Busy, Busy, Busy!

Well a lot has happened since Easter...

I got a haircut
The crop in Orange
Running errands galore!
Getting the car ready for a road trip next month
Swaps!
A little bit of shopping

And NO BLOGGING!

A friend sent this & I couldn't resist sharing! ;)


Have YOU seen any funny craft related cartoons lately? Would you mind sharing them?

:)

Pam Hoffman

First Official 'Refashions'

Earlier this month, I told you that I made a commitment to 'refashion' rather than purchase from new. Ok, not a huge stretch since I haven't bought anything new in quite some time. Still, challenging for me since I'm not much of a 'thread and needle' person...

According to Nikki Shell, on her Wardrobe Refashion blog, this is taking something else and making it into your wearable clothes. It could be yarn, fabric, you could have something handmade for you (or buy from another person who makes things from these materials say from etsy...) so there is some room to work with, even for someone like me.


Freecycle item, way smaller than we are!

I started cutting some freecycled items and old t-shirts at the monthly Crop in Orange, in preparation for my first, official refashions, and figured I'd be somewhat stuck there for want of a sewing machine.


T-Shirt that fits

Well, some friends and I worked up a crafting session last Sunday and I borrowed a sewing machine from one of them, who let me keep it around for a bit to continue working with.

Now this thing isn't brand new yet it performed WAY BETTER than mine ever did!

So I have a couple of things that are just about ready to be worn. I've taken bunches of photos so I'll do some detailed posts about them as soon as they are finished!

Have you transformed something that no longer fit or that you loved yet it was too worn, into something you CAN use again? Have you SEEN all the cool things people have made at the Wardrobe Refashion site?

Pam Hoffman

March 13th, at the Crop in Orange!

Everything WLCA @ CHA

OK, THAT would be virtually impossible. I just learned about an organization called 'Everything Mary' at the World's Largest Crop Attempt at CHA so it became the inspiration for my title! ;)

This was a fun crop!

First off, this is an enormous room!



Something over 300 people were there to spend up to 13 hours of creating, socializing, doing make-n-takes, watching demos and experiencing various products all organized by Scrapbook Royalty and the amazing volunteers in that organization.

Oh, and CHAs Craft Supershow was going on downstairs too if you wanted to browse the hall.

I was invited by some great people from the Crop in Orange to sit with them. I was amazed to realize that I actually knew quite a few of the folks who came to participate.

Some of my table mates..




I participated in some of the demos & make-n-takes like this two page Birthday layout:



Overall, it was an amazing day and everyone seemed to have a great time.

Will you be in Chicago next summer? Want to help us try again for the World's Largest Crop Attempt? Sounds like it will be at CHA again so keep a look out for that one!

Pam Hoffman

at the World's Largest Crop Attempt during CHA


Update 1/27/10: I learned that Scrapbook Royalty raised $10,000 for Kids in Need! Bravo SBR!

First Crop of the Year!

NOTE: been sick in bed a bit the past few days, catching up for you here now...

One of my favorite crop events happens once a month in Orange, California. I know I mentioned The Crop in Orange before, it just so happens that yesterday was the first one of the new year and the first crop I've attended in 2010, and it was grand!

The crop was very well attended so we had a lot of good potluck food, plenty of items 'For Sale' that people brought (including me!) where I actually found a great set of acrylic stamps, all set for Valentine's Day!


Looking from the stage into the room [far left]


Looking from the stage into the room [mid left]


Looking from the stage into the room [mid right]


Looking from the stage into the room [far right]


For Sale Items [on the stage!]

I have Valentine's Day on my mind now - it's one of my FAVORITE holidays (that and Christmas) since my birthday is the day after V.Day!


Quilling craze since the Christmas ornaments (oh, i never showed you! i'll have to fix that..)


I LOVE Valentine's Day!

I even got a couple of things on my list done!


A thank you from scraps given to me (three people were saving them up for me!)

Speaking of the scraps from others...

Valorie, Jennifer & Erica brought scraps they've been saving for me. These 2 big boxes were just about full of scraps!


Some of them, getting sorted (w/help from my boyfriend)

11 more to go this year! Yay.

Do you have a favorite crop you like to go to? Are the people really great there too? Do share, you never know who will be inspired to come and you'll make a new friend!

Pam Hoffman

Crops: Recap on the Last Two...

I've been to two different crops of late and I kind of missed telling you about the one in Orange so I'll catch up on both of them right now!

First, The Crop in Orange on December 5th, 2009 was WONDERFUL!

There was...

*Crafting
*Swaps
*BINGO
*Catered dinner
*Fun prizes
*Holiday Spirit Galore!

Here are a couple of pictures from the crop...

Our crop organizer Laurie!


My friend Diana was able to be there this time!


Overall room with the swap table in the forefront

Then the Cookie Exchange Crop yesterday was quite marvelous too!


The Cookies!

Five of us participated which meant that all of us could be at the same table crafting.


WCC* organizer Michelle, she also hosted the crop!

Some of the newer members were there and getting to know new people is always fun.




Newest members, Morgan (top), Jaime & Bea (L-R) who was with us for the first time!

I actually had a list of projects I was working thru and I got some of my list done!


Shhh... something for my bf for Christmas, don't tell him!


I'm working thru a tutorial to make a snow-globe Card for my sister - she LOVES snow-globes!

OH, and Michelle gave us supplies and taught us to make an ornament. She got a picture of me with mine so I'll go find that and post it too!

Thank you for sharing my crops. What are YOU doing creatively with others or on your own? I'd LOVE to see what you are making.

Pam Hoffman

tinseling the tree!

*West Coast Croppers, a meetup.com group

Glitter Ornaments

At the Crop in Orange, we learned about a process of creating beautiful ornaments with some very specialized items...

Then our organizer, Laurie, sent some links for some great ornaments using a similar, less expensive way to create ornaments a bit like them.

Here are the ones from the crop:


They Are SO Amazing!

Here are the links to the pages Laurie sent us...

http://cricutchristmas.blogspot.com/2009/11/week-18-crafty-gift-glitter-ornaments.html

http://stampersquest.com/2009/10/15/holilday-blizzard-project-glittery-glimmering-christmas-ornaments/

And our results...



I made these and I'm showing off various sides of them...



The first three turned in this video are kind of special. The first one has all microbeads (my friend Diana created that one!) the second has ultrafine pink glitter & Pearl X and the third has the ultrafin pink glitter, a few microbeads and Pearl X powder swirled around inside.


Spotlighting the one with the ultrafine glitter & Pearl X


This one has the microbeads in it too...

I know they aren't as beautiful as the ones in the first picture. I think they are pretty darn nice and very glittery.

Some pictures...

Diana did the one in the lower left, I did the other one


I did all but the microbeads one and the blue one in the corner I think...


Diana made all of these and I think they will be gifts this holiday!

Super easy, fun and darn nice results! Give it a try.

Pam Hoffman

The Crop in Orange

Today, I'm packing for a 12 hour crop on Saturday.


Wide View of the Crop Space!

I've been making lists to help me:
1) determine the projects I'll be working on that day,
2) remember to TAKE everything (i forgot my papercutter once! it sucks.)
3) all the Prep work that goes into the projects - do I need any printouts of anything? papers cut to size? items put together to help with the assembly at the crop? Stuff I need to track down...

And so on...

These events are once a month and this is such a friendly group of people! I can't tell you how much I LOVE going to The Crop in Orange.

We play BINGO, there are other prizes if your name gets called, Make-n-Takes, sometimes other special events, stuff for sell & for free (you may bring your freebies and for sale items to de-stash too!)

If you are anywhere in the Southern California area (or want to travel here!), and you want to join me, I usually nab an extra 'guest' spot so you could join me to test it out!

It's such a great way to get away, socialize with other crafty types and enjoy yummy potluck food!




I LOVE The Crop in Orange, hosted by the beautiful Laurie Rush.

Pam Hoffman

And Here I Am AT The Crop in Orange!