Made In Canada!!!!!

Check THIS out!!!!  Crop and Cruise was the featured "Made In Canada" company in the Spring Issue of Canadian Scrapbooker Magazine!!!!!!!  

I LOVE this picture of my hubby and partner in crime who is sooooo supportive of all I do!!!  And the inside pages of the article simply make me giddy with such FUN photos (a special thanks to Sandy Holmquist for contributing the top left photo of the girls in the ocean!) and an extra special layout from my good friend and loudest cheerleader Lynne Mizera!!!

A HUGE thanks to CS magazine for this special feature and I love that so many of our readers are planning on joining us in HAWAII in November!!!!  If you ever wanted to connect in person with other like-minded Canadian scrapbookers from all over the country, we invite YOU to join us on this adventure!!!!  

Check out all the Hot Tropical HAWAIIAN details at

www.CropandCruise.com

You had me at ALOHA!!!!

CHA 2012 Overview!!

Here is a super brief overview of my time at CHA in Anaheim last week!!  It was near unto impossible to try to fit in 2 full days and thousands of booths into 60 seconds or less, but I think I squeezed in MOST of my favourites (plus the token Tim Holtz appearance for those of you who insist on seeing what he's up to... and what new gadget he's demoing... and what he's wearing)!!

Others and MORE will be shown on my upcoming...

 TV segment this MONDAY, FEB. 6, 2012

on Breakfast Television starting at 6am through to 9am!!  We will be on-site shooting from the Scrapbooker's Paradise store in Calgary showing and demoing some of our favourite NEW products, tools and companies :)

My Top Picks include:

Tropical Travelogue line from Graphic 45... I could NOT keep my eyes off of this beautiful line and all the eye candy in the booth!!!!  They really do set the bar high for CHA shows!!!  And they're coming to Calgary in April!!!  Can NOT wait!!!  

Bo Bunny is ALWAYS a hit with everyone (including me!) but this year I had trouble picking my favourite NEW line... not because they didn't have good ones, but because they are all a little different... kind of like one for each mood I might be in!!!!!  I like them ALL!!

Basic Grey is also a go-to line and they had some super fun ideas (and some super fun ladies... the top picture we are all "The Allison's"... yup 3 Allison's all with the correct spelling!!) and a photo of their new canvases... pretty cool!!!

Meanwhile, Christy and I ran into Donna Downey... she is HILARIOUS!!!  And don't forget she's coming to Alberta this month (I get to teach with her!!!) and you can take her classes!!!  Check out Cropaganza for more info!!!

Onto some home decor stuff...

Canvas Corp is a company I am anxious to better acquaint myself with (FYI they just bought Tattered Angels and also own 7 Gypsies so watch for this powerhouse of companies to bring out some amazing things!!!)  Of course I just LOVED their beach line!!!

There were NOT a lot of new tools, but a "Stamping Gear" from Inkadoo helped create this beautiful canvas... sure had Christy's creative juices flowing!!!

And although it's not a "Tool", this new to me company (Unikeep) has some super funky ideas for travel albums!!!  Has mine and Christy's creative juices flowing too for our 

Crop and Cruise Scrapbooking Cruise to HAWAII!!!

So this guy had us smiling with this innovative gadget called "Action Wobble Springs"... to see it in action, you need to watch the video, but we thought it was FANTASTIC especially for kids cards and animation!!

Another super HOT thing at CHA is jewelry and my favourite "design-it-do-it-yourself" line was from Vintaj!!!  Check out this hot tropical looking necklace (how can you tell where my mind is)!!!!

And last, but definitely not least, was one of my personal favourites from the whole show...

I know it's still new technology, but the QR codes are beginning to appear everywhere and allow you to instantly visit a companies website, get info, etc. Sizzix, however, has figured out a super great way to bring them into the crafting world through "Talking Tags"... you purchase your own labels that have QR codes that you can record a one minute personal message onto and then you can glue or sew it to a special project or layout and it will be there to listen to for years every time you scan it!!!!  How cool is that????!!!!!  I can just imagine taping my kids' giggles or nana's voice and having it permanently recorded on a special quilt or card or layout or????  Just imagine!!!

Okay, enough from CHA...

Meanwhile, here is some of the trouble... er I mean FUN we got into while in LA!!!  It all started with the "economy car" I rented... my fiery red FIAT car!!!!  They kept asking me if I wanted one with more leg room... um... do I look like I need more leg room????  Besides, I get to play "JLO in LA"!!

I have to say that I mostly managed to stay out of trouble this time, but trouble still followed!!  This time it was Christy!!!!  It all started our first night when we were at a reception for vendors and we were at the bar getting drinks... Christy was trying to order me a drink with no alcohol, but the guy just wasn't getting it!!!  And after we thought he finally understood, he still began to pour Vodka into my Cranberry juice and before she could think about what she was doing, Christy shoved her hand overtop of my glass and he proceeded to pour Vodka all over her!!!  The look on both their faces was PRICELESS!!!  Yup... a true friend takes a "hit of Vodka" for you!!!

Continuing on the theme of drinks... on our flight home, we were just settling into our seats after take-off when suddenly Christy and I heard a "pop" and were suddenly being showered with liquid!!!  We looked up and to our horror the ceiling of the plane was "leaking" a brown liquid all over us (mostly Christy... I had just moved to the aisle seat)!!  This is NOT a good thing on a plane!!  So after a moment of panic, the flight attendant came running to discover that two rows up a mother had given her little boy a baby bottle filled with Coke and it had exploded!!!  Now I've heard of moms giving their little ones, Gravol to keep them calm on a flight, but COKE???  Who does that???!!!!

Anyways, one of the highlights of our time in LA was renting a bus with all the other "Canucks" and touring the town!!!  Below is a collage of our adventures including our "Star Gazing" in Hollywood... we went to the "Chateau Marmont" where numerous stars were in attendance following the SAG awards that night!!  We got to see Glee stars, Modern Family stars, and Jesus!!!!

Alrighty!!  Be sure to watch Breakfast Television on Monday morning for even more fun and eye candy from CHA and meanwhile, enter to WIN some goodies!!!  You can enter on my CHA posts and on Christy Riopel's site as well and we will pick a winner later next week!!

Question #3:  Which of the CHA products above (or in the video) are you most excited about?

YES CHA here we come!!!!!!!

YES!! YES!!  YES!!

For all those asking, YES I am again heading to CHA in LA this weekend for the biggest, best, blingiest craft show ever along with my partner in crime Christy Riopel!!!!

And YES we will be partying and playing with the Canadian Scrapbooker Magazine Team!! We even rented a bus to tour LA with many of the other Canadians that will be there... can't imagine that there will be ANY trouble that follows us on that adventure!!!  

And YES I am on the hunt for my Top Picks from CHA 2012 so if you see something online you would like me to check out (like this new Bo Bunny line!!), leave a comment and I'll try to go see, touch, smell, and photograph it for you (I draw the line at licking... usually!!)

And YES I am also on the hunt for Splendiferous Sponsors for our Crop and Cruise HAWAII event in November this year!!!  I can't wait to take a closer look at this line called "Tropical Travelogue" from Graphic 45!!!

So the only CHA thing I am not a clear YES on is if I should try again to interview Tim Holtz!!  If you don't know what happened last time, you can go HERE to read about it!!!

And YES we are planning another super fun GIVEAWAY event from CHA where all you need to do is comment, answer questions and participate on our blogs from the comfort of your home!!  More details will follow, but we may as well get started even though we don't fly out until Saturday!!  So... 

Question #1:  Should I attempt another Tim Holtz interview?  Why or why not?

TV Segment: Top Christmas Gifts for Crafters!!

Watch Breakfast Television Thursday, Dec. 8 at 8:10am for my 

Top Christmas Crafts and Gifts 

for the crafter in your life!!! 

#1 Stocking Stuffers (under $20)

My daughter Lindsey made these cute little snowman candy bars one night while I was out!!  What a great little gift for teachers, friends, neighbours, etc.!!

Click HERE for instructions on the Snowman Candy Bars!

I love anything and everything glittery at Christmas so I made this beautiful snowflake ornament with some assorted bits and pieces (felt snowflake from Michaels, trinket from Bo Bunny, bling from an old candle holder and Craft and Glitz has recently come out with a NEW CHUNKY GLITTER)!!!  

Click HERE for more information on Craft and Glitz Glitter!

Give the gift that keeps giving all year... a subscription to Canada's BEST scrapbooking magazine!!!!

Click HERE for information on Canadian Scrapbooker Magazine!

#2 Projects, Kits & Classes (under $50)

MondayNightClass.ca has come out with a fantastic idea book called "Perfect Page Patterns" based on their fantastic kits!!  Just imagine receiving a MondayNightClass.ca Kit along with this idea book!!

Be sure to visit your local scrapbooking stores to find the above and below Bo Bunny, TwiddleyBitz and Tim Holtz goodies as well as great CLASSES (like a Canvas Class on Dec. 12 at Scrapbooker's Paradise) you can take yourself or give for Christmas!!

Scrapbooker's Paradise

Macleod Plaza

#20 - 9250 Macleod Trail S Calgary

Crowfoot Crossing

#45 Crowfoot Terrace NW Calgary

Scrapbookers Bliss

Lincoln Park Centre

#22 - 14 Richard Way SW Calgary

#3 Upcoming EVENTS!!!

Studies show that the joy from an "experience" lasts longer than a tangible gift so why not give an event to someone this Christmas!!  Click on the image to learn more about each of these amazing events!!

BTW... I'm teaching two different Photography Classes at the Cropaganza event in Red Deer and you can sign up for just the classes without attending the entire event!!  Give the gift of a Photography Class this Christmas :)

Hopefully this gives you some great ideas for your own wishlist this Christmas as well as ideas for the other crafters in your life :)

BIG NEWS!!! Featured Instructors Announced

We are so very pleased to announce:

Joining Allison Orthner 

as Featured Instructors on Crop and Cruise HAWAII in Nov. 2012 are:

Jill Hildebrand

and

Christy Riopel

 We are stoked to have these past Crop and Cruise instructors back on board with us by popular demand!!!!  Not only are they ridiculously talented (you will learn TONS and TONS of the industry's best TIPS and TRICKS just hanging with them and taking their classes), but they are also more fun than we can even put into words!!!  And if a picture's worth a thousand words, check these out from the last time the three of us were together to get an inkling of what's in store in Hawaii:

And as a special bonus, we will also teach you the top ways to wear Hawaiian leis...

The "Roman"

The "Bam Bam"

and the "Scrunchie"!!!

Watch HERE over the next week as we introduce each of these ladies a little better... we promise that their passion for crafting, photography and sharing their heart and soul with you will be inspiring!!!  We invite you to join us on this ultimate adventure!!

You had us at Aloha!!!

My First Commercial (with bloopers!!)

ALOHA!!!!!!!

Crop and Cruise HAWAII

in November 2012 is getting SUPER exciting!!!  We already have just under 40 people from all across Canada planning to come and it is going to be a seriously HOT TROPICAL PARTY!!!

And guess who our 

FEATURED INSTRUCTORS

are going to be????

If you don't already know, I'll give you a hint (if you already know... shhhhh just for awhile to let some others have fun guessing :)   

All I can say is this next Crop and Cruise I get to plark (AKA "Work and Play, but more play than work") with my dream team in Hawaii!!!  These ladies are not only seriously talented, artistic and  internationally experienced teachers, but splendiferously FUN to hang with as well!!!!

And we would love it if you joined us!!!!

You had me at Aloha!!!

It's turning into a PARTY!!!!

It's still over a year away and we already have 30 people registered to come with us to Hawaii in November 2012 on our next Crop and Cruise scrapbooking and photography event!!!

IF you are thinking of joining us, we strongly recommend that you register sooner than later as space in portions of the event are limited (and certain rooms/cabins fill up quickly like triple and quad occupancy). 

 Also, the sooner you register, the greater chance of being able to take advantage of PROMOTIONS that come along (like right now you can get up to $250 in cabin credits, but only until the end of October!!)

You had me at Aloha!!!!

Now to completely switch directions...

Be sure to watch Breakfast Television on Thursday, Oct. 27 at 7:50am for a fun Halloween crafting segment with my good friends Christine Collier and Christy Riopel!!  We are gathering some super fun ideas... I've caved and joined Pinterest and WOW!!!  I can totally see how addicting it can/will be, but it is a huge resource for ideas like these super cute and easy candles and check this out... 

What a great arrangment with some BLING!!!!  Just click on the picture to go to the websites for instructions!!

And be sure to watch on Thursday for more fun ideas!!!

You had me at Aloha!!!

I know it's still summer time, but I'm dreaming about Crop and Cruise Hawaii in the winter of 2012!!!!

I just met with Corlann, our travel agent from KeyWorld Travel and we spent several hours working out a ton of hot tropical ideas for this event!!!  

Remember that there are TWO parts... a land event which will take place at a beautiful resort in Oauhu right along the beach...

And the following week will be an island-hopping cruise visiting 4 different Hawaiin islands and 5 beautiful beaches!!!!

Because we are going to be at port a fair bit on this cruise (almost 100 hours!), we are making sure that our crop room has HUGE windows to enjoy the view while on board :)

Can't you just imagine crafting in that room with friends and some of Canada's TOP instructors!!!

Be sure to watch the Crop and Cruise website over the next few weeks for more and more information!!!  Remember, you can take part in the LAND only or the CRUISE only or BOTH!!!!  It's up to you :)

Start saving and planning NOW to join us!!!!

Bring in the Clowns!!!

Sometimes I'm so caught up in the scrapbooking industry that I forget there are other passions and interests out there!!!  So recently I was invited to photograph a CLOWN CONVENTION!!!!  How fun is that???!!!!!  Did you know that this industry is also alive and well and growing and colourful and also full of "clown celebrities"???!!!  

Even several kids are involved!!!  What a great way to make a little extra cash on the side growing up!!

And anyone recognize this cute face???  It's Corlann, our friendly Crop and Cruise travel agent!!!  She has all sorts of hidden talents!!!!

And these are her parents!!!  It "runs" in the family!!!  How cute are they???!!!!

Anyways, just thought I'd share some fun and colourful photos heading into this weekend!!  It's about time we had some colour in our world of rain this summer :)  

And I've got some super exciting news I'm not quite yet ready to reveal, but it has put a huge smile on my face the past couple months (and no I'm not talking about Crop and Cruise in Hawaii... although THAT IS exciting as well)... it is part of my "getting back to what I love" in life :)