ScrapHappy

LOAD update

Hello all you LOADsters!

If you have signed up via PayPal before yesterday, you should have received an email from me explaining what's happening next, as well as an invite to our Flickr group. 

If you did not receive this email, there are some potential reasons why:

1. You signed up under a different email address.

2. The email messages are in your spam folder.

3. You sent me a check or cash in the mail but did not include your email address (Emily S. and Audrey F. this is you!)

4. I made a mistake in entering your email address. This is very unlikely, as I am nearly perfect. But it still is possible. So if the first three instances don't fit your case, email me your preferred email address and we'll try again!

Are you getting excited? I am!

ScrapHappy Episode 51: Rubberband Girl

More show notes and pictures coming later today. In the meantime, listen here!

Some of my favorites from CHA (pics coming):

-Bella Blvd.

 (Still having that sideways issue in iPhoto)

-Tombow's vellum adhesive

-JilliBean Soup

Book club update

The next book is The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.

Fiskars Snippets snips

And a new contest running until 2/3 (tell your local scrapbook store, bookstore, or online retailer about Snippets, leave me a comment telling me you did so, and you'll be entered to win one of 5 pairs of Snippets snips or your very own copy of Snippets!).

a little surreal

Standing in front of a larger-than-life-sized poster of myself is a little strange. And at the same time, very comfortable.

I think I could get used to this. ;)

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

the good and bad

The good news is, the booth event was a major success. Thanks, Fiskars, for donating product and personalized scissors... You rock!!

More good news... I was able to give out 25 copies of Snippets!

More good news... Apparently www.ideabooks4u.com has copies of Snippets in stock!

And as if that weren't enough, everyone's loving it... Including the adorable Margie Romney-Aslett from Making Memories!

Now for the bad news (you knew there had to be some, right??). My father-in-law is in a coma and not expected to make it through the day. I am on my way to the airport to fly home now.

If you could pray for a safe and painless passing for him, I would appreciate it. I know his darling Fay will be waiting to welcome him when he arrives.

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

live from CHA!

It's never a dull moment around here! Got in yesterday, hit the press room, got some goodies, and had an awesome dinner with Wendy, Angie, and Tamara Morrison. This morning started with oatmeal with Wendy, Angie, and Tina Cockburn. Yum!

Off to a photo shoot, then the Snippets book event at the CKMedia booth from 1-2. Maybe we'll have books!!

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

This is it -- Real Life.

Things haven't been great around here. My father-in-law is undergoing surgery as I write this. My husband is out of town for the second week in a row on business. We're quite likely moving across the country in the next few months, not by choice. The economy drops further and further into the tank every day. And, oh yeah, I lost my dream job at Simple Scrapbooks. Did I mention I turn 40 in less than a month??

But Real Life is still happening all around me, right now. I can choose to live fully in this moment or wish it away. If I wish it away, I'm not getting another one to replace it. There's no "satisfaction guaranteed." THIS IS IT.

And this one-minute video reminded me of that fact. Check it out.

time is a'tickin!

Just a couple days left to take advantage of the fabulous $1 off promotion for LOAD '09! That's right-- sign up by 1/25 and you'll save a whopping 17% off the regular $6 fee! Act now- an offer this good won't last!! ;)

Additional goodies for the Grand Prize are coming in, too, including some awesome products from Me and my Big Ideas!!! Stay tuned for more updates!!!

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

Never Fear - LOAD Is (almost) Here!

Despite recent bad news, LOAD is trucking on... with a few changes.

For those of you not familiar with what I'm talking about, last January I led over 3000 people through a Layout-A-Day (LOAD) Challenge. My plan was to have LOAD hosted by Simple Scrapbooks, but that idea is now kaput. Never fear! The scrapbookers soldier on...

What I have to present to you is the New, Improved LOAD! Read on for more details...

I am challenging you to create a layout a day, each day during the month of February. For you math whizzes out there, you realize immediately that I'm talking 28 layouts in 28 days. Yes, it can be done!

In response to some feedback from participants last year, here's how things are going to run:

-You will create 28 layouts in 28 days -- one a day.
-Every day you will receive an email from me with a suggested topic or challenge for your page.. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO FOLLOW THESE SUGGESTIONS!
-You will post your layouts to a private group Flickr site.
-If your heart so desires and you are feeling a little lonely, you can chat it up on our Flickr group page.
-At the end of the 28 days, everyone who has completed a page a day for the entire month will be eligible for a Grand Prize drawing of goodies and fun (including a copy of Snippets and a Zutter Bind-it-all!) worth over $150.
-Because I do not have a backend host for this and have to handle all administration myself, participation in the 2009 LOAD will cost $6, payable in cash, check, PayPal, or cashmere yarn.

It's really simple! Don't try to complicate this too much... but I know you already have questions, so read on...

FAQ #1. Why are you charging a participation fee this year?
Answer: For several reasons. Last year, we had a large percentage of people sign up who were not really committed to completing the challenge. I believe by asking for a small monetary commitment, we'll weed out a lot of folks who weren't really into it. Also, because I have to handle all the backend administration myself (no webmaster or pre-existing gallery to use), the time commitment from me is going to be much higher.

FAQ #2. Where does the money go?
Answer: $1 from each registration will go to Books for Kids, a foundation I strongly believe in. The rest will go to fund a small guerrilla band of raccoons on the banks of the Russian River. Just kidding.

FAQ #3. Why aren't you doing daily prizes this year?
Answer: The administration was HUGE for daily prizes, and I am trying to simplify LOAD and my life. Also, the daily prizes are cost-prohibitive now that I do not have a job.

FAQ #4. What's with the daily email?
Answer: Last year I received suggestions from several people that they would like a daily challenge. It's an easy thing to add, so I'm doing it!

FAQ #5. What if I don't want to do the daily challenge?
Answer: You don't have to! You can scrapbook about anything you want -- the daily challenge, your dog, your kids, your wedding album, your bunions -- it's entirely up to you!

FAQ #6: What if I miss a day? Can I "catch up?"
Answer: For the purposes of this challenge, we are creating a layout a day. That means there is no "catching up" or "banking." However, for your personal satisfaction, if you want to stay up all night on February 27 and complete the 12 layouts you missed, you have my blessing. But to be eligible for the Grand Prize Drawing, I need to see a layout a day in the Flickr gallery.

FAQ #7: What about cards, altered items, ATCs, etc.? Do they count as layouts?
Answer: Nope. A layout is a layout. If you want to participate with cards, or some other form of paper art, you are welcome to -- but again, you will not be eligible for the Grand Prize Drawing.

FAQ #8: Can I upload layouts I've already created?
Answer: (Seriously, I got this question last year...). Nope. Pages must be created during the month of February.

FAQ #9: What if my washer explodes, we're hit by a hurricane, the power goes out, I get sick, I decide to go to Tahiti, etc.?
Answer: Then you will have my sympathy, compassion, or envy, depending on your circumstances. But again, to be eligible for the Grand Prize Drawing, you have to upload a page a day for the entire month (have I said that enough yet?).

FAQ #10: I don't have a Flickr account. How do I get one?
Answer: You pop on over to Flickr and sign up! It's free and extremely easy.

FAQ #11: How will you decide who wins the Grand Prize?
Answer: At the end of the month, everyone who has uploaded a page each day during the month will be entered in a drawing. Then I will pick my favorite person. Haha! Just kidding. It will be random. Entirely random. Really, really random.

FAQ #12: I'm in a different time zone. Can I still play?
Answer: I hope you will! The daily challenges may go out a bit late for you, but you can work ahead or backwards on those as you desire. And when I look at daily uploads, I'll be going by 12 midnight California time. So that should cover everyone except you Hawaiians out there. If you're playing and you're in Hawaii, let me know and I'll adjust accordingly.

FAQ #13: What do I get for my $6?
Answer: You get:
-A daily email with encouragement and layout ideas from me.
-Access to our private Flickr gallery and message board.
-A blog button to download to your site so everyone knows you're a star
-An extra audio podcast (and maybe a video, too!) from me
-The chance to win a Grand Prize package valued at over $150 (including a copy of Snippets and the Zutter Bind-It-All).

FAQ #14:  I'm a digi (hybrid, organic, paper, recycled) scrapper. Can I participate?
Answer: Yes! All scrappers (with the exception of Paris Hilton) are welcome! And I may even let her join in if she pays her $6. 

FAQ #15: I'm in! How do I pay?
Answer: You can Paypal me at lainehmann <at> comcast <dot> net., or contact me for my mailing address. Can't wait to have you join in!

**************

Okay, are you ready to play? All you need to do is send me an email letting me know you're in. As soon as I receive your payment of $6, I'll add you to our mailing list, and come Feb. 1, you'll be good to go!

SPECIAL OFFER: If you register and pay by January 25, your registration price will be only $5.

Let the games begin!

My Heart Is Breaking.

I hate this.

So NOT Hot

I harbor a special place in my heart (or wherever hatred is stored) with Paris Hilton's name on it. I cannot stand the woman. I hate that I share anything -- including two X chromosomes -- with her.

So the idea that she is now supposedly a scrapbook icon is making me nothing short of ill.

Take a look at the date. It is NOT April Fool's Day, and I am not fooling you. Here's an excerpt from the press release I received today:

<<WOOKY AND PARIS HILTON TO LAUNCH NEW CRAFT LINES

Inspired by Paris Hilton, The Creativity Collection™ Craft Lines to be Unveiled at the Craft & Hobby Association Winter Show January 25, 2009

MONTREAL (January 13, 2009) Wooky Entertainment a leading provider of creative activities for the tween and teen market, today announced a worldwide licensing agreement with Paris Hilton Entertainment to establish Paris Hilton The Creativity Collection™...

Paris Hilton, The Creativity Collection™ includes the following:

The designer Scrapbooking kit provides high-fashion albums, designer papers both inspired by and featuring Paris, hot theme packs with edgy backgrounds, rhinestones and a broad selection of embellishments for added “bling.”
.>>

I have always maintained that EVERYONE is welcome in scrapbooking. Perhaps I should have made myself more clear. Everyone EXCEPT Paris Hilton.

Now if I thought she actually scrapbooked, I'd be of a different mindset. But the idea of Paris hanging out at CKC, wielding a Crop-a-dile in one hand and a tape runner in the other, is way out of the question. After all, she'd have to set down her Sidekick and her glass of Cristal.

Okay, okay, call me catty. Go ahead. I don't mind. See, I don't hate Paris because she's rich, skinny and blonde. I hate her because... well, because she's Paris Hilton. And she stands for everything (pretty much) that I think is wrong with the world, with the possible exception of people driving too slow in the fast lane.

On the other hand, here are a few celebrities I would gladly welcome to the scrapbooking industry:

-Rachel Ray. She's so darned cute! I can see some adorable embellishments of EVOO, and stickers that say "YUM-O." Perfect for dinner party invites or Christmas cookie pages. (And doesn't she kind of sort of look like me?? Maybe just a little.)

-Ralph Lauren. I imagine tasteful striped patterned paper in red, white and blue, with coordinating ribbon with polo players on it. Just the ticket for the photos of the family's trip to the Vineyard or the Head of the Charles regatta.

-Venus and Serena Williams. If you want "added 'bling,'" ask these ladies. As fashion designers, they created some remarkable items. I think they'd bring the same sensibility to the 12x12 page.

-Richard Simmons. No good reason. I just like him.

The only good thing I can say about Paris Hilton entering the scrapbook arena is that apparently we're so trendy she can't resist. And that can only be a good thing. Or so I'm telling myself.