After the fact...

challenge: 2 pieces of MM paper, 3 buttons & a piece of MM spiral journal notepaper - create something using some of all the product - can add anything else you want... this is what was created - fantastic!

We came, we scrapped, we went home till next time! What a gorgeous bunch of women!

how many thousands of dollars worth in here do you think? 21 scrappers all in a room...

Jases Potato Mash
Aria potatoes - enough for 5 people
150g butter
375g sourcream
salt & pepper

peel & boil potatoes till cooked
drain
mash till not lumpy
add salt & pepper, butter & sour cream
mix through but don't over mix as it will go starchy.

enjoy.

Thank You
Thank you so much to all our supporters... digitalmax (cool key rings with tape measures in), Up2Scrap with a subscription prize and a special deal for retreaters to subscribe, Fiskars - great cutter & finger craft knife for prizes, papers & embellies for giveaways, Scrapbook Essentials & Scrapbook Outlet NZ Ltd.

& a huge thank you to all who came & made the weekend what it was!


There are a couple of other South Island Scrapping events on the horizon also.

A Creative Inspiration Weekend June 26th through till Sunday 29th in Queenstown where proceeds will go to charity
and a Retreat near Christchurch October 30th - November 2nd.

Prizes:
Most challenge points: Kim
Most photos scrapped: with a whopping 107 - Naomi
Most scrapping: Tanya
Up2Scrap submission call: Rachel
Super assistant - always ready to lend a hand: Julie D.
Challenge pack layout: Rachel
Crop night door prize - lucky number 13 - Therese

Layout totals:
2 cards is equal to one layout
one altered item equals 2 layouts
1 layout equals 1 layout
a double layout equals 2 layouts

All up we scrapped 275 Layouts using the above formula.

40 layouts were created for SCKC also and will be winging their way from Gore soon!

Thank you again for a fantastic weekend.

Lara & Nik

the goodies

Well... have you got yourself organised yet? I haven't! Been putting together some make & takes as well as the goodie bags & sorting out all the RAKS & prizes... there are more boxes arriving tomorrow!!!!! these are just some of the goodies in store for you at the retreat with huge thanks to Scrapbook Outlet & Scrapbook Essentials. There is something coming from digital max, a great prize from up2Scrap.. a very useful prize from scrappyware, some Queen & Co stuff from Nic H via Megan R and hopefully some fiskars products too! I think we are being spoilt! The chef is doing the ordering tonight and prepping for the weekend come Thursday - he can't join us at the retreat - he has to look after our children!
OK, I gotta stop procrastinating... not sure if there will be anymore updates till after the weekend... hope you all travel safely, remember your scissors and are prepared for relaxing, creating, pampering & being challenged!

Later.

some pampering

since Saturday while we are retreating is international womens day....apparently???!!! well it was on my diary anyway, we will be having a special dessert & crop evening with some pampering too (this may cost a little for product etc), one of our retreaters is bringing tiramisu (did I spell that right?) & we have some other yummy desserts being made too. There is to be some 'interesting' crop challenges ... but I've decided against the one where you have to scrap blindfolded & some spot prizes......So Saturday night... 7:30pm ... that's what's happening!

memories

Here's a sample of the Scrapbook Essentials sponsored Make & Take for the retreat....
I recognise some of the photos from Bannockburn :-)

This looks like fun, thanks Meg & Megan!

Fiskars

have agreed to donate some goodies for the retreat... just gotta cross fingers that it gets here in time!

are yours crossed?

home

our other make and take is all about being home (you can change the theme... but why not scrap your space)
there will be something see through to get your creative juices flowing... so get those photos of where you live ready for playtime!

Photo Prep

less than 3 weeks to go now!

can you please get some pics of where you live... maybe your special place to sit, eat, fave room, fave piece of art or decor... your favourite cup, where you feel most creative, your front door step, your mail box, your street sign, your 'main street' the corner dairy....

would love 5 -10 pics & no bigger than 4 x 6....

all will become clear in good time... watch for some sneaks....

if you don't get these it's ok, you can add later.... but would be great to take it away finished....

Lara

another supporter

Nik has just offered to donate a Scrappyware prize for the retreat!

She will also have some there for sale (I use my scrappy bag all the time).

scrapping goals RAK

yep, I've 'heard' that some of you talk - ALL THE TIME... but it would be fantastic if you all set yourselves a goal or two for the retreat weekend - preferably scrappy... it might be about using a different technique, about using some of your stash, about sticking to a spending budget, to create 2 layouts...complete a particular project... make all your birthday cards for the next 6 months... something!

leave a comment with your scrappy goal for the retreat.... RAK will be Drawn on Thursday 28th Feb (just one week before the retreat begins for some people).... so set yourself some goals and a RAK might just be waiting for you at the retreat... along with your goodie bags, make & takes, great company, tasty food.....

my goals:

• I hope to get at least 10 layouts done
• Use my left overs to make cards
• get 5 pages of my sons 5th birthday album done

guess if I aim high I might surprise myself LOL.

Lara

Day Scrappers

If you just want to join us for a day, here's what it will cost you:

Thursday evening - no day visits
All day Friday - over 2 meals (lunch & dinner) $35 + something to share for morning or afternoon tea
Friday evening (from 7 till late) $5
part day Friday (only there over one meal time) $25
All day Saturday $45 (something special...)
Saturday evening (from 7 till late) $15
Saturday over lunch (say from 10 - 4) $25
No day visits on Sunday.

there may be a few 'goodies' for day visitors but not as spectacular as what the full campers are getting (we only planned for 25 of the make & takes & goodie bags as we didn't have the space initially for more people), there will be lots of laughs, chat & maybe a little creating, but there will also be 2 Scrapbook Shops set up in rooms just off the main scrap hall.....

Lara

more goodies

some Queen & Co has been donated for the retreat!

Thanks Nic! & thanks Megan for letting me know (she got a nice parcel delivered to her place)!

here is where

we will be scrapping - there might be enough room Tanya & Mrs Frizz.... we'll see LOL & here is the inside of one of the chalets:

directions to come closer to the time of the retreat... less than 3 weeks now!

great news!

the wonderful Nik.... has secured us the main hall at Lakeland Park to scrap in... means you don't need to be so limited with what you bring!

Also.... we have managed to get some extra beds if you have a friend or someone who wanted to come who missed out or who has just decided they'd like to come along... but you need to let us know by Feb 29th lunch time at the latest! But only the initial 24 retreaters will be receiving the make & takes.

Lara

p.s. you might still scrap more productively if you don't bring 'everything'....

more Valentines...

Julie Bode
This was sent but never made it to my inbox...eaten by Mr Cyber Space! Apparently Leo loved it anyway so that's the main thing!

Have decided that a wee RAK for all those who gave the cards a go is in order so congrats to those with cards on display here!

Might have some good news to share regarding space for scrapping at the retreat... will wait till it's confirmed before announcing though... maybe later!

Lara

Valentines card Competition

I'm hoping all entries got to me.... had a few email issues lately... so sorry if it didn't get here... but there will be other chances to win stuff leading up to the retreat and or at the retreat... so don't loose hope! I'm not getting online till later in the day so thought I'd post this now rather than make you all wait.

Thanks heaps for all your inspiration in these cards... I found a card that i purchased ($6.50!!!!) for dh last week (& had to give it to him later that day cause it was so perfect)... it reads:
LOVE. "I love being married! It's so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life." rita rudner. Was made by icandy. Check out the great cards in the two posts below!

Ok, for this one (the album kindly donated by Scrapbook Outlet NZ)... Miss 7 did the old pull a name out of the bowl trick.... & the winner is....


Janine!

This album will be waiting for you at the retreat Janine.

Valentines cards set 2

Tanya

Valentines cards set 1

Bronny

Janine

Julie

Kim

challenge RAK winner

using www.random.org...

Tanya is the winner of this RAK... will be waiting for you at the retreat.

If you come up with any more challenge ideas... feel free to post them... & for you talkers... talking is cool :-)

Lara

sneaky peeps

Here is an indication of the cool make & take that Megan (yep you guessed it :-)) is preparing for Scrap Retreaters... different theme & a few different products (big thanks to Scrapbook Essentials) but way fun!

get thos 'challenge ideas' posted in the previous post to be in for the RAK & so far only have one valentines card to be in the runnig for the Making Memories 12 x 12 album... great odds of winning so far!

time to challenge

or rather for you to give me your challenge ideas - you can multi task right - think of challenges & create valentines cards....

add your challenge ideas for the retreat in a comment (what do you want to be challenged to use, create, do?) and next weekend I'll randomly pick one of the comments next Saturday evening (9th Feb) & announce who for a RAK that will be waiting for you at the retreat.

Lara

Feel the love...

Another little comp with a Making Memories 'noteworthy' album as the prize courtesy of the Scrapbook Outlet for Scrap Retreaters.

But to win this, you have to do something.... I want to see some valentines cards - not just any though, they need to be created both for someone special & especially for this comp (don't want to see them on other online galleries - but on your own blog if you have one is fine (though if your recipient will see it there maybe keep it hidden).... to share it please email it to the link up to the right there on the blog but please make it less than 100kb so my email can cope.

The winner will be randomly drawn on the morning of Wednesday 13th Feb & announced on the blog here on the 14th along with images of all your creations.

so... create a valentines card, email it to me (less than 100kb) before midnight Tuesday 12th Feb and it might just be you who has the above album waiting for you at the Retreat!

Can't wait to see what you come up with!

Lara

Up2Scrap

We have another prize for the retreat thanks to Up2Scrap!

note: I have updated the links so that we now have a part to the blog where we can link to the fantastic sites that are supporting this retreat.

Page Kits - another packing idea

Raewyn so kindly posted the following on her blog:

FOR EACH PAGE KIT
Into a large zip lock bag or page protector, add the following...
1. your photo/s (one set per page protector/bag)
2. sketch or layout design based on the number and orientation of your photos
3. cardstock &/or patterned paper (remember to include any cardstock for matting )
4. add any embellishments to the page protector/bag (eg diecuts, ribbon, alpha stickers).
5. write some journalling notes on the layout sketch (or print this out prior to crop).
Note: rather than take heavy/bulky tools to a crop like say my circle punches, I punch the cardstock circles out and add them to the page kit.
As you are making your page kits have two sheets of notepaper & a pen handy,
on one sheet jot down any tools you will need to take to the crop (eg eyelet setting tools, coluzzle templates, paper piercer, stamp sets and ink etc).
on the other sheet jot down any supplies you need to buy for your page kits (eg blue buttons, black cardstock etc).
Why do I make page kits???
I prefer to pack lightly when going to a crop (whether it be a day crop, a weekend crop or even a couple of hours cropping at a friend's place) so now all I take with me is a full tool tote, a cutting matt, my folder of page kits, my snacks and my drinks.
Remember that space can be limited in the crop area and who can be bothered making countless trips back and forth from the car to bring in half your scrap room?! LOL
Making page kits doesn't mean your layout will end up being completed quicker than if you made it from scratch at home, (as you need to take into account the time taken for the pre-planning/page kit assembly process), but with some pre-planning you will be able to travel lighter to a crop and also you will be able to cut, glue and chat without losing your concentration (hence the need for a layout sketch).

Thanks Heaps Raewyn!

I think this might be the way I pack for this retreat.

a little competition

Ok, here's a little information & a competition (only people attending the retreat are eligible)....

Have confirmed one of our 'creators' of the make & takes (we will be having two over the weekend)... the materials for which are generously given by Scrapbook Essentials and Scrapbook Outlet. There will also be some challenges..... & you just wait for the goodie bags.....

anyway back to the make & take (with the make & takes you will get the materials excepting tools & instructions to be able to do the 'thing' either at the retreat or take it home....so you can do it when you want) creator.... 'she' (clue #1) has involvement (past or present) with Up2Scrap (clue #2) and creates boy pages (clue #3). Post your 'guess' as to who this person is.... I won't be confirming 'who' till the retreat but there will be a little prize for the first person to guess correctly...

get guessing!

inspiration outlet scrap packing

Scrap Packing

The following was written for Scrapbook Outlet NZ Ltd (Inspiration Outlet) by Lara Moss.

The dilemma: going away for 2 weeks on a car trip – how can I minimise my supplies so I am allowed to take some?

Possible solutions:
a) Make up page kits
b) Get supply savvy
c) Don’t take anything (just go to scrap stores on the way…)
d) Don’t take any clothes & hide your scrap stuff in your suitcase
e) Take a break from scrapping (yeah right!)

I selected b!

Supply savvy scrapping
I have successfully used this for crop nights and on weekends away & will be doing it for our next scrap retreat too. This was adapted from a challenge I found on a blog some time last year where essentially you pick out some supplies & you only use them for your next 5 layouts – I went away for 2 weeks & created 8 layouts by using the below supplies.

Mental note: choose only the products/papers/photos that make you ‘smile’ – that way you will be sure to want to use them!
Go through your photos & grab ones you feel like scrapping – only take enough to fill one photo wallet – about 35 max.
Select 14-20 sheets of cardstock you like
Pick 20-25 sheets of patterned paper you like or want to use
Choose three different types of lettering – some chip letters, some rub-ons & some stickers for example. If you run out you have to get inventive – do your own title! Use paint in the stencils left from the chip letters….
A couple of masks or templates
A bag of ribbons (one of the snaplock ‘snack’ bags)
A couple of sheets of rub-ons
Embroidery threads
A few stamps
A handful of flowers – in a snaplock snack bag too J
A collection of brads, tags, acrylic dots/shapes, chipboard shapes etc – I took only enough to fit in a Maya Road tin that once held chipboard shapes.
Some paint colours you commonly use e.g. white, black, brown, blue & pink
Black ink cube
Brilliance black ink
Black & white journaling pen
And your tools: 12 inch cutter, scissors, paper piercer, needles, paint brush, photo splits, glue stick, tombow, double sided tape, nail file, anywhere hole punch, cutting mat.

Happy Scrapping!

© Lara Moss

email link

is now working :-)

costs

just cutting & pasting this info from one of the earlier posts....

The deposit is non-refundable unless we are able to fill your space! We will be staying in the chalets at Lakeland Park. We will start on Thursday March 6th & go through till Sunday 9th March.Total cost for the weekend will be $120 for Friday night through Sunday & $150 per person from Thursday evening through till Sunday afternoon.

Lara