We Will Always Have Paris

Great American Scrapbook Convention Re-Cap

Quick note:  I returned home from the Great American Scrapbook Convention late Saturday night (well... actually really early Sunday morning) to find a number of orders in my e-mail Inbox.  I've officially sold out of the African Hinge Book kits (sorry!), but I'll be adding more goodies to the Flea Market this week.  For those of you that ordered the Summer Slice kits, they'll be shipping in the next couple of days!

I was a bit disappointed in the finds at the convention this year.  I'm a shopper.  A serious shopper.  No, really.... a "spend the mortgage at a scrapbook convention" kind of shopper.  But, this year I was kind of "Meh" about everything the vendors had to offer. 

After talking it over with friends, we've decided to chalk it up to the fact that we have some pretty kick ass stores here now.  It used to be that you went to the convention to buy up all the goodies that you only read about on message boards.  However, you can now buy the hottest items locally.  Tim Holtz cases?  Hit up Angela's & Rubber Chicken.  Basic Grey papers the week they come out?  Kely at Ashburn Family Scrapbooking is always on the ball (so on the ball, in fact, that she calls customers and offers to let them help "unpack").  Are you a freak for QuicKutz?  Scrapbooks N' More in Frederick has you covered.  They have the largest selection in the area. 

I was able to find a handful of sales at the show that made it worth my while.  I'll have to think about it before I go again next year.... oh, who am I kidding?  By the time it rolls around next year, I'll be so excited that I'll forget about how crappy it was this year.  See you there!

A couple of things that came out this weekend:

• Oh Holy Mother of Marie!  Those girls at Get Croppin' have outdone themselves.  They announce their line-up for Scrapbowl 2008 and all I can say is that I'm saving my money already.  Get this....

• Basic Grey has given us a preview of their new paper line:  Infuse.  Anybody who knows me knows that I'm a whore for Basic Grey papers.

• The Clip-It-Up that I was dying to see is really overpriced (it was $86 at GASC).  Suni just sent me this link to a great do-it-yourself version.  Go to the March 29th post.  I am so hijacking this idea.  I'll be sure to post my version!
• Local gal Chrisi R. rocks.  I mean ROCKS!  She brought me over twenty fabric swatch books to use for my art/teaching projects.  You can better your bottom dollar that I'll be coming up with a fabric art class soon!  And I'll be making pennant flag banners like crazy!  And mini art pillows using Lazertran! And!  And!  And!  The possibilities are endless.  You're my new best friend Chrisi!

My goal this week is to finish my stamp drawers and get those pesky mounted stamps organized.  I'll try to post pictures as I work.  So much to do!!! 

Great American Scrapbook Convention This Weekend!

The Great American Scrapbook Convention is back in town this weekend!  You certainly won't want to miss it as it only comes 'round once a year. 

Here's what you need to know:

• The event is held at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly, VA.  Directions can be found here.
• Admission is $10/person this year (does that seem steep to you?) for a one day pass.  You can also buy a two-day pass for $16.
• The showroom floor is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, June 22nd and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 23rd.
• Bring your media card!  The FujiFilm kiosk will let you print up to five 4"x6" photos for free!
• A couple of your favorite local stores (Rubber Chicken Stamp Art and Ashburn Family Scrapbooking Center) will be there along with 80 other vendors.  This year's event should be huge!  I plan to hit up Scrapbook Playground and Simply Renee!

Be prepared! 
I posted these last year, but it bears repeating...

• Wear comfortable shoes.
• Layer your clothing.  One year the air conditioning was not turned on & it was an oven.  The next year, I was chilled to the bone.
• Go on Friday (if you can), as there are not as many people.
• Leave the kids at home.  It can get pretty crowded in a booth, and your little one may get pushed around.  A couple of years ago, I watched a poor little two year-old get a bloody nose from a shopper's heavy bag.  Strollers are not appreciated by the vendors.
• Take advantage of the free make-it/take-its.  They're FREE!!  Go to the Pavillion right away to get a schedule.  Get in line early as the kits are generally pre-cut & the vendors may run out.
• Pack a granola bar & bottled water in your purse.  I know that they tell you that outside food/beverages are forbidden, but hide it in your purse anyways.  The lines can be quite long for concessions.
• If you see something you want, buy it.  They may not have it later.
• The vendors that sell out of products generally sell out of the newer items on the first day (Friday).  Get there early.
• Bring plenty of cash.  Some booths do not take credit cards.  Other booths have "cash only" lines that will get you checked out faster.

Why not make a day of it?

• Angela's Happy Stamper in Reston, VA opens at 7 a.m. on Saturday, June 23rd.  They'll be serving up free breakfast!  While you're there, ask them for referral cards and earn discounts on future purchases!
• Scrapbooks-Plus in Chantilly, VA is less than two miles away from the Dulles Expo Center.  They are hosting artist Carol Wingert for a special retreat over the weekend.  I'm not sure if her classes are full, but you can check them out by clicking here.
• Scrap Mania in Hagerstown, MD is holding a "stock up" sale:
  *     12x12 Cardstock - 4 sheets for $1
  *     8-1/2x11 Cardstock -  5 sheets for $1
  *     Adhesives - Buy 3, get the fourth FREE
  *     Pens and Markers - 25% OFF
  *     Idea Books - 25% OFF
  *     Templates - 10% OFF
  These specials are good from Thursday, June 21st through Sunday, June 24th only.  No rewards cards will be punched on purchase of sale merchandise.

I'll see you there!  I have a full day planned -- breakfast with old friends, a couple of hours walking the convention floor (I finally made a Scrap Snob T-shirt for myself... I thought it appropriate for the convention), lunch at a new restaurant, cropping the rest of the day at Ashburn Family Scrapbooking Center with old & new friends.  Have a wonderful weekend!

Pretty Little Things

I'm here to profess my love for Sally Jean Alexander.  After seeing her work in the back of a Mary Engelbreit Home Companion years ago, I bought a whimsy stick and a monogram .   I've worn them proudy for years (and had a ton of compliments on them!).  Now that I've finally met her, I'm just bowled over by how simply amazing she is.  She's a brilliant artist and an generous teacher to boot.  I want to be Sally Jean when I grow up. 

This past Christmas, my hubby bought me a spot in Sally Jean's House of Style class at Art & Soul.  The retreat was last weekend and I was beyond excited to run away from home.  I was able to drive down to Hampton, VA (without the typical Elmo/Wiggles soundtrack that my daughter requires) BY MYSELF and check into a hotel BY MYSELF and enjoy plenty of creative time BY MYSELF.  No diapers.  No whining.  No Sesame Street. 

Sally Jean was a wonderful teacher.  She was so open about how she creates her whimsical collage pieces and her charms.  She took us step by step through the whole process, giving us little tips on achieving that "Sally Jean" look.  She didn't try to hide any trade secrets.  She gave us the names of her glass, solder and ephemera resources.  I couldn't believe how willing she was to teach us how to duplicate her look. 

The class project is to die for.  A simple one story house made from thirteen collaged pieces which are placed between glass panes before being soldered together.  This is my little cottage (I apologize for the blurriness - trying to take a non-flash photo of a glass project is a bit more difficult than I thought):

The picture above the fireplace actually hangs in my real bedroom.  The hands belong to me & my hubby.  The picture was taken on our wedding day and it is one of my all time favorites.

I ran out of time to make the furniture, but as soon as I have a spare moment...

I'm desperately trying to get Sally Jean out to our area to teach a weekend retreat.  Interested??

Scrap & Support Women Affected By Breast Cancer

I love to scrapbook at crops.  More than that, I love to scrapbook at crops that support a good cause.  I just received an e-mail from Angie C., a Scrap'n Support Committee Member, letting me know of a worthy charity crop coming up this June.

Please, gather your girlfriends and support this wonderful group.  Scrap'n Support is hosting a 12-hour scrapbooking marathon on Saturday, June 16th to raise money for Pink-Link, an on-line support resource for women with breast cancer.  The registration fee is $50 and each participant pledges to raise $100 for the group.  How wonderful is that?  If you're interested (and you should be!), please check out their web page by clicking here.

Thanks for bringing this crop to my attention Angie.  I wish you & your participants the best of luck in your fund raising endeavors.  I've had several friends who have battled breast cancer and I know how important it is to have a support network.

Girls Gone Wild! - Spring Break '07

Each Fall and Spring, I get together with some of my favorite crafting friends and head off to a cabin for a weekend of no kids, no hubby and no stress.  This past weekend eight women and I headed south to Lake Anna for two days of paper crafting and relaxing.  Here are the stats:

1 cabin
1 fully loaded minivan (+ 5 other cars)
1 pregnancy announced (save yourself the e-mail, it wasn't me!)
1 book completed by Lauri
2 stops at local scrapbook stores:  Scrapdoodles and Croppers Corner
3 a.m. giggling in the room I shared with Jenny and Cenia
3 luxurious baths taken in the master bathroom
4 amazing meals
5 bottles of wine emptied (that doesn't include the cocktails!)
6 layouts completed by me!
8 hugs when we all departed
9 women ready to meet up again in the Fall!

Thanks for the wonderful weekend girls!  Cenia, Larcy, Jenny, Beth, Lauri, Linda & Marlynn - I'll see you in the Fall!!!   

Crop Fatigue

Two layouts. That's all I was able to complete at this weekend's Get Croppin' Scrapbowl.

Two layouts, but I had an absolutely amazing weekend.  Two of my best friends, Carrie and Karen, flew out from California & Arizona (respectively) to play with my Virginia and Maryland friends.  We took classes from great scrapbookers Donna Downey, Margie Romney-Aslett, Danelle Johnson and Ali Edwards (I took one class with Margie & one with Danelle - fantastic!).  We drank far too many venti lattes at Starbucks, stayed up far too late on Saturday night, and ate far too much food that wasn't on my Weight Watchers plan. 

My favorite part of this weekend was watching my old friends meet my new friends.  Carrie & Karen were able to hug and laugh with Marirosa, Ashlie, Jeanette (and who doesn't want to hug Jeanette?), Carol, Kitty, Lauri, Jenny, Cenia, Suni, Pat, Denise, Amy, Jen H., Kathy, Marie, Terri, Nancy and the rest of the gang.  These crops are nothing more than modern day quilting bees -- lots of girlfriend gossip and laughing.  I love it!  I love looking up and waving at Scrap For A Cause's Jennie Gift, or sharing a laugh with new friend Jen Sizemore.  It makes me so happy to see students Pam K. or Wendy G. outside of the classroom. 

See you at ScrapBowl 2008!

Club Scrap Rolling Retreat Coming to Herndon, VA

(Sorry for the terrible picture - it was all they had!  Click here if you want to see the real thing.)

I had a number of friends attend the last Club Scrap Rolling Retreat and they all raved about how fantastic the classes were, how well they were treated and how much they received for their money.  I think I'm going to try to sign up for this one!  For more information, click here!

Scrap For A Cause One Week Away!

Just a reminder that Scrap For A Cause is only one week away.  Join me (and a ton of other scrappers) in supporting a couple of local girls trying to do good.  The registration fee for the crop is only $50 and all of the money goes to the Washington D.C. Avon Walk For Breast Cancer.  A bunch of my friends and I will be there to support Jennie and Christine next Saturday, January 20th.  Won't you come play with us?

If you'd like more information on the crop, please see their website.  I've had a couple people e-mail me asking if they can just make a donation (as they are not able to make the crop).  Jennie was touched by your offers of generosity and she sent me the link for donations.  Both Jennie and Christine will receive credit for your on-line donation.

I really hope to see you there.  If you'd like to go, but don't have a friend to scrap with, please feel free to e-mail me.  We'd love to have you sit with our group.  See you in a week!

Scrap for a Cause on January 20th

Local We Will Always Have Paris blog reader Jennie and her friend Christine are participating in Avon's Walk for a Cure in May 2007.  Each participant must raise $1800 to enter the walk.  In order to raise their share, Jennie and Christine are hosting a crop in Manassas, VA on January 20th.  (Once I check with my husband) I plan to attend with my closest friends.  This is a cause I can really get behind.

Check out their website at www.scrapforacause.com and sign up.  Once you read their story, you'll want to support them as well!  Your $50 registration fee will go directly to Avon's Walk for a Cure.  $50 for a 12 hour crop is a great price around here.  Register soon and I'll see you there!

Scrapbowl 2007 Registration Opens Tomorrow

If you haven't heard, Get Croppin' is hosting the biggest scrapbooking event the Metro-DC area has seen.  Big names!  Great classes!  Two days of cropping!  Holy Moly!

The February 9 - 11, 2007 event will be held at the Dulles Expo Center and features some of the biggest names in the industry:  Ali Edwards, Donna Downey, Danelle Johnson & Margie Romney-Aslett.  Registration opens at 10 a.m. on the morning of Saturday, November 4th.  Register early, as class space is limited.  Click here for more information.

I'm registering for one of Danelle's classes and one of Margie's classes, along with the full two-day crop.  I have two girlfriends flying out from California & Arizona for this huge event.  We're pretty lucky to have such an enormous opportunity in our neck of the woods.  Hope to see you there!!