Western Idaho Fair

We went to the Western Idaho Fair this past Sunday. It was the last day so we got half-off admission. Yay! The fair reminded me so much of the Santa Cruz County Fair that my family went to every year. Well, "went to" isn't quite the right word. We lived and breathed the fair every year for weeks. We baked cookies and pies, we put together themed table decoration displays, we did flower arranging, we entered our poetry and fine art, we installed gardens, we worked the 4-H snack shack, we exhibited rabbits, chickens, goats, and sheep, we built huge displays in the 4-H building and put on demonstrations based on the classes we had taken that year - the list goes on and on. Those memories are some of my favorite from my childhood.

I went to the fair again one year as an adult and it was just sad - nothing like I had remembered. The hall where we our crafts had been displayed was filled with people's collections - troll dolls, silver spoons, and kitchy cow stuff (an entire case filled with things like cow salt and pepper shakers and a cow creamer where the milk comes out of the cow's mouth so it looks like she's regurgitating cream). The building where our homemade pies and cookies resided had been turned into a vendor hall, filled with booths from companies like Alhambra Water - where they were trying to hawk their water cooler systems. It made me so sad inside. I never went back.

So I wasn't sure what to expect when we went to the Western Idaho Fair. But, like everything in Idaho so far, it exceeded my expectations. We had a blast and here are some photos of what we saw and did:

First and foremost - the cardmaking and scrapbooking display:













And the most amazing quilts I've ever seen:

(My favorite - I LOVED these little monsters.)

Awesome cakes - It's amazing what someone can do with fondant:








We watched a little pig racing. Who knew there was a national association for Pig racing? I was a little sad Brittney Spare Ribs didn't win.





We went to the Wallaby exhibit put on by Bronco Motors. These little guys were so cute.





And we saw some farm animals:

This guy was pretty cool. I was so happy there was a fence between us, though, because he started to get aggressive and began coming at me with his horns directly pointed toward me, all business-like.

Loved this sign. Made me laugh. "Little extras" lol.

And finally, we rode the Ferris Wheel. I can't believe Spencer actually went up there in it with me. That is how much he loves me.

Grateful

I am very grateful for my wonderful husband, who is just the most amazing man I've ever met. Look what came in the mail for me today:


I want to do my scrapbook room in light pink with lots of vintage & French accents. This will be perfect. I absolutely love it and think it is the cutest thing I've seen in a long, long time.

New ATG Gun

Okay, so the first time I saw it, I thought, "I want that."



But then I started digging around and found out that A) it's not industrial strength and B) I can make my gun pink just by getting a can of spray paint like these people did:


So as soon as I have a space to do it in, I will be painting my ATG gun (the best tape dispenser ever) a soft pink.

And then, who knows?

Halloween...

Well, it's either early or late, depending upon how you look at it. Late because these pics are over 20 years old and because I feel like I should have finished this album months ago - or early because I made this layout with materials from a kit I put together for my scrapbook club and am months early on finishing my project for October's kit.

I am cheating a little by posting it, but here's what I figure: I like to be inspired by what I see and improve upon it. Plus, I never scraplift anything exactly. Plus, isn't the point of the club to get ideas from each other. Alright, alright, that's just a justification. I felt like posting to my blog and this is what I wanted to post most as it's my most recent project.

How to Annoy Your Customers

This is a lesson brought to you by Creating Keepsakes and Scrapbooks etc.

So how does a desperate company irritate its few remaining customers? Well, Creating Keepsakes (who filed for a reorg about a year ago due to financial difficulty) has decided the following would be a cute scam to pull over on their mailing list: Send out unsolicited DVDs charging those who do not mail them back $7.00 and enroll them in a club to get more for $7 a pop. I was appalled. I mean, really? Really? This is how you want to treat your mailing list and client base? Tragic.



While, Creating Keepsakes tactic is obnoxious and offensive, Scrapbooks etc.'s merely reeks of desperation. It's as if the executives sat around and said, "Hey, we need money. I have a brilliant idea. Let's send out renewal slips to those customers who have just received their second issue in a year long subscription." And another says, "Yes! That's a great idea!" And really, it isn't. I opened the thing and started thinking, "Oh, man. Did they mess up somewhere and think my subscription is ending soon?" Nope. It shows near my mailing address (highlighted in yellow) that, indeed, my subscription runs through to April of 2011. So why am I receiving a renewal notice telling me my subscription "is now up for renewal" in June of 2010? SO annoying.



Alright, rant over. Back to scrapping. So much more pleasant than opening the mail.

P.S. I just had to add that I love that Scrapbooks etc. thinks my name is Marlene. Awesome.

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner

I can't believe I actually won a blog giveaway. I am very stoked! Thanks, Generations Crafting!

Did You Know...

That layering images to create a 3D effect is called Paper Tole? I always thought it was 3D Decoupage.

Here is a gorgeous example of Paper Tole by Jerri Jimenez:

(Click on image to go to her blog post.)

Time Flies

Wow! Has it really been nearly a month since I've updated my blog? Is it laziness or apathy? Hmmm...

Well, just so it looks like I care (which I actually do), here's one I haven't posted before.

Again, it's for Kurt's album. This one is of Cyn when she was a pee wee. I love vintage photos and so I was excited to do this layout. The paper is My Mind's Eye from a few years ago, the flowers are Prima and the rest is just stuff I found around that went with the blue/peach theme.