Laurie is one of my most favorite people ever...she's so creative...wait until you see her projects...oh my!  And she's sweet as can be!  She is passionate about so many things:  Twilight, her family, her kitties & most definately her scrapbooking (and I must not forget her obession with Diet Wild Cherry Pepsi & chocolate cake!).  Here's what Laurie has to say about scrapbooking:

I've always loved crafting and have tried just about everything you can think of.  I started scrapbooking with my mom as a teenager, back when it first become the thing to do (florescent papers and all).  Pretty much the "coolest" thing we had then were decorative scissors and stickers.  I kinda gave it up after that, and didn't start up again until I had kids.  The best thing about scrapbooking now is there is no end to the gadgets and fun embellishments.  Of course I have to have them all.  My scrapbook essentials are probably my Quickutz tools and dies.  I love piecing together my titles and embellishments with all the little details.  I am not a fast scrapbooker and I never will be, but it's the creating process that I enjoy more than anything so speed doesn't really matter.

Here are Laurie's projects for this month (they're SO cute!):

Interested in being Scrapbooker of the Month?  Send me an email & I'll give you the details!  

 

Every year, Ali Edwards does a post on one little word.  She encourages her blog readers to pick one word at the beginning of the year that sums up what they want to accomplish...their hopes...their dreams.  Last year I played along & did "sparkle".  This year, the word was harder for me to come up with.  I've come up with hundreds such as:  happy, fit, healthy, successful, strong...ah, and so many more.  But what just popped into my head is:

We're so exicited to tell you about our Page of the Week (POW) that starts today!  Each Monday, we'll post a page & the instructions on how to make that page.  It's a FREE weekly class...just for you!  The pages will stay archived on the website...just click on the "page of the week" located on the right, just under the blog header.  Want to create the page exactly the way we did?  We'll have a limited amount of kits for purchase at the store.  Cost for the kits will range from $5 to $7 and will include a photo of the page.  Plus, the pages will be displayed in the store all year long.  Just think, if you commit to the Page of the Week, at the end of the year you'll have 52 pages done!  Now, if I'd told you we'd be making 52 pages, you'd likely say, no way!  But a page a week?  That's totally do-able! 

Let's get down to business!  Here's the POW 1:

Here's what you'll need:

• two horizontal and two vertical 4x6 photos
• one sheet 12x12 cardstock of each of these colors:  red, white & black
• one 2x2 piece of gold cardstock
• a white pen
• black numbers (we used QuicKutz Sunshine...2009 is included in the kit)

Instructions:

• cut your black cardstock to 10 1/2 x 10 1/2 square
• cut your white cardstock to 10 3/4 x 10 3/4 square
• adhere your photos as shown and adhere the black cardstock to the white cardstock
• center the white/black cardstock on the red and adhere
• put the 2" square of gold paper in the center of the page
• adhere the "2009" title
• using your white pen, journal around the perimeter of the page

And that's it!  Easiest page ever!  It's a formula that I go back to often.  It's cute, it looks good and it's really, really fast!

Midnight Madness:  Fridays, 1/8, 1/15, 1/22 and 1/29  6 pm to midnight $12

Tuesday Morning Coffee Club:  Tuesdays, 1/5 and 1/19  10 am to 11 am $5 Check the website for an update the day before class.  Bring your coffee...bring a friend...and join us as we create a fun, crafty project.  Not necessarily scrapbook related.  But always fun!

Wednesday Make-n-Takes for $1:  Join us each Wednesday from 10:30 am to 5:30 pm for a quick, $1 make-n-take.  Projects are different each week.  Check the website Tuesday nights to see what the make-n-take is that week.  (Projects take anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes)

Saturday, 1/9 Love A to Z Mini Book 10 am to 1 pm $25 Make this clever book for your favorite Valentine!  Sign up now...there are just a few spots left!

Saturday, 1/9 2009 in Review 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm $25  Join us for this monthly class where we'll create a year in review book.  Each month features a different manufacturer.  January's theme in 2009 in Review and we'll be using American Crafts products...February we'll be scrapping January photos...in March we'll be scrapping February photos, etc.  Take all 12 months of classes & you'll receive a FREE We R Memory Keepers 12x12 album of your choice.

Saturday, 1/16 Make-n-Take Day 10:30 am to 3:30 pm .  Come learn some fun techiniques anytime Saturday.  Each project is $5 and takes 20-30 minutes.  Do all 4 make-n-takes & we'll throw in a 5th one for free.  There will be an opportunity to learn how to use 4 very different techniques.  We'll post photos a little closer to class time.

Thursday, 1/21 Chopstick Album 6 pm to 7:30 pm $20.  Join Heather as she teaches you to make this fun album out of paper, chopsticks & fibers.  It's a pretty clever album!

Saturday, 1/23  The Polka Dot Pixie Love Birds 10 am to 4:30 pm $65  Come take this paper clay sculpting class with the Polka Dot Pixie.  You'll make these cute love birds...and learn some really useful techniques.  There will be an hour lunch break.  Class size is limited so make sure to sign up early!  You won't want to miss out!

Saturday, 1/30  All Day Crop 8 am to 8 pm $28  All Day Crops are a great way to get caught up on your projects!  And to meet new friends, while scrapbooking in our classroom.  A great lunch is included...drinks & snacks, too!  And we even throw in a make-n-take for you!

Posted by: sharon | December 29, 2009 at 12:18 PM

Congratulations, Sharon!  Hope to see you & Kris for your free Midnight Madness in January!  We've missed having you gals around!

I had an interesting revelation yesterday.  I was sitting at home scrapbooking & was finding myself frustrated beyond belief.  While I had all the tools that I wanted at my disposal, I didn't have other things that I thought I needed.  Like cardstock that matched my printed paper.  The lights I thought were so great in there, were awful.  I honestly couldn't tell black from brown.  Will be interesting to see what the pages look like when I get them to the store.  Now I know why I scrapbook at the store more than at home...I can see.  When I need a piece of cardstock, I have 200 colors to choose from.  When I have a question (and I do have questions) about whether something looks good or not, I can ask someone...be it an employee or another customer...it's nice to get a second opinion!  When I want to computer journal on a page, there's a computer & printer handy to do just that...because let's face it; if I don't journal when I'm making the page, it's not gonna happen.  And the distractons were a bit overwhelming.  My dogs bark every time someone thinks about walking in front of my house...my husband & daughter were arguing (good naturedly, but loudly) over their Mario game...and my cat was screaming to be fed.  Yeah.  That doesn't happen at the store.

So let me tell you some benefits to scrappin' at the store. 

• You can scrapbook, organize your photos, make a card, cut out titles on the die cut machine...or just sit in the classroom & catch your breath for FREE anytime the store is open and there isn't a class.  Talk to Kerry-Lyn about that.  She'll often come for just 45 minutes to do just that.
• Our die cut machines are free to use when you buy your paper from us.  Using your own paper?  It's $5 a half hour.  Either way, it's a screaming deal.  We have three fonts on the Accu-cut machine & I'd say 15 fonts on the QuicKutz for you to use.  We'll even give you little bags to keep your titles sorted.
• We'll help you match your papers & photos.  Anytime.  The best light source in the store is at the black counter.  And it's pretty darn good in the classroom too.  I've always been able to tell black from brown there :)
• There are far less distractions at the store than in your home.  Even if Midnight Madness or a crop has 18 people, you can still be in your own world.  Bring your iPod.  Listen to a book.  Or talk to your neighbor.  It's up to you.
• Midnight Madness is every Friday from 6 pm to Midnight.  It's just $12 (or $7 if you have a punch card coupon).  Feed your kids.  Rent your husband a movie.  And come create.  It'll be good for you to get out of the house.  And tv on Friday nights is horrible.
• Have a little extra time or just need to get away?  All Day Crops are from 8 am to 8 pm and include lunch and a make-n-take.  They're just $28 (or $23 if you have a punch card coupon).  You don't have to think about a thing.  Just come & create...we'll feed you (truthfully, overfeed you), and your make-n-take will be packaged up with a photo of the page & you can do it when maybe you don't have so much time.  You know, at home, when the dogs are barking & driving you to want to drink.
• I've seen people make some life long friends scrapbooking at the store.  Seriously.  I've made life long friends with people who come to scrapbook.  So don't be afraid to come alone.  There are lots of nice people who come & make you feel welcome.