Last Call

for little photos. :)

I have been playing...making little samples...little ideas to get your creativity jumping for your own photo necklace and having so much fun. This is the last call for photos if you want me to do the resizing for you.
The sizes range from about domino size 1.5 x 0.625 inches to teeny tiny 0.4 x 0.4 inches in all different shapes and sizes. So if you are super pressed for time....at least grab a bunch of your index prints because it is really fun to play!

I need your photos by Wed night 8pm (CST) at the latestest so I can get them printed for pick up on my way to the retreat thursday morning. :)

Just remember, inkjet prints won't work.

See you all soon!

Shameless plug for Girl Scout Cookies...

I will be bringing several boxes of cookies to share. Let me know your favorite and I will bring the "most popular" I know Thin Mints will be one, but there seem to be Peanut Butter crowds and Caramel crowds...Need to know which one you guys are.

But... I have many extra boxes I need to sell (cookie mom...rounding up to full cases).

If you might be interested in any, let me know. I know I have lots of Thin Mints, and Samoas (aka Carmel Delights). Also a few of the Tagalongs (Peanut Butter Patties...cookie and peanut butter covered with chocolate) and Do-Si-Dos (Basic Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies). They are $3.50 per box... They will come with a note from the girls...

I remember the years before the girls were in Scouts, I always wondered where the Girl Scouts were with the cookies. I missed them for several years. So this is not intended to be a hard sell, but a service to those of you who may have missed out on cookie madness in your neighborhoods this year.

Let me know by Thursday am at about 11. That will be the last time I will be checking here or my e-mail.

Shirts are DONE and going into my bags!!

Our shirts are DONE, and going into my bag today!! They turned out really cute!

Soup & Salad Friday

Food glorious food! Since breakfast is covered with our stay and some people are planning on going out on Saturday night we thought we would set up a little plan for Friday Dinner. We will have to wing it for Sunday night!

Some of us WI girls would like to start a little soup and salad dinner for Friday night. We do just need a few more dishes to make the meal complete! Please don't feel obligated, some of us crazy people actually like doing this sort of thing! So sign up here so we have an idea of the variety.

Here is what we have so far:

Soups:
Potato & White Bean Soup
Chili with yummy toppings

Salads:
Tex-Mex Layered Salad
Baby Spinach Salad with Cranberries, Gorgonzola & Pecans
Asian Style Salad
Roasted Potato & Veggie Salad with Balsamic Vinegar and Herbs

Desserts:
Tiny Chocolate Ganache Cupcakes

We could also use some Appetizers & Breads! Remember that the kitchen is pretty well stocked with baking and cooking supplies so you can throw something together there too. :)

TWO MORE DAYS!!!! :)

The Minnesota Girls

Just need a final check with Nancy, but it looks like we are closer than I thought and the MN girls should be there by around 3:30pm Thursday, unless we stop off somewhere along the road. So excited!

HOLY CRAP!!

5 days. FIVE DAYS!!! I can't believe it.

Count Us IN!

IA girls are leaving at 3pm Thursday and should arrive around 8:30 pm....depending on whose lead foot is behind the wheel. :o)

Circle Journal Info

Hello, hello, hello!

The Ho's Mama here, otherwise known as Debbie. I am so excited to be able to join everyone at the Tally Rally and getting to know you better. I am busy playing catch-up as I prepare to leave next Wednesday. Rachel and I will be spending the night near PDX so we don't have to get up at "the crap of dawn" to make our Thursday flights! Neither one of us is a morning person...

I want to join the circle journal, but don't think I will have time to do my page sample before then, so I am going to share my idea now to give you all sometime to think about your page.

I would love to hear about a book or movie that has had an impact on your life. It doesn't need to be your favorite book or movie, or a recent one. For example, when I was in elementary school I read a book called The Family Nobody Wanted and ever since then I wanted to adopt a child. In 1982 that dream was realized when we adopted our daughter from Korea. More recently I was watching the movie Lilo & Stitch with my grandson. Call me crazy, but for some reason I had this urge to go to Hawaii someday. I had never wanted to go before that! Now I have been there twice and get to go again in January of '09!

My journal will be free form 8" x 6.5" (Little Golden Book Size) so anything that size or under is fine with me.

Can't wait for the fun to begin,
Debbie

Next Thursday

I can't believe our trip is only a week away! I called the retreat owners yesterday to touch base; she said we can get into the house as early as Noon. If anyone thinks they may get there before 2pm, let me know and I will give you the garage keypad code to get in.

I thought they would let us settle up on Thursday night once we got there, but they need to have it BEFORE next Thursday. Thursday night is $600. Here's who I have comitted for that night: Rachel, Debbie, Shawna, Shannon, Katie, myself, Lisa, Minda, and Nancy. Maybe Christi (Latte) too? I can't remember.

So, the 4 Iowa girls, and Jen B. and Nicole J. need to let us know for sure ASAP so we know exactly what we each owe the retreat and can send it.

Unless anyone wants to volunteer to pay for the whole amount by credit card and have the rest of the group pay them back at the retreat. It's not an option for me to do that this time, but if anyone else is willing, it would make it easier. It's that or we need to send our individual checks to the retreat, like, now (!)

I am Disney Bound!

Leaving on a flight in the Morning so I will be out of touch here. I get back next Tuesday night the 26th. Anyone flying in Thursday....never fear. Katie and I have you covered. Julie and Katie have my cell phone number in case.
Looking forward to seeing you all next week!

BRING SOME OF YOUR WORK!!

Please!! I'd really like to see some of your work!! I've put some of my favorite pages into an album that I can carry onto the plane in my carry on luggage. I hope you guys will consider doing the same!! I would LOVE to see your work in person!

More Details

How do we want to arrange the meals? Do we want to do a grocery run once we're all together?

Looking at the amenities again, I had forgotten that there was a jacuzzi tub. Don't forget your swim suits! No skinny dipping, Christine!

Watercolor Pencils

I'm going to bring my big box of watercolor pencils, so if you have Prima paintables or other watercolor paper that you'd like to play with, bring it along!

metal cutting scissors?

Speaking of tools- I only have one pair of heavy duty metal cutting scissors. Does anyone else by chance have a pair we can use for working on the poppets? If not, no big deal, but I thought I would ask!

Bad News First

I have good news and I have bad news. I will give you the bad news first. The bad news is, that I got a TallyMail from Shirley last night, saying that she had to back out of the crop!! I'm sooooooo bummed about that, but she has some stuff that came up that she needs to be home for, and I totally understand that. Still..... Waaaaaaaaaahhhhh!!!!!

THE GOOD NEWS
Is that her spot is already filled!! AND it's been filled with one of my VERY favorite scrappers.....

MY MOMMY!!!

She is debbie on Tally, and she is the reason that I am a creative person. I think she will be joining in on our circle journal too. :P

I told Shirley that if she wanted us to, we would all do her journal prompt still, and just send her pages to her. If you have already DONE her page, PLEASE bring it to the Dells! I want to see it!! Be on the lookout for my mom to post her prompt also.

Tool Time!!

I looked at the Tool list at the center and it's not real extensive...which is ok...but I think we could post what we are bringing to make sure there are no gaps or overlaps. I think a few mentioned before what they are bringing. I guess I should go look for that and add it in...but right now here's my plan...

I am bringing for sure:
Punches I commonly use: small and large corner rounder, Large Photo Corner
CM cutting system (Circle and ovals and wavy edge thingy)
Foam stamps and paint to share (I only ask that if you know you are painting something large, please bring your own paint. But just for titles and pages, share away!!)
Basic Acrylic stamps (Journaling blocks, dates) and Tim Holtz Distress inks.


I could bring...
QuicKutz Squeeze + lots of alphas and shapes
EK Succes Curvy Cutter for large circles (only template I have)
Sizzix dies (full size basics and the Sizzlets)
Even more Foam Stamps
Dymo Label maker (paper tapes)
Sewing Machine
Typewriter

I am driving down and back with Lisa and Minda, so bringing it all is not an options. But ask for your favorites or let me know if you are bringing something so we can make sure we have it covered with minimal toting.

18 girls staying plus FirstLady Jen dropping by ...

Do I have my count correct? I want to know for sure in case I put together little goodie bags or something similar. No promises!

Shirt Prices!!

Check your spam... just in case, but I emailed everyone with this!! Can't WAIT to get them to you all! I'll email you in a bit with Christine's PayPal email.
SWEAT SHIRTS = $20.00
The following girls were ordered a sweat shirt:
Shirley
Myself
Lisa
Minda
Julie

T-SHIRTS = $10.00
The following gals were ordered a T-Shirt:
Dawn
Angela
Nicole
Shannon
Christine
JenM
Katie
Shawna
Jen
Niki

Some of you have probably seen collage artist Claudine Hellmuth's work before- her 'poppets' have been copied all over the place. I made poppets that sit on a shelf for friends and family for christmas this year, and I'd like to make one for all of you! Plus, how funny would it be to take a photo of all of our poppets sitting there together at the retreat?!

I need all of you to e-mail me a photo of yourselves. I'll be converting them to black and white and adjusting their size so that they fit my template. Then I'm hoping to get them finished before the retreat, but I may work on them there too. In any case, I will bring the supplies if anyone wants to see how to make them.

Any photo you like of yourself is fine, just make sure you are standing shoulders forward and looking forward. Send them to cicadagirl@gmail.com Thanks!

circle Journals

Just so you all know... I am a no stress hostess on this. If one of you decided AT the Dells to join us, that would be FINE! AND if anyone doesn't FINISH all the pages for everyone before the end of our time together, THAT'S FINE TOO! We can mail any unfinished pages to their owners when they DO get finished. I am putting ZERO stress or pressure on myself for this, other than the commitment to finish everyone's theme before Summer starts! lol So don't STRESS, and if you want to join in after you see the AWESOME pages that we have at the Dells, then you can join then!

Anyone have a good countdown list?

I just got back from a trip to Boston, so I am now ready to prepare for our crop weekend.
Does anyone have a nice checklist or countdown list that would be willing to do a daily prompt or other such thing to help us pack? I could use with doing a little bit each day versus trying to pile it all up the night before.

Got Little Photos?

I think I am finally set! I have managed to acquire a nice collection of photo pendant frames for an informal little mini class at our fabulous retreat. Lots and lots of options for you to play with! All my treat for my fabulous Tally Sisters!

I will have everything we need on hand if you want to make yourself a necklace. All you need is a little tiny photo! I will be happy to do the resizing for you if you email me your favorite high res photo(s). I can quickly resize them for a variety of the pendant sizes and then you can pick your favorite(s) at the retreat. One thing that is critical if you choose to make your own print is that you NOT use an inkjet print, the ink will bleed. Matte photo finish works best but glossy is totally acceptable. Index prints work great for many of the pendant sizes too.


So pick a favorite family photo, close ups of the kids, pets, grandkids, or even just a photo of a beautiful flower, whatever you want and I will show you how to make a fun little keepsake to wear or give as a gift. :) It is so easy and so much fun.

I am so excited to see everyone...this is gonna be such a great weekend! Email me with any questions and your photos asap! (I'll put out a quick group email for the address). Here's a tiny example of what you can make...that's Angie's little munchkin!

:) Katie (mama2gg)

i'll be bringing these....

to share..cos i like to stay regular and don't want to worry about anything!
i'll just leave it in the bathroom closest to my room, wait, it's buy one get one free-SCORE!

Circle Journal Question????

Ok because I have never done these....I have questions. For those that are doing freestyle - I should be concerned about the backside since it won't be in an album per say right? So if I do a page...I really need to do two? Or if I do 2 pages...I really need to do four? Or am I just over thinking this?

For you flying in ladies....we are scheduled for 8-14 inches of snow tonight. Record snowfall winter.....almost 60 inches so far and counting.

Two Rooms; my thoughts

I don't know if anyone is planning on setting up the seating for the two crop rooms, but Lisa and I have a request if you do: We think it will be best if we sit in different crop rooms, so we are more likely to get to know new people. Probably the same is true for Nancy, Nancy and I have cropped together MANY times on weekends like this and so maybe she'd enjoy getting to know Lisa more and being in her room.

Just a thought, we want to make sure we get to know you all and when we are together we tend to do the comfortable inside joke thingy which isn't conducive to meeting new folks!

So your thoughts?

Super Slacker

Finally I finished my Circle Journal Into page! After bringing home the gnarliest flu ever from vacation I have been on a major catch up spree! But I did it! Here is the link. I hope you will all still have time to squeeze this one in! :)

Sooooooooooooooo excited to see everyone!!

ANYONE!?

Anyone anywhere NEAR Napannee, IN?

We have had an unfortunate cancel... TallyWhacker can't COME!!! BUT latte_grande might be coming in her place, and she is THINKING of driving. Thing is, even though it's only about a 5 hour drive, her hubby would like her to NOT drive it alone. SO anyone near her? THIS is the map quest route. If you are near her, an any direction, and wouldn't mind a carpool, LET HER KNOW!!!