FRIDAY FEATURE

Today, I am featuring someone we all know and love:

But how well do you really know her?



Did you know:

Cat went to Utah and attended the first Creating Keepsakes University ever held.

She also attended Scrapbook Design University.

She is Copic certified and attended another certification class last Friday as a refresher.

Although Cat has been a scrapbook store OWNER for eight years, she has scrapbooked nearly her whole life.  She always had albums full of photos and memorabilia.  She started scrapbooking the way we currently scrapbook back in 1995, or 17 years ago.  She started out using McGill paper punches and doing punch art on her pages.

After purchasing the store, Cat held the first scrapbook retreat in April and it was attended by twelve people.  She had the second retreat six months later and it was attended by 27 people.  There are now four retreats held a year with the National Scrapbook Day Retreat being the big blow-out event.  For the last five years, the NSD retreat has been chock-full of classes taught by home-grown and industry designers.

What does Cat love most about scrapbooking?  That it can run the gamut from clean and simple or be jam-packed with ribbon and bling.  She also enjoys looking at all of the supplies at Lowes and Home Depot and thinking up ways to use unconventional products in her scrapbooks or projects.

We have all seen the projects that Cat has created.  She loves designing custom, one-of-a-kind mini-albums that hold standard 6" x 4" photographs. 

Authentique loved the beach pail album she created featuring their paper and a beach ball.

BoBunny loved the "over-the-top" way that she and Nanci have used their products in different classes for the store so much that they wanted Cat's to be the first local scrapbook store featured on their blog.

Adorn It Loved Cat's work so much that they asked her to design some projects for them.

Cat's husband, Ray, cuts book covers for us out of wood and is learning how to use the new laser so he and Cat will be able to make all kinds of cool things for us now.  And who can forget what a good sport Ray is and how well he played the murder victim for us during the murder mystery weekend!

Cat and Ray will be celebrating their twenty-fifth anniversary on September 25th.  What a great looking couple!

I hope you enjoyed learning a little more about our fabulous store owner.  I know I enjoyed interviewing Cat and being able to share these tidbits of information with you all.

Don't forget that the store will be closed on Labor day.  Make plans to visit the store this weekend so that you can take advantage of the big sale!

THANKFUL THURSDAY

 It's thankful Thursday.  What are you thankful for?  I know what I'm thankful for................

SHE'S AT IT AGAIN!!!! 

 It's sale time at Cat's.  We are celebrating Labor Day early with a big sale. 

Sale bins full of product for 50% off! 

Time to stock up on lots of goodies for all of those holiday crafting projects.  Are you going to make some of your holiday gifts?  Get your supplies for half price to help make your Christmas budget go further.  Great time to get the supplies for your Christmas cards at half price.  I love to take advantage of the sales to stock up on supplies for mini albums and cards.  And, you could even stock up on some goodies to make some scrapbook pages for all the pictures you have that are waiting to be scrapbooked. 

The store will be closed on Monday for Labor Day so shop the sale now.  Remember, we are open until 8:00 pm tonight.

Sorry for the short post, but I've got to get to the store to stock up!

See you at the store!

WOW WEDNESDAY - NO BLOG REQUIRED

It's Wednesday and time for us to get to see the wonderful Work Of our Wonderful customers! 

Did you know that you don't have to have a blog to participate?  If you have an online gallery at Two Peas, Splitcoast Stampers, Scrapbook.com, Sketch Inspirations (must be using a sketch inspiration sketch), FlickR, or any other online gallery, you can participate.  When Mr. Linky asks for your  url, just copy and paste the url (that part up at the top where it says http://www/......) of the page of your creation.  I have an online gallery at Splitcoast Stampers and if I wanted to link up a card, I would go to my gallery and then click on the card I wanted to link up...let's say it is the Things are Looking Up card.  So, I click on that card and then copy and paste the url  (http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/2081676?&cat=500&ppuser=192963) in the blank.  TaDa....it is linked up to Mr. Linky!  I hope this encourages more to participate in our WOW Wednesdays.

Last week we went over the requirements for WOW Wednesday.  To be considered for the blog candy, you must post a project that you have created.  WOW Wednesday must also be mentioned in your post and be sure to let your blog readers know that there is blog candy being given away to a random participant or commenter. 

Sandy Trefger was the lucky winner of the blog candy last week.  We have reduced the amount of blog candy to one prize per week until we reach 12 participants.  Be sure to spread the word about WOW Wednesday to get your friends to participate so that we can get back up to two prizes a week.  The number of participants is added to the number of commenters and the total is plugged in at random.org to pick the winning number.

I don't know about you, but I love looking at everyone's work and leaving comments on their blogs.  It is always so inspiring. 

STICKY TUESDAY TEMPTATIONS

Guess what today is?!  It's the 28th, which means that

every eighth sheet of paper is FREE. 

Make sure you take advantage of this sale today since it is the last day that this sale will be available. 

Have you jumped on the "washi" tape bandwagon?  I have....with both feet!!!  These tapes are so much fun to use.  You can just add a strip for an accent, you can pleat or crinkle them for texture, or you can make flowers with them...the possibilities are endless!  Cat just got in a shipment of "trendy tapes" from Queen & Co., as well as the collections from the different paper manufacturers.  This trend is so BIG that most of the paper manufacturers are now making decorative tapes that coordinate with their lines of papers. 

Queen & Co. has several tapes to use on your Disney pages.  This is just one of them--love those Mickey hands!

Look at this film strip tape....LOVE it!  Definitely buying this one!

These tapes are from Teresa Collins Christmas Cottage line of papers.  What I love about these is that you don't have to use them on Christmas pages.  They would go on anything!

These are from the My Minds Eye All is Bright collection.  Love the aqua tape and the Christmas postcard looking one on the left...thinking I might need/want this one!

 


















These are a couple of the decorative tape packs from the My Minds Eye "The Sweetest Thing" collection.  Love the doily one and the one that has the date squares on it! 

Looking for something with a little more vintage look to it?  Look no further!  This collection from the Teresa Collins Vintage Finds collection is perfect.  It will work beautifully on any vintage project you create.

Working on something and need some butterflies?  This tape will add just the right touch of butterflies to your creation.

Been bitten by the bug?  Head down to the store and pick up the tapes you can't live without!  You won't regret it....

MARVELOUS MONDAY SKETCH INSPIRATION

One good thing about Monday is that we can enjoy another sketch from Sketch Inspiration.  Trish posted Sketch #335 yesterday.

This sketch looks like a lot of fun with the borders at the top and bottom.  I hope you will find time to create a layout or card this week using the new sketch.

Look at this fabulous layout that Tracie Johnson created using last weeks sketch, #334!  Love the yellows, oranges, greens, and browns on this layout!  Lots of fun!

Last week I talked a lot about the paint it, stain it, color it event on Saturday at the store.  Kourtneigh Foster has fallen in love with the Tim Holtz crackle paints.  Look at this layout she made using those fabulous crackle paints!  It is so much fun to watch these crackle as they dry.  And, you can go over them with your distress inks/stains to emphasize the crackles. 

Speaking of events, have you signed up for "Jingle All the Way" on September 29th at Cat's?  This is one of the projects you can make that day.  There will be classes all day long and you can pick and choose the ones you would like to take.  It's a great way to get some Christmas gifts and/or decorations made!  This canvas would also be cute with snapshots of Christmas day activities as well.  So many possibilities.  

I hope you will find time this week to create!

SUNDAY INSPIRATION

It is inspiring to have so many talented people that spend time with us paper crafting at Cat's.  Three of our friends attended a Copic certification class in the metroplex this weekend and are now Copic certified. 

In addition to becoming Copic certified, Sandy Trefger's name was drawn for the chance to purchase an air compressor for 1/2 price to use with her Copic airbrush system.  She jumped right on that opportunity! 

Harlie and Karen Holland are proudly displaying their certificates from the Copic Certification class!  Cat and Nanci are also certified so we have lots of people to teach us how to color with the Copic markers!

Teryia may not be Copic certified, but she sure does like using the Tim Holtz products!  She attended the Paint it, Stain it, Color it class this weekend and made some fabulous tags while learning to use the different coloring media available at the store.

Anna really got after the Luminarte Twinkling H20's and did a beautiful job painting her starfish and seashell. 

Patrice was really getting after making some beautiful Christmas tags using various Tim Holtz products.

It looks like everyone had a great time at the Paint It, Stain It, Color It event at the store.  Sure do wish we hadn't had so many other things going on that prevented me from attending it.  I'm so glad that everyone enjoyed learning about all of the wonderful products available at the store. 

I hope your Sunday is full of inspiration!

CAT-TASTIC CATURDAY!

I hope you are having a cat-tastic Caturday!  Cat amd Nanci are sharing their knowledge today about all of the different coloring mediums available at the store.  And, after you have learned how to use these fabulous items, you can purchase them at a reduced price.  Can't beat a deal like that!  I hope you are taking advantage of this deal and learning how to paint it, stain it, and color it!

Best Creations is known for their papers with glitter that doesn't come off.  Cat has gotten in some new beautiful collections from Best Creations.  There is paper that is perfect for preserving the memories of that fabulous pirate party:

Makes you just want to go AAARRGGHH!!

If you have some zoo or wild animal photos, Best Creations has a wonderful collection for those photos. 

I can't wait to see this collection in person.  The colors on it look amazing and there are some things photographs just can't do justice.  There is one that looks like fall leaves and some of these prints look like they would work well on some fall pages.

Last, but certainly not least, is this fabulous western collection.  Western designs are always very popular and the glitter on this one definitely sets it apart.  So don't delay, this one may not last long!

As the paper says, this collection is very WANTED!

 Remember, through today all beach papers are on sale 25% off with an extra 5% off for blog readers who show Cat the blog on their phone or give her the code BEACH5. 

The winner of the blog candy from WOW Wednesday chosen by random.org was #1, Sandy Trefger.  So, Sandy stop by the store and collect your prize.  Congratulations!

Well, between the new products and the sale on beach papers, there are lots of reasons to stop by the store this weekend.  I hope you are able to make a visit to the store part of your weekend activities.

FRIDAY FEATURE

Today we are featuring the super talented Shaunery (rhymes with ornery) Wharton.  Shaunery is a stay at home mom of three children:  Taylor, a COLLEGE freshman, Erin, an eighth grader, and Sarah, a fourth grader.  She and David have been married for almost 15 years.  Shaunery was introduced to "Scrapbooking" in March of 1994, and the rest is history!

I asked Shaunery to share some information about her design team work with CSI:  Color, Stories, and Inspiration.

In January I became a Design Team member for the first time.  Creating and designing for the challenge site; CSI: Color, Stories, Inspiration has been so much fun.  Every week I get to come up with a layout, along with my fellow DT members, to share with our members.  Our goal is to provide weekly challenges based on  a Case File theme.  We provide product/embellishment prompts (Evidence),  color schemes--we have a new five color combination every week, and journaling themes  (testimony).  As a DT Member, we share "Gallery Love" praising our members' layouts and encouraging them.  My favorite is watching what I call "Newbies" develop and grow as scrappers. Why?  Because we ALL have been a "Newbie" at one point, and from our friends and crops, we have learned and developed our style!   We share ideas, 'how to's", have random online chats and showcase our craft.  Over at CSI we "interrogate" our Guest Designers with five questions:  I thought I'd use those here to give you a little insight to how I "create".

What is your favorite color(s) to work with?  I'm regularly drawn to earthy greens & browns.  I love muted tones and things to look aged and distressed.  Thus Tim Holtz is an ALL TIME FAVORITE brand name to work with (Cat took this photo for Shaunery).

 What would you say is your "fingerprint" on your scrapbook pages? (i.e., what do most of your pages have that make it your signature style?)
Muted tones, some form of distressing either from ink, mists, or different art mediums.  Lately I'm digging crackle finishes and gesso.  My intent is to make my layout look like something old and vintage.  It may not turn out that way, but it's always the intent. 

An example of Shaunery's vintage style.

What do you find most challenging when working on a layout?  Layering.  I often feel like I stop short of the "perfect" amount of layering  or I don't have enough embellies on a page.  So I'm still learning how to balance that and to push myself to dress my layouts better. 

Why do you scrapbook?  Initially it was to create a baby album for each of my kids. But then you learn it's not just limited to babies and children.  There are weddings, plays, school events, genealogy, holidays, vacations that all can be scrapped.  And it's not just K-12 , it's everything before, in between and after.  When I decided to mix my scrapping with genealogy, well it was like mixing peanut-butter and chocolate!  Happiness!!   It's developed into a creative outlet, a means to showcase my children, highlight events and preserve a moment in time for family and loved ones.
Confession time. Okay, fess up! What secret do you not want to admit but are willing to confess here?  I use to be a "Layout Snob".. There were always at least 4 photo's to a page.  I looked down my nose at folks who'd only put one picture on a layout and go embellishment crazy.  Now, I'm doing one photo layouts!!! 

Here is one of her beautiful one photo layouts!

 And there's a second secret.. I LOVE taking classes when life permits... but I never finish any of the projects.  I have a cabinet full of mini-albums I've started here at Cat's...and ALL incomplete.  BUT I love learning the techniques!!

I so enjoy my time out a Cat's and the women that scrap there.  It's awesome to sit down, let your hair down, spread out your supplies and be yourself.  There are so many ladies I admire and enjoy crossing paths with.  I find is amazing that you can sit a group of veteran scrappers together and we'll still be able to find or learn something new from each other. 

If you would like to learn to use some of the mixed medias like Shaunery uses on some of her layouts, remember to call Cat and reserve a spot in Paint It, Stain It, Color It this Saturday.  You will learn how to use Copics, Tim Holtz distress inks, stains, markers, Faber Castell stamper's big brush pens, gelatos, and pencils.  And, when you decide you can't live without some of these products, Cat is giving a discount on all of the products that you learn to use in the class.  Don't miss out!

THANKFUL THURSDAY SALE

It's Thursday...what are you thankful for?  I know at Cat's we are so very thankful for all of the wonderful rain this past week and we are thankful for YOU, our wonderful customers! 

So, do you have lots of photos from that beach vacation that you need to get scrapbook but just don't have the right papers to use?  Well, you don't have to wait any longer.  Today through Saturday, all beach themed products are 25% off with an extra 5% off for blog readers who show this post to Cat on their cell phone or give her the code BEACH5. 

Cat has lots of beach themed products in the store just waiting for you:

The Reminisce collection used for this layout.

Some Moxxie beach papers.

The Authentique paper used on this beach pail album.

Fancy Pants beach bum and beach babe collection.

How about some Websters Pages Palm Beach goodies?

Looking for some distressed beach papers?  These just came in Monday from Fab Scraps.

These are just a few of the beach themed products that are available at the store.  So make sure you stop by and stock up while the sale is on.

Have you signed up for the Paint It, Stain It, Color It class this Saturday?  It is an opportunity to learn to used all of the Tim Holtz distress inks, stains, markers, and paints as well as the Faber Castell products.  In addition to learning how to use these products, those who take the class will receive a discount on any of the products that are demonstrated during the class.  Great opportunity to learn how to use these items and get them at a discounted price.  Just call the store and reserve your spot!

Marilyn is going to be in and out with her mom in the next few weeks.  We will know more on what the course of action will be hopefully after today.  She is taking her to SWMed Center for evaluation and I believe some tests today to determine how to handle the cancer they found in her mom's rib. Today is going to be a looooong day as they tried to get as much in one day as possible to keep them from having to travel so much. Let's keep them all in our prayers as this will be a lot on all of them. 

WOW WEDNESDAY

It is WOW Wednesday, the time when we get to see the Work Of our Wonderful customers.  I love getting to see how very creative our customers are!

We are going to have to limit the blog candy to one prize to a random paricipant or commenter until we reach twelve participants.  The number of participants and commenters will be combined and random.org will be used to select the winner.  Once we get twelve participants, we will go back to having two prizes.  So, encourage your friends to start participating so that we can have two prizes again. 

I want to go over some requirements for participating in WOW Wednesday.  To be considered for the blog candy, you must post a project that you have created.  WOW Wednesday must also be mentioned in your post and be sure to let your blog readers know that there is blog candy being given away to a random participant or commenter. 

I really enjoy seeing everyone's handiwork and I hope that you can help us by getting your friends to participate in our WOW Wednesday.  I would like to welcome our new followers and hope that you are enjoying our blog.  Also, Remember that once we get 100 people following our blog there will be MORE blog candy given away! 

Thank YOU for participating in WOW Wednesday and sharing your talent with us.

TUESDAY TEMPTATIONS

Look at this beautiful, vintage Victorian Christmas collection by FabScraps.  Need an advent calendar?  That window pane paper at the top of the upper photo has 25 window panes in it...and they made a chipboard title and numbers for you to use on your calendar.  Even if you don't want the Victorian Christmas paper, the chipboard titles and embellishments can go with any Christmas collection.  Gelatos, Twinkling H20's, distress stains, crackle paints, or the powder puff chalk inks would all work great on these chipboard die cuts. 

Working on photos from your summer vacations?  These beautiful summer papers from FabScraps will work great for those photos:

LOVE those lighthouse papers!  And the beach papers are beautiful as well. 

Chipboard embellishments to take care of any vacation pages you are working on.  Lots of cruise, beach, lighthouse, and sailing embellishments.

In the market for back to school papers?  This newest collection by Carta Bella is so cute and the colors are different from most school paper collections.  These papers would work great for childhood photos as well. 

Have you signed up for the Paint It, Stain It, Color It class this Saturday?  Cat and Nanci are ready to teach you how to use your Tim Holtz stains, paints, and inks as well as the Faber Castell pens, gelatos, and pencils.  Now is the time to learn how to use all of those products you thought you had to have, but didn't ever really learn how to use.  Call the store to reserve a spot in this class so you can put all those products to good use.