Cara

Scrapbook Room Clearance Sale!!

Well, December is my last kit offering for subscribers and that means I have some inventory to move or else I will have "some 'splainin' to do" when my husband notices how much I have in my scrapbook room! I have decided to package stuff up ...and first come first serve. So here is how it works...I am using the flat rate shipping boxes and will stuff it full of paper, books, ribbons and class kits that are filling the shelves in my scrapbook room. The boxes will sell for $30 each and the shipping is 9.90 I have closed my store so you will need to email me, I will send you a paypal request and you can pay with credit card or paypal. If you want to mail me a check that is fine too! This sale won't last long...when it is gone it is gone! Each box will include a package of Black Magic from Cordinations and a pack of Dream Street Paper! These were the two staples of my classes and I have several packs of each. I will add some ribbons as well as a class pack or two...as much as I can fit in the flat rate (11-7/8" x 3-3/8" x 13-5/8") box! Hugs, Cara

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send me an email if you want to order a goodie box! cara@caramiller.com

What ?? No more Are You Board?

Welll...we are still busy (Not bored!) but my kit club "Are You Board" is closed. Why??!!! Oh, it must be the economy. Oh ya...actually NO!!! My kit club was great and you guys all kept me very busy filling kit club orders. So I am sure you are scratching your heads saying well then, why are you closing it? Because my focus has always been education..and now I have the opportunity to focus completely on education and I am leaving the kits and product behind. I am partnering with Croptopia Getaways and will be offering Croptopia U at every one of their events in 2009. I am so excited ..it is like Christmas morning for me! I am going to miss my kit club but I am not going anywhere! I plan to offer some really fun contests and activities here every month. I will no longer have product kits but will be offering education kits. Look for details next week including my first blog contest! So look for the new and improved Educational monthly offerings coming in January 2009. Hugs, Cara

Oh my ...the Whisper really works!

I know I have been telling you all about the plans for Croptopia U! Well we opened the doors this weekend in Newport RI and I am so excited. It was wonderful! The students created some amazing layouts and the projects and plans that I had put together worked as planned. I have worked on this project for so long ...it was like giving birth! Croptopia U is a three hour long workshop featuring my WHISPER. The WHISPER helps get your pages done and helps you remember the nitty gritty details ...just like I was sitting next to you whispering in your ear! Yup that is where I got the name. The WHISPER clips on your tote and is full of as many tips and tricks as I can squeeze in there! The templates are part of my system to incorporate sketches into your scrapping process. The Croptopia U students were able to complete at least two 2 page layouts in class using their photos and many were able to add 6 or 8 layouts to their albums before dinner! It was wonderful and I am so thrilled at the results. So we are off til the beginning of 2009 and I am all education from now on. My December Kit club will be my final product offering for 2008. Next year is all about the Whisper! Stay tuned...I am posting some photos of it in action in a few days.

Pssssst....I am whispering in your ear!!

Ever sit and stare at your scrapping stuff...a pile of photos, papers, embellishments, tools and just wonder where to start? Do you wish someone would whisper in your ear and give you a direction...a place to start ... a nudge ... an idea ... Here you go! I created this tool for students in my Croptopia U classes. I have thought about names and finally decided on Whisper! This tool is like having someone whispering ideas in your ear... I give you tips to help you stay on track and get your photos scrapped...keep it simple silly and get those pages in your album! What exactly is a WHISPER? hmmmm... a collection of scrapbook recipe cards, basicfacts, color charts, sketches, tricks and tips that clip on your bag so they are always with you! The starter kit includes the ring, acrylic covers and dividers and 6 Psssst cards. Oh and .. Guess what? New Pssst secret cards will be offered from time to time! These will be easy to add to your Whisper1 Psssst secrets ...oh so many secrets to keep in your Whisper!

Thanks Michelle!

I was so excited to have Michelle nominate me for a Kreativ Blogger award to make me happy...it is not part of the deal but I thought I would mention 6 things that make me happy too! 1.) My kids...anything that has to do with them! But I am one of those empty nest Mom's so it might be a chance to spend the day with them, chat on the phone or online, visit them at their house or apartment or school...and we are planning a family trip in January so lots of planning too! 2.) I just went on a cruise with my husband. It was a working trip as I was the teacher for Croptopia Getaways Cruise. It was nice to spend some time with him. 3.) My shi tzus! 4.) driving in my car ...sounds silly but I really like my 97 Saab 900...love to drive that car! 5.) My yard...I live in the old house that I grew up in and there are so many memories here. 6.) Spending time with my mom 7.) I know...I already did 6 but this is cool too.... my youngest daughter had her Senior Day College Soccer Game yesterday and I spent the week creating a unique scrapbook for her...it was about the stories more than the photos and I loved the experience! Thanks for the shout out Michelle and thanks for making think about how happy I am!

Get Back To Basics with Cara Challenge!

I have teased about it but I am finally ready to "Spill the Beans" and let you know what I have been planning. As you know education is what I am about. From time to time I have offered some unique products like our custom wordbooks and the chipboard products I think are so fun to work with. They will still be available ...not to worry! But the most common request I have heard from my classes this year...we love projects but we really want to scrap our photos and fill our albums. I hear ya...me too! I have worked on this idea and I bet you will be as excited about this as I am. I have also worked out some fun ideas and classes for you to get it done too. First: I have created a cool new product...my kit club members will be the first to see it as a free gift included with the NOVEMBER kit. shhhhh....it is a secret til then but let's just say it is designed to help you get your photos into your albums...to Get Back To Basics. Also, I have created a new series of classes that I am going to make available for you at home! No, I am not coming to your living room...they will be available as a download with directions, shopping lists, templates and photos...and an optional real time chat feature. I will give you all the details when it launches but I have decided to use technology to help me connect to you in person. These classes will focus on using your stash, your crop time and the supplies you already have...no need to go buy more...no need for expensive monthly kits. I know you have alot of stuff that you just need to find better ways to Get Back To Basics with me. Watch for the launch and if you have a subscription to my November kit...woohoo...you will be getting my secret gift! Hugs, Cara

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Oh ya... the challenge.... In the comment section... tell me about a product or technique that stumps you...something you bought but have never used. Can't figurre out what to do with it or how to use it....I will choose one to feature in the November offering. If I choose your "challenge" you will win a free kit .. from me!

Do you talk to yourself in the car?

I talk about my children alot and if you are a faithful blog reader, thank you! But you know about Sara, my youngest daughter. Both of my daughters played college soccer. Kate's career at Wheaton College was wonderful and exciting as they played in the Final Four...but from a mom point of view her career was calm as she remained healthy and sound. Sara's four years have been challenged by multiple injuries. The most tramatic, she tore her ACL and her meniscus at the beginning of last season. After never ending rehab and therapy, she is playing in her senior season. So my Saturdays are spent traveling to her games ...not only is her soccer career coming to an end, but my soccer mom career is too! That is a whole other post!!! But while I travel to her games I have lots of time to think and plan my upcoming scrapbook classes. And I talk to myself...working through ideas and projects. So if you see me driving and chatting, well know it is a good class coming together! Wait til you see what I worked out today...the Croptopia U tool kit and layouts. I was scribbling while I drove the 3 hours to Sara's game...oh and 3 hours back. Hugs!

The times they are achanging...

The financial news is really kind of scary even if you are not a Wall Street kind a gal... I am not even going to try to make sense of all of it but I know it does make me stop and think. I have looked at my scrapbook supplies and thought, wow I have a lot of things right here and I can scrap all winter long! (I live in chilly New England so winter is on my mind lately!) But as I look at it I am reminded of the stories I heard from many of you at my classes this summer. You, like me, have paper and basics but never know where to start. You go buy more because it seems easier than trying to remember what to do with what you have. I listened and I have created a simple new approach to both my kit club and my classes. I have talked to you for a bit about Croptopia U, the educational event I am launching at Croptopia Getaway events! But as I listened to you ....the all day event was too much..too long. If you are coming to an event, you only have a couple of days and you need to squeeze as much cropping into those few days. You told me that you want to go to Croptopia U but you can't go all day. Oke dokey... I revised the outline and stuffed as much info as possible in 3 short hours! Drink your coffee and bring your chocolate...we are going to work hard and smart in a few hours! Ten pages and so many techniques...as the Dragnet guy used to say Facts ...just the facts lady? That is what this class is about. Well this is my Back to Basics class and we are scrapping our photos. We are getting pages in our albums and recording memories to share with our families. I love this class and I love that we are actually creating scrapbook pages. If you want the details, look at the Croptopia U page listed on the left. Now, more about my kit club. October Kit has two offerings...one is the continuation of the MAKE YOUR OWN KIT and the other option is a terrific how to featuring my 8x8 boardbook. This is a great gift album size and can be completed in one night of cropping. You will love this one. But I mentioned there are new things to come...I know that you have a lot of supplies and you need to remember how to use them. I am putting together a kit that contains no supplies! What?!! How can it be a kit without product?! Well,...think of my kits as recipes! I will put together my project here and offer you complete photos and instructions that you have come to expect from me~ shopping or gathering lists, sketches, layouts and step by step details~ and you add the supplies from your stash, your local store or friends! The beauty of this kit is the price! You will receive the files from me via email so no waiting ... you can print if you want or work right from your computer. The kit will be announced each month just like they are now. These new No Product Kits will not replace the traditional Are you Board? but will be in addition to the monthly kit. I will send the first No Product Kit offering FREE to all my subscribers next week. Be sure to sign up for the mailing list to you can check this out. I am so excited and I hope you like it too! Hugs, Cara

Here's a bit of my Croptopia Getaways Bermuda Cruise

Make a Smilebox photobook

Did you see my photo?!!

That was my breakfast view as we were heading home on the Royal Caribean Explorer of the Seas. Croptopia Getaways asked me to be the instructor on the Cruise to Bermuda. I had a wonderful time and will be telling you alllll about our adventures later today. Wait til you hear about the cute Austrailian that Melissa was looking for or the Ice Skating Christmas Ornament ... how about Fred and Peggy's tatoos??! Or my glassware collection? We had so much fun and I have lots of photos to share. Be back soon. Hugs, Cara