letter stickers. I swear those have been at Mike’s since 1996. C’mon, Mike’s, just toss them. If they haven’t sold in 13 years, they’re not going to sell now, LOL!
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I’m so bummed this photo didn’t come out! I wanted to show you all these cute little epoxy stickers by Recollections…arrows, flowers, and my favorite, rainclouds and raindrops.
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Blingetty bling bling!…
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I love this K&Co. album from the Cut ‘n Paste line. It’s pricey but maybe someday I can get it with a 40% or 50% off coupon. Yeah, yeah… a 50% coupon! When’s the next holiday?? Oh yeah, Labor Day is right around the corner…
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An overview of a lot of their new albums. The solid colored Recollections albums are on the top row. The ones below are so pretty/cool/cute; there are a couple albums there I would love to have.
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My Minds Eye paper stack, called “Complete Boy”
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My Minds Eye paper stack, called “Totally Girl”
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Cat’s Eye chalk inks ~ my ink of choice ~ and lots of Staz On inkpads.
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Brilliance “Dew Drops” ink pads and Tim Holtz Distress Inks in 6 colors! We’re big time now!
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Cute-alicious cupcake stamps…
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So, here is what I ended up with on trip #1: Some black Thickers. They are the puffy ones, black cursive font, called Rainboots. Also, a pack of American Crafts Slick Writers in black. I really only wanted the fine tip but they didn’t sell them separately in fine tip, only bold. Oh well, won’t hurt to have extra Slick Writers anyway. Used a 40% coupon on the pens.
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On trip #2, I got two of the Journal Stickers Tablets ~ Travel and Family, and some Recollections pearl bling strips in green and teal. Used a 40% coupon on one of the sticker books.
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Here’s one sheet of each of the Journal Sticker Tablets, just so you can see how cute they are. My Slick Writers will be perfect!
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I’m so impressed with Michaels lately. With the demise of so many LSS’s, maybe we’re giving them enough scrappy business to keep that part of the store going strong. I sure hope so….Mike’s is my main source for Scrap Crack….erm, I mean….scrap supplies. What new things have you seen or purchased at Mike’s lately?
There is a sweet lady who posts on the All Moments Remembered message board, goes by the name of “tomocus.” She posted today asking for us to help her nephew win a survey, and I thought I’d pass it on. HERE is her post about her nephew, who was the first round draft pick for the Anaheim Angels Major League Baseball team.
The poll is to vote for the first round player who is off to the best start in the Minors. HERE is the link where you vote. The poll is on the bottom left of the screen and to vote for him, click No. 24 Randal Grichuk. When I voted a few minutes ago, he was in second place! But he was a ways behind the #1 guy, so SCRAPPERS UNITE! Let’s put him over the top and then his Auntie Tomocus can tell him we helped him win, LOL!
Like I said on the AMR thread, we are baseball nuts in our family and we really like the players who work hard, not just take everything for granted. Randal shows up for batting practice 3 hours early every day and is putting the older guys to shame. He’s missing his family in Texas but is overcoming some obstacles and doing very well. Our younger players need good role models like Randal.
{*Cough* MANNY RAMIREZ STEROID JERK *Cough*}
{And my LA Dodgers are stuck with him, ugh}.
Here are couple pictures I found of Randal, in case it motivates you to vote, LOL!
He’s a cutie! And, yes, I can say that because he IS street legal (age 18). {Please forgive me, Auntie Tomocus}. Go Randal! Ladies, I hope you will take just, literally, 10 seconds to go VOTE for him. Thanks!
I know, I know, I need to BLOG! It’s been too dang long. We went camping at the beach last week, and I spent the weekend recovering, LOL! Laundry, unpacking, etc. and then finalizing the school shopping, getting backpacks together, and, oh yeah, it seemed like a good time to shop for a new theme for our kids’/guest bathroom ‘cuz I didn’t have enough things on my plate {insert sarcasm here}.
Well, at Target the other night, I got some fun (non-SBR) stuff including a DVD of the classic movie ROMAN HOLIDAY…
that I’ve been dying to see ever since I read this novel, “ITALIAN FOR BEGINNERS” by Kristin Harmel….
SUCH a cool book! It was set in Rome, which is my favorite city EVAH! And it references “Roman Holiday,” which I can’t believe I’ve never seen. I could go on for days about how much I LURVE Rome (or Roma, as the Italians call it), how great this book was, or how I couldn’t put it down the entire time we were camping, but that would bore you to tears. Well, I put it down to play in the ocean and stuff but that’s about it. At Tar-Jay, I did NOT find a copy of the new Colbie Caillat “BREAKTHROUGH” CD I was planning to get; on sale for $10 vs. $14…shoot! They sold out by the time I got there.
Then in the computer aisle ~ where I debated whether I really need to lay out 30 bucks for a laptop cooler fan lap fan thingee (I mean, are they noisy or what?) ~ I saw this little cutie-patootie and had to have it…
Idn’t it little and key-ute! If I’d ordered from the LOGITECH website, it would’ve cost me about $36 with shipping, but at Target all it cost was $25 and the instant gratification was free, baby! This thing rocks. It’s Mac compatible. It’s small and has a little USB plug that pops into the bottom of the mouse when not plugged into your lappie. It’s a big improvement over my current wireless mouse that has a big white contraption with a cord that I have to drag around the house with me if I go mobile. Anyway, this little red mouse will be a great replacement. The scroll button not only goes up and down…it goes side to side! So totally rockin’!! And I adore the pretty red color. After seeing some other fancy ones on their website, like this….
…and this…
…I’m thinking I need to break out some rub-ons, maybe some Basic Grey or Fancy Pants swirly ones. What do you think…should I go for it? {See, a mouse CAN be scrapbook-related, LOL!}
Okay, well I’ve got to work tonight but I’ll start writing up some blog entries for later this week. I haven’t posted any shopping reports in a while, so I’ve got several to give ya’. And some other goodies, too. Stay tuned, homies!
Sounds like another great deal to me! I already have one in my shopping cart before they run out.
MME: Christmas Paper and Accessory Kit
This My Mind’s Eye kit includes (20) 12×12 sheets of double-sided cardstock paper, plus over 40 mix and match accessory pieces.
Retail Price: $15.00
ON SALE Price: $8.75 (Save 42%)
I’m going to use this kit to make my 2009 Christmas cards. Get a jump on them and get started now, so I won’t be scrambling like I always am in December, LOL! If you’d like to order, instructions are HERE. Merry Christmas in August!!!
I found this fun survey HERE and decided to copy it.
1. What kind of soap is in your bathtub right now? Dove and Irish Spring
2. Do you have any watermelon in your refrigerator? No, but I wish I did. Had some at a BBQ yesterday and it was guuuud.
3. What would you change about your living room? I need new furniture in such a bad way! It’s old and faded, but at least it’s comfy.
4. Are the dishes in your dishwasher clean or dirty? Clean!
5. What is in your fridge? Milk, coffee beans, yogurt, leftover pork carnitas and tortillas, a bag of tomatoes, and lots more.
6. White or wheat bread? 100% whole wheat
7. What is on top of your refrigerator? Boxes of cereal and crackers
8. What color or design is on your shower curtain? In the master bath, nothing….there are doors. In the kids’/guest bathroom, it’s plain white. We’re getting ready to re-do the theme from police/fire to maps! Something to look at while you’re “occupied,” LOL.
9. How many plants are in your home? Six, I think. That I haven’t managed to kill. Yay me!
10. Is your bed made right now? Yep, I make ‘er every day.
11. Comet or Soft Scrub? Soft Scrub. Works great on my Corian kitchen sink.
12. Is your closet organized? Yes, but it’s full. I need to do some purging. And let’s not talk about my guest closet. (I totally copied this answer from JEN.)
13. Can you describe your flashlight? A big, black MagLite. It’s the one cops use. Don’t mess with me…I will hurt you. Really.
14. Do you drink out of glass or plastic most of the time at home? Plastic, unless it’s wine.
15. Do you have iced tea made in a pitcher right now? Two, actually ~ pomegranate and mango herb teas mixed with Lipton. Love it unsweetened with a buncha ice.
16. If you have a garage, is it cluttered? I like to call it organized chaos. It looks messy but there’s room for my car, and we know where to find stuff.
17. Curtains or blinds? Blinds in every room. I keep meaning to get at least some fabric valances, but I’m not very motivated. Just more things to dust.
18. How many pillows do you sleep with? Two or three.
19. Do you sleep with any lights on at night? Yes, I have to have a night light. I skerred of the dark! I also wake up during the night to check on everyone so I need to be able to see.
20. How often do you vacuum? Once or twice a week.
21. Standard toothbrush or electric? Standard.
22. What color is your toothbrush? Pink. Very cute, dahling..
23. Do you have a welcome mat on your front porch? We did but the puppy took off with it. See, he even looks guilty.
24. What is in your oven right now? Nothing.
25. Is there anything under your bed? Winter comforters in Space Bags. On DH’s side, his shoes. On my side, that huge MagLite/weapon I was telling you about.
26. Chore you hate doing the most? Anything having to do with the hardwood floors…dust bunny retrieval, sweeping, mopping, Dust Busting of random messes.
27. What retro items are in your home? We have a cool, old metal fire engine from the 50s that DH’s dad played with when he was little.
28. Do you have a separate room that you use as an office? Yes, it’s a combo guest room/office. We call it the Air Bed Room because when the kids were little, all we had in here was an airbed for when my mom would stay with us. We now have a proper bed and some office furniture, but it will be forever called the Air Bed Room.
29. How many mirrors are in your home? Five? Three in the bathrooms, a decorative one in our room, and one by the door for those moments of “Oh crap, someone’s at the door. Do I have make=up on?!”
30. Do you have any hidden emergency money around your home? If I did, I wouldn’t tell you.
31. What color are your walls? The living room, kitchen, dining areas are all connected and painted a light golden yellow. The playroom/scrap room that is open and directly off the dining room is the same color, but a shade darker. The bedrooms and bathrooms are varying shades of green and blue. Yeah, we’re not real adventurous with paint colors….
32. Do you keep any kind of protection weapons in your home? Oh, yeah! But they are safely stored, accessible only to the grown-ups.
33. What does your home smell like right now? Same as Jen….Glade Plug-Ins. They make it smell so nice. And DH made pancakes for the kids this morning, so it still kinda smells like that, which I hate. I’m burning a Citrus Sage candle in my office right now.
34. Favorite candle scent? Anything citrus.
35. What kind of pickles (if any) are in your refrigerator right now? I think a jar of dill and a jar of sweet.
36. What color is your favorite Bible? Maroon.
37. Ever been on your roof? No, never will. A guy I used to work with fell off his roof and is now paralyzed. I’m terrified of roofs. I about have a panic attack whenever DH goes up there.
38. Do you own a stereo? Yes, I have my Dad’s old stereo from when he passed but it’s not hooked up. Just sentimental. He was a HUGE music lover.
39. How many TVs do you have? Play room, living room, master. The play room one has no satellite and no channels, it’s just for kid videos and for me to watch videos when I scrap. I just watched Dead Poet’s Society for the eleventy-billionth time the other night.
40. How many house phones? Five. Kitchen, living room, office, bedroom (all cordless) and a corded phone in the garage for when the power goes out.
41. Do you have a housekeeper? I have three! Me, myself, and I.
42. What style do you decorate in? I’d call it a combo of Comfy, Simple, Durable, and I’m Broke.
43. Do you like solid colors in furniture or prints? Mostly solids.
44. Is there a smoke detector in your home? Yes! And lots of Defensible Space. We’re in California Fire Country.
45. In case of fire, what are the items in your house which you’d grab if you only could make one quick trip? My laptop, my purse, scrapbooks, photos, baby and school stuff of the kids.
Yep, all of these new Bo Bunny lines from CHA Summer 2009 are now in stock and ready to order at Memory Works! I’ll just give you a tease of each line by showing you the Theme Set, which is an exclusive to Memory Works. You get a set of 5 sheets of double-sided paper and 1 shaped paper for only $6.25. Also, there’s a sample layout or two so you can see each line in action. {Layouts are all from the Bo Bunny website, unknown artist(s)…}
DELILAH by Bo Bunny
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KITCHEN SPICE by Bo Bunny
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FLUTTER BUTTER by Bo Bunny
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BOO CREW by Bo Bunny
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TIS THE SEASON by Bo Bunny
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ST. NICK by Bo Bunny
Aren’t those great?!?! We carry each Theme Set with matching Cut-Outs (journaling tags and accents, 12×12, double sided), Buttons and Bling, iCandy Brads, Combo Stickers (a 12×12 sheet with alpha, swirlies, and such), Rub-Ons, and acrylic stamps.
You can see all of our new Bo Bunny stuff from CHA right HERE. I notice that a few of the items are showing Out of Stock, which either means they haven’t been received yet, or that the item was so popular, it already sold out.
Memory Works, along with other scrapbooking materials distributors, has been struggling recently with the fact that vendors are not able to sustain product availability over the whole season like they used to. This is, of course, due to the downturn in the industry of late. MEMORY WORKS has responded by deciding to issue an additional catalog every year. We all hope this offers better service and more predictability to our customers. It’s very frustrating, I know, to want an item and see that it’s already out of stock, and the manufacturers won’t be able to provide any more to Memory Works. It seems everyone is doing their best to make it all work! Thank you for understanding….
Anyhoo, if you see any items you like, I would encourage you to order soon! Just sayin…. LOL :) Click HERE for more info on ordering, or becoming a Memory Works hobbyist or consultant.
I think my favorite of these new BO BUNNY lines is Flutter Butter. I’m a sucker for that color combination. So pretty and so versatile….beach, outdoors, park, family, just about anything. Which one is your fave?
