The quest for a LASER die cut

Hey there,

I have been MIA this week. I got sick mid-week and have been in bed/on antibiotics for about 2 days now. I am feeling better, gradually.

My friend QUYNH ADREAN and I scrapbook all the time. I helped to induct Quynh into scrapbooking by first taking her to the Scrapbook Expo in Costa Mesa last year (February). Since Quynh has more natural instinct for scrapbooking (she has craft vision and also is a great shopper) she did great at the Expo. I would not ordinarily do this is every case, because Expo is an experience all itself and can be overwheming (just a tad) to a scrapbooking newbie.

Ok, well during our second expo trip (last October in Ontario) we found this great laser die cut place and I got mostly Disney and a Carribean diecut. The die cuts are very finely cut/precise and look great on front/intro page layouts. Anyway, Quynh got an awesome Seattle die cut and I have been looking for it at stores for my upcoming vacation with Jason for July 4th. Well, I cannot find it.

I did find it online though... at www.paperwiz.net

Ta da. It's pricey ($7.99), but I think it's worth it.

I will keep you posted on Sunday, July 26th, it should be a fun day (9 am - 4 pm) of Croppin' at Canyon Crest Country Club!

- Rina

Be there: Sunday, July 26

Hello Scrapbookers,

I am going to help co-host a Fun Day for Scrapbooking on Sunday, July 26th at the Canyon Crest Country Club. My gracious co-host is Kathy Cocker who has the membership to CCCC.

The day will be fun, raffles, and a grand prize (to be announced later) in CM Products.

Sunday, July 26th
10 am - 5 pm
Cost is $32.50 to cover continental breakfast and sandwich buffet
* You will get a Goodie Bag from me too!

Hope you can make it. Please RSVP to me via email rina.gonzales@sbcglobal.net if you want to save a seat.

- Rina

Flashbacks & Ever After

This weekend was a fun one... And, incidentally I found 2 new scrapbook stores I had never heard of or visited.

1. Flashbacks
(858) 481-8878
2673 Via De La Valle # F
Del Mar, CA 92014

2. Ever After Scrapbooks
(760) 630-2767
1954 Hacienda Drive
Vista, CA 92081

Of the 2, the better selection is at Ever After - most definitely.

Deal Alert & Sunday, July 26

Hello,

Today is a fun announcement - this week the Cricut (older version) is on sale at Joann for $129 (regular price is $199). So, if you don't already have it this is a great deal!

Also, turns out Sunday, July 26 will work well for several of you ladies for our scrapbook date. We will scrapbook at the Canyon Crest Country Club thanks to the generous offer of CCCC member and my fantastic friend/customer KATHY COCKER. Stay tuned for more details.

- Rina

Scrapbook Time: July 25 and 26

Dear Scrapbookers,

Let me know if you are interested in scrapbooking with me (and others) on the weekend of July 25 and/or 26 (say 10 am - 5 pm). If I have many interested I can see about setting up my house for a Scrap-a-thon.

I would be willing to host brunch (bagels, coffee) and snacks/sodas both days and would just ask that you would pitch in for burger/pizza/whatever we decide. Plus, I know you'll want to shop my CM stuff, right?

Let me know if you can/want to make it and what days.

- Rina

A lesson in Xyron

Well, the cowboy girl album is well underway. Lots of cute embellishments, including Genuine Cowgirl ribbon (purchased at Scrappin' Good Times in San Dimas). Here is the Xyron in action...

Slip the ribbon into the Xyron


Pull it through


Cut (like tape) and rub on the item you want to be sticky


Remove the top plastic layer



Voila! A ribbon sticker has been created, now affix to your beautiful scrapbook page.

Catarina

My mom is a scrapbooker too. She was a scrapbooker long before me. As early as I can tell, her first attempt/success at scrapbooking was my baby book.

My baby book is a really good one - there is lots of journaling and I remember looking at it when I was a kid and growing up. There is a portion in it which says my name is Rina Maria Gonzales which means from Catarina. I think the story is that the year I was born (1977) Miss Universe's name was Catarina, and my mom liked the "rina" portion. Thus, my name.

The journaling in my baby book is quite special. It explained my growth and development and moments that were special to my mom. The journaling helped me to know about my childhood and helped me to get a sense of what a character I was as a child. Fun stuff.

So, the point of today is that journaling is great, especially for baby books! I know many of my friends don't like their handwriting, but now with digital (and the ability to even print out digital text boxes on photos - ask me how - using things like CM's Memory Manager) that can be less of a stress.

Thanks for reading, and most of all thank you Mom! -- Rina

Why "Mothership Scrapbook Gal"?

The meaning behind the name...

The name relates to the favorite scrapbook store that me and my good friend (and fellow scrapper) LYNNE WHINNEM shop at. We refer to the store as The Mothership... because it literally has everything you need to get your projects done (except for albums - those need to be ordered from Creative Memories!).

But, you might ask: What is the store's actual name/location?
WOOTEN SCRAPBOOK CO. in Ontario (in a strip mall by the Ontario Mills).

So, naturally the name of my blog needed to include a reference to mothership.

Lynne gave me my product recommendation for today, it is the Xyron sticker maker. You can even buy it at Target in their scrapbook aisle. The best use for Xyron is for ribbons and small Cricut letters. The tool basically requires you to slip an item through it and voila out the other side the ribbon/lettering is created into a sticker with a magic adhesive. I will give an example in my next posting because I plan to work with ribbon today on my Cowboy Girl album! -- Rina

My (infamous) hobby

I am starting this blog to track my (infamous) hobby -- scrapbooking. Being a lawyer, the days can be quite serious. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE MY JOB, but the creative side of me LOVES to scrapbook.

I will feature my own projects, friend's projects, travels, and other fun stuff. I will also provide info on scrapbook stores/products that I love.

This weekend -- I will be scrapbooking with a good friend from college (UC Riverside). We always have a blast and love the Croppin' Cutie trash bin that we fill up on the way.

Why the blog name? Stay tuned for my next post!

- Rina