Michael Jackson's This Is It

We rented this DVD Friday night and watched it with the boys.  If you haven't seen it yet, it is a great film.  I have a new appreciation for MJ and who he was.  Like many people, I've let the negative publicity over the year cloud my judgement.  It is clear there was more to this man.  What impressed me the most in the film was how kind and humble he was to cast and crew members on the set.  I would expect MJ to be a diva, he was the King of Pop after all, but he wasn't.  He was considerate of other's feelings and needs.  It was clear this show was his production.  He added input on every note, every cue, every dance step.  It truly was his work and not the vision of some director or choreographer.  I give it a thumbs up!

I am sooooo lame!

So, here I am on our last day in warm, sunny CA and I haven't even posted any pics from CHA. First, I figured there were a ton of pics out there already and ya'll weren't missing anything. Second, I have been so busy trying to decide what lines to go with for the monthly kits. I do have all the paper lines AND embellies ordered for kits through August!!!! Let me tell you, that was A LOT of work in a short period of time and my brain hurts! But I picked some awesome products and you guys are going to love love love it!!! 

By the way.....did I mention it was warm and sunny?????    :)

These Shoes Were Made For Walkin'

We made it to CHA and I am finally getting a chance to post.  First, I will just say the weather has been FANTASTIC!   The sun is shining....oh, how nice it is to finally see the sun!  The days are warm and evenings a bit cool, but nothing to complain about.  It is January after all.  Right before we left I happened to stumble upon these shoes from Naturalizer.  I normally wear heels and thought I better find some senior shoes....errr, I mean sensible shoes!  These shoes are not only stylish (well, I think so) but oh soooo comfortable!  I may never go back to heels again.   OMG!  I AM turning into my mother!   OK, that may not be such a bad thing since she is a wonderful person.

February Kit Of the Month

February's KOTM kits are now in the store.  This month features My Mind's Eye Be Loved line.  It is so lovely and very versitile.  You can use these papers for Valentine's Day layout and so much more.  If you are a kit club member, your kit is waiting for you in the store with your name on it.  If you are not yet a kit club member there will be a few extra kits, but act fast because they sell out each month.

For those of you new to the KOTM, each kit offers the latest and greatest in scrapbook supplies. Kits are assembled to coordinate beautifully and take the guess work out of shopping. Photos and step-by-step instructions are provided to complete at least 2 layouts from each kit.  Or, because you receive full sheets of each paper, you can choose to create your own designs. Kit club members who sign up for a six month commitment will receive a 10% discount on each kit every month.  Kits retail for $20.

And here are some sneak peaks of the layouts I completed using this kit.  Completed layouts are on display at Pizazz It! Scrapbooks.

Wanted: LRS March Guest Designer

Little Red Scrapbook is looking for a March Guest Designer. Do you love to scrapbook and do you have a blog or an online gallery?  If you do, then all you need to do is complete the following challenge and upload your layout to our LRS 2010 March GDT Gallery.  The Design Team, Rachel and Sara will choose one lucky person to be our Guest Designer for March.

March GDT Contest:  (open to US residents only)

Create one layout about a special love of your life, or about a special friendship you have with someone.

March GDT Rules:

Deadline: February 20, 2010 midnight your time

Requirements: If chosen as GDT for March you will receive one complimentary LRS March kit. You will be required to create 4 layouts and 2 altered projects with the kit to be completed by a specified date. You will also be asked to introduce yourself on the board and be an active member on the board through the month of March. If you have any questions, please email Sara at sara@littleredscrapbook.com.

I cannot wait to see what you submit!

The Next Top Model??

My boys can now add 'paid models' to their resume.  Yep, I paid them.  I am not above bribery, not one bit.  There was a day when Kemper and Griffin would happily and willingly pose for photos as soon as I whipped out the camera.  Those days are loooooong gone.  Our last couple of photo sessions have ended with sour puss smiles and tears (sometimes from me, sometimes from them.  LOL!).  So I decided to speak their language which is GREEN.  My boys will do anything for cold hard cash.  Griffin is the master pooper scooper if you give him a quarter.  Kemper, who actually knows the value of a dollar now, is a little more reluctant and I have to up the ante.  Today's photo session cost me $3 each.  Not terribly bad considering I got what I wanted.  Here is just a sample.  Gotta love those wax lips!  They kind of resemble sock monkeys, don't they?

Copic Workshops with Guest Artist, Sally MacDonald

Saturday, March 27th

Space Limited - Sign Up Now!

Pizazz It! is proud to welcome guest artist & instructor, Sally MacDonald. She will be teaching three different workshops on Saturday, March 27th for $40 each. Check out the information for each workshop and specify which ones you would like to sign up for when you call in. We want to emphasize that class space is very limited and already filling up so please call ASAP to ensure that you will be given a space. Do not miss this special opportunity!

Sally Lynn MacDonald has been an avid scrapbooker, stamper, paper and altered artist since 1998, when her first child was born. Subsequently, after the birth of twins, she quit her high-tech career at IBM to be home with her growing family. "This is when creativity became a survival skill!" she says.

She has been working in the paper arts industry for several years specializing in ink techniques and surfaces. Sally Lynn works with Prima Marketing in addition to her role as National Certification Trainer for Copic Marker / Imagination International. She is also a certified and/or endorsed instructor for Clear Scraps, Ranger Ink, Prima Marketing and a ‘Golden Embassador’ Instructor for Tattered Angels. She travels extensively, teaching workshops at conventions and stores throughout the United States and Canada. Her personal design challenge is to take products or techniques that would have her students saying "Huh?" and bring them to "Ah ha!".

Her style is eclectic and she loves to make each project unique, interactive and indulge her creative side. This year, she is on HGTV, featured in a couple of segments of the "That's Clever!" television program. Her work has been published in Legacy/Somerset Memories, Paper Crafts, Rubber Stamper and Stamper's Sampler Take Ten and Creative Jewelry.

Sally Lynn and her husband Neil live in Connecticut with their children, Brianna and the "Twinkies," Cameron and Courtney. Keep up with Sally Lynn's work, adventures and travels on her blog: http://www.inkyheart.typepad.com/.

Copic Certification Trainer (2008-present) * Copic Design Team (2008-present) * Ranger Certified Instructor (2006-present) * Prima Endorsed Instructor (2008-present) * Tattered Angel's ‘Golden Embassador’ Educator (2008-present) * Hambly Sponsored Instructor (2007-present) * Tattered Angel's Design Team (2008-2009) * ClearScraps Design Team (2008-2009)

Spellbinders' Design Team (2008) * Prickley Pear Stamps Design Team (2008-2009) * Cosmo Cricket Design Team (2007) * Zutter / Bind-it-All Design Team (2008) * FiberScraps (2005)

Workshop #1 - Copic 101: What? How? & WOW! 10am - 12pm $40

What is so special about Copic markers? These markers go way beyond coloring stamped images to multi-surface applications on cardstock, transparencies, fabric and more surfaces than you can imagine. Learn about the different styles of markers, and how the markers work, without the revealing brushstrokes so often associated with marker coloring. Unlock the secrets to choosing from the incredible 334 colors for blending and shading. Hands-on practice using four blending techniques that build upon each other and culminate with a three page handout that is yours to keep for reference and practice. An airbrushing demonstration will also be included as time allows.

Workshop #2 - Acryclic Album: 'Let No Surface Remain UnInked' featuring Copic Airbrushing 1:30pm - 3:30 pm $40

Clear Acrylic products are all the rage and this class will show you how to not only cope with the design challenges of a clear surface - but how to make it SHINE. We'll expose the clear surface and show you how to maximize your supplies along with ways to embellish and enhance the surface with epoxies, ink and getting double-duty from your embellishments. Sally Lynn will make it clear and complete in simply no time at all with techniques that you can use on all your clear projects. This technique-packed workshop will focus on Copic Marker ink and airbrushing as well as Glimmer Mist and the many surfaces and techniques used to color with them. From layering colors on transparencies, to airbrushing on acrylic as well as coloring 'bling', epoxy stickers, flowers and chipboard, Sally Lynn will guide you through every surface to go way above and beyond stamped images to altering everything. What to bring: Trimmer, scissors, Fabritac adhesive and your favorite dry adhesive. A Cropadile tool or hole punch is helpful.

Workshop #3 - Rangerpalooza: Distress Ink Techniques 'n Tags 5pm - 7pm $40

In distress? Have you run your inkpads ragged around the edge of reason? Take distressing beyond the edge in this hands-on workshop, you will be using the all of the wonderful colors of Ranger Distress Inks and Distress Embossing Powders. Learn advanced inking and embossing techniques to create stunning backgrounds and distressed effects in this hands-on exploration for your very own mini Ranger U. Create a sample tag booklet of your newfound skills with instructions for every technique included for future reference so you can ‘Distress with Confidence!’. As always, techniques are thoroughly spelled out on labels to apply to your own samples for future review. Please note: this is a no white clothing zone! Students learn a total of 10 techniques.

Remember - Space is really limited for each workshop and they have already begun to fill up so sign up ASAP!

Pizazz It Kit Of The Month Previews

There are a lot of fabulous new products hitting the market with CHA right around the corner.  I wanted to give everyone a peek at the kits coming up so you would know what to expect and plan your purchases accordingly.  Reminder, if you sign up to be a Kit of the Month Club member you will receive 10% off monthly kits.  The complete February Kit will be posted soon.

February:  My Minds Eye - Be Loved

March:  Little Yellow Bicycle - Lucky Me

 April:  Jillibean Soup - Old World Cabbage Soup

LRS January Sneak Peeks

Yeah! I'm so excited I finally have a blog and can post design team sneak peeks!

Little Red Scrapbook January Kit

This kit is like a breath of fresh air in the middle of this crazy winter! The Thickers are my favorite font and those Cherry Arte rub ons apply like butter! I'm so diggin' the Prima flowers and buttons. I just cannot get enough buttons!

Copic Marker Class

Yesterday, I conducted two classes at Pizazz It Scrapbooks on Copic Markers. The classes featured background information on Copic Markers and four blending techniques. I was very pleased with these first classes and had two great groups of ladies! Here is the card we made in class featuring Hero Arts stamps. Although these classes were sold out, more will be offered in February. Be looking for more basic blending technique classes as well as a new advanced technique class. At the suggestion of Jen Canfield, we might also be adding something new. More exciting details to come!!!