Virtual Crop Week #14

Here we are, Friday already! Time to start the virtual crop again. Everyone welcome! Come join us!
I'm really cropping virtually the next couple days, I'm off to the beach and DH says I can't take my stuff, lol..
But, I should be able to check in later this afternoon and tomorrow.
Everyone, have a great weekend!

Have fun at the beach, Shirley! You may not be able to crop there but you sure can take pix to crop later!

I'm present thanks viv, for the examples for the ouat stack they've inspired me ...

I just want to yell out at my hubby "look at the pretty papers I got" but I'm so scared he'll be mad at me cause yesterday I asked him for money to go grocery shopping (we have a system, he pays rent, I pay groceries, etc)

Hope you're having fun at the beach.

Thanks for starting the thread, Shirley! I love the beach.. have fun! I'm still in CA and will be in Yosemite for 3 days. No scrapping (no time to stop by sb stores!) but probably lots of photos! Have fun, girls!

It's awfully quiet here.

Time to make a ruckus!!!

Wow! Time flies! Can't believe it's friday already. I'll be working on father's day albums a little later. Right now I'm doing research. I REALLY want to open an LSS in this area, but not sure where to start. It would be a dream come true if I can pull it off. Wish me luck!
Amber

Wow, Amber. That's quite ambitions. Good luck.

I tend to dream big....but rarely follow through. I've set back and help dh reach some of his goals...now it's my turn. This is a joint dream of sorts. He has always wanted to own his own business, and I'd love to own a LSS. I hope its really possible.
Thanks for the support!

Amber - you can move south and open one in my town. The only one we have left may be closing soon. Sad part is not because of business, but because her husband took a job in Indy and if they can't find someone to buy it they will have to close it down.

Oh! How sad! I'm stuck in Michigan for another year and a half, though. After that, we're planning on heading back to Missouri. Of course, that may change if I actually CAN open this business!!!!

I found the SBA. Very helpful resource!

Off to work on those father's day albums.....

I did a digital page today. I am new to digital.

Anyone else do digital?

Student (princess) Driver

It's been a long while since I've done digital. I did one for my sister's twins' first birthday present.

http://www.scrapbook.com/myplace/index.php?mod=gallerie...

I like Scrapbook Factory Deluxe. Very easy.

There's a strip mall not far from my house. The auto parts store that was in a big section of it closed down and went online only. That section along with a couple of smaller sections next to it have been empty for some time.

I'd love to open a ladies only fitness center AND a craft store. There's neither for 30 minutes away. But I don't even have the time to seriously consider doing this. Much less the capital.

I'm checking in. Hopefully will be home early tomorrow (if I had it my way we'd be driving straight through today) and go to print all the picture I took on the trip.

UGH!! I have to walk across the street to the gas station to get service on my cell phone. I'm just ready to be home right now!!

Ohmygosh it's good to be back! I can't begin to tell you the withdrawal I had the past two weekends, knowing I was missing my Virtual Crop crew!

Memorial Day Weekend (for anyone not in the U.S., that was the last weekend of May), I was away working at a sci-fi convention. I got the neatest picture of our media (i.e. showbiz) guests with Baby Ethan - now I'll just have to figure out an equally neat way to scrap it for his baby book.

And last weekend was dd's high school graduation. Family, friends, commencement, senior recognition at church, open house on Sunday afternoon...it was busy. And would you believe that out of all that we STILL don't have a picture of her in her cap and gown?? Thankfully, they were purchased (not rented), so we can go back and get one whenever she's in the mood and we have a camera handy.

Then on Monday we got Ethan's dad off to Basic Training. So this week has been catch-up week. I did pull out the scrapping supplies last night and start again. I'm currently working on a book that will be auctioned eventually for The PEACE Fund. One that I did was auctioned off a few weeks ago - 20 pages, 8x8" book, went for $560.

Ahhhh, it feels good to be back.

Amber the SBA was an awesome resource when I wanted to start a LSS (read my profile if you wanna know what happened to that dream.) If you have a SBA office close enough to meet with someone in person that is sooooooooooo helpful. I also took seminars at our comm. college on SB ownership. That was an awesome resource also. Be realistic, don't expect it to support your family; at least not in the beginning, if ever. Anyway keep checking into it if that is your dream.

I'll probably be back after midnite if anyone is croppin' that late. I'm going to an IRL crop tonight at our LSS. Should have left by now but I have to wait for jeans to get dry. Got my daughter off to GS camp today and was busy making sure everything she needed was washed and forgot about myself.

While sitting in my car one day waiting for the train to pass I thought of how I will be using my accounting degree once I receive it.. I thought "hey, have your own LSS once Jim's done with Army & at a permanent residence". Then i realized that would be a lot of work.. so I was like "I'll just do taxes for all the LSS" *hehe* I told Jim this while we were hanging out. He supported my idea and said I can work for store credit *hehehehe* Such a good boyfriend to listen & humor my dreams/thoughts.

Okay, so for those of you who have considered starting your own LSS...or who maybe have done it...

When you consider that having your own small business is so tough....

What would be the advantage of doing something like having your own LSS over, say, being a CM consultant (or any other line of sb supplies - that's just one that came to mind because I knew someone who was a CM consultant LONG before I really cared about scrapping)?

I'm sincerely curious.

Tex - gotta agree with you on that one. Owning your own small business is a lot of work. My average work week in the fall is between 70-90 p/week. In the spring it does go down to about 60-70 and then for about 2 1/2 months in the summer I get to slack off. But then the only problem with the summer is there is less business, so less money and when you are the owner you are the last to get paid. You really have to love what you do to own your own small business.

• c-leaper Said:

Wow! Great job on the auction! Wowser!

What exactly did you do at a sci-fi convention?

Just popping in to say hello. I hope I can get some scrapping done....actually altered items for my friend's birthday.

• JoyfulAnna Said:

Well, let's see 'em!

• VivianR Said:

At this particular one, I was in charge of Guest Relations - basically all the logistics for our 18 Guests of Honor, their assorted spouses, assistants, children, and/or significant others...hotel, travel, flights if needed or mileage reimbursement if they drove, any special requests (i.e. dietary),rooms, schedules while at the convention, liaisons for everyone...whatever came up.

It was exhausting, but I must've liked it because I've agreed to do it again next year.

• c-leaper Said:

Actually, I recently became a Stampin Up demonstrator. I joined mostly for the discount on the product. I used to be a Mary Kay consultant, long ago. I had a very difficult time meeting people and getting them to host parties. I assume I'll have the same problem with Stampin up. My take on the matter is the people would come to me, specifically b/c they enjoy scrapbooking. It's more likely to be successful when the person you are talking to REALLY is interested in scrapbooking, rather than me just guessing and striking up a conversation with someone who doesn't give a $#@% what I'm selling. I love scrapbooking and love the idea of a LSS. It's more than just retail sales, there's a relationship involved. There's opportunity for fun with classes and crops, and potentially new friends.

Someone once told me that when you are looking for a career that you can truly enjoy, pick something you really enjoy doing. Then find a way to make money with it. For me, that's either scrapbooking, or children. I've done daycare, and truly enjoyed it, but hated the owners of the center. I'm a long way from having the credentials to open my own center, and even further away from having the money to do it the way I really want to. Scrapbooking is attainable at this point, I think. Someday, I hope to have both.

Sorry that got so long. Stepping off my soapbox now!

• NMlady Said:

Thanks, I sent you a pm

• c-leaper Said:

I am kinda a Scifi nerd. I would love to do something like that.

Hey, where's Tink? Isn't she usually one of the first ones to join the crop?

Im here ... I had a dinnerparty tonight .. we call it nerdsnight ... a bunch of our friends get to gether eat way to much food and watch Deep space nine .... so I just finished cleaning .... Im going to be here all day tomorrow and sunday ....

I just got a bunch of stuff that I love to play with and spent part of the night sorting letters into a box (by letters) ... I had them all in a mess in a huge box ... now they are all in seperate ziplocks ... so I can finally use them ....

• Tink-Hildur Said:

Sounds like fun! I used to watch DS9 with my dad.

Hey Tink! Good to see you.
Did you have fun?

• MamaBer Said:

We had a blast ... We just started rewatching season 1 ... funny how bad the acting is ... but love the story ....

the best thing is that the girls have started watching with us ... they love the food and the company ....

• JoyfulAnna Said:

Anna and I are both more than "kinda" We're geeks!

• c-leaper Said:

2010 a bunch of our friends and my and my DH are going to go to Las Vegas for the Sci-Fi convention ..... I was so bummed last year I was in NY when the Star Trek convention was there but I was alone with Anika so I couldnt go ....

That sounds like so much fun, Tink. Wish I could get a group up to do that! We just finished watching the last episode of season 2 of Stargate: Atlantis. Can't wait for the DVDs for season 3!!!

I also joined Netflix, just for sci-fi stuff that I don't want to buy.

I wish Firefly had made more episodes than it did.

Seems like everyone I know that ever watched firefly says that. Someone should put together a petition and get it back on!

• VivianR Said:

I love my little group ... we have been doing this for almost 8 years now ... weve gone through all the series ... TNG - Enterprise - DS9 - StarGate - Atlantis - Eureka and lots more ....

I watched so much DS9 and Voyager when I was pregnant with Gabriella I was afraid that when she was born the themesong might start .... I even didnt go to the hospital untill I finished watching the newest tape with Voyager (we only got them on VHS here in Iceland) ...

• MamaBer Said:

the thing is that they seem to cancel the best shows and then we get stuck with the worst shows for the longest time ... sometimes I dont get whos watching them .....

• VivianR Said:

Uh oh! You guys have started talking about Scifi. You know that means I have to put in my plug for Farscape. Watch it! It is the best show EVER! The story, the special effects, the eye candy(see my avatar), THE STORY. Ok, I'm done now.
I just wish it didn't cost $100 a season.

ITA, Firefly was such a good show. I wish there were more episodes too. At least there is a movie.

I think season 3 of Atlantis is the most interesting so far. I am sure you will like it. I have to admit that the wraith creep me out though. The whole feeding thing is just ew.

I wonder if I should scrap about how much I love this stuff? A lo titled "nerdy me" for my BOM or something.

• JoyfulAnna Said:

I loved farscape and Atlantis is a great show ... Im kinda sad that they changed all the actors in SG1 ... I miss Jack ....

I'm a bit ticked about my NetFlix membership. I wanted to watch FarScape more than anything else. They don't have the first season available!!!

I didn't know it was $100 a season. Why? How many episodes are in a season for that show? That's more than for Star Trek seasons!

I should be getting "Serenity" tomorrow. The movie that gives an ending for Firefly. I bought the series on DVD from Target. They had it for $16. So no resistance there.

As for Stargate, I'm still waiting for the Furlings to show up. The wraiths are icky but so far they're really good villians. At least until they made Michael.

I'm also waiting to see season 10 of SG1.

Anna Im going to do a page about startrek ... I bought a bunch of those trading cards to use ... and I also bought some garbage pail kids cards so make a Lo about them .. I used to spend all my money on them when I was a kid so Im going to do a LO about how much they meant to me ....

they also have supercool banners that you can use from all the shows ... I bought mine at forbidden planet in NY ... some of the comic book stores have them too ...

• VivianR Said:

when I'm in Boston I have to spend alot of time in the hospital or at the hotel with the girls so I buy one or two seasons of SG1 or Gilmore girls to watch .... my brother hates it but I love to watch a couple of episodes back to back ... I buy mine at Target too they are the least expensive there ...

• VivianR Said:

Ahhh Vivian! Your post made me want to reply with so many spoilers! Season 10 of SG1 is the best by far, IMO.

There are 22 episodes in each season of Farscape. I guess since the series was cancelled and so expensive to make, they are trying to get some of their funds back since the DVD seasons are their last chance to make money??

Do they not have the 1st season of Farscape at all or is it just checked out? I got all 4 seasons from Netflix, but I am in a completely different part of the country than you.

I wonder if they have Firefly for $16 at my Target. I must go check soon.

• Tink-Hildur Said:

Let me know when you post the LO, I would love to see it.

• JoyfulAnna Said:

I will ... I also intend to do an LO about my books .... I have tons of them .... and next to my bed are lots of books ... mostly Steven Kings and Star Wars books ... I love to read stuff like that ... and why I have so many books ...

Don't you sometimes get great ideas about LOs that you'd wanna do and then think why should I ... I have lots of those .... just LOs about normal things ....

Netflix has the entire season one of Farscape as "Availability: Unknown" But I can get the other season right now!

I'm also gonna watch all the recent (newest) Dr. Who stuff. I'm really excited about that.

Plus I didn't see all the ST: Enterprise episodes, so they're in my queue, too. I've got Battlestar Gallactica in there, too.

But this week it's "Serenity" and "The Forgotten"

well girls ... Im kinda getting tired ... since the clock in Iceland is 03:22 I think Im going to go to sleep soon ....

See you all tomorrow .... Im going to get lots of scrapping done since I dont have to cook dinner, I have lots of leftovers so I dont need to do anything ....

Hi everyone - just checking in... Starting working on a layout tonight with a lot of detail cutting. I hope to fit lots of scrapping in this weekend.
Hey Tink - I bought the Making Memories springtime shimmer kit today and thought of you :)... Also picked up the paint effects specialty glaze kit and can't wait to try it out as well... Lots of sparkle, lots of bling... Don't want to mention the 3 new packs of rhinestones.