Challenge #4 It's a little FRUITY & A Challenge Winner

This is the CURRENT CHALLENGE it ends Sept. 24. this post will stay on top of my site. SCROLL DOWN TO SEE RECENT POST~

This challenge will run from September 10-September 24 

Use Apples, Strawberries, or Peaches some where on your layout.  Remember to create a double page layout,   I know some of you are having problems taking a photo of a double page layout, don't worry about the photo, we will go to your site to see all of your other photos. 

Challenge #3 Winner Using Burlap, Canvas or Material is
Beth aka BR-T  We all loved the way she used the blue jean pocket on her layout.  Thanks for adding your layout, hope you join us again soon.  Please email me your address so I can get you the scrapbook stash you won.  I will also send you a badge to add to your blog. 

This is what Challenge # 4 winner will receive~ A sizzix mini embossing folder, 4 maya road game pieces, 2 mini word tags, 3 small cut out birds, a set of felt clips, a pack of paper whimsies, 10 green scallop sparkers, 2 acrylic stamp sets from CTMH, and a pad of 6x6 designer paper w/ brads. 

Craft Store Classrooms: The Good, The Bad and The Fab :)

by Kim Congdon (Scrap It Girl)

Do you use the classroom at local craft store?  Do you love the space or do you wish they would make a few changes?
Classrooms in craft stores are becoming more and more popular. Not everyone has a craft space in their home, so we look for places to go. Of course going to a crop or taking a class is better when you bring a friend or two :)
Let's take a peak inside a few classrooms. I went to 5 stores in my local area and here is what I found.

This classroom was a great size and had plenty of space. 

 
This classroom is dark, dingy, and isn't very inviting.


Beautiful & Huge. I love the hardwood floors, comfy chairs, and I like the layout of the tables.  This classroom has windows that look into the store.  You can easily get around this room and you can spread out.
 

This classroom is big but it was full of clutter. Too much product, displays, and tools.  It was hard to feel comfortable in this room. There wasn't enough space to walk around, I felt stuck.

   
Here is a brand new classroom at a Michael's Craft Store. The room is bright, cheerful, and inviting.  However the room was small and the tables are narrow.  I do love the sink, the use of their tools, and the display of ideas.
I currently work in a classroom that needs an update, and I'm excited to be tacking their classroom update for them this fall! While the classroom itself isn't the only consideration for me when planning to attend an event, it's certainly important!
10 Things I Consider When Attending A Class

1. size of classroom
2. table space
3. products on sale
4. cost of crop/class
5. location
6. lighting
7. food/drink
8. prizes/drawings
9. hours of crop
10. clean & inviting space  

This is the article I wrote as the Junior Editor for PaperCrafter's Corner.  I forgot to post it here for those of you who don't follow PaperCrafter's Corner.  To view that article and post pictures of your favorite store classrooms click  My PaperCrafter's Corner Article

Crate Paper Layout, New Website, & Scrap Challenge Updates~

Here is another Layout to be kitted and sold at Hannah's Scrapbooking Headquarters. 
Products used:  The Neighborhood Collection by Crate Paper

My new website is almost done and I am SO happy to be moving over to Word press.. WOW what a difference.  Had I known about it before I would never of came over to blogger.  At CHA this year I took some business seminars and each seminar I went to discussed how Word press is the place to be and what the advantages are to being on word press.  You can use word press for FREE although I can say I am not going the free route... I have been putting some money into the new site but it's worth it.    You will notice this site is looking a little empty.. I am slowly deleting pages and info as I am moving to my new site.. I hope you will follow me once I move, I promise to have some wonderful drawings on my new site.  I hope to have it done soon!

Don't forget about my new Saturday Scrapbook Challenges.. I have a new challenge every 2 weeks and right now the challenge is for a 12x12 layout using a tag or ticket.. scroll down below to add your link and layout. 

Out with the old, in with the older~

I made a few more changes to my craft space last week.  I had this beautiful oak writing desk in my personal craft-room.  The problem was,  that I couldn't ink, stamp, paint, or do any thing messing on it.  I was so worried about ruining the desk, so I decided to trade it in~    I just started doing business with a new friend of mine and we did some swapping of some money and other furniture and this is what I ended up getting. 


My New-Old Primitive Desk, the drawer inside the desk is huge.
Now I can ink, stamp, paint, whatever & I don't care~



Well you can't get a new desk and then not get a new chair.



My new-old chair is perfect.. I love the high back & that it is black. 
The seat is perfect.  I love espresso & I love burlap~



Well you can't get a new desk & chair without adding
an accessory that will look great next to it.  My new-old
Primitive Cabinet.. perfect for some of my Tim Holtz products.  I wish everything
would fit in one place.  But at least it's unique.

Check out my craft space page for some more photos.  I added a new door and window to my decor
and a few more accessories.  I plan to rearrange my classroom this week.  Don't forget about the scrapbooking challenge, it ends on Saturday.   Thanks for looking at my new old finds~

Scrap It Girl's Saturday Scrap Challenge #1

Please feel free to tell your Scrap Friends about my new challenge. There will be a new challenge every 2 weeks. Besure you link your layout back to my challenge.
Thank You & Let's Have Fun~

Melissa Frances Altered Art Block



Melissa Frances & Me @ 2011 CHA
I am a huge fan of her.... I love love love her products & Style~



Top of my Block





My Niece Taya





Products used:  3 1/2 x 3 1/2 Wood Block

Tim Holtz Foundations & Ranger Glossy Accents

Melissa Frances Products:  Vintage Attic Treasures & Childhood Ephemera kit,  5th Avenue Chipboard, pom pom ribbon,

5th Avenue 6x6 paper, pearls, buttons.  2 Anna Griffin decorative white brads, a misc. key & door handle.  EK Success Butterfly punch, Tim Holtz flowers die.

I don't usually do Challenges since most of them are card challenges or lately "anything goes" challenges which drive me crazy~  A kind friend of mine found a few challenges for me that she thought I could enter using my block so here it goes!

Challenges:

1.  Tag You're It: Bearly Mine Challenge

2.   Butterflies: Craft Room Challenge

3.  Lets 3D It: Creative Craft Challenges Top 3 Winner

4. Make Your Own Flowers: Come & Get Creative

5. All about kids: Corrosive Challenges

6. Recipe, 1 ribbon, 2 PP, 3 buttons: One Stop Craft Top 3 Winner

7. Use Numbers: Secret Crafter Challenges

8. Lets-play-tag: Sugar Creek Hollow

9. 1-2-3-its a recipe: Guylousinlimitablity  Winner

10. Precious-metal: Just For Fun

11. Butterflies: Flutterby Wednesday's

12. Alter It: pennys challenges

13. Vintage: Ruby's Rainbow

14. Relax & Enjoy: Shabby Tea Room Challenge Honorable Mention

Change is GOOD~CHA & News~

Back from CHA.. and finally getting back into work.  I will post a few photos here & there.


I needed a new photo of Tim Holtz & Me.. I was lucky to hang with him, Mario,
Claudine, Wendy, Jenni, and Nancy on my first day at CHA.

I spent most of my days in seminars, meetings, and workshops,  but I did shop too~  I placed orders with 10 manufactures and have accounts set up with over 60 companies.. it was too hard to choose which I wanted to go with so.. I decided to pick all of my favorites!   The first items to arrive will be from Canvas Corp and Buttons etc...   Don't worry I did order from Ranger & Tim Holtz as promised.  For my local crafty friends I will be setting up that long awaited shop right next to
my classroom area.   I started to shop for display items already~



Love her.. I was stalking her this time~  I can't say who it is just yet, since I have a question
on my FB page regarding this photo..  Although my crafty blogging friends will know who this is.

Just like any other business, change is good and bad.  I love change, and I think my changes will be
good ones~    I just don't like all the time and work that goes with it~  I am in the process of making some big changes to my business but it will take a while.  First change will be a new logo, yep finally got someone working on it and I am really excited to have something fresh and new.
I am also moving over to Word press and adding a store to my new site.  WOW that's a lot~ 
~New Site, New Logo, New Store & New Friends~

At CHA this year I met and finally met in person some wonderful people who I know I will be friends with forever~  Susan you are the best... I know we will remain friends, business pals, and garbage collectors~ for a long time~lol                      It's Michelob Ultra time~

This, That & CHA

Hello Crafty Friends.. I will be gone till Thursday, so I thought I would catch you up on a few things.

I am leaving in about 2 hours for CHA... today is meetings, workshops, seminars, and networking.  Tonight is The Taste of the Rosemont, which means FREE drinks and food... and more networking.  Later tonight, hanging with some friends and talking business.

Tomorrow the fun stuff begins.. CHA always officially starts on Tuesday, not sure what CHA is?  Craft and Hobby Association.  This event is closed to the public and now it's closed to even more crafters in other areas that are not considered a business, but here are a few more facts taken right from CHA.

CHA  SUMMER SHOW FACTS

• The CHA Summer Convention & Trade Show is the season’s largest professional craft and hobby show.
• Hosted at the Donald E. Stephens Convention and Conference Center in Rosemont, IL. for over 30 years
• Over 400 U.S. & International exhibitors from dozens of countries
• Over 75,000 net sq. ft. of exhibit space
• Over 5,000 attendees and more than 2,500 buyers anticipated
• Hundreds of new craft products launched
• Dozens of craft industry celebrities on hand ( Tim, Heidi, Claudine, Lisa, Lizzy, Jennifer, Teresa, just to name a few)

There are a few manufactures that dropped out of the CHA, but over 30 new companies are coming in.. I am really excited this year, since I am meeting friends there, but I am pretty much doing my own thing.  I have my itinerary ready, bags packed and I can't wait to go.  I will be posting photos on FB while I am gone and will post the photos here, hopefully Friday. 

All of my classes are cancelled this week except for the one class I am coming back for on Thursday.  All other classes will start back up on Tuesday July 26th.   

I will be working on putting up my August Schedule when I get back, I am a little behind.
Thank you to all of the new crafters I met at my craft sale, hope to see you again soon. 
Scrap It Girl, Kimberly