Guest Designer of the Month - May 08

I'd like to introduce you to Joanne - Go Scrapping's Guest Designer of the Month. Joanne is a Go Scrapping Groupie who has been chatting with us on the Message Board since Aug 2006.

Here is her "bio":

I am fortunate to be married to my wonderful husband now for almost 25 years, he is a great support to me and our three children. I am very involved in my kids lives - as most of you know both my daughters ride horses competitively and we are away at horse shows most weekends in the summer. Our son is off to school but still loves to play hockey. I have been scrapbooking for the last four years - concentrating most of my efforts in the fall/winter seasons. I really enjoy getting messy, using paint, inks, powder and glitter! I started scrapbooking because I wanted to record the girls riding careers and stories but it has become so much more. Since I am an accountant by profession scrapbooking has become my creative outlet! I have also met some very great people through scrapbooking including my best bud Limmer (Lynn). Thanks very much for allowing me this opportunity. I hope I live up to the high standards that have been set by my predecessors! Happy scrapping and I look forward to your responses to my QOTD's!!

Joanne was given some Piggy Tales Paper and "Barn Doors" to play with (along with a few other goodies). Here are two layouts she created with this paper. To see the third... be sure to visit us on the message board and check out the layout gallery.

Have a great month!!

Diva Me Silly

I have been wanting to Blog about the Diva Retreat for some time now. Sorry I am late getting at it.

It was a fabulous weekend... I was thrilled to see so many guests get involved in the theme -- Ball gowns and tiaras galore! How fun. Holly Schnider from Schnider Photography came on the Friday night to take "diva shots" of our guests and I CAN'T wait to see how they turned out. Hopefully I will get them soon so I can pass them on to you! Sneak peeks on her blog are making me even more curious!

Friday evening I held a class on Embossing. 30 people participated in this class and it is my hope that you were all inspired to get out your inks and powders and do some fun creative elements on your layouts and cards. I have seen some creative embossing since that class and I am thrilled. Writing this is making me want to dig out the UTEE! :)

Speaking of Classes, Sheri East and Judy Beeksma of In A Pinch Designs designed 5 fabulous classes for Saturday. Unfortunately Sheri was VERY SICK. So sick she wasn't able to join us at the retreat. Never fear!!! Darren is here! Darren is Sheri's VERY SUPPORTIVE husband. Look at him trying to blend in and get in the spirit! hehehehe.. He took over and showed the ladies how to create the fabulous projects his wife designed. What a guy! Thanks so much Darren. I know that the ladies loved your humour and the classes!

In A Pinch Designs also had a booth and the retreat and did a fantastic make n take. Judy loved joining us Friday and Saturday. Thanks for bringing your talents and your wonderful kits to the retreat!!

Also Joining us as vendors at the Retreat was Monica and Teri from Keepsake Cottage. They offered a clear acetate mini book as a make n take that many of our guests took advantage in taking. They also had a fantastic assortment of product with them from their Stratford and Goderich Stores. .....and some pretty fabulous sample projects too! You are super talented ladies!!! Thanks so much for being at the retreat!!

Cathy Locke from TLC joined us on Saturday. She is sadly leaving TLC and this will most likely be her last Go Scrapping Event as a vendor. THANK YOU CATHY for being such a fabulous sponsor and friend to Go Scrapping. I know that the ladies in KW, Cambridge, Brantford, Milton and Stratford have loved having you a part of our events. Best of luck to you in the future and I hope to see you scrapping at an event!! That would be fun. Thanks for helping make the Diva Retreat so special.

We gave away some great prizes sposored by Go Scrapping's Sponsoring Stores. We even had a fun game of Family Feud - Diva vs Diva :) Congratulations to all our winners.

Best layout of the weekend went to Leesa S. For her fabulous Layout Partners in Fun. Leesa spent a large part of the retreat putting this fab layout together and we are so glad she did. Great Work Leesa!!! And Congratuations. Leesa won a $25 Gift Certificate to The Scrapping Bug and a Diva pen and pencil set....just cause :) Have fun shopping for more supplies, Leesa!

I was honoured to "crown"13 new groupies at this event. What's a groupie? A person who has attended 4 or more Go Scrapping events. Each new groupie was presented with their very own Groupie "Button" and a choice of something off the Go Scrapping Merchandise Table - a t-shirt, kit, etc. Congratulations to our new groupies. AND Congratulations to Rosanne D -- Gold Groupie (8 events) and Sue L - Platinum Groupie (12 events). You honour me every time you attend a crop. It's been fabulous getting to know you through your photos.

I love my job. Thanks for letting me

Celebrate Your Inner Diva.... One Scrapbook at a Time!