Archives for March 2014

Jackson 2014 Girlfriend Craft Getaway Recap Part 2

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I love my room. I get the same room every year. It has a beautiful bed, sitting area, fireplace and lets not forget my pretty bathroom. Each night I read before going to sleep and this time I began reading Cinder by Marissa Meyer.

bedtimeI took a few selfies (yes..guilty as charged) before heading out of my room each day.

selfieinmyroomI also took them so that Leao could see me while I was away when he checked the photo stream. So see, I’m not that vane!

morningdesksThis is the look at one of the areas in the morning before everyone was up and about. I loved having all the windows wrap around us while we are working on our crafts. It’s truly a beautiful experience.

firstnightprojectI decided that I was going to move a little out of my comfort zone and try something new. I have had these mini canvases for way too long and I decided to give it a try. I prepped them with Gesso and let them sit over night. I then colored up some digis I print and cut on my Silhouette and then I used ink pads to color the canvases since I managed to forget my paint. I will share a post soon with the final result.

day2meOne thing I am proud of doing is preparing card kits to work on when I arrived. I selected the papers and cut up the files using my Silhouette then put them in ziplock bags. So when I got there, I could have fun assembling them. So I cranked out a bunch of cards (I will post them soon).  I truly felt productive.

sullyThis post would be missing something if I didn’t put Sully in it. My girlfriend, Joan brings him to our crops. He has become quite the item so he spent time with each of us while we crafted. I unfortunately caught him at his friskiest, he brought his bottle of wine to visit me.

foodThe last thing I wanted to share was a few pictures of the food. Oh the food…so amazing. The breakfast each morning made me do the happy dance. The lunch provided was a yummy veggie soup with sandwiches. And the cocktail hour snacks were perfect.

We all got time to connect, catch up and laugh. A few of us sat around one day with our e-readers and shared book recommendations. Which the bookworm in me was so happy to add to my growing list of books to read.

I didn’t include pictures of the ladies this time because I didn’t clear it with them but they were all there and I feel blessed to call them my friends and to spend this extended time with them each year. Kathryn once again rocks for coordinating it, Ashley is my girlfriend in crime and I am so thankful she continues to pick me up and we ride the 3-hour journey together always stopping at the outlets on our way home. And Joan, because she sits near my table, keeps me laughing and provides much needed support when I can’t decide what to do with instructions. There were many friends and the ones not mentioned by name are no less important to me.

I hope I captured a little of the essence of this very special time. I look forward to next year’s trip.  In the meantime, I better go do some crafting!!

Have a blessed day!

Belinda

 

 

Goodies on Clearance at Michaels

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Hello! Happy Monday! I can’t believe I have been so bad about posting lately. Well I am back from a quick stop at Michael’s and was floored by the goodies on clearance.

All of Heidi Swapp products were on clearance and then when I got to the register they took additional money off. You got to love that! Had I known you know I would of swooped up more into my basket.  The colors of this collection make me think of Easter and I found some Washi tape and wood embellies by Recollections that coordinate perfectly. Even the wooden box that stores the wood embellies is a pretty Easter color.

I have been wanting this stamp set for Project Life for a while so I am so thrilled it came up on sale.  The great thing is that it comes with a coordinating die so that you can cut them out perfectly.  I just love it. Promise to share when I use it.

I am happy to be back and will be back all this week with more!

Have a blessed day!

Belinda

Jackson 2014 Girlfriend Craft Getaway Recap Part 1

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For last four years, I have an annual trip with my girlfriends up to Jackson New Hampshire to an amazing little Inn to craft and catch up with each other. I have an amazing husband who is always so supportive and makes it possible for me to be away for four days.  Last week before I left, I worked on all the prep work to ensure a smooth transition for my husband and my boys. It takes me a week to decide what projects I will work on and pack them.

dinnerI cooked several meals so that heat and serve would be an option for my husband.   I even enlisted the help of my slow-cooker to make a yummy chicken curry recipe to leave for Leao and the boys.

My girlfriend, Ashley drives up from Rhode Island and picks me up and we ride together to Jackson which can take about 3 hours.  We have fun talking and usually stop for a bathroom break and something to eat about half way there.

car2We filled her trunk and back seat once again.

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We were so proud that we were able to actually see out the back window this time. So we were thrilled with our ability to “bring less” this year!

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Even though at this time of the year, I am anxiously awaiting spring, the beautiful winter wonderland is so welcome when we go to Jackson. I love the cozy feeling I get when I look out the window and see all the snow glisten and hear the fireplace crackling behind me.  It is truly magnificent.

viewThis trip is a four-day relaxing getaway that lets up all recharge before heading home to our busy lives. I look forward to reconnecting with everyone and some that I don’t see as much lately. We laugh, we work on our craft projects, have a few cocktails and just take in all the happy energy.

Over the next few days I will be breaking from my regular blog posts, and share more from this experience as well as some of the many projects I was able to complete. I hope you all are well and look forward to reconnecting with you.

Have a blessed day!

Belinda

My March Project Life kit from Cocoa Daisy arrived!

marchmonthlyPLkit1I have been a subscriber to Cocoa Daisy’s monthly kit club for years now and I decided that I haven’t been doing much traditional scrapbooking as of late so I switched to their monthly Project Life Kits.  My March kit arrived this week. It is the third PL kit I have received from them.  One thing, I have noticed is that the new owner has been really trying to keep it fresh.  She surprised us this month with this cool bag that the items arrived in. The bag says, “Live a COLORFUL life”.  All of the kit supplies fit inside the bag.

marchmonthlyPLkit6After I use the supplies, I will have a cute little bag. I am really feeling the blues and green colors in this kit.  Even the stamp is blue.

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It came with all sorts of cute PL cards, stickers and wooden embellies.

marchmonthlyPLkit3I can’t wait to use these colored vellum in my PL album!

marchmonthlyPLkit5These flag paper clips are so cute. I am going to be working on my PL album this weekend on my getaway and will definitely find a use for these cuties. I have a tendency to love the paperclips I get and that hoarder in me keeps them. But I am going to use these.

marchmonthlyPLkit4This cute Catch Phrase stamp is so cute. I have to make sure I ink it up and put it to good use in my album. I will be sure to share pictures when I use this stamp.

I have to say that so far I have enjoyed the PL Kits.  I will share next month’s when it arrives too.

I leave tomorrow for my Craft Escape so I might not post again until next week.

Happy crafting my friends!

Belinda

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