Gone Scrappin' In Bloom (GSIB) is located in a 1939 heritage general store in the Parkland Region! GSIB offers fresh flowers, scrapbooking supplies, gifts, handmade items, local wares and specialty cafe. GSIB owner Kelly Hunter, loves the holidays and goes all out with style, decor and events during Halloween & Christmas! 

The annual GSIB Spooktacular Event takes place from October 23-30th, starting with a Home Routes House Concert and includes Halloween kids costume portraits, Ladies Shopping Night and homemade fall harvest lunch specials featuring local foods, delicious baked treats and the favorite pumpkin stew inside a pumpkin. This fall, take a journey to GSIB to warm up with a hot latte or caramel apple cider, shop for Halloween decor and unique finds. 

Then comes the big "Holiday Flip" Kelly says. "This antique brick building gets completely transformed with Christmas magic! The store goes through a glitter & tree explosion overhaul and with big thanks to many local volunteers, they help get the store looking its best, just in time!" Their annual GSIB Holiday Open House is November 19th - 21st. The store is FILLED with Christmas trees - too many to count - home decor, handmade & local wares, ornaments, gifts, antiques and lights shimmering everywhere. It is truly an experience to walk into this old country store all decorated and filled with wondrous things! "It is like what I would imagine a toy shop at Christmas to be like from years gone by, but with more goodies for adults!" says Kelly "Plus, you may just time it right when Santa Claus is in the shop, sitting in his favorite rocking chair, ready to hear what you would like for Christmas!" Open house weekend features another Home Routes Concert, Santa & Me Photos, Hot Chocolate Bar and more. If you can't make it during their holiday open house, there is plenty of events happening throughout the season, such as Baking Cookies with Mrs. Claus, dinner and creative nights or just stop by anytime to explore and shop! Just a few of the items you will discover are Children's books, stocking stuffers, gourmet food items, holiday fresh flower arrangements and winter greens.

Explore GSIB this holiday season! Gather with friends, browse the shop, go crafting on Wednesday nights or just sit at one of the cafe tables sipping locally roasted java! A cozy and inspiring atmosphere to gather, shop, eat, dance and create! 

Located in Rossburn, which is just 20 minutes from Russell or 40 minutes from Clear Lake on Highway 45. Open Monday and Tuesday 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., Wednesday & Thursday 8:30 a.m. - 9 p.m., Friday 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. and Saturday 8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. Explore, Discover, Enjoy! www.gonescrappin.ca Twitter and Instagram @gonescrapnbloom

2015 A Whole New Year

Last year my One Little Word was enjoy. The previous few years had been a struggle with health issues, realizing I have limits and I can't do everything. I was tired. 2014, I was feeling more healed and refreshed, health wise and mentally. Ready to re-discover forgotten joys and bring more things back into my life that I enjoyed. Refuelling the passion and most importantly helping me be much happier for my family. 
Enjoy the little things and get back to simple. 
Life is too short. I am proud of what I have accomplished. And there is always the need to remember "enjoy" and keep doing that. It was a great word for me. 

Now heading into 2015 I have chosen STRIVE! 
Definition & goals:

* strive to make great efforts to achieve or obtain success business wise and continue to try to better balance business and family for my husband and children. 

* Life seems to pass by like a speeding bullet and I don't make enough time to just be with friends. This year for me personally I need to strive to continue to maintain and better build the friendships who are good for my soul, the people who we understand each other (just get each other), have fun & laughter together and bring love unconditionally into my life. I have amazing friendships that have been with me on this journey for a long time. I know they are there when I need them and have had some wonderful new friendships emerge the last little while and just instantly connect. I have missed being me. :)

* struggle or fight vigorously, make an effort, exert oneself, do one's best, do all one can do, do one's utmost... With some renewed energy I'm ready to tackle my life with more determination, perseverance and strive.

This includes Striving to find that "voice" for my blog. LOL
I have been struggling with this. What should I say, what should I share, what will people find interesting. The truth is I just need to start sharing. Begin with what I accomplished last year. Rediscovering my joy and creative spirit. Focusing on everything I ENJOY. As I keep that focus everything I strive for this year will fall into place. So here I will share my creative moments. Crafty & Arty Projects that I'm working on, my GSIB pride and joy as everything that happens there is my joy and my renewal to my spirit and of course daily snippets into my chaotic life at home. Being a mom to 3 busy and activity involved kidlets, plus both parents owing their own businesses, allows us some flexibility, but also creates mass chaos with who's with which kids and where... some days it is quite comical looking back on the day, though I wish I could say in the moment was funny too. But it's usually not. 

On my Creative bucket list this year:

* Finish my December Daily 2015 ( I did finish 2014 - YAY - big happy dance). 2008, 2011 and 2012 ended up in the works this Christmas. I don't know how but they did, but they are a "when I have time" project.

* Finish 2014 Project Life Album and work on 2015 at the same time.

* Middle Child's baby book is almost finished. I need to fill in the gaps and do my journalling.

* My Bahamas trip from 2008 is almost done. So I probably should finish that... 

I have begun crafting this past year. Re-discovering my joy for paint and mixed media. 
My number one priority this year, is to get making more projects and start attending craft shows again. I have missed this community. Loving meeting new like minded artisans and re-connecting with ones I haven't seen in a long time. It is like being in the arms of an old friend again and coming home. The point is - it needs to be fun. I need to enjoy it and I need to strive to make it a priority and make time for it.
It will be hard, and I expect some days, weeks, etc I may have to focus on other things. But as long as I am doing something creative each day - I will need it for my reminder to get back to my goal. It also helps I have a 7.5 year old that thinks art is life. What better encouragement and reminder do I need than her? She will keep me on track!

You can also find daily snippets into my life with Instagram @gonescrapnbloom

So cheers to hearing more from me this year! I promise to not be a stranger this year.
XO
Kel

December Daily 2013

Christmas is my most absolute favourite time of the year. One of the reasons I picked December for my wedding and was also blessed with having a Christmas baby (22nd) so we have a lot happening! A few years ago I fell in love with December Daily scrapbook notion. This will be my third attempt. LOL
First year: Digital 12x12 pages. I got quite a few done. But needed to be done after Christmas so is added to my pile of projects started. Planning to finish...
Second year: Simple Stories and pocket pages are starting to get super popular. Thought I would attempt pocket page scrapbooking with starting a December Daily project. 12x12. Started great but I got overwhelmed with trying to work on each day, we introduced Elf on the Shelf to our kids - & its crazy daily antics, add in 3 kids, and a busy holiday retail store and well - it required too much thought to be a first of many things all at once in December. So I'm planning to finish it with my current December Daily project (now that I have mastered pocket pages in other ways) LOL.
This now leads into my third attempt. Goal of course is to finish it - but we will see. No pressure on myself. However, as I begin today I am off to a much better start then previous projects.
#1 It's NOVEMBER! YAY (This is HUGE - I'm a procrastinator!!)
#2 It's not 12x12. I'm getting out of my box in numerous ways but first I've chosen a Sn@p Album. 6x8 - much more feasible for quick and easy. I love 12x12 but when doing a December daily last year - I found some days I took way took many photos and other days I was lucky to snap one.
The point of my December Daily is to capture our family traditions and magic of Christmas.
#3 I've laid out the foundation. The topics I want featured and anything extra I can include can get put in as bonus pages. At least 1 - 4 photos allowed per topic - and I know what photos I always take of.
#4 So I got creating today and have a good chunk done or planned out.
#5 Primarily using Simple Stories 25 Days of Christmas & Handmade Holiday lines & BOBUNNY Elf Magic - but also trying to use up a ton of old stuff I have been hoarding.... so this one will be quite hodge podgy. :)

I still have some work to still do over the next few weeks on it. But so excited and the creative momentum is flowing. If I get the design part done all I have to do is print my key photos to fit and voila!!

Here is my start with a few work in progress pages. Tonight I already went back and added a few more details to each page. But quite thrilled with my start...
At least my children might have a finished project to view. 6x8 is also much more easier for my kids to handle. Normally my 12x12 albums weigh more then my 6 year old. :-)
Keep checking in for more photos to come soon! I hope! ;-)
XO Kel

 Changing old metal charms with Tim Holtz Alcohol Inks.

 Getting started...

 First page. :-) Love these elves and will be a perfect compliment to our Elf on the Shelf, Jolly.

 Trying out some "see-through" page elements.

 Cover - not finished. Still a work in progress.

 This is a hidden pocket on the inside cover. The plan is to put a bunch of fun instagram photos of our elf, Jolly's antics this season.

 Showing the hidden pocket on inside cover.

Creative Chemistry 102

I have had an amazing week enrolled in the online class Creative Chemistry 102 with Tim Holtz. I have loved following his creations for years, love his products, but usually stumped what to do with them! This was such a perfect opportunity to have fun and learn about his products - by the man himself. This week was learning all about his distress products and SO MANY techniques that he makes look so easy and fast! It had me dusting off my supplies and finally using - to make pretty things. I whizzed through 101 last week to get caught up and follow him live with 102. He is such an amazing talented man. This week has truly inspired me to get back into creating "out of my box", get back to getting dirty and having fun. Immersed in glitter, inks, paints and more. Each day he would post new lessons and videos. I was missing some key items (impatiently waiting for my shipment to arrive) but was able to follow along. Of course I watched videos on the couch, in my office, in the car ride home from Winnipeg (my husband wasn't completely impressed with me - but would chime in with an "I can do that!"?! LOL. Of course on the way home from Winnipeg, my kids also had to listen in. My 6 year old was hooked. She's my budding artist. We would have lunch or supper with videos playing and the girls watching over my shoulder, asking all kinds of questions. H about art, products and colours. N with questions about his rings, his work room, and such (she's 4 yrs old). Today is the last day of lessons and ended up with just H and I home tonight. As we started watching the first video, she asked "is he going to create a tag again?" - of course all the techniques are on tags so its a given. :-) I missed a part (had to grab her something from the kitchen) and she was the one to quickly inform me "he's using paint this time, cause the ink won't work for this part." Very astute and helpful my little one! I'm quite amazed how much product info actually seemed make sense to her this class. Kids are definitely more aware of certain things then we give them credit for. The lesson was on embossing and as the videos played she asked if I had all the supplies. I did for a couple of the techniques so she asked if we could go emboss... the two of us headed to my craft room, pulled out everything we needed and re-played the lesson! Below are our first attempts of two tags techniques we created. I love the first one. The 2nd one needs some fine tuning. Mostly because I just worked with the colours I had. So will be making a new one of that. H just loves the sparkle though!! We had so much fun! Glitter and embossing powder EVERYWHERE! When I started this class it was to inspire and spark a creative spirit in me that had been on the dormant side. I didn't expect to have my little girl inspired and caught up in my Tim Holtz craze - to join me on this creative journey. I can tell I will be learning from her in just a few years!

Have you seen our latest newsbud for this month?

Gone Scrappin' In Bloom October NewsBud
Autumn is my favorite time of year. The vibrant and beautiful colours leads to fun costumes and little kids looking for candy! The store is all decorated to welcome you in to warm up on those crisp days. Try a cinnamon bun latte while you shop, take in a Home Routes Concert this month or bring your child in for our Annual Halloween Costume Portraits and Fall Open House! See you soon!

December Craziness

Well there is only 4 nights left until Christmas. We are also on countdown of 2 days until my baby's 4th birthday/party, then help organize a new community event: Our annual Baking Cookies with Mrs. Claus & Santa Day, plus help at the store for the last few busy days of shopping & last - host our family supper. It is all a whirl wind. As it is with everyone I know! Forever going too fast! Through it all I'm satisfied with myself to staying pretty diligent this month taking my Dec Daily photos and getting a few layouts completed every couple of days. It is extremely hard to sometimes justify focusing on personal tasks like this and then life events happen to remind you what is important and life priorities. Plus I find I'm much happier after spending a few minutes doing something I love. So starting one of my New Years resolutions early...

December Traditions

So my goal is to be more active with my blog posts. Finding things I want to chat about regularly has been a challenge. So I'm going to focus on daily life. Whether its Gone Scrappin' In Bloom, family, etc. this will be my record keeping for memories. So this month I have also decided to do a December Daily album. I have wanted to for a few years and have the pictures, but I want to tackle the current year. This year I also started the tradition of Elf On a Shelf (Dec. 4 to be exact). We named him Jolly and already this in itself is creating a lot of moments I want to remember. So this month I'm focusing on my family's holiday moments I want to remember... Perfect for keeping track of my journaling. I am terrible for thinking I'll remember that and record it later, only to forget. Which drives my Scrapbooker self crazy. Early New Years resolution, with today's day and age of social media - this is my chance to preserve these precious little snippets in life, quick and easy, as I have my phone anyways... So here it goes...