Crop & Create Kit Haul TBay 2018

I thought I would share the kits I purchased at the Crop & Create event.

I have mentioned this before on my blog here and also on my YouTube channel.

I love all types of crafts and paper crafting is one of my long time loves.

I used to think that when making my scrapbook layouts, I needed to be original.

I used to think, kits were not creative, they were taking someone else's ideas and just adding my own  photos to them.

Then I went to a Crop & Create event and received an Attendee kit and also purchased a kit or two.

Wow, that sure changed my mind...it also got me back into scrapbooking!!

I have to admit I don't follow the kits exactly.

I usually use the other side of the paper, or add a my own cardstock to stretch the kit..but with all that come in these kits you have the creative freedom to use the kit as is, or to make it your own.

With that being said...I went light on my purchases on kits at this event and only picked up 6.

But I do have a bundle of them from the Winnipeg event!

I think these will keep me busy until March when the Crop & Create event goes to Winnipeg and my friends and I do a road trip out there :)

I did a video on the kits I purchased with a bit of a closer look at them.

I hope you all have a very Creative Day 

Tracy 💗💗💗

Day 3 of Fun Shopping...not shopped out yet.

Yes, more shopping and I am NOT shopped out yet.
Wayne and I went to Crafts Direct in St Cloud.
I usually go with my friend Sharon to this store when we come for our girls getaway. This is the first time Wayne was here with me.

ok, this is a no judging zone.
I have beautiful paper, I love beautiful paper, I don't need more beautiful paper, but they keep designing beautiful paper.
So I keep purchasing beautiful paper.
This paper is just so so pretty...I usually have an idea on what I plan to create when I purchase papers, but this time, nope....but I still bought it ;)

I also had to pick up these Tim Holtz alphabet foam stamps...they were so inexpensive, how could I not.
As well as these Kelly Creates month and weekly stamps....couldn't pass them up for the price as they were on clearance.

Then onto Crafts Direct outlet store.
They have such great deals...which they did again this time.
I was so happy to see these ephemera packages.
We never see them in our city, we usually have to wait for the Scrapbook Cottage to come with Crop & Create to get ephemera.

When we got into Minneapolis we headed to a Joanns.
I don't understand coupons rules.
Wayne was in line ahead of me (as I like to use coupons for every purchase) and theJoanns coupon needed to be used on an app...so I told him to use a competitors coupon that he had on his phone.
I was then called next, I had the same coupons, and the young man let me use 2 competitor coupons.
Where the teller Wayne had said he could only use a competitors coupon if he had the paper version, not his phone version.
I told him he should have not bought the ink....as I only purchase from big box stores when using a coupon.
So one of these inks was actually full price..every thing else I purchase is with a coupon, on sale or clearance.
I may buy a lot at one time...but I use coupons, teehee.

How awesome is Tuesday Morning!!
I love this store and look forward to seeing the goodies they have when we come here.
I was excited to see these Tim Holts stamps here..and of course a great price!!!

A quick run into Michaels for some more blending foam circles and another Distress Oxide ink (thank you Tim and Jennifer for your videos).

I also noticed that there was a new Hobby Lobby close to where we were, so guess what...I went in to check it out, teehee.
I picked up 2 more of these mini distress ink holders as I seem to be collecting them, lol
I also picked up these rose gold letters and these cute word stickers.

We enjoyed a lunch at Denny's and then supper at Red Lobster.
We will be enjoying leftover shrimp tonight in the hotel as we weren't as hungry as we thought.

I hope you all have a very creative day
I will share my shopping goodies with you tomorrow as phone coupons never run out, teehee.

Tracy 💗💗💗

Peachy Cheap Online Haul

Just a quick little post on an on-line haul I did from Peachy Cheap a few or more months ago.
I am still playing catch up with my videos and projects that I did, but have not yet shared...why is that.
I still haven't figured out why I seem to stock pile my videos and projects the last few years, lol.
Time to rectify that once I have caught up.

So I did a bit of on-line shopping...I know, I know, I say I don't on-line shop and then I go all crazy on it, lol.
This first one is these Julia Nutting stickers.
You know I love to colour my Julie Nutting images, but I thought these would be fun to quickly put in my planner or journal.

I thought this was a fun collection.
It is the Domestic Bliss collection by Simple Stories.
Anytime I find ephemera (or die cut pieces) I am so happy.
The only store we have here in town is Michaels and they don't carry these new fun collections.

Next is this Reset Girl collection.
I want to call it the Reese girl collection....I think I need some chocolate, teehee.
I am a lover and obsess over office supplies (as well as craft supplies) ;)
So even though these aren't the colours I usually gravitate to, I like these images and thought they would be fun to play with in my planner.

My last collection is from Simple Stories called Winter Wonderland.
I am looking forward to working with it on my Christmas projects.

As I mentioned above, I did a video on this haul, but didn't post it for some odd reason....so here it is.
If you would rather watch it on my YouTube channel, just click on the link "Tracy's Treasures24"


I hope you all have a very Creative Day :)

Tracy 💗💗💗

Valentines Dollarama Haul

Time for some lovin'
I am excited to cut into these fun papers and play with these cute embellishments!

My friend Lesli (Vintage Scraps) was at our local dollar-type store, Dollarama.
She kept texting me photos of these Valentines paper supplies asking me if I wanted this one or that one....Like I need any more enabling, lol.

Here is a video I did so I could share with you up close.
To watch it on my YouTube channel, just click the link "Tracy's Treasures24"
If you do, please hit the like button and subscribe if you haven't already 💓



Hopefully soon to come is the cards and projects I make with these :)
I am still working in my room (in between looking after my beautiful grandbaby 💙 who is such a daredevil and a little ham.
He enjoyed climbing on this diaper box and then jumping into my arms 😀

I hope you all have a very Creative Day :)

Tracy 💗

The Scrapbook Cottage Haul

I did a bit of shopping at The Scrapbook Cottage when I was at the Crop & Create event.
I know, I know, I am behind in my posting...but I'm working on getting caught up for the New Year.

Here is some of my goodies :)
I picked up some of this cute collection by Meggie Holmes called Chasing Butterflies.
The chipboard Thickers are not part of this collection, but went perfect with it, so I grabbed that as well :)

I made my own kit with this collection by Simple Stories called "Beautiful"
I added some cardstock as well.
One of my biggest tips to scrapbookers (new and experienced) is to make a kit on the spot.
If you see papers, stickers, chipboard and embellishments that are in the same collection or that just go really well together, then pick out some cardstock and make a kit right there in the store!

I also grabbed some of this Maggie Holmes collection "Shine".
The die cuts or ephemera isn't part of her collection, but thought they went really well with these papers.

I picked up these 2 kits.
I love the mint colours in this Heart collection.
The Simple Stories collection "Domestic Bliss" I picked up, as I purchased some of this collection on line through Peachy Cheap.
I know, I know, I am not an on-line shopper...but I am now apparently, as I have been doing it quite a bit lately, lol.
I will show those in a different post ;)

I also did a video with more of the goodies I purchased from The Scrapbook Cottage.
If you would rather watch it on my YouTube channel "Tracy's Treasures24" I would love if you gave me a thumbs up and a sweet comment over there :)

I hope you all have a very Creative Day :)

Tracy :)

Day 2 of Crafty Shopping

I thought I would let you marvel over day 1's crafty shopping for a day or so before posting day 2, lol.
Actually I was tired when we got home and The Walking Dead was on, so was watching TV, teehee.

Ok onto Day 2.
Now that I found the Brother Scan N Cut mat, I could really concentrate on my shopping, lol.
1st stop was to Target.
I needed another set of banners (which there was only 1 left) and found a few other items in their dollar spot.
Some of these may or may not be gifts for a few friends ;)

Not crafty shopping, but found this cute set of PJ's for my grandson Sawyer.
Sawyer's daddy likes spider man....would have been fun if I could have found a set for him as well, they could have matched, teehee.

Wayne picked up this shirt for Sawyer as he liked the saying...he also liked the colour.

Back to the crafty shopping.
I thought I was going to leave Michaels empty handed.
That was until Wayne found some lonely Halloween supplies for 80% off.
First thing he noticed was the Tim Holtz stamps....he loves the TH's stuff, plus I think he is proud that he knows a popular craft designer who he met in person, lol.
Nothing here was more then $3.00!!
Sorry Lesli, I bought more washi tape, but they were so cheap!

Then we went to the Dollar Tree.
I love the Dollar Tree as everything there is actually a Dollar!!
Our Dollarama, very little is actually a dollar.
I picked up a few books and for a dollar, I don't feel as bad if they are not a great read and donate them later.
I forgot my earbuds at home and wanted to edit a video or 2 (which I didn't get to) and if they only lasted a night, I was good with that.....actually I was impressed with the sound the produced.

What we thought was going to be our last stop for the evening was to Walmart to get one of these letter boards as we don't have these in our Walmart.
It was Ashley that told me about these, so I texted her to see if she wanted another one...she said yes as she could have fun with it in her office (as today was her first day back to work after having Sawyer).

Before leaving the store, I thought I had better look at them to make sure everything was in them and that nothing was broken.
Turned out, out of all 5 boards in stock, only one wasn't broken.
I figured I could add some trim to the least damaged one...if Walmart would give me a discount.
They would give me .10c off.
.10c !!!! That is it.
She then told me that they will need to take them off of the shelves and discard them.
So I said to her...so you would rather throw them out, then give me a better discount?!?
She said she didn't have the authority to mark it down anymore than that...and walked away.
I just shook my head and bought the only one that wasn't damaged.

We then went back to the hotel to chill for the night.
That was until I got a craving for Taco John's Potato Oles!!
I had some the day we got into town and I asked for less or no spice on them and got the cheese dip.
You know you are obsessed with a food when you have a dream of eating it, lol.
I decided to get a planner, so off to Michael's we went again.
I had 3 that I liked, but picked this one as I like the sentiment on the front, as I seem to always make a fresh start..over and over again, teehee.
As I was walking down the aisle I noticed these stamps with the matching dies, they were under $3.00 each...nice deal.

Onto My Day:
Today was Ashley's 1st day back to work since having Sawyer.
Here in Canada you get a year off with maternity pay....Ashley took an extra week off.
She didn't want to go back and I don't blame her, who would.
But I helped by telling her that on the days her husband has to work, I will look after Sawyer.
So today was one of those days.
We enjoyed breakfast together, then headed to the clinic as Heather had an ear infection and I told her yesterday that I would go with her.
Sawyer and I snuggled, played and had a great day together.
I have to say, I needed a bit of a nap when he went home...how can a one year old out last me...oh right he got in an afternoon nap, lol.

I hope you all have a very creative day.
Tomorrow is going to be a home day for me (I will have a lot more of those now that Ashley is back at work as I would visit her at least 3 days a week or she and Sawyer would visit me)
I still haven't put away all of my Halloween decor from my crop!!!

Tracy :)

Day 1 of Crafty Shopping

Wayne and I decided to go on a little get away to Duluth MN at the spur of the moment :)
So I picked up some American money, printed off some Michael's, Hobby Lobby and Joanns coupons and off we went :)
My main goal was to find a Brother Scan & Cut mat.
I was gifted a Brother Scan & Cut machine but I couldn't get it to scan an image...it would only cut the shapes that were programmed into the machine.
After weeks of asking questions on different forums, we all came to the conclusion that the mat I had (12x24) would not scan...the older machines couldn't scan on that size mat.

So our first stop once we got to Duluth, was Michael's.
I had read that some Michael's stores carry this product....but nope:(
But I did pick up this dotted journal as I heard it takes different types of mediums and I want to get back into my daily journaling and was hoping I could use this as my fauxbonichi in the new year.
I also picked up an R89 Copic marker, as when I used mine, the tip was dried up.
I changed the tip, but it was empty....I know I could purchase a refill, but I would need to order it and I plan on doing some colouring for Christmas tags and I need this colour :)

Next stop was Hobby Lobby.
I was so hoping I would find the Brother Scan & Cut mat here.
Sadly another disappointment :(
But I did find some stickers in the clearance area.
Yes that is all that I had found here....but my focus was on getting this mat, so I wasn't really looking for anything other then the mat...I was a bit obsessed.

Last crafty store was JoAnns.
Every store had a type of Cricut, but no Brothers!!!
I found this small hexagon punch I was looking for, but not Scan & Cut.
As I was paying for the punch I look behind the teller and in the locked cage what do I see....A Brother Scan N Cut machine....my heart starts to beat a little faster.
I ask the teller if they have the mats for the machine...which she responds "We don't carry anything by Brother"...huh?
I tell her it is behind her in the cage.
She then phones someone and then informs me it is in the sewing area!!!
I can not tell you how happy I was when I saw them there!!!!
Mission completed!

Wayne has a few stores he likes to check out when we come here.
There isn't a Cabela"s here and now there is no longer a Gander Mountain, so we went to Menards.
I seem to always find something there as well.
I saw this Family frame...isn't so sweet.

I always have work gloves in my jeep, but these ones are insulated, so they will keep my fingers warm this winter and they are just so pretty :)

I ran into the Dollar Tree to look for some books I might like.
I didn't find any books, but I picked up these cute dimensional stickers for some little kid cards as well as this calendar.
I have this exact one for myself, then my daughter Ashley commented on how much she liked it, so I picked her up this one.

Then it was time for dinner.
We always go to Red Lobster and I always get the Shrimp Trio.
But the last few times, the pasta was either crispy, the sauce in the pasta was watery and one time my shrimp was raw.
So I decided to change it up.
I love shrimp, but not a fan of most other types of sea food.
But Wayne convinced me to get this dish.
I loved the shrimp, the garlic potatoes and I kind of liked the lobster.
I didn't love the crab...I had a bit of it, but gave the rest to Wayne.

Before coming back to the hotel, we stopped off at Target to pick up some pop (soda for you Southerners, teehee).
You all know you can't go into Target without looking through their dollar spot area.
I picked up these wood pieces...I couldn't make them for the prices they were selling them at.

I also picked up this fun music note banner.
I think I may need to pick up another one if I want to decorate it up with a festive word.
I also picked up these gift tags....I love the ones with the wooden snowflakes.

That is the end of my shopping for today.
Tomorrow will be more fun for me as I won't be on a mission to find that mat, lol.

I hope you all have a very Creative day :)

Tracy :)

Day 3 of our Girls Creative Shopping Getaway.

Here is the last day of our shopping from when Sharon and I went to Hinckley for our getaway :)
We drove to Pine City to hit up their scrapbook store, I LOVE this store.
But being as excited as we were, we were to early so stopped in at their Walmart.
I found some adorable pieces for my fairy garden.
I am planning on painting the lawn furniture as the orange colour is just to much for me.
Look at that fire pit!!!
It is just so adorable...again I am going to paint it.

We were still to early as the scrap book store wasn't open quite yet, so the dollar store.
One thing I love about Dollar Tree is that every thing is really just a dollar.
Here in my dollar store Dollarama, there isn't much that is only just one dollar.
Seeing that I plan on keeping up with reading my one book a month, I picked up a few books...and yes each one was only a dollar!!

Then off to Pine City Scrapbooking!!!
I picked up these fun papers to scrapbook Kristy's trip to Italy...unless she wants to do her own pages, then she can have these.
And see those blueberry paper under the pile, I know I can use those as we pick blueberries every year and just last weekend we picked 58 cups.

There is a clearance section, and I found a few goodies in there.
As well as some pretty papers.

I fell in love with this pretty collection from Bo Bunny, so I purchased 2 of each piece.

As well as some card stock to match.
I have been making my own kits up when I find some papers I like, this way I can just grab my pre-made kit for a last minute crop :)
I also picked up the co-ordinating stickers, chipboard and die cuts.

Like every year, once we have finished our shopping, we head to the hotel lobby and create!
I made 30 cards!

The upper lobby has 2 huge tables and some comfy chairs.
I have never seen anyone sitting at these, so Sharon and I grab a couple of lamps from the other sitting area to give us more light and take over the table :)
I enjoy when the staff and guests come and chat with us to see what we are doing :)

Every evening we head to the casino for dinner and Sharon spends the rest of her evening donating to the slot machines ;)
I wonder around the casino for a bit to take in the lights and excitement, then I go and walk the grounds.
They have a beautiful pond with a couple of fountains in the centers as well as a couple of swans occupying it.

The next morning we hit the road to home.
As much as I loved to be away, I was happy to be home, I was more or less away from home for 2 weeks with my 2 getaways.

I still haven't put away my goodies...I have to clean my craft room first, lol.

I hope you all have a very creative day :)

Tracy :)day

A day trip to Minneapolis and a haul

On the second day of our weekend trip, Wayne and I left really early from Duluth to drive to Minneapolis :)
1st stop was Cabalas...which is one of Wayne's favourite stores.
I used to love it until they stopped selling their Bear Claw chocolate bars :(
But I did pick up a warm red plaid throw blanket :)

When we left it had stopped snowing, but the roads weren't clear...but he is used to driving on these type of road conditions, so he drove while I crocheted another baby afghan :)

Our next stop was one of my stores....Blicks.
I picked up some Gamsol as I am almost out and some art journal mediums to play with :)

We then went to Mall of America for some yummy banana caramel crepes and cinibon sticks...soooo yummy.
Yes, we only stopped in at MOA for food, lol.
Then we headed to Joann's and I picked up some more art journaling supplies ;)
They let me use so many coupons...I really did good :)

Our last stop on our way back to our hotel in Duluth was Pine City Scrapbooking.

I love this store, so much to look at and I like how they have their products displayed.

Sadly we didn't have a lot of time to browse in that store as we had a bit of a drive still ahead of us.

We went to 5 Guys for supper....oh I wish I had one of their burgers and order of fries right now!!

I hope you all have a very creative day :)

Tracy :)

Shopping Trip Haul

Sorry I have been absent...but I've been cuddling the cutest baby boy I have ever seen ;)

So with that, I will share with you my crafty purchases from the 1st day on my little snowy trip.
1st stop Hobby Lobby (well first fun stop as I don't consider Gander Mnt or Menards my top crafty shops ;)
Wayne convinced me I needed a brayer...even though he didn't know what it was used for.
He just liked the name as my maiden name is Bray, lol.

Then Barnes and Nobel...I love books and note books.
I have these ones already....but one can not have to many cute inspiring note books ;)

Then we were off to Michaels...where by the way I lost the heel of my boot, lol.
Lots of planner goodies for my new planners :)
One planner I ordered at Crop & Create from Scrapbook & Cards Today.
The second planner I picked up from Michaels a couple of weeks ago with a 50% off coupon...it is the new Recollections planner they hacked from Erin Condren.
Not only did I give Wayne a 50% off coupon, but the teller at Michaels and I were talking and she had been to my city before, so she let me use a second 50% off coupon :)

I always stop off at the Dollar Tree when we go over the border to the US.
Here are my purchases from there.

Last stop of the evening was to Target.
No more Targets here in Canada, so it is always fun to shop there.
Here are the dollar spot items I picked up.
I love the plaid washi and the Do Not Open washi to cute :)

I may have gone a bit crazy on baby clothes and items.
How cute is that plaid hat!!!
It will match the plaid bush jacket I bought him when I went with Sharon.

Are you surprised as I am that I didn't purchase any paper!!!
I will share with you Day 2 of my crafty goodies in another post :)

I hope you all have a very creative day :)
Tracy :)