Revamping a favorite kit.

Well, it's sad to say but we must change the papers for the Birthday Party layout. They have discontinued the paper we use on that one (we HATE when they do that). So check out the new look. We use glitter paper from Best Creations - one of our new favorite vendors. The scan is dark (I have a new printer/scanner that I need to get use to) so you can't tell that the colors are bright and really pop on that black background. The colors will be fantastic for both boys and girls!

Oh my word!

Can you say completely insane? It has been crazy around here - so what else is new, huh? In the span of 14 weeks we will have 11 shows. Good news is that we have a break in July and can catch our breath. We are here for a week, the longest break we will have until July, and are catching up on kits for the next 7 shows in a row!

So what has been going on in our world? Well, I've taught at the last 2 shows and have really enjoyed seeing everyone! I can't tell you how many members and past customers took a class. At one point in Houston we had 2 rows of club members in one class! We visited Kentucky for the first time and let me tell you - those ladies are the nicest, sweetest people I have ever met. They were so happy that we had a show there and really showed their appreciation. Thank you!

Creating Keepsakes has added another show to the schedule - Nashville, TN at the Gaylord on September 11 & 12. We love the Gaylord and the Italian restaurant!! Be sure to come see us at this great show if you are in the area.

I have been taking my Project 365 pictures but am about 3 months behind on posting them here. LOL! One of these days I will get them on here. Maybe in July when we have some down time. (Ok, quit laughing - you know we don't get down time.)

I have added 2 new kits to the website that I created today. It felt so great to be creative again. I have about 10 more on the design table but I have to start cutting kits for the MI show now. Maybe I will be able to squeak out a couple more this week. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Mexico was great!

The cruise was fantastic! We had a great group of ladies who where all the nicest things and so fun! Brittney had a blast and fell in love with Mr.3 (the husband of one of our scrappers). I overheard her tell her sister this afternoon that she has to meet Mr.3 in June at the Arlington show!LOL!

I will download the camera this weekend and post pics! In the mean time, I found this link the other day and thought it was interesting. I have traveled through many more states but haven't actually "been" there. In August I will be able to add Alaska.




create your own personalized map of the USA

We are off to Mexico!

We leave tomorrow on our Mexico cruise. Brittney is going with me as my assistant and she is so excited! I am so far behind on posting my Project 365 pictures but everything has been chaos getting ready for the cruise and the Portland show. I will get them posted when we get back!

If you are at the Creating Keepsakes-Portland, OR show be sure to come by the booth and check out the new make-n-take (and be sure to let me know what you think of it!). Several of the classes are sold out but there are still openings in some so check with the registration desk if you are interested. Pictures of all the classes have been added to our website under Class Descriptions.

The office will be closed from March 1- 8. We will process all orders made during that time once we are back on the 9th.

Wow - something you must see!

Ever wonder why you aren't suppose to throw water on a burning pan on the stove? I never realized that a wet dishcloth can be a one size fits all lid to cover a fire in a pan! This is a dramatic video (30-second, very short) about how to deal with a common kitchen fire... Oil in a frying pan.

Read the following Introduction, then watch the show... It's a real eye-opener! At the Fire Fighting Training school they would demonstrate this with a deep fat fryer set on the fire field. An instructor would put on a fire suit and using an 8 oz cup at the end of a 10 foot pole toss water onto the grease fire. The results got the attention of the students. The water, being heavier than oil, sinks to the bottom where it instantly becomes superheated. The explosive force of the steam blows the burning oil up and out. On the open field, it became a thirty foot high fireball. Inside the confines of a kitchen, the fire ball hits the ceiling and fills the entire room. Also, do not throw sugar or flour on a grease fire. One cup of either creates the explosive force.

This is a powerful message. Watch the video and don't forget what you see. Tell your whole family about this video.

Thank you Joy for sending this to me!

Crazy, crazy schedule

It's all beginning again - the crazy schedule with shows and getting everything ready! We are back from the Scrapbook Expo show in Costa Mesa, CA were we got to meet a lot of our club members. I didn't realize so many of you came from the CA area!

Mom and Shannon will leave on March 4th for the Portland show. Brittney (my youngest) and I leave this coming Sunday, March 1st for the cruise to the Mexican Rivera! We have been scrabbling to work on the cruise kits, class kits and kits for the booth. LOL!

Oh and the make-n-take for this year. We used the new build a page system by MOSD, Inc. Queen & Co donated the felt that goes on the cover; tiny flowers, ladybugs and dragonflies! Like last year this album is more like a mini class and will cost $10. Your time slot will be for 30 minutes, but don't worry. We have cut everything for you except for the red page so you will know how to do them when you buy more of these great pages!

Here is a sneak peek at the 2009 MNT: Bugs-n-Kisses




Be sure to get to the booth early and sign-up for your time slot. Last year the Boo MNT would fill up quickly. Setma will more than likely do the same as we did last year: go out on Friday morning before they open the showfloor and show it off, give a couple away and sign people up for the weekend!

Where do you go for inspiration?

I absolutely love the work of Carole Janson. I would love to scrap like her - but my albums would be 3 feet thick with only 4 layouts. That and the time it must take to create her pieces. Every piece she does is like a work of art. I know she is on the design team for Bo Bunny and Karen Foster, as well as several others.

I love visiting her blog,3 Dimensional Me , and seeing all the little details she puts into her layouts and altered art. It blows my socks off!

Where do you like to go for inspiration?

The Robin's Nest

Have you tried dew drops from the Robin's nest? You will if you are a Board Book club member, we have included a couple in February's kit! I love them and will be using more of them in the future. They are small, flat back, dome topped stones that are great for accenting cards, scrapbook pages and other craft projects. You simply glue them on (I used mini glue dots).

I have tons of stuff laying around here that I pick up to use in kits and then it gets shuffled to the back of the shelf and I forget about it. Well this past week I discovered these again (I have about 6 different colors!) hidden in the back. What made me think about them again was my visit to CHA. The Robin's Nest has come out with a lot more fun colors in the dew drops AND a lot of really pretty glitter paper. You will be seeing some of that paper later in the year in kits!

Secret to a Happy Marriage

A man and woman had been married for more than 60 years. They had shared everything. They had talked about everything. They had kept no secrets from each other except that the little old woman had a shoe box in the top of her closet that she had cautioned her husband never to open or ask her about.



For all of these years, he had never thought about the box, but one day the little old woman got very sick and the doctor said she would not recover. In trying to sort out their affairs, the little old man took down the shoe box and took it to his wife's bedside. She agreed that it was time that he should know what was in the box. When he opened it, he found two crocheted dolls and a stack of money totaling $95,000.
He asked her about the contents. 'When we were to be married,' she said, ' my grandmother told me the secret of a happy marriage was to never argue. She told me that if I ever got angry with you, I should just keep quiet and crochet a doll.' The little old man was so moved; he had to fight back tears. Only two precious dolls were in the box. She had only been angry with him two times in all those years of living and loving. He almost burst with happiness. 'Honey,' he said, 'that explains the doll, but what about all of this money? Where did it come from?'

'Oh,' she said, 'that's the money I made from selling the dolls.'


Thanks to Rena from the Rockin' R Retreat Center!

Fast, Easy Valentine Treat

Need a fast & easy snack to make for Valentine's Day? No Fuss Fabulous shows you how to make these really yummy treats. I bought the makings (Texas talk for ingredients) for the girls to use while I'm on my trip this week.