get inspired: wall of inspiration

yay!!!! we're bringing back the wall of inspiration.
it's a place to hang up your completed layouts,
so others can share in your beautiful pages
and maybe find ideas/inspiration for themselves.

i made some goodies!!! woot! woot!
check out these mini metal birdhouses...
i only could get my hands on 17 of these little metal cuties,
so the race is on!

AND...
several scrappers requested a "contest" of sorts.

i am definitely not being a judge.
it would be waaaaaay too hard to choose.

so, i made these "you are my FAVE" ribbons
for those unlucky ladies with this duty.
(anyone want to volunteer for this?)

little badges of honor.

they say "LOVELY PARTICIPANT: wall of inspiration" on the back.

procrastinating...

what's pretty much the opposite of irresistibly cute baby feet?

TAXES.

self-employment itemizations:
so painfully boring and time-consuming.

the red manila folder means get yo' ass on it!

tootles for now...

a quiet morning

somebody was in full concentration....

("get in my mouth")

("victory")

get inspired: scrapper challenge

as you know, i've been trying to fill the last scrapper seats.
which means... going back to grassroots.
i.e. handing out info cards to scrappers in aisles.
i knooow, doesn't sound fun.
but...it's actually not that bad.

with finding my business clients and organizing get inspired,
i've really had to push myself to be more outgoing.
this was a definite struggle at first.
i'm much more comfortable as an introvert.

but, over the years, it's gotten easier and easier.
i learned a valuable lesson:
you just have to put yourself out there.
(my hubby would actually say these exact words to me -
when i'd get discouraged. and it's so true.)

i've found, even when i'm approaching a random person,
people are generally open and friendly.
especially scrapbookers. :)

one of the comments from last year's survey was:
"i made a new friend."
that brought a instant smile to my face.
i felt so proud that i helped create a friendship.
there is nothing more inspiring than a friend.

so, my scrapper challenge for this Spring event is:
MAKE A NEW FRIEND.
:)

my lovely assistant

...with one of the get inspired prizes.

vanna ain't got nothin' on my baby girl.

;)

get inspired: a switch-up

originally my idea was to get everyone birdhouses
as their 'get inspired gift' (going with the Spring theme.)

however, i couldn't find any that had the value i wanted.
(flashback to my drake days ... quality + price = value)

so, i decided to switch it up...

first of all, i got everyone travel mugs:

i listened to 'my peeps' on this one. hehee.
several scrappers gave feedback they wanted covered cups.
nothing worse than spilling on your scrapbook supplies.

these are 'design your own mug' ones and look how cute they are -
i simply put a piece of scrapbook paper in there!
they are only 11 oz'ers, but they get the job done.

secondly, i got everyone bags:

another practical choice.
when were were setting up at our last event,
the papers went flying when the doors were opened.

i thought: if i'm gonna get bags, why not get colorful ones...
and reusable??? weeeeellllll...
freebies that are F U N and practical,
not a bad switch-up, dontcha think?

get inspired: t minus 11 days!

the countdown to get inspired has officially begun.
this is the first year i've tried to pull off a spring event,
and i gotta be honest, it definitely snuck up on me.

i  REALLY hope these last 40 seats get filled.
sorry, i can't help but wish for a sold-out crowd.
i'm seriously thinking this will be the best one yet.
things are starting to come together nicely
and it feels so goooooood. *sigh* i love this event.


i got most of my prizes today....

i decided to go crazy on THICKERS. they happen to be my fave.
i have 20 thicker packs right now - need to track down 6 more.
i want to give them to a whole row of scrappers.

and there's scrapbook page kits, chipboard kits, mini stamps,
glitter sets...just a mention a few other goodies.

the vendors are also required to give away 10 prizes each.
might get a little microphone/prize-crazy up in there.
guess that's a good problem to have.

stay tuned...it's gonna be get inspired central around here.

i heart jj heller

i left suri for the first time this past friday.
for jj heller's concert in dubuque to be exact.

i'm happy to report that i survived my overnighter away
and it was a great time with some lovely girlfriends.

the concert was a-ma-zing. it was an intimate setting,
where she told the background story of her songwriting.
btw, she writes and sings with her hubby. (he was quite funny.)
they were the most darling couple...and so real.
i feel like i know them now. lol!

(you can't tell from the poor cell phone picture quality
 but, she was rockin' a supercute prego belly!)

we rode there like ballers in jill's envoy.
angel brought a couple bottles of wine for the hotel.
we all talked and just hung out.
rachel was a great bed buddy.
the breakfast was surprisingly good for a hotel freebie.
i only pulled a "minna" once and walked to the wrong car.
it turned out to be a really relaxing weekend.

i also bought myself a 'i [heart] jj' t-shirt...

...which they signed!!!
yes, that's a smiley face next to her signature.
love it.