I actually scrapped!

Deidre and Carla, a couple of ladies from our town, have been trying to encourage scrapbooking in our community. Deidre and her mom run a business in town and they recently started stocking scrapbooking supplies. Carla and Deidre have been getting together to scrap for quite a while now and I joined them at Carla's a couple of times before. Recently they've held a couple of scrapbooking classes and a NSD event. I didn't manage to get to any of those but it seems that interest in scrapbooking is growing in our town.

Last night the girls held a scrapbooking class and I finally got to go! I even finished a layout while there! That's the really amazing part. I've only been to a couple of real life scrapping get togethers before and I don't think I've ever finished a layout at one. I wish I could show you my layout. I love it!

The purpose of the class was to introduce different embellishments and show how they could enhance a layout. It was a very basic class because most of the scrappers are just starting out. I debated going because I've had quite a bit of experience using embellishments but I decided to go anyway just for the chance to get out and socialize.

We were told to bring certian sizes and numbers of pictures and to bring our own paper. I only had a couple of pictures here and they didn't really fit the sizes they had suggested but I decided to use those anyway - I really didn't have much choice. I grabbed a kit that I had received for a prize at CC&S a nice while back and headed out.

I was a little late getting there as DH didn't get home from work until late so everyone was busy working on their first sketch when I arrived. I staked out a spot next to Coralee, a fast becoming scrappin' addict, and started in to work.

The girls had two sketches for everyone to work on. When they got the pictures and papers put together for the first sketch the girls helped them decide on embellishments to add to their layouts before starting to work on the second sketch.

Carla and Deidre had brought quite an assortment of emblishments and tools for everyone to try out - buttons, flowers, ribbons, brads, eyelets, etc. I tried out Deidre's silent setter. I want one! Deidre even had her cricut set up and cut out titles for anyone that wanted one. What a cool machine!

My pictures really didn't fit with either of the sketches so I improvised. I'm to the stage in scrappin' where I kind of like doing my own thing, anyway, rather than just follow a sketch to a T. I didn't start out like that, mind you.

I used my own embellishments that I had brought, except for some eyelets. I love eyelets but I could never get them to work. I couldn't resist trying out Deidre's silent setter. I really, really want one!

Anyway, it was a fun night. There were about a dozen of us there. Hopefully we'll do it again before too long.

New Edition and New call up at Canadian Scrapbookers Blog Carnival

The 5th edition is posted and there's a call for the 6th edition. Help spread the word.

Cool Grid Technique!

Last night I tried out the grid technique. It is so cool! I learned about the technique in the Splitcoast Stampers Weekly Inkling newsletter this week. I wish I could show you what I did, but alas I can't. I need a camera! Be sure to check out the link for yourself. It is a really easy technique, but it is so cool. I don't have a score pal so I just used my cutter with the scoring blade in it instead of the cutting blade for some of what I did and I used my Top Score Multiboard. I tried out a number of different colors and designs. Hopefully some day soon I'll be able to show you it, but in the meantime check out the instructions and samples at SplitCoast Stampers.

A New Sketch Blog!

Wow! It's been a long time since I posted, and just as long since I've scrapped. I'm starting to feel the need though, and I've seen some things lately that I really want to try so hopefully soon I'll actually get around to it. I also have some things that I've done that I want to get posted but haven't been able to manage that yet either. I need a camera!!!

Okay rant over. :)

Ally has started a new blog, So Sketchy!, dedicated entirely to her sketches! I love Ally's sketches! Her sketches inspired many of my layouts during my time at CC&S. I am really excited about her new sketch blog. Of course I'm also excited because she happens to be a Canadian and I just love promoting my fellow Canadian scrappers. She already has a layout and a card sketch posted and she's offering a RAK to anyone that uses her sketches and links their creations to her blog post. Make sure you check it out!

Oh! I almost forgot to tell you! The 4th edition of the Canadian Scrappers Blog Carnival is up. Drop by and check out the links to scrappers all across Canada. If you are a blogging scrapper living in Canada, why not join the carnival? We'd love to have you.

Happy National Scrapbooking Day!

I've been trying to do some scrapping to celebrate but I haven't managed to do any yet. I sneak in and have a look at the online forums when I can and I've seen some very interesting challenges. Hopefully I'll get around to them some time. Can't wait to see what everyone creates.

BTW, the Second Edition of the Canadian Scrapbookers Carnival was posted yesterday. Check it out a leave a comment, and don't forget to check out the blogs in the carnival and leave them comments too.

National Scrapbooking Day Plans

In case you haven't heard, Saturday, May 3rd is National Scrapbooking Day. Scrappers all over the place have plans to celebrate, either with real life crops or online crops.

Up until this afternoon I thought I was going to actually get to attend a National Scrapbooking Day Party in my community this Saturday. Deanne, and her sister Carla, and their friend Deidre have a fun day planned for the ladies in our community. Actually, come to think of it, there probably will be ladies there from our whole area, not just our community, because although Deanne is originally from our community, she now lives in a different community in our area so she'll probably have some ladies from her community joining her here for the fun. They're all going to gather in a local church and scrap the day away. I'm not sure what all the plans are but you can be guaranteed it will be fun. I'll bet there will be challenges and games and instructions on great projects. Man, do I wish I could be there! Hopefully someone will take lots of pictures and maybe even post a blog post about the fun. (hint, hint) :)

Unfortunately my plans have changed and I won't be able to attend. I'm so bummed! DH is going to visit his parents and give his sisters a chance to have a break with helping with the care of his father. DD has decided she wants to go and spend some time with her grandfather so we're heading out of town tomorrow. I'm not looking forward to the 6 hour drive! I think I will pack some of my scrapping supplies to take with me and have my own little party. Won't quite be the same as I'll likely be the only one there but oh well.

If I had a really good laptop, or even access to a good computer there I know what I'd be doing. I'd be hanging out at Digital and 3Scrapateers. Last year there wasn't anything planned around here for National Scrapping Day and I spent my time at these two digital sites and what a great time I had. Besides the great time I also managed to pick up two wonderful, big, digital scrapping kits in the celebrations. If you don't have any where to go to celebrate and you are into digital scrapping I suggest you check them out.

Digitals is taking a week, May 3-10th, to celebrate NSD 2008 with the theme "Weaving Time in a Tapestry". They have created a huge Digitals NSD & May '08 Challenge Kit for participants. Participant pick up pieces of the kit as they participate in the different things happening at the site all week long. Complete the monthly forum challenges to earn pieces of the kit. Check Bonus Gallery and store free downloads during the week for more pieces. Participate in Amanda Thorderson's famous Treasure Hunt every day for more pieces. They also have loads of crops planned throughout the day and week where you can pickup more pieces. It's a really fun place to celebrate National Scrapbooking Day

At 3Scrapateers there will be Chats, Challenges, and lots of Freebies! Fernelda the Freebie Fairy flies all over the forum dropping of freebies to be picked up. There is a Kick off Chat Friday May 3rd in the 3s Chat room at 8 PM EST. I had so much fun there last year! I didn't know about Fernelda the Freebie Fairy and I almost missed some of her freebies! If you manage to find all of Fernelda's freebies, attend the chats, and do the challenges, you can accumulate a wonderful NSD digital kit. Lot of fun!

If I had a good laptop to take with me I'd also be checking out the happenings at ScrapShotz, Lil' Scrappers, and WeScrap.

Oh for a good laptop to take with me! Though I really wish I could be home to get in on the real life crop. Oh well, maybe next time.