Vicki Boutin

Lots to Share and a GIVEAWAY!!!

Check one, two.  Is anyone still here?  I have had the craziest couple of months.  It feels like I have been away more than I have been home.  I miss this blog and hearing from my friends.  I thinks it's time to reconnect.  Not even sure where to start.  Grab a drink, get comfie and let's chat.

Lots has been going on since my last post way back in December.  The holidays came and went.  The Boutin's had a great time gift giving, spending time with the family and eating, of course.

 

Love these nutballs!!  Glad to get to spend lots of quality time with them!!  Before I new it CHA Winter work was upon me!!  I created samples for Simple Stories, Tim Holtz Idea-ology, Queen & Co and Basic Grey.  Busy, busy!

 

Simple Stories...

 

 

 

Tim Holtz Idea-ology

 

 

 

 

 

 

Queen & Co

 

 

Basic Grey

 

 

 

 

Then after getting my first of a number of sinus infections/cooties, I headed to California for CHA Winter!

 

 

I was excited to work in the Simple Stories booth demoing their new DIY line!!  This one was made for anyone who loves to layer (me! ME! me!)...

 

 

That's just a peek at all of the fabulous-ness they released!  Watch this coming Monday March 3rd for something exciting I want to share!!!  Stop by for more info on Monday.

 

Love these two!  Me with Paula Cheney and Tim.  So excited to get to do something with this release!

 

Look who I got to catch up with at Big Picture Scrapbooking's PLAY event!!!

 

What else happened in January?.....

 

This...

One Direction here we come!!!  I am as excited as she was!

Oh...and this...

He is so stinkin' cute in his new braces!!

 

LOTS of this...

...and it can go away now.

 

With February came the Scrapping Turtle's Cruise.  Let me tell you...this is an amazing getaway!!!  I have the best time teaching on these cruises.  Got to spend time with a great group of ladies (and some guys, too!), great weather, amazing ports, Royal Caribbean Rocks...just a great time!

 

 

This one left from New Orleans (now one of my FAVOURITE cities!!!!)

 

 

 

 

 

mmmm...beignets!

 

After a whirlwind stay in New Orleans we set sail...

 

Jamaica, mon.

 

Grand Cayman...this is Hannah in her element!!

 

Cozumel..awesome..again.

 

This is us at sea...Thanks for the photo Bertha!

 

This is one of the projects we made.

 

It was a great time!  I will share more photos and info soon.  We are working on next years dates.  Don't miss out.  This really is a great experience!!!  I would love to see lots of familiar faces on the 2015 Scrapping Turtle Cruise!!!!

Only a few days after arriving home from the cruise we were off to a hockey exchange in Philidelphia.  The Merriton Bulldogs and Wissihickon Hockey Club have been doing this hockey exchange for over 50 years!!!  Riley billeted with a great family and it was a once in a lifetime experience..

 

and...

 

they won!!!!  So proud of these boys!!!

 

Thanks to a great group of coaches!!  These guys put a ton of their time and hearts into providing our boys with an amazing team experience!

 

Once we arrived home from Philly, Ri and I packed up and left a day later for Camp Wanakita with the Grade 7 and Grade 8 kids from Power Glen school!  Four days of skiing, snow shoeing and team building!  So glad I had the chance to experience this with Ri.

 

 

Then I came home with a doozy of the flu.  The one with the sore throat, earache, bronchitis and headache.  Spent the four days in bed.  Finally felt human again before heading off to...

 

Fun filled workshops, catching up with sweet friends, fabulous food and lots of productivity!!!  It was a great event!!!  I love these Crop & Create weekends!!!  Have you attended one yet??  You still have time this year.  We will be heading to...

 

 

Crop & Create Moncton next!!!!  LOVE Moncton, too!!  Great people here!  Love this hotel!  Love the lobster dinner after the event!  HA!  Here is a peek at the classes I will be teaching...

 

 

Fundamentals of Distress

  

We are going to have a ton of fun!!!!  I hope to see lots of familiar faces on March 21st-22nd!!!  Are you planning on attending??

 

So you see...it has been a little busy around here.  On top of all that travel is day to day family life, assignments due and prep work.  I must admit that it feels really good to get this posted.  I miss keeping in touch with a lot of you and this blog is a great way to do that.  I plan on posting once a week moving forward.  Think that's doable.  Fingers and toes crossed!!!

Don't forget about this one, too....

 

 

PUERTO RICO!!!!!!  Oh man I love this event!!  The people are truly amazing in PR.  Great store.  Crazy and beautiful store owner.  Awesome team.  And heck...it's in Puerto Rico!  Are you going to come and play??  Here is a link to all of the details...Puerto Rico Scrapbook Event.  It is June 6th -8th!!!  Hope to see you there!!!

 

OK!  Now a giveaway!!!  How about a Vicki's Favourite Things goodie bag!!!  I will fill it with a bunch of the things I love!!!  Just comment on this post.  I will draw a name on Wednesday March 12th.

 

Thanks for sticking with me!  Can't wait to hear from you!!!!  See you in a few days!!!

 

 

CKU Special, Some Heidi Swapp Fun and a Giveaway!!

Hey friends!  Hope you are having a fabulous week!  I know for some of you this is back to school week.  Hope you got through that unscathed.  We have a week and a bit before the kids go back.  I am looking forward to it, but a little sad too.

I have been busy working on classes.  LOTS of classes!  September is going to be a crazy month!  Here is a list...

 

First, I will be teaching at CKU in San Jose for Simple Stories.  It is a full day album class with their Year-o-logy line.  Take a look at the sneak peak...

 

 

Did you see this deal from CKU???  You and a few of your friends could come and play...

 

 

Here is some more CKU info...

 

Event dates:

San Jose, CA – September 6-8, 2012

Dallas - Fort Worth, TX – October 11-13, 2012

Stamford CT- November 1-3, 2012  

Cost is $295 (does not include hotel room or food) and includes an album track, four 90 minute classes, evening activities, goodies, prizes, and more.

Register online at www.creatingkeepsakes.com/cku

 

Hope to see you there!!!  This class is super fun!!!!!! 

 

Next, I will be off to Nevada for Inspiration Unlimited!  Can't wait for that!  Flying in to Utah to meet my friend Layle and then driving to the event.

If you are coming to IU, you can pre-order my book now!!!

 

Later in September is Crop & Create Ottawa!!!  Those are always guaranteed good times!  Can't wait to see lots of familiar faces. 

 

Can't Forget Scrapfest Oshawa in October!!!  The Portfolio album class is already sold out with a waiting list. There are spaces in my EDE class on Friday.  This will be a fun fall themed Simple Stories class FULL of product!!!  Go HERE to Register.

 

You know what I love?  Heidi Swapp's product lines!  Seriously...LOVE everything she does!  And I really like her, too.  So when they asked if I could whip something up for a guest post on Heidi's site I said ...heck, yes!!!  Here is what I made, quick like...

 

A little vacation Flip book!!!

 

You can see the whole thing over on Heidi's blog HERE!  Tell her I said "hi"!!!  Can't wait to get some of her new CHA-Summer releases, look HERE!!  What is your FAV??  One of mine is the Color Magic...oh and the chipboard Memory Files...oh and the new stickers and Color Magic notes...you get my point...LOVE her stuff!!!!

 

Now for a give away...actually 3 giveaways...of the same prize.

I love Sassafras.  They closed their doors this year.  Sad.  But Tim and Becc are still designing...I see their stuff and know it right away.  I decided I wanted to share my love and put together 3 Sassafrass Loving Prize Packs!!!  Felt, stamps, blossoms and more!!  I think these are great add ons for mini books, journals, Smash book and that kind of jazz.  Cards, too.  But heck, they will work on layouts as well!  It is a nice little goodie pack!!

All you have to do is leave a comment on this post.  I will draw 3 names on Monday, August 27th.

 

Ok!  That's it for today!  Have a great Thursday!!!  

 

 

 

Photos from The Scrapbook Event in Puerto Rico

I have so many photos to share from Puerto Rico.  I thought it would be a good idea to split them up over a few days.  Today I am going to share the photos from the actual EVENT.  Let me tell you a bit about it.

I met Yamille a year or so ago at CHA (the Craft and Hobby Associations trade show).  Elizabeth Kartchner was talking about what a great time she had teaching in Puerto Rico and she introduced us.  Fast forward to CHA Winter in Anaheim this year.  I spent a little time chatting with Yamille and she asked me if I would come and teach.  I said yes and the ball started rolling from there.  This years event had a heavy mixed media flavour with Christy Tomlinson, Ania Dabrowska, Marion Smith and myself teaching.  Yamille asked me to teach a few layout classes with techniques and the rest is history!

I have to say that is was a great event!  The ladies (and men) were eager to learn and super friendly, the event was well organized, the store was STOCKED to the brim with great stuff, the manufacturers were beyond generous with the kits...like I said...great event.

Here are a few photos that I took and a few I borrowed from Facebook.

 

The view from the hotel.

 

Loved these lights in the hotel lobby!

 

The swag set out on the tables at the start of Fridays classes.  This event was different in that everything you needed for the classes was provided.  Really cool.

 

A snapshot of one of my classes.  Great students!

 

The store.

 

One of our meals.  Great food!

 

Christy teaching.  She is as sweet as pie and oh so talented.  And she's got the moves like Jagger!

 

Christy's students getting messy!

 

Marion working hard.  Love this chick!

 

Marions students getting down and dirty!

 

Ania with one of her master pieces.  She is so talented and authentic.  Love her, too!

 

The make 'n takes.  There were a bunch of these!  A talented group in Puerto Rico!!!

 

Loved the attire.  There were groups of ladies that dressed in themes.  Just like when I started in this hobby.  It was fun!

 

Glorimar was a hoot in this get up!

 

Ania and I were a team for a Mixed Media Idol Challenge.  We had to work together to create a canvas in 20 minutes.  It was a hoot!!!

 

After the mixed media idol challenge. 

 

Great event!  So glad I got to meet Yamille and so thankful that she invited me to be a part of her event.  Her staff was efficient and friendly and her family was great too!  Thanks to Juan Carlos for the tech help and the dollar for a diet coke!

More photos of Old San Juan tomorrow.  Have a great Tuesday!!!!

 

 

 

Stamp Winners and a few Crop & Create Winnipeg Photos!!

Wow, my friends!!!  Thanks for all of the posts and kind words regarding my new stamps with Stamping Bella!  It was wonderful to first have Emily's support when I approached her about making the stamps and then to get such an awesome response here when I posted them...it was good.  Thanks!

If you are interested in buying any of my Creative Foundations stamps you can order them through Stamping Bella HERE.  They have tons of great stamps and stamping accessories.  Check it out!

What else do I want to talk about?  The spring issue of Scrapbook & Cards, Today...

 

is now available and it will knock your socks off!!!  Look at that cover and the inside is good too!  Great ideas to get you in the mood for spring.  I had a chance to flip through it in Winnipeg and I kept telling Catherine and Becky what a great job they did!  Check it out online HERE.

Then Catherine handed me the new CardMaps 2 and I fell in LOVE!!!  I knew the sketches would be great, Becky is just cool like that but then the cards everyone created blew me away!!!  This is a must have card book.  Sketches, techniques, tons of great projects.  Just.  Plain.  Good.

 

If you need info on where to find it go HERE.

So I mentioned I was in Winnipeg for the latest Crop & Create.  It was a blast!!!  I met so many GREAT ladies and saw a few old friends.  The Delta was a suberb hotel with the most courteous and helpful staff!  The food was yummy and the classes went smoothly.  I also have to say that the stores that attended really brought their A game and it was a bustling marketplace!  Thanks Winnipeg for another great event!!!  And thanks to Nicole for helping to TA my classes.  You were such a help!!!

Here are a few photos.  I didn't get as many as usual this time around...

Kimber and Catherine

 

Leica

 

Catherine

 

Beth and Leica

 

Vicki and Beth

 

and just Beth.

 

It was such FUN and now on to Moncton!!!!  Get ready ladies, 'cause here we come!!!!!

 

Now...last but not least!!!!  The stamp winners!!!!

 

I LOVE your stamps!!! The banner one reminds me of your style so much! obviously right??...you designed it, so it reminds me of your classes!! I love everything about stamping, especially adding to my hoarding-like amount of stamps!!

Posted by: Tanya W | March 24, 2012 at 12:28 AM

 

 

Congrats Vicki Love all of your stamp designs. Another accomplishment under your belt. I like the versatility of stamping. THousands of choices of images, different stamping medias,and the fun of seeing your finished project never loses it's appeal.
Thanks a million for this opportunity and your website URL that I now have bookmarked.
Have a great day.

Posted by: Heather Getson | March 22, 2012 at 10:26 AM

 

 

congrats Vicki!!! I LOVE stamping cos it's FUN, creative, and offers so many possibilities!!!! Btw, I LOVE your twirly bird set.... sooo ADORABLE!!!

Posted by: Linda Mok | March 22, 2012 at 09:51 PM

 

 

Holy-O girl.....you are on a roll!!! Congrats to this new endeavour (sp?) Ilove stamping....especially on cards. So many different things to do with stamps....it's never ending!!! ;)

Posted by: Vern | March 22, 2012 at 07:24 PM

 

 

CONGRATS Vicki!

LOVELY stamps indeed!!!

Posted by: Dale Anne Potter | March 22, 2012 at 10:45 AM

 

 

Congrats, ladies!!!!  I will email you for your mailing adresses and Emily the queen Bella will be sending these out!  I will let her decide who gets what!!!  :)

Thanks for all the "love".  Have a good night!!!!!

 

 

It's Tuesday and a Sketchbook 4 GIVEAWAY!!!!

Sorry I missed Monday.  The flu came for a visit and I didn't leave my bed.  Better today and ready to get the week started!

We had a busy week and weekend.  March Break, a hockey tournament and 2 birthdays!!!  And I have the photos to prove it!  :)

 

Riley, my St Patrick's Day boy!!  Happy 11th Birthday!!!

 

I stayed up until 1 am making cupcakes!  Thanks Pinterest for this idea!

 

Squeeze one of the little girl in here, too.

 

Happy 8th Birthday to my nephew Reed!!!!

 

The Warriors won the tournament!!!!  They were the under dogs and they came out on top!  So proud of these kids!!!!!

 

Had to share this sweet photo of my nephew, Noah.  We had fun with some bubbles!!!

 

It was a great 7 days!  And the weather we are having is outstanding!  The kids had shorts on yesterday!  Love it.  We will have to enjoy it while it lasts.  Not sure Winnipeg is going to be quite this warm in two days!!!

 

I am excited to be a part of Kelly Purkey and Studio Calico's Sketchbook 4 online workshop!  What a great concept and I get to give away a spot in the class to one of my lucky blog readers!!!  Here are the details...

 

 

 

 

Join Kelly Purkey in another installment of her popular Sketchbook class! Sketchbook 4 is a four week class filled with fresh sketches, easy instructions, beautiful examples, and lots of fun. This class is designed to be used at any time and over + over again when you need inspiration.

Sketchbook is different from any other sketch class out there because Kelly and the contributors offer design tips and detailed explanation of what makes a page work. It's more than sketches - they’ll deliver valuable pointers for creating great layouts.

By the end of the class, you'll have a complete sketchbook of 12 original sketches, 38 layouts, and an ADDITIONAL 38 sketches based on those creative pages. All the examples are brand new layouts, exclusive to this class... you won't see them anywhere else! You will be receiving an example layout from Kelly for each of the sketches, along with two example layouts from a Studio Calico Design Team member and some of your favorite SC Guest Designers.

 

So you know the deal, leave a comment on this post and I will draw a name on Monday March, 26th for a class spot in Sketchbook 4!!!  It is going to be so much fun!!!!