CKC Tulsa Layouts

Kelly and I took a My Mind's Eye class. LOVED IT!

This is one of the layouts we completed. For this layout, she taught us to cut apart those big pieces of bling designs you can buy.


This layout has great colors. It reminded me to use paper clips to attach ribbon. So simple, yet so easy to forgot.

Soon the new year will be here

Ready or not the new year will be here soon.

I have goals for next year that I hope will make me more organized. I wrote these tasks in my calendar to help me stay on track. Now I will tell you so then I need to be accountable. (in case you ask me about my progress at retreat)

Goal #1: To download and organize all pictures from my camera the last day of every month. I have been good at downloading but not organizing. Well, my downloading is not all that great either. I don't delete them off my camera until I make two back ups of the pictures. So when I do download the pictures, sometimes I get the same picture many times. This has caused a huge mess for me. 2011 I have been working on organizing my digital pictures. First I have them organized by year (complete). Now I will go in and organize them by month (in process) and delete the duplicates. Then I will mark if I have scrapbooked/printed them yet. Then when I need to print pictures, I know what to pick. Recently I printed pictures then found I had already printed them. Nothing like wasting money.

Goal #2: To keep these blog postings up to date. 2011 seemed to be hard for us to keep this up to date. I have had planned blog postings since mid August, but have you seen them yet! (They will be coming very soon)

Goal #3: To MAIL the birthday cards on time. As of today, I have made 58 of the 105 cards I need to make for 2012 birthdays. Last year I made all the cards in the beginning of the year also. I have them sorted by month in a box. Somehow I still never get the cards mailed on time. Addressing them is my problem. It doesn't take long but I just cannot seem to get it done. My hubby suggests that I print all the address labels now then I only need to change the ones that move. So I will try that. What could be easier then sticking a label on and walking to the mailbox. I was trying to convince him that since I make the cards, his job should be sending them. So far he is not going for this idea. :0)

That is plenty of goals for me. Others are minor, like continuing to ride my bike 3-4 times a week. That one I have to wait until my doctor releases me to ride the bike again. Currently I am restricted to the stationary bike. That is a lot harder for me then the real bike, outdoors. - Sigh - soon though, soon.


In early December, my mother and I attended a crop in Bixby, OK (south Tulsa). We got so much accomplished. It was wonderful. I completed 13 two page layouts from scratch and 5 two page layouts that I only needed to stick pictures on plus 21 birthday cards. I am trying to make myself make cards every time I complete a layout. I already have all the matching cardstock and embellishments out - why not. So maybe that is a goal for 2012 too. We had a great time.
Hopefully these layouts will be in future blog postings.

At the end of January, Pat and I will be attending CHA in Anahiem, CA. We are so excited. (only 34 days left). So you should see some postings from that. We hope to learn lots to share with you at the Spring Retreat.

Till next time, keep scrapping.
- Dora

Pre-register for the 2KatieDesigns layout class

We have invited 2KatieDesigns back to teach another fantastic layout class at the Fall Retreat.


Come learn tips and techniques while completing this 2 page layout.
You will get a whole set of alphabets so the title can be changed to fit your theme.

This class will be on Saturday, October 22nd at 10:15am. The cost is $15. Sign up using the paypal button on the right side of this page.

There are a limited number of seats to complete the class at retreat with 2KatieDesigns. They will also have some kits to sell.

Pre-register now before the seats fill up.

Moving to a new location

For past few years, Croppin’ Train Scrapbook Retreats have been held at the Embassy Suites in Rogers, Arkansas. The Embassy Suites has taken really good care of us, and we have enjoyed each of our Retreats.

We are often contacted by other venues, with an interest in moving a Retreat to their facility. Until now, we have not seen anything that would compare to the Embassy Suites.

The Holiday Inn & Convention Center in Springdale, however, has undergone major renovations over the past few years, and we have designated them as our host hotel for the Fall 2011 and Spring 2012 Croppin’ Train Scrapbook Retreats. This Holiday Inn is owned by the same company that owns Embassy Suites in Rogers.

Following is an excerpt of a recent news article, detailing the renovations:

The $6.5 million, multi-year renovation was executed in three phrases, modernizing the guest rooms, redesigning the public spaces and restaurant, and upgrading the 50,000 square feet of meeting and convention space. Guest rooms and suites now include 36-inch flat screen TVs equipped with cable/satellite. Bathrooms were updated and rooms redesigned to provide work areas. High-speed wireless internet access is throughout the hotel. The lobby, pool, business and fitness centers were all revamped and Precor Fitness exercise equipment added. The hotel features a 24/7 ‘snack area’, adjacent to the front desk.

The Northwest Arkansas Holiday Inn & Convention Center is located at 1500 S. 48th Street in Springdale, at the intersection of Hwys 540 and 412.

Croppin' Train Perks

In addition to the Holiday Inn’s renovations and upgrades in their facility, some of the perks they are offering Croppin’ Train attendees are:

—Reserved carts for Crop Room only!

—Microwave In the Crop Room for emergency pop corn, coffee, tea, etc.

—Electrical available for each Crop group

—Meals (with Salads) will be served in a reserved area, solely for Croppin’ Train attendees.

Retreat Week-ends:

· October 21-23, 2011

· March 30-April 1, 2012

Baseball 2010

I attended a class at Signed, Sealed and Delivered and created this layout. I put Diamond Glaze on the "STAR" of "ALL STAR" to make it stand out. We used the Sewing Heads by We R Memory Keepers to stitch a baseball stitch on the white piece of the left page. I like the effect. We will have these stitching templates at the next retreat or you can go to their website and download it.

Embellish It and My Craft Channel

Are you familier with Embellish It? I received the following info from her today:

To celebrate the launch of My Craft Channel, with a line-

up of 20 expert shows, I get to help give away 20 Cricut Machines in 20 Days.

The really amazing thing is that by helping spread the word today, YOU could WIN not just a Cricut, but a Cricut

E2 Machine!

NOTE: This giveaway is being hosted on the My Craft Channel blog.
To be eligible to WIN the Cricut, you can do the following 5 things:
Even better, you can enter the drawing for each of these things you do (so, do all 5 and you can enter 5 times!)

Make sure you leave a comment here for each thing you do

* You have until midnight PST tonight to enter for the Cricut E2

ONE | LIKE my Facebook page
TWO | LIKE Cricut on Facebook (I think we owe them this)
THREE | LIKE the My Craft Channel on Facebook
FOUR | Forward this email to 5 of your friends
FIVE | Facebook, tweet or blog about me or my new venture coming this fall on My Craft Channel

Mr. Personality

I created this layout using some Kaisercraft paper we sold a few retreats ago. The actual layout design is from the Sketch books that we sold at the last retreat. I LOVE those books for inspiration. Go here to get your own or let is know you want them and we will try to get them at the next retreat.
This layout is about my nephew. He was 13 months old. He made the funniest faces and stills does. It may be hard to tell in these pictures, but he has an Elvis look in one of them. :)

Party at Grandma's House

Ok, this layout isn't quite finished but I wanted to share it anyway. I used paper from a My Mind's Eye paper pad called Twinkle Twinkle Little Boy. This paper made me think of floors in a house.

Take note of two new Stampin' Up products that I am excited about. One is the brown scallop polka dotted ribbon. I have it across both pages. Also there is a new punch that is awesome. You can see it best on the second page below, on the flip book I made, but it is on both pages.

I just need to add a title and a CD of the videos I took of the babies.

Leave a comment of title suggestions.

CHA Day 2

We are SO wiped out. Sorry this post will be weak. Hopefully we will make up for it this weekend. :)

This is what was in a prize box that I received just for being the "timer" during a Minute to Craft It event. As I was pulling things out of this box, it seemed to be never ending. Can't wait to see who wins some of this at retreat...

This is a picture of the make and takes and some gifts I received today. Only thing missing is a little banner we made. We had to rush to the booth giving prizes away so we didn't get to finish the project. I will finish it then post a picture.

The headband uses the iTop tool.

The halloween bag uses the new sew ribbon tool by We R Memory Keepers. You may see that this retreat.

The door hanger uses Harry Potter paper and another project that I asked a couple of times but they didn't explain it at all. Great huh!

There is a little white box from Spellbinders.

A file folder from Tattered Angels and Prima. (love their new products)

The turquiose rectangle is made from sheets of duck tape. Neat.

We decorated a scissor holstor and received a pair of scissors to go inside.

I also made a ring using melt art and mold and pour. Neat technique.

The gray bag is from Silhouette and we die-cut flocking sheets and they ironed it on the bag.

We R Memory Keepers has new Sweetheart Inkers. This picture has an exclusive silver inker.

I will have to share the rest with you at retreat. :)

CHA - Day 1 for Croppin' Train

A Fun Day 1.

First, Dora took a class and used the new Cinch, Sew Easy, Brad Setter, and the Heart Attack. We made a 6x6 book with pocket pages and note pages. You might see something like this at a future retreat.

Then Melissa and Dora took a class on Asian Knot Tying. I don't have a picture yet, but will soon. It was a neat technique.

Then we went to the Navy Pier and rode the Ferris Wheel. That was cool. 15 stories high.

About to leave for the airport to head to CHA in Chicago. So excited here!!!

T-Ball 2009

This layout is of T-Ball practice. I cut the title from the Baseball Cricut cartridge (which we have at retreat for you to use). The base paper has printed stitching around the edge and I purchased it at Hobby Lobby.

K.I.S.S. Summer Fun Crop

Dora and her mom attended the K.I.S.S. Summer Fun Crop in Siloam Springs back in early June. It was a lot of fun and they got a lot completed. They also won some great prizes (look at all that paper/cardstock they got below) and got a few ideas for the next retreat we host. What was neat is that all proceeds from this crop went to Joplin families and volunteers.

Dora's Room - Day 7

My punches are propped up on curtain rods that we mounted on my wall. I love that they are out where I can see them and remember I have them. I like the design of the new punches except they do not work for this type of storage. I will have to come up with something else. The little buckets hanging on the ends hold the punches that are too small for the curtain rods, like the 1/2" circle punch. And one is holding the glimmer mist at the moment.


I saved my favorite for last. This is a zoomed in picture of my Ikea shelf. The bins with the the circles are from Lowes and the solid blue ones are from Ikea. Each bin is labeled with its contents. When I purged my room, I divided the undone kits from the completed kits that just need pictures to the paper collections. I also have a bin for Cricut, Slice, card making supplies, tools, and two for Glimmer Mist. Now when I go to crops, I can just go to whichever bin and pull projects. One of my bins has packs I put together that have the paper and pictures together. That is the easiest one to pull when I am ready for a day of scrapbooking.

Dora's Room - Day 6

This is the corner of my room that is opposite of the closet. I love my shelf from IKEA. It was well worth the money. I have four squares of stamp sets. I am slowly converting them to cling mount and hope to get that down to two squares. I store my scrapbooks on top of my shelf. In front of my shelf is where I store my solid 12x12 cardstock.

Dora's Room - Day 5

This is my closet. I hope it doesn't look too crazy. We took the doors off and added shelves to it when we moved in. I have lots of bins and drawers and everything has its own place. I also made sure the lowest shelf would still allow my rolling drawer carts to fit underneath.

Dora's Room - Day 4

This is my computer desk. I have my scanner and color printer on top. My laptop and natural light lamp on the desk top and the keyboard and mouse in the drawer. I love this desk most of the time. Sometimes the desk top is too small for what I need to do. But then I bring in a TV tray. :)

Dora's Room - Day 3

I have a nice ink rack that I purchased online years ago. (Actually I have two) It holds Stampin' Up ink and other ink pads very well. I am even storing a sponge wedge temporarily on one of them in this picture. :o) This one is on my scrapbook desk. The other is on top of the desk with retired colors and my Powder Puff inks on it.


This is a shelf I purchased at Sam's Club. It comes with the bins too. This one is a mix of office supplies and craft supplies. I love to have my bins labeled so I know where everything is.

Dora's Room - Day 2

I was so lucky one day to find a brand new kitchen cart at Helping Hands for only $75. I have been wanting one and they are normally $100+ and shipping. I store my Sizzix, Cinch and some Sizzix dies of the shelves. I don't have anything in the drawer yet. I have my baby laptop and the xyron inside the door of the cabinet. On top is my cricut and gypsy. This was the main purpose for this cabinet. I had to keep my cricut boxed up. So I rarely used it. Now it is ready to use anytime.

Dora's Room - Day 1

I will post a series of pictures of my room. I just finished purging the whole room. It feels good and I now remember what all I have and know where it is. (At least for a month or two) ha ha


First picture is a zoomed in look at my scrapbook desk my husband built me. I have pegboard as the "wall" so all my tools I use a lot and are easy to loose on a desk are up there. I also have my watercolor crayons handy in a votive holder. In another votive holder I have other handy tools: rulers, bone folder, stylus, pencils and pens, eraser, fan brush, etc.
Later in my series of pictures, I will show a zoomed out picture of the whole desk.