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!

Scrapfest the "re-cap"

Well.... What can I say about Scrapfest 2008!?! Lisa, you did a fabulous job organizing such a successful show. You should be VERY Proud of yourself~

It was great to see so many Go Scrapping Sponsors under one roof!! The Scrapping Bug, In A Pinch Designs, The Learning Factory, The Scrapping Turtle, The Memory Mill, Cutie Pie Kits..... Yay Ladies!! I wish I had more time to come and chat with you all!!! ....but as you know, I was in the very busy Crop Area!

We had 151 Ladies cropping with us in the Ultimate Crop Party Friday Night. We played a few games and had a few challenges and I gave over 30 Prizes away Yee Haw! .....not to mention we gave everyone in attendance a Chatterbox Album Kit! Wowsers!! What a gift to celebrate the first ever Marketplace Crop at Scrapfest in Kitchener!

Participants were asked to submit a Layout with a "little spring bling" in it for a contest that would be judged by our visiting teachers Vicki Boutin and Trisha Ladouceur. They were also challenged to show their creativity!! Decorate their tables or themselves in the theme.... Well... we had LOTS of eager participants!!

The winners of the Creativity Contest were the "Spring Blingers" (as I will call them) were "blinged" up from Head to Toe. Vicki and Trisha's honourable mention went to 3 Go Scrapping Groupies!!! - Mat, Leesa and Elaine for their creative centerpiece complete with ribbon and eyelet seeds :) Very Cute! Congratulations to those winners AND all the fabulous ladies who came "in Style" :) You helped make the evening a ton of fun!!!

The Layout Contest Winner was Jennifer. She won a Pink QuicKutz Squeeze and Moxie Font sponsored by the Scrapping Turtle -- and was very thrilled.

Saturday was another fun filled day of shopping and cropping. The marketplace was an endless stream of scrapping enthusiasts and the crop room was a buzz right until close and the vendors packed up around us!!!

It was soooo great to see as many people there as I did -- people from Waterloo Region and all over Ontario! YAY Go Scrapping!! I really really hope I am back at Scrapfest sharing this great event with you all!!

Congrats again, Lisa, on a wonderful event!!

Hours to Go before Scrapfest!

Thursday night at the Aud was starting to Buzzzzzz... A few of the vendors came to set up their booth racks, tables and shelves, goodie bags were being stuffed and I was there to check out the crop area and do some basic planning.

What a great venue!! Can't wait!

Congratulations to Deb B -- Winner of a Scrapfest package in including cropping, shopping and a class through a contest on CHYM FM. Deb has been to Go Scrapping Events and I am thrilled to see her again at VIP night.

Another "Go Scrapping" winner.... Congratulations Denise D. Winner of a online contest that was run on the Scrapfest website (www.scrapfest.ca) last week. She is winning a Scrapfest Prize Package -- I happen to know that those Packages are FABULOUS!! I know she is going to enjoy it!!

See you all at SCRAPFEST!!!!! I'll be the one on the Mic in the Crop Room!!

Scrapfest Countdown..... 2 Days

Yes, two days until VIP Night!

The marketplace and crop are going to be hopping!!
A table will be set up outside the marketplace doors at 3:30 PM for those who wish to pick up their tickets early. Doors will not open until 5PM.

Are you a Kitchener Rangers fan???
A strange question to ask on a scrapping blog I know -- BUT depending on how the Rangers do this evening the Kitchener AUD will be "hopping" even more than usual!

Ranger hockey (who's home rink is at the Kitchener AUD) is in playoff mode -- and on the road to the Memorial Cup. There is a Game 5 playoff game scheduled Friday Night IF NEEDED. Currently the Rangers are leading a best of 7 series 3 games to none. WHICH MEANS -- if the Rangers win in Sarnia tonight (game 4) no game 5 will be needed and the Rangers will sweep the series...keeping Ranger fans happy and out of the Parking Lot for our VIP night! LOL

So... my tidbit today is.... Cheer on the Rangers and check to see if there will be a game 5. If there is BE SMART and get to Scrapfest early... by 6 FOR SURE to get a parking spot. Remember, if the Rangers play there will be a sold out hockey crowd desending on the AUD for a 7:30 game and parking will be VERY HARD to get.

What's the lesson here?? Arrive early at Scrapfest and ENJOY!!! A no brainer huh!
GO RANGERS!!!!!

Scrapfest Countdown.....

3 DAYS until the VIP Night at Scrapfest in Kitchener (At the Kitchener "AUD" on April 11 & 12) It's so exciting - I can't wait.

Each day until the event I will post little tidbits here -- help you get in the mood. Hope you can all join us there. Approximately 35 Scrapbooking Vendors, Great Crops, Great Class -- LOTS OF SCRAPPERS and PURE SCRAPPING ADRENALINE!

Friday VIP night tickets are SOLD OUT. So, if you don't have your tickets yet -- I hope you consider coming on Saturday. Tickets at the Door are $10... there are still Saturday Crop Tickets too.. so, for an extra $15 you can bring your stuff and crop during the marketplace hours. Here's your first Tidbit! :)

Let's help Scrapbook & Cards Today "Bring a Smile to a Child"

SCT will be collecting handmade birthday cards for children at Scrapfest. These donated cards will be sent to children’s hospitals across Canada so that every child receives a special card on their birthday from hospital staff! With each card donation,
your name will be entered into a draw for an amazing Scrapbook & Cards Today
prize. Cards can be delivered to SCT at their booth at ScrapFest in Kitchener.

The SCT booth will be "decorated" with cards! So -- let's help decorate it! Be sure to bring a couple of cards with you. Or, if you are not going, please send one with someone who is!

Good luck in the draw and thanks for "Bringing a Smile" to a sick child!

Its No Joke!

Go Scrapping is excited to introduce this month's Message Board Guest Designer: Amanda N.

Amanda has been married to her sports junkie husband for four years. They have a two year old son and are expecting a second child in June 2008. Her family is the subject of the majority of her layouts, even the new baby {already!}. She has been scrapbooking for 9 or 10 years on and off but has been quite "obsessed" with it in the last 5 years! She has always loved ALL kinds of crafts over the years but scrapbooking and stamping STUCK! She is on two design teams and has had a few guest spots on different sites.

Amanda loves working with a variety of products and inspiring those around her. She has grown even in the last year in style and technique. She has turned her love of the hobby into a small side business as she creates scrapbooks and handcrafted cards for people. She also works for her mother as a personal assistant, which includes bookkeeping, website design, and whatever else she needs her to do. She is a SAHWM (stay-at-home-working-mom) ...and is excited to be chosen as a guest designer here for April. "I hope to uphold the standard of excellence that the previous designers have portrayed. Thank you to Karen for the opportunity to lead and inspire you all this month! "

Amanda also created this month's online class - a DIY Trinket/Gift Box. We hope you make one for yourself or for a gift!