Retreat!

Well, let me start out this post by saying I did not meet my goal! I was short 1 month of photos! I got to May 1st, my cousin's wedding and it was time to go! Oh well, I had a blast! Many hilarious times, lots of giggles, a missing sword and an all around great time! Love retreats and crops because I can get my pages done, but also have fun spending time with friends! For the record....I got 39 layouts done. That was 78 pages! I also worked on the invitations for my friend Denise...The picture above is my 2011 album with the pages I finished! I have about 5 more layouts and then this book is full!!!

Here is a pic of my station. I was working on a layout for my friend's 30th Birthday. See the power sorting stuff? Totally helps me get things done!!!

This is a photo of my station and my dear friend Marla across from me working away!!! I try to stay organized, but everything just gets plastered everywhere! You get a whole table to yourself though!!!

Here is another shot of my table and some ladies next to me. We get tons done while we are there!

I had a wonderful time at my retreat, can't wait for the next one! My next post will be some layouts I did at the retreat, so stayed tuned! Thanks for looking!

Power Sorting!!

As promised....here is power sorting....Anna style!!! Everytime I go to a crop or especially a retreat, I go through this process of power sorting all my photos. I have a lot of stuff.... A LOT!!! And there is no way I can bring all my things with me to a retreat! So, I power sort! It totally allows me to get more done at crops and retreats and anything I don't finish, I can work on at home and it is already sorted and ready to go for me! I found out about power sorting through Creative Memories. They sell a box with files that you can use to sort your layouts for a book. You can use any box though and anything for files. In fact....for this retreat, I have 3 boxes that have sorted layouts. I don't have enough files, so I used old cardboard that comes with pages and paper books.

Here is the Creative Memories box. It works well, but can only hold about 15 layouts with embellishments. I really like it though, keeps everything in place really well.


This is the inside and the files. They are just simple white files. They are tabbed, not sure why. I never use the tabs. I'm sure there is a reason though. If you are using this box, you have to use the files. I tried the cardboard and it is a little too big to fit in the box. Just a thought.


This is another box that I use to put my layouts in. I got it at Hobby Lobby. It fits the cardboard great! And can fit like 20 layouts with embellishments.


Okay, after you have printed all your photos, you spread out all your files. I only showed the white files for aesthetic purposes, but you can use cardboard! I needed more that you see here, so I did use cardboard!

Next, you take your photos and lay them on the white files. I organize mine by date and event of photos taken. Sometimes I may only need one layout for an event. Other times, I may have too many photos for one layout, so I might have to sort 2 or 3 layouts within one event.


After I sort all my photos, I look for ideas! I have several magazines and magazine pages ripped out and put in binders. Sometimes I can look at my photos and know exactly what I want to do. Other times, I have no idea and I need some guidance. This is where I store the guidance! Sometimes I use just a magazine, other times I pull out random pages from the binders. This time I used a magazine and got lots of ideas from it!

Once I have an idea, I pick out my paper, cardstock, and embellishments that I want to use on my layout. I include it all on top of the file and then stick it into the box. This layout will be for my niece's birthday party. I am using the bottom layout picture from the magazine for my guidance. You can see I included some flowers, ribbon and letters for the title. I use snack size baggies to hold small things. If you just place them on top the file, they will fall off and down into the box. Not good, believe me....this is a mistake I learned on my own. When I am ready to scrap, these things are together and ready for me to use! I've made all the decisions already and it keeps me from bringing all my stuff! This is why I get so much done on retreats!

It took me about 6 hours total to power sort all my photos for the retreat! I didn't count how many layouts I will be doing, but I have 3 boxes full of layouts! These pictures are all the photos I have taken from January 2011 to May 2011. I have a lot to accomplish!!!! If I really focus, I should get most of it done! My record for pages done at a retreat was 85! That is 42 and 1/2 layouts!!!!! Hopefully I will accomplish my goal! I want to start scrapping pictures from this summer!!! Especially my trip! I will post pics from the retreat and let you know if I made my goal! Thanks for looking!!!!

Oh Happy Day!!!

What a great day! Actually, it started out pretty crummy, but it has turned itself around!!! I got in my photos from Snapfish! Finally! Took them forever, but I can't complain, I got 99 prints for 79 cents. They had a special!!! So now that those pics are in, I can finally start power sorting for retreat!!!

But also in the mail, were some journal tags I bought. I have been raving about Fancy pants designs journal tags that I got at the scrapbook convention. They are super and so versatile! I have used so many already! Well, I got to searching online to see if I could purchase more. I was a little disappointed in what I found at first. Most stores wanted about $4 or $5 for just one packet. I paid $1 at the scrapbook convention!!! Then I found this site called scrapbooksteals.com. They put a scrapbook deal of the day on and then archive the old ones until they are gone! Sure enough...here were my journal tags!!!! Aren't they super cute?!?!


I ended up paying about $3 a piece for them with the shipping costs, but that was still better than $5! I took some close-ups of the Halloween ones (which I didn't think I was getting). Halloween is my favorite holiday and I love all the cute spider webs, cats and stuff that companies come up with! Especially they cats! And I really love this one!!!! I've even considered a similar one for a tattoo! I'm serious!!!!

I can not wait to use these precious tags! What I really love about them is that although some are themed, you can totally work them into your regular pages!

Hope you enjoyed! I will be starting my power layouts today so hopefully I will have an update for ya tomorrow!!!! Thanks for looking!!!!

Hello!!! Sorry I have been out for awhile! Time can really fly by sometimes!!!! Since I last posted I haven't really been crafting. Not sure what I've been doing though! I guess that is not true, I am working on somethings for a friend of mine. Her daughter is getting married and she asked for my help with some things. I don't feel I can post those yet until she okays the final product!!!

I did however, get to some crafting today! I finished some title pages that I so desperately needed to do! I had one from 2009 and of course the 2010 ones. I am now done with 2010! I have added these pages and am ready to start 2011!!!

The main thing I have been working on is organizing some stuff in my craft room. I went today and got a bookshelf and some boxes. They match perfectly with the bedspread I have in there!!!! I am really trying to get some organization going instead of digging through all my packed stuff for crops! I think I have it figured out now!!!

Here is the 2nd title page of 2010. Yes, I have 2 books for each year. I know...it's a sickness. I take way too many photos and I want to scrap them all!!!! The books are super thick too! I used pattern paper from DCWV, the Dressed Up line, for the background paper and the flower thing. I used DCWV black glitter paper for the title. Blackletter cart.

Here is the 1st page of 2010. Same paper and such as above. I try to match the 2 title pages...sometimes.

This is the spine of one of the 2010 books. Whenever I buy my year books, I always buy 2 right then. I know I will use both. I tried to use paper that would match the blue and black swirls. I think I did a pretty good job!!! I got this book at Hobby Lobby. See how thick it is?!? The 1st book is just as thick!!! I think there are about 90 layouts total. Yeah...lots of photos!

Here is the 1st title page of 2009. I did this a while back when I was working on 2009. In fact, when I started it. I used Creative Memories paper I had gotten.

Here is the page I did today. Like I stated earlier, I like the title pages to match in the books. This is the title page for the second book. I used Creative memories paper to match the 1st title page. I used Lyrical Letters cart for the font and accent essentials for the flowers. The pink and brown paper is Creative Memories as well.

And this is what I got today! I headed over to Ikea and got this Expedit shelf/bookcase. The boxes are perfect for this room! And....they are super roomy! I fit all sorts of stuff in here! I really wanted a taller place to put my cricut so I could just turn my chair around and cut my titles and embellishments. It is the perfect height! Love it! Before I was using a box!!!! It was such a mess!!! Looks so much better and actually frees up some room!!!

Thanks for looking again! I want to say hi to my Aunt Judy! Hi Aunt Judy!!!! She is so good to check this blog out! Love ya!!

Upcoming posts will be power sorting. That is my next project!!! Until then....happy scrappin'!!!!

Finally Finished!!!!

Going over to crop at my friend's house on Monday did the trick!!!! I finished 7 layouts and finished all the layouts for 2010! All I need to do now is make my title pages for the 2 books and I am done!!! Phew! I thought I was gonna have to take some 2010 to the retreat! But nope! I will only be working on 2011!!! I included 3 of the layouts I did on Monday!

This one is of my precious Jesse James!!!! He is my cousin's baby and I just love him!!! I used blue DCWV cardstock for the background and green DCWV for the title and jacks. I also glittered the jacks to make them pop! I used Scenic Route for the pattern paper and a tag from fancypantsdesigns. The carts I used was Zoo animals for the title and I'm not sure about the jacks!!!

This layout is of my niece who loves to entertain us!!! She is a hoot! I used black DCWV cardstock for the background and music title and notes and the glitter paper is DCWV too! The pattern paper didn't have a name on them, but I think I got them at JoAnn's. The sentence strip is Cosmo Cricket. The carts I used were Alphalicious for the glitter title and Hannah Montanna for the music title and music notes. Love the star music notes!!!!

This last layout was just of Christmas Day at my husband's Grandma's house. I used dark blue DCWV cardstock for the background and dark green DCWV cardstock for the title. Pattern paper is Scenic Route and I added some ruby red rhinestones (not sure about company). The journal tag is fancypantsdesign. I used the Creative Memories big circle cut to make the big circle! I love adding big circles to my pages and you will probably see more! The cart I used was Lyrical Letters.

Well, that is the end of 2010!!! I am so excited! The books are super thick (as always!) and I can't wait to show off them off! I am planning to work on the title pages this week and then go back to making some cards. I will also be power layout-ing 2011. I will post pics and tell you more about that another time!!! Thanks for looking!

Seeing the end of the tunnel of 2010!

Wow! Boy have I been busy!!! I got 5 layouts done! And...I am almost done with the 6th one! I had to get a new cricut mat because all mine have finally lost their stickiness!!!! Now that I have it, I should get even more layouts done! I do have a deadline, so I have to get busy!!!! Monday I am going to a friend's house for some cropping. I am hoping to get 2010 done!!!!

I love this title!!! I used DCWV green cardstock, fed it through the xyron, and then glittered it with white glitter! Loving the glitter lately! I used 2 carts for this cut. Cupcake and Lyrical Letters.

Here is the layout the title is on! It was our Christmas tree and picture of us. I used DCWV red cardstock for on page and the DCWV Christmas paper for the pattern paper. Green DCWV cardstock for title (see above) and for matting of pics. Journal tag is fancypantsdesign. Which I have come to *love*!

This layout was of the moon on the day of the Full Eclipse in December. The pics aren't great, but I still had to scrap it!!! Black DCWV carstock for background and matting. Karen Foster paper for circles. Orange swirl paper was and old set of JoAnne's paper essentials that I got for $1.17 on clearance years ago!!! Journal title is fancypantsdesign and title is Glitter cardstock from DCWV. Cart used was Blackletter.

This layout was for a family member's birthday dinner and party. I used Green DCWV cardstock for background. Large cut paper is unknown. Pattern paper is Scenic Route. Journal tag is scenic route. Black Flower is a die cut from EZ Designs. Black cardstock from Hobby Lobby for title. Cart used is Opposites Attract.

Fun times with a dune buggy!!!! White background is DCWV, pattern paper is Scenic Route, arrows are Scenic Route, sentence strip is Scenic Route, Journal tag is fancypantsdesign, Title and jeep is Brown cardstock from DCWV. Carts used were Cuttin' Up for title and Seasonal Summer Vacation (which I just got and l-o-v-e!!!)

This layout was some target practice that family did at the property. I used DCWV patterned paper (the manly book) for the background and for the boys will be boys cut. I used brown cardstock for matting. Green cardstock for title. Both from DCWV. Camo paper is Karen Foster. Carts used were Cuttin' Up and Indie Art.

Phew!!! I was busy! But I am so glad that I am almost done with 2010 and am pleased with how they turned out! I normally have not been scrapping at home because of lack of time, but I have enjoyed it so much! I normally power layout all my photos with what I want to use ahead of time (which I will be doing soon for 2011), but I have liked adding some stuff at home! Thanks for looking and bye for now!

Retreat Cuts

Did some more crafting yesterday and today. Now I know I am suppose to be finishing my 2010 scrapbook and I still have several layouts to do (Christmas being a few of them!), but I just couldn't resist making some cards! I also had an assignment for the retreat I am going to later this month. We had to cut out 2 cuts from a cartridge. I chose Gypsy Wanderings because I figured not many people had a gypsy so they wouldn't have that cart and I have tons of snow pics from our Snow Jam '11 that we had in February!!! I think they they turned out super cute! I had to make 13 cuts and embellish them and in return I will get 13 cuts (mine included) back! Super deal!!

Winter was the first cut I made. Please excuse the excess glitter! There was glitter everywhere (again ;) ), but I am pleased the way it turned out! The cut is from Gypsy Wandering Cart, I ran it through my xyron sticker maker upside down, covered it with light blue glitter (bought at Michael's in the $1 bin) and then added a blue rhinestone from Queen & Co. Simple, yet super cute and will make a great title or embellishment! Doing 13 of these though was quite tiring (and glitterific!).

I am totally digging this snowman! I used white cardstock from DCWV and black cardstock from Hobby Lobby. I cut out the snowman and his hat and scarf from Gypsy Wanderings Cart. I cut out a black square, put it through my xyron sticker maker and then attached it to the back of the snowman. Sprinkled it with some glitter to get the shiny affect on his bottom part. I then used rhinestones from Queen & Co. for the scarf! I love this cutout! I also cut out twigs for his arms, but they weren't exactly the right size, so I have those available if the people want them.

I love this fun, yet simple card! I actually did 6 cards (as shown below), but love this one! For all the cards I used DCWV card set (yes, all 3 designs came in one set!), added some ribbon (not sure the company, they were just sitting in the ribbon box) and then used my Cricut to cut out 6 different Birthday greetings out of glitter cardstock by DCWV. No, I did not actually glitter these myself! DCWV finally has a glitter cardstock that is thin enough to cut with a regular blade, so I used that! All I had was orange though....it totally works!

Here are all the cards together! Aren't they cute?! I am trying to make a bunch so I have them ready in a snap for next year! You can never had too many cards ready to go! Speaking of which, I have 30 cards that I need to add some pizazz to, so hopefully I will get to those soon! Perhaps I might wait until I finish 2010? We'll see!!! Thanks for looking!