I can’t believe CHA has come and gone. It is amazing how fast it goes by… just one big fabulous blur. It was great getting to see old friends and make some new ones. The internet is a wonderful thing as I will be able to keep in touch with people I met people from all over the world. While doing make-n-takes in the Maya Road booth…. nearly 500 in 3.5 days I met people from New Zealand, Paris, Germany, Australia, Japan and all over the USA.

I was so happy when Beth Williams Executive Editor of Memory Makers Magazine and GinaMarie Reda Assistant Editor of Memory Makers Magazine came by Maya Road to say hi. It was great getting to chat with them for a bit and actually put a person with their emails. Staci Ethridge and Tracy Austin two MMM ‘08 came by to say hi too. They are just as sweet as ever. I was so busy doing make-n-takes that I didn’t get a chance to really chat but just being able to saying hi in person was great. I got to chat with Tracie Radtke while she was doing her make-n-take at the F & W Publishing booth. We even planned a fun post for the MMM blog so be on the lookout for that one. While talking to Tracie I got to meet Katrina Simeck MMM ‘07. Talk about super sweet and a pleasure to meet. I ran into Christine Doyle, Editorial Director of Memory Makers Books and got to have a fun and exciting chat with her. As I was coming back from lunch I ran into Greta Hammond MMM ‘08, Vicki Boutin, the Queen of Foof herself Teresa McFayden and the super sweet Jenni Bowlin as you can see at every turn there were people to meet, chat with and get to know better. It is so fun to be around all these people with the same hobby.

I got to visit with Tricia and helped her pick out some fun things for future Cocoa Daisy Kits. I got to meet Ali Edwards rather quickly while she and Tricia were walking the floors and I was doing make-n-takes. Some of my ScrapGal friends stopped by to say hi… it is always so fun seeing Celeste Smith. She just quietly stands in line for make-n-takes and when I look up I am always so surprised to see her. I got to talk to Dina Wakley for awhile and meet Amie Farkas.

The one part of CHA that is not fun is all the stealing. It amazes me as to how much product and displays people will steal right out from under your nose. I had 2.5 projects stolen. Thankfully, Caroline caught one person and was able to get back the cover to my bird coaster album. I created it about my daughter and her friend. Of all the items taken this would have been the hardest one to recreate.

So if you happen to see these two projects floating around they are mine and I would love to have them back. No questions asked. Most likely I will never see them again. But I do find it amusing that the owl card is in the Maya Road catalog and would love to know how someone will explain that one as being their own. Kinda funny I think. I don’t know how people live with themselves knowing they took something that does not belong to them and will be missed by the designer.

I will post all about some of the new products that will be must haves for me tomorrow. Some really nice products will be hitting the stores soon.

Here is a fun “Getting to know you” Christmas questionnaire. My sister sent this to me so I thought I would share it with all of you. I am making a few ornaments that I will share with you tomorrow. They are easy and fun to make. Oh and this is for my friend Patti…. you will be happy to know it will be 80 degrees here in Frisco tomorrow! It was only 7 degrees at her place last night. Talk about put another log on the fire.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping Paper… Terri and Ansley are not trustworthy for gift bags!
2. Real tree or artificial? We have an Artificial
3. When do you put up the tree? Every year is different. Ours is going up this weekend.
4. When do you take the tree down? If you look in the Winter Issue of Scrapbooking and Beyond you will discover that last year it was MARCH!
5. Do you like eggnog? Yes, but my Dad’s is my favorite.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? When I was around 4 or 5 I got a Baby Etchn Sketch Doll (the name is something like that) I loved that doll and wish I could find one.
7. Do you have a Nativity scene? No
8. Hardest person to buy for? My DAD! Sorry Dad but it is true.
9. Easiest person to buy for? Ansley
10. Worst Christmas Gift you ever received? Honestly, I have never received a gift I didn’t like.
11. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail, I feel some things should be done the “old fashioned” way and mailing Christmas Cards is one of them.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? It’s a Wonderful Life
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? December and yes I tell myself every year that I am not going to wait until December to start shopping and here I sit once again with not a gift purchased.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Never
15. Favorite things to eat at Christmas? Mom’s Peanut Butter Fudge and my Chewy Chocolate Chip cookies and Pecan Sandies
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Every year has always been white but this year Ansley has talked me into C7 colored lights like they have on the trees in Hollister, one of her favorite stores.
17. Favorite Christmas song? Holy Night is my absolute favorite and it doesn’t matter who sings it.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Have traveled every year but I’m trying to talk my Mom and Dad into coming up here this year!
19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? Well of course I can.. you know my Dad is Santa don’t you?
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Neither, I have a really cool vintage glass topper that the girls cannot stand but I LOVE!
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? When the girls were little we opened one on Christmas eve and the rest Christmas morning, now we celebrate on Christmas Eve. I love the room dark with just the glow from our tree and a few years ago it actually snowed here on Christmas Eve. It was the most magical Christmas ever and one I will never forget.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Rude people just don’t get this at all. I understand we are all stressed but being rude certainly doesn’t make it any better.
23. What is the “silliest” family tradition you do, or miss doing? We don’t have one that is really silly but I do usually have one of the girls on some sort of crazy treasure hunt to find their gift. Not sure who my victim will be this year.
24. Ugliest Christmas Decoration ever invented? I think the long thinly cut silver tinsel that was supposed to drape down from the trees branches to look like icicles
25. Which looks best, theme trees or homey trees? I love both
26. Gingerbread or sugar cookies? Sugar Cookies to me, Gingerbread is for Houses
27. Do you like Fruitcake? NO

This past weekend I had the pleasure of going to San Antonio to attend a Fiskars Fisk-a-teers Crafting Ambassadors event. I have never attended such a well organized, fun filled, action packed training session. Brains on Fire organized a weekend I will never forget. I got to take classes given by lead Fisk-a-teers Holly, Stephenie and Cheryl as well as Heidi Grace of Heidi Grace Designs (totally adorable and the funniest storyteller ever one minute she had us laughing the next she had us grabbing Kleenex) and Nancy with Cloud 9 Design taught an adorable calendar class using many of her great paper lines . Each class was filled with loads of incredible Fiskars products. We were taught how to use each one and then got to keep everything after we finished the adorable project they had for us to create .

My roommate was Patti Church Fiskateer #377. Talk about a perfect match. I was really worried about not knowing who my roommate was going to be, because I am pretty shy in settings like that but Patti was perfect. We clicked the second we met and laughed so much by the end of each day my face hurt. She is so FUNNY and will always be a great friend. We were lucky enough to get to attend every class together and thank goodness I had her to keep me on track. With so much going on it was extremely hard for me to stay focused. I have never cut so many pieces of paper wrong in my life or gotten lost in the directions that were explained so easily a kindergarten student could have figured it out. Thankfully I had “Perfect Patti” as my keeper. She was the best and I wish she lived closer because I really miss her.

I got to FINALLY meet Jane Hasty Fiskateer #329. I have so wanted to meet her and each time the possibility came up something happened. Jane is an incredible photographer. You really need to check out her blog. It was so fun to get to know her roommate Kimberly Brock Fiskateer #1044. Talk about always looking like a “Rodeo Queen” she always looked so dang cute wearing her Fiskateer hat. Gretchen Schmidt Fiskateer #51 also sat at our table. I have chatted back and forth with her for so long and it was great to finally get to meet her. Gosh the list of people I met could go on and on. It is great to be a part of the so called “Fabulous Fifty”. Bonds were formed this weekend that I know will last a lifetime. It overwhelms me when I think about being a part of this group.

Now my next task is to train 20 people that want to become Fiskars Demonstrators in the DFW area. If you are interested in teaching and want to become a Fiskateer Ambassador look for one of the “Fabulous Fifty” in your area. If you made it this far in my post I feel it only right to offer a RAK. Just leave a comment about your favorite Fiskars product and I will place your name into a drawing for a Stamp Press.

Recognize this little guy? I got to play with him all afternoon. Talk about fun AND I get to go back next week to play again. This is Noah, Caroline’s adorable little boy. I love how he is sitting on his feet. You can’t tell but he is dancing to the Backyardigans. He would wiggle as the songs played… too cute I tell ya!

Then…. I never ever thought I would say this but I tried these dried salty prunes (on the left) and LOVE them. I totally understand why Caroline says when she thinks of these her mouth waters… it is the strangest thing you really do get this mouth watering, sweet/salty taste in your mouth when the thought enters your mind. Now the dried anchovies on the right… we may just have to have a cultural difference on this one. I just can’t go there quite yet.

Caroline took me to the warehouse too! Oh to be surrounded by Maya Road goodness is such a wonderful thing. I also found out about a few more things they have in the works and all I can say is WOW… she and Deb are full of great ideas. I cannot wait for CHA to get here so everyone can see all the goodness for themselves.

I have been a fan of Martha Stewart for over 20 years and I never thought I would get to talk to Martha much less to Martha Live on her show. What a fun experience and one I will never forget. Karen and Emily two of Martha’s producers were really nice and talk about making sure I was prepared! They did a great job with me but I discovered the anticipation of it all scares me to death. I am a just jump in the fire and figure it out kinda person rather than prepare and practice, practice, practice. The first time I had to practice with Karen (which just so happened to be the day before I talked to Martha) I thought I was going to have a nervous breakdown. You know… when people say their knees are/were knocking they are not kidding… believe them as my knees were knocking! I got so scared and was almost ill. I couldn’t even think of one thing to say. But, Tuesday morning when Martha’s staff called to do a line check on our phone I was as calm as I could be… hyper but no nerves and my knees were not knocking in the slightest. I could not wait to talk to Martha.

Here is a little clip of me getting to talk to Martha and if you are wondering… yes, I really am that hyper when talking about scrapbooking. I think I’m going to start doing webisode tutorials on my blog. That was really fun.

Oh and I received my Michael’s gift card today!!! Can you believe they overnighted it to me? I’m sure I don’t need I tell you I have already been to Michael’s. I purchased a few items and have quite a bit left on my gift card. I was just so overwhelmed with all her great products. I couldn’t decide what I really wanted. So, I purchased some glitter (of course), the binder hole edge punch, these gorgeous satin photo corners (Ivory, Brown and Black) and some orange scalloped note cards. I’m going to really think about what I want to create and then go back for round 2.