Hello. My name is.....

Becky and I am addicted to Scrapbook Paper. Many of you know my other addictions such as handbags/purses, food, socializing and this may come as a shock to you but I am also addicted to buying scrapbook paper (and then I can't use it unless it's the PERFECT project for it because what if I want it for something else later....). The good thing about this addiction is just like the rest- I am a VERY picky person - so I won't buy just ANYTHING! The other night I was REORGANIZING my scrapbook paper (I keep my 12X12 SU! Cardstock, SU! Simply Scrappin Kits and SU! Patterned Papers all organized in our Paper Holders and use the Dividers - but my non SU! patterned paper is kinda a crazy mixed mess). When I first started scrapbooking I did random pages and put them into a storage binder until I had an album for them - this is a HUGE album- big binding and it's purple (it's not my color- but it was the best out of the choices available). Thanks to Craft Keepers my "albums in progress" get stored in there until they are ready for a new home, and I have converted the LOVELY hughmungo album to be my "other" patterned paper storage (I have found the "less" handling of paper the better - keeps corners nice and no wrinkles - this way I can FLIP through the album). In the front it has all the vellums we used to sell (in 12X12 sheets of course) followed by catagories with 2 patterns in each divider (one on each side). I had TRIED to use my Scraprack (my Scraprack and I have a love hate relationship which I am willing to work on....) but everything ends up "flopping" and I struggle with it (when I move rooms I am going to try to use it again and will do a blog update about it). So now all my papers are divided into sections and then broken down by color (I know I am a silly girl to try and be THAT organized - I just really DETEST looking for stuff and not finding it - my stamp room is a mess but I can almost *ALWAYS* locate what I am looking for). So this morning I go to check my email and get a notice from a scrapbook company about their new lines they have out and available. Well SILLY me, I go online to check it out and what happens I fall in LOVE with some patterned papers! DUH! Did we not see that coming. But wait- there's more..... I will NOT purchase online because I hate all the extra little costs (shipping - more than 10% seems SO unreasonable to me- I am spoiled by SU!). I would rather take a trek out to one of my favorite stores in Kent or Issaquah to fill my NON SU! scrapbooking desires than to pay for shipping. My time is limited so it also delays my impulse buying habits and makes me think about WHAT I really NEED for scrapbooking supplies.... nothing (well, except for those CUTE Prima flowers in the CUTE jars - but those need to go on my birthday/Christmas list...). But this company offers FREE SHIPPING (on orders of $45 or more...) so the battle continues. Luckily enough I have been saving my SU! money to pay for Leadership otherwise I would totally be ALL over that offer. BTW- the only way I can pay for my scrapbooking stuff is from what I make with SU! It's my play money and am so glad that I teach classes because it supports my addictions (scrapbooking, stamping and socializing!) Going back to the reorganizing my pages- I did make a some choices on what to toss (there are some scrapbooking papers that I got in a variety pack that I don't EVER see myself using... EVER).

So now that I have rambled ON about the paper.... lets move onto paint and scrapbooks! A while back I was on Ebay bidding on some scrapbooking paint and was in shock because of the price (I like to get a good DEAL if I am going to be bidding on Ebay!) Well I called my favorite scrapbook store in Kent to find out if they carried this particular item. She told me ALL about the new lines and how it included a "stamp" and was a great deal... then I told her that I am a SU! demonstrator and I am very picky and pretty much exclusive to the SU! line (it's a RARE moment if I find something else I like enough to purchase it when it comes to stamps). Then she quietly told me (as if it's a secret not to share....) that the product I was asking about is just like the acrylic paints you can buy at the store - just different labels. I was like - "NO WAY- pin a tail on me and call me Betsy!" (my grandpa used to have a cow named Betsy when my mom was growing up - I never met the cow but have heard many stories about old Betsy!) So, I went to hubby's work on the day of their employee sale and walked out with a variety of colors! Haven't had a chance to play with them yet - but JUST wait- once I get my Watermark created I will be a HAPPY CAMPER and posting like a wild woman! OH! I just thought that I can ask my pal Kevin if he knows how to do the watermark (Mike's to busy with his job/commuting and I don't do well with written instructions - I am a VISUAL girl....)


Mike's schedule has been crazy with his commuting & work and this weekend is his birthday! I am not allowed to plan anything after I get off work until I leave the house Monday morning because it's all about spending time with him. Because his birthday isn't until Sunday I have him helping me with my room tonight (he has today off!) He is taking down my ceiling so that we can put up a new sheetrock ceiling tonight and that I can work by myself again (until we are ready to install the counter. This means that I will have a new lights put in (my ceiling is funny - it's a basic rectangle with a heating vent sticking down about a foot down in part of the room- when I take pictures you'll understand). So I decided to put in a new light that would adequately light the room and then a SECOND light to put against the wall to give me adequate lighting for my scrapbooking (if the main light is behind me it would create shadows whereas if it's infront it won't!). Now I am starting to think about possibly putting the new light in the middle area...... I'll have to think about it and see if it will work! I told him that I want to be able to move items into "the dungeon" Labor Day Weekend - that's my FINAL goal date (so I have to paint THIS WEEK!) This room is taking me forever.... all I want is a nice ORGANIZED effecient stamp/scrapbook/craft area (cause I will be sewing down there to!)

Oh the HAIR drama! It's gotten long and it was really frustrating me (I looked like a walking mop!) So, I called my favorite hair dresser (who I found out is ENGAGED and getting married in November!). Anyway I told her it was her choice to shape it or chop it. She was SHOCKED to see how much had grown! She took off 3+ inches! So I am back to "shaped hair" - yes still have some curl in it! She was firing questions at me because she was shocked at how fast it grew and the first one was "ARE YOU PREGNANT". When I relayed this story to Mike I was laughing about it and he was like "you're not right..." I just rolled my eyes. As everyone knows we would LOVE to be popping out babies but right now is just not a good time for us (I really don't want to HAVE to work full time when we have kidlets). So, we are on a 2 year plan as of right now!

Good news - I am almost done with Lyndsey's Baby Showers album. When I do projects for other people they get done quickly but for my own - they take me forever! SO I can deliver that album with a cute pink bow on it and check it off my list. Have to get some more pictures printed first (but after my meeting tomorrow morning I can run over to Costco - might go to Costco on Sunday while hubby's still at work.... that's a better plan!)

Okay- lunch is over so I gotta jam stan! Have a great day/weekend/week - until I talk to you again!

Thinking

Even though my new Stamp Room isn't finished and my current one looks like it's been hit by a tornado - there are some things that I just have to get organized with NOW and have some other organization for LATER.

My organization goals for now are:
Send out newsletters by the 25th of the month
Update my website samples by the 25th of the month (wonder if anyone noticed there were new cards on there this month.....)
Design next months camp by the 20th of the previous month (will have to adjust depending on SU! specials)
Prepare for a months worth of camps in ONE afternoon (I used to do this and it SAVES me so much time!)
Send project samples to my downline on the 1st

Goals for later:
Send out personal/birthday cards (start on January 1st)
*So - you better email me to make sure I know when your birthday is!*

Right now my business if flourishing and it's awesome how things are developing. My favorite part about it is that my customers/downline are my friends. Who else gets to go to work and spend time with a bunch of gals yapping it up?! Love it!

Tonight is PAINT NIGHT! Once the room is done I'll be posting pictures of my stamp/scrapbooking heaven!
~B

I got LUCKY!

For the last week or so I have been working on my email newsletter practically KICKING myself for not getting it out by the 1st like I wanted. I used to get it out at the end of the month for the NEXT month, but Stampin Up! stopped announcing their specials until the beginning of the month (after my email newsletter was sent and I don't want to fill everyone's inbox- I have friends that send forwards and it drives me batty so I try to be just as respectful and not CLOG anyone's inbox...). Well, I got LUCKY! They announced a promotion this morning for New Recruits that starts tomorrow! So, I updated my email, added the information and was set! There is a good reason for procrastination..... right?!

Hubby's work schedule is really crazy. He has Wednesday and Thursday off this week and I had to move my schedule around so that I will see him this week (he changed departments and is in training again- he'll be placed in his own store next week). So it's back to me and kids (our two dogs) most evenings. This will give me a good chance to get my room done with fewer distractions. Which is one of my goals this week!

The other morning I had a few moments before I went to work and had a chance to get creative! Made some fun things. Went to make a Bridal Shower Card and was COMPLETELY blank of ideas. Still whipped one up but fought with it a lot. I am definately one of those people that need to make 2+ of things so when I need something I am in a creative rut there's still something fabulous to grab!

On Friday I got a chance to go to Photographic Memories at church. Didn't take any of my own personal scrapbooking projects (by the time I would have packed/organized my own projects it would have been 10PM!) So I took Shawna's Well-Wish cards and a few other projects that I could work on away from the house. It was nice to get a chance to get out to work on stuff and get a chance to meet new people. Didn't get all that I wanted done with the Well-Wish cards because I loaned out my hole punch (I didn't want them to be a "tacky" size hole either....)

SU! Goals:
Finish Room (sand/paint walls, install counter and begin to move shelving/items)
Book to Look Envelopes (for Katie's SC on Friday! YEAH KATIE!)
Create a Watermark to put over images that I take pictures of so I don't get into trouble with the SU! copywrite policy

I think I'm in LOVE!

Not with my husband (well, yes I am in love with my husband but this is completely different!) but with the NEW RIBBON ORGANIZERS! Yesterday when I was supposed to be mudding the ceiling I was cleaning and doing other odd things (playing fetch with my son!). If you haven't seen it yet, here it is:

Isn't it beautiful!

Tonight I got the first layer of mudd on the ceiling and will do the second layer first thing in the morning between the gym and the shower. Then when I get home from work I can sand and hopefully begin the painting! YIPEE!

I don't have much to say on here. Got Shawna's Well-Wish cards done for her wedding (cut and stamped... need to find out if she would like them a little bit "fancier" or if simple is better)

Was up late last night and made a new background for my myspace page. It's a compilation of our Vegas pictures!

Have a good night - I am tired and going to bed early! Tomorrow I will begin planning my Stamp A Stack cards for the 16th! Oh! Had some great ideas earlier for that heart stamp set and didn't "sketch them" and have already forgotten! Some day it will come back to me!

Oh goodnesss... my FIRST post!

Okay- I am a little nervous here. I am not new to blogging but really nervous about WHAT I will say on here. It’s for all my friends (my downline is included in this category), family, customers, and the world to read (not that my others aren’t, I just don’t “advertise” them like this one – this one is open to everyone…. and that thought makes my brain hiccup!)

So, what are my intentions on using this space? I want to use it to talk about my life as a Demonstrator, the events/places that I go to, my wonderful creative space (that SHOULD be done this weekend!), and also some goals that I am working toward achieving.

Some of you may be wondering why in the world I chose my blog name as stamppalsyeah, but it’s my SU! group name…. Stamp Pals YEAH! And those of you who know me can probably figure it out why I chose that (say it out loud putting all the words together…. What does it sound like?)

I hope to post regularly (at least once a week, maybe more frequently than that). Share some of my creative thoughts (if I am not using them at a stamp camp…) card making, projects and scrapbooking!

Okay- my break is almost over…. Have to get back to work!
(for those of you who don’t know, YES I do work full time on top of teaching classes on Rubberstamping and Scrapbooking!)

Today’s SU! goal:
Finish sanding the walls in my NEW stamp room and mudd the spots on the ceiling!