Scrapbook Expo was so much fun!

Disclaimer: I love the Scrapbook Expo USA. Grab a drink and a snack...it's a long one.

There's only a few things I faithfully put my calendar...birthdays, holidays, school start and end dates...and the Scrapbook Expo USA! It's true. I have always loved going to the expo. It's just been the last couple of years that I've worked at it too. I say, if you're going to work, be sure it's something you enjoy. I definitely enjoy the Scrapbook Expo!

My favorite job at the expo is the VIP Lounge host. The VIP people (I'd say ladies, but few men join in too) pay at little extra to have their own limited seating, reserved area complete with tables, electrical outlets, free smoothies, treats and a special merchandise goodie bag. Basically my job is like hosting a big scrapbooking party for 60+ and I don't have to plan anything...just show up and be a hostess! Sooooo fun! There are some regular VIPs that come every expo. I love catching up on what they've been up to in the last 6 months and meeting all the other new VIPs.

Speaking of VIP's, look at the VIP I ran into...it's Dustin Pike! Our very own Doodle Dragon Studios Master. He's sporting the cool Doodle Dragon Studio shirt he posted on his blog. (Sorry, my phone didn't like the horrible lighting) Okay, so Dustin wasn't in the VIP Lounge, he stopped by. But he was at the expo Friday night hosting part of the Young Scrappers Club. I heard he did an amazing job. Not like I'm surprised, I knew he would. Then he was back again bright and early Saturday morning to give out free CDs loaded with Doodle Dragon Studios images to the first 50 people in line. LUCKY ladies!



Provo Craft's booth was directly in front of the VIP Lounge. It was fun to see some of my friends from when I worked at PC as Admin Kerri. I like watching the demos of the new PC products from my post. Dan showed me how Cricut Craft Room works. Being a Mac user, I'm pretty excited about this new software! And it's free!

My friend has a tradition of taking pictures of her shopping spree at the expo. In the past, I would have never admitted to how much I purchased. Usually I go a little coo coo crazy and buy everything (with multiples), but this year I was focused due to reading David Bach money management books. I already have enough scrapbook supplies I could start my own store, no joke. So I only bought what I have an idea to use immediately AND only in my style. Here are my treasures this time:



I only spent $45. Miracle! I found some great deals. The hair flowers were $1 each, WeRMemory Keepers pages $.75 each, Doodlebug Designs paper pack (25 sheets) $2 per pack, Imaginisce paper packs & stamps (25 sheets paper + 6 stamps) $1 per pack, DCWV cards & envelopes (72 set) $5, necklace and bracelet $5 each.

The one thing I almost caved in and purchased was this beautiful crafting desk. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it! The original price was $599, but it was the Deal of the Day for $399. Curse David Bach. In the past, I would have not thought twice about taking it home. Instead, I was tortured by David Bach lessons running through my head all day. Ahhh! It is my turn to buy something fun (my DH just bought new golf clubs). But I stayed strong...well, for now.



I worked, I played, I shopped, I took Photoshop classes from the The Digital Scrapbook Teacher (Patty is great), saw old friends, made new friends...once again, it was a great weekend at the Scrapbook Expo USA! Can't wait until September!

If you're in the Provo, Utah area on April 14-16, DCWV is having their warehouse sale. While you're calendaring, the next Scrapbook Expo USA in Sandy, Utah is September 9-10.

Anything But a Card DDS Easter Challenge

Today is going to be a great day! I'm finally breaking into the spring projects AND the sun is actually bright and shiny today! I would take a picture of it, but I'm sure most of you now what the sun looks like. It's been a while since the sun was out at my house. This afternoon you'll find me in my backyard relaxing, enjoying the yummy leftover Spring Oreos, and soaking up the rays. Yeah, that's a good day...

If you're trying to inspire Mother Nature to move into the next season, I suggest you play along with the Doodle Dragon Studios "Anything but a card" Easter Challenge! Create whatever you want (no cards though) and use a Doodle Dragon Studios image (of course) in your project. Be sure to post it to the DDS blog by Sunday, April 3rd. So HOP TO IT!

I'm off to get ready for this beautiful day. If you want to come over to share my Spring Oreos with me, would you mind bringing some milk too? We're almost out. Thanks!


Supplies:
Doodle Dragon Studios image
Tags, Bags & Boxes Cricut cartridge
Spellbinders Nestibilities - scallop oval & oval
Bo Bunny paper
Bo Bunny ribbon
American Crafts cardstock
Easter confetti grass
Spring Oreos
Clear plastic gift bag
Font - CK Handprint

Scrapbook USA Expo This Weekend!

If you wonder where I am this weekend, look no further than the Scrapbook USA Expo in Sandy, Utah. It's my favorite place to work and play! Don't worry...I'll be posting a project on Sunday for our new DDS Pike's Playground Challenge. Get ready!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

An Irish friendship wish for you:

May there always be work for your hands to do.
May your purse always hold a coin or two.
May the sun always shine on your windowpane;
May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain.
May the hand of a friend always be near you.
May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.

52 Doodle Dragon Studios Digis Sale...limited time!

For a limited time Dustin Pike - Doodle Dragon Studios has a 52 digi set on sale! After the sale they will be sold individually. Hurry to Dustin's DDS store to get your set today!

Here's my creation from the new 52 digi release. Remember there's still time to join the Doodle Dragon Studios Pike's Playground Spring Showers Challenge.





Supplies:
Doodle Dragon Studio image - 52 Digi Set
Colorbok patterned paper pack
American Crafts Elements- large jewel brads
American Crafts cardstock
Flowers from personal stash
Font - CK Ali's Hand Official

Guest Designer at Really Reasonable Ribbons

When Really Reasonable Ribbon asked Dustin Pike if a few of his Doodle Dragon Studios Design Team members wanted to be a guest designer for their latest "One for the Boys" challenge, I jumped at the chance! I'm always up for something fun and new!

My package arrived from Really Reasonable Ribbon and it was filled tons of wonderful ribbons. I struggled to decide on just one, so I decided to make something that would incorporate all of them. That's the Libra in me. :)

Since taggie baby blankets are all the rage, I chose to make a blanket for the cute DDS baby bunny. I want my own super size taggie blanket!




Why stop with one card? Not with all the fun ribbon Really Reasonable Ribbon had sent. So I made this Howdy banner card. You thought I'd taken the week off last week didn't you? Nope. I was creating for this challenge.

Are you up for some fun too? Go check out the "One for the Boys" challenge over on Really Reasonable Ribbon blog. The top winner will receive a $10 gift certificate to their store. A randomly drawn challenge entry will win a $5 gift certificate to Dustin's Doodle Dragon Studios store!

Thanks Really Reasonable Ribbon for all the great ribbon and a chance to play along with you!

Sweet Dreams Supplies:
Doodle Dragon Studios image - February Membership
Really Reasonable Ribbon - ribbons
Pebbles in My Pocket - New Arrival paper
Create a Critter Cricut cartridge - phrase
American Crafts cardstock

Howdy Supplies:
Doodle Dragon Studios image
Really Reasonable Ribbon - ribbons & fiber
Spellinders Nestibilites
Old West Cricut cartridge - phrase
Pebbles in My Pocket - New Arrival paper
Creative Imagination - Samantha Walker paper
American Crafts cardstock

Spring Showers - DDS Pike's Playground Challenge

Yea! Today finally felt a little like spring. It rained! N0 snow = a very happy me! And the tulips are poking through the soil. I love, love, love tulips! Spring is music to my ears (and heart).

To celebrate spring and all the new beginnings, Doodle Dragon Studios is having a Spring Showers Challenge. Whatever you want to celebrate...spring, baby showers, wedding showers, rain showers...just be sure to include a Dustin Pike/Doodle Dragon Studios image in your creation. Post your project by Sunday, March 20th to the official Pike's Playground Challenge. Check out the DDS Design Team's cards for inspiration.

Happy Spring!


Supplies:
Doodle Dragon Studios image - Toby & Buster set
Cuttlebug embossing folder - Allegro
Fiskars embossing plate - Rain Drops
Spellbinders Nestabilities - Oval scallop & oval
Pebbles in My Pocket - ribbon
Font - CK Handprint
American Crafts cardstock
Brads

Dustin Pike is going to the Scrapbook USA Expo!

Great news for Utah Doodle Dragon Studios/Dustin Pike fans!!! He going to the Scrapbook USA Expo in Sandy, Utah on March 25-26.

I'm not sure what all of Dustin's plans are for Expo weekend, but what I know so far is exciting:

* If you're one of the Early Birds (on both days) look for something special from Doodle Dragon Studios in your Early Bird bag!

* Friday night he is hosting a class for the new Young Scrappers Club. (see the flyer above) Sounds like so much fun! Wish I was young again. If you have a young scrapper, there is still time to sign up for the Club.

* Saturday morning Dustin will be giving away CDs of his amazing digis to the first 50 people in the line! How crazy are you feeling? I've heard ladies start lining up at 4:00am, but it would be worth it!

As for me? I'll be working my favorite job in at the expo...VIP Lounge Area Friday & Saturday morning from 7:00-1:00. Stop by and say hi. I'll be the 6' blonde hair/blue eyes lady guarding the entrance to the lounge area. Or better yet, sign up to be in the VIP lounge! See you there!

The Operation Write Home Blog Hop Winner is...

And the randomly chosen lucky winner of a $10 gift certificate to Doodle Dragon Studios is....

Mindy :) said...

I love Dustin Pike :)
You made such a gorgeous card!

Mindy O.

March 6, 2011 4:26 PM

Congratulations Mindy! Send me an email (kbear68@comcast.net) with your address and I'll send your gift certificate right away!

Operation Write Home Blog Hop with Candy

Phew! You've come a long way if you're playing in the Operation Write Home Blog Hop! Keep your energy up because you still need to play bubbles with Dudley the Dragon AND keep hopping. You can find Dudley hanging out on Dustin Pike's - Doodle Dragon Studios blog and store.

Operation Write Home is an amazing organization that supports our nation's armed forces by sending blank handmade greeting cards to write home on, as well as gratitude to encourage them. One of my favorite places to visit on the Operation Write Home website is the Get Inspired with pictures of the troops and their cards. How can you not be inspired when you see their smiling faces in the midst of such sacrifice on their part?

Soldiers have a special place in my heart. My brother recently retired from the Army after 20 years of service. My sister is retired from the Air Force. My uncle fought in Vietnam. And my grandpa fought in WW2.

If you would like to join the ranks and create cards for our soldiers, visit Operation Write Home for details. Deadlines are fast approaching...Easter deadline (March 18th) and Mother's Day deadline (March 31st).

Now you've had a short break, it's time to keep hopping to
Rosie at Rubber Stamp Rosie's Card Factory HERE

If you get lost along your way, go to Operation Write Home to get back on the right path. I am #111 on the hop.

Candy, candy, candy!!! Leave a comment to enter for a chance to win a $10 gift certificate to Doodle Dragon Studios. You could get your own Dudley the Dragon and more! The winner will be posted on Monday, March 7th. Thanks for hopping by! Hope to see you again!






Supplies:
Doodle Dragon Studios image - February Membership
Best Creation Inc. - paper
Close to My Heart - paper
Spellbinders Nestibilities - Lacy Circles & Circles
EK Success - circle punches
Cuttlebug embossing folder - Swiss Dots
EK Success - butterfly punch
Kaiser Scrapbook - rhinestones
Pebbles in My Pocket - ribbon
American Crafts cardstock
Font - CK Handprint

Be a Hero for Luke!

Message from Dustin Pike:
I have been blessed to create a set of images for a little boy named Luke. Luke is a 6 year old who has been diagnosed with Spinal Meningitis after enduring a 30 minute seizure. He now has a very long journey of treatments and therapy to fight the swelling in his brain and to regain his movement and his speech. Their is a card drive for Luke HERE, as well as more information about Luke and his progress HERE. Luke plays violin, loves Super Heros, Soccer, and Star Wars. To help support Luke and his family I have created this set of images. All proceeds will be given to Luke's family to help with the extensive costs associates with Luke's procedures . Here is an opportunity to make a difference in one families life. If you have time to send Luke a little encouragement the address to mail your cards to is in the above link. Remember to keep this family in your prayers, every little bit gives hope to a family and a little boy who needs it right now.

The Digi's are HERE for sale with all proceeds going you Luke's family.

Welcome to the Science Fair!

Aren't these awesome! Obviously, it's not a question, they are! Dustin Pike is the best! I love being on his design team. I emailed him last month to see if there were any Science Fair images that I had missed in my DDS files. He tricked me (watch out, he's sneaky) into telling him our school mascot was an eagle and our colors are blue. Next thing I know, sitting in my email box were these amazing eagle Science Fair images. Dustin made them special for our school. He's so awesome! I bet if you're super nice and pay him a little extra, he would design some for your school too (contact Dustin directly). Or if you think these are great just as they are...convince him to put them in his store. These two top pictures are full posterboard sized posters greeting everyone as they came into our Science Fair. I wish I had taken a far away shot so you could see how impressive it looked.




Here are more Science Fair posters. I didn't take pictures of all the posters. As cool as they are, I'm sure you don't want to see every poster. I printed these on my wide format printer. They are 11x17 matted with poster paper then laminated. Picture #1 - these posters were placed around the school to remind the students of the upcoming event. Pictures #2-4 were placed on the end of each table for the grade level. I rotated the images through the grades. The students and teachers thought they were so awesome!





Things I learned from this project...

1. Posters from OfficeMax are $14.98 (gasp! I learned the hard way). Roughly the same size (but a tad bit bigger) posters from Costco are cheaper, only $9.25.

2. If printing at OfficeMax or other copy centers, remember they won't have cutesy fonts like (CK Handprint) and will automatically print in generic Arial. :( I forgot.

3. Save the file as a .jpg and maybe the cutesy font will work. I haven't tried this, so don't take my word for it. But I think that would do the trick.

4. Prepare to have extra ink cartridges on hand. After 20 posters, lets just say I used alot of ink.

5. Forget using a glue stick! Spray glue works great for big projects like these.


Thanks again Dustin for making me look like a really cool PTA mom!