CupTeaLuv?

I came across this fantastic quote that really relates to where I am at the moment…..
Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes…
Art is knowing which ones to keep.
Scott Adams

way back at the beginning of July — I got to meet Ali Edwards — who is an amazing (and my favorite) scrapbooking designer.
When Nicole (friend from work) and I were talking about who our favorites were, I mentioned Ali and she said “Oh — we’re going to see her in July — you should come!!!” I was floored. She even called the store they were going to for the class (up in Cleveland) and asked if there were any spots left in the classes. I was told that there was a waiting list, but that I would be third on the list — and this was back in May, so I had a pretty good chance of still getting into the class!
So I put my name on the list, and Stephanne (my boss) did too — Nicole even spoke to her friend that lives up there (who was going to host this gang of women from all over to sleepover the night before the class). Normally they all go up the day before, go out for dinner together, then go back to the house and crop all night. Nicole invited us along for all of this.
We had an amazing time — my next post will have some pics from the day.
Ali was awesome — I’m not doing this entry justice because I have a headache and just want to get it online right now — it’s been too long.
more later!

I’ll type in later the funny-ish longer story of how I learned how to use eyelets… but here’s a fantastic scrapbook website with loads of tips and how-tos.

I got a bunch more pages done this week for my scrapbook!
I bought a really excellent book from Borders (Cheshire Oaks) from Making Memories (a company that sells scrapbooking items & books) that is a combination of 4 of their books together into one bound book. When we were home over Christmas I checked out several scrapbooking books from the Dublin Library and a couple of them were on cropping pictures creatively — I had made a mental note to get them out again once back in the States, and one of them is in this book I bought! I was really pleased!
Pages I finished this week — Anna & Paul’s Wedding page spread (2 pages), Neil & Susie’s Wedding page spread (2 pages), Ducks on the Pond page (1), Teresa’s Wonder Woman page (1), and I’ve cropped my pictures for a double page Mia “Poppet” page. One of the ladies from Congleton Library called her that when they saw the pictures I’d brought back from home, and I really love it so I’m going to incorporate it into the title somehow.
I’ve also got pictures ready for pages about Mum & I — trip to Chatsworth before Christmas, Little Moreton Hall, Blackpool Illuminations, and Chicago (Thanksgiving 2002 — the year we missed Thanksgiving because the date I thought was Thanksgiving was actually a week earlier than the proper date!) and some pictures of my stitching and some pictures of the cats… (i’m going to have albums full of scrapbook pages of the cats, with all the pictures I have!)

On thursday of last week I went to a local craft store in Alsager called Craft Addicts for a session of basic scrapbooking skills. They have scheduled classes you can take, but they also offer one-on-one sessions as well, and that’s what I opted for, because the only session on the August schedule was on a Sunday. So I booked it, and turned up on Thursday with every last bit of scrapbooking things I own. Which turns out to be two massive bags plus my portfolio plus my actual scrapbook.
It’s all Marcie’s fault. Okay, well not all her fault– partly mine for seeing all the cool things in the shops on massive sales last November. I talked to Marcie on the phone for a long time and asked her about scrapbooking (because she’s been doing it since she was about 11). And she’s an old pro at it. So I got some basics while in America and brought them here, and had a little experimental go at a couple of pages a few months back that didn’t go horribly wrong, so I thought I would go a bit further.
In this lesson I got to use UTEE (an enamel powder that you melt and makes it look like a ceramic tile or something), tags, slide cases, shrinkable plastic, and shadowed and outlined torn pages. All on the same page!!
The tutor I had was excellent– it was just the two of us in their really awesome classroom– a converted garage with a massive table and a huge bookcase full of crafty bits and pieces. The windows of the garage face the park and the lake. Beautiful place to be creative!!
I worked with her from 2 til about 4:30, and since they were closing at 5 (which was the time for the end of my lesson) I opted to use the last bit for some shopping– because when you do a class there, on the day of the class, all your shopping is 10% off!
I can’t wait to get back to America– I’m really into this now. eeeks!