Craftaway Studios - Round 3

Last month me and my downline, Tracy, went to Craftaway Studios again for a long weekend of crafting together.  This was my 3rd time to go and I can't wait to go again.  It's so nice to have no distractions from home and just stamp 'til the wee hours of the morning day after day!

We really spread out since it was just the two of us.  Hard to believe just two people belong to this spread.  My area was the 2 1/2 tables on the right and Tracy had the 2 1/2 tables on the left.

And this doesn't include the tools we had spread out in the adjoining studio (mainly just the Big Shots and heat embossing tools over there).  And I have but one photo of me because we stayed in our PJs all day on Sunday and just took project photos that day and Monday.

Tracy was working on samples for upcoming classes which included these adorable Sesame Street cards.  Here's the assembly line of Elmos.  She got the idea from our Stampin' Connection I believe.  Anyway, her cards came out great.  She did Big Bird and Cookie Monster too.

I also love the energy of a bigger group and I know one of my other downlines is planning something in a few months...I may have to tag along to that one!  I love that Craftaway doesn't have restrictions though, so you don't have to fill the house to go and enjoy some "me" time.

Happy Stampin'

Craftaway Studios – Labor Day Weekend

I just got back from a fabulously fun crafting retreat weekend with friends and downlines at Craftaway Studios.  We stayed up until 3am the first two nights and 5am Sunday night. Good thing we got late check out on Monday, because we didn’t wake up until 10am.  My main project was completing a photo frame that’s like a printer’s tray.  I’m already getting the Halloween printer’s tray project free from Stampin’ Up!, so I made this one Christmas themed.  I’ll blog about it separately with all the details.  Here are three of us (me, Tracy, & Becky).  I didn’t get a photo of Kim, ‘cause I didn’t really take any photos until the last minute and she had gone home earlier than us.

We spread out everywhere since we were the only group there for the weekend.  So, we sat together in one room and spread out all the tools, laptops, & completed projects in the other room.   I didn’t take this photo until we had straightened up some, trust me, it was quite amazing how messy and spread out just 4 ladies can get when they are crafting all day.

In between all the crafting we made simple heat and eat meals and took a good hour break at lunches and dinners to relax and talk at the dining table.  We of course talked, listened to music, and joked with each other while crafting too, “Hello?!? McFly!”.  And one time, I thought I was gonna die laughing with biscotti in my mouth!  I couldn’t stop laughing even without eye contact.  I don’t even know what triggered it!  It’s just one of those girl trip things.
I made Hanukah cards and tags, Christmas cards and tags, my Christmas printer’s tray, more cards, and Halloween projects for my class on Sunday.  I was going to scrapbook too, but didn’t organize photos before the trip.  I had plenty on my list without it though.  Here’s an overall photo of my completed projects.

I’ll post close up photos of projects in separate posts so you can get all the details.  Happy Stampin’.

Craftaway Studios – Our Free Retreat Weekend April 27-29, 2012

My friend, Anna, just realized her dream of owning a crafting retreat.  She bought this charming turn of the century house in Bonham, TX last Fall.  She’s been getting the house renovated and stocked with paper crafting tools and supplies to be ready for the grand opening.  In the meantime, 9 of my lucky friends and I got to try it for FREE!!!  It didn’t take long to find friends that wanted to craft all day and all night at a weekend retreat for free…duh!  Did I mention catered meals were included.  That was amazing to craft away (it’s actually called Craftaway Studios) until the caterer announced breakfast,  lunch, or dinner was ready.  We had so much fun that I can’t wait to do it again.  I made 32 cards, decorated one Card Keeper box, helped Tracy design the scrapbook she was working on, and helped Dawn make a Mother’s Day card.  Maybe I’ll scrapbook at the next one.

It has 3 bedrooms upstairs, but who needs sleep!  I stayed up until 3am the first night and 5am the second night.  We caught up on our own projects, copied each other’s cards, talked, sang to the direct TV radio station, had laughing fits, and just had an incredible time!

 

 

Did I mention the snack bar?  Candy, and granola, and biscotti, oh my!  Funny thing is that I would forget it was there since I’m not use to having a 24 hour snack bar at my disposal…probably a good thing, but don’t get me wrong, I sampled several items.

 

Here are but a few of the projects I made while I was there.  Photographed in Craftaway Studio’s light box.

 

 

 

You can see the rest of the photos on my Facebook page. 

http://www.Facebook.com/BarbarasCraftCircle