polka dot chicks

THANKFUL

We are so appreciative of all the friends we have met because of scrapbooking.  There have been so many of you that have touched our lives, and certainly made them better.  We are grateful that our family puts up with our crazy creations, kitting and over-loaded kitchen tables that often aren't big enough to eat on.  We are thankful for our good health, jobs, great kids and hot hubbies!  :)

THANKS to each of you for supporting us and allowing us to share our creations and thoughts.  You are the best.  Hopefully you too will be enjoying your Thanksgiving with close friends and family.  And once everyone has been fed, the dishes done, conversation has ended and you are feeling antzy...head over to Scrapbooks Etc between 6 and 9 pm on Thanskgiving to start your holiday shopping early...20% off your entire purchase, 25% off one items, lots of goodies to eat, lots of ideas displayed and you can even get a photo with the jolly ole' guy himself...NO...NOT Mr Bazzill, Santa Claus! 

Santa's Elves are pooped...

but each of us made it through class.  A BIG shout out to everyone who joined Amy and I for the annual workshop.  Each of you made the class a lot of fun.  :)  It is always so nice seeing friends and making new ones.  THANKS to those of you who joined us.  And to Judith; April; Dana; and Karen &  her two buddies who couldn't be in class with us,  who took a chance on us crazy girls.  One of Karen's friends just had a hysterectomy and that is why she wasn't in class...she was cute though, she was talking to Karen by cell phone after class was over and she had been released from the hospital this afternoon and was ready for Karen to drop off her kit so she could get started on her projects.  :)  A fellow addict and we love her!  April, thanks for sharing the chocolate to keep us all motivated!  That was "sweet" of you and everyone benefited from your kindness.

And we must give a shout out to our friend, Arlene R who got a cute n sassy hair cut that really is aDorable.  You looked gReat chick.  :)

Chris C, bless you...you were TONS of help and your teaching experience is evident.  :)

Here's hoping that you all had as much fun as we did.  Each one of you are the reason we do what we do.

Gosh, I wish Ms. Claus  lived here to run my bath water and bring me an ice cold diet pepsi while I am soaking away in the tub.  Guess I will have to fend for myself.

Love and good cheer chicks,

Kelli

:)

{UPDATED}The elves are busy...

preparing for Santa's Workshop which is less than 2 weeks away!  YIKES, November 14th from 10:30-4:30 we will be helping you prepare for the upcoming holiday.  We will be busy-busy creating: 12 cards; 6 gift tags; an adorable wall hanging; a fabric covered bulletin board (fabrics will vary) complete with a pocket and push pins; a treat from the kitchen; mini framed quotes; and an easy centerpiece.  This year's gifts will be easier than ever to recreate at home.  There are only 10   8 7  5 2 spots left(as of 11/3 /09) (MAKE THAT 11/9/09), so if you were waiting to use your November coupon...November is here! 

Here is a sneak peek at the fabric bulletin board.  We have selected several fabric color combos, so there is lots of variety!

I had to photograph the board outside since my flash is broken...so no, I don't keep this outside {giggle}.

Love this new fabric that we now carry at Scrapbooks, Etc.  Have you seen it yet?  Bolts and bolts of "to die for" goods; oodles of patterns and books; lots of quilting tools and accessories; and thread to match in several awesome colors. 

The decorative  thumb tacks are hard to see, but there is a vintage button, a tulle flower, a blinged out Bazzill flower, a polka dotted brad, and a blinged Bazzill Chip. 

There is a pocket at the bottom to tuck in extra items to help keep them handy.  And who can't use a cute bulletin board in their home or office?  WHile it will make the perfect gift...you may just want to keep it for yourself once you create it!  Come prepared to make one in class and to buy the supplies to make another if you fall in love with em like we did!

Consider making a coordinating magnetic frame.  Great for leaving little notes, displaying photos or quotes, or just plain ole decoration.  I am taking this one to the store to advertise Jenaye's Junque. If you haven't already checked it out...head on over to http://www.jenayesjunque.blogspot.com/ and tell her that Amy and Kelli sent you!  :)

 

What will $300 buy these days?

Well...if you like crafting, scrapbooking and deals, it will buy boxes of "goodies" purged from my stash!  This go round I have tools, ribbon, trims, flowers, buttons, brads, and other "have to haves"!  The tools include: an oval Creative Memories cutter - never used (imagine that!) and a Photo Max cutter used by photographers.   Some of the supplies are in bulk and others are one-ies and two-sies.

Great for a crafting junkie or group of junkies looking to increase their stash!  Last go-round two local chicks purchased the lot and split it up between them.  Thanks T & V!  :)

If you are interested in becoming the new owner(s) of these goods, please email me at scrapy101@cox.net.  Don't delay...it went fast last time!

Kelli

A HUGE polkadotted Thanks

A HUGE polka dotted thanks to all of the chicks who attended the polka dot party yesterday. I had a great time and I hope that you all did too! It was so nice to get to see old friends and make new ones. The chicks here in South Africa are "amazing" We were able to finish 4 dbl page spreads, have 2 tea times, a lunch, plus a bonus dbl spread all in about 7 hours. That Rocks!

The donations of extra fabric, felt, thread and other sewing notions was over whelming. The ladies at The  Heartfelt Project are going to be so excited to see all of the new things they are getting. Your generosity was amazing. Thanks again for spending the time to find misc items for them to use.

I am very sad to leave this wonderful country tomorrow but was touched by all that I have met. Thank you for making my trip to South Africa such a special one. I keep saying it was a trip of a lifetime. I just have been blessed to be able to now have 4 trips of a lifetime and hope to continue to have more.

Much love-Amy

I made it!

Well Chickies, I made it to South Africa...12 hours, a different airline and a nights stay in Houston later I made it.  It is a pretty long story but I will try and give you a brief recap.

We took off from Houston heading for Paris...all was well. About an hour into the flight the captain comes on the intercom and says ( in french first) that he has discovered a leak and we are loosing hydraulic fluid. So we are going to have to fly around for about an hour dumping fuel so that we can land back in Houston.  So we land with a grand entrance and waiting for us is ambulances, fire trucks, police officers and rescue workers. A bit unnerving. But it was fine they taxied to the terminal and said that they were going to start working on the plane and if it took longer than an hour we would de-board and have to figure out other flights. Its ok, were we safe on the ground and really how bad could it be.

6hours later they finally realized that they couldn't fix it and let us off the plane. So all 350 of us then went and got our luggage and stood in line to try and have the airline figure out new flights for us. I really am not mad or bitter about it at all I just kinda looked at it as an adventure. 4 hours later I was able to get a hotel voucher and went to the Hilton. Finally hitting my pillow at 3:00am

The next day I got up and took the shuttle to the airport and was expecting to wait til later in the evening to catch a flight. They were able to get me on a flight in 30mins. So even with all of that adventure I was only delayed landing in Jo-Burg by 12 hours. Crazy hu!  Lots of people were mad, mad, mad...I just figured I would rather be sitting in the airport then being on the 10 o'clock news.

I am super excited about teaching this Saturday. I have enjoyed "chilaxing" and not being too rushed to get everything done.

I know I came here to teach but I ended up falling in love...

This beautiful, remarkable, happy miracle is Naomi Cousins. The daughter of Lara and Dave. After years of trying and being born 7 weeks early, she is AMAZING. I am in love!

I will try and post more after the event. I will also play fashion photographer again before I leave.

Bye for now from the other side of the world.

Totty

Where's Amy?

Kinda like "where's Waldo" only I don't have any photos for you to look at.  Why you ask?  Because Amy is out of the country in South Africa visiting Lara, who many of you know and adore! 

I would like to have you chicks post a little comment and encourage Amy to BLOG about her adventures.  She only left last Thursday, but let her know you want to hear what she is up to and about all the fun she is having. 

A quick thanks to all you chicks that joined me on Saturday for the SPOOK Tacular workshop.  I had a blast and hope you did as well.  It really put me in the Halloween spirit. 

Have a great week,

Kelli :) 

SPOOKY! {updated}

OK...I must admit I am a Halloween Addict.  I LOVE anything Halloween and it has always been a favorite holiday of mine.  I think I like it because it is the one time a kid can be whatever they want!  No matter if they are rich, poor, or in between...they can be a fairy princess or a pirate...whatever they dream of!  And the reward for their efforts is the same...goodies and treats!  :)

Last weekend Amy and I taught at the Scrappin Sampler at our local hangout...Scrapbooks, Etc.  I promised to put the print work on here for you to down load and our friend Arlene reminded me tonite that I hadn't done that yet...so here it is.

Download Eek! tags

 

 

 

 

I made these simple treat packets by taking a 12X12 sheet of BAZZILL cardstock and cutting into a 6X12 strip.  I then scored at 1.5", 7" and 7.5".  I found some cute Halloween printed paper and cut it into 3X6 strips and matted them on a 3.25X6 strip of coordinating BAZZILL cardstock and adhered the finished piece about .25" above the 7.5" score to create an oversized match book.  I put two holes about 2" from the outter edges through the 1.5" scored flap and the cardstock under it (when it was folded down), and tied ribbon through it to hold it in place.  I tied additional ribbon onto theat piece.  After adhering 3 little chocolate treats on the inside with my favorite PURPLE TURTLE tape (from South Africa), I slipped the bottom edge under the flap to close it.  Cut the little EEK! tags on the gray "cut line" and adhere to the bottom right corner.

 

Since you have the pdf to print these little "eek!" tags you can print them on whatever color of cardstock (or printed paper) you choose to help customize your little trick or treat offering.

If you are looking for a little Halloween decoration for home or work, consider joining me Saturday, October 3rd from 1-4 for SPOOKTACULAR.  We will take some fab Pink Paislee Halloween paper, Bazzill cardstock, Fancy Pants striped Halloween ribbon, and some vintage trinkets including glass head corsage pins, flower bundles, ribbon, trims and purple pom poms. 

In  this workshop we will be using good old walnut ink crystals and Tim Holtz alcohol inks to dye vintage ribbon, rick rack and trims; glitterize a vintage medallion; use embossing ink around a painted little wooden rectangle to turn it into a cute No. 13 tag; and create a few other little unique embellishments to create this "spooky" decoration.  The squares are 6X6, which when completed makes a nice sized banner. 

The decorated panels are placed on 2 pieces of chipboard for durability.

The workshop is $28 and you will leave with a completed SPOOKTACULAR Halloween banner to show off to all the "gouhls" you know.  {giggle}

You can call the store at 480.854.2303 to sign up for SPOOKTACULAR or to order a kit.  Feel free to email me with any questions at scrapy101@cox.net.

South Africa here I come!

In 2 weeks from today I will be boarding an airplane to fly to Jo-burg South Africa. I am so excited to be going again to South Africa to teach at an amazing event. I look forward to meeting new chicks and getting to visit with old friends.  I am super busy trying to get everything finished before I go.  I am sadly traveling solo this time but know that all of the chicks here will take good care of Kelli while I am gone. Make sure that her real job doesn't keep her too busy, ok!  I am going to try and post some sneak peeks of the projects this weekend so check back!

A huge THANKS to all you CE chicks

Now that we are home, semi-recovered and already working on the next big thing, we wanted to give a big shout out to all you CE Chickie's out there.

The bus tours were a blast (even the ones without AIR! ) You can now all say that you survived an AZ summer. Wednesdays high was 110 degrees, and thats hot for even us natives. It was so much fun to meet new chicks and see old friends. We look forward to getting to see you again next year, or maybe sooner.  The next time you are in the great state of AZ let us know, we would love to catch up with any of you! Also don't forget to check out Scrapbooks Etc. website next time you are in the valley. Maybe you could take class while you are here.  www.scrapbooks-etc.com

Kelli and I are busy getting ready for the next Lickety Slip class. The color scheme is killer....bazzill colors parakeet, lava, lagoon, blue grass and desert sun. The  pattern papers we are using is the Early Bird line from Cosmo Cricket. I tried to insert some images from there website but, I am computer-dumb. Try this www.cosmocricket.com and go to Early Bird. We aren't  using the kitchen theme of the paper, just the killer color combo.

If we get some pannels done in the next couple of days we will post some so you can see.

Gotta get to work...no rest.

Have a polksdotted day!