Halloween Blog Stop #3 Using your tools

Welcome to Creative Memories Halloween Blog Hop!

Have you bought Creative Memories tools and just don't know how to incorporate them into more than just what the punch is?  In this blog post I'll encourage you to use your tools to make Halloween pages.

 

First, let me show you how to make a witch for your page.  I took the shape maker system and cut out a black square from Shades of Neutral paper pack, which we'll use for the hat and a green circle for the head base using Shades of Bright Designer Paper pack. Using the Blossom Place punch and Shades of Neutral, cut out two gray blossoms. Take the two blossoms and cut them in half.  This will be the witches hair. Cut the black square per photo to make the witches hat. Use a scrap piece of black to make the brim of the hat. Then use the bubble border maker cartridge to cut out circles for the nose and eyes.

For the "Cauldron", I cut out a black circle for the pot.  For the legs, I used the tag maker, punch out a black tack and trim with scissors to look like legs. Using the Blossom punch, cut out two white blossoms and one green. Layer the blossoms behind the circle to look like it's boiling.  I again used the Bubble maker punch to make bubbles on outside of pot. Take the left over piece of black to make the rim of the pot. I used Silver Metallica pen to add detail to pot.

The ghost was super easy!  I used the shape maker and cut out one black square, if you want the shadow, and one white square. Take the white square and place in the blossom punch to create the bottom jagged edge. Then use the corner rounder to round the top of the squares. I used the bubble border maker cartridge to make the eyes.

All of the title words  

WITCHES, SPELLS, BOO!

 were cut from this sheet of paper from the Halloween, Trick or Treat paper pack!
Isn't it BOOutiful?

Dracula is a bit more involved.  Take the shape maker and cut out a black square, a black circle, and two white circles.  These will be used to create your base. Take the black circle and using the circle punch cut away part of it to make U shape for the cape.  Then do the same with the white circle to make ears. Place these two pieces on the black square and then place the white circle on top making the face. Use the picket fence border maker cartridge and punch out white teeth and nose.  Then again for eyebrows.  For the outer eyebrow, I took inside negative space from black picket fence border cartridge and cut it diagonally. For the black and red for "smile" I cut from the circle punch, layered and then trimmed it to get the look. For the eye's I used bubble maker cartridge.

You'll LOVE the graves! They are so SIMPLE to make!  Take the shape maker system and cut out 3 gray squares.  The using the NEW corner rounder, insert the top corners into the notch side. Do this for both sides of top.  Take your Black Dual-Tip Pen and write whatever you'd like.  I used a black ink pad to distress the sides of the paper to look more realistic.  If you don't have ink, you can achieve this look with your Black Dual-Tip Pen and a make-up sponge.  Color on sponge with the pen and then wipe it on card stock.

I recently received the new 12 x 12 Eggplant Fast 2 Fab and challenged myself to use this album to incorporate it with these elements to create a personal looking album with the ease of the pre-designed pages. The Spooky fence I did in past blog post Film Strip Fences. The candy corn border on right side of the page, I made by cutting out a orange, yellow and white picket fences and layered on top of each other and trimming off.

To make this page you need 12x12 Fast2Fab Eggplant album,Trick or Treat paper pack, Shape maker system, Blossom punch, Border Maker system, Bubble Maker Cartridge and Film Strip Maker Cartridge, Black Dual-Tip Pen, silver pen, 12" Straight Trimmer and two-way corner rounder.

This is a super quick easy border. Using the Border Maker system and Picket Fence Cartridge, I cut out a orange and yellow border using Shades of Bright paper pack.  Use the Halloween "Trick or Treat Paper Pack" and cut out strips of words to weave through the orange strip. The mount the orange strip staggered on a yellow strip.  Then cut a 3/8" strip of stripes.  For the SPOOKY tag, I cut out the word from the Trick or Treat Paper and used foam squares found under the Going Gone Tab, to pop up the word and mounted it on the tag. I used the purple journaling block from 9-square sheet as one of the squares has three of these "tags" on it.

You can find ALL these great products by SHOPPING NOW at my website http://www.creativememories.com/user/CandaceBouldin

Thanks for "hopping" over to my blog from Julie's blog blog now hop over to Lisa's Workshop blog at http://www.lisasworkshop.blogspot.com for more Spooktacular Halloween Ideas.

  

After you’re done visiting all the stops be sure to visit the CM Blog & leave a comment for a chance to win some fun treats (no tricks)!

 

If you want more ideas, follow my fellow CM Advisors'. 

They have some Tricks and Treats on their pages.

Check them out at:
Hop 1 Sarah Fitzgerald

Hop 2 Julie Tambrini

Hop 3 Candace Bouldin, your HERE!

Hop 4 Lisa Graham

Hop 5 Fran Smitherman

Hop 6 Diana Brinsley 

Hop 7 Stefani Jones 

NEW Creative Memories product - Medallion Frame Chain & Diamond Scroll Border Marker Cartridges

Lucky us, these arrived sooner than expected.
They were supposed to arrive here mid October so make sure you order them before they're gone!
 Left is the Medallion Frame Chain Border Maker Cartridge and right side is Diamond Scroll Border Maker Cartridge.  You can order them on my website www.creativememories.com/user/CandaceBouldin
‪

While there check out all these other NEW product!

NEW Fall In product and Halloween exclusive Seasonal Collection

LIKE US on Facebook Scrapin Jpegs and on Twitter


#ScrapinJpegs‬ ‪#‎CreativeMemories‬ ‪#‎CandaceBouldin‬ ‪#‎BorderMakerSystem‬ ‪#‎scrapbooking‬ ‪#‎DiamondScrollBorderMakerCartridge‬ ‪#‎MedallionFrameChainBorderMakerCartridge‬ ‪#‎NEW‬

101 Free Prints

TAKE A PEEK PROMO

Enjoy 101 free 4x6 prints with promo code TAKEAPEEK at checkout
Expires 10/5/15

Click here for FREE Prints

More GREAT News we are now a Shutterfly Inc. affiliate

More GREAT news today I have been approved to be a Shutterfly Inc. affiliate. 

The Shutterfly program is comprised of four great, well-known brands: 

(Click on any of the blue links to take you to their site.)

• Tiny Prints
• Wedding Paper Divas
• Shutterfly Inc.
• BorrowLenses

If you haven't tried Shutterfly I encourage you to, CLICK here to join and get 50 FREE prints

 

I'm always sharing the great deals on my Facebook and now here on this blog.  It's great to be partnered will all these businesses to help you get your photos printed and in book.

On my side bar at right, you will find the Shutterfly Inc. logo link all the time to shop and see all the great products they offer. Thank you for all your support!

  

Link to Shutterfly Inc.

Cricut affiliate

I am excited to announce that I have become a Cricut affiliate. 

What's this mean to you? 

I will share all the great deals Cricut has offers on my blog for you to enjoy savings. Here you'll be able to find all your Cricut Design Space™  needs and for Cricut iPad app.  As well in my side bar you will find the Cricut link all the time to shop and see all the great products they offer.

  
You too can make money promoting Cricut products? Cricut is looking for people to become affiliates. If you blog or have a craft website as an affiliate you'll earn money every time someone clicks on your unique affiliate link & makes a purchase at Cricut.com.  Please use my referral link  and sign up to be an affiliate I'll earn a bonus when you're approved!


Some links in the posts on this blog are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I thank you for choosing me!  I would only recommend products or services because I believe you would enjoy to use in your scrapbooks. 

How to host a day crop, retreat or hotel retreat

How to host a day crop, retreat or hotel retreat

First you need to figure out which event fits your schedule and you would feel comfortable doing.

If you can share your event on calendars, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. I'd highly recommend adding as much details to that event like times/dates, where, what to bring, carpools, etc.  Make sure the area you choose is well lite and space for scrapbookers because we have LOTS of stuff.

Day Crops
For my day crops I find Saturday's work best. You need to pick a time?
I normally host these in my home and hold them from 10AM to 10PM, others do 10AM to 5PM. I don't charge a fee but that's because I've been holding free crops for FREE for several years and ladies are use to that.

I'd highly recommend if you are starting out new that you charge $5 to cover basic things like power bill, toilet paper, water bills or I've done "Crop is free if you purchase $10 or more in product" normally this generates more than $10 in sales as it's hard to find product equaling that amount.

My home crop space

I sometimes do a 2 day crop having ladies come on Friday to crop starting at 6PM to 10PM and tell them they can leave their stuff and return again Saturday at 10AM- 10PM

If you can't host in your home look for places locally that you can host a monthly crop.  Places like church, American Legion, VA or Elk lodge, YMCA, local parks and rec.  Any building that can hold your group of ladies.  Some of these locations charge fees and others you'll need to bring tables. Include that fee into what you charge for your crop.  I like making my events fun and everyone NEEDS chocolate so I make  sure to have some M&M's.  On special events I purchase product to have to give to attendees or giveaways, make sure you include that in cost too.

Food for these events
I'm not a cook so I try and stay away from that area but if you are this might be a fun area for you. I can't emphasize how important it is to make sure you create a budget for meals and figure that cost into your guest crop fee. Even figure in the cost of plates, napkins, utensils and cups. I've found that if your crowd doesn't like to "buy" food maybe do a potluck? Though potlucks can be a lot of your part in coordinating.  Lately, I have been telling my ladies that for lunch we are ordering Jimmy Johns and dinner we are ordering pizza and bring $10 cash for each meal.  This has been working the best for my group and we all pitch in bringing a snack.  I tell girls to bring their own drink as I don't drink soda but I have filtered water.

3-4 Day Retreats

I look for rentals in the surrounding area, a hour or two from my home location. Check into camps, personal home rentals or some areas provide areas that cater to these events. Find out a date that fits you and your customers schedule.  Be sure to check calendar and local school schedules for breaks (Holidays, Fall, Winter and Spring break) You don't want to schedule events during these times because many go out of town unless your attendees this wouldn't matter.   I've found place that cater to all of your needs for your event including food.  These type of venues I figure the cost the place is charging me and divide that with number of attendees that facility can hold and then add $10 to $15 for gifts and prizes. 

If I rental a facility that doesn't include food but has a kitchen or area to prepare food I've found it best to assign each attendee a meal and they are responsible for all that they are serving.  For example my last retreat we had 13 attendees and we served 6 meals.  I had two ladies assigned to each meal and Saturday dinner I had 3 ladies and stated the extra person was to help provide a dessert to go with meal. The two ladies decide on what they want to serve and need to bring items needed to prepare meals included reminders like butter, foil, ziplock bags, saran wrap, paper plates (Not needed unless you don’t want to wash dishes).  Once again I say bring your own drink as we have people who drink a lot of a product and you might bring less. If you want to do drinks you could include in meal schedule that you need like XYZ amount of soda for several to bring and assign a couple to bring bottled water.

I've been to crops where you the host would plan, prepare and clean up meals for attendees and added this to cost of retreat.  Doing this way most host charge around $50 per person but this amount would be determined by your menu and cost per person to make.

Hotel Retreat 3 or 4 days
Research local hotels where you can host an event.  Hotels details can get a bit tricky.  Some hotels let you use ballrooms or conference centers with a certain amount of rooms booked. While others charge you for ballrooms or conference centers.  Some hotels book ballrooms or conference centers based on numbers of meals and cost. Which ever way you have it arranged I again take that amount divide it among the number needed attendees and add on cost for goodies, giveaways and raffle items.  When inquiring I ask hotels for a discount break for rooms. Depending on time of year, if it's a slow time you can get a great rate for whole event as hotel wants to fill rooms. If hotel package does not include food I let customers know to bring their own (hotel have refrigerators) or suggest things in the area that they can go to like hotel restaurants, take out, etc.

Things to watch for:
Some hotels charge fees for non-booked rooms
Charges for WIFI (Digital & Cricut customers will need this, if charge add it to registration form)
Charges for bellhops
Linen rentals (If no linens I suggest getting plastic table clothes)
Table rentals (many places include but check)
Parking Fees
Maid service/house keeping fees

Ask as many questions to reservation about an extra fees not discussed.

Always encourage pre-ordering of your customers, especially if you don't carry a large inventory.  This increase your sales and reassures customers have what they need.  I always carry basic supplies like pages, protectors, tape runners and refills.

Themes or Not to have themes?

Up All Night Theme

Cropstock - Hippie Theme

I think themes make your events more fun.  I always do themes with my 3/4 day retreats. I try and think of themes based on the time of year you have your event.  I've done themes like Beach/pool, "Up all Night" Sleep over themed, Cropstock - hippy themed and did in Fall, Jungle/Safari and recently Tacky Tourist.  You can make it whatever you want and you can do little decorations or a lot.  I've found many of my ideas on  Pinterest click here to see some of my pins

Tacky Tourist Theme

Other events I've been to have done themes like Rock n Roll - 50's, Pirates, Paris, Casino, the possibility are endless.  In past experiences I've found that the ladies love practical goodies and you don't want to spend money on items they are just going to throw away? I include some teaser of current product to get them to want more and little things like Post it notes, pencil/pen, tissues, hand sanitizer, gum, alcohol wipes, and a band aide.

I always send emails with where they are going, what time/dates the event is, what attendees need to bring. I wrote up a  article "What to bring to a Crop or Retreat" Click HERE to read.
 
Remember to have FUN and if things don't turn out like you envisioned, no one there will know!

What do I bring to a crop or retreat?

Going to a day crop or a retreat?  What do I bring?  Don't worry we got you covered!

Of course the utmost important thing to remember to bring your photos! 

I'd highly recommend trying to Power layout before hand. This allows you to bring minimal supplies and not searching for that perfect paper to make the most of your time. 

  

Power layout is where you pre-plan your pages by take your photos, papers, embellishments and lay them on guides or between pages the way you would want to scrapbook them. I'd recommend that you don't crop photos or make them shapes prior as they might not work when you are inspired by other scrapbookers, tools or product that would be available at the event. This process will allow you at anytime pick up your power layout and go to any event whether it's a day crop or 3 day weekend retreat.  This will help you be more organized.

Of course you don't have to do this before going to any event, if you want to pack the SUV, mini van or car with everything you can, then go for it!

  

 
SUPPLIES: Adhesives, scissors, paper trimmers, embellishments, pens for journaling, templates, paper & card stock. I like bringing POST IT NOTES to jot notes down to remind yourself afterwards. Tools you bring should be labeled. 

- Seat cushion for your chair

- Laptop or tablet

- Power strip and extension cord

- Desktop light if lighting is poor

- Don’t forget your camera too! Got to scrapbook this event to?

-Bring your own toiletries (towel, wash cloth, hair brush, toothbrush, tooth paste, 
 deodorant, medication,  hair tie, make up??) 

-Your pillow, sheet & blanket or sleeping bag if not at a hotel

-Warm and cool clothing (Temperatures in AM and night can be chilly and warm up during the day.) and PJ’s

-Sweater/Sweatshirt for crop area as it gets cold sometimes

-fuzzy socks/slippers

You should check with your Advisor to see if they will have particular tools so you don't have to take as much. If you need specific products, check with your Advisor ahead of time to make sure they will have all you desire.  

Most of all remember these events many times are time for us to socialize too and share laughs.  So enjoy this time even if you don't get much scrapped.