Opening the Letter....

My 19 year old son Derek made a decision a couple of months ago to serve a two year full time mission for our faith.  I was extremely proud of his decision and once he made his wishes known we began the short process of getting his paperwork in order.  Well today we very anxiously awaited that special envelope letting us know where he would be asked to serve................

Baltimore, MD Area Mission

includes parts of PA, West Virginia, Virginia and Northern Maryland

Since my family is originally from Boston, Massachusetts and I was sealed to my parents in the Washington, DC Temple I was extremely excited for my son.

As a mom I am of course a little sad at the thought of letting my baby boy go for two whole years, but I am also extremely excited for this chapter of his life and I know that he will be a better man for giving of his heart and service.

As a scrapbooking mom-I of course immediately reached for the pictures.

This is a layout of Derek from his younger days.  The poem below is what I plan to print off on the computer and put on the journaling block.  I will be working on a Missionary Calendar that I plan to send with him.  Thank goodness for my photo memories past, present and future.  It makes times like these easy to bear.

God made a world out of his dreams,
Of wondrous mountains, oceans and streams,
Prairies and plains and wooded land,
Then paused and thought,
"I need someone to stand on top of the mountains
To conquer the seas, explore the plains and
Climb the trees, someone to start small and grow,
Sturdy, strong like a tree." and so...
He created boys, full of spirit and fun,
To explore and conquer, to romp and run,
With dirty faces, banged up chins
With courageous hearts and boyish grins.
When He had completed the task He'd begun,
He surely said, "That's a job well done."

     ~Author Unknown~

Quick Tip Tuesday!

Hi Everybody!

It's Jenny from Crazy About Cricut, and today it's my turn on the design team to post the Talk Time Tuesday tip. Thanks to Shawn from MyCutSearch.com for providing me with the tip for today:

Have you ever come to MyCutSearch.com and typed in a word only to get no results for that word?  Or when you clicked on the preview it seemed to take you to a totally different, unrelated search?

Well, I don't get all of the computer "blah, blah, blah" . . . that is my husband's job . . . but according to him this happens because of internet cookies, and you need to delete your internet cookies.

Side note:  When he first told me that we needed to delete internet cookies, I think one of my kids said "But I like the cookie" in a voice like Hammy from the movie Over The Hedge.  Now every time I tell someone to delete internet cookies I hear Hammy in my head saying "But I like the cookies".  If you don't know what I am talking about, you have to watch Over The Hedge . . . here is a clip.

Okay . . . back to MyCutSearch.com Tips . . .

If you cleared the internet cookies and you are still having problems then you should try using Google Chrome. We have found that people have much better results with this over internet explorer.

Shawn Mosch

MyCutSearch.com ~ The crafting tool that gives you more time to craft!

(Formerly known as CricutSearch.com)

Find us on Facebook

I love using MyCutSearch.com whenever I'm searching for a cut, it's such a time saver! I hope you guys save this in your favorites or add the button to your blogs.  Thank you Shawn for sharing this great tip  :oD

Thanks Jenny for this Fabulous tip! Have a great tip to share? Just leave a comment we would love to hear about it!

New Product from CHA: Cricut Mini

CRICUT MINI ^{™    Available November 2011}

Introducing the Cricut Mini™ Personal Electronic Cutter—an all-new machine that makes home, school, business, craft, décor, party, and DIY projects simple and fun. The Cricut Mini™ machine is a small, lightweight, ultra-portable way to make almost anything you want out of many different types of materials, including thick and thin paper, fabric, vinyl, magnetic material, craft foil, and lots more. With the Cricut Mini™ machine, it’s easier than ever to make projects and be more creative!

FEATURES & BENEFITS

• Simply plug it in, turn it on, connect to the Cricut Craft Room™ Application—the online design tool where you can see and design with the Cricut ^® cartridge library—and start making projects.

• Includes a cartridge port to link all your cartridges to the Cricut Craft Room™ Application.

• Cuts paper, cardstock, vinyl, magnetic material, fabric, craft foil, sticker paper, and lots more.

• Works with Windows and Mac computers with a standard wireless or wired Internet connection.

• Cuts on 8 ½" x 12" materials. Cut small shapes and fonts from ¼" up to 11 ½"!

• Small, portable, and lightweight for ultra space saving.

• Extremely precise and detailed cutting capability.

Looks like this could be a Teacher Must Have!!

Scrapbook USA Expo Coupon

New for 2011, instead of using the paper discount coupons that we have made available in the past, Scrapbook USA Expo will be offering online tickets at a discounted price.

Select vendors will have a discount code to offer its Followers & Friends.  Without a coupon admission is $12.00for one day and $22.00 for a two day pass. With a coupon code the attendee receives a discount of $2.00 off a one day pass and $4.00 off a two day pass. Discounts will not be available at the show.

Go to the Scrapbook USA website with the link below and enter Coupon Code: 

creative2

For any Creative Cutters that use the Coupon Code-stop by my table and show your online ticket to get two additional entries into our Cartridge Giveaway.

Here is the link:  Click Here (Not available just yet-I will keep you posted)

Quick Tip Tuesday!

Tip Time Tueday...

Things I use in my scrap~room, that some people may think don't belong

#1 Baby Wipes~ I use them to clean up my desk after using stamps, or

glitter. I also use them to clean off my self-healing mat. I have used

them to clean off my stamps. And also to clean up my hands

after inking or using glue so I don't get it on my project where it does not belong.

#2 Lighter~ I use this for my ribbon and to distress paper. The way I use it 

on my ribbon is to keep it from fraying. I will light it and gently get it close just

enough so that my ribbon will not fray. Also I sometimes will burn the edges of a paper

to make it look distressed.

#3 Rectangle Nail File~ I use this mostly to distress my paper edges, but there 

has been time when I am working with wood that it will sand down rough edges.

#4 Plastic Putty Scraper~ I use it to gently remove large items off my cricut mat. 

When I have a large item I have cut out and it has lost of little pieces out of

it I notice it comes up better all at once. So I use the scrapper and it 

comes right up.

#5 Zip~Lock Bags~ I use these for putting in scraps, I found the really large

bags at the dollar store. It will fit 12x12 pages with room to spare. I sometimes will be

working on a project and get stuck and so I will put everything that goes with that project in it 

and store it for when I get inspired again.

and last but not least.... my dogs!

All of my dogs have thier own spots in my room, I love to be scrappin'

and be able to feel them with my toes under my desk. 

It is just not the same scrappin' with out them :)

I hope this gave you some ideas and tips on things you can use!

Wow! These are some great tips Mollie! 

Leave a comment here and over at Mollie's Blog  Cricket's Cool Creations   about something Mollie suggested or about something you use, and you will be entered in our random drawing for a Cricut cartridge!

Design Time Thursday: Summer Challenge

It is time for another CreativeCutter.org challenge!!

The theme for this one is 

Summer!!

I hope all of you are having a fun, relaxing and amazing summer!

Summer time is a time for lots of things...

family reunions

vacations

swimming

camping

and spending time outside!!

With all these things that happen all summer long I was trying to think of the one thing that is best about summer... and what I came up with isn't the best thing about summer, but it is one of my favorites.

At night after the kids are in bed, I take my kindle or a good book and make a drink and sit on the deck and enjoy the breeze and smells of summer. 

So my project was a "margaritaville" sign.

I used a wooden craft I found at the dollar store as the back, then I used an fun and bright animal print for the back ground. I used vellum for the glass and glitter paper for the drink. I used diamond dust on the rim of the glass to give it the salt look. I used my crop-a-dile punched 2 holes thru it and cut the letters out in vinyl. I used ink around the edges to make it look all black.

I hope you enjoyed my little sign and I hope the rest of your summer is great!

Thank you Mollie for this wonderful Summer Idea-Post a comment about your favorite Summer Craft Idea and we will choose one random winner to receive a 6x6 Paper Stack & a BoBunny Noteworthy journal card set.

Last Week's Winner chosen using Random.org is:
#4

 Kim said...

This is a great idea! I cleaned out my stuff and gave it to my daughter to get her started in scrap booking!
~Kim
http://crazyaboutscrapin.blogspot.com

Congratulations Kim use the Contact Me form to email me your snail mail address.  Thanks for all of the wonderful comments everyone!

Talk Time Tuesday: Hot Product Watch

Some of you have seen me use this at the Scrapbook Retreats.  I just love it-it has made my Creative time more productive. This company will be at CHA in Chicago and I just received an email telling me 

 CHA Celebrity Judges  have picked Scrap'n Easel as one of the top 20 for the Summer 2011 Innovations Award! 

so

If you haven't had a chance to check this great product out yet.  Click on my link on the left sidebar and you can get all of the information you need.  

I really think this has made creating layouts much easier for me-and it has definitely made me faster!!! Whoo hooo!!!

Cricut & Gypsy Classes

Are you ready for another Scrapbook USA Expo

It looks like I have the go ahead from Provo Craft to teach at Utah's 

Scrapbook USA Expo this September 9th & 10th.

so

If you have been thinking about taking a class & you plan on attending this Fall's Expo you can now kill two birds with one stone.  I hope to see many of my Scrappy friends at my Expo table and will of course post my

 Discount Coupon Code as soon as it is available.

I will be giving away cartridges again and hopefully will have some nice surprises for all of my Utah Friends.

also

I have some really super news--- One of my creations has been chosen to be in the Cricut Magazine published by Northridge Publishing Company.  It is the Wedding Issue that will be out in September--so it looks like September will be extra exciting in the Creative Cutter Room!!!

Talk Time Tuesday: Mollie's Tip

Quick Tip Tuesday...Cleaning Up Your Craft Room!!

Our Tuesday Tip comes from one of our NEW  Design Team members Mollie.

First of all I would like to introduce myself. Hi, this is Mollie. 

This is my first time doing a quick tip Tuesday so I hope you all enjoy.

Once a month my girl-friends and I have a crop day. 

We trade who's house we go to and we always watch chick flicks, have snacks and if we are lucky between all the gabbing we get some crafting done. 

After a  few times of doing this I got an idea... there are things in my craft room I NEVER use, maybe one of my girl-friends could use it. So we started a swap table.

 We set aside one table in the room that we put things we no longer want. 

Through out the day the gals look through it and some days the table ends up empty and other times it doesn't. 

We have found this is a really nice thing, because it encouraged some of us to clean out our rooms and actually look through all of our treasures. 

In a way I look at it as recycling because if I can't use it someone else can. 

So my tip for Tuesday is, look at what you have and if you know you aren't going to use it.... maybe your friends can.

Let us know what tips you have for getting rid of some unwanted or unused scrapbooking supplies and you could win our "mystery prize''.  

Just leave a comment with your tip and I will choose a Random winner on our next Talk Time Tuesday to receive a scrapbooking surprise.

ALSO

Be sure and stop by Mollie's site for some more really great inspiration.  Just CLICK HERE.

St. George anyone???

I have use of a St. George 2 Bedroom Condo on November 4-6 and would like to host a Scrapbook Retreat there.  The cost would be $110 a person for 3 Days 2 Nights, all meals, and use of condo amenities including pool and weight room.  I will likely have to limit this one to 10 since we are limited in sleeping arrangements.  Use the Contact Me Form above if you are interested.  Should be a fun way to escape the winter blahs this November.

Happy Fourth of July

I am a first generation American Born daughter of Immigrant Parents who taught me to Love and Respect this Country for its Beauty, Opportunity, and Freedoms.  I thank God for their sacrifices and the many sacrifices of all of our ancestors who wanted us to live the Dream of being Americans!

Link to Rigby Roundup Fun at Zions National Park HERE

The winner is.....

I just realized that I haven't had a chance to post any WINNERS recently!

So Sorry Ladies!!!

Mailing has been delayed due to my Retreat Schedule right now but I

will get caught up hopefully by next week.

so without further delay........

The God Bless America Stamp Set winner is....

#19

Christine

and

The Father's Day Your Story bundle winner is....

#1

Jean

Congratulations Ladies-Please use the Contact Me Form 

to send me your address.

Thanks for playing along and leaving comments on my site.