In This Issue
August Scrapbooking Tip
September Raffle and Tickets
September Classes Rolling In
2011 Crops Sold Out
July Sketch Contest Winner
August Sketch Contest
Interview with Joanna Campbell Slan
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Greetings!

  
Whew! It's hot here in the DC area! Is your scrapbooking heating up, too? We sure are lucky to have a hobby happily done indoors in AC!

There are a lot of announcements in this newsletter as well as information on classes and the raffle for the September crop.

As a special for Crops Plus newsletter readers, you have an opportunity to win Joanna Campbell Slan's 4th and latest book in the Kiki Lowenstein scrapbook/murder mystery series: Make, Take, Murder. To enter to win this prize, simply click HERE and enter your name for the drawing, which will take place on August 15th!

Just 7 more weeks until the September Crop! Can't wait to see you!

The Crops Plus Team

PO Box 2041

Arlington, VA 22202

703-260-6105

August Scrapbooking Tip
Pet Scrapbooking!
 
petsSo here we are in the dog days of summer, which got us thinking: what about our dogs (and cats and birds and turtles, etc)?  For many people their pets are an important part of the family, so it is just natural to want to capture those special times shared with a beloved pet.

Here are some ideas to spark your creativity when scrapbooking your pet memories:

  • Document a Relationship-  Put the focus of your page on the bond between your pet and his favorite human.   
  • Why did you choose the name for your pet. Is there an interesting story? 

  • Include thoughts of the first day you got your pet.

  • Where did you get the pet?

  • Why did you choose this particular pet?

  • Include pictures of the day that you brought the pet home.

  • State reasons why you love your pet

  • Document your pet's daily activities with pictures eating, sleeping, playing with toys, or playing with other animals.

  • Is there any special trick or talents that your pet loves to do?

  • Is your dog in your family photos?

  • Zoom in close to document characteristics
  • Quote an animals "Chatter" or noises
  • Get personal in journaling - document quirks or habits 

Mini Album ideas:
  • Pet birthdays
  • Focus on "the firsts"
  • "A Day In The Life of ________"
  • "Pet favorites"

September Raffle and Tickets 

Stayed tuned on Facebook to win extra raffle tickets. 

 

On Wednesday, August 3rd, we will start our weekly Facebook contests to win raffle tickets for our September raffle! We'll be giving away a rolling tote packed full of $500 worth of product, including $100 worth of the winner's favorite adhesive! What a prize!

Every attendee at the crop will receive a free ticket and can win more throughout the crop weekend. You can also win tickets before the crop by participating in sketch contests, contests in the newsletter (like the one in this newsletter!) and Facebook, registering for classes and more. You must be present at the September crop to win.
 

September Classes Announced!

A few listed with more to come.


With the September crop just 7 weeks away, a few of our vendors have begun to post their classes. This will just give you a peek into the amazing talents of our vendors and teachers. There will be about ten classes taught over the course of the weekend!

You can view the currently posted classes here: http://ourcropsplus.blogspot.com/

Our suggestion is to sign up early before the classes sell out. 

Sept and Nov Crops - SOLD OUT!

Added seats have shortened the wait lists.


Both our September and November crops are completely sold out. Because the wait list has been so long for each event, the hotel has approved a new floor plan for us, allowing us to add more seats, shortening the wait to get a seat.

If you are interested in joining either wait list, simply register for them here:  http://www.ourcropsplus.com/registration.html  

 

Registration for our January 2012 event will begin at the end of September, so make sure to keep an eye out for the registration to open so you can get your seat before that sells out, too!

 

Those lucky enough to snag a seat at either the September or November crops will be able to register for any and all 2012 crops before registration is open to the public online.

July Sketch Contest Winner

Congratulations, Lorie!  

LH2 A special congratulations to our Monthly Sketch Contest winner: Lorie Hill!

 

Lorie's winning layout is a digital work of art. She has won TWO My Minds Eye paper packs! 

 

If you would like to enter the August contest, see the sketch below!

August Sketch Contest

Enter to win prizes! 

 

AugustEvery month in our newsletter, we publish a sketch. Any scrapper who feels inspired by the sketch should create a layout based on the sketch and post it on our Facebook page. You can also email your layout to us and we can post it for you if you do not have access to Facebook.

 

Layouts must be posted by the 21st at midnight Eastern time every month.  Voting will start via poll on Facebook on the 22nd through the end of the month. The winner will receive TWO My Mind's Eye paper packs, including double sided cardstock and cardstock embellishments, worth almost $20! 

Interview with Joanna Campbell Slan 
Meet the talented author behind the Kiki Lowenstein scrapbook/murder mystery series!
  
Joanna SlanAs a child, Joanna loved to read and spend time living in 'another world' as an escape from the chaos of a troubled home. She also grew up hearing family stories and developed an interest in preserving family history. These two interests happily collided in her wildly successful book series about scrapbooking heroine Kiki Lowenstein, her wonderful friends and the scrapbook store where she works.

At the recent Great American Scrapbook Convention, we had a chance to sit down with Joanna to discuss her stories, scrapbooking and her inspirations.

How did you get started scrapbooking before Kiki came about?
I hold a degree in journalism and had a contract to write a book on family stories. The publisher had asked that I write one chapter of the book on scrapbooking. For research, I visited a scrapbook store with my sister, who was already a scrapbooker. I was shocked and amazed at what was available. My first purchase was just one 12x12 sheet of paper that I then folded and put in my purse! I had a lot to learn!

I started scrapbooking in 1998, so I am a scrapbooker who started writing Kiki and not the other way around. The books are respectful of the hobby; the fiction is not about scrapbooking, but about a woman who is a scrapbooker. It's relatable.

Your heroine - Kiki Lowenstein - what would you say is her most defining characteristic and what can your readers learn from her?
I would have to say her insecurity. Like many women, she tends to undervalue herself. She doesn't always think of herself as beautiful or capable. As the series progresses, she develops more faith in herself. But that's true of most women and many readers think they are like Kiki.
I hope that Kiki's experiences allow women a chance to think about themselves and learn to stand up for themselves. I hope readers see that and think it's maybe time to believe in themselves. I hope it's an empowering thought because it's something that most of us don't learn.

What do you enjoy most about writing your books?
Living in that other world. I am constantly thinking about people I've made up and other lives. I love the process of writing. I also love the reaction of other people when they come to me and say that the books have helped them forget about their troubles or helped them in some way. To give some sort of joy or relief brings a lot of satisfaction. I am also grateful for the fan devotion. It's through word of mouth and sharing with each other that has allowed the series to take off.

Thank you for your time, Joanna! The 5th book in the series, "Ready, Scrap, Shoot" is coming out in April 2012 and there is a contract for a 6th book. All of her books can be purchased on Amazon in hard copy and Kindle versions.

As a special for Crops Plus newsletter readers, you have an opportunity to win Joanna's 4th and latest book in the Kiki Lowenstein series: Make, Take, Murder. To enter to win this prize, simply click HERE and enter your name for the drawing, which will take place on August 15th!

Keep an eye out for next month's newsletter where we will review Joanna's journaling tips and tricks.
 
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Offer Expires: August 31, 2011