Packing for a Scrappin' good time

Well, this week has kind of gone in a blur. And not a good blur, but a gross flu-induced blur. Let's just say it's been a rough week, health-wise. Nothing kills my creative urges like a fever that is 100+ degrees. Well, that and having a messy scrap desk.

But I'm feeling better now (thank goodness for the healing power of gingerbread lattes), and tomorrow I head out for an all day blitz of scrapbooking-related fun.

What I mean by this is that tomorrow is the first full day of the Creating Keepsakes Convention here in Seattle. This will be my third year attending. I love that I can go shopping, meet with friends and take classes in an environment totally dedicated to my favorite hobby.

The first year I went I was all about doing everything. I wanted to be overwhelmed, consumed by the experience. I took three classes, shopped for two days and went to several events with friends. I had a total blast, and learned a lot as well.

The second year I was a bit more reserved. I didn't take any classes and only went shopping on one day. I still went to a fantastic crop at the LSS with friends. Good times.

This year I'm taking one class by Technique Tuesday (it's got Ali Edwards stamps, how could I not?) and planning to meander around the vendor fair for a bit. The plan this year is to take it easy.

I'm looking forward to this weekend a little bit like a kid looks forward to Christmas Eve... except I get to be my own Santa. I'm really looking forward to the Tattered Angels and Basic Grey booths. I promise to come back and blog with a full recap. ;)

Anyway, I thought I would blog about what I take to these kinds of things. I'm pretty proud of myself for streamlining my process and supplies to work for me.

My first year I took waaaaay too much stuff. I nearly killed myself dragging it around all day. The second year I didn't pack a big enough bag to carry my purchases (it didn't fit my 12x12 paper) so I had to rely on a cheap plastic bag from a vendor that ended up breaking (and wasn't rain proof). Between those experiences and the crops I've attended over the years, I think I've got a good formula now for these kinds of events.

Essential #1: Crop Bag

I picked up this little messenger style scrap tote from JoAnns on clearance a while back.

I like it because it is lightweight, has good partitioning and is the perfect size for my basic crop kit, one or two projects and it still leaves room for a few purchases. It also is small enough that if I have to squish it under the table for a class, I will still have a little leg room. :)

Right now I have my essentials tucked into the top clear pocket: my corner chomper, my favorite TimHoltz scissors, a glue stick, Distress inks in Walnut Stain and Black Soot, my black archival ink, a pen, my .5 inch hole punch, a steel ruler and one border punch (Fiskars Apron lace--yes, I'm obsessed).

The class I am attending is by Technique Tuesday, so I don't need to worry about bringing any other stamps or a clear acrylic block.

In the first body pocket (the big one) I have my portable Fiskars 12 inch paper trimmer (with a fresh blade) and a ziplock bag with a few photos and paper scraps to play with.

And that's it. It's really all I need for this kind of event. I don't think it's realistic to expect to get a ton of actual crafting done during these kinds of events...because for me, it's more about the experience... the social interaction and the educational aspect. And of course, the shopping.

Now, I did also pack some empty 12x12 plastic envelopes and a big ziplock bag just in case I need to contain anything (and guard from potential rain damage).

You should always leave room in your crop bag, just in case.

Essential #2: "Purse"

Now it may surprise you to know that my primary workweek bag is not in fact a purse, it is a small backpack that I picked up from REI a few years back (practical considering my commute on public transportation). This thing is a workhorse (it was my main bag on the Europe trip) and I really love it. It has all kinds of well-placed pockets and it can convert into a sling bag and holds an amazing amount of stuff.

Anyway.. In this bag goes my notebook with extra pens, my Ipod (freshly charged and updated with my playlists), coupons and class confirmation print outs, the lastest CK magazine, my checkbook, The Rebel and a sack lunch (made the night before). I tuck a small umbrella in the waterbottle pocket and I'm good to go.

One other thing that I like to mention is that I have written in the notebook a list of all the colors of distress ink and glimmer mist, etc. that I currently have. This ensures that I don't buy duplicates at the convention (unless it's a really good deal, of course). There was a moment in that first year where I was just could not remember what colors I had (because there are a ton in the line) and in that wondering if I really already owned Peeled Paint already... so after that I wrote down the ones I had so that I would be prepared for next time.

I also have a list of things that I am really looking to buy, and I try to stick to the list (and my budget).

Essential #3: Lightweight jacket with pockets

This time of year a coat is essential to wear, but it gets pretty hot at these events and I hate checking my coat. So I take a lovely trench coat that is lightweight enough to either wear indoors or if necessary, stuff into either of my bags. In the pockets will go cell phone, wallet, chapstick and keys.

Add a comfy (yet stylish) outfit including very practical shoes and I am good to go.

Well, it looks like my camera batteries are all charged so all that is left to do is get some good sleep.

If you are local or in town, maybe we could meet up for a coffee? Email me. :)

Have a great night and sweet dreams of craftiness!

My December Daily Book for 2008

Even though I blogged every day last December, and took a billion photos... I still haven't gotten around to finishing my December Daily book for last holiday season.

I don't really feel bad about it. After all, I finished my Christmas 2007 minibook last November.

But Ali has started posting peeks for her 2009 book, so it really got me thinking about the holidays. I know that Halloween is tomorrow, but we crafters often have to think ahead seasonally. ;)

Even though I had an absolute blast making the book, I realized I never posted the details on the blog. The book itself has been sitting in my box of unfinished projects (yes, I have enough that I need a whole box.) I finally uploaded all the photos to Flickr (there are nearly 60 of them). Here is a little slideshow.

Make up a hot cocoa and enjoy.

Really looking forward to this year's book too. I plan on doing something totally different. ;)

Happy Friday!

The numbers.

Between the full time job, minutes of very precious leisure time, and the demands of a relationship, friends and all the other real life stuff that needs to get done, I don't have an unlimited amount of time available for crafting.

And in case you were wondering why this blog has been so bereft of craftiness lately, it is because while I actually have made over 50 scrapbook pages in the last month... they've all been for the Bits and Pieces class. Which, I can't show on this blog..

It's progressing swimmingly, but it's kind of taking up most of my creative time lately, getting all done.

Besides photographing each page (with 2+ detail shots each), I then have to edit and write and organize... There's digital content to manage... and on and on.

I've written up 3 full tutorials (with at least 2 more to go)... written 14 step by step lessons (with another 4 or 5 yet to be released) and edited and posted over 240 photos to the class blog at this point, with another 75-100 to finish editing and to post before the end of class. (Which you can still sign up for, if you want.)

I think it's a pretty darn cool project. But you know, it's only for my peeps in the class.

I still love you though, my regular bloggy readers. November will be a great month for this blog. (think ornament tutorials, sparklies, and felty goodness).

Just thought I would let you know.

Happy Tuesday.

SteamCon: A SteamPunk Convention

This weekend Greg and I went to SteamCon. What is SteamCon? Why, I'm delighted you asked.

It is a convention (the first in Seattle) that celebrates the subculture of SteamPunk. Now, per Wikipedia, SteamPunk is: "a sub-genre of fantasy and speculative fiction that came into prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s. The term denotes works set in an era or world where steam power is still widely used—usually the 19th century, and often Victorian era England—but with prominent elements of either science fiction or fantasy, such as fictional technological inventions like those found in the works of H. G. Wells and Jules Verne, or real technological developments like the computer occurring at an earlier date. Other examples of steampunk contain alternate history-style presentations of "the path not taken" of such technology as dirigibles, analog computers, or digital mechanical computers (such as Charles Babbage's Analytical engine); these frequently are presented in an idealized light, or with a presumption of functionality.

Steampunk is often associated with cyberpunk and shares a similar fanbase and theme of rebellion, but developed as a separate movement (though both have considerable influence on each other). Apart from time period and level of technological development, the main difference between cyberpunk and steampunk is that steampunk settings usually tend to be less obviously dystopian than cyberpunk, or lack dystopian elements entirely."

This is the first (non-scrapbooking) convention I have ever attended, so it was really an interesting experience.

Basically, Greg and I dressed up in Neo-Victorian clothing and went to hang out with a bunch of other people wearing some pretty great costumes and get our SteamPunk party on. There was music and dancing, vendors and fantastic art. Tons of really fun lectures and old movies and gaming and really great people.

I have decided that my costume for next year is going to be less "Victorian Lady" and more "Airship Pirate." Greg is going to stick with the Victorian theme... but do some cool prosthesis stuff to his arm, mostly involving pistons and the like.

I picked up a pair of goggles at the Girl Genius booth. I LOVE them. And now, I want to wear them all the time. Thank goodness Halloween is this week so I can get away with wearing them to work!

Overall, a great time was had by all. This year, we only went for one day, as kind of a scouting exhibition to make sure it wouldn't be lame. And it really wasn't. It was fun, and interesting, and we learned quite a bit. Next year we are probably going to go for multiple days, and maybe even get a room at the place (apparently the after-parties were crazy fun).

Hope you had a great weekend. Did you do anything fun or out of the ordinary?

Status Report

Fall is truly here. This means tons of rain and nice walks in the woods.

Working really really hard to get things wrapped up for the class. Having challenges getting things photographed due to the rain, but I'm making it work. My students seem happy, at any rate.

Got the new Dead by Sunrise album. Currently on my first listen through. Not every song is awesome, but there are enough that I am glad to have gotten it.

Current craft obsessions are glittered objects and Martha Stewart Crafts punches.

On the subject of glitter, while I have recently become very attracted to its shiny and sparkly properties, I am not a fan of loose glitter, as I don't like to have little flecks of shiny stuff everywhere.

The solution I've recently discovered is glittered embossing powder, American Crafts glitter paper, and stickles. Working on a few ideas to share later. It's going to be a sparkly holiday, is all I'm saying. ;)

Label Tulip is sponsoring a challenge blog called Dotty Divas and I was lucky enough to get to play along with them! You can check the challenge out here. If you make something inspired by the challenge, you can win a Label Tulip kit. Good stuff.

Here was my take on the challenge.

I love what the gals on their DT made. I think it's funny that I'm the only one who didn't use the word on the ad "love." I guess I was more inspired by the idea of the letters floating on the page than the concept of love. Hehe.

I am slowly working up to dealing with my "fear of flowers." I made up a really neat embellishment tutorial using buttons and punched pieces of paper for my class. Here is the end result:

I also used some of the samples I made on my "happy" layout (which uses another technique taught in the class, btw.)

You might be seeing these on more of my pages in the future. Lol.

And that's the haps for now. Working on a halloween post for this blog. :)

Hope all is well with you.