Craaaaazy

off into the wild blue yonder

tonight!

The kids left yesterday and they are now in NZ - no doubt scoffing their little hearts out!

I will be posting here and there - so the next time you hear from me - it will be from downunder!

SHOP SMALL - buy local!

Small Business Saturday

Today is the day!!  A day when everyone comes together to celebrate the Shop Small movement and support small local businesses.

30% Off

the whole store!!! 

Yes you read that right - everything is 30% off.   Come in and

support Scrapgrlz, your local small business!

Open 9-6 today

Shopping online???  Use code SHOPSMALL
 to receive your 30% discount

FREE SHIPPING ON ORDERS OVER $50.00


Are you an AMEX cardholder??

Register with AMEX to receive a $25 statement credit when you spend $25 or more.

Hope to see you in the store today!!

SHOP SMALL - something to think about before you go shopping this weekend

this is a repost of something I just read - and unfortunately could not find the original source - but it rings very true.    And you can substitute America for ANY country!

 

Christmas 2011 -- Birth of a New Tradition

As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods -- merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor. This year will be different. This year Americans will give the gift of genuine concern for other Americans. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by American hands. Yes there is! It's time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese-produced wrapping paper?

Everyone -- yes EVERYONE -- gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates from your local American hair salon or barber?

Gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement.

Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American-owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates.

Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plonking down the Benjamins on a Chinese-made flat-screen TV? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course.

How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck, or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy?

Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day.

My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up and running.

OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit it into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery, and beautiful wooden boxes.

Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip. There are a bazillion owner-run restaurants -- all offering gift certificates. And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what about a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint? Remember folks, this isn't about big national chains -- this is about supporting your hometown Americans with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.

And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at your hometown theatre? Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.

Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another 10,000 Chinese-manufactured lights for the house? When you buy a $5.00 string of lights, about fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, trash guy, or babysitter a nice BIG tip.

You see, Christmas is no longer about draining American pockets so that China can build another glittering city. Christmas is now about caring about the US economy, encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. And, when we care about other Americans, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn't imagine.

THIS is the new American Christmas tradition. This is a revolution of caring about each other, and isn't that what Christmas is about?

**WW** Cosmo Cricket - Matilda - 6 winners!!

Well I am starting off this winners post - by jumping up and down with excitement because the All Blacks won the 2011 Rugby World cup!!   I think quite possibly it was one of the best games I have ever watched.   Adding here - I am now at the store - on just 3 hours sleep!!

Talk about down to the wire - we won 8-7 - the whole game was nailbiting - in fact I could hardly bear to watch when the score was SOOO close - I am sure I needed my heart restarted several times.   

Okay - I could go on and on - but I will put you out of your misery and announce the 6 winners of the 6x6 paper pads!

 

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

11
12
1
16
5
17

Timestamp: 2011-10-23 16:53:55 UTC

 

and the Scrapgrlz World Cup winners are......

 

Satyn

Jingle

Sallie

Ngan

Margie

Nadine

 

Get thee to your computers girls - and send me your snail mail address so I can get these shipped out to you in time for Halloween!

 

And just because I can - another photo of the All Blacks -in full force doing the Haka before the game. 

  The French really stood up to the challenge, formed an arrow shape and then walked right up to them! OOOH

I AM HERE in Christchurch

arrived around 8am this morning (11am yesterday pacific time).  

My parents were pleased to see me and so far they are ok.   They just moved into a new house Valentines Weekend so most of their things are still in boxes which probably saved a lot.  I think being in a new house and new subdivision has saved my parents a bit - so far no damge to the house.

Luckily my parents still have power - although no gas, and no hot water.   They have running water but it has to be boiled several times before drinking.

I have not ventured into the CBD of ChCh and nor will I - as it is not safe and really you just get in the way of rescue teams.

To be honest it will just be heartbreaking to see so much of my beautiful historic city destroyed.

Unfortunately a lot of what were rescues are now recovery missions - with such sad stories.

But even on the ride back from the airport - and later when we tried to get some petrol for the car - there is damage well out into the suburbs as well.  The death toll is still rising, and many many more just missing.

There have been plenty of aftershocks since I arrived this morning - but they seem to have lessened from yesterday.   However this happened last September as well - then they came back - lots of them.   I can only hope that does not repeat.

I am sure you understand that while I am away there will be no Wednesday Winner. 

LA and CHA - here we come!!

driving down today - the weather is gorgeous so it should be a lovely drive!

My righthand (wo)man Terri is with me, she has been a super duper helper and great friend, since Day 1 of my retreats - it will be so cool having her at CHA. The funny thing is - all her family think we are fibbing and not going to CHA at all, but really going to Disneyland *LOL*  I guess in a way we are - Scrapbooking Disneyland!!   We always have fun together though - so the forecast is a lot of laughter!

While I am gone - don't forget about the Steal of the Week which is going on now and next week too - 30% off everything in the store - just use the code STEAL when you check out.

The weather forecast is fab for the whole time we are in LA - even warmer than it has been here the last couple of days - I can't wait to enjoy it!  For now enjoy this wonderful song - along with aerial views of LaLaLand!

 

**Wednesday Winners** ....... I am so over the weather giveaway!!!!!!

I don't know about the rest of you but I am so over the weather.  Yes I know a lot of you are buried in snow.. but at least you get snow days and get to stay home.  Oh I know I live in California but it has not been warm and sunny here!!   Since Christmas I do not think we have had a day where we have made it over 10deg (58F).   I am so over it!   No we are not pussies - but our houses are not designed for it - they are designed to stay cool - and they do - more like #$%#$% cold!!!!   Neither do we have the clothes for it - unless you count the ones that sit at the back of the wardrobe that you use to go up to Tahoe - and you look a bit of twit walking around in ski/snowboard gear at the supermarket!!

We had days and days of rain, then fog, then really hard frosts which were followed by the sun - puny weakling sun that is - and I am done.  I am sure I have come down with S.A.D.; maybe I need to sit in front of a light box!   Anyway enough of my whinge-a-bitching.  Think of the poor buggers in Aussie. It is meant to be summertime there and they are having the floods of the millenium, lives lost, people missing, and so much damage it is just unbelievable.

Even Kaisercraft has been affected - they of course are an Australian company and they posted this  ‘Our Toowoomba and Browns Plains stores have been closed until further notice due to the flooding across Queensland'   We apologise for any  inconvenience this may cause but value our staffs safety.

Ok, now that I have had my pity party - on to the giveaway - which is themed

"I am so over the weather, bring on the spring
[and the heat, and really I like summer better]"   

So here is lots of LUVVERLY paper to cheer you up from Cosmo Cricket.

First up the bright and cheery Delovely Mini Deck - 6x6 happiness!!   Make a card - send it to me - make it sunny!

 

Then the HUGE Material Girl/Garden Variety 12x12 Double Deck.   A bazillion [ok not quite a bazillion] papers to make layouts to your heart's content!

and you better have some chipboard... just in case you lose power and can't get out for supplies... in the dark with a bit of salsa - you could pretend it was ChipsNDip!

 

 

Now bring on the sunshiney comments... or if you want... you can tell me what a WOOSY I am by letting me know just how nasty it is in your neck of the woods!

 

 

Resolutions !!!!!!!

We all make them.

We all break them.

You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em; Know when to walk away, know when to run.. WHAT?? get outta here Kenny.. wrong song.. and I don't even like country music.   Anyway... as I was saying.   This year I have lots of things I want to do/change/be/start/end etc.    So instead of standing there at midnight making rash promises - I have spent the last couple of days making a board.

So I present - My 2011 Resolution Board

I took a large piece of tin (left over from an old project) and punched a couple of holes (good ole cropadile) and hung it by wire.   Because the edges of the tin were a tad sharp, I wrapped the edges with 7gypsies tape.   Over each hole where the wire came through I put two buttons as added stability to stop the wire pulling back - and as luck would have it I had two buttons with the #1 on them so it is for Year 11!     Then I grabbed some el cheapo wooden pegs and glued magnet strips on to the back of each one (which came with a message board and will never be used).   Then I painted the pegs in different colours.

Peridot - Daily

Periwinkle - Weekly

Aquamarine - Monthly

Red - Year

Then I set to, and made the actual resolutions for each peg.   Some are just visuals, some are words, some are a combination.   Scrappy items came in handy here!   The whole time I was making it - I was thinking about all the things that I wanted - and even before it was finished - I had/have already started to implement some of them.    This is hanging in my little office area so everytime I walk in and out I see it.  

So here is a close up of the different areas.

DAILY

These are things I want to change on a daily basis. 

I found some fun images in a recent magazine and some I had on my computer.

No that is not moisturiser on the moisturise label but liquid pearls - looks realistic though!!   

My personal fave - Stop letting it - with the visual of  time slipping through my fingers

In making the actual board - I already started on the save money part by using items I already had.   You might laugh at the "dressed before 9am" - but let me tell you - working for yourself from home, it is so easy some days to get up and start working - and suddenly it is nearly lunchtime and you are still in your jimjams!!   Enough I say!

 

WEEKLY

The 2lbs down goal - that is my minimum - I think I can do better - but that is my weekly aim.  

Some of the exercise goals will change to daily. 

The SWIM is swimming don't you think?

Fix Something refers to the house.   We all have little jobs that need a bit of DIY - that always seem to get put off - no more!!

 

MONTHLY

My poor old Vespa has not been ridden in yonks.  With the way petrol is flying up - I need to get back in the saddle! 

1 layout a month might seem paltry - but as I have done NONE layouts a month over the past year, well!!   It seems as though since I started *working* in the scrap industry my own scrapping has become a thing of the past!

Something for me - a little AB FAB dahling - or a little putting me first.  Might be as a simple as a pedicure, or lunch with friends, or as involved as a weekend away.

I am changing my albums up - pulled the layouts all out over a year ago - they still sit... sadly waiting for a new home.

DATES!!   I want some!!   Not just a night at the movies either!

 

YEAR

These are goals I want reached in 2011.

The bath - that actual bath (and tap) is sitting in our garage - in a box - waiting to be installed. 

We bought it last year along with a new basin unit.  

We want to totally redo the main bathroom which is 70's kitsch small YUK horrible nasty.  

It is going to be a big job - everything ripped out - along with an adjoining wall (cupboard) to make the room bigger, and a skylight pushed through - as it is an interior room and dark as a coalmine with the lights off.   But this year it is HAPPENING!

I love the font for learning something new - and I know what it is I want to learn - and no I am not fessing up.      The other image is very self explanatory and I won't be commenting!

 

So there you have it - the Board.   I am thinking this should be the topic for the layout I do for this month!    I have a few other items to go on the board - need more pegs - and over the year some of the items will change their status to daily, weekly, monthly.    Some will be bumped up (exercise) and some will be bumped down (dig photos) as situations change or get completed.

*~*~*~* HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL *~*~*~*

***~~~ONE MORE SLEEP~~~***

...are you ready???