Monday, December 19, 2011

Help me welcome... S & S Cropping for a Cause!!

Shelly and Stacy have been holding crops once or twice a year in the area.  A few blogs ago I mentioned going to a great crop at Mater Dei... a fundraiser for the 8th great class if I recall.  At that time these two ladies mentioned holding more regular crops, and I have been anxiously awaiting the news.

Well, here it is! 

They have officially started a business to raise money for causes that they hold dear to their hearts.  They have scheduled their first two crops and shared the dates with us.

February 18th- A benefit for March of Dimes- Team Carter.
This crop will take place at Town & Country Christian Church (on SW 29th St, next to Westlake)
April 14th- A benefit for the Cancer Walk  (unsure if this is Relay for Life, or which walk, but who cares?  Never met a Cancer Walk that wasn't a great cause!!
Their plan is to have this crop at the Assumption Church, but more details will follow.

If you are not on Shelly and Stacy's mailing list, be sure to email one of them as follows:
Sbartron@gmail.com for Shelly
Seg789@sbcglobal.net for Stacy

Until then... Happy Cropping... and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Thursday, December 8, 2011

I'm back... with more crops to tell you about!!

Hi there.
Seems like I have been off of here forever.
I got sick before Thanksgiving and have been trying to keep up with life and stay healthy since then.
Thought I better get back on here and post so that you didn't think I gave up blogging already.

Wanted to share a few more crop dates with you!!

First of all, I just found out today that the Shawnee Heights Band Boosters are holding a crop on February 11th from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., at Shawnee Heights High School.  They did this crop last year and it was GREAT!!  Easy access, great lighting, great food/snacks at minimal expense, and all for a good cause.  They will also have Cricut classes and demos for free.  I don't know many more details at this point, but will keep you posted.  I know I am putting this one on MY calendar!!!

Also, Tammy Livingston put out a crop schedule earlier this week.  Not a lot of details, but LOTS of dates to mark.  Her Friday night ones are typically held at the Denison State Bank in Meriden.  I am sure the other ones are at various locations, but will keep you posted when I know more.  For now, here are the dates she provided.
  • Friday, January 6th
  • Saturday, January 21st
  • Friday, Febuary 3rd
  • Saturday, February 11th
  • Friday thru Sunday, February 17-19
  • Friday, March 2nd
  • Friday & Saturday, March 9-10
  • Saturday, April 14
I have been reorganizing and decluttering my scrapbook room, and some friends reaped the benefits of that!!  This weekend I am getting together with a small group of scrapbook friends on Saturday.  That will probably be it for me until after the holidays!!

If any of you venture up toward Springfield, you HAVE to check out Scrapbook Generations!!  It is an AWESOME scrapbook store, over 5,000 square feet, very nicely laid out and organized, with tons of great stuff!!  I got the opportunity to check it out when I went to see my nieces in November.  I will be stopping there on all of my future trips that direction.

Hope to have a few goodies to share with you all later in the weekend.  I have a few Christmas projects to get finished up.  For those of you that I don't have contact with until after January 1st, I wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. 
Remember... Jesus is the Reason for the Season.

God Bless you and your families!!
Love, Bobbi

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Upcoming Scrapbook Crops

One of the reasons I started this blog was to have a common place to post about upcoming scrapbooking events that I hear about.  Some of these I am attending, some not, but all of them are put on by great groups of people!!

Let's start with the Wishes of the Heart Pajama Jamma Jam crops in 2012.  These are put on by Melody and Wishes of the Heart from Bonner Springs http://www.wishesoftheheart.com

April Pajama Jamma Jam Crop-Over Half full!
Taking reservations now!!! Now is the time to grab your friends and register for next year’s crops! Holiday Inn -  101 W 151st St Olathe KS only $75 per crop and includes a special designed shirt
Friday, April 20,2012 – 11am through Sunday, April 22, 2012 – 3pm

Friday, October 12 – 11am through Sunday, October 14 – 3pm 

In addition, I am going to Wishes of the Heart, Scrapbook Retreat House in Bonner Springs,for a weekend, January 6-8.   Last I knew she still had a couple of openings if anyone is interested.  You can check out time options and prices at the above link.

2012 Diva Designs Crop schedule... http://www.divadesignscrops.com
January 28-29 in Topeka at the Holiday Inn Holidome
April 28 in Topeka at the Holiday Inn Holidome
July 21-22 in Lawrence at the Holiday Inn
October 27 in Topeka at the Holiday Inn
Prices vary, depending on if crop is a one or two day event and if you are purchasing a table or single

Tammie Livingston, Creative Memories Consultant, is holding a crop on Saturday, December 10th, in Hoyt, KS at the Community Center.  It is from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.  You can email her at cmtammie@yahoo.com for more information.   If you have no plans this Saturday, Nov 19th, I know she has one she is involved with here in Topeka also.  Contact her for more information.

Also, I have to say... Me and some cropping buddies went to The Shabbi Shack here in Topeka and did a Friday night and all day Saturday crop a couple of weeks ago.   The owner, Kim Bartunek, has done some amazing things with the place, was a great hostess, and is a very talented lady.  She does not have an active website at this time, but you can check out her facebook page for The Shabbi Shack and see what openings she has.  I know that we plan on going back in the near future, either or just a day crop, or maybe even to spend a weekend!!

Last, but not least, I am waiting for more details on a fundraiser crop at the Most Pure Heart of Mary Church here in Topeka.  All I know so far are the dates, January 13-14.   I will send out another blog with more information once I get it.


Do you know of any crops that I can post on here to share with others?  If you do, please email me at itsagalthing@yahoo.com with as much information as possible.

Happy Cropping Everyone!!!

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Halloween with Izzy

On October 29th, the world lost a wonderful woman, and Heaven gained another Angel.  Brenda Kutina lost her very short battle with cancer.   Halloween was always a fun holiday for her, and she was looking forward to spending it with our Izzy B.  As some of you know, Isabelle is the daughter to my "little sister" Jennye from 11 years ago with Big Brothers Big Sisters.  

Last year, after Halloween had ended, Jennye and Brenda bought Izzy quite a variety of Halloween costumes, to use for dress-up as well as Halloween this year.  I was watching Izzy for a couple of hours the afternoon of the 31st.  Her first costume that day was the Bumble B costume that Jennye was hoping she would wear Trick-or-Treating.   I did a full layout of that, using an adorable layout designed by www.scrapfunaddicts.com.  They have the cutest page kits, but if you want quick and easy you better not try them.  My next layout was of my fashion show that she put on before I left that afternoon.  This page kit is by www.scrappysisterskits.com, another company I love, but much detail required.  Finally, Izzy completed the fashion show by showing up at my house that night as a spider.  Now that layout I did myself with some fun Stampin' Up paper and some embellishments.  Enjoy!!!









My Katie!!

Hi there-
Trying to play catch up on my blogging!!
A few weeks ago I attended a dynamite crop in KC.  It as called the Pajama Jamma Jam, and it was hosted by http://www.wishesoftheheart.com/.  Check out the site if you are interested in attending one in 2012 or if you want to see more information on this fun little scrapbook retreat house.

My primary goal that weekend was completing some scrapbook layouts with my favorite youngest twin :-)  Katie is my niece, and is handicapped.  She has what is best as described as a more severe form of cerebral palsy.  She is now 23 years old, and has been a blessing to us every minute!!  I found the perfect page kits by http://www.shopquickquotes.com .  Here is a quick look at them, first as double page layouts, then as single closer shots.  Hope you enjoy them, as much as I do.   






Wednesday, November 2, 2011

A few personal challenges

Hi there...
I know I promised to share projects from my awesome scrapbooking weekend at the Pajama Jamma Jam, but I returned home and had a few personal issues to deal with.  In the past two weeks I have lost two dear people in my life.  We will lay the second one to rest tomorrow evening.  I hope to be back sharing soon, but my priorities have been elsewhere for the last several days.

Hope you are all doing well.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Breast Cancer Awareness Month/ Fundraiser

Ok... I know this was meant for a scrapbooking/ creative blog, but I am using it as a "things that interest Bobbi" Blog.   I am sure you all know that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  Well, I came upon a story today that really touched me.  .  It is about a lady named Jamie Pursley that lost her battle with breast cancer just this year.  Her last wish was for the Lawrence Memorial Hospital infusion rooms, where she spent a lot of time in her last year, to be renovated with new chairs, electronics, etc...  Jamie is a native of Topeka.  You can read the story at http://www.jamieswish.org/Index.php

I still have a lot of Creative Memories items that I am trying to get rid of since I am no longer a consultant.  I will be selling most of it at full price, but with no shipping or tax.  50% of everything I make on it will go to this cause.  Get with me if you want a first look at what I have left.  I will be adding a list to my blog by early next week.

I can find no better cause but to help fulfill the last wish of this woman by doing something that will help cancer patients for years to come.

Thanks for your time.

Monday, October 17, 2011

Paula Deen's Eclair Cake

 

Yes, Hollyce, besides your scrumptious Pumpkin Mini Muffins, there were several other desserts there.  This is the one that Mary made!!

 

Paula Deen's Eclair Cake

Yield 20-24 servings.

Ingredients

  • 1 (1-pound) box graham crackers
  • 2 (3 1/4-ounce) boxes instant French vanilla pudding
  • 3 1/2 cups milk
  • 1 (8-ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
  • Frosting
  • 1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 1/2 cup cocoa
  • 3 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 1/3 cup milk
  • 2 teaspoons light corn syrup
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Directions
Butter the bottom of a 13 by 9 by 2-inch pan. Line with whole graham crackers. In bowl of an electric mixer, mix pudding with milk; beat at medium speed for 2 minutes. Fold in whipped topping. Pour half the pudding mixture over graham crackers. Place another layer of whole graham crackers on top of pudding layer. Pour over remaining half of pudding mixture and cover with another layer of graham crackers.
For frosting, blend together sugar and cocoa. Add butter and milk, mixing well. Add corn syrup and vanilla. Stir until creamy. Cover cake with frosting and refrigerate for 24 hours.

Total Prep Time- 10 minutes plus 24 hours to refrigerate.  Worth every minute of it!!!

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Not Always Scrapbooking

You know what I love about having my own blog?  It means that I can post whatever I want!!

Yesterday was our family reunion and my cousin Mary made an awesome dessert by Paula Deen.   It got me looking at MY Paula Deen Recipe Books.  Did I mention that I have a huge collection of cookbooks? My husband would like me to use them more, so I am trying :-) 

Anyhow, I was looking thru The Lady & Sons- Savannah Country Cookbook and came across a recipe that I had all of the ingredients for so I made it.  It was DELICIOUS and I just had to share.  My favorite recipes are simple, use everyday grocery items, and taste good (of course!!!).  Hope you enjoy it as much as Brad and I are.

The Lady's Cheesy Mac
(serves 6 to 8)

4 cups cooked elbow macaroni drained (approximately 2 cups uncooked)
     I uses small shell macaroni because I had it on hand.  Love that about macaroni.  It all works!!
2 cups grated cheddar cheese
3 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup sour cream
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter, cut into pieces
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk, or equivalent in evaporated milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  After macaroni has been boiled and drained, add cheddar cheese while macaroni is still hot.  Combine remaining ingredients and add to macaroni mixture.  Pour into casserole dish and bake for 30 to 45 minutes.  Top with additional cheese, if desired.

I am awaiting the dessert recipe for from Mary and hope to make it and share the recipe soon.  In the meantime, ENJOY!!

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Nice Compliment

I just had to share this. 

Our annual family reunion was today, and my cousin's wife, Hollyce, paid me a dear compliment without even realizing it.  She asked if when I go to a crop what I do.  Specifically, she was curious if I do a scrapbook page or a card, or what.  Bless her heart, she said that when she makes a card it is not nearly as detailed as mine and couldn't imagine how long it would take to sit down and do a year's worth.   Thanks Hollyce.  Hard to explain a crop until you have been to one :-).  Made me feel really good about what I do for my relaxation and therapy, and not so bad about the fact that I HAVE attended an all day crop and only completed two pages!!!

On that note, I will not be posting for a week or so, but the next time you hear from me I will have been to a THREE day crop, Pajama Jam Fall 2011.   Can't wait to show you some things I finished there, including an four page kit that is going to be perfect for my sweet niece Katie!!

Until then, Happy Scrapping!!

Monday, October 10, 2011

Ready to Crop!!!

I have been back from vacation for a week now, have a family reunion on my mom's side this Saturday, then I start of series of crops!!!  I can't wait.  I have so much scrapbooking to catch up on.  While I am so ready to get started on our Myrtle Beach trip, I first have to do our Vail, Colorado trip from LAST September. 

First of all, I am looking forward to the Pajama Jam Crop at the Residence Inn in Kansas City, by the airport.  This awesome crop is small, but packed full of fun.  It is hosted by Melody, with Wishes of the Heart, a fun little Scrapbook Retreat House in Bonner Springs.  Check it out! http://www.wishesoftheheart.com/
My friend Christine and I are headed to KC on the 20th to do a little shopping :-)  The crop starts on the 21st at 11 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m. on Sunday.  And... I get to crop with some great gals... Tonya, Pam, and Kim.  It will be a weekend of laughs.

Are you still looking for something to do on October 22nd?   Obviously I won't be there, but the Diva Girls still have seats available at their crop.  For more information check out  http://divadesignscrops.com/

The next weekend I will take a little break, but back to cropping at The Shabbi Shack on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 4-5.  Kim promises a fun time, and I am looking forward to seeing the changes that have been made since I was part of it.  Sorry she has no website yet, but for details you can always check it out on FaceBook.  Once again, I look forward to cropping with some good friends and fellow croppers!!

November 12th I will be helping with the Sit! Stay! Scrap! event to benefit the Helping Hands Humane Society.  I am doing this with Tammy Call and Melinda Huball.  We still have room for you!  $20 fee that all goes to the Humane Society, with a $5 fee at the door for unlimited drinks and snacks.  Comment below, or email me at itsagalthing@yahoo.com if you are interested in attending.  We have a couple of vendor spots too!!!

November 19th and December 10th I will be cropping with Tammie Livingston at the Hoyt Community Center.  See my previous blogs for more detail. 

And if that isn't enough... I start back up again on January 6th-8th in 2012.  I will be spending the weekend at Wishes of the Heart and hoping to find a couple of gals to join me!!!

Last, but not least, I just found out that the April Pajama Jam is on April  20-22!!  This crop fills up fast.   If you are interested in more detail let me know.  I plan on making the two Pajama Jam crops a regular part of my cropping schedule each year!!! 

Have you had enough?  I told you I would keep you posted of upcoming crops that I hear about :-)

Happy Cropping.  Hope to share some COMPLETED PROJECTS with you soon.

Back from the Beach

Hi there!!

Brad and I got back from Myrtle Beach late on October 1st.  A little later than we had planned, as we had to wait over an hour to be picked up at the airport.  We had stayed at the Fairfield Inn and left our car there with Park 'N Fly.  LONG story, but the GREAT folks at the Courtyard ended up picking us up and taking us back to our car.  We finally got headed home around 10:30, afterhaving arrived in KC around 8:30.

The good news is, we had a FANTASTIC trip.  I fell in love with my husband all over again.  Check out some of our pictures.



Sunday, October 2, 2011

Helping Hands Humane Society Crop

To all of my scrapbooking friends and animal lovers...
My friends, Tammy McCall & Melinda Huball, have asked for my assistance in a local crop.  Yes, I know I wasn't going to get involved in running one for awhile, but how could I say no to such a GREAT cause.  The crop will be held at Gage Center Bowl on Saturday, November 12th.  There is a $20 fee, which will all go to the Humane Society.  Upon arrival you can pay $5 for bottomless snacks and beverages, which will help pay the room expense.  This is a smaller area so we can only allow 25 people. If you would like additional information please let me know by commenting below. 

Watch for my upcoming blogs on my great trip to Myrtle Beach this past week.  First, I have to get thru the pictures I took, which is well over 500.  I would like to share a few of my favorites with you.

I will also be sharing more upcoming crops, as well as a couple of new scrapbooking items I have found.  I am so excited about having some more cropping time coming up so that I can also share some fun new pages and kits. 

Until then, God bless each and every one of you, and Happy Scrappin'.

Sunday, September 18, 2011

O' Christmas Tree

I wanted to share this adorable project I completed yesterday!!  Maybe I shouldn't share that I bought it almost a year ago and started it soon thereafter :-)

The box drawer is from 7 Gypsies and I used one of my absolute favorite Christmas paper packs from last years Stampin' Up line.  I saw this at our favorite local Scrapbook Store, Scrapbooks, Etc.   I just had to take a picture and recreate it!!   This will make a fun Christmas gift for a special someone, but I can't say who.

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Creative Memories Crops Coming Up

Cut and pasted from my Creative Memories Consultant and Friend, Tammie Livingston.  I won't be able to attend most of these, maybe the one in November, but wanted to share with all of you.   Get with Tammie if you are interested :-)   Everything past this point is from Tammie!!

SCRAPBOOKING SEASON!   Fall is my favorite season of the year.  Not only because of the crisp, cool air and the changing fall leaves, but also because it means more time spent indoors for my favorite passion - scrapbooking:-)  There are several crop opportunities coming up that I wanted to share with  you.

My Croptoberfest Crop will be held on Saturday, October 15th from 9-9pm at the Hoyt Community Center ( just a few minutes north of Topeka on Hwy 75).  It will be a fun-filled day with lots of prizes, delicious food, great gifts and more.  To register, you can complete the crop registration form found at www.mycmsite.com/tlivingston under My Files.  Registration if paid by 10/1 is $25 all day or $35 with meals.  After 10/1 registration is $35 for the crop and $45 with meals.  Let me know if you would like to pay with a credit/debit card.

Also, a consultant on my team is holding a mission's trip fundraiser crop on Saturday, October 1st from 10-10pm in Carbondale.  I will be attending for a short time but wanted to invite you to attend the crop too.  If you are interested please let me know and I can forward the registration form to you.

Other upcoming crops: 
Friday, September 23rd - Meriden, $5 due by 9/18.
Saturday, November 19th from 10-10pm at Hoyt
Saturday, December 10th from 10-10pm at Hoyt

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Croptoberfest Fundraising Crop

I promised to use this to share upcoming crop information.  I will not be able to make this one, as we will not get back from vacation until late this day, but maybe some of you are interested.

It is called Croptoberfest and is being held in Carbondale, KS from 10 a to 10 p on October 1st.  Contact Jamie Clark at cmjamerlynn@yahoo.com  if interested.  She is a fellow Creative Memories Consultant.
Register By 09/15 - $35 without meals and $45 with meals
 After 09/15 - $45 without meal and $55 with meals.

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Mater Dei Crop was a BLAST

Friends...

Let me start today's blog by Thanking God for this Great Country we live in!  It seems hard to believe that it has been 10 years since the world was shocked with the events of 911. 

I had a great time yesterday at the Mater Dei 9-10-11 Crop, with Shelley & Stacy, and all the great kids and parents!!  Boy, do they spoil the croppers.  The kids help you carry in all your stuff, it included two awesome meals, LOTS of snacks, unlimited tea and water...  and the kids help you carry out your stuff.  I will be posting when they have their next one, as we suggested one per quarter :-)

Not only did I get lots of time with friends and lots of good food, but I got some fun pages done too.  Thanks to http://www.scrappysisterskits.com/ for some great kits that I had purchased.  See the two pages below with the Snake and Giraffe, as well as the Easter Egg Hunt pages with the adorable Bunny!!  The Hip Time pages were decorated with my Animal Kingdom and Cuttin' Up Cricut Cartridge.  Sorry for the bad coloring.  I have yet to perfect taking pictures of pictures!!

Also did some fun Make 'N Takes with the Stampin' Up Consultant.  Ordered some of the necessary punches, etc... Hope to share those in the next few weeks.





Friday, September 9, 2011

Scrap Your Trip

As I ready myself for a Scrabpook crop tomorrow, I am excited to get home and find an order of some scrapbooking goodies in my mailbox.  WOW!  This is my first order from http://www.scrapyourtrip.com/ but there will be many more!!  Awesome paper for my Colorado pages, my South Carolina pages, and my camping trips this summer with my hubby.  

My friend Christine told me about this site and I had not had a chance to check it out.  Putting together some "kits" this past week I decided to see what they had for Colorado.  What I found is that they not only have stuff for travel, but for EVERYTHING.   Scrapbooking a favorite sport, a holiday, a hobby?  Check this site out.  They have a little bit of everything, and with reasonable prices and shipping!!

Happy Scrapping.  Hope to share some pics on Sunday of some fun pages I get done at the Mater Dei crop tomorrow.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

A favorite project for a favorite person

This is one of my favorite projects!!  A little over a year ago, my friend Anne was diagnosed with breast cancer.  Some of her friends put together a team to walk in the Breast Cancer Walk here in Topeka. I joined, very eager to support such an awesome person.  As a gift for Anne I put together this "board book" and had as many team members sign it as I could prior to presenting it to her.  I hope she enjoys it, as much as I enjoyed making it for her.  The board book is one of those things I bought at a Diva Designs Crop.  You know... they show you something that is so cute you just have to make one for yourself.  Well, two years later I found the perfect subject.  Here are a few more pictures!

Monday, September 5, 2011

Starting a Blog

Happy Labor Day- The day I met my husband (in person) six years ago, after meeting him online a month earlier.  I call this a good day, so I thought it would be a great day to take on a NEW challenge.  Wait a minute!!!  Did I just say that Brad is a challenge?  Oh yes!!  Relationships are a challenge, and mine is no different. 

I hope you will enjoy my blog, where I will learn as I go. 

I am an avid scrapbooker, card maker, paper crafter, etc,... A lot of my creations don't get seen by many, so I decided to start this to share them with fellow crafters, family, and friends.  I also intend on using it to share upcoming cropping opportunities that I hear about, some of which I am attending, some not.  

Every once in a while I might post about a favorite book I just read, or a great movie I just saw.
On that note, I just finished "The Help" this morning.  AWESOME!!   And, I watched all eight seasons of a great Australian series called "McLeod's Daughters" in the past two months.  You can view them online thru Netflix.  Again, AWESOME!   See, my hubby works nights and we don't see much of each other, so I have lots of time to crop, read, and watch great movies. 

I hope you all enjoy my blog and feel free to let me know if you have a cropping opportunity for me to share, especially a fundraising one.   I am big on fundraisers and good causes, so happy to share ANY type of fundraisers on here for my followers to see... well, almost any!!! 

Well, I will sign off my now.  I will try to post at least once per week, sometimes daily. 

Bobbi