Friday, April 20, 2007

Vendor fair fun

I had so much fun shopping the vendor fair even though I was by myself and I was there for a short time...only because I ran out of money very quickly. Mark was generous and gave me all his money from cash jobs. I didn't even look at half of the booths. I've been so many years in a row, that I pretty much know what I'm looking for before I get there. As you all know I have a weakness for flowers so I had to get the bazzill bling blossoms. I also got the Autumn Leaves build a flower acrylic stamp set, an acrylic block, Technique Tuesday chipboard circles and circle frames, basic grey file set to file chipboard and stuff, way pretty charms from imaginisce, very cute ribbon, a ginormous letter "J" to alter, and a t-shirt that says "You better be nice or I will crop you out of my scrapbooks". I did get ONE more thing, but you'll have to wait a minute to see it.After I was done I met Mark for lunch at Grandma's Kitchen in downtown Mesa. Really yummy! I love her dishes...totally reminds me of grandma's dishes. Ya'll know Mark doesn't cooperate for pictures. It's way too fun for him to be a goofball instead. Perhaps he doesn't know that I'm posting his goofiness here...hmmmm.Yep...he's still being a dork. :o) You know how to get an instant face lift and look like you dropped 15 pounds? Hold the camera a little higher. Whala! Fat girl...skinny girl..no double chin... just like that! :o)
I bet you're curious what that last thing I got was, huh?!
look below
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I KNOW! Oh my gosh! The Quickutz Silhouette! I have such guilt and I'm scared to open the box. I haven't spent money on an anything fun in a long time because I'm on a shopping diet. Now that I got this out of my system, the diet is back on. This little baby can do so such fun things. I'm excited to learn how to use it...once I'm brave enough to open it. I did get an awesome deal on it and we are considering this my belated birthday present since I was out of town for my birthday and didn't get anything then. If any of you have this little beauty and have some helpful hints to share I would really appreciate it.

A few of the things in the first picture I got at Scrapbooks Etc. While I was there I ran into Tena Sprenger. We talked and caught up on each others lives for a little while. It was so nice to see her. I just love her! She was there to pull some paper aside for one of her classes before all the crazy convention shoppers bought it up.

Q&A

* The font I used for the journaling on the last layout is CK journaling.

* The pictures on the sides I did using a program called Micrografx windows draw. I clicked insert object, then clicked picture file. Once it's on the page I can click and drag to whatever size I want. I just eyeball it and put them close together if I want it to look like a strip. Those were about 2"X3". All the pictures from these layouts were printed on one page. I can put a bunch of different size pictures on one page if I use this program as apposed to my regular program where I have to do all of the same size and they have to be "normal" sizes. Did that make any sense?

* Cole is doing better. My heart still aches. It's both the physical stuff and the emotional. This is a small town with big town traffic, but not a lot of stuff here. I'm really enjoying trying to make this house feel homey. Right now the windows are open and it is beautiful outside...until the wind direction changes, then I smell the dairy cows and the smelly stuff that comes out of cows. I think Mark likes that smell. We are pretty close to the train tracks and I really do love to hear the trains. It's not too loud. You can hear them if the windows are open. Emotionally, I miss my friends and my house. I feel like I'm a Mesa girl trapped in Maricopa looking through the glass but can't get in. Just a kind of lonely feeling. I'm really trying to adjust and fit in here. It's just going to take some time. I'm the kind of girl who needs to feel needed...know what I mean?



27 comments:

Anonymous said...

Enjoy the Silhouette. Indeed, you DESERVE it.

Amie said...

Enjoy using your new scrapping supplies... I love getting new stuff.

Amie

Rhona said...

That looks like some fun stuff you've got - I'm looking forward to hearing more about what you think of the silhouette. We're just starting the journey you've just done and are going to have to put our house on the market. The children are upset by it but at least we'll get to stay in the same town. Hope you feel more "at home" soon. xx

LZ Blogger said...

That sandwich at Grandma's looks awesome... if I ever do a post on Mesa... I'll add that to my list of "THINGS TO DO!" well... provided it tastes as good as it looks! ~ jb///

~Telah said...

Wow what great finds you got! I love the pictures of you and Mark, no matter how goofy he looks...too cute! I will have to try the holding the camera higher thing!

Kim said...

Maybe you can start a "shopper's diet" group. I went out yesterday to the LSS across town and dropped a boat load. Now, if I will just make the time to sit down and actually do the projects! Enjoy your Silhouette!

Andi said...

I'm going to start asking anyone taking my picture to stand on a ladder!!!

Love your great Scrapbook things!!! I don't know what a Silhouette does but look forward to seeing what you make with it. I really want to see your "J" chipboard letter after you alter it. I have all these chipboard letters that I haven't done a thing with because I don't know where to start.

When you "sew" on a scrapbook page do you use a special machine or will just any sewing machine with a zig-zag stitch work? Your pages always looks so wonderful.

Great pictures of you and Mark! Lunch looks pretty great too!!!

Kim -today's creative blog said...

look at that stash! And how fun to play with the new quickuts!

I'm sorry you are feeling disconnected in your new place. Perhaps you can move back someday?

Briana said...

I'm drooling over those bling flowers!!! Haven't seen them around here yet. Lucky for me I'm headed to AZ in June! Must beg DH to let me scrapshop!

Sorry, no advice on your new toy either. Im a Xyron instructor, so I have the Wishbalde, XPCS, Design Runner and Design Disc Maker. I can help you with any of those. Although I'm interested to see the things you create with yours! I've never seen it in action.

Chickenbells said...

I thought you looked skinny in the first picture...but, now I'll be holding my camera up a litlle more too (great hint!) It looks like you had a great tiny shopping trip...and are you gonna' have fun with your new technology or what? I can't wait to see what you make...

Diana said...

I can't wait to see what you create with your new toy! I haven't seen one before but maybe I will have to go looking after I see what miracles you can make!

Bethany E. said...

Love seeing the your new scrap things! I love the bazzil bling flowers...so pretty! Can't wait to see what you create with the Silhouette!

Anonymous said...

I don't know what the Silhouette is....gonna have to Google it :)

Love love the font...can you share it? Is it one that is emailable?

Thanks for the info on teh pics....guess I could print wallets out and make them look like that :)

Valerie said...

oh, MAN!! you truly did score!! i just wish i could only find the BasicGrey file set down here..i cannot find it to save my soul!

thanks for the updates, and i'm still praying you find the peace you need in the new home!

TK Angels said...

I can't wait to see what new things you create. I love the pics of you and hubby.

He seems like fun,

Take care,
Love,
Terri

Cassandra said...

Oh I am so jealous of your new scrapping toy! I can't wait to see what you do with it!

Just wait until those folks in Maricopa see what a treasure they've inherited!

P.S. - please don't forget to email me your address so I can get your goodies in the mail!

Wendster said...

Hey there, I've been reading your blog for a few weeks now ... it was on someone's list of best blogs so I came to check it out. I haven't posted because I don't know the blogging etiquette for newcomers. Do I need an invitation to be here? I apologize if I am intruding. I am rather new to blogging. Anyways, I sure am impressed with all of your tips! So organized! Such adorable amazing creations you make! And it touched my heart to hear of your son's tough time adjusting. And since I can relate, I thought I'd drop a line now if that's OK: I just moved here (new city in CAlif) 15 months ago w/ my new hubby, 3 teenaged kids, and our toddler. I felt SO disconnected when I got here. Everyone was nice, but no one was really "mine" if that makes any sense ... everyone was everyone else's close friend. It intensified my "alone-ness". So I just focused on enjoying the time with my family, started muraling on my walls, and kept busy with charity stuff and my toddler and after a while I looked around and noticed that there were people I was bumping into regularly who lit me up with happiness each time I saw them. Especially at church. I finally found a few of "my" people, and they are totally awesome. My kids are settling in too. It just takes time. At least that's how it was for me. I hope that helps. You seem like the kind of person who attracts wonderful friends, so I believe that you will find your niche there and your people very soon. Good luck! Hang in there! Think happy thoughts about the wonderful new friends who are finding their way to you even as we speak. Wendy

Cindi said...

Love your goodies and your new machine! I've been on a shopping diet too so I haven't been in a scrapbooking store since December. I haven't scrappped in that long either so it hasn't been too bad. I'm working on changing some things in my home. I need re-energized and decorating always does that for me. I've been working on the living room and hopefully I'll get it done today.

Have Fun with your new toys!

Anonymous said...

That all looks like fun. I love shopping (and am missing it a lot lately--I must be getting closer to getting back *out into the world*). I love just looking at all the fun eye candy there are at fairs. Such fun stuff.

Melissa said...

After all you've been through the last few months, I'm glad you had such a great day. Enjoy your new toy!

Anonymous said...

What cute pictures of you and Mark. Men can be so silly sometimes!

Congrats on your Quickutz purchase! I can't wait to see what you do with your new stuff! Glad you had a great time shopping.

Jenn said...

Enjoy your new toy, Jolene!! Happy belated birthday!!!

It is so hard to feel wanted and needed in a new little town with all new people. It does get better if you just keep talking to people!Even though I still feel so lonely here sometimes, I know now that I never want a big-city life again! ((hugs))

Wendster said...

Oooh! I just found your posts at my blog and they were such a treat! and so complimentary, too. Thanks for writing me Jolene. I didn't see your note til late tonight, so I didn't run around photographing my murals, but I WILL do that soon. Thanks for making me feel welcome here. You are welcome at my blog as well, any time! So far I have done the following murals: Sunflower/bathroom, undersea/bathroom, fairies/flowers/bedroom, and the beginning of the skateboarding geckos with my niece in Rob's bedroom. She did the first gecko and several of the fairies in the fairy bedroom. She thought up the geckos, and I put them on skateboards and bicycles. I started roses over the archway, but found I'm not a natural at roses. ha. Hope you had a happy day today! Love! Wendy

Anonymous said...

Good for you girl. You enjoy that Quickcuts thing, we all deserve a fun purchase for ourselves sometimes. Everytime i read your blog I miss home. I so miss it. But I will be in your neck of the woods in June. Counting the days. My sister just bought a house in Maricopa, she also just moved out of Mesa, she lived right next to Arizona Mills.

Thank you for the fun look into your life, I enjoy it so much!

El Reys---here I come!!!

Anonymous said...

Hi Jolene, It hasn't been very long. I bet you'll get to feeling "right at home" soon, sweetie. You look like a kid in a candy store with your QK Silhouette. LOL!

Kimberly said...

Looks like you had a great time! I always love getting new toys! Have a good day!

Nicole *Ü* said...

JOLENE!!!! Oh my word, you are so dang lucky!!! And i'm so incredibly jealous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Have fun playing with it!! BTW, your lunch looked fabulous too!!!