MY WEEKEND RETREAT

I went to a weekend retreat in Maggie Valley, NC this weekend. I didn't know any of the women there but boy did we make friends fast! We had a wonderful time. Laura is the organizer, she is in the front row. Brenda is just behind her and Shyra is behind Brenda on your right and I'm on the left and at the top of the stairs is Judy!

I cannot tell you how fortunate I feel to have found this little group. The cabin is absolutely beautiful and it was only about an hour and 45 minutes away from where I live.

Of course I packed too much but I would rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it!

This is a photo of the workspace that Laura created. She moved the sofa and chairs against the wall and put the wooden coffee table on the covered porch. She put 4 tables together to create a large workspace for each of us. There was a 5th table in front of the stairs.

I debated all week, prior to my trip, whether to risk taking my Imagine. I decided to wrap it in bubble wrap and buckle it into the seat and it worked extremely well. I took a picture for inspiration for others. When I got to the cabin and set the machine up I was fully prepared to recalibrate but it was not necessary.

I worked on 2 double layouts and I made a lovely party banner for my sweet 3 year old grand-daughters birthday in a couple of weeks.

Laura made sure there was plenty of food, drinks and snacks. She cooked a home made lasagna that we baked Friday night, a breakfast caserole Saturday morning and chilli in the crockpot Saturday night.

There will be another retreat in October (I can't wait) and then there won't be another one until March, 2011. If any of you live near Maggie Valley, NC and are interested in attending this swarm, you can find details at www.borntoscrapbook.blogspot.com.

LITTLE STINKER

This is my first card with my Imagine! I like the card and I still have a lot to learn with the Imagine but I can see 2 tiny little imperfections in this card and it is driving me crazy!!!! Can you see them?

I know you can't tell it in the card, but on the wording "Little Stinker" I used POP Dots to make it 3 dimensional.

The background is from Nursery Tails as well as the light green backing of my little skunk. The skunk of course if from Create a Critter.

I loved using the color fill. That is really great.

I'm also using Recollections paper which is about 65 lb paper and I think I am going to get some Bazzill paper at my LSS or some Georgia Pacific from Walmart. When I checked the other day the Georgia Pacific paper is 110 lb and I think that would work better for cards.



P.S. My 2 imperfections......my little skunk man is CROOKED!!! and my background paper is just slightly crooked. Overall, I'm happy with the look and it didn't take me 2 hours to make it. LOL.

CRAFTROOM UPDATE 9/19/10

This is an update to my craft room. I have a very small space and I have soooo much stuff to store in it being an embroiderer, sewer and scrapbooker! I have tons of stuff under my work tables so I have been looking for fabric to match the colors in my room (green, black and white) and yesterday I hit pay dirt! I paid a little more than I wanted to for the fabric but I couldn't be happier with the way it looks.

The photo below are the 2 tables where I embroider, sew and scrap. You can see my new Cricut Imagine on the left of the photo. It is one heavy piece of equipment! I hope to make a card or start a layout this afternoon!

I hate to mess up the room but it is so small that it is easy to clean but it is certainly nice to sit up here and work while it is nice. Maybe I will try to clean as I go! LOL, we all know how that goes.

This is my before photo with my serger and sewing machine! You can also see the canvases that were still on the wall from my when this room was my granddaughters nursery. My serger is now under the table hidden away and I will pull it out when I need it.

This is another before photo, showing the right side of the 2 table areas. This is showing my embroidery machine.

This is my cutting and ironing table area. I cut fabric and paper here. On the right side of the photo, I have a built in bookcase and I have covered it with a curtain to hide the clutter in there.

Below are the before photos, showing the cutting/ironing table and the bookcase and of course the clutter!

THE CRICUT IMAGINE

I didn't think that I would be interested in the Cricut Imagine, but after watching videos of the machine in action I decided that this would be a great tool for me. My husband is such an enabler for me and was all for my ordering it. I actually ordered mine several hours before the actual launch online at midnight.

I struggle so much when choosing paper combinations. It litterally takes me hours to pick out paper and I think that the Imagine will really help in that area.

I also thought that it would be a great value to go with the HSN bundle because 1.) I wouldn't have to pre-order. 2.) 3 cartrdiges are in the bundle instead of 1. 3.) Free shipping and no tax for ordering online. 4.) 30 day money back guarantee.

My machine is scheduled to arrive on the 23rd. I go to a scrapbook retreat on the 24th in Maggie Valley, NC and I can't decide if I should take it with me or leave it at home. I'm seriously considering leaving it packaged for the short trip to Maggie Valley, open it at the retreat and test it out for 2 full days. I will take my bubble wrap with me to make sure it is secure for the ride home.

I'm so excited that I can hardly sleep.