Week 1: Layout a Day!!!

Lain Ehman is not only a wonderfully funny mom and writer, but she is the fantabulous host of LOAD: Layout a Day. She does it 3 or 4 times during the year...this is my first. The goal is simple, complete one layout per day for the entire month of February. She provides prompts (this month's theme is Inspiration) each day but you don't have to follow them. Complete a page every day and you're eligible for prizes!!!
Here are my first five days....

I have to say I'm having an absolute blast doing this. Scrapbooking and just plain being creative takes your mind off your troubles. :)

Blessings!!
hp

"How did you do dat?!" - Part 4

It's time!!! For those of you who know me well, I get a little nuttier than usual twice during the course of a year: CHA Winter then again later in the year for CHA Summer. "I'm sorry, what is CHA?" You HAVE TO ASK?!!! Craft and Hobby Association show people!!!! The inspiration I get from seeing what all of my favorite manufacturers (CTMH is still my absolute fav....but they just don't have ENOUGH!!) have in store for us....is too much to describe. There are some products I must have in my hands IMMEDIATELY after seeing the sneak peek, but alas...

Sneak peek? You see, dear friends...CHA isn't open to the 'regular' scrappers like myself. I understand. I get that. You want to give the folks who will be selling your product first crack at seeing it and trying it out....ohhhh, but if you let me in...I'll be as quiet as a mouse I promise!!! Just ignore the rolling carryall I'm dragging behind me. :)

Fine, fine fine...I'll sustain myself on the sneak peeks for now. Thank goodness Nancy Nally over at Scrapbook Update has the 411 on everything fabulous all neatly recorded and updated on her site! Scroll down to your favorite manufactures, click on the link and be prepared to drool. I've already begun of wish list complete with layout ideas for products yet to come. Yum! Yum! and Yum! Here's a few peeks: (don't look unless you really are prepared to drool...)

Maya Road

Crate Paper

October Afternoon

Fancy Pants

See you soon!
blessings,
hp

January UFO results are in!

Another night (2 nights for me!) filled with stories, advice, laughter, and chocolate! We used the wonderfully elegant yet still chic and shabby Mistletoe paper from Close to My Heart to summary out Decembers in scrapbook fabulousness. :)

And kudos to CTMH for coming out with alterable canvas buttons (shown above stamped with Dec 25)...soooo cool! (and self-adhesive!) :)

wishing you all a creative week!
:) hp

"How did you do dat?!" - Part 3

What a lag there has been since the uber popular 'Part Deux!' :) This source of information is accessible to anyone and super easy to use. However, it does require one piece of equipment that might be on the fritz now and again: your brain. (Of course, that could just be my brain, but somehow I double it.)

Anywho, here's what you will need:
A jar (preferably with a lid otherwise it will become a store house for miscellaneous legos, hair bows, pennies, etc....true story :) )
Scraps of paper (like you don't have a few of those!)

I call it "The Jar". Here's what mine looks like:

"What's in the jar?" you ask. Scrapbook layout ideas of course! I've tried notebooks, a file on my computer, etc....but nothing is quicker than this jar on my counter. I'm cooking dinner and thinking of how much my kids love tacos - go figure! My son is THE pickiest eater on the planet, but he'll eat something like tacos...definitely a memory I want to capture....especially for when he has kids. heh heh heh :) Rip off a scrap of paper, write a quick note and toss it in the jar. How about how my kids when learning to walk all seem to fall on their faces! Scrap paper, jot it down, into the jar.

NOW, when I'm looking back at all of these pictures trying to figure out what to do I dig my hand in the jar, pull out an idea and I'm off to the races. Bam! Instant inspiration from my very own noggin'. :)

blessings!

:) hp



Your January Scrap Essentials!

First things first, I have two confessions to make.

1. I’ve ‘traded in’ my Constant Contact account for a new online account with Northridge Media (aka Scrapbook Trends, Card Trends, etc.). Yes, your email newsletters will be a little less snazzy, BUT I will have a world of inspiration to add to my monthly workshops in conjunction with my trusty CTMH idea books (including the new Magic…hold on…I just fainted.). And…
2. I still haven’t pulled the trigger on changing my upline (this is a direct sales business for those who don’t know)! CTMH and all my paper products, tools and gizmos are an addiction to me!! My dear fellow consultant Margot is waiting patiently for me to make the switch, but I am mentally unable to take 6 months ‘off’! (I have control issues :) ) Any advice in that regard would be greatly appreciated! Incidentally, as a result I still don't have a website. If you'd like to take a look at the current products online, please give me a buzz and I'll point you in the right direction!
   

Now let’s talk scheduling! Get out those planners, iPhones, and wall calendars!

 Monthly Scrap Workshops ('UFO')!!!

Yes our beloved UFO nights will continue into 2011!! They are so much a part of my psyche now I’ll be here no matter what! :)

For the newbies: ‘UFO’ stands for “unfinished foto object”…yes, a very loose interpretation of the more commonly used “unfinished fabric object” popular with quilting circles. In many ways we are very much like the quilting circles of old: we gather as women with all of our laugher and emotions and wonderful stories and learn more than just scrapbooking techniques. It’s uplifting and energizing and productive! Every month you’ll go home with a summary of your previous month’s memories and maybe one too many pieces of chocolate. :)

Fee: $20 (pay for 3 in advance and receive 10% off!!)

Time: 7:30pm – 10:30pm

Location: The Scrap Lounge

Days: Generally the 3rd Thursday and Friday of each month.

January 20, 21 – Mistletoe (still time to RSVP!)


February 17, 18 – *NEW* Miracle (you’ll recognize this one…it is WONDERFUL!!)


March 17, 18 - *NEW* Sweetheart


April 21, 22 - *NEW* Mayberry


May 19, 20 - *NEW* Sophia


June 16, 17 - *NEW* Bliss


July 21, 22 - *NEW* Lucky




All Day Scraptopias for 2011!

YES I’m also planning on quarterly (at minimum :) ) all day crops! Yep, that’s 9am to Midnight with fabulous goody bags and fabulous friends. Oh, and you get to use my tools! These dates are somewhat flexible…life comes at you fast with small kids so things may change....

Remember, seating is limited to 4!! I don't want you to miss it!

Fee: $25

Time: 9am – Midnight

Location: The Scrap Lounge

Date: Saturday – January 29, April 2, June 4, September 3, November 5

Did you say "Card Class?!!!"

YES, I’ve listened! …for pete’s sake people!! (who IS pete anyway?) I am scheduling FIVE card workshops for 2011. Here’s how it works: Each class you can choose from the Christmas/Holiday pack or the Birthday/Thank You pack…OR you can choose both! The cards will be clean and fun so completing both packs will be no problem! (I promise :) )

Fee: Christmas/Holiday Pack = 10 cards, $10; Birthday/ThankYou Pack = 10 cards, $10; Both = 16 cards, $18 (you save 20%!)

Time: 7:30pm – 10:30pm

Location: The Scrap Lounge

Dates: Thursday, (see below)

February 3 - Christmas/Winter: Crate Paper ‘Snow Day’ (LOVE it!!); Birthday/ThankYou: CTMH ‘Emporium’

April 7 - Christmas/Winter: CTMH ‘Everlasting’; Birthday/ThankYou: TBD

June 2 - Christmas/Winter: Echo Park ‘Everybody Loves Christmas’; Birthday/ThankYou: TBD

August (Date TBD) - Christmas/Winter: Basic Grey ‘Blitzen’; Birthday/ThankYou: TBD

October 6 - Christmas/Winter: K&Company ‘Swell Noel’; Birthday/ThankYou: TBD



New CTMH Idea Book Schedule

Surprise!!! Close to My Heart has switched to a 2 Idea Book per year schedule. Yay!!! The book is just a teensy bit thicker but it is JAM PACKED with paper goodness. The Spring/Summer Idea Book goes live Feb 1, but I’ll have preview copies for my UFO’er regulars THIS month! :)

Have I ever been able to wait until the release date?! Uhm. No. So, shhhhhhh….here’s a sneak peek:

Paper: TONS OF IT!!! Note the UFO list above…new new new and NEW! Absolutely lovely. :)

Stamps: My favorite so far is the Pennant Alpha…big, fab size E set!!! (that’s the biggest alpha folks!) With a close second being the Token Alpha…also a big, fab size E. I cannot WAIT! Ack!!!

Accessories: Here is where my heart palpitations always always begin. CTMH did not disappoint yet again! Say it with me: ribbon flowers. And and and…canvas buttons!! And: Spray Pen?!!! HELLO?!!! Wow. :)

And did I mention there are NEW albums?! Oh my. :)

Would you like to get one in your hot little hands asap? These fabulous, packed Idea Books are free with a $25 order my friends!!! Don't wait! Supplies are definitely limited.

 

Club for 2011

After a great deal of thought and consideration I’ve decided not to do Club again in 2011. I simply can’t put enough time into making it as awesome as I want it to be for clubbers! I’m sorry. You can still take advantage of hostess benefits tho’!!! You can host a gathering (yes, I still do shows!), gather a few orders for a catalog show, even plan reeeeeeeaaalllly early for next Christmas. ;) Here’s the BEST part!!! ½ price items start at the $250 mark (used to be $350)!!! Are you thinking Ink Organizer? $69.95 becomes $34.98! How about ½ price on a year of Studio J with an album?! $108.95 becomes $54.48! Sing it with me "Faaaabulooouuuusssss!"

Well, I do believe that's it in a very large nutshell for January. :) If you have any questions or would like to rsvp, please don't hesitate to give me shout! heather.peplinski@gmail.com


Most scrappily yours,
:) hp

...some more Christmas magic. :)

One of my New Year's resolutions is a regular schedule for blog posts. Heady goal, right? :) This isn't a regular post....because it's short and too soon after my previous post and a little off topic....but I so want the Christmas magic to last just a teensy bit longer. Remember the massive tree? Here she is lit up...

That butterfly ornament? One of many from my childhood...this particular one dates to '76. A quick peek at the mantel....

...and I'm done. :) I can't be the only one with my tree still up...can I?

-hp

Here are a few of my favorite things.... :)

Happy New Year!!!! Well...it happened again. Christmas came and went in a BLINK! Why does that happen?!! Don't get me wrong, we had a wonderful, blessed holiday season...but why does it have to go by so fast?

This year (rather last year ;) ) I was able to make about 60 cards with very little stress. Wierd, eh? After the initial 10 or so I (re)discovered Cards magazine by Northridge Publishing. Sing it with me: FAAAA-BU-LOUSSS! :) Then and there I decided to recreate any and all of the cards I could from their December issue. I had soooooooooooo much fun and made sooooooooooo much mess. :)

I know some of you might be wondering how I was able to adapt the designs without a sketch (the measurements). Typically, I use a ruler to measure the dimensions in the photo and scale it up to my project size. Sometimes you can get away with "that's 1/2" or "about a third." :) If you'd like a demo, remind me the next time I see you!

With this new addiction :) I'm actually scheduling workshops throughout this year to make our holiday cards! Very low key and low stress and high chocolate. :) When December rolls around you'll already have one item checked off the list!

Blessings in this new year,
hp