Greetings!
Welcome to the new newsletter!
We're always looking for ways to improve Crops Plus. This month, that includes an update to our newsletter. Of special importance is that it is now more mobile friendly.

Most of the people opening the newsletter every month are doing so on a mobile device. This new format will allow you to easily access links and the website and see content clearly. We hope it is useful to you.

We also have a crop coming up in just two short weeks! More information on that is below. We hope you can join us!

See you in a few weeks!

The Crops Plus Team

PO Box 2041

Arlington, VA 22202

703-260-6105 

April Scrapbooking Tip
Getting out of a scrapbook slump
So spring seems to be here. You've spent the past few months hunkered down in your homes feeling the winter blues. You may even have gone to a crop or two. You may be registered for our crop in just a few weeks.

But you're not feeling it. You're not inspired or excited about scrapbooking right now. You're in a slump. You're not alone. I know I personally feel like this in the early spring months when I really want to be outside.

Lisa Moorefield has some great suggestions on her blog on how to get over this rut and get creative and scrapping again!

http://lisamoorefield.com/how-to-get-through-a-scrapbooking-slump/
Area Crop House Retreats
A chance to get away on your own schedule
How many of you have been to a crop house for a weekend? They are large homes that are rented out specifically to scrapbookers for a long weekend (maybe more!). With full kitchens, large scrap spaces, comfy sleeping arrangements and wonderful amenities, they are a great way to get together and enjoy our favorite hobby. I love them. It's a chance for me to get away and scrapbook with a smaller group of women.

For years, Girls Night Inn in Nokesville has been a staple of the DC/MD/VA scrapbooking community, providing a scrapbook space for 10, a full kitchen and many other amenities. However, with sadness, Detra, the owner of Girls Night Inn, has announced the imminent sale of the house and the new owners do not want to keep the scrapbooking weekends going. Thus, effectively immediately, all reservations have been cancelled.

Shoot. Now what?

There are, however, alternatives! I know of two houses in the area that might suit your needs. Often our crops are sold out or they may not happen on dates that you can make. These options allow you to select crop dates that fit your schedule.

The Scrap Nest - VA 
This is the house to which Detra is referring her cancelled reservations. The house (cabin? :)) is brand new, built in 2014 and nestled in the trees of the Massanutten resort, about 2 hours from the beltway. It sleeps 14 and has scrapbook space for 10. I have been here a number of times and absolutely recommend it. It was built specifically to host scrapbookers and has a number of comforts that will make your scrap time more enjoyable. View availability and information here:
http://www.thescrapnest.com/

Harbor Edition Craft Cottage - MD 
This house is located in Annapolis. It also sleeps and has scrapbook accommodations for 10 people. I have not had a chance to go to this house, but you can check out their website here:
 http://www.harboreditioncraftcottage.com/index.html  
April Spaces Available!
Last minute cropping opportunity
9 times out of 10 our crops are sold out way in advance. For the April crop, we have, amazingly, a few openings! If you have never had a chance to attend one of our events before, NOW is the time!

As a special bonus, any new registrants for the April Crop can use the coupon below to get 10% off. See details below. 
July Registration Open!
Get in on one of the few summer crops around
Our rare summer crop is now open for registration! If you have never had a chance to attend one of our events before, NOW is the time!

The crops sell out at 80 people; any registrations beyond that number will be placed on our waiting list. So be sure to jump on this opportunity early!

What's Included:
  • 5 fully catered buffet meals, 2 snack breaks and 2 evening dessert buffets
  • Unlimited soda (Coke products), water and iced tea throughout the day
  • Candy baskets at each table
  • A Thank You Gift retailing for $20-$25
  • 6x3 crop table with plenty of space around your chair
  • Access to amazing vendors and shopping
  • Access to a wonderful massage therapist (additional fee applies)
  • 24-hour crop room availability
  • Door prizes every night
  • Grand prize drawing retailing between $150-$250
  • Every table grouping has access to at least two outlets (must bring your own cords and tape)
  • Cricut and computer station with over 35 cartridges and color printer/scanner
  • We try to interrupt you as little as possible to allow you to "get in the zone"
Click below to register.
You can also register for our April crop there.   
April Classes
Register soon to grab a spot!
We have a special treat for the April crop. In addition to our talented vendors, we will have two guest classes taught by outside artists! All the teachers have put together some really beautiful and unique classes for the crop this month.

You can take the classes even if you are not a cropper! So check out the options to make your creative juices flow!

Also, get the contact information for the massage therapist to sign up early. 

You can take a look at the classes and register here:  
http://ourcropsplus.blogspot.com/   
April Grand Prize
BRAND NEW product!
I am so excited about this Grand Prize! It is a brand new product introduced at the 2015 Winter CHA show and just now available on the market. 

It is the American Crafts/Heidi Swapp Minc Foil Applicator & Starter Kit! With the foil applicator, you are able to achieve amazing, professional, gorgeous foil effects like never before! Create little details or high- impact wall art. The sky's the limit!

Add amazing foil effects to your projects within a 13 inch wide work space.

This package contains one 5-3/4x19-1/2x2-1/2 inch foil applicator with an input of 120V/60HZ (1100W power), one transfer folder, one gold foil sheet and three starter tags.

As a bonus, Kathryn from Kathryn Scraps will have one at her booth and will do demonstrations on it throughout the April crop weekend. Watch this neat video from Heidi! https://vimeo.com/114303422 
Tee Shirts for Charity
Another way to give back and win prizes!
As you can tell by our website and this newsletter, we recently rebranded. New look, new logo and that means new tee shirts as well! We haven't sold tee shirts since 2011 and now is the perfect time! PLUS, wear it at a crop for the chance to win great prizes and give a little back.
 
We are selling these adorable v-neck tee shirts for $25. All of the proceeds will go to Bethany House, a domestic violence shelter in Northern Virginia. Bethany House was organized to help women and their children who have suffered from domestic violence regain health and dignity and become re-established in their community by providing temporary housing and support.

In 2014, we were able to donate over $600 to Bethany House! 

 

You can choose to have the shirt shipped to you for an additional fee or you can pick it up at any one of our crops. As an added bonus, at each crop, we will have a special prize drawing for anyone caught wearing a Crops Plus shirt over the course of the weekend.

 

Be sure to get yours before we sell out so that you can also be eligible to win and give back to the community. You can order your shirt here: http://www.ourcropsplus.com/#!crops-plus-tee-shirts/cf9y  

 

Note: We will have all sizes once again available at the April crop. 


REGISTER FOR THE APRIL CROP AND SAVE
10%
Fine Print:

- New registrants must mention the coupon when registering on the website
- New registrations must include a copy of this coupon with their payment if paying by check. If paying by PayPal, you must mention the coupon in the notes
-Offer applies to new (after 4/1/15 registrants only)
-
Applicable to the first seven (7) registrants only.
Offer Expires 4/15/2015