In My Copious Free Time

Cute purse card templates

http://www.ruthannzaroff.com/mirkwooddesigns/purse.htm

http://twopeasinabucket.com/pg.asp?cmd=display&layout_id=308115

http://www.stampington.com/html/tempting_template_purse.html

Must try one of these soon.

CKU Reunion crop

My new-old friend K1 hosted a crop today -- I've been looking forward to attending one of her crops since we got acquainted again at CKU. I spent several hours last night (well, technically this morning as it was after midnight) meticulously packing up my supplies. I find packing for a crop very challenging because I don't want to lug a bunch of stuff around or take up too much space, but it's also frustrating when I get an inspiration and don't have what I need to accomplish it. I managed to do pretty well, and was almost done when it occurred to me that I might want to pack some actual photographs as well. Duh. So then I had to weed through photos. I think I got in bed at about 2:30am. Thank dog Alex sleeps well. Although he scared me -- he woke up at 7:30am and was wide awake, saying he wanted his blue train (on my bedside table), so I gave it to him and cuddled him up and he fell asleep quickly (I suppose, I know I did), and we all slept until 10:15-10:30ish. Ahhhhhhh....

Then I baked brownies, loaded up the car and headed to Kerri's house. It was a grueling 1.1 mile drive. ;) K2 was there, along with a few people I hadn't met, but had heard all about me. (In the lead up to the crop we all were exchanging email and one of them wrote "Tara? The World Famous Tara from CKU? I can't wait to meet you!" Sheesh, that's a lot of social pressure for an introvert like me!)

But it was great -- everyone was so nice, and fun, and I got a lot of work done: 6 completed layouts, 2 of which were 1-page spreads, and the other 2 were 2-page spreads. And on the 2 2-page spreads I used a total of 18 photos! I did a lot of stuff I'd never done -- layered a vellum quote over a photo, used my foam stamps and paint to stamp a title, used my hinges (which I've had for over 3 years - they are older than Alex, I know) to mount a photo and hid jouraling underneath it. I'm really pleased with the pages, and I hope to do more scrapbooking soon. Oh, and K1's husband grilled dinner for us, and everyone brought munchies, and K1 made some yummy vodka punch.

Oh, and K2 is pregnant! We talked at CKU and she told me about how she'd just started TTC and I told her all about TCOYF and temping and stuff, and before she left I told her I had a good feeling that she was already pregnant. And I was right. :)

K1 is hopefully going to have another crop very soon. They participate in this online challenge group that you get points for layouts completed and different techniques used or subjects covered, and the last weekend of the month is an "extreme points challenge" weekend where they get bonuses. So, perfect weekend for a crop.

CKU -- Day 0

I always think of the first day of actual classes as day 1, so registration becomes 0 by default.

Everything went well in terms of packing and getting to Boston. We arrived at the Seaport at about 2:00PM, checked in and set out to find conference registration. The hotel is part of the "World Trade Center Complex" and a small sign in the lobby read "CKU Registration -- World Trade Center." So we went out the door and across the street to the building bearing those very words on its facade.

Uh, no. No signs. So we asked. "Oh, that's in the World Trade Center." Uhhh...oh, the other World Trade Center. /cue eye roll Apparently there are 2 buildings, east and west. We were in the wrong one. Note that the registration sign didn't designate which.

So we finally make our way through the hotel, to the side entrance, across the street, and into the correct building. Now, you might be asking yourself, "Why can't they find a hotel that can accomodate all the events in one building?" Funny, I was wondering this myself. You can't tell me that in Boston it isn't possible. But anyway...

We picked up our tote bags (which now have the city and year of the event printed on them), our class tickets, and our supply box. Once again, a few good things and about 4 million different types of adhesive. Adhesive makers really come through with the product donations.

Next were the make-and-takes. Once again, I have to say the signage was poor. There were undogly lines for some M&Ts (Making Memories, SEI, Hero Arts), but we did manage to sit down and do a few, most notably Autumn Leaves and 7 Gypsies. We decided to get into line for Making Memories, only to be told they'd run out of product. Which brings me to yet another nit-picky gripe. The number of attendees isn't a secret -- so plan properly and don't run out!

S decided to go up to her room (she brought along her 7mo baby and her 20yo daughter to care for said baby), and I wandered around. I kept seeing people who looked familiar, but then I saw someone I really knew and had to stop. "K? Don't I know you from Memory Lane?" Sure enough, it was K1, along with the other K2 (both women have the same name). K2 used to work at Memory Lane, the scrapbook store we all shop at in our area. I hadn't seen either of them in ages and had forgotten how great they are. :) K1 wandered around (she seems to know everyone since she's been to all the other CK/non-CK events lately) and K2 and I gabbed. Turns out we're practically neighbors and didn't know it. She immediately insisted I give her my phone number and email so she could invite me to the crops she has at her house every month. Whoo! :)

After a little gripe session about the conference flaws, we met up with K1, another friend they'd just met (D) and headed back to the hotel to get ready for the "tailgate" party. This is the kick-off event -- a high-energy, "pump up the crowd" type thing where you get freebies, too. K1 promised to save seats for S and me, and we parted ways.

The party was, well, lame. Not because the CK people weren't trying. The crowd was just...weak. I know in 2002 in CT, the event was a million times more fun. I actually felt embarrassed on behalf of all the duds. :-\

The freebie kits were pretty nice -- not as flush as they were in 2002, but some nice stuff. BUT, they ran out of those, too. People, you *know* how many people you registered!! Get it right!

Then the search for a decent quick snack commenced. It ended at 7-11, where I purchased cereal and milk that in the hotel would have cost me about 5 times what I paid at 7-11.

Next was the "celebrity" crop. Now, for those unfamiliar with scrapbooking, it's a hobby with a lot of "celebrities" -- magazine editors (Lisa Bearnson really deserves a lot of credit -- Creating Keepsakes magazine almost singlehandledly made this industry what it is), creative genuises (Becky Higgins, who has a cult following like you wouldn't believe -- people wanna be Becky, do their hair like Becky, wear glasses just like Becky's, etc.) and other published artists. I am not so much into the celebrities, mostly cause I've met all of them. (At CKU in 2002, I was on the concierge floor, so we rode the elevator together, had continental breakfast together, etc., I had nice, long discussions with many of them. Photos were taken, the whole deal. BTDT.) The lines were boggling. I dunno, but I would be creeped beyond belief at that sort of attention.

S decided not to come down for the crop. I would have gotten a lot done, had I remembered to bring a crucial bit of product. Ah well.

I'd forgotten how hectic it all is -- getting from place to place on time, waiting for elevators, finding food that won't bankrupt a normal person.

So, off to get dressed and head out to class. :)

CKU

Three hours until S will be here to pick me up for the drive to Boston. Am I ready to go? No. I have my clothes mostly packed, but I haven't pared down my scrapbook supplies, nor have I found the appropriate bag in which to carry them. I'm tempted to just bring the bigass Crop-in-Style which is still loaded up from Craft Weekend, but I know I won't use all that stuff, and I don't know that there will be room in the car. (Sue and I are joined by her 7-month old son and her 21-year old daughter who is coming along to care for her little brother during the day -- I'm trying to go for economy of baggage.)

I also have to decide what knitting supplies to take with me. How sad is it that I'm going to this expensive scrapbooking workshop* and all I can think about is finishing the booga bag?

*$345, but I'm not paying as this was a "bonus" from work.

I need to get excited

I'm going to Creating Keepsakes University, a 2.5-day scrapbooking workshop sponsored by CK magazine. This was a "bonus" from work -- they paid the $350 registration fee. I haven't been terribly excited, partly because I didn't get into some of the classes I really wanted. Partly because I've been too busy to think about it. Partly because I just haven't been scrapbooking much lately.

But I need to snap out of it and get in the spirit. Quick, cause I leave at 10:30am on Thursday. I was hoping to meet up with some friends while there, but given the time challenges of the workshop schedule and commuting to where they are, it doesn't look like it will happen. Bah.

I need a little cheerleader on my shoulder saying "C-K-U! C-K-U!"

Or maybe I'm just grumpy because I moved all my stuff to yet another desk in the office today...