Heading to the MOTHERSHIP....

There is a 43% off coupon to be used this weekend to celebrate National Scrapbook Day and I am heading up to Kennesaw / Marietta to use it!  I know!  I know!  I really don't need to be spending money right now, but Archiver's NEVER has a coupon that large!  So, it is a big deal.  Plus, I can use it to get what I need.
Speaking of NEEDS:
On Monday, I went through each and every scrapbook that I own to see what needed to be done to finish off the albums or start the albums. Now, I have a LOT of albums that are finished.  BUT....I found 10 albums that need a couple things done to them to FINISH them off. 
So, the plan is to take this list to Archiver's with me.  I have all of the paper I need, but there is a really cool new tool called the Sew-Stamper that I really want to be able to use with my pages. I have been eyeing that thing since it came it.  It puts little stitches around your pages or around your photos.  Really cool little gadget.  So, I think that will be one of the purchases I make today.
My CHALLENGE to you for the month of May and this weekend's celebration of National Scrapbook Day.....(if you choose to accept it) is:

1. Go through all your albums in search of things that you need to do to FINISH the entire album to call it "COMPLETE".
2. Make a list of each of the things that you need in order to finish the album.
3. Get to work this weekend on purchasing those things and creating what you need.
4. Put the album back on the shelf, IT IS FINISHED.  COMPLETE.  NO QUESTIONS ASKED!

There is your challenge for MAY USE YOUR STASH too!  Imagine that!  2 posts in 1!  Now, I am off to have a shower and get to work on my list before I head up to the "Mothership".  Now Project Life Ladies, this goes for you too!  You may need to go back and look at those pages to make sure that you have all the photos that you need, or that you have journaling you need to finish.  So, get on it!  
Look for my post later this weekend about photo opportunities for Project Lifers.  I have lots of links for you to seek out ideas for photos of your every day.  So, keep your eyes peeled for that post this weekend!
Until Next Time,
SCRAP ON!
~Cyn~

Skyline Spring Retreat 2011

These ladies are awesome!  I love to plan retreats and I happen to love these ladies even more!  Skyline is the retreat that I plan twice a year.  I have to admit that this retreat was probably the best retreat I have planned so far!  I hope that it just gets better and better!  So many friendships are formed at retreats and this retreat is no different!  I actually got to talk to Nicole, who I briefly met at the FLSS retreat a couple of years ago and I really enjoyed getting to know her.  I also got to see my Ohio gals and hang out with Jessica from here in McDonough.  It was a fantastic weekend!!!!  Now, to begin planning the FALL Skyline retreat!!!  
~Cyn~

Day 31 of 365 - Page Completion Class

I went to Marta's house tonight to do a page completion class for CTMH. It was a kit that I really liked and it was awesome. I finally met her friend Jody and Jody's friend, Lisa. What a hoot they both are! When I get the pictures stuck down, I will share them with you all!
Until Next Time....
Keep Scrappin'!
~Cyn~

Christy's Surprise Birthday!!!

Have I ever mentioned that I love my friends.....probably. Well, when I realized that a good friend's birthday was coming up fast, I had to act fast! So.....

I emailed Craig, Christy's hubby, to see if he had plans for her birthday.....he only planned dinner, so I asked if he would mind if some "Scrappy Friends" came over for the day. He said "SURE!" So, I contacted a few of the SS gals and we made plans. I brought food and a homemade gift, so did Marta (along with one of her favourite wines) and the other gals brought her wine, balloons and little gifts. What a blast!

The fun part was that Christy was completely in the dark about it, texted me and asked if I would like to go thrift store shopping for a couple of hours on her birthday. I said "Yes!" Marta came along and I "faked" feeling sick at the Goodwill to get her home where CJ and Cathryn were waiting there to surprise her! Boy, was she surprised!!! HEE HEE HEE! I love surprising people, but I HATE being surprised myself! Isn't that weird?!?!

So...here are the pics: SURPRISE!!!!

So, Cathryn and Christie J, Marta and I were there to start and we all took a pic.

Then, later on Pam and Jill arrived just before dinner.

Ah, SUCCESS!!!! I love my friends and really enjoy showing them that they are loved! It was a great time and we even got to scrapbook a bit too! Fun, Fun, Fun!

The cool thing about this? I have a picture for 365 for today too!!!

Happy Birthday Christy! May your year be full of God's Richest Blessings, Friends to help celebrate along the way and lots of scrappy goodness!!! Luv ya!

Until next time....Keep on Scrappin'!!!
~Cyn~

25 Layouts and 365 for Sunday....

Can you believe it? I completed 25 layouts and all I had to do when I got home was print out the journaling that I wrote for one of the layouts and stick it down! Go me!

Now...here is the pic of the day for Sunday January 9th 2011...The 4 gals I sat with at FLSSIX:

Kim, ME, Marcy and Brenda K. I have roomed with Kim at a lot of the Florida retreats that I have been to. She is fun and she always looks great! She is bold with her hair colour and I admire her for it. I am not so great with taking chances and I wish I could do what she does with her hair! Seriously, she is awesome! Marcy and Brenda K were roomies and I have met Brenda K before, but hadn't really sat and talked with her. What an awesome chick! So, the 4 of us had a great time together this weekend. Thanks for the belly laughs gals! Can't wait to do it again!

Until next time.....Keep on Scrappin'!
~Cyn~

FLSSIX Group Photo - 365 Day 8

January 8th and I am still in Florida at the ScrapShare Retreat. I have already completed 21 layouts and I am still working....Here is the group photo we took this afternoon before dinner. Day 8 of 365 down!!!! Woot! Woot!

I am getting my scrap on! So until tomorrow....keep on scrappin'!
~Cyn~

January 7 - 365....can you believe I made it?

It has been 7 days in Project 365 and I have been getting my daily reminders (3 times per day). I have been VERY aware of the fact that I needed to take a picture. VERY.AWARE.

Here is the photo of us when Happy Momma (Jessica) came to visit us before everyone arrived to FLSSIX.

Front: Beth, Brenda, Marcy and Jessica

Back: Kelli, ME, Ang

Well, there you have it....the first week of 2011 and I actually kept up! I may not have taken this photo with MY camera, but it was taken today! Gotta love a retreat with scrapbookers....loads of cameras!!!

Until tomorrow, keep on scrappin'!

~Cyn~

365 Day 6 - The HO's....

Well, we had a great drive down to Florida, Marcy and I. Our drive was full of giggles and stories. We had a great time. Here is the pic of us with Brenda and Beth eating our HO HO's....What a laugh! I love my Florida Gals! Until tomorrow, Keep Scrappin'!
~Cyn~

365 Day 5

Marcy arrived from Virginia today. She and I are carpooling down to the Florida Scrapshare Retreat #9 (FLSSIX). We are leaving in the morning to drive down for the weekend. I hope we get lots of layouts done!
I can NOT wait to get my "scrap on".
Until tomorrow....Keep Scrappin'!!

~Cyn~

*8 Things Thursday

What is your list of *8People to Play With?

1. My children


2. My Husband


3. Stacy Julian


4. Ellen DeGeneres - this woman makes me laugh every day at 5pm on her show!


5. Cathy Zielske - her Design Your Life class at Big Picture Scrapbooking is fabulous!


6. My SKYLINE Sisters


7. Marta


8. My ScrapShare Sisters
   

My ScrapShare Sisters ROCK!!!

I had to come and brag about my ScrapShare Sisters....

Most of you that know me, know that back in August 2008, I had a garage sale and sold all of my baby stuff. We had been trying for going on 3 years with NO LUCK. So, I figured that since I wasn't working and needed money and we were not getting pregnant, I would have a huge yard sale and clean out everything baby related and get rid of the "clutter". So, I sold it all but the crib (stuck in the very back of the attic) and the pack and play (kept it because we have visitors from Canada all the time who have babies).
In February (the 14th), we found out we were expecting (it took 3 years and 3 months). The only things we had were Nathan's clothes that did not sell, the crib and pack and play.

So.......here is why I love my SS Sisters......

First of all, at the Skyline Retreat, the ladies threw a baby shower for Just Marcy and I on the Saturday of the retreat. It was a lot of fun, the cake was superb and Marcy and I got some really awesome stuff from all the girls!

Well, this past weekend (the 19th), SBinGA (Sharon) threw me a baby shower in my own home and "Baby Girl Michalski" and I were SPOILED!!!!

• Marta (M911) drove down from Atlanta just to hang with me for the day,
• Sharon (SBinGA) sent out invites and brought the food,
• Cathryn (in Atlanta) sent a gift for the baby (hand-made bibs and scrapbooking items for a little girl's album) with Marta,
• Susan (Gr82baGATOR) sent in the mail the cutest little creeper and it arrived on Friday (the day before the shower) and
• Kuleen (Kermit) sent me a quilt that she made for the baby girl - and YES, it was wrapped in green tissue paper but the quilt was purple!

I am SPOILED and BLESSED beyond measure to have you all in my life!

I am a Design Team Member for Lita's Embracing Imperfection!

Had to share with everyone the great news! I am Lita's newest Design Team Member! How cool is that? I received my first sketch in my inbox this morning when I woke up and I will be putting together the layout for her to release on Saturday (Friday if you live here in the States/Canada). How cool is that????

I am pretty excited to be able to share that with all of you!
So, check out Lita's Blog on Friday to check out the newest sketch being released! Here is my attempt at Lita's first sketch.

Basic Grey - MELLOW papers, letters and die cuts.

I am off now to take a photo of my newly organized and re-arranged scrap space and then move forward with the new sketch!
Can't wait for all of you to see it!

~Cyn~

Embracing Imperfection...Litabell's New Endeavor!

Check out my friend Lita's blog. She has begun a new endeavor with producing SKETCHES and posting them to her blog. She starts tomorrow and I can't wait! I love to use sketches and I especially love my friend Lita! Her scrapping style is awesome and we have the same love of a particular Vampire who sparkles....
Our other friend Karen will be doing some samples of Lita's sketches too! Karen, Lita and I bonded over TWILIGHT but their scrapping is awesome! I am sure you will see when you pop on over tomorrow!!!

Check out Lita's Blog! She posts her FIRST SKETCH tomorrow!!! Go Lita, Go! Can't wait to see Karen's interpretation of Lita's sketches too! You go Girls!!!! Woohoo!

Floored.....then Humbled....

I belong to a Scrapbooking Forum online called ScrapShare. I have been a member since 2-12-2007 and have had the pleasure of meeting some fabulously-talented women on this particular message board. I have been planning retreats since last year on ScrapShare as well and have fun doing it too! Now, in the past, I have read about some serious generosity from the members of SS and have always thought "What a great thing to do for someone, the recipient is very lucky to have an angel like that!" Well, this time around, the recipient is ME!

This week, I was sent a Private Message on ScrapShare telling me that my Retreat Fee was paid for me to attend "Texas Spring Thing" if I could swing the airfare. I was floored....shocked! I also feel very humbled that someone would do that for me!
Now, my ANGEL has asked to remain anonymous, so I am just saying here on my blog....THANK YOU ANGEL!!!!

I have already told my Angel that I will Pay It Forward when I am able to, but whoa! What a generous gift to be given! It amazes me....humbles me....makes me believe in the generosity of people now, more than ever!

WOW!

SKYLINE SPRING RECAP

We had 49 ladies....one lady had to stay home with the FLU and we are thankful that she did because none of us wanted to share that! Shelbi, Marta, Carla and I were up there Wednesday night to get everything set up and taken care of. We went to Big Jim's BAMA-Q for dinner and the Mac and Cheese was TO-DIE-FOR!!! It was awesome!

Even though I wasn't feeling great all weekend (morning sickness that lasted ALL-DAY), I still had a great time. These ladies were fabulous! Can't wait for AUGUST!!!

We took a bunch of group shots, but these two were my favourites.

I love my Skyline Ladies and LOVE my retreats that I attend through the ScrapShare message board!