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Greetings!
How are you doing with your resolutions for the new year? Many of us may have made the commitment to scrapbook more in 2013, myself included. Have you been able to do just that? The good news is that it's never too late to make that (or recommit) your goal. It's been shown that scrapbooking is both therapeutic and helpful for your mental facilities. This is a great article on it: http://suite101.com/article/therapeutic-health-benefits-of-scrapbooking-a305113. So take the time to sit down and let the creative juices flow!
See you soon!
The Crops Plus Team
PO Box 2041
Arlington, VA 22202
703-260-6105
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February Scrapbooking Tip
Scrapbooking the Difficult Times
I'm pretty sure everyone of you can relate when I say that life isn't always "picture-perfect". Sometimes things can turn downright lousy when we go through some of the tough stuff that comes with being human. Deaths, divorce, disagreements, and disappointments happen. Sickness and struggles are part of our existence. Not everything is all smiles and happy memories. So what's a scrapper to do? Here are some tips I've collected that could help us through the more difficult times in our lives.
As Tracey White of Creating Keepsakes said: "My scrapbook is all about my life. If I only show you the good things, then it's only a two-dimensional image of who I am." Documenting past pain allows you to look forward. And then, when you're ready, allows you to look back and see how far you've come.
Create a Memorial Scrapbook Creating a memorial scrapbook helps you to remember the person you've lost and also helps you grieve. Think about the person you want to memorialize. Aspects that will help you remember the person are what you want to build on in your scrapbook. For instance, you can use the person's favorite colors in the color scheme for your pages. Or, if they had a favorite song, you can incorporate it into the wording of your page. Start with the color scheme and add other aspects of your loved one as you go along. Likely, you will think of more special moments and ideas as you work through your scrapbook. Ask friends and family members if they have photographs to contribute.
Remember the Words
A scrapbook page does not have to include just photographs or embellishments. You can include just text by writing down your special moments. You can even capture events and individuals in words, and frame them with any decorations you desire.
Tips on capturing your current life as it unfolds
- Journal via a blog, emails, ohlife.com or any other method that is comfortable to you. This is something that can be very therapeutic as well as giving perspective later on. Sometimes we surprise ourselves with how well we "come out the other side" of hard events and journaling can be a helpful reminder of just how strong we are.
- Redefine 'perfect photos': I used to shun photos taken with a mobile phones, having convinced myself they're of inferior quality. But sometimes, that's all we've got and they should be valid.
Tips on scrapping again
- Let it go - Cut yourself some slack and be okay with not doing much in the way of getting pictures on paper, but still collecting journaling and photos.
- Since studies show that focusing on happy memories increases happiness, try scrapping something from a happier time to pick you up a bit.
- Batch process some photos or get some layouts ready to scrap. Then, when your mojo comes back, you have layouts ready for some creativity.
- Find the motivation to scrap when life is less than stellar by taking a stroll through the galleries on websites like www.scrapbook.com and look for inspiration. There are some wonderful layouts that others have created about their own personal trials or difficult life events.
- Try visiting the site: http://www.goodgriefblog.com/challenge-list/. It provides a list of challenges that helps you to document and face what you're going through.
There are many ways to get through the hard times and still be an active memory keeper. It's also OK to take a break if you need it! But keep journaling; it is therapeutic to journal about these feelings and it may help you to realize that these experiences are an important and even wonderful part of your story. You'll want to remember that you've grown as a person because of them. It's an important legacy to leave for the people you love - they should know that life can and did go on, even when it wasn't "picture-perfect".
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February Crop Just Two Weeks Away!
We're so excited for the new venue!
We have been so blessed to have such amazing croppers at our events and in February we will have quite a group of new attendees! We are so glad to host everyone. February will be the perfect time to come visit us for the first time or haven't been in a while as it will be our first event in the new hotel, the Hyatt Dulles! As a reminder, here are some of the benefits of attending one of our crops: - Ergonomic "18 hour" chairs
- Extended crop times. Crops now end at 4pm on Sundays.
- More food - additional Sunday snack
- Spacious and clean facility washroom
- Dedicated private classroom
- Brewed Starbucks served at meals and snacks
- Vendors all in one room, just across the hall from the crop room
- Massage therapist on the same floor in private room
- Executive suite hotel rooms with sitting areas and pull out sofas for just $89/night
- Ability to book the rooms online through links that will be easily accessible on our website
- Truly gourmet meals with great variety that can be catered to specific needs
- Continued Valet Service
- Temperature controlled environment with purified air and fresh oxygen circulation
- A lovely bar area
- Gorgeous modern facility
- Lap pool with an updated and large gym
- Electricity wired to each table grouping
- Free internet in ballroom and hotel rooms
- Crop room doesn't close (as long as someone still wants to crop!)
- 5 catered buffet meals and 5 snack breaks as well as unlimited soda, water and tea available all day
We are confident that you will love the new facility as much as we do. We've already had several croppers in to look at the space and it has met with their seals of approval. |
February Crop Classes
At least 6 great classes!
We are just a few weeks from the February crop and the classes are starting to come in. We will have at least 6 classes at this three day weekend. To check out the classes and register for your favorites, please visit our vendor blog at www.ourcropsplus.blogspot.com
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April Crop - Exactly two spots left!
Make sure to register first before it sells out!
Registration has filled up fast. It has been open to the public just five weeks and is almost sold out of the 80 spots we have available. The new location is proving to be a very popular choice! We will be creating a wait list. |
February Crop Attendee Gifts
SO Exciting!
For every crop, we do our best to come up with great attendee gifts. We give away $20-25 in product just for attending. For February, we were able to secure a brand new product unveiled at CHA at the end of January. YOU CANNOT BUY THIS PRODUCT YET! In most places and on most websites, you will not be able to get it until at least April. Be one of the first people you know to have such great stash - and all just for coming to Crops Plus!
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February Grand Prize
An Amazing Gift on the Cutting Edge!
 The February Grand Prize is something that is taking the scrapbook world by storm! The Flip-Pal™ mobile scanner is a scanner that is mobile, accurate, versatile and compact. It is incredibly easy to operate, it has high resolution, a quick scan time, it runs on batteries and it is incredibly light - less than 3 pounds. It even fits in your purse!
A computer is not required for operation as it has an internal memory card like a camera but if you use the computer software available, you can further enhance all your images and use them to create picture art, calendars, cards, slideshows and more!
The software available, and sold separately, goes even further to allow you to create business logos, digital scrapbooks, cards, or even build your own website.
The scanner's image screen fits 4x6 photos but you can scan larger images as well by scanning each part and stitching it together without seams! And the computer does all the work! The photo software that is available restores colors and old photos can be become new again without hurting the original. The patented flip-and-scan technology even allows you to scan images still in the album or frame. You can copy and restore old photos, scan newspaper or old records and preserve your memories forever!
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Crops Plus App!
Constantly Offering the Best Crop Experience!
Thanks to the great efforts of our wonderful web designer extraordinaire, Stephanie Dempsey, Crops Plus will be unveiling a new app for your smart phone at the February crop!
From this app, you will be able to view the schedule and menus of the crop, register for future crops, view and book your hotel rooms and more!
We will post information on Facebook and Twitter for those of you not attending the crop.
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February Vendor of the Month
Jeannette Swain of Stampin' Up!
 Have you met Jeannette? If not, you need to - especially if you're curious about stamping and what this fun craft can offer you. She is a highly creative expert who loves to teach stamping tricks and techniques. She actually gets giddy when she sees the "ah ha" moment when someone takes joy in what they learn from her (and her laugh is highly infectious). As an added bonus, she is great fun to be around! So check out her events and classes. You'll be glad you did!
Jeannette's bio in a nutshell:
- Demonstrator since 2005 and still in love with Stampin Up!
- Married to Gary and they have a big dog named Angel who they spoil rotten.
- Enjoys spending time with her family. They are one close family!
- LOVES to stamp, scrap, papercraft and laugh out loud!
- Has been published. WOW!
- Is the organizer of the Northern Virginia Scrapbooking Meetup Group as well as the Northern Virginia Stamp & Scrap Meetup Group. (Check it out!)
- Offers classes, stamp camps, free beginner stamping 101 classes, technique club, private parties & classes, business opportunities and more!
- Her website is www.StampsNWhatnot.com
- Her facebook page Friend her today!
- Her Pinterest boards Follow her
- To contact her - e) jeannette@stampsnwhatnot.com p) 703.272.7383 m) 703.328.5511
If you're into digital scrapbooking, and want to try MDS - My Digital Studio, try it for FREE for 30 days. Ask her about it.
Into monthly kits? Then let My Paper Pumpkin take you away! These all NEW fun kits will transport you to a quick creative escape that you'll be sure to enjoy! She'll have an example at the crop for you to check out!
Her current specials are Stampin Up's biggest sale of the year - SALE-A-BRATION and that means FREE goodies for you!
As a Customer:
Choose a FREE Sale-A-Bration product for every $50* you order
As a Hostess:
Get a FREE pack of Silver Glimmer Paper you host $150 party.
AND Get that PLUS a FREE hostess bundle when you host a $400 party on top of all of the already generous hostess benefits!
Join her team of Croppin Queens: Get 25% more in your Starter Kit - That means $156.50 worth of whatever YOU want for only $99 with FREE shipping!
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