Shes Scrappy

I have a NEW BLOG!!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 21:09:00 +0000

Well, I have been really unhappy with how un-cute (is that a word?) my blog has looked for the past couple of years...so I decided to upgrade...to a new blog, new title and a fresh look!
I hired Holly McCaig to give my blog a make-over...and she did a fab job...now I'm just trying to learn how to do all the fancy stuff!
All my posts from "She's Scrappy" are on the blog...and now for the new blog...Here is the story...

When I was a little girl, my Aunt Karen used to call me "Katie B" (my middle initial is B ) and I always thought that I would have some kind of crafting/art business and that I would name it "Katie Bee".....so Holly looked for me and that domain name was taken...so we came up with "KatieBeeCreative" and so therefore my new blog is named that!!

Notice the 3 little birds?
So, I hope you will come and visit me at KatieBeeCreative and Remember to update your links and feeds!!

Catching my breath.............

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 05:38:00 +0000

OK, I need to take a breath and catch up here....

First of all....my class..enough sneak peeks, the details are ready.

The Queen of Today
@ Cool Scrapbook Stuff
Sunday, April 26th
1pm-4pm
$43

another peek....(yes, I KNOW that I use these photos a lot...but I can't help it..they are just some of my favorite photos..that's the nice thing about mini's...you can use odds and ends or use your favorite photos in different books!)

There are kits available, they come with a CD with all the instructions and "how to" photos. I do not sell the kits personally, you need to contact Cool Scrapbook Stuff for them. She will ship them also.

NEXT-

I had the BEST time at Christine's retreat house....seriously, I laughed so hard I thought I might make a puddle on the beautiful wood floors....
I went with Gabrielle (who is a hoot and a pretty darn good mini album maker), Stacy (as sweet as can be and shares my love of old buttons and lace...and a darn beautiful scrapper, she's on the DT for Graphic 45 and now A Million Memories) and Michelle Quinn (gave me my first DT position!), the owner of AMM.

Christine's retreat house is just gorgeous.......every little detail was perfect!! The beds were even SUPER comfy...not that I got much sleep! I would go back every weekend if I could! She was a gracious host and a wonderful friend! She's also super talented...you can check out her blog HERE !

I got a long overdue project done for Chloe's (Michelle's daughter) room...a banner that I had saved the paper to make it with for about 3 years....it's a lavender and I used the Making Memories crackle/cabbage rose paper from forever ago (it's not even on their site anymore)...but it's a timeless paper so totally not out of style! I also finished a layout, a PP Blog Hop project, a MR blog project and another Pink Paislee altered project...I'll share all of them later, don't worry!

Ok, off to work on my Pink Paislee post for the morning!

Pink Paislee Spring Blog Hop and Giveaway!! Starts Friday Morning at 9am !

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 04:35:00 +0000

It's time for the Pink Paislee Spring Blog Hop! Here are the details....Go to pinkpaislee.com to find links to all the design teams blogs and then leave a comment on each persons blog to have a chance to win the prize pack below!

The drawing for the winners will be on Sunday so you MUST comment on my blog post (and all the other DT members blogs if you want!)to be entered into the giveaway!

So that you can get to know us all a little better, Rebecca wrote up a little questionnaire for us to all answer...so go to our blogs (by going HERE)and learn a bit about us and be inspired by our Pink Paislee Spring Projects!

My 11 Questions!!

1.) Where did you grow up? Do you still live there?
Are you ready for the list? Oh My....these are in chronological order....
Salt Lake City
Pensacola,Florida
Rhode Island
Jacksonville,Florida
Moscow,Idaho
San Diego,California
Springfield, Va
San Diego, Ca
Corpus Christi, TX
Jacksonville, Fla
Oak Harbor, WA
Corpus Christi, TX
San Diego, Ca
Crazy, huh? I was a Navy brat and now a Navy wife!

2.) What is a typical day like for you?
Up at 7am, coffee, kids to school, coffee, computer, scrapbooking, house cleaning, crafting or scrapbooking, pick up kids, homework, dinner, TV or activity with kids, bedtime for kids, read or computer, bed at 11pm. Wake up at 3am, can't sleep...blog surf :)!!

3.) What is your favorite fashion accessory? Why?
My bird charm bracelet by bebeandyaya

4.) What is playing on your ipod right now?
Sadly, I don't have an ipod....:(

5.) Name one television show that you MUST TIVO each week?
The Biggest Loser

6.) What is your favorite movie of all time?
Knocked Up (I know, I know.........inappropiate..but it makes me laugh until I cry)

7.) What is your favorite Pink Paislee product?
The Pixee Stix for sure!! But a CLOSE second is the Vintage Moon Accents Pressons .

8.) If you could only keep 1 scrapbooking tool what would it be?
Fabri-Tac, my miracle glue!

9.) If you didn't scrapbook what other activity would you spend time on?
Crafting or painting.

10.) What advice would you give to someone who wants to start scrapbooking?
Do what works for YOU.

11.) What would you say your scrapbook style is today?
I would say kind of a "Shabby, Vintage Flea Market Look"...and oh yeah, busy, busy, busy!

OK, now for my Spring Project........I altered a left over glass jar from Prima flowers...I KNOW that you all have some of these! I just used Fabric-Tac to adhere it to the glass...and then adhered the cute little chicks and some Easter grass to the top. Curled and tied a bow around the lid and filled it with Spring M&M's! So easy!!

Have a Happy Spring and GOOD LUCK!!

I have had some emails about the "SPRING" stamp on the front of the bottle. I found some for sale HERE !!

A Couple more Peeks and I'm outta here to a Scrap Retreat!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 19:42:00 +0000

Ohhhh, my Maddy is a cutie pie...can you tell she is full of personality? These are a couple of pages from the book that I am doing for my next class. Sorry, that I don't have the info yet...have a few odds and ends to work out! The stuff is ordered and on it's way though so I can start packing kits. Yes, kits will be available but not through me, but through the store that I am teaching at. She will ship them also. I'll give you all the contact info soon! Promise!

This book is all about my youngest daughter being the queen of each and every one of her days. It's full of the fun things that she does day to day!

I am almost packed and ready to leave on a scrap retreat. I am SO ready. Derek just got back yesterday from a almost 3 week work up and I am D O N E !!
I am going to the beautiful retreat house that I told you about in an earlier post....it's called Scrap Retreat House at French Valley. It's just above San Diego...so I'll have the drive to chill and listen to my fave, Norah Jones...and then I'll get there and unload and start working on my next couple of classes or just scrap for the heck of it!!
It is a gorgeous house that is completely set up for scrappers or crafters...so elegant and awesome!

I'll leave you with a layout (all Pink Paislee) that I did of my girls and my nieces....they are the cutest bunch together!

Hopefully I'll have lots to share with you after my retreat weekend!
~Katie

Sneak Peek of My Next Class!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 22:05:00 +0000

That's it.....lots more to say but no time to say it. Once I have all the details worked out I will post them but for now I'll just leave you with this sneak.

~Katie

~Being her....~ Maya Road Girl Album

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 15:15:00 +0000

This is an older project of mine...but still one of my favorites. I have to admit that I was not into the girl album at all.... They just didn't fit with my shabby chic look.... but then I got it assigned by Maya Road...and I was stumped. I thought about it for a while and figured that I would just make the album fit "me" instead of making my work fit the album. So that's what I did and this is what I came up with!

I hope you have a great day!!
~Katie

Happy Monday...and a Goodwill/ Creative Therapy Project!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 15:54:00 +0000

Well, I don't know if I'm having a very happy Monday...Hannah wore herself out yesterday trying to keep up with the cousins and is really sore and just a little bit of an estrogen wreck today. She cried the whole way home from my sisters, she cried in bed until she fell asleep. She cried when she woke up this morning and cried straight until it was time to leave for school. I was mad,annoyed and worried all at the same time. Nothing like going to sleep to crying and waking up to it.

I think that she overworked her legs and it has made not only her legs sore but also her back. I also think that she is just not in a good place right now. She is just getting over a UTI and so I know that she is still feeling the effects of that...but the rest is straight and pure anxiety. Today would have been her first day having to walk to the lunch area and not taking the wheel chair and I think that she is really worried about that. Her teacher wouldn't push her to the point of pain, but she can't stay in the wheelchair forever. Ya know?

So, she is home from school...again...they will probably send the school police after me. She missed so much because of her legs and then the Flu and then the UTI. Man......oh well....at least Maddy had a great morning!

So, Happy Monday!! I hope that yours started out more cheerful then mine. Oh yeah, she's not crying now but sleeping like a baby.

OK, so last weeks Creative Therapy Project was to create something around a memory with no photos. Many possibilities there...but as usual, I just let it take me where it would and this is what I ended up with.

If you want read the story behind why I created what I did the go to the Creative Therapy Site and see my story and a handful of other artists creations and stories (Including Jennifer McGuire)!

As usual, this was a find at the Goodwill that I knew could be transformed. Here is what it looked like when I got it.

Now so cute......It will be the perfect way to package a gift for someone in the Fall. Maybe put flowers in it, or a book...or some treats....or whatever fits.

I used the Pink Paislee Captivating line on this along with the Maya Road Metric Ruler Singleton Stamp (love that stamp, I use it a lot!).

Anyway, I hope you have a great Monday!
~Katie

Class Supply list for "Butterfly Kisses" class

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 15:29:00 +0000

I dropped off supply lists for my class when I dropped off the project but I know some of you have called and registered so you weren't able to get the supply list. So, just in case you are a blog reader here is the supply list.

Butterfly Kisses
Katie Watson
March 15th
1-4ish

A piece of sandpaper or sanding tool
Brown distress ink (I use Ranger Distress Ink-Walnut Stain)
Ink Blending Tool (I use the Ranger Inkessentials Blending tool and foam pad, it is the best) or ink dauber. We will need a good blended inked edge.
Paper Trimmer
Paper Piercer
Cropadile
Black Fine Tip Permanent Pen (I use Sharpie)
White Pen (I use the Signo-Uniball white Pen or the Ranger Inkessentials white pen)
Fine tip brown pen
Fabri-Tac by Beacon Adhesives (this is hands down the best paper crafting glue)
Scissors
Cutting Mat
Finger Tip Exacto knife
Scrapbooking Tweezers (I use the Tweezer Bees...they help so much with the placement of small letter stickers!)

If you have it-
Martha Stewart Butterfly punch
Your favorite rub on tool (the rubons come with a Popsicle stick to use)

I used these size pictures on my pages- use this as a guide when printing out your pictures. I also just used various pictures that I love, images that I felt represented the “little girls” that I have. So lots of “Little Girl” moments!

Pg 1- 1 vertical wallet
Pg 2- 2 vertical wallets
Pg 3- 1 vertical wallet
Pg 4- 2 vertical wallets
Pg 5- 2 vertical wallets
Pg 6- 2 vertical wallets
Pg 7- 3 2x2 sized pictures
Pg 8- 2 vertical wallets

Your album depending on your pictures and titles may be a little different then mine but you will have all the same supplies that I had to make your album.
If you need any help feel free to contact me at KatieBWatson@aol.com .

Looking forward to our class. ~Katie

~Need A Sweet Gift for Someone?~

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 18:12:00 +0000

My sisters birthday was last week and I got her a charm bracelet from Amy Hanson but I also got her a Starbucks Card.....but I wanted to make it feel more special then just a generic gift card.
I got these tins(For some reason it won't link directly to the tins, but follow the link and they are on page 4 of Metals)a while back from Paper Valise. I only bought 2, which now I am kicking myself for....cause I LOVE them.

ETA- I found it HERE also.

Anyway, so I used Pink Paislee products to fancy it up a bit. I used the 5th Avenue paper(still one of my favorite papers from Pink Paislee) from the Tinsel Town collection. I used the gingham Bewitching paper from the Fascinating Line,the Lunch Hour paper from the Office Lingo line, the Sweet Cakes Stamp set and the Sugar Plum Pixee Stix glitter.

I just traced the original Starbucks card holder to create my holder pattern and scored the fold lines and put it together with the products. It was pretty easy.

I used the heat gun to curl the ribbon that I tied on the tin and that's it. It was super fun to make and turned out really cute.

She loved it! So next time you need to give a gift card and need to spice it up a bit use a tin to make a homemade holder for it.!!

The Cutest Little Birdie......and Butterfly Class update!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 23:57:00 +0000

My friend Wendy Vecchi is the most brilliant stamp artist...she made some birds that are so cute....I just had to share!! Go to her blog Studio 490 to see more! She used her new polka dot background stamp on them...and I am in love with her gingham one...oh dear..!

Go check out Wendy's Blog...you can learn a million things there!

I have a class on Sunday of this week at Paper Tales.

I think I have a couple more spots left if you are interested in it. Michelle will also ship kits (Let her know if there is anything you want to add to your box as she has a wonderful selection of product and a TON of Maya Road). This is a product packed class and a really hard one to price because it is so full of stuff....anyway, the class is $40 and includes....

Maya Road Butterfly album- $5.20
Enchanting Chipboard Elements- full pack $5.50
Enchanting Sticker Book- $4.50
Enchanting Windsome alphabet stickers- $1.99
Enchanting Chipboard Letters- $4.50
Enchanting Brads- $3.99
Enchanting Press ons- $3.99
Enchanting patterned papers (6)- .69cents each
Enchanting Delicious die cut paper (2)- .99cents a sheet

OK, we are at $36 worth of product right now! But I'm not done...

Vintage Rose
Vintage Millinery flowers
1 yard crochet trim
1 yard brown gingham 7/8" ribbon
1/2 yard sage 7/8" ribbon
crystal Maya Road pin
Pearl Maya Road pin
4 Maya Road Vintage Flowers
Instructions and Photos of project -priceless

Do you see what I mean about product.....so I think there are 4 kits left....You can reach Michelle by going to the Paper Tales Blog.

That's it....for now..of course!!

Wow and more kits available!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 04:00:00 +0000

What a great class I had on Saturday. I love getting together with the women that take my classes. They are kind and fun and just wonderful. Sometimes I know them and most times I don't :) ! When you teach, there are definitely different kinds of groups. They are all great but there is that "feeling" with some groups. This was one of those groups that just had that great feeling. They were quiet (which sometimes scares me...like I told them...at home when the girls are quiet..that usually means "bad news"..they are up to something) and focused....and very sweet. They all did a great job and I even had some beginners in my class...who if they hadn't told me they were beginners, I would have never guessed. They were wonderful, really. I left my class very happy.

All went well, I only had 1 wrong measurement, but not so bad for writing instructions without the book (I left it at the store)..don't worry, those that ordered kits, Randy(i?) fixed the handouts for me.
So, like I said before, I get so worried before a class. Nervous that something will go really wrong. All went well for this class. Gena was more then helpful..man, that woman has it together...she is one organized girl. She knows her business and is such a supportive and encouraging person.

I left my class and went straight to a work party for Derek. We met there after my class. He took the girls...and not that I'm controlling about what my girls wear...but there is a line that I just don't cross...and he does. They were semi-matching (ignoring the fact that Maddy had sweat pants on that said "hoops" right across her butt....a bunch of Commanders...no biggie ;) and comfy....but the hair was a little...um...wild...or let's just call it full-bodied. Which is actually OK....nobody in my family has to be perfect, they just have to be nice. That's my only requirement...well, I guess that's not entirely true..my 17 year old son just has to get through the day without punching someone out..and we'll call it a good day.

OK, so ANYWAY....(I'm a rambler...really...I would be a good hotline operator).... My class SOLD OUT......and all the kits too....and Gena has convinced me to do some more kits. So, I am going to offer a few more (I just put in my order to PP and MR). So, if you want a kit of my class (worth the money in product, trust me) and full set of instructions and pictures then just call Cool Scrapbook Stuff and you can put in an order. They take Paypal and will ship it to you. I do have a few things on my supply list that you may need for the class, Gena will be happy to add what you need to your shipment. She also has EVERYTHING under the sun...so if there is a certain line that you are looking for (HERE is a list of some stuff she has)...just ask...because chances are, she has it and she would be happy to stick it in your box.

Here is the supply list-

“Lucky Me”
Katie Watson
Supply List
(Most supplies should be in stock at the store, ask for help locating them)

Please bring with you-A piece of sandpaper or sanding tool
Brown distress ink(I use Ranger Distress Ink-Walnut Stain)
Ink Blending Tool (I use the Ranger Inkessentials Blending tool and foam pad, it is the best) or ink dauber. We need a good blended inked edge.
Corner Rounder
Paper Trimmer
Paper Piercer
Cropadile
Black Fine Tip Permanent Pen (I use Sharpie)
White Pen (I use the Signo-Uniball white Pen or the Ranger Inkessentials white pen)
Fabri-Tac by Beacon Adhesives (this is hands down the best paper crafting glue)
White acrylic paint
Paint brush or foam brush
Ranger Crackle Paint (Blue Jeans)
Rubon tool
Fiskars Threading Water Punch
Martha Stewart Rose Leaf punch
Scrapbooking Tweezers (I use the ones made by Fiskars called Tweezer Bees, I have found that it is so much easier to glue and adhere elements using these, they are not essential but a definite luxury)

This class will be a little bit different then my usual class. Normally, you would just make the exact same book or project. This time it will be a bit more of a creative journey for you. You will have ALL the same supplies that I used to make this book. Your cover will be the same and the basic ingredients of each page will be the same as the sample but your details will be different. You will have different pictures so your titles will be different. Your titles will match your pictures so depending on the size of your title, it may change your pages a bit. I will have pictures and sketches of each page for you so it will make it easy to customize your pages. I used special pictures, all things that make me feel “Lucky”, big things and little random things. I converted them all to black and white so that I had a flowing scheme but also so that they matched each other. Below is a list of all the sizes and orientation of each picture. Please remember that you will have 3 different alphabets and lots of different embellishments so that you can work it around whatever size photos that you want. The paper on each page is 5 ¾ x 5 ¾ so I mostly used cropped 4x6 photos.
If you have any questions prior to class please email me at KatieBWatson@aol.com.
This is a list of the size photos that I used. Some of them have been cropped prior to being adhered. Use it as a guide.
4x6 vertical orientation photos-6
4x6 horizontal orientation photos-3
3 ½ x 5 horizontal photo -1
3x4 vertical photo-1
3x4 horizontal photo-1

If you have any questions, just let me know. I'll be happy to answer them.

Have a great Day!
~Katie

"Lucky Me" class tomorrow

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 20:02:00 +0000

Tomorrow is the day....the day that I teach the "Lucky Me" class. I get so nervous the night before making sure that I have everything, preparing for any things that might come up...making sure that the kits are packed properly and worrying that I Will make a fool of myself teaching...or have bad breath or a bra strap showing... but I love it...and once I start teaching, I'm fine...I'm in my element...my little world. I love getting to know the ladies and I love to see them learn something and especially love to see their finished projects.

I believe that the class is full but I do have some extra kits available. So you can contact the store ( Cool Scrapbook Stuff ) and she will ship them to you if you want. The kits will come with complete instructions and pictures of the project. The kit is packed full of every thing you need for the project besides basic supplies. You will have leftovers also.

This album is getting published so after my class the pictures will be unavailable but if you order a kit the pictures will come with the instructions.

So wish me luck on my class tomorrow!

Oh yeah, check out my post on the Pink Paislee blog.... HERE to see pictures of my layout that I did using the new lines.

~Katie

Limbo..............and not loving it.....

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 23:52:00 +0000

I would say that there is no way I could sum up what it feels like to be in limbo when you are a military wife. It is a part of your life, a part of who you are...we live in the constant waiting mode.....waiting on orders, waiting on sea schedules, waiting on houses, waiting, waiting, waiting......never knowing what you are doing next and not being able to count on anything. The military owns you and they dictate so much.
I think that nobody sums it up like Leah Killian.....her post on "Limbo" is just right on target. I have it bookmarked and go and read it sometimes (I know very weird....but It makes me feel better to hear someone else feel the same way I do)....by the way you should check out her blog Life As Lou, it's really real, interesting and super fun. Not to mention that she is a rocking scrapbooker!

Anyway....I have no curtains up, hardly anything on my walls....stuff is not arranged the way I want it..I need a new TV stand...all these things....but I cannot spend the money or the time because at the drop of a hat we will be moving.
We are up for orders..we leave beginning of June...it's MARCH and we have heard nothing......my husband is starting work ups again...and if I knew that we were for sure going to shore duty next and for sure staying here in San Diego, I would make my house work and it would be easier to deal with the coming and going of Derek if I knew that it was temporary...

We will probably buy a house (as I cannot stand the rental brown carpet anymore and the lady that screams 24/7 in Arabic at her kids that lives behind me...well, she just might make it until next week as I cannot stand her ruining a perfect Spring afternoon with her constant screaming anymore)and I will have curtains on EVERY window...and the right shaped rugs..and make my bedroom pretty...and get the odds and ends of the crap in the boxes in the garage organized...if I just knew that it wasn't a waste of time.

I need to figure out what I am doing with the rest of my life. Like, maybe a career....something that brings in a steady paycheck. So, do I go back to school, do I take some kind of job training, do I get a job...what to do...but I can't start anything until we know for sure where we will be.

I need some grounding in my life. I have been a gypsy for too long. I'm ready for a forever house. A house that is mine, a neighborhood that I invest myself into, friends that I can meet for coffee....a husband that comes home every night....seems so far away sometimes. Derek retires in 4 years. What he does next, we don't know...but for now, I'll just keep waiting...

Oh hey, a little sunshine for me...this is what I bought for my birthday...all for me...you know my thing about birds and how happy they make me. I bought it from Amy's Etsy shop called Bebe and Yaya. Her work is incredible..and I love her blog also!

~Spring is in the Air~

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 07:09:00 +0000

Just wanted to share a little project that I did yesterday with the February Kenner Road Kit.

Featherweight.

I think I amazed myself that I got the box in the mail at noon, opened it and within an hour figured out a cute use for the old spool and finished the project. It was pretty fast. It is much cuter in real life then in the pictures..you don't get a proper sense of scale from pictures.
I used a Maya Road butterfly page from the Chipboard Butterfly album and traced it onto this cute Cosmo Cricket Girl Friday paper...It almost killed me to cut into this paper but I had to do it at some point.....used another piece of the Girl Friday paper on the bottom and a title from the Girl Friday Elements quote paper.
The bottom of the project is made using an empty ribbon spool (Told you Michelle, I would do something cute with it) that Michelle gave me at Paper Tales....I bought the rest of the bakers twine that was on it..and she gave me the spool. After seeing Danielle Flanders cute CHA project using ribbon spools...I was hooked!

Anyway, I used Fabri-Tac of course....sticks stuff like crazy. Love, love, love that stuff (and when I write 3 loves, it means I seriously love it). It's liquid gold in a bottle! And NO, I don't work for them or even know them...just love that dang glue!

I am also addicted to curling ribbons now that I know how....thanks to fellow Maya Road DT member, Andrea Wiebe.....look HERE to learn how.

Anyway, enjoy....although I'm still enjoying our mild winter here in San Diego, I know that some of you are counting the days until Spring. So, here's a glimpse of it!

Have a Great Weekend!
~Katie

~PS-I Love You~ Maya Road Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 19:16:00 +0000

I had the blog today for Maya Road and after a few times of my computer shutting down (it's my computers new favorite hobby) I finally got it finished. This is a peek at my project using the Airmail MailBox (comes with a stamp edge mini album too)...

Before-

After-

You can see more pictures of the Airmail Mail Box plus the supply list and directions if you go to the Maya Road Design Team Blog.

Have a great Day!
~Katie

~This is where I need to go....~

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 18:23:00 +0000

I have a friend named Christine Penaflor, I met her while we served together on the DT at A Million Memories. She is a super talented scrapper and paper crafter (elegant, beautiful, dreamy, shabby chic)but aside from her talent..she is one of the nicest people that you will ever meet.

There are few people like her, really there aren't. Just out of the blue she'll send you a present in the mail to tell you she's thinking of you, or knows someone is sick and will send a handmade card. Her gifts are always well thought out...and she always includes some little handmade embellies or a handmade card..always something sweet that she made for you.

About a month ago, she told me about something that she was working on....hmmm..what could it be..well, she has a beautiful house up in the wine country (just north of San Diego)...that she was turning into a scrap retreat. Well, if you know her work then you know she doesn't do anything half way...so I KNEW that it would be gorgeous.

It's called the Scrap Retreat House at French Valley California.

Well, it is gorgeous but I was shocked at how much thought she put into it.....read here..........

The largest room in the retreat home is the crop area which is over 500 square feet and dedicated for the use of weekend retreat guests. This elegantly appointed room boasts custom built coffered ceilings and a mirrored wall surrounded by beautiful moulding. Nine recessed lights provide daylight lighting ideal for scrapbooking. The overhead surround sound speaker system is connected to the digital stereo receiver equipped with an iPod docking station where guests are welcome to listen to their favorite music playlists.
Each guest is treated to their own six-foot long table which provides a spacious area to freely create their projects. Guests are provided with comfortable leather task chairs which easily move on casters as they work at the tables. Each table is also equipped with a daylight lamp for detail work and a power strip to conveniently connect laptops or other electronic devices.

Separate tool areas and a computer station is available within the crop room.

A computer workstation is equipped with a desktop computer with WiFi internet access. The computer is installed with the Cricut Design Studio software and is connected to a Cricut. A library of 14 Cricut cartridges is available for use.

Plus there are a ton of other tools and die cut systems available. Does this look nice or what?

It is lovely....and would be perfect for an event or just hanging with friends....my thinking cap is on for this....I would love to plan something...just gotta work out the details.
Anyway, The Scrap Retreat at French Valley is a dream come true for my friend Christine and I am so happy for her!!

Oh yeah, and it looks like I'm going March 27-29...Derek will have just gotten back from being gone for 3 weeks...so it will be a much looked forward to break!

~My Favorites~ My most favorite album that I have ever made....and I need to see it today...

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 22:39:00 +0000

Just needing to see some of my favorite things today.......need some bright aquas, turquoise and Pinks.......... Color therapy I think......right?

I'm a bit overwhelmed today and burned out..........Finally got Hannah in school for the first full day since her casts came off.....but have Maddy home with 102.5 degree temperature.

Derek gets home on Wednesday and I so need a break.......from this house and my kids...and my back needs a break from carrying Hannah everywhere..the walking is coming very slowly.....she hurts and her ankles are stiff.

And the RAK winner is............#15!!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 20:15:00 +0000

I had 22 total comments and MADD clickers....so I told Hannah, pick a number between 1-22 and she said 15!!

So, #15....
samanthasib said...
Thanks for the link to MADD. Hope this will get passed. Your apple book....amazing...how do you think like that?
I will hopefully be in your upcoming class, got my babysitter, just need to pay now!
xo-Samantha

February 14, 2009 11:07 PM

Miss Samantha, please email me at KatieBWatson@aol.com so I can get your shipping info!!

Thanks to all who participated, my husband got tears in his eyes when he saw all your comments....thank you, thank you, thank you!!

~Katie

~Gotta Love a Washington Spring..~ Pink Paislee Fascinating Line- Photo HEAVY

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 16:52:00 +0000

I'm serious....there is nothing like Spring in Washington state....the tulips, the trees filling in, the birds chirping....it's gorgeous. I miss living there...Whidbey Island was my favorite place that I've lived in my whole life.
And these pictures have been waiting for a special project to come up. I used a 7Gypsies ATC carousal and a whole lot of Pink Paislee's Fascinating line and created this little end table project.
I used the papers, the alphabet stickers, the chipboard letters, the chipboard elements ,the brads, the sticker packs and the pressons all from the Fascinating line.

You may see some cards twice...I took pictures and then did more cards and had to rearrange a bit...so accidentally have doubles of certain pages...I can't rephoto it right now because it's being displayed at Paper Tales here in San Diego.

I hope you found this Fascinating!!!!

Creative Therapy-Catalyst # 49- A photo that brings up emotion....

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 17:28:00 +0000

This weeks assignment was to use a photo that brings up emotion.... you can see the other artists versions by going HERE.

Sunshine in the Rain

These photos totally bring up emotion when I look at them. I can remember that exact moment......I remember how happy she was and I remember it feeling like that little break in the clouds where the sunshine shines through....even if just for a moment.

I also used January's Kenner Road kit for this page.....the rainbow's were beyond perfect for the pictures!

~Happy Valentine's Day~ Our treat bags this year....so sweet!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 03:07:00 +0000

I had so much fun (notice I say I on this.....the girls lost interest quickly) making these treat bags. I used the stamps from Pink Paislee's Sweet Cakes line, so darn cute. I love them, they make me happy!

I hope that you had a great Valentine's Day and were able to share it with someone sweet.

These big bags were the girl's valentine's bags...full of fun stuff from the dollar section of Michael's. They were super excited to get them!!

The bags by the way are from Paper Mart. I use them to package up my kit pieces for classes but they come in SUPER duper handy for other things too!

On this 3 day weekend.........plus an RAK!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 23:47:00 +0000

Please drive safe and please take a minute to listen to this.....

As many of you know, this summer my 19 year old brother-in-law was killed by a drunk driver. (Link to the first post after he was killed , just click on "newer" posts at the bottom and it will chronologically take you through my blog as I have a ton more posts on him and the situation.) The loss has just been beyond difficult for our family and friends to deal with. My in-laws are still devastated and it has changed their lives forever. There is so much sadness for them everyday. The impact has been deep for everyone involved but please let it make a difference. Please let this inspire us to make changes and change the laws to protect others.

There is a legislative proposal that would make the Ignition Interlock mandatory in the last 42 states that haven't already made it mandatory.

This is SO easy to sign and send...all you do is click on this link Ignition Interlocks for convicted DUI drivers and fill out name, address etc on the left side and send, it's already written for you. You may add to it if you want or just keep it in the form letter. Takes 2 minutes.

from the MADD site----
"In 2007, almost 13,000 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver. Fortunately, there is a technology that has the potential to eliminate these preventable deaths -- the ignition interlock. These sophisticated devices can prevent a vehicle from being driven by a drunk driver. If they are used correctly -- in concert with treatment, in addition to hard license suspensions and in the vehicles until they are no longer needed -- they can stop repeat offenses.

People who have previous drunk driving convictions make up approximately one-third of the drunk driving problem in America. These are people who have been failed by a system that has in turn failed to keep the rest of us safe. Even first-time offenses are serious indicators that a person is likely to become a repeat offender. First-time offenders have driven drunk an average of 87 times before they are convicted and most likely have a serious problem with alcohol.

Studies have shown that ignition interlocks can decrease repeat offenses by 64%. We have the technology and we know how to reverse the trend, but the laws haven't been passed yet making this technology mandatory for ALL convicted DUI offenders.

Currently eight states mandate or provide strong incentives for ignition interlocks for all persons convicted of DUI -- Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Louisiana, Nebraska, New Mexico and Washington. If you are a resident of one of the other 42 states contact your legislators and tell them you support saving lives and eliminating repeat drunk driving offenses by mandating ignition interlocks for all convicted DUI offenders. "

In case you missed the link it's here ----> Ignition Interlocks for convicted DUI drivers

and I'm going to be doing my first RAK.............here's the skinny on it.....

You MUST click on the above link (honesty policy here) AND post a message on my blog. I will randomly draw a name ONE week from today. Next Friday morning (Feb. 20), I will draw a name and send you out a GOOD RAK.

So remember, 2 things.....click on the link (and if you agree with the legislation and live in one of the 42 states left, then please fill it out and send) and leave me a message on my blog!

I of course would love it if you sent out a link (for the Ignition Interlock Campaign) to all your friends and family but I know that's a lot to ask.

So, have a great 3 Day weekend and please be safe!!

~Katie

~October at the Farm~ Maya Road's new Apple coaster Album

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 19:33:00 +0000

This sure was a fun little album to make. I had these farm pictures from when we lived on Whidbey Island...that were perfect for it. As soon as we get around Julian and get some "local" pictures then I'll do another one of these as a Julian album. For those of you that are "not from around" these parts...Julian is our local mountains, it's where my husband grew up. They are famous for their apple pies. My in-laws still live there and we go up there all the time but we stay away from town. We just hole up with the family and breathe in the mountain air and stay as far away from people as possible....but for the apple album I need some "julian" pics...the mine, the candy shop, town, the pie places etc....

Anyway, enough rambling.......here is the rest. I think my favorite part of this was making the little trees.....I painted them green, sanded the edges, used Glossy Accents and flock to make the little apples. Then I inked the trunk brown and used a brown pen to make the trunk texture. I then used Glossy Accents over the whole thing to make it shiny! They were so fun!

Here are links to a few products that I used...Maya Road doesn't have the brand new product on their site yet so I can't link to that yet. I'll edit my post when I can link.
I used the Calendar Sheer Set, Metric Ruler Stamp (I love using scallop scissor with this stamp to make little borders), Red Trinket Buttons(love that you can sand the edges of these to make them white and distressed), Oval Calendar Stamp, Scallop Chipboard Frames, Red Scallop Ric Rac (This stuff makes me weak in the knees)and here is Ranger Glossy Accents (a favorite product among the Maya Road DT members)...as soon as the new MR products are up, I'll update these links.
Hope you enjoyed my little apple album as much as I enjoyed making it!!
~Katie

ETA- The red gingham paper is made by Daisy D's, which sadly is gone....loved that company!

btw- Hannah is walking on her own, even with the big bulky casts and started school yesterday!! So proud of her!!

Kenner Road Kit Layouts and some Sorry Sneakers....

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 00:35:00 +0000

I just did 3 layouts with the Jan Kenner Road kit..........2 I can share, one I can't share yet....I did a layout for next weeks Creative Therapy assignment...
This months kit was full of fun stuff...some cutie pie vintage milk caps, rainbows and popsicles, bright blue tissue garland and lots of reds, limes, oranges, hot pinks and other fun colors.
This layout is called "I {heart} OverAll Season".

This layout is called "Happy Feet".

These are Hannah's sneakers....that were a couple of months old...and I just wanted to show you the tread wear from her feet.....

Now these were some "unhappy feet"......oh man, I see a layout coming for those!!

I also ran across some free Valentines Images, you have to post a link in order to be able to download them, they look super cute and I need something cute for our Valentines Bags this year.... so go HERE to look at them!

Pink Paislee Blog Post and Class coming up!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 19:43:00 +0000

Today was my blog post day on the Pink Paislee Blog, you can see it here....Lucky Me Mini Album

I will also be teaching this book on March 7th from 2-5ish... (may last longer) at Cool Scrapbook Stuff here in Poway, Ca. For info go HERE.

We will be using the new "Fetching" line by Pink Paislee and it is rich and beautiful, you will love it!!The album is a 6x6 binder album by Maya Road. You will also receive 3 sets of alphabet letters plus the "ME" big Maya Road letters on the front! So, this class will be full of product!! You'll take home leftovers!

The cost is $35 and includes all the product so you will get LOTS of Pink Paislee and Maya Road.....this will be a little bit of a different class as your pages might not look the same as mine...and that's because you don't have my pictures so your titles and placement may be different. You will have all the same supplies to work with and you will receive a list of what photos I used (like pg 1- 1 vertical 4x6 picture that was cropped, pg 2- 1 horizontal 4x6 picture) so then you can follow the same pattern that I did for each page. Make sense?

So, if you are interested and live (or will be) in the area then contact Cool Scrapbook Stuff for details.

Here are a couple more pictures....more can be seen at the Pink Paislee Blog.