and I'm off..... to the Nottawasaga!

Ya Ya!! I am off in a few minutes to the Nottawasaga Resort for Go Scrapping's 5th Annual February retreat.... and I am soooooo excited to see everyone there!

This is a YAYA Sisterhood Themed weekend retreat so look for lots of pictures of happy scrapping ladies wearing hats! hehe I know I have mine! :)

See you soon

Win A Retreat Contest 2009

Can you believe it?? Go Scrapping is turning 5!! Yep, 5 and to celebrate 5 Fabulous Years of Go Scrapping Retreats, I thought I would open up a huge contest and give away a WEEKEND RETREAT FOR TWO to not just one, but TWO RETREATS this Fall!! Sound interesting? :)

I have always thought of the wonderful people who attend Go Scrapping Events as part of my extended family - which makes this contest even more perfect!

Starting today - FAMILY DAY 2009- until Monday June 15, 2009 at noon est. entries will be accepted to enter into this great Retreat Give Away. Contestants are to create a new layout, mini book or altered item inspired by the phrase "A FAMILY IS..." and post a link to it here in the comment section of this post thread. Two posts will be randomly chosen with the help of an online selection tool (the Random Integer Generator) from all eligible posts. The first post chosen will win a retreat for two to the Peterborough Retreat held on October 2-4, 2009 and the second post chosen will win a retreat for two to the London Retreat held November 6-8, 2009. There will be no exchanges or substitutions.

Please review the official rules and regulations before entering as incomplete or duplicate entries will not be eligible to win.

OFFICIAL RULES AND REGULATIONS

1. DESCRIPTION OF THE CONTEST - see above.
2. ELIGIBILITY - Paper Arts enthusiasts over the age of 19 are eligible to participate with the exception of Go Scrapping retail sponsors and educators.
3. CONTEST PERIOD - Monday February 16, 2009 - Monday June 15, 2009 at 12pm est.
4. THE SUBMISSION - The Contest requires participants to provide a URL to their blog or online photo site by posting a link in the comment section of this blog post. The submission MUST be inspired by the phrase "A FAMILY IS..." but can take many forms -- It can be any a layout (single or double page, any size), a mini book or an altered item thus keeping the spirit of Go Scrapping's tag line "A place to go beyond scrapbooking". Submissions should not include any confidential information or details that may be inappropriate to share with the general public. By participating in this Contest, participants give the Sponsor (Go Scrapping) the right to use the Submission on the Sponsor's web sites or in other marketing promotions related to the Sponsor without further compensation to participants. Submissions that include content that violates the rights of third parties or are deemed to contain objectionable material may be disqualified in the Sponsor's sole discretion. Submissions must be received by the Sponsor during the Contest Period. Submissions received after 11:59 A.M. (EST) on June 15, 2009 will be disqualified and no exceptions will be made. ONE SUBMISSION PER PERSON -- submitting multiple submissions will result in disqualification. PLEASE NOTE: eligible entries must also include an email contact.
5. POSTING ASSISTANCE - If you require assistance to post a link on the blog, please visit the Go Scrapping Message Board- a section with posting tips and help will be set up to assist with this process. You can find this section at www.goscrapping.ca/messageboard (Blog News and Announcements Section)
6. WINNER SELECTION - Go Scrapping welcomes and encourages all scrapbookers and paper artists therefore will not be "judging" the entries on perceived skill, merit or publishablility. Winners will be selected at random with the assistance of a Random Integer Generator (http://www.random.org/). The chance at winning will depend solely on the number of eligible entries. Two eligible submissions will be selected at random using this tool. The first selection will win a retreat for Two to Go Scrapping's Peterborough Retreat October 2-4, 2009. The second entry selected will win a Retreat for Two to Go Scrapping's London Retreat November 6-8, 2009. Prizes are non negotiable and non transferable and cannot be redeemed for cash value.
7. PRIZES AND APPROXIMATE RETAIL VALUE - Two Prizes will be awarded: A Retreat Weekend for Two to Go Scrapping's Peterborough Retreat held on October 2-4, 2009 and a Weekend for Two to Go Scrapping's London Retreat held on November 6-8, 2009. Both Retreat Packages are based on double occupancy rates with an approximate retail value of $750 (two regular rate registrations, double occupancy). For details on the retreat package - please visit www.goscrapping.ca/Upcoming_Retreats.htm . Prizes are non-negotiable, can not be redeemed for cash value and are non-transferable.
8. WINNERS will be announced on the Go Scrapping Blog by 1PM on June 15, 2009. If for some reason one of the chosen winners is unable to claim their prize by June 30, 2009 - another winner will be chosen randomly and contacted by email.

Good Luck Everyone! HAVE FUN! I can't wait to see what you come up with.
I will be promoting this contest through Go Scrapping's sponsoring stores and at charity crops throughout the province. If you are aware of a charity crop in your area - I would appreciate you letting me know as I will send a little something their way.

HAPPY CREATING!!!

the Go Studio Dollar Store Club

Like many of you, I love to surf the web for cool ideas and fun projects... one of my favourite Toronto artists, Carmi Cimicata, has run a fun Dollar Store Club out of her studio and I, inspired by the work of all the women in this group, thought that would be a FABULOUS thing to introduce at the GSS -- to truly inspire you all to "Go Beyond Scrapbooking" and expand your creative thinking! WHAT FUN!

So... this is how it works.

Every month I will pick an item from the Dollar Store that you will create ART from. Let the piece "talk" to you (smile) and use your imagination and creativity to create something special with it. Bring your completed piece of art to the studio on the FIRST WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH anytime between 6pm and 9pm so we can all see what you did with the item, learn from each other and have a few social nibblies too :). I will arrange for either myself or another artist from the community to come in and show us a technique that we can use in future projects. Sound fun?

The monthly club dues are $10 -- includes the munchies, studio time and instruction. CLUB members are also welcome to use the studio for FREE while working on your club project.

To Join the Dollar Store Club - contact Karen at the Studio to let her know you are interested.

519 954 6620 goscrapping@rogers.com

This is an open club - all are welcome.

OUR FIRST MEETING:

Wednesday March 4, 2009

Drop by anytime after 6pm - Group Sharing will begin at 7.

The First Item (image to be posted Monday Feb 16)

A SMALL WOODEN TRAY*

*all items for the Dollar Store Club can be purchased at the Dollarama

HAPPY CREATING

A Valentine Surprise....

Yep, that's what my kid is getting this year for the good ol' Valentines Day!
I made her this little accordion tag book "card" and attached it to this little dollar store number so I could hang it on her bedroom door tonight for her to find in the morning! Collective ahhhhhhhs..... :)

For those with inquiring minds .. inside the accordion book are 4 tags each with handwritten notes about 4 different things I love about her.

Happy Valentines Day to you all!!

A NEW BLOG BANNER!!!

So, do you like it?? Miss Sheri helped me by creating a "Karen inspired" banner for the blog and soon to be on the new website :)

We still have to tweak some things but isn't the banner great?? Soooo me!
Thanks Sheri! You're the best -- my Queen of All Things :)

Come and Play with us!!! Yep -- we're trying to get you to come to "A place to GO beyond scrapbooking" :) hehe

I have some fun things planned. Be sure to pop by here again soon to check out what's happening at the Studio and at a Crop near you!!!

A New Sponsor for Go Scrapping ...

I am very pleased to announce that Go Scrapping Retreats & Crops has a new retail sponsor -- Olde Tyme Country Crafts in Brampton


They are located at
57 Mill St. N., Suite 102
Brampton, ON L6X 1S9
905-452-1271
www.oldetymecountrycrafts.com

Looking forward to working with you Sandy....
Look for door prizes from Olde Tyme Country Crafts at all of Go Scrapping's 2009 Retreats and Crops and be sure to visit not only their store in Brampton but also their booth at Scrapfest Kichener this April!

Do you have your ticket?

Scrapfest is BACK!!! April 17 & 18, 2009 at the Kitchener Auditorium!! YAY!!!

For those of you who dont know -- Scrapfest is the largest (I don't think I am wrong about this) scrapbooking expo in the Province.. perhaps even the country. Lisa (Scrapfest's owner extraordinaire) has brought together over 35 amazing scrapbooking retailers who will set up booths full of product to sell to you -- papercraft enthusiasts!! Yep -- this is a scrapbookers paradise!

In addition to the great shopping, Lisa has also assembled teachers from across the country to offer classes at the event -- classes for everything from layouts to creating embellishments to cards to learning how to get the most out of your digital camera!

I am super excited because Lisa invited me back to host the super fun VIP Ultimate Crop Party!!! I had lots of fun with the gals last year and can't wait to spend time with them again. I have lots of games and things planned for the evening... I hope you're all in a party mood!! If you would like to attend the VIP Crop (that also includes weekend access to the marketplace) -- contact Scrapfest soon!! 200 tickets went on sale yesterday and there are only 85 left (at the time of me writing this)

For more information about Scrapfest -- Please visit their website: www.scrapfest.ca